keyless MERCEDES-BENZ S CLASS 2005 Owner's Manual

83 Safety and Security
Driving safety systems
For more information, see “Practical hints”
(page 337).Switching off the ESP
To improve the vehicle's traction, turn off
the ESP in driving situations where it would
be advantageous to have the drive wheels
spin and thus cut into surfaces for better
grip such as:


starting out on slippery surfaces and in
deep snow in conjunction with snow
chains


in sand or gravel
Warning!
G
The ESP cannot prevent the natural laws of
physics from acting on the vehicle, nor can
it increase the traction afforded. The ESP
cannot prevent accidents, including those
resulting from excessive speed in turns, or
hydroplaning. Only a safe, attentive, and
skillful driver can prevent accidents. The ca-
pabilities of an ESP equipped vehicle must
never be exploited in a reckless or danger-
ous manner which could jeopardize the us-
er’s safety or the safety of others.iDistronic* is switched off when ESP is
activated.iThe ESP will only function properly if
you use wheels of the recommended
tire size (
page 422).
!Because of the ESP’s automatic opera-
tion, the engine and ignition must be
shut off (SmartKey in starter switch
position0 or1 or KEYLESS-GO
start/stop button* in position0 or1)
when

the parking brake is being tested on
a brake test dynamometer


the vehicle is being towed with the
front/rear axle raised
Active braking action through the ESP
may otherwise seriously damage the
brake system.
Warning!
G
The ESP should not be switched off during
normal driving other than in the circum-
stances described below. Disabling of the
system will reduce vehicle stability in stan-
dard driving maneuvers.iDistronic* cannot be activated when
the ESP has been deactivated.

85 Safety and Security
Driving safety systems
Four wheel electronic traction system (4MATIC) with the ESP
Models with all-wheel drive only:
The 4MATIC improves the vehicle’s ability
to use available traction, e.g. during winter
operation in mountains under snowy con-
ditions, by applying power to all four
wheels.
Warning!
G
If you see the ESP warning lamp v flash-
ing in the speedometer dial, proceed as fol-
lows:

While driving off, apply as little throttle
as possible.


While driving, ease up on the accelera-
tor.


Adapt your speed and driving style to
the prevailing road conditions.
Failure to observe these guidelines could
cause the vehicle to skid.
The ESP cannot prevent accidents resulting
from excessive speed.!Do not tow with one axle raised.
Otherwise the transfer case can be
damaged, which is not covered by the
Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.
!Performance testing must only be con-
ducted on a two-axle dynamometer.
Otherwise the transfer case can be
damaged, which is not covered by the
Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.!Because of the ESP’s automatic opera-
tion, the engine and ignition must be
shut off (SmartKey in starter switch
position0 or1 or KEYLESS-GO*
start/stop button (
page 35) in
position0 or1) when the parking
brake is being tested on a brake test
dynamometer.
Active braking action through the ESP
may otherwise seriously damage the
front or rear axle brake system.
Operational tests with the engine run-
ning can only be conducted on a
two-axle dynamometer.

86 Safety and SecurityAnti-theft systemsImmobilizer
The immobilizer prevents unauthorized
persons from starting your vehicle.
Activating
With the SmartKey
Remove the SmartKey from the starter
switch.
The immobilizer is activated.
With KEYLESS-GO*

Turn off the engine by means of the
start/stop button (
page 35) on the
gear selector lever.

Open the driver’s door.
The immobilizer is activated.Deactivating
With the SmartKey

Insert the SmartKey in the starter
switch.
The immobilizer is deactivated.With KEYLESS-GO*

Start the engine by means of the
start/stop button (
page 35) on the
gear selector lever.
The immobilizer is deactivated.
iIn case the engine cannot be started
(yet the vehicle’s battery is charged),
the system is not operational. Contact
an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center
or call
1-800-FOR-MERCedes (in the USA), or
1-800-387-0100 (in Canada).

88 Safety and SecurityAnti-theft systemsDisarming the alarm system
Unlock your vehicle.
The turn signal lamps flash once to in-
dicate that the alarm system is deacti-
vated.Canceling the alarm
To cancel the alarm:
With the SmartKey

Insert the SmartKey in the starter
switch.
or

Press the Œ or ‹ button on the
SmartKey.
The alarm is canceled.With KEYLESS-GO*

Grasp the outside door handle.
The SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO must
be within 3 ft. (1 m) of the vehicle.
or

Press the KEYLESS-GO* start/stop
button (
page 35).
The SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO must
be inside the vehicle.
The alarm is canceled.
iIf the turn signal lamps does not flash
three times one of the following ele-
ments may not be properly closed:

a door


the trunk


the hood
Close the respective element and lock
the vehicle again.
iThe alarm system will rearm automati-
cally again after approximately 40 sec-
onds if no door was opened.

90 Safety and SecurityAnti-theft systemsThe button is located on the upper part of
the front center console.
1Indicator lamp
2Tow-away alarm off button

Switch off the ignition and remove the
SmartKey from the starter switch.

Press button2.
The indicator lamp1 in the button
comes on briefly.

Exit the vehicle and lock it with the
SmartKey or (vehicles with
KEYLESS-GO*) the lock button at each
outside door handle or trunk lid.
iYou cannot disarm the tow-away alarm
if the ignition is switched on.
iWhen you unlock your vehicle, the
tow-away protection disarms automati-
cally.
The tow-away alarm remains disarmed
until you lock your vehicle again.

96 Controls in detailLocking and unlockingLoss of SmartKey or mechanical key
If you lose a SmartKey or mechanical key,
you should do the following:
Have the SmartKey deactivated by an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.

Report the loss of the SmartKey or the
mechanical key immediately to your
car insurance company.

If necessary, have the mechanical lock
replaced.
Your authorized Mercedes-Benz Center
will be glad to supply you with a replace-
ment.
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO*
Vehicles equipped with KEYLESS-GO come
with two SmartKeys with KEYLESS-GO,
each with remote control and a removable
mechanical key.
The locking tabs for the mechanical key
portion of the two SmartKeys with
KEYLESS-GO are a different color to help
distinguish each SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO unit.
The function of the SmartKey overrules the
KEYLESS-GO function.
The KEYLESS-GO function is integrated
into the SmartKey. On these vehicles, the
validity of the SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO
is checked every time you grasp an outside
door handle.
If the SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO is valid,
your vehicle unlocks:

the doors


the trunk


the fuel filler flap
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO1‹ Lock button
2Š Opening button for trunk
3Locking tab for mechanical key
4ΠUnlock button
5Battery check lamp
6Â Panic button (
page 79)
iWhen any outside door handle other
than the driver’s outside door handle is
grasped, the vehicle is centrally un-
locked.

97 Controls in detail
Locking and unlocking
Warning!
G
When leaving the vehicle, always take the
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO* with you and
lock the vehicle. Do not leave children unat-
tended in the vehicle, or with access to an
unlocked vehicle. Unsupervised use of vehi-
cle equipment may cause an accident
and/or serious personal injury.!To prevent possible malfunction, avoid
exposing the SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO to high levels of electro-
magnetic radiation.
iUSA only:
This device complies with Part 15 of
the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to
the following two conditions:

This device may not cause harmful
interference, and


this device must accept any inter-
ference received, including interfer-
ence that may cause undesired
operation.
Any unauthorized modification to this
device could void the user’s authority
to operate the equipment.
iCanada only:
This device complies with RSS-210 of
Industry Canada. Operation is subject
to the following two conditions:

This device may not cause interfer-
ence, and


this device must accept any inter-
ference received, including interfer-
ence that may cause undesired
operation of the device.
Any unauthorized modification to this
device could void the user’s authority
to operate the equipment.
iYou can also open and close the power
windows (
page 209) and tilt/sliding
sunroof (
page 209) using the
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO.

98 Controls in detailLocking and unlockingImportant notes on using KEYLESS-GO

You can also use the SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO like a normal
SmartKey (
page 92).


You can combine KEYLESS-GO func-
tions with normal SmartKey functions
(e.g. unlocking with KEYLESS-GO and
locking with the ‹ button).


Always carry the SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO with you.


Never store the SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO together with:

Electronic items such as a cellular
phone or another SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO


Metallic objects such as coins or
metal foil
Doing so could impair the function of
the KEYLESS-GO system.


To lock or unlock the vehicle, the
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO must be
located outside the vehicle within ap-
proximately 3 ft. (1 m) of a door or the
trunk lid.


In order to start the engine with the
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO:

The SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO
must be located in the vehicle.


All doors must be closed.


The brake pedal must be firmly de-
pressed. Do not depress the accel-
erator.


If you have started the engine with the
KEYLESS-GO start/stop button
(page 35), you can only turn it off
again with this button, even if you have
put the SmartKey in the starter switch
in the meantime.
This does not apply if, after starting, the
gear selector lever is still in positionP
and the SmartKey is then inserted in
the starter switch. The SmartKey will
then have priority over the
KEYLESS-GO function and the vehicle’s
electrical system will operate accord-
ing to the position of the SmartKey in
the starter switch, even stopping the
engine.


If the SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO is
positioned farther away from the vehi-
cle, the system may no longer recog-
nize the SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO.
The vehicle then cannot be locked or
the engine started via the KEYLESS-GO
system.

99 Controls in detail
Locking and unlocking


If the SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO is re-
moved from the vehicle while the igni-
tion is switched on (e.g. if passenger
exits the vehicle with the SmartKey
with KEYLESS-GO), the message KEY
NOT RECOGNIZEDwill appear in the multifunction display
while driving off.
Find the SmartKey or change its
present location immediately
(e.g. place it on the front passenger
seat or insert it in shirt pocket).


Remember that the engine can be
started by anyone with a SmartKey
with KEYLESS-GO that is left inside the
vehicle. If you leave the SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO behind when exiting and
locking the vehicle, the message KEY
STILL IN VEHICLEwill appear in the multifunction display.Factory setting
Global unlocking

Grasp the outside door handle.
All turn signal lamps flash once. The
locking knob in the doors move up. The
anti-theft alarm system is disarmed.
The vehicle will lock again automatically
and reactivate the anti-theft alarm system
within approximately 40 seconds of un-
locking if:


neither door nor trunk is opened


the central locking switch is not acti-
vated.Global locking

Press lock button at the outside door
handle (
page 58) or trunk lid
(
page 101).
All turn signal lamps flash three times.
The locking knobs in the doors move
down. The anti-theft alarm system is
armed.
iIf the vehicle has been parked for more
than 72 hours, you must pull the out-
side door handle in order to activate
the KEYLESS-GO function.
iThe vehicle could inadvertently be un-
locked if the SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO is within 3 ft. (1 m) of the
vehicle and:

the outside door handle is splashed
with water, or


you attempt to clean the outside
door handle.

100 Controls in detailLocking and unlockingSelective setting
If you frequently travel alone, you may wish
to reprogram the SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO so when you, grasp the driv-
er’s outside door handle only the driver’s
door and the fuel filler flap unlocks.
Press and hold buttonsŒ and‹
simultaneously for about six seconds
until battery check lamp5 flashes
twice.
The SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO will
then function as follows:
Unlocking driver’s door and fuel filler
flap

Grasp the driver’s outside door handle.
All turn signal lamps flash once. The
locking knob in the driver's door moves
up. The anti-theft alarm system is dis-
armed.Global unlocking

Grasp any outside door handle other
than the driver’s outside door handle.
All turn signal lamps flash once. The
locking knobs in the doors move up.
The anti-theft alarm system is dis-
armed.
Global locking

Press lock button at outside door han-
dle (
page 58).
All turn signal lamps flash three times.
The locking knobs in the doors move
down. The anti-theft alarm system is
armed.Restoring to factory setting

Press and hold buttonsŒ and‹
simultaneously for about six seconds
until battery check lamp5 flashes
twice.
iYou can also lock the vehicle using the
lock button at trunk lid (
page 101)
or, vehicles with trunk lid
opening/closing system*,
KEYLESS-GO locking/closing switch
(
page 110).
!If you can not lock or unlock the vehicle
with the SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO,
then either the battery in the SmartKey
with KEYLESS-GO is discharged, the
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO is mal-
functioning or the vehicle battery is
drained.

Check the battery in the SmartKey
with KEYLESS-GO and replace it if
necessary (
page 387).


Use the mechanical key to unlock
the driver’s door (
page 383) and
trunk (
page 384).


Use the mechanical key to lock the
driver’s door (
page 383).