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Displays in the instrument cluster
1Stored speed
2Selected speed is displayed briefly
If --- mph or --- km/h temporarily appears
in the instrument cluster display, it is pos-
sible that the system prerequisites for operation
are currently not met.
Calling up Check Control messages, refer to
page74.<
Malfunction
The warning lamp comes on when
the system has failed. A message
appears on the Control Display. You
can find more information starting on page73.
Active cruise control*
The concept
With active cruise control, you can select a
desired speed which is not only automatically
maintained when driving on open roadways, but
also varied to maintain a selected distance set-
ting as slower traffic is encountered.
Active cruise control is a technological advance
over the familiar cruise control and is a welcome
relief from the constant adjustment of speed
that can accompany driving in traffic on free-
ways or other high-speed thoroughfares. Espe-
cially on longer trips, the system can reduce
fatigue and tension, while increasing your
enjoyment of driving. Please use it safely and
responsibly.
Within the limits of its capability, the system
automatically adapts the car's speed to that of a
slower vehicle in front of you. You can specify the distance to be maintained from the vehicle
in front in four stages. For safety reasons, the
distance is speed-dependent. Based on your
selected distance setting, the system automat-
ically decreases the throttle setting and lightly
applies the brakes if necessary. The vehicle
brake lamps will automatically illuminate to sig-
nal a following driver to take action. In addition,
it may be necessary for the vehicle or the driver
to downshift, depending on the kind of trans-
mission your vehicle is equipped with, to main-
tain the distance setting selected. If the vehicle
ahead speeds up or when the lane ahead
becomes clear, your vehicle will accelerate to
the speed you have selected by increasing the
throttle setting and shifting gears automatically
or by the driver as needed. Your selected speed
will be held when driving downhill, too.
Since this active cruise control system is a new
technology and operates differently from con-
ventional cruise control systems which you may
be accustomed to, you are strongly urged to
read all of the pages relating to this system
before use. Pay special attention to the System
limitations section beginning on page61.<
Braking sensation
The system's automatic brake operation results
in a braking sensation that is slightly different
from what you feel when you brake the vehicle
yourself in a similar situation. Possible noises
during automatic deceleration are normal.
Manual transmission
You can shift gears while cruise control is acti-
vated. An indicator lamp notifies you that you
should shift gears when you drive for an
extended period at very high or very low engine
speeds, or the system is deactivated.
Range of applications
The minimum desired speed is 20 mph or
30 km/h, and the maximum speed is 110 mph
or 180 km/h.
As with conventional cruise control sys-
tems, active cruise control in no way
diminishes or substitutes for the driver’s own
Driving
60 >When you deactivate the Dynamic Stability
Control DSC
>When DSC or ABS is intervening
>When the system does not recognize any
objects for a longer period of time, e.g. on
infrequently traveled roads without a shoul-
der or guard rails, or if the radar sensor is
covered with dirt, refer to page61
>When you actuate the handbrake while driv-
ing
When the system is deactivated, you
must brake the vehicle yourself and/or
maneuver as necessary, otherwise there is a
risk of accident.<
Warning lamp
The warning lamp comes on when
active cruise control has been auto-
matically deactivated due to one of
the following factors: you are driving under a
speed of 20 mph or 30 km/h, the handbrake is
applied, or DSC is intervening. A message
appears on the Control Display.
Resuming stored desired speed and
distance
Press button 4.
The stored speed and distance are regained
and maintained.
In the following instances, the stored speed is
deleted and can no longer be resumed:
>When driving control systems are interven-
ing
>In cars with manual transmission: when you
shift gears very slowly or engage neutral
gear
>In cars with automatic transmission: when
you engage selector lever position N
>When the ignition is switched off
Displays in the instrument cluster
1Stored desired speed
2Shows yellow: vehicle detected ahead
Flashes in red: system cannot maintain dis-
tance; driver must brake the vehicle
Flashes in yellow: driving control systems
are intervening; cruise control is deacti-
vated
3Selected distance to vehicle ahead
The indicator lights up as soon as the sys-
tem is activated.
4Selected desired speed is temporarily dis-
played
If --- mph or --- km/h temporarily appears
in the instrument cluster display, it is pos-
sible that the system prerequisites for operation
are currently not met. Calling up Check Control
messages, refer to page74.<
Warning lamps
The indicator2 flashes in red; a
signal sounds.
The system indicates that you
must brake and/or maneuver the
vehicle yourself. Active cruise con-
trol cannot automatically restore the distance to
the vehicle ahead.
This indicator does not release you, however,
from your responsibility to adapt your desired
speed and driving style to prevailing driving
conditions.
The indicator 2 flashes in yellow.
The prerequisites for operating
active cruise control are not met,
e.g. as a result of ABS or DSC
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interventions. Active cruise control is deacti-
vated. You can reactivate the system, if desired,
by tapping or pulling the lever when road and
traffic conditions permit this. It is not possible to
resume a stored speed.
Radar sensor
The sensor's ability to detect vehicles ahead
may be restricted as a result of heavy rain, dirt, snow or ice. If necessary, clean the radar sensor
located in the front bumper, see arrow. Be sure
t o u s e p a r t i c ul a r c a r e w h e n r e m o v i n g a n y l a y e r s
of snow or ice from the sensor.
When the radar sensor is not properly posi-
tioned, active cruise control cannot be activated
at all.
Malfunction
The warning lamp comes on when
the system has failed. A message
appears on the Control Display. You
can find more information starting on page73.
System limitations
Always remember that the range and abil-
ity of the system does have physical limi-
tations. It will not apply the brakes or decelerate
your vehicle when there is a slow-moving vehi-
cle, stopped vehicle or stationary object ahead
of you, as for example, at a traffic light or a
parked vehicle. Also, the system does not react
to oncoming traffic, pedestrians or other types
of potential traffic such as a rider on horseback.
It is also possible that the system may not
detect smaller moving objects such as motor-
cycles or bicycles. Be especially alert when
encountering any of these situations as the sys-
tem will neither automatically brake, nor provide
a warning to you. Also, be aware that every
decrease in the distance setting allows your
vehicle to come closer to a vehicle in front of you and requires a heightened amount of alert-
ness.<
Active cruise control is not and must not
be used as a collision avoidance/warning
system.<
If while your vehicle is actively following a vehi-
cle in front of you and the vehicle ahead speeds
up or the lane ahead becomes clear, then your
vehicle will accelerate to the speed you have
selected. Be aware that changing to a clear,
unobstructed lane will also result in your vehicle
accelerating.
Be certain to deactivate the system when
you pull into an exit lane for a highway off-
ramp.<
Also, vehicles traveling in a staggered manner
on a highway may cause a delay in the system's
Everything under control
64
Everything under control
Odometer, outside
temperature display, clock
1Resetting trip odometer
2Outside temperature display and clock
3Odometer and trip odometer
Units of measure
To select the respective units of measure, miles
or km for the odometer as well as 7 or 6 for
the outside temperature, refer to page68.
Outside temperature display, clock
Setting the time, refer to page71.
Ice warning
A signal sounds when the outside temperature
falls to approx. +37.57/+36; this will be
accompanied by a message. Risk of icy roads.
Please bear in mind that black ice may be
present on roads at temperatures higher
than +37.57/+36, e.g. on bridges and
shaded roads.<
Odometer and trip odometer
Resetting trip odometer:
With the ignition switched on, press button1 in
the instrument cluster.
When the vehicle is parked
If you still want to view the time, outside tem-
perature and odometer reading briefly after the
remote control has been removed from the igni-tion lock:
Press button 1 in the instrument cluster.
Tachometer
Never force the engine speed up into the red
warning field, see arrow. In this range, the fuel
supply is interrupted to protect the engine.
Energy Control
Displays the current fuel consumption. This
allows you to see whether your current driving
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4.Press button 2.
5.Set the month and the yea r i n t h e s a m e w a y .
6.Press button 2.
The system accepts the new date.
Via iDrive
iDrive concept, refer to page16.
1.Open the start menu.
2.Press the controller to open the menu.
3.Select "Display settings" and press the
controller.
4.Select "Date" and press the controller.
5.Select "Set date" and press the controller.
The first section of the date display is high-
lighted, in this case the month.
6.Turn the controller to make the adjustment.
7.Press the controller to apply the setting.
The next setting is highlighted.
8.Make the remaining adjustments. After the
last adjustment, the date is stored.
Setting the date format
1.Open the start menu.
2.Press the controller to open the menu.
3.Select "Display settings" and press the
controller.
4.Select "Date" and press the controller.
5.Select "Date format" and press the control-
ler.
6.Select the desired format and press the
controller.
Check Control
The concept
The Check Control monitors vehicle functions
and alerts you to any malfunctions in the sys-
tems monitored. Such a Check Control mes-
sage includes indicator and warning lamps in
the instrument cluster and, in some circum-
stances, an acoustic signal as well as text mes-
sages at the bottom of the Control Display.
Indicator and warning lamps
Indicator and warning lamps can light up in both
the indicator area 1 and the display 2 in various
combinations and colors.
Explanatory text messages
Text messages at the lower edge of the Control
Display explain the meaning of the displayed
indicator and warning lamps.
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3.Lightly push button 1 to check for other
messages.
4.Press button 2.
The display again shows the outside tem-
perature and the time.
Viewing more information later
iDrive concept, refer to page16.
1.Press the button.
This opens the start menu.
2.Press the controller to open the menu.
3.Select "Service" and press the controller.
4.Select "Check Control messages" and
press the controller.
5.Select a text message and press the con-
troller.
To exit the display:
Select the arrow and press the controller.
Speed limit
You can enter a speed, and a Check Control
message will indicate when you reach this
speed. This enables you, for example, to
receive warnings if you exceed a speed limit in
an urban area. You are only warned of reaching this speed a
second time if your vehicle speed falls below it
again by at least 3 mph or 5 km/h.
Displaying, setting or changing the
limit
iDrive concept, refer to page16.
1.Open the start menu.
2.Call up "Navigation".
3.Select "Car Data" and press the controller.
4.Select "Limit" and press the controller.
5.Depending on your vehicle's equipment
version, select "Change limit:" or the speed
value and press the controller.
6.Turn the controller to set the limit.
7.Press the controller to apply the setting.
The limit is automatically switched on.
Applying your current speed as limit
Select "Select current speed" and press the
controller. The system adopts your current
speed as the limit.
Activating the limit
Select "On" and press the controller.
Limit is activated.
Stopwatch
iDrive concept, refer to page16.
1.Open the start menu.
2.Call up "Navigation".
3.Select "Car Data" and press the controller.
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Technology for driving comfort and safety
PDC Park Distance Control*
The concept
The PDC assists you with maneuvering in tight
parking spaces. Acoustic signals and a visual
indicator
warn you of the presence of an object
in front of
* or behind your car. To measure the
distance, there are four ultrasonic sensors in
each bumper. The sensors at the front
* and at
the two rear corners have a range of approx.
24 in/60 cm; the rear middle sensors have
approx. 5 ft/1.50 m.
PDC is a parking aid that can indicate
objects when they are approached
slowly, as is usually the case when parking.
Avoid approaching an object at high speed, as
otherwise physical circumstances may lead to
the system warning being issued too late.<
Automatic mode
With the engine running or the ignition switched
on, the system is activated automatically after
approx. 1 second when you engage reverse
gear or move the automatic transmission selec-
tor lever to position R. Wait this short period
before driving.
Manual operation*
Press the button, the LED lights up.
Deactivating manual mode
Press the button again; the LED goes out.
The system is automatically deactivated once
the vehicle travels approx. 165 ft/50 m or exceeds a speed of roughly 20 mph or 30 km/h;
the LED goes out. You can reactivate the sys-
tem manually as needed.
Signal tones
When nearing an object, its position is indicated
correspondingly by an interval tone. For exam-
ple, the tone sounds at the rear if the system
detects an object behind the car. As the dis-
tance between vehicle and object decreases,
the intervals between the tones become
shorter. If the distance to the nearest object
falls to below roughly 1 ft/30 cm, then a contin-
uous tone sounds.
The warning signal is canceled after approx.
3 seconds, if you are moving parallel to a wall.
Malfunction
The indicator lamp in the instrument
cluster comes on. PDC is malfunc-
tioning. A message appears on the
Control Display. Have the system checked.
To avoid this problem, keep the sensors clean
and free of ice or snow in order to ensure that
they will continue to operate effectively.
Manual mode
The LED above the button flashes in addition.
PDC with optical warning
You can also have the system show distances
to objects on the Control Display. The contours
of distant objects are shown on the Control Dis-
play even before the acoustic signal sounds.
The setting is stored for the remote control cur-
rently in use.
iDrive concept, refer to page16.
1.Open the start menu.
2.Press the controller to open the menu.
3.Select "Vehicle settings" and press the
controller.
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DTC Dynamic Traction Control
DTC is a version of DSC in which the drive out-
put is optimized for particular road conditions,
e.g. unplowed snow-covered roads. The sys-
tem assures the maximal drive output, but with
reduced driving stability. It is therefore neces-
sary to drive with appropriate caution.
You may find it useful to briefly activate DTC
under the following special circumstances:
>When driving uphill on snow-covered roads,
in slush or on unplowed, snow-covered
roads
>When rocking a stuck vehicle free or start-
ing off in deep snow or on loose ground
>When driving with snow chains
Activating DTC
Briefly press the button; the DTC indicator
lamps in the instrument cluster come on.
Deactivating DTC again
Press the button again; the DTC indicator
lamps in the instrument cluster go out.
Deactivating DTC and DSC together
Press the button and hold it down for at least
3 seconds; the DSC indicator lamps in the instrument cluster light up. Stabilizing and
drive-output promoting actions are no longer
executed.
To increase vehicle stability, activate DSC again
as soon as possible.
Reactivating DSC
Briefly press the button; the indicator lamps in
the instrument cluster go out.
To control
If the indicator lamp flashes:
DSC or DTC controls the drive forces
and brake forces.
If the indicator lamps are on:
Both DTC and DSC have been deac-
tivated with the DTC button.
If the indicator lamps are on:
DTC has been activated with the DTC
button.
Malfunction in driving stability control
systems
These warning lamps come on:
The driving stability control systems
and the Flat Tire Monitor have failed.
Proceed cautiously and drive defen-
sively, avoiding full brake applica-
tions. Have the system checked as
soon as possible.
Display
* of this malfunction on Cana-
dian models.
Display
* of this malfunction on Cana-
dian models.