
Controls
 59Reference
At a glance
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Mobility
Increasing continuously
Press the lever repeatedly to the resistance 
point or beyond, arrow1, until the desired 
speed is reached.
The speed then displayed is stored and 
reached as soon as the road ahead of you is 
clear.
Decreasing in increments
Pull the lever repeatedly to the resistance point 
or beyond, arrow 2, until the desired speed is 
reached.
>Each time the lever is pulled to the resis-
tance point, the desired speed is decreased 
by approx. 1 mph or 1 km/h.
>Each time the lever is pulled back beyond 
the resistance point, the desired speed is 
rounded off to the next multiple of 5 mph or 
10 km/h until the minimum speed of 
20 mph/30 km/h is reached.
The speed then displayed is stored and 
achieved, provided that the road is clear.
Selecting distance
>Press downward: 
Increase distance
>Press upward: 
Decrease distance.
The selected distance is displayed in the instru-
ment cluster.
Distance 1 Distance 2 
Distance 3 
This distance is always set when 
the system is used for the first time 
after starting the engine.
Distance 4 
Use good judgement to select the appro-
priate following distance given road con-
ditions, traffic, applicable laws and driving rec-
ommendations for safe following distance. 
Otherwise, you may be in violation of the law or 
an accident could result.<
Deactivating cruise control
Press the lever upward or downward, arrow3. 
The displays in the speedometer disappear.
In addition, the system is automatically deacti-
vated:
>When you brake the vehicle
>When the speed is reduced to below 
20 mph or 30 km/h due to a traffic situation
>When you switch gears very slowly or 
engage neutral gear in cars with manual 
transmission
>When you select the automatic transmis-
sion's neutral position N
>When you activate the Dynamic Traction 
Control DTC 

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  

Controls
 61Reference
At a glance
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Mobility
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  

Controls
 65Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
style is conducive to fuel economy with mini-
mum exhaust emissions.
Fuel gauge
Fuel tank capacity: approx. 15.9 gallons/
60 liters. You can find information on refueling 
on page168.
If the tilt of the vehicle varies for a longer period, 
when you are driving in mountainous areas, for 
example, the indicator may fluctuate slightly.
Reserve
Once the fuel level has fallen to the reserve 
zone, a message will appear on the Control Dis-
play for a short time and the cruising range for 
the remaining amount of fuel is displayed on the 
computer. Under a cruising range of approx. 
30 miles/50 km, the message remains in the 
Control Display.
Refuel as soon as possible once your 
cruising range falls below 30 miles/
50 km, as otherwise engine functions are not 
ensured and damage can occur.<
Computer
Displays in the instrument cluster
To call up the information, press the button in 
the turn indicator stalk.
The following items of information are dis-
played in the order listed:
>Cruising range
>Average speed
>Average fuel consumption
To set the corresponding units of measure, 
refer to Changing units of measure on page68.
Cruising range
Displays the estimated cruising range available 
with the remaining fuel. The range is calculated 
on the basis of the way the car has been driven 
over the last 18 miles/30 km and the amount of 
fuel currently in the tank.
B e  s u r e  t o  r e f u e l  a s  s o o n  a s  p o s s i b l e  o n c e  
your cruising range falls below 30 miles/
50 km, as otherwise engine functions are not 
ensured and damage can occur.<
Average speed
Periods with the vehicle parked and the engine 
switched off are not included in the calculations 
of average speed.
With the trip computer, refer to page66, you 
can have the average speed for another trip dis-
played.
To reset average speed: press the button in the 
turn indicator stalk for approx. 2 seconds. 

Everything under control
66
Average fuel consumption
The average fuel consumption is calculated for 
the time during which the engine is running.
With the trip computer, refer to page66, you 
can have the average consumption for another 
trip displayed.
To reset average fuel consumption: press the 
button in the turn indicator stalk for approx. 
2seconds.
Displays on the Control Display
You can also call up the computer via iDrive; 
concept, refer to page16.
1.Press the   button.
This opens the start menu.
2.Move the controller to the right to call up 
"Navigation".
3.Select "Car Data" and press the controller.
4.Select "Onboard info" and press the con-
troller.
>Estimated time of arrival at destination:
>Manually enter a distance in the com-
puter, refer to information further below
>Enter a destination in the navigation sys-
tem, refer to page115
>Cruising range
>Distance to destination:
>Manually enter a distance in the com-
puter, refer to information further below
>Enter a destination in the navigation sys-
tem, refer to page115
>Average speed
>Average fuel consumption
Resetting values
You can reset the values for average speed and 
average consumption:
1.Select the respective menu item and press 
the controller.
2.Press the controller again to confirm your 
selection.
Entering a distance manually
1.Select "Distance to dest." and press the 
controller.
2.Turn the controller to select the distance to 
your destination.
3.Press the controller to apply the setting.
The distance is automatically entered during 
destination guidance.
Trip computer
The trip computer is suitable e.g. for a holiday 
trip.
1.Open the start menu.
2.Call up "Navigation".
3.Select "Car Data" and press the controller.
4.Select "Trip computer" and press the con-
troller.
>Departure time 

Controls
 67Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
>Driving time
>Distance traveled
>Average speed
>Average fuel consumption
Switching trip computer on/off and resetting all 
values to zero:
1.Select "Set" and press the controller.
2.Select the desired menu item and press the 
controller.
Display options
You can display the computer or the trip com-
puter in the assistance window.
1.Move the controller to the right to change to 
the assistance window and press the con-
troller.
2.Select a menu item:
>"Onboard info"
>"Trip computer"
3.Press the controller. 

Everything under control
68
Settings and information
Operating principle
1Button for:
>Selecting display
>Setting values
2Button for:
>Confirming selected display or set val-
ues
>Calling up computer information65
3When the lights are switched on: instrument 
lighting brightness87
4Calling up Check Control735Checking oil level181
6Setting the time71
7Date setting72
8Viewing service requirement display69
Exiting displays
The outside-temperature reading and the time 
reappear when you press button2 or if you 
make no entries within approx. 15 seconds. If 
required, complete the current setting first.
Units of measure
You can set units of measure. The settings are 
stored for the remote control currently in use, 
refer also to Personal Profile on page29.
>Fuel consumption: mpg US, mpg UK, 
l/100 km, km/l
>Distance covered: mls, km
>Units of pressure
*: psi, kPa, bar>Temperature: 7, 6
Changing units of measure
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 "Units" and press the controller.