Things to remember when driving
106
Things to remember when driving 
Break-in period 
Moving parts need breaking-in time to adjust to 
each other. To ensure that your vehicle contin-
ues to provide optimized economy of operation 
throughout an extended service life, we request 
that you devote careful attention to the follow-
ing section.
Engine and differential 
Up to 1,200 miles/2,000 km: 
You should attempt to vary both engine and 
vehicle speeds. Until the break-in period has 
been completed, you should also refrain from 
exceeding an engine speed of 4,500 rpm or a 
driving speed of 100 mph/160 km/h. 
Always obey all official speed limits.
Avoid full-throttle operation and use of the 
transmission's kick-down mode during these 
initial miles.
Once you have driven 1,200 miles/2000 km, the 
engine and vehicle speeds can be gradually 
increased.
SMG Sequential manual transmission
Do not use the acceleration assistant during the 
break-in period, refer to page55.
Tires 
Due to technical factors associated with their 
manufacture, tires do not achieve their full trac-
tion potential until after an initial break-in 
period. Therefore, drive reservedly during the 
first 200 miles/300 km. 
Brake system 
Brakes require an initial break-in period of 
approx. 300 miles/500 km to achieve optimized 
contact and wear patterns between brake pads 
and rotors. 
Clutch 
The function of the clutch is only at its opti-
mized level after a distance driven of approx. 
300 miles/500 km. During this break-in period, 
engage the clutch gently.
Following part replacement
Observe the break-in instructions again if com-
ponents mentioned above must be replaced 
after subsequent driving operation.
General driving notes 
Closing luggage compartment lid
Operate the vehicle only when the lug-
gage compartment lid is completely 
closed. Otherwise, exhaust fumes could pene-
trate to the interior of the vehicle.<
If special circumstances should make it abso-
lutely necessary to operate the vehicle with the 
luggage compartment lid open:
1.Close all windows and the glass sunroof.
2.Increase the air volume of the automatic 
climate control to a high level, refer to 
page91.
Hot exhaust system 
As in all vehicles equipped with a catalytic 
converter, extremely high temperatures 
are generated in this vehicle. Do not remove the 
heat shields installed adjacent to various sec-
tions of the exhaust system, and never apply 
undercoating to them. When driving, standing 
at idle and while parking take care to avoid pos-
sible contact between the hot exhaust system 
and any highly flammable materials such as hay, 
leaves, grass, etc. Such contact could lead to a 
fire, and with it the risk of serious property dam-
age as well as personal injury.< 
Everything from A to Z
204 Braking
– CBC Cornering Brake 
Control77
– DBC Dynamic Brake 
Control77
– electronic brake-force 
distribution77
– refer to Braking safely107
Breakdown assistance163
Breakdown services, refer to 
Roadside Assistance190
Breaking-in the clutch106
Breaking-in the 
differential106
Break-in period106
"Brightness"73
Brightness of Control 
Display73
Buttons on steering wheel11
C
California Proposition 65 
Warning6
"Call"155
Call
– accepting154
– displaying accepted156
– ending155
– in absence156
– starting154
Calling
– from phone book155
– from Top 8 list156
– redialing156
– refer to telephone Owner's 
Manual
"Calling sender"158
Can holder, refer to Cup 
holders99
Capacities198
Car battery, refer to Vehicle 
battery187
Car care, refer to Caring for 
your vehicle brochure
Car-care products, refer to 
Caring for your vehicle 
brochure"Car data"70
Care181
– refer to Caring for your 
vehicle brochure
Cargo, securing102,109
Cargo loading108
Caring for artificial leather, 
refer to Caring for your 
vehicle brochure
Caring for leather, refer to 
Caring for your vehicle 
brochure
Caring for light-alloy wheels, 
refer to Caring for your 
vehicle brochure
Caring for plastic, refer to 
Caring for your vehicle 
brochure
Caring for the carpet, refer to 
Caring for your vehicle 
brochure
Caring for the vehicle finish, 
refer to Caring for your 
vehicle brochure
Car jack
– jacking points186
Car keys, refer to Key set28
Car phone153
– installation location, refer to 
Center armrest98
– refer to Portable phone152
– refer to separate Owner's 
Manual
Car radio, refer to Radio138
Car vacuum cleaner 
connection, refer to 
Sockets100
Car wash108
– also refer to Caring for your 
vehicle brochure
Catalytic converter, refer to 
Hot exhaust system106
"Categories"143
CBC Cornering Brake 
Control77
CBS Condition Based 
Service180
"CD"133,145CD changer145
– controls132
– fast forward/reverse147
– installation location147
– playing a track147
– random order147
– repeating a track146
– selecting a CD146
– selecting a track146
– switching on/off132
– tone control133
– volume133
CD player145
– controls132
– fast forward/reverse147
– playing a track147
– random order147
– repeating a track146
– selecting a track146
– switching on/off132
– tone control133
– volume133
Center armrest
– front98
– rear100
Center brake lamp184
Center console14
"Central locking"29
Central locking system29
– from inside vehicle31
Changes, technical
– refer to For your own 
safety6
– refer to Parts and 
accessories6
Changing gear
– automatic transmission with 
Steptronic55
Changing settings
– on Control Display73
Changing the language on the 
Control Display74
Changing the measurement 
units on the Control 
Display73
Changing wheels174,185
CHECK button69
Check Control67