Page 212 of 474

210 Controls in detailDriving systems
Distronic displays in the speedometer 
dial
If Distronic detects a vehicle directly 
ahead, the DTR indicator lamp E in the 
speedometer dial comes on white.
If Distronic calculates that there is a dan-
ger of collision
the DTR warning lamp E in the 
speedometer comes on red
an intermittent warning sounds
Immediately brake the vehicle to avoid 
a collision.
Under no circumstances should the 
driver await the intermittent warning 
sound before braking. See the follow-
ing warning note. 
The intermittent warning sound ceases 
and the red DTR warning lamp E 
goes out when the necessary distance 
to the vehicle ahead is again estab-
lished.
Warning!
G
Use of Distronic can be dangerous on slip-
pery roads. Rapid changes in tire traction 
can result in wheel spin and loss of control.
Distronic does not act upon adverse sight 
distance conditions. Do not use Distronic 
during conditions of fog and heavy rain, 
snow or sleet.Warning!
G
Close attention to road and traffic condi-
tions is imperative at all times, regardless of 
whether or not Distronic is activated.
Use of Distronic can be dangerous on wind-
ing roads or in heavy traffic because condi-
tions do not allow safe driving at a steady 
speed.
Distronic will not react to stationary objects 
in the roadway (e.g. a stopped vehicle in a 
traffic jam or a disabled vehicle). Distronic 
will also not respond to oncoming vehicles.
Switch off Distronic:
when changing from the left to the right 
lane if vehicles are moving more slowly 
in the left lane
when entering a turn lane or highway off 
ramp
in complex driving situations, such as in 
highway construction zones
In these situations, Distronic will continue to 
maintain the set speed unless deactivated.
Distronic is designed and intended only to 
maintain a set speed and keep a set dis-
tance from moving objects in front of it.
Warning!
G
The “Resume” function should only be oper-
ated if the driver is fully aware of the previ-
ously set speed and wishes to resume this 
particular preset speed. 
     
        
        Page 213 of 474

211 Controls in detail
Driving systems
1Red DTR warning lamp E
Warning!
G
An intermittent warning sounds and the 
DTR warning lamp (red) E in the speed-
ometer dial is illuminated if the Distronic 
system calculates that the distance to the 
vehicle ahead and your vehicle’s current 
speed indicate that Distronic will not be ca-
pable of slowing the vehicle sufficiently to 
maintain the preset following distance, 
which creates a danger of a collision.
Immediately brake the vehicle to increase 
the distance to the vehicle in front of you. 
The warning sound is intended as a final cau-
tion that you have not interceded with your 
own braking inputs to avoid a potentially 
dangerous situation. Do not wait for the op-
eration of the warning signal to intercede 
with your own braking, as that will result in 
potentially dangerous emergency braking 
which will not always result in an impact be-
ing avoided.
Tailgating increases the risk of an accident.
Warning!
G
The Distronic brakes your vehicle with a 
maximum of 6.5 ft/s
2 (2 m/s
2). This corre-
sponds to about 20% of the maximum decel-
eration ability of your vehicle.
Distronic brakes the vehicle in an effort to 
restore the preset distance or to maintain 
the speed. 
     
        
        Page 214 of 474
212 Controls in detailDriving systemsDistronic menu in the control system
In the Distronic menu you can read the cur-
rent settings for Distronic. What appears in 
the left multifunction display depends on 
whether the Distronic is turned on or off.
Press button è or ÿ repeatedly 
until you see one of the following dis-
plays.Distronic deactivated
When Distronic is deactivated you will see 
the standard display in the left multifunc-
tion display.
1Vehicle ahead, if detected
2Actual distance to vehicle ahead
3Preset distance threshold to vehicle 
ahead
4Your vehicle
5Symbol for activated distance warning 
functionDistronic activated
When Distronic is activated the DTR sym-
bol and the set speed are seen in the left 
display.
1Symbol for activated Distronic
2Set speed 
     
        
        Page 245 of 474

243 Controls in detail
Useful features
Upgrade scenario
An emergency call is possible even if other 
services are active. Response Center was established, then 
the Tele Aid system could not initiate 
an Information call (e.g. the relevant 
cellular phone network is not avail-
able). The message 
Call failed 
ap-
pears in the multifunction display.
Information calls can be terminated us-
ing the ìbutton on the multifunc-
tion steering wheel or the respective 
button for ending a telephone call on 
the COMAND headunit.
!If the indicator lamps do not start flash-
ing after pressing one of the buttons or 
remain illuminated (in red) at any time, 
the Tele Aid system has detected a 
malfunction or the service is currently 
not active, and may not initiate a call. 
Visit your Mercedes-Benz Center and 
have the system checked or contact 
the Response Center at 
1-800-756-9018 (in the USA) or 
1-888-923-8367 (in Canada) as soon 
as possible.
!If the indicator lamp continues to flash 
or the system does not reset, contact 
the Response Center at 
1-800-756-9018 (in the USA) or 
1-888-923-8367 (in Canada), or 
Mercedes-Benz Customer Assistance 
at 1-800-FOR-MERCedes 
(1-800-367-6372) in the USA or 
Customer Service at 1-800-387-0100 
in Canada. 
     
        
        Page 295 of 474

293 Operation
Tires and wheels
Reactivating the tire inflation pressure 
monitor
The tire inflation pressure monitor must be 
reactivated in the following situations:
If you have changed the tire inflation 
pressure
If you have replaced the wheels or tires
If you have installed new wheels or 
tires
Using the tire placard on the driver’s 
door B-pillar or, if available, the inside 
of the fuel filler flap, make sure the tire 
inflation pressure of all four tires is cor-
rect.
Press button j or k repeatedly 
until you see the current tire inflation 
pressures for each tire appear in the 
multifunction display or the following 
message appears in the multifunction 
display:Tire pressure
displayed only 
after driving
a few minutes
Press the reset button on the instru-
ment cluster (
page 24).
The following message will appear in 
the multifunction display: 
Monitor current
tire pressure?
 
Press the æ button.
The following message will appear in 
the multifunction display:Tire pres. monitor
 
reactivated
 
The tire inflation pressure monitor will 
now monitor the tire inflation pressure 
values of all four tires.
The following message will appear in 
the multifunction display field:
Tire pressure
displayed only 
after driving
a few minutesThis display appears until the individual 
tire inflation pressure values are 
matched with the tires. The individual 
values are then displayed 
(page 291).
iIf you are transporting a deflated tire in 
the vehicle, do not activate the tire 
inflation pressure monitor until
the deflated tire is no longer in the 
vehicle
you have inflated the tire to the 
correct tire inflation pressure 
     
        
        Page 315 of 474

313 Operation
Maintenance
Clearing the maintenance service indi-cator
The maintenance service indicator is auto-
matically cleared after approximately 
30 seconds. You can also clear it yourself.
1Reset button
Press reset button1 on the instru-
ment cluster.
The maintenance service indicator is 
cleared and the standard display ap-
pears in the multifunction display.
Maintenance service term exceeded
If you have exceeded the suggested ser-
vice term, you will see the following mes-
sage in the right multifunction display:Service A exceeded by xx days
Service A exceeded by xx miles (km)In addition, a signal sounds when the mes-
sage appears.
Any authorized Mercedes-Benz Center will 
reset the maintenance service indicator 
following a completed maintenance ser-
vice.Calling up the maintenance service 
indicator
Switch on the ignition (
page 36).
The standard display of the control sys-
tem appears (
page 134).
Press button k or j on the 
multifunction steering wheel until the 
maintenance service indicator symbol 
9 or ´ appears in the left multi-
function display and the service dead-
line appears in the right multifunction 
display.
 
     
        
        Page 316 of 474

314 OperationMaintenance
Resetting the maintenance service indicator 
In the event that the maintenance service 
on your vehicle is not carried out by an au-
thorized Mercedes-Benz Center, you can 
have the maintenance service indicator re-
set. The automotive maintenance facility 
carrying out the maintenance service will 
find the information for resetting the main-
tenance service indicator in the mainte-
nance-relevant information for your 
vehicle. Such information is available ei-
ther from an authorized Mercedes-Benz 
Center or directly from Mercedes-Benz.
iIf the battery supplying the vehicle’s 
electrical consumers is disconnected, 
the days of disconnection will not be in-
cluded in the count shown by the ser-
vice indicator. To arrive at the true 
service deadline, you will need to sub-
tract these days from the days shown 
in the service indicator. 
Do not confuse the service indicator 
with the engine oil level indicator :.
!If the maintenance service indicator 
was inadvertently reset, have an autho-
rized Mercedes-Benz Center correct it.
Only reset if the proper service has 
been performed. Resetting the system 
without performing proper service as 
called for by the maintenance service 
indicator will result in engine damage 
not covered by the Mercedes-Benz 
Limited Warranty.
 
     
        
        Page 337 of 474

335 Practical hints
What to do if …
Vehicle status messages in the multi-function display
Warning and malfunction messages ap-
pear in the in the multifunction display lo-
cated in the instrument cluster.
Certain warning and malfunction messag-
es are accompanied by an audible signal. 
Address these messages accordingly and 
follow the additional instructions given in 
this Operator’s Manual.
Selecting the vehicle status message 
memory menu in the control system 
(page 143) displays both cleared and 
uncleared messages.
High-priority messages appear in the mul-
tifunction display in red color.Certain messages of high priority cannot 
be cleared from the multifunction display 
using the reset button (
page 24) or but-
ton j, k, ÿ, or è on the 
multifunction steering wheel.
Other messages of high priority and mes-
sages of less immediate priority can be 
cleared from the multifunction display us-
ing the reset button or button j, k, 
ÿ, or è on the multifunction steer-
ing wheel. They are then stored in the vehi-
cle status message memory (
page 143). 
Remember that clearing a message will not 
correct the condition that caused the mes-
sage to appear.
Warning!
G
All categories of messages contain impor-
tant information which should be taken note 
of and, where a malfunction is indicated, ad-
dressed as soon as possible at an autho-
rized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Failure to repair condition noted may cause 
damage not covered by the Mercedes-Benz 
Limited Warranty, or result in property dam-
age or personal injury.Warning!
G
No messages will be displayed if either the 
instrument cluster or the multifunction dis-
play is inoperative. Contact your nearest au-
thorized Mercedes-Benz Center.