
Controls
 67Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Deactivating cruise control
Tap the lever upwards or downwards, arrow3. 
The displays on the speedometer disappear.
In addition, the system is automatically deacti-
vated:
>When you brake the vehicle
>When you switch gears very slowly or shift 
to idle in cars with manual transmission
>When you select the automatic transmis-
sion's neutral position N
>When you activate DTC or deactivate DSC
>When DSC or ABS is intervening
Cruise control is not deactivated by depressing 
the accelerator pedal. Once the accelerator 
pedal is released, the stored speed is achieved 
again and maintained.
Warning lamp
The warning lamp comes on when 
cruise control has been deactivated 
by applying the parking brake or as a 
result of DSC intervention. A message appears 
on the Control Display.
Resuming a speed stored beforehand
Briefly press the button, arrow 4. the stored 
speed is resumed and maintained.
In the following instances, the stored speed is 
deleted and can no longer be resumed:
>When driving stability control systems are 
intervening
>In ca rs  with manua l transmiss ion: when you 
shift gears very slowly or shift to idle posi-
tion
>In cars with automatic transmission: when 
you engage selector lever position N
>When the ignition is switched off
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 
page84.<
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 page83. 
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 high-
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  

Driving
68 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 page71.
Braking sensation
>If you step on the brake pedal while the sys-
tem is braking, pedal sensation will be 
slightly different from the usual.
>Possible noises during automatic braking 
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, the maximum desired speed is 
110mph or 180km/h.
As with conventional cruise control sys-
tems, active cruise control in no way 
diminishes or substitutes for the driver’s own personal responsibility, alertness and aware-
ness in adjusting speed, braking or otherwise 
controlling the vehicle. The driver should 
decide when to use the system on the basis of 
road, traffic, visibility, and weather conditions. 
Active cruise control is intended for use on 
highway-type roadways where traffic is moving 
relatively smoothly. Do not use this system in 
city driving; heavy traffic such as during rush 
hour; on curvy, winding roads, slippery roads or 
roads with sharp curves such as highway off-
ramps; during inclement weather such as snow, 
strong rain or fog; or when entering inter-
changes, service/parking areas or toll booths. 
It is also important to regulate your vehicle's 
speed and distance setting within applicable 
legal limits. Always be ready to take action or 
apply the brakes if necessary, especially when 
the system is actively following a vehicle in front 
of you. Otherwise driving situations could result 
that pose the risk of accidents.<
One lever for all functions
1Store and increase desired speed
2Store and decrease desired speed
3Deactivate system, refer to page70
4Resume stored desired speed and dis-
tance, refer to page70
5Select distance to vehicle driving ahead, 
refer to page69
Storing current speed
Briefly press the lever, arrow 1, or briefly pull it, 
arrow 2, at a driving speed of more than approx. 
20 mph or 30 km/h. 

Driving
70
Deactivating cruise control
Press the lever upward or downward, arrow3. 
The displays on 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 shift 
to idle in cars with manual transmission
>When you select the automatic transmis-
sion's neutral position N
>When you activate the Dynamic Traction 
Control DTC
>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 page71
>When you apply the parking brake
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 a driving 
speed below 20 mph or 30 km/h, an application 
of the parking brake or a DSC intervention. A 
message appears on the Control Display.
Resuming stored desired speed and 
distance
Briefly press the button, arrow 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 stability control systems are 
intervening
>In cars  with ma nua l trans mis sio n: when you 
shift gears very slowly or shift to idle posi-
tion
>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 stability control 
systems are intervening; cruise control is 
deactivated
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  

Controls
 71Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
are currently not met. Calling up Check Control 
messages, refer to page84.<
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 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 
interventions. Active cruise control 
is deactivated. You can reactivate the system, if 
desired, by tapping or pulling the lever when 
road and traffic conditions permit. It is not pos-
sible 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 
to use particular care when removing any layers 
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 page83. 
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.< 

Everything under control
74
Everything under control
Odometer, outside 
temperature display, clock
1Knob in the instrument cluster
2Outside temperature display and clock
3Odometer and trip odometer
Knob in the instrument cluster
>To reset the trip odometer while the ignition 
is switched on
>To display the time, outside temperature 
and odometer briefly while the ignition is 
switched off
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 page78.
The setting is stored for the remote control cur-
rently in use.
Time, outside temperature display
Setting the time, refer to page81.
Outside temperature warning
When the displayed temperature sinks to 
approx. +377/+36, a signal sounds and a 
warning lamp lights up. There is an increased 
risk of black ice.
Black ice can also form at temperatures 
above +377/+36. You should there-
fore drive carefully on bridges and shaded roads, for example, otherwise there is an 
increased risk of an accident.<
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 taken out of 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. 

Controls
 75Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Coolant temperature
A warning lamp will come on if the coolant, and 
therefore the engine, becomes too hot. In addi-
tion, a message will appear on the Control Dis-
play.
Check coolant level, refer to page227.
Engine oil temperature*
When the engine is at normal operating temper-
ature, the engine oil temperature is between 
approx. 2107/1006 and approx. 3007/
1506.
If the engine oil temperature is too high, a mes-
sage appears on the Control Display.
Fuel gauge
Fuel tank capacity: approx. 15.9 US gallons/
60 liters.
You can find information on refueling on 
page210.
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 briefly appears on the Control 
Display 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 Dis-
play.
Refuel as soon as possible once your 
cruising range falls below 30 miles/
50 km, otherwise engine functions are not 
ensured and damage can occur.<
Computer
Displays in the instrument cluster
Calling up information
Press the button in the turn indicator lever.
The following items of information are dis-
played in the order listed:
>Cruising range
>Average speed
>Average fuel consumption
>Current fuel consumption
*
>No information
To set the corresponding units of measure, 
refer to Units of measure on page78.
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. 

Everything under control
76 Refuel as soon as possible once your 
cruising range falls below 30 miles/
50 km, 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 page77, you 
can have the average speed for another trip dis-
played.
To reset average speed: press the button in the 
turn indicator lever for approx. 2 seconds.
Average fuel consumption
The average fuel consumption is calculated for 
the time during which the engine is running.
With the trip computer, refer to page77, you 
can have the average consumption for another 
trip displayed.
To reset average fuel consumption: press the 
button in the turn indicator lever for approx. 
2seconds.
Current fuel consumption
Displays the current fuel consumption. This 
allows you to see whether your current driving 
style is conducive to fuel economy with mini-
mum exhaust emissions.
Displays on the Control Display
You can also call up the computer via iDrive; for 
operating principle refer to page16.
1.Press the   button.
This opens the start menu.
2.Move the controller to the right to call up 
"Navigation".
3.If necessary, move the highlight marker to 
the uppermost field. Turn the controller until "Car Data" is selected 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 page134
>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 page134
>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. 

Everything under control
78
Settings and information
Operating principle
1Button for:
>Selecting display
>Setting values
2Button for:
>Confirming selected display or set val-
ues
>Calling up computer information753When the lights are on: instrument lighting 
brightness103
4Calling up Check Control83
5Checking engine oil level224
6Setting the time81
7Setting the date83
8Viewing service requirement display79
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.
iDrive, for operating principle refer to page16.
1.Open the start menu.
2.Press the controller to open the   menu.
3.Select "Settings" and press the controller.4.Select "Language / Units" and press the 
controller.
5.If necessary, move the highlight marker to 
the uppermost field. Turn the controller 
until "Units" is selected and press the con-
troller.