162 Controls in detailControl systemWith daytime running lamp mode activated
and the exterior lamp switch in
positionM orU, the low beam
headlamps are switched on when the
engine is running.
In low ambient light conditions the follow-
ing lamps will switch on additionally:
Parking lamps
Tail lamps
License plate lamps
Side marker lamps
For more information on the daytime
running lamp mode, see “Lighting”
(
page 128).Setting locator lighting
With the locator lighting feature activated
and the exterior lamp switch in
positionU, the following lamps will
switch on during darkness when the vehi-
cle is unlocked with the SmartKey or
KEYLESS-GO*:
Parking lamps
Tail lamps
License plate lamps
Side marker lamps
Front fog lamps
The locator lighting switches off when the
driver’s door is opened.
If you do not open a door after unlocking
the vehicle with the SmartKey, the lamps
will switch off automatically after approxi-
mately 40 seconds.
Move the selection marker with
buttonæ orç to the
Lighting
submenu.
Press buttonj ork repeatedly
until the message
Function Surround
lighting
appears in the multifunction
display.
The selection marker is on the current
setting.
Press buttonæ orç to switch
the locator lighting function
On
or
Off
.
Turn the exterior lamp switch to
positionU when exiting the vehicle.
The locator lighting feature is activat-
ed.
i
For safety reasons, resetting the
Lighting
submenu to factory settings while driving
(
page 155) will not deactivate the daytime
running lamp mode.
The following message appears in the multifunc-
tion display:
Cannot be completely reset
to factory settings while driving.
167 Controls in detail
Control system
Press buttonæ orç to switch
function
On or
Off
.
Trip computer menu
Use the trip computer menu to call up sta-
tistical data on your vehicle. The following
information is available:Fuel consumption statistics since start
Press buttonÿ orè repeatedly
until the first function of the trip com-
puter menu appears.
Press buttonj ork repeatedly
until the message
From start
appears
in the multifunction display.
1Distance driven since start
2Time elapsed since start
3Average speed since start
4Average fuel consumption since start
Fuel consumption since last reset
Press buttonÿ orè repeatedly
until the first function of the trip com-
puter menu appears.
Press buttonj ork repeatedly
until the message
Since reset
ap-
pears in the multifunction display.
1Distance driven since last reset
2Time elapsed since last reset
3Average speed since last reset
4Average fuel consumption since last
reset
Function
Page
Fuel consumption statistics
since start
167
Fuel consumption statistics
since last reset
167
Resetting fuel consumption
statistics
168
Distance to empty
168
i
All statistics stored since the last engine
start will be reset approximately 4 hours after
the SmartKey in the starter switch is turned to
position0 or removed from the starter switch.
Resetting will not occur if you turn the SmartKey
back to position1 or2 within this time period.
168 Controls in detailControl systemResetting fuel consumption statistics
Press buttonÿ orè repeatedly
until the first function of the trip com-
puter menu appears.
Press buttonj ork repeatedly
until the reading that you want to reset
in the multifunction display appears.
Press and hold the reset button
(page 138) until the value is reset
to0.Distance to empty
Press buttonÿ orè repeatedly
until the first function of the trip com-
puter menu appears.
Press buttonj ork repeatedly
until the message
Range:
appears in
the multifunction display.
The calculated remaining driving range
based on the current fuel tank level ap-
pears in the multifunction display.
TEL* menu
i
If only very little fuel is left in the tank, a ve-
hicle at the fuel pump is shown instead of the
range.
Warning!
G
A driver’s attention to the road must always
be his/her primary focus when driving. For
your safety and the safety of others, we rec-
ommend that you pull over to a safe location
and stop before placing or taking a tele-
phone call. If you choose to use the tele-
phone while driving, please use the
hands-free device and only use the tele-
phone when weather, road and traffic condi-
tions permit.
Some jurisdictions prohibit the driver from
using a cellular telephone while driving a
vehicle.
Bear in mind that at a speed of just 30 mph
(approximately 50 km/h), your vehicle is
covering a distance of 44 feet (approximate-
ly 14 m) every second.
215 Controls in detail
Driving systems
Driving systems
The following driving systems are
explained on the following pages:
Cruise control and Distronic*, with
which the vehicle can maintain a preset
speed
Airmatic DC adjusts the vehicle sus-
pension characteristics automatically
and controls the vehicle level
Parktronic system*, which assists the
driver during parking maneuvers
For information on the BAS, ABS, ESP
® and
EBP, see “Driving safety systems”
(
page 91).
Cruise control
The cruise control automatically maintains
the speed you set for your vehicle.
Use of cruise control is recommended for
driving at a constant speed for extended
periods of time. You can set or resume
cruise control at any speed above 20 mph
(30 km/h).
The cruise control function is operated by
means of the cruise control lever.
The cruise control lever is the uppermost
lever on the left-hand side of the steering
column (
page 24).
Warning!
G
The cruise control is a convenience system
designed to assist the driver during vehicle
operation. The driver is and must always
remain responsible for the vehicle’s speed
and for safe brake operation.
Only use the cruise control if the road,
traffic, and weather conditions make it ad-
visable to travel at a steady speed.
The use of cruise control can be danger-
ous on winding roads or in heavy traffic
because conditions do not allow safe
driving at a steady speed.
The use of cruise control can be danger-
ous on slippery roads. Rapid changes in
tire traction can result in wheel spin and
loss of control.
Deactivate the cruise control when driv-
ing in fog.
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.
218 Controls in detailDriving systemsFine adjustment in 1 mph
(Canada: 1 km/h) increments
Faster
Briefly tip the cruise control lever in
direction of arrow1 (
page 216).
Slower
Briefly tip the cruise control lever in
direction of arrow2 (
page 216).Setting to last stored speed
(“Resume” function)
Briefly pull the cruise control lever to
position4 (
page 216).
The cruise control resume the last set
speed.
Remove your foot from the accelerator
pedal.
The selected speed appears in the multi-
function display for approximately
5 seconds, and the corresponding speed-
ometer segments from the selected speed
to the vehicle maximum speed are illumi-
nated.
Distronic*
When activated, the Distronic adaptive
cruise control system increases driving
convenience afforded by the cruise control
during travel on expressways and other
major roads.
If the Distronic distance sensor detects
a slower moving vehicle directly ahead,
your vehicle speed will be reduced so
that you follow that vehicle at a preset
distance.
If there is no vehicle directly ahead of
you, Distronic will function in the same
way as cruise control (
page 216).
Warning!
G
The speed stored in memory should only be
set again if prevailing road conditions per-
mit. Possible acceleration or deceleration
differences arising from returning to the pre-
set speed could cause an accident and/or
serious injury to you and others.
Warning!
G
Distronic adaptive cruise control is no sub-
stitute for active driving involvement. It does
not react to stationary objects, nor recog-
nize or predict the curvature and lane layout
or the movement of vehicles ahead.
Distronic can only apply a maximum of 20%
of the vehicle’s braking power.
221 Controls in detail
Driving systems
Distronic displays in the speedometer
dial
1Set speed
If Distronic is activated, one or two seg-
ments come on around the set speed.1Segments
If Distronic detects a vehicle directly
ahead, the segments (representing the
difference) from the speed of the vehicle
ahead to the set speed come on.
If Distronic calculates that there is a dan-
ger of collision:
The distance warning lampl in the
instrument cluster comes on red.
An intermittent warning sounds.
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.
i
The vehicle speed displayed on the speed-
ometer can briefly vary from the speed setting
on the Distronic system.
222 Controls in detailDriving systems
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 distance warning
lampl goes out when the neces-
sary distance to the vehicle ahead is
again established.
Warning!
G
An intermittent warning sounds and the
distance warning lampl in the instru-
ment cluster 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
being avoided.
Tailgating increases the risk of an accident.
Warning!
G
Distronic brakes your vehicle with a maxi-
mum deceleration of 6.5 ft/s
2 (2 m/s
2).
This corresponds to about 20% of the maxi-
mum deceleration ability of your vehicle.
Distronic brakes the vehicle in an effort to
restore the preset distance or to maintain
the speed.
223 Controls in detail
Driving systems
Distronic menu in the control system
In the Distronic menu you can read the cur-
rent settings for Distronic. What appears in
the multifunction display depends on
whether Distronic and the distance warn-
ing function are turned on or off.
Press buttonè orÿ repeatedly
until one of the following displays ap-
pears.Distronic deactivated
When Distronic is deactivated you will see
the standard display in the multifunction
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
If you turn Distronic on, you will see the set
speed in the multifunction display for
about 5 seconds. When Distronic is
activated, you will see the following display
in the multifunction display.
1Distronic activated