251 Controls in detail
Driving systems
Warning!
G
Distronic is a convenience system. Its speed
adjustment reduction capability is intended
to make cruise control more effective and
usable when traffic speeds vary. It is not
however, intended to, nor does it, replace
the need for extreme care. The responsibili-
ty for the vehicle’s speed, distance to the
preceding vehicle and, most importantly,
brake operation to ensure a safe stopping
distance, always rests with the driver.
Distronic cannot take road and traffic condi-
tions into account.
Complex driving situations are not always
fully recognized by Distronic. This could
result in wrong or missing distance
warnings.
Warning!
G
Distronic adaptive cruise control is no
substitute for active driving involvement. It
does not react to pedestrians or on station-
ary objects, nor does it recognize or predict
the lane curvature or the movement of
preceding vehicles.
Distronic can only apply a maximum of 20%
of the vehicle’s braking power.
It is the driver’s responsibility at all times to
be attentive to the road, weather and traffic
conditions. Additionally, the driver must
provide the steering, braking and other
driving inputs necessary to remain in control
of the vehicle.
High-frequency sources such as toll
stations, speed measuring systems etc. can
cause the Distronic system to malfunction.
Warning!
G
Distronic requires familiarity with its opera-
tional characteristics. We strongly recom-
mend that you review the following
information carefully before operating the
system.Warning!
G
Distronic cannot take road and traffic condi-
tions into account. Only use Distronic if the
road, weather and traffic conditions make it
advisable to travel at a constant speed.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.
261 Controls in detail
Driving systems
Decreasing distance
Decreasing the distance setting tells
Distronic to maintain a smaller following
distance to the preceding vehicle.
Turn distance setting switch1 in
direction of arrow2.
Driving with Distronic
This section describes a number of driving
situations where special precaution is re-
quired on the part of the driver. Be pre-
pared to brake in such situations. Braking
will deactivate the Distronic system.The most likely cause for a malfunctioning
system is a dirty sensor (located behind
the hood grille), especially at times of snow
and ice or heavy rain. In such a case,
Distronic will switch off, and the message
DISTRONIC currently unavailable
– See
Operator’s Manual
appears in the multi-
function display.
For cleaning and care of the Distronic sen-
sor, see “Cleaning the Distronic* system
sensor cover” (
page 408).
Warning!
G
Distronic works to maintain the speed se-
lected by the driver unless a moving obsta-
cle proceeding directly ahead of it in the
same travel direction is detected (e.g. fol-
lowing another vehicle ahead of you at your
set distance).
This means that:
Your vehicle can pass another vehicle
after you have changed lanes.
While in a sharp turn or if the preceding
vehicle is in a sharp turn, Distronic could
lose sight of the preceding vehicle. Your
vehicle could then accelerate to the
previously selected speed.
Distronic regulates only the distance be-
tween your vehicle and those directly ahead
of it, but does not register stationary objects
in the road, e.g.:
a stopped vehicle in a traffic jam
a disabled vehicle
an oncoming vehicle
The driver must always be alert, observe all
traffic and intercede as required by means
of steering or braking the vehicle.
Warning!
G
Distronic should not be used in snowy or icy
road conditions.
i
If the message
DISTRONIC available
again
appears during driving the dirt (e.g.
slush) has dissolved; Distronic works again, if
you reactivate it (
page 256).
264 Controls in detailDriving systemsDownhill Speed Regulation (DSR)For more information, see “Off-road driv-
ing” (
page 333).
The DSR is an aid for driving downhill. DSR
regulates your vehicle’s speed when driv-
ing downhill to the value set in the control
system (page 179). The steeper the
downhill gradient is, the greater the brake
application. On flat road surfaces, DSR
brakes only slightly or not at all.
DSR regulates the vehicle’s speed in auto-
matic transmission positionsD, orR.
You can drive slower or faster than the set
speed at any time by braking the vehicle or
depressing the accelerator pedal.
Warning!
G
Downhill Speed Regulation is a convenience
system designed to assist the driver during
vehicle operation. The system must be set
to be appropriate for the topographical and
weather conditions encountered which can
change quickly. The driver is and must
remain at all times responsible for the vehi-
cle speed and for safe brake operation.
Depending on the programmed speed
(page 179), actual vehicle speed and gra-
dient, switching on the DSR while driving
can cause the vehicle to slow down rapidly
and you may hear a sound which is caused
by the activation of the vehicle’s brake sys-
tem through the DSR. Sudden and unex-
pected deceleration can result in loss of
vehicle control, causing an accident and/or
serious personal injury to you and others.
Do not switch on the DSR in a circumstance
where rapid deceleration could result in a
loss of vehicle control.
i
In addition, make use of the engine’s braking
effect by shifting the automatic transmission
into a lower gear.
i
Whenever DSR is switched on, DSR will use
the programmed default speed to regulate the
vehicle’s speed. The default speed programmed
at the factory is 4 mph (Canada: 6 km / h). The
default speed can be reprogrammed using the
control system (
page 179). The next time DSR
is switched on, DSR will use the newly pro-
grammed default speed to regulate the vehicle’s
speed.
Once DSR is switched on, you can adjust the set
speed using the cruise control lever
(
page 255). Keep in mind that adjusting the
set speed using the cruise control lever with DSR
switched on will not change the programmed
default speed. If DSR is switched off and then
switched on again, DSR will use the programmed
default speed.
Depending on the road surface and level of
downhill grade, the DSR may not be able to
maintain the set speed. To maintain the set
speed, apply the brakes if necessary.
266 Controls in detailDriving systemsSwitching Downhill Speed Regulation off
Press DSR switch1 (
page 265).
The indicator lamp2 goes out.
The message
DSR Off
appears in the
multifunction display.Adjusting Downhill Speed Regulation
speed with DSR switched on
With the DSR switched on (
page 265),
the speed setting can be changed using
the cruise control lever.
The cruise control lever is the uppermost
lever on the left-hand side of the steering
column.
Cruise control lever1Increase set speed
2Reduce set speed
You can change the set speed between
3 - 10 mph (Canada: 4 - 18 km/h).You can increase or reduce the set speed
in two ways.
Adjustment in 1 mph (Canada: 1 km/h)
increments
Increase set speed:
Briefly lift the cruise control lever up to
the resistance point in direction of
arrow1 (
page 266).
Release the cruise control lever.
The vehicle speed increases in incre-
ments of 1 mph (Canada: 1 km/h).
i
At a speed above approximately 21 mph
(Canada approx.: 35 km/h), the DSR is automat-
ically switched off. The message
DSR Off
appears in the multifunction display and an
acoustic signal sounds. For information on how
to switch DSR on again, see “Switching Downhill
Speed Regulation on” (
page 265).
i
The set value is increased or decreased in
1 mph (Canada: 1 km/h) increments each time
you lift or depress the cruise control lever to the
resistance point.
267 Controls in detail
Driving systems
Reduce set speed:
Briefly press the cruise control lever
down to the resistance point in direc-
tion of arrow2 (
page 266).
Release the cruise control lever.
The vehicle speed decreases in incre-
ments of 1 mph (Canada: 1 km/h).
Each time the set speed is changed, DSR
will appear in the multifunction dis-
play and the changed set speed is
shown.Adjustment in 5 mph
(Canada: 10 km/h) increments
Increase set speed:
Briefly lift the cruise control lever up
past the resistance point in direction of
arrow1 (
page 266).
Release the cruise control lever.
The vehicle speed increases in incre-
ments of 5 mph (Canada: 10 km/h).
Reduce set speed:
Briefly press the cruise control lever
down past the resistance point in direc-
tion of arrow2 (
page 266).
Release the cruise control lever.
The vehicle speed decreases in incre-
ments of 5 mph (Canada: 10 km/h).
Each time the set speed is changed, DSR
will appear in the multifunction dis-
play and the newly set speed is shown.
i
The set speed is canceled when DSR is
switched off. If DSR is switched on again, DSR
will use the programmed default speed
(
page 179).
i
The set value is increased or decreased in
5 mph (Canada: 10 km/h) increments each time
you lift or depress the cruise control lever past
the resistance point.
i
The new speed is set and the vehicle will
accelerate or decelerate. Keep in mind that it
may take a brief moment until the vehicle has
reached the new set speed.
i
The set speed is canceled when DSR is
switched off. If DSR is switched on again, DSR
will use the programmed default speed
(
page 179).
279 Controls in detail
Driving systems
Rear view camera*Warning!
G
The rear view camera is only an aid and may
display obstacles from a distorted perspec-
tive or inaccurately, or may not display ob-
stacles at all. The rear view camera does not
relieve you of the responsibility to be cau-
tious, take care and pay careful attention.
The rear view camera may not show objects
which are:
very close to the rear bumper
under the rear bumper
above the tailgate handle
You are responsible for safety at all times
and must continue to pay attention to the
immediate surroundings when parking and
maneuvering. This includes the area behind,
in front of and beside the vehicle. Otherwise
you could endanger yourself or others.
Warning!
G
Make sure that no persons or animals are in
or near the area in which you are
parking/maneuvering. Otherwise, they
could be injured.Warning!
G
The rear view camera either will not function
or will not function to its full capability if:
the tailgate is open
it is raining very hard, snowing or foggy
it is night or you are parking/maneuver-
ing your vehicle in an area where it is
very dark
the camera is exposed to a very bright
white light
the immediate surroundings are illumi-
nated with fluorescent light (the display
may flicker)
there is a sudden change in tempera-
ture, e.g. if you drive into a heated ga-
rage from the cold (lens condensation)
the camera lens is dirty or covered
the rear of your vehicle is damaged
In this case, have the position and set-
ting of the camera checked by a quali-
fied specialist workshop.
Mercedes-Benz recommends that you
visit a Mercedes-Benz Light Truck
Center for this purpose.
Do not use the rear view camera in these sit-
uations. Otherwise you could injure yourself
or others and/or damage property including
your vehicle while parking/maneuvering.
314 Controls in detailUseful featuresWhen the connection is established, the
message
Call connected
appears in the
multifunction display. The Tele Aid system
will transmit data generating the vehicle
identification number, model, color and lo-
cation (subject to availability of cellular
and GPS signals).
A voice connection between the Customer
Assistance Center representative and the
occupants of the vehicle will be estab-
lished. Information regarding the operation
of your vehicle, the nearest
Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center or
Mercedes-Benz USA products and servic-
es is available to you.
For more details concerning the Tele Aid
system, please visit www.mbusa.com and
use your ID and password (sent to you sep-
arately) to learn more (USA only).Call priority
If other service calls such as a Roadside
Assistance call or Information call are
active, an Emergency call is still possible.
In this case, the Emergency call will take
priority and override all other active calls.
i
While the call is connected, you can change
to the navigation menu by pressing the NAV
button on the COMAND system.
i
The indicator lamp in the Information
button¡ remains illuminated in red for
approximately 10 seconds during the system
self-check after switching on the ignition (togeth-
er with the SOS button and the Roadside
Assistance button•).
See system self-check (
page 309) if the indi-
cator lamp does not come on in red or stays on
longer than approximately 10 seconds.
If the indicator lamp in the Information
button¡ is flashing continuously and there
was no voice connection to the Response Center
established, then the Tele Aid system could not
initiate an Information call (e.g. the relevant cel-
lular phone network is not available). The mes-
sage
Call failed
appears in the multifunction
display.
Information calls can be terminated using
thet button on the multifunction steering
wheel or the END button on the COMAND sys-
tem.
!
If the indicator lamps do not start flashing
after pressing one of the buttons or remain illu-
minated (in red) at any time, the Tele Aid system
has detected a malfunction or the service is not
currently active, and may not initiate a call. Visit
your authorized Mercedes-Benz Light Truck
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.
i
The indicator lamp in the respective button
flashes until the call is concluded. Emergency
calls can only be terminated by a Response
Center or Customer Assistance Center repre-
sentative, whereas Roadside Assistance and
Information calls can also be terminated by
pressing buttont on the multifunction
steering wheel or using the END button on the
COMAND system.
318 Controls in detailUseful featuresStep 5:
After indicator lamp1 changes from a
slow to a rapidly flashing light, release
the hand-held remote control button
and the signal transmitter button.
Step 6:
Press and hold the just-trained signal
transmitter button (2, 3 or4) and
observe indicator lamp1.
If indicator lamp1 stays on
constantly, programming is complete
and your device should activate when
the respective signal transmitter
button (2, 3 or4) is pressed and re-
leased.Step 7:
To program the remaining two signal
transmitter buttons, repeat the steps
above starting with step 3.
Rolling code programming
To train a garage door opener (or other
rolling code devices) with the rolling code
feature, follow these instructions after
completing the “Programming” portion
(steps 1 through 6) of this text. (A second
person may make the following training
procedures quicker and easier.)
Step 8:
Locate “training” button on the garage
door opener motor head unit.
Exact location and color of the button
may vary by garage door opener brand.
Depending on manufacturer, the
“training” button may also be referred
to as “learn” or “smart” button. If there
is difficulty locating the transmitting
button, refer to the garage door opener
Operator’s Manual.Step 9:
Press the “training” button on the ga-
rage door opener motor head unit.
The “training light” is activated.
You have 30 seconds to initiate the follow-
ing two steps.
Step 10:
Return to the vehicle and firmly press,
hold for 2 seconds and release the pro-
grammed signal transmitter button
(2, 3 or4).
Step 11:
Press, hold for 2 seconds and release
same signal transmitter button a sec-
ond time to complete the training pro-
cess.
i
If indicator lamp1 flashes rapidly for about
2 seconds and then turns to a constant light,
continue with programming steps 8 through 12
as your garage door opener may be equipped
with the “rolling code” feature.
i
Some garage door openers (or other rolling
code equipped devices) may require you to
press, hold for 2 seconds and release the same
signal transmitter button a third time to
complete the training process.