159 Controls in detail
Control system
Lighting submenu
Access the
Lighting
submenu via the
Settings
menu. Use the
Lighting
sub-
menu to change the lamp and lighting set-
tings on your vehicle. The following
functions are available:Setting daytime running lamp mode
(USA only)
Move the selection marker with button
æ or ç to the
Lighting
sub-
menu.
Press button j or k repeatedly
until the message
Light circuit
Headlamp mode
appears in the multi-
function display.
The selection marker is on the current
setting.
Press button æ or ç to select
manual operation (
Manual
) or daytime
running lamp mode (
Constant
).With daytime running lamp mode activated
and the exterior lamp switch at
positionM or U the low beam head-
lamps 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
Function
Page
Setting daytime running lamp
mode (USA only)
159
Setting locator lighting
160
Setting night security illumina-
tion
160
Setting interior lighting delayed
switch-off
161
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This function is not available in countries
where the daytime running lamp mode is manda-
tory and therefore in a constant mode.
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For safety reasons, resetting to factory set-
tings (page 153) while driving will not deacti-
vate the daytime running lamp mode.
The following message appears in the multifunc-
tion display:
Cannot be fully reset to
factory settings when driving
.
163 Controls in detail
Control system
Move the selection marker with the
æ orç button to the
Conve-
nience
submenu.
Press button j or k repeatedly
until you see
Activate Easy-entry
feature
in the multifunction display.
The selection marker is on the current
setting.
Press æ or ç to switch the
easy-entry/exit feature
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:
Warning!
G
You must make sure no one can become
trapped or injured by the moving steering
wheel when the easy-entry/exit feature is
activated.
To stop steering wheel adjustment, do one
of the following:
Move steering column stalk
(page 45).
Press the memory button (
page 126).
Do not leave children unattended in the ve-
hicle, or with access to an unlocked vehicle.
Children could open the driver’s door and
unintentionally activate the easy-entry/exit
feature, which could result in an accident
and/or serious personal injury.
Function
Page
Fuel consumption statistics after
start
164
Fuel consumption statistics
since last reset
164
Distance to empty
165
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The last function called up will reappear the
next time you enter the trip computer menu.
164 Controls in detailControl systemFuel consumption statistics after start
Press button ÿ or è repeatedly
until you see the first function of the
trip computer menu.
Press button j or k repeatedly
until you see this message in the left
multifunction display:
From start.
1Distance driven since start
2Average speed since start
3Time elapsed since start
4Average fuel consumption since startFuel consumption since last reset
Press button ÿ or è repeatedly
until you see the first function of the
trip computer menu.
Press button j or k repeatedly
until you see this message in the left
multifunction display:
From reset.
1Distance driven since last reset
2Average speed since last reset
3Time elapsed since last reset
4Average fuel consumption since last re-
setResetting fuel consumption statistics
Press button ÿ or è repeatedly
until you see the first function of the
trip computer menu.
Press button j or k repeatedly
until you see the reading that you want
to reset in the left multifunction dis-
play.
Press and hold the reset button in the
instrument cluster (
page 27) until
the value is reset to 0.
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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.
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The fuel consumption statistics reset auto-
matically to
0 when either of the following values
is exceeded:
distance covered:100 000 miles
time elapsed: 10 000 hours
209 Controls in detail
Driving systems
Driving systems
The driving systems of your vehicle are de-
scribed on the following pages:
Cruise control and Distronic*, with
which the vehicle can maintain a preset
speed
Distance warning function* (only avail-
able with Distronic*), which warns of
stationary objects or slower moving ve-
hicles that you are closing in on too
quickly
ABC with vehicle level control systems,
with which you can change vehicle sus-
pension characteristics
Parktronic*, which assists the driver
during parking maneuvers
For information on the BAS, ABS, ESP
®,
and the electro-hydraulic brake system,
see “Driving safety systems” (
page 87).
Cruise control
The cruise control automatically maintains
the speed you set for your vehicle.
The use of the cruise control is recom-
mended for driving at a constant speed for
extended periods of time.
You can set or resume the 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 constant speed.
The use of the cruise control can be dan-
gerous on winding roads or in heavy traf-
fic because conditions do not allow safe
driving at a constant speed.
The use of the cruise control can be dan-
gerous 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.
212 Controls in detailDriving systemsSetting a higher speed
Lift the cruise control in direction of
arrow1 (
page 210) and hold it
there until the desired speed is
reached.
Release the cruise control lever.
The new speed is set.
Setting a lower speed
Depress the cruise control in direction
of arrow2 (
page 210) and hold it
there until the desired speed is
reached.
Release the cruise control lever.
The new speed is set.Fine adjustment in 1 mph
(Canada: 1 km/h) increments
Faster
Briefly tip the cruise control lever in
direction of arrow1 (
page 210).
Slower
Briefly tip the cruise control lever in
direction of arrow2 (
page 210).Setting to last stored speed
(“Resume” function)
Briefly pull the cruise control lever in
direction of arrow4 (
page 210).
The cruise control resumes to the last
set speed or, if no speed is stored, it
will set and store the current speed.
Remove your foot from the accelerator
pedal.
The selected speed appears in the mul-
tifunction display.
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When you use the cruise control lever to de-
celerate, the brake system will automatically
brake the vehicle if the engine’s braking power
does not brake the vehicle sufficiently.
Warning!
G
The set speed stored in memory should only
be set again if prevailing road conditions
permit. Possible acceleration or decelera-
tion differences arising from returning to the
preset speed could cause an accident
and/or serious injury to you and others.
215 Controls in detail
Driving systems
Distronic displays in the speedometer
dial
1Red distance warning lamp E
2Set speed
When Distronic is activated, distance
warning lamp1 and the set speed 2 ap-
pear in the speedometer dial.
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 your
vehicle.
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.
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USA only:
This device has been approved by the FCC as a
“Vehicle Radar System”. The radar sensor is in-
tended for use in an automotive radar system
only. Removal, tampering, or altering of the de-
vice will void any warranties, and is not permitted
by the FCC. Do not tamper with, alter, or use in
any non-approved way.
Any unauthorized modification to this device
could void the user’s authority to operate the
equipment.
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Canada only:
This device complies with RSS-210 of Industry
Canada. Operation is subject to the following
two conditions:
(1) This device may not cause interference, and
(2) this device must accept any interference
received, including interference that may
cause undesired operation of the device.
Removal, tampering, or altering of the device will
void any warranties, and is not permitted by the
FCC. Do not tamper with, alter, or use in any
non-approved way.
Any unauthorized modification to this device
could void the user’s authority to operate the
equipment.
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The vehicle speed displayed in the speedom-
eter can briefly vary from the speed setting for
the Distronic.
216 Controls in detailDriving systemsIf Distronic detects a vehicle directly
ahead, the Distronic indicator lamp E
in the speedometer dial comes on white.
If Distronic calculates that there is a dan-
ger of collision:
The distance warning lamp E in the
speedometer comes on red.
An intermittent warning sounds.
Immediately apply the brake 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
lampE goes out when the neces-
sary distance to the vehicle ahead is
established again.
Warning!
G
An intermittent warning sounds and the
distance warning lamp (red) E in the
speedometer dial is illuminated if the Dis-
tronic 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 preceding vehicle. The
warning sound is intended as a final caution
that you have not interceded with your own
braking inputs to avoid a potentially danger-
ous situation. Do not wait for the operation
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 avoid-
ed.
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 set speed.
217 Controls in detail
Driving systems
Distronic menu in the control system
Use the
Distronic
menu to display the
current settings for your Distronic system.
The information shown in the multifunction
display depends on whether the Distronic
system is activated (page 218) or deac-
tivated (
page 220).
Press button è or ÿ repeatedly
until you see one of the following dis-
plays in the multifunction display.Distronic deactivated
When Distronic is deactivated, you will see
the standard display in the left multifunc-
tion display.
1Preceding vehicle, if detected
2Actual distance to preceding vehicle
3Preset distance threshold to preceding
vehicle
4Your vehicle
5Symbol for activated distance warning
functionDistronic activated
When Distronic is activated, the
DTR
sym-
bol and the set speed appear in the left
multifunction display.
1Symbol for activated Distronic
2Set speed
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For information on the distance warning
function*, see “Distance warning function*”
(
page 224).