Page 129 of 313

Driving127
Controls
Safety
Driving tips
General maintenance
Self-help
Technical data
– Pull the lever to position ⇒page 125, fig. 138 to
switch on the system.
– Drive at the speed you wish to set the system to (must be
higher than 30 km/h).
– Briefly press button .When the pushbutton is released, the current speed is stored in the
memory and the vehicle will maintain this speed. The cruise control
system is then operating. If you have selected the display for the on-
board computer 1 or 2, a green symbol in the instrument cluster
display indicates that the cruise control is operating ⇒page 126,
fig. 140. The speed which is being maintained is displayed next to
the symbol.
The information for the cruise control system is shown briefly in the
system status indicator if you have selected the display for the
digital speedometer or the route guidance ⇒fig. 141. In addition,
the indicator lamp ⇒page 126, fig. 139 lights up to tell you that the
system is in cruise mode.
Adjusting speed (without storing it)
When the cruise control system is operating it is possible
to briefly drive at a higher speed without storing this new
speed.– Press the accelerator, for example to overtake another
vehicle.Once you release the accelerator the system will automatically
revert to the speed you stored initially. However, the system will only
function in this manner for as long as the symbol ⇒page 126,
fig. 140 lights up green.
If your speed is more than 10 km/h higher than the stored speed
over a period of more than 5 minutes the cruise control system will
temporarily be deactivated. The green symbol will go out and the
white symbol will light up. The stored speed will, however, be
retained ⇒page 128, fig. 142.Adjusting speed and storing new speedTo set a higher speed
– Move the lever up towards ⇒page 125, fig. 138.
– Release the lever to store the current cruising speed.
To set a lower speed
– Move the lever down towards ⇒page 125, fig. 138.
– Release the lever to store the current cruising speed.When you press and hold lever the speed is changed in incre-
ments of 10 km/h. The speed selected can be higher/lower than the
current driving speed.
Fig. 141 Symbol and
speed display while in
cruise mode (short-
term display)
AA
A1
AB
AA
A+
AA
A-
AA
document_0900452a8179700c.book Seite 127 Donnerstag, 22. März 2007 10:19 10
Page 130 of 313

Driving 128Pressing lever briefly
You can increase the set speed in steps of 1 km/h by briefly pressing
the lever up towards ⇒page 125, fig. 138.
You can decrease the set speed in steps of about 1 km/h by briefly
pressing the lever down towards ⇒page 125, fig. 138.Switching off cruise control temporarily– Press the brake pedal, or
– Push lever in direction (click stop not engaged)
⇒page 125, fig. 138, or– Drive more than 10 km/h faster than the stored speed
over a period of more than 5 minutes ⇒page 127.
The green symbol will go out when the system is temporarily deac-
tivated. The stored speed is retained. You can use this stored speed
again the next time you activate cruise mode ⇒page 128,
“Resuming cruise control”.Resuming cruise control
You can reactivate cruise mode only if you are driving
faster than 30 km/h.– Pull the lever to position ⇒page 125, fig. 138.When you reactivate the cruise control system you resume driving
with the programmed cruising speed you stored earlier.
WARNING
Do not resume the programmed cruising speed if this is too high
for the traffic conditions - this can cause accidents.Pre-selecting a speed
When the cruise control system is deactivated you can
pre-select a speed to use later.– Push the lever up towards or down towards
⇒page 125, fig. 138 in order to increase or reduce the
cruising speed setting.
– Release the lever to store the cruising speed setting
displayed.This function allows you to enter the desired cruising speed ahead
of time, for example, before joining a motorway. Once you have
AA
AA
A+
AA
A-
Fig. 142 Symbol:
Cruise control tempo-
rarily switched offFig. 143 Symbol is
shown briefly in
system status indi-
cator
AA
A2
A1
AA
A+
A-
document_0900452a8179700c.book Seite 128 Donnerstag, 22. März 2007 10:19 10
Page 131 of 313
Driving129
Controls
Safety
Driving tips
General maintenance
Self-help
Technical data joined the motorway you can then activate the cruise control system
as if you were resuming the function ⇒page 128, “Resuming cruise
control”.
Pre-selection after starting the engine
After starting the engine there is no cruising speed stored in the
system. The current speed is stored when you briefly push lever
up towards (if the speed is above 30 km/h). If the speed is lower,
30 km/h is stored.
Switching off the cruise control systemWhile driving
– Press the lever to position (click stop engaged)
⇒page 125, fig. 138.
When the vehicle is stationary
– Switch off the ignition.The stored speed will be deleted when the ignition is switched off.
AA
A+
AA
A2
document_0900452a8179700c.book Seite 129 Donnerstag, 22. März 2007 10:19 10
Page 132 of 313

Automatic gearbox 130Automatic gearboxmultitronic
®
Applies to vehicles: with multitronic®IntroductionThe vehicle is equipped with an electronically controlled continu-
ously variable transmission (multitronic
®). Unlike conventional
automatics, the gear ratios are not shifted in fixed steps but contin-
uously variable. This gives smoother transmission and makes for
better fuel economy.
The gearbox selects the gear ratio and shifts up or down automati-
cally according to the gear change programmes stored in the
control unit ⇒page 133, “Dynamic gear control program (DCP)”.
The gearbox also has the tiptronic manual shift feature. This system
allows the driver to select gears manually if required ⇒page 134.
Please note that on vehicles with a multitronic gearbox, torque is
transmitted via a multi-plate clutch, and not via a torque converter
as on conventional automatics. This means that the car will not
“creep” as much as conventional automatics when the engine is
idling if you stop temporarily with the selector lever in position D, S
or R.
Applies to vehicles: with multitronic®General notes on using multitronic
®
The transmission ratio is varied continuously.Driving away from a standstill
– Press and hold the brake pedal.
– Press and hold the interlock button (the button in the
selector lever handle), move the selector lever to the
desired position, for instance D, and release the interlock
button.
– Wait for the gearbox to engage the gear (a slight move-
ment can be felt).
– Release the brake and press the accelerator ⇒.
Stopping briefly
– Apply the foot brake to hold the vehicle when stationary
(for instance at traffic lights).
Fig. 144 Detail of the
centre console:
Selector lever with
interlock button
document_0900452a8179700c.book Seite 130 Donnerstag, 22. März 2007 10:19 10
Page 133 of 313

Automatic gearbox131
Controls
Safety
Driving tips
General maintenance
Self-help
Technical data
– To prevent the vehicle from rolling away, apply the
parking brake before moving off on steep gradients
⇒.
– As soon as you accelerate as normal, the parking brake
will automatically be released and the vehicle will start
moving.
Pa rking the c ar
– Press and hold the brake pedal ⇒.
– Apply the parking brake.
– Press and hold the interlock button, move the selector
lever to P and release the interlock button.Your vehicle is equipped with the hill hold assist function which
makes it easier to drive away on a slope. The system is activated
when you press and hold the brake pedal for a few seconds. When
you release the brake pedal the braking force will be maintained for
a moment in order to prevent the vehicle rolling back when you drive
away.
The engine c an only be started when the selector lever is at P or N.
On level ground it is sufficient to move the selector lever to P. On a
gradient the parking brake should be applied first and the selector
lever should be moved to P. This reduces the load on the locking
mechanism and makes it easier to move the selector lever out of
position P.
WARNING
•
Do not press the accelerator while selecting a gear with the
vehicle stationary and the engine running, as this could cause an
accident.
•
Please note that some power will still be transmitted when you
stop temporarily with the selector lever in position D, S or R. For this reason, to avoid risking an accident, apply the footbrake firmly
when stopping to prevent the vehicle rolling away.
•
Never move the selector lever to R or P when driving, as this
could cause an accident.
Applies to vehicles: with multitronic®Selector lever positions
This section covers all the selector lever positions.The current selector lever position is shown in the instrument
cluster display.
P - Parking lock
This locks the driving wheels mechanically. The parking lock must
only be engaged when the vehicle is stationary ⇒.
The interlock button (the button in the selector lever handle) must
be pressed in and the brake pedal must be depressed before
moving the selector lever either in or out of position P. The lever can
only be moved out of position P when the ignition is on.
R - Reverse gear
When reverse gear is engaged the gearbox automatically selects the
lowest gear ratio.
Fig. 145 Display:
Selector lever posi-
tions
document_0900452a8179700c.book Seite 131 Donnerstag, 22. März 2007 10:19 10
Page 134 of 313

Automatic gearbox 132Reverse gear must only be engaged when the vehicle is stationary
and the engine is idling ⇒.
To move the selector lever to position R, press in the interlock
button and at the same time press the brake pedal. Depending on
the model, one or two reversing lights will come on in selector lever
position R (when ignition is switched on).
N - Neutral
In this position the gearbox is in neutral ⇒.
D - Drive (forwards)
In this position the gearbox automatically selects the best gear
ratio. This depends on the engine load, the road speed and the
dynamic gear control program (DCP).
Press the brake pedal when moving the selector lever from N to D if
the vehicle is stationary or at speeds below 5 km/h ⇒.
In some situations (such as on mountain roads or when towing a
trailer or caravan) it can be advantageous to switch temporarily to
tiptronic mode ⇒page 134, so that the gear ratios can be selected
manually to suit the driving conditions.
S - Sport position
Select this position if you wish to take full advantage of the car's
performance. This setting makes use of the engine's maximum
power output. When accelerating the gear shifts will be noticeable.
Press the brake pedal when moving the selector lever from N to S if
the vehicle is stationary or at speeds below 5 km/h ⇒.
WARNING
•
Never move the selector lever to R or P when driving, as this
could cause an accident.
•
In selector position D or S the vehicle must always be held with
the foot brake when the engine is running. This is because an auto-
matic gearbox still transmits power even at idling speed, and the vehicle tends to “creep”. The throttle must on no account be
opened inadvertently (for instance by hand from the engine
compartment) when a gear is engaged with the vehicle stationary.
The vehicle could otherwise start moving immediately (in some
cases even if the parking brake is engaged) and possibly cause an
accident.
•
To avoid accidents, apply the parking brake and put the
selector lever in position P before opening the bonnet and working
on the vehicle with the engine running. Please observe the impor-
tant safety warnings ⇒page 231, “Working on components in the
engine compartment”.
Applies to vehicles: with multitronic®Selector lever lock
The selector lever lock prevents gears from being
engaged inadvertently, so that the vehicle is not set in
motion unintentionally.The selector lever lock is released as follows:
– Switch on the ignition.
WARNING (continued)
Fig. 146 Selector lever
lock functions
document_0900452a8179700c.book Seite 132 Donnerstag, 22. März 2007 10:19 10
Page 135 of 313

Automatic gearbox133
Controls
Safety
Driving tips
General maintenance
Self-help
Technical data
– Press the brake pedal and at the same time press in the
interlock button.Automatic selector lever lock
The selector lever is locked in the P and N positions when the igni-
tion is on. The brake pedal must be depressed before the lever can
be moved out of either of these positions. The following message
appears in the instrument display as a reminder for the driver when
the selector lever is in position P or N:
WHEN STATIONARY APPLY FOOTBRAKE WHILE SELECTING GEAR.
The selector lever lock only works if the vehicle is stationary or
driving at speeds up to 5 km/h. At higher speeds the selector lever
lock in the N position is disengaged automatically.
The selector lever lock is not engaged if the selector lever is moved
quickly through position N (e.g. when shifting from R to D). This
makes it possible, for instance, to “rock” the vehicle backwards and
forwards if it is stuck in snow or mud. The selector lever lock
engages automatically if the brake pedal is not depressed and the
lever is in position N for more than about a second.
Interlock button
The interlock button on the selector lever handle prevents the driver
from inadvertently engaging particular gears. Press the button in to
disengage the selector lever lock. The illustration shows the selector
lever positions in which the button has to be pressed, highlighted in
colour ⇒page 132, fig. 146.
Safety interlock for ignition key
The key can only be withdrawn with the ignition switched off and
the selector lever in position P. When the ignition key is removed,
the selector lever is locked in position P.
Applies to vehicles: with multitronic®Kick-down feature
The kick-down feature is designed to give maximum
acceleration.When the accelerator pedal is pressed right down past the point of
resistance at full throttle, the gearbox will select a lower gear,
depending on road speed and engine speed. While you keep the
accelerator depressed the engine speed is automatically controlled
to give your vehicle maximum acceleration.
WARNING
Please note that if the road surface is slippery or wet, the kick-
down feature could cause the driving wheels to spin, which could
result in skidding.Applies to vehicles: with multitronic®Dynamic gear control program (DCP)
The multitronic
® gearbox is controlled electronically.
The vehicle is equipped with an electronically controlled gearbox.
The gear ratios are selected automatically according to preset gear-
shift programmes.
When you drive at moderate speeds the gearbox will select the most
economical shift programme. It will then change up early and delay
the downshifts to give better fuel economy.
If you drive at higher speeds with heavy acceleration, if you open the
throttle quickly, or if you use the kick-down or the car's maximum
speed, the gearbox will automatically select the more “sporty” shift
programmes.
The gearbox is self-adapting, and continuously selects the most
suitable shift programme. At the same time, the driver can also
make the gearbox switch to a more "sporty" programme by pressing
document_0900452a8179700c.book Seite 133 Donnerstag, 22. März 2007 10:19 10
Page 136 of 313

Automatic gearbox 134the accelerator quickly. Depending on road speed, this makes the
gearbox shift down early into a lower gear ratio for more rapid accel-
eration (for instance to pass another vehicle), without having to
press the accelerator all the way down into the kick-down position.
After the gearbox has shifted back up it returns to the original
programme, depending on your style of driving.
The gearbox continuously adapts the gear ratios on uphill gradi-
ents. If the brake pedal is pressed on a downhill gradient the
gearbox automatically shifts to a lower gear ratio. This increases the
engine braking effect.Applies to vehicles: with multitronic®Manual gear selection (tiptronic mode)
With the manual shift programme (tiptronic) the driver
can manually select seven pre-programmed gears.
Switching over to the manual programme
– From position D, push the selector lever to the right. As
soon as the automatic gearbox has changed over to this
programme, the display will show the selected gear.
Shifting up a gear
– Briefly push the selector lever forwards (in the tiptronic
gate) ⇒fig. 147 .
Shifting down a gear
– Briefly pull the selector lever backwards (in the tiptronic
gate) .With the tiptronic system the driver can manually choose between
7 different pre-programmed gears. The manual programme can be
selected either when stationary or while driving (by moving the
lever out of position D).
When accelerating, the gearbox automatically shifts up into the next
gear shortly before the maximum engine speed is reached.
If you select a gear which is lower than the gear shown in the instru-
ment display ⇒fig. 148, the gearbox will only shift down when
there is no longer a risk of overrevving the engine.
Fig. 147 Centre
console: Manual gear
selection (tiptronic
mode)
Fig. 148 Display:
Manual gear selection
(tiptronic mode)
A+
A…
document_0900452a8179700c.book Seite 134 Donnerstag, 22. März 2007 10:19 10