
Driving
62
Radio readiness and ignition 
switched off
All indicator and warning lamps in the instru-
ment cluster go out.
Starting engine
Do not run the engine in closed rooms, 
otherwise the inhalation of toxic exhaust 
gases can cause unconsciousness and death. 
The exhaust gases contain carbon monoxide, 
an odorless and colorless, but highly toxic gas. 
Never leave an unattended vehicle with the 
engine running, as such a vehicle represents a 
potential safety hazard. 
Before leaving the vehicle with the engine run-
ning, select the idling position, or shift the trans-
mission into position P and firmly apply the 
handbrake, otherwise the vehicle can begin to 
roll.<
Avoid frequent starting in quick succes-
sion or repeated starting attempts in 
which the engine does not start. Otherwise, the 
fuel is not burned or inadequately burned and 
there is a danger of overheating and damaging 
the catalytic converter.<
Do not allow the engine to warm up by leaving it 
running while the vehicle remains stationary. 
Instead, begin to drive at a moderate engine 
speed.
Manual transmission
Remote control in ignition lock or with comfort 
access in vehicle, refer to page38.
1.Depress brake pedal.
2.Depress the clutch pedal and shift into 
idling position.3.Press the Start/Stop button.
Automatic and sport automatic 
transmission*
Remote control in ignition lock or with comfort 
access in vehicle, refer to page38.
1.Depress brake pedal.
2.Press the Start/Stop button.
Switching off engine
When leaving the vehicle, always take the 
remote control with you. 
When parking, firmly apply the handbrake, as 
otherwise the vehicle could roll.<
Manual transmission
1.Press the Start/Stop button with the vehicle 
stopped.
2.Shift into first gear or reverse.
3.Firmly apply the handbrake.
4.Remove the remote control from the igni-
tion lock, refer to page61.
Automatic and sport automatic 
transmission*
1.Shift transmission into position P with the 
vehicle stopped.
2.Press the Start/Stop button.
3.Firmly apply the handbrake.
4.Remove the remote control from the igni-
tion lock, refer to page61.
Before driving into a car wash
The vehicle can roll if you proceed according to 
the following steps:
1.With comfort access: insert the remote con-
trol into the ignition lock.
2.Depress brake pedal.
3.Shift into transmission position N.
4.Switch off the engine.
Transmission position P will be engaged:
>automatically after approx. 30 minutes 

Controls
 65Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
When the selector lever is pressed forward or 
back, the manual mode is activated and the 
Steptronic shifts the gear. The instrument clus-
ter shows M1 through M6.
Upshifts and downshifts are only carried out at a 
suitable engine and vehicle speed, e.g. a down-
shift is not carried out at excessively high 
engine speeds. The selected gear is briefly dis-
played in the instrument cluster, followed by the 
current gear.
To resume automatic mode, press the selector 
lever to the right.
Manually unlocking and locking 
transmission lock
In case of a power failure, e.g. when the battery 
is drained or disconnected, or an electrical fault, 
manually release the transmission lock, as oth-
erwise the rear wheels are blocked and the 
vehicle cannot be towed.
Only manually release the transmission lock for 
towing and firmly apply the handbrake before-
hand so that the vehicle cannot roll. Reengage 
the transmission lock after parking the vehicle 
at its destination.
Unlocking
1.Reach into the trim-piece opening, arrow1, 
and firmly pull the trim piece upward, 
arrow2.
2.Remove cover over the opening, refer to 3.3.Insert a screwdriver from the onboard tool 
kit, refer to page237, into the opening, 
arrow1.
4.Pull the screwdriver toward the rear until it is 
heard to engage, arrow2, and leave it 
inserted in the opening. The transmission 
lock is released.
Releasing on sport automatic 
transmission*
1.Unclip the sleeve of the selector lever.
2.Pull the sleeve over the selector lever.
3.Reach into the trim-piece opening, arrow1, 
and firmly pull the trim piece upward, 
arrow2.
4.Remove cover over the opening, refer to 5. 

Controls
 71Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
In addition to holding a steady cruising speed, if 
you encounter slower vehicles ahead, active 
cruise control will, within limits, adjust your 
vehicle's speed automatically so that you can 
flow with the traffic without having to make con-
stant adjustments. If, for example, while cruis-
ing at the selected speed, you begin to 
approach a slower vehicle ahead of you in the 
same lane, the system will reduce your vehicle's 
speed to the same as that of the vehicle ahead 
to maintain your selected distance setting. You 
can vary the following distance, which will vary 
with speed. Based on your selected distance 
setting, the system automatically decreases the 
throttle setting and lightly applies the brakes if 
necessary. In addition, if the vehicle ahead of 
you slows to a complete stop, the system can 
follow this action within the given scope and 
can also accelerate from a complete stop if the 
vehicle ahead of you drives off again shortly 
thereafter. During braking, your vehicle brake 
lamps will automatically illuminate to alert a fol-
lowing driver to take action. In addition, it may 
be necessary for your vehicle to downshift the 
automatic transmission to maintain the dis-
tance setting selected. As soon as the road in 
front of you has no moving vehicles, the system 
will accelerate to your desired speed. This set 
speed is also maintained on downhill grades, 
however the vehicle speed can drop below the 
set speed when driving uphill if the engine out-
put is not sufficient.
Active cruise control cannot detect stop 
signs, red lights, or any object that is 
stopped or is blocking the road.
Active cruise control is not and must not be 
used as a collision avoidance/warning system.
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, it is necessary that you read 
all of the pages relating to this system before 
use. Carefully read and observe the information 
on the system limitations beginning on page75 
to obtain a good command of the system and its 
range of applications.
the brake pedal, a somewhat different braking 
feel results.
Professional* navigation system
If a navigation DVD is in the drive, refer to 
page142, within limits the system adjusts the 
accelerating and braking behavior of the vehicle 
to the road you are driving on.
To ensure that the system is informed of 
the current course of the road, always use 
the latest navigation DVD if possible.<
When the vehicle position is unknown, e. g. 
when you leave the map area, this influence of 
the navigation system is not available.
Applications
Please try the system first during sparse traffic 
and clear road conditions so that you can get 
used to the system. After you have experience 
and understand the system, only then use it 
during normal traffic.
As with conventional cruise control systems, 
active cruise control in no way reduces or sub-
stitutes for the driver's own personal experi-
ence, responsibility, alertness and awareness in 
adjusting speed, braking or otherwise control-
ling 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 as well as in slow-moving traffic. Do 
not use the system in city driving; in complex 
driving situations; heavy traffic such as during 
rush hour; on curvy, winding roads, slippery 
roads or roads with sharp curves such as high-
way off-ramps; during inclement weather such 
as snow, strong rain or fog; or when entering 
interchanges, 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, espe-
cially when the system is actively following a 
vehicle in front of you. Otherwise, driving condi- 

Controls
 75Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
System limitations
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; in complex driving situations; 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 interchanges, ser-
vice/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 sys-
tem is actively following a vehicle in front of 
you.<
Always remember that the range and abil-
ity of the system do have physical limita-
tions. For example, the system may not detect 
vehicles driving ahead if they suddenly brake 
heavily in stop-and-go traffic during accelera-
tion. The system will not apply the brakes or 
slow your vehicle when a very slow-moving 
vehicle, stopped vehicle or stationary object is 
in the lane ahead of you, for example when 
approaching a traffic light or parked vehicle or 
when a vehicle is stalled in your lane. Also, the 
system does not react to oncoming traffic, 
pedestrians or other types of potential traffic 
such as a rider on a horseback. It is also possible that the system may not detect smaller moving 
objects such as motorcycles or bicycles. Be 
especially alert when encountering any of these 
situations as the system will neither automati-
cally 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 alertness.<
The system cannot allow the vehicle to drive off 
automatically in situations that make driving off 
considerably more difficult, e.g. on steep uphill 
grades, with a heavy trailer or before raised 
areas in the road.
Near radio astronomy stations, the system 
radar is deactivated at speeds under 20 mph/
30 km/h due to legal regulations.
Be certain to interrupt the system when 
you pull into an exit lane for a highway 
offramp.<
Also, vehicles traveling in a staggered manner 
on a highway may cause a delay in the system's 
reaction to a vehicle in front of you or may cause 
the system to react to a vehicle that is actually in 
the lane next to yours. Always be ready to take 
action or apply the brakes if necessary.
In addition, the system is interrupted 
whenever the driver applies the vehicle 
brakes, shifts the transmission from drive/D to 
neutral/N, or deactivates DSC. After any inter-
ruption, the system will no longer automatically 
activate the vehicle brakes, which means the 
driver must intervene and resume manual brak-
ing. You should then reactivate the system only 
when you are fully aware of the prior speed and 
distance settings.< 

Everything from A to Z
276
P
Panic mode31
Panorama glass sunroof43
– moving manually44
Park Distance Control PDC90
"Parked car operation"119
"Parked car ventilation"119
Parked car ventilation118
– activating activation 
time119
– LED114
– preselecting activation 
times119
– switching on and off 
directly119
Parking, vehicle62
Parking aid, refer to PDC Park 
Distance Control90
Parking assistant, refer to 
PDC Park Distance 
Control90
Parking brake, refer to 
Handbrake63
Parking lamps108
– replacing bulbs239
Partition net, Sports 
Wagon129
Parts and accessories6
Passenger-side exterior 
mirror, tilting down53
"Pathway lighting"109
Pathway lighting109
"PDC"91
"PDC display on"91
PDC Park Distance Control90
Personal Profile29
"Perspective"158
"Phone"196,198,201
Phone book200
– changing entry202
– creating and editing voice 
phone book206
– deleting all entries203
– deleting entry203
– dialing phone number202Phone numbers
– deleting from phone 
book203
– dialing201
– most recent numbers203
– selecting in phone book203
– Top 8203
Pinch protection system
– glass sunroof, electric42
– panorama glass sunroof43
– power windows41
Plasters, refer to First-aid 
kit248
"Play" on the radio180
Plug-in unit for remote 
control, refer to Ignition 
lock61
Pollen, refer to Microfilter/
activated charcoal filter118
Position
– refer to Displaying current 
position163
– refer to Storing current 
position152
Power failure245
Power windows, refer to 
Windows40
Preselecting activation times 
of the parked car 
ventilation119
"Presets" on the 
radio172,180
Pressure, tires220
Pressure monitoring of tires, 
refer to TPM Tire Pressure 
Monitor97
"Profile"215
Programmable buttons on 
steering wheel54
Programmable memory 
buttons21
Protective function, refer to 
Pinch protection system
– glass sunroof, electric42
– panorama glass sunroof43
– windows41
R
Radio
– autostore174
– controls168
– High Definition Radio176
– sampling stations173
– satellite radio179
– selecting frequency 
manually173
– selecting 
waveband168,172
– station search173
– station selection172
– station with the best 
reception174
– storing stations174
– switching on/off168
– tone control169
– volume169
– Weather Band, refer to 
Weather news flashes176
Radio key, refer to Keys/
remote control28
Radio readiness61
– switched off62
– switched on61
– with comfort access39
Radio stations, storing174
Rain sensor68
"Random", random play 
sequence185
"Random all" in audio 
mode186
"Random directory" in audio 
mode186
"RDS"175
Reading lamps113
Rear armrest, refer to Center 
armrest, rear127
Rear lamps, refer to Tail 
lamps240
– replacing bulbs240
Rear seats
– adjusting head restraints50
– folding over backrest127
– heating52
– removing head restraints50