
At a glance
 11Reference
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Driving tips
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Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
9Steptronic: upshifting63
10Steptronic: downshifting63
12Buttons on steering wheel
13Info Display12
14Automatic transmission62
15Ignition lock5719Horn, the entire surface
23Fog lamps101
24Unlocking hood207 11Turn signals65
High beams, 
headlamp flasher101
Roadside parking lamps101
Computer76 
Check Control80
Computer76
Voice command system
* 
activation/deactivation23
Entertainment volume, 
increasing/decreasing152
Volume of hands-free unit, 
increasing/decreasing179
Mobile phone:
Calling, redialing, accepting call or 
ending call184
Sport program and manual 
operation of the automatic 
transmission63
Selecting radio station156
Selecting music track163, 166
Skipping chapter
*172
Programmable button52 
16Switching ignition on/off57
and Starting/stopping engine57
17Windshield wipers65
Rain sensor65
18PDC Park Distance Control
*86
20Steering wheel heater
*52
Steering wheel adjustment51
21Opening luggage compartment 
lid36
22Programmable cruise control67
Active cruise control
*69
Front fog lamps 

Cockpit
12
Info Display
1Resetting trip odometer to zero75
2Speedometer with display for
>Programmable cruise control67
>Active cruise control
*69
>Speed limit82
3Indicator and warning lamps13
4Tachometer75
Route guidance of navigation 
system
*144
5Display for
>Flat Tire Monitor
*91
>Tire Pressure Monitor
*93
6Display for
>Voice command system
*23
>Odometer and trip odometer75
>Text messages in Check Control80
>Computer76
7Transmission range selection62
8Automatic transmission program 
display629Display for
>Outside temperature75
>Clock75
>Indicator and warning lamps80
10Display for
>Computer with fuel gauge76
>Remaining driving distance for service 
requirements78
11Fog lamps101 

Controls
 67Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
All of the washer jets are supplied from a single 
tank.
Fill with water and – if required – with a washer 
antifreeze, according to manufacturer's recom-
mendations.
In order to maintain the mixture ratio, mix 
the washer fluid before filling.<
Capacity
Approx. 6.3 US quarts/6 liters.
Programmable cruise control
The concept
The programmable cruise control is available 
for use at speeds of approx. 20 mph/30 km/h 
and higher. The vehicle maintains and stores 
the speed that you set using the lever mounted 
on the steering column.
You can also use the multilevel preset mode to 
store six desired speeds for later selection with 
the lever, refer to page67.
This feature assists you in quickly adapting the 
vehicle speed to specific road conditions, e.g. 
changes in speeds limits.
Do not use the programmable cruise con-
trol when unfavorable conditions do not 
permit you to drive at a constant speed, e.g. 
when driving on winding roads, in heavy traffic 
or under poor road conditions such as snow, 
rain, ice, or a loose road surface. If you do, you 
could lose control of the vehicle and cause an 
accident.<
One lever for all functions
1Maintaining speed, storing, and accelerat-
ing
2Maintaining speed, storing, and decelerat-
ing
3Interrupt or deactivate cruise control
4Resuming stored speed
Maintaining speed, storing, and 
accelerating
Press lever to resistance point, arrow 1: 
The system maintains and stores the current 
vehicle speed. The pointer5 in the speedome-
ter indicates this speed, refer to Displays in 
speedometer on page68. Each time the lever is 
pressed again briefly, the speed is increased by 
approx. 1 mph or 1 km/h.
Push the lever to the resistance point for a 
longer time: 
The vehicle accelerates without pressure on 
the accelerator pedal. The system maintains 
and stores your current speed as soon as you 
release the lever.
Press the lever past the resistance point if no 
desired speeds6 are stored:
The pointer5 jumps to the next multiple of 
5 mph or 10 km/h and then further, as long as 
the lever is held. The speed then indicated is 
reached and stored.
The vehicle may accelerate beyond the preset 
speed on steep downhill stretches where the 
engine's braking action alone may not be suffi-
cient to slow the vehicle. Speed can drop on 
uphill grades if the engine output is insufficient. 

Driving
68
Maintaining speed, storing, and 
decelerating
Pull the lever, arrow2: 
Functions in the same way as1, except that the 
vehicle speed is decreased.
Interrupting the cruise control
Briefly press the lever up or down, arrow3.
In addition, cruise control is interrupted auto-
matically:
>when you apply pressure to the brake pedal
>when you shift the automatic transmission 
into position N
>when the DSC control is operative
Resuming stored speed
Briefly press the button4: 
The vehicle accelerates back to and maintains 
the stored speed.
Displays in speedometer
5Pointer for stored speed
> Cruise control activated
> Cruise control deactivated
6Mark for stored desired speed in the multi-
level function
Storing desired speeds
With vehicle stationary
1.Switch on the ignition.
2.Press, arrow1, or pull, arrow2, the lever 
past the resistance point: 
Now you can move the pointer5 with the lever until you have reached your desired 
speed:
>Press or pull the lever to the resistance 
point again: the pointer slowly moves.
>Press or pull the lever past the resis-
tance point again: the pointer jumps to 
the next multiple of 5 mph or 10 km/h 
and then further, as long as the lever is 
held.
3.Press the button4 for approx. 3 seconds. 
The stored desired speed is indicated by a 
mark 6.
If six desired speeds have already been stored, 
please delete at least one of them before adding 
another.
While driving
1.Press, arrow1, or pull, arrow2, the lever 
past the resistance point.
2.Press the button4 for approx. 3 seconds. 
The current speed is applied as the desired 
speed and displayed with6.
If all of the marks 6 flash twice, this indicates 
that six desired speeds have already been 
stored. You must then delete at least one of 
them before adding another.
Deleting desired speeds
1.Select corresponding desired speed6, 
refer to section below.
2.Press button4 for approx. 3 seconds.
Activating multilevel preset mode
Press, arrow1, or pull, arrow2, the lever past 
the resistance point.
The current driving speed is maintained, stored 
and displayed by the pointer5.
Selecting desired speed
Press, arrow1, or pull, arrow2, the lever past 
the resistance point: 
The next desired speed is selected. 

Controls
 69Reference
At a glance
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Mobility
Deactivating system
>Press the lever up or down, arrow3 for 
approx. 3 seconds
>or switch off the ignition.
The stored speed5 is deleted, however the 
stored marks6 are retained.
Active cruise control*
The concept
With active cruise control you can select a 
desired speed which is not only automatically 
maintained when driving on open roadways, but 
also varied to maintain a selected distance set-
ting as slower traffic is encountered.
Active cruise control represents a technological 
advance over the familiar cruise control and is a 
welcome relief from the constant adjustment of 
speed that can accompany driving in traffic on 
highways or other high-speed thoroughfares. 
Especially on longer trips, the system can 
reduce fatigue and tension, while increasing 
your enjoyment of driving. Please use it safely 
and responsibly.
In addition to maintaining a steady cruising 
speed, if you encounter slower vehicles ahead, 
active cruise control will, within the scope of 
given possibilities, adjust your vehicle's speed 
automatically, permitting you to flow with the 
traffic without having to frequently intervene. 
If, for example, while cruising 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 
following distance between your vehicle and 
the vehicle ahead. You can vary the distance, 
which is additionally speed-dependent. Based 
on your selected distance setting, the system 
automatically decreases the throttle setting and 
lightly applies the brakes if necessary. The vehi-
cle brake lamps will automatically illuminate to 
signal a following driver to take action. In addi-
tion, it may be necessary for the vehicle to 
downshift to maintain the distance setting 
selected. If the vehicle ahead speeds up or when the lane ahead becomes clear, your vehi-
cle will accelerate to the speed you have 
selected by increasing the throttle setting and 
shifting gears as needed. This setting is also 
maintained on steep stretches, but the vehicle 
speed can fall below this on uphill grades if the 
engine output is insufficient to maintain speed.
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 differ-
ently from conventional cruise control systems 
to which you may be accustomed, you are 
strongly urged to read all of the pages relating 
to this system before use. Pay special attention 
to the information contained in the Things to 
know about active cruise control section begin-
ning on page72.<
Brake pedal feel
>When the system brakes and you also 
depress the brake pedal, a somewhat differ-
ent braking feeling results.
>Any noises produced during automatic 
braking are normal.
Applications
As with conventional cruise control systems, 
active cruise control in no way diminishes or 
substitutes for the driver's own personal 
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. Do not use this system in city driving; 
heavy traffic such as during rush hour; 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, service/
parking areas or toll booths. It is also important 
to regulate your vehicle's speed and distance 
setting within applicable legal limits. Adapt the  

Controls
 71Reference
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Mobility
Distance 1
Distance 2
Distance 3 
This distance is always set when 
the system is used for the first time 
after starting the engine.
Distance 4
Use good judgment to select the appro-
priate following distance given road con-
ditions, traffic, applicable laws and driving rec-
ommendations for safe following distance; 
failure to do so can constitute an accident haz-
ard.<
Deactivating cruise control
Press the lever up or down. The displays in the 
speedometer go out.
In addition, the system is automatically deacti-
vated:
>when the speed is reduced to below 20 mph 
or 30 km/h due to a traffic situation
>when DTC is activated or DSC is deacti-
vated
>when the system does not recognize any 
objects for an extended period of time, e.g. on infrequently traveled roads without a 
shoulder or guard rails, or if the radar sensor 
is covered with dirt, refer to page72
>when you actuate the parking brake during 
driving
>when you shift the transmission into posi-
tion N
If the system is deactivated, then it is nec-
essary for the driver to actively intervene 
by braking and possibly swerving. Otherwise, 
there is the danger of an accident.<
Background lighting
You can switch off the backlighting of the 
speedometer and tachometer when the system 
is deactivated if no other functions are being 
displayed, e.g. the advance warning field in the 
tachometer, refer to page75, or the route guid-
ance of the navigation system.
To do so, press the lever up or down for approx. 
1second.
Resuming stored desired speed and 
distance
Press button4: 
The displays appear in the speedometer.
When you switch off the ignition, the stored 
desired speed is deleted.
Info Display screen contents
1Stored desired speed display
2Lights up: vehicle detected ahead
3Selected distance to vehicle driving ahead
4The selected desired speed is displayed for 
a short time, refer to page70 

Driving
72 If the display ACC --- mph/ACC --- km/h 
appears briefly in the speedometer, then 
conditions required for operation may not cur-
rently be fulfilled. Retrieving Check Control 
messages, refer to page81.<
Warning lamps
The display flashes and a chime 
sounds. 
The system asks you to intervene 
by braking or with an evasive 
maneuver. The active cruise control cannot 
automatically restore the distance to the vehicle 
driving ahead. 
The display does not relieve you of the respon-
sibility for adapting desired speed and driving 
style to traffic conditions.
Automatic intervention by ABS or 
DSC. The active cruise control 
intervenes by braking until you 
actively intervene.
Radar sensor
Heavy rain and also dirt, snow, or ice can limit 
the detection of vehicles ahead. If needed, 
clean the radar sensor under the front bumper. 
When doing so, be particularly careful in remov-
ing layers of snow and ice.
If the sensor is not aligned properly, the active 
cruise control cannot be activated.
Things to know about active cruise control
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; heavy traffic such as during rush 
hour; 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 inter-
changes, 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, especially when 
the system 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. It will not apply the brakes or decelerate 
your vehicle when there is a slow-moving vehi-
cle, stopped vehicle or stationary object ahead  

Controls
 73Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
of you, for example when approaching a traffic 
light or a parked vehicle. Also, the system does 
not react to oncoming traffic, pedestrians or 
other types of potential traffic such as a rider on 
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 automatically 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.<
When your vehicle is actively following a vehicle 
in front of you, if the vehicle ahead speeds up or 
the lane ahead becomes clear, then your vehi-
cle will accelerate to the speed you have 
selected. Be aware that changing to a clear, 
unobstructed lane may also result in accelera-
tion of your vehicle.
Be certain to deactivate the system when 
you pull into an exit lane for a highway off-
ramp.<
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 actually in the 
lane next to you. Always be ready to take action 
or apply the brakes if necessary.
Active cruise control can only decelerate the 
vehicle to approx. 20 mph/30 km/h. If the sys-
tem reduces vehicle speed below 20 mph/
30 km/h or if DSC/ABS is engaged while driving, 
the system will automatically deactivate.
Remember, the system cannot stop your 
vehicle. In addition, the system is deacti-
vated whenever the driver applies the vehicle 
brakes, shifts the transmission from drive/D to 
neutral/N, or deactivates DSC. After any deacti-
vation, 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.
driver must constantly monitor traffic and inter-
vene if necessary.
When you switch off the engine or ignition, 
active cruise control is fully switched off, too, 
and any settings you have selected are can-
celed.
Swerving vehicles
When a vehicle moves from an adjacent lane 
into your lane, active cruise control will not 
detect this vehicle until it is fully in your lane 
ahead of your vehicle.
Behavior in curves
Because of the limited range of the system, it is 
possible that in curves or on the peaks and val-
leys of hilly roads, a vehicle ahead may be rec-
ognized late, or not at all. Therefore, it is up to 
the driver to select a speed that is prudent in 
view of the curves and terrain of the roadway.