2008 MERCEDES-BENZ B-CLASS HATCHBACK steering

Seat belts
75
The following messages appear in the multi-
function display:
R < No rear seat belt engaged
R < 1 rear seat belt engaged
R < 2 rear seat belts engaged
R < 3 rear seat belts engaged
i The status indicator for the rear-compart-
ment seat belts is only available for certain
countries. Correct driver's seat position
1
Steering wheel
2 Seat belt
3 Seat G
Risk of accident
Only adjust the driver's seat when the vehi-
cle is stationary. You will otherwise be dis-
tracted from the road and traffic conditions
and you could lose control of the vehicle as a result of the seat moving. This could
cause an accident.
G
Risk of accident
Only adjust the steering wheel when the
vehicle is stationary and do not pull away
until the steering wheel adjustment mech-
anism is locked in position. Otherwise, you
might drive without the steering wheel
adjustment mechanism being locked in
position and be distracted from road and
traffic conditions by an unexpected move-
ment of the steering wheel and cause an
accident.
However, the steerability of the vehicle is
not affected.
X Check whether seat 3and the head
restraint are adjusted properly
(Y page 63).
Make sure that:
R you are as far away from the driver's front
airbag as possible
R you are sitting in a normal upright posi-
tion
R you can fasten the seat belt properly
R you have moved the backrest to an
almost vertical position Controls
245_AKB; 2; 7, en-GB
wdomann,
Version: 2.11.4
2008-10-17T11:22:31+02:00 - Seite 75 ZDateiname: 6515_1640_02_buchblock.pdf; preflight

Lights
76R
you have set the seat angle so that your
thighs are gently supported
R you can depress the pedals properly
R you have adjusted the head restraint so
that the back of your head is supported
at eye level by the central area of the
head restraint
X Check whether steering wheel 1is adjus-
ted properly (Y page 69).
Make sure that:
R you can hold the steering wheel with your
arms slightly bent
R you can move your legs freely
R you can see all the displays in the instru-
ment cluster clearly
X Check whether you have fastened seat belt
2 properly (Y page 72).
It should:
R fit snugly across your body
R be routed across the middle of your
shoulder
R routed in your pelvic area across the hip
joints Lights
Light switch
For safety reasons, Mercedes-Benz recom-
mends that you drive with the lights switched
on even during the daytime. In some coun-
tries, daytime operation of headlamps varies
due to legal and voluntary requirements. In
these countries, the constant headlamp
mode is automatically switched on when the
engine is started.
i If you drive in countries in which traffic
drives on the opposite side of the road to
the country where the vehicle is registered,
oncoming traffic may be dazzled by the
asymmetrical dipped-beam headlamps.
Have the headlamps changed to symmet-
rical dipped beam when driving in these
countries. You can obtain information
about this from any Mercedes-Benz Service
Centre. $
a
Left-hand parking lamp
% g
Right-hand parking lamp 8
& M
Lights off/constant headlamp mode
( U
Automatic headlamp mode/con-
stant headlamp mode
) C
Side lamps, licence plate and instru-
ment lighting
* B
Dipped-beam headlamps or main-
beam headlamps
, ¥
foglamps*
. †
Rear foglamp
i The exterior lighting (except for side
lamps and parking lamps) automatically
switches off when you remove the key from
the ignition lock or open the driver's door
8 You must turn the light switch beyond its resistance point when turning it from the Mposition to the gposition. Controls
* optional
245_AKB; 2; 7, en-GB
wdomann,
Version: 2.11.4 2008-10-17T11:22:31+02:00 - Seite 76Dateiname: 6515_1640_02_buchblock.pdf; preflight

Lights
80 Cornering light function (bi-xenon
headlamps*)
Specially designed headlamps light up the
area into which you are driving when turning
corners.
If you are driving at speeds below 40 km/h,
the cornering light function is activated either
by the turn signals or when the steering wheel
is turned. At speeds between 40 km/h and
70 km/h, only a steering wheel movement
activates the cornering light function. If you
are driving at speeds above 70 km/h the cor-
nering light function is deactivated.
Activating X
Start the engine.
X Switch on the dipped-beam headlamps.
X Switch off the foglamps*.
X Switch on the turn signal.
The cornering lamp on the same side as the
turn signal comes on, even if you turn the
steering wheel in the opposite direction
after indicating.
or X
Turn the steering wheel in the desired
direction.
When in a forwards gear: the cornering
lamp on the inside of the bend comes on.
When in reverse gear: the cornering lamp
on the outside of the bend comes on.
Deactivating X
Turn the steering wheel back to the straight
ahead position.
The turn signal goes off. The cornering lamp
may remain lit for a short time.
or
X Switch off the turn signal.
The cornering lamp may remain lit for a
short time.
The cornering light will go out after a maxi-
mum of three minutes. Interior lighting
Front overhead control panel (vehicles with a
rocker switch)
1
£ To switch the rear interior lighting
on/off
2 ð To switch the front interior lighting
on
3 To switch the automatic interior lighting
control on
4 ¥ To switch the front interior lighting/
automatic interior lighting control off
5 X To switch the reading lamp on/off Controls
* optional
245_AKB; 2; 7, en-GB
wdomann
,V ersion: 2.11.4
2008-10-17T11:22:31+02:00 - Seite 80 Dateiname: 6515_1640_02_buchblock.pdf; preflight

Driving and pa
rking 89
R
the vehicle is secured with the parking
brake.
R ESP ®
is malfunctioning. Parking
G
Risk of accident
Only remove the key from the ignition lock
when the vehicle is stationary, as you can-
not steer the vehicle with the key removed.
Never leave children unsupervised in the
vehicle. They could release the parking
brake. This could lead to a serious or fatal
accident. G
Risk of fire
Make sure that the exhaust system does
not under any circumstances come into
contact with easily ignitable material such
as dry grass or petrol. The material could
otherwise ignite and set the vehicle on fire. Parking brake 1
Parking brake
2 Release button
X To apply: pull parking brake 1up firmly.
The 3 warning lamp in the instrument
cluster lights up if the engine is running.
i On steep slopes, turn the front wheels
towards the kerb. X
To release: depress the brake pedal and
keep it depressed.
On vehicles with AUTOTRONIC*, the selec-
tor lever lock is released.
X Press release button 2on parking brake
1 and move the parking brake down to the
stop.
The 3 warning lamp in the instrument
cluster goes out. Switching off the engine
G
Risk of accident
If the engine is not running, there is no
power assistance for the steering and
brakes. Steering and braking will then
require significantly greater effort.
As a result, you might lose control of the
vehicle, cause an accident and injure your-
self and others.
Do not switch off the engine while driving.
Vehicles with manual transmission X
Shift to either first or reverse gear.
X Turn the key to position 0(Y page 62) in
the ignition lock and remove it.
The immobiliser is activated. Controls
* optional
245_AKB; 2; 7, en-GB
wdomann,
Version: 2.11.4 2008-10-17T11:22:31+02:00 - Seite 89 ZDateiname: 6515_1640_02_buchblock.pdf; preflight

Transmission
95
R
the vehicle pulling away more gently in
forward and reverse gears, unless the
accelerator pedal is depressed fully.
R an increase in traction: this improves the
driving stability of the vehicle on slippery
road surfaces, for example.
R the transmission shifting up sooner: the
vehicle is driven at lower engine speeds
and the wheels are less likely to spin.
Driving tips Accelerator pedal position
Your style of driving influences how AUTO-
TRONIC shifts gear:
R little throttle: early upshifts
R more throttle: late upshifts
Kickdown
Use kickdown for maximum acceleration.
X Depress the accelerator pedal beyond the
pressure point.
The transmission shifts to a lower gear
depending on the engine speed.
X Ease off the accelerator pedal once the
desired speed is reached.
The transmission shifts back up. Trailer towing
X
Drive in the middle of the engine speed
range on uphill gradients.
X Shift down to 3rdor2nd gear depending
on the incline of the uphill or downhill gra-
dient( Ypage 93), even if cruise control is
activated.
Working on the vehicle G
Risk of accident
Apply the handbrake and move the selector
lever to Pwhen working on the vehicle.
Otherwise, the vehicle could roll away. Steering wheel gearshift buttons
(manual operation)
It is possible to shift gear using either the
steering wheel gearshift buttons or the selec-
tor lever. The steering wheel gearshift buttons are on
the right and left-hand side of the steering
wheel. 1
Right-hand button: to shift up
2 Left-hand button: to shift down
Activating manual operation X
Press right-hand button 1or left-hand but-
ton 2on the steering wheel.
M is shown in the multi-function display.
Manual operation is activated.
Downshifting G
Risk of accident
Do not change down for additional engine
braking on a slippery road surface. This Controls
245_AKB; 2; 7, en-GB
wdomann,
Version: 2.11.4
2008-10-17T11:22:31+02:00 - Seite 95 ZDateiname: 6515_1640_02_buchblock.pdf; preflight

Instrument cluster
96 could cause the drive wheels to lose their
grip and the vehicle could skid.
X Press left-hand button 2on the steering
wheel.
The transmission shifts to the next gear
down, depending on the gear currently
selected.
i The transmission does not shift down if
you push the selector lever towards D–
while travelling at too high a speed. The
engine could otherwise overrev.
i AUTOTRONIC automatically shifts down if
the lowest permissible engine speed for the
gear currently selected is reached.
Upshifting X
Press right-hand button 1on the steering
wheel.
The transmission shifts to the next gear up,
depending on the gear currently selected.
i If the highest permissible engine speed
for the gear currently engaged is reached
and you continue to accelerate, AUTO-
TRONIC shifts up automatically. Selecting the ideal gear X
Press and hold left-hand button 2on the
steering wheel.
The transmission will shift to a gear which
allows ideal acceleration and deceleration.
To do this, the transmission will shift down
one or more gears.
Deactivating manual operation X
Press and hold right-hand button 1on the
steering wheel until Dappears again in the
multi-function display.
The transmission shifts from the current
gear to D.
Or:
X Briefly press the program selector button
next to the selector lever (Y page 94).
The letter for the last selected drive pro-
gram Cor Sis shown again in the multi-
function display. The transmission shifts
from the current gear to D.
i When you start the engine again, manual
operation is deactivated and AUTOTRONIC
switches to the previously selected drive
program Cor S. Instrument cluster
Points to remember
You will find an illustration of the instrument
cluster in the "At a glance" section
(Y page 26). G
Risk of accident
No further messages can be displayed if the
instrument cluster and/or the multi-func-
tion display fails.
This means that you will not see information
about the driving situation, such as the
speed, outside temperature, warning/indi-
cator lamps, display messages or system
failures. The vehicle's handling character-
istics may be affected. Adjust your driving
style and speed accordingly.
Immediately consult a qualified specialist
workshop which has the necessary special-
ist knowledge and tools to carry out the
work required. Mercedes-Benz recom-
mends that you use a Mercedes-Benz
Service Centre for this purpose. In particu-
lar, work relevant to safety or on safety-
related systems must be carried out at a
qualified specialist workshop. Cont
rols
245_AKB; 2; 7, en-GB
wdomann,
Version: 2.11.4
2008-10-17T11:22:31+02:00 - Seite 96 Dateiname: 6515_1640_02_buchblock.pdf; preflight

On-board computer
98 Clock
On vehicles without an audio system or with
Audio 5*/Audio 20*, you can set the time
using the on-board computer (Y page 108).Outside temperature display
G
Risk of accident
The road surface may be icy, especially in
wooded areas or on bridges, even if tem-
peratures are just above freezing point. The
vehicle could skid if you fail to adapt your
driving style. You should therefore always
adapt your driving style and speed to suit
the weather conditions.
Changes in the outside temperature are dis-
played after a short delay. On-board computer
Points to remember
The on-board computer is activated as soon
as you turn the key to position 1in the ignition
lock. You can use the on-board computer to
call up information relating to your vehicle
and to make and adjust settings. G
Risk of accident
Only use the on-board computer when road
and traffic conditions permit. You would
otherwise be distracted and unable to con-
centrate properly on driving, and could
cause an accident. Multi-function steering wheel
You can control the multi-function display and
the settings in the on-board computer using
the buttons on the multi-function steering
wheel. 1
Multi-function display
2
æç
R
Selects submenus in the Set-
tings menu
R Changes values
R Adjusts the volume 3
st
Accepts or rejects/ends a call*Controls
* optional
245_AKB; 2; 7, en-GB
wdomann,
Version: 2.11.4 2008-10-17T11:22:31+02:00 - Seite 98Dateiname: 6515_1640_02_buchblock.pdf; preflight

Driving sys
tems 122
i
Parktronic is automatically activated
when you turn the key to position 2in the
ignition lock.
Trailer towing* Parktronic is deactivated for the rear area
when you establish an electrical connection
between your vehicle and a trailer.
! Remove the detachable trailer coupling if
it is no longer required. Parktronic meas-
ures the minimum detection range to an
obstacle from the bumper, not the ball cou-
pling. Active parking assist*
Active parking assist is an electronic parking
aid with ultrasound. Ultrasound is used to
measure the road on both sides of the vehicle.
A suitable parking space is indicated by the
parking symbol. Active steering intervention
can assist you during parking. You may also
use Parktronic (Y page 119). When Parktronic
is deactivated, active parking assist is also
unavailable. G
Risk of accident
Active parking assist is merely an aid and
may sometimes recommend parking
spaces that are not suitable for parking.
These might be, for example, spaces where
parking is prohibited, driveways, unsuitable
surfaces, etc.
Active parking assist measures the parking
space as you drive past it. Any later
changes to the parking space are not taken
into account. This may be the case, for
instance, when the vehicle parked in front
of or behind the space changes its position
or when an obstacle is moved into the park-
ing space.
Active parking assist does not relieve you
of the responsibility of paying attention. If
you rely solely on Active parking assist, you
could cause an accident and injure yourself
and others.
You are always responsible for safety and
must continue to pay attention to your
immediate surroundings when parking and
manoeuvring. G
Risk of accident
Objects located above the height range of
Active parking assist will not be detected when the parking space is measured. These
are not taken into account when the park-
ing procedure is calculated, e. g. overhang-
ing loads, tail sections or loading ramps of
goods vehicles. In some circumstances,
Active parking assist may therefore guide
you into the parking space too early. This
may lead to a collision. For this reason, you
should avoid using Active parking assist in
such situations.
G
Risk of accident
The front of the vehicle will veer out in the
direction of the oncoming traffic during the
parking operation. In some cases the vehi-
cle will also take you onto sections of the
oncoming lane during the parking proce-
dure.
You are responsible for safety at all times
and must pay attention to any road users
approaching or passing. Stop the vehicle if
necessary or cancel the Active parking
assist parking procedure. G
Risk of injury
Make sure that no persons or animals are
in the manoeuvring range. Otherwise, they
could be injured. Controls
* optional
245_AKB; 2; 7, en-GB
wdomann,
Version: 2.11.4 2008-10-17T11:22:31+02:00 - Seite 122Dateiname: 6515_1640_02_buchblock.pdf; preflight