
Driving
56
The indicator lamp lights up yellow if
the transmission becomes too warm.
Avoid high engine loads and driving off
frequently. If the transmission overheats, the
indicator lamp lights up red and power flow to
the engine is interrupted. You can only continue
driving after the transmi ssion has cooled down.
Avoid driving off frequently with a high acceler-
ation and do not hold the vehicle on inclines by
depressing the accelerato r lightly and dragging
the clutch; otherwise, the transmission may
overheat.
Transmission positions
P R N D M/S + –
Displays in the instrument cluster
P, R, N, D1 to D7, S1 to S7, M1 to M7
The transmission position and the gear cur-
rently engaged are displayed.
Engaging a transmission position
> Transmission position P can only be disen-
gaged if the engine is running.
> Before moving the lever away from P or N
with the vehicle stat ionary, depress the
brake; otherwise, the transmission will not
shift.
Engaging N, D, R
Briefly push the selector lever in the desired
direction, beyond a resi stance point if neces-
sary. When shifting out of P or into R, press
button 1 at the same time.
The engaged transmission position is also dis-
played on the selector lever.
When you release the sele ctor lever, it returns
to its center position.
Engaging P
Press button P.
P Park
Select this only when th e vehicle is stationary.
The rear wheels are locked.
P engages when you open the driver's
door while the engine is running, your
safety belt is not fastened and you activate nei-
ther the brake pedal nor the accelerator.<
P is engaged automatically when you
switch off the engine, unless N is
engaged and the remote co ntrol is in the igni-
tion lock, refer to page 50. As soon as you
remove the remote cont rol from the ignition
lock, P engages regardless of the position of the
selector lever. <

Controls
57Reference
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R Reverse
Select this only when the vehicle is stationary.
N Neutral
You can select this in a car wash, for example.
The vehicle can roll.
N remains engaged after the engine is
switched off if you leave the remote con-
trol in the ignition lock. Use this function in an
automatic car wash, for ex ample. P is automati-
cally engaged after approx. 30 minutes. <
D drive mode
In drive mode, all forward gears are shifted auto-
matically.
Kick-down
To accelerate rapidly, e.g. when passing, press
the accelerator down past the resistance point.
This provides maximum acceleration.
Sport program and manual
operation M/S
Move the selector lever from position D toward
the left:
The sport program is activated and S1 through
S7 are displayed in the instrument cluster. This
position is recommend ed for a performance-
oriented driving style.
When you press the selector lever forwards or
b a c k w a r d s , o r w h e n y o u m o v e t h e s h i f t p a d d l e s ,
the manual mode is ac tivated and Steptronic
changes gear. M1 through M7 are displayed in
the instrument cluster.
The transmission assists you in the following
situations: >
Upshifts and downshifts are executed only
when they will result in a plausible combina-
tion of engine and vehicle speed; thus, for
example, a downshift that would cause the
engine to overrev will not be executed by
the system.
> When the vehicle stops, the transmission
automatically shifts down to first gear.
> Shortly before the ve hicle slows down to
below the minimum speed of the gear cur-
rently engaged, the transmission automati-
cally shifts down without requiring your
intervention.
Rapid downshifting: In sequential mode, you
can skip several gears to achieve optimal accel-
eration. Do so by pressi ng the accelerator past
the resistance point.
To use the automatic system again, press the
selector lever to the right.
Changing gears
Shift up or down using th e selector lever or the
shift paddles. You do not ne ed to raise your foot
from the accelerator when doing so.
Using the selector lever
> To shift up, pull back the selector lever.
> To shift down, push it forward.
Using the shift paddles on the steering
wheel
You can also shift manually using the two shift
paddles on the steering wheel. The shift pad-
dles allow you to shift ge ars without taking your
hands off of the steering wheel.
> When you use the shift paddles on the
steering wheel to shift gears in automatic
mode, the transmission switches to
manual mode.
> If you do not accelerate or shift gears using
the shift paddles for a certain amount of
time, the transmission switches back to
automatic mode if the selector lever is in
position D.

Driving
62
Maintaining current speed
Tap the lever, arrow 1, or pull it briefly, arrow 2.
The car's current speed is stored and main-
tained. It is displayed on the speedometer and
briefly in the instrument cluster.
On uphill gradients, it may prove impossible to
maintain the set speed if current engine power
output is insufficient. If the engine braking
effect is insufficient on downhill slopes, the sys-
tem will brake the vehicle slightly.
Increasing desired speed
Repeatedly press the lever to the resistance
point or beyond, arrow 1, until the desired
speed is reached.
> Each time the lever is pressed to the resis-
tance point, the desired speed is increased
by approx. 1 mph or 1 km/h.
> Each time the lever is pressed beyond the
resistance point, the desired speed is
increased by up to 5 mph or 10 km/h.
The system stores and maintains the speed.
Accelerating using the lever
Accelerating slightly:
Press the lever to the resistance point, arrow 1,
and hold until the desired speed is reached.
Accelerating significantly:
Press the lever beyond the resistance point,
arrow 1, and hold until the desired speed is
reached.
The vehicle accelerates without pressure on
the accelerator pedal. The system stores and
maintains the speed.
Decreasing speed
Repeatedly pull the lever to the resistance point
or beyond, arrow 2, until the desired speed is
displayed.
> Each time the lever is pulled to the resis-
tance point, the desired speed is decreased
by approx. 1 mph or 1 km/h.
> Each time the lever is pulled beyond the
resistance point, the desired speed is
reduced by up to 5 mph o r 10 km/h until the minimum speed of 20 mph or 30 km/h is
achieved.
The system stores and maintains the speed.
Interrupting the system
Tap the lever upwards or downwards, arrow 3.
The displays in the speedometer change color.
In addition, the system is automatically deacti-
vated:
> When you brake the vehicle
> When you switch gears very slowly or shift
to neutral in cars with a manual trans-
mission
> When you engage selector lever position N
in cars with an automatic transmission
> When you engage transmission position N
in 7-gear sport automatic transmissions
with a dual clutch
> When you activate the DTC Dynamic Trac-
tion Control or deactivate DSC.
> When DSC or ABS is intervening
Cruise control is not de activated by depressing
the accelerator pedal. Once the accelerator
pedal is released, the st ored speed is achieved
again and maintained.
Warning lamp
The warning lamp comes on, for
example, when cruise control has
been deactivated as a result of DSC
intervention. A message appears on the Control
Display.
Deactivating the system
> Press the lever upward or downward twice,
arrow 3.
> Switch off the ignition.
The stored speed is cleared.
Resuming a speed stored beforehand
Press the button, arrow 4. The last stored
speed is resumed and maintained.

Controls
63Reference
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Displays in the instrument cluster
1Stored speed
2 Selected speed is displayed briefly
If --- mph or --- km/h temporarily appears
in the instrument cluster display, it is pos-
sible that the system prerequisites for operation
are currently not met.
Calling up Check Control messages, refer to
page 74.<
Malfunction
The warning lamp comes on when
the system has failed. A message
appears on the Control Display. More
information can be found beginning on
page 73.

Everything under control
64
Everything under control
Odometer, outside
temperature display, clock
1Knob in the instrument cluster
2 Outside temperature display and clock
3 Odometer and trip odometer
Knob in the instrument cluster
>To reset the trip odometer while the ignition
is switched on
> To display the time, outside temperature
and odometer briefly while the ignition is
switched off
Units of measure
To select the respective units of measure, miles
or km for the odometer as well as 7 or 6 for
the outside temperat ure, refer to page68.
The setting is stored fo r the remote control cur-
rently in use.
Time, outside temperature display
Setting the time, refer to page 71.
Outside temperature warning
When the displayed temperature sinks to
approx. +37 7/+3 6, a signal sounds and a
warning lamp lights up. There is an increased
risk of black ice. Black ice can also form at temperatures
above Select the symbol. +37
7/+3 6.
You should therefore driv e carefully on bridges
and shaded roads, for example, otherwise there
is an increased risk of an accident. <
Odometer and trip odometer
Resetting trip odometer:
With the ignition switched on, press button 1 in
the instrument cluster.
When the vehicle is parked
If you still want to view the time, outside tem-
perature and odometer re ading briefly after the
remote control has been taken out of the igni-
tion lock:
Press button 1 in the instrument cluster.
Tachometer
Never force the engine speed up into the red
warning field, see arrow. In this range, the fuel
supply is interrupted to protect the engine.

Controls
65Reference
At a glance
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Communications
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Mobility
Coolant temperature
A warning lamp will come on if the coolant, and
therefore the engine, becomes too hot. In addi-
tion, a message will appear on the Control
Display.
Check coolant level, refer to page201.
Engine oil temperature*
When the engine is at normal operating temper-
ature, the engine oil temperature is between
approx. 210 7/100 6 and approx. 300 7/
150 6.
If the engine oil temperature is too high, a mes-
sage appears on the Control Display.
Fuel gauge
Fuel tank capacity: approx. 14.5 US gallons/
55 liters.
You can find information on refueling on
page 188.
If the tilt of the vehicle varies for a longer period,
when you are driving in mountainous areas, for
example, the indicator may fluctuate slightly.
Reserve
Once the fuel level has fallen to the reserve
zone, a message briefly appears on the Control
Display and the cruising range for the remaining
amount of fuel is displayed on the computer.
Under a cruising range of approx. 30 miles/
50 km, the message remains in the Control
Display.
Refuel as soon as possible once your
cruising range falls below 30 miles/
50 km, otherwise engine functions are not
ensured and damage can occur. <
Computer
Displays in the instrument cluster
Calling up information
Press the button in the turn indicator lever.
The following items of information are dis-
played in the order listed:
>Cruising range
> Average speed
> Average fuel consumption
> Current fuel consumption
*
>No information
To set the corresponding units of measure,
refer to Units of measure on page 68.
Cruising range
Displays the estimated cr uising range available
with the remaining fuel. The range is calculated
on the basis of the way the car has been driven
over the last 18 miles/30 km and the amount of
fuel currently in the tank.

Everything under control
66
Refuel as soon as possible once your
cruising range falls below 30 miles/
50 km, otherwise engine functions are not
ensured and damage can occur. <
Average speed
Periods with the vehicle parked and the engine
switched off are not included in the calculations
of average speed.
With the trip comp uter, refer to page66, you
can have the average speed for another trip dis-
played.
To reset average speed: press the button in the
turn indicator lever for approx. 2 seconds.
Average fuel consumption
The average fuel consumption is calculated for
the time during which the engine is running.
With the trip comp uter, refer to page66, you
can have the average consumption for another
trip displayed.
To reset average fuel consumption: press the
button in the turn indi cator lever for approx.
2seconds.
Current fuel consumption
Displays the current fu el consumption. This
allows you to see whether your current driving
style is conducive to fuel economy with mini-
mum exhaust emissions.
Displays on the Control Display
You can also open the computer via iDrive; for
operating principle refer to page 16.
1. "Vehicle Info"
2. "Onboard info" or "Trip computer" Displays on the "Onboard info":
>
Cruising range
> Distance from destination
> Estimated time of arrival if:
>A distance was manually entered into
the computer, refe r to information
below.
> A destination was ente red in the naviga-
tion system
*, refer to page 119.
Displays on the "Trip computer":
> Departure time
> Trip duration
> Trip distance
Both displays show:
> The average speed and
> The average fuel consumption.
Resetting the fuel consumption and
speed
You can reset the values for average speed and
average consumption:
1.Select the respective menu item and press
the controller.
2. Press the controller again to confirm your
selection.

Controls
67Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Resetting the trip computer
1."Vehicle Info"
2. "trip computer"
3. Select
>"Reset": All values are reset.
> "Automatically reset": All values are
reset approx. 4 hours after the engine is
switched off.
Entering a distance manually
1. "Vehicle Info"
2. "Onboard info"
3. "To dest."
4. Turn the controller until the desired dis-
tance is displayed.
5. Press the controller.
The distance is automa tically entered during
destination guidance using the navigation
system
*.