Driving tips
Rolling with the engine switched off
G
Risk of accident
Never switch the engine off while the vehicle
is in motion.
There is no power assistance for the steering
and the service brake when the engine is not
running.
You will require considerably more effort to
steer and brake and you could therefore lose
control of the vehicle and cause an accident. Brakes
G
Risk of accident
Do not change down for additional engine
braking on a slippery road surface. This could
cause the drive wheels to lose their grip and
the vehicle could skid. G
Risk of accident
Make sure that other road users are not
endangered by your braking.
Downhill gradients On long and steep downhill gradients, espe-
cially if the vehicle is laden, you must select
shift range 1,2or 3in good time.
i This also applies if you have activated
cruise control, Speedtronic, Distronic* or
Distronic Plus*.
This will use the braking effect of the engine,
so less braking will be required to maintain
the speed. This relieves the load on the brake
system and prevents the brakes from over-
heating and wearing too quickly. If you need
additional braking, depress the brake pedal
repeatedly rather than continuously.
Heavy and light loads If the brakes have been subjected to a heavy
load, do not stop the vehicle immediately, but drive on for a short while. This allows the air-
flow to cool the brakes more quickly. G
Risk of accident
Never depress the brake pedal continuously
while the vehicle is in motion, e.g. never cause
the brakes to rub by applying constant slight
pedal pressure. This causes the brake system
to overheat, increases the braking distance
and can lead to the brakes failing completely.
If the brakes have been used only moderately,
you should occasionally test their effective-
ness. To do this, brake more firmly from a
higher speed. This improves the grip of the
brakes.
Wet roads If driving in heavy rain for a prolonged period
of time without braking, there may be a
delayed reaction from the brakes when brak-
ing for the first time. You must brake harder.
You must therefore maintain a greater dis-
tance from the vehicle in front.
After driving on a wet surface, brake firmly
while paying attention to the traffic condi-
tions. This way the brake discs will become
warm, drying more quickly, which will protect
them against corrosion.
Limited braking performance on salted
roads G
Risk of accident
The layer of salt on the brake discs and the
brake pads/linings may cause a delay in the
braking effect, resulting in a significantly lon-
ger braking distance, which could lead to an
accident.
To avoid this danger, you should:
R occasionally brake carefully, without put-
ting other road users at risk, when you are
driving on salted roads. This helps to
remove any salt that may have started to 304
Driving
tipsOperati on
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cialist workshop immediately, e.g. a
Mercedes-Benz Service Centre.
X
Remove the following types of dirt immedi-
ately, whilst avoiding rubbing too hard.
Soak:
R
insect remains with insect remover
R bird droppings with water
and rinse off the treated surface after-
wards.
Remove:
R tree resin, oils, fuels and greases by rub-
bing gently with a cloth soaked in petro-
leum ether or lighter fluid.
R tar stains with tar remover
R wax with silicone remover
! Do not affix:
R stickers
R films
R magnetic plates or similar items
to painted surfaces. Otherwise, you could
damage the paintwork.
Cleaning the windows X
Clean the inside and outside of the win-
dows with a damp cloth and a cleaning
product approved and recommended by
Mercedes-Benz.
! Clean the water drainage channels of the
windscreen and the rear window at regular
intervals. Under certain circumstances,
deposits such as leaves, petals and pollen
may prevent water from draining away
leading to corrosion damage.
Cleaning the wiper blades G
Risk of injury
Before cleaning the windscreen or wiper
blades, turn the key to position 0in the igni-
tion lock or press the Start/Stop button* until all indicator lamps have gone out in the instru-
ment cluster. The windscreen wipers could
otherwise move and cause injury.
! Only fold the windscreen wipers away
from the windscreen when vertical. Other-
wise, you will damage the bonnet.
! Do not clean the wiper blades too often,
as this will result in damage to the graphite
coating. This could cause wiper noise.
X Fold the wiper arms away from the wind-
screen.
X Clean the wiper blades carefully with a
damp cloth.
X Fold the wiper arms back again before
switching on the ignition.
Cleaning the headlamps X
Clean the plastic lenses of the headlamps
with a wet sponge and windscreen washer
fluid or cleaning cloths.
! Only use washer fluid or cleaning cloths
suitable for plastic lenses. Unsuitable
washer fluid or cleaning cloths could
scratch or damage the plastic lenses of the
headlamps. Care
309Operation
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Display messages
Possible causes/consequences and
X
X Solutions Radar sen‐
sor deactiva‐
ted
autom.
See Own‐
er's Man‐
ual
Vehicles with a navigation system*: the vehicle is close to a
radio-telescope facility and, therefore, must not transmit any
radar signals. The radar sensor system has switched off auto-
matically.
The following functions are unavailable:
R Distronic Plus* (Y page 235)
R BAS PLUS* (Y page 49)
R Parking Guidance* (Y page 254)
R PRE-SAFE ®
Brake* (Y page 52)
R Blind Spot Assist* (Y page 260)
X Drive on.
These functions are available again as soon as the vehicle
is far enough away from the radio telescope facility
(Y page 411). Run Flat
Indicator Check
tyre pres‐
sures
then
restart Vehicles with tyre pressure loss warning system: a tyre pres-
sure loss warning message has been displayed.
X
Set the correct tyre pressure for all tyres (Y page 298).
X Restart the tyre pressure loss warning system
(Y page 299). Run Flat
Indicator inopera‐
tive Vehicles with tyre pressure loss warning system: the tyre
pressure loss warning system is faulty.
X
Visit a qualified specialist workshop. Tyre pres‐
sure Check
tyres
G
Risk of accident
Vehicles with a tyre pressure loss warning system: the tyre
pressure loss warning system has detected a significant pres-
sure loss. A warning tone also sounds.
X Stop the vehicle without making any sudden steering or
braking manoeuvres. Pay attention to traffic conditions as
you do so.
X Check the tyres.
X Correct the tyre pressure. If necessary, set the correct tyre
pressure ( Ypage 298).
X If necessary, repair any defective tyres or change the wheel
(Y page 373).
X Restart the tyre pressure loss warning system once the tyre
pressure is correct (Y page 299). Display
messages
327Practical advice
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Display messages
Possible causes/consequences and
X
X Solutions Tyre
press.
monitor currently
unavaila‐
ble
Vehicles with a tyre pressure monitor*: no sensor signals can
be received due to radio interference. The tyre pressure mon-
itor* is temporarily malfunctioning.
X
Drive on.
The tyre pressure monitor* restarts automatically as soon
as the cause has been rectified. Tyre
press.
monitor inopera‐
tive
Vehicles with a tyre pressure monitor*: the tyre pressure
monitor* is faulty.
X
Visit a qualified specialist workshop. Tyre
press.
monitor inopera‐
tive No
wheel sen‐
sors
Vehicles with tyre pressure monitor*: the wheels fitted do not
feature suitable tyre pressure sensors.
X
Fit wheels with suitable tyre pressure sensors.
The tyre pressure monitor* is activated automatically after
driving for a few minutes. Please
correct tyre pres‐
sure(s)
Vehicles with tyre pressure monitor*: the pressure is insuffi-
cient in at least one of the tyres or the pressure difference
between the individual tyres is too great. A vehicle icon is
shown in the instrument cluster.
X
Check the tyre pressures at the next opportunity. If neces-
sary, correct the tyre pressure (Y page 298).Check tyre(s)
G
Risk of accident
Vehicles with tyre pressure monitor*: the tyre pressure has
dropped significantly in one or more of the tyres. The wheel
position is displayed in the instrument cluster.
X Stop the vehicle without making any sudden steering or
braking manoeuvres. Pay attention to traffic conditions as
you do so.
X Repair the faulty tyre or replace the wheel (Y page 373).Caution, tyre
defect
G
Risk of accident
Vehicles with tyre pressure monitor*: the pressure has drop-
ped significantly in one or more of the tyres. The wheel posi-
tion is displayed in the instrument cluster.
X Stop the vehicle without making any sudden steering or
braking manoeuvres. Pay attention to traffic conditions as
you do so.
X Repair the faulty tyre or replace the wheel (Y page 373).328
Display
messagesPractical advice
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Display messages
Possible causes/consequences and
X
X Solutions Cruise
control
- - - km/h A condition for activating cruise control has not been met.
X
Activate ESP ®
(Y page 51)
X If conditions permit, drive faster than 30 km/h and store
the speed (Y page 227). The system has overheated.
X
Wait until the system has cooled down. Apply
brake to
shift out of posi‐
tion P
X
Depress the brake pedal. To start
the
engine, shift to
either P
or N You attempted to start the engine while transmission position
R
or Dwas selected.
X Shift the transmission to Por N. Symbol messages
G
Risk of accident and injury
The operating safety of your vehicle may be affected if service work is carried out incorrectly.
You could lose control of your vehicle and cause an accident. In addition, the safety systems may
no longer be able to protect you or others as they are designed to do.
Always have service work performed at a qualified specialist workshop which has the necessary
specialist knowledge and tools to carry out the work required. Mercedes-Benz recommends that
you use a Mercedes-Benz Service Centre for this purpose. In particular, work relevant to safety
or on safety-related systems must be carried out at a qualified specialist workshop. Display messages
Possible causes/consequences and
X
X Solutions L G
Risk of accident
The bonnet is open.
X Stop immediately, paying attention to road and traffic con-
ditions.
X Close the bonnet. N The boot lid is open
X
Close the boot lid. C At least one door is open and you are driving at more than
6 km/h.
X
Close the doors. 330
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messagesPractical advice
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Display messages
Possible causes/consequences and
X
X Solutions # The alternator or vehicle's electrical system is faulty.
The battery is not being charged.
X
Pull over and stop the vehicle safely, paying attention to
road and traffic conditions and leave the engine running.
X Open the bonnet.
X Check whether the poly-V-belt is torn.
If the poly-V-belt is torn:
! Do not continue driving. The engine could otherwise over-
heat.
X Switch off the engine.
X Consult a qualified specialist workshop.
If the poly-V-belt is intact:
X Visit a qualified specialist workshop. ? The engine fan is faulty.
X
Make sure that the coolant temperature does not exceed
120 †.
X Avoid subjecting the engine to heavy loads (e.g. driving in
mountainous terrain) and stop-and-go driving.
X Drive to the nearest qualified specialist workshop. J ABS and
ESP inop‐
erative
See Own‐
er's Man‐
ual
G
Risk of accident
ABS (Anti-lock Braking System), ESP ®
(Electronic Stability
Program), BAS (Brake Assist), PRE-SAFE ®
, HOLD, hill start
assist, the adaptive brake lights and ESP ®
trailer stabilisation
are unavailable due to a malfunction. In addition, the ÷,
å and! warning lamps light up in the instrument clus-
ter. The brake system continues to function normally, but
without the functions listed above.
BAS PLUS* (Brake Assist PLUS) and PRE-SAFE ®
Brake *may
be inoperative as well.
X Drive on carefully.
X Visit a qualified specialist workshop. Display messages
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Display messages
Possible causes/consequences and
X
X Solutions ÷ currently
unavaila‐
ble See
Owner's
Manual
G
Risk of accident
ESP ®
, BAS, PRE-SAFE ®
, HOLD, hill start assist, the adaptive
brake lights and ESP ®
trailer stabilisation are temporarily
unavailable. The self diagnosis function might not be com-
plete, for example. The brake system continues to function
normally, but without the functions listed above. In addition,
the ÷ andå warning lamps light up in the instrument
cluster.
BAS PLUS* and PRE-SAFE ®
Brake* may have failed.
X On a suitable stretch of road, carefully manoeuvre the vehi-
cle slightly to the left and right at a speed above 20 km/h
until the display message disappears. G
Risk of accident
ESP ®
, BAS, PRE-SAFE ®
, HOLD, hill start assist, the adaptive
brake lights and ESP ®
trailer stabilisation are temporarily
unavailable due to undervoltage. The battery might not be
charging, for example. The brake system continues to func-
tion normally, but without the functions listed above.
BAS PLUS* and PRE-SAFE ®
Brake* may have failed.
X Drive on carefully.
X Visit a qualified specialist workshop. The
÷ warning lamp flashes.
G Risk of accident
ETS (Electronic Traction System) is deactivated.
BAS PLUS* and PRE-SAFE ®
Brake* may have failed.
X Let the brakes cool down until the display message disap-
pears and the ÷warning lamp goes out.
ETS is reactivated. J Check
brake
fluid
level
G
Risk of accident
There is insufficient brake fluid in the brake fluid reservoir. In
addition, the Jwarning lamp in the instrument cluster
lights up and a warning tone sounds.
X Pull over and stop the vehicle safely as soon as possible,
paying attention to road and traffic conditions. Do not con-
tinue driving under any circumstances.
X Consult a qualified specialist workshop.
Do not top up the brake fluid. This will not rectify the fault. Display
messages
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Display messages
Possible causes/consequences and
X
X Solutions J EBV, ABS
and ESP
inopera‐
tive See
Owner's
Manual
G
Risk of accident
EBV (electronic brake force distribution), ABS, ESP ®
, BAS,
PRE-SAFE ®
, HOLD, hill start assist, the adaptive brake lights
and ESP ®
trailer stabilisation are unavailable due to a mal-
function. In addition, the ÷,å,J and! warning
lamps in the instrument cluster light up and a warning tone
sounds. The brake system continues to function normally, but
without the functions listed above.
BAS PLUS* and PRE-SAFE ®
Brake* may have failed.
X Drive on carefully.
X Visit a qualified specialist workshop. # Check
brake wear The brake pads/linings have reached their wear limit.
X
Visit a qualified specialist workshop. ! Release
parking
brake !
The indicator lamp (red) flashes and a warning tone
sounds.
You are driving with the electric parking brake applied.
X Release the electric parking brake.
or
X Pull away carefully (Y page 205). !
The indicator lamp (red) flashes and a warning tone
sounds.
You are making an emergency stop using the electric parking
brake (Y page 205).
X After the emergency stop: release the electric parking
brake lever. 334
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