
142 Driving and operation
Picture no: 18230s.tif
Manoeuvring the vehicle
To manoeuvre the vehicle back and forth
during attempts to park or in garage
entrances the creeping movement can be
utilised by releasing the foot brake.
Never actuate accelerator and brake
pedals simultaneously.
To prevent damage, the manual
transmission automated deactivates the
"creep function" when the temperature of
the automatic clutch is extremely high. Vehicle storage
Apply the handbrake and remove the key
from the ignition. The most recently
engaged gear (indicator in transmission
display) remains engaged. With
N, no gear
is engaged.
When the ignition is switched off the
manual transmission automated no longer
responds to movement of the selector
lever.
Lock the vehicle. Otherwise the battery
may become discharged if the vehicle is
parked for long periods.
If the hand brake has not been applied, the
control indicator R flashes for a few
seconds after the ignition is switched off.
With the engine off and the hand brake not
applied, when the driver ’s door is opened a
warning buzzer sounds and the control
indicator R flashes; switch on ignition,
engage gear, switch off ignition and apply
hand brake.
Picture no: 18231s.tif
Fault
To prevent damage to the automated
manual transmission, the clutch is closed
automatically at high clutch temperatures.
Warning light A lights up in the event of a
fault. Continued driving is possible, but
manual mode can no longer be used for
changing gear.
If "F" also appears in the transmission
display, continued driving is not possible.
Have cause of fault remedied by a
workshop. The system’s integrated self
diagnostics allow faults to be quickly
remedied.
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144 Driving and operation
Picture no: 18179s.tif
Manual transmissionTo engage reverse, with the vehicle
stationary wait 3 seconds after declutching
and then pull up the button on the selector
lever and engage the gear.
If the gear does not engage, set the lever in
neutral, release the clutch pedal and
depress again; then repeat gear selection.
Do not grind the clutch unnecessarily.
When operating, depress the clutch pedal
completely. Do not use the pedal as a foot
rest (increases clutch wear).
Automatic transmission
3
The automatic transmission 3 permits
automatic shifting.
Picture no: 18232s.tif
Transmission display
Display of selected gear. P Park position.
R Reverse gear.
N Neutral.
D Drive.
3, 2, 1 Selected gear.
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145
Driving and operation
Picture no: 18233s.tif
Selector lever positions P, R, N and D The selector lever can only be moved
from
P when the ignition is switched on
and the foot brake depressed (selector
lever lock).
To engage P or R, push button on selector
lever.
The engine can only be started with lever in
position P or N . When position N is selected,
press foot brake or engage hand brake
before starting.
Do not accelerate while engaging a gear.
Never depress the accelerator pedal and
brake pedal at the same time.
When a gear is engaged, the vehicle slowly
begins to creep when the brake is released. Gears 3, 2, 1
Press button on selector lever to
engage
3or 1.
Only select 3, 2 or 1 to prevent automatic
upshifting or as an aid in engine braking.
P Park position. Fron t wheels blocked.
Engage only when the vehicle is
stationary and the hand brake is
applied.
R Reverse gear. Engage only when
vehicle is stationary.
N Neutral.
D Continuous mode for normal driving
conditions in 1st to highest gear.
3, 2, 1 Transmission does not shift above
the selected gear.
Back to overview

146 Driving and operationElectronically controlled driving
programmes
zThe automatic neutral shift function
automatically shifts to idling when the
vehicle is stopped with a forward gear
engaged (depending on transmission
fluid temperature).
z Following a cold start, the operating
temperature programme increases
engine speed to quickly bring the
catalytic converter to the required
temperature.
z The adaptive program automatically
adjusts the gear change to the driving
conditions, e.g. greater load or gradients.
Picture no: 18234s.tif
Winter programme T
Activate the Winter pr ogramme if you have
problems starting off on a slippery road
surface.
To activate Press the T button with P , R , N , D or 3
engaged. The vehicle starts off in 3rd gear.
To deactivate The Winter programme is switched off by:
z pressing the T button again,
z manually selecting 2 or 1 ,
z turning off the ignition,
z or if the transmission oil temperature is
too high.
Picture no: 18451s.tif
Kickdown
If the accelerator pedal is pressed past the
pressure point, the transmission shifts to a
lower gear depending on engine speed.
Back to overview

150 Driving and operationSave energy – more kilometres
Please observe the running-in hints on the
previous page and the tips for saving
energy on the following pages.
Good, technically correct and economical
driving ensures maximum durability and
performance for your vehicle.
Overrun cut-off
The fuel supply is automatically cut off
during overrun, e.g. when the vehicle is
driven with a gear engaged but no throttle
application. Overrun cut-off is deactivated
if catalytic converter temperature is high.
Vehicles with turbocharged engine Flow-generated noises may be audible if
the accelerator is released quickly on
account of air flow in the turbocharger.
Engine speed
Drive in a low engine speed range for each
gear as much as possible. Warming up
After a cold start, the automatic
transmission
3 or manual transmission
automated 3 in automatic mode shifts into
higher gears at higher rpm. This allows the
catalytic converter to quickly reach the
temperature required for optimum pollutant
reduction.
Correct gear selection
Do not race your engine whilst in neutral or
with a low gear selected. Driving too fast in
individual gears as well as stop-and-go
traffic increases engine wear and fuel
consumption.
Change down
When decreasing speed, shift down into
the next lowest gear. Do not slip the clutch
with a high-revving engine. This is
especially important when hill climbing. Cooling fan
The cooling fan is controlled via a
thermoswitch and therefore only runs if
necessary.
The cooling fan automatically switches on
when the diesel particle filter is being
cleaned
3 depending on the engine.
Pedals
Do not place any objects in the foot well
which could slip under the pedals and
inhibit the pedal travel.
To ensure the pedal travel is uninhibited,
there must be no mats in the area of the
pedals.
Battery care
When driving slowly or when the vehicle is
stationary, e.g. in slow urban traffic, stop-
and-go traffic or traffic jams, turn off all
unnecessary electrical loads where
possible (e.g. heated rear window, heated
front seats, etc.).
Declutch when starting in order to relieve
the strain on the starter and the battery.
Back to overview

160 Driving and operation
Picture no: 18470s.tif
Switching off
3
ESP®
Plus
can be deactivated by pressing
button v 3 .
Switching off is indicated by the control
indicator v lighting up in the
instrument. Also appears on the service
display ESPoff391.
Pressing the v button again or turning on
the ignition switches the ESP®
Plus
on again. Cruise control
3
Cruise control can store and maintain
speeds between 30 and 200 km/h.
Deviation from the stored speed may occur
when driving up or downhill.
For safety reasons the cruise control
system cannot be activated until the foot
brake has been operated, otherwise the
control indicator flashes m.
Cruise control is operated with switch m, g,
and button 0 on the turn signal stalk.
Do not use the cruise control if it is not
advisable to maintain a constant speed
(e.g. in situations presenting a danger to
yourself and other road users, in heavy
traffic or on winding, slippery or greasy
roads). With automatic transmission
3, engage
cruise control only in D, or with manual
transmission automated 3 in automatic
mode only.
9
Warning
If the vehicle has run-flat tyres 3 the
ESP®
Plus
must not be deactivated with
depressurised tyres.
9
Warning
When the cruise control is active, reac-
tion times may be increased due to the
different position of the feet.
Back to overview

161
Driving and operation
Picture no: 18253s.tif
Control indicator
m
When driving, the control indicator m
illuminates as soon as the cruise control is
switched on.
If the cruise control is switched on before
the brake has been applied once, the
control indicator flashes m.
Picture no: 18168s.tif
To activate Turn switch m up and release. The current
speed is stored and maintained. The
accelerator pedal may be released.
Vehicle speed can be increased by
depressing the accelerator pedal. When
the accelerator pedal is released, the
previously stored speed is resumed.
Increase When cruise control is engaged, turn
switch m upwards and hold, or turn briefly
several times: continuous or stepwise
increase of the speed in 2 km/h increments.
After releasing, the current speed is stored
and maintained. Decelerate
When cruise control is engaged, turn
switch
g downwards and hold, or turn
briefly several times: continuous or
stepwise reduction of the speed in 2 km/h
increments.
After releasing, the current speed is stored
and maintained.
To deactivate Tap button 0: this switches the cruise
control off. Warning lamp m goes out.
Automatic deactivation:
z Vehicle speed below approx. 30 km/h.
z The brake pedal is depressed.
z The clutch pedal is depressed 3.
z Selector lever for automatic
transmission 3 or manual
transmission automated 3 in N.
Stored speedThe speed is saved until the ignition is
switched off.
To reset the saved speed at over 30 km/h,
turn switch g downwards.
Back to overview

189
Driving and operation
Driving characteristics, towing tips
Before attaching the trailer/caravan,
lubricate the ball of the trailer/caravan
towing device. However, do not lubricate
the ball if a stabiliser, which acts on the
coupling ball, is being used to damp
hunting.
Check caravan/traile r lighting before
starting to drive. The fog tail lamps on the
vehicle are deactivated when towing a
caravan or trailer.
Trailers with LED turn signals must have a
provision enables lamp monitoring for
commercial bulbs.
Ultrasonic parking sensors 3 are
deactivated in towing mode.
Handling is greatly influenced by the
loading of the trailer/caravan. Loads
should therefore be secured so that they
cannot slip and be placed in the centre of
the trailer/caravan if possible, i.e. above
the axle.
For trailers with low directional control and
for caravans with a permissible gross
vehicle weight of more than 1000 kg, a
speed of 80 km/h must not be exceeded;
use of a roll damper in accordance with the
friction principle is urgently recommended. If the trailer/caravan starts to sway, drive
more slowly, do not attempt to correct the
steering and brake sharply if necessary.
If it is necessary to apply the brakes fully,
depress the brake pedal as hard as
possible.
Remember that the braking distance for
vehicles towing caravans/trailers with and
without brake is always greater than that
for vehicles not towing a caravan/trailer.
When driving downhill, drive in the same
gear as if driving uphill and drive at a
similar speed.
Adjust tyre pressure to the value specified
for full load
3264. Starting on inclines
For vehicles with manual transmission, the
most favourable engine speed when
starting off on an incline is between
2500 and 3000 rpm for petrol engines and
between 2000 and 2200 rpm for diesel
engines. Hold engine speed constant,
engage clutch gradually (let slip), release
hand brake and open throttle. If possible,
the engine speed should not drop during
this procedure.
In vehicles with automatic transmission
3
and manual transmission automated 3 it is
sufficient to give full throttle in D or
(in automatic mode) 3.
Before starting off under extreme
operating conditions, switch off
unnecessary consumers.
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