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Starting the engine
Do not run the engine in enclosed areas;
otherwise, the inhalation of toxic exhaust
gases can cause loss of consciousness and
death. The exhaust gases contain carbon mon-
oxide, an odorless and colorless, but highly
toxic gas. Never leave an unattended vehicle
with the engine running; otherwise, such a vehi-
cle represents a potential safety hazard.
Before leaving the car with the engine running,
place the transmission in neutral or move the
selector lever to position P and set the parking
brake to prevent the car from moving.<
Avoid frequent starting in quick succes-
sion as well as repeated start attempts in
which the engine does not start. Otherwise, the
fuel is not burned or incompletely burned and
there is a danger of overheating and damaging
the catalytic converter.<
Do not wait for the engine to warm up while the
vehicle remains stationary. Start driving right
away, but at moderate engine speeds.
Manual transmission
Remote control in the ignition lock or, with
Comfort Access, inside the vehicle, refer
to page34.
1.Depress the brake.
2.Depress the clutch and shift to neutral
position.
3.Press the start/stop button.
The starter operates automatically for a certain
time, and stops automatically as soon as the
engine has started.
Automatic transmission
Remote control in the ignition lock or, with
Comfort Access, inside the vehicle, refer
to page34.
1.Depress the brake.
2.Move the selector lever to position P.
3.Press the start/stop button.
The starter operates automatically for a certain
time, and stops automatically as soon as the
engine has started.
7-gear sport automatic transmission
with dual clutch
Remote control in the ignition lock or, with
Comfort Access, inside the vehicle, refer
to page34.
1.Depress the brake.
2.Press the start/stop button.
The engine starts, regardless of the current
selector lever position.
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Releasing
Take the remote control with you when
leaving the vehicle so that children, for
example, cannot release the parking brake.<
The parking brake can only be released while
the ignition is switched on or the engine is
running.
With manual transmission
Press the button of the parking brake. Depress
the brake and clutch pedals while doing so.
With automatic transmission or 7-gear
sport automatic transmission with dual
clutch
Press the parking brake button while the brake
is depressed or transmission position P is
engaged.
Indicator lamps
The indicator lamp in the instrument
cluster goes out.
Indicator lamp in Canadian models.
Malfunction
In the event of a failure or malfunction of the
parking brake, secure the vehicle against rolling
using a wheel chock, for example, if you leave
the vehicle.
Manual transmission
When shifting into 5th or 6th gear, press
the gearshift lever to the right. Otherwise,
the engine could be damaged if you inadvert-
ently shift into 3rd or 4th gear.<
Reverse gear
Select this only when the vehicle is stationary.
When the gearshift lever is pressed to the left, a
slight resistance has to be overcome.
Automatic transmission with
Steptronic*
In addition to fully automatic operation, you can
also manually shift with the Steptronic, refer
to page54.
Vehicle parking
To prevent the vehicle from rolling,
always select position P and set the park-
ing brake before leaving the vehicle with the
engine running.<
Disengaging the remote control
In order to remove the remote control from the
ignition lock, you must first move the selector
lever to position P and switch off the engine:
interlock. Removing the remote control from
the ignition lock, refer to page50.
Selector lever positions
P R N D M/S + –
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a downshift that would cause the engine to
overrev will not be executed by the system. The
gear selected is briefly displayed in the instru-
ment cluster, followed by the gear actually
in use.
Shifting gears via shift paddles* on the
steering wheel
The shift paddles allow you to shift gears with-
out taking your hands off the steering wheel.
>When you use the shift paddles on the
steering wheel to shift gears in automatic
mode, the transmission switches to man-
ual 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 the M/S gear
plane, manual mode remains active.<
>To shift up: press one of the shift paddles
back, arrow 1.
>To shift down: press one of the shift pad-
dles forward, arrow 2.
Upshifts and downshifts are executed only
when they will result in a plausible combination
of engine and vehicle speed; thus, for example,
a downshift that would cause the engine to
overrev will not be executed by the system. The
gear selected is briefly displayed in the instru-
ment cluster, followed by the gear actually
in use.
Overriding selector lever lock
Should the selector lever refuse to move out of
position P although the button on the selector
lever is pressed, the selector lever lock can be
overridden:
1.Unclip the sleeve of the selector lever.
2.Pull the sleeve up over the selector lever
until the sleeve is inside out.
3.Using the screwdriver from the onboard
vehicle tool kit, refer to page212, press the
red lever while moving the selector lever to
the desired position.
7-gear sport automatic
transmission with dual
clutch*
The concept
This transmission is an automated manual
transmission with two clutches and two gear-
box components in which the gears are
changed without loss of torque.
You operate the transmission using the selector
lever and two shift paddles on the steering
wheel.
It offers the following functions:
>Selection between manual and automatic
operation: manual mode or drive mode
>Automatic downshifting and protection
against selecting the wrong gear, even in
manual mode
>Launch Control acceleration assistant, refer
to page58
>Automatic double declutch
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P Park
The rear wheels are locked.
P is engaged automatically when the following
conditions are met:
>The driver's door is opened while the
engine is running, your safety belt is not fas-
tened and neither the brake pedal nor the
accelerator are activated.
>The engine is switched off unless N is
engaged and the remote control is in the
ignition lock.
>The remote control is removed from the
ignition lock.
Kickdown
T o a cc ele ra te ra pidly, e.g., when passing, press
the accelerator down past the resistance point.
This provides maximum acceleration.
Activating the Sport program and
manual mode M/S
Move the selector lever from position D toward
the left:
The Sport program is activated.
Sport program
S1 through S7 is displayed in the instrument
cluster. This position is recommended for a
performance-oriented driving style.
Manual mode:
When you press the selector lever forward or
backward, or when you press the shift paddles,
manual mode is activated and the gear is
changed.
M1 through M7 are displayed in the instrument
cluster.The transmission provides assistance in the fol-
lowing 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 vehicle 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 manual mode, you can
skip several gears to achieve optimal accelera-
tion. Do so by pressing the accelerator past the
resistance point.
Changing to drive mode
Push the selector lever to the right.
Shifting gears via the selector lever
In manual mode:
>To shift up, pull back the selector lever.
>To shift down, push it forward.
Shifting gears via the shift paddles on
the steering wheel
The shift paddles allow you to shift gears with-
out taking your hands off the steering wheel.
You do not need to raise your foot from the
accelerator when doing so.
>To shift up: press one of the shift paddles
back, arrow1.
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4.Turn the cap with the Allen wrench, arrow 1,
and remove it, arrow 2.
5.Insert the Allen wrench into the opening,
arrow 1.
6.Turn the Allen wrench as far as it will go,
arrow 2. The transmission lock is released.
Do not turn the Allen wrench in the
opposite direction as this may dam-
age the mechanism.<
7.Draw the Allen wrench out of the opening.
After parking the vehicle, lock the trans-
mission lock again, refer to Locking man-
ually. Otherwise, there is a danger of the vehicle
rolling.
The transmission lock is locked again.
2.Clip the sleeve of the selector lever back in
place.
3.Set the parking brake.
Jump-starting and towing, refer to page 219.
Turn signals/
headlamp flasher
1High beams
2Headlamp flasher
3Turn signals
Using turn signals
Press the lever beyond the resistance point.
To turn off manually, press the lever to the
resistance point.
Unusually rapid flashing of the indicator
lamp indicates that a turn signal indicator
has failed.<
Indicating a turn briefly
Press the lever as far as the resistance point for
as long as you wish to indicate a turn.
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Deactivating intermittent wipe or rain
sensor
Press the button again, arrow3.
The LED goes out.
Deactivate the rain sensor before enter-
ing an automatic car wash. Failure to do
so could result in damage caused by undesired
wiper activation.<
Cleaning windshield and headlamps*
Pull the lever, arrow 4.
Washer fluid is sprayed onto the windshield and
the wipers are operated for a short time.
When the vehicle lighting system is switched
on, the headlamps are cleaned at regular and
appropriate intervals.
Do not use the washers if there is any
danger that the fluid will freeze on the
windshield. If you do, your vision could be
obscured. Antifreeze should therefore be
added to the fluid, refer to Washer fluid.
Do not use the washers when the washer fluid
reservoir is empty; otherwise, you will damage
the washer pump.<
Windshield washer nozzles
The windshield washer nozzles are heated
automatically while the engine is running or the
ignition is switched on.
Washer fluid
Washer fluid antifreeze is flammable.
Therefore, keep it away from ignition
sources and only store it in the closed original
container that is kept out of reach of children;
otherwise, there is a risk of personal injury.
Comply with the instructions on the con-
tainer.<
Washer fluid filler neck
Only refill washer fluid when the engine is
cool to avoid contact with hot engine
parts. Otherwise, fluid spills constitute a fire
hazard and a risk to personal safety.
Fill with water and, if required, with a washer
antifreeze, according to manufacturer's recom-
mendations.
Mix the water and antifreeze before filling
the washer fluid reservoir to make sure
the correct concentration is maintained.<
Capacity
Approx. 6.3 US quarts/6 liters.
Cruise control*
The concept
Cruise control is available for use at speeds of
approx. 20 mph or 30 km/h. The car then stores
and maintains the speed that you specify using
the lever on the steering column. In order to
maintain the specified speed, the system
brakes the vehicle when the engine braking
effect is insufficient on downhill gradients.
Do not use cruise control when driving at
constant speed is prevented by adverse
conditions, e.g., winding roads, dense traffic,
poor visibility or unfavorable road conditions
due to, e.g., snow, rain, ice or loose surfaces.
Otherwise, you could lose control of the vehicle
and cause an accident as a result.<
Manual transmission
You can shift gears while cruise control is acti-
vated. An indicator lamp notifies you that you
should shift gears when you drive for an
extended period at very high or very low engine
speeds, or the system is deactivated.
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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,
arrow3.
>Switch off the ignition.
The stored speed is cleared.
Resuming a speed stored beforehand
Press the button, arrow4. The last stored
speed is resumed and maintained.
Displays in the instrument cluster
1Stored speed
2Selected 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 page74.<
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 page73.
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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 page204.
Engine oil temperature*
When the engine is at normal operating
temperature, the engine oil temperature is
between approx. 2107/1006 and approx.
3007/1506.
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 page192.
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 page68.