DownshiftingGWarning!
On slippery road surfaces, never downshift in
order to obtain braking action. This could
result in drive wheel slip and reduced vehicle
control. Your vehicle’s ABS will not prevent
this type of loss of control.
XBriefly pull left gearshift control :
( Y page 122).
The automatic transmission shifts into the
next lower gear.
i When you brake or stop, the automatic
transmission shifts down into a gear from
which you can easily accelerate or take off.
Kickdown
Using the kickdown while driving in manual
program mode M is not possible.
Deactivating manual shift program
XTurn the program mode selector dial until
C or S appears in the multifunction display.
or
XRestart the engine.
The automatic transmission will go to
automatic program mode C.
Manual program mode M is not stored.
Emergency operation (limp-home
mode)
If vehicle acceleration becomes less
responsive or sluggish or the automatic
transmission no longer shifts, the automatic
transmission is most likely operating in limp-
home (emergency operation) mode. In this
mode only second gear and reverse gear R
can be selected.
XStop the vehicle in a safe location.XShift the automatic transmission into park
position P.XTurn off the engine.XWait at least 10 seconds before restarting.XRestart the engine.XShift the automatic transmission into drive
position D (for second gear) or reverse gear
R .XHave the automatic transmission checked
at an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center as
soon as possible.
Transfer case
This section applies to vehicles equipped with
all-wheel drive (4MATIC) only. Both the front
and rear axles are powered at all times when
the vehicle is being operated.
! Only conduct operational or performance
tests on a two-axle dynamometer. If such
tests are necessary, contact an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center. You could
otherwise seriously damage the brake
system or the transfer case which is not
covered by the Mercedes-Benz Limited
Warranty.
! Because the ESC operates automatically,
the engine and ignition must be shut off
(SmartKey in starter switch position 0, or
1 , or KEYLESS-GO start/stop button in
position 0, or 1) when
R the parking brake is being tested on a
brake test dynamometer
R towing the vehicle with the front or rear
axle raised (not permissible for vehicles
with 4MATIC)
Active braking action through the ESC may
otherwise seriously damage the brake
system which is not covered by the
Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.
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XPress button a to change the current
status.
Depending on the previous status, the
Daytime Running Lamps: mode will be
Enabled or Disabled.
With Daytime Running Lamps mode
enabled and the exterior lamp switch at
position $ or c, the daytime running
lamps are switched on when the engine is
running.
In low ambient light conditions the following
lamps will come on additionally:
RLow-beam headlamps
RParking lamps
RTail lamps
RLicense plate lamps
RSide marker lamps
For more information on the daytime running
lamp mode, see (Y page 98).
iMake sure the exterior lamp switch is set
to M or c when you switch off the
daytime running lamps while driving at
night.
For safety reasons, resetting all the functions
of all submenus to the factory settings while
driving (Y page 139) will not deactivate the
daytime running lamp mode.
The following message appears in the
multifunction display:
Cannot Be Completely Reset to
Factory Settings while Driving..
Switching Adaptive Highbeam Assist on
or off
XPress button = or ; to select the
Sett. menu.
XPress button : or 9 to select the
Lights submenu.
XPress button a.XPress button : or 9 to select the
Adaptive Highbeam Assist: function.
The current setting Enabled or Disabled
is shown.
XPress button a to change the current
status.
Depending on the previous status, the
Adaptive Highbeam Assist: function
will be Enabled or Disabled.
For more information on the Adaptive
Highbeam Assist, see (Y page 100).
Switching locator lighting on or off
With the Locator Lighting: function
activated and the exterior lamp switch in
position c
Rthe exterior lamps will come on during
darkness when the vehicle is unlocked with
the SmartKey.
The lamps will go out when the driver’s door
is opened.
If you do not open the driver’s door after
unlocking the vehicle with the SmartKey,
the lamps will go out automatically after
approximately 40 seconds.
Rthe exterior lamps will remain on for
15 seconds during darkness after exiting
the vehicle and closing all doors.
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If, after turning off the engine, you do not
open or close a door, the lamps will
automatically go out after 60 seconds.
The following lamps will come on
RParking lamps
RTail lamps
RLicense plate lamps
RSide marker lamps
RFront fog lamps
XPress button = or ; to select the
Sett. menu.
XPress button : or 9 to select the
Lights submenu.
XPress button a.XPress button : or 9 to select the
Locator Lighting: function.
The current setting Enabled or Disabled
is shown.
XPress button a to change the current
status.
Depending on the previous status, the
Locator Lighting: function will be
Enabled or Disabled.
You can temporarily deactivate the
headlamps delayed shut-off feature:
XBefore exiting the vehicle, turn the
SmartKey in the starter switch to
position 0.
XThen turn it to position 2 and back to
position 0.
The headlamps delayed shut-off feature is
deactivated. It will reactivate as soon as
you start the engine.
Setting ambient lighting
Use this function to adjust the brightness of
the ambient lighting.
XPress button = or ; to select the
Sett. menu.
XPress button : or 9 to select the
Lights submenu.
XPress button a.XPress button : or 9 to select the
Ambient Light Brightness: function.
XPress button a.XPress button : or 9 to set the
Ambient Light Brightness: .
The setting Level 1 represents the darkest
level and setting Level 5 the brightest
level. The ambient light is switched off at
setting Disabled.
Switching interior lighting delayed shut-
off on or off
Use this function to set whether you would
like the interior lighting to remain on for
10 seconds during darkness after you have
removed the SmartKey from the starter
switch.
XPress button = or ; to select the
Sett. menu.
XPress button : or 9 to select the
Lights submenu.
XPress button a.XPress button : or 9 to select the
Interior Lighting Delay: function.
The current setting Enabled or Disabled
is shown.
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previously set speed and wishes to resume
this particular preset speed.
GWarning!
The cruise control brakes automatically so
that the set speed is not exceeded.
:Setting current or higher speed ;Setting current or lower speed=Canceling the cruise control?Activating the cruise control or resuming
to last set speed
Activating cruise control
You can activate the cruise control at a
vehicle speed above 20 mph (30 km/h).
You cannot activate the cruise control
Rwhen you brake
Rwhen you have engaged the parking brake
Rwhen the automatic transmission is in park
position P, reverse gear R, or neutral
position N
Rthe ESC is switched off or has switched off
due to a malfunction
The vehicle speed displayed in the
speedometer can briefly vary from the speed
setting for the cruise control system.
Setting current speed XAccelerate or decelerate to the desired
speed.
XBriefly lift the cruise control lever in
direction of arrow : or press in direction
of arrow ;.
XRemove your foot from the accelerator
pedal.
iOn uphill grades, the cruise control may
not be able to maintain the set speed. Once
the grade eases, the set speed will be
resumed.
On downhill grades, the cruise control
maintains the set speed by braking with the
vehicle’s brake system. In addition, on
longer downhill grades the automatic
transmission will downshift automatically.
Canceling cruise control
XDepress the brake pedal.
or
XBriefly push the cruise control lever in
direction of arrow =.
The last set speed is stored for later use.
The last stored speed is deleted from memory
when the engine is turned off.
The cruise control switches off automatically
when you depress the brake pedal or you
engage the parking brake. In this case, the
cruise control speed segments in the
multifunction display will go out.
The cruise control also switches off
automatically when
Rthe vehicle speed falls below 20 mph
(30 km/h)
Rthe ESC is in operation
Rthe ESC is switched off with the ESC switch
Rthe ESC has switched off due to a
malfunction
Ryou shift the automatic transmission into
neutral position N while driving
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DISTRONIC PLUS deactivated
When the DISTRONIC PLUS is deactivated,
you will see the following display in the
multifunction display.
Example illustration
:Preceding vehicle, if detected;Actual distance to the preceding vehicle=Preset distance threshold to the
preceding vehicle
?Your vehicleAPRE-SAFE® Brake activated
DISTRONIC PLUS lever
:Setting current or higher speed;Setting current or lower speed=Deactivating the DISTRONIC PLUS?Activating the DISTRONIC PLUS or
resuming to the last set speed
ASetting following distanceActivating DISTRONIC PLUSGWarning!
When the DISTRONIC PLUS is switched on,
the vehicle can be braked. You should
therefore switch off the DISTRONIC PLUS if
the vehicle must be towed.
You can activate the DISTRONIC PLUS when
the vehicle speed is above 20 mph
(30 km/h).
It is also possible to activate the DISTRONIC
PLUS when the vehicle speed is below
20 mph (30 km/h) and the DISTRONIC PLUS
has detected a preceding vehicle.
If the DISTRONIC PLUS is activated, one or
two segments ; (Y page 151) around set
speed = (Y page 151) in the multifunction
display are illuminated.
The maximum vehicle speed you can set is
120 mph (Canada: 200 km/h).
If the DISTRONIC PLUS is not activated after
the DISTRONIC PLUS lever is pulled in
direction of arrow ? (Y page 153), you will
see the message: DISTRONIC PLUS ---
mph in the multifunction display.
In the following cases you cannot activate the
DISTRONIC PLUS:
Rwithin 2 minutes after driving off, following
an engine start
Rif the vehicle is secured with the parking
brake
Rif the ESC is switched off or has switched
off due to a malfunction
Rwhen the automatic transmission is in park
position P, reverse gear R, or neutral
position N
Rif the hood is open
Rif the driver’s door is open and the driver
has not fastened his or her seat belt
Rif the front passenger or a rear passenger
door is open
Rif the radar sensors are switched off
(Y page 144)
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will no longer brake your vehicle. You are
always responsible for maintaining a distance
from other vehicles, observing road speeds
and braking well in advance.
StoppingGWarning!
The braking effect of the DISTRONIC PLUS is
canceled and the vehicle can start to roll if
R the DISTRONIC PLUS is switched off using
the DISTRONIC PLUS lever
R you accelerate
R the DISTRONIC PLUS system or the power
supply is malfunctioning, e.g. due to battery
failure
R the electrical components in the engine
compartment or the fuses have been
manipulated
R the battery is disconnected
GWarning!
Never get out of the vehicle while the
DISTRONIC PLUS is switched on!
The DISTRONIC PLUS must never be operated
or switched off by passengers or from outside
the vehicle.
The DISTRONIC PLUS is not a substitute for
the parking brake. It must not be used to
secure the vehicle when parking.
When you get out of the vehicle or switch off
the engine, deactivate the DISTRONIC PLUS
and secure the vehicle from rolling away by
engaging the parking brake.
When the DISTRONIC PLUS detects that the
preceding vehicle is stopping, the vehicle
brakes until it also stops. Once the vehicle is
at a standstill, it remains stationary, without
depressing the brake pedal.
Depending on the following distance set
using the distance setting switch on the
DISTRONIC PLUS lever ( Y page 157), the
vehicle will stop adequate away from the
preceding vehicle.
When the DISTRONIC PLUS is activated and
the vehicle is at a standstill, the automatic
transmission shifts into park position P
automatically when
R opening the driver’s door and releasing the
seat belt
R turning off the engine
R opening the hood
R a system malfunction occurs
R the on-board voltage is insufficient
The DISTRONIC PLUS is deactivated.
Setting the current speedXAccelerate or decelerate to the desired
speed.XBriefly lift the DISTRONIC PLUS lever in
direction of arrow : or depress in
direction of arrow ; (Y page 153).
The current speed is set.XRemove your foot from the accelerator
pedal.
i If you do not take your foot off of the
accelerator pedal and continue to
accelerate past the set speed, the following
message will appear in the multifunction
display:
DISTRONIC PLUS Override
The distance to a slower moving vehicle in
front of you will not be set. Your vehicle
speed will then be determined only by the
accelerator pedal position.
Changing the set speed
GWarning!
Keep in mind that it may take a brief moment
until the vehicle has made the necessary
adjustments.
Increase or decrease the set vehicle speed to
a value that the prevailing road conditions and
legal speed limits permit. Otherwise, sudden
and unexpected acceleration or deceleration
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Rthe vehicle is standing still and the brake
pedal is depressed (left foot)
R the automatic transmission is in drive
position D
Activating RACE STARTXDepress the brake pedal with your left foot
and keep it depressed.XTurn the program mode selector dial
clockwise ( Y page 121) until the RS lamp
on the dial comes on.
The message RACE START Confirm:
Paddle UP Cancel: Paddle DOWN
appears in the multifunction display.
i When the activation conditions are not
fulfilled anymore, RACE START is canceled.
The message RACE START Canceled
appears in the multifunction display.
XTo cancel: Pull left steering wheel gearshift
control ( Y page 122).
or
XTo confirm: Pull right steering wheel
gearshift control ( Y page 122).
The message RACE START Available
Depress gas pedal. appears in the
multifunction display.
i If you do not depress the accelerator
pedal within 2 seconds, RACE START is
canceled. The message RACE START Not
Possible See Operator’s Manual
appears in the multifunction display.
XDepress the accelerator pedal fully.
The engine speed rises to approximately
4000 rpm.
The message RACE START Release
brake to start appears in the
multifunction display.
i If you do not release the brake pedal
within 7 seconds, RACE START is canceled.
The message RACE START Canceled
appears in the multifunction display.XTake your foot off the brake pedal while
keeping the accelerator pedal depressed.
The vehicle pulls away at maximum
acceleration.
The message RACE START Active appears
in the multifunction display.
RACE START deactivates at a vehicle speed
of approximately 30 mph
(Canada: 50 km/h). The automatic
transmission switches to program mode S+.
ESC SPORT remains switched on.
RACE START is canceled immediately if you
release the accelerator pedal while RACE
START is active or when the activation
conditions are not fulfilled anymore. The
message RACE START Not Possible See
Operator’s Manual appears in the
multifunction display.
i If RACE START is used repeatedly in a
short period of time, it is only available
again after having driven the vehicle a
certain distance.
Hill-start assist system
On uphill grades, the hill-start assist system
maintains the pressure in the brake system
for approximately 1 second after you have
released the brake pedal. Therefore, you can
start off smoothly without the vehicle moving
immediately after releasing the brake pedal.
GWarning!
The hill-start assist system is not designed to
function as a parking brake. It does not
prevent the vehicle from moving when parked
on an incline.
Always engage the parking brake in addition
to shifting the automatic transmission into
park position P.
XDepress the brake pedal.XShift the automatic transmission into drive
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XRelease the brake pedal.XCarefully depress the accelerator pedal.
The hill-start assist system is inactive
R when starting off on a level road or downhill
grades
R with the automatic transmission in neutral
position N
R with the parking brake engaged
R if the ESC has switched off due to a
malfunction
All-wheel drive (4MATIC)
In vehicles with all-wheel drive (4MATIC),
both axles are powered at all times when the
vehicle is being operated. The 4MATIC
improves traction in conjunction with the ESC
( Y page 65) and the Electronic Traction
System (ETS/4-ETS) ( Y page 65).
GWarning!
If a drive wheel is spinning due to insufficient
traction:
R While driving off, apply as little throttle as
possible.
R While driving, ease up on the accelerator
pedal.
R Adapt your speed and driving style to the
prevailing road conditions.
Failure to observe these guidelines could
cause the vehicle to skid.
The 4MATIC cannot prevent accidents
resulting from excessive speed.
! Do not tow with one axle raised. Doing so
could damage the transfer case, which is
not covered by the Mercedes-Benz Limited
Warranty. All wheels must be on or off the
ground. Observe instructions for towing the
vehicle with all wheels on the ground.
! Only conduct operational or performance
tests on a two-axle dynamometer. If such
tests are necessary, contact an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center. You could
otherwise seriously damage the brake
system and/or the transfer case which is
not covered by the Mercedes-Benz Limited
Warranty.
i In winter operation, the maximum
effectiveness of the 4MATIC is only
achieved with winter tires ( Y page 252) or
snow chains as required.
HOLD function
The HOLD function can assist you
R when driving off, especially on steep slopes
R when maneuvering on steep slopes
R when waiting in traffic
The vehicle is kept stationary without the
driver having to depress the brake pedal.
Upon depressing the accelerator pedal, the
braking effect is canceled and the HOLD
function is deactivated.
Activation conditions
You can activate the HOLD function when
R the vehicle is stationary
R the engine is running
R your seat belt is fastened or the driver’s
door is closed
R the parking brake is released
R the hood is closed
R the automatic transmission is in neutral
position N, drive position D, or reverse gear
R
R the DISTRONIC PLUS is deactivated
( Y page 156)
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