
Control panel for THERMATIC automatic climate control
:
Sets the temperature (Y page 118)
; Demists the windscreen (Y page 119)
= Sets the air distribution (Y page 118)
? Activates/deactivates air-recirculation mode (Y page 121)
A Sets the airflow (Y page 119)
B Activates/deactivates coolin gwith air dehumidification ( Ypage 117)
C Switches the rear window heating on/off (Y page 120)Notes on using THERMATIC automatic
climate control
The following contains notes and recommen-
dations on optimum use of THERMATIC auto-
matic climate control.
R Switch on the air-conditioning system by
turning control knob Aclockwise to the
desired position (except position 0).
R Set the temperature to 22 †.
R Recommendation for air distribution in
winter: set theOand¯ settings.
Recommendation for air distribution in
summer: set thePsetting.
R Only use the demisting function briefly,
until the windscreen is clear again.
R Only use the air-recirculation mode briefly,
e.g. if there are unpleasan toutside odours
or when in a tunnel. The windows could otherwise mis
tup as no fresh air is drawn
into the vehicle in air-recirculation mode. Overview of climate control systems
115Climate control Z

Control panel for THERMOTRONIC automatic climate control (2-zone)
:
Sets the temperature, left (Y page 118)
; Sets climate control to automatic (Y page 118)
= Demists the windscreen (Y page 119)
? Increases the airflow (Y page 119)
A Sets the air distribution (Y page 118)
B Display
C Activates/deactivates air-recirculation mode (Y page 121)
D Switches climate control on/off (Y page 117)
E Sets the temperature, righ t(Ypage 118)
F Activates/deactivates the residual heat function (Y page 122)
G Activates/deactivates coolin gwith air dehumidification ( Ypage 117)
H Reduces the airflow ( Ypage 119)
I Switches the rear window heating on/off (Y page 120)
J Switches the ZONE function on/off (Y page 119)Notes on using THERMOTRONIC auto-
matic climate control
The following contains instructions and rec-
ommendations to enable you to get the most
out of your THERMOTRONIC automatic cli-
mate control.
R Activate climate control using the Ãand
¿ buttons .The indicator lamps in the
à and¿ buttons light up.
R Set the temperature to 22 †. R
Only use the demisting function briefly,
until the windscreen is clear again.
R Only use the air-recirculation mode briefly,
e.g. if there are unpleasant outside odours
or when in a tunnel. The windows could
otherwise mist up as no fresh air is drawn
into the vehicle in air-recirculation mode.
R Use the ZONE function to adopt the tem-
perature settings on the driver's side for 116
Overview of climate control systemsClimate control

X
Turn the key to position 2in the ignition
lock.
X To activate: press the¬button.
The indicator lamp in the ¬button lights
up.
The climate control system switches to the
following functions:
R cooling with air dehumidification on
R high airflow 9
R high temperature 9
R air distribution to the windscreen and
fronts ide windows
R air-recirculation mode off
i The "Demisting" function automatically
sets the blower output to the optimum
demisting effect .As a result, the airflow
may increase or decrease automatically
after the button is pressed.
X To switch off: press the¬button.
The indicator lamp in the ¬button goes
out. The previously selected settings come
into effect again. The cooling with air dehu-
midification function remains on. Air-recir-
culation mode remains deactivated.
or
X Press the Ãbutton 10
.
The indicator lamp in the ¬button goes
out. Airflow and air distribution are set to
automatic mode.
or
X THERMATIC automatic climate control:
turn temperature control :clockwise or
anti-clockwise (Y page 115).
THERMOTRONIC automatic climate
control: turn temperature controls :or
E clockwise or anti-clockwise
(Y page 116). or
X
THERMATIC automatic climate control:
turn control Aclockwise or anti-clockwise
(Y page 115).
THERMOTRONIC automatic climate
control: press the KorI button. Demisting the windows
Windows misted up on the inside X
Activate the ¿cooling with air dehu-
midification function.
X Activate automatic mode Ã11
.
X If the windows continue to mist up, activate
the demisting function (Y page 119).
i You should only select this setting until
the windscreen is clear again.
Windows misted up on the outside X
Activate the windscreen wipers.
X Set the air distribution to PorO.
i You should only select this setting until
the windscreen is clear again. Rear window heating
Switching on/off G
WARNING
Cleara ll windows of ice or snow before setting
off .O therwise, impaired visibility could
endanger you and others.
X Turn the key to position 2in the ignition
lock.
X Press the ¤button.
The indicator lamp in the ¤button lights
up or goes out.
The rea rwindow heating has ahigh current
draw. You should therefore switch it off as
9 Depending on the outside temperature.
10 THERMOTRONIC only.
11 THERMOTRONIC only. 120
Operating the climate control systemClimate control

soon as the window is clear. It only switches
itself off automatically after a few minutes.
If the battery voltage is too low, the rear win-
dow heating may switch off.
Problems with the rear window heating The rear window heating has switched off
prematurely or cannot be activated.
X Switch off any consumers that are not
required, e.g. reading lamps or interior
lighting.
When the battery is sufficiently charged,
the rear window heating can be activated
again. Activating/deactivating air-recircula-
tion mode
G
WARNING
Only switch over to air-recirculation mode
briefly at low outside temperatures. Other-
wise, the windows could mist up, thus impair-
ing visibility and endangering yourselfa nd
others. This may prevent you from observing
the traffic conditions, thereby causing an
accident.
You can deactivate the flo woffresh air if
unpleasant odours are entering the vehicle
from outside. The air already inside the vehi-
cle will then be recirculated.
The operation of air-recirculation mode is the
same for all control panels.
X Turn the key to position 2in the ignition
lock.
X To activate: press theebutton.
The indicator lamp in the ebutton lights
up.
i Air-recirculation mode is activated auto-
matically at high outside temperatures.
When air-recirculation mode is activated
automatically, the indicator lamp in the
e button is not lit. Outside air is added after about 30
minutes.
X To switch off: press theebutton.
The indicator lamp in the ebutton goes
out.
i Air-recirculation mode deactivates auto-
matically:
R after approximately five minutes at out-
side temperatures below approximately
5 †
R after approximately five minutes if the
cooling with air dehumidificatio nfunc-
tion 12
is switched off
R after approximately 30 minutes at out-
side temperatures above approximately
5 † Convenience opening/closing using
the air-recirculation button
G
WARNING
Make sure that nobody can become trapped
between the side window and the door frame
as the side windows are opened and closed.
Make sure that all object sand body parts are
clear of the side windows when they are being
opened or closed .You or the objects could be
drawn in or become trapped between the side
window and the door frame as the window
moves. If there is arisk of entrapment, oper-
ate the Wswitch to move the side window
in the opposite direction.
Make sure that nobody can become trapped
as the panorama sliding sunroof is opened
and closed. If there is a risk of entrapment,
operate the 3switch to move the pano-
rama sliding sunroof in the opposite direction.
X Convenience closing feature: press and
hold the ebutton until the side win-
12 Only with THERMATIC/THERMOTRONIC automatic climate control. Operating the climate control system
121Climate control Z

dows and the panorama sliding sunroof are
closed.
The indicator lamp in the
ebutton lights
up. Air-recirculation mode is activated.
X Convenience opening feature: press and
hold the ebutton until the side win-
dows and the panorama sliding sunroof
have opened. The side windows and the
panorama sliding sunroof move back to
their original position.
The indicator lamp in the ebutton goes
out. Air-recirculation mode is deactivated.
i If you open the side windows or the pan-
orama sliding sunroof manually after clos-
ing with the convenience closing feature,
they will remain in this position when
opened using the convenience opening fea-
ture. Activating/deactivating the residual
heat function
The residual heat function is only available
with THERMOTRONIC automatic climate con-
trol.
It is possible to make use of the residual heat
of the engine to continue heating the station-
ary vehicle for up to 30 minutes after the
engine has been switched off. The heating
time depends on the temperature that has
been set.
i The blower will run at a low speed regard-
less of the airflow setting.
i If you activate the residual heat function
at high temperatures, only the ventilation
will be activated. The blower runs at
medium speed.
i It is possible that the residual heat func-
tion may be activated automatically an hour
after the key has been removed. The vehi-
cle is then ventilated for 30 minutes to dry
the air-conditioning system. X
Turn the key to position 0in the ignition
lock or remove it.
X To activate: press theÌbutton.
The indicator lamp in the Ìbutton lights
up.
X To switch off: press theÌbutton.
The indicator lamp in the Ìbutton goes
out.
i Residual heat is deactivated automati-
cally:
R after about 30 minutes
R when the ignition is switched on
R if the battery voltage drops
R if the coolant temperature is too low Adjusting the air vents
Important safety notes
G
WARNING
Very hot or very cold air can flow from the air
vents. This could cause burns or frostbite to
bare skin in the immediate vicinity of the
vents. Keep bare skin away from these air
outlets. If necessary, direct the airflow away
to a different area of the vehicle interior.
In order to ensure the direct flow of fresh air
through the air vents into the vehicle interior,
please observe the following notes:
R keep the air inlet between the windscreen
and the bonnet free of blockages, such as
ice, snow or leaves.
R never cover the vents or ventilation grilles
in the vehicle interior.
i You can move the adjuster sfor the air
vents vertically or horizontally, to set the
direction of the airflow.
i Optimal climate control function is ach-
ieved by opening the air vents fully and set-
ting the adjusters to the middle position. 122
Adjusting the air ventsClimate control

!
On long and steep downhill gradients,
especially if the vehicle is ladenort owing
a trailer, you must shift into gear 1, 2or3
in good time. This uses the engine's braking
effect .This relieves the load on the brake
system and prevents the brakes from over-
heating and wearing too quickly. Gear lever
k
Reverse gear
1 to6
Forward gears Shifting to neutral N
X
Depress the clutch pedal fully.
X Move the gear lever to position N:. Neutral N with ECO start/stop func-
tion activated
In neutral N, the engine is switched off if the
vehicle speed is below a certain threshold and
the clutch pedal is not depressed.
For further information on the ECO start/stop
function, see (Y page 129). Engaging reverse gear
! Only shift into reverse gear Rwhen the
vehicle is stationary. Otherwise, you could
damage the transmission.
X Pull the gear lever up, push it to the left and
then pull it back.
i The ECO start/stop function is not avail-
able when reverse gear is engaged.
For further information on the ECO start/
stop function: (Y page 129). Shift recommendation
The gearshift recommendations assist you in
adopting an economical driving style. The rec-
ommended gear is shown in the multifunction
display. X
Shift gear according to gearshift recom-
mendation :shown in the multifunction
display of the instrumentc luster. Automatic transmission
Important safety notes
G
WARNING
The movemen tofthe pedals must not be
impaired in any way.D o not keep any objects
in the driver's footwell. Make sure that floor-
mats or carpets are correctly secured and
that there is sufficient clearance for the ped-
als. 134
Automatic transmissionDriving and parking

cause the drive wheels to los
etheir grip and
the vehicle could skid. G
WARNING
Make sure that other road users are not
endangered by your braking.
Downhill gradients You must select a lower gear in good time on
long and steep downhill gradients, especially
if the vehicle is laden or towing a trailer. To
do so in vehicles with an automatic transmis-
sion, you will need to select the manual drive
program Min advance (Y page 139).
i This also applies if you have activated
cruise control, SPEEDTRONIC or DIS-
TRONIC PLUS.
This will use the braking effect of the engine,
so less braking will be required to prevent the
vehicle from gaining speed. This relieves the
load on the brake system and prevents the
brakes from overheating and wearing too
quickly.
i Vehicles with automatic transmis-
sion: if the accelerator pedal is depressed
briefly on downhill gradients while the man-
ual drive program Mis temporarily activa-
ted, the automatic transmission may
switch back to the last active automatic
drive program Eor S.T he automatic trans-
mission may shift to a higher gear. This can
reduce the engine's braking effect.
Heavy and light loads G
WARNING
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 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.
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 road surfaces
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. This may also occur after
the vehicle has been washed.
You have to depress the brake pedal more
firmly. Maintain a greater distance from the
vehicle in front.
After driving on a wet road or having the vehi-
cle washed, brake firmly while paying atten-
tion to the traffic conditions. This will warm
up the brake discs, thereby drying them more
quickly and protecting them against corro-
sion.
Limited braking performance on salt-
treated roads
G
WARNING
The layerofs alt on thebrake discs and the
brake pads/linings may caus eadelay 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
build up on the brake discs and the brake
pads/linings.
R maintain a greater distanc eto the vehicle
ahead and drive with particular care.
R carefully apply the brakes at the end of a
trip and immediately after commencing a
new trip, so that salt residues are removed
from the brake discs. Driving tips
147Driving and parking Z

Have your vehicle winterproofed at a qualified
specialist workshop at the onset of winter.
Observe the notes in the "Winter operation"
sectio n(Ypage 294).
Driving with summer tyres Observe the notes in the "Winter operation"
section (Y page 294).
Slippery road surfaces G
WARNING
Do not shift down for additional engine brak-
ing on a slippery road surface. This could
cause the drive wheels to lose their grip and
the vehicle could skid.
If the vehicle threatens to skid or cannot be
stopped when moving at low speed:
X Vehicles with manual transmission:
shift to neutral.
X Vehicles with automatic transmission:
shift the transmission to position N.
X Try to bring the vehicle under control by
using corrective steering.
You should drive particularly carefully on slip-
pery road surfaces .Avoid sudden accelera-
tion, steering and braking manoeuvres.
i For more information on driving with
snow chains, see (Y page 295). Driving systems
Cruise control
General notes Cruise control maintains a constant road
speed for you.Itb
rakes automatically in order
to avoid exceeding the set speed. You must
select a lower gearing ood time on long and
steep downhill gradients, especially if the
vehicle is laden or towing a trailer. For vehi-
cles with automatic transmission, you need
to have selected manual drive program
M(Y page 147). By doing so, you will make use of the braking effect of the engine. This
relieves the load on the brake system and
prevents the brakes from overheating and
wearing too quickly.
Use cruise control only if road and traffic con-
ditions make it appropriate to maintain a
steady speed for a prolonged period. You can
store any road speed above 30 km/h.
Important safety notes
G
WARNING
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
WARNING
Cruise control cannot take account of road
and traffic conditions.
Always pay attention to traffic conditions
even when cruise control is activated.
Cruise control is only an aid designed to assist
driving. You are responsible for the vehicle's
speed and for braking in good time. G
WARNING
Do not use cruise control
R in traffic conditions that do not allow you to
drive at a constant speed (e.g. heavy traffic
or winding roads). You may otherwise
cause an accident.
R on slippery roads. The drive wheels may
lose their grip when braking or accelerating
and the vehicle may skid.
R when there is low visibility, e.g. due to fog,
heavy rain or snow.
Cruise control lever You can operate cruise control and variable
SPEEDTRONIC with the cruise control lever. Driving systems
149Driving and parking Z