2011 MERCEDES-BENZ B-CLASS HATCHBACK traction control

Setting for driving on the right/
left
................................................. 201
Switching on/off .............................. 97
DIRECT SELECTl ever
see Automatic transmission
Displa y(cleaning instructions) ........271
Display message General information .......................205
Hiding (on-board computer) ...........205
Display messages
ASSYST PLUS service interval dis-
play................................................ 266
Calling up (on-board computer) .....205
Driving systems ............................. 221
Engine ............................................ 219
Key ................................................ 231
Lights ............................................ .215
Safety systems .............................. 206
Tyres .............................................. 228
Vehicle .......................................... .229
Distance display (on-board com-
puter) ................................................. .198
Distance recorder see Trip meter
Distance warning signal
Activating/deactivating .................199
Function/notes ................................ 63
Warning lamps ............................... 241
DISTRONIC PLUS
Activatio ncondition s..................... 156
Cruise control leve r....................... 155
Deactivating ................................... 160
Display message ............................ 225
Displays in the multifunctio ndis-
play ................................................ 157
Drivin gtips .................................... 160
Function/notes .....................154, 155
Important safety notes ..................154
Selecting ........................................ 155
Setting the specified minimum
distance ......................................... 159
Warning lamp ................................. 241
Door
Automatic locking (on-board com-
puter) ............................................. 203
Automatic locking (switch) .............. .77
Central locking/unlocking (key) ......72
Control pane l................................... 35Display message
............................ 230
Emergency locking ........................... 78
Emergency unlocking .......................77
Important safety notes ....................76
Opening (from the inside) ................76
Drinks holder
see Cuph older
Drive program
Automatic ...................................... 138
Display (DIRECT SELECT lever) ......135
Manual .......................................... .139
Driver's door
see Door
Driver's seat
see Seats
Driving abroad
Service24h .................................... 267
Symmetrical dipped bea m............... 96
Driving on flooded roads ..................148
Driving safety system BAS PLUS (Brake Assist System
PLUS) .............................................. .65
COLLISION PREVENTION ASSIST ....63
Distance warning signa l................... 63
Electronic Brake-force Distribu-
tion .................................................. 67
ESP ®
(Electroni cStability Pro-
gram) ............................................... 66
Important safety guidelines .............62
Driving safety systems
ABS (Anti-lock Braking System) .......63
ADAPTIVE BRAKE ............................. 68
Adaptive brake lamps ......................66
BAS (Brake Assist System) ..............63
ETS (Electronic Traction System) .....66
Overview .......................................... 62
Steering assistant STEER CON-
TRO L................................................ 68
Driving system
Active Parking Assist .....................166
Driving systems
ATTENTION ASSIST ........................175
Blind Spot Assist ............................ 177
Cruise control ................................ 149
Display message ............................ 221
Distronic Plu s................................ 154
HOLD function ............................... 1628
Index

Centr
econsole .............................. 245
Centre console (rear) .....................246
Cuph older..................................... 255
Glove compartment .......................245
Important safety information .........244
Luggage net ................................... 247
Under driver's seat/front-
passenger sea t.............................. 246
Summer opening
see Convenience opening feature
Summer tyres .................................... 294
Sun visor ............................................ 256
Supplement Restraint System see SRS (Supplemental Restraint
System)
Surround lighting (on-board com-
puter) ................................................. .202
Switching off the alarm (ATA) ............68 T
Tailgate Display message ............................ 230
Emergency unlocking .......................79
Important safety notes ....................78
Opening/closing (from outside) .......79
Opening dimensions ......................318
Tail lamps
Display message ............................ 217
see Lights
Tank
see Fuel tank
Technical data
Emergency spare wheel .................305
Notes ............................................. 308
Trailer loads ................................... 320
Tyres/wheels ................................. 302
Vehicle data ................................... 317
Telephone
Accepting acall............................. 197
Display message ............................ 231
Menu (on-board computer) ............196
Number from the phone book ....... .197
Redialling ....................................... 197
Rejecting/ending acall................. 197
Telephone compartment ................246Temperature
Coolant .......................................... 188
Outside temperature ..................... .188
Setting (climate control) ................118
TEMPOMAT
Function/notes ............................. 149
Theft-deterrent system
ATA (Anti-Theft Alarm system) .........68
Immobiliser ...................................... 68
Through-loading ................................ 247
Time see Separate Owner' smanual
TIREFIT kit .......................................... 277
Top Tether ............................................ 51
Tow-away protection ..........................69
Towing Important safety notes ..................284
Towing atrailer
Activ eParking Assist ..................... 169
Axle load, permissible ....................320
Bulb failure indicator for LED
lamps ............................................. 186
Pulling away with a trailer ..............128
Trailer tow hitch display message ..230
Towing away
Fitting the towing eye. ...................285
Removing the towing eye. ..............286
With both axles on the ground .......286
With front axle raised ..................... 286
Tow-starting
Emergency engine starting ............287
Fitting the towing eye. ...................285
Important safety notes ..................284
Removing the towing eye. ..............286
Traction control ................................... 66
Trailer coupling see Towing atrailer
Trailer towing
7-pin connector ............................. 186
Blind Spot Assist ............................ 179
Cleaning the trailer tow hitch ......... 271
Coupling up atrailer ...................... 184
Decoupling atrailer ....................... 184
Driving tips .................................... 181
ESP ®
................................................ 67
Folding in the ball coupling ............185
Folding out the ball coupling ..........183 Index
17

Adaptive brake lamps
If you brake sharply from a speed of more
than 50 km/h or if braking is assisted by BAS
or BA SPLUS, the brake lamps flash rapidly.
In this way, traffic travelling behind you is
warned in an even more noticeable manner.
If you brake sharply from a speed of more
than 70 km/h to a standstill, the hazard warn-
ing lamps are activated automatically. If the
brakes are applied again, the brake lamps
lightu p continuously. The hazard warning
lamps switch off automatically if you travel
faster than 10 km/ h.You can also switch off
the hazard warning lamps using the hazard
warning switch button (Y page 99).
i Adaptive brake lamps are only available in
certain countries. ESP
®
(Electronic Stability Program)
Important safety notes G
WARNING
If the ÷ warning lamp in the instrument
cluster flashes, proceed as follows:
R do not deactivate ESP ®
under any circum-
stances.
R only depress the accelerator pedal as far as
necessary when pulling away.
R adapt your driving style to suit the prevail-
ing road and weathe rconditions.
Otherwise, the vehicle could go into a skid.
ESP ®
cannot reduce the risk of an accident if
you drive too fast. ESP ®
cannot override the
laws of physics.
! Switch the ignition off when:
R the electric parking brake is being tested
using a brake dynamometer.
R the vehicle is being towed with the front/
rear axle raised.
Application of the brakes by ESP ®
may oth-
erwise destroy the brake system. If ESP
®
detects that the vehicle is deviating
from the direction desired by the driver, one
or more wheels are braked to stabilise the
vehicle. If necessary, the engine output is also
modified to keep the vehicle on the desired
course within physical limits. ESP ®
assists
the driver when pulling away on wet or slip-
pery roads. ESP ®
can also stabilise the vehi-
cle during braking.
If ESP ®
intervenes, the ÷ESP®
warning
lamp flashes in the instrument cluster.
i Observe the "Important safety notes" sec-
tion (Y page 62).
i Only use wheels with the recommended
tyre sizes. Only then will ESP ®
function
properly.
Traction control Traction control is part of ESP
®
.
Traction control brakes the drive wheels indi-
vidually if they spin. This enables you to pull
away and accelerate on slippery surfaces, for
example if the road surface is slippery on one
side.
Traction control remains active if you deacti-
vate ESP ®
.
i Observe the "Important safety notes" sec-
tion (Y page 62).
Deactivating/activating ESP ® G
WARNING
ESP ®
is deactivated if the åwarning lamp
in the instrument cluster lights up continu-
ously when the engine is running.
If the ÷ warning lamp and åwarning
lamp are lit continuously, ESP ®
is not availa-
ble due to a malfunction.
There is an increased risk of your vehicle skid-
ding in certain situations.
You should always adapt your driving style to
suit the prevailing road and weather condi-
tions. 66
Driving safety systemsSafety

ESP
®
is activated automaticall ywhen the
engine is started.
If ESP ®
is deactivated and one or more wheels
start to spin, the ÷ESP®
warning lamp in
the instrumentc luster flashes.Insuch situa-
tions, ESP ®
will no tstabilise the vehicle.
X To deactivate:( Ypage 198).
The å ESP®
OFF warning lamp in the
instrument cluste rlights up.
X To activate:(Y page 198).
The å ESP®
OFF warning lamp in the
instrumen tcluster goes out.
It may be best to deactivate ESP ®
in the fol-
lowing situations:
R when using snow chains
R in deep snow
R on sand or gravel G
WARNING
Activate ESP ®
as soon as the situations
described above no longer apply. ESP ®
will
otherwise not be able to stabilise the vehicle
if the vehicle starts to skid or a wheel starts
to spin.
If you deactivate ESP ®
:
R ESP ®
no longer improves driving stability.
R the engine's torque is no longer limited, and
the drive wheels can spin .The spinning of
the wheels results in a cutting action, which
provides better grip.
R traction control is still activated.
R ESP ®
still provides support when you
brake.
i Vehicles with ECO start/stop function:
the ECO start/stop function switches the
engine off automatically when the vehicle
comes to a stop. When pulling away again,
the engine starts automatically .ESP ®
remains in its previously selected status.
Example: if ESP ®
was deactivated before
the engine was switched off, ESP ®
remains deactivated when the engine is switched on
again.
i Observe the "Important safety notes" sec-
tion (Y page 62).
ESP ®
trailer stabilisation G
WARNING
If road and weather conditions are poor,
traile rstabilisation will not be able to prevent
the trailer fro mswerving and will thus be
unable to reduce the risk of an accident. Trail-
ers with a high centre of gravity can tip over
before ESP ®
can detect this.
If your vehicle/trailer combination begins to
lurch, you can only stabilise the vehicle/
trailer combination by depressing the brake
firmly.
In this situation, ESP ®
assists you and can
detect if the vehicle/trailer combination
begins to lurch. ESP ®
slows the vehicle down
by braking and limiting the engine output until
the vehicle/trailer combination has stabi-
lised.
Trailer stabilisation is active above speeds of
about 65 km/h.
Trailer stabilisation does not work if ESP ®
is
deactivated or disabled because of a mal-
function. EBD (electronic brake force distribu-
tion)
G
WARNING
If EB Dhas malfunctioned, the braking system
remains available with full brake boosting
effect .However, the rear wheels can still lock,
e.g. under full braking. This could cause you
to lose control of your vehicle and cause an
accident .You should therefore adapt your
driving style to the different handling charac-
teristics. Driving safety systems
67Safety Z

New brake pads/linings
G
WARNING
New brake pads/linings onl yreach their opti-
mum braking effec tafter several hundred kil-
ometres of driving. Before this optimu mbrak-
ing effect is reached, you should compensate
for the reduced braking effect by applying
greater pressure when braking. This also
applies after the brake discs or the brake
pads/linings have been replaced.
For safety reasons, Mercedes-Benz recom-
mends that you only have brake pads/linings
fitted to yourv ehicle which have been
approved for Mercedes-Benz vehicles or
which correspond to an equivalent quality
standard. Brake pads/linings which have not
been approved for Mercedes-Benzv ehicles or
which are not of an equivalent quality could
affect your vehicle's operating safety. Tyre traction
G
WARNING
Whereas the vehicle can be fully controlled at
a certain speed on dry roads, you must reduce
your speed on wet or icy roads to achieve the
same road safety. You could otherwise cause
an accident.
Pay particular attention to the road conditions
at temperatures around freezing point.
If ice has formed on the road surface (e.g.
from fog), a thin film of water rapidly forms on
the ice when you brake, considerably reduc-
ing tyre traction. Drive with particular care in
such weather conditions. Driving on wet roads
Aquaplaning If water has accumulated to a certain depth
on the road surface, there is a danger of aqua-
planing occurring, even if:
R you are driving at low speeds.
R the tyres have adequate tread depth.
For this reason, do not drive in tyre ruts, and
brake carefully.
Driving on flooded roads !
Bear in mind that vehicles travelling in
front or in the opposite direction create
waves. This may cause the maximum per-
missible water depth to be exceeded.
These notes must be observed under all
circumstances. You could otherwise dam-
age the engine, the electronics or the trans-
mission.
If you have to drive on stretches of road on
which water has collected, please bear in
mind that:
R the maximum permissible still water depth
is 25 cm.
R you should drive no faster than at walking
pace. Winter driving
General notes G
WARNING
If the vehicle becomes trapped in snow,
ensure that snow is kept away from the
exhaust pipe and from around the vehicle as
long as the engine is running. Otherwise, poi-
sonous carbon monoxide (CO) may enter the
vehicle, resulting in loss of consciousness and
even death.
To assure sufficien tfresh air ventilation, open
a window slightly on the side of the vehicle
not facing the wind. 148
Driving tipsDriving and parking

Problem Possible causes/consequences and
M Solutions
÷
The yellow ESP
®
warn-
ing lamp flashes while
the vehicle is in motion. ESP
®
or traction control has intervened because there is a risk of
skidding or at least one wheel has started to spin.
Cruise control or DISTRONIC PLUS is deactivated.
X Only depress the accelerator pedal as far as necessary when
pulling away.
X Accelerate more gently while the vehicle is in motion.
X Adapt your driving style to suit the road and weather conditions.
X Do not deactivate ESP ®
.
For exceptions, see: (Y page 66).å
The yellow ESP
®
OFF
warning lamp is lit while
the engine is running. ESP
®
and ESP ®
trailer stabilisation are deactivated. ESP ®
will not
stabilise the vehicle if it starts to skid or if awheel starts to spin.
G WARNING
If ESP ®
is deactivated, the vehicle's stability during standard driv-
ing manoeuvres is reduced.
There is a risk of accident.
X Reactivate ESP ®
.
For exceptions, see: (Y page 66).
X Adapt your driving style to suit the road and weather conditions.
If ESP ®
cannot be activated:
X Have ESP ®
checked at a qualified specialist workshop. ֌
The yellow ESP
®
and
ESP ®
OFF warning
lamps are lit while the
engine is running. ESP
®
, BAS, BAS PLUS, PRE-SAFE ®
, the HOLD function, hill start
assist, the adaptive brake lights and ESP ®
trailer stabilisation are
not available due to a malfunction.
ATTENTION ASSIST is deactivated.
G WARNING
ESP ®
will not stabilise the vehicle if it starts to skid or if a wheel
starts to spin.
The brake system continues to function normally, but without the
functions listed above.
If ESP ®
is deactivated or not operational, the vehicle's stability
during standard driving manoeuvres is reduced.
There is a risk of accident.
X Observe the additional display messages in the multifunction
display.
X Drive on carefully.
X Visit a qualified specialist workshop. 236
Warning and indicator lamps in the instrument clusterOn-board computer and displays

over kerbs, speed humps or similar eleva-
tions, try to do so at an obtuse angle. Oth-
erwise, the tyres, particularly the sidewalls,
can get damaged. Notes on regularly inspecting wheels
and tyres G
WARNING
Damaged tyres can cause tyre inflation pres-
sure loss. As a result, you could lose control
of your vehicle. There is a risk of accident.
Check the tyres regularly for signs of damage
and replace any damaged tyres immediately.
R Regularly check the wheels and tyres of
your vehicle for damage (e.g. cuts, punctu-
res, tears, bulges on tyres and deformation,
cracks or severe corrosion on wheels), at
least every 14 days, as well as after driving
off-road or on rough roads. Damaged
wheels can cause a loss of tyre pressure.
R Regularly check the tyre tread depth and
the condition of the tread across the whole
width of the tyre (Y page 293). If neces-
sary, turn the front wheels to full lock in
order to inspect the inner side of the tyre
surface.
R All wheels must have a valve cap to protect
the valve against dirt and moisture. Do not
fit anything onto the valve (such as tyre
pressure monitoring systems) other than
the standard valve cap or other valve caps
approved by Mercedes-Benz for your vehi-
cle.
R You should therefore regularly check the
pressure of all your tyres, particularly prior
to long trips, and correc tthe pressure as
necessary (Y page 295).
Observe the notes on the emergency spare
wheel (Y page 304). The service life of tyres depends on various
factors, including the following:
R
driving style
R tyre pressure
R mileage Tyre tread
G
WARNING
Insufficient tyre tread will reduce tyre trac-
tion. The tyre is no longer able to dissipate
water. This means that on wet road surfaces,
the risk of aquaplaning increases, in particular
where speed is not adapted to suit the driving
conditions. There is a risk of accident.
If the tyre pressure is too high or too low, tyres
may exhibit different levels of wear at differ-
ent locations on the tyre tread. Thus, you
should regularly check the tread depth and
the condition of the tread across the entire
width of all tyres.
Minimum tyre tread depth for:
R summer tyres: 3 mm
R M+S tyres: 4 mm
For safety reasons, replace the tyres before
the legally prescribed limit for the minimum
tyre tread depth is reached.. Notes on selecting, fitting and replac-
ing tyres
R Only fit tyres and wheels of the same type
and make.
R Only fit tyres of the correct size onto the
wheels.
R After fittingn ew tyres, run them in at mod-
erate speeds for the first 100 km, as they
only reach their full performance after this
distance.
R Do not drive with tyres which have too little
tread depth, as this significantly reduces
the traction on wet roads (aquaplaning).
R Replace the tyres after six years at the lat-
est, regardless of wear. Operation
293Wheels and tyres Z

Snow chains
! If snow chains are fitted to the rear
wheels, they may rub against the bodywork
or parts of the suspension. This may cause
damage to the vehicle or the tyres.
! Vehicles with steel wheels: if you wish
to fit snow chains to steel wheels, make
sure that you remove the respective
wheels' hubcaps first. The hubcaps may
otherwise be damaged.
For safety reasons, Mercedes-Benz recom-
mends that you only use snow chains that
have been specially approved for your vehicle
by Mercedes-Benz, or that are of a corre-
sponding standard of quality.
If you intend to fit snow chains, please bear
the following points in mind:
R snow chains cannot be fitted to all wheel-
tyre combinations. Permissible wheel-tyre
combinations (Y page 302).
R snow chains must not be fitted to the emer-
gency spare wheel, e.g. a Minispare emer-
gency spare wheel.
R fit snow chains only in pairs and only to the
front wheels. Observe the manufacturer's
installation instructions.
If snow chains are fitted, you cannot use
Active Parking Assist (Y page 166).
Do not exceed the maximum permissible
speed of 50 km/h.
i You may wish to deactivate
ESP ®
(Y page 66) when pulling away with
snow chains fitted. This way you can allow
the wheels to spin in a controlled manner,
achieving an increased driving force (cut-
ting action). Tyre pressure
Tyre pressure specifications
G
WARNING
Tyres with too low or too high tyre pressure
contain the following hazards:
R they can burst, in particular if the vehicle is
heavily laden or when driven at high
speeds.
R the tyres can wear excessively and/or
unevenly, which can severely impair tyre
traction.
R the driving, steering and braking character-
istics may be severely impaired.
There is a risk of accident.
Follow recommended tyre inflation pressures
and check the pressure of all the tyres includ-
ing the spare wheel:
R at least every two weeks
R if the load changes
R before beginning a long journey
R for changed operating conditions, e.g. off-
road driving
If necessary, correct the tyre pressure. G
WARNING
If you fit unsuitable accessories onto tyre
valves, the tyre valves may be overloaded and
malfunction, which can cause tyre pressure
loss. Due to their design, retrofitted tyre pres-
sure monitors keep the tyre valve open. This
can also result in tyre pressure loss. There is
a risk of accident.
Only screw standard valve caps or valve caps
specifically provided by Mercedes-Benz for
your vehicle onto the tyre valve. G
WARNING
If the tyre pressure drops repeatedly, the
wheel, valve or tyre may be damaged. Tyre
pressure that is too low may result in a tyre
blow-out. There is a risk of accident. Tyre pressure
295Wheels and tyres
Z