
XTo increase: turn control ; in direction
= .
DISTRONIC PLUS then maintains a greater
distance between your vehicle and the
vehicle in front.XTo decrease:  turn control ; in
direction  :.
DISTRONIC PLUS then maintains a shorter
distance between your vehicle and the
vehicle in front.
i Make sure that you maintain the
minimum distance to the vehicle in front as
required by law. Adjust the distance to the
vehicle in front if necessary.
DISTRONIC PLUS displays in the
speedometer
When DISTRONIC PLUS is activated, one or
two segments  ; in the set speed range light
up.
i For design reasons, the speed displayed
in the speedometer may differ slightly from
the speed set for DISTRONIC PLUS.
If DISTRONIC PLUS detects a vehicle in front,
segments  ; between speed of the vehicle in
front  : and stored speed  = light up.
DISTRONIC PLUS displays in the
multifunction display
General information
In the Assistance menu ( Y page 206) of the
on-board computer, you can select the
distance display and activate or deactivate
PRE-SAFE ®
 Brake.
Display when DISTRONIC PLUS is
deactivated
XSelect the  Distance Display  function
using the on-board computer
( Y  page 206).
When DISTRONIC PLUS is deactivated, you
will see the following in the multifunction
display:
:Vehicle in front, if detected;Distance indicator, current distance to
the vehicle in front=Specified minimum distance to the
vehicle in front, adjustable?Own vehicleASymbol for the activated PRE-SAFE ®
Brake
Display when DISTRONIC PLUS is
activated
XSelect the  Distance Display  function
using the on-board computer
( Y  page 206).180Driving systemsDriving and parking
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between 50 mph (80 km/h) and 112 mph
(180 km/h).
If ATTENTION ASSIST detects fatigue or
increasing lapses in concentration on the part
of the driver, it suggests taking a break.GWarning!
The ATTENTION ASSIST is only an aid to the
driver. It might not recognize fatigue or
increasing inattentiveness in time or fail to
recognize them at all. The system cannot
substitute a rested and attentive driver.
Fatigue can cause you to recognize dangers
too late, to misjudge potential dangers, or to
react slower. Therefore, make sure to be
rested before and during your trip. Take rests
early enough and regularly, especially during
long trips. Failure to do so could cause you to
recognize dangers too late which could result
in an accident and serious injury to you and/
or others.
ATTENTION ASSIST assesses your level of
fatigue or lapses in concentration by taking
the following criteria into account:
R your personal driving style, e.g. steering
characteristics
R journey details, e.g. time of day and length
of journey
The functionality of ATTENTION ASSIST is
restricted and warnings may be delayed or
not occur at all:
R if the road condition is poor, e.g. if the
surface is uneven or if there are potholes
R if there is a strong side wind
R if you have adopted a sporty driving style
with high cornering speeds or high rates of
acceleration
R if you predominantly drive at speeds under
50 mph (80 km/h) or over 112 mph
(180 km/h)
R if you are currently using COMAND or
making a telephone call with it
R if the time has been set incorrectly
R in active driving situations, such as when
you change lanes or change your speed
Warning and display messages in the
multifunction displayXActivate ATTENTION ASSIST using the on-
board computer ( Y page 207).
Symbol  : appears in the multifunction
display.
If ATTENTION ASSIST is active, it will not warn
you until at least 20 minutes after your
journey has begun. You then hear an
intermittent warning tone twice and the
Attention Assist: Time for a rest?
message appears in the multifunction
display.
XIf necessary, take a break.XPress  a to confirm the message.
On long journeys, take regular breaks in good
time to allow yourself to rest properly. If you
do not take a break and ATTENTION ASSIST
still detects fatigue or increasing lapses in
concentration, you will be warned again after
15 minutes at the earliest.
ATTENTION ASSIST is reset when you
continue your journey; it reassesses your
tiredness if:
R you switch off the engine.
R you take off your seat belt and open the
driver's door, e.g. for a change of drivers or
to take a break.
Blind Spot Assist
Important safety notes
Blind Spot Assist uses a radar sensor system
to monitor the areas on both sides of your
vehicle. It is active at speeds above
approximately 20 mph (30 km/h). A warning
display in the exterior mirrors draws your
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Due to the nature of the system:
R warnings may be issued unnecessarily
when driving close to crash barriers or
similar solid lane borders.
R warnings may be interrupted when driving
alongside particularly long vehicles for a
prolonged time.
The two sensors for Blind Spot Assist are
integrated into the sides of the rear bumper.
Make sure that the bumper is free of dirt, ice
or slush around the sensors. For example, the
radar sensors must not be covered by bicycle
racks or overhanging loads. In the event of a
severe impact or damage to the bumpers,
have the function of the radar sensors
checked at a qualified specialist workshop,
e.g. an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Blind Spot Assist may otherwise not work
properly.
Indicator and warning display:Yellow indicator lamp/red warning lamp
If Blind Spot Assist is switched on, indicator
lamp  : in the exterior mirrors lights up in
yellow up to a speed of 20 mph  (30 km/h). At
speeds above 20 mph (30 km/h), the
indicator lamp goes out and Blind Spot Assist
is operational.
If a vehicle is detected within the monitoring
range of Blind Spot Assist at speeds above
20 mph (30 km/h), warning lamp  : on the
corresponding side lights up in red. This
warning is always emitted when a vehicle
enters the blind spot monitoring range from
behind or from the side. When you overtake
a vehicle, the warning only occurs if the
difference in speed is less than 7 mph
(12 km/h).
The yellow indicator lamp goes out if reverse
gear is engaged. In this event, Blind Spot
Assist is no longer active.
The brightness of the indicator/warning
lamps is adjusted automatically according to
the ambient light.GWarning
Blind Spot Assist is not active at speeds under
approximately 20 mph (30 km/h). The
indicator lamps in the exterior mirrors are
yellow. Vehicles in the monitoring range are
then not indicated.
Always pay attention to traffic conditions and
your surroundings. Otherwise, you may fail to
recognize dangers in time, cause an accident
and injure yourself and others.
Collision warning
If a vehicle is detected in the monitoring range
of Blind Spot Assist and you switch on the turn
signal, a double warning tone sounds. Red
warning lamp  : flashes. If the turn signal
remains on, detected vehicles are indicated
by the flashing of red warning lamp  :. There
are no further warning tones.
Switching on Blind Spot Assist
XMake sure that the radar sensor system
( Y  page 211) and Blind Spot Assist
( Y  page 208)  are activated in the on-board
computer.XTurn the SmartKey to position  2 in the
ignition lock.
Warning lamps  : light up in red in the
exterior mirrors for approximately 1.5
seconds and then turn yellow.196Driving systemsDriving and parking
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Vehicle equipment ............................198
Important safety notes  ....................198
Displays and operation  ....................198
Menus and submenus  ......................201
Display messages  ............................. 213
Warning and indicator lamps in the
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Vehicle equipment
i This manual describes all the standard
and optional equipment of your vehicle
which was available at the time of
purchase. Country-specific differences are
possible. Bear in mind that your vehicle
may not feature all functions described
here. This also refers to safety-related
systems and functions.
Important safety notes
You will find an illustration of the instrument
cluster in the "At a glance" section
( Y  page 26).
GWarning
A driver's attention to the road and traffic
conditions must always be his/her primary
focus when driving.
For your safety and the safety of others,
selecting features through the multifunction
steering wheel should only be done by the
driver when traffic and road conditions permit
it to be done safely.
Bear in mind that at a speed of just 30 mph
(approximately 50 km/h ), your vehicle is
covering a distance of 44 feet (approximately
14 m) every second.
GWarning!
No messages will be displayed if either the
instrument cluster or the multifunction
display is inoperative.
As a result, you will not be able to see
information about your driving conditions,
such as
R speed
R outside temperature
R warning/indicator lamps
R malfunction/warning messages
R failure of any systems
Driving characteristics may be impaired.
If you must continue to drive, do so with added
caution. Contact an authorized Mercedes-
Benz Center as soon as possible.GWarning
Malfunction and warning messages are only
indicated for certain systems and are
intentionally not very detailed. The
malfunction and warning messages are
simply a reminder with respect to the
operation of certain systems. They do not
replace the owner's and/or driver's
responsibility to maintain the vehicle's
operating safety. Have all required
maintenance and safety checks performed on
the vehicle. Bring the vehicle to an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center to address the
malfunction and warning messages.
Displays and operation
Coolant temperature gauge
GWarning
Driving when your engine is overheated can
cause some fluids which may have leaked into
the engine compartment to catch fire. You
could be seriously burned.
Steam from an overheated engine can cause
serious burns which can occur just by opening
the engine hood. Stay away from the engine
if you see or hear steam coming from it.
Stop the vehicle in a safe location away from
other traffic. Turn off the engine, get out of the
vehicle and do not stand near the vehicle until
the engine has cooled down.
The coolant temperature gauge is in the
instrument cluster on the right-hand side.
Under normal operating conditions and with
the specified coolant level, the coolant
temperature may rise to 248 ‡ (120 †).
!  If the coolant temperature is too high a
display message is shown.
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If the coolant temperature rises above
248 ‡(120 †), do not drive any further as
this could damage the engine.
Tachometer
The red band in the tachometer indicates the
engine's overrevving range.
!  Do not drive in the overrevving range, as
this could damage the engine.
The fuel supply is interrupted to protect the
engine when the red band is reached.
Outside temperature display
The outside temperature display is in the
multifunction display.
GWarning!
The outside temperature indicator is not
designed to serve as an ice-warning device
and is therefore unsuitable for that purpose.
Indicated temperatures just above the
freezing point do not guarantee that the road
surface is free of ice. The road may still be icy,
especially in wooded areas or on bridges.
Changes in the outside temperature are
displayed after a short delay.
Speedometer with segments
The segments in the speedometer indicate
which speed range is available.
Cruise control mode:
The segments light up from the stored speed
to the maximum speed.
DISTRONIC PLUS mode:
One or two segments around the stored
speed light up.
Operating the on-board computer
The on-board computer is activated as soon
as you turn the SmartKey to position  1 in the
ignition lock. 
You can control the multifunction display and
the settings in the on-board computer using
the buttons on the multifunction steering
wheel.:Multifunction display;~6
Makes/accepts or rejects/ends a
call
WX
Adjusts the volume
8
Mute=?
Activates voice control; see the
separate operating instructions?% Press briefly:
Back
Deactivates voice control
Hides display messages% Press and hold:
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A=;
Calls up the menu and menu bar9: Press briefly:
Selects the submenu or scrolls
through lists
In the  Audio menu: selects a stored
station, an audio track or a video
scene
In the  Tel (telephone) menu:
switches to the phone book and
selects a name or telephone number9: Press and hold:
In the  Audio menu: selects the
previous/next station or selects an
audio track or a video scene using
rapid scrolling
In the  Tel (telephone) menu: starts
rapid scrolling through the phone
booka
Confirms selections and hides
display messages
In the  Tel (telephone) menu:
switches to the phone book and
starts dialing
Multifunction display
To activate the multifunction display:
R switch on the ignition. 
R switch on the lights.
R open the driver's door.
Values and settings as well as display
messages are shown in the multifunction
display.
:Description field;Menu bar=Status indicatorXTo show menu bar  ;: press the  =
or  ;  button on the steering wheel.200Displays and operationOn-board computer and displays
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Menus and submenus
Menu overview
The number of menus shown depends on the optional equipment in the vehicle. 
Function:Trip  menu ( Y page 202);Navi  menu (navigation instructions) ( Y page 203)=Audio  menu ( Y page 204)?Tel  menu (telephone) ( Y page 205)ADriveAssist  menu (assistance) ( Y page 206)BServ.  menu ( Y page 208)
R call up display messages ( Y page 213)
R tire pressure loss warning system (Canada only) ( Y page 309)
R tire pressure monitor (USA only) ( Y page 311)
R ASSYST PLUS service interval display ( Y page 277)CSettings  menu (Y page 208)Menus and submenus201On-board computer and displaysBA 207 USA, CA Edition B 2011; 1; 3, en-USd2sboikeVersion: 3.0.3.62010-05-20T10:38:09+02:00 - Seite 201Z