If there is no vehicle in front, DISTRONIC
PLUS operates in the same way as cruise
control in the speed range between
30 km/h and 200 km/h. If avehicle is driving
in fron tofyou, DISTRONIC operates in the
speed range between 0km/h and
200 km/h.
Do not use DISTRONIC PLUS while driving on
road swith steep gradients. G
WARNING
DISTRONIC PLUS brakes yourv ehicle up to a
maximum of 4m/s2
depending on its speed.
This corresponds to approximately 40% of
your vehicle's maximum braking power. You
must also apply the brakes yourself if this
braking power is not sufficient.
If DISTRONIC PLUS detect sarisk of collision
with avehicle in front, an intermittent warning
tones ounds. In addition, the ·distance
warning lamp in the instrument cluster lights
up. Brak etoavoidacollision.
Cruise control lever With the cruise control lever, you can operate
DISTRONIC PLUS and variable SPEED-
TRONIC.
The LIM indicator lamp on the cruise control
lever indicates which system you have selec-
ted:
R LIM indicator lamp off: DISTRONIC PLUS
is selected.
R LIM indicator lamp on: variable SPEED-
TRONIC is selected. :
To stor ethe curren tspeed or ahigher
speed
; To set the specified minimum distance
= LIM indicator lamp
? To stor ethe curren tspeed or call up the
last stored speed
A To stor ethe curren tspeed or alower
speed
B To switc hbetween DISTRONIC PLUS and
variable SPEEDTRONIC
C To deactivate DISTRONIC PLUS
Selecting DISTRONIC PLUS X
Check whether LIM indicator lamp =is off.
If it is off, DISTRONIC PLUS is already selec-
ted.
If it is not ,press the cruise contro llever in
the direction of arrow B.
LIM indicator lamp =in the cruise control
lever goes out. DISTRONIC PLUS is selec-
ted.
Switching on DISTRONIC PLUS, storing
the current speed and maintaining it Important safet
ynotes G
WARNING
The vehicle can be braked when DISTRONIC
PLUS is activated. For this reason, deactivate
DISTRONIC PLUS if the vehicle is to be set in
motion by other means (e.g. in acar wash or
by towing). Driving systems
173Driving and parking Z
To activat
ethe DISTRONIC PLUS, the follow-
ing conditions must be fulfilled:
R the engine must be running. It may take up
to two minutes of driving before DIS-
TRONIC PLUS is ready for use.
R the parking brake is not applied.
R ESP ®
is activated.
R the transmission is in position D.
R the bonnet is closed.
R the driver's door must be closed when you
shift from Pto Dor your seat belt must be
fastened.
R the frontp assenger door is closed.
R thev ehicle is no tskidding.
Activatin gwhile driving
When drivin gatspeeds below30k m/h,you
can onl yactivate DISTRONI CPLUSift he vehi-
cle in front has been detected and is shown
in the multifunction display. If the vehicle in
front is not shown in the multifunction display
and is no longer being detected, for example
because it has changed lanes, DISTRONIC
PLUS is deactivated and atone sounds.
X Briefly pull the cruise control lever towards
you ?or press it up :or down Ato the
pressure point.
DISTRONIC PLUS is selected.
X Keep the cruise control lever pressed
up : or down Auntil the desired speed
is set.
X Remove your foot from the accelerator
pedal.
Your vehicle adapts its speed to that of the
vehicle in front,b ut only up to the desired
stored speed.
i If you do not fully release the accelerator
pedal, the DISTRONIC PLUS suspended message appears in the multifunction dis-
play. The set distance to
aslower-moving
vehicle in front will then not be maintained.
You will be driving at the speed you deter-
mine by the position of the accelerator
pedal. Activating when driving toward
sasta-
tionary vehicle
If the vehicl einfront of yo uisstationary, you
can onl yactivate DISTRONI CPLUSo nce your
vehicl eisstationar yaswell.
X Briefl ypullt he cruis econtro llev er towards
you ?or press it up :or down Ato the
pressure point.
DISTRONI CPLUSiss elected.
i DISTRONIC PLUS can only be activated at
under 30 km/h if avehicle in front has been
detected. Therefore, the DISTRONIC PLUS
distance displayint he instrument cluster
should be activated (Y page 223).
X Keep the cruise control lever pressed
up : or down Auntil the desired speed
is set.
i You can use the cruise control lever to set
the stored speed and the control on the
cruise control lever to set the specified
minimum distance (Y page 177).
Pulling away
X If the vehicleinf ront pulls away:remove
your foot from the brake pedal.
X Briefly pull the cruise control lever towards
you ?.
or
X Accelerate briefly.
Your vehicle pullsa wayand adapts its
speed to that of the vehicle in front.
Driving
If there is no vehicle in front,D ISTRONIC
PLUS operates in the same way as cruise
control.
If as lower-moving vehicle is detected in front,
DISTRONIC PLUS causes your vehicle to
brake and maintain apreset distance to the
vehicle in front.
If DISTRONIC PLUS detects afaster-moving
vehicle in front,iti ncreases the driving speed,
but only up to the desired speed you have
stored. 174
Driving systemsDriving and parking
G
WARNING
If you depress the brake, DISTRONIC PLUS is
deactivated unless yourv ehicle is stationary.
DISTRONIC PLUS then no longer brakes your
vehicle. In such cases, control the distance
from vehicles travellin ginfrontwith the brake
alone. You could otherwise cause an accident
and thereby injure yourself and others. The
drive rremains fully responsible for the vehi-
cle's distanc efrom other vehicles, the speed
being driven and for braking in good time.
Changing lanes
If you wish to change to the passing lane (in
countries where traffic drives on the right, the
passing lane is the left-hand lane), DIS-
TRONIC PLUS supports you if:
R you are driving faster than 60 km/h.
R DISTRONIC PLUS is maintaining the dis-
tanc etoav ehicle in front.
R you switch on the appropriate turn signals.
R DISTRONIC PLUS does not detec tadanger
of collision.
If these condition sare met, your vehicle is
accelerated. Acceleration will be interrupted
if changing lanes takes too long or if the dis-
tanc ebetween your vehicle and the vehicle in
fron tbecomes too small. G
WARNING
DISTRONIC PLUS and Active Blind Spot Assist
are only an aid designed to assist driving.
They do not relieve you of the responsibility
of paying attention .The driver remains fully
responsible for the vehicle's distance from
other vehicles, the vehicle's speed and for
braking in good time. Always pay attention to
traffic conditions and your surroundings. Oth-
erwise, you may fail to recognise dangers in
time, cause an accident and injure yourself
and others.
Vehicles with COMAND APS/
Audio 50 APS
i The following function is not operational
in all countries. DISTRONIC PLUS uses additional information
from your navigation system so that it can
react appropriately to certain traffic situa-
tions. This is the case if, while following a
vehicle, DISTRONIC PLUS is active and you:
R
approach or drive through aroundabout
R approach aTjunction
R turn off at amotorway exit
Even if the vehicle in front leaves the detec-
tion range, DISTRONIC PLUS temporarily
maintains the current driving speed and does
not accelerate. This is based on the current
map data in the navigation system. Example: roundabout
The current speed is maintained:
R
approximately 10 seconds before the
roundabout/T junction and for approx-
imately 1.5 seconds when driving on the
roundabout
R approximately 12 seconds before reaching
am otorway exit and approximately 4sec-
onds after the motorway exit
Afterwards, the vehicle accelerates back to
the set speed you specified.
Stopping G
WARNING
Never get out of the vehicle when DISTRONIC
PLUS is activated.
DISTRONIC PLUS must also never be oper-
ated, activated or deactivated by apassenger
or from outside the vehicle.
DISTRONIC PLUS does not replace the park-
ing brake and must not be used for parking. Driving systems
175Driving and parking
Z
The DISTRONIC PLUS braking effect is can-
celled and the vehicle can start moving if:
R DISTRONIC PLUS is deactivated using the
cruise control lever.
R you accelerate.
R there is amalfunction in the system or an
interruption in the power supply, e.g. bat-
tery failure.
R the electrical system in the engine com-
partment, the battery or the fuses are tam-
pered with.
R the battery is disconnected.
If you wish to leave the vehicle or park it,
deactivate DISTRONIC PLUS and secure the
vehicle against rolling away.
If DISTRONIC PLUS detect sthat the vehicle
in frontiss topping, it brakes your vehicle until
it is stationary.
Once your vehicle is stationary, it remains
stationary and you do not need to depress the
brake.
i Depending on the specified minimum dis-
tance, your vehicle will come to astandstill
at as ufficient distance behind the vehicle
in front.T he specified minimum distance is
set using the control on the cruise control
lever.
You will see awarning message in the multi-
function displayifD ISTRONIC PLUS is acti-
vated and:
R the driver's door is open and the driver's
seat belt is unfastened.
R the engine is switched off, unless it is auto-
matically switched off by the ECO start/
stop function.
R the bonnet is opened.
Select Park (P) X
Move the selector lever to Pto prevent the
vehicle from rolling away.
DISTRONIC PLUS is deactivated. The warn-
ing message in the multifunction display
disappears. The horn will also sound at regular intervals if
DISTRONIC PLUS is activated and you:
R
switch the engine off, open the driver's
door and take off your seat belt
R open the bonnet
The sounding of the horn alerts you to the fact
that the vehicle has been parked while DIS-
TRONIC PLUS is still activated. The sound
becomes louder if you attempt to lock the
vehicle. The vehicle is not locked until DIS-
TRONIC PLUS is deactivated.
i If the engine has been switched off, it
cannot be started again until DISTRONIC
PLUS has been deactivated.
If DISTRONIC PLUS is activated and afault
occurs in the system or if there is adisruption
in the power supply,t heBrake immedi‐ ately message is shown in the multifunction
display. Immediately depress the brake firmly
until the warning message in the multifunc-
tion displayg oes out or shift the transmission
to position P.DISTRONIC PLUS is deactiva-
ted.
Setting aspeed X
Press the cruise control lever to the pres-
sure point, up :for ahighe rs peed or
down Afor alower speed.
X Keep the cruise contro llever pressed until
the desired speed is reached.
X Release the cruise contro llever.
The new speed is stored. DISTRONIC PLUS
is activated and adjusts the vehicle's speed
to the new speed stored.
Making adjustments in 1km/h incre-
ments X
Briefly press the cruise contro llever to the
pressure point ,up:for ahigher speed or
down Afor alower speed.
The last speed stored is increased or
reduced. 176
Driving systemsDriving and parking
If DISTRONIC PLUS detects
avehicle in front,
segments ;between speed of the vehicle in
front :and stored speed =light up.
DISTRONIC PLUS displays in the multi-
function display General notes
In the Assistance menu (Y
page 222)ofthe
on-board computer, you can select the dis-
tanc edisplay and activat eordeactivat ePRE-
SAFE ®
Brake.
Display when DISTRONIC PLUS is deacti-
vated
X Select the Distancedisplay function
using the on-board computer
(Y page 223).
When DISTRONIC PLUS is deactivated, you
will see the following in the multifunction dis-
play: :
Symbol for activated PRE-SAFE ®
Brake
; Vehicle in front, if detected
= Distance indicator: curren tdistanc eto
the vehicle in front
? Specified minimum distanc etothe vehi-
cle in front; adjustable
A Own vehicle
Display when DISTRONIC PLUS is activa-
ted
X Select the Distancedisplay function
using the on-board computer
(Y page 223). You will see the stored speed for about five
seconds when you activat
eDISTRONIC PLUS.
After this time, you will see the following in
the multifunction display while DISTRONIC
PLUS is activated: :
DISTRONIC PLUS activated
; Own vehicle
= Specified minimum distanc etothe vehi-
cle in front; adjustable
? Vehicle in front, if detected
Deactivating DISTRONIC PLUS There are several ways to deactivat
eDIS-
TRONIC PLUS:
X Briefly press the cruise control lever for-
wards :.
or
X Brake, unless the vehicle is stationary. 178
Driving systemsDriving and parking
or
X
Briefly press the cruise control lever in the
direction of arrow =.
Variable SPEEDTRONIC is selected. LIM
indicator lamp ;in the cruise control lever
lights up.
If you deactivate DISTRONIC PLUS, the DIS‐TRONIC PLUS off message is shown in the
multifunction display for approximately five
seconds.
i The last speed stored remains stored until
you switch off the engine.
i DISTRONIC PLUS is not deactivated if you
depress the accelerator pedal. If you accel-
erate to overtake, DISTRONIC PLUS
adjusts the vehicle's speed to the last
speed stored after you have finished over-
taking.
DISTRONIC PLUS is automatically deactiva-
ted if:
R you apply the parking brake.
R you are driving slower than 25 km/ha nd
there is no vehicle in front,orift he vehicle
in front is no longer detected.
R ESP ®
intervenes or if you deactivate ESP ®
.
R the transmission is in the P,Ror Nposition.
R the vehicle is near aradio telescope facility
(Y page 345).
R you switch off the radar sensor system
(Y page 229).
R you pull the cruise control lever towards
you in order to pull away and the front-
passenger door is open.
R the vehicle has skidded.
If DISTRONIC PLUS is deactivated, you will
hear awarning tone. The DISTRONIC PLUS off message is shown in the multifunction
display for approximately five seconds.
If the vehicle has been stopped by DISTRONIC
PLUS and afault occurs in the system, the
Brake immediately message appears in the
multifunction. Depress the brake pedal
immediately so that the vehicle does not roll away.D
ISTRONIC PLUS is then deactivated,
and the messag edisappears.
Tips for driving with DISTRONIC PLUS General notes
The following contains descriptions of certain
road and traffic conditions in which you must
be particularly attentive. In such situations,
brake if necessary .DISTRONIC PLUS is then
deactivated.
Cornering, going into and comingo ut of a
bend The ability of DISTRONIC PLUS to detect vehi-
cles when cornering is limited. Yourv
ehicle
may brake unexpectedly or late.
Vehicles travelling on adifferent line DISTRONIC PLUS may not detec
tvehicles
travelling on adifferent line. The distance to
the vehicle in fron twill be too short. Driving systems
179Driving and parking Z
Other vehicles changing lane
DISTRONIC PLUS has not detected the vehi-
cle cutting in yet. The distanc
etothis vehicle
will be too short.
Narrow vehicles DISTRONIC PLUS has not yet detected the
vehicle in fron
tonthe edge of the carriage-
way,b ecause of its narrow width. The dis-
tance to the vehicle in front will be too short.
Obstructions and stationary vehicles DISTRONIC PLUS does not brake for obsta-
cles or stationary vehicles. If, for example, the detected vehicle turns
acorner and reveals
an obstacle or stationary vehicle, DISTRONIC
PLUS will not brake for these.
Crossing vehicles DISTRONIC PLUS may detect vehicles that
are crossing your lane by mistake. Activating
DISTRONIC PLUS at traffic lights with cross-
ing traffic, for example, could cause your vehi-
cle to pull away unintentionally.
SPEEDTRONIC
Important safety notes SPEEDTRONIC brakes automatically so that
you do not exceed the set speed. On long and
steep downhill gradients, especiallyift
he
vehicle is laden or towing atrailer, you must
shift to alower gear in good time or select
shift range 1,2or 3on vehicles with auto-
matic transmission. By doing so, you will
make use of the braking effect of the engine,
which relieves the load on the brake system
and prevents the brakes from overheating
and wearing too quickly. If you need addi-
tional braking, depress the brake pedal
repeatedly rather than continuously. 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. 180
Driving systemsDriving and parking
HOLD function
General notes The HOLD function can assist the drive
rinthe
following situations:
R when pulling away,e speciallyonsteep
slopes
R when manoeuvring on steep slopes
R when waiting in traffic
The vehicle is kept stationary without the
driver having to depress the brake pedal.
The braking effect is cancelled and the HOLD
function is deactivated when you depress the
accelerator pedal to pull away.
Activation conditions You can activate the HOLD function if:
R the vehicle is stationary.
R the engine is running or if it has been auto-
matically switched off by the ECO start/
stop function.
R the driver's door is closed or if your seat
belt is fastened.
R the parking brake is not applied.
R the bonnet is closed.
R the selector lever is in position D,Ror Non
vehicles with automatic transmission.
R DISTRONIC PLUS is deactivated.
Activating the HOLD function X
Make sure that the activation conditions
are met.
X Depress the brake pedal. Example: vehicles with automatic transmission X
Quickly depress the brake pedal further
until HOLD display
:appears in the multi-
function display.
The HOLD function is activated. You can
release the brake pedal.
i If depressing the brake pedal the first
time does not activate the HOLD function,
wait briefly and then try again. G
WARNING
The vehicle's brakes are applied when the
HOLD function is activated. For this reason,
deactivate the HOLD function if the vehicle is
to be set in motion by other means (e.g. in a
car wash or by towing).
Deactivating the HOLD function The HOLD function is deactivated automati-
cally if:
R
you accelerate. The transmission is in posi-
tion Dor Ron vehicles with automatic
transmission.
R the transmission is in position Pon vehicles
with automatic transmission.
R you apply the brakes again with acertain
amount of pressure until HOLD disappears
from the multifunction display.
R you activate DISTRONIC PLUS. G
WARNING
Never get out of the vehicle when the HOLD
function is activated.
The HOLD function must never be operated
or deactivated by apassenger or from outside
the vehicle.
The HOLD function does not replace the park-
ing brake and must not be used for parking. 184
Driving systemsDriving and parking