2011 MERCEDES-BENZ E-CLASS SALOON ESP

Display messages Possible causes/consequences and
M Solutions
÷
inoperative See
Owner's Manual G
Risk of accident
ESP ®
, BAS, PRE-SAFE ®
, the HOLD function, hill start assist and
ESP ®
trailer stabilisation are no tavailable due to a malfunction.
The adaptive brake lights, BAS PLUS and PRE-SAFE ®
Brake may
also have failed.
In addition, the äandå warning lamps light up in the
instrument cluster.
ATTENTION ASSIST is deactivated.
The brake system continues to function normally, but without the
functions listed above.
X Drive on carefully.
X Visi taqualified specialist workshop. T!
÷
inoperative See
Owner's Manual G
Risk of accident
EBD (electronic brake force distribution), ABS, ESP ®
, BAS, PRE-
SAFE ®
, the HOLD function ,hill start assist and ESP ®
trailer stabi-
lisatio nare not available due to a malfunction.
The adaptive brake lights, BAS PLUS and PRE-SAFE ®
Brake may
also have failed.
In addition, the ä,åand! warning lamps light up in
the instrument cluster and a warning tone sounds.
ATTENTION ASSIST is deactivated.
The brake system continues to function normally, but withou tthe
functions listed above. The wheels could therefore lock if you
brake hard, for example.
X Drive on carefully.
X Visit a qualified specialist workshop immediately. J
Release parking
brake You are driving with the parking brake applied.
Awarning tone also
sounds.
X Release the parking brake. Display messages
255On-board computer and displays Z

Display messages Possible causes/consequences and
M Solutions
PRE-SAFE
Functions cur‐
rently limited See
Owner's Manual G
Risk of accident
PRE-SAFE ®
Brake is temporarily inoperative. Possible causes:
R the DISTRONIC PLUS cover in the radiator grille is dirty.
R function is impaired due to heavy rain or snow.
R the sensors in the bumpers are dirty.
R the rada rsensor system is temporarily inoperative, e.g. due to
electromagnetic radiation emitted by nearby TV or radio sta-
tions or other sources of electromagnetic radiation.
R AMG vehicles: ESP ®
is inactive.
R the system is outside the operating temperature range.
R The on-board voltage is too low.
If the display message does not disappear:
X Pull over and stop the vehicle safely as soon as possible, paying
attention to road and traffic conditions.
X Apply the parking brake.
X Clean the DISTRONIC PLUS cover in the radiator grille
(Y page 330).
X Clean the bumpers (Y page 330).
X Restart the engine.
X AMG vehicles: reactivate ESP ®
(Y page 73).
If the system detects that the sensors are fully operational, the
display message disappears.
PRE-SAFE ®
Brake is operational again. PRE-SAFE
Functions limited
See Owner's Manual G
Risk of accident
PRE-SAFE ®
Brake is faulty. BASP LUS or the distance warning sig-
nal may also have failed.
X Visit a qualified specialist workshop. ü If the symbol appears in the multifunction display,
aseat belt
tongue has been clipped into a rear seat belt buckle.
For further information on the status indicator for the rear seat
belts: (Y page 52). Display messages
257On-board computer and displays Z

Problem Possible causes/consequences and
M Solutions
J
The red brake system
warning lamp comes on
while the engine is run-
ning. A warning tone
also sounds.
G
Risk of accident
There is insufficient brake fluid in the fluid reservoir.
X Pull over and stop the vehicle safely as soon as possible, paying
attention to road and traffic conditions. Do not continue driving
under any circumstances.
X Apply the parking brake.
X Consult a qualified specialist workshop immediately.
X Observe the additional display messages in the multifunction
display.
Do not top up the brake fluid. This does not correct the error. !
The yellow ABS warning
lamp is lit while the
engine is running. G
Risk of accident
ABS (Anti-lock Brake System) has been deactivated due to a fault.
For this reason, BAS (Brake Assist), BAS PLUS, ESP ®
(Electronic
Stability Program), PRE-SAFE ®
,P RE-SAFE ®
Brake ,the HOLD func-
tion, hill start assist, the adaptive brake lights and ESP ®
trailer
stabilisation are also deactivated, for example.
The brake system continues to function normally, but without the
functions listed above. The wheels could therefore lock if you
brake hard, for example.
ATTENTION ASSIST is deactivated.
X Observe the additional display messages in the multifunction
display.
X Drive on carefully.
X Visit a qualified specialist workshop. !
The yellow ABS warning
lamp is lit while the
engine is running. A
warning tone also
sounds. G
Risk of accident
EBD (electronic brake force distribution) is faulty. Therefore, ABS,
BAS, BAS PLUS, ESP ®
, PRE-SAFE ®
, PRE-SAFE ®
Brake, the HOLD
function, hill start assist, the adaptive brake lights and ESP ®
trailer
stabilisation, for example, are not available either.
The brake system continues to function normally, but without the
functions listed above. The wheels could therefore lock if you
brake hard, for example.
ATTENTION ASSIST is deactivated.
X Observe the additional display messages in the multifunction
display.
X Drive on carefully.
X Visit a qualified specialist workshop. 282
Warning and indicator lamps in the instrument clusterOn-board computer and displays

Problem Possible causes/consequences and
M Solutions
Jäå!
The red brake warning
lamp, the yellow ESP
®
and ESP ®
OFF warning
lamps and the yellow
ABS warning lamp are
lit while the engine is
running. G
Risk of accident
ABS and ESP ®
are malfunctioning. Therefore, BAS, BAS PLUS,
EBD, PRE-SAFE ®
, PRE-SAFE ®
Brake, the HOLD function, hill start
assist, the adaptive brake lights and ESP ®
trailer stabilisation, for
example, are not available either.
The brake system continues to function normally, but without the
functions listed above. The wheels could therefore lock if you
brake hard, for example.
ATTENTION ASSIST is deactivated.
X Observe the additional display messages in the multifunction
display.
X Drive on carefully.
X Visit a qualified specialist workshop. ä
The yellow ESP
®
warn-
ing lamp flashes while
the vehicle is in motion. G
Risk of accident
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 72).å
The yellow ESP
®
OFF
warning lamp is lit while
the engine is running. G
Risk of accident
ESP ®
and ESP ®
trailer stabilisation are deactivated. ESP ®
will not
stabilise the vehicle if it starts to skid or if awheel starts to spin.
X Reactivate ESP ®
.
For exceptions, see: (Y page 72).
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. Warning and indicator lamps in the instrument cluster
283On-board computer and displays Z

Problem Possible causes/consequences and
M Solutions
M
AMG vehicles only:
The yellow SPORT han-
dling mode warning
lamp is lit while the
engine is running.
G
Risk of accident
SPORT handling mode is activated. ESP ®
only stabilises the vehi-
cle in extreme situations. ESP ®
intervention may not be able to
provide sufficient assistance in such situations, and the vehicle
may start to skid.
X Reactivate ESP ®
.
For exceptions, see: (Y page 72).
If ESP ®
cannot be activated:
X Have ESP ®
checked at a qualified specialist workshop. äå
The yellow ESP
®
and
ESP ®
OFF warning
lamps are lit while the
engine is running. G
Risk of accident
ESP ®
, BAS, BAS PLUS, PRE-SAFE ®
, PRE-SAFE ®
Brake, the HOLD
function, hill start assist, the adaptive brake lights and ESP ®
trailer
stabilisation are not available due to a malfunction .ESP ®
will not
stabilise the vehicle if it starts to skid or if awheel starts to spin.
The brake system continues to function normally, but without the
functions listed above.
ATTENTION ASSIST is deactivated.
X Observe the additional display messages in the multifunction
display.
X Drive on carefully.
X Visit a qualified specialist workshop. J
The red brake system
warning lamp comes on
while the vehicle is
moving. A warning tone
also sounds.
You are driving with the parking brake applied.
X
Release the parking brake.
The warning lamp goes out and the warning tone ceases. 6
The red SRS warning
lamp is lit while the
engine is running.
G
Risk of injury
The restraint systems are malfunctioning. The airbags or belt ten-
sioners may either be triggered unintentionally or, in the event of
an accident, may not be triggered at all.
X Drive on carefully.
X Visit a qualified specialist workshop immediately. 284
Warning and indicator lamps in the instrument clusterOn-board computer and displays

i
Vehicles with memory function: when you
fold one or both parts of the rear seat back-
rest forwards, the respective front seat
moves forward slightly, when necessary, in
order to avoid contact.
X Vehicles without memory function: if nec-
essary, move the driver's or front-
passenger seat forwards.
X Open the boot.
X Pull right-hand or left-hand rear seat back-
rest release handle :.
The corresponding rear seat backrest is
released and the rear seat head restraints
are lowered. X
Fold rear seat backrest ;forwards.
X Move the driver's or front-passenger seat
back if necessary.
Folding back the seat backrest X
Move the driver's or front-passenger seat
forward if necessary.
! Make sure that the seat belt does not
become trapped when folding the rear seat backrest back. Otherwise, it could be dam-
aged.
X Fold rear seat backrest :back until it
engages. G
WARNING
Make sure that the rear seat backrest is cor-
rectly engaged. Otherwise, vehicle occupants
could be injured by objects being thrown
around if you:
R brake sharply
R change direction suddenly
R are involved in an accident
If the rear seat backrest is not engaged, this
will be shown in the multifunction display in
the instrument cluster.
i You should always engage the rear seat
backrests if you do not need the through-
loading feature. This will prevent unauthor-
ised access to the boot from the vehicle
interior.
X Adjust the head restraints if necessary
(Y page 108).
X Move the driver's or front-passenger seat
back if necessary. EASY-PACK through-loading facility in
the rear bench seat (Estate)
Important safety notes G
WARNING
Do not carry heavy or hard objects inside the
vehicle or in the luggage compartment unless
they are secured.
Otherwise, you and other vehicle occupants
could be injured by objects being thrown
around the vehicle in the event of sharp brak-
ing, a suddenc hange in direction or an acci-
dent.
When using the enlarged luggage compart-
ment, always clip in the safety net. 296
Stowage areasStowing and features

G
WARNING
Always drive with the tailgate closed .Exhaust
fumes could otherwise enter the vehicle inte-
rior.
Folding the rear seat backrest forward The left-hand and right-hand rea
rseat backr-
ests can be folded forwards separately to
increase the luggage compartment capacity.
The combined luggage cover and net can
remain installed.
! Before you fold down the rear seat back-
rest, remove the side head restraints for
the integrated child seat; see the "Side
head restraints for integrated child seat"
section. The side head restraints could oth-
erwise be damaged.
! When folding the rear seat backrest for-
wards, ensure that there are no items lying
on the seat cushions .These items could
otherwise be damaged or could themselves
damage the rear seats.
i When you fold one or both parts of the
rear seat backrests forwards, the headr-
ests are also lowered if necessary. In the
case of vehicles with memory function, the
respective front seat is moved forwards
slightly to avoid contact with the seat
behind it. X
Vehicles without memory function: if nec-
essary, move the driver's or front-
passenger seat forwards.
X Pull the left-hand or right-hand release han-
dle at the rear in load compartment :or
at the side beside backrests ;.
The corresponding backrest folds for-
wards.
X Move the driver's or front-passenger seat
back if necessary.
Folding the rear seat backrest back X
Move the driver's or front-passenger seat
forward if necessary.
! Make sure that the seat belt does not
become trapped when folding the rear seat
backrest back. Otherwise, it could be dam-
aged.
X Fold seat backrest :back until it engages. G
WARNING
Make sure that the rear seat backrest is cor-
rectly engaged. Otherwise, vehicle occupants Stowage areas
297Stowing and features
Z

Otherwise, vehicle occupants could be
injured by objects being thrown around if you:
R
brake sharply
R change direction suddenly
R are involved in an accident
Please observe the loading guidelines.
Luggage holder The luggage holder can be used to secure
light loads against the side wall of the luggage
compartment to prevent them from moving
around.
!
Only use the luggage holder to secure
loads with a maximum weight of 7kg and
with dimensions that allow the loads to be
safely and securely retained by the luggage
holder. X
To install: insert two brackets Ainto the
left or right loading rail (Y page 303).
X Press release button :of the luggage
holder and pull the strap out slightly.
X Insert luggage holder ;into brackets A
and, while doing so, press release button
= and push the luggage holder downwards
until it engages.
X Press release button :of the luggage
holder and pull the strap out in the direction
of the arrow.
X Place the load between the strap and the
luggage compartment side wall.
X Using one hand, press locking button :of
the luggage holder. X
With your other hand, let the strap go slowly
until the load is secured.
X Make sure that locking button ?on brack-
ets Ais pressed.
This keeps brackets Ain place on the
loading rail.
X To remove: press release button =on
respective bracket Aand remove luggage
holder ;by pulling upwards and out.
Telescopic rod The telescopic rod can be used to secure the
load against the rear seats to prevent it from
moving around.
X
To install: insert one bracket ;into both
the left and the right loading rails and slide
it to the desired position (Y page 303).
X Insert telescopic rod :into brackets ;
and, while doing so, press release but-
ton ?and push the rod downwards until it
engages.
X Make sure that locking button =on brack-
ets ;is pressed.
This keeps brackets ;in place on the
loading rail.
X To remove: press release button ?on
respective bracket ;and remove tele-
scopic rod :by pulling it upwards and out. 304
Stowage areasStowing and features