2011 MERCEDES-BENZ E300 BLUETEC steering

GWarning
It is dangerous to shift the automatic
transmission out of parking position P or
neutral position N if the engine speed is
higher than idle speed. If your foot is not firmly
on the brake pedal, the vehicle could
accelerate quickly forward or in reverse. You
could lose control of the vehicle and hit
someone or something. Only shift into gear
when the engine is idling normally and when
your right foot is firmly on the brake pedal.
! Warm up the engine quickly. Do not use
the engine's full performance until it has
reached operating temperature.
Only shift the automatic transmission to
the desired drive position when the vehicle
is stationary.
Where possible, avoid spinning the drive
wheels when pulling away on slippery
roads. You could otherwise damage the
drive train.
! AMG vehicles: at low engine oil
temperatures (below 68 ‡ (+20 †), the
maximum engine speed is restricted in
order to protect the engine. To protect the
engine and maintain smooth engine
operation, avoid driving at full throttle when
the engine is cold.
SmartKey positions
SmartKey
gTo remove the SmartKey(shift the transmission to position P)1Power supply for some consumers, such
as the windshield wipers2Ignition (power supply for all consumers)
and drive position3To start the engine
Once the ignition is switched on, all the
indicator lamps in the instrument cluster light
up. The indicator lamps of the low-beam
headlamps, high-beam headlamps, turn
signal lamps or front fog lamps only light up
if the low-beam headlamps, high-beam
headlamps, turn signal lamps or front fog
lamps are switched on. If an indicator lamp
does not light up when the ignition is switched
on, check it and replace it if necessary. If an
indicator lamp does not go out after starting
the engine or lights up while the vehicle is in
motion, see ( Y page 263).
If the SmartKey is in position 0 in the ignition
lock for an extended period of time, it can no
longer be turned in the ignition lock. The
steering is then locked. To unlock, remove the
SmartKey and reinsert it in the ignition lock.
The steering is locked when you remove the
SmartKey from the ignition lock.
XRemove the SmartKey when the engine is
switched off.
The battery may otherwise discharge.
If you cannot turn the SmartKey in the ignition
lock, the vehicle battery may not be charged
sufficiently.
XCheck the vehicle battery and charge if
necessary ( Y page 340).
or
XJump-start the vehicle ( Y page 341).
i
The SmartKey can be turned in the
ignition lock even if it is not the correct
SmartKey for the vehicle. The ignition is not
switched on. The engine cannot be started.
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Transmission position display:Transmission position display
The displays light up when the SmartKey is
inserted in the ignition lock. The displays go
out when the SmartKey is removed from the
ignition lock.
AMG vehicles: displays on the cover beside
the selector lever also indicate the current
position of the selector lever.
! If the transmission position display in the
multifunction display is not working, you
should pull away carefully to check whether
the desired transmission position is
engaged. Ideally, you should select
transmission position D and drive program
E. Do not restrict the shift range.
Drive program display
:Drive program display
DIRECT SELECT lever
Overview of transmission positions
The DIRECT SELECT lever is on the right of the
steering column.
PPark position with parking lockRReverseNNeutralDDrive
iThe DIRECT SELECT lever always returns
to its original position. The current
transmission position P, R, N or D appears
in the transmission position display
(Y page 155) in the multifunction display.
Transmission position display
:Transmission position display
iThe arrows in the transmission position
display show how and into which
transmission positions you can change
using the DIRECT SELECT lever.
Engaging park position P
XPush the DIRECT SELECT lever in the
direction of the arrow P.
iThe automatic transmission shifts
automatically into park position P if you
open the driver's door when the vehicle is
stationary or at very low speed and the
transmission is in position D or R. This
function depends on the date of
manufacture of your vehicle.
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C ComfortComfortable, economical
driving
S SportSporty driving styleS+ SportPlusExtremely sporty driving
style
M ManualManual gearshiftingRS RACE
START
Optimal vehicle
acceleration from a
standstill
iFor further information on "Drive
program" (Y page 159).
Only change from automatic drive program C,
S or S+ to manual drive program M when the
vehicle is stationary.
XTurn program selector : until the desired
drive program appears in the multifunction
display in the speedometer.
The drive program indicator on program
selector : lights up in red.
iThe automatic transmission switches to
automatic drive program C each time the
engine is started.
iRS cannot be selected during normal
driving. For further information on RACE
START (Y page 190).
Steering wheel paddle shifters
:Left-hand steering wheel paddle shifter;Right-hand steering wheel paddle shifterYou can restrict or derestrict the shift range
by using the steering wheel paddle shifters.
You can change gear yourself by using the
steering wheel paddle shifters in the manual
drive program.
In the automatic drive program, you can
restrict or derestrict the shift range by using
the steering wheel paddle shifters
(Y page 159).
iYou can only change gear with the
steering wheel paddle shifters when the
transmission is in position D.
Automatic drive program
Drive program E (drive program C on AMG
vehicles) is characterized by the following:
Rthe vehicle pulling away more gently in
forward and reverse gears, unless the
accelerator pedal is depressed fully
Rincreased sensitivity, which improves
driving stability on slippery road surfaces,
for example
Rthe automatic transmission shifting up
sooner, which results in the vehicle being
driven at lower engine speeds and the
wheels being less likely to spin
In drive program S, the automatic
transmission shifts up later.
Shift ranges
Introduction
When the automatic transmission is in
position D, it is possible to restrict or
derestrict the shift range (Y page 159).
The shift range selected is shown in the
multifunction display. The automatic
transmission shifts only as far as the selected
gear.
Driving situations=You can use the engine's braking
effect.
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5To use the braking effect of the
engine on downhill gradients and
for driving:
R on steep mountain roads
R in mountainous terrain
R in arduous conditions4To use the braking effect of the
engine on extremely steep downhill
gradients and on long downhill
stretches
Restricting the shift range
XPull the left-hand steering wheel paddle
shifter.
The shift range is restricted.
i In order to prevent the engine from
overrevving, the automatic transmission
does not shift down when the engine speed
is too high.
i If the maximum engine speed for the shift
range is reached and you continue to
accelerate, the automatic transmission
shifts up in order to prevent the engine
from overrevving, even if the shift range is
restricted.
Derestricting the shift range
XPull the right-hand steering wheel paddle
shifter.
The shift range is derestricted.
Clearing the shift range restriction
XPull and hold the right-hand steering wheel
paddle shifter until D is shown again in the
multifunction display.
The automatic transmission shifts from the
current shift range directly to D.Selecting the ideal shift rangeXPull the left-hand steering wheel paddle
shifter and hold it in position.
The automatic transmission shifts to the
gear which allows ideal acceleration and
deceleration. To do this, the automatic
transmission shifts down one or more
gears.
Manual drive program
Switching on the manual drive program
The manual drive program is only available for
AMG vehicles.
Manual drive program M is different from
drive programs S and S+ with regard to
spontaneity, responsiveness and
smoothness of gear changes.
Manual drive program M can be selected
using the program selector button. You can
change gear using the steering wheel paddle
shifters in manual drive program M if the
transmission is in position D. The gear
currently selected and engaged is shown in
the multifunction display.
XAMG vehicles: turn the program selector
( Y page 158) until M appears in the
multifunction display.
The indicator M on the program selector
lights up in red.
Upshifting
! In manual drive program M, the automatic
transmission does not shift up
automatically even when the engine
limiting speed for the current gear is
reached. When the engine limiting speed is
reached, the fuel supply is cut to prevent
the engine from overrevving. Always make
sure that the engine speed does not reach
the red area of the tachometer. There is
otherwise a risk of engine damage.
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XPull the right-hand steering wheel paddle
shifter ( Y page 159).
The automatic transmission shifts up to the
next gear.
Before the engine speed reaches the red area,
you will see an upshift indicator in the
multifunction display.
:Gear indicator;Upshift indicator
Downshifting
XPull the left-hand steering wheel paddle
shifter ( Y page 159).
The automatic transmission shifts down to
the next gear.
i If you brake the vehicle or stop without
shifting down, the automatic transmission
will shift down to a gear that will allow the
vehicle to accelerate or pull away again.
Kickdown
i Kickdown is not possible in manual drive
program M.
Switching off the manual drive program
XAMG vehicles: turn the program selector
( Y page 158) until C or S appears in the
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Vehicle movement may result in serious
personal injury or damage to the vehicle or
vehicle drivetrain. Therefore, always do the
following before turning off the engine and
leaving the vehicle:
R Keep right foot on the brake pedal.
R Engage the parking brake.
R Shift the automatic transmission into park
position P.
R Slowly release the brake pedal.
R When parked on an incline, always turn the
front wheels towards the road curb.
R Turn the SmartKey in the starter switch to
position 0 and remove the SmartKey from
the starter switch, or press the KEYLESS-
GO start/stop button.
R Take the SmartKey with you and lock the
vehicle when leaving.
Switching off the engine
Important safety notes
GWarning
Do not turn off the engine before the vehicle
has come to a complete stop. With the engine
not running, there is no power assistance for
the brake and steering systems. In this case,
it is important to keep in mind that a
considerably higher degree of effort is
necessary to brake and steer the vehicle.
GWarning!
Keep in mind that turning off the engine alone
only will shift the automatic transmission into
neutral position N automatically.
Always shift the automatic transmission into
park position P before turning off the engine.
Otherwise the vehicle could roll away which
could result in an accident and/or serious
personal injury.
Vehicles with automatic transmissionXShift the transmission to position P.
Using the SmartKey
XTurn the SmartKey to position 0 in the
ignition lock and remove it.
The parking lock is activated.XApply the parking brake firmly.
i If you turn off the engine with the
SmartKey and then remove it from the
ignition lock or open a front door, the
automatic transmission switches to P
automatically.
Using KEYLESS-GO
XPress the Start/Stop button (Y page 150).
The engine stops and all the indicator
lamps in the instrument cluster go out.XApply the parking brake firmly.
i If you turn off the engine with the Start/
Stop button, the automatic transmission
shifts to N. If you then open the driver's or
front-passenger door, the automatic
transmission shifts to P automatically.
i In an emergency, you can turn off the
engine while the vehicle is in motion by
pressing and holding the Start/Stop button
for three seconds.
If you have started the engine with the Start/
Stop button and it cannot be switched off as
described:
Xremove the Start/Stop button from the
ignition lock.Xinsert the SmartKey into the ignition lock.
The engine stops. The ignition lock is in
position 0.
Parking brake
GWarning
Engaging the parking brake while the vehicle
is in motion can cause the rear wheels to lock
up. You could lose control of the vehicle and
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Drive sensibly – save fuel
To save fuel, observe the following notes:
XKeep tires at the recommended inflation
pressures.XRemove unnecessary cargo.XRemove the roof rack when not in use.XMaintain a low engine speed until the
engine is warm.XAvoid frequent acceleration and
deceleration.XHave all maintenance work performed at
the service intervals specified in the
Service Booklet or indicated by the service
interval indicator.
Fuel consumption is also increased by driving
in cold weather, in stop-and-go traffic, on
short trips and in mountainous areas.
Drinking and driving
GWarning
Drinking and driving and/or taking drugs and
driving are very dangerous combinations.
Even a small amount of alcohol or drugs can
affect your reflexes, perceptions and
judgment.
The possibility of a serious or even fatal
accident are greatly increased when you drink
or take drugs and drive.
Do not drink or take drugs and drive or allow
anyone to drive who has been drinking or
taking drugs.
Pedals
GWarning
Make sure absolutely no objects are
obstructing the pedals' range of movement.
Keep the driver's footwell clear of all
obstacles. If there are any floormats or
carpets in the footwell, make sure that the
pedals still have sufficient clearance.
During sudden driving or braking maneuvers,
the objects could get caught between the
pedals. You could then no longer brake or
accelerate. This could lead to accidents and
injury.
Coasting with the engine switched offGWarning!
There is no power assistance for the steering
and the brake when the engine is not running.
Steering and braking requires significantly
more effort and you could lose control of the
vehicle and cause an accident as a result.
Do not turn off the engine while the vehicle is
in motion.
Exhaust check
GWarning
Inhalation of exhaust gas is hazardous to your
health. All exhaust gas contains carbon
monoxide (CO), and inhaling it can cause
unconsciousness and possible death.
Do not run the engine in confined areas (such
as a garage) which are not properly ventilated.
If you think that exhaust gas fumes are
entering the vehicle while driving, have the
cause determined and corrected
immediately. If you must drive under these
conditions, drive only with at least one
window fully open at all times.
Certain engine systems are designed to keep
the level of poisonous components in exhaust
fumes within legal limits.
These systems only work optimally if they are
maintained exactly in accordance with the
manufacturer's specifications. For this
reason, all work on the engine must be carried
out by qualified and authorized Mercedes-
Benz technicians.
The engine settings must not be changed in
any circumstances. Furthermore, all specific
service work must be carried out at regular
intervals and in accordance with the
Mercedes-Benz service requirements. Details
can be found in the Service Booklet.
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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.
GWarning
On slippery road surfaces, never downshift in
order to obtain braking action. This could
result in drive wheel slip and reduced vehicle
control. Your vehicle's ABS will not prevent
this type of loss of control.
You should drive particularly carefully on
slippery road surfaces. Avoid sudden
acceleration, steering and braking
maneuvers. Do not use cruise control or
DISTRONIC PLUS.
If the vehicle threatens to skid or cannot be
stopped when moving at low speed:
XShift the transmission to position N.
i
For more information on driving with
snow chains, see ( Y page 176).
GWarning
Make sure that you do not endanger other
road users when you apply the brakes.
Driving abroad
An extensive Mercedes-Benz Service network
is also available in other countries. The
Service Hotline's current telephone numbers
for use when you are abroad are to be found
in the "Service24h" section of the Service
Booklet.
Driving systems
Cruise control
Important safety notes
Cruise control maintains a constant road
speed for you. It brakes automatically in order
to avoid exceeding the set speed. On long and
steep downhill gradients, especially if the
vehicle is laden, you must select shift range
1 , 2 or 3 in good time. 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.
Use cruise control only if road and traffic
conditions make it appropriate to maintain a
steady speed for a prolonged period. You can
store any road speed above 20 mph
(30 km/h).
GWarning
The cruise control is a convenience system
designed to assist the driver during vehicle
operation. The driver is and must always
remain responsible for the vehicle's speed
and for safe brake operation.
Only use the cruise control if the road, traffic,
and weather conditions make it advisable to
travel at a constant speed.
R The use of the cruise control can be
dangerous on winding roads or in heavy
traffic because conditions do not allow safe
driving at a constant speed.
R The use of the cruise control can be
dangerous on slippery roads. Rapid
changes in tire traction can result in wheel
spin and loss of control.
R Deactivate the cruise control when driving
in fog.
The "Resume" function should only be
operated if the driver is fully aware of the
previously set speed and wishes to resume
this particular preset speed.
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