last speed stored when it is activated for
the first time.
Setting the specified minimum distance
You can set the specified minimum distance
for DISTRONIC PLUS by varying the time span
between one and two seconds. With this
function, you can set the minimum distance
that DISTRONIC PLUS keeps to the vehicle in
front, dependent on vehicle speed. You can
see this distance in the multifunction display
( Y page 185).
GWarning!
It is up to the driver to exercise discretion to
select the appropriate setting given road
conditions, traffic, driver's preferred driving
style and applicable laws and driving
recommendations for safe following distance.
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 227) 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 227).
When DISTRONIC PLUS is deactivated, you
will see the following in the multifunction
display:
Driving systems185Driving and parkingBA 212 USA, CA Edition B 2011; 1; 5, en-USdimargiVersion: 3.0.3.62010-05-20T13:33:46+02:00 - Seite 185Z
Other vehicles changing lanes
DISTRONIC PLUS has not detected the
vehicle cutting in yet. The distance to this
vehicle will be too short.
Narrow vehicles
DISTRONIC PLUS has not yet detected the
vehicle in front on the edge of the road,
because of its narrow width. The distance to
the vehicle in front will be too short.
Obstructions and stationary vehicles
DISTRONIC PLUS does not brake for
obstacles or stationary vehicles. If, for
example, the detected vehicle turns a corner
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
crossing traffic, for example, could cause
your vehicle to pull away unintentionally.
HOLD function
General information
The HOLD function can assist the driver in the
following situations:
Rwhen pulling away, especially on steep
slopes
Rwhen maneuvering on steep slopes
Rwhen waiting in traffic
The vehicle is kept stationary without the
driver having to depress the brake pedal.
The braking effect is canceled and the HOLD
function deactivated when you depress the
accelerator pedal to pull away.
Activation conditions
You can activate the HOLD function if:
Rthe vehicle is stationary.
Rthe engine is running.
Rthe driver's door is closed or if your seat
belt is fastened.
Rthe parking brake is not applied.
188Driving systemsDriving and parking
BA 212 USA, CA Edition B 2011; 1; 5, en-USdimargiVersion: 3.0.3.62010-05-20T13:33:46+02:00 - Seite 188
Rat night, or if you are parking/maneuvering
your vehicle in a very dark area
R if very bright white light is shining on the
camera
R if the surrounding area is lit by fluorescent
light (the COMAND system display may
flicker)
R if the temperature changes suddenly, for
example if you drive into a heated garage
after being in the cold (condensation on the
lens)
R if the camera lens is dirty or covered
R if the rear of your vehicle is damaged
In this case, have the camera position and
setting checked at a qualified specialist
workshop. Mercedes-Benz recommends
that you use an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center for this purpose.
Do not use the rear view camera in these
types of situation. Otherwise, you could injure
yourself and others and/or cause damage,
even to your own vehicle, when parking/
maneuvering.
Activating the rear view cameraXMake sure that the SmartKey is in
position 2 in the ignition lock.XMake sure that the "rear view camera"
function is selected in COMAND (see the
separate operating instructions for
COMAND).XEngage reverse gear.
The area behind the vehicle is shown in the
COMAND display.
ATTENTION ASSIST
Important safety notes
ATTENTION ASSIST helps you during long,
monotonous journeys, such as on highways
and arterial roads. It is active at speeds
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
Driving systems201Driving and parkingBA 212 USA, CA Edition B 2011; 1; 5, en-USdimargiVersion: 3.0.3.62010-05-20T13:33:46+02:00 - Seite 201Z
Warning and display messages in the
multifunction display
Example
XActivate ATTENTION ASSIST using the on-
board computer ( Y page 228).
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.
Night View Assist Plus
Important safety notes
In addition to the illumination provided by the
normal headlamps, Night View Assist Plus
uses infrared light to illuminate the road. A
camera at the top of the windshield picks up
the infrared light and displays a black-and-
white image in the COMAND display. The
image displayed in COMAND corresponds to
a road lit up by high-beam headlamps. This
enables you to see the road's course and any
obstacles in good time. If pedestrian
recognition is activated, pedestrians
recognized by the system are highlighted in
the Night View Assist Plus display.GWarning
Night View Assist Plus is only an aid designed
to assist driving. It is not a substitute for
attentive driving. Do not rely solely on the
Night View Assist Plus display. Continue to
look through the windshield. You are
responsible for safety and must drive in
accordance with traffic conditions. You could
otherwise put yourself and others in danger.
The system may be impaired or unavailable if:
R there is poor visibility, e.g. due to snow,
rain, fog or heavy spray.
R the windshield is dirty, fogged up or
covered, for instance by a sticker, in the
vicinity of the camera.
R you are driving on bends, uphill gradients
or downhill gradients.
Light from the headlamps of oncoming
vehicles does not affect the Night View Assist
Plus display in the multifunction display. This
is also the case if you cannot switch on the
high-beam headlamps because of oncoming
traffic.
GWarning!
The Night View Assist Plus cannot record
objects immediately in front of or next to the
vehicle. When maneuvering, continue to look
through the windshield. Make sure no
persons or animals are in the area in which
you are maneuvering. You could otherwise
injure them.
i Infrared light is not visible to the human
eye and therefore does not glare. Night
View Assist Plus can therefore remain
202Driving systemsDriving and parking
BA 212 USA, CA Edition B 2011; 1; 5, en-USdimargiVersion: 3.0.3.62010-05-20T13:33:46+02:00 - Seite 202
switched on even if there is oncoming
traffic.:Night View Assist Plus camera
Switching on Night View Assist Plus
You can only activate Night View Assist Plus
if:
Rthe SmartKey is in position 2 in the ignition
lock.
Rit is dark.
Rthe light switch is in the c or L
position.
Rreverse gear has not been engaged.
XMake sure COMAND APS is switched on.XPress button :.
The Night View Assist Plus display appears
in the COMAND APS display.
:Night View Assist Plus display;Pedestrian recognized=Framing?Symbol for active pedestrian recognition
You can read about how to adjust the
brightness of the COMAND APS display in the
COMAND APS operating instructions.
iThe infrared headlamps only switch on
when the vehicle is driving at speeds of at
least 6 mph (10 km/h). This means that you
do not have the full visual range while
stationary and cannot check whether Night
View Assist Plus is working.
Pedestrian recognition
Night View Assist Plus recognizes
pedestrians using typical characteristics, e.g.
a silhouette in the shape of a person.
Pedestrian recognition is activated
automatically, if
RNight View Assist Plus is activated.
Ryou are driving faster than 6 mph
(10 km/h).
Rthe surroundings are dark, e.g. when
driving outside built-up areas without
street lighting.
If pedestrian recognition is active,
symbol ? appears. If a pedestrian is now
recognized, they are highlighted by a frame
=. If the pedestrian recognition system has
brought a pedestrian to your attention, look
through the windshield to evaluate the
situation. The actual distance to objects and
Driving systems203Driving and parkingBA 212 USA, CA Edition B 2011; 1; 5, en-USdimargiVersion: 3.0.3.62010-05-20T13:33:46+02:00 - Seite 203Z
pedestrians cannot be gauged accurately by
looking at a screen.
It may be the case that objects are highlighted
as well as pedestrians.GWarning!
The pedestrian detection may be impaired or
unavailable when
R pedestrians are obstructed fully or in part
by other objects such as parking vehicles
R the silhouette in the Night View Assist Plus
image is displayed incomplete or
interrupted, e.g. by significant light
reflection
R a pedestrian's silhouette is not rich enough
in contrast compared to the background
R pedestrians are not in erected position but,
for example, sit, crouch down, or lie
i Animals are not recognized by pedestrian
recognition.
Fogged up or dirty windshield
If the windshield in front of the camera is
fogged up or dirty on the inside or outside, the
Night View Assist Plus display is affected.
GWarning!
Please do not forget that your primary
responsibility is to drive the vehicle. A driver's
attention to the road must always be his/her
primary focus when driving. For your safety
and the safety of others, stop before trying to
remove window fogging or cleaning the
windshield in front of the Night View Assist
Plus camera.
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.
XTo defrost: check the automatic air
conditioning settings (Y page 142) and fold
down the camera cover ( Y page 318).XTo defrost the inside of the windshield:
fold down the camera cover ( Y page 318)
and clean the windshield ( Y page 316).204Driving systemsDriving and parking
BA 212 USA, CA Edition B 2011; 1; 5, en-USdimargiVersion: 3.0.3.62010-05-20T13:33:46+02:00 - Seite 204
Problems with Night View Assist PlusProblemPossible causes/consequences and M SolutionsThe picture quality of
Night View Assist Plus
has deteriorated.The windshield wipers are smearing the windshield.XReplace the wiper blades ( Y page 129).The windshield is smeared after the vehicle has been cleaned in a
car wash.XClean the windshield ( Y page 316).There is windshield chip damage in the camera's field of vision.XReplace the windshield.The windshield is fogged up on the inside.XDefrost the windshield ( Y page 142).The windshield is iced up.XDe-ice the windshield ( Y page 141).There is dirt on the inside of the windshield.XClean the inside of the windshield ( Y page 316).Lane Tracking package
General information
The Lane Tracking package consists of Blind
Spot Assist ( Y page 205) and Lane Keeping
Assist ( Y page 207).
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
attention to a vehicle detected in the
monitored area. If you switch on the
corresponding turn signal before changing
lane, you will also receive visual and audible
collision warnings. For this purpose, Blind
Spot Assist uses sensors in the rear bumper.
GWarning
Blind Spot Assist is only an aid designed to
assist driving. It may fail to detect some
vehicles and is no substitute for attentive
driving.
Blind Spot Assist cannot detect road and
traffic conditions. It may fail to detect narrow
vehicles, such as motorcycles or bicycles, or
may only detect them too late.
Monitoring may be affected by dirty sensors,
strong spray or poor visibility caused by snow,
rain or mist, for example. In this case, vehicles
are detected late or not at all.
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.
i USA only:
This device has been approved by the FCC
as a “Vehicular Radar System”. The radar
sensor is intended for use in an automotive
radar system only. Removal, tampering, or
Driving systems205Driving and parkingBA 212 USA, CA Edition B 2011; 1; 5, en-USdimargiVersion: 3.0.3.62010-05-20T13:33:46+02:00 - Seite 205Z
altering of the device will void any
warranties, and is not permitted by the
FCC. Do not tamper with, alter, or use in
any non-approved way.
Any unauthorized modification to this
device could void the user’s authority to
operate the equipment.
For Blind Spot Assist to assist you when
driving, the radar sensor system must be
switched on (Y page 232) and operational.
Monitoring range of the sensors
Blind Spot Assist monitors the area up to 10 ft
(3 m) behind your vehicle and directly next to
your vehicle as shown in the diagram.
Sedan (example)
GWarning
Blind Spot Assist monitors certain areas in the
immediate vicinity of your vehicle. Vehicles
that approach and drive past at high speeds
are not detected. There is no display and no
warning.
If the lanes are very wide, it may not be
possible to monitor the complete width of the
neighboring lane. For this reason, vehicles in
the next lane may not be detected, especially
if they are driving in a staggered formation.
This may be the case if vehicles are driving at
that edge of their lane which is furthest away
from your vehicle.
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.
If the lanes are narrow, the system may be
unable to distinguish the neighboring lane
from the one beyond it. For this reason, the
system may indicate vehicles in the farther
lane, especially if the vehicles are driving in a
staggered formation in different lanes. In
particular, this may be the case if the vehicles
are driving at that edge of their lane which is
nearest your vehicle.
Due to the nature of the system:
Rwarnings may be issued unnecessarily
when driving close to crash barriers or
similar solid lane borders.
Rwarnings 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 lamp206Driving systemsDriving and parking
BA 212 USA, CA Edition B 2011; 1; 5, en-USdimargiVersion: 3.0.3.62010-05-20T13:33:46+02:00 - Seite 206