2011 MERCEDES-BENZ M-CLASS SUV brake light

your surroundings. Otherwise, you may fail to
recognise danger
sintime,cause an accident
and injur eyourself and others.
No lane-correcting brak eapplication occurs
if:
R you clearly and acti vely steer ,brake ,or
accelerate.
R you cut the corner on ashar pbend.
R you have switched on the tur nsignals.
R ad riving safet ysystem intervenes, such as
ESP ®
,P RE-SAFE ®
Brak eorA ctive Blind
Spot Assist.
R you have adopted asport ydriving style with
high cornerin gspeeds or high rates of
acceleration.
R on vehicles with atrailer to whitch, the
electrical connection to the trailer has been
correctly established.
R ESP ®
is deactivated.
R the transmission is not in position D.
R the Off-road program is activated (vehicles
without the ON&OFFROA Dpackage).
R Off-road program 1or2isactivated (vehi-
cles with the ON&OFFROAD package).
R the LOW RANGE off-road gear is activated
(vehicles with the ON&OFFROAD package).
R al oss of tyr epressure or adefective tyre
has been detected and displayed.
Activ eLaneK eeping Assist does no tdetect
road and traffic conditions .Aninappropriate
brake applicatio nmay be interrupted at any
time if:
R you steer slightly in the opposite direction.
R you use aturn signal.
R you clearly brake or accelerate.
Al ane- correcting bra keapplication is inter-
rupted automatically if:
R ad riving safet ysystem intervenes, such as
ESP ®
,P RE-SAFE ®
Brake or Active Blind
Spot Assist.
R lane markings can no longe rberecognised. Activating Active Lane Keeping Assist
X
Switch on Active Lan eKeeping Assist using
the on-boar dcomputer ;todoso, select
Standard or
Adaptive (Y
page 245).
Symbol :appears in the multifunction
display.
If Standard is selected, no warnin
gvibra-
tion occur sif:
R you have switched on th eturn signals .In
this event, the warnings are suppressed
for acertain period of time.
R ad riving safety system intervenes, such
as ABS, BAS or ESP ®
.
If Adaptive is selected, no warning vibra-
tio no ccurs if:
R you have switche donthe tur nsignals. In
this event, the warnings are suppressed
for acertain period of time.
R ad riving safety system intervenes, such
as ABS, BAS or ESP ®
.
R yo ua ccelerate hard ,e.g. kickdown.
R you brake hard.
R you steer actively, e.g. swerve to avoid
an obstacle or chang elane quickly.
R you cut the corner on ashar pbend.
Trailer towing
If you attach atrailer, make sure that yo uhave
correctly established the electrical connec-
tion. This can be accomplished by checking
the trailer lighting. Driving systems
217Drivingand parking Z

G
WARNING
If you depress the accelerato rpeda lwith DSR
activated, then the set spee dcan be excee-
ded. Drive downhill with special care and
alway skeep in min dthat DSR brakes the vehi-
cle as soon as you remove your foot from the
accelerator pedal. The vehicle may brake sud-
denly due to DSR intervening, depending on
the downhill gradient and the difference
between the current speed and the set speed.
You could lose control of the vehicle and
cause an accident.
For information about driving off-road, see
(Y page 166).
Activating/deactivating DSR Activating
You can only activate DSR when driving at
speeds below 40 km/h. Example: vehicles with the ON&OFFROAD package
X Press button :.
Indicator lamp ;lights up.
The following messages appear in the multi-
func tion display and in the status indicator,
for example: If the curren
tvehicle speed is too high, the
DSR symbol appear sint he multifunc tion dis-
play with the Max. speed 40 km/h message.
i You can notactivate DSR if the SPORT on-
road program is activated. Th eDSR symbol
and the Not in drive progra mSPORT message then appear in th
emultifunction
display.
Deactivating
X Press button :.
Indicator lamp ;goes out.
The DSR symbol appears in the multifunc-
tion display with the off message.
DSR switches off automatically if you drive
faster than 45 km/h. The DSR symbol
appears in the multifunction display with the
off message. Status indicator
=goes out.
You also hear awarning tone. On vehicles
with the ON&OFFROAD package, if you select
ad ifferent on-road/off- road program, DSR is
also deactivated. Status indicator =goes
out.
Changing the set speed When DSR is activated, you can change the
set spee dtoavalue between 2km/h and
18 km/h. X
To in crease or reduce the set speed in
1k m/h increments: briefly press the
cruise control lever to the pressure point, Off-road drivin
gsystems
221Drivingand park ing Z

R
cond ition of the LOW RAN GEoff-r oad
gear
R the on-roa dtraile rprogram is selected Tow
inga trailer Note
sont owingatrailer
Important safety notes G
WARNING
When reversing the vehicl etowards the
trailer, make sure there is nobod ybetween
the trailer and the vehicle.
Couple and uncoupl ethe trailer carefully .If
you do not couple the trailer to the towing
vehicle correctly, the trailer coul dbecome
detached.
Make sure that the following values are not
exceeded:
R the permissible trailer drawbar noseweight
R the permissible trailer load
R the permissible rear axle load of the towing
vehicle
R the maximu mpermissible gross vehicle
weight of both the towing vehicle and the
trailer
You will fin dthe applicable permissible val-
ues, whic hmust not be exceeded ,inthe vehi-
cle documen ts.
You will find the values approved by the man-
ufacturer on the vehicle identification plates
and those for the towing vehicle in the "Tech-
nical data" section. G
WARNING
If the Checktrailer hitch locking mechanism message appears in th
emulti-
function display while the vehicle is in motion,
pull over immediately and check whethe rthe
ball coupling is correctly engaged. G
WARNING
When towin gatrailer, you rvehicle' shandling
characteristics will be different in comparison
to when driving without atrailer.
Th ev ehicle/ trailer combination:
R is heavier
R is restricted in its acceleration and gradi-
ent-climbin gcapability
R has an increased braking distance
R is affected more by stron gcrosswinds
R demand smore sensitive steering
R has alarger turnin gcircle
As aresult, the handlin gcharacteristic smay
be impaired and you may lose control of the
vehicle. This could lead to an accident with
serious or even fatal injuries.
When towing atrailer, alway sadjust your
speed to the current road and weather con-
ditions. Do not exceed the maximum permis-
sible speed for your vehicle/trailer combina-
tion. G
WARNING
Never depress the brak epedal continuously
while the vehicle is in motion ,e.g. never cause
the brakes to rub by applying cons tant slight
pedal pressure. Thi scauses the brake system
to overheat, increases the braking distance
and can lead to the brakes failing completely. G
WARNING
On no account shoul dyou attempt to dra wthe
vehicle/ trailer combination out by increasing
speed. G
WARNING
If you exceed the maximum noseweight when
using acarrier system on the ball coupling:
R the carrier system may be thrown around.
R the ball coupling and the carrier system
may become detached from the vehicle.
As aresult, you may injure others or cause an
accident. 226
Towing
atrailerDriving and parking

pling
atrailer. Th evehicle level could change
and you could endanger yourself or others.
Never press the ADS button or operate the
leve lcontrol while you are coupling up or
decoupling atrailer.
Steel-spring vehicles X
Make sure that th etransmission is in posi-
tion P.
X Engag ethe electric parkin gbrake.
X Positio nthe trailer level behind the vehicle.
X Coupl eupthe trailer.
X Establish the electrical con nection
betwee nthe vehicle and the trailer.
X Chec kthat the trailer lighting system is
working.
Vehicles wit hthe AIRMATIC package X
Make sure that th etransmission is in posi-
tion P.
X Engag ethe electric parkin gbrake.
X Start th eengine.
X Set the vehicl etohighway level
(Y page 189).
X Set the Adaptive Dampin gSystem (ADS )to
AUTO orCOMF(Y page 188).
X Switch off the engine.
X Close the doors and tailgate.
X Position the trailer level behind the vehicle.
X Couple up the trailer.
X Establish the electrical connection
betwee nthe vehicle and the trailer.
X Chec kthat the trailer lighting system is
working.
i If you hav ecoupled atrailer, th evehicle
will remain at highway level.
The vehicle automatically lowers to high-
way level if you driv efaster than 30 km/h
with atrailer. Th evehicle is not lowered to
high-speed level even if you are travelling
at higher speeds. This also applies when using accessories
that are plugged into the socket of the
trailer tow hitch (e.g. abicycle rack). Decoupling
atrailer
Important safety notes G
WARNING
Do not disconnect atrailer with an engaged
overru nbrake .Otherwise, you rhand could
becom etrapped between th ebumpe rand
drawbar. G
WARNING
As soo nasyou raise the trailer drawbar, the
unladen vehicle rises slightly .The vehicle then
lower stod riving level.
Make sure that nobod yisinthe vicinit yofthe
wheel arch or the underbody. You coul doth-
erwise trap yoursel forothers. G
WARNING
Th ev ehicle is lowered as soo nasyou discon-
nec tthe trailer cable. Make sur ethat nobody
is in the vicinit yofthe wheel arch or the
underbody. You coul dotherwis etrap yourse lf
or othe rs.
As soon as you decoupl ethe trailer ,the unla-
den vehicle rise sslightly. Make sure that you
or others are not injured in the process.
! Do not disconnect atrailer wit han
engaged overrun brake. Otherwise, your
vehicle could be damage dbythe rebound-
ing of the overru nbrake.
Steel-spring vehic les X
Ma ke sure that the transmission is in posi-
tion P.
X Engag ethe electric parkin gbrake.
X Secure th etrailer agains trollin gaway.
X Remove the trailer cable and decouple the
trailer. Towing
atrailer
229Driving andparki ng Z

The following system
sare switche doff when
th er adar senso rsystem is deactivated:
R DISTRONIC PLUS (Y page 174)
R BAS PLUS (Y page 62)
R PRE-SAFE ®
Brake (Y page 66)
R Blind Spot Assist (Y page 208)
R Active Blind Spot Assist (Y page 212)
X Press the =or; button on the steer-
ing whee ltoselect the Settings menu.
X Press the :or9 button to select the
Vehicle submenu.
X Press the abutton to confirm.
X Press the 9or: button to select
Rada rsensor (See Owner's Man.): .
Yo uw ill see the selected setting: on or
off .
X Press the abutton to save the setting.
Heating menu Auxiliary heating depa
rtur et ime
This function is only availa bleo nvehicles with
auxiliar yheatin g(Ypage 130).
In the Heating submenu, you can select a
stored departure tim eorchange adeparture
time.
The auxiliar yheatin gtimer func tion calcu-
lates the switch-on tim eaccording to the out-
sid etemperature so that the vehicle is pre-
heated by the departure time. When the
departure tim eisreached, the auxiliar yheat-
ing continues to heat for afurther five
minutes and then switches off. The auxiliary
heating adopts the THERMATI Cor
THERMOTRONI Ctemperature setting.
You can switc hoff th eauxiliary heating by
using the remote control or the auxiliary heat-
ing button on the centre console. G
WARNING
Exhaust fumes are produced when the auxili-
ary heating is in operation. Inhaling these
exhaust fumes can be poisonous. You should
therefore switch off the auxiliary heating in confined spaces without an extraction sys-
tem, e.g.
agarage. G
WARNING
When operating the auxiliary heating parts of
the vehicle can get very hot. Make sure that
the exhaust system does not under any cir-
cumstances come into contact with easily
ignitable material such as dry grass or fuels.
The material could otherwise ignite and set
the vehicle alight. Choos eyour parkin gspot
accordingly.
Operating the auxiliary heating is thus pro-
hibited at fillin gstations or when your vehicle
is being refuelled .You must therefore switch
off the auxiliar yheatin gatf illing stations.
! Operating the auxiliary heating/ventila-
tion draws on the vehicle battery. After you
have heated or ventilated the vehicle a
maximum of two times, drive for alonger
distan ce.
i Switch the auxiliary heating on regularly
once amonthfor about 10 minutes.
Selecting th edepartur etime or deactivat-
ing aselected depa rtur et ime
X Press the =or; button on the steer-
ing wheel to select the Settings menu.
X Press the :or9 button to select the
Heating submenu.
X Press the abutton to confirm.
You will see the selected setting.
X Press the abutton to confirm.
X Press the :or9 button to select
one of the three departur etimes or Timer off (no timer active).
X Press the abutton to confirm.
When adeparture tim eisselected, the yel-
low indicator lam plights up on the auxiliary
heating button. 250
Menus and submenusOn-board computer and displays

Safety systems
Display messages Possible causes/consequences and
M Solutions
!÷
currentl
yunavail‐ able See Owner's
Manual G
Ris
kofa ccident
ABS (Anti-lock Braking System), ESP ®
(Electronic Stability Pro-
gram), BAS (Brake Assist), PRE-SAFE ®
,t he HOL Dfunction, hill
start assis tand ESP ®
trailer stabilisation are temporarily not avail-
able.
The adaptive brake lights ,BAS PLUS and PRE-SAFE ®
Brake may
also have failed.
In addition, the ÷,åand! warning lamps ligh tupin
the instrument cluster.
The self-diagnosis function might not be complete ,for example.
ATTENTION ASSIS Tisdeactivated.
The brak esystem continues to function normally, but without the
functions liste dabove. The wheels could therefore lock if you
brak ehard, for example.
X Carefully drive on asuitable stretch of road, making slight steer-
ing movements, at aspeed above 20 km/h.
If the display message disappears, the functions mentioned
above are available again.
If the display message continues to be displayed:
X Drive on carefully.
X Visit aqualified specialist workshop. G
Risk of accident
ABS ,ESP ®
,B AS ,PRE-SAFE ®
,t he HOL Dfunction, hill start assist
and ESP ®
trailer stabilisation are temporarily not available.
The adaptive brake lights ,BAS PLUS and PRE-SAFE ®
Brake may
also have failed.
In addition, the ÷,åand! warning lamps ligh tupin
the instrument cluster.
For example, the on-board voltage may be insufficient.
ATTENTION ASSIST is deactivated.
The brake system continues to function normally, but without the
functions liste dabove. The wheels could therefore lock if you
brak ehard, for example.
X Drive on carefully.
If the display message disappears, the functions mentioned
above are available again. 254
Display messagesOn-board computer and displays

Displa
ymessages Possible causes/consequences and
M Solutions
If th
edisplay message continues to be displayed:
X Drive on carefully.
X Visit aqualified specialist workshop. !÷
in
operative See Owner'
sManual G
Risk of accident
ABS, ESP ®
,B AS ,PRE-SAFE ®
,t he HOL Dfunction ,hill start assist
and ESP ®
trailer stabilisation are no tavailab ledue to amalfunc-
tion.
The adaptive brake lights, BAS PLUS and PRE-SAFE ®
Brake may
als oh ave failed.
In addition, the J,÷,åand! warning lamp slight
up in the instrument cluster.
The brake system continues to function normally, but without the
functions listed above. The wheels could therefor elock if you
brake hard, for example.
ATTENTION ASSIS Tisd eactivated.
X Drive on carefully.
X Visit aquali fieds pecialist workshop immediately. ÷
currentl
yunavail‐ able See Owner's
Manual G
Ris
kofa ccident
ESP ®
,B AS, PRE- SAFE ®
,t he HOL Dfunction, hill start assis tand
ESP ®
trailer stabilisation are temporarily not available.
The adaptive brake lights ,BAS PLU Sand PRE-SAFE ®
Brak emay
also have failed.
In addition, the ÷andå warning lamps light up in the
instrument cluster.
The self-diagnosis function might not be complete, for example.
ATTENTION ASSIS Tisdeactivated.
The brak esystem continues to function normally, but without the
functions liste dabove.
X Carefull ydrive on asuitable stretc hofroad, makin gslight steer-
ing movements, at aspeed above 20 km/h.
If the display message disappears, the fun ction sm entioned
above are available again.
If the display message continues to be displayed:
X Driv eonc arefully.
X Visit aqualified specialist workshop. Display messages
255On-boardcomputer and displays Z

Displa
ymessages Possible causes/consequences and
M Solutions
÷
in
operative See Owner'
sManual G
Risk of accident
ESP ®
,B AS ,PRE-SAFE ®
,t he HOL Dfunction ,hill start assist and
ESP ®
trailer stabilisation are no tavailab ledue to amalfunction.
The adaptive brake lights, BAS PLUS and PRE-SAFE ®
Brake may
als oh ave failed.
In addition, the ÷andå warning lamp slight up in the
instrument cluster.
ATTENTION ASSIST is deactivated.
The brake system continues to function normally, but without the
functions listed above.
X Driv eonc arefully.
X Visi taq ualifieds pecialist workshop. T!
÷
inoperativ
eSee Owner'
sManual G
Ris
kofa ccident
EB D( electroni cbrake force dist ribution) ,ABS ,ESP ®
,B AS, PRE-
SAFE ®
,t he HOL Dfunction, hill start assist and ESP ®
trailer stabi-
lisation are not available due to amalfunction.
The adaptive brake lights, BAS PLUS and PRE-SAFE ®
Brake may
als oh ave failed.
In addition, the ÷,åand! warning lamp slight up in
the instrument cluster and awarning tone sounds.
ATTENTION ASSIST is deactivated.
The brake system continue stofunction normally, but withou tthe
func tions listed above. The wheels coul dtherefore lock if you
brake hard, for example.
X Drive on carefully.
X Visit aqualified specialist worksho pimmediately. !
Release parking
brake Th
er ed ! indicator lam pflashes and awarning tone sounds.
Ac ondition for automatic release of the electric parkin gbrake is
not fulfill ed (Ypag e161).
Yo ua re driving wit hthe electric parkin gbrake appl ied.
X Release the electric parking brake manually. The red
!indicator lamp flashe sand aw arning tone sounds.
You are making an emergency stop using the electric parking
brake (Y page 161). 256
Display messagesOn-board computer and displays