
Activating RACE STARTXDepress the brake pedal with your left foot
and keep it depressed.XTurn the program mode selector dial
clockwise ( Y page 267) until the RS lamp
on the dial comes on.
The message RACE START Confirm:
Paddle UP Cancel: Paddle DOWN
appears in the multifunction display.
i When the activation conditions are not
fulfilled anymore, RACE START is canceled.
The message RACE START Canceled
appears in the multifunction display.
XTo cancel: Pull left steering wheel gearshift
control ( Y page 267).
or
XTo confirm: Pull right steering wheel
gearshift control ( Y page 267).
The message RACE START Available
Depress gas pedal. appears in the
multifunction display.
i If you do not depress the accelerator
pedal within a few seconds, RACE START is
canceled. The message RACE START Not
Possible See Operator’s Manual
appears in the multifunction display.
XDepress the accelerator pedal fully.
The engine speed increases.
The message RACE START Release
brake to start appears in the
multifunction display.
i If you do not release the brake pedal
within a few seconds, RACE START is
canceled. The message RACE START
Canceled appears in the multifunction
display.
XTake your foot off the brake pedal while
keeping the accelerator pedal depressed.
The vehicle pulls away at maximum
acceleration.
The message RACE START Active appears
in the multifunction display.
RACE START deactivates at a vehicle speed
of approximately 30 mph
(Canada: 50 km/h). The transmission
switches to program mode S+. ESC SPORT
remains switched on.
RACE START is canceled immediately if you
release the accelerator pedal while RACE
START is active or when the activation
conditions are not fulfilled anymore. The
message RACE START Not Possible See
Operator’s Manual appears in the
multifunction display.
i If RACE START is used repeatedly in a
short period of time, it is only available
again after having driven the vehicle a
certain distance.
Hill-start assist system
On uphill grades, the hill-start assist system
maintains the pressure in the brake system
for approximately 1 second after you have
released the brake pedal. Therefore, you can
start off smoothly without the vehicle moving
immediately after releasing the brake pedal.
GWarning!
The hill-start assist system is not designed to
function as a parking brake. It does not
prevent the vehicle from moving when parked
on an incline.
Always engage the electronic parking brake
in addition to shifting the transmission into
park position P.
XDepress the brake pedal.XShift the transmission into drive position
D or reverse gear R.XRelease the brake pedal.XCarefully depress the accelerator pedal.
The hill-start assist system is inactive
R when starting off on a level road or downhill
grades
R with the transmission in neutral position N
R with the electronic parking brake engaged
R if the ESC has switched off due to a
malfunction
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steps may result in a system that is not
activated.
If you have any questions regarding
activation, please call the Response Center
at 866-990-9007 (USA only) or
1-888-923-8367 (Canada only).
Shortly after the completion of your mbrace
acquaintance call, you will receive an account
number via email. You will also receive a two-
part welcome kit via mail that will provide
your account and Personal Identification
Number (PIN). You will only need the PIN once
to access the mbrace account section in
“Owners Online” at
http://www.MBUSA.com (USA only).
The mbrace system is available if
R it has been activated and is operational.
Activation requires a subscription for
monitoring services, connection and
cellular air time
R vehicle battery power is available
R the relevant cellular phone network and
GPS signals are available
i Location of the vehicle on a map is only
possible if the vehicle is able to receive
signals from the GPS satellite network and
pass the information on to the Response
Center.
The mbrace system
The mbrace system consists of three types of
response:
R Automatic and manual emergency
R Roadside Assistance
R Information
To adjust the speaker volume during a
mbrace call do the following:
XPress button 005A or 005B on the
multifunction steering wheel.
or
XUse the volume adjustment button on your
COMAND system.Be sure to check “Owners Online” at
http://www.MBUSA.com (USA only) for
more information and a description of all
available features.
System self-test
The system performs a self-test after you
have switched on the ignition.
GWarning!
A malfunction in the system has been
detected if any or all of the following
conditions occur:
R The indicator lamp in the SOS button does
not come on during the system self-test.
R The indicator lamp in the wrench button
005E does not come on during the system
self-test.
R The indicator lamp in the Information
button 00E5 does not come on during the
system self-test.
R The indicator lamp in the SOS button,
wrench button 005E, or Information button
00E5 remains illuminated constantly in red
after the system self-test.
R The message Tele Aid Inoperative or
Tele Aid Not Activated appears in the
multifunction display after the system self-
test.
If a malfunction is indicated as outlined above,
the system may not operate as expected. In
case of an emergency, help will have to be
summoned by other means.
Have the system checked at the nearest
Mercedes-Benz Center or contact the
Response Center at 866-990-9007 (USA
only) or 1-888-923-8367 (Canada only) as
soon as possible.
Emergency calls
! In order to activate the mbrace system, a
subscriber agreement must be completed.
To ensure your system is activated and
operational, please press Information
button 00E5 to perform the acquaintance
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XTerminating calls: Press button 007F on
the multifunction steering wheel.
or
XPress the respective button for ending a
telephone call on the COMAND system.
Wrench button
XPress and hold wrench button 0046 for longer
than 2 seconds.
A call to a Mercedes-Benz Roadside
Assistance representative will be initiated.
The indicator lamp in wrench button 0046 will
flash while the call is in progress. The
message Connecting Call will appear in
the multifunction display and the COMAND
system is muted.
When the connection is established, the
message Call Connected appears in the
multifunction display. The mbrace system will
transmit data generating the vehicle
identification number, model, color and
location (subject to availability of cellular and
GPS signals).
i The COMAND system display indicates
that a mbrace call is in progress. While the
call is connected you can change to the
navigation menu by pressing the NAVI
button on the COMAND system. Spoken
commands are not available.
A voice connection between the Roadside
Assistance representative and the occupants
of the vehicle will be established.
XDescribe the nature of the need for
assistance.The Mercedes-Benz Roadside Assistance
representative will either dispatch a qualified
Mercedes-Benz technician or arrange to tow
your vehicle to the nearest authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center. For services such as
labor and/or towing, charges may apply.
Refer to the Roadside Assistance brochure
for more information.
Sign and Drive services (USA only): Services
such as a jump start, a few gallons of fuel or
the replacement of a flat tire with the vehicle
spare wheel are obtainable at no charge.
i If the indicator lamp in wrench
button 0046 is flashing continuously and
there was no voice connection to the
Response Center established, then the
mbrace system could not initiate a
Roadside Assistance call (e.g. the relevant
cellular phone network is not available).
The message Call Failed appears in the
multifunction display.XTerminating calls: Press button 007F on
the multifunction steering wheel.
or
XPress the respective button for ending a
telephone call on the COMAND system.
Information button
XPress and hold Information button 0046 for
longer than 2 seconds.
A call to the Response Center will be
initiated. The indicator lamp in Information
button 0046 will flash while the call is in
progress. The message Connecting Useful features311Controls in detailBA 197 USA, CA Edition A 2011; 1; 27, en-UShereepeVersion: 3.0.3.52010-03-24T15:31:10+01:00 - Seite 311Z

Call will appear in the multifunction
display and the COMAND system is muted.
When the connection is established, the
message Call Connected appears in the
multifunction display. The mbrace system will
transmit data generating the vehicle
identification number, model, color and
location (subject to availability of cellular and
GPS signals).
i The COMAND system display indicates
that a mbrace call is in progress. While the
call is connected you can change to the
navigation menu by pressing the NAVI
button on the COMAND system. Spoken
commands are not available.
A voice connection between the Response
Center representative and the occupants of
the vehicle will be established. Information
regarding the operation of your vehicle, the
nearest authorized Mercedes-Benz Center or
Mercedes-Benz USA products and services is
available to you.
For more details concerning the mbrace
system, please visit
http://www.MBUSA.com (USA only) and
log in to “Owners Online”.
i If the indicator lamp in Information
button 0046 is flashing continuously and
there was no voice connection to the
Response Center established, then the
mbrace system could not initiate an
Information call (e.g. the relevant cellular
phone network is not available). The
message Call Failed appears in the
multifunction display.
XTerminating calls: Press button 007F on
the multifunction steering wheel.
or
XPress the respective button for ending a
telephone call on the COMAND system.Call priority
If other service calls such as a Roadside
Assistance call or Information call are active,
an emergency call is still possible. In this
case, the emergency call will take priority and
override all other active calls.
The indicator lamp in the respective button
flashes until the call is concluded. Automatic
initiated emergency calls can only be
terminated by a Response Center
representative. All other calls can be
terminated by pressing button 007F on the
multifunction steering wheel or the
respective button for ending a telephone call
on the COMAND system.
i When a mbrace call has been initiated, the
COMAND system is muted. The mobile
phone is no longer connected to the
COMAND system. If you must use this
phone, we recommend that you use it only
with the vehicle at a standstill in a safe
location.
Points of Interest Destination
Download to the COMAND system
i For information on components and
operating principles of the COMAND
system, see ( Y page 70).
This service is only available as part of the
PLUS package.
Point of Interest (POI) Destination Download
allows an mbrace Customer Specialist to
access information from an impressively
large nationwide database for download to
your vehicle’s navigation system. If you know
the address of your destination, the Customer
Specialist can download the address to your
vehicle’s navigation system. You can also
request points of interest near your location.
Once the information is downloaded to your
vehicle, the navigation system will generate a
route to that destination. You can choose to
save it in the system’s memory for future use.
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sharply reduced at tread depths of less
than 1
/ 8 in (3 mm).
R When replacing individual tires, you should
mount new tires on the front wheels first
(on vehicles with same-sized wheels all
around).
Recommended tire inflation pressure
GWarning!
Follow recommended tire inflation pressures.
Do not underinflate tires. Underinflated tires
wear excessively and/or unevenly, adversely
affect handling and fuel economy, and are
more likely to fail from being overheated.
Do not overinflate tires. Overinflated tires can
adversely affect handling and ride comfort,
wear unevenly, increase stopping distance,
and result in sudden deflation (blowout)
because they are more likely to become
punctured or damaged by road debris,
potholes etc.
Do not overload the tires by exceeding the
specified load limit as indicated on the Tire
and Loading Information placard on the
driver’s door B-pillar. Overloading the tires
can overheat them, possibly causing a
blowout. Overloading the tires can also result
in handling or steering problems, or brake
failure.
Your vehicle is equipped with the Tire and
Loading Information placard located on the
driver’s door B-pillar ( Y page 334).
The tire inflation pressure should be checked
regularly. Only adjust the tire inflation
pressure on cold tires. The tires can be
considered cold if the vehicle has been
parked for at least 3 hours or driven less than
1 mile (1.6 km). Depending on the ambient
temperature, the driving speed and the tire
load, the tire temperature changes. When the
tire temperature changes by 18 ‡ (10†), the
tire inflation pressure will change by
approximately 10 kPa (0.1 bar, 1.5 psi). Keep
this in mind when checking tire inflation
pressure on warm tires and adjust the tire
pressure only if the tire inflation pressure is
too low for the current operating conditions.
If you check the tire inflation pressure when
the tires are warm, the reading will be higher
than the cold reading. This is normal. Do not
let air out to match the specified cold tire
inflation pressure. Otherwise, the tire will be
underinflated.
Follow recommended cold tire inflation
pressures listed on Tire and Loading
Information placard on the driver’s door
B-pillar.
Keeping the tires properly inflated provides
the best handling, tread life and riding
comfort.
In addition to the Tire and Loading
Information placard on the driver’s door
B-pillar, also consult the tire inflation
pressure label on the inside of the filler flap
for any additional information pertaining to
special driving situations. For more
information, see “Important notes on tire
inflation pressure” ( Y page 328).
i Data shown on Tire and Loading
Information placard example are for
illustration purposes only. Tire data are
specific to each vehicle and may vary from
data shown in the following illustration.
Refer to Tire and Loading Information
placard on vehicle for actual data specific
to your vehicle.
The Tire and Loading Information placard lists
the recommended cold tire inflation
pressures 0046 for maximum loaded vehicle
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punctured or damaged by road debris,
potholes etc.
Overinflated tires can
R adversely affect handling characteristics
R cause uneven tire wear
R be more prone to damage from road
hazards
R adversely affect ride comfort
R increase stopping distance
Checking tire inflation pressure
Safety notes
GWarning!
Follow recommended tire inflation pressures.
Do not underinflate tires. Underinflated tires
wear excessively and/or unevenly, adversely
affect handling and fuel economy, and are
more likely to fail from being overheated.
Do not overinflate tires. Overinflated tires can
adversely affect handling and ride comfort,
wear unevenly, increase stopping distance,
and result in sudden deflation (blowout)
because they are more likely to become
punctured or damaged by road debris,
potholes etc.
Do not overload the tires by exceeding the
specified load limit as indicated on the Tire
and Loading Information placard on the
driver’s door B-pillar. Overloading the tires
can overheat them, possibly causing a
blowout. Overloading the tires can also result
in handling or steering problems, or brake
failure.
Check the tire inflation pressure at least once
a month.
Check and adjust the tire inflation pressure
when the tires are cold.
Checking tire inflation pressure
manually
Follow the steps below to achieve correct tire
inflation pressure:
XRemove the cap from the valve on one tire.XFirmly press a tire gauge onto the valve.XRead the tire inflation pressure on the tire
gauge and check against the
recommended tire inflation pressure on the
Tire and Loading Information placard on the
driver’s door B-pillar ( Y page 334). If
necessary, add air to achieve the
recommended tire inflation pressure.XIf you have overfilled the tire, release tire
inflation pressure by pushing the metal
stem of the valve with e.g. a tip of a pen.
Then recheck the tire inflation pressure
with the tire gauge.XInstall the valve cap.XRepeat this procedure for each tire.
Advanced Tire Pressure Monitoring
System (Advanced TPMS)
Your vehicle is equipped with the Advanced
Tire Pressure Monitoring System (Advanced
TPMS). It measures the tire inflation pressure
in the vehicle’s tires and issues warnings in
case of pressure loss in one or more of the
tires.
The TPMS is equipped with a combination low
tire pressure/TPMS malfunction telltale
(USA) or a low tire pressure telltale (Canada)
in the instrument cluster. Depending on how
the telltale illuminates, it indicates a low tire
pressure condition or a malfunction in the
TPMS system itself:
R If the telltale illuminates continuously, one
or more of your tires is significantly
underinflated. There is no malfunction in
the TPMS.
R USA only: If the telltale flashes for 60
seconds and then stays illuminated, the
TPMS system itself is not operating
properly.
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The TPMS only functions on wheels that are
equipped with the proper electronic sensors.GWarning!
The TPMS does not indicate a warning for
wrongly selected inflation pressures. Always
adjust tire inflation pressure according to the
Tire and Loading Information placard or the
supplemental tire inflation pressure
information on the inside of the fuel filler flap.
The TPMS is not able to issue a warning due
to a sudden dramatic loss of pressure (e.g. tire
blowout caused by a foreign object). In this
case bring the vehicle to a halt by carefully
applying the brakes and avoiding abrupt
steering maneuvers.
GWarning!
Each tire, including the spare (if provided),
should be checked at least once a month
when cold and inflated to the inflation
pressure recommended by the vehicle
manufacturer on the Tire and Loading
Information placard on the driver’s door B-
pillar or the tire inflation pressure label on the
inside of the fuel filler flap. If your vehicle has
tires of a different size than the size indicated
on the Tire and Loading Information placard
or the tire inflation pressure label, you should
determine the proper tire inflation pressure
for those tires.
As an added safety feature, your vehicle has
been equipped with a tire pressure monitoring
system (TPMS) that illuminates a low tire
pressure telltale when one or more of your
tires are significantly underinflated.
Accordingly, when the low tire pressure
telltale illuminates, you should stop and check
your tires as soon as possible, and inflate
them to the proper pressure. Driving on a
significantly underinflated tire causes the tire
to overheat and can lead to tire failure.
Underinflation also reduces fuel efficiency
and tire tread life, and may affect the vehicle’s
handling and stopping ability. Please note that
the TPMS is not a substitute for proper tire
maintenance, and it is the driver’s
responsibility to maintain correct tire
pressure, even if underinflation has not
reached the level to trigger illumination of the
TPMS low tire pressure telltale.
USA only:
Your vehicle has also been equipped with a
TPMS malfunction indicator to indicate when
the system is not operating properly. The
TPMS malfunction indicator is combined with
the low tire pressure telltale. When the
system detects a malfunction, the telltale will
flash for approximately 1 minute and then
remain continuously illuminated. This
sequence will continue upon subsequent
vehicle start-ups as long as the malfunction
exists. When the malfunction indicator is
illuminated, the system may not be able to
detect or signal low tire pressure as intended.
TPMS malfunctions may occur for a variety of
reasons, including the installation of
incompatible replacement or alternate tires
or wheels on the vehicle that prevent the
TPMS from functioning properly. Always
check the TPMS malfunction telltale after
replacing one or more tires or wheels on your
vehicle to ensure that the replacement or
alternate tires and wheels allow the TPMS to
continue to function properly.
i USA only:
If a condition causing the TPMS to
malfunction develops, it may take up to
10 minutes for the system to signal a
malfunction using the TPMS telltale
flashing and illumination sequence.
The telltale extinguishes after a few
minutes driving if the malfunction has been
corrected.
Tire pressure inquiries are made using the
multifunction display. The current tire
inflation pressure for each tire appears in the
multifunction display after a few minutes of
driving.
i Possible differences between the
readings of a tire pressure gauge of an air
hose, e.g. gas station equipment, and the330Tires and wheelsOperation
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vehicle’s control system can occur. The tire
pressure displayed by the control system
apply to sea level. In high-altitude
locations, the reading on a tire pressure
gauge will be higher than the reading issued
by the vehicle’s control system. Do not
reduce the tire inflation pressure under
such circumstances.XSwitch on the ignition.XPress button 0040 or 003E on the
multifunction steering wheel to select the
Service menu (Y page 281).XPress button 003C or 003D to select Tire
Pressure .XPress button 0064.
The current inflation pressure for each tire
appears in the multifunction display.
Example illustration
When the vehicle has been parked for longer
than 20 minutes, the message Tire
pressures will be displayed after
driving a few minutes appears in the
multifunction display.
The TPMS recognizes new wheels or sensors
automatically after the learn-in phase. As long
as the tire inflation pressure values cannot be
allocated to the individual wheels, the
message Tire Pressure Monitor Active
appears. Despite this message, the tire
inflation pressure values are monitored
already.
i Operating radio transmission equipment
(e.g. wireless headsets, two-way radios) in
or near the vehicle could cause the TPMS
to malfunction.
i USA only:
This device complies with Part 15 of the
FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the
following two conditions:
1. This device may not cause harmful
interference, and
2. this device must accept any interference
received, including interference that may
cause undesired operation.
Any unauthorized modification to this
device could void the user’s authority to
operate the equipment.
i Canada only:
This device complies with RSS-210 of
Industry Canada. Operation is subject to
the following two conditions:
1. This device may not cause interference,
and
2. this device must accept any interference
received, including interference that may
cause undesired operation of the device.
Any unauthorized modification to this
device could void the user’s authority to
operate the equipment.
Tire inflation pressure warnings
If the system detects a significant loss of tire
inflation pressure in one or more than one
tire, a message appears in the multifunction
display. In addition, an acoustic warning
sounds and the low tire pressure telltale in the
instrument cluster comes on.
Example illustration
The respective tire is indicated by a red
rectangle.
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