2012 MERCEDES-BENZ B-CLASS instrument cluster

Useful information
i This Operator's Manual describes all
models and all standard and optional
equipment of your vehicle available at the
time of publication of the Operator's
Manual. Country-specific differences are
possible. Please note
that your vehicle may
not be equipped with all features
described. This also applies to safety-
related systems and functions.
i Read the information on qualified
specialist workshops: ( Y page 24).Important safety notes
G
WARNING
If you operate information systems and
communication equipment integrated in the
vehicle while driving, you will be distracted
from traffic conditions. You could also lose
control of the vehicle. There is a risk of an
accident.
Only operate the equipment when the traffic
situation permits. If

you are not sure that this
is possible, park the vehicle paying attention
to traffic conditions and operate the
equipment when the vehicle is stationary. G
WARNING
If the instrument cluster has failed or
malfunctioned, you may not recognize
function restrictions in systems relevant to
safety. The operating safety of your vehicle
may be impaired. There is a risk of an
accident.
Drive on carefully. Have the vehicle checked
at a qualified specialist workshop
immediately.
You must observe the legal requirements for
the country in

which you are currently driving
when operating the on-board computer.
The on-board computer only shows messages
or warnings from certain systems in the multifunction display. You should therefore
make sure your vehicle is operating safely at
all times. Otherwise, a vehicle that is not
operating safely may cause an accident.
For an overview, see the instrument panel
illustration (
Y page 29). Displays and operation
Instrument cluster lighting
The lighting in the instrument cluster, in the
displays and the controls in the vehicle
interior can be

adjusted using the brightness
control knob.
The brightness control knob is located on the
bottom left of the instrument cluster
(Y page 29).
X Turn the brightness control knob clockwise
or counter-clockwise.
If the light switch is set to Ã, T or
L, the brightness is dependent upon
the brightness of the ambient light.
i The light sensor

in the instrument cluster
automatically controls the brightness of
the multifunction display.
In daylight, the displays in the instrument
cluster are not illuminated. Coolant temperature display
G
WARNING
Driving when your engine is overheated can
cause some fluids

which may have leaked into
the engine compartment to catch fire. You
could be seriously burned.
Steam from an overheated engine can cause
serious burns which can occur just by opening
the engine hood. Stay away from the engine
if you see or hear steam coming from it.
Stop the vehicle in a safe location away from
other traffic. Turn off the engine, get out of the
vehicle and do not stand near the vehicle until
the engine has cooled down. 186
Displays and operation
On-board computer and displays
ProCarManuals.com

!
A display message
is shown if the coolant
temperature is too high.
If the coolant temperature is over
248 ‡(120 †), do not continue driving. The
engine will otherwise be damaged.
The coolant temperature gage is in the
instrument cluster on the right-hand side.
Under normal operating conditions and with
the specified coolant level, the coolant
temperature may rise to 248 ‡ (120 †). Tachometer
! Do not drive in the overrevving range, as
this could damage the engine.
The red band

in the tachometer indicates the
engine's overrevving range.
The fuel supply is interrupted to protect the
engine when the red band is reached. Outside temperature display
You should pay special attention to road
conditions when temperatures are around
freezing point.
The outside temperature display is in the
multifunction display.
Changes in the outside temperature are
displayed after a short delay. Speedometer with segments
The segments in the speedometer indicate
which speed range is available.
R Cruise control activated ( Y page 157):
The segments light up from the stored
speed to the maximum speed.
R DISTRONIC PLUS activated (Y page 159):
One or two segments in the set speed
range light up.
R DISTRONIC PLUS detects

a vehicle in front:The segments between the speed of the
vehicle in front and the stored speed light
up. Operating the on-board computer
Overview :
Multifunction display
; Switches on the Voice Control System;
see the separate operating instructions
= Right control panel
? Left control panel
A Back button
X To activate the on-board computer: turn
the SmartKey to position 1 in the ignition
lock.
You

can control the multifunction display and
the settings in the on-board computer using
the buttons on the multifunction steering
wheel. Displays and operation
187
On-board computer and displays Z
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X
Start the engine.
X Press the = or ; button on the
steering wheel to select the DriveAssist
menu.
X Press the 9 or : button to select
ESP.
X Press the a button.
X To deactivate: press a again.
The å warning lamp in the instrument
cluster lights up.
X To activate: press a again.
The å warning lamp in the instrument
cluster goes out.
Switching the distance warning
function on and off X
Press the = or ; button on the
steering wheel to select the DriveAssist
menu.
X Press 9 or : to select Distance
Warning.
X Press the a button.
The current selection is displayed.
X To activate/deactivate: press the a
button again.
When the distance warning function is
activated, the multifunction display shows
the Ä symbol if the HOLD function is not
activated (Y page 167).
Vehicles with Active Parking Assist: if
PARKTRONIC is activated
and you are driving
at a speed under 22 mph (35 km/h), the j
Active Parking Assist symbol is shown instead
of the Ä symbol ( Y page 172).
Further information on the distance warning
function ( Y page 60). Activating/deactivating ATTENTION
ASSIST X
Press the = or ; button on the
steering wheel to select the DriveAssist
menu.
X Press 9 or : to select Attention
Asst.
X Press the a button.
The current selection is displayed.
X To activate/deactivate: press the a
button again.
When ATTENTION ASSIST (Y page 180) is
activated, the À symbol appears in the
multifunction display when

the ignition is on.
Activating/deactivating Blind Spot
Assist X
Press the = or ; button on the
steering wheel to select the DriveAssist
menu.
X Press 9 or :
to select Blind Spot
Assist.
X Press the a button.
The current selection is displayed.
X To activate/deactivate: press the a
button again.
For further information about Blind Spot
Assist, see (Y page 181).
When the Blind Spot Assist: Sensors
Deactivated message is shown, the radar
sensors are deactivated.
X Switch on the radar sensor system
(Y page 199).
Activating/deactivating Lane Keeping
Assist X
Press the = or ; button on the
steering wheel to select the DriveAssist
menu.
X Press 9 or : on the steering wheel
to select Lane Keep. Asst. Menus and submenus
195
On-board computer and displays Z
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X
Press the a button.
The current selection is displayed.
X Press a to confirm.
X Press the : or 9 button to set Off,
Standard or Adaptive.
X Press the a button to save the setting.
If Lane Keeping Assist is activated
(Y page 183) and
the ignition is switched on,
the à symbol appears in the multifunction
display. Maintenance menu
In the
Serv menu, you have the following
options:
R Calling up display messages in message
memory ( Y page 200)
R Restarting the tire pressure loss warning
system (Y page 305)
R Calling up the service due date
(Y page 270) Settings menu
Introduction In the
Sett menu, you have the following
options:
R changing the instrument cluster settings
R changing the light settings
R changing the vehicle settings R
changing the convenience settings
R restoring the factory settings
Instrument cluster Selecting the unit of measurement for
distance
You can
determine

whether the multifunction
display shows some messages in miles or
kilometers.
X Press the = or ; button on the
steering wheel to select the Sett menu.
X Press the : or 9
button to select the
Inst. Cluster submenu.
X Press a to confirm.
X Press the :
or 9

button to select the
Display Unit Speed-/Odometer:
function.
You will see the selected setting km or
miles.
X Press the a button to save the setting.
The selected unit of measurement for
distance applies to:
R the digital speedometer in the Trip menu
R the odometer and the trip odometer
R the trip computer
R the current consumption and the range
R the navigation instructions in the Navi
menu
R cruise control
R DISTRONIC PLUS
R ASSYST PLUS service interval display
Switching the additional speedometer
on/off
Only vehicles
with

manual transmission have
this function.
X Press the = or ; button on the
steering wheel to select the Sett menu.
X Press the : or 9
button to select the
Inst. Cluster submenu.
X Press a to confirm.196
Menus and submenus
On-board computer and displays
ProCarManuals.com

Safety systems
Display messages Possible causes/consequences and
M Solutions!÷
Currently
Unavailable See
Operator's Manual ABS (Anti-lock Braking System), ESP
®
(Electronic Stability
Program), BAS (Brake Assist), the HOLD function and hill start
assist are temporarily unavailable.
COLLISION PREVENTION ASSIST may also have failed.
In addition, the ÷, å and ! warning lamps light up in
the instrument cluster.
ATTENTION ASSIST is deactivated.
Possible causes are:
R Self-diagnosis is not yet complete.
R The on-board voltage may be insufficient.
G WARNING
The brake system continues to function normally, but without the
functions listed above. The wheels could therefore lock if you
brake hard, for example.
The steerability and braking characteristics may be severely
affected. The braking distance in an emergency braking situation
can increase.
If ESP ®
is not
operational, ESP ®
is unable to stabilize the vehicle.
There is an increased risk of skidding and an accident.
X Carefully drive a short distance on a suitable stretch of road,
making slight steering movements at a speed above 12 mph
(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 a qualified specialist workshop. !÷
Inoperative See
Operator's Manual ABS, ESP
®
, BAS, the HOLD function and hill start assist are
unavailable due to a malfunction.
COLLISION PREVENTION ASSIST may also have failed.
In addition, the J, ÷, å and ! warning lamps light
up in the instrument cluster.
ATTENTION ASSIST is deactivated.
G WARNING
The brake system continues to function normally, but without the
functions listed above. The wheels could therefore lock if you
brake hard, for example. Display messages
201On-board computer and displays Z
ProCarManuals.com

Display messages Possible causes/consequences and
M SolutionsThe steerability and braking characteristics may be severely
affected. The braking distance in an emergency braking situation
can increase.
If ESP
®
is not
operational, ESP ®
is unable to stabilize the vehicle.
There is an increased risk of skidding and an accident.
X Drive on carefully.
X Visit a qualified specialist workshop immediately. ÷
Currently
Unavailable See
Operator's Manual ESP
®
, BAS, the HOLD function and hill start assist are temporarily
unavailable.
COLLISION PREVENTION ASSIST may also have failed.
In addition, the ÷

and å warning lamps light up in the
instrument cluster.
ATTENTION ASSIST is deactivated.
The self-diagnosis function might not be complete, for example.
G WARNING
The brake system continues to function normally, but without the
functions listed above.
The braking distance in an emergency braking situation can thus
increase.
If ESP ®
is not

operational, ESP ®
is unable to stabilize the vehicle.
There is an increased risk of skidding and an accident.
X Carefully drive a short distance on a suitable stretch of road,
making slight steering movements at a speed above 12 mph
(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 a qualified specialist workshop.202
Display messages
On-board computer and displays
ProCarManuals.com

Display messages Possible causes/consequences and
M Solutions÷
Inoperative See
Operator's Manual ESP
®
, BAS, the HOLD function and hill start assist are unavailable
due to a malfunction.
COLLISION PREVENTION ASSIST may also have failed.
In addition, the ÷
and å warning lamps light up in the
instrument cluster.
ATTENTION ASSIST is deactivated.
G WARNING
The brake system continues to function normally, but without the
functions listed above.
The braking distance in an emergency braking situation can thus
increase.
If ESP ®
is not

operational, ESP ®
is unable to stabilize the vehicle.
There is an increased risk of skidding and an accident.
X Drive on carefully.
X Visit a qualified specialist workshop. T!
÷
Inoperative See
Operator's Manual EBD (electronic brake force distribution), ABS, ESP
®
, BAS, the
HOLD function and hill start assist are not available due to a
malfunction.
COLLISION PREVENTION ASSIST may also have failed.
In addition, the ÷, å and ! warning lamps light up in
the instrument cluster and a warning tone sounds.
ATTENTION ASSIST is deactivated.
G WARNING
The brake system continues to function normally, but without the
functions listed above. The front and rear wheels could therefore
lock if you brake hard, for example.
The steerability and braking characteristics may be severely
affected. The braking distance in an emergency braking situation
can increase.
If ESP ®
is not

operational, ESP ®
is unable to stabilize the vehicle.
There is an increased risk of skidding and an accident.
X Drive on carefully.
X Visit a qualified specialist workshop immediately. F(USA
only)!(Canada
only) The red
F (USA only)/! (Canada only) indicator lamp
flashes and a warning tone sounds. A condition for automatic
release of the electric parking brake is not fulfilled ( Y page 150).
You are driving with the electric parking brake applied.
X Release the electric parking brake manually. Display messages
203
On-board computer and displays Z
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Display messages Possible causes/consequences and
M Solutions$(USA
only)J(Canada
only)
Check Brake Fluid
Level There is not enough brake fluid in the brake fluid reservoir.
In addition, the $ (USA only)/J (Canada only) warning
lamp lights up in the instrument cluster and a warning tone
sounds.
G WARNING
The braking effect may be impaired.
There is a risk of an accident.
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 Secure the vehicle against rolling away ( Y page 149).
X Consult a qualified specialist workshop.
X Do not add brake fluid. This does not correct the malfunction. #
Check Brake Pad
Wear The brake pads/linings have reached their wear limit.
X
Visit a qualified specialist workshop. G
mbrace Inoperative One or more main features of the mbrace system are
malfunctioning.
X
Have the mbrace system checked immediately at a qualified
specialist workshop. 6
SRS Malfunction
Service Required There is a malfunction in the SRS (Supplemental Restraint
System). The 6 warning lamp also lights up in the instrument
cluster.
G WARNING
The air bags or Emergency Tensioning Devices may either be
triggered unintentionally or, in the event of an accident, may not
be triggered.
There is an increased risk of injury.
X Visit a qualified specialist workshop.
Further information on occupant safety (Y page 38). Display messages
207
On-board computer and displays Z
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