2012 MERCEDES-BENZ B-CLASS brakes

Automatic transmission
Automatic drive program ............... 144
Changing gear ............................... 143
DIRECT SELECT lever .....................140
Display message
............................ 220
Drive program display ....................141
Driving tips .................................... 143
Emergency running mode ..............147
Engaging drive position .................. 142
Engaging neutral ............................ 141
Engaging reverse gear ................... 141
Engaging the park position ............ 141
Holding the vehicle stationary on
uphill gradients .............................. 143
Kickdown ....................................... 143
Manual drive program ....................144
Overview ........................................ 140
Problem (malfunction) ...................147
Program selector button ................143
Pulling away ................................... 136
Starting the engine ........................ 135
Steering wheel paddle shifters ...... 144
Transmission position display ........ 141
Transmission positions .................. 142
Automatic transmission
emergency mode ............................... 147B
Backup lamp Changing bulbs .............................. 109
Display message ............................ 211
Bag hook

............................................ 243
BAS (Brake Assist System) ................. 59
Battery (SmartKey) Checking .......................................... 70
Important safety notes .................... 70
Replacing ......................................... 70
Battery (vehicle)
Charging ........................................ 288
Display message ............................ 213
Important safety notes .................. 285
Jump starting ................................. 289
Belt force limiter
Activation ......................................... 49
Function ........................................... 49
Blinds
see Roller sunblind Blind Spot Assist
Activating/deactivating .................195
Display message

............................ 216
Notes/function .............................. 181
Brake Assist
see BAS (Brake Assist System)
Brake fluid
Display message ............................ 207
Notes ............................................. 332
Brake lamps
Adaptive ........................................... 62
Changing bulbs .............................. 109
Display message ............................ 209
Brakes
ABS .................................................. 59
Adaptive Brake Assist ......................61
BAS .................................................. 59
Brake fluid (notes) .........................332
Display message ............................ 201
Driving tips .................................... 154
Important safety notes .................. 154
Maintenance .................................. 155
Parking brake ................................ 150
Warning lamp ................................. 225
Breakdown
see Flat tire
see Towing away/tow-starting
Bulbs
see Changing bulbs C
Calling up a malfunction see Display messages


Car
see Vehicle
Care
Carpets .......................................... 277
Car wash ........................................ 271
Display ........................................... 275
Exhaust pipe .................................. 275
Exterior lights ................................ 274
Gear or selector lever ....................276
Interior ........................................... 275
Matte finish ................................... 273
Notes ............................................. 271
Paint .............................................. 273
Plastic trim .................................... 276 Index
5
ProCarManuals.com

Distance recorder
............................. 189
see Odometer

see Trip odometer
Distance warning function
Activating/deactivating ................. 195
Function/notes ................................ 60
Warning lamp ................................. 233
DISTRONIC PLUS
Activation conditions .....................161
Cruise control lever .......................161
Deactivating ................................... 165
Display message ............................ 217
Displays in the multifunction
display ........................................... 163
Driving tips .................................... 166
Function/notes ............................. 160
Important safety notes .................. 159
Setting the specified minimum
distance ......................................... 165
Warning lamp ................................. 233
Doors
Automatic locking (on-board
computer) ...................................... 198
Automatic locking (switch) ............... 74
Central locking/unlocking
(SmartKey) ....................................... 68
Control panel ................................... 35
Display message ............................ 222
Emergency locking ........................... 75
Emergency unlocking .......................75
Important safety notes .................... 73
Opening (from inside) ......................73
Drinking and driving .........................152
Drive program Automatic ...................................... 144
Display (DIRECT SELECT lever) ...... 141
Manual ........................................... 144
Driver's door
see Doors
Driving abroad
Mercedes-Benz Service .................271
Symmetrical low beam .................... 98
Driving on flooded roads ..................156
Driving safety systems ABS (Anti-lock Braking System) ....... 59
ADAPTIVE BRAKE ............................. 64
Adaptive Brake Assist ......................61
Adaptive brake lamps ...................... 62BAS (Brake Assist System)
..............59
COLLISION PREVENTION ASSIST ....60
Distance warning function
............... 60
Electronic brake force distribution ... 64
ESP ®
(Electronic Stability
Program) .................................... 62, 63
ETS (Electronic Traction System) ..... 62
Important safety information ........... 59
Overview .......................................... 58
STEER CONTROL ............................. 64
Driving systems
Active Parking Assist .....................172
ATTENTION ASSIST ........................ 180
Blind Spot Assist ............................ 181
Cruise control ................................ 157
Display message ............................ 215
DISTRONIC PLUS ........................... 159
HOLD function ............................... 167
Lane Keeping Assist ...................... 183
Lane Tracking package .................. 181
PARKTRONIC ................................. 169
Rear view camera .......................... 176
Driving tips
Automatic transmission ................. 143
Brakes ........................................... 154
Break-in period .............................. 134
Checking brake lining thickness ....155
DISTRONIC PLUS ........................... 166
Downhill gradient ........................... 154
Drinking and driving .......................152
Driving abroad ................................. 98
Driving in winter ............................. 157
Driving on flooded roads ................156
Driving on wet roads ...................... 156
Exhaust check ............................... 152
Fuel ................................................ 152
General .......................................... 152
Hydroplaning ................................. 156
Icy road surfaces ........................... 157
Limited braking efficiency on
salted roads ................................... 154
Snow chains .................................. 301
Symmetrical low beam .................... 98
Wet road surface ........................... 154
DVD audio (on-board computer) ...... 192
DVD video (on-board computer) ......1938
Index
ProCarManuals.com

Wear indicator (definition)
.............318
Wheel rim (definition) ....................316
see Flat tire

Top Tether ............................................ 55
Towing Important safety guidelines ...........291
Installing the towing eye ................ 292
Removing the towing eye ...............292
Towing away
With both axles on the ground ....... 293
With front axle raised ..................... 293
Tow-starting
Emergency engine starting ............ 294
Important safety notes .................. 291
Installing the towing eye ................ 292
Removing the towing eye ...............292
Traction control ................................... 62
Transmission see Automatic transmission
Transmission position display .........141
Transporting the vehicle .................. 293
Trim pieces (cleaning instructions) . 276
Trip computer (on-board computer) 189
Trip odometer Calling up ....................................... 189
Resetting (on-board computer) ...... 190
Trunk
see Tailgate
Turn signals
Changing bulbs (front) ................... 108
Changing bulbs (rear) .................... 109
Display message ............................ 209
Switching on/off ........................... 100
Type identification plate
see Vehicle identification plate U
Unlocking Emergency unlocking .......................75
From inside the vehicle (central
unlocking button) ............................. 74 V
Vanity mirror (in the sun visor) ........ 249
Vehicle Correct use ...................................... 24
Data acquisition ............................... 25
Equipment
....................................... 21
Individual settings ..........................196
Limited Warranty ............................. 25
Loading .......................................... 306
Locking (in an emergency) ............... 75
Locking (SmartKey) .......................... 68
Lowering ........................................ 322
Maintenance .................................... 22
Parking for a long period ................ 152
Pulling away ................................... 136
Raising ........................................... 320
Reporting problems .........................24
Securing from rolling away ............320
Towing away .................................. 291
Tow-starting ................................... 291
Transporting .................................. 293
Unlocking (in an emergency) ........... 75
Unlocking (SmartKey) ......................68
Vehicle data ................................... 335
Vehicle data ....................................... 335
Vehicle dimensions ...........................335
Vehicle emergency locking ................75
Vehicle identification number see VIN
Vehicle identification plate ..............328
Vehicle tool kit .................................. 280
Video (DVD) ........................................ 193
VIN ...................................................... 328 W
Warning and indicator lamps ABS ................................................ 225
Brakes

........................................... 225
Check Engine ................................. 231
Coolant .......................................... 231
Distance warning ........................... 233
DISTRONIC PLUS ........................... 233
ESP ®
.............................................. 227
ESP ®
OFF ....................................... 228
Fuel tank ........................................ 231
Overview .......................................... 3018
Index
ProCarManuals.com

Warning and indicator lamps
Function Page
:
L Low-beam
headlamps
99
;
T Parking lamps
100
=
K High-beam
headlamps
100
?
÷ ESP
® 227
A
! Electric parking brake
(red)
230
B
!
Electric parking brake
(yellow) 230
C
· Distance warning
233
D
#! Turn signals
100 Function Page
E
6 SRS
230
F
ü Seat belt
224
G
? Coolant
231
H
R Rear fog lamp
100
I
N Front fog lamps
99
J
; Check Engine
231
K
æ Reserve fuel
231
L
å ESP
®
OFF 227
M
! ABS
225
N
J Brakes
22530
Instrument clusterAt a glance
ProCarManuals.com

G
WARNING
If BAS is malfunctioning, the braking distance
in an emergency braking situation is
increased. There is a risk of an accident.
In an emergency braking situation, depress
the brake pedal with full force. ABS prevents
the wheels from locking.
BAS operates in emergency braking
situations. If you depress the brake pedal
quickly, BAS automatically
boosts the braking
force, thus shortening the stopping distance.
The brakes will function as usual once you
release the brake pedal. BAS is deactivated. COLLISION PREVENTION ASSIST
General notes COLLISION PREVENTION ASSIST consists of
the Adaptive Brake Assist and the distance
warning function, which are described in the
following.
Distance warning function
Important safety notes
i
Observe the "Important safety notes"
section for driving safety systems
(Y page 59). G
WARNING
The distance warning function does not react:
R to people or animals
R to oncoming vehicles
R to crossing traffic
R when cornering
Thus, the distance warning function cannot
provide a warning in all critical situations.
There is a risk of an accident.
Always pay careful attention to the traffic
situation and be ready to brake.
The distance warning

function cannot always
clearly identify objects and complex traffic
situations. In such cases, the distance warning function
may:
R
give an unnecessary warning
R not give a warning
Always pay careful attention to the traffic
situation and do not rely solely on the
distance warning function.
Function
X To activate/deactivate: activate or
deactivate the distance

warning function in
the on-board computer (Y page 195).
If the distance warning function is activated,
the Ä symbol appears

in the multifunction
display unless the HOLD function is active
(Y page 168).
On vehicles with Active Parking Assist, the
Ä symbol is displayed when P is engaged
or you are driving faster than 22 mph
(35 km/h).
The distance warning function can help you
to minimize the risk of a front-end collision
with a vehicle ahead or reduce the effects of
such a collision. If the distance warning
function detects that there is a risk of a
collision, you will be warned visually and
acoustically. The distance warning function
cannot prevent a collision without your
intervention.
Starting at a speed of around 20 mph
(30 km/h), this function warns you if you
rapidly approach a vehicle in front. An
intermittent warning tone will then sound and
the · distance warning lamp will light up
in the instrument cluster.
X Brake immediately in order to increase the
distance from the vehicle in front.
or
X Take evasive action provided it is safe to do
so.
For the distance warning function to assist
you when driving, the function must be
activated in the on-board computer and be
operational ( Y page 195).60
Driving safety systems
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Due to the nature of the system, particularly
complicated driving
conditions
may cause the
system to display unnecessary warnings.
With the help of the radar sensor system, the
distance warning function can detect
obstacles that are in the path of your vehicle
for an extended period of time.
At speeds up to 40 mph (70 km/h), the
distance warning function may also detect
stationary obstacles, for example stopped or
parked vehicles.
If you approach an obstacle and the distance
warning function detects a risk of a collision,
the system will initially alert you both visually
and acoustically.
In particular, the detection of obstacles can
be impaired if:
R dirt on the sensors or anything else
covering the sensors
R snow or heavy rain
R interference by other radar sources
R there are strong radar reflections, for
example in parking garages
R a narrow vehicle traveling in front, e.g. a
motorbike
R a vehicle traveling in front on a different line
relative to the center of your vehicle
Following damage to the front end of the
vehicle, have the configuration and operation
of the radar sensor checked at a qualified
specialist workshop. This also applies to
collisions at low speeds where there is no
visible damage to the front of the vehicle.
Adaptive Brake Assist i
Observe the "Important safety notes"
section for driving safety systems
(Y page 59). G
WARNING
Adaptive Brake Assist cannot always clearly
identify objects and complex traffic
situations. In these cases, Adaptive Brake
Assist may not

intervene. There is a risk of an
accident. Always pay careful attention to the traffic
situation and be ready to brake.
G
WARNING
Adaptive Brake Assist does not react:
R to people or animals
R to oncoming vehicles
R to crossing traffic
R to stationary obstacles
R when cornering
As a result, Adaptive Brake Assist may not
intervene in all critical conditions. There is a
risk of an accident.
Always pay careful attention to the traffic
situation and be ready to brake.
Adaptive Brake Assist provides braking
assistance in hazardous situations at speeds
greater than 20 mph (30 km/h ) and uses
radar sensor technology to assess the traffic
situation.
With the help of a sensor system, adaptive
Brake Assist

can detect obstacles that are in
the path of your vehicle for an extended
period of time.
Should you approach an obstacle and
Adaptive Brake Assist has detected a risk of
collision, Adaptive Brake Assist calculates the
braking force necessary to avoid a rear-end
collision. Should you apply the brakes
vigorously, Adaptive Brake Assist will
automatically increase the braking force to a
level suitable for the traffic conditions.
X Keep the brake pedal depressed until the
emergency braking situation is over.
ABS prevents the wheels from locking.
The brakes will work normally again if:
R you release the brake pedal.
R there is no

longer any danger of a rear-end
collision.
R no obstacle is detected in front of your
vehicle.
Adaptive Brake Assist is then deactivated. Driving safety systems
61
Safety Z
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Up to vehicle speeds of around 155 mph
(250 km/h
),
adaptive Brake Assist is capable
of reacting to moving objects that have
already been recognized as such at least once
over the period of observation. Adaptive
Brake Assist does not react to stationary
obstacles.
If Adaptive Brake Assist is not available due
to a malfunction in the radar sensor system,
the brake system remains available with full
brake boosting effect and BAS.
In particular, the detection of obstacles can
be impaired if there is:
R dirt on the sensors or anything else
covering the sensors
R snow or heavy rain
R interference by other radar sources
R there are strong radar reflections, for
example in parking garages
R a narrow vehicle traveling in front, e.g. a
motorbike
R a vehicle traveling in front on a different line
relative to the center of your vehicle
Following damage to the front end of the
vehicle, have the configuration and operation
of the radar sensor checked at a qualified
specialist workshop. This also applies to
collisions at low speeds where there is no
visible damage to the front of the vehicle. Adaptive brake lights
If you brake sharply from a speed of more
than 50 km/h

or if braking is assisted by BAS
or Adaptive Brake Assist, the brake lamps
flash rapidly. In this way, traffic traveling
behind you is warned in an even more
noticeable manner.
If you brake sharply to a standstill from a
speed of more than 70 km/h, the hazard
warning lamps are activated automatically. If
the brakes are applied again, the brake lamps
light up continuously. The hazard warning
lamps switch off automatically if you travel
faster than 10 km/h. You can also switch off the hazard warning lamps using the hazard
warning button (Y page 101).
i
Adaptive brake lamps

are only available in
certain countries. ESP
®
(Electronic Stability Program)
General notes i
Observe the "Important safety notes"
section ( Y page 59).
ESP ®
monitors driving stability and traction,
i.e. power transmission

between the tires and
the road surface.
If ESP ®
detects that the vehicle is deviating
from the direction desired by the driver, one
or more wheels are braked to stabilize the
vehicle. The engine output is also modified to
keep the vehicle on the desired course within
physical limits. ESP ®
assists the driver when
pulling away on wet or slippery roads. ESP ®
can also stabilize the vehicle during braking.
ETS (Electronic Traction System) i
Observe the "Important safety notes"
section for driving safety systems
(Y page 59).
ETS traction control is part of ESP ®
.
ETS brakes the drive wheels individually if
they spin. This enables you to pull away and
accelerate on slippery surfaces, for example
if the road surface is slippery on one side.
ETS remains active when you deactivate
ESP ®
.
Important safety notes G
WARNING
If ESP ®
is malfunctioning, ESP ®
is unable to
stabilize the vehicle. Additionally, further
driving safety systems are deactivated. This
increases the risk

of skidding and an accident.
Drive on carefully. Have ESP ®
checked at a
qualified specialist workshop. 62
Driving safety systems
Safety
ProCarManuals.com

!
When testing the electric parking brake
on a braking dynamometer, switch off the
ignition. Application of the brakes by
ESP ®
may otherwise destroy the brake
system.
When towing your vehicle with the front axle
raised, observe the notes on
ESP ®
(Y page 293).
ESP ®
is deactivated if the å ESP®
OFF
warning lamp in
the instrument cluster lights
up continuously when the engine is running.
If the ÷ ESP ®
warning lamp and the
å ESP ®
OFF warning lamp are lit
continuously, ESP ®
is not available due to a
malfunction.
Observe the information on warning lamps
(Y page 227) and display messages which
may be shown in the instrument cluster
(Y page 201).
i Only use wheels with the recommended
tire sizes. Only then will ESP ®
function
properly.
Characteristics of ESP ®General information
ESP
®
is activated automatically when the
engine is started.
If ESP ®
intervenes, the ÷ ESP®
warning
lamp flashes in the instrument cluster.
If ESP ®
intervenes:
X Do not deactivate ESP ®
under any
circumstances.
X Only depress the accelerator pedal as far
as necessary when pulling away.
X Adapt your driving style to suit the
prevailing road and weather conditions.
Vehicles with the ECO start/stop function Deactivating/activating ESP
® Important safety notes
i
Observe the "Important safety notes"
section for driving safety systems
(Y page 59).
You can select between the following states
of ESP ®
:
R ESP ®
is activated.
R ESP ®
is deactivated. G
WARNING
If you deactivate ESP ®
, ESP ®
no longer
stabilizes the vehicle. There is an increased
risk of skidding and an accident.
Only deactivate ESP ®
in the situations
described in the following.
It may be best to deactivate ESP ®
in the
following situations:
R when using snow chains
R in deep snow
R on sand or gravel
i Activate ESP ®
as soon as the situations
described above no

longer apply. ESP®
will
otherwise not be able to stabilize the
vehicle if the vehicle starts to skid or a
wheel starts to spin.
! Avoid spinning the driven wheels for an
extended period with ESP ®
deactivated.
You could otherwise damage the drivetrain.
Deactivating/activating ESP ®
You can deactivate or activate ESP ®
via the
on-board computer.
X To deactivate: (Y page 194).
The å ESP ®
OFF warning lamp in the
instrument cluster lights up.
X To activate: (Y page 194).
The å ESP ®
OFF warning lamp in the
instrument cluster goes out. Driving safety systems
63
Safety Z
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