2012 MERCEDES-BENZ CLS-Class Page 1

GWARNING
BAS PLUS cannot always clearly identify
objects and complex traffic situations. BAS
PLUS cannot intervene in these cases.
There is a risk of an accident. Always pay
careful attention to the traffic situation and be
ready to brake.
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 the possibility of 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
GWARNING
BAS PLUS does not react:
R to people or animals
R to oncoming vehicles
R to crossing traffic
R in curves
As a result, BAS PLUS cannot intervene in
critical situations. There is a risk of an
accident. Always pay careful attention to the
traffic situation and be ready to brake.
Following damage to the front end of the
vehicle, have the configuration and operation
of the radar sensors checked at a qualified
specialist workshop. This also applies to
collisions at slow speeds where there is no
visible damage to the front of the vehicle.
If BAS PLUS is not available due to a
malfunction in the radar sensor system, the
brake system remains available with full
brake boosting effect and BAS.
ESP ®
(Electronic Stability Program)
Important safety notes
i See the "Important safety notes" section
( Y page 61).
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. If necessary, 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.
If ESP ®
intervenes, the ÷ ESP®
warning
lamp flashes in the instrument cluster.
GWARNING
Under no circumstances should you
deactivate ESP ®
when the ÷ ESP®
warning lamp in the instrument cluster
flashes. Proceed as follows:
R when driving off, apply as little throttle as
possible.
R while driving, ease up on the accelerator
pedal.
R adapt your speed to suit the prevailing road
and weather conditions.
Failure to observe these guidelines could
cause the vehicle to skid. ESP ®
cannot
prevent accidents resulting from excessive
speed.
! Vehicles without 4MATIC: switch the
ignition off when:
R the parking brake is being tested using a
dynamometer
R the vehicle is being towed with the front
axle raised
Application of the brakes by ESP ®
may
otherwise destroy the brake system.
! Vehicles with 4MATIC: switch off the
ignition when the parking brake is being
tested on a brake dynamometer.
Driving safety systems63SafetyZ

Application of the brakes by ESP®
may
otherwise destroy the brake system.
i Only use wheels with the recommended
tire sizes. Only then will ESP ®
function
properly.
ETS/4ETS (Electronic Traction System)GWARNING
Observe "Important safety notes"
( Y page 60).
Traction control is part of ESP ®
.
Traction control 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. On vehicles with 4MATIC, more
drive torque is also transferred to the wheel
or wheels with traction.
Traction control remains active if you
deactivate ESP ®
.
Deactivating/activating ESP ®
(except
AMG vehicles)
GWARNING
ESP ®
should not be deactivated during
normal driving other than in the
circumstances described below. Disabling
the system will reduce vehicle stability in
driving maneuvers.
Do not deactivate ESP ®
when the emergency
or spare wheel is mounted.
ESP ®
is activated automatically when the
engine is started.
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
GWARNING
Switch on ESP ®
immediately if one of the
previously stated conditions is no longer met.
Otherwise, ESP ®
cannot stabilize the vehicle
if it begins to lurch or when a wheel spins.
If you deactivate ESP ®
:
R ESP ®
no longer improves driving stability.
R the engine's torque is no longer limited and
the drive wheels can spin. The spinning of
the wheels results in a cutting action, which
provides better grip.
R traction control is still activated.
R ESP ®
still provides support when you
brake.
If ESP ®
is deactivated and one or more wheels
start to spin, the ÷ ESP®
warning lamp in
the instrument cluster flashes. In such
situations, ESP ®
will not stabilize the vehicle.XTo deactivate: (Y page 206).
The å ESP®
OFF warning lamp in the
instrument cluster lights up.GWARNING
When the å ESP®
OFF warning lamp is lit,
ESP ®
is deactivated.
If the ÷ ESP®
warning lamp and the
å ESP®
OFF warning lamp remain lit,
ESP ®
is not available due to a malfunction.
When ESP ®
is deactivated or not operational,
vehicle stability in standard driving
maneuvers is reduced.
Adapt your speed and driving to the prevailing
road conditions and to the non-operating
status of the ESP ®
.
! Avoid spinning the driven wheels for an
extended period with ESP ®
deactivated.
You could otherwise damage the drivetrain.
XTo activate: (Y page 206).
The å ESP®
OFF warning lamp in the
instrument cluster goes out.64Driving safety systemsSafety

EBD (electronic brake force
distribution)
i Observe the "Important safety notes"
section ( Y page 61).
EBD monitors and controls the brake
pressure on the rear wheels to improve
driving stability while braking.GWARNING
If EBD has malfunctioned, the braking system
remains available with full brake boosting
effect. However, the rear wheels can still lock,
e.g. under full braking. This could cause you
to lose control of your vehicle and cause an
accident. You should therefore adapt your
driving style to the different handling
characteristics.
XObserve the notes on warning and indicator
lamps ( Y page 244) as well as display
messages ( Y page 218).
ADAPTIVE BRAKE
ADAPTIVE BRAKE enhances braking safety
and offers increased braking comfort. In
addition to the braking function, ADAPTIVE
BRAKE also has the HOLD function
( Y page 166) and hill start assist
( Y page 135). For further information, see
Driving tips ( Y page 152).
PRE-SAFE ®
Brake
PRE-SAFE ®
Brake is only available in vehicles
with DISTRONIC PLUS.
i Observe the "Important safety notes"
section ( Y page 61).
PRE-SAFE ®
Brake can help you to minimize
the risk of a frontal collision with a vehicle
ahead or reduce the effects of such a
collision. If PRE-SAFE ®
Brake has detected a
risk of collision, you will be warned visually
and acoustically as well as by automatic
braking. PRE-SAFE ®
Brake cannot prevent a
collision without your intervention.
At speeds above approximately
4 mph (7 km/h), this function warns you
when you are rapidly approaching the vehicle
in front. An intermittent warning tone will
then sound and the · distance warning
lamp in the instrument cluster will light up.XBrake immediately in order to increase the
distance from the vehicle in front.
or
XTake evasive action provided it is safe to do
so.
If the driver and front passenger have their
seat belt fastened, PRE-SAFE ®
Brake can also
brake the vehicle automatically at speeds
from approximately 4 mph (7 km/h) to
approximately 124 mph (200 km/h).
Due to the nature of the system, particularly
complicated driving conditions may cause
unnecessary warnings or the unnecessary
intervention of PRE-SAFE ®
Brake. To stop the
braking action, you can either depress the
accelerator pedal further, activate kickdown
or release the brake pedal.
The braking action of PRE-SAFE ®
Brake is
ended automatically if:
R you maneuver to avoid the obstacle.
R there is no longer any danger of a rear-end
collision.
R there is no longer an obstacle detected in
front of your vehicle.
i USA only: this device has been approved
by the FCC as a "Vehicular Radar System".
The radar sensor system is intended for use
in an automotive radar system only.
Removal, tampering, or 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.
Driving safety systems67SafetyZ

iCanada 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.
Removal, tampering, or altering of the
device will void any warranties, and is not
permitted. 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.
With the help of the radar sensor system,
PRE-SAFE ®
Brake can detect obstacles that
are in front of your vehicle for an extended
period of time.
At speeds up to approximately 40 mph
(70 km/h), PRE-SAFE ®
Brake can also react
to stationary obstacles, for example stopped
or parked vehicles.
If you approach an obstacle and PRE-SAFE ®
Brake detects a risk of collision, the system
will initially alert you both visually and
acoustically. If you do not brake or take
evasive action, the system will warn you by
automatically braking the vehicle gently. If
there is an increased risk of collision,
preventative passenger protection measures
(PRE-SAFE ®
) are activated ( Y page 48). If at
speeds of more than approximately 20 mph
(30 km/h) the risk of collision remains and
you do not brake, take evasive action or
accelerate significantly, the vehicle may
perform automatic emergency braking.
Automatic emergency braking is not
performed until immediately prior to an
accident that can no longer be avoided.GWARNING
Even if PRE-SAFE ®
Brake slows the vehicle
before an imminent rear-end collision, the
system cannot avert a collision without the
intervention of the driver. There is a risk of an
accident. Brake according to the situation or
take evasive action. Delayed intervention by
the driver can lead to an accident.GWARNING
PRE-SAFE ®
Brake cannot always detect
complex traffic situations properly.
In these cases, PRE-SAFE(R) Brake may:
R give an unnecessary warning and then
brake the vehicle
R neither give a warning nor intervene
There is a risk of an accident. Always pay
particular attention to the traffic situation and
be ready to brake, especially if PRE-SAFE(R)
Brake warns you. Terminate the intervention
in a non-critical driving situation.
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 the possibility of 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
GWARNING
PRE-SAFE ®
Brake does not react:
R to people or animals
R to oncoming vehicles
R to crossing traffic
R in curves
As a result, PRE-SAFE ®
Brake cannot
intervene in critical situations. There is a risk
of an accident. Always pay careful attention
to the traffic situation and be ready to brake.
In order to maintain the appropriate distance
to the vehicle in front and thus prevent a
collision, you must apply the brakes yourself.
68Driving safety systemsSafety

XTo activate/deactivate: activate or
deactivate PRE-SAFE ®
Brake in the on-
board computer ( Y page 207).
The Ä symbol appears in the
multifunction display as long as the HOLD
function is not activated ( Y page 166).
On vehicles with Active Parking Assist, the
Ä symbol is displayed when
transmission position P is selected or if you
drive faster than 22 mph(35 km/h).
For PRE-SAFE ®
Brake to assist you when
driving, the radar sensor system must be
switched on ( Y page 211) and operational.
Following damage to the front end of the
vehicle, have the configuration and operation
of the radar sensors checked at a qualified
specialist workshop. This also applies to
collisions at slow speeds where there is no
visible damage to the front of the vehicle.
Theft deterrent locking systems
Immobilizer
The immobilizer prevents your vehicle from
being started without the correct SmartKey.
When leaving the vehicle, always take the
SmartKey with you and lock the vehicle. The
engine can be started by anyone with a valid
SmartKey that is left inside the vehicle.
XTo activate with the SmartKey: remove
the SmartKey from the ignition lock.XTo activate with KEYLESS-GO: switch the
ignition off and open the driver's door.XTo deactivate: switch on the ignition.
i
The immobilizer is always deactivated
when you start the engine.
In the event that the engine cannot be
started when the starter battery is fully
charged, the immobilizer may be faulty.
Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center or call 1-800-FOR-MERCedes (in
USA) or 1-800-387-0100 (in Canada).
ATA (Anti-Theft Alarm system)
A visual and audible alarm is triggered if the
alarm system is armed and you open:
R a door
R the vehicle with the mechanical key
R the trunk lid
R the hood
The alarm is not switched off, even if you
close the open door that has triggered it, for
example.
i If the alarm stays on for more than 30
seconds, the emergency call system
mbrace (USA only) or TELE AID (Canada
only) initiates a call to the Customer
Assistance Center automatically. The
emergency call system initiates the call
provided that:
R you have subscribed to the mbrace/
TELE AID service.
R the mbrace/TELE AID service has been
activated properly.
R the required mobile phone, power supply
and GPS are available.XTo arm: lock the vehicle with the SmartKey
or KEYLESS-GO.
Indicator lamp : flashes. The alarm
system is armed after approximately 15
seconds.XTo deactivate: unlock the vehicle with the
SmartKey or KEYLESS-GO.Theft deterrent locking systems69SafetyZ

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 You can find information on qualified
specialist workshops here ( Y page 22).
SmartKey
Important safety notes
GWARNING
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the
SmartKey from the ignition lock. Always take
the SmartKey with you and lock the vehicle.
Do not leave children unsupervised in the
vehicle, even if they are secured in a child
restraint system, and do not give them access
to an unlocked vehicle. A child's unsupervised
access to a vehicle could result in an accident
and/or serious personal injury. They could:
R injure themselves on vehicle parts
R be seriously or fatally injured by extreme
heat or cold
R injure themselves or have an accident with
vehicle equipment that may still be in
operation even after the SmartKey has
been removed from the ignition, such as the
seat adjustment, steering wheel
adjustment or memory function.
If children open a door, they could cause
severe or even fatal injury to other persons; if
they get out of the vehicle, they could injure
themselves when doing so or be seriously or
even fatally injured by any passing traffic.
Do not expose the child restraint system to
direct sunlight. The child restraint system's
metal parts, for example, could become very
hot, and a child could be burned on these
parts.GWARNING
If a key ring is too heavy or too large, the
weight acting on the key could cause it to turn
in the ignition lock or catch on the steering
wheel. This could cause the engine to be
switched off suddenly. You could lose control
of the vehicle and cause an accident. Do not
attach any heavy or large key rings to the key
that is inserted in the ignition.
General information
If you cannot lock or unlock the vehicle with
the SmartKey, either the battery in the
SmartKey is discharged, the SmartKey is
faulty or the starter battery is discharged.
XCheck the battery in the SmartKey and
replace it if necessary ( Y page 76).XUnlock the driver's door using the
mechanical key ( Y page 81).XLock the vehicle using the mechanical key
( Y page 81).XHave the starter battery and battery
contacts checked at an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
If the SmartKey is faulty, contact Roadside
Assistance or an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.
SmartKey functions
General notes
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.
72SmartKeyOpening/closing

Any unauthorized modification to this
device could void the user’s authority to
operate the equipment.
The Product label with FCC ID and IC
certification number can be found in the
battery case of the SmartKey.
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.
The Product label with FCC ID and IC
certification number can be found in the
battery case of the SmartKey.
Locking and unlocking centrally
The SmartKey centrally locks/unlocks:
R the doors
R the trunk lid
R the fuel filler flap
:& To lock the vehicle;F To unlock the trunk lid=% To unlock the vehicle
When unlocking, the turn signals flash once.
When locking, they flash three times.
When it is dark, the surround lighting also
comes on if it is activated in the on-board
computer ( Y page 210).
You can also set an audible signal to confirm
that the vehicle has been locked or unlocked.
The audible signal can be activated and
deactivated using the on-board computer
( Y page 211).XTo unlock centrally: press the %
button.
If you do not open the vehicle within
approximately 40 seconds of unlocking:
R the vehicle is locked again.
R the theft deterrent locking system is armed
again.
XTo lock centrally: press the & button.
KEYLESS-GO
General notes
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.
The product label with FCC ID and IC
certification number can be found in the
battery case of the SmartKey.
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
SmartKey73Opening/closingZ

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.
The product label with FCC ID and IC
certification number can be found in the
battery case of the SmartKey.
Important notes on the use of KEYLESS-
GO
R The KEYLESS-GO key can be used like a
conventional key.
R You can combine KEYLESS-GO functions
with those of a conventional key, e.g.
unlock with KEYLESS-GO and lock with the
& button.
R Always carry your KEYLESS-GO key on your
person.
R Do not keep the KEYLESS-GO key together
with:
- electronic devices, e.g. a mobile phone
or another key
- metallic objects, e.g. coins or metal foil.
This can affect the functionality of
KEYLESS-GO.
R When locking and unlocking using
KEYLESS-GO, the distance between the
SmartKey and the corresponding door
handle must not exceed 3 ft (1 m).
R If the KEYLESS-GO key is removed from the
vehicle, it is possible that the system may
not recognize the SmartKey. The vehicle
can then not be locked or started using
KEYLESS-GO.
R If the KEYLESS-GO key has been removed
from the vehicle, e.g. if a passenger leaves
the vehicle with a KEYLESS-GO key:
- if the Start/Stop button is pressed or if
an attempt is made to lock the vehicle
using the outer door handle, the Key
Not Detected message will appear in
the multifunction display.
- while the engine is running, the red Key
Not Detected message will appear in
the multifunction display as you pull
away. Find the KEYLESS-GO key and
change its position in the vehicle. Carry
the KEYLESS-GO key in your shirt pocket,
for example.
R If you have started the engine with the
Start/Stop button, you can switch it off
again by:
- pressing the Start/Stop button again
- inserting the KEYLESS-GO key into the
ignition lock if the vehicle is stationary
and the automatic transmission is in park
position P.
R You could unlock the vehicle by mistake if
the distance between the KEYLESS-GO key
and the vehicle is less than 3 ft (1 m) and:
- an exterior door handle is hit by a water
jet
or
- you clean an exterior door handle.
R Bear in mind that the engine can be started
by any of the vehicle occupants if there is
a KEYLESS-GO key in the vehicle.X To unlock the vehicle: touch the inner
surface of the door handle.XTo lock the vehicle: touch sensor
surface :.XConvenience closing feature: touch
recessed sensor surface ; for an
extended period ( Y page 87).74SmartKeyOpening/closing