2012 MERCEDES-BENZ E-CLASS ESTATE lock

On vehicles with automatic transmission, you
can also shift into position
P.This deactivates
the HOLD function. RACE START
Important safety notes G
WARNING
RACE START is only available when SPORT
handling mode is activated. SPORT handling
mode will only be able to stabilise the vehicle
to a limited degree if the vehicle starts to skid
or a wheel starts to spin. The vehicle is there-
fore harder to control at the threshold range.
You could lose control of the vehicle and
cause an accident.
RACE START should only be used on closed
off circuits. Always adapt your driving style to
suit the prevailing road and weather condi-
tions.
i RACE START is only available in AMG vehi-
cles.
RACE START enables optimum acceleration
from a standing start. The precondition for
this is a suitable high-grip road surface.
Activation conditions You can activate RACE START if:
R
the doors are closed.
R the engine is running and it has reached an
operating temperature of approximately
80 †. This is the case when the engine oil
temperature in the multifunction display
stops flashing.
R SPORT handling mode is activated
(Y page 74).
R the steering wheel is in the straight-ahead
position.
R the vehicle is stationary and the brake
pedal is depressed (left foot).
R the transmission is in position D.Activating RACE START X
Depress the brake pedal with your left foot
and keep it depressed.
X Turn the drive program selector clockwise
(Y page 174) until the RSlamp lights up.
The RACE START Confirm: Paddle UP Cancel: Paddle DOWN message appears
in the multifunction display.
i If the activation conditions are no longer
fulfilled, RACE START is cancelled. The
RACE START cancelled message appears
in the multifunction display.
X To cancel: pull the left steering wheel shift
paddle (Y page 175).
or
X To confirm:p ull the right steering wheel
shif tpaddle (Y page 175).
The RACE START available Depress accelerator message appears in the mul-
tifunctio ndisplay.
i If you do not depress the accelerator
pedal fully within two seconds, RACE
START is cancelled. The RACE START not
possible See Owner's Manual message
appears in the multifunction display.
X Fully depress the accelerator pedal.
The engine speed rises to approximately
3500 rpm.
The RACE START Release brake to start message appears in the multifunc-
tion display.
i If you do not release the brake pedal
within five seconds, RACE START is cancel-
led. The RACE START cancelled message
appears in the multifunction display.
X Take your foot off the brake, but keep the
accelerator pedal depressed.
The vehicle pulls away at maximum accel-
eration.
The RACE START active message appears
in the multifunction display.
RACE START is deactivated when the vehicle
reaches a speed of approximately 50 km/h. Driving systems
207Driving and parking Z

Drive program
S+is activated .SPORT han-
dling mode remains activated.
RACE START is deactivated immediately if
you release the accelerator pedal during
RACE START or if any of the activation condi-
tions are no longer fulfilled. The RACE START
not possible See Owner's Manual mes-
sage appears in the multifunction display.
i After using it several times in short suc-
cession, RACE START will be unavailable
until a certain distance has been driven. AIRMATIC
Vehicle level Important safety notes
G
WARNING
If you have selected "Comfort tuning", the
vehicle will be lowered if you lock it within
60 seconds of the engine being switched off.
Make sure, therefore, that nobody is in the
vicinity of the wheel housing or under the
vehicle when you lock the vehicle. Otherwise,
limbs could become trapped.
! The vehicle is lowered by about 15 mm if:
R you have selected "Comfort tuning"
R you switch off the engine and
R you lock the vehicle within approximately
60 seconds
When parking, position your vehicle so that
it does not make contact with the kerb as
the vehicle is lowered. Your vehicle could
otherwise be damaged.
Observe the notes on driving with a trailer
(Y page 236).
Your vehicle regulates its height automati-
cally. All-round level control ensures the best
possible suspension and constant ground
clearance, even with a laden vehicle. When
you drive fast, the vehicle is lowered auto-
matically to improve driving safety and to
reduce fuel consumption. The following vehicle levels are possible:
R
normal
R raised (vehicles without 4MATIC): the vehi-
cle is raised by about 25 mm when com-
pared with the normal level.
R raised (vehicles with 4MATIC): the vehicle
is raised by about 35 mm when compared
with the normal level.
R lowered: the vehicle is lowered by about
10 mm when compared with the normal
level.
The "Normal" and "Raised" vehicle levels can
be set manually.
The "Lowered” vehicle level is set automati-
cally:
R at speeds above 140 km/h
R if you have selected "Sports tuning"
(Y page 209)
Setting the vehicle level G
WARNING
Make sure that nobody is in the vicinity of the
wheel housing or under the vehicle while low-
ering the vehicle when it is stationary. Other-
wise, limbs could become trapped.
Select the "Normal" setting for normal road
surfaces and "Raised" for driving with snow
chains or on particularly poor road surfaces.
Your selection remains stored even if you
remove the key from the ignition lock.
Setting raised level X
Start the engine. 208
Driving systemsDriving and parking

If indicator lamp
;is not lit:
X Press button :.
Indicator lamp ;lights up. The vehicle
heighti s adjusted to raised level.
The Vehicle rising message appears in
the display.
The "Raised level" setting is cancelled if you:
R drive at a speed above approximately
120 km/h.
R drive for approximately three minutes at a
speed above 80 km/h.
The "Raised Level" remains saved when you
are not driving within these speed ranges.
Setting the normal level
X Start the engine.
If indicator lamp ;is lit:
X Press button :.
Indicator lamp ;goes out. The vehicle is
adjusted to normal level.
Suspension tuning General notes
The electronically controlled damping system
works continuously. This improves driving
safety and ride comfort.
The damping is tuned individually to each
wheel and depends on:
R your driving style, e.g. sporty
R the road surface condition, e.g. bumps
R your individual selection, i.e. sports or com-
fort
Your selection remains stored even if you
remove the key from the ignition lock. Sports tuning The firmer suspension tuning in Sport mode
ensures even better contact with the road.
Select this mode when employing a sporty
driving style, e.g. on winding country roads.
X
Press button :.
Indicator lamp ;lights up. You have selec-
ted "Sports tuning".
The AIRMATIC SPORT message appears in
the multifunction display.
Comfort tuning
In comfort mode, the driving characteristics
of your vehicle are more comfortable. There-
fore, select this mode if you prefer a more
comfortable driving style. Select comfort
mode also when driving fast on straight roads,
e.g. on straight stretches of motorway.
X Press button :.
Indicator lamp =lights up. You have selec-
ted "Comfort tuning".
The AIRMATIC COMFORT message appears
in the multifunction display. AMG RIDE CONTROL sports suspen-
sion
General notes i
AMG RIDE CONTROL sports suspension
is available for the E63AMG model. Driving systems
209Driving and parking Z

Warning displays
Warning display for the front area
:
Segments on the left-hand side of the
vehicle
; Segments on the right-hand side of the
vehicle
= Segments showing operational readiness
The warning displays show the distance
between the sensors and the obstacle. The
warning display for the front area is located
on the dashboard above the centre airv ents.
The warning display for the rear area is loca-
ted on the roof lining in the rear compart-
ment.
The warning display for each side of the vehi-
cle is divided into five yellow and two red seg-
ments. PARKTRONIC is operational if yellow
segments showing operational readiness =
light up.
The gear lever position or the transmission
position of the automatic transmission deter-
mines which warning display is active when
the engine is running.
Manual transmission: Gear lever posi-
tion Warning display
Forwards gear
or
Neutral
Front area activated
Reverse gear
Rear and front areas
activated Automatic transmission:
Transmission
position Warning display
D
Front area activated
R
or N Rear and front areas
activated
P
No areas activated
One or more segments light up as the vehicle
approaches an obstacle, depending on the
vehicle's distance from the obstacle.
From the:
R
sixth segmen tonwards, you will hea ran
intermittent warning ton efor approx-
imately two seconds.
R seventh segment onwards, you will hear a
warning tone for approximately two sec-
onds. This indicates that you have now
reached the minimum distance.
Deactivating/activating PARKTRONIC :
Indicator lamp
; To deactivate/activate PARKTRONIC
If indicator lamp :lights up, PARKTRONIC is
deactivated. Parking Guidance is also deacti-
vated.
i PARKTRONIC is automatically activated
when you turn the key to position 2in the
ignition lock. Driving systems
213Driving and parking Z

could otherwise endanger yoursel
fand oth-
ers. G
WARNING
Unde rthe following circumstances, the
reversing camera will not function, or will
function in a limited manner:
R if the tailgate is open
R in heavy rain, snow or fog
R at night or in very dark places
R if the camera is exposed to very bright light
R if the area is lit by fluorescent light or LED
lighting (the display may flicker)
R if there is a sudden change in temperature,
e.g. when driving into a heated garage in
winter
R if the camera lens is dirty or obstructed
R if the rear of your vehicle is damaged. In this
event, have the camera position and setting
checked at a qualified specialist workshop.
Mercedes-Ben zrecommends that you use
a Mercedes-Benz Service Centre for this
purpose.
Do not use the reversing camera in these
types of situation .You could otherwise injure
others or damage objects and your vehicle
while you are parking.
The area behind the vehicle is displayed as a
mirror image, as in the rear-view mirror.
Activating the reversing camera X
Make sure that the key is in position 2in
the ignition lock.
X Make sure that the "Reversing camera"
function is selected in COMAND APS (see
the separate operating instructions for
COMAND APS).
X Engage reverse gear.
The area behind the vehicle is shown with
guide lines in the COMAND display. Guide lines in the COMAND display G
WARNING
Using the reversing camera can be dangerous
if you are colour blind or your ability to distin-
guish colours is impaired.
Only use the reversing camera if you can see
and distinguish between all the coloured
guide lines that are displayed by the reversing
camera in the COMAND display. G
WARNING
Please note that objects not at ground level
may appear to be further away than they
actually are. These include:
R the bumper of a vehicle that is parked
behind your vehicle
R a trailer drawbar
R the ball coupling of a trailer tow hitch
R the tail-end of a lorry
R slanted posts
The lines are only guides, not accurate meas-
urements of the distance to an obstacle.
Therefore, you should never pass the red line
when approaching an obstacle. You could oth-
erwise cause an accident and injure yourself
and others. Example: information in the COMAND display
Guide lines
;and =show the approximate
distance to the rear area. Yellow guide
line ;approximately 1.0 mand red guide
line =approximately 0.25 m. The distances
only apply to objects that are at ground level.
Blue guide lines :depict the width required Driving systems
219Driving and parking Z

display in the multifunction display. This is
also the case if you cannot switch on the
main-beam headlamps due to oncoming traf-
fic.
i Infrared light is not visible to the human
eye and therefore does not dazzle. Night
View Assist Plus can therefore remain
switched on even if there is oncoming traf-
fic.
Activating Night View Assist Plus Activation conditions
You can only activate Night View Assist Plus
if:
R the key is in position 2in the ignition lock.
R it is dark.
R the light switch is in the ÃorL posi-
tion.
R reverse gear has not been engaged.
Activating Night View Assist Plus X
Make sure that COMAND APS is switched
on.
X Press button :.
The Night View Assist Plus display appears
in the COMAND display.
You can read about how to adjust the bright-
ness of the COMAND display in the COMAND
APS operating instructions.
i The infrared headlamps only switch on
when the vehicle is being driven at speeds
of at least 10 km/h. This means that you
do not have the full visual range while sta- tionary and cannot check whether Night
View Assist Plus is working.
Pedestrian recognition G
WARNING
Pedestrian recognition may be impaired or
inoperative if:
R pedestrians are partially or entirely
obscured by objects, e.g. by parked vehi-
cles.
R the silhouette of the pedestrian in the Night
View Assist Plus display is incomplete or
interrupted, e.g. by powerful light reflec-
tions.
R pedestrians do not contrast with the sur-
roundings.
R pedestrians are not in an upright position,
e.g. sitting, squatting or lying. :
Night View Assist Plus display
; Pedestrian recognised
= Framing
? Symbol for active pedestrian recognition
i Animals are not recognised by pedestrian
recognition.
Night View Assist Plus can recognise pedes-
trians using typical characteristics, e.g. when
there is a silhouette in the shape of a person. Driving systems
223Driving and parking Z

If a vehicle is detected within the monitoring
range of Blind Spot Assist at speeds above
30 km/h, warning lamp :on the corre-
sponding side lights up red. This warning
always occurs when a vehicle enters the blind
spot monitoring range from behind or from
the side. When you overtake a vehicle, the
warning only occurs if the difference in speed
is less than 12 km/h.
The yellow indicator lamp goes out if reverse
gear is engaged. Blind Spot Assist is then
deactivated.
The brightness of the indicator/warning
lamps is adjusted automatically according to
the ambient light.
Collision warning
If a vehicle is detected in the monitoring range
of Blind Spot Assist and you switch on the
corresponding turn signal, a double warning
tone sounds. Red warning lamp :flashes. If
the turn signal remains on, detected vehicles
are indicated by the flashing of red warning
lamp :.There are no further warning tones.
Switching on Blind Spot Assist
X Make sure that the radar sensor system
(Y page 262) and Blind Spot Assist
(Y page 257) are activated in the on-board
computer.
X Turn the key to position 2in the ignition
lock.
Warning lamps :in the exterior mirrors
light up red for approximately
1.5 seconds and then turn yellow.
Towing atrailer
If you attach a trailer, make sure tha tyou have
correctly established the electrical connec-
tion. This can be accomplished by checking
the trailer lighting. Blind Spot Assist is then
deactivated. The indicator lamp lights up yel-
low in the exterior mirrors and the message:
Blind Spot Assist currently unavail‐
able See Owner's Manual appears in the
multifunction display. i
You can deactivate the indicator lamps in
the exterior mirrors.
To do so, switch off Blind Spot Assist if:
R the key is in position 2in the ignition
lock.
R the engine is not running.
R the electrical connection to the trailer
has been established.
Lane Keeping Assist Important safety notes
G
WARNING
Lane Keeping Assist does not keep your vehi-
cle in its lane. It is only an aid and may detect
the lane markings on the road incorrectly or
not at all.
The system may be impaired or may not func-
tion if:
R there is poor visibility, e.g. due to insuffi-
cient illumination of the road, or due to
snow, rain, fog or spray.
R there is glare, e.g. from oncoming traffic,
the sun, or reflection from other vehicles.
R the windscreen is dirty, misted up or cov-
ered, for instance by a sticker, in the vicinity
of the camera
R several or no lane markings for a single lane
are present.
R the lane markings are worn away, dark or
covered up, e.g. by dirt or snow.
R the distance to the vehicle in front is too
small and the lane markings thus cannot be
detected.
R the lane markings on the road are unclear,
e.g. near roadworks.
R the lane markings change quickly, e.g.
lanes branch off, cross one another or
merge.
R the road is narrow and winding.
Lane Keeping Assist cannot detect road and
traffic conditions. It is not a substitute for
attentive driving. You are responsible for the
vehicle's speed, braking in good time, and Driving systems
227Driving and parking
Z

R
ESP ®
is deactivated.
R a loss of tyre pressure or a defective tyre is
detected.
Activating Active Blind Spo tAssist
X Make sure that the radar sensor system
(Y page 262) and Active Blind Spot Assist
(Y page 257) are activated in the on-board
computer.
X Turn the key to position 2in the ignition
lock.
Warning lamps :in the exterior mirrors
light up red for approximately
1.5 seconds and then turn yellow.
Towing atrailer
If you attach a trailer, make sure tha tyou have
correctly established the electrical connec-
tion. This can be accomplished by checking
the trailer lighting. Active Blind Spot Assist is
then deactivated. The indicator lamp lights up
yellow in the exterior mirrors and the ActiveBlind Spot Assist currently unavail‐
able See Owner's Manual message
appears in the multifunction display.
Active Lane Keeping Assist Important safety notes
G
WARNING
Active Lane Keeping Assist does not keep
your vehicle in its lane. It is only an aid and
may detect the lane markings on the road
incorrectly or not at all.
The system may be impaired or may not func-
tion if:
R there is poor visibility, e.g. due to inade-
quate illumination of the road surface,
snow, rain, fog or spray.
R there is glare, e.g. from oncoming traffic,
the sun, or reflection from other vehicles.
R the windscreen is dirty, fogged up or cov-
ered, for instance by a sticker, in the vicinity
of the camera. R
several or no lane markings for a single lane
are present.
R the lane markings are worn away, dark or
covered up, e.g. by dirt or snow.
R the distance to the vehicle in front is too
small and as a result the lane markings can-
not be recognised.
R the lane markings on the road are unclear,
e.g. near roadworks.
R the lane markings change quickly, e.g.
branch off, cross, or merge.
R the road is narrow and winding.
Active Lane Keeping Assist cannot detect
road and traffic conditions. It is not a substi-
tute for attentive driving. You are responsible
for the vehicle's speed, braking in good time,
and steering correctly. Always adapt your
driving style to suit the prevailing road and
weather conditions. Always pay attention to
traffic conditions and your surroundings. Oth-
erwise, you may fail to recognise dangers in
time, cause an accident and injure yourself
and others.
General notes Active Lane Keeping Assist monitors the area
in front of your vehicle by means of a cam-
era :at the top of the windscreen. Active
Lane Keeping Assist detect slane markings on
the road and warns you before you leave your
lane unintentionally. If you do no treact to the
warning, a lane-correcting application of the
brakes can bring the vehicle back into the
original lane. 232
Driving systemsDriving and parking