2012 MERCEDES-BENZ E-CLASS ESTATE air condition

AMG high-performance and ceramic
brakes
The AMG brake systems are designed for
heavy loads
.This may lead to noise when
braking. This is dependent on:
R speed
R braking force
R environmental conditions, such as temper-
ature and humidity
The wear of individual components of the
brake system, such as the brake pads/linings
or brake discs, depends on the individual driv-
ing style and operating conditions.
For this reason, it is impossible to state a
mileage lifetime that will be valid under all
circumstances. An aggressive driving style
will lead to high wear. You can obtain further
information about this from your Mercedes-
Benz Service Centre.
New and replaced brake pads and discs only
reach their optimum braking effect after sev-
eral hundred kilometres of driving. Compen-
sate for this by applying greater force to the
brake pedal. Do not forget this, and adapt
your driving and braking accordingly during
this run-in period.
Excessively heavy braking results in corre-
spondingly high brake wear. Observe the
brake system warning lamp in the instrument
cluster and note any brake status messages
in the multifunction display. For high-per-
formance driving in particular, it is important
to maintain and have the brake system
checked regularly. Driving on wet roads
Aquaplaning If water has accumulated to a certain depth
on the road surface, there is a danger of aqua-
planing occurring, even if:
R
you are driving at low speeds.
R the tyres have adequate tread depth. For this reason, do not drive in tyre ruts and
brake carefully.
Driving on flooded roads !
Bear in mind that vehicles travelling in
front or in the opposite direction create
waves. This may cause the maximum per-
missible water depth to be exceeded.
These notes must be observed under all
circumstances. You could otherwise dam-
age the engine, the electronics or the trans-
mission.
If you have to drive on stretches of road on
which water has collected, please bear in
mind that:
R the maximum permissible still water depth
is 25 cm.
R you should drive no faster than at walking
pace. Winter driving
Important safety notes G
WARNING
If you shift down on a slippery road surface in
an attempt to increase the engine's braking
effect, the drive wheels could lose their grip.
This increases the risk of skidding and having
an accident.
Do not shift down for additional engine brak-
ing on a slippery road surface. G
DANGER
If the exhaust pipe is blocked or adequate
ventilation is not possible, poisonous gases
such as carbon monoxide (CO) may enter the
vehicle. This is the case, e.g. if the vehicle
becomes trapped in snow. There is a risk of
fatal injury.
If you leave the engine or the auxiliary heating
running, make sure the exhaust pipe and area
around the vehicle are clear of snow. To
ensure an adequate supply of fresh air, open 188
Driving tipsDriving and parking

braking or accelerating. The vehicle could
start to skid.
R if the sensors are dirty or there is poor vis-
ibility, e.g. due to snow, rain or fog. Dis-
tance control may be impaired.
Always pay attention to traffic conditions
even when DISTRONIC PLUS is activated.
Otherwise, you may fail to recognise dangers
in time, cause an acciden tand injure yourself
and others. G
WARNING
DISTRONIC PLU Sbrakes yourv ehicle up to a
maximum of 4 m/s 2
depending on its speed.
This corresponds to approximately 40% of
your vehicle's maximum braking power. You
must also apply the brakes yourself if this
braking power is not sufficient.
If DISTRONIC PLUS detects a risk of collision
with avehicle in front, an intermittent warning
tone sounds. In addition, the ·distance
warning lamp in the instrument cluster lights
up. Brake to avoid a collision.
General notes DISTRONIC PLUS regulates the speed and
automatically helps you maintain the dis-
tance to the vehicle detected in front. DIS-
TRONIC PLUS brakes automatically so that
the set speed is not exceeded.
On long and steep downhill gradients, espe-
cially if the vehicle is laden or towing a trailer,
you must select shift range
1,2or 3in good
time. By doing so, you will make use of the
braking effec tofthe engine. This relieves the
load on the brake system and prevents the
brakes from overheating and wearing too
quickly.
If DISTRONIC PLUS detects a slower-moving
vehicle in front, your vehicle is braked in order
to maintain the preset distance to the vehicle
in front.
If you want DISTRONIC PLUS to assist you,
the radar sensor system must be activated
(Y page 262) and operational. The radar sensor system is switched off auto-
matically in the vicinity of radio telescope
facilities (Y
page 451).
If there is no vehicle in front, DISTRONIC
PLUS operates in the same way as cruise
control in the speed range between
30 km/h and 200 km/h. If avehicle is driving
in front of you, DISTRONIC operates in the
speed range between 0km/h and
200 km/h.
Do not use DISTRONIC PLUS on roads with
steep gradients.
Cruise control lever :
To store the current spee dorahigher
speed
; To set the specified minimum distance
= LIM indicator lamp
? To store the current speed and call up the
last stored speed
A To store the current speed or a lower
speed
B To switch between DISTRONIC PLUS and
variable SPEEDTRONIC
C To deactivate DISTRONIC PLUS
With the cruise control lever, you can operate
DISTRONIC PLUS and variable SPEED-
TRONIC. 196
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

ATTENTION ASSIST is reset and starts
assessing your tiredness agai nwhen you con-
tinue your journey if:
R you switch off the engine.
R you take off your seat belt and open the
driver's door, e.g. for a change of drivers or
to take a break. Speed Limit Assist
Important safety notes G
WARNING
Speed Limit Assist is only an aid and may
detect speed limit signs 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 snow,
rain, fog or spray.
R there is glare, e.g. from the sun or from
oncoming traffic.
R the windscreen is dirty, misted up or cov-
ered, for instance by a sticker, in the vicinity
of the camera.
R the traffic signs are covered, for instance
by dirt, snow or trees.
R the traffic signs are poorly illuminated.
R there are ambiguous traffic signs, for
instance near roadworks or on multi-lane
roads.
Traffic signs always have priority over the
Speed Limit Assist display.S peed Limit Assist
cannot detect road and traffic conditions. It is
not a substitute for attentive driving.
Always pay attention to traffic conditions and
your surroundings. Otherwise, you may fail to
recognise dangers in time, cause an accident
and injure yourself and others. :
Speed Limit Assist camera
Speed Limit Assist shows you detected speed
limits in the multifunction display. Data from
the navigation system is also used for this
purpose. If a traffic sign indicating a speed
limit or the end of a speed limit is detected,
it is shown in the multifunction display. If
Speed Limit Assist does not detec tany traffic
signs, the speed limit from the digital road
map is take nand shown in the display.
Speed Limit Assist detects the traffic signs
with a camera attached behind the top of the
windscreen.
Information in the multifunction display Example: vehicles featuring automatic transmis-
sion with a DIRECT SELECT lever
:
Traffi csign indicating aspeed limit or the
end of a speed limit (example)
; Speed Limit Assist is available and the
warning function is switched on in the on-
board computer
= Units used in the traffic sign displayed Driving systems
221Driving and parking Z

Briefly showing detecte
dtraffic signs in
the multifunction display
X Activate the Speed Limit Assist warning
functio nusing the on-board computer
(Y page 255).
Symbol ;appears.
At raffic sign indicating a speed limi torthe
end of a speed limit :appears in the mul-
tifunction display for around five seconds
as soon as it is detected. Any other infor-
mation in the multifunction display is hid-
den for this period.
Permanently showing detected traffic
signs in the multifunction display
X Display Speed Limit Assist using the on-
board computer (Y page 255).
At raffic sign indicating a speed limi torthe
end of a speed limit :appears in the mul-
tifunction display as soon as it is detected.
Traffic sign indicating a speed limit :is
generally displayed until:
R a traffic sign indicating the end of the
speed limit is detected.
R you make a turn.
R you leave or enter a town.
R the road type changes (e.g. motorway,
country road).
R you have travelled a certain minimum
distance without the traffic sign being
repeated or detected again. Night View Assist Plus
Important safety notes G
WARNING
Night View Assist Plus is only an aid designed
to assist driving and does not relieve you of
the responsibility to pay attention. Continue
to look through the windscreen instead of
relying on the Night View Assist Plus display.
You are responsible for safety and must drive
in accordance with traffic conditions. You could otherwise endanger yourself and oth-
ers.
The system may be impaired or may not func-
tion if:
R
there is poor visibility, e.g. due to snow,
rain, fog or spray.
R the windscreen is dirty, misted up or cov-
ered, for instance by a sticker, in the vicinity
of the camera.
R on bends, on uphill gradients or downhill
gradients. G
WARNING
Night View Assist Plus does not detect
objects in the immediate vicinity of the vehi-
cle. Look through the windscreen when
manoeuvring. Make sure that there are no
people or animals in the area in which you are
manoeuvring. In addition to the illumination provided by the
normal headlamps, Night View Assist Plus
uses infrared light to illuminate the road.
Night View Assist Plus camera
:picks up
the infrared light and displays a monochrome
image in COMAND. The image displayed in
COMAND corresponds to a road lit up by
main-beam headlamps. This enables you to
see the road's course and any obstacles in
good time. When pedestrian recognition is
active, pedestrians recognised by the system
are highlighted in the Night View Assist Plus
display.
Light from the headlamps of oncoming vehi-
cles does not affect the Night View Assist Plus 222
Driving systemsDriving and parking

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

marking, the system recognises certain con-
ditions and warns you accordingly.
The warning vibration occurs earlier if:
R you approach the outer lane marking on a
bend.
R the road has very wide lanes, e.g. a motor-
way.
R the system recognises solid lane markings.
The warning vibration occurs later if:
R the road has narrow lanes.
R you cut the corner on a bend. Active Driving Assistance package
General notes The Active Driving Assistance package con-
sists of DISTRONIC PLUS (Y page195), Active
Blind Spot Assist (Y page 229) and Active
Lane Keeping Assist (Y page 232).
Active Blin dSpot Assist Important safety notes
G
WARNING
Active Blind Spot Assist is only an aid and may
detect vehicles/obstacles incorrectly or not
at all.
The system may be impaired or may not func-
tion if:
R there is poo rvisibility, e.g. due to snow,
rain, fog or spray.
R the rear and/or front sensors are dirty.
Active Blind Spot Assist may not detect nar-
row vehicles, such as motorcycles or bicycles,
or only detect the mtoo late. It cannot detect
vehicles which are overtaken at a small dis-
tance and then enter the blind spot area.
Active Blind Spot 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
steering correctly. Always adapt your driving
style to suit the prevailing road and weather conditions. Always pay attention to traffic
conditions and your surroundings. Otherwise,
you may fail to recognise dangers in time,
cause an accident and injure yourself and oth-
ers.
General notes
Active Blind Spot Assist uses a radar sensor
system to monitor the area to the sides of
your vehicle which are behind the driver. A
warning display in the exterior mirrors draws
your attention to vehicles detected in the
monitored area. If you then switch on the cor-
responding turn signal to change lane, you
will also receive an optical and audible warn-
ing. If a risk of lateral collision is detected,
corrective braking may help you avoid a col-
lision. To support the course-correcting brake
application, Active Blind Spot Assist uses the
forward-facing radar sensor system. The free
space in the direction of travel is then evalu-
ated.
Active Blind Spot Assist supports you from a
speed of approximately 30 km/h.
The radar sensor system is switched off auto-
matically in the vicinity of radio telescope
facilities (Y page 451).
For Active Blind Spot Assist to assist you
when driving, the radar sensor system must
be activated (Y page 262) and operational.
Monitoring range G
WARNING
Active Blind Spot Assist monitors certain
areas in the immediate vicinity of your vehicle.
Vehicles that approach and drive past at high
speeds are not detected. No visual nor audi-
ble warnings are emitted and the system does
not brake the vehicle to correct your course.
If the lanes are very wide, it may not be pos-
sible to monitor the complete width of the
neighbouring lane. For this reason, vehicles in
the next lane may not be detected, especially
if they are driving in a staggered formation.
This may be the case if vehicles are driving at Driving systems
229Driving and parking
Z