Front fog lamps 99Parking lamps 96Low beams 96Automatic headlamp con‐
trol 97
Daytime running lights 97
Adaptive Light Control 97
High-beam Assistant 98Instrument lighting 998Steering column stalk, leftTurn signal 70High beams, head‐
lamp flasher 70High-beam Assistant 98Roadside parking lamps 97Computer 929Shift paddles 7510Steering wheel buttons, leftStore speed 142 133Resume speed 144 136Cruise control on/off, interrupt‐
ing 133Cruise control on/off, interrupt‐
ing 143Reduce distance 136Increase distance 136Congestion Assistant ON/OFF,
Pause 139Congestion Assistant: setting
cruise control distance 133Cruise control rocker switch 144, 13511Instrument cluster 7812Steering wheel buttons, rightEntertainment sourceVolumeVoice activation 23Telephone, see user's manual for
Navigation, Entertainment and
CommunicationThumbwheel for selection lists 9113Steering column stalk, rightWindshield wipers 71Rain sensor 71Clean the windshields and head‐
lamps 7114Start/stop the engine and switch
the ignition on/off 64Auto Start/Stop function 6515HornSeite 13CockpitAt a glance13
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Voice activation systemVehicle equipment
All standard, country-specific and optional
equipment that is offered in the model series is
described in this chapter. Therefore, equip‐
ment is also described that is not available in a
vehicle, e. g., because of the selected optional
equipment or country variant. This also applies
for safety-related functions and systems.
The concept▷Most functions that are displayed on the
Control Display can be operated by spoken
commands via the voice activation system.
The system prompts you to make your en‐
tries.▷Functions that can only be used when the
vehicle is stationary cannot be operated
using the voice activation system.▷The system uses a special microphone on
the driver's side.▷›...‹ Verbal instructions in the Owner's
Manual to use with the voice activation
system.
Requirements
Via the Control Display, set a language that is
also supported by the voice activation system
so that the spoken commands can be identi‐
fied.
Set the language, refer to page 94.
Using voice activation
Activating the voice activation system1. Press the button on the steering
wheel.2.Wait for the signal.3.Say the command.
The command is displayed in the instru‐
ment cluster.
This symbol in the instrument cluster indi‐
cates that the voice activation system is active.
If no other commands are available, operate
the function in this case via iDrive.
Terminating the voice activation
system
Briefly press the button on the steer‐
ing wheel or ›Cancel‹.
Possible commands Most menu items on the Control Display can
be voiced as commands.
The available commands depend on which
menu is currently displayed on the Control Dis‐
play.
Short commands exist for many functions.
Some list entries, e.g., Phone book entries, can
also be selected via the voice activation sys‐
tem. Speak these list entries exactly as they
are displayed in the respective list.
Having possible commands read aloud
You can have the available commands read out
loud for you: ›Voice commands‹
For example, if the "Settings" menu is dis‐
played, the commands for the settings are
read out loud.
Seite 23Voice activation systemAt a glance23
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DrivingVehicle equipment
All standard, country-specific and optional
equipment that is offered in the model series is
described in this chapter. Therefore, equip‐
ment is also described that is not available in a
vehicle, e. g., because of the selected optional
equipment or country variant. This also applies
for safety-related functions and systems.
Start/Stop button The concept Pressing the Start/Stop button
switches the ignition on or off
and starts the engine.
Automatic transmission: The
engine starts if the brake is de‐
pressed while pressing the Start/Stop button.
Manual transmission: the engine starts if the
clutch pedal is depressed when the Start/Stop
button is pressed.
Ignition onAutomatic transmission: Press the Start/Stop
button but do not depress the brake.
Manual-shift transmission: press the Start/
Stop button, and do not press on the clutch
pedal at the same time.
All vehicle systems are ready for operation.
Most of the indicator and warning lamps in the
instrument cluster light up for varying lengths
of time.
To save battery power when the engine is off,
switch off the ignition and any unnecessary
electronic systems/power consumers.
The ignition switches off automatically:▷When locking the vehicle, even if the low
beams are switched on.▷Shortly before the battery is discharged
completely, so that the engine can still be
started.
Note
If the engine is switched off and the ignition is
switched on, the system automatically
switches to the radio ready state when the
door is opened if the lights are switched off or
the daytime running lights are switched on.
Ignition off
Automatic transmission: Press the Start/Stop
button again, but do not depress the brake.
Manual-shift transmission: press the Start/
Stop button again, and do not press on the
clutch pedal at the same time.
All indicator lamps in the instrument cluster go
out.
To save battery power when the engine is off,
switch off the ignition and any unnecessary
electronic systems/power consumers.
Transmission position P with the ignition
off
When the ignition is switched off, position P is
engaged automatically. When in an automatic
car wash, for example, ensure that the ignition
is not switched off accidentally.◀
The ignition automatically cuts off while the
vehicle is stationary and the engine is stopped:
▷When locking the vehicle, and when the
low beams are activated.▷Shortly before the battery is discharged
completely, so that the engine can still be
started. This function is only available
when the low beams are switched off.▷When opening or closing the driver door, if
the driver's seat belt is unbuckled and the
low beams are switched off.Seite 63DrivingControls63
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Displays in the instrument clusterThe display indicates that the
automatic engine start-stop
function is ready for an auto‐
matic engine start.
The display indicates that the
conditions for an automatic en‐
gine stop have not been satis‐
fied.
Note The engine is not switched off automatically in
the following situations:▷External temperature too low.▷The external temperature is high and auto‐
matic climate control is running.▷The passenger compartment has not yet
been heated or cooled to the required
level.▷The engine is not yet at operating temper‐
ature.▷The wheels are at a sharp angle or the
steering wheel is being turned.▷After driving in reverse.▷Fogging of the windows when the auto‐
matic climate control is switched on.▷Vehicle battery is heavily discharged.▷The engine compartment lid is unlocked.▷HDC Hill Descent Control is activated.▷The parking assistant is activated.▷Stop-and-go traffic.▷The transmission selector lever is in posi‐
tion N or M/S.▷Use of fuel with high ethanol content.
Starting the engine
The engine starts automatically under the fol‐
lowing conditions:
▷Manual transmission:The clutch pedal is pressed.▷Automatic transmission:
By releasing the brake pedal.
When Automatic Hold is activated: press
the accelerator.
After the engine starts, accelerate as usual.
Safety mode
After the engine switches off automatically, it
will not start again automatically if any one of
the following conditions are met.
▷The driver's safety belt is unbuckled and
the driver's door is open.▷The hood was unlocked.
Some indicator lamps light up for varying
lengths of time.
The engine can only be started via the Start/
Stop button.
Note Even if driving away was not intended, the de‐
activated engine starts up automatically in the
following situations:
▷Excessive warming of the passenger com‐
partment when the cooling function is
switched on.▷The steering wheel is turned.▷Automatic transmission: the transmission
position is changed from D to N, R, or M/S.▷Automatic transmission: the transmission
position is changed from P to N, D, R or
M/S.▷The vehicle begins rolling.▷Fogging of the windows when the auto‐
matic climate control is switched on.▷Vehicle battery is heavily discharged.▷Excessive cooling of the passenger com‐
partment when the heating is switched on.▷Low brake vacuum pressure; this can oc‐
cur, for example, if the brake pedal is de‐
pressed a number of times in succession.Seite 66ControlsDriving66
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ing using a wheel chock, for example, when
leaving it.
After a power failure Only put the parking brake into operation
after a power failure
The parking brake should only be put into op‐
eration again if it was manually released due to
an interruption in the supply of electrical
power. Otherwise, it cannot be ensured that
the parking brake will function properly.◀
Putting the parking brake into
operation1.Switch on the ignition.2. Press the switch while the brake is
depressed or transmission position P is
engaged.
It may take several seconds for the brake to be
put into operation. Any sounds associated with
this are normal.
The indicator lamp in the instrument
cluster goes out as soon as the parking
brake is ready for operation.
Lower lamp: indicator lamp in Canadian
models.
Turn signal, high beams, headlamp flasher
Turn signal Do not fold in the exterior mirrors
Do not fold in the exterior mirror while
driving and when the turn signals/warning
flashers are working, or else the additional
flasher lights in the exterior mirror will no lon‐
ger be in the prescribed position and will be
difficult to see.◀
Using turn signals
Press the lever beyond the resistance point.
To switch off manually, press the lever to the
resistance point.
Unusually rapid flashing of the indicator lamp
indicates that a turn signal bulb has failed.
Triple turn signal activation Press the lever to the resistance point.
The turn signal flashes three times.
The function can be activated or deactivated:
1."Settings"2."Lighting"3."Triple turn signal"
Signaling briefly
Press the lever to the resistance point and hold
it there for as long as you want the turn signal
to flash.
High beams, headlamp flasher
▷High beams, arrow 1.▷Headlamp flasher, arrow 2.Seite 70ControlsDriving70
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Sport program and manual mode
Activating the sport program
Push the selector lever to the left out of trans‐
mission position D.
The engaged gear is displayed in the instru‐
ment cluster, e.g., S1.
The sport program of the transmission is acti‐
vated.
Activating the M/S manual mode
1.Push the selector lever to the left out of
transmission position D.2.Push the selector lever forward or pull it
backward.
Manual mode becomes active and the gear is
changed.
The engaged gear is displayed in the instru‐
ment cluster, e.g., M1.
Once maximum engine speed is attained, M/S
manual mode is automatically upshifted as
needed.
Switching to manual mode
▷To shift down: press the selector lever for‐
ward.▷To shift up: pull the selector lever rear‐
wards.
Gears will only be shifted at appropriate engine
and road speeds, e.g., downshifting is not pos‐
sible if the engine speed is too high.
The selected gear is briefly displayed in the in‐
strument cluster, followed by the current gear.
Not M550d xDrive: Sport automatic
transmission: prevent automatic
upshifting in M/S manual mode
For vehicles with Sport automatic transmis‐
sions, automatic shift operations are not per‐
formed, at maximum engine speed for exam‐
ple, if one of the following conditions is met:▷DSC deactivated.▷TRACTION activated.▷SPORT+ activated.
In addition, the kickdown is deactivated.
M550d xDrive: prevent automatic
upshifting in M/S manual mode
Once maximum engine speed is attained, up‐
shifting is not automatically performed in M/S
manual mode.
In addition, the kickdown is deactivated.
The lowest possible gear is selected by simul‐
taneously operating the kickdown and the left
shift paddle.
However, this effect is not produced via the
shift paddles when switching briefly from
transmission position D to manual mode.
Ending the sport program/manual
mode
Push the selector lever to the right.
D is displayed in the instrument cluster.
Shift paddles
The shift paddles on the steering wheel allow
you to shift gears quickly while keeping both
hands on the steering wheel.
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If the shift paddles on the steering wheel are
used to shift gears in automatic mode, the
transmission temporarily switches to manual
mode.
If the shift paddles are not used and the vehicle
is not accelerated for a certain time, the sys‐
tem switches back into automatic mode if the
selector lever is in transmission position D.▷Shift up: pull right shift paddle.▷Shift down: pull left shift paddle.
Gears will only be shifted at appropriate engine
and road speeds, e.g., downshifting is not pos‐
sible if the engine speed is too high.
The selected gear is briefly displayed in the in‐
strument cluster, followed by the current gear.
Shift lights in the instrument display
The concept Shift lights display the optimum shift point for
sport displays in the multifunction instrument
display. Thus, with a sporty driving style, the
best possible vehicle acceleration is achieved.
Display in the instrument display
▷Current engine speed is displayed in the
tachometer.▷Arrow 1: successive yellow illuminated
fields indicate the upcoming upshift mo‐
ment.▷Arrow 2: fields are illuminated in red. Do
not wait any further to shift.
When the maximum possible speed is
reached, the entire display flashes. When the
maximum speed is exceeded, the supply of
fuel is interrupted in order to protect the en‐
gine. Speeds in this range must be avoided.
Displays in the instrument cluster The transmission position is dis‐
played, e.g.: P.
Sport automatic transmission: launch
Control
The concept
Launch Control enables optimum acceleration
on surfaces with good traction.
Hints Component wear
Do not use Launch Control too often;
otherwise, this may result in premature wear of
components due to the high stress placed on
the vehicle.◀
Did not use Launch Control during the break-
in, refer to page 184, period.
To increase vehicle stability, activate DSC
again as soon as possible.
Requirements
Launch Control is available when the engine is
warmed up, that is, after uninterrupted driving
of at least 6 miles/10 km.
To start with Launch Control do not steer the
steering wheel.
Start with launch controlWhile the engine is running:1. Press button or select with the
Driving Dynamics Control Sport+.
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TRACTION is displayed in the instrument
cluster and the indicator lamp for DSC OFF
lights up.2.Engaging the transmission position S3.With the left foot, forcefully press down on
the brake.4.Press on the accelerator beyond the resist‐
ance point at the full throttle position.
A flag symbol appears in the instrument
cluster.5.The starting engine speed adjusts. Within
3 seconds, release the brake.
Before using Launch Control, allow the trans‐
mission to cool down for approx. 5 minutes.
Launch Control adjusts to the surrounding
conditions, e.g., wet pavement, when used
again.
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