
Voice activation systemVehicle equipment
This chapter describes all series equipment as
well as country-specific and special equipment
offered for this model series.Therefore, it also
describes equipment that may not be found in
your vehicle, for instance due to the selected
special equipment or the country version. This
also applies to safety-related functions and
systems.
The concept▷Most functions that are displayed on the
Control Display can be operated with the
voice activation system using spoken com‐
mands. The system prompts you to make
your entries.▷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 lo‐
cated in the area of the interior rearview
mirror.▷›...‹ 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 88.
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 appears on the Control Dis‐
play.
The symbol on the Control Display indi‐
cates that the voice activation system is active.
If no other commands are available, operate
the function via iDrive in this case.
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 the menu
that is currently displayed on the Control Dis‐
play.
The functions of the main menu have short
commands.
Some list items, such as the phone book en‐
tries, can also be selected via the voice activa‐
tion system. Say the list items exactly as they
are displayed on the list.
Having possible commands read aloud You can have the system read possible com‐
mands aloud: ›Voice commands‹.
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The system responds to light from oncoming
traffic and traffic driving ahead of you, and to
adequate illumination, e.g., in towns and cities.
Switching the high beams on and offmanually▷High beams on, arrow 1.▷High beams off/headlamp flasher, arrow 2.
To reactivate the High-beam Assistant, briefly
push the turn indicator lever toward the high
beams.
Activating/deactivating via iDrive
1."Settings"2."Lighting"3."High beam assistant"
The setting is stored for the remote control
currently in use.
System limits Personal responsibility
The High-beam Assistant cannot serve
as a substitute for the driver's personal judg‐
ment of when to use the high beams. There‐
fore, manually switch off the high beams in sit‐
uations where this is required to avoid a safety
risk.◀
The system is not fully functional in situations
such as the following, and driver intervention
may be necessary:▷In very unfavorable weather conditions,
such as fog or heavy precipitation.▷In detecting poorly-lit road users, such as
pedestrians, cyclists, horseback riders and
wagons; when driving close to train or ship
traffic; and at animal crossings.▷In tight curves, on hilltops or in depres‐
sions, in cross traffic or half-obscured on‐
coming traffic on freeways.▷In poorly-lit towns and cities and in the
presence of highly reflective signs.▷At low speeds.▷When the windshield in front of the interior
rearview mirror is fogged over, dirty or cov‐
ered with stickers, etc.▷If the sensor view field is dirty.
The view field of the sensor is located on
the front of the interior rearview mirror.
Do not cover this area with stickers, etc.
Clean the sensor view field with a cloth
moistened with a small amount of glass
cleaner.
Front fog lamps
The parking lamps or low beams must be
switched on.
Press the button. The green indicator
lamp in the instrument cluster lights
up.
If the automatic headlamp control, refer to
page 91, is activated, the low beams will come
on automatically when you switch on the fog
lamps.
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Switching on/off manually
Press the button.
▷On: the LED lights up.▷Off: the LED goes out.
Signal tonesWhen approaching an object, an intermittent
tone is sounded that indicates the position of
the object. For example, if an object is de‐
tected behind the vehicle, a signal tone sounds
from the rear speakers.
The shorter the distance to the object be‐
comes, the shorter the intervals.
If the distance to a detected object is less than
approx. 12 in/30 cm, a continuous tone is
sounded.
If objects are located both in front of and be‐
hind the vehicle, an alternating continuous sig‐
nal is sounded.
The intermittent tone is interrupted after ap‐
prox. 3 seconds:
▷If the vehicle stops in front of an object that
is detected by only one of the corner sen‐
sors.▷If moving parallel to a wall.
The signal tone is switched off:
▷When the vehicle moves away from an ob‐
ject by more than approx. 4 in/10 cm.▷When transmission position P is engaged.
Volume
You can set the volume of the PDC signal tone,
refer to page 191.
The setting is stored for the remote control
currently in use.
Visual warning
The approach to an object can be shown on
the Control Display. Objects that are farther
away are displayed on the Control Display be‐
fore a signal tone sounds.
The display appears as soon as PDC is acti‐
vated.
If the last image selected was the rear view
camera, this is displayed again. To switch to
PDC:
"Switch off rear view camera"
The setting is stored for the remote control
currently in use.
Image on the Control Display
Switching on the rear view camera
using iDrive
With PDC activated:
"Rear view camera"
The image of the rear view camera is dis‐
played. The setting is stored for the remote
control currently in use.
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Malfunction
A Check Control message, refer to page 85, is
displayed in the instrument cluster.
The areas in front of and behind the vehicle ap‐
pear in shaded form on the Control Display.
PDC has failed. Have the system checked.
To ensure full operability:
▷Keep the sensors clean and free of ice.▷When using high-pressure washers, do not
spray the sensors for long periods and
maintain a distance of at least 12 in/30 cm.
Surround View
The concept Surround View encompasses the following
systems:
▷Backup camera, refer to page 122.▷Top View, refer to page 124.▷Side View, refer to page 126.
It provides assistance when parking and ma‐
neuvering and at blind driveways and intersec‐
tions.
Rear view camera
The concept The rear view camera assists you when park‐
ing and maneuvering in reverse. To accom‐
plish this, the region behind your vehicle is
shown on the Control Display.
System limits
Check the traffic situation as well
Check the traffic situation around the ve‐
hicle with your own eyes. Otherwise, an acci‐
dent could result from road users or objects lo‐
cated outside the picture area of the backup
camera.◀
Detection of objects
High, protruding objects such as ledges
may not be detected by the backup camera.◀
Switching on automatically With the engine running or the ignition
switched on, shift the selector lever into posi‐
tion R.
The image of the rear view camera is displayed
when the system has been switched on using
iDrive.
Switching off automatically when
driving forward
The system switches off when a certain dis‐
tance or speed is exceeded.
Switch on the system again if necessary.
Switching on/off manually
Press the button.
Press the button.
▷On: the LED lights up.▷Off: the LED goes out.
If PDC is displayed, switch on the backup cam‐
era via the iDrive, refer to page 121.
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Assistance functions
Functional requirement▷Rear view camera is switched on.▷Tailgate is completely closed.
Pathway lines
▷Can be displayed in the image of the rear
view camera when the transmission is in
reverse.▷Help estimate the required amount of
space when parking and maneuvering on a
flat road surface.▷Depend on the current steering angle and
are continuously adapted to movements of
the steering wheel.
Show the parking aid lines via the iDrive, refer
to page 124.
Turning lines
▷Can be displayed in the image of the rear
view camera.▷Show the path of the smallest turning cir‐
cle on a flat road surface.▷When the steering wheel is turned, only
one turning line is displayed.
Show the parking aid lines via the iDrive, refer
to page 124.
Parking using pathway and turning
lines
1.Position the vehicle so that the turning
lines lead into the margins of the parking
space.2.Turn the steering wheel to the point where
the pathway line covers the corresponding
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Obstacle marking▷Three-dimensionally shaped markings can
be displayed in the image of the rear view
camera.
Their color gradation corresponds to the mark‐
ings in PDC. This helps estimate the distance
to the object pictured.
Show the obstacle marking via the iDrive, refer
to page 124.
Activating assistance functions
Several assistance functions can be active at
the same time.
Showing the parking aid lines
"Parking aid lines"
Pathway and turning lines are displayed.
Showing the obstacle marking
"Obstacle marking"
Three-dimensionally-shaped markings are dis‐
played.
Image on the Control Display
Switching on the rear view camera
using iDrive
With PDC activated:
"Rear view camera"
The image of the rear view camera is dis‐
played. The setting is stored for the remote
control currently in use.
Brightness
With the rear view camera switched on:1. Select the symbol.2.Turn the controller until the desired setting
is reached and press the controller.
Contrast
With the rear view camera switched on:
1. Select the symbol.2.Turn the controller until the desired setting
is reached and press the controller.
Camera
The lens of the rear view camera is under the
grasping lip of the tailgate.
The presence of dirt can impair image quality.
Clean the lens with a moist, nonabrasive cloth.
Top View
The concept
Top View assists you when parking and ma‐
neuvering. To accomplish this, the door region
and road surface region are shown on the Con‐
trol Display.
Detection
Detection is carried out by two cameras
integrated into the exterior mirror and the rear
view camera.
The range is:
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▷Approx. 7 ft/2 m to the side.▷Approx. 7 ft/2 m to the rear.
Obstacles up to the height of the exterior mir‐
rors are thus detected in a timely fashion.
System limits
Top View cannot be used in the following sit‐
uations:
▷With a door open.▷With the tailgate open.▷With an exterior mirror folded in.▷In poor light.
The arrows next to the vehicle are displayed in
a shaded form on the Control Display and a
symbol appears at the corresponding location
on the vehicle.
Check the traffic situation as well
Check the traffic situation around the ve‐
hicle with your own eyes. Otherwise, an acci‐
dent could result from road users or objects lo‐
cated outside the picture area of the
cameras.◀
Switching on automatically
Select transmission position R with the engine
running.
The images from Top View and PDC are dis‐
played when the system has been switched on
using iDrive.
Switching off automatically when
driving forward
The system switches off when a certain dis‐
tance or speed is exceeded.
Switch on the system again if necessary.
Switching on/off manually
Press the button.
▷On: the LED lights up.▷Off: the LED goes out.
If Top View is displayed, switch on the backup
camera via the iDrive, refer to page 124.
Visual warning
The approach to an object can be shown on
the Control Display.
When the distance to an object is small, the
PDC display correspondingly shows a red bar
in front of the vehicle.
The display appears as soon as Top View is
activated.
If the last image selected was the rear view
camera, this is displayed again. To switch to
Top View:
"Rear view camera" Select the symbol on
the Control Display.
The setting is stored for the remote control
currently in use.
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Image on the Control Display
Switching on the rear view camera
using iDrive
With Top View activated:
"Rear view camera"
The image of the rear view camera is dis‐
played. The setting is stored for the remote
control currently in use.
Brightness
With Top View switched on:
1. "Brightness"2.Turn the controller until the desired setting
is reached and press the controller.
Contrast
With Top View switched on:
1. "Contrast"2.Turn the controller until the desired setting
is reached and press the controller.
Displaying turning lines and pathway
lines
▷The static, red turning line shows the lat‐
eral space required when the wheel is fully
turned.▷The variable, green pathway lines assist
you in estimating the amount of lateral
space actually required.
The pathway lines depend on the current
steering angle and are continuously
adapted to movements of the steering
wheel.
"Parking aid lines"
Turning lines and pathway lines are displayed.
Cameras
The lenses of the Top View cameras are on the
undersides of the exterior mirror housings.
The presence of dirt can impair image quality.
Clean the lens with a moist, nonabrasive cloth.
Side ViewThe concept
Side View provides an early look at cross traffic
at blind driveways and intersections. Road
users concealed by obstacles to the left and
right of the vehicle can only be detected from
the driver's seat at the last minute. To improve
visibility, two cameras in the front of the vehi‐
cle record the traffic situation on each side.
System limits
The cameras capture a maximum range of
330 ft/100 m.
Display
The images from both cameras are shown si‐
multaneously on the Control Display.
Check the traffic situation as well
Check the traffic situation around the ve‐
hicle on blind driveways and intersections with
your own eyes. Otherwise, an accident could
result from road users or objects located out‐
side the picture area of the Side View cam‐
eras.◀
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