
2.Release the foot brake and drive away
without delay.
Depending on the vehicle load, the vehicle may
roll back slightly.
Driving off without delay
After releasing the foot brake, start driv‐
ing without delay, since the drive-off assistant
will not hold the vehicle in place for more than
approx. 2 seconds and the vehicle will begin
rolling back.◀
Self-leveling suspension The concept The self-leveling suspension on the rear axle
assures a continuous ground clearance.
To do so, the height of the vehicle is measured
by sensors at both rear wheels.
If the actual height deviates from the defined
height, such as due to cargo in the vehicle, this
difference is compensated very quickly. In ad‐
dition, spring motions resulting from cornering
or irregularities in the road surface are reduced
to a minimum.
The system works automatically.
Malfunctions Malfunctions are displayed via Check Control,
refer to page 76.
Active steering The concept
The active steering actively varies the steering
angle of the front wheels in relation to the
steering wheel movements. In addition, it also
varies the steering force required for steering
depending on the vehicle's speed.
When you are driving in the low speed range,
for instance in a town or when parking, the
steering angle increases, i.e., steering be‐
comes very direct. In the higher speed range,
on the other hand, the steering angle is re‐
duced more and more. This improves the han‐
dling of your vehicle over the entire speed
range.
In critical situations, the system can make tar‐
geted corrections to the steering angle pro‐
vided by the driver and thus stabilize the vehi‐
cle before the driver intervenes.
Malfunction The warning lamp lights up yellow
and a message is shown on the Con‐
trol Display. The active steering is de‐
fective or has been temporarily deac‐
tivated. At low speeds, greater steering wheel
movements are required, whereas at higher
speeds, the vehicle reacts more sensitively to
steering wheel movements. The stability-pro‐
moting intervention can also be deactivated.
Proceed cautiously and drive defensively.
Deactivation
Active steering deactivates in order to carry
out an initialization. This deactivation is dis‐
played by means of a message. The initializa‐ tion can take several minutes.
If the message does not disappear during the
current trip, have the system checked.
Defect In the event of a defect, a corresponding text
message is displayed. Have the system
checked.Seite 101Driving stability control systemsControls101
Online Edition for Part no. 01 40 2 910 876 - VII/13

Park Distance Control PDCThe concept
In addition to the PDC Park Distance Control,
the backup camera, refer to page 113, can be
switched on.
PDC supports you when parking. A slow ap‐
proach to an object in front of or behind your
vehicle is announced by:▷Signal tones.▷Visual display.
Measurement
Measurements are made by ultrasound sen‐
sors in the bumpers.
The range is approx. 6 ft/2 m.
An acoustic warning is first given:
▷By the front sensors and two rear corner
sensors at approx. 24 in/60 cm.▷By the rear middle sensors at approx.
5 ft/1.50 m.
System limits
Check the traffic situation as well
PDC cannot serve as a substitute for the
driver's personal judgment of the traffic situa‐
tion. Check the traffic situation around the ve‐
hicle with your own eyes. Otherwise, an acci‐
dent could result from road users or objects
located outside of the PDC detection range.
Loud noises from outside and inside the vehi‐
cle may prevent you from hearing the PDC's
signal tone.◀
Avoid driving quickly with PDC
Avoid approaching an object quickly.
Avoid driving away quickly while PDC is not yet
active.
For technical reasons, the system may other‐
wise be too late in issuing a warning.◀
Limits of ultrasonic measurement
The detection of objects can reach the physi‐
cal limits of ultrasonic measurement, for in‐
stance:▷With tow bars and trailer hitches.▷With thin or wedge-shaped objects.▷With low objects.▷With objects with corners and sharp edges.
Low objects already displayed, e.g., curbs, can
move into the blind area of the sensors before
or after a continuous tone sounds.
High, protruding objects such as ledges may
not be detected.
False warnings
PDC may issue a warning under the following
conditions even though there is no obstacle
within the detection range:
▷In heavy rain.▷When sensors are very dirty or covered in
ice.▷When sensors are covered in snow.▷On rough road surfaces.▷In large buildings with right angles and
smooth walls, e.g., in underground ga‐
rages.▷In heavy exhaust.▷Due to other ultrasound sources, e.g.,
sweeping machines, high pressure steam
cleaners or neon lights.
Switching on automatically
With the engine running or the ignition
switched on, shift the selector lever into posi‐
tion R.
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.
Seite 111Driving comfortControls111
Online Edition for Part no. 01 40 2 910 876 - VII/13

ClimateVehicle equipmentThis chapter describes all series equipment as
well as country-specific and special equipment
offered for this model series.Therefore, it alsodescribes 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.
At a glance
1Air toward the windshield and side win‐
dows2Air for the upper body3Air to footwell4Automatic climate control with 2-zone con‐
trol 122Seite 121ClimateControls121
Online Edition for Part no. 01 40 2 910 876 - VII/13

can reactivate the automatic mode for the air
volume with the AUTO button.
Manual air distribution
The air flow can be guided into the vehicle in‐
terior, separately for the driver's and front pas‐
senger side, using one of the following pro‐
grams:▷Upper body region.▷Upper body region and footwell.▷Footwell.▷Driver's side: in addition, the windshield,
side windows, and footwell.
Selecting program
Press the button repeatedly until the
desired program is shown on the
Control Display.
1Air toward the windshield and side win‐
dows2Air for the upper body3Air to footwell
Pressing the AUTO button cancels the manual
air distribution settings.
The automatic mode for the air volume re‐
mains effective with manual air distribution.
Cooling function
The passenger compartment can only be
cooled with the engine running.
Press the button.
The air is cooled and dehumidified and – de‐
pending on the temperature setting – warmed
again.
The cooling function helps to prevent conden‐
sation on the windows or to remove it quickly.
Depending on the weather, the windshield may
fog up briefly when the engine is started.
The cooling function is switched on automati‐
cally with the AUTO program.
When using the automatic climate control,
condensation water, refer to page 148, devel‐
ops that exits underneath the vehicle.
Maximum cooling Press the button.
The system is set to the lowest
temperature, maximum air volume
and recirculated-air mode.
Air flows out of the vents for the upper body
region. Open them for this purpose.
Air is cooled as quickly as possible:▷At an external temperature of approx.
32 ℉/0 ℃.▷When the engine is running.
Automatic recirculated air mode/
recirculated air mode
You can respond to unpleasant odors or pollu‐
tants in the immediate environment by tempo‐
rarily suspending the supply of outside air. The
system then recirculates the air currently
within the vehicle.
Press the button repeatedly to select
an operating mode:
▷LEDs off: outside air flows in continuously.▷Left LED on, automatic recirculated-air
control: a sensor detects pollutants in the
outside air and controls the shutoff auto‐
matically.Seite 124ControlsClimate124
Online Edition for Part no. 01 40 2 910 876 - VII/13

AUTO programThe AUTO program automatically
sets the air distribution toward the
upper body and in the footwell, as
well as the air flow rate. It also
adapts your instructions for the
temperature to outside influences throughout
the year.
Temperature Set the desired temperature indi‐
vidually on the left and right side.
The automatic climate control achieves this
temperature as quickly as possible regardless
of the season, using maximum cooling or heat‐
ing power if necessary, and then maintains it.
When switching between different tempera‐
ture settings in rapid succession, the auto‐
matic climate control does not have sufficient
time to adjust the set temperature.
Air volume, manual The air flow rate can be varied by
pressing on the corresponding side.
The automatic mode for the air flow rate can
be switched on again using the AUTO button.
Switching off rear automatic climate
control
With the blower at its lowest setting,
press the left side of the button to
switch off the automatic climate control.
The automatic climate control can also be
switched off with iDrive. To switch on the auto‐
matic climate control again, the system must
first be reactivated, refer to Activating/deacti‐
vating.
The system is switched on again by pressing
any button of the rear automatic climate con‐
trol.Ventilation in rear1Use the thumbwheels to smoothly open
and close the air vents2Thumbwheels to adjust temperature in up‐
per body region; can be adjusted sepa‐
rately for left and right:▷Blue: colder▷Red: warmer3Use the lever to change the direction of the
air flow
Parked-car ventilation
The concept The parked-car ventilation blows air into the
passenger compartment to lower interior tem‐
peratures.
The system can be switched on and off at any
external temperature, either directly or by us‐
ing a preset switch-on time. It remains
switched on for 30 minutes.
Since the system uses a substantial amount of
electrical current, refrain from activating it
twice in succession without allowing the bat‐
tery to be recharged in normal operation be‐
tween use.
Open the vents to allow air to flow out.
They can be operated via iDrive.
Switching on/off directly
1."Settings"2."Climate"Seite 127ClimateControls127
Online Edition for Part no. 01 40 2 910 876 - VII/13

Cargo area
Cargo cover
Deploy cargo cover by pulling back. Do not deposit heavy objects
Do not deposit heavy or hard objects on
the cargo cover. Otherwise, they may present
a danger to occupants, for instance during
braking and evasive maneuvers.◀
Removing
1.Grasp retracted cargo cover underneath
the upper fold on both sides.2.Pull the cover back out of the side brack‐
ets.3.Depending on your vehicle's equipment
package, you can store the cover under the
cargo floor cover in the cargo area.
Installing
When installing, proceed in the opposite order
of removal.
1.Set the cargo cover into place on the left
and right sides.2.Lift the back of the cover slightly and slide
forward until it snaps into the two side
brackets.
Enlarging the cargo area
The rear seat backrest is divided. You can fold
down both sides separately in order to expand
the cargo area.
Before folding down the rear seat back‐
rest
Before folding the rear seat backrest forward
or using the ski bag, remove beverage contain‐
ers from the cupholder and close the cu‐
pholder.◀
Reach into the recess and pull toward the
front.
Seite 135Interior equipmentControls135
Online Edition for Part no. 01 40 2 910 876 - VII/13

Storage compartmentsVehicle equipmentThis 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.
Notes No loose objects in the passenger com‐
partment
Do not stow any objects in the passenger
compartment without securing them; other‐
wise, they may present a danger to occupants
for instance during braking and avoidance ma‐ neuvers.◀
No non-slip mats on the dashboard
Do not use non-slip materials, such as
non-slip mats, on the dashboard, or it could be
damaged by the substances in the materials.◀Glove compartment
Opening
Press the button. The covers open upward and
downward and the lighting in the glove com‐
partment switches on.
Close the glove compartment again im‐
mediately
Close the glove compartment immediately af‐
ter use while driving; otherwise, injury may oc‐
cur during accidents.◀
ClosingPush the lower cover closed.
USB interface for data transfer
Port for importing and exporting data, such as
music collections, refer to page 197, on USB
devices.
Observe the following when connecting:
Seite 137Storage compartmentsControls137
Online Edition for Part no. 01 40 2 910 876 - VII/13

▷Do not use force when plugging the con‐
nector into the USB interface.▷Do not connect devices such as fans or
lamps to the USB interface.▷Do not connect a USB hard drive.▷Do not use the USB interface to recharge
external devices.
Center armrest front
Storage compartment A storage compartment is located under the
armrest between the front seats and, depend‐
ing on the vehicle's equipment, also a cover for
the mobile phone cradle or the snap-in
adapter.
Details on this mobile phone cradle, refer to
page 237.
Opening
Push cover down slightly and press the button.
The cover folds upward.
Connection for an external audio
device
You can connect an external audio device such
as a CD or MP3 player and play audio tracks over the car's loudspeaker system:
▷AUX-IN port, refer to page 202.▷USB audio interface, refer to page 202.Center armrest, rear
Pull on the loop and fold down the center arm‐
rest.
Storage compartments Compartments are located in the doors, in the
center console in the front and rear, and in the
rear console.
Storage nets are located on the backrests of
the front seats.
Items in the storage nets
Do not stow hard or sharp-edged objects
in the storage nets; otherwise there is an in‐
creased risk of injury in the event of an acci‐
dent.◀
Clothes hooks
To fold out, press against upper edge.
Seite 138ControlsStorage compartments138
Online Edition for Part no. 01 40 2 910 876 - VII/13