When Standard is selected, no warning vibra-
tion occurs if:
R you have switched on the turn signals. In
this event, the warnings are suppressed for
a certain period of time.
R a driving safety system intervenes, such as
ABS, BAS or ESP ®
.
When Adaptive is selected, no warning vibra-
tion occurs if:
R you have switched on the turn signals. In
this case, the warnings are suppressed for
a certain period of time.
R a driving safety system intervenes, such as
ABS, BAS or ESP ®
.
R you accelerate hard, e.g. kickdown.
R you brake hard.
R you steer actively, e.g. swerve to avoid an
obstacle or change lane quickly.
R you cut the corner on a sharp bend.
In order that you are warned only when nec-
essary and in good time if you cross the lane
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.
Towing a trailer
Notes on towing a trailer
Important safety notes
GWARNING
The braking system can overheat if you leave
your foot on the brake pedal while driving.
This increases the braking distance and could
even cause the braking system to fail. There
is a risk of an accident.
Never use the brake pedal as a footrest. Do
not simultaneously depress both the brake
pedal and the accelerator pedal while driving.GWARNING
You could lose control of the vehicle/trailer
combination if it begins to swerve. The vehi-
cle/trailer combination could even overturn.
There is a risk of an accident.
On no account should you attempt to
straighten out the vehicle/trailer combina-
tion by increasing speed. Decrease your
speed and do not countersteer. Brake if nec-
essary.
GWARNING
If you exceed the permissible noseweight
while carrying a load, the carrier system could
detach from the vehicle and fall on the road.
There is a risk of an accident and injury.
Always maintain the permissible noseweight
when carrying loads.
! Depressing the brake pedal constantly
results in excessive and premature wear to
the brake pads.
If you exceed the maximum permissible nose-
weight of the trailer drawbar on the ball cou-
pling, the following may become damaged:
R your vehicle
R the trailer
R the ball coupling
R trailer tow hitch
The vehicle/trailer combination could
become unstable.
If the noseweight used is lower than the min-
imum permissible noseweight, the vehicle/
trailer combination could also become unsta-
ble.
Towing a trailer201Driving and parkingZProCarManuals.com
(Y page 197) availability is limited or not avail-
able at all.
i The height of the ball coupling changes
with the load of the vehicle. If necessary,
use a trailer with a height-adjustable draw-
bar.
Driving tips
i Observe the notes on ESP ®
trailer stabi-
lisation ( Y page 70).
The maximum permissible speed for vehicle/
trailer combinations depends on the type of
trailer. Before beginning the journey, check
the trailer's documents to see what the max-
imum permitted speed is. Observe the legally
prescribed maximum speed in the relevant
country.
For certain Mercedes-Benz vehicles, the max-
imum permissible rear axle load is increased
when towing a trailer. Refer to the "Technical
data" section to find out whether this applies
to your vehicle. If you utilise any of the added
maximum rear axle load when towing a trailer,
the vehicle/trailer combination may not
exceed a maximum speed of 100 km/h for
reasons concerning the operating permit.
This also applies in countries in which the
permissible maximum speed for vehicle/
trailer combinations is above 100 km/h.
When towing a trailer, your vehicle's handling
characteristics will be different in comparison
to when driving without a trailer and it will
consume more fuel.
Change into a lower gear in good time on long
and steep downhill gradients. For vehicles
with automatic transmission, you need to
have selected manual drive program
M (Y page 156).
i This also applies if you have activated
cruise control, SPEEDTRONIC or DIS-
TRONIC PLUS.
This will use the braking effect of the engine,
so less braking will be required to maintain
vehicle speed. This relieves the load on the
brake system and prevents the brakes from
overheating and wearing too quickly. If you
need additional braking, depress the brake
pedal repeatedly rather than continuously.
i Briefly depressing the accelerator pedal
on downhill gradients while the manual
drive program M is temporarily activated
(vehicles with automatic transmission): the
automatic transmission may switch back to
the last active automatic drive program E
or S. The automatic transmission may shift
to a higher gear. This can reduce the
engine's braking effect.
Driving tips
If the trailer swings from side to side:
XDo not accelerate.XDo not countersteer.XBrake if necessary.
R Maintain a greater distance from the vehi-
cle in front than when driving without a
trailer.
R Avoid braking abruptly. If possible, brake
gently at first to allow the trailer to run on.
Then, increase the braking force rapidly.
R The values given for gradient-climbing
capabilities from a standstill refer to sea
level. When driving in mountainous areas,
note that the power output of the engine,
and consequently the vehicle's gradient-
climbing capability, decrease with increas-
ing altitude.
Folding out the ball coupling
GWARNING
If you release the ball coupling or it does not
engage correctly when folding in, it will swing
out. Within pivoting range of the ball coupling,
there is an increased risk of an accident and
injury.
Only release the ball coupling if the pivoting
range is unobstructed. Always make sure that
the ball coupling engages when folding in.
Towing a trailer203Driving and parkingZProCarManuals.com
Before you can tow a trailer with your vehicle,
you must fold out the ball coupling.
The release wheel is located behind the left-
hand side trim panel in the boot.XTo open the cover: turn handle : anti-
clockwise and fold down cover ; and
remove it.XPull out release wheel =.XTurn release wheel = anti-clockwise as far
as it will go.
The ball coupling disengages and folds out
behind the rear bumper. Indicator
lamp ? flashes.GWARNING
If the ball coupling is not correctly engaged,
the trailer can detach. There is a risk of an
accident.
Always engage the ball coupling as described.
XPull the ball coupling in the direction of the
arrow until it engages in a vertical position.
Indicator lamp ? goes out. The power
socket folds down automatically.
The multifunction display shows the
Check trailer hitch lock display mes-
sage until the ball coupling is engaged.XRemove the protective covering from the
ball coupling and store it in a safe place.XMake sure that the ball of the ball coupling
is clean and that it is either greased or dry
(grease free), depending on the instruc-
tions for the trailer.
Coupling up a trailer
XMake sure that the transmission is in posi-
tion P.XApply the electric parking brake.XPosition the trailer level behind the vehicle.XCouple up the trailer.XEstablish the electric connection between
the vehicle and the trailer.XCheck that the trailer lighting system is
working.
A trailer that is connected is recognised
only when the electrical connection is
established correctly and when the lighting
system is working properly. The function of
other systems, such as ESP ®
or PARK-
TRONIC also depends on this.
Uncoupling a trailer
GWARNING
If you uncouple a trailer with an engaged over-
run brake, you could trap your hand between
204Towing a trailerDriving and parking
ProCarManuals.com
XPress the ball coupling in the direction of
the arrow until it engages behind the
bumper.
Indicator lamp ? goes out and the mes-
sage in the multifunction display disap-
pears.
Trailer power supply
! You can connect accessories with a
power rating of up to 240 W to the perma-
nent power supply and with a power rating
of up to 180 W to the power supply that is
switched on via the ignition lock.
The trailer battery may not be charged from
the power supply.
XTo switch the connected power supply
on or off: turn the key in the ignition lock
to position 2 or 0 respectively.
When it leaves the factory, your vehicle's
trailer socket is equipped with a permanent
power supply and a power supply that is
switched on via the ignition lock.
The permanent power supply is supplied via
trailer socket pin 9.
The power supply that is switched on via the
ignition lock is supplied via trailer socket pin
10.
The trailer's permanent power supply is
switched off in the event of low vehicle supply
voltage and after six hours at the latest.
You can find more information about instal-
ling the trailer electrics at a qualified special-
ist workshop.
Bulb failure indicator for LED lamps
i If LED lamps are fitted in the trailer, an
error message may appear in the multi-
function display even if there is no fault. The
reason for the error message could be that
the current has fallen below the minimum
of 50 mA.
To ensure reliable operation of the bulb failure
indicator, each LED chain in the trailer lighting
must be guaranteed a minimum current of
50 mA.
Trailer with 7-pin connector
General notes
Trailers with 7-pin connector: you can
make a connection to the 13-pin connector
on the ball coupling using an adapter plug or,
if necessary, an adapter cable. Both can be
obtained in a qualified specialist workshop.
Fitting the adapter
! Make sure that there is sufficient cable
play so that the cable cannot become
detached when cornering.
! Remove the installed adapter cable
before folding in the ball coupling. Other-
wise, damage may occur to the rear
bumper and the adapter cable.
XOpen the socket cover.XInsert connector with lug : into
groove ; of the socket. Turn the connec-
tor clockwise to the stop.XLet the cover engage.XIf you are using an adapter cable, secure
the cable to the trailer with cable ties.206Towing a trailerDriving and parking
ProCarManuals.com
?Menu barAPermanent display: outside temperature
or speed ( Y page 220)BTimeXTo show the menu bar ?: press the
= or ; button on the steering wheel.
Menu bar ? disappears after a few seconds.
Text field = shows the selected menu or
submenu as well as display messages.
i You can set the time using the audio sys-
tem or COMAND Online, see the separate
operating instructions.
The following messages may appear in the
multifunction display:
ZGearshift recommendation
( Y page 152)Xj YActive Parking Assist
( Y page 186)¯Cruise control ( Y page 168)ÈSPEEDTRONIC ( Y page 171)_Adaptive Highbeam Assist
( Y page 111)¤ECO start/stop function
( Y page 148)ëHOLD function ( Y page 181)120 km/h!Maximum permissible speed
exceeded (only for certain coun-
tries)
Menus and submenus
Menu overview
Operating the on-board computer
( Y page 209).
Depending on the equipment fitted in the
vehicle, you can call up the following menus:
R Trip menu ( Y page 211)
R Navi menu (navigation instructions)
( Y page 213)
R Audio menu ( Y page 214)
R Tel (telephone) menu ( Y page 215)
R
Assist. (Assistance) menu ( Y page 217)
R Service menu (Y page 219)
R Settings menu (Y page 219)
The Audio , Navi and Tel menus differ slightly
in vehicles with Audio 20 and in vehicles with
COMAND Online. The examples given in this
Owner's Manual apply to vehicles equipped
with COMAND Online.
Trip menu
Standard display
XPress and hold the % button on the
steering wheel until the Trip menu with
trip meter : and total distance
recorder ; is shown.
Trip computer "From start" or "From
reset"
Example: "From start" trip computer
:Distance;Time=Average speed?Average fuel consumptionXPress the = or ; button on the steer-
ing wheel to select the Trip menu.XPress the 9 or : button to select
After start or After reset .Menus and submenus211On-board computer and displaysZProCarManuals.com
Redialling
The on-board computer saves the last names
or numbers dialled in the redial memory.
XPress the = or ; button on the steer-
ing wheel to select the Tel menu.XPress the 6 button to switch to the
redial memory.XPress the 9 or : button to select the
desired name or number.XPress the 6 or a button to start dial-
ling.
or
XIf you do not want to make a call: press
the ~ or % button.
Assistance menu
Introduction
In the Assist menu, you have the following
options:
R Showing Speed Limit Assist and activat-
ing/deactivating its message function
R Showing the assistance graphic
R Activating/deactivating ESP ®
R Activating/deactivating the distance warn-
ing function
R Activating/deactivating COLLISION PRE-
VENTION ASSIST PLUS
R Activating/deactivating ATTENTION
ASSIST
R Activating/deactivating Blind Spot Assist
R Activating/deactivating Lane Keeping
Assist
Showing the assistance graphicXPress the = or ; button on the steer-
ing wheel to select the Assist menu.XPress the 9 or : button to select
Assistance graphic .XPress the a button.
The multifunction display shows the DIS-
TRONIC PLUS distance display in the assis-
tance graphic ( Y page 179).
The assistance graphic can display the status
of and information from other driving systems
or driving safety systems.
The assistance graphic shows:
R the é symbol when ATTENTION ASSIST
( Y page 195) is deactivated.
R the lane markings in green when Lane
Keeping Assist ( Y page 199) is activated.
R the Ä symbol when Speed Limit Assist
( Y page 196) is operational and the mes-
sage function is activated.
The assistance graphic can also display
traffic signs that are detected and indicate
speed limits.
R the æ symbol when the distance warn-
ing function ( Y page 65) is deactivated.
R the æ symbol when COLLISION PRE-
VENTION ASSIST PLUS (Y page 67) is deac-
tivated.
Speed Limit Assist
Displaying Speed Limit Assist
XPress the = or ; button on the steer-
ing wheel to select the Assist menu.XPress the 9 or : button to select
Speed Limit Assist .XPress the a button.
Under certain conditions, detected speed
limits are shown in the multifunction dis-
play ( Y page 196).Menus and submenus217On-board computer and displaysZProCarManuals.com
Activating/deactivating the Speed Limit
Assist message functionXPress the = or ; button on the steer-
ing wheel to select the Assist menu.XPress the 9 or : button to select
Speed Lim. Assist .XPress the a button.
The multifunction display shows Speed
Limit Assist.XPress the : button.
The current selection is displayed.XTo activate or deactivate: press a.
If the Speed Limit Assist message function
is activated, a detected speed limit is auto-
matically displayed for five seconds. Other
items in the multifunction display are not
shown during this time.
When Speed Limit Assist is operational and
the message function is activated, the assis-
tance graphic shows the Ä symbol.
Deactivating/activating ESP ®
For further information about ESP
®
, see
( Y page 68).
XStart the engine.XPress the = or ; button on the steer-
ing wheel to select the Assist menu.XPress the 9 or : button to select
ESP .XPress the a button.XTo deactivate: press a again.
The å warning lamp in the instrument
cluster lights up.XTo activate: press a again.
The å warning lamp in the instrument
cluster goes out.Activating/deactivating the distance
warning functionXPress the = or ; button on the steer-
ing wheel to select the Assist menu.XPress 9 or : to select Distance
warning .XPress the a button.
The current selection is displayed.XTo activate/deactivate: press the a
button again.
When the distance warning function is
deactivated, the æ symbol appears in
the multifunction display in the assistance
graphics display.
Further information on the distance warning
function ( Y page 65).
Activating/deactivating COLLISION
PREVENTION ASSIST PLUS
XPress the = or ; button on the steer-
ing wheel to select the Assist menu.XPress the 9 or : button to select
Collision Prevent. Assist .XPress the a button.
The current selection is displayed.XTo activate/deactivate: press the a
button again.
When COLLISION PREVENTION ASSIST
PLUS is deactivated, the æ symbol
appears in the multifunction display in the
assistance graphics display.
For further information about COLLISION
PREVENTION ASSIST PLUS, see (Y page 67).
Activating/deactivating ATTENTION
ASSIST
XPress the = or ; button on the steer-
ing wheel to select the Assist menu.XPress 9 or : to select Attention
Assist .218Menus and submenusOn-board computer and displays
ProCarManuals.com
XPress a to confirm.
You will see the selected setting.XPress a to confirm.XPress the : or 9 button to select A,
B or Change C .XPress a to confirm.
You can now change the departure time.XPress the = or ; button to select the
display to be changed: hours, minutes.XPress the : or 9 button to set the
selected display.XPress the a button to store the entry.
The yellow indicator lamp on the auxiliary
heating button lights up.
Selecting the departure time or deactivat-
ing a selected departure time
XPress the = or ; button on the steer-
ing wheel to select the Settings menu.XPress the : or 9 button to select the
Heating submenu.XPress a to confirm.
You will see the selected setting.XPress a to confirm.XPress : or 9 to select one of the
three departure times or Timer off (no
timer active).XPress a to confirm.
If a departure time is selected, the yellow
indicator lamp lights up on the auxiliary
heating button.
Changing the departure time
Only vehicles with auxiliary heating
( Y page 136) have this function.
In the Heating submenu, you can select a
stored departure time or change a departure
time.
The auxiliary heating timer function calcu-
lates the switch-on time according to the out-
side temperature so that the vehicle is pre-
heated by the departure time. When the
departure time is reached, the auxiliary heat-
ing continues to heat for a further five
minutes and then switches off. The auxiliary
heating adopts the THERMATIC or
THERMOTRONIC temperature setting.
You can switch off the auxiliary heating by
using the remote control or the auxiliary heat-
ing button on the centre console.GDANGER
If the exhaust pipe is blocked or sufficient
ventilation is not possible, toxic exhaust
fumes can enter the vehicle, especially car-
bon monoxide. This is the case, e.g. in
enclosed spaces, or if the vehicle is stuck in
snow. There is a risk of fatal injuries.
You should switch off the auxiliary heating in
enclosed spaces which do not have an extrac-
tion system, e.g. a garage. If the vehicle is
stuck in snow and you must leave the auxiliary
heating running, keep the exhaust pipe and
the area around the vehicle clear of snow. To
guarantee a sufficient supply of fresh air, open
a window on the side of the vehicle away from
the wind.
GWARNING
When the auxiliary heating is switched on,
parts of the vehicle can become very hot.
Flammable material such as leaves, grass or
twigs may ignite if they come into contact with
hot parts of the exhaust system for extended
periods. There is a risk of fire.
When the auxiliary heating is switched on,
make sure that no flammable material can
come into contact with hot vehicle compo-
nents.
! Operating the auxiliary heating/ventila-
tion draws on the vehicle battery. After you
have heated or ventilated the vehicle a
maximum of two times, drive for a longer
distance.
i Switch the auxiliary heating on regularly
once a month for about ten minutes.
224Menus and submenusOn-board computer and displays
ProCarManuals.com