Display messages Possible causes/consequences and
M SolutionsF(USA
only)J(Canada
only)
Please Release
Parking Brake You are driving with the parking brake applied. A warning tone also
sounds.
X
Release the parking brake. $(USA
only)J(Canada
only)
Brake Immediately A malfunction has occurred while the HOLD function or
DISTRONIC PLUS is active.
A
tone may also sound at regular intervals. If you attempt to lock
the vehicle, the tone becomes louder.
You cannot start the engine.
X Paying attention to the traffic situation, immediately depress the
brake pedal firmly and hold until the display message
disappears.
X Secure the vehicle against rolling away ( Y page 167).
You can restart the engine. $(USA
only)J(Canada
only)
Check Brake Fluid
Level There is not enough brake fluid in the brake fluid reservoir.
In addition, the $ (USA only)/J (Canada only) warning
lamp lights up in the instrument cluster and a warning tone
sounds.
G WARNING
The braking effect may be impaired.
There is a risk of an accident.
X Pull over and stop the vehicle safely as soon as possible, paying
attention
to road and traffic conditions. Do not continue driving
under any circumstances.
X Secure the vehicle against rolling away ( Y page 167).
X Consult a qualified specialist workshop.
X Do not add brake fluid. This does not correct the malfunction. #
Check Brake Pad
Wear The brake pads/linings have reached their wear limit.
X
Visit a qualified specialist workshop. G
mbrace Inoperative One or more main features of the mbrace system are
malfunctioning.
X
Have the mbrace system checked immediately at a qualified
specialist workshop. Display messages
231
On-board computer and displays Z
Display messages Possible causes/consequences and
M SolutionsPRE-SAFE
Inoperative See
Operator's Manual
Important functions of PRE-SAFE
®
have failed. All other occupant
safety systems, e.g. air bags, remain available.
X Visit a qualified specialist workshop immediately. PRE-SAFE
Functions
Currently Limited
See Operator's
Manual
PRE-SAFE
®
Brake is temporarily inoperative. Possible causes are:
R function is impaired due to heavy rain or snow.
R the sensors in the radiator grill and the bumper are dirty.
R the radar sensor system is temporarily inoperative, e.g. due to
electromagnetic radiation emitted by nearby TV or radio
stations or other sources of electromagnetic radiation.
R the system is outside the operating temperature range.
R the on-board voltage is too low.
When the causes stated above no longer apply, the display
message disappears.
PRE-SAFE ®
Brake is operational again.
If the display message does not disappear:
X Pull over and stop the vehicle safely as soon as possible, paying
attention to road and traffic conditions.
X Secure the vehicle against rolling away ( Y page 167).
X Clean the sensors in the radiator grill and the bumper
(Y page 304).
X Restart the engine. PRE-SAFE
Functions Limited
See Operator's
Manual
PRE-SAFE
®
Brake is inoperative due to a malfunction. BAS PLUS
or the distance warning signal may also have failed.
X Visit a qualified specialist workshop. A
Malfunction
Service Required G
Risk of injury
Cabriolet: the roll bars are defective.
X Visit a qualified specialist workshop immediately.232
Display messages
On-board computer and displays
Display messages Possible causes/consequences and
M Solutions6
SRS Malfunction
Service Required There is a malfunction in the SRS (Supplemental Restraint
System). The 6 warning lamp also lights up in the instrument
cluster.
G WARNING
The air bags or Emergency Tensioning Devices may either be
triggered unintentionally or, in the event of an accident, may not
be triggered.
There is an increased risk of injury.
X Visit a qualified specialist workshop.
For further information about SRS, see (Y page 39). 6
Front Left
Malfunction
Service Required
or Front Right
Malfunction
Service Required SRS has malfunctioned at the front on the left or right. The
6
warning lamp also lights up in the instrument cluster.
G WARNING
The air bags or Emergency Tensioning Devices may either be
triggered unintentionally or, in the event of an accident, may not
be triggered.
There is an increased risk of injury.
X Visit a qualified specialist workshop. 6
Rear Left
Malfunction
Service Required
or Rear Right
Malfunction
Service Required G
WARNING
The air bags or Emergency Tensioning Devices may either be
triggered unintentionally or, in the event of an accident, may not
be triggered.
There is an increased risk of injury.
SRS has malfunctioned at the rear on the left or right. The 6
warning lamp also lights up in the instrument cluster.
X Visit a qualified specialist workshop. 6
Left Side Curtain
Airbag
Malfunction
Service Required
or Right Side
Curtain Airbag
Malfunction
Service Required There is a malfunction in the left-hand or right-hand window
curtain air bag (Coupe) or head bag (Cabriolet).
The 6 warning lamp also lights up in the instrument cluster.
G WARNING
The left or right window curtain air bag (Coupe) or headbag
(Cabriolet)
may either be triggered unintentionally or, in the event
of an accident, may not be triggered.
There is an increased risk of injury.
X Visit a qualified specialist workshop. Display messages
233
On-board computer and displays Z
Display messages Possible causes/consequences and
M SolutionsFront Passenger
Airbag Enabled
See Operator's
Manual The front-passenger air bag is enabled during the journey, even
though:
R
a child, a small adult or an object weighing less than the
system's weight threshold is located on the front-passenger
seat.
or
R the front-passenger seat is unoccupied.
The system may detect objects or forces applying additional
weight on the seat.
G WARNING
The air bag may deploy unintentionally.
There is an increased risk of injury.
X Pull over and stop the vehicle safely as soon as possible, paying
attention to road and traffic conditions.
X Secure the vehicle against rolling away ( Y page 167).
X Switch the ignition off.
X Open the front-passenger door.
X Remove the child and the child restraint system from the front-
passenger seat.
X Make sure that there are no objects on the seat adding to the
weight.
The system may otherwise detect the additional weight and
interpret the seat occupant's weight as greater than it actually
is.
X Keep the seat unoccupied, close the front-passenger door and
switch on the ignition.
X Observe the ^a indicator lamp in the center console and
the multifunction display and check the following:
Seat unoccupied and ignition switched on:
R the 45
indicator lamp must light up and remain lit. When
the indicator lamp is on, OCS (Occupant Classification System)
has deactivated the front-passenger air bag ( Y page 46).
R the Front Passenger Airbag Enabled See Operator's
Manual or Front Passenger Airbag Disabled See
Operator's Manual display messages must not be shown in
the multifunction display.
X Wait for a period of at least 60 seconds until the necessary
system checks have been completed.
X Make sure that the display messages do not appear in the
multifunction display.234
Display messages
On-board computer and displays
Display messages Possible causes/consequences and
M SolutionsIf these conditions are fulfilled, the front-passenger seat can be
occupied
again. Whether the 45 indicator lamp remains lit
or goes out depends on how OCS classifies the occupant.
If the conditions are not fulfilled, the system is not operating
correctly.
X Visit a qualified specialist workshop immediately.
For further information about the Occupant Classification System,
see ( Y page 46). Front Passenger
Airbag Disabled
See Operator's
Manual The front-passenger air bag is disabled during the journey, even
though:
R
an adult
or
R a person larger than a certain size is occupying the front-
passenger seat.
If additional forces are applied to the seat, the system may
interpret the occupant's weight as lower than it actually is.
G WARNING
The front-passenger air bag does not deploy during an accident.
There is an increased risk of injury.
X Pull over and stop the vehicle safely as soon as possible, paying
attention to road and traffic conditions.
X Secure the vehicle against rolling away ( Y page 167).
X Switch the ignition off.
X Have the occupant get out of the vehicle.
X Keep the seat unoccupied, close the front-passenger door and
switch on the ignition.
X Observe the 45
indicator lamp in the center console and
the multifunction display and check the following:
Seat unoccupied and ignition switched on:
R the 45
indicator lamp must light up and remain lit. When
the indicator lamp is on, OCS has deactivated the front-
passenger air bag ( Y page 46).
R the Front Passenger Airbag Enabled See Operator's
Manual or Front Passenger Airbag Disabled See
Operator's Manual display messages must not be shown in
the multifunction display.
X Wait for a period of at least 60 seconds until the necessary
system checks have been completed.
X Make sure that the display messages do not appear in the
multifunction display. Display messages
235
On-board computer and displays Z
Display messages Possible causes/consequences and
M Solutionsb
Malfunction See
Operator's Manual The exterior lighting is defective.
X
Visit a qualified specialist workshop. b
Auto
Lamp Function
Inoperative The light sensor is defective.
X
Visit a qualified specialist workshop. b
Switch Off Lights The lights are still switched on when you leave the vehicle. A
warning tone also sounds.
X
Turn the light switch to Ã.Adaptive Highbeam
Assist Inoperative Adaptive Highbeam Assist is faulty.
X
Visit a qualified specialist workshop. Adaptive Highbeam
Assist Currently
Unavailable See
Operator's Manual Adaptive Highbeam Assist is deactivated and temporarily
inoperative. Possible causes are:
R
the windshield in the camera's field of vision is dirty.
R visibility is impaired due to heavy rain, snow or fog.
X Clean the windshield.
If the system detects that the camera is fully operational again,
the Adaptive Highbeam Assist Now Available message is
displayed.
Adaptive Highbeam Assist is operational again. Display messages
239
On-board computer and displays Z
Engine
Display messages Possible causes/consequences and
M Solutions+
Check Coolant
Level See
Operator's Manual The coolant level is too low.
!
Avoid
making long journeys with too little coolant in the engine
cooling system. The engine will otherwise be damaged.
X Add coolant, observing the warning notes before doing so
(Y page 296).
X If coolant needs to be added more often than usual, have the
engine coolant system checked at a qualified specialist
workshop. ? The fan motor is faulty.
X
At coolant temperatures under 248 ‡(120 †),
drive to the next
qualified specialist workshop.
X Avoid subjecting the engine to heavy loads, e.g. driving in
mountainous terrain, and stop-and-go traffic. ?
Coolant Too Hot
Stop Vehicle Turn
Engine Off The coolant is too hot.
A warning tone also sounds.
G WARNING
Do not drive when your engine is overheated. This can cause some
fluids which may have leaked into the engine compartment to
catch fire.
Steam from the overheated engine can also cause serious burns
which can occur just by opening the hood.
There is a risk of injury.
X Pull over and stop the vehicle safely and switch off the engine,
paying attention to road and traffic conditions.
X Secure the vehicle against rolling away ( Y page 167).
X Leave the vehicle and keep a safe distance from the vehicle until
the engine has cooled down.
X Make sure that the air supply to the engine radiator is not
blocked, e.g. by snow, slush or ice.
X Do not start the engine again until the display message goes out
and the coolant temperature is under 248 ‡ (120
†).
Otherwise, the engine could be damaged.
X Pay attention to the coolant temperature display.
X If the temperature increases again, visit a qualified specialist
workshop immediately.
Under normal operating conditions and with the specified coolant
level, the coolant temperature may rise to
248 ‡ (120 †).240
Display messages
On-board computer and displays
Display messages Possible causes/consequences and
M Solutions# The battery is not being charged.
A warning tone also sounds.
Possible causes are:
R
a defective alternator
R a torn poly-V-belt
R a malfunction in the electronics
X Pull over and stop the vehicle safely and switch off the engine,
paying attention to road and traffic conditions.
X Secure the vehicle against rolling away ( Y page 167).
X Open the hood.
X Check whether the poly-V-belt is torn.
If the poly-V-belt is torn:
! Do
not continue driving. The engine could otherwise overheat.
X Consult a qualified specialist workshop.
If the poly-V-belt is not damaged:
X Visit a qualified specialist workshop. 4
Check Engine Oil
At Next Refueling The engine oil level has dropped to the minimum level.
A warning tone also sounds.
X
Check the oil level when next refueling, at the latest
(Y page 295).
X If necessary, add engine oil ( Y page 296).
X Have the engine checked at a qualified specialist workshop if
engine oil needs to be added more often than usual.
! Avoid long journeys with too little engine oil. The engine will
otherwise be damaged.
Information on approved engine oils can be obtained from any
qualified specialist workshop or on the Internet at http://
www.mbusa.com (USA only). 8
Fuel Level Low The fuel level has dropped into the reserve range.
X
Refuel at the nearest gas station. Display messages
241
On-board computer and displays Z