
Clearing the shift range restriction
X
Press and hold the selector lever towards
D+ until D is shown once more in the
multifunction display.
or
X Pull and hold the right-hand steering wheel
paddle
shifter until D is shown again in the
multifunction display.
The automatic transmission shifts from the
current shift range directly to D.
Selecting the ideal shift range X
Press the selector lever to the left towards
D– and hold it in position.
or
X Pull the left-hand steering wheel paddle
shifter and hold it in position.
The automatic transmission shifts to the
gear which allows optimum acceleration
and
deceleration. To do this, the automatic
transmission shifts down one or more
gears. Manual drive program
Switching
on the manual drive programX
Press the program selector button
(Y
page 160) repeatedly until M appears in
the multifunction display.
The manual drive program is only available for
vehicles with the dynamic handling package.
Manual drive program M is different from
drive program S with regard to spontaneity,
responsiveness and smoothness of gear
changes.
Manual drive program M can be selected
using the program selector button. If the
transmission
is in position D, you can change
gear using the steering wheel paddle shifters
or the selector lever in manual drive program
M. The gear selected is shown in the
multifunction display. Upshifting X
Briefly press the selector lever to the right
towards D+ .
or
X Pull the right-hand steering wheel paddle
shifter.
The
automatic transmission shifts up to the
next gear.
i Vehicles with the dynamic handling
package:
if the maximum engine speed for
the shift range is reached and you continue
to accelerate, the automatic transmission
shifts up, except when manual drive
program M is selected.
Downshifting X
Briefly press the selector lever to the left
towards D–.
or
X Pull the left-hand steering wheel paddle
shifter.
The
automatic transmission shifts down to
the next gear.
i If you brake the vehicle or stop without
shifting down, the automatic transmission
will shift down to a gear that will allow the
vehicle to accelerate or pull away again.
i To avoid overrevving the engine when
downshifting, the automatic transmission
does not shift to a lower gear if this would
result
in the maximum engine speed being
exceeded.
Kickdown You can also use kickdown for maximum
acceleration in manual drive program
M.
X Depress the accelerator pedal beyond the
pressure point.
The transmission shifts to a lower gear
depending on the engine speed.162
Automatic transmission
Driving and parking

Problems with the transmission
Problem Possible causes/consequences and
M SolutionsThe transmission has
problems shifting gear. The transmission is losing oil.
X
Have the transmission checked at a qualified specialist
workshop immediately. The acceleration ability
is deteriorating.
The transmission no
longer changes gear. The transmission is in emergency mode.
It is only possible to shift into second
gear and reverse gear.
X Stop the vehicle.
X Shift the transmission to position P.
X Switch off the engine.
X Wait at least ten seconds before restarting the engine.
X Shift the transmission to position D or R.
If D
is selected, the transmission shifts into second gear; if R is
selected, the transmission shifts into reverse gear.
X Have the transmission checked at a qualified specialist
workshop immediately. Releasing the parking lock manually
! Do not use any sharp-edged objects to
remove the selector lever gaiter from the
center console. This could damage the
selector lever gaiter. X
Apply the parking brake.
X Pry off selector lever gaiter : with a flat,
blunt
object (e.g. a screwdriver wrapped in cloth) from the right-hand edge. Pull
selector lever gaiter : up and out.
X Press release button ; down and
simultaneously
move the selector lever out
of position P.
The selector lever can now be moved freely
until it is returned to position P.
In the event of an electrical malfunction, it is
possible to release the selector lever lock
manually to move it out of position P. This
occurs if the vehicle is towed away, for
example. Transfer case
! Performance tests may only be carried
out on a 2-axle dynamometer. The brake
system
or transfer case could otherwise be
damaged. Contact a qualified specialist
workshop for a performance test.
! If the parking brake is being tested on a
brake dynamometer, the ignition must be
switched off (SmartKey or Start/Stop
button in position 0 or 1), as ESP®
will 164
Automatic transmission
Driving and parking

otherwise automatically intervene. The
brake
system could otherwise be damaged.
! Vehicles with 4MATIC must not be towed
with either the front or the rear axle raised,
as doing so will damage the transmission.
This section is only valid for vehicles with 4-
wheel drive (4MATIC). Power is always
transmitted to both axles. Refueling
Important safety notes
G
WARNING
Gasoline is highly flammable and poisonous.
It burns violently and can cause serious
personal injury.
Never allow sparks, flames or smoking
materials near gasoline.
Turn off the engine before refueling.
Whenever you are around gasoline, avoid
inhaling fumes and any skin or clothing
contact.
Direct skin contact with fuels and the
inhalation
of fuel vapors are damaging to your
health. G
WARNING
Overfilling of the fuel tank may create
pressure in the system which could cause a
gas discharge. This could cause the gasoline
to spray back out when removing the fuel
pump nozzle, which could cause personal
injury. G
WARNING
E85 fuel (ethanol) and its vapours are
poisonous, highly flammable and highly
combustible. E85 fuel can cause serious
injury
if ignited, if you come into contact with
it you or if you inhale fuel vapors. Avoid
inhaling E85 fuel vapors and avoid skin
contact with E85 fuel. Extinguish any open
flames before refueling. Keep sparks away
from E85 fuel, and do not smoke. !
Do
not use diesel to refuel vehicles with a
gasoline engine. Even small amounts of the
wrong fuel result in damage to the fuel
system and engine.
! Do not switch on the ignition if you
accidentally refuel with the wrong fuel.
Otherwise, the fuel will enter the fuel lines.
Notify a qualified specialist workshop and
have the fuel tank and fuel lines drained
completely.
! Overfilling the fuel tank could damage the
fuel system.
! Take care not to spill any fuel on painted
surfaces. You could otherwise damage the
paintwork.
! Use a filter when refueling from a fuel can.
Otherwise, the fuel lines and/or injection
system could be blocked by particles from
the fuel can.
Further information on fuel and on fuel grades
can be found in the "Fuel" section
(Y page 362). Refueling
Opening/closing the fuel filler flap :
To open the fuel filler flap
; To insert the fuel filler cap
= Tire pressure table
? Fuel type to be used
The fuel filler flap is unlocked or locked
automatically when you open or close the Refueling
165
Driving and parking Z

To ensure that the vehicle is secured against
rolling away unintentionally:
R
the parking brake must be applied.
R the
transmission must be in position P and
the SmartKey must be removed from the
ignition lock.
R on uphill or downhill gradients, the front
wheels must be turned towards the curb. Switching off the engine
Vehicles with automatic transmission X
Apply the parking brake firmly.
X Shift the transmission to position P.
Using the SmartKey
X Turn the SmartKey to position 0 in the
ignition lock and remove it.
The immobilizer is activated.
i The
SmartKey can only be removed if the
transmission is in position P.
Using KEYLESS-GO
X Press the Start/Stop button (Y page
151).
The engine stops and all the indicator
lamps in the instrument cluster go out.
i When the driver's door is closed, this
corresponds
to SmartKey position 1. When
the driver's door is open, it corresponds to
SmartKey position 0 or "SmartKey
removed".
If you try to switch off the engine when the
transmission is not in position P, a message
appears in the multifunction display. A signal
sounds. Parking brake
G
WARNING
If you must brake the vehicle with the parking
brake, the braking distance is considerably
longer
and the wheels could lock. There is an
increased danger of skidding and accidents. Only use the parking brake to brake the
vehicle when the service brake is faulty. Do
not apply the parking brake too firmly. If the
wheels lock, release the parking brake until
the wheels begin turning again.
G
WARNING
If you leave children unsupervised in the
vehicle, they could set it in motion by, for
example:
R releasing the parking brake
R shifting the automatic transmission out of
the parking position P
R starting the engine.
They could also operate the vehicle's
equipment.
There is a risk of an accident and
injury.
When leaving the vehicle, always take the
SmartKey with you and lock the vehicle. Never
leave children unsupervised in the vehicle. If you brake the vehicle with the parking
brake, the brake lamps will not light up.
X
To apply:
depress parking brake ; firmly.
When the engine is running, the $ (USA
only) or J (Canada only) indicator lamp
lights up in the instrument cluster.
X To release: depress the brake pedal and
keep it depressed.
X Pull release handle :.
When the ignition is switched on or the
engine is running, the $ (USA only) or
J
(Canada only) indicator lamp goes out
in the instrument cluster. 168
Parking
Driving and parking

!
Vehicles with 4MATIC: as the ESP®
system operates automatically, the engine
and the ignition system must be switched
off (SmartKey in position 0 or 1 in the
ignition lock or Start/Stop button in
position 0 or 1) when:
R testing the parking brake on a brake
dynamometer.
R you
intend to have the vehicle towed with
the front axle raised.
Braking maneuvers triggered automatically
by ESP ®
may seriously damage the brake
system.
All checks and maintenance work on the
brake system must be carried out at a
qualified specialist workshop. Consult a
qualified specialist workshop to arrange this.
Have brake pads installed and brake fluid
replaced at a qualified specialist workshop.
If the brake system has only been subject to
moderate loads, you should test the
functionality of your brakes at regular
intervals. To do so, press firmly on the brake
pedal when driving at a high speed. This
improves the grip of the brake pads.
You can find a description of Brake Assist
(BAS) on ( Y page 64) or of BAS PLUS on
(Y page 65). Driving on wet roads
Hydroplaning If water has accumulated to a certain depth
on the road surface, there is a danger of
hydroplaning occurring, even if:
R
you drive at low speeds.
R the tires have adequate tread depth. For this reason, in the event of heavy rain or
in conditions in which hydroplaning may
occur, you must drive in the following
manner:
R
lower your speed.
R avoid ruts.
R brake carefully.
Driving on flooded roads !
Do not drive through flooded areas.
Check
the depth of any water before driving
through it. Drive slowly through standing
water. Otherwise, water may enter the
vehicle interior or the engine compartment.
This can damage the electronic
components in the engine or the automatic
transmission. Water can also be drawn in
by the engine's air suction nozzles and this
can cause engine damage. Winter driving
Important safety notes G
WARNING
If you shift down on a slippery road surface in
an attempt to increase the engine's braking
effect, the drive wheels could lose their grip.
There is an increased danger of skidding and
accidents.
Do not shift down for additional engine
braking on a slippery road surface. G
DANGER
If the exhaust pipe is blocked or adequate
ventilation is not possible, poisonous gases
such
as carbon monoxide (CO) may enter the
vehicle. This is the case, e.g. if the vehicle
becomes trapped in snow. There is a risk of
fatal injury.
If you leave the engine or the auxiliary heating
running, make sure the exhaust pipe and area
around the vehicle are clear of snow. To
ensure an adequate supply of fresh air, open Driving tips
173
Driving and parking
Z

X
Briefly pull the cruise control lever towards
you :.
X Remove your foot from the accelerator
pedal.
The first time cruise control is activated, it
stores the current speed or regulates the
speed of the vehicle to the previously
stored speed.
Setting a speed G
WARNING
Keep in mind that it may take a brief moment
until the vehicle has made the necessary
adjustments.
Increase
or decrease the set vehicle speed to
a value that the prevailing road conditions and
legal speed limits permit. Otherwise, sudden
and unexpected acceleration or deceleration
of the vehicle could cause an accident and/
or serious injury to you and others. X
Press the cruise control lever up : for a
higher
speed or down ; for a lower speed.
X To adjust the set speed in 1 mph
increments
(1 km/h increments): briefly
press the cruise control lever up : or
down ; to the point of resistance.
Every time the cruise control lever is
pressed up : or down ; the last speed
stored is increased or reduced.
X To adjust the set speed in 5 mph
increments (10 km/h increments):
briefly press the cruise control lever
up :
or down ; to the point of resistance.
Every time the cruise control lever is
pressed up : or down ; the last speed
stored is increased or reduced.
i Cruise control is not deactivated if you
depress the accelerator pedal. For
example, if you accelerate briefly to
overtake, cruise control adjusts the
vehicle's speed to the last speed stored
after you have finished overtaking.
Deactivating cruise control There are several ways to deactivate cruise
control:
X
Briefly press the cruise control lever
forwards :.
or
X Brake.176
Driving systems
Driving and parking

Cruise control lever
:
To store the current speed or a higher
speed
; To store the current speed or a lower
speed
= To deactivate DISTRONIC PLUS
? To store the current speed or calling up
the last stored speed
A To set the specified minimum distance
Activating DISTRONIC PLUS Important safety notes
G
WARNING
The vehicle can be braked when DISTRONIC
PLUS is activated. For this reason, deactivate
DISTRONIC PLUS if the vehicle is to be set in
motion by other means (e.g. in a car wash or
by towing).
Activation conditions
In order to activate DISTRONIC PLUS, the
following conditions must be fulfilled:
R the engine must be started. It may take up
to two minutes after pulling away before
DISTRONIC PLUS is operational.
R the parking brake must be released.
R ESP ®
must be active, but not intervening.
R the transmission must be in position D.
R the hood must be closed.
R the driver's door must be closed when you
shift from P to D or your seat belt must be
fastened. R
the front-passenger door must be closed.
R the vehicle must not skid.
Activating while driving X
Briefly pull the cruise control lever towards
you ; or press it up : or down =.
DISTRONIC PLUS is selected.
X Press the cruise control lever repeatedly
up : or down = until the desired speed
is set.
X Remove your foot from the accelerator
pedal.
Your
vehicle adapts its speed to that of the
vehicle in front, but only up to the desired
stored speed.
When driving at speeds below 20 mph
(30 km/h),
you can only activate DISTRONIC
if the vehicle in front has been detected and
is shown in the multifunction display. If the
vehicle in front is no longer detected and
displayed, DISTRONIC PLUS switches off and
a tone sounds.
i If you do not fully release the accelerator
pedal, the DISTRONIC PLUS Override
message appears in the multifunction
display. The set distance to a slower-
moving vehicle in front will then not be
maintained. You will be driving at the speed
you determine by the position of the
accelerator pedal. 180
Driving systems
Driving and parking

Activating when driving towards a
stationary vehicle
X
Briefly pull the cruise control lever towards
you ; or press it up : or down =.
DISTRONIC PLUS is selected.
X Press the cruise control lever repeatedly
up : or down = until the desired speed
is set.
If the vehicle in front of you is stationary, you
can only activate DISTRONIC PLUS once your
vehicle is stationary as well.
i DISTRONIC PLUS can only be activated at
under 20 mph (30km/h) if a vehicle in front
has been detected. Therefore, the
DISTRONIC PLUS distance display in the
instrument cluster should be activated
(Y page 221).
i You can use the cruise control lever to set
the stored speed and the control on the
cruise control lever to set the specified
minimum distance (Y page 184).
Pulling away and driving G
WARNING
When you step on the brake pedal, you switch
off the DISTRONIC PLUS except when the
vehicle
is at a standstill. The DISTRONIC PLUS
will no longer brake your vehicle. You are
always responsible for maintaining a distance
from other vehicles, observing road speeds
and braking well in advance.
X If the vehicle in front pulls away:
remove
your foot from the brake pedal.
X Briefly pull the cruise control lever towards
you ;, or press it up : or down =.
or
X Accelerate briefly.
Your vehicle pulls away and adapts its
speed to that of the vehicle in front.
If there is no vehicle in front, DISTRONIC
PLUS operates in the same way as cruise
control. If DISTRONIC PLUS detects that the vehicle
in front has slowed down, it brakes your
vehicle. In this way, the distance you have
selected is maintained.
If DISTRONIC PLUS detects that the vehicle
in front is driving faster, it accelerates your
vehicle, but only up to the speed you have
stored.
Changing lanes
G
WARNING
DISTRONIC PLUS and Active Blind Spot Assist
are only aids designed to assist driving.
They do not relieve you of the responsibility
of paying attention. The driver remains fully
responsible for the vehicle's distance from
other vehicles, the vehicle's speed and for
braking
in good time. Always pay attention to
traffic conditions and your surroundings.
Otherwise, you may fail to recognize dangers
in time, cause an accident and injure yourself
and others.
If you change to the passing lane, DISTRONIC
PLUS supports you when:
R you are driving faster than 40 mph
(60 km/h).
R DISTRONIC PLUS is maintaining the
distance to a vehicle in front.
R you switch on the appropriate turn signal.
R DISTRONIC PLUS does not detect a danger
of collision.
If these conditions are fulfilled, your vehicle
is accelerated. Acceleration will be
interrupted if changing lanes takes too long
or if the distance between your vehicle and
the vehicle in front becomes too small.
i When changing lanes, DISTRONIC PLUS
monitors the left lane on left-hand drive
vehicles and the right lane on right-hand
drive vehicles. Driving systems
181
Driving and parking Z