
X
Depress the brake pedal and keep it
depressed.
X To start a gasoline engine: press the
Start/Stop button (Y page 154) once.
The engine starts.
X To start a diesel engine:
press the Start/
Stop button (Y page 154) once.
Preglow is activated and the engine starts.
i If
the engine is warm, the preglow time is
shortened. Pulling away
Automatic transmission G
WARNING
If the engine speed is above the idling speed
and you engage transmission position D or
R,
the vehicle could pull away suddenly. There
is a risk of an accident.
When engaging transmission position D or R,
always firmly depress the brake pedal and do
not simultaneously accelerate.
! If a warning tone sounds and the
Release Park. Brake message appears
in the multifunction display, the parking
brake is still applied. Release the parking
brake.
X Depress the brake pedal and keep it
depressed.
X Shift the transmission to position D or R.
X Release the parking brake ( Y page 176).
X Release the brake pedal.
X Carefully depress the accelerator pedal.
i It
is only possible to shift the transmission
from position P to the desired position if
you depress the brake pedal. Only then is
the parking lock released. If you do not
depress the brake pedal, you can move the
DIRECT SELECT lever but the parking lock
remains engaged. i
The
vehicle locks centrally once you have
pulled away. The locking knobs in the doors
drop down.
You can open the doors from the inside at
any time.
You can also deactivate the automatic
locking feature (Y page 240).
i Upshifts take place at higher engine
speeds after a cold start. This helps the
catalytic converter to reach its operating
temperature more quickly.
Hill start assist G
WARNING
After a short time, hill start assist will no
longer brake your vehicle and it could roll
away.
There is a risk of an accident and injury.
Therefore, quickly move your foot from the
brake pedal to the accelerator pedal. Never
leave the vehicle when it is held by hill start
assist.
Hill start assist helps you when pulling away
forwards or in reverse on an uphill gradient.
It holds the vehicle for a short time after you
have removed your foot from the brake pedal.
This gives you enough time to move your foot
from the brake pedal to the accelerator pedal
and to depress it before the vehicle begins to
roll.
X Take your foot off the brake pedal.
The
vehicle is then held for about a second.
X Pull away.
Hill start assist will not function if:
R you are pulling away on a level road or on
a downhill gradient.
R the transmission is in position N.
R the parking brake is applied.
R ESP ®
is malfunctioning. 156
Driving
Driving and parking

is the case, the ECO start/stop function is
not
available. In addition, the Stop/Start
inactive message is shown in the AMG
menu in the multifunction display.
i If
indicator lamp ; is off, the ECO start/
stop function has been deactivated
manually or as the result of a malfunction.
The engine will then not be switched off
automatically when the vehicle stops.
i Every time you switch on the engine using
the SmartKey or the Start/Stop button, the
ECO start/stop function is activated.
Automatic engine switch-off Method of operation
If the vehicle is braked to a standstill in
D or
N, the ECO start/stop function switches off
the engine automatically.
The ECO start/stop function is operational
and the ¤ symbol is displayed in green in
the multifunction display, if:
R the indicator lamp in the ECO button is lit
green
R the vehicle is stationary.
R the outside temperature is within the
comfort range
R the engine is at normal operating
temperature.
R the
set temperature for the vehicle interior
has been reached.
R the battery is sufficiently charged.
R the system detects that the windshield is
not fogged up when the air-conditioning
system is switched on
R the hood is closed.
R the driver's door is closed and the driver's
seat belt is fastened.
If conditions for automatic engine switch-off
have not been fulfilled, the ¤ symbol will
be shown in yellow. In addition, the Stop/
Start inactive message is shown in the
AMG menu in the multifunction display. i
If you shift the transmission from R to D,
the ECO start/stop function is available
again once the ¤ symbol reappears in
green in the multifunction display.
i You can still activate the HOLD function
when the vehicle is stationary, even if the
engine has been switched off
automatically. It is then not necessary to
continue applying the brakes during the
automatic stop phase. When you depress
the accelerator pedal, the engine starts
automatically
and the braking effect of the
HOLD function is deactivated. Depress the
accelerator pedal carefully, as the engine
must be started first.
i During automatic engine switch-off, the
climate control system only operates at a
reduced capacity. If you require full climate
control capacity, the ECO start/stop
function can be deactivated by pressing the
ECO button ( Y page 157).
Vehicles with automatic transmission
If the vehicle is braked to a standstill in
transmission position D or N and the brake
remains depressed, the ECO start/stop
function switches off the engine
automatically.
i You can still activate the HOLD function
when the vehicle is stationary, even if the
engine has been switched off
automatically. It is then not necessary to
continue applying the brakes during the
automatic stop phase. When you depress
the accelerator pedal, the engine starts
automatically and the braking effect of the
HOLD function is deactivated. Depress the
accelerator pedal carefully, as the engine
must be started first. 158
Driving
Driving and parking

Automatic engine start
Method of operation
The engine starts automatically if:
R
you have switched off the ECO start/stop
function by pressing the ECO button.
R you release the brakes when in
transmission
position D or N and when the
HOLD function is not active.
R you depress the accelerator pedal.
R you remove your foot from the brake pedal.
R you engage reverse gear R.
R you move the transmission out of position
P.
R you switch to drive program S, S+ or M.
R you unfasten your seat belt or open the
driver's door.
R the vehicle starts to roll.
R the brake system requires this.
R the temperature in the vehicle interior
deviates from the set range.
R the system detects moisture on the
windshield when the air-conditioning
system is switched on.
R the charge level of the battery is too low. Driving
159
Driving and parking Z

DIRECT SELECT lever
Overview of transmission positions P
Park position with parking lock
R Reverse gear
N Neutral
D Drive
The DIRECT SELECT lever is on the right of the
steering column.
i The DIRECT SELECT lever always returns
to its original position. The current
transmission
position P, R, N or D appears
in the transmission position display
(Y page 161) in the multifunction display.
Transmission position and drive
program display !
If
the transmission position display in the
multifunction display is not working, you
should pull away carefully to check whether
the desired transmission position is
engaged. Ideally, you should select
transmission position D and drive program
E or S. Do not restrict the shift range. :
Transmission position display
; Drive program display The current transmission position and drive
program appear in the multifunction display.
i
The arrows in the transmission position
display show how and into which
transmission positions you can change
using the DIRECT SELECT lever.
Engaging park position P !
If the engine speed is too high or the
vehicle is moving, do not shift the
automatic transmission directly from D to
R, from R to D or directly to P. The
automatic
transmission could otherwise be
damaged.
X Push the DIRECT SELECT lever in the
direction of arrow P.
i The automatic transmission shifts into
park position P automatically:
R if you open the driver's door while the
vehicle is stationary in transmission
position D or R
R if you open the door while traveling at
very
low speeds in transmission position
D or R
This function depends on the date of
manufacture of your vehicle.
HOLD function or DISTRONIC PLUS: if the
vehicle is braked using the HOLD function or
DISTRONIC PLUS, the automatic
transmission shifts automatically to
transmission position P. In addition, at least
one of the following conditions must be
fulfilled:
R the engine is switched off.
R the driver's door is open and the seat belt
is not in the buckle.162
Automatic transmission
Driving and parking

Shift range:
=
You can use the engine's braking
effect.
5
To use the braking effect of the
engine on downhill gradients and
for driving:
R
on steep mountain roads
R in mountainous terrain
R in arduous conditions 4
To use the braking effect of the
engine
on extremely steep downhill
gradients and on long downhill
stretches Restricting the shift range
X
Pull the left-hand steering wheel paddle
shifter.
The automatic transmission shifts down
one
gear and restricts the shift range to the
relevant gear.
i If the engine exceeds the maximum
engine speed when shifting down, the
automatic transmission protects against
engine damage by not shifting down.
i If
the maximum engine speed for the shift
range is reached and you continue to
accelerate, the automatic transmission
shifts up, even if the shift range is
restricted. This prevents the engine from
overrevving.
Derestricting the shift range X
Pull the right-hand steering wheel paddle
shifter.
The shift range is derestricted. Clearing the shift range restriction 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
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 program X
Turn the drive program selector
(Y page 165) until M appears in the
multifunction display.
The indicator M on the drive program
selector lights up in red.
The manual drive program is only available for
AMG vehicles.
Manual drive program M is different from
drive programs S and S+ with regard to
spontaneity, responsiveness and
smoothness of gear changes.
Manual drive program M can be selected
using the drive program selector. In manual
drive program M, you can change gear using
the steering wheel paddle shifters if the
transmission is in position D. The gear
currently selected and engaged is shown in
the multifunction display.
Upshifting !
In
manual drive program M, the automatic
transmission does not shift up
automatically even when the engine
limiting speed for the current gear is
reached. When the engine limiting speed is Automatic transmission
167
Driving and parking Z

Other vehicles changing lanes
DISTRONIC PLUS has not detected the
vehicle cutting in yet. The distance to this
vehicle will be too short.
Narrow vehicles
DISTRONIC PLUS has not yet detected the
vehicle in front on the edge of the road,
because of its narrow width. The distance to
the vehicle in front will be too short.
Obstructions and stationary vehicles
DISTRONIC PLUS does not brake for
obstacles or stationary vehicles. If, for example, the detected vehicle turns a corner
and
reveals an obstacle or stationary vehicle,
DISTRONIC PLUS will not brake for these.
Crossing vehicles DISTRONIC PLUS may mistakenly detect
vehicles that are crossing your lane.
Activating DISTRONIC PLUS at traffic lights
with
crossing traffic, for example, could cause
your vehicle to pull away unintentionally. HOLD function
General notes The HOLD function can assist the driver in the
following situations:
R
when pulling away, especially on steep
slopes
R when maneuvering on steep slopes
R when waiting in traffic
The vehicle is kept stationary without the
driver having to depress the brake pedal.
The
braking effect is canceled and the HOLD
function deactivated when you depress the
accelerator pedal to pull away.
Activation conditions You can activate the HOLD function if:
R
the vehicle is stationary.
R the engine is running or if it has been
automatically switched off by the ECO
start/stop function.196
Driving systems
Driving and parking

R
the driver's door is closed or your seat belt
is fastened.
R the parking brake is released.
R the hood is closed.
R the transmission is in position D, R or N.
R DISTRONIC PLUS is deactivated.
Activating the HOLD function G
WARNING
The vehicle's brakes are applied when the
HOLD function is activated. For this reason,
deactivate
the HOLD function if the vehicle is
to be set in motion by other means (e.g. in a
car wash or by towing).
X Make sure that the activation conditions
are met.
X Depress the brake pedal.
X Quickly depress the brake pedal further
until ë appears in the multifunction
display.
The HOLD function is activated. You can
release the brake pedal.
i If depressing the brake pedal the first
time does not activate the HOLD function,
wait briefly and then try again.
Deactivating the HOLD function G
WARNING
Never get out of the vehicle when the HOLD
function is activated.
The HOLD function must never be operated
or
deactivated by a passenger or from outside
the vehicle.
The HOLD function does not replace the
parking brake and must not be used for
parking. The braking effect of the HOLD function is
canceled and the vehicle could roll away if:
R
the HOLD function is deactivated by
depressing the accelerator pedal or the
brake pedal.
R there is a malfunction in the system or an
interruption in the power supply, e.g.
battery failure.
R the electrical system in the engine
compartment, the battery or the fuses are
tampered with.
R the battery is disconnected.
If you leave the vehicle or park it, deactivate
the HOLD function and secure the vehicle
against rolling away.
The HOLD function is deactivated
automatically if:
R you accelerate and the transmission is in
position D or R.
R you shift the transmission to position P.
R you depress the brake pedal again with a
certain amount of pressure until ë
disappears from the multifunction display.
R you activate DISTRONIC PLUS.
When the HOLD function is activated, the
transmission is shifted automatically to
position P if:
R the driver's door is open and the driver's
seat belt is unfastened.
R the engine is switched off, unless it is
automatically switched off by the ECO
start/stop function.
R the hood is opened.
R a system malfunction occurs.
R the power supply is not sufficient.
i If the engine has been switched off, it
cannot be started again until the HOLD
function has been deactivated.
If there is a malfunction in the system or
power supply while the HOLD function is
activated, the Brake ImmediatelyBrake
Immediately message is shown in the Driving systems
197
Driving and parking Z

You can control the multifunction display and
the settings in the on-board computer using
the buttons on the multifunction steering
wheel.
Left control panel
=
; R
Calls up the menu and menu bar 9
:
Press briefly:
R
Scrolls in lists
R Selects a submenu or function
R In the Audio menu: selects a
stored station, an audio track or
a video scene
R In the Tel (telephone) menu:
switches to the phone book and
selects a name or telephone
number 9
:
Press and hold:
R
In the Audio menu: selects the
previous/next station or selects
an audio track or a video scene
using rapid scrolling
R In the Tel (Telephone) menu:
starts
rapid scrolling if the phone
book is open a R
Confirms a selection/display
message
R In the Tel (telephone) menu:
switches to the telephone book
and starts dialing the selected
number
R In the Audio menu: stops the
station search function at the
desired station Right control panel
~ R
Rejects or ends a call
R Exits phone book/redial
memory 6 R
Makes or accepts a call
R Switches to the redial memory W
X R
Adjusts the volume 8 R
Mute Back button
%
Press briefly:
R
Back
R Switches off the Voice Control
System; see the separate
operating instructions
R Hides display messages/calls
up the last Trip menu function
used
R Exits the telephone book/redial
memory %
Press and hold:
R
Calls up the standard display in
the Trip menu Displays and operation
229
On-board computer and displays Z