
Active Blind Spot Assist monitors the area up
to 10 ft (3.0 m) behind your vehicle and
directly next to your vehicle, as shown in the
diagram. For this purpose, Active Blind Spot
Assist uses radar
sensors in the rear bumper.
If the lanes are narrow, vehicles driving in the
lane beyond the lane next to your vehicle may
be indicated, especially if the vehicles are not
driving in the middle of their lane. This may
be the case if there are vehicles driving at the
inner edge of their lanes.
Due to the nature of the system:
R warnings may be issued in error when
driving close to crash barriers or similar
solid lane borders.
R warnings may be interrupted when driving
alongside particularly long vehicles, for
example trucks, for a prolonged time.
Two Active Blind Spot Assist radar sensors
are integrated into the front and rear bumpers
respectively. An additional radar sensor is
located behind the cover in the radiator grill.
Make sure that the bumpers and the cover in
the radiator grill are free of dirt, ice or slush.
The rear sensors must not be covered, for
example by cycle racks or overhanging cargo.
Following a severe impact or in the event of
damage to the bumpers, have the function of
the radar sensors checked at a qualified specialist workshop. Active Blind Spot Assist
may otherwise no longer work properly.
Indicator and warning display
G
WARNING
Active Blind Spot Assist is not active at speeds
below 20 mph (
30km/h). The indicator lamps
in the exterior mirrors are yellow. Vehicles in
the monitoring range are then not indicated.
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. 0043
Yellow indicator lamp/red warning lamp
When Active Blind Spot Assist is activated,
indicator lamp
0043
in
the exterior mirrors lights
up yellow at speeds of up to 20 mph
(30 km/h). At speeds above
20 mph(30 km/h), the indicator lamp goes
out and Active Blind Spot Assist is
operational.
If a vehicle is detected within the monitoring
range of Blind Spot Assist at speeds above
20 mph (30 km/h), warning lamp 0043 on the
corresponding side lights up red. This warning
is always emitted when a vehicle enters the
blind spot monitoring range from behind or
from the side. When you overtake a vehicle,
the warning only occurs if the difference in
speed is less than 7 mph (12 km/h).
The yellow indicator lamp goes out if reverse
gear is engaged. In this event, Active Blind
Spot Assist is no longer active. 190
Driving systems
Driving and parking

The brightness of the indicator/warning
lamps is adjusted
automatically
according to
the ambient light.
Visual and audible collision warnings When you switch on the turn signals to
change lanes and
a
vehicle is detected in the
side monitoring range, you receive a visual
and acoustic collision warning. You then hear
a double warning tone and red warning
lamp 0043 flashes. If the turn signal remains on,
detected vehicles are indicated by the
flashing of red warning lamp 0043. There are no
further warning tones.
Course-correcting brake application G
WARNING
Active Blind Spot Assist is only an aid
designed to assist driving.
It is not a substitute
for attentive driving. In some cases, the
course-correcting brake application is not
sufficient to avoid a collision. In such a case,
you must steer, brake or accelerate.
In very rare cases, the system may
erroneously detect a danger of collision in the
area of crash barriers or similar lane borders
and apply the brakes. Active Blind Spot Assist
does not detect all traffic situations and road
users. Always make sure that there is
sufficient distance on the side for other traffic
or obstacles. An inappropriate brake
application may be interrupted at any time if
you steer slightly in the opposite direction or
accelerate. You are responsible for driving at appropriate
speeds, braking in good time, and steering
correctly. Always adapt your driving style to
suit the prevailing road and weather
conditions. 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 a course-correcting brake application
occurs, red warning lamp
0043 flashes in the
exterior mirror and a dual warning tone
sounds. In addition, display 0044
appears in the
multifunction display.
If Active Blind Spot Assist detects a risk of a
lateral collision in the monitoring range, a
course-correcting brake application is carried
out. This is meant to assist you in avoiding a
collision.
The course-correcting brake application is
available in the speed range between
20 mph (30 km/h) and 120 mph (200 km/h). Driving systems
191
Driving and parking Z

There will be either no or only a weak course-
correcting brake application if:
R
there are vehicles or obstacles, e.g. crash
barriers, located on both sides of your
vehicle.
R a vehicle approaches you
too closely at the
side.
R you have adopted a sporty driving style with
high cornering speeds.
R you clearly brake or accelerate.
R a driving safety system intervenes, e.g.
ESP ®
.
R ESP ®
is switched off.
R the LOW RANGE off-road gear is activated.
R a loss of tire pressure has been detected.
Switching on Active Blind Spot Assist X
Make sure that active Blind Spot Assist
(Y page 218) is activated in the on-board
computer.
X Turn the SmartKey to position 2 in the
ignition lock.
Warning lamps 0043 in the exterior mirrors
light up red for approximately
1.5 seconds and then turn yellow.
Towing a trailer When you attach a trailer, make sure you have
correctly established the electrical
connection. This can be accomplished by
checking the trailer lighting.
Active Blind Spot
Assist is then deactivated. The indicator lamp
lights up yellow in the exterior mirrors and the Active Blind Spot Assist Currently
Unavailable See Operator's Manual
message appears in the multifunction
display.
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.
i Do not use the HOLD function when
driving off-road, on steep uphill or downhill
gradients or on slippery or loose surfaces.
The HOLD function cannot hold the vehicle
on such surfaces.
Activation conditions You can activate the HOLD function if:
R
the vehicle is stationary.
R the engine is running or it has been
switched off by the ECO start/stop
function (AMG vehicles).
R the engine is running.
R the driver's
door is
closed or your seat belt
is fastened.
R the transmission is in position D, R or N.
R DISTRONIC PLUS is deactivated.
Activating the HOLD function The vehicle's brakes are applied when the
HOLD function is activated. For this reason,
deactivate the HOLD
function
while in the car
wash or while towing. 192
Driving systems
Driving and parking

X
Make sure that the activation conditions
are met.
X Depress the brake pedal.
X Quickly depress the brake pedal further
until 00D9 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
When leaving the vehicle, it can still roll away
despite being braked by
the HOLD function if:
R there is a malfunction in the system or in
the voltage supply.
R the HOLD function has been deactivated by
pressing the accelerator pedal or the brake
pedal, e.g. by a vehicle occupant.
R the electrical system in the engine
compartment, the battery or the fuses have
been tampered with.
R the battery is disconnected
There is a risk of an accident.
If you wish to exit the vehicle, always turn off
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 00D9
disappears from the multifunction display.
R you activate DISTRONIC PLUS.
On steep uphill or downhill gradients or if
there is a malfunction, the transmission may
also be automatically shifted into position P. 4MATIC (permanent four-wheel drive)
! Never tow the vehicle with one axle
raised. This may damage
the transfer case.
Damage of this sort is not covered by the
Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty. All
wheels must remain either on the ground
or be fully raised. Observe the instructions
for towing the vehicle with all wheels in full
contact with the ground.
! When testing the parking brake, operate
the vehicle only briefly (for a maximum of
ten seconds) on a brake test dynamometer.
When doing this, turn the SmartKey to
position 0 or 1 in the ignition. Failure to do
this can cause damage to the drive train or
the brake system.
! A function or performance test should
only be carried out on a two-axle
dynamometer. Before you operate the
vehicle on such a dynamometer, please
consult a qualified workshop. You could
otherwise damage the drive train or the
brake system.
4MATIC ensures that all four wheels are
permanently driven. Together with ESP ®
and
4ETS, it improves the traction of your vehicle
whenever a drive wheel spins due to
insufficient grip.
If a drive wheel spins due to insufficient grip:
R Only depress the accelerator pedal as far
as necessary when pulling away.
R Accelerate less when driving.
If you fail to adapt your driving style, 4MATIC
can neither reduce the risk of accident nor
override the laws of physics. 4MATIC cannot
take account of road, weather and traffic
conditions. 4MATIC is only an aid. You are
responsible for the distance to the vehicle in
front, for vehicle speed, for braking in good
time and for staying in lane. Only engage
4MATIC when the current road, weather and
traffic conditions permit it to be done safely,
and adapt your driving style accordingly.
Drive carefully and maintain a suitable
distance to the vehicle in front. Driving systems
193
Driving and parking Z

Top view
The sensors must be free from dirt, ice or
slush. Otherwise, they may not function
correctly. Clean the
sensors
regularly, taking
care not to scratch or damage them
(Y page 297).
Front sensors Center Approximately 40 in
(approximately 100 cm
from brush guard)
Corners Approximately 24 in
(approximately 60cm)
Rear sensors
Center Approximately 36 in
(approximately 90 cm)
from spare wheel
Corners Approximately 32 in
(approximately 80 cm)
Minimum distance
Center Approximately 8 in
(approximately 20 cm)
Corners Approximately 8 in
(approximately 20 cm)
If there is an obstacle within this range, the
relevant warning displays light up and a
warning tone sounds. If the distance falls
below the minimum, the distance may no
longer be shown. Warning displays
Warning display for the front area
0043
Segments on the left-hand side of the
vehicle
0044 Segments on the right-hand side of the
vehicle
0087 Segments showing operational readiness
The warning displays show the distance
between the sensors and the obstacle. The
warning display for the front area is located
on the
dashboard above
the center air vents.
The warning display for the rear area is
located on the headliner in the rear
compartment.
The warning display for each side of the
vehicle is divided into five yellow and two red
segments. PARKTRONIC is operational if
yellow segments showing operational
readiness 0087 light up.
The selected transmission position and the
direction in which the vehicle is rolling
determine which warning display is active
when the engine is running. Transmission
position Warning display
D
Front area activated
R, N or the vehicle
is rolling
backwards Rear and front areas
activated
P
No areas activatedDriving systems
195
Driving and parking Z

Problems with PARKTRONIC
Problem Possible causes/consequences and
0050 SolutionsOnly the red segments
in the PARKTRONIC
warning displays are
lit.
You
also hear a warning
tone for approximately
two seconds.
PARKTRONIC is
deactivated after a few
seconds, and the
indicator lamp in the
PARKTRONIC button
lights up. PARKTRONIC has malfunctioned and has switched off.
X
If problems persist, have PARKTRONIC checked at a qualified
specialist workshop. Only the red segments
in the PARKTRONIC
warning displays are
lit.
PARKTRONIC is
deactivated after a few
seconds. The PARKTRONIC sensors are dirty or there is interference.
X
Clean the PARKTRONIC sensors ( Y page 297).
X Switch the ignition back on. The problem may be caused by an external source of radio or
ultrasound waves.
X
See if PARKTRONIC functions in a different location. Rear view camera
Important safety notes The rear view camera is only an aid. It is not
a replacement for your attention to your
immediate surroundings. You are always
responsible for safe maneuvering and
parking. When maneuvering
or
parking, make
sure that there are no persons, animals or
objects in the area in which you are
maneuvering.
Under the following circumstances, the rear
view camera will not function, or will function
in a limited manner:
R the rear door is open
R in heavy rain, snow or fog
R at night or in very dark places
R if the camera is exposed to very bright light
R if the area is lit by fluorescent light or LED
lighting (the display may flicker) R
if there is a
sudden change in temperature,
e.g. when driving into a heated garage in
winter
R if the camera lens is dirty or obstructed
R if the rear of your vehicle is damaged. In
this event, have the camera position and
setting checked at a qualified specialist
workshop. Mercedes-Benz recommends
that you use an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center for this purpose Driving systems
197
Driving and parking Z

Activating/deactivating the rear view
camera
0043
Rear view camera X
To activate: make sure that the SmartKey
is in position 2 in the ignition lock.
X Make sure that the rear view camera
function is selected in COMAND (see the
separate operating instructions for
COMAND).
X Engage reverse gear.
The area behind the
vehicle is shown in the
COMAND display with guide lines.
X To change the function mode: using the
COMAND controller, select symbol 0043 for
the "Reverse parking" function or
symbol 0044 for "Coupling up a trailer" (see
the separate COMAND operating
instructions).
The symbol of the selected function is
highlighted. To deactivate:
the rear view camera is
deactivated if you:
R shift the transmission to position P
R drive forward ten meters
R shift the transmission from R to another
position (after 15 seconds)
R drive forwards at a speed of over 5 mph
(10 km/h) Off-road driving systems
Transfer case
General notes The vehicle has permanent all-wheel drive.
Power is always transmitted to both axles.
For further information on driving off-road,
see (
Y page 164).
Shift ranges G
WARNING
If you do not wait for the transfer case gear
change process to complete, the transfer
case could remain
in
the neutral position. The
power transmission to the driven wheels is
then interrupted. There is a danger of the
vehicle rolling away unintentionally. There is
a risk of an accident.
Wait until the transfer case shift process is
completed.
Do not turn off the engine while changing gear
and do not shift the automatic transmission
to another gear. 198
Off-road driving systems
Driving and parking

i
AMG vehicles: to shift the transfer case
to LOW RANGE, deactivate the
ECO start/
stop function (Y page 142).
X Press LOW RANGE button 0044.
When the shift procedure is complete, the
LOW RANGE transfer case position appears
in the multifunction display.
Indicator lamp 0043 lights up.
X Shift the transmission to position D.
Switching off the off-road gear ratio G
WARNING
When the transfer case is in the neutral
position, power transmission to the driven
wheels is interrupted. As
a result, the vehicle
could roll away. There is a risk of an accident.
Secure the vehicle with the parking brake, and
on uphill or downhill gradients, also secure it
with a device such as a wheel chock.
! Only carry out the gear selection if:
R the engine is running.
R the vehicle is rolling.
R the automatic transmission is in selector
lever position N.
R you are driving no faster than 43 mph
(70 km/h).
You could otherwise damage the transfer
case.
X Press button 0044.
When the shift procedure is complete, the
HIGH RANGE
transfer
case position appears
in the multifunction display.
Indicator lamp 0043 goes out.
If the gear change is not completed, the
following messages could appear in the
display:
R TC Shift Conditions Not Fulfilled
You have not met one or more shift
conditions.
R TC NEUTRAL On
The transfer case has canceled the gear
change process and is in N. The N transfer case position appears in the multifunction
display.
R TC Shift Canceled
The transfer case has not performed the
gear change process.
X Carry out the gear change process again.
Make sure to meet all conditions for
changing gears.
R TC Malfunction Visit Workshop
There is
a malfunction
in the transfer case.
X Do not shift the transfer case.
X Have the vehicle checked as soon as
possible at a qualified
specialist workshop.
Shifting to neutral G
WARNING
When the transfer case is in the neutral
position, power transmission to the driven
wheels is interrupted. As
a result, the vehicle
could roll away. There is a risk of an accident.
Secure the vehicle with the parking brake, and
on uphill or downhill gradients, also secure it
with a device such as a wheel chock.
X Turn the SmartKey to position
2 (Y page 139) in the ignition lock.
X Apply the parking brake.
X Depress the brake pedal.
X Move the selector lever to position
N(Y page 145).
X Press and hold LOW RANGE button 0044 for
approximately 10 seconds.
Once the gear change procedure is
complete, TC Neutral On message
appears in the multifunction display for
approximately
5 seconds.
If the gear change is not completed, the
following messages could appear in the
display (
Y page 238).
i If the transfer case is in Neutral, the
SmartKey is in the ignition lock and you
open the driver's door, the TC Neutral
On
message appears in the multifunction200
Off-road driving systems
Driving and parking