operation is possible using the switches in
the rear compartment.
Driving safety systems
Overview of driving safety systems
In this section, you will find information about
the following driving safety systems:
R ABS (Anti-lock BrakingSystem)
R BAS (Brake AssistSystem)
R BAS PLUS ( BrakeAssist System Plus)
R ESP ®
(Electronic StabilityProgram)
R EBD ( Electronic Brake force Distribution)
R PRE-SAFE ®
Brake Important safety notes
If you fail to adapt your driving style or
become distracted, the driving safety
systems can neither reduce the risk of
accident nor override the laws of physics.
Driving safety systems are merely aids
designed to assist driving. You are
responsible for the distance to the vehicle in
front, for vehicle speed and for braking in
good time. Always adapt your driving style to
suit the prevailing road and weather
conditions and maintain asafe distance from
the vehicle in front. Drive carefully.
i The driving safety systems described only
work as effectively as possible when there
is adequate contact between the tires and
the road surface. Please pay special
attention to the note son tires,
recommended minimu mtire tread depths,
etc. (Y page 328).
In wintry driving conditions, always use
winter tires (M+S tires) and if necessary,
snow chains. Only in this way will the
driving safety systems described in this
section work as effectively as possible. ABS (Anti-lock Braking System)
Important safety notes i
Observe the "Importan tsafety notes"
sectio n(Ypage 64). G
WARNING
If ABSi s faulty, the wheels could lock when
braking. The steerability and braking
characteristics may be severely impaired.
Additionally, further driving safety systems
are deactivated. There is an increased danger
of skidding and accidents.
Drive on carefully. Have ABS checked
immediately at a qualified specialist
workshop.
When ABS is malfunctioning, other systems,
including driving safety systems, will also
become inoperative. Observe the information
on the ABS warning lamp (Y page 259) and
display messages which may be shown in the
instrument cluster (Y page 232).
ABS regulates brake pressure in such a way
that the wheels do not lock when you brake.
This allows you to continue steering the
vehicle when braking.
ABS works from a speed of about 5 mph
(8 km/h) upwards, regardless of road-surface
conditions. ABS works on slippery surfaces,
even if you only brake gently.
The yellow 001AABS warning lamp in the
instrument cluster lights up when the ignition
is switched on. It goes out when the engine is
running.
Braking X
If ABS intervenes: continue to depress the
brake pedal vigorously until the braking
situation is over.
X To make a full brake application:
depress the brake pedal with full force.
If ABS intervenes when braking, you will feel
a pulsing in the brake pedal.
The pulsating brake pedal can be an
indication of hazardous road conditions, and 64
Driving safety systemsSafety
reduce the effects of such a collision. If PRE-
SAFE
®
Brake has detected a risk of collision,
you will be warned visually and acoustically
as well as by automatic braking. PRE-SAFE ®
Brake cannot prevent a collision without your
intervention.
Starting at a speed of around
4 mph (7 km/h), this function warns you if
you very quickly approach a vehicle in front.
An intermittent warning tone will then sound
and the 000Bdistance warning lamp will light
up in the instrument cluster.
X Brake immediately in order to increase the
distance from the vehicle in front.
or
X Take evasive action provided it is safe to do
so.
From a speed of approximately
4 mph (7 km/h), if the driver and front
passenger have fastened their seat belts,
PRE-SAFE ®
Brake can brake the vehicle
automatically at speeds up to approximately
124 mph (200 km/h).
Due to the nature of the system, particularly
complicated driving conditions may cause
unnecessary warnings or the unnecessary
intervention of PRE-SAFE ®
Brake.
You can prevent the intervention of the PRE-
SAFE ®
Brake at any time by:
R depressing the accelerator peda lfurther
R activating kickdown
R releasing the brake pedal
The braking action of PRE-SAFE ®
Brake is
ended automatically if:
R you maneuve rto avoid the obstacle.
R there is no longer any danger of a rear-end
collision.
R there is no longer an obstacle detected in
front of your vehicle.
At speeds of up to approximately 40 mph
(70 km/h) ,PRE-SAFE ®
Brake can also detect
stationary objects .Examples of stationary
objects are stopped or parked vehicles. If you approach an obstacle and PRE-SAFE
®
Brake detects a ris kofacollision, the system
will alert you both visuall yand acoustically. If
you do not brake or take evasive action, the
system will warn you by automatically braking
the vehicle gently .Ifthere is an increased risk
of collision, preventative passenger
protection measures (PRE-SAFE ®
) are
activated (Y page 52). If the risk of collision
with the vehicle in front remains and you do
not brake, take evasive action or accelerate
significantly, automatic braking may be
performed up to a level of emergency braking.
Automatic emergency braking is not
performed until immediately prior to an
accident that can no longer be avoided. G
WARNING
PRE-SAFE ®
Brake will initially brake your
vehicle by a partial application of the brakes
if a danger of collision is detected. There may
be a collision unless you also brake.
Automatic emergency braking cannot prevent
a collision. There is a risk of an accident.
Always apply the brakes yourself and try to
take evasive action. G
WARNING
PRE-SAFE ®
Brake cannot always clearly
identify objects and complex traffic
conditions.
In these cases, PRE-SAFE ®
Brake may:
R give an unnecessary warning and then
brake the vehicle
R not give a warning or intervene
There is a risk of an accident.
Always pay particular attention to the traffic
situation and be ready to brake, especially if
PRE-SAFE ®
Brake warns you. Terminate the
intervention in a non-critical driving situation.
In particular, the detection of obstacles can
be impaired if:
R dirt on the sensors or anything else
covering the sensors
R snow or heavy rain 70
Driving safety systemsSafety
Useful information
i This Operator's Manual describes all
models and all standard and optional
equipment of your vehicle available at the
time of publication of the Operator's
Manual. Country-specific differences are
possible. Please note that your vehicle may
not be equipped with all features
described. This also applies to safety-
related systems and functions.
i Read the information on qualified
specialist workshops: (Y page 27).Correct driver's seat position
X
Observe the safety guidelines on seat
adjustment (Y page 97).
X Make sure that seat 0021is adjusted
properly.
Electrical seat adjustment (Y page 98)
When adjusting the seat, make sure that:
R you are as far away from the driver's air bag
as possible.
R you are sitting in a normal upright position.
R you can faste nthe seat belt properly. R
you have moved the backrest to an almost
vertical position.
R you have set the seat cushion angle so that
your thighs are gently supported.
R you can depress the pedals properly.
X Check whether the head restraint is
adjusted properly.
When doing so, make sure that you have
adjusted the head restraint so that the back
of your head is supported at eye level by
the center of the head restraint.
X Observe the safety guidelines on steering
wheel adjustment (Y page 102).
X Make sure that steering wheel 0002is
adjusted properly.
Adjusting the steering wheel manually
(Y page 102)
Adjusting the steering wheel electrically
(Y page 102)
When adjusting the steering wheel, make
sure that:
R you can hold the steering wheel with your
arms slightly bent.
R you can move your legs freely.
R you can see all the displays in the
instrumentc luster clearly.
X Observe the safety guidelines for seat belts
(Y page 54).
X Check whether you have fastened the seat
belt 0003properly (Y page 56).
The seat belt should:
R fit snugly across your body
R be routed across the middle of your
shoulder
R be routed in your pelvic area across the hip
joints
X Before starting off, adjust the rear-view
mirror and the exterior mirrors in such a
way that you have a good view of road and
traffic conditions (Y page 103).
X Vehicles with a memory function: save
the seat, steering wheel and exterior mirror 96
Correct driver's seat positionSeats, steering wheel and mirrors
Useful information
i This Operator's Manual describes all
models and all standard and optional
equipment of your vehicle available at the
time of publication of the Operator's
Manual. Country-specific differences are
possible. Please note that your vehicle may
not be equipped with all features
described. This also applies to safety-
related systems and functions.
i Read the information on qualified
specialist workshops: (Y page 27).Overview of climate control systems
Important safety notes
Observe the settings recommended on the
following pages. The windows could
otherwise fog up.
To preven tthe windows from fogging up:
R switch off climate control only briefly
R switch on air-recirculation mode only
briefly
R switch on the cooling with air
dehumidification function
R switch on the defrost windshield function
briefly, if required
Climate control regulates the temperature
and the humidity in the vehicle interior and
filters undesirable substances out of the air.
Climate control can only be operated when
the engine is running. Optimum operation is
only achieved with the side windows and roof
closed.
The residual heat function can only be
activated or deactivated with the ignition
switched off (Y page 136).
i Ventilate the vehicle for a brief period
during warm weather, e.g. using the
convenience opening feature (Y page 87).
This will speed up the cooling process and
the desired vehicle interior temperature
will be reached more quickly. i
The integrated filter can filter out most
particles of dust, and completely filters out
pollen. Aclogged filter reduces the amount
of air supplied to the vehicle interior .For
this reason, you should always observe the
interval for replacing the filter, which is
specified in the Maintenance Booklet .As it
depends on environmental conditions, e.g.
heavy air pollution, the interval may be
shorter than stated in the Maintenance
Booklet.
i It is possible that the dehumidification
function of the climate control system may
be activated automatically an hour after the
SmartKey has been removed. The vehicle
is ventilated for 30 minutes. 126
Overview of climate control systemsClimate control
Notes on using 3-zone automatic
climate control
Automatic climate control The following contains instructions and
recommendations to enable you to ge tthe
most out of your automatic climate control.
R Activate climate control using the 0004and
0005 buttons. The indicator lamps in the
0004 and0005 buttons light up.
R In automatic mode, you can also use the
000A button to adjust airflow (FOCUS/
MEDIUM/DIFFUSE). The MEDIUM level is
recommended.
R Set the temperature to 72 ‡ (22 †).
R Only use the "windshield defrosting"
function briefly until the windshield is clear
again.
R Only use air-recirculation mode briefly, e.g.
if there are unpleasant outside odors or
when in a tunnel. The windows could
otherwise fog up, since no fresh air is drawn
into the vehicle in air-recirculation mode.
R Use the ZONE function to adopt the
temperature settings on the driver's side
for the front-passenger side and the rear
compartmenta s well.The indicator lamp in
the 0003 button goes out.
R Use the residual heat function if you want
to heat or ventilate the vehicle interior
when the ignition is switched off. The
residual heat function can only be activated
or deactivated with the ignition switched
off.
ECO start/stop function During automatic engine switch-off, the ECO
start/stop function only operates at a
reduced capacity. If you require the full
climate control output, you can switch off the
ECO start/stop function by pressing the ECO
button (Y page 146). Operating the climate control
systems
Switching climate control on/off
Points to observe before use When the climate control is switched off, the
air supply and air circulation are also
switched off. Only use this setting for a brief
period. The windows could otherwise fog up.
Only switch off climate control briefly to
prevent the windows from fogging up.
i
Switch on climate control primarily using
the 0004 button (Y page 132).
Activating/deactivating X
Turn the SmartKey to position 2in the
ignition lock (Y page 141).
X To activate: press the0004button.
The indicator lamp in the 0004button lights
up. Airflow and air distribution are set to
automatic mode.
or
X Press the 000Cbutton.
The indicator lamp in the 000Cbutton goes
out. The previously selected settings are
restored.
X To deactivate: press the000Cbutton.
The indicator lamp in the 000Cbutton lights
up. Activating/deactivating cooling with
air dehumidification
Points to observe before use If you switch off the cooling function, the
vehicle will not be cooled when weather
conditions are warm. The windows can fog up
more quickly. Only deactivate the cooling
with air dehumidification function for a short
time to prevent the windows from fogging up.
The cooling with air dehumidification function
is only available when the engine is running.
The air inside the vehicle is cooled andOperating the climate control systems
131Climate control
dehumidified according to the temperature
selected.
Condensation may drip from the underside of
the vehicle when it is in cooling mode. This is
normal and not a sign that there is a
malfunction.
Activating/deactivating
X
To activate: press the0005button.
The indicator lamp in the 0005button lights
up.
i When the "Cooling with air
dehumidification" function is activated,
one of the indicator lamps on the auxiliary
heating button will light up on vehicles with
auxiliary heating.
X To deactivate: press the0005button.
The indicator lamp in the 0005button goes
out. The "Cooling with air dehumidification"
function has a delayed switch-of ffeature.
Problems with the "Cooling with air
dehumidification" function When you press the
0005button, the
indicator lamp in the button flashes three
times or remains off. You can no longer switch
on the cooling with air dehumidification
function.
X Visit a qualified specialist workshop. Setting the climate control to
automatic
In automatic mode, the set temperature is
maintained automatically at a constan tlevel.
The system automatically regulates the
temperature of the dispensed air, the airflow
and the air distribution.
The automatic mode functions optimally
when the "Cooling with air dehumidification"
function is activated. If necessary, cooling
with air dehumidification can be deactivated.
If you switch off the cooling function, the
vehicle will not be cooled when weather conditions are warm. The windows can fog up
more quickly. Only deactivate the cooling
with air dehumidification function for a short
time to preven
tthe windows from fogging up.
X Turn the SmartKey to position 2in the
ignition lock (Y page 141).
X Set the desired temperature.
X To activate: press the0004button.
The indicator lamp in the 0004button lights
up. Automatic air distribution and airflow
are activated.
3-zone automatic climate control: when
automatic mode is activated, you can adjust
airflow (Y page 132).
X To selectm anually:press the 0015
button.
or
X Press the 0017or0016 button.
The indicator lamp in the 0004button goes
out. Automatic aird istribution and airflow
are deactivated. Adjusting airflow
This function is only available with 3-zone
automatic climate control.
In automatic mode you can select the
following airflow settings:
FOCUS high airflow that is set slightly cooler
MEDIUM medium airflow, standard setting
DIFFUSE low airflow that is set slightly warmer and with less draft
X Turn the SmartKey to position 2in the
ignition lock (Y page 141).
X Press the 0004button.
X Press the 000Abutton repeatedly until the
required airflow setting appears in the
display. 132
Operating the climate control systemsClimate control
Every time you switch on the engine using the
SmartKey or the Start/Stop button, the ECO
start/stop function is activated.
If the ECO start/stop function has been
manually deactivated (Y page 146) or a
malfunctio nhas caused the system to be
deactivated, the 000Esymbol is not
displayed.
Automatic engine switch-off General notes
The ECO start/stop function is operational
and the 000Esymbol is displayed in green in
the multifunction display, if:
R the indicator lamp in th eECO butto nis lit
green.
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 not all conditions for automatic engine
switch-off are fulfilled, the 000Esymbol is
shown in yellow.
i All of the vehicle's systems remain active
when the engine has been stopped
automatically.
i The engine can be switched off
automatically a maximum of four times
(first stop and three subsequent stops) in
succession. The 000Esymbol is shown in
yellow in the multifunction display after the
engine has been started automatically for
the fourth time. When the 000Esymbol is
shown in green in the multifunction display, automatic engine switch-off is again
possible.
Vehicles with automatic transmission
If the vehicle is braked to a standstill in Dor
N, the ECO start/stop function switches off
the engine automatically.
i The HOLD function can be activated 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.
Automatic engine start General notes
The engine starts automatically if:
R
you switch off the ECO start/stop function
by pressing the ECO button.
R you engage reverse gear R.
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 condition of charge of the battery is too
low.
R the driver's seat belt is removed or the
driver's door is opened.
Vehicles with automatic transmission
The engine is started automatically if you:
R release the brake pedal when HOLD is not
activated and the transmission is in
position Dor N.
R depress the accelerator pedal.
R move the transmission out of position P.
i Shifting the transmission to position P
does not start the engine. Driving
145Driving and parking Z
i
The ECO display summaries the driving
characteristics from the start of the journey
to its completion .For this reason, the bars
change dynamically at the beginning of the
journey. On longer journeys, there are
fewer changes. For more dynamic changes,
carry out a manual reset.
Further information on the ECO display
(Y page 220). Brakes
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.
Downhill gradients !
On long and steep gradients, you must
reduce the load on the brakes by shifting
early to a lower gear. This allows you to take
advantage of the engine braking effect and
helps avoid overheating and excessive
wear of the brakes.
When you take advantage of the engine
braking effect, a drive wheel may not turn
for some time, e.g. on a slippery road
surface. This could cause damage to the
drive train. This type of damage is not
covered by the Mercedes-Benz warranty.
Heavy and light loads G
WARNING
If you rest your foot on the brake pedal while
driving, the braking system can overheat. This
increases the stopping distance and can even
cause the braking system to fail. There is a
risk of an accident. Never use the brake pedal as a footrest. Never
depress the brake pedal and the accelerator
pedal at the same time.
! Depressing the brake pedal constantly
results in excessive and premature wear to
the brake pads.
If the brakes have been subjected to a heavy
load, do not stop the vehicle immediately.
Drive on for a short while. This allows the
airflow to cool the brakes more quickly.
Wet roads If you have driven for a long time in heavy rain
without braking, there may be a delayed
reaction from the brakes when braking for the
first time. This may also occur after the
vehicle has been washed.
You have to depress the brake pedal more
firmly. Maintain a greater distance from the
vehicle in front.
After driving on a wet road or having the
vehicle washed, brake firmly while paying
attention to the traffic conditions. This will
warm up the brake discs, thereby drying them
more quickly and protecting them against
corrosion.
Limited braking performance on salt-
treated roads If you drive on salted roads, a layer of salt
residue may form on the brake discs and
brake pads. This can result in a significantly
longer braking distance.
R
Brake occasionally to remove any possible
salt residue. Make sure that you do not
endanger other road users when doing so.
R Carefully depress the brake pedal and the
beginning and end of a journey.
R Maintain a greater distance to the vehicle
ahead. 164
Driving tipsDriving and parking