2013 MERCEDES-BENZ R-CLASS FAMILY TOURER engine

G
WARNING
DISTRONIC must never be operated,
activated or deactivated by a passenger or
from outside the vehicle.
You can activate DISTRONIC in the following
circumstances:
R if the engine has been started and you have
been driving for up to two minutes
R while driving, except if you brake
R the parking brake is released
R if ESP ®
is activated
R if the transmission is in position D
Activating while driving
X Briefly pull the cruise control leve rtowards
you ?or press it up :or down ;to the
pressure point.
DISTRONIC is activated.
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.
You can also activate DISTRONIC when
driving at speeds below 20 mph (30 km/h)
but only if the vehicle in front has been
detected and is shown in the multifunction
display .Ifthe vehicle in front is no longer
detected and displayed, DISTRONIC switches
off and you will hear a tone.
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 179).
i If you do not fully release the accelerator
pedal, the DISTRONIC 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. Driving
If there is no vehicle in front, DISTRONIC
operates in the same way as cruise control.
If DISTRONIC 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 detects that the vehicle in front
is driving faster, it accelerates your vehicle,
but only up to the stored speed.
Stopping
If DISTRONIC detects that the vehicle in front
is stopping, it brakes your vehicle until it is
stationary.
i
Depending on the specified minimum
distance, your vehicle will come to a
standstill at a sufficient distance behind the
vehicle in front.T he specified minimum
distance is set using the control on the
cruise control lever.
DISTRONIC is deactivated automatically
when stopping:
R on flat stretches of road or on downhill
gradients when the vehicle is stationary
R while the vehicle is still moving on uphill
gradients, to prevent the vehicle from
unexpectedly rolling back when
DISTRONIC is deactivated
If DISTRONIC is deactivated, you will hear a
warning tone.
X To prevent the vehicle from rolling away,
depress the brake pedal or engage the
parking brake.
Setting aspeed G
WARNING
Keep in mind tha titmay take a brie fmoment
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 178
Driving systemsDriving and parking

Display when DISTRONIC is activated
:
DISTRONIC activated
; Stored speed
Whe nactivating DISTRONIC and when setting
the speed, stored speed ;appears for
around five seconds.
After approximately five seconds, current
stored speed ;is shown in the multifunction
display status indicator DTR XXX Miles .
Deactivating DISTRONIC There are several ways to deactivate
DISTRONIC:
X
Briefly press the cruise control lever
forwards :.
or
X Brake.
i The last speed stored remains stored until
you switch off the engine.
DISTRONIC is automatically deactivated if:
R you engage the parking brake.
R you are driving slowe rthan 20 mph
(25 km/h) and there is no vehicle in front,
or if the vehicle in front is no longer
detected. R
ESP ®
intervenes or you deactivate ESP ®
.
R you shift the transmission to P,Ror N.
If DISTRONIC is deactivated, you will hear a
warning tone. You will see the DISTRONIC Off message in the multifunction display for
approximately five seconds.
Tips for driving with DISTRONIC Important safety notes
G
WARNING
The DISTRONIC works to maintain the speed
selected by the driver unless a moving
obstacle proceeding directly ahead of it in the
same travel direction is detected (e.g.
following another vehicle ahead of you at your
set distance).
This means that:
R Your vehicle can pass another vehicle after
you have changed lanes.
R While in a sharp turn or if the preceding
vehicle is in a sharp turn, the DISTRONIC
could lose sight of the preceding vehicle.
Your vehicle could then accelerate to the
previously selected speed.
The DISTRONIC regulates only the distance
between your vehicle and those directly
ahead of it, but does not register stationary
objects in the road, e.g.:
R a stopped vehicle in a traffic jam
R a disabled vehicle
R an oncoming vehicle
The driver must always be alert, observe all
traffic and intercede as required by means of
steering or braking the vehicle. G
WARNING
The DISTRONIC should not be used in snowy
or icy road conditions.
The following contains descriptions of certain
road and traffic conditions in which you must
be particularly attentive. In such situations,
brake if necessary. DISTRONIC PLUS is then
deactivated. Driving systems
181Driving and parking Z

Crossing vehicles
DISTRONIC may detect vehicles that are
crossing your lane by mistake. Activating
DISTRONIC at, for example, a traffic light with
crossing traffic, could cause your vehicle to
pull away at the wrong time.
Rea
raxle level control
Rear axle level control regulates the vehicle
level at the rear axle. The benefit of this is that
the vehicle level at the rear axle is kept
constant regardless of the load.
Observe the notes on driving with a trailer
(Y page 193). AIRMATIC package
General notes AIRMATIC enables a suspension tuning
setting to be selected and regulates the
damping behavior and level of your vehicle.
The system comprises two components:
These are ADS (Y
page 183) and the level
control (Y page 183).
Observe the notes on driving with a trailer
(Y page 193).
ADS (Adaptive Damping System) ADS is continuously electronically-controlled.
It adapts the damping characteristics to suit
the current operating conditions. The
damping is controlled for each wheel individually. This improves driving safety and
tire comfort.
This depends on:
R
your driving style
R the road surface conditions
R the ADS setting
R the vehicle level setting
Your selection remains stored even if you
remove the SmartKey from the ignition lock. X
Start the engine.
X Press button :repeatedly until the
desired setting is selected.
You can choose between the following ADS
settings:
R AUTO for normal driving situations;
indicator lamps ;and =are off.
R SPORT for sporty driving; indicator
lamp ;is on.
R COMF for a more comfortable ride;
indicator lamp =is on.
Level control Important safety notes
G
WARNING
Make sure no one is near the wheel housing
or under the vehicle when you lower the
vehicle while it is standing still. Limbs could
become wedged into or under the vehicle.
For safety reasons, the vehicle can only be
lowered with all doors and the tailgate closed.
Lowering is interrupted if a door or the tailgate Driving systems
183Driving and parking
Z

is opened and will continue after the door is
closed again.
! When driving on extremely rough terrain,
selec tahigh vehicle level in good time.
Make sure there is always sufficient ground
clearance. You will otherwise damage the
vehicle.
! When you raise the vehicle in such a way
that not all wheels have contact with the
ground, remove the SmartKey from the
ignition lock.
General notes
Level control adapts the vehicle level
automatically to the current operating and
driving situation. This results in reduced fuel
consumption and improved handling.
Make changes to the vehicle level while the
vehicle is in motion. This enables the vehicle
to adjust to the new level as quickly as
possible.
The vehicle level may change visibly if you
park the vehicle and the outside temperature
changes. If the temperature drops, the
vehicle level is lower; with an increase in
temperature, the vehicle level rises.
If you unlock the vehicle or open a door, the
vehicle begins to compensate for load
discrepancies while still parked. However, for
significant level changes, such as after the
vehicle has been stationary for a long period,
the engine must be on. For safety reasons,
the vehicle is only lowered when the doors are
closed. Lowering is interrupted if a door is
opened, and it continues once the door has
been closed.
Basic settings
Select raised level for very poor road
conditions or highway level for normal road
conditions. The vehicle is automatically lowered to high-
speed level when you:
R
drive faster than 70 mph (112 km/h)
R drive between 60 mph (96 km/h) and
70 mph (112 km/h) for approximately
20 seconds
The individual vehicle levels differ from
highway level as follows:
R raised level: +1.97 in (+50 mm)
R highway level: +/–0 in (+/–0 mm)
R high-speed level: –0.47 in (–12 mm)
i The high-speed level is not available if you
are towing a trailer. Observe the notes on
driving with a trailer (Y page 193).
i Observe the speed limitations. Drive
carefully at an appropriate speed.
Raised level X
Start the engine.
Indicator lamp ;is not lit:
X Press button :.
Indicator lamp ;flashes. The vehicle rises
to raised level. Example: vehicles with the AIRMATIC package and
compass184
Driving systemsDriving and parking

During the adjustment, the
Rising message,
for example, appears in the multifunction
display.
If you press the V,U,*or&
button on the multifunctio nsteering wheel,
the message will disappear.
Once the vehicle has reache draised level,
indicator lamp ;remains lit .The Raised Level message appears for approximately
five seconds in the multifunction display.
If you select raised level at a speed above
25 mph (40 km/h), the Level SelectionNot Permitted message appears in the
multifunction display.
The vehicle is automatically lowered to
highway level if you drive faster than
25 mph (40 km/h) at raised level.
Only select raised level when this is
appropriate for the road conditions.
Otherwise, fuel consumption may increase
and handling may be affected.
Highway level
! Make sure that there is enough ground
clearance when the vehicle is being
lowered. It could otherwise hit the ground,
damaging the underbody. X
Make sure that the doors are closed.
X Start the engine.
If indicator lamp ;is lit:
X Press button :.
Indicator lamp ;flashes. The vehicle is
lowered to highway level. Example: vehicles with the AIRMATIC package and
compass
During the adjustment, the
Being Lowered message, for example, appears in the
multifunction display.
If you press the
V,U,*or&
button on the multifunction steering wheel,
the message will disappear.
Once highway level has been reached,
indicator lamp ;goes out. The AIRMATIC message appears for approximately five
seconds in the multifunction display.
The vehicle is automatically lowered to
highway level if you drive faster than
25 mph (40 km/h) at raised level. It is
automatically raised to highway level if you
drive slower than 40 mph
(64 km/h) at high-
speed level. 4MATIC (permanent four-wheel drive)
G
WARNING
If a drive wheel is spinning due to insufficient
traction:
R While driving off, apply as little throttle as
possible.
R While driving, ease up on the accelerator
pedal.
R Adap tyour speed and driving style to the
prevailing road conditions.
Failure to observe these guidelines could
cause the vehicle to skid.
4MATIC cannot prevent accidents resulting
from excessive speed.
! Never tow the vehicle with one axle
raised. This may damage the transfer case.
Damage of this sort is not covered by the Driving systems
185Driving and parking Z

PARKTRONIC may not function correctly on
uneven terrain.
Side view
Top view
The sensors must be free of dirt, ice and
slush. Otherwise, they may not function
correctly. Clean the sensors regularly, taking
care not to scratch or damage them
(Y
page 293).
Front sensors Center approximately 40in
(approximately 100cm)
Corners approximately 24in
(approximately 60cm)
Rear sensors
Center approximately 48in
(approximately 120cm)
Corners approximately 32in
(approximately 80cm) Minimum distance
Center approximately 8in
(approximately 20cm)
Corners approximately 6in
(approximately 15cm)
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 fron
tarea
: Segments on the left-hand side of the
vehicle
; Segments on the right-hand side of the
vehicle
= Segments showing operational readiness
The warning displays show the distance
betwee nthe 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 in the
roof lamp 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 =light up.
The selected transmission position
determines which warning display is active
when the engine is running. Driving systems
187Driving and parking Z

tone sounds. Red warning lamp
:flashes. If
the tur nsignal remains on, detected vehicles
are indicated by the flashing of red warning
lamp :.There are no further warning tones.
Switching on Blind Spot Assist X
Make sure that the radar sensor system
(Y page 209) and Blind Spot Assist
(Y page 211) are activated in the on-board
computer.
X Turn the SmartKey to position 2in the
ignition lock.
Warning lamps :in the exterior mirrors
light up red for approximately
1.5 seconds and then turn yellow.
Towing atrailer When you attach a trailer, make sure you have
correctly established the electrical
connection. This ca
nbe accomplished by
checking the trailer lighting. In this event,
Blind Spot Assist is deactivated. The indicator
lamp in the exterior mirrors lights up yellow,
and the Blind Spot Assist Currently Unavailable See Operator's Manual
message appears in the multifunction
display.
i
You can deactivate the indicator lamps in
the exterior mirrors.
To do so, switch off Blind Spot Assist when:
R the SmartKey is in position 2in the
ignition lock.
R the engine is not running.
R the electrical connection to the trailer
has been established. Towing
atrailer Notes on towing
atrailer
Important safety notes G
WARNING
If you install a ball coupling other tha nthe one
delivered with the vehicle, the trailer tow hitch
and the rear axle may be overloaded. This
applies especially if the ball coupling in
question is longer or angled differently. This
could seriously impair the driving
characteristics and the trailer can come
loose. There is a risk of an accident.
Only install the ball coupling delivered with
the vehicle or a ball coupling that is designed
to meet your trailer towing requirements. Do
not modify the ball coupling or the trailer tow
hitch. G
WARNING
If the ball coupling is not installed correctly or
not secured with the bolt provided and the
corresponding spring cotter, the trailer may
come loose. There is a risk of an accident.
Always install and secure the ball coupling as
described. Before every journey, ensure that
the ball coupling is secured with the bolt and
the corresponding spring cotter. 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.N ever
depress the brake pedal and the accelerator
pedal at the same time. G
WARNING
When the vehicle/trailer combination begins
to lurch, you could lose control of it. The
vehicle/trailer combination could even
rollover. There is a risk of an accident. Towing
atrailer
193Driving an d parking
Z

X
Start the engine.
X Vehicles with the AIRMATIC package:
select highway level and set ADS to
AUTO orCOMF.
X Switch off the engine.
X Close all doors and the tailgate.
X Couple up the trailer.
X Establish all electrical connections.
i The vehicle's wiring harness features a
cable connection to the brake indicator
lamp.
i Vehicles with the AIRMATIC package:
with a traile rattached, the vehicle will
always remai nathighway level. When
coupling up a trailer, please observe the
following:
R Unless highway level has been set
manually, the vehicle automatically
lowers to highway level when it reaches
a speed of 5mph (8 km/h).
R High-speed level is not available.
These restrictions apply to all accessories
powered through a connection to the trailer
power socket of your vehicle, e.g. a bicycle
carrier.
Observe the maximum permissible trailer
dimensions (width and length).
Most U.S.s tates and all Canadia nprovinces
require by law:
R safety chains between the towing vehicle
and the trailer. The chains should be cross-
wound under the trailer drawbar. They must
be fastened to the vehicle's trailer
coupling, not to the bumper or the axle.
Allow for enough play in the chains to
facilitate turning tight corners.
R a separate brake system for certain types
of trailer.
R a safety switch for braked trailers. Check
the specific legal requirements applicable
to yours tate. If the trailer detaches from the towing
vehicle, the safety switch applies the
trailer's brakes. Towing
atrailer
There are numerous legal requirements
concerning the towing of a trailer, e.g .speed
restrictions. Make sure that your vehicle/
trailer combination complies with the local
requirements not only in your area of
residence but also at any location to which
you are traveling. The police and local
authorities can provide reliable information.
Please observe the following when towing a
trailer:
R To acquaint yourself with driving with a
trailer and with the resulting changes to
handling, you should practice cornering,
stopping and backing up in a traffic-free
location.
R Before driving, check:
-Trailer tow hitch
- Safety switch for braked trailers
- Safety chains
- Electrical connections
- Lights
- the wheels
R Adjust the exterior mirrors to provide an
unobstructed view of the rear section of the
trailer.
R If the trailer features electronically
controlled brakes, pull away the vehicle/
trailer combination carefully, manually
brake using the brake controller, and check
the brakes for correct function.
R Secure any objects on the trailer to prevent
the cargo from slipping when the vehicle is
in motion.
R If you couple up a trailer, regularly check
the cargo for secure fastening and make
sure that the trailer lamps and (if
applicable) the trailer brakes are
functioning correctly. Towing
atrailer
195Driving an d parking Z