PLUS cannot intervene in these cases. There
is a risk of an accident.
Always pay careful attention to the traffic
situation and be ready to brake.
In particular, the detection of obstacles can
be impaired if there is:
R dirt on the sensors or anything else
covering the sensors
R snow or heavy rain
R interference by other radar sources
R the possibility of strong radar reflections,
for example in parking garages
R a narrow vehicle traveling in front, e.g. a
motorbike
R a vehicle traveling in frontonadifferent line
relative to the center of your vehicle G
WARNING
BAS PLUS does not react:
R to people or animals
R to oncoming vehicles
R to crossing traffic
R when cornering
As aresult, BAS PLUS may not intervene in all
critical situations. There is a risk of an
accident.
Always pay careful attention to the traffic
situation and be ready to brake.
Following damage to the fron tend of the
vehicle, have the configuratio nand operation
of the rada rsensors checked at a qualified
specialist workshop. This also applies to
collisions at low speeds where there is no
visible damage to the fron tofthe vehicle.
i This device has been approved by the FCC
as a "VehicularR adar System". The radar
sensor is intended for use in an automotive
radar system only. Removing, altering or
tampering with the device will void any
warranties, and is no tpermitted by the
FCC. Do not tamper with, alter, or use the
device in any non-approved way. Any unauthorized modification to this
device could void the user's authority to
operate the equipment. ESP
®
(Electronic Stability Program)
Important safety notes i
Observe the "Important safety notes"
section (Y page 59). G
WARNING
If ESP ®
is malfunctioning, ESP ®
is unable to
stabilize the vehicle. Additionally, further
driving safety systems are deactivated. This
increases the risk of skidding and an accident.
Drive on carefully. Have ESP ®
checked at a
qualified specialist workshop.
! When testing the electric parking brake
on a braking dynamometer, switch off the
ignition .Application of the brakes by
ESP ®
may otherwise destroy the brake
system.
When towing the vehicle with the rear axle
raised, observe the notes on
ESP ®
(Y page 302).
ESP ®
is deactivated if the 0014warning lamp
in the instrument cluster lights up
continuously when the engin eis running.
If the 000C warning lamp and the 0014
warning lamp are lit continuously, ESP ®
is not
available due to a malfunction.
Observe the information on warning lamps
(Y page 246) and displaym essages which
may be shown in the instrument cluster
(Y page 212).
If ESP ®
detects that the vehicle is deviating
from the direction desired by the driver, one
or more wheels are braked to stabilize the
vehicle. The engine output is also modified to
keep the vehicle on the desired course within
physical limits. ESP ®
assists the driver when
pulling away on wet or slippery roads. ESP ®
can also stabilize the vehicle during braking. Driving safet
ysystems
61Safety Z
ADAPTIVE BRAKE
ADAPTIVE BRAKE enhances braking safety
and offers increased braking comfort. In
addition to the braking function, ADAPTIVE
BRAKE also has the HOLD function
(Y page 177) and hill start assist
(Y page 139). PRE-SAFE
®
Brake
i Observe the "Importan tsafety notes"
sectio n(Ypage 59).
PRE-SAFE ®
Brake is only available in vehicles
with DISTRONIC PLUS.
PRE-SAFE ®
Brake can help you to minimize
the risk of a collision with a vehicle ahead or
reduce the effects of such a collision. If PRE-
SAFE ®
Brake detects a risk of collision, you
will be warned visually and acoustically as
well as by automatic braking. PRE-SAFE ®
Brake cannot preven tacollision withoutyour
intervention.
Starting at a speed of around
20 mph (30 km/h), this function warns you if
you very quickly approach a vehicle in front.
An intermittent warning tone will then sound
and the 000Cdistance warning lamp will light
up in the instrument cluster.
X Brake immediately in orde rto 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
20 mph (30 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 pedal further
R activating kickdown
R releasing the brake pedal.
The braking action of PRE-SAFE ®
Brake is
ended automatically if:
R you maneuver to 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.
With the help of the radar sensor system,
PRE-SAFE ®
Brake can detect obstacles that
are in front of your vehicle for an extended
period of time.
At speeds up to approximately
40 mph (70 km/h), PRE-SAFE ®
Brake can
also detect stationary obstacles such as
stopped or parked vehicles.
If you approach an obstacle and PRE-SAFE ®
Brake detects a risk of a collision, the system
will alert you both visually and acoustically. If
you do not brake or take evasive action, the
system will warn you by automatically braking
the vehicle gently. If there is an increased risk
of collision, preventative passenger
protection measures (PRE-SAFE ®
) are
activated (Y page 50).
If a risk of collision remains and you do not
brake, take evasive action or significantly
accelerate, automatic braking may be
performed up to a level of automatic
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 emergenc ybraking cannot prevent
a collision. There is a risk of an accident. Driving safety systems
65Safety
Z
Always apply the brakes yoursel
fand try to
take evasive action. G
WARNING
PRE-SAFE ®
Brake canno talways clearly
identify objects and complex traffic
conditions.
In these cases, PRE-SAFE ®
Brake may:
R give an unnecessary warnin gand then
brake the vehicle
R not give a warning or intervene
There is a risk of an accident.
Always pay particula rattention to the traffic
situatio nand be ready to brake, especially if
PRE-SAFE ®
Brake warns you. Terminate the
interventio ninanon-critical driving situation.
In particular, the detection of obstacles can
be impaired if there is:
R dirt on the sensors or anything else
covering the sensors
R snow or heavy rain
R interference by othe rradar sources
R the possibility of strong radar reflections,
for example in parking garages
R a narrow vehicle traveling in front, e.g. a
motorbike
R a vehicle traveling in fron tonadifferent line
relative to the center of your vehicle G
WARNING
PRE-SAFE ®
Brake does not react:
R to people or animals
R to oncoming vehicles
R to crossing traffic
R when cornering
As a result, PRE-SAFE ®
Brake may neither
give warnings nor intervene in all critical
situations. There is a risk of an accident.
Always pay careful attention to the traffic
situation and be ready to brake. In order to maintain the appropriate distance
to the vehicle in front and thus prevent a
collision, you must apply the brakes yourself.
X
To activate/deactivate: activate or
deactivate PRE-SAFE ®
Brake in the on-
board computer (Y page 202).
When PRE-SAFE ®
Brake is activated, the
0001 symbol appears in the multifunction
display as long as the HOLD function is
deactivated (Y page 177). On vehicles with
Parking Guidance, the 0001symbol is
displayed when position Pis engaged or
you are driving faster than 22 mph
(35 km/h).
For PRE-SAFE ®
Brake to assist you when
driving, the radar senso rsystem mus tbe
switched on (Y page 206) and be
operational.
Following damage to the front end of the
vehicle, have the configuration and operation
of the radar sensors checked at a qualified
specialist workshop. This also applies to
collisions at low speeds where there is no
visible damage to the front of the vehicle.
i USA only: This device has been approved
by the FCC as a "Vehicular RadarS ystem".
The rada rsensor is intended for use in an
automotive radar system only. Removing,
altering or tampering with the device will
void any warranties, and is not permitted
by the FCC. Do not tamper with, alter, or
use the device in any non-approved way.
Any unauthorized modification to this
device could void the user's authority to
operate the equipment. Theft deterrent locking system
Immobilizer
X To activate with the SmartKey: remove
the SmartKey from the ignition lock.
X To activate with KEYLESS-GO: switch the
ignition off and open the driver's door.
X To deactivate: switch on the ignition.66
Theft deterrent locking systemSafety
Hill start assist
G
WARNING
After a short time, hil lstar tassist 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.N ever
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 Remove your foot from 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 on vehicles with automatic transmission,
the transmission is in N.
R the electric parking brake is applied.
R ESP ®
is malfunctioning. ECO start/stop function
Important safety notes G
WARNING
If the engine is switched off automatically and
you exit the vehicle, the engine is restarted
automatically. The vehicle may begin moving.
There is a risk of accident and injury.
If you wish to exit the vehicle, always turn off
the ignition and secure the vehicle against
rolling away. General notes The ECO start/stop function switches the
engine off automatically when the vehicle
stops moving.
The engine starts automatically when the
driver wants to pull away again. The ECO
start/stop function thereby helps you to
reduce the fuel consumption and emissions
of your vehicle.
Every time you switch on the engine using the
SmartKey or the Start/Stop button, the ECO
start/stop function is activated.
AMG vehicles:
the ECO start/stop function
is only available in drive program C.
The system is operational if all conditions for
automatic engine switch-off have been
fulfilled (Y page 141)a nd the000Esymbol is
shown in the multifunctio ndisplay.
AMG vehicles: the AMG menu in the
multifunction display additionally shows
Stop/Start Active message.
If conditions for automatic engine switch-off
have not been fulfilled (Y page 141), the
000E symbol will not be shown.
AMG vehicles: the AMG menu in the
multifunction display also shows the Stop/ Start Inactive message.
If the ECO start/stop function has been
manually deactivated (Y page 140) or a
malfunction has caused the system to be
deactivated, the 000Esymbol is not
displayed.
AMG vehicles: theStop/Start Active or
Stop/Start Inactive display message
goes out in the AMG men uofthe
multifunction display.
i AMG vehicles: If automatic cylinder shut-
off is active in drive program C, the number
of active cylinders 4is also shown in the
000E symbol. This means that the engine
is operating with four cylinders.
If cylinder shut-off is not active, the engine
will operate with all eight cylinders. In this Driving
139Driving and parking Z
Engaging reverse gear
! Only shif tinto reverse gear Rwhen the
vehicle is stationary. Otherwise, you could
damage the transmission.
X Stop the vehicle.
X Depress the clutch pedal fully.
X shift to neutral N.
X Move the gear lever firmly to the left
beyond the point of resistance and then
forwards. Shift recommendation
X
Shift gear according to gearshift
recommendation 0003when shown in the
multifunctio ndisplay of the instrument
cluster.
The gearshift recommendations assist you in
adopting an economical driving style. The
recommended gear is shown in the
multifunction display. Automatic transmission
Important safety notes
G
WARNING
If the engine speed is above the idling speed
and you engage transmission position Dor
R, the vehicle could pull away suddenly. There
is a risk of an accident. When engaging transmission position
Dor R,
always firmly depress the brake pedal and do
not simultaneously accelerate. G
WARNING
The automatic transmission switches to
neutral position Nwhen you switch off the
engine. The vehicle may roll away. There is a
risk of an accident.
After switching off the engine, always switch
to parking position P. Prevent the parked
vehicle fro mrolling away by applying the
parking brake. Selector lever
Overview of transmission positions Selector lever
0014
Park position with selector lever lock
0011 Reverse gear
0012 Neutral
0013 Drive Automatic transmission
145Driving and parking Z
Drive sensibly
–save fuel Observe the following tips to save fuel:
R The tires should always be inflated to the
recommended tire pressure.
R Remove unnecessary loads.
R War mup the engine at low engine speeds.
R Avoid frequen tacceleration or braking.
R Observe the service intervals in the
Maintenance Booklet or in the service
interval display .Have all the maintenance
work carried in accordance with Daimler
AG regulations.
Fuel consumption also increases when
driving in cold weather, in stop-and-go traffic
and in mountainous terrain.
Drinking and driving G
WARNING
Drinking and driving and/or taking drugs and
driving are very dangerous combinations.
Even a small amoun tofalcohol or drugs can
affec tyour reflexes, perceptions and
judgment.
The possibility of a serious or even fatal
accident are greatly increased when you drink
or take drugs and drive.
Do not drink or take drugs and drive or allow
anyone to drive who has been drinking or
taking drugs.
Exhaust check G
WARNING
Combustion engines emit poisonous exhaust
gases such as carbon monoxide. Inhaling
these exhaust gases leads to poisoning. There
is a risk of fatal injury. Therefore never leave
the engine running in enclosed spaces
without sufficient ventilation.
Certain engine systems are designed to keep
the level of poisonous components in exhaust
fumes within legal limits. These systems only work at peak efficiency if
they are serviced exactly in accordance with
the manufacturer's specifications. All work
on the engine must be carried out only by
qualified and authorized Mercedes-Benz
technicians.
The engine settings must not be changed
under any circumstances. Furthermore, all
specific service work must be carried out at
regular intervals and in accordance with the
Mercedes-Benz service requirements. Details
can be found in the Maintenance Booklet.
ECO display
Example: ECO display
The ECO display provides feedback on how
economical your driving characteristics are.
The ECO display assists you in achieving the
most economical driving style for the
selected settings and existin
gconditions.
Consumption can be significantly influenced
by your driving style.
The ECO display consists of three bars:
R Acceleration
R Constant
R Coasting
The percentage count is the mean value of the
three bar values. The three bars and the mean
value begin at the value of 50%. Ahigher
percentage coun tindicates a more
economical driving style.
The ECO display does not indicate the actual
fuel consumption. A fixed percentage count
in the ECO display does not indicate a fixed
consumption figure in mpg (l/100 km). Driving tips
159Driving and parking Z
the brake syste
mwarning lamp in the
instrumen tcluster and note any brake status
messages in the multifunction display. For
high-performance driving in particular, it is
important to maintain and have the brake
system checked regularly.
Servicing the brakes !
If the red brake warnin glamp lights up in
the instrumen tcluster and you hear a
warning tone while the engine is running,
the brake fluid level may be too low.
Observe additional warning messages in
the multifunction display.
The brake fluid level may be too low due to
brake pad wear or leaking brake lines.
Have the brake system checked
immediately. This work should be carried
out at a qualified specialist workshop.
! As the ESP ®
system operates
automatically, the engine and the ignition
must be switched off (SmartKey in position
0 or 1in the ignition lock) if the electric
parking brake is being tested on a brake
dynamometer (maximum 10 seconds).
Braking 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. Have this work
carried out at an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.
Have the brake pads replaced and the brake
fluid renewed at a qualified specialist
workshop, e.g. an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.
If the brake system has only been subject to
moderate loads, you should tes tthe
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.
A description of Brake Assist (BAS):
(Y page 60) Mercedes-Ben
zrecommends that you only
have brake pads/linings installed on your
vehicle which have been approved for
Mercedes-Benzv ehicles or which correspond
to an equivalent quality standard. Brake
pads/linings which have not been approved
for Mercedes-Benzv ehicles or which are not
of an equivalent quality could affect your
vehicle's operating safety.
Mercedes-Benzr ecommends that you only
use brake fluid that has been specially
approved for your vehicle by Mercedes-Benz,
or which corresponds to an equivalent quality
standard. Brake fluid which has not been
approved for Mercedes-Benzv ehicles or
which is not of an equivalent quality could
affect your vehicle's operating safety. 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 engin eorthe automatic
transmission. Water can also be drawn in 162
Driving tipsDriving and parking
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 engin eorthe 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
a window on the side of the vehicle that is not
facing into the wind.
Have your vehicle winterproofed at a qualified
specialist workshop at the onset of winter.
Observe the notes in the "Winter operation"
section (Y page 310).
Driving with summer tires Observe the notes in the "Winter operation"
section (Y
page 310).
Slippery road surfaces 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
WARNING
The outside temperature indicator is not
designed to serve as an ice-warning device
and is therefore unsuitable for that purpose.
Indicated temperatures just above the
freezing point do not guarantee that the road
surface is free of ice. The road may still be icy,
especially in wooded areas or on bridges.
If the vehicle threatens to skid or cannot be
stopped when moving at low speed:
X Vehicles with manual transmission:
shift to neutral.
X Vehicles with automatic transmission:
shift the transmission to position N.
Drive particularly carefully on slippery road
surfaces. Avoid sudden acceleration, steering
and braking maneuvers. Do not use cruise
control.
i For more information on driving with
snow chains, see (Y page 311). Driving systems
Cruise control
Important safety notes G
WARNING
The cruise control is a convenience system
designed to assist the driver during vehicle
operation. The driver is and must always
remain responsible for the vehicle's speed
and for safe brake operation.
Only use the cruise control if the road, traffic,
and weather conditions make it advisable to
travel at a constant speed.
R The use of the cruise control can be
dangerous on winding roads or in heavy Driving systems
163Driving and parking
Z