128Driving and operatingManual transmission
To engage reverse, with the vehicle
stationary wait 3 seconds after
depressing the clutch pedal and then press the release button on the
selector lever and engage the gear.
If the gear does not engage, set the
lever to neutral, release the clutch
pedal and depress again; then repeat
gear selection.
Do not slip the clutch unnecessarily.
When operating, depress the clutch
pedal completely. Do not use the
pedal as a foot rest.
Caution
It is not advisable to drive with the hand resting on the selector lever.
Drive systems
All-wheel drive
The All-Wheel Drive (AWD) system
enhances driving characteristics and
stability, and helps to achieve the best possible driveability regardless of
ground surface. The system is always
active and cannot be deactivated.
The torque is distributed steplessly
between the wheels of the front and rear axle, depending on the driving
conditions. Additionally the torque
between the rear wheels is distributed
depending on the surface.
For optimum system performance,
the vehicle's tyres should not have
varying degrees of wear.
When using a temporary spare
wheel, the AWD system is
automatically disabled.
The AWD system will also be
temporarily disabled to protect the
system from overheating if there is
excessive wheel spin. When the
system cools down, AWD will be
restored.
Driving and operating129
The deactivation of the AWD system
will be indicated by a message on the
Driver Information Centre.
If a service message or warning
code S73 is displayed on the Driver Information Centre, there is a
malfunction in the AWD system. Seek the assistance of a workshop.
Vehicle messages 3 94, Towing the
vehicle 3 189.Brakes
The brake system comprises two
independent brake circuits.
If a brake circuit fails, the vehicle can
still be braked using the other brake
circuit. However, braking effect is
achieved only when the brake pedal
is depressed firmly. Considerably
more force is needed for this. The braking distance is extended. Seek
the assistance of a workshop before
continuing your journey.
When the engine is not running, the
support of the brake servo unit
disappears once the brake pedal has been depressed once or twice.
Braking effect is not reduced, but
braking requires significantly greater
force. It is especially important to bear this in mind when being towed.
Control indicator R 3 85.
Antilock brake system Antilock brake system (ABS)
prevents the wheels from locking.ABS starts to regulate brake pressure
as soon as a wheel shows a tendency to lock. The vehicle remains
steerable, even during hard braking.
ABS control is made apparent
through a pulse in the brake pedal
and the noise of the regulation
process.
For optimum braking, keep the brake
pedal fully depressed throughout the
braking process, despite the fact that
the pedal is pulsating. Do not reduce
the pressure on the pedal.
After starting off the system performs a self-test which may be audible.
Control indicator u 3 86.
Adaptive brake light
During full braking, all three brake
lights flash for the duration of ABS
control.
130Driving and operating
Fault9Warning
If there is a fault in the ABS, the
wheels may be liable to lock due
to braking that is heavier than
normal. The advantages of ABS are no longer available. During
hard braking, the vehicle can no longer be steered and may
swerve.
Have the cause of the fault remedied
by a workshop.
Parking brake
Always apply parking brake firmly
without operating the release button,
and apply as firmly as possible on a
downhill or uphill slope.
To release the parking brake, pull the lever up slightly, press the release
button and fully lower the lever.
To reduce the operating forces of the
parking brake, depress the foot brake
at the same time.
Control indicator R 3 85.
Brake assist
If the brake pedal is depressed
quickly and forcefully, maximum
brake force is automatically applied
(full braking).
Maintain steady pressure on the
brake pedal for as long as full braking
is required. Maximum brake force is
automatically reduced when the
brake pedal is released.
Hill start assist
The system helps prevent unintended movement when driving away on
inclines.
When releasing the foot brake after
stopping on an incline, the brakes
remain on for a further two seconds.
The brakes release automatically as
soon as the vehicle begins to
accelerate.
The hill start assist is not active during
an Autostop.
Driving and operating131Ride control systems
Traction Control system
The Traction Control system (TC) is a component of the Electronic Stability
Control (ESC) 3 131.
TC improves driving stability when
necessary, regardless of the type of
road surface or tyre grip, by
preventing the drive wheels from
spinning.
As soon as the drive wheels starts to
spin, engine output is reduced and
the wheel spinning the most is braked
individually. This considerably
improves the driving stability of the
vehicle on slippery road surfaces.
TC is operational after each engine
start as soon as the control indicator
b extinguishes.
When TC operates b flashes.9 Warning
Do not let this special safety
feature tempt you into taking risks
when driving.
Adapt speed to the road
conditions.
Control indicator b 3 87.
Deactivation
TC can be switched off when spinning of drive wheels is required:
press button t briefly to deactivate
TC, k illuminates. Deactivation is
displayed as status message in the
Driver Information Centre.
TC is reactivated by pressing the t
button again.
TC is also reactivated the next time
the ignition is switched on.
Electronic Stability Control Electronic Stability Control (ESC)
improves driving stability when
necessary, regardless of the type of
road surface or tyre grip. It also
prevents the drive wheels from
spinning.
As soon as the vehicle starts to
swerve (understeer/oversteer),
engine output is reduced and the wheels are braked individually. This
considerably improves the driving
stability of the vehicle on slippery road
surfaces.
ESC is operational after each engine
start as soon as the control indicator b extinguishes.
When ESC operates b flashes.
134Driving and operating
ActivationAccelerate to the desired speed and
turn thumb wheel to SET/-: the
current speed is stored and
maintained. Control indicator m in
instrument cluster illuminates green.
Accelerator pedal can be released.
Vehicle speed can be increased by depressing the accelerator pedal.
When the accelerator pedal is
released, the previously stored speed
is resumed.
Cruise control remains activated
while gearshifting.
Increase speed With cruise control active, hold thumb
wheel turned to RES/+ or briefly turn
to RES/+ repeatedly: speed
increases continuously or in small
increments.
Alternatively accelerate to the desired speed and store by turning to SET/-.Reduce speed
With cruise control active, hold thumb wheel turned to SET/- or briefly turn to
SET/- repeatedly: speed decreases
continuously or in small increments.
Deactivation
Press button y: control indicator m in
instrument cluster illuminates white.
Cruise control is deactivated. Last
used set speed is stored in memory
for later speed resume.
Automatic deactivation: ■ vehicle speed below approx. 20 mph,
■ vehicle speed above approx. 125 mph,
■ the brake pedal is depressed,
■ the clutch pedal is depressed for a few seconds,
■ selector lever in N,
■ engine speed in a very low range,
■ the Traction Control system or Electronic Stability Control is
operating.Resume stored speed
Turn thumb wheel to RES/+ at a
speed above 20 mph. The stored
speed will be resumed.
Switching off
Press button m: control indicator m in
instrument cluster extinguishes. The
stored speed is deleted.
Pressing button L for activating
speed limiter or switching off the
ignition also switches off cruise
control and deletes the stored speed.
Speed limiter
The speed limiter prevents the
vehicle exceeding a preset maximum speed.
The maximum speed can be set at a
speed above 15 mph.
The driver can only accelerate up to
the preset speed. Deviations from the
limited speed may occur when driving
downhill.
The preset speed limit is displayed in
the top line of the Driver Information
Centre when the system is active.
Driving and operating135
Activation
Press button L. If cruise control or
adaptive cruise control has been
activated before, it is switched off
when speed limiter is activated and
the control indicator m extinguishes.
Set speed limit
With speed limiter active, hold thumb
wheel turned to RES/+ or briefly turn
to RES/+ repeatedly until the desired
maximum speed is displayed in the
Driver Information Centre.
Alternatively accelerate to the desired speed and briefly turn thumb wheel to SET/- : the current speed is stored as
maximum speed. Speed limit is
displayed in the Driver Information
Centre.
Change speed limit
With speed limiter active, turn thumb
wheel to RES/+ to increase or SET/-
to decrease the desired maximum
speed.
Exceeding the speed limit
In the event of an emergency it is possible to exceed the speed limit by
depressing the accelerator pedal
firmly beyond the point of resistance.
The limited speed will flash in the
Driver Information Centre and a
chime sounds during this period.
Release the accelerator pedal and the speed limiter function is
reactivated once a speed lower than
the limit speed is obtained.
Deactivation
Press button y: speed limiter is
deactivated and the vehicle can be
driven without speed limit.
The limited speed is stored and a
corresponding message appears in
the Driver Information Centre.
Resume limit speedTurn thumb wheel to RES/+. The
stored speed limit will be obtained.
Switching off
Press button L, the speed limit
indication in the Driver Information
Centre extinguishes. The stored
speed is deleted.
142Driving and operating
Combinations of more signs in the
display are possible.
An exclamation mark in a frame
indicates that there is an add on sign
detected which cannot be recognised
by the system.
The system is active up to a speed of 124 mph depending on the lighting
conditions. At night the system is
active up to a speed of 99 mph.
As soon as the speed becomes
slower than 34 mph the display will be
reset and the content of the traffic sign
page will be cleared. The next
recognised speed indication will be displayed.
Display indicationTraffic signs are displayed on the
page Traffic sign detection on the
Driver Information Centre, chosen via the adjuster wheel on the turn signal
lever 3 89.
When another function on the Driver
Information Centre menu was
selected and then Traffic sign
detection page is chosen again, the
last recognised traffic sign will be displayed.
After the traffic sign page is cleared
by the system, the following symbol is
indicated:
154Vehicle careVehicle careGeneral Information...................154
Vehicle checks ........................... 155
Bulb replacement .......................162
Electrical system ........................168
Vehicle tools .............................. 173
Wheels and tyres .......................174
Jump starting ............................. 187
Towing ....................................... 189
Appearance care .......................191General Information
Accessories and vehicle
modifications
We recommend the use of genuine parts and accessories and factory
approved parts specific for your
vehicle type. We cannot assess or
guarantee reliability of other products
- even if they have a regulatory or
otherwise granted approval.
Do not make any modifications to the electrical system, e.g. changes of
electronic control units (chip tuning).Caution
When transporting the vehicle on
a train or on a recovery vehicle, the
mud flaps might be damaged.
Vehicle storage
Storage for a long period of time
If the vehicle is to be stored for several months:
■ Wash and wax the vehicle.
■ Have the wax in the engine compartment and underbody
checked.
■ Clean and preserve the rubber seals.
■ Fill up fuel tank completely.
■ Change the engine oil.
■ Drain the washer fluid reservoir.
■ Check the coolant antifreeze and corrosion protection.
■ Adjust tyre pressure to the value specified for full load.
■ Park the vehicle in a dry, well ventilated place. Engage first orreverse gear or set selector lever to P . Prevent the vehicle from rolling.
■ Do not apply the parking brake.