2014 MERCEDES-BENZ B-CLASS SPORTS Owners Manual

Front wheel
Rear wheel
X
Bring the vehicle and wheels into asuitable
positio nsothat you can attach test gauge
001E.
X Secure the vehicle against rolling away
(Y page 152).
X Move the selector lever to position P.
X Switch off the engine.
X Place test gauge 001Ebetween the wheel's
spokes on brake pad/lining 0023.X
Hold test gauge 001Evertically on brake
disc 001Aand slide measuring pin 0010onto
brake disc 001A.
X Check which color field 0021the arrow on
measuring pin 0010is pointin gto.
Green:t he brake pad/lining thickness is
sufficient.
Red:t he brake pad/lining thickness is not
sufficient. Have the brake pads/lining
checked at aqualified specialist workshop.
i To avoid an inaccurate measurement:
R make sure you position the wheels
suitably
R do not put the measuring pin on arecess
in the brake disc Driving on wet roads
Hydroplaning If water has accumulated to
acertain depth
on the road surface, there is adanger 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 conditionsinw hich 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 engine or the automatic
transmission. Water can also be drawn in
by the engine's air suction nozzles and this
can cause engine damage. Driving tips
159Driving and parking Z

Winter driving
General notes G
WARNING
If you shift dow nonaslippery 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 aslippery road surface. G
DANGER
If the exhaust pipe is blocked or adequate
ventilation is not possible,p oisonous 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 arisk of
fatal injury.
If you leave the engine or the 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
aw indow on the side of the vehicle that is not
facing into the wind.
Have your vehicle winterproofed at aqualified
specialist workshop at the onset of winter.
Observe the notes in the "Winter operation"
section (Y page 314).
Driving with summer tires Observe the notes in the "Winter operation"
section (Y
page 314).
Slippery road surfaces G
WARNING
If you shift down on aslippery 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 aslippery road surface. If the vehicle threatens to skid or cannot be
stopped when moving at low speed:
X Shift the transmission to position N.
Drive particularlyc arefully on slippery road
surfaces. Avoid sudden acceleration, steering
and braking maneuvers. Do not use the cruise
control or DISTRONIC PLUS.
The outside temperature indicator is not
designed to serve as an ice-warning device
and is therefore unsuitablef or that purpose.
Changes in the outside temperature are
displayed after ashort delay.
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. You
should pay special attention to road
conditions when temperatures are around
freezing point.
i For more information on driving with
snow chains, see (Y page 315). Driving systems
Cruise control
General notes Cruise control maintains
aconstant road
speed for you. It brakes automaticallyino rder
to avoid exceeding the set speed. On long and
steep downhill gradients, especially if the
vehicle is laden, you must select alow gear in
good time. For this, you will need to have
selected manual drive program
M(Y page 147). By doing so, you will make
use of the braking effect of the engine. This
relieves the load on the brake system and
prevents the brakes from overheating and
wearing too quickly.
Use cruise control only if road and traffic
conditions make it appropriate to maintain a
steady speed for aprolonged period. You can
store any road speed above 20 mph
(30 km/h). 160
Driving systemsDriving and parking

Important safety notes
If you fail to adapt your driving style, cruise
control can neither reduce th eriskofan
acciden tnor override the laws of physics.
Cruise control cannot take into account the
road, traffic and weather conditions. Cruise
control is only an aid. You are responsible for
the distance to the vehicle in front,f or vehicle
speed, for braking in good time and for
staying in your lane.
Do not use cruise control:
R in road and traffic conditions which do not
allow you to maintain aconstant speed e.g.
in heavy traffic or on winding roads
R on slippery road surfaces. Brakin gor
accelerating could cause the drive wheels
to lose traction and the vehicle could then
skid
R when there is poor visibility, e.g. due to fog,
heavy rain or snow
If there is achange of drivers, advise the new
driver of the speed stored.
Cruise control lever 001A
To activate or increase speed
0010 To activate or reduce speed
0023 To deactivate cruise control
0021 To activate at the current speed/last
stored speed
When you activate cruise control, the stored
speed is shown in the multifunction display
for five seconds. Activation conditions To activate cruise control, all of the following
activation conditions must be fulfilled:
R the electric parking brake must be
released.
R you are driving faster than
20 mph(30 km/h).
R ESP ®
must be active, but not intervening.
R on vehicles with automatic transmission,
the selector lever must be in position D.
Storing, maintaining and calling up a
speed Storing and maintaining the current
speed
You can store the current speed if you are
driving faster than 20 mph (30km/h).
X Accelerate the vehicle to the desired
speed.
X Briefly press the cruise control lever
up 001A or down 0010.
X Remove your foot from the accelerator
pedal.
Cruise control is activated. The vehicle
automatically maintains the stored speed.
i Cruise control may be unable to maintain
the stored speed on uphill gradients. The
stored speed is resumed when the gradient
evens out. Cruise control maintains the
stored speed on downhill gradients by
automatically applying the brakes.
Storing the current speed or calling up the
last stored speed G
WARNING
If you call up the stored speed and it differs
from the current speed, the vehicle
accelerates or decelerates. If you do not know
the stored speed, the vehicle could accelerate
or brake unexpectedly. There is arisk of an
accident.
Pay attention to the road and traffic
conditions before calling up the stored speed. Driving systems
161Driving and parking
Z

If you do not know the stored speed,s
tore the
desire dspeed again.
X Briefly pullt he cruise control lever towards
you 0021.
X Remove yourf oot from the accelerator
pedal.
The first time cruise control is activated, it
stores the current speed or regulates the
speed of the vehicle to the previously
stored speed.
Setting aspeed Kee
pinm ind tha titmay tak eabriefm oment
until the vehicle has accelerated or braked to
the speed set.
X Press the cruise control lever up 001Afor a
higher speed or down 0010for alower speed.
X To adjust the set speed in 1mph
increments (1 km/h increments): briefly
press the cruise control lever up 001Aor
down 0010to the pressure point.
Every time the cruise control lever is
pressed up 001Aor down 0010the last speed
stored is increased or reduced.
X To adjust the set speed in 5mph
increments (10 km/h increments):
briefly press the cruise control lever
up 001A or down 0010to the pressure point.
Every time the cruise control lever is
pressed up 001Aor down 0010the last speed
stored is increased or reduced.
i Cruise control is not deactivated if you
depress the accelerator pedal. For
example, if you accelerate briefly to
overtake, cruise control adjusts the
vehicle's speed to the last speed stored
after you have finished overtaking. Deactivating cruise control There are several ways to deactivate cruise
control:
X
Briefly press the cruise control lever
forwards 0023.
or
X Brake.
Cruise control is automatically deactivated if:
R the vehicle is secured with the electric
parking brake
R you are driving at less than 20 mph
(30 km/h)
R ESP ®
intervenes or you deactivate ESP ®
R you shift the transmission to position N
while driving
If cruise control is deactivated, you will hear
aw arning tone. You will see the Cruise Control Off message in the multifunction
display for approximately five seconds.
i When you switch off the engine, the last
speed stored is cleared. DISTRONIC PLUS
General notes DISTRONIC PLUS regulates the speed and
automatically helps you maintain the
distance to the vehicle detected in front.
Vehicles are detected with the aid of the radar
sensor system. DISTRONIC PLUS brakes
automatically so that the set speed is not
exceeded.
Change into
alower gear in good time on long
and steep downhill gradients. This is
especially important if the vehicle is laden. By
doing so, you will make use of the braking
effect of the engine. This relieves the load on
the brake system and prevent sthe brakes
from overheating and wearing too quickly.
If DISTRONIC PLUS detect sthat there is arisk
of ac ollision, you will be warned visually and
acoustically. DISTRONIC PLUS cannot
prevent acollision without your intervention. 162
Driving systemsDriving and parking

An intermittent warning tone will then sound
and the distance warning lamp will light up in
the instrument cluster .Brake immediatel yin
order to increase the distance to the vehicle
in front or take evasive action provided it is
safe to do so.
For DISTRONI CPLUStoa ssist you, the radar
sensor system must be operational.
DISTRONIC PLUS is automatically
deactivated if:
R you are driving slower than 15 mph
(25 km/h) and there is no longer avehicle
in front or
R the vehicle in front is no longer detected
If there is no vehicle in front,D ISTRONIC
PLUS operates in the same way as cruise
control in the speed range between 20 mph
(30 km/h) and 120 mph (200 km/h) .Ifa
vehicle is driving in front of you, it operates in
the speed range between 0mph (0 km/h) and
120 mph (200 km/h).
Do not use DISTRONIC PLUS while driving on
roads with steep gradients.
As DISTRONIC PLUS transmits radar waves,
it can resemble the radar detector softhe
responsible authorities. You can refer to the
relevant chapter in the Operator's Manual if
question sare asked about this.
i This device complies with RSS-210 of
Industry Canada. Operation is subjec tto
the following two conditions:
1. This device ma ynot cause harmful
interference, and
2. thi sdevic emusta ccep tany interference
received, including interference tha tmay
caus eundesired operatio nofthe device.
Removal, tampering, or altering of the
device will void any warranties, and is not
permitted. Do not tamper with, alter, or use
in any non-approved way.
Any unauthorized modification to this
device could void the user's authority to
operate the equipment. Important safety notes G
WARNING
DISTRONIC PLUS does not react to:
R people or animals
R stationary obstacles on the road, e.g.
stopped or parked vehicles
R oncominga nd crossing traffic
As aresult, DISTRONIC PLUS may neither give
warnings nor interveneins uch situations.
There is arisk of an accident.
Always pay careful attention to the traffic
situation and be ready to brake. G
WARNING
DISTRONIC PLUS cannot always clearly
identify other road users and complex traffic
situations.
In such cases, DISTRONIC PLUS may:
R give an unnecessary warning and then
brake the vehicle
R neither give awarning nor intervene
R accelerate unexpectedly
There is arisk of an accident.
Continue to drive carefully and be ready to
brake, in particular when warned to do so by
DISTRONIC PLUS. G
WARNING
DISTRONIC PLUS brakes your vehicle with up
to 40% of the maximum braking force. If this
braking force is insufficient, DISTRONIC PLUS
warns you visuallya nd audibly. There is arisk
of an accident.
In such cases, apply the brakes yourself and
try to take evasive action. Driving systems
163Driving and parking Z

!
If DISTRONIC PLUS or the HOLD function
is activated, the vehicle brakes
automaticallyinc ertain situations. To
prevent damage to the vehicle, deactivate
DISTRONIC PLUS and the HOLD function in
the following or other similars ituations:
R when towin gthe vehicle
R in the car wash
If you fail to adapt your drivin gstyle,
DISTRONIC PLUS can neither reduc ethe risk
of accident nor override the laws of physics.
DISTRONIC PLUS cannot tak einto account
the road, traffic and weather conditions.
DISTRONI CPLUSiso nlyana id.Y ou are
responsibl efor the distance to the vehicl ein
front, for vehicl espeed ,for braking in good
time and for staying in your lane.
Do not use DISTRONIC PLUS:
R in road and traffic conditions which do not
allow you to maintain aconstant speed e.g.
in heavy traffic or on winding roads
R on slippery road surfaces. Brakin gor
accelerating could cause the drive wheels
to lose traction and the vehicle could then
skid
R when there is poor visibility, e.g. due to fog,
heavy rain or snow
DISTRONIC PLUS may not detect narrow
vehicles driving in front,e .g. motorcycles, or
vehicles driving on adifferent line.
In particular, the detection of obstacles can
be impaired if:
R dirt on the sensors or anything else
coverin gthe sensors
R snow or heavy rain
R interferenc ebyother radar sources
R strongr adar reflections, for example, in
parking garages
If DISTRONIC PLUS no longer detect sa
vehicle in front,D ISTRONIC PLUS may
unexpectedly accelerate the vehicle to the
stored speed. This speed may:
R
be too high if you are driving in afilter lane
or an exit lane
R be so high when driving in the right-hand
lane that you overtak evehicles in the left-
hand lane
R be so high when driving in the left-hand lane
that you overtak evehicles in the right-hand
lane
If there is achange of drivers, advise the new
driver of the speed stored.
Cruise control lever 001A
To store the current speed or ahigher
speed
0010 To store the current speed or alower
speed
0023 To deactivate DISTRONIC PLUS
0021 To store the current speed or calling up
the last stored speed
001E To set the specified minimum distance
Activating DISTRONIC PLUS Activation conditions
To activate DISTRONIC PLUS, all of the
following activation conditions must be
fulfilled:
R
the engine must be started. It may take up
to two minutes after pullinga way before
DISTRONIC PLUS is operational.
R the electric parking brake must be
released.
R ESP ®
must be active, but not intervening. 164
Driving systemsDriving and parking

R
Activ eParking Assist must not be
activated.
R the transmission must be in position D.
R the driver's door must be closed when you
shift from Pto Dor your sea tbelt must be
fastened.
R the front-passenger door and rear doors
must be closed.
Activating
To activate whilst driving: you can only
activat eDISTRONIC PLUS at speeds below
14 mph (20 km/h), if the vehicle in fron tis
detected and shown in the multifunction
display. If the vehicle in fron tisnolonger
detected and displayed, DISTRONIC PLUS
switches off and atone sounds.
X Briefly pull the cruise control lever towards
you 0021or press it up 001Aor down 0010.
DISTRONIC PLUS is selected.
X Press the cruise control lever repeatedly
up 001A or down 0010until 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,b ut only up to the desired
stored speed.
i If you do not fully release the accelerator
pedal,t heDISTRONIC PLUS Passive message appears in the multifunction
display. The set distance to
aslower-
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.
Activating at the current speed/last
stored speed G
WARNING
If you call up the stored speed and it differs
from the current speed, the vehicle
accelerates or decelerates. If you do not know
the stored speed, the vehicle could accelerate or brake unexpectedly. There is
arisk of an
accident.
Pay attention to the road and traffic
conditions before calling up the stored speed.
If you do not know the stored speed, store the
desired speed again.
X Briefly pull the cruise control lever
(Y page 164) towards you 0021.
X Remove your foot from the accelerator
pedal.
DISTRONIC PLUS is activated. The first
time it is activated, the current speed is
stored. Otherwise, it sets the vehicle cruise
speed to the previouslys tored value.
Driving with DISTRONIC PLUS Pulling away and driving
i
The vehicle can also pull awayw hen it is
facing an unidentified obstacle or is driving
on adifferent line from another vehicle. The
vehicle then brakes automatically .There is
ar isk of an accident. Be ready to brake at
all times.
If you depress the brake, DISTRONIC PLUS is
deactivated unless your vehicle is stationary.
X If you want to pull away with
DISTRONIC PLUS: remove your foot from
the brake pedal.
X Briefly pull the cruise control lever
(Y page 164) towards you 0021.
or
X Accelerate briefly.
Your vehicle pulls away and adapts its
speed to that of the vehicle in front.
If no vehicle is detected in front,y our
vehicle accelerates to the set speed.
If there is no vehicle in front,D ISTRONIC
PLUS operates in the same way as cruise
control.
If DISTRONIC PLUS detectst hat the vehicle
in front has slowed down, it brakes your
vehicle. In this way,t he distance you have
selected is maintained. Driving systems
165Driving and parking Z

If DISTRONIC PLUS detects
afaster-moving
vehicle in front, it increases the driving speed.
The vehicle is only accelerated up to the
speed you have stored.
Changing lanes
If you change to the passing lane, DISTRONIC
PLUS supports you when:
R you are driving faster than 40 mph
(60 km/h)
R DISTRONIC PLUS is maintaining the
distance to avehicle in front
R you switch on the appropriate turn signal
R DISTRONIC PLUS does not detect adanger
of collision
If these conditions are fulfilled,y ourv ehicle
is accelerated. Acceleration will be
interrupted if changin glanes takes too long
or if the distanc ebetween your vehicle and
the vehicle in fron tbecomes too small.
i When changin glanes, DISTRONIC PLUS
monitors the left lane on left-hand drive
vehicles and the right lane on right-hand
drive vehicles.
Stopping G
WARNING
When leaving the vehicle, even if it is braked
only by DISTRONIC PLUS, it could roll away if:
R there is amalfunction in the system or in
the voltage supply.
R DISTRONIC PLUS has been deactivated
with the cruise control lever, e.g. by a
vehicle occupan torfrom outsid ethe
vehicle.
R the electrica lsystem in the engine
compartment, the battery or the fuses have
been tampere dwith.
R the battery is disconnected.
R the accelerator peda lhas been depressed,
e.g. by avehicl eoccupant.
There is arisk of an accident. If you wishtoe
xit the vehicle, alwayst urn off
DISTRONIC PLUS and secure the vehicle
against rolling away.
For further informatio nondeactivating
DISTRONIC PLUS (Y page167).
If DISTRONIC PLUS detects that the vehicle
in front is stopping, it brakes yourv ehicle until
it is stationary.
Oncey our vehicle is stationary, it remains
stationary and you do not need to depress the
brake.
i After atime, the electric parkin gbrake
secures the vehicle and relieves the service
brake.
i Depending on the specified minimum
distance, your vehicle will come to a
standstill at asufficien tdistanc ebehin dthe
vehicle in front .The specified minimum
distance is set using the control on the
cruise control lever.
The electric parking brake automatically
secures the vehicle if DISTRONIC PLUS is
activated and:
R the seat belt is unfastened and the driver's
door is open.
R the engine is switched off, unless it is
automatically switched off by the ECO
start/stop function.
R as ystem malfunction occurs.
R the power supply is not sufficient.
If am alfunction occurs, then the transmission
may be shifted into position Pautomatically.
Setting aspeed Kee
pinm ind that it may take abrief moment
unti lthe vehicl ehasaccelerate dorbraked to
the speed set. 166
Driving systemsDriving and parking