Activating RACE START
XDepress the brake pedal withyour left foot
and keep it depressed.
XPull and hold both steering wheel shift
paddles.
XTheRACE START Confirm: Paddle UP
Cancel: Paddle DOWNmessage appears
in the multifunction display.
XRelease both steering wheel shift paddles.
iIf the activation conditions are no longer
fulfilled, RACE START is canceled. The
RACE START Not Possible See
Operator's Manualmessage appears in
the multifunction display.
XTo cancel:pull the left steering wheel
paddle shifter (Ypage 147).
or
XTo confirm:pull the right steering wheel
paddle shifter (Ypage 147).
TheRACE START Available Depress
gas pedalmessage appears in the
multifunction display.
iIf you do not depress the accelerator
pedal within a few seconds, RACE START is
canceled. The multifunction display shows
theRACE START Canceledmessage.
XFully depress the accelerator pedal.
The engine speed is increased.
TheRACE START Release brake to
startmessage appears in the
multifunction display.
iIf you do not release the brake pedal
within a short time, RACE START will be
canceled. The multifunction display shows
theRACE START Canceledmessage.
XTake your foot off the brake, but keep the
accelerator pedal depressed.
The vehicle pulls away at maximum
acceleration.
TheRACESTARTActivemessage appears
in the multifunction display.
RACE START is deactivated when the vehicle
reaches a speed of approximately 30 mph
(Canada: 50 km/h). Drive programSis
activated. SPORT handling mode remains
activated.
RACE START is deactivated immediately if
you release the accelerator pedal during
RACE START or if any of the activation
conditions are no longer fulfilled. TheRACE
START Not PossibleorRACE START
Canceledmessage appears in the
multifunction display.
iIf RACE START is used repeatedly within
a short period of time, it is only available
again after the vehicle has been driven a
certain distance.
4MATIC (permanent four-wheel drive)
4MATIC ensures that all four wheels are
permanently driven. Together with ESP®, it
improves the traction of your vehicle
whenever a drive wheel spins due to
insufficientgrip.
If you fail to adapt yourdriving style, 4MATIC
can neither reduce the risk of accident nor
override the laws of physics. 4MATIC cannot
take account of road, weather and traffic
conditions. 4MATIC is only an aid.You are
responsible for the distance to the vehicle in
front, for vehicle speed, for braking in good
time and for staying in your lane.
If a drive wheel spins due to insufficient grip:
ROnly depress the accelerator pedal as far
as necessary when pulling away.
RAccelerate less when driving.
!Never tow the vehicle with one axle
raised. This may damage the transfer case.
Damage of this sort is not covered by the
Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty. All
wheels must remain either on the ground
or be fully raised. Observe the instructions
for towing the vehicle with all wheels in full
contact with the ground.
iIn wintry driving conditions, the maximum
effect of 4MATIC can only be achieved if
you use winter tires(M+S tires), with snow
chains if necessary.
174Driving systems
Driving and parking
PARKTRONIC
Important safety notes
PARKTRONIC is an electronic parking aid with
ultrasonic sensors. It monitors the area
around your vehicle using six sensors in the
front bumper and six sensors in the rear
bumper. PARKTRONIC indicates visually and
audibly the distance between your vehicle
and an object.
PARKTRONIC is only an aid. It is not a
replacement for your attention to your
immediate surroundings. You are always
responsible for safe maneuvering, parking
and exiting a parking space. When
maneuvering, parking or pulling out of a
parking space, make sure that there are no
persons, animals or objectsinthe area in
which you are maneuvering.
!When parking, pay particular attention to
objects above or below the sensors, such
as flower pots or trailer drawbars.
PARKTRONIC does not detect such objects
when they are in the immediate vicinity of
the vehicle. You could damage the vehicle
or the objects.
The sensors may not detect snow and other
objects that absorb ultrasonic waves.
Ultrasonic sources such as an automatic
car wash, the compressed-air brakes on a
truck or a pneumatic drill could cause
PARKTRONIC to malfunction.
PARKTRONIC may not function correctly on
uneven terrain.
PARKTRONIC is activated automatically when
you:
Rswitch on the ignition
Rshift the transmission to positionD,RorN
Rrelease the electric parking brake
PARKTRONIC is deactivated at speeds above
11 mph (18 km/h). It is reactivated at lower
speeds.
Range of the sensors
General notes
PARKTRONIC does not take objects into
consideration that are:
Rbelow the detection range, e.g. people,
animals or objects
Rabove the detection range, e.g.
overhanging loads, truck overhangs or
loading ramps.
Sensors in the front bumper, left-hand
side (example)
Side view
Top view
The sensors must be free from dirt, ice or
slush. They can otherwise not function
correctly. Cleanthe sensors regularly, taking
Driving systems175
Driving and parking
Z
and measures parking spaces on both sides
of the vehicle.
Active Parking Assist will only detect parking
spaces:
Rthat are parallel or at right-angles to the
direction of travel
Rthat are parallel to the direction of travel
and at least 59 in (1.5 m) wide
Rthat are parallel to the direction of travel
and at least 39.5 in (1.0m) longer than your
vehicle
Rthat are at right angles to the direction of
travel and at least 39.5 in (1.0 m) wider
than your vehicle
iIn the case of parking spaces that are at
right angles to the direction of travel,
please ensure that the parking space is
long enough to accommodate your vehicle.
When driving at speeds below 19 mph
(30 km/h), you will see parking symbol as a
status indicator in the instrument cluster.
When a parking space has been detected, an
arrow towards the right or the left also
appears. By default, Active Parking Assist
only displays parking spaces on the front-
passenger side. Parking spaces on the
driver's side are displayed as soon as the turn
signal on the driver's side is activated. When
parking on the driver's side, this must remain
switched on until you acknowledge the use of
Active Parking Assist by pressing the
button on the multifunction steering wheel.
The system automatically determines
whether the parking space is parallel or at
right-angles to the direction of travel.
Aparking space is displayed while you are
driving past it, and until you are
approximately 50 ft (15 m) away from it.
Parking
GWARNING
Active Parking Assist merely aids you by
intervening actively in the steering. If you do
not brake there is a risk of an accident.
Always apply the brakes yourself when
maneuvering and parking.
XStop the vehicle when the parking space
symbol shows the desired parking space in
the instrument cluster.
XShift the transmission to positionR.
TheStart Park Assist? Yes: OK No:
message appears in the multifunction
display.
XTo cancel the procedure:press the
button on the multifunction steering
wheel or pull away.
or
XTo park using Active Parking Assist:
press the buttononthe multifunction
steering wheel.
ThePark Assist Active Accelerate
and Brake Observe Surroundings
message appears in the multifunction
display.
XLet go of the multifunction steering wheel.
XBack up the vehicle, being ready to brake
at all times. Do not exceed a maximum
speed of approximately5mph (10 km/h)
when backing up. Otherwise Active Parking
Assist will be canceled.
iIn tight parking spaces, you will achieve
the best parking results by backing up as
far as possible. When doing so, also
observe the PARKTRONIC messages.
XStop as soon as PARKTRONIC sounds the
continuous warning tone, if not before.
Maneuvering may be required in tight
parking spaces.
ThePark Assist Active Select D
ObserveSurroundingsmessage appears in
the multifunction display.
XShift the transmission to positionDwhile
the vehicle is stationary.
Active Parking Assist immediately steers in
the other direction.
ThePark Assist Active Accelerate
and Brake Observe Surroundings
180Driving systems
Driving and parking
message appears in the multifunction
display.
iYou will achieve the best results by
waiting for the steering procedure to
complete before pulling away.
XDrive forwards and be ready to brake at all
times.
XStop as soon as PARKTRONIC sounds the
continuous warning tone, if not before.
ThePark Assist Active Select R
ObserveSurroundingsmessage appears in
the multifunction display.
Further transmission shifts may be
necessary.
As soon as the parking procedure is
complete, thePark Assist Finished
message appears and a warning tone sounds.
Active Parking Assist no longer supports you
with steering interventions. When Active
Parking Assist is finished, you must steer
again yourself. PARKTRONIC is still available.
XManeuver if necessary.
XAlways observe the warning messages
displayed by PARKTRONIC (Ypage 176).
Parking tips:
RThe way yourvehicle is positioned in the
parking space after parkingis dependent
on various factors. These include the
position and shape of the vehicles parked
in front and behind it and the conditions of
the location. It may be the case that Active
Parking Assist guides you too far into a
parking space, or not far enough into it. In
some cases, it may also lead you across or
onto the curb. If necessary, you should
cancel the parking procedure with Active
Parking Assist.
RYou can also engage forward gear
prematurely.The vehicle redirects and
does not drive as far into the parking space.
Should a gear be changed too early, the
parking procedure will be canceled. A
sensible parking position can no longer be
achieved from this position.
Exitingaparking space
In order that Active Parking Assist can
support you whenyou exit the parking space:
Rthe border of the parking space must be
high enough.Acurb is too small, for
example.
Rthe border of the parking space must not
be too wide, as the position of the vehicle
must not exceed an angle of 45° to the
starting position as it is maneuvering into
the parking space.
Ra maneuvering distance of at least 3.3 ft
(1.0m) must be available.
Active Parking Assist can only assist you with
exiting a parking space if you have parked the
vehicle parallel to the direction of travel using
Active Parking Assist.
XStart the engine.
XSwitch on the turn signal in the direction
you are pulling away.
XShiftthe transmission to positionDorR.
TheStart Park Assist? Yes: OK No:
message appears in the multifunction
display.
XTo cancel the procedure:press the
button on the multifunction steering
wheel or pull away.
or
XTo exitaparking space using Active
Parking Assist:press the button on
the multifunctionsteering wheel.
ThePark Assist Active Accelerate
and Brake Observe Surroundings
message appears in the multifunction
display.
XLet go of the multifunctionsteering wheel.
XReverse the vehicle or drive forwards, being
ready to brake at all times. Do not exceed
a maximum speed of approximately
6 mph (10 km/h) when exiting a parking
space.Otherwise Active Parking Assist will
be canceled.
XStop when PARKTRONIC sounds the
continuous warning tone, if not before.
Driving systems181
Driving an d parking
Z
XShift the transmissionto positionDorRas
required while the vehicle is stationary.
Active Parking Assist immediately steers in
the other direction.ThePark Assist
Active Accelerate and Brake
ObserveSurroundingsmessage appears
in the multifunction display.
iYou will achieve the best results by
waiting for the steering procedure to
complete before pulling away.
If you back up after activation, the steering
wheel is moved to the straight-ahead
position.
XDrive forwards and back up as prompted by
the PARKTRONIC warning displays, several
times if necessary.
XStop as soon as PARKTRONIC sounds the
continuous warning tone, if not before.
Once you have exited the parking space
completely, the steering wheel is moved to
the straight-ahead position. You hear a tone
and the messagePark Assist Finished
appears in the multifunction display. You will
then have to steer and merge into traffic on
your own. PARKTRONIC is still available. You
can take over the steering, before the vehicle
has exited the parking space completely. This
is useful, for example when you recognize
that it is already possible to pull out of the
parking space.
Canceling Active Parking Assist
You can cancel Active Parking Assist at any
time.
XStop the movement of the multifunction
steering wheel or steer yourself.
Active Parking Assist will be canceled at
once. ThePark Assist Canceled
message appears in the multifunction
display.
or
XPress the PARKTRONIC button on the
center console (Ypage 177).
PARKTRONIC is switched off and Active
Parking Assist is immediately canceled.
ThePark Assist Canceledmessage
appears in the multifunction display.
Active Parking Assist is canceled
automatically if:
Rthe electric parking brake is engaged
Rtransmission positionPis selected
Rparking using Active Parking Assist is no
longer possible
Ryou are driving faster than 6 mph
(10 km/h)
Ra wheel spins, ESP®intervenes or fails. The
warning lamp lights up in the
instrument cluster.
Awarning tone sounds. The parking symbol
disappears and the multifunction display
shows thePark Assist Canceled
message.
If Active Parking Assist is canceled, you must
steer again yourself.
Rear view camera
General notes
Rear view camera is in the trunk lid handle.
The rear view camera is an optical parking and
maneuvering aid. It uses guide lines to show
the area behind your vehicle in the Audio/
COMAND display.
The area behind the vehicle is displayed as a
mirror image, as in the rear view mirror.
The rear view camera is protected from
raindrops and dust by meansofaflap. When
the rear view camera is activated, this flap
182Driving systems
Driving and parking