2014 MERCEDES-BENZ CLA ESP

see this distance in the multifunction display
(Ypage 170).
iMake sure that you maintain the
minimum distance to the vehicle in front as
required by law. Adjust the distance to the
vehicle in front if necessary.
XTo increase:turn control"in
direction.
DISTRONIC PLUS then maintains a greater
distance between your vehicle and the
vehicle in front.
XTo decrease:turn control"in
direction.
DISTRONIC PLUS then maintains a shorter
distance between your vehicle and the
vehicle in front.
Deactivating DISTRONIC PLUS
There are several ways to deactivate
DISTRONIC PLUS:
XBriefly press the cruise control lever
forwards.
or
XBrake, unless the vehicle is stationary.
When you deactivate DISTRONIC PLUS, you
will see theDISTRONIC PLUS Offmessage
in the multifunction display for approximately
five seconds.
iThe last speed stored remains stored until
you switch off the engine. DISTRONIC PLUS
is not deactivated if you depress the
accelerator pedal.
DISTRONIC PLUS is automatically
deactivated if:
Ryou engage the electric parking brake or if
the vehicle is automatically secured with
the electric parking brake
RESP®intervenes or you deactivate ESP®
Rthe transmission is in theP,RorNposition
Ryou pull the cruise control lever towards
you in order to pull awayand the front-
passengerdoor or one of the rear doors is
open
Rthe vehicle is skidding.
Ryou activate Active Parking Assist
If DISTRONIC PLUS is deactivated, you will
hear a warning tone. You will see the
DISTRONIC PLUS offmessage in the
multifunction display for approximately five
seconds.
Driving systems169
Driving and parking
Z

DISTRONIC PLUS displays in the
instrument cluster
Displays in the speedometer
Example: DISTRONIC PLUSdisplays in thespeedometer
When DISTRONIC PLUS is activated, one or
two segmentsin the set speed rangelight
up.
If DISTRONIC PLUS detectsavehicle in front,
segmentsbetween speed of the vehicle in
front"and stored speedlight up.
iFor design reasons, the speed displayed
in the speedometer may differ slightly from
the speed set for DISTRONIC PLUS.
Display when DISTRONIC PLUS is
deactivated
Vehicle in front, if detected
Distance indicator, current distance to
the vehicle in front
"Specified minimum distance to the
vehicle in front; adjustable
!Own vehicle
In the Assistance menu (Ypage 202) of the
on-board computer, you can select the
assistance display.
XSelect theAssistance Graphicfunction
using the on-board computer
(Ypage 203).
Display when DISTRONIC PLUS is
activated
Vehicle in front, if detected
Specified minimum distance to the
vehicle in front; adjustable
"Own vehicle
!DISTRONIC PLUS active (text only
appears when the cruise control lever is
actuated)
XSelect theAssistance Graphicfunction
using the on-board computer
(Ypage 203).
You will initially see the stored speed for
about five seconds when you activate
DISTRONIC PLUS.
Tips for driving with DISTRONIC PLUS
General notes
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.
170Driving systems
Driving and parking

Crossing vehicles
DISTRONIC PLUS may detect vehicles that
are crossing your lane by mistake. Activating
DISTRONIC PLUS at traffic lights with
crossing traffic, for example, could cause
your vehicle to pull away unintentionally.
HOLD function
Important safety notes
GWARNING
When leaving the vehicle, it can still roll away
despite being braked by theHOLD function if:
Rthere is a malfunction in the system or in
the voltage supply.
Rthe HOLD function has been deactivated by
pressing the accelerator pedal or the brake
pedal, e.g. by a vehicle occupant.
Rthe electrical system in the engine
compartment, the battery or the fuses have
been tampered with.
Rthe battery is disconnected
There is a risk of an accident.
If you wish to exit the vehicle, always turn off
the HOLD function and secure the vehicle
against rolling away.
!If DISTRONIC PLUS or the HOLD function
is activated, the vehicle brakes
automatically in certain situations. To
prevent damage to the vehicle, deactivate
DISTRONIC PLUS and the HOLD function in
the following or other similarsituations:
Rwhen towing the vehicle
Rin the car wash
Deactivating the HOLD function
(Ypage 173).
General notes
The HOLDfunction can assistthe driver in the
following situations:
Rwhen pulling away, especially on steep
slopes
Rwhen maneuvering on steep slopes
Rwhen waiting in traffic
The vehicle is kept stationary without the
driver having to depress the brake pedal.
The braking effect is canceled and the HOLD
function deactivated when you depress the
accelerator pedal to pull away.
Activation conditions
You can activate the HOLD function if:
Rthe vehicle is stationary
Rthe engine is running or if it has been
automatically switched off by the ECO
start/stop function
Rthe driver's door is closed or your seat belt
is fastened
Rthe electric parking brake is released
Rthe transmission positionD,RorNis
engaged while driving a vehicle with an
automatic transmission
RDISTRONIC PLUS is deactivated
172Driving systems
Driving and parking

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

Problems with PARKTRONIC
ProblemPossible causes/consequences and
Solutions
Only the red segments
in the PARKTRONIC
warning displays are lit.
You also hear a warning
tone for approximately
two seconds.
PARKTRONIC is then
deactivated and the
indicator lamp on the
PARKTRONIC button
lights up.
PARKTRONIC has malfunctioned and has switched off.
XIf problems persist, have PARKTRONIC checked at a qualified
specialist workshop.
Only the red segments
in the PARKTRONIC
warning displays are lit.
PARKTRONIC is then
deactivated.
The PARKTRONIC sensors are dirty or there is interference.
XCleanthe PARKTRONIC sensors (Ypage 289).
XSwitch the ignition back on.
The problem may be caused by an external source of radio or
ultrasound waves.
XSee if PARKTRONIC functions in a different location.
Active Parking Assist
General notes
Active Parking Assist is an electronic parking
aid with ultrasound. It measures the road on
both sides of the vehicle.Aparking symbol
indicates a suitable parking space. Active
steering interventioncan assistyou during
maneuvering and parking. You may also use
PARKTRONIC (Ypage 175).
Important safety notes
Active Parking Assist is merely 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. Make sure that
no persons, animals or objects are in the
maneuvering range.
When PARKTRONIC is switched off, Active
Parking Assist is also unavailable.
GWARNING
While parking or pulling out of a parking
space, the vehicle swings out and can drive
onto areas of the oncoming lane. This could
result in a collision with another road user.
There is a risk of an accident.
Pay attention to other road users. Stop the
vehicle if necessary or cancel the Active
Parking Assist parking procedure.
!If unavoidable, you should drive over
obstacles such as curbs slowly and not at
a sharp angle. Otherwise, you may damage
the wheels or tires.
Active Parking Assist may possibly indicate
parking spaces which are not suitable for
parking, for example:
Rwhere parking or stopping is prohibited
Rin front of driveways or entrances and exits
Ron unsuitable surfaces
178Driving systems
Driving and parking

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 camerais 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

opens. Only once the maneuvering process
has been completed and the rear view camera
has switched off does the flap close again. For
technical reasons, the flap may remain open
briefly after the rear view camera has been
deactivated. If you switch off the engine, the
flap will also close.
iThe text of messages shown in the
COMAND display depends on the language
setting. The following are examples of rear
view camera messages in the COMAND
display.
Observe the notes on cleaning
(Ypage 289).
Important safety notes
The rear view camera is only an aid. It is not
a replacement for your attention to your
immediate surroundings. You are always
responsible for safe maneuvering and
parking. When maneuvering or parking, make
sure that there are no persons, animals or
objects in the area in which you are
maneuvering.
Under the following circumstances, the rear
view camera will not function, or will function
in a limited manner:
Rthe tailgate is open
Rin heavy rain, snow or fog
Rat night or in very dark places
Rif the camera is exposed to very bright light
Rif the area is lit by fluorescent light or LED
lighting (the display may flicker)
Rif there is a sudden change in temperature,
e.g. when driving into a heated garage in
winter
Rif the camera lens is dirty or obstructed
Rif the rear of your vehicle is damaged. In
this event, have the camera position and
setting checked at a qualified specialist
workshop.
Activating/deactivating the rear view
camera
XTo activate:make sure that the SmartKey
is in position2in the ignition lock.
XMake sure that in the audio system/
COMAND, the "Activation by R gear"
function is selected; see the separate
operating instructions for the audio
system/COMAND.
XEngage reverse gear.
Guide lines are used to show the area
behind the vehicle in the Audio/COMAND
display.
To deactivate:the rear view camera is
deactivated if you:
Rselect transmission positionP(vehicles
with automatic transmission)
Rdrive forward ten meters
Rshift the transmission fromRto another
position after 15 seconds
Rdrive forwards at a speed of over5mph
(10 km/h)
Displays in the Audio/COMAND display
The rear view camera may show a distorted
view of obstacles, show them incorrectly or
not at all. The rear view camera does not show
objects in the following positions:
Rvery close to the rear bumper
Runder the rear bumper
Rin the area immediately above the tailgate
handle
!Objects not at ground level may appear to
be further away than they actually are, e.g.:
Rthe bumper of a parked vehicle
Rthe drawbar of a trailer
Rthe ball coupling of a trailer tow hitch
Rthe rear section of an HGV
Ra slanted post
Use the guidelines only for orientation.
Approach objects no further than the
bottom-most guideline.
Driving systems183
Driving and parking
Z