2014 MERCEDES-BENZ CLS-Class transmission

If the vehicle threatens to skid or cannot be
stopped when moving at low speed:
X Shift the transmission to position N.
Drive particularly carefully on slippery road
surfaces .Avoid sudden acceleration, steering
and braking maneuvers. Do not use the cruise
control or DISTRONIC PLUS.
i For more information on driving with
snow chains, see (Y page337).
The outside temperature indicator is not
designed to serve as an ice-warning device
and is therefore unsuitabl efor 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 area soronbridges. The
vehicl ecoulds kid if you fail to adapt your
driving style .Always adapt your drivin gstyle
and drive at aspeed to suit the prevailing
weathe rconditions.
You should pay special attention to road
conditions when temperatures are around
freezin gpoint. Driving systems
Cruise control
Important safety notes Cruise control maintains
aconstant road
speed for you. It brakes automatically in order
to avoid exceeding the set speed. On long and
steep downhill gradients, especially if the
vehicle is laden, you must select shift range
1, 2or 3in good time. 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.
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).
If you fail to adapt your driving style, cruise
control can neither reduce the risk of an
accident nor 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.
General notes Cruise control maintains
aconstant road
speed for you. It brakes automatically in order
to avoid exceeding the set speed. On long and
steep downhill gradients, especially if the
vehicle is laden, you must select shift range
1, 2or 3in good time. By doing so, you will
make use of the braking effect of the engine,
which relieves the load on the brake system
and prevent sthe 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). Driving systems
175Driving and parking Z

Cruise control lever
001A
To activat eorincreas espeed
0010 To activat eorreducespeed
0024 To deactivate cruise control
0021 To activat eatthecurren tspeed/last
stored speed
When you activate cruise control, the stored
speed is shown in the multifunction display
for five seconds. In the multifunction display,
the segments between the stored speed and
the maximum speed light up.
Activation conditions To activate cruise control, all of the following
activation condition smust be fulfilled:
R the parkin gbrake must be released.
R you are drivin gfaster than 20 mph
(30 km/h).
R ESP ®
must be active, but not intervening.
R the transmission must be in position D.
Storing and maintaining the current
speed You can accept the curren
tspeed if you are
driving faster than 20 mph (30 km/h).
X Accelerat ethe vehicle to the desired
speed.
X Briefly press the cruise contro llever
up 001A or down 0010.
X Remove your foot from the accelerator
pedal.
Cruise contro lisactivated. The vehicle
automatically maintains the stored speed.
i Cruise contro lmay be unable to maintain
the stored speed on uphill gradients. The
stored speed is resumed when the gradient
evens out. Cruise contro lmaintains the
store dspee dond ownhill gradients by
automaticall yapplyin gthe brakes.
Storing th ecurren tspee dorc alling up
the last stored speed X
Briefl ypullt he cruise control leve rtowards
you 001A.
X Remove your foot 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. 176
Driving systemsDriving and parking

Setting
aspeed X
Press the cruise control lever up 001Afor a
highe rspeed or down 0010for alower speed.
X To adjust the set speed in 1mph
increment s(1km/h increments): briefly
press the cruise contro llever up 001Aor
down 0010to the pressure point.
Ever ytime the cruise contro llever is
pressed up 001Aor down 0010the last speed
stored is increased or reduced.
X To adjust the set speed in 5mph
increment s(10 km/h increments):
briefly press the cruise contro llever
up 001A or down 0010to the pressure point.
Ever ytime the cruise contro llever is
pressed up 001Aor down 0010the last speed
stored is increased or reduced.
i Cruise contro lisnot deactivated if you
depress the accelerator pedal. For
example, if you accelerate briefly to
overtake, cruise contro ladjusts 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 contro llever
forwards 001A.
or
X Brake.
Cruise contro lisautomatically deactivated if:
R you depress the parkin gbrake.
R you are drivin gatless 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 contro lisdeactivated, you will hear
aw arning tone. You will see the Cruise Contro
lOff message in the multifunction
display for approximately five seconds.
i When you switc hoff the engine, the last
speed stored is cleared. DISTRONIC PLUS
Importan tsafet ynotes 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 oncoming and crossing traffic Driving systems
177Driving and parking
Z

Activating DISTRONIC PLUS
Activation conditions
In order to activat
eDISTR ONICPLUS, the
followin gconditi onsm ustbef ulfilled:
R the engin emust be started. It may take up
to two minutes after pulling away before
DISTRONIC PLUS is operational.
R the parkin gbrake must be released.
R ESP ®
must be active, but not intervening.
R Active Parkin gAssist must not be
activated.
R the transmission must be in position D.
R the hood must be closed.
R the driver's door must be closed when you
shift from Pto Dor your seat belt must be
fastened.
R the front-passenger door and rear doors
must be closed.
R the vehicle must not skid.
Activating X
Briefly pull the cruise control lever towards
you 0010or press it up 001Aor down 0024.
DISTRONIC PLUS is selected.
X Press the cruise control lever repeatedly
up 001A or down 0024until 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, but only up to the desired
stored speed. When driving at speeds below 20 mph
(30 km/h)
,you can only activate DISTRONIC
PLUS if the vehicle in front has been detected
and is shown in the multifunction display .If
the vehicl einfront is no longe rdetected and
displayed, DISTRONIC PLUS switches off and
at ones ounds.
i If you do not fully release the accelerator
pedal, the DISTRONIC PLUS Override message appears in the multifunction
display. The set distanc
etoaslower-
movin gvehicle in fron twill then not be
maintained. You will be driving at the speed
you determine by the position of the
accelerator pedal.
Activating when driving toward sa
stationary vehicle
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.
If the vehicle in fron tofyou is stationary, you
can only activate DISTRONIC PLUS once your
vehicle is stationary as well.
i DISTRONIC PLUS can only be activated at
under 20 mph (30 km/h) if avehicle in front
has been detected. Therefore, the
DISTRONIC PLUS distanc edisplay in the
instrument cluster should be activated
(Y page 227).
i You can use the cruise control lever to set
the stored speed and the control on the
cruise control lever to set the specified
minimum distanc e(Ypage 183).
Activating at the current speed/last
stored speed G
WARNING
If you call up the stored speed and it differs
from the curren tspeed, the vehicle
accelerates or decelerates. If you do not know
the stored speed, the vehicle could accelerate 180
Driving systemsDriving and parking

vehicles and the right lane on right-hand
drive vehicles.
Vehicles with COMAND Example
:traffic circle
i The following function is not operational
in all countries.
DISTRONIC PLUS usesa dditionalinformation
from yourn avigation system so that it can
react appropriately to certain traffic
situations. This is the case if, while following
av ehicle, DISTRONIC PLUS is active and you:
R approach or drive through atraffic circle
R approach aT-intersection
R turn off at ahighwaye xit
Even if the vehicl einfront leaves the
detection range, DISTRONIC PLUS
temporarily maintains the current driving
spee dand does not accelerate. This is based
on the current map data in the navigation
system.
Afterwards, the vehicl eaccelerates back to
the spee dyou set.
Stopping G
WARNING
Never get out of the vehicl ewhen DISTRONIC
PLUS is activated.
DISTRONIC PLUS must alson ever be
operated, activated or deactivated by a
passenger or from outside the vehicle.
DISTRONIC PLUS does not replace the
parking brake and must not be used for
parking. The DISTRONIC PLUS braking effect is
canceled and the vehicl
ecan start moving if:
R DISTRONIC PLUS is deactivated using the
cruise control lever.
R you accelerate.
R there is amalfunction in the system or an
interruption in the power supply,e .g.
battery failure.
R the electrica lsystem in the engine
compartment, the battery or the fuses are
tampere dwith.
R the battery is disconnected.
If you wishtol eave the vehicl eorpark it,
deactivate DISTRONIC PLUS and secure the
vehicl eagainst rolling away.
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 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.
When DISTRONIC PLUS is activated, the
transmission is shifted automatically to
position Pif:
R the driver's door is open and the driver's
seat belt is unfastened.
R the engine is switched off, unless it is
automatically switched off by the ECO
start/stop function.
R the hood is opened.
R as ystem malfunction occurs.
R the power supply is not sufficient. 182
Driving systemsDriving and parking

There are several ways to deactivate
DISTRONIC PLUS:
X
Briefly press the cruise control lever
forwards 001A.
or
X Brake, unless the vehicle is stationary.
When you deactivate DISTRONIC PLUS, you
will see the DISTRONIC PLUS Off message
in the multifunction display for approximately
five seconds.
i The last speed stored remains stored until
you switch off the engine.
i DISTRONIC PLUS is not deactivated if you
depress the accelerator pedal.
DISTRONIC PLUS is automatically
deactivated if:
R you engage the parking brake
R you are driving slower than 15 mph
(25 km/h) and there is no vehicle in front,
or if the vehicle in frontisnol onger
detected
R ESP ®
intervenes or you deactivate ESP ®
R the transmission is in the P,Ror Nposition
R you pull the cruise control lever towards
you in order to pull away and the front-
passenger door or one of the rear doors is
open
R the vehicle has skidded
R you activat eActive Parking Assist
If DISTRONIC PLUS is deactivated, you will
hear awarning tone. You will see the
DISTRONIC PLUS Off message in the
multifunction display for approximately five
seconds.
Tips for driving with DISTRONIC PLUS General notes
Pay particular attention in the following traffic
situations:
R Cornering, going into and coming out of a
bend
R Vehicles traveling on adifferent line R
Other vehicles changin glanes
R Narrow vehicles
R Obstructions and stationary vehicles
R Crossing vehicles
In such situations, brake if necessary.
DISTRONIC PLUS is then deactivated.
Cornering, going into and coming out of a
bend The ability of DISTRONIC PLUS to detect
vehicles when cornering is limited. Your
vehicle may brake unexpectedly or late.
Vehicles traveling on
adifferent line DISTRONIC PLUS may not detec
tvehicles
traveling on adifferent line. The distance to
the vehicle in fron twill be too short. Driving systems
185Driving and parking Z

Important safety notes
G
WARNING
When leaving th evehicle, it can still rol laway
despit ebein gbraked by th eHOLD function if:
R there is amalfunction in the system or in
the voltage supply.
R the HOLD function has been deactivated by
pressing the accelerator pedal or the brake
pedal,e .g. byavehicle occupant.
R the electrical system in the engine
compartment,t he battery or the fuses have
been tampered with.
R the battery is disconnected
There is arisk 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
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
Activation conditions You can activat
ethe HOL Dfunction if:
R the vehicle is stationary
R the engine is running or if it has been
automatically switched off by the ECO
start/stop function
R the driver's door is closed or your seat belt
is fastened
R the parking brak eisreleased
R the hood is closed
R the transmission is in position D,Ror N
R DISTRONIC PLUS is deactivated Activating th
eHOLD function X
Make sure that the activation conditions
are met.
X Depress the brak epedal.
X Quickly depres sthe brak epedal further
until 0007001A appears in the multifunction
display.
The HOL Dfunction is activated. You can
release the brak epedal.
i If depressing the brak epedal the first
tim edoes not activat ethe HOL Dfunction,
wait briefly and the ntry again.
Deactivatin gthe HOLD function The HOLD function is deactivated
automatically if:
R
you accelerate and the transmission is in
position Dor R.
R you shift the transmission to position P.
R you depress the brake peda lagain with a
certain amount of pressure until 0007
disappears from the multifunction display.
R you activate DISTRONIC PLUS.
When the HOLD function is activated ,the
transmission is shifted automatically to
position Pif:
R the driver's door is open and the driver's
seat beltisu nfastened.
R the engine is switched off, unless it is
automaticallys witched off by the ECO
start/stop function.
R the hood is opened.
R as ystem malfunction occurs.
R the power supplyisn ot sufficient. Driving systems
187Driving and parking Z

RAC
ESTART
Important safety notes i
Observe the safety notes for the SPORT
handling mod e(Ypage 70).
RAC ESTART is intended solely for activation
on dedicated race circuits.
RACE START enables optimal acceleration
from astandin gstart .The precondition for
this is asuitable high-grip road surface.
i RACE START is only available in AMG
vehicles.
Conditions for activation You can activat
eRACE START if:
R the doors are closed.
R the engine is runnin gand it has reached an
operating temperature of approximately
176 ‡(80 †). This is the case when the
engine oil temperature in the multifunction
display stops flashing.
R SPORT handling mode is activated.
(Y page 70)
R the steerin gwheel is in the straight-ahead
position
R the vehicle is stationary and the brake
pedal is depressed (left foot).
R the transmission is in position D.
Activating RACE START X
Depress the brake pedal with your left foot
and keep it depressed.
X Turn the drive program selector clockwise
(Y page 159) until the RSlamp lights up.
The RACE START Confirm: Paddle UP Cancel: Paddle DOWN message appears
in the multifunction display.
i If the activation conditions are no longer
fulfilled, RACE START is canceled. The
START Canceled message appears in the
multifunction display. X
To cancel: pull the left steerin gwheel
paddle shifter (Y page 160).
or
X To confirm: pull the right steerin gwheel
paddle shifter (Y page 160).
The RACE START Available Depress gas pedal message appears in the
multifunction display.
i If you do not depress the accelerator
pedal fully within two seconds, RACE
START is canceled. The RACE START Not Possible See Operator's Manual
message appears in the multifunction
display.
X Fully depress the accelerator pedal.
The engine speed rises to approximately
3,500 rpm.
The RACE START Release brake to start message appears in the
multifunction display.
i If you do not release the brake pedal
within five seconds, RACE START is
canceled. The RACE START Canceled message appears in the multifunction
display.
X Take your foot off the brake, but keep the
accelerator pedal depressed.
The vehicle pulls away at maximum
acceleration.
The RACE START Active message appears
in the multifunction display.
RACE START is deactivated when the vehicle
reaches aspeed of approximately 30 mph
(Canada: 50 km/h) .Drive program S+is
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. The RACE START Not Possible See Operator's
Manual message appears in the multifunction
display.
i If RACE START is used repeatedly within
as hort period of time, it is only available 188
Driving systemsDriving and parking