front. An intermittent warning tone will then
sound, and the ·distance warning lamp
will light up in the instrument cluster.
X Brake immediately in order to increase the
distance from the vehicle in front.
or
X Take evasive action, provided it is safe to
do so.
Due to the nature of the system, particularly
complicated but non-critical driving
conditions may also cause the system to
display a warning.
With the help of the radar sensor system, the
distance warning function can detect
obstacles that are in the path of your vehicle
for an extended period of time.
From a speed of around 40 mph (70 km/h),
the distance warning function can also react
to stationary obstacles, such as stopped or
parked vehicles.
If you approach an obstacle and the distance
warning function detects a risk of a collision,
the system will initially alert you both visually
and acoustically.
In particular, the detection of obstacles can
be impaired if:
R dirt on the sensors or anything else
covering the sensors
R snow or heavy rain
R interference by other radar sources
R there are strong radar reflections, for
example in parking garages
R a narrow vehicle traveling in front, e.g. a
motorbike
R a vehicle traveling in front on a different line
relative to the center of your vehicle
Following damage to the front end of the
vehicle, have the configuration and operation
of the radar sensor checked at a qualified
specialist workshop. This also applies to
collisions at low speeds where there is no
visible damage to the front of the vehicle. Adaptive Brake Assist i
Observe the "Important safety notes"
section (Y page 67). G
WARNING
Adaptive Brake Assist cannot always clearly
identify objects and complex traffic
situations.
In such cases, Adaptive Brake Assist may:
R intervene unnecessarily
R not intervene
There is a risk of an accident.
Always pay careful attention to the traffic
situation and be ready to brake. Terminate the
intervention in a non-critical driving situation. G
WARNING
Adaptive Brake Assist does not react:
R to people or animals
R to oncoming vehicles
R to crossing traffic
R to stationary obstacles
R when cornering
As a result, Adaptive Brake Assist may not
intervene in all critical conditions. There is a
risk of an accident.
Always pay careful attention to the traffic
situation and be ready to brake.
Adaptive Brake Assist aids you in braking
during hazardous situations at speeds above
4 mph (7 km/h) and uses the radar sensor
system to evaluate the traffic situation.
With the help of Adaptive Brake Assist, the
distance warning signal can detect obstacles
that are in the path of your vehicle for an
extended period of time.
Should you approach an obstacle and
Adaptive Brake Assist has detected a risk of
collision, Adaptive Brake Assist calculates the
braking force necessary to avoid a rear-end
collision. Should you apply the brakes
vigorously, Adaptive Brake Assist will Driving safety systems
71Safety Z
ProCarManuals.com
Application of the brakes by ESP
®
may
otherwise destroy the brake system.
Vehicles without 4MATIC: observe the notes
on ESP ®
(Y page 366) when towing the
vehicle with a raised rear axle.
ESP ®
is deactivated if the åwarning lamp
in the instrument cluster lights up
continuously when the engine is running.
If the ÷ warning lamp and the å
warning lamp are lit continuously, ESP ®
is not
available due to a malfunction.
Observe the information on warning lamps
(Y page 289) and display messages which
may be shown in the instrument cluster
(Y page 258).
i Only use wheels with the recommended
tire sizes. Only then will ESP ®
function
properly.
Characteristics of ESP ®General information
If the
÷ ESP warning lamp goes out before
beginning the journey, ESP ®
is automatically
active.
If ESP ®
intervenes, the ÷ESP®
warning
lamp flashes in the instrument cluster.
If ESP ®
intervenes:
X Do not deactivate ESP ®
under any
circumstances.
X Only depress the accelerator pedal as far
as necessary when pulling away.
X Adapt your driving style to suit the
prevailing road and weather conditions.
ECO start/stop function
The ECO start/stop function switches the
engine off automatically when the vehicle
stops moving. The engine starts
automatically when the driver wants to pull
away again. ESP ®
remains in its previously
selected status. Example:if ESP®
was
deactivated before the engine was switched off, ESP
®
remains deactivated when the
engine is switched on again.
Deactivating/activating ESP ®
(except
AMG vehicles) Important safety notes
You can select between the following
statuses of ESP:
R
ESP ®
is activated.
R ESP ®
is deactivated. G
WARNING
If you deactivate ESP ®
, ESP ®
no longer
stabilizes the vehicle. There is an increased
risk of skidding and an accident.
Only deactivate ESP ®
in the situations
described in the following.
! Avoid spinning the driven wheels for an
extended period with ESP ®
deactivated.
You could otherwise damage the drivetrain.
It may be best to deactivate ESP ®
in the
following situations:
R when using snow chains
R in deep snow
R on sand or gravel
i Activate ESP ®
as soon as the situations
described above no longer apply. ESP ®
will
otherwise not be able to stabilize the
vehicle if the vehicle starts to skid or a
wheel starts to spin.
Deactivating/activating ESP ®
X To deactivate:( Ypage 247).
The å ESP®
OFF warning lamp in the
instrument cluster lights up.
X To activate: (Ypage 247).
The å ESP®
OFF warning lamp in the
instrument cluster goes out. Driving safety systems
73Safety Z
ProCarManuals.com
Characteristics when ESP
®
is deactivated
If ESP ®
is deactivated and one or more wheels
start to spin, the ÷ESP®
warning lamp in
the instrument cluster flashes. In such
situations, ESP ®
will not stabilize the vehicle.
If you deactivate ESP ®
:
R ESP ®
no longer improves driving stability.
R engine torque is no longer limited and the
drive wheels are able to spin.
The spinning of the wheels results in a
cutting action for better traction on loose
surfaces.
R traction control is still activated.
R ESP ®
still provides support when you
brake.
Deactivating/activating ESP ®
(AMG
vehicles) Important safety notes
You can select between the following
statuses of ESP:
R ESP ®
is activated.
R SPORT handling mode is activated.
R ESP ®
is deactivated. G
WARNING
When SPORT handling mode is activated,
there is a greater risk of skidding and
accidents.
Only activate SPORT handling mode in the
situations described in the following. G
WARNING
If you deactivate ESP ®
, ESP ®
no longer
stabilizes the vehicle. There is an increased
risk of skidding and an accident.
Only deactivate ESP ®
in the situations
described in the following.
! Avoid spinning the driven wheels for an
extended period with ESP ®
deactivated.
You could otherwise damage the drivetrain. It may be best to activate SPORT handling
mode in the following situations:
R
when using snow chains
R in deep snow
R on sand or gravel
R on designated roads when the vehicle's
own oversteering and understeering
characteristics are desired
Driving in SPORT handling mode or without
ESP ®
requires an extremely qualified and
experienced driver.
i Activate ESP ®
as soon as the situations
described above no longer apply. ESP ®
will
otherwise not be able to stabilize the
vehicle if the vehicle starts to skid or a
wheel starts to spin.
Deactivating/activating ESP ® X
To activate SPORT handling mode:
briefly press button :.
The M SPORT handling mode warning
lamp in the instrument cluster lights up.
The SPORT handling mode
SPORT handling mode message
appears in the multifunction display.
X To deactivate SPORT handling mode:
briefly press button :.
The M SPORT handling mode warning
lamp in the instrument cluster goes out.
X To deactivate ESP ®
:press button :until
the å ESP®
OFF warning lamp lights up
in the instrument cluster.
The ÷OFF OFFmessage appears in the
multifunction display. 74
Driving safety systemsSafety
ProCarManuals.com
R
a narrow vehicle traveling in front, e.g. a
motorbike
R a vehicle traveling in front on a different line
relative to the center of your vehicle
Recognition by the camera system is also
impaired in the event of:
R dirt on the camera or if the camera is
covered
R there is glare on the camera system, e.g.
from the sun being low in the sky
R darkness
R if:
-pedestrians move quickly, e.g. into the
path of the vehicle
- the camera system no longer recognizes
a pedestrian as a person due to special
clothing or other objects
- a pedestrian is concealed by other
objects
- the typical outline of a person is not
distinguishable from the background
Following damage to the front end of the
vehicle, have the configuration and operation
of the radar sensors checked at a qualified
specialist workshop. This also applies to
collisions at low speeds where there is no
visible damage to the front of the vehicle.
Following damage to the windshield, have the
configuration and operation of the camera
system checked at a qualified specialist
workshop.
Function X
To activate/deactivate: activate or
deactivate PRE-SAFE ®
Brake in the on-
board computer (Y page 247).
If the PRE-SAFE ®
Brake is not activated, the
æ symbol appears in the multifunction
display.
Starting at a speed of around 4 mph
(7 km/h), this function warns you if you
rapidly approach a vehicle in front. An
intermittent warning tone will then sound and the
· distance warning lamp will light up
in the instrument cluster.
X Brake immediately to defuse the situation.
or
X Take evasive action provided it is safe to do
so.
PRE-SAFE ®
Brake can also brake the vehicle
automatically under the following conditions:
R the driver and front-passenger have their
seat belts fastened
and
R the vehicle speed is between
approximately 4 mph (7 km/h) and
124 mph (200 km/h)
At a speed of up to approximately 44 mph
(70 km/h), PRE-SAFE ®
Brake can also detect:
R stationary objects in the path of your
vehicle, e.g. stopped or parked vehicles
R pedestrians in the path of your vehicle
i If there is an increased risk of collision,
preventive passenger protection measures
(PRE-SAFE ®
) are activated.
If the risk of collision with the vehicle in front
remains and you do not brake, take evasive
action or accelerate significantly, the vehicle
may perform automatic emergency braking,
up to the point of full brake application.
Automatic emergency braking is not
performed until immediately prior to an
imminent accident.
You can prevent the intervention of the PRE-
SAFE ®
Brake at any time by:
R depressing the accelerator pedal further.
R activating kickdown.
R releasing the brake pedal.
The braking action of PRE-SAFE ®
Brake is
ended automatically if:
R you maneuver to avoid the obstacle.
R there is no longer a risk of collision.
R there is no longer an obstacle detected in
front of your vehicle. Driving safety systems
77Safety Z
ProCarManuals.com
Problem Possible causes/consequences and
M
MSolutions You have lost the
mechanical key. X
Report the loss immediately to the vehicle insurers.
X If necessary, have the locks changed as well. The engine cannot be
started using the
SmartKey. The on-board voltage is too low.
X
Switch off non-essential consumers, e.g. seat heating or interior
lighting, and try to start the engine again.
If this does not work:
X Check the starter battery and charge it if necessary
(Y page 360).
or
X Jump-start the vehicle (Y page 362).
or
X Consult a qualified specialist workshop. The engine cannot be
started using KEYLESS-
GO. The SmartKey is in
the vehicle. The vehicle is locked.
X
Unlock the vehicle and try to start the vehicle again. There is interference from a powerful source of radio waves.
X
Start your vehicle with the SmartKey in the ignition lock. Doors
Important safety notes
G
WARNING
If children are left unsupervised in the vehicle,
they could:
R open the doors, thus endangering other
people or road users.
R get out and disrupt traffic.
R operate the vehicle's equipment.
Additionally, children could set the vehicle in
motion if, for example, they:
R release the parking brake.
R shifting the automatic transmission out of
park position P
R Start the engine.
There is a risk of an accident and injury.
When leaving the vehicle, always take the
SmartKey with you and lock the vehicle. Never
leave children or animals unattended in the vehicle. Always keep the SmartKey out of
reach of children.
G
WARNING
If persons, particularly children are subjected
to prolonged exposure to extreme heat or
cold, there is a risk of injury, possibly even
fatal. Never leave children unattended in the
vehicle.
Ideally, place luggage or loads in the trunk/
cargo compartment. Observe the loading
guidelines (Y page 298). Unlocking and opening doors from
the inside
You can open a door from inside the vehicle
even if it has been locked. If the vehicle has
been locked with the SmartKey or with
KEYLESS-GO, opening a door from the inside 88
DoorsOpening and closing
ProCarManuals.com
The hazard warning lamps automatically
switch on if:
R
an air bag is deployed
R the vehicle decelerates rapidly from a
speed of above 45 mph (70 km/h) and
comes to a standstill
The hazard warning lamps switch off
automatically if the vehicle reaches a speed
of above 6 mph (10 km/h) again after a full
brake application.
i The hazard warning lamps still operate if
the ignition is switched off. Cornering light function
The cornering light function improves the
illumination of the road over a wide angle in
the direction you are turning, enabling better
visibility in tight bends, for example. It can
only be activated when the low-beam
headlamps are switched on.
Active:
R if you are driving at speeds below 25 mph
(40 km/h) and switch on the turn signal or
turn the steering wheel
R if you are driving at speeds between
25 mph (40 km/h) and 45 mph (70 km/h)
and turn the steering wheel
Not active: if you are driving at speeds above
25 mph (40 km/h) or switch off the turn
signal or turn the steering wheel to the
straight-ahead position. The cornering lamp may remain lit for a short
time, but is automatically switched off after
no more than three minutes. Active light function
The active light function is a system that
moves the headlamps according to the
steering movements of the front wheels. In
this way, relevant areas remain illuminated
while driving. This allows you to identify
pedestrians, cyclists and animals.
Active:
when the lights are switched on. Adaptive Highbeam Assist
Important safety notes G
WARNING
Adaptive Highbeam Assist does not recognize
road users:
R who have no lights, e.g. pedestrians
R who have poor lighting, e.g. cyclists
R whose lighting is blocked, e.g. by a barrier
In very rare cases, Adaptive Highbeam Assist
may fail to recognize other road users that
have lights, or may recognize them too late.
In this or similar situations, the automatic
high-beam headlamps will not be deactivated
or activated regardless. There is a risk of an
accident.
Always carefully observe the traffic conditions
and switch off the high-beam headlamps in
good time. Exterior lighting
133Lights and windshield wipers Z
ProCarManuals.com
This can affect the functionality of
KEYLESS-GO.
Vehicles with KEYLESS-GO are equipped with
SmartKeys featuring the integrated KEYLESS-
GO function and a detachable Start/Stop
button.
The Start/Stop button must be inserted in the
ignition lock and the SmartKey must be in the
vehicle.
Pressing the Start/Stop button several times
in succession corresponds to the different
SmartKey positions in the ignition lock. This
is only the case if you are not depressing the
brake pedal.
If you depress the brake pedal and press the
Start/Stop button, the engine starts
immediately.
The Start/Stop button can be removed from
the ignition lock. Then, you can insert the
SmartKey into the ignition lock.
i You do not have to remove the Start/Stop
button from the ignition lock when you
leave the vehicle. You should, however,
always take the SmartKey with you when
leaving the vehicle. As long as the
SmartKey is in the vehicle:
R the vehicle can be started using the
Start/Stop button and
R electrically powered equipment can be
operated.
Key positions with KEYLESS-GO As soon as the ignition is switched on, all the
indicator lamps in the instrument cluster light
up. If an indicator lamp does not go out after starting the engine or lights up while driving,
see (Y
page 287).
X Insert Start/Stop button :into ignition
lock ;.
i When you insert Start/Stop button :
into ignition lock ;, the system needs
approximately two seconds recognition
time. You can then use Start/Stop
button :.
Activating power supply
X Position 0: if Start/Stop button :has not
yet been pressed, this corresponds to the
SmartKey being removed from the ignition.
X Position 1: press Start/Stop button :.
The power supply is switched on. You can
now activate the windshield wipers, for
example.
Switching on the ignition
X Position 2(ignition): press Start/Stop
button :twice.
The ignition is switched on.
i The ignition is switched off when:
R the driver's door is opened and
R you press Start/Stop button :once
when in this position. Start/Stop button
=
USA only
? Canada only 160
DrivingDriving and parking
ProCarManuals.com
Starting the engine
Important safety notes G
WARNING
If children are left unsupervised in the vehicle,
they could:
R open the doors, thus endangering other
people or road users.
R get out and disrupt traffic.
R operate the vehicle's equipment.
Additionally, children could set the vehicle in
motion if, for example, they:
R release the parking brake.
R shift the automatic transmission out of
parking position P.
R starting the engine.
There is a risk of an accident and injury.
When leaving the vehicle, always take the
SmartKey with you and lock the vehicle. Never
leave children or animals unattended in the
vehicle. Always keep the SmartKey out of
reach of children. G
WARNING
Combustion engines emit poisonous exhaust
gases such as carbon monoxide. Inhaling
these exhaust gases leads to poisoning. There
is a risk of fatal injury. Therefore never leave
the engine running in enclosed spaces
without sufficient ventilation. G
WARNING
Flammable materials introduced through
environmental influence or by animals can
ignite if in contact with the exhaust system or
parts of the engine that heat up. There is a risk
of fire.
Carry out regular checks to make sure that
there are no flammable foreign materials in
the engine compartment or in the exhaust
system.
! Do not depress the accelerator pedal
when starting the engine. General notes i
Vehicles with a gasoline engine: the
catalytic converter is preheated for up to
30 seconds after a cold start. The sound of
the engine may change during this time.
Automatic transmission X
Shift the transmission to position P.
The transmission position display in the
multifunction display shows P.
i You can also start the engine when the
transmission is in position N.
Starting procedure with the SmartKey i
To start the engine using the SmartKey
instead of KEYLESS-GO, pull the Start/
Stop button out of the ignition lock.
X To start a gasoline engine: turn the
SmartKey to position 3in the ignition lock
(Y page 159) and release it as soon as the
engine is running.
X To start a diesel engine: turn the
SmartKey to position 2in the ignition lock
(Y page 159).
The % preglow indicator lamp in the
instrument cluster lights up.
X When the %preglow indicator lamp
goes out, turn the SmartKey to position
3(Y page 159) and release it as soon as the
engine is running.
i You can start the engine without preglow
if the engine is warm.
Using KEYLESS-GO to start the engine i
The Start/Stop button can be used to
start the vehicle manually without inserting
the SmartKey into the ignition lock. The
Start/Stop button must be inserted in the
ignition lock and the SmartKey must be in
the vehicle. This mode for starting the
engine operates independently of the ECO
start/stop automatic engine start function. Driving
161Driving and parking Z
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