
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 a vehicle in front.
R you switch on the appropriate turn signal.
R DISTRONIC PLUS does not detect a danger
of collision.
If these conditions are fulfilled, your vehicle
is accelerated. Acceleration will be
interrupted if changing lanes takes too long
or if the distance between your vehicle and
the vehicle in front becomes too small.
i When changing lanes, 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 a malfunction in the system or in
the voltage supply.
R DISTRONIC PLUS has been deactivated
with the cruise control lever, e.g. by a
vehicle occupant or from outside the
vehicle.
R the electrical system in the engine
compartment, the battery or the fuses have
been tampered with.
R the battery is disconnected.
R the accelerator pedal has been depressed,
e.g. by a vehicle occupant.
There is a risk of an accident.
If you wish to exit the vehicle, always turn off
DISTRONIC PLUS and secure the vehicle
against rolling away.
If DISTRONIC PLUS detects that the vehicle
in front is stopping, it brakes your vehicle until
it is stationary. Once your 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 a sufficient distance behind the
vehicle in front. The specified minimum
distance is set using the control on the
cruise control lever.
On steep uphill or downhill inclines or if there
is a malfunction, the transmission may also
automatically be shifted into position P.
Displays in the instrument cluster Displays in the speedometer
Example: DISTRONIC PLUS displays in the
speedometer
When DISTRONIC PLUS is activated, one or
two segments
0044in the set speed range light
up.
If DISTRONIC PLUS detects a vehicle in front,
segments 0044between speed of the vehicle in
front 0043and stored speed 0087light up.
i For design reasons, the speed displayed
in the speedometer may differ slightly from
the speed set for DISTRONIC PLUS. Driving systems
181Driving and parking Z

i
The last speed stored remains stored until
you switch off the engine.
DISTRONIC PLUS is automatically
deactivated if:
R you engage the parking brake.
R you are driving more slowly than 15 mph
(25 km/h) and there is no longer a vehicle
in front, or if the vehicle in front is no longer
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.
If DISTRONIC PLUS is deactivated, you will
hear a warning tone. You will see the
DISTRONIC PLUS Off
DISTRONIC PLUS Off message in the
multifunction display for approximately five
seconds.
In the Assistance menu (Y page 213) of the
on-board computer, you can select the
distance display.
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. 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 a different line
DISTRONIC PLUS may not detect vehicles
traveling on a different line. The distance to
the vehicle in front will be too short.
Other vehicles changing lanes 184
Driving systemsDriving and parking

X
Make sure that Blind Spot Assist is
activated in the on-board computer
(Y page 213).
X Turn the SmartKey to position
2(Y page 139) in the ignition lock.
Warning lamps 0043in the exterior mirrors
light up red for approximately
1.5 seconds and then turn yellow. HOLD function
General notes The HOLD function can assist the driver in the
following situations:
R when pulling away, especially on steep
slopes
R when maneuvering on steep slopes
R when 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.
i Do not use the HOLD function when
driving off-road, on steep uphill or downhill
gradients or on slippery or loose surfaces.
The HOLD function cannot hold the vehicle
on such surfaces.
Activation conditions You can activate the HOLD function if:
R the vehicle is stationary.
R the engine is running or it has been
switched off by the ECO start/stop
function (AMG vehicles).
R the engine is running.
R the driver's door is closed or your seat belt
is fastened.
R the transmission is in position D,Ror N.
R DISTRONIC PLUS is deactivated. Activating the HOLD function The vehicle's brakes are applied when the
HOLD function is activated. For this reason,
deactivate the HOLD function while in the car
wash or while towing.
X
Make sure that the activation conditions
are met.
X Depress the brake pedal.
X Quickly depress the brake pedal further
until 00D9 appears in the multifunction
display.
The HOLD function is activated. You can
release the brake pedal.
i If depressing the brake pedal the first
time does not activate the HOLD function,
wait briefly and then try again.
Deactivating the HOLD function G
WARNING
When leaving the vehicle, it can still roll away
despite being braked by the HOLD function if:
R there is a malfunction 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. by a vehicle occupant.
R the electrical system in the engine
compartment, the battery or the fuses have
been tampered with.
R the 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.
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.188
Driving systemsDriving and parking

R
you depress the brake pedal again with a
certain amount of pressure until 00D9
disappears from the multifunction display.
R you activate DISTRONIC PLUS.
On steep uphill or downhill gradients or if
there is a malfunction, the transmission may
also be automatically shifted into position P.4MATIC (permanent four-wheel drive)
! 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.
! When testing the parking brake, operate
the vehicle only briefly (for a maximum of
ten seconds) on a brake test dynamometer.
When doing this, turn the SmartKey to
position 0or 1in the ignition. Failure to do
this can cause damage to the drive train or
the brake system.
! A function or performance test should
only be carried out on a two-axle
dynamometer. Before you operate the
vehicle on such a dynamometer, please
consult a qualified workshop. You could
otherwise damage the drive train or the
brake system.
4MATIC ensures that all four wheels are
permanently driven. Together with ESP ®
and
4ETS, it improves the traction of your vehicle
whenever a drive wheel spins due to
insufficient grip.
If a drive wheel spins due to insufficient grip:
R Only depress the accelerator pedal as far
as necessary when pulling away.
R Accelerate less when driving.
If you fail to adapt your driving 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 lane. Only engage
4MATIC when the current road, weather and
traffic conditions permit it to be done safely,
and adapt your driving style accordingly.
Drive carefully and maintain a suitable
distance to the vehicle in front.
i
In 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.
For information about driving off-road, see
(Y page 164). PARKTRONIC
Important safety notes !
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 an electronic parking aid with
ultrasonic sensors. It 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. Ensure that the
areas in front, behind and to the side of the Driving systems
189Driving and parking Z

vehicle are safe before maneuvering, parking
or pulling away. There must not be any
persons, animals or objects in the area in
which you are maneuvering.
PARKTRONIC does not take into account any
persons or objects located below or above
the detection range. As a result,
PARKTRONIC cannot warn you about objects
in this area.
PARKTRONIC is activated automatically when
you:
R switch on the ignition
R shift the transmission to position D,Ror N
R release the parking brake
PARKTRONIC is deactivated at speeds above
11 mph (18 km/h). It is reactivated at lower
speeds.
PARKTRONIC monitors the area around your
vehicle using six sensors in the front bumper
and four sensors in the rear bumper.
Range of the sensors General notes
0043
Example: sensors in the front bumper,
left-hand side Side view Top view
The sensors must be free from dirt, ice or
slush. Otherwise, they may not function
correctly. Clean the sensors regularly, taking
care not to scratch or damage them
(Y
page 291).
Front sensors Center Approximately 40 in
(approximately 100 cm
from brush guard)
Corners Approximately 24 in
(approximately 60cm)
Rear sensors
Center Approximately 36 in
(approximately 90 cm)
from spare wheel
Corners Approximately 32 in
(approximately 80 cm)
Minimum distance
Center Approximately 8 in
(approximately 20 cm)
Corners Approximately 8 in
(approximately 20 cm)
If there is an obstacle within this range, the
relevant warning displays light up and a
warning tone sounds. If the distance falls
below the minimum, the distance may no
longer be shown.190
Driving systemsDriving and parking

Warning displays
Warning display for the front area
0043
Segments on the left-hand side of the
vehicle
0044 Segments on the right-hand side of the
vehicle
0087 Segments showing operational readiness
The warning displays show the distance
between the sensors and the obstacle. The
warning display for the front area is located
on the dashboard above the center air vents.
The warning display for the rear area is
located on the headliner in the rear
compartment.
The warning display for each side of the
vehicle is divided into five yellow and two red
segments. PARKTRONIC is operational if
yellow segments showing operational
readiness 0087light up.
The selected transmission position and the
direction in which the vehicle is rolling
determine which warning display is active
when the engine is running. Transmission
position Warning display
D
Front area activated
R,
Nor the vehicle
is rolling
backwards Rear and front areas
activated
P
No areas activated One or more segments light up as the vehicle
approaches an obstacle, depending on the
vehicle's distance from the obstacle.
From the:
R
sixth segment onwards, you will hear an
intermittent warning tone for
approximately two seconds.
R seventh segment onwards, you will hear a
warning tone for approximately two
seconds. This indicates that you have now
reached the minimum distance.
Deactivating/activating PARKTRONIC 0043
Indicator lamp
0044 To deactivate/activate PARKTRONIC
If indicator lamp 0043lights up, PARKTRONIC is
deactivated.
i PARKTRONIC is automatically activated
when you turn the SmartKey to position 2
in the ignition lock.
Towing a trailer PARKTRONIC is deactivated for the rear area
when you establish an electrical connection
between your vehicle and a trailer. Driving systems
191Driving and parking Z

Activating/deactivating the rear view
camera 0043
Rear view camera X
To activate: make sure that the SmartKey
is in position 2in the ignition lock.
X Make sure that the rear view camera
function is selected in COMAND (see the
separate operating instructions for
COMAND).
X Engage reverse gear.
The area behind the vehicle is shown with
guide lines and "Reverse parking"
function 0043in the COMAND display.
To deactivate: the rear view camera is
deactivated if you:
R shift the transmission to position P
R drive forward ten meters
R shift the transmission from Rto another
position after 15 seconds
R drive forwards at a speed of over 5 mph
(10 km/h) Off-road driving systems
Transfer case
General notes The vehicle has permanent all-wheel drive.
Power is always transmitted to both axles.
For further information on driving off-road,
see (Y
page 164).
Shift ranges G
WARNING
If you do not wait for the transfer case gear
change process to complete, the transfer
case could remain in the neutral position. The
power transmission to the driven wheels is
then interrupted. There is a danger of the
vehicle rolling away unintentionally. There is
a risk of an accident.
Wait until the transfer case shift process is
completed.
Do not turn off the engine while changing gear
and do not shift the automatic transmission
to another gear. HIGH
RANGE
Position for all normal on-
road driving conditions
LOW
RANGE
Low-range position for
driving off-road.
Also for use on steep uphill
or downhill gradients,
especially when towing a
trailer.
The vehicle travels around
half the speed of on-road
driving range
HIGH RANGE.
The tractive power is
correspondingly higher. Off-road driving systems
193Driving and parking Z

Shifting the transfer case
Important safety notes
G
WARNING
When the transfer case is in the neutral
position, power transmission to the driven
wheels is interrupted. As a result, the vehicle
could roll away. There is a risk of an accident.
Secure the vehicle with the parking brake, and
on uphill or downhill gradients, also secure it
with a device such as a wheel chock.
Always wait for the gear change process from
HIGH RANGE toLOW RANGE and from
LOW RANGE toHIGH RANGE to complete.
Do not turn off the engine while changing gear
and do not shift the automatic transmission
to another gear.
General notes 0043
Current shift range 0043
Indicator lamp
0044 LOW RANGE button
Switching on the off-road gear ratio
! Only carry out the gear selection if:
R the engine is running.
R the vehicle is rolling. R
the automatic transmission is in selector
lever position N.
R you are driving no faster than 25 mph
(40 km/h).
You could otherwise damage the transfer
case. i
AMG vehicles: to shift the transfer case
to LOW RANGE, deactivate the ECO start/
stop function (Y page 142).
X Press LOW RANGE button 0044.
When the shift procedure is complete, the
LOW RANGE LOW RANGE transfer case position appears
in the multifunction display.
Indicator lamp 0043lights up.
X Shift the transmission to position D.
Switching off the off-road gear ratio G
WARNING
When the transfer case is in the neutral
position, power transmission to the driven
wheels is interrupted. As a result, the vehicle
could roll away. There is a risk of an accident.
Secure the vehicle with the parking brake, and
on uphill or downhill gradients, also secure it
with a device such as a wheel chock.
! Only carry out the gear selection if:
R the engine is running.
R the vehicle is rolling.
R the automatic transmission is in selector
lever position N.
R you are driving no faster than 43 mph
(70 km/h). 194
Off-road driving systemsDriving and parking