Servicing the brakes
!
If the red brake warning lamp lights up in
the instrument cluster and you hear a
warning tone while the engine is running,
the brake fluid level may be too low.
Observe additional warning messages in
the multifunction display.
The brake fluid level may be too low due to
brake pad wear or leaking brake lines.
Have the brake system checked
immediately. This work should be carried
out at a qualified specialist workshop.
All checks and maintenance work on the
brake system must be carried out at a
qualified specialist workshop. Consult a
qualified specialist workshop to arrange this.
Have brake pads installed and brake fluid
replaced at a qualified specialist workshop.
! Vehicles with 4MATIC: function or
performance tests may only be carried out
on a 2-axle dynamometer. If you are
planning to have the vehicle tested on such
a dynamometer, contact an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center to obtain further
information first. Otherwise, you could
damage the drive train or the brake system.
! As the ESP ®
system operates
automatically, the engine and the ignition
must be switched off (SmartKey in position
0 or 1in the ignition lock) when:
R testing the parking brake on a brake
dynamometer.
R you intend to have the vehicle towed with
the front or rear axle raised (not
permitted for vehicles with 4MATIC).
Braking maneuvers triggered automatically
by ESP ®
may seriously damage the brake
system.
If the brake system has only been subject to
moderate loads, you should test the
functionality of your brakes at regular
intervals. To do so, press firmly on the brake
pedal when driving at a high speed. This
improves the grip of the brake pads. You can find a description of Brake Assist
(BAS) on (Y
page 68).
Mercedes-Benz recommends that you only
have brake pads/linings installed on your
vehicle which have been approved for
Mercedes-Benz vehicles or which correspond
to an equivalent quality standard. Brake
pads/linings which have not been approved
for Mercedes-Benz vehicles or which are not
of an equivalent quality could affect your
vehicle's operating safety.
Mercedes-Benz recommends that you only
use brake fluid that has been specially
approved for your vehicle by Mercedes-Benz,
or which corresponds to an equivalent quality
standard. Brake fluid which has not been
approved for Mercedes-Benz vehicles or
which is not of an equivalent quality could
affect your vehicle's operating safety.
Parking brake G
WARNING
If you must brake the vehicle with the parking
brake, the braking distance is considerably
longer and the wheels could lock. There is an
increased danger of skidding and accidents.
Only use the parking brake to brake the
vehicle when the service brake is faulty. Do
not apply the parking brake too firmly. If the
wheels lock, release the parking brake until
the wheels begin turning again.
If you brake the vehicle with the parking
brake, the brake lamps will not light up.
If you drive on wet roads or dirt-covered
surfaces, road salt and/or dirt could get into
the parking brake.
In order to prevent corrosion and a reduction
in the braking power of the parking brake,
observe the following:
R gently depress the parking brake from time
to time before beginning the journey.
R drive for approximately 110 yds (100 m)at
a maximum speed of 12 mph (20 km/h). Driving tips
169Driving and parking Z
too steep for your vehicle, drive back down in
reverse gear.
General notes H
Environmental note
Protection of the environment is of primary
importance. Treat nature with respect.
Observe all prohibiting signs.
Read this section carefully before driving your
vehicle off-road. Practice by driving over more
gentle off-road terrain first.
Familiarize yourself with the characteristics
of your vehicle and the gear shift operation
before driving through difficult terrain.
Checklist before driving off-road !
If the engine oil warning lamp lights up
while the vehicle is in motion, stop the
vehicle in a safe place as soon as possible.
Check the engine oil level. The engine oil
warning lamp warning must not be ignored.
Continuing the journey while the symbol is
displayed could lead to engine damage.
Checklist after driving off-road Driving over rough terrain places greater
demands on your vehicle than driving on
normal roads. After driving off-road, check
the vehicle. This allows you to detect damage
promptly and reduce the risk of an accident
to yourself and other road users. Driving on sand Observe the following rules when driving on
sand:
R
use the left-hand steering wheel paddle
shifter to shift to a lower gear appropriate
to the terrain.
R drive quickly to overcome the rolling
resistance. Otherwise the vehicle's wheels
could become stuck in loose ground.
R drive in the tracks of other vehicles if
possible. Make sure that:
-the tire ruts are not too deep.
- the sand is sufficiently firm.
- the ground clearance of the vehicle is
sufficient.
Tire ruts and gravel roads Observe the following rules when driving
along ruts in off-road terrain or on roads with
loose gravel:
!
Check that the ruts are not too deep and
that your vehicle has sufficient clearance.
Otherwise, your vehicle could be damaged
or bottom out and get stuck.
Driving over obstacles !
Obstacles could damage the floor of the
vehicle or components of the chassis. Ask
passengers for guidance when driving over
large obstacles. The passenger should
always keep a safe distance from the
vehicle when doing so in order to avoid
injury as a result of unexpected vehicle
movements. After driving off-road or over
obstacles, check the vehicle for possible
damage, especially to the underbody and
the components of the chassis.
Observe the following rules when driving over
tree stumps, large stones and other
obstacles:
R avoid high engine speeds.
R shift to a lower gear using the left-hand
steering wheel paddle shifter. 172
Driving
tipsDriving an d parking
R
drive very slowly.
R try to drive straight over the center of
obstacles: front wheel first, then rear
wheel. Traveling uphill
Approach/departure angle G
WARNING
If you drive on a steep incline at an angle or
turn when driving on an incline, the vehicle
could slip sideways, tip and rollover. There is
a risk of an accident.
Always drive on a steep incline in the line of
fall (straight up or down) and do not turn the
vehicle.
R Observe the rules on off-road driving.
R Do not drive at an angle on slopes, inclines
or gradients, but instead follow the direct
line of fall.
R Drive slowly.
R Avoid high engine speeds. Drive at
appropriate engine speeds (maximum
3,000 rpm).
R Shift to a lower gear using the left-hand
paddle shifter before tackling steep
downhill gradients.
R When driving down an incline, make use of
the engine's braking effect. Observe the
engine speed; do not overrev the engine.
R Check the brakes after prolonged off-road
driving.
i Hill start assist will aid you when pulling
away on a hill. For further information about
hill start assist, see (Y page 148).
Do not switch to transmission position N
when driving off-road. If you try to brake the
vehicle using the service brake, you could
lose control of the vehicle. If the gradient is
too steep for your vehicle, drive back down in
reverse gear.
Always observe the approach/departure
angle values (Y page 376). Maximum gradient-climbing capability Always observe the maximum gradient
climbing ability values (
Ypage 376).
Hilltops When driving up an uphill gradient, slightly
reduce pressure on the accelerator
immediately before reaching the brow of the
hill. Make use of the vehicle's own impetus to
travel over the brow.
This style of driving prevents:
R
the vehicle from lifting off the ground on the
brow of a hill
R the vehicle from traveling too quickly down
the other side
Driving downhill R
Drive slowly.
R Do not drive at an angle down steep
inclines. Steer into the line of fall and drive
with the front wheels aligned straight.
Otherwise, the vehicle could slip sideways,
tip and rollover.
R Shift to a lower gear using the left-hand
paddle shifter before tackling steep
downhill gradients.
R Activate DSR. If this is not sufficient, brake
gently. When doing so, make sure that the
vehicle is facing in the direction of the line
of fall.
R Check that the brakes are working normally
after a long downhill stretch. Driving systems
Cruise control
Important safety notes Cruise control maintains a constant road
speed for you. It brakes automatically in order
to avoid exceeding the set speed. You must
select a low gear in good time on long and
steep downhill gradients, especially if the
vehicle is laden or towing a trailer. By doing Driving systems
173Driving and parking Z
indicator lamp goes out and Blind Spot Assist
is operational.
If a vehicle is detected within the blind spot
monitoring range at speeds above 20 mph
(30 km/h), warning lamp 0043on the
corresponding side lights up red. This warning
is always emitted when a vehicle enters the
blind spot monitoring range from behind or
from the side. When you overtake a vehicle,
the warning only occurs if the difference in
speed is less than 7 mph (12 km/h).
The yellow indicator lamp goes out if reverse
gear is engaged. In this event, Blind Spot
Assist is no longer active.
The brightness of the indicator/warning
lamps is adjusted automatically according to
the ambient light.
Collision warning
If a vehicle is detected in the monitoring range
of Blind Spot Assist and you switch on the
corresponding turn signal, a double warning
tone sounds. Red warning lamp 0043flashes. If
the turn signal remains on, vehicles detected
are indicated by the flashing of red warning
lamp 0043. There are no further warning tones.
Switching on Blind Spot Assist
X Make sure that Blind Spot Assist
(Y page 229) is activated in the on-board
computer.
X Turn the SmartKey to position 2in the
ignition lock.
Warning lamps 0043in the exterior mirrors
light up red for approximately
1.5 seconds and then turn yellow.
Towing a trailer
When you attach a trailer, make sure you have
correctly established the electrical
connection. This can be accomplished by
checking the trailer lighting. In this event,
Blind Spot Assist is deactivated. The indicator
lamp lights up yellow in the exterior mirrors
and the Blind Spot Assist Currently
Blind Spot Assist Currently
Unavailable See Operator's Manual Unavailable See Operator's Manual message appears in the multifunction
display.
i You can deactivate the indicator lamps in
the exterior mirrors.
To do so, switch off Blind Spot Assist when:
R the SmartKey is in position 2in the
ignition lock
R the engine is not running
R the electrical connection to the trailer
has been established
Lane Keeping Assist General notes
Lane Keeping Assist monitors the area in
front of your vehicle with camera
0043, which is
mounted at the top of the windshield. Lane
Keeping Assist detects lane markings on the
road and warns you before you leave your
lane unintentionally. 0043
Active Lane Keeping Assist camera
If you select km kmon the on-board computer in
the Display Unit Speed-/Odometer
Display Unit Speed-/Odometer
function (Y page 230), Lane Keeping Assist
is active starting at a speed of 60 km/h. If the
miles
miles display unit is selected, the assistance
range begins at 40 mph.
A warning may be given if a front wheel
passes over a lane marking. It will warn you
by means of intermittent vibration in the
steering wheel for up to 1.5 seconds. 204
Driving systemsDriving and parking
X
Couple up the trailer.
X Establish all electrical connections. Towing a trailer
There are numerous legal requirements
concerning the towing of a trailer, e.g. speed
restrictions. Make sure that your car/trailer
combination complies with the local
regulations:
R in your place of residence
R in the location to which you are driving
The police and local authorities can provide
reliable information.
Observe the following when towing a trailer:
R To gain driving experience and to become
accustomed to the new handling
characteristics, you should practice the
following in a traffic-free location:
- cornering
- stopping
- backing up
R Before driving, check:
-the trailer tow hitch
- the safety switch for braked trailers
- the safety chains
- electrical connections
- the lights
- the wheels
R Adjust the exterior mirrors to provide an
unobstructed view of the rear section of the
trailer.
R If the trailer has electronically controlled
brakes, pull away carefully. Brake manually
using the brake controller and check
whether the brakes function correctly.
R Secure any objects on the trailer to prevent
the cargo from slipping when the vehicle is
in motion.
R When you couple up a trailer, check at
regular intervals that the load is firmly
secured. If the trailer is equipped with trailer lights and brakes, check the trailer
to ensure that these are working.
R Bear in mind that the handling will be less
stable when towing a trailer than when
driving without one. Avoid sudden steering
movements.
R The vehicle/trailer combination is heavier,
accelerates more slowly, has a decreased
gradient climbing capability and a longer
braking distance.
It is more susceptible to side winds and
requires more careful steering.
R If possible, avoid abrupt braking. Depress
the brake pedal moderately at first, so that
the trailer can activate its own brakes. Then
increase the pressure on the brake pedal.
R If the automatic transmission repeatedly
shifts between gears on uphill or downhill
gradients, shift to a lower gear using the
left-hand steering wheel paddle shifter.
A lower gear and lower speed reduce the
risk of engine failure.
R When driving downhill, shift to a lower gear
to utilize the engine's braking effect.
Avoid continuous brake application as this
may overheat the vehicle brakes and, if
installed, the trailer brakes.
R If the coolant temperature increases
dramatically while the air-conditioning
system is switched on, switch off the air-
conditioning system.
Coolant heat can additionally be dissipated
by opening the windows and by setting the
blower fan and the interior temperature to
maximum.
R When overtaking, pay particular attention
to the extended length of your vehicle/
trailer combination.
Due to the length of the vehicle/trailer
combination, you require additional road
space in relation to the vehicle you are
overtaking, before you can change back to
the original lane. Towing a trailer
215Driving and parking Z
Problem Possible causes/consequences and
0050
0050Solutions 00E500BB
The yellow ESP
®
and
ESP ®
OFF warning
lamps are lit while the
engine is running. ESP
®
, BAS, PRE-SAFE ®
, the HOLD function, hill start assist and
ESP ®
trailer stabilization are temporarily unavailable.
BAS PLUS and PRE-SAFE ®
Brake may also have failed.
ATTENTION ASSIST is deactivated.
Self-diagnosis is not yet complete.
G WARNING
The brake system continues to function normally, but without the
functions listed above.
The braking distance in an emergency braking situation can thus
increase.
If ESP ®
is not operational, ESP ®
is unable to stabilize the vehicle.
There is an increased risk of skidding and an accident.
X Carefully drive a suitable distance, making slight steering
movements at a speed above 12 mph (20 km/h).
The functions mentioned above are available again when the
warning lamp goes out.
If the warning lamp is still on:
X Observe the additional display messages in the multifunction
display.
X Drive on carefully.
X Visit a qualified specialist workshop. 0075
The red SRS warning
lamp is lit while the
engine is running.
There is a malfunction in the SRS (Supplemental Restraint
System).
G WARNING
The air bags or Emergency Tensioning Devices may either be
triggered unintentionally or, in the event of an accident, may not
be triggered.
There is an increased risk of injury.
X Drive on carefully.
X Have SRS checked at a qualified specialist workshop
immediately.
For further information about the Supplemental Restraint System,
see (Y page 43). Warning and indicator lamps in the instrument cluster
267On-board computer and displays Z
Engine
Problem Possible causes/consequences and
0050
0050Solutions 00B9
The yellow Check
Engine warning lamp
lights up while the
engine is running.
There may be a malfunction, for example:
R
in the engine management
R in the fuel injection system
R in the exhaust system
R in the ignition system
R in the fuel system
The emission limit values may be exceeded and the engine may
be in emergency mode.
X Have the vehicle checked as soon as possible at a qualified
specialist workshop.
i In some states, you must immediately visit a qualified
specialist workshop as soon as the yellow Check Engine warning
lamp lights up. This is due to the legal requirements in effect in
these states. If in doubt, check whether such legal regulations
apply in the state in which you are currently driving. 00B6
The yellow reserve fuel
warning lamp flashes
while the vehicle is in
motion. In addition,
the
00B9 Check Engine
warning lamp may light
up. The fuel system pressure is too low. The fuel filler cap is not closed
correctly or the fuel system is leaking.
X Observe the additional display messages in the multifunction
display.
X Check that the fuel filler cap is correctly closed.
X If the fuel filler cap is not correctly closed: close the fuel filler
cap.
X If the fuel filler cap is closed: visit a qualified specialist
workshop. 00B6
The yellow reserve fuel
warning lamp lights up
while the engine is
running.
The fuel level has dropped into the reserve range.
X
Refuel at the nearest gas station. 268
Warning and indicator lamps in the instrument clusterOn-board computer and displays
Problem Possible causes/consequences and
0050
0050Solutions X
Make sure that the air supply to the engine radiator is not
blocked, e.g. by snow, slush or ice.
X Check the coolant level and add coolant (Y page 304). Observe
the warning notes.
X If you need to add coolant more often than usual, have the
engine coolant system checked.
X At coolant temperatures below 248 ‡ (120 †) drive to the
nearest qualified specialist workshop.
X Avoid subjecting the engine to heavy loads, e.g. driving in
mountainous terrain, and stop-and-go traffic. Driving systems
Problem Possible causes/consequences and
0050 0050Solutions 00BA
The red distance
warning lamp lights up
while the vehicle is in
motion.
G
WARNING
The distance to the vehicle in front is too small for the speed
selected.
There is a risk of an accident.
X Increase the distance. 00BA
The red distance
warning lamp lights up
while the vehicle is in
motion. A warning tone
also sounds.
G
WARNING
You are approaching a vehicle or a stationary obstacle in your line
of travel at too high a speed.
There is a risk of an accident.
X Be prepared to brake immediately.
X Pay careful attention to the traffic situation. You may have to
brake or take evasive action.
More information about DISTRONIC PLUS (Y page 175) and
PRE-SAFE ®
Brake (Y page 72). Warning and indicator lamps in the instrument cluster
271On-board computer and displays Z