2014 MERCEDES-BENZ M-Class ESP

!
Intermittent wiping with rain sensor: due
to optical influences and the windshield
becoming dirty in dry weather conditions,
the windshield wipers may be activated
inadvertently. This could then damage the
windshield wiper blades or scratch the
windshield.
For this reason, you should always switch
off the windshield wipers in dry weather. Combination switch
0005
0008 Windshield wiper off
0006 0001 Intermittent wipe, low (rain sensor
set to low sensitivity)
0007 0002 Intermittent wipe, high (rain sensor
set to high sensitivity)
000C 0018 Continuous wipe, slow
000D 0012 Continuous wipe, fast
0021 0007 Single wipe
0014 0008 To wipe with washer fluid
X Switch on the ignition.
X Turn the combination switch to the
corresponding position.
In the 0001or0002 position, the appropriate
wiping frequency is set automatically
according to the intensity of the rain. In
the 0002 position, the rain sensor is more
sensitive than in the 0001position, causing
the windshield wipers to wipe more
frequently.
If the wiper blades are worn, the windshield
will no longer be wiped properly.T his could
prevent you from observing the traffic
conditions. Replace the wiper blades twice a
year, ideally in spring and fall. Switching the rear window wiper on/
off
Combination switch
0002
0001 Rear window wiper switch
0006 0005 To wipe with washer fluid
0007 ITo switch on intermittent wiping
000C 0To switch off intermittent wiping
000D 000E To wipe with washer fluid
X Turn the SmartKey to position 1or 2in the
ignition lock (Y page 157).
X Turn switch 0002on the combination switch
to the corresponding position.
When the rear window wiper is switched on,
the icon appears in the instrumentc luster. Replacing the wiper blades
Important safety notes G
WARNING
If the windshield wipers begin to move while
you are changing the wiper blades, you could
be trapped by the wiper arm. There is a risk
of injury.
Always switch off the windshield wipers and
ignition before changing the wiper blades.
! Neve ropen the hood/tailgate if a wiper
arm has been folded away from the
windshield/rear window.
Never fold a windshield wiper arm without
a wiper blade back onto the windshield/
rear window. Windshield wipers
133Lights and windshield wipers Z

Useful information
i This Operator's Manual describes all
models and all standard and optional
equipment of your vehicle available at the
time of publication of the Operator's
Manual. Country-specific differences are
possible. Please note that your vehicle may
not be equipped with all features
described. This also applies to safety-
related systems and functions.
i Read the information on qualified
specialist workshops: (Y page 28).Notes on breaking-in
anew vehicle Important safety notes
New and replaced brake pads and discs only
reach their optimum braking effect after
several hundred kilometers of driving.
Compensate for this by applying greater force
to the brake pedal. The first 1000 miles (1500 km)
The more you look after the engine when it is
new, the more satisfied you will be with its
performance in the future.
R You should therefore drive at varying
vehicle and engine speeds for the first
1000 miles (1500 km).
R Avoid heavy loads, e.g .driving at full
throttle, during this period.
R Change gearing ood time, before the
tachometer needle is 0001of the way to the
red area of the tachometer.
R Do not manually shift to a lower gear to
brake the vehicle.
R If possible, do not depress the accelerator
pedal past the point of resistance
(kickdown).
After 1000 miles (1500 km), you can increase
the engine speed gradually and accelerate
the vehicle to full speed. Additional breaking-in notes for AMG
vehicles:
R
Do not drive faster than 85 mph
(140 km/h) for the first 1,000 miles
(1,500 km).
R Only allow the engine to reach a maximum
engine speed of 4,500 rpm briefly.
R Change gear in good time.
R Ideally, for the first 1,000 miles (1,500 km),
drive in program C.
i You should also observe these notes on
breaking in if the engine or parts of the drive
train on your vehicle have been replaced.
i Always observe the respective speed
limits. Driving
Important safety notes
G
WARNING
Objects in the driver's footwell can restric tthe
pedal travel or obstruct adepressed pedal.
The operating and road safety of the vehicle
is jeopardized. There is a risk of an accident.
Make sure that all objects in the vehicle are
stowed correctly, and that they cannot enter
the driver's footwell. Install the floormats
securely and as specified in order to ensure
sufficien tclearance for the pedals. Do not use
loose floormats. G
WARNING
Unsuitable footwear can hinde rcorrect usage
of the pedals, e.g.:
R shoes with thick soles
R shoes with high heels
R slippers
There is a risk of an accident.
Wear suitable footwear to ensure correct
usage of the pedals. 156
DrivingDriving and parking

i
The SmartKey can be turned in the
ignition lock even if it is not the correct
SmartKey for the vehicle. The ignition is not
switched on. The engine cannot be started.
KEYLESS-GO General notes
R
Do not keep the KEYLESS-GO key:
-with electronic devices, e.g. a mobile
phone or another SmartKey
- with metallic objects, e.g. coins or metal
foil
- inside metallic objects, e.g. a metal case
This can impair the functionality of the
KEYLESS-GO key.
Do not keep the KEYLESS-GO key in the
temperature-controlled cup holder
(Y page 344). Otherwise, the KEYLESS-GO
key will not be recognized.
Vehicles with KEYLESS-GO are equipped with
aS martKey featuring an integrated KEYLESS-
GO function and a detachable Start/Stop
button.
The Start/Stop button must be inserted in the
ignition lock and the SmartKey with the
integrated KEYLESS-GO function must be in
the vehicle.
Pressing the Start/Stop button several times
in succession corresponds to the different
key positions in the ignitio nlock. 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.
i The engine can be turned off while the
vehicle is in motion by pressing and holding
the Start/Stop button for approximately
three seconds. This function operates
independently of the ECO start/stop
automatic engine switch-off function.
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 318).
X Insert Start/Stop button 0002into ignition
lock 0003.
i When you insert Start/Stop button 0002
into ignition lock 0003, the system needs
approximately two seconds recognition
time. You can then use Start/Stop
button 0002.
Activating power supply
X If Start/Stop button 0002has not yet been
pressed, this corresponds to the SmartKey
being removed from the ignition.
X Press Start/Stop button 0002once.
The power supply is switched on. You can
now activate the windshield wipers, for
example. 158
DrivingDriving and parking

To ensure that you do not roll backwards
when pulling away on an uphill slope, engage
the electric parking brake.
X Press and hold handle 0002.
The electric parking brake continues to
brake and prevent the vehicle from rolling
backwards.
The red 0007(USA only) or 000C(Canada
only) indicator lamp in the instrument
cluster remains on.
X Depress the accelerator pedal.
X As soon as the vehicle/trailer combination
is held by the driving force of the engine,
release lever 0002.
The electric parking brake is released.
The red 0007(USA only) or 000C(Canada
only) indicator lamp in the instrument
cluster goes out.
Hill starta ssist Hill start assist helps you when pulling away
forwards or in reverse on an uphill gradient.
It holds the vehicle for a short time after you
have removed your foot from the brake pedal.
This gives you enough time to move your foot
from the brake pedal to the accelerator pedal
and to depress it before the vehicle begins to
roll. G
WARNING
After a short time, hill start assist will no
longer brake your vehicle and it could roll
away. There is a risk of an accident and injury.
Therefore, quickly move your foot from the
brake pedal to the accelerator pedal. Never
leave the vehicle when it is held by hill start
assist.
X Remove your foot from the brake pedal.
The vehicle is then held for about a second.
X Pull away.
Hill start assist is not active if:
R you are pulling away on a level road or on
a downhill gradient.
R the transmission is in position N.R
the electric parking brake is applied.
R ESP ®
is malfunctioning. ECO start/stop function
Introduction The ECO start/stop function switches the
engine off automatically if the vehicle is
stopped under certain conditions.
The engine starts automatically when the
driver wants to pull away again. The ECO
start/stop function thereby helps you to
reduce the fuel consumption and emissions
of your vehicle.
Important safety notes
G
WARNING
If the engine is switched off automatically and
you exit the vehicle, the engine is restarted
automatically. The vehicle may begin moving.
There is a risk of accident and injury.
If you wish to exit the vehicle, always turn off
the ignition and secure the vehicle against
rolling away.
General notes 0002
ECO start/stop display
If the 0012 symbol is shown in green in the
multifunction display, the ECO start/stop
function switches the engine off
automatically if the vehicle stops moving.
Every time you switch on the engine using the
SmartKey or the Start/Stop button, the ECO
start/stop function is activated.
If the ECO start/stop function has been
manually deactivated (Y page 163) or a Driving
161Driving and parking Z

Problems with the engine
Problem Possible causes/consequences and
0001 Solutions
The engine does not
start. The starter motor
can be heard. R
There is a malfunction in the engine electronics.
R There is a malfunction in the fuel supply.
X Try to start the engine again (Y page 159). Avoid excessively
long and frequent attempts to start the engine as these will drain
the battery.
If the engine does not start after several attempts:
X Consult a qualified specialist workshop. The engine does not
start. You cannot hear
the starter motor. The on-board voltage is too low because the battery is too weak
or discharged.
X
Jump-start the vehicle (Y page 389).
If the engine does not start despite attempts to jump-start it:
X Consult a qualified specialist workshop. The starter motor was exposed to a thermal load that was too high.
X
Allow the starter motor to cool down for approximately two
minutes.
X Try to start the engine again.
If the engine still does not start:
X Consult a qualified specialist workshop. The engine is not
running smoothly and
is misfiring. There is a malfunction in the engine electronics or in a mechanical
component of the engine management system.
X
Only depress the accelerator pedal slightly.
X Have the cause rectified immediately at a qualified specialist
workshop.
Otherwise, non-combusted fuel may get into the catalytic
converter and damage it. The coolant
temperature gauge
shows a value above
248 ‡ (120 †). The coolant level is too low. The coolant is too hot and the engine
is no longer being cooled sufficiently.
X
Stop as soon as possible and allow the engine and the coolant
to cool down.
X Check the coolant level (Y page 367). Observe the warning
notes as you do so and add coolant if necessary. 164
DrivingDriving and parking

0003
Neutral
Do not shift the transmission to
N
while driving. Otherwise, the
automatic transmission could be
damaged.
No power is transmitted from the
engine to the drive wheels.
Releasing the brakes will allow you
to move the vehicle freely, e.g .to
push it or tow it.
If ESP ®
is deactivated or faulty:
only shift the transmission to
position Nif the vehicle is in danger
of skidding, e.g. on icy roads.
If you switch off the engine using
the SmartKey or the Start/Stop
button, the automatic transmission
shifts to neutral Nautomatically.
! Rolling in neutral Ncan damage
the drive train. 000B
Drive
The automatic transmission
changes gear automatically. All
forward gears are available.
Changing gear
The automatic transmission shifts to the
individual gears automatically when it is in
transmission position D.This automatic
gearshifting behavior is determined by:
R the position of the accelerator pedal
R the road speed Driving tips
Kickdown Use kickdown for maximum acceleration:
X
Depress the accelerator pedal beyond the
pressure point.
The automatic transmission shifts to a
lower gear depending on the engine speed.
X Ease off the accelerator pedal once the
desired speed is reached.
The automatic transmission shifts back up.
Rocking the vehicle free Shifting the transmission repeatedly between
gears
Dand Rmay help to free the vehicle if
it has become stuck in slush or snow. The
vehicle's engine management system limits
the speed to a maximum of 5 mph (9 km/h)
when shifting back and forth. To shift back
and forth between transmission positions D
and R, move the selector lever up and down
beyond the pressure point.
Towing atrailer X
Drive in the middle of the engine speed
range on uphill gradients.
X Depending on the uphill or downhill
gradient, use left-hand steering wheel
paddle shifter (Y page 169) to select a
lowe rgear, even if cruise control or
DISTRONIC PLUS are activated. 168
Automatic transmissionDriving and parking

X
If corresponding gearshift
recommendation 0002appears in the
multifunction display on the instrument
cluster, pull on the right-hand steering
wheel paddle shifter (Y page 169).
The automatic transmission shifts to
recommended gear 0003.
Shifting up (AMG vehicles) !
In manual drive program M, the automatic
transmission does not shift up
automatically even when the engine
limiting speed for the current gear is
reached .When the engine limiting speed is
reached, the fuel supply is cut to prevent
the engine from overrevving. Always make
sure that the engine speed does not reach
the red area of the tachometer. There is
otherwise a risk of engine damage. 0002
Gear indicator
0003 Upshift indicator
Before the engine speed reaches the red area,
an upshift indicator will be shown in the
multifunction display.
X If the color in the speedometer
multifunction display changes to red and
the UP display message is shown, shift up
a gear.
Downshifting X
Pull the left-hand steering wheel paddle
shifter (Y page 169).
The automatic transmission shifts down to
the next gear. Maximum acceleration
X
Pull the left-hand steering wheel paddle
shifter until the transmission selects the
optimum gear according to the speed.
i If you slow down or stop without shifting
down, the automatic transmission
automatically shifts down.
Kickdown You can also use kickdown for maximum
acceleration in manual drive program
M.
X Depress the accelerator pedal beyond the
pressure point.
The automatic transmission shifts to a
lower gear depending on the engine speed.
X Shift back up once the desired speed is
reached.
i All vehicles (except AMG vehicles): if
you apply full throttle, the automatic
transmission shifts up to the next gear
when the maximum engine speed is
reached. This prevents the engine from
overrevving.
i AMG vehicles: it is not possible to use
kickdown in manual drive program M.
Switching off the manuald rive program X
Vehicles with the ON&OFFROAD
package: press the progra mselector
button (Y page 169).
The Mmessage in the multifunction display
goes out.
X AMG vehicles: press the program selector
button (Y page 169) repeatedly until Cor
S appears in the multifunction display. 172
Automatic transmissionDriving and parking

Problems with the transmission
Problem Possible causes/consequences and
0001 Solutions
The transmission has
problems shifting gear. The transmission is losing oil.
X
Have the transmission checked at a qualified specialist
workshop immediately. The acceleration ability
is deteriorating.
The transmission no
longer changes gear. The transmission is in emergency mode.
It is only possible to shift into
secondgear and reverse gear.
X Stop the vehicle.
X Shift the transmission to position P.
X Switch off the engine.
X Wait at least ten seconds before restarting the engine.
X Shift the transmission to position Dor R.
If D is selected, the transmission shifts into secondgear; ifRis
selected, the transmission shifts into reverse gear.
X Have the transmission checked at a qualified specialist
workshop immediately. Transfer case
! Performance tests may only be carried
out on a 2-axle dynamometer. The brake
system or transfer case could otherwise be
damaged. Contact a qualified specialist
workshop for a performance test.
! Because ESP ®
is an automatic system,
the engine and ignition must be switched
off (SmartKey in position 0or 1or Start/
Stop button in position 0or 1) when the
electric parking brake is being tested on a
brake dynamometer (maximum
10 seconds).
Braking triggered automatically by ESP ®
may seriously damage the brake system.
! Vehicles with 4MATIC must not be towed
with either the front or the rear axle raised,
as doing so will damage the transmission.
This section is only valid for vehicles with 4-
wheel drive (4MATIC). Power is always
transmitted to both axles. Refueling
Important safety notes
G
WARNING
Fuel is highly flammable. If you handle fuel
incorrectly, there is a risk of fire and
explosion.
You must avoid fire, open flames, creating
sparks and smoking. Switch off the engine
and, if applicable, the auxiliary heating before
refueling. G
WARNING
Fuel is poisonous and hazardous to health.
There is a risk of injury.
You must make sure that fuel does not come
into contact with your skin, eyes or clothing
and that it is not swallowed. Do not inhale fuel
vapors. Keep fuel away from children. Refueling
173Driving and parking
Z