Kickdown
Use kickdown for maximum acceleration.
X Depress the accelerator pedal beyond the
pressure point.
The 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. Program selector button
X
All vehicles (except AMG vehicles):
press program selector button :to
change the drive program.
The selected drive program appears in the
multifunction display. X
AMG vehicles: press program selector
button :repeatedly until the letter of the
desired drive program appears in the mul-
tifunction display. The program selector button influences:
R the drive program (Y page 172)
R the engine management
On AMG vehicles, drive program Eis called
drive program C.
The automatic transmission switches to auto-
matic drive program E(drive program Cin
AMG vehicles) each time the engine is star-
ted.
All vehicles (except AMG vehicles) E
Economy Comfortable, economical
driving
S
Sport Sporty driving style
You can also activate manual drive program
M
using the steering wheel gearshift paddles
(Y page 172). In manual drive program M,
you can briefly change gear yourself by using
the steering wheel gearshift paddles.
AMG vehicles C
Controlled
Efficiency Comfortable, economical
driving
S
Sport Sporty driving style
M
Manual Manual gearshifting
Permanent drive program
Mis only available
for AMG vehicles.
Further information about permanent drive
program M(Y page 173).
You can also activate manual drive program
M using the steering wheel gearshift paddles
(Y page 172). In manual drive program M,
you can briefly change gear yourself by using
the steering wheel gearshift paddles.
For further information on the automatic drive program, see (Y page 172). Automatic trans
mission
171Driving an d parking Z
Steering wheel gearshift paddles
You can activate manual drive program
Min
the E(C in AMG vehicles) and Sautomatic
drive programs using steering wheel gearshift paddles :and ;(Ypage 172). In manual
drive program M, you can briefly change gear
yourself by using the steering wheel gearshift
paddles.
AMG vehicles: you can also activate manual
drive program Mwith the program selector
button (Y page 173). In manual drive pro-
gram M, you can permanently change gear
yourself by using the steering wheel gearshift
paddles. Automatic drive program
Automatic drive program E Drive program
E(drive program Con AMG
vehicles) is characterised by the following:
R comfort-oriented engine settings.
R optimal fuel consumption resulting from
the automatic transmission shifting up
sooner.
R the vehicle pulling away more gently in
forward and reverse gears unless the accel-
erator pedal is depressed fully.
R increased sensitivity. This improves driving
stability on slippery road surfaces, for
example.
R the automatic transmission shifting up
sooner. This results in the vehicle being driven at lower engine speeds and the
wheels being less likely to spin.
Automatic drive program S Drive program
Sis characterised by the fol-
lowing:
R sporty engine settings
R the vehicle pulls away in first gear
R the automatic transmission shifting up
later
R as a result of the later automatic transmis-
sion shift points, the fuel consumption pos- sibly being higher
Manual drive program M General notes
In this drive program, you can briefly change
gear yourself by using the steering wheel
gearshift paddles. The transmission must be
in position
D.
You can activate manual drive program Min
the E(C in AMG vehicles) and Sautomatic
drive programs.
AMG vehicles: as well as temporary drive
program M, you can also activate permanent
drive program M. Further information about
permanent drive program M(Y page 173).
Activating X Shift the transmission to position D.
X Pull the left or right steering wheel gearshift
paddle (Y page 172).
Manual drive program Mis temporarily acti-
vated.
All vehicles except AMG vehicles:M and
the selected gear appear in the multifunc-
tion display.
Shifting gears
If you pull on the left or right steering wheel
gearshift paddle, the automatic transmission
switches to manual drive program Mfor a
limited amount of time. Depending on which
gearshift paddle is pulled, the automatic 172
Automatic transmissionDriving and parking
transmission immediately shifts into the next
gear up or down, if permitted.
X To shift up: pull the right-hand steering
wheel gearshift paddle (Y page 172).
The automatic transmission shifts up to the next gear.
If the maximum engine speed on the cur-
rently engaged gear is reached and you
continue to accelerate, the automatic
transmission automatically shifts up in
order to prevent engine damage.
AMG vehicles: the automatic transmission
will not shift up to the next gear when the
engine speed is very low.
X To shift down: pull on the left-hand steer-
ing wheel gearshift paddle (Y page 172).
The automatic transmission shifts down to the next gear.
If the engine exceeds the maximum engine
speed when shifting down, the automatic
transmission protects against engine dam- age by not shifting down.
Automatic downshifting occurs when
coasting.
Gearshift recommendation The gearshift recommendations assist you in
adopting an economical driving style. The rec- ommended gear is shown in the multifunction
display.
X Shift to recommended gear ;according
to gearshift recommendation :when
shown in the multifunction display of the
instrument cluster. Deactivating
If you have activated manual drive program
M
, it will remain active for a certain amount of
time. Under certain conditions the minimum
amount of time is extended, e.g. in the case of lateral acceleration, during an overrun phase
or when driving on steep terrain.
When manual drive program Mis deactivated,
the automatic transmission shifts into the
automatic drive program that was last selec-
ted.
You can also deactivate manual drive pro-
gram Myourself:
X Pull on the right-hand steering wheel gear-
shift paddle and hold it in place
(Y page 172).
or
X Use the DIRECT SELECT lever to shift the
transmission position.
or X Use the program selector button to change
the drive program (Y page 171).
Manual drive program Mis deactivated.
The automatic transmission switches to
the previously activated drive program E
(drive program Con AMG vehicles) or S. Manual drive program (AMG vehicles)
General notes In this drive program, you can permanently
change gear yourself by using the steering
wheel gearshift paddles. The transmission
must be in position D.
Manual drive program Mdiffers from drive
program Swith regard to spontaneity,
responsiveness and the smoothness of the
gear changes.
In addition to permanent drive program M,
you can also activate temporary drive pro-
gram M(Y page 172). Automatic transmission
173Driving and parking Z
Activating the manual drive program
In manual drive program
M, you can change
gear yourself using the steering wheel gear-
shift paddles if the transmission is in position
D. The current drive program and the engaged
gear are shown in the multifunction display.
X Press the program selector button
(Y page 171) until Mappears in the multi-
function display.
Upshifting !
In manual gearshift program
M, the auto-
matic transmission does not shift up auto-
matically 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. You must make sure that the engine speed does not reach the red
area of the rev counter. Otherwise, there is
a risk of engine damage. :
Gear indicator
; Upshift indicator
Before the engine speed reaches the red area, an upshift indicator will be shown in the mul-
tifunction display.
X If the colour in the speedometer multifunc-
tion display changes to red and the UP
UP dis-
play message is shown, shift up a gear
using the right-hand steering wheel gear-
shift paddle.
The automatic transmission shifts up to the next gear if this is permissible. Downshifting X
Pull the left-hand steering wheel gearshift
paddle (Y page 172).
The automatic transmission shifts down to
the next gear if this is permissible.
Maximum acceleration X Pull the left-hand steering wheel gearshift
paddle until the transmission selects the
optimum gear for the current speed.
If you slow down or stop without shifting
down, the automatic transmission automati-
cally shifts down.
Deactivating the manual drive program X
Press the program selector button
(Y page 171) repeatedly until Cor S
appears in the multifunction display. 174
Automatic trans
missionDriving and parking
ECO display
The ECO display provides feedback on how
economical your driving characteristics are.
The ECO display assists you in achieving the
most economical driving style for the selec-
ted settings and prevailing conditions. Con-
sumption can be significantly influenced by
your driving style.
The ECO display consists of three bars:
R Acceleration
Acceleration
R Constant Constant
R Coasting
Coasting
The percentage count is the mean value of the three bar values. The three bars and the mean
value begin at the value of 50%. A higher per- centage count indicates a more economical
driving style.
The ECO display does not indicate the actual
fuel consumption. A fixed percentage count
in the ECO display does not indicate a fixed
consumption.
In addition to driving style, the consumption is
affected by many other factors, such as:
R load
R tyre pressure
R cold start
R choice of route
R the use of electrical consumers
These factors are not included in the ECO dis-
play.
The evaluation of your driving style takes the following three categories into consideration: R
Acceleration
Acceleration (evaluation of all accelera-
tion processes):
- the bar fills up: moderate acceleration,
especially at higher speeds
- the bar empties: sporty acceleration
R Constant Constant (assessment of driving behav-
iour at all times):
- the bar fills up: constant speed and
avoidance of unnecessary acceleration
and deceleration
- the bar empties: fluctuations in speed
R Coasting Coasting (assessment of all deceleration
processes):
- the bar fills up: anticipatory driving, keep-
ing your distance and early release of the
accelerator. The vehicle can coast with-
out use of the brakes.
- the bar empties: frequent braking
An economical driving style involves driving at a moderate engine speed.
To achieve a higher value in the categories
Acceleration Acceleration andConstant
Constant:
R observe the gearshift recommendation
R drive the vehicle in drive program E
On long journeys at a constant speed, e.g. on
the motorway, only the bar for Constant
Constantwill
change.
The ECO display summarises the driving char- acteristics from the start of the journey to its
completion. Therefore, there are dynamic
changes in the bars at the start of a journey.
During a prolonged driving time, these
changes are smaller. For more dynamic
changes, perform a manual reset.
Further information on the ECO display
(Y page 248). Braking
Important safety notes G
WARNING
If you shift down on a slippery road surface in an attempt to increase the engine's braking 182
Driving tipsDriving and parking
For safety reasons, Mercedes-Benz recom-
mends only fitting the following brake discs
and brake pads/linings:
R brake discs that have been approved by
Mercedes-Benz
R brake pads/linings that have been
approved by Mercedes-Benz or that are of
an equivalent standard of quality
Other brake discs or brake pads/linings can
compromise the safety of your vehicle.
Always replace all brake discs and brake
pads/linings on an axle at the same time.
Always fit new brake pads/linings when
replacing brake discs.
The vehicle is equipped with lightweight
brake discs to which the wheel assembly with
rim and threaded connection is matched.
The use of brake discs other than those
approved by Mercedes-Benz may alter track
width and is subject to approval, if applicable.
Shock-type loads when handling the brake
discs, such as when changing wheels, can
lead to a reduction in comfort when driving
with lightweight brake discs. Avoid shock-
type loads on the lightweight brake discs,
particularly on the brake plate.
AMG high-performance and ceramic
brakes The high-performance brake system is only
available on AMG vehicles.
The AMG brake systems are designed for
heavy loads. This may lead to noise when
braking. This is dependent on:
R speed
R braking force
R environmental conditions, such as temper-
ature and humidity
The wear of individual brake system compo-
nents such as the brake pads/linings or brake discs depends on individual driving style and
operating conditions.
For this reason, it is impossible to state a
mileage (service life) that will be valid under all circumstances. An aggressive driving style
will lead to high wear. You can obtain further information about this from your Mercedes-
Benz Service Centre.
Brake pads/linings and discs that are either
new or have been replaced only achieve opti- mum braking effect after several hundred kil-
ometres of driving. Compensate for the
reduced braking effect by applying greater
force to the brake pedal. Always be aware of
this and adapt your driving and braking
accordingly during the running-in period.
Excessive heavy braking results in corre-
spondingly high brake wear. Observe the
brake wear warning lamp in the instrument
cluster and note any brake status messages
in the multifunction display. If you regularly
drive at high speeds, it is particularly impor-
tant to have the brake system checked and
maintained regularly. Driving on wet roads
Aquaplaning If water has accumulated to a certain depth
on the road surface, there is a danger of aqua-
planing occurring, even if:
R you are driving at low speeds
R the tyres have adequate tread depth
For this reason, drive in the following manner in the event of heavy rain or in conditions in
which aquaplaning can occur:
R lower your speed
R avoid tyre ruts
R avoid sudden steering movements
R brake carefully
Driving on flooded roads !
Bear in mind that vehicles travelling in
front or in the opposite direction create
waves. This may cause the maximum per-
missible water depth to be exceeded.
These notes must be observed under all
circumstances. You could otherwise dam- 184
Driving tipsDriving and parking
Cruise control
General notes Cruise control maintains a constant road
speed for you. It brakes automatically in order to avoid exceeding the set speed. Change into
a lower gear in good time on long and steep
downhill gradients. Take particular note of
this when driving a laden vehicle. By doing so, you will make use of the braking effect of the engine. This relieves the load on the brake
system and prevents the brakes from over-
heating and wearing too quickly.
Use cruise control only if road and traffic con-
ditions are appropriate for maintaining a
steady speed for a prolonged period. You can store any road speed above 30 km/h.
Important safety notes If you fail to adapt your driving style, cruise
control can neither reduce the risk of an acci-
dent nor override the laws of physics. Cruise
control cannot take into account road,
weather or traffic conditions. Cruise control is
only an aid. You are responsible for the dis-
tance to the vehicle in front, for vehicle speed, for braking in good time, and for staying in
lane.
Do not use cruise control:
R in road and traffic conditions which do not
allow you to maintain a constant speed
(e.g. in heavy traffic or on winding roads)
R on smooth or slippery roads. Braking or
accelerating can 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 a change of drivers, advise the new driver of the speed stored. Cruise control lever
:
To store the current speed or a higher
speed
; LIM indicator lamp
= To store the current speed and call up the
last stored speed
? To store the current speed or a lower
speed
A To switch between cruise control and var-
iable SPEEDTRONIC
B To deactivate cruise control
You can operate cruise control and variable
SPEEDTRONIC with the cruise control lever.
The LIM indicator lamp on the cruise control
lever indicates which system you have selec-
ted:
R LIM indicator lamp off: cruise control is
selected.
R LIM indicator lamp on: variable SPEED-
TRONIC is selected.
When you activate cruise control, the stored
speed is shown in the multifunction display
for five seconds. In the speedometer, the seg-
ments between the stored speed and the
maximum speed light up. 186
Driving systemsDriving and parking
Storing the current speed
You can use the cruise control lever to limit
the speed to any speed above 30 km/hw hile
the engine is running.
X Briefly press the cruise control lever up :
or down ;.
The current speed is stored and shown in
the multifunction display.
The speedometer dial lights up between
the start of the scale and the stored speed.
Storing the current speed and calling up
the last stored speed G
WARNING
If you call up the stored speed and it is lower
than the current speed, the vehicle deceler-
ates. If you do not know the stored speed, the vehicle could decelerate unexpectedly. There
is a risk of an accident.
Pay attention to the road and traffic condi-
tions before calling up the stored speed. If you do not know the stored speed, store the
desired speed again. X
Briefly pull the cruise control lever towards
you :.
Setting a speed X
To adjust the set speed in 10 km/h
increments: briefly press the cruise con-
trol lever up :beyond the pressure point
for a higher speed, or down ;for a lower
speed.
or X Keep the cruise control lever pressed
beyond the pressure point until the desired
speed is set. Press the cruise control lever
up : for a higher speed or down ;for a
lower speed.
X To adjust the set speed in 1 km/h incre-
ments: briefly press the cruise control
lever up :to the pressure point for a
higher speed or down ;for a lower speed.
or
X Keep the cruise control lever pressed to the
pressure point until the desired speed is
set. Press the cruise control lever up :for
a higher speed or down ;for a lower
speed.
Switching SPEEDTRONIC to passive
If you depress the accelerator pedal beyond
the pressure point (kickdown), SPEED-
TRONIC is switched to passive mode. The fol-
lowing message appears in the multifunction
display: SPEEDTRONIC passive SPEEDTRONIC passive.
You can then exceed the stored speed.
SPEEDTRONIC is activated again if you: 190
Driving systemsDriving and parking