
Setting the air conditioning systemRead and observe
on page 93 first.
Recommended basic settings of the air conditioning controls.
Set-upControl dial settings » Fig. 101 on page 93Button » Fig. 101 on page 93Air outlet vents 4 » Fig. 99
on page 90ABCDefrost/defog windscreen and
side windows a)Desired tempera-
ture3 or 4Do not switch onAutomatically switch- ed onOpen and align with theside windowThe fastest heatingTo the stop to the right3Briefly switch onSwitched offOpeningComfortable heatingDesired tempera-
ture2 or 3
Do not switch onSwitched offOpeningThe fastest coolingTo the left up to
the stopbriefly 4, then 2 or 3Briefly switch on b)ActivatedOpeningOptimal coolingDesired tempera-
ture1, 2 or 3Do not switch onActivatedOpen and align to the roofFresh air mode - ventilationTo the stop to the leftDesired positionDo not switch onSwitched offOpeninga)
We recommend that you do not use this setting in countries with high humidity levels. This can result in heavy cooling of the window glass and the following fogging from outside.
b)
Under certain conditions, recirculated air mode » page 94 may come on automatically; the warning light will then light up in the
button.
We recommend that you leave the air outlet vents
3 » Fig. 99 on page 90 in
the open position in all operating modes.
Recirculated air mode
Read and observe
on page 93 first.
Recirculated air mode prevents polluted air from outside the vehicle getting in-to the vehicle, for example when driving through a tunnel or when standing in
a traffic jam.
Switching on/off
›
Press the button.
The indicator light in the button lights up.
›
Press the button again.
The indicator light in the button goes out.
Recirculated air mode is switched off automatically if the air distribution con-
trol C » Fig. 101 on page 93 is turned to the position.
Recirculated air mode can be switched on again from this setting by pressing
the
button again.WARNINGNever leave recirculated air mode on over a longer period of time, as “stale
air” can cause fatigue of the driver and the passengers, reduce attention
levels and also cause the windows to mist up. The risk of having an acci-
dent increases. Switch off recirculated air mode as soon as the windows
start to mist up.94Operation

Driving
Starting-off and Driving
Starting and stopping the engine
Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Electronic immobilizer
107
Ignition lock
107
Engine
107
Switching off the engine
107
The engine can only be started using a correctly coded original key.
The engine running noises may louder at first be louder for a short time after starting the cold engine. This is quite normal and is not an operating problem.
WARNING■ When driving, the ignition key must always be in the position 2 » Fig. 107
on page 107 (ignition switched on) without the engine running. This posi-
tion is indicated by the warning lights coming on. If this is not the case, this
could result in unexpected locking of the steering wheel – risk of accident!■
Only pull the ignition key from the ignition lock when the vehicle has
come to a complete stop (by applying the handbrake). Otherwise, the steer- ing could be blocked – risk of accident!
■
Never leave the key in the vehicle when you exit the vehicle. Unauthor-
ized persons, such as children, for example, could lock the car, turn on the
ignition or start the engine - there is a danger of injury and accidents!
■
Never leave the vehicle unattended with the engine running - there is
risk of accident, damage or theft!
■
Never switch off the engine before the vehicle is stationary – risk of acci-
dent!
WARNING■ Never (e.g. in garages) run the engine in a closed place - there is the dan-
ger of poisoning and death!■
Do not leave any items (e.g. cleaning cloths or tools) in the engine com-
partment. This presents a fire hazard and the risk of engine damage.
■
Never cover the engine with additional insulation material (e.g. with a
cover) – risk of fire!
CAUTION
■ The starter must only be operated when the engine is not running and the
vehicle is at a standstill. The starter or engine can be damaged if the starter is
activated when the engine is running 3
» Fig. 107 on page 107 .
■
If the engine does not start up after a second attempt, the fuse for the fuel
pump may have a fault. Check the fuse and replace if necessary » page 175, or
seek assistance from a specialist garage.
■
Let go of the ignition key as soon as the engine starts otherwise the starter
could be damaged.
■
Do not tow start the engine – there is a risk of damaging the engine and the
catalytic converter. The battery from another vehicle can be used as a jump-
start aid » page 172 , Jump-starting .
CAUTION
■
Avoid high engine revolutions, full throttle and high engine loads before the
engine has reached its operating temperature – risk of damaging the engine!■
Do not switch the engine off immediately at the end of your journey after the
engine has been operated over a prolonged period at high loads but leave it to
run at an idling speed for about 1 minute. This prevents any possible accumula-
tion of heat when the engine is switched off.
For the sake of the environment
Do not warm up the engine while the vehicle is stationary. If possible, start
your journey as soon as the engine has started. Through this the engine rea-
ches its operating temperature more rapidly and the pollutant emissions are
lower.
Note
After switching off the ignition, the radiator fan can intermittently continue to
operate for approx. 10 minutes.106Driving

Electronic immobilizerRead and observe
and on page 106 first.
An electronic chip is integrated in the head of the key. The immobiliser is deac-
tivated with the aid of this chip when the key is inserted in the ignition lock.
The electronic immobiliser is automatically activated when the ignition key is
withdrawn from the lock.
The engine will not start if a non-authorized ignition key is used.
The MAXI DOT display shows the following: Immobilizer active.
Ignition lock
Fig. 107
Positions of the vehicle key in
the ignition lock
Read and observe and on page 106 first.
Petrol engines » Fig. 107
Ignition switched off, engine off, the steering can be locked
Ignition switched on
Starting engine
Diesel engines » Fig. 107
Fuel supply interrupted, ignition switched off, engine switched off, the
steering can be locked.
Heating glow plugs on, ignition switched on
Starting engine
To lock the steering , with the ignition key withdrawn, turn the steering wheel
until the steering locking pin engages audibly.
123123If the steering is locked and the key cannot be turned or can only be turned
with difficulty to position 2 » Fig. 107 , move the steering wheel back and
forth and the steering lock will unlock.
Note
We recommend locking the steering wheel whenever leaving the vehicle. This
acts as a deterrent against the attempted theft of your car.
Engine
Read and observe
and on page 106 first.
Vehicles with a diesel engine are equipped with a glow plug system. The glow
plug warning light lights up after the ignition has been switched on. Start
the engine once the warning light has gone out.
You should not switch on any major electrical components during the heating
period otherwise the vehicle battery will be drained unnecessarily.
Procedure for starting the engine
›
Firmly apply the handbrake.
›
Move the gearshift lever into neutral or move the selector lever into position
P or N.
›
Switch on the ignition
2
» Fig. 107 on page 107 .
›
Depress and hold the clutch pedal (vehicles with a manual gearbox) or brake
pedal (vehicles with an automatic gearbox) until the engine starts.
›
Turn the key to position
3
to the stop and release immediately the engine
has started – do not depress the accelerator.
After letting go, the vehicle key will return to position
2
.
If the engine does not start within 10 seconds, turn the key to position
1
. Re-
peat the start-up process after approx. half a minute.
Switching off the engine
Read and observe
and on page 106 first.
Switch off the engine by turning the ignition key to position
1
» Fig. 107 on
page 107 .
107Starting-off and Driving

HandbrakeFig. 108
Handbrake
Read and observe and on page 108 first.
Apply
›
Pull the handbrake lever firmly upwards.
Releasing
›
Pull the handbrake lever up slightly and at the same time push in the locking
button » Fig. 108 .
›
Move the lever right down while pressing the lock button.
The handbrake warning light lights up when the handbrake is applied, pro-
vided the ignition is on.
WARNINGPlease note that the handbrake must be fully released. A handbrake which
is only partially released can result in the rear brakes overheating. This can
have a negative effect on the operation of the brake system – there is a
risk of an accident.
CAUTION
After the vehicle has come to a standstill, always tighten the handbrake first
and then switch to first gear (vehicles with manual gearbox) or move the se-
lector lever to the P position (vehicles with automatic transmission).Manual gear changing and pedals
Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Manual gear changing
109
Pedals
109
Manual gear changing
Fig. 109
Shift pattern of the 5-speed
manual gearbox
Always depress the clutch pedal all the way down. This prevents uneven wear on the clutch.
The gearshift indicator must be observed when changing gear » page 32.
Only engage reverse gear when the vehicle is stationary. Depress the clutch
pedal and hold it fully depressed. Wait a moment before reverse gear is engag-
ed to avoid any shift noises.
The reversing lights will come on once reverse gear is engaged, provided the
ignition is on.
WARNINGNever engage reverse gear when driving – risk of accident!
CAUTION
If not in the process of changing gear, do not leave your hand on the gearshift
lever while driving. The pressure from the hand can cause the gearshift mech-
anism to wear excessively.
Pedals
The operation of the pedals must not be hindered under any circumstances!
109Starting-off and Driving

R - Reverse gear
Reverse gear can only be engaged when the vehicle is stationary and the en-
gine is at idling speed.
Depress the brake pedal and simultaneously press the shiftlock in the selector
lever grip before shifting to R from P or N.N
- Neutral
Power transmission to the drive wheels is interrupted in this mode.
D
- Mode for forwards travel (normal programme)
In mode D, the forward gears are automatically changed according to the en-
gine load, accelerator pedal actuation and driving speed.
S
- Mode for forwards travel (sports programme)
In mode S, the forward gears are shifted automatically up and down at higher
engine speeds than in mode D.
The shiftlock on the selector lever grip must be pressed when moving the se-
lector lever out of D mode into S mode.
Releasing selector lever from P or N modes (selector lever lock)
The selector lever is locked in the P and N modes to prevent the forwards trav-
el mode from being selected accidentally and setting the vehicle in motion.
The warning light lights up in the instrument cluster
» page 46.
The selector lever is released by depressing the brake pedal while simultane- ously pressing the locking button in the selection lever grip.
The selector lever is not locked when shifted quickly through N (e.g. from R to
D ). This, for example, helps to rock out a vehicle that is stuck, e.g. in a bank of
snow. The selector lever lock will engage if the lever is in position N for more
than approximately 2 seconds without the brake pedal being depressed.
The selector lever is locked only when the vehicle is stationary and at speeds
up to 5 km/h.
Note
If you want to move the selector lever from mode P to mode D or vice versa,
move the selector lever quickly. This prevents modes R or N from being selec-
ted accidentally.Manual shifting (Tiptronic)Fig. 111
Selector / MAXI DOT display: gear engaged
Read and observe
and on page 110 first.
Tiptronic mode makes it possible to manually shift gears on the selector lever. This mode can be selected both while halted and while driving.
The gear currently selected is indicated in the display
1
» Fig. 111 .
The gearshift indicator must be observed when changing gear » page 32.
Switching to manual shifting
›
Push the gear selector from position D towards the right, or left in a right-
hand drive vehicle.
Shifting up gears
›
Press the selector lever forwards
+
» Fig. 111 .
Shifting down gears
›
Press the selector lever backwards
-
» Fig. 111 .
When accelerating, the gearbox automatically shifts up into the higher gear
just before the maximum permissible engine speed is reached.
If a lower gear is selected, the gearbox does not shift down until there is no risk of the engine overrevving.
Note
It may be beneficial, for example, when travelling downhill, to use manual
shifting of gears. Shifting to a lower gear reduces the load on the brakes and
hence brake wear » page 108, Information on braking .111Starting-off and Driving

The brake pressure drops gradually the more you operate the accelerator ped-
al. If the vehicle does not start off within 2 seconds, it starts to roll back.
HHC is active on slopes of >5 % when the driver door is closed. HHC is always only active on slopes when in forward or reverse start off. When driving down-
hill, it is inactive.
Antilock Braking System (ABS)
Read and observe
and on page 119 first.
ABS prevents the wheels locking when braking. Thus helping the driver to
maintain control of the vehicle.
The intervention of the ABS is noticeable from the pulsating movements of
the brake pedal which is accompanied by noises.
When the ABS system is active, do not brake periodically or reduce the pres- sure on the brake pedal.
Traction Control System (ASR)
Fig. 117
TCS button
Read and observe and on page 119 first.
If the wheels are slipping, the ASR system adapts the engine speed to the con-
ditions of the road surface. The TCS makes it much easier to start off, acceler-
ate and climb steep hills even if the conditions of the road surface are unfav-
ourable.
The TCS function is automatically activated each time the ignition is switched
on.
During an intervention of the system, the TCS warning light flashes in the
instrument cluster.
The TCS should normally always be enabled. Only in certain exceptional cir-
cumstances can it be sensible to switch the system off, for instance:
› when driving with snow chains;
› when driving in deep snow or on a very loose surface;
› when it is necessary to “rock a vehicle free” when it has got stuck.
Ensure the TCS is activated again afterwards.
You can switch TCS off and on again as needed by pressing the
but-
ton » Fig. 117 . The
warning light comes on in the instrument cluster when the
TCS is deactivated.
The TCS warning light
» page 45 lights up in the instrument cluster when
there is a fault on the TCS.
Electronic Differential Lock (EDL)
Read and observe
and on page 119 first.
If one of the wheels starts to spin, the EDL system brakes the spinning wheel
and transfers the driving force to the other wheels. This ensures the stability
of the vehicle and a quick journey.
EDL switches off automatically to avoid excessive heat generation on the
brake of the wheel being braked. The vehicle can continue to be driven and
has the same characteristics as a vehicle not fitted with EDL. The EDL switches
on again automatically as soon as the brake has cooled down.
Parking aid
Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Function
121
Activation/deactivation
121
120Driving

Switching off temporarily123Switching off completely123
The Cruise Control System (CCS) maintains a set speed, more than 25 km/h,
without you having to actuate the accelerator pedal.
This is only possible within the range which is permitted by the power output and braking power of the engine.
The
warning light in the instrument cluster lights up when the cruise con-
trol system is switched on.
WARNING■ For safety reasons, the cruise control system must not be used in dense
traffic or on unfavourable road surfaces (such as icy roads, slippery roads,
loose gravel) – there is a risk of an accident.■
The saved speed may only be resumed if it is not too high for the current
traffic conditions.
■
Always deactivate the cruise control system after use to prevent the sys-
tem being switched on unintentionally.
CAUTION
■ The cruise control system is not able to maintain a constant speed when
driving in areas with steeper gradients. The weight of the vehicle increases the
speed at which it travels. Therefore, shift to a lower gear in good time or slow
the vehicle down by applying the foot brake.■
It is not possible to switch on the cruise control system on vehicles fitted
with a manual gearbox if the first gear or reverse gear is engaged.
■
On vehicles fitted with an automatic gearbox, it is not possible to switch on
the cruise control system if the selector lever is in position P, N or R.
■
The Cruise Control System may automatically switch off when some brake
assist systems (e.g. ESC) intervene, when the speed exceeds maximum permis-
sible engine speed, or a similar event takes place.
Storing a speedFig. 119
Operating lever: Operating the
cruise control system
Read and observe and on page 122 first.
Storing a speed
›
Press switch
A
» Fig. 119 to the ON position.
›
After the desired speed has been reached, press the rocker button
B
into
the SET position.
After you have released the rocker button
B
out of the position SET, the
speed you have just stored is maintained at a constant speed without having
to depress the accelerator.
Changing a stored speed
Read and observe
and on page 122 first.
Increasing the speed with the accelerator
›
Depress the accelerator to increase the speed.
›
Release the accelerator to reduce the speed back down to the preset speed.
However, if the saved speed is exceeded by more than 10 km/h for a period of more than 5 minutes by depressing the accelerator, the stored speed is de-
leted from the memory. You have to re-store the desired speed.
Increasing the speed with the rocker button
B›
Press rocker button
B
» Fig. 119 on page 122 to the RES position.
›
The speed will increase continuously, if the rocker button is pressed and held
in the RES position. Release the rocker button once the desired speed is
reached. The set speed is then stored in the memory.
Decreasing the speed
›
The stored speed can be reduced by pressing rocker button
B
» Fig. 119 on
page 122 to the SET position.
122Driving

›The speed will decrease continuously, if the rocker button is pressed and
held in the SET position. Release the rocker button once the desired speed is
reached. The set speed is then stored in the memory.›
If the rocker button is released at a speed below around 25 km/h, the speed
is not stored and the memory is erased. The speed must then be stored
again by pressing rocker button
B
to the SET position after increasing the
speed of the vehicle to more than around 25 km/h.
The speed can also be reduced by depressing the brake pedal, which tempora- rily deactivates the system.
Switching off temporarily
Read and observe
and on page 122 first.
The cruise control system can be temporarily switched off by pushing switch
A
» Fig. 119 on page 122 to the spring-loaded CANCEL position or by depress-
ing the brake or clutch pedal.
The set speed remains stored in the memory.
Briefly push rocker button
B
to the RES position to resume the set speed af-
ter the clutch or brake pedal is released.
Switching off completely
Read and observe
and on page 122 first.
›
Press switch
A
» Fig. 119 on page 122 to the right to the OFF position.
START-STOP
Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Operating conditions for the system
123
Operation
124
System related automatic start-up
124
Manually deactivating/activating the system
124
Information messages
124The START-STOP system (hereinafter referred to as the system) saves fuel and
reduces polluting emissions and CO 2 emissions by turning the engine off, e.g.
when stopping at traffic lights, and starting the engine again when moving off.WARNING■ Never let the vehicle roll with the engine switched off.■The brake servo unit and power steering only operate if the engine is run-
ning.
Operating conditions for the system
Fig. 120
Maxi DOT display: Engine is auto-
matically switched off / automat-
ic engine cut off is not possible
Read and observe on page 123 first.
For system-dependent automatic engine shutdown to work, the following
conditions must be met.
The driver's door is closed.
The driver has fastened the seat belt.
The bonnet is closed.
The driving speed exceeded 4 km/h after the last stop.
No trailer is coupled.
Some additional conditions for the system to function correctly cannot be in-
fluenced or recognised by the driver. Therefore, the system can react differ-
ently in situations which are identical from the driver's perspective.
If after stopping the car, the message START-STOP NOT POSSIBLE appears in
the segment display or the MAXI DOT display shows the
» Fig. 120 warning
sign, then the conditions for automatic engine shutdown are not being met.
123Assist systems