2015 MERCEDES-BENZ C-Class SEDAN traction control

Driving safety system
BAS PLUS with Cross-Traffic
Assist .............................................. .67
Driving safety systems
ABS (Anti-lock Braking System) ...... .66
ADAPTIVE BRAK E............................. 74
Adaptive Brake Assist ...................... 70
BAS (Brake Assist System) .............. 67
COLLISION PREVENTION ASSIST
PLUS ................................................ 69
Distance warning function ............... 69
EBD (electronic brake force distri- bution) ............................................. 73
ESP ®
(Electronic Stability Pro-
gram) ............................................... 71
ETS/4ETS (Electronic Traction
System) ........................................... 72
Important safety information ........... 66
Overview .......................................... 66
PRE-SAFE ®
Brake ............................. 74
STEER CONTROL ............................. 76
Driving systems
360°camera .................................. 211
Active Blind Spot Assist ................. 221
Active Lane Keeping Assist ............ 224
Active Parking Assist ..................... 202
AIRMATIC ...................................... 197
ATTENTION ASSIST ........................ 216
Blind Spot Assist ............................ 217
Cruise control ................................ 183
Display message ............................ 271
DISTRONIC PLUS ........................... 185
DISTRONIC PLUS with Steering
Assist and Stop&Go Pilot ............... 194
Driving Assistance packag e........... 221
HOLD function ............................... 196
Lane Keeping Assist ...................... 219
Lane Tracking package .................. 217
PARKTRONIC ................................. 199
Rear view camera .......................... 207
Driving tips
Automatic transmission ................. 167
Brakes ........................................... 180
Break-in period .............................. 156
DISTRONIC PLUS ........................... 192
Downhill gradient ........................... 180
Drinking and driving ....................... 178 Driving abroad ............................... 124
Driving in winter ............................. 182
Driving on flooded roads ................ 182
Driving on wet roads ...................... 182
Exhaust check ............................... 178
Fuel ................................................ 178
General .......................................... 178
Hydroplaning ................................. 182
Icy road surfaces ........................... 182
Limited braking efficiency on sal-
ted roads ....................................... 181
Snow chains .................................. 361
Symmetrical low beam .................. 124
The first 1000 miles (1500 km) ..... 156
Wet road surface ........................... 181
DVD video
Operating (on-board computer) ..... 241 E
EASY-ENTRY feature Function/note s............................. 116
EASY-EXIT feature
Function/note s............................. 116
EASY-PACK trunk box ....................... 304
EBD (electronic brake force distri-
bution)
Display message ............................ 254
Function/note s................................ 73
ECO display
Function/note s............................. 179
On-board computer ....................... 236
ECO start/stop function
Climate control (dual-zone auto-
matic climate control ).................... 140
General information ....................... 161
Electronic Stability Program
see ESP ®
(Electronic Stability Program)
Emergency
Automatic measures after an acci-
dent ................................................. 59
Emergency release
Driver's door .................................... 88
Trunk ............................................... 97
Vehicle ............................................. 88
Emergency Tensioning Devices
Activation ......................................... 56 Index
9

Emissions control
Service and warranty information .... 23
Engine
Check Engine warning lamp .......... .291
Display message ............................ 267
ECO start/stop function ................ 161
Engine number ............................... 397
Irregular running ............................ 163
Jump-starting ................................. 349
Starting problems .......................... 163
Starting the engine with the
SmartKey ....................................... 159
Starting with the Start/Stop but-
ton ................................................. 159
Switching off .................................. 175
Tow-starting (vehicle) ..................... 354
Engine electronics
Problem (malfunction) ................... 163
Engine oil
Adding .......................................... .326
Additives ........................................ 400
Checking the oil level ..................... 325
Checking the oil level using the
dipstick .......................................... 325
Display message ............................ 269
Filling capacity ............................... 400
Notes about oil grades ................... 400
Notes on oil level/consumption .... 325
Viscosity ........................................ 400
ESP ®
(Electronic Stability Pro-
gram) Characteristics ................................. 72
Deactivating/activating ................... 72
Display message ............................ 251
ETS/4ETS ........................................ 72
Function/notes ................................ 71
General notes .................................. 71
Important safety information ........... 72
Warning lamp ................................. 288
ETS/4ETS (Electronic Traction Sys-
tem) ...................................................... 72
Exhaust see Exhaust pipe
Exhaust check ................................... 178
Exhaust pipe Cleaning ......................................... 335 Exterior lighting
Cleaning ......................................... 333
see Lights
Exterior mirrors
Adjusting ....................................... 118
Dipping (automatic) ....................... 119
Folding in/out (automatically) ....... 118
Folding in/out (electrically) ........... 118
Out of position (troubleshooting) ... 119
Setting ........................................... 118
Storing settings (memory func-
tion) ............................................... 121
Storing the parking position .......... 119
Eyeglasses compartment ................. 299 F
Features ............................................. 306
Filler cap see Fuel filler flap
Flat tire
Changing a wheel/mounting the
spare whee l................................... 381
MOExtended tire s.......................... 341
Preparing the vehicle ..................... 341
TIREFIT kit ...................................... 342
Floormats ........................................... 322
Fording On flooded roads ........................... 182
Fuel
Additives ........................................ 399
Consumption information .............. 399
Consumption statistics .................. 237
Displaying the current consump-
tion ................................................ 236
Displaying the range ...................... 236
Driving tip s.................................... 178
Fuel gaug e....................................... 33
Grade (gasoline )............................ 398
Important safety notes .................. 398
Problem (malfunction) ................... 174
Refueling ........................................ 171
Tank content/reserve fue l............. 398
Fuel filler flap
Opening ......................................... 172
Fuel level
Calling up the range (on-board
computer) ...................................... 236 10
Index

ETS/4ETS (Electronic Traction System)
i
Observe the "Important safety notes" sec-
tion (Y page 66).
ETS traction control is part of ESP ®
. On vehi-
cles with 4MATIC, 4ETS is part of ESP ®
.
Traction control brakes the drive wheels indi-
vidually if they spin. This enables you to pull
away and accelerate on slippery surfaces, for
example if the road surface is slippery on one side. In addition, more drive torque is trans-
ferred to the wheel or wheels with traction.
Traction control remains active, even if you
deactivate ESP ®
.
Important safety notes i
Observe the "Important safety notes" sec-
tion (Y page 66). G
WARNING
If ESP ®
is malfunctioning, ESP ®
is unable to
stabilize the vehicle. Additionally, further driv- ing safety systems are deactivated. This
increases the risk of skidding and an accident.
Drive on carefully. Have ESP ®
checked at a
qualified specialist workshop.
! If you test the parking brake using a brake
dynamometer, switch the ignition off.
Application of the brakes by ESP ®
may oth-
erwise destroy the brake system.
When towing the vehicle with the rear axle
raised, observe the notes on ESP ®
(Y page 353).
ESP ®
is deactivated if the warning lamp 00BB
in the instrument cluster lights up and:
R the vehicle is moving
R the ECO start/stop function is activated
If the 00E5 warning lamp lights up continu-
ously, ESP ®
is not available due to a malfunc-
tion.
Observe the information on warning lamps
(Y page 288) and display messages which
may be shown in the instrument cluster
(Y page 251). Only use wheels with the recommended tire
sizes. Only then will ESP
®
function properly.
Characteristics of ESP ® General information
If the
00E5 ESP warning lamp goes out before
beginning the journey, ESP ®
is automatically
active.
If ESP ®
intervenes, the 00E5ESP®
warning
lamp flashes in the instrument cluster.
If ESP ®
intervenes:
X Do not deactivate ESP ®
under any circum-
stances.
X Only depress the accelerator pedal as far as
necessary when pulling away.
X Adapt your driving style to suit the prevail-
ing road and weather conditions.
ECO start/stop function
The ECO start/stop function switches the
engine off automatically when the vehicle
stops moving. The engine starts automati-
cally when the driver wants to pull away again. ESP ®
remains in its previously selected sta-
tus. Example: if ESP®
was deactivated before
the engine was switched off, ESP ®
remains
deactivated when the engine is switched on
again.
Deactivating/activating ESP ® Important safety notes
i Observe the "Important safety notes" sec-
tion (Y page 66).
You can select between the following states
of ESP ®
:
R ESP ®
is activated.
R ESP ®
is deactivated. G
WARNING
If you deactivate ESP ®
, ESP ®
no longer sta-
bilizes the vehicle. There is an increased risk
of skidding and an accident. 72
Driving safety systemsSafety

Only deactivate ESP
®
in the situations descri-
bed in the following.
It may be best to deactivate ESP ®
in the fol-
lowing situations:
R when using snow chains
R in deep snow
R on sand or gravel
Activate ESP ®
as soon as the situations
described above no longer apply. ESP ®
will
otherwise not be able to stabilize the vehicle
if the vehicle starts to skid or a wheel starts to
spin.
! Avoid spinning the driven wheels for an
extended period with ESP ®
deactivated.
You could otherwise damage the drivetrain.
Deactivating/activating ESP ®
You can deactivate or activate ESP ®
via the
on-board computer.
X To deactivate: (Ypage 72).
The 00BB ESP®
OFF warning lamp in the
instrument cluster lights up.
X To activate: (Ypage 72).
The 00BB ESP®
OFF warning lamp in the
instrument cluster goes out.
Characteristics when ESP ®
is deactivated
If ESP ®
is deactivated and one or more wheels
start to spin, the 00E5ESP®
warning lamp in
the instrument cluster does not flash. In such
situations, ESP ®
will not stabilize the vehicle.
If you deactivate ESP ®
:
R ESP ®
no longer improves driving stability.
R the driven wheels can spin.
The spinning of the wheels results in a cut-
ting action for better traction on loose sur-faces.
R traction control is still activated.
R PRE-SAFE ®
is no longer available, nor is it
activated if you brake firmly and ESP ®
intervenes. R
PRE-SAFE ®
Brake is no longer available, it
is also not activated if you brake firmly and
ESP ®
intervenes.
R ESP ®
still provides support when you brake
firmly.
Crosswind Assist General information
Strong crosswinds can cause your vehicle to
deviate from a straight course. The crosswind
driving assistance function integrated into
ESP ®
significantly reduces these effects.
ESP ®
intervenes automatically according to
the direction and intensity of the crosswinds
affecting your vehicle.
ESP intervenes with stabilizing braking to
assist you in keeping the vehicle in the lane.
Crosswind Assist is active at vehicle speeds
above 50 mph (80 km/h) when driving
straight ahead or cornering gently.
Important safety notes
Crosswind Assist does not work if ESP ®
is
deactivated or disabled because of a mal-
function. EBD (electronic brake force distribu-
tion)
General information EBD monitors and controls the brake pres-
sure on the rear wheels to improve driving
stability while braking.
Important safety notes i
Observe the "Important safety notes" sec-
tion (Y page 66). G
WARNING
If EBD is malfunctioning, the rear wheels can
lock, e.g. under full braking. This increases the risk of skidding and an accident.
You should therefore adapt your driving style
to the different handling characteristics. Have Driving safety systems
73Safety
Z

The outside temperature indicator is not
designed to serve as an ice-warning device
and is therefore unsuitable for that purpose.
Changes in the outside temperature are dis-
played after a short delay.
Indicated temperatures just above the freez-
ing point do not guarantee that the road sur-
face is free of ice. The road may still be icy,
especially in wooded areas or on bridges. The vehicle could skid if you fail to adapt your
driving style. Always adapt your driving style
and drive at a speed to suit the prevailing
weather conditions.
You should pay special attention to road con-
ditions when temperatures are around freez-
ing point.
For more information on driving with snow
chains, see (Y page 361).
For more information on driving with summer tires, see (Y page 360).
Observe the notes in the "Winter operation"
section (Y page 360). Driving systems
Mercedes-Benz Intelligent Drive
Mercedes-Benz Intelligent Drive stands for
innovative driver assistance and safety sys-
tems which enhance comfort and support the
driver in critical situations. With these intelli-
gent co-ordinated systems Mercedes-Benz
has set a milestone on the path towards
autonomous driving.
Mercedes-Benz Intelligent Drive embraces all elements of active and passive safety in one
well thought out system – for the safety of the
vehicle occupants and that of other road
users.
Further information on driving safety systems (Y page 66). 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. This is especially impor-
tant if the vehicle is laden. 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 make it appropriate to maintain a
steady speed for a prolonged period. You canstore any road speed above 20 mph
(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 the road,
traffic and weather 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
your 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 slippery road surfaces. Braking or accel-
erating could 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. Driving systems
183Driving and parking Z

!
If DISTRONIC PLUS or the HOLD function
is activated, the vehicle brakes automati-
cally in certain situations. To prevent dam-
age to the vehicle, deactivate DISTRONIC
PLUS and the HOLD function in the follow-
ing or other similar situations:
R when towing the vehicle
R in the car wash
If you fail to adapt your driving style,
DISTRONIC PLUS can neither reduce the risk
of accident nor override the laws of physics.
DISTRONIC PLUS cannot take into account
the road, traffic and weather conditions.
DISTRONIC PLUS 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 your lane.
Do not use DISTRONIC PLUS:
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 slippery road surfaces. Braking or accel-
erating could 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
DISTRONIC PLUS may not detect narrow
vehicles driving in front, e.g. motorcycles, or
vehicles driving on a different line.
In particular, the detection of obstacles can
be impaired if:
R there is dirt on the sensors or anything else
covering the sensors
R there is snow or heavy rain
R there is interference by other radar sources
R there are strong radar reflections, for
example, in parking garages
If DISTRONIC PLUS no longer detects a vehi- cle in front, DISTRONIC PLUS may unexpect-
edly accelerate the vehicle to the stored
speed. This speed may:
R be too high if you are driving in a filter lane
or an exit lane
R be so high in the right lane that you pass
vehicles driving on the left (left-hand drive
countries)
R be so high in the left lane that you pass
vehicles driving on the right (right-hand
drive countries)
If there is a change of drivers, advise the new driver of the speed stored.
Cruise control lever 0043
To activate or increase speed
0044 To activate or reduce speed
0087 To deactivate DISTRONIC PLUS
0085 To activate at the current speed/last
stored speed
0083 To set the specified minimum distance
Selecting DISTRONIC PLUS X
Check whether LIM indicator lamp 0043is off. Driving systems
187Driving and parking Z

Warning/
indicator
lamp
0051
0051 Signal type
Possible causes/consequences and 0050 0050Solutions 0027004D
00E500BB
0025
0051
0027 (USA only), 004D(Canada only): the red brake warning lamp, the
yellow ESP ®
and ESP ®
OFF warning lamp and the yellow ABS warning lamp are
lit while the engine is running.
ABS and ESP ®
are not available due to a malfunction. Therefore BAS, BAS
PLUS, COLLISION PREVENTION ASSIST PLUS, EBD ®
, PRE ‑SAFE ®
, PRE‑SAFE ®
PLUS, PRE‑SAFE ®
Brake, HOLD function, hill start assist, Crosswind Assist,
STEER CONTROL, Active Lane Keeping Assist and Active Blind Spot Assist are
also unavailable.
ATTENTION ASSIST is deactivated.
G WARNING
The brake system continues to function normally, but without the functions
listed above. The front and rear wheels could therefore lock if you brake hard,
for example.
The steerability and braking characteristics may be severely affected. The
braking distance in an emergency braking situation can increase.
If ESP ®
is not operational, ESP ®
is unable to stabilize the vehicle.
There is an increased risk of skidding and an accident.
X Observe the additional display messages in the multifunction display.
X Drive on carefully.
X Visit a qualified specialist workshop. 00E5
0051
The yellow ESP ®
warning lamp flashes while the vehicle is in motion.
ESP ®
or traction control has intervened because there is a risk of skidding or
at least one wheel has started to spin.
Cruise control or DISTRONIC PLUS is deactivated.
X When pulling away, only depress the accelerator pedal as far as necessary.
X Ease off the accelerator pedal while the vehicle is in motion.
X Adapt your driving style to suit the road and weather conditions.
X Do not deactivate ESP ®
.
In rare cases (Y page 72), it may be best to deactivate ESP ®
.
Observe the important safety notes on ESP ®
(Y page 72). 288
Warning and indicator lamps in the instrument clusterOn-board computer and displays

When parking your vehicle, make sure that
the tires do not get deformed by the curb or
other obstacles. If it is necessary to drive over
curbs, speed humps or similar elevations, try to do so slowly and at an obtuse angle. Oth-
erwise, the tires, particularly the sidewalls,
may be damaged. Regular checking of wheels and tires
G
WARNING
Damaged tires can cause tire inflation pres-
sure loss. As a result, you could lose control of your vehicle. There is a risk of accident.
Check the tires regularly for signs of damage
and replace any damaged tires immediately.
Regularly check the wheels and tires of your
vehicle for damage at least once a month, as well as after driving off-road or on rough
roads. Damaged wheels can cause a loss of
tire pressure. Pay particular attention to dam-
age such as:
R cuts in the tires
R punctures
R tears in the tires
R bulges on tires
R deformation or severe corrosion on wheels
Regularly check the tire tread depth and the
condition of the tread across the whole width of the tire (Y page 359). If necessary, turn the
front wheels to full lock in order to inspect the
inner side of the tire surface.
All wheels must have a valve cap to protect
the valve against dirt and moisture. Do not
mount anything onto the valve other than the standard valve cap or other valve caps
approved by Mercedes-Benz for your vehicle.
Do not use any other valve caps or systems,
e.g. tire pressure monitoring systems.
Regularly check the pressure of all the tires
particularly prior to long trips. Adjust the tire pressure as necessary (Y page 361).The service life of tires depends, among other
things, on the following factors:
R Driving style
R Tire pressure
R Distance covered Important safety notes on the tire
tread
G
WARNING
Insufficient tire tread will reduce tire traction.
The tire is no longer able to dissipate water.
This means that on wet road surfaces, the risk of hydroplaning increases, in particular where speed is not adapted to suit the driving con-
ditions. There is a risk of accident.
If the tire pressure is too high or too low, tires
may exhibit different levels of wear at differ-
ent locations on the tire tread. Thus, you
should regularly check the tread depth and
the condition of the tread across the entire
width of all tires.
Minimum tire tread depth for:
R Summer tires: 00CEin (3 mm)
R M+S tires: 00CFin (4 mm)
For safety reasons, replace the tires before
the legally prescribed limit for the minimum
tire tread depth is reached. Bar indicator
0043for tread wear is integrated
into the tire tread.
Treadwear indicators (TWI) are required by
law. Six indicators are positioned on the tire
tread. They are visible once a tread depth of Operation
359Wheels and tires Z