2015 MERCEDES-BENZ E-CLASS CABRIOLET brakes

Dynamic handling package with
sports mode
General notes The most important part of the dynamic han-
dling package with sports mode is the adjusta-
ble damping system. This automatically controls
and adapts the suspension to the respective
driving situation.
The calibration of the suspension depends on:
R your driving style
R the road surface conditions
R your individual selection; see the following
description
Vehicles with dynamic handling package
with sports mode: in addition to drive pro-
grams Eand S, there is also manual drive pro-
gram M(Y page 151).
Sport mode Example: position of dynamic handling package
with sports mode button
The firmer setting of the suspension tuning in
sports mode ensures even better contact with
the road. Select this mode when employing a
sporty driving style, e.g. on winding country
roads.
X Start the engine.
X If indicator lamp ;
; is not lit: press but-
ton :.
Indicator lamp ;lights up. The sports sus-
pension setting is selected.
i Your selection remains stored until you
switch off the engine. Comfort mode
In comfort mode, the driving characteristics of
your vehicle are more comfortable. Therefore,
select this mode if you prefer a more comforta-
ble driving style. Select Comfort mode also
when driving fast on straight roads, e.g. on
straight stretches of motorway.
X If indicator lamp =
= is not lit: press but-
ton :.
Indicator lamp =lights up. The comfortable
suspension setting is selected. PARKTRONIC
Important safety notes PARKTRONIC is an electronic parking aid with
ultrasonic sensors. It monitors the area around
your vehicle using six sensors in the front
bumper and six sensors in the rear bumper.
PARKTRONIC indicates visually and audibly the
distance between your vehicle and an object.
PARKTRONIC is only an aid. It is not a substitute
for your attention to the immediate surround-
ings. The responsibility for safe manoeuvring
and parking remains with you. Make sure that
there are no persons, animals or objects in
range while manoeuvring and parking.
! When parking, pay particular attention to
objects above or below the sensors, such as
flower pots or trailer drawbars. PARKTRONIC does not detect such objects when they are in
the immediate vicinity of the vehicle. You
could damage the vehicle or the objects.
The sensors may not detect snow and objects which absorb ultrasonic sources.
Ultrasonic sources, such as an automatic car
wash, a lorry's compressed-air brakes or a Driving syste
ms
179Driving an d parking Z

right angles to the direction of travel. You will
need to judge whether your vehicle will fit in
the parking space.
When driving at speeds below 30 km/h, you will
see parking symbol ;as a status indicator in
the instrument cluster. When a parking space
has been detected, an arrow towards the right or the left also appears. Active Parking Assist only
displays parking spaces on the front-passenger side as standard. Parking spaces on the driver's
side are displayed as soon as the turn signal on the driver's side is activated. When parking on
the driver's side, this must remain activated
until you confirm the use of Active Parking Assist by pressing the abutton on the multifunc-
tion steering wheel. The system automatically
determines whether the parking space is paral-
lel or at right angles to the direction of travel.
A parking space is displayed while you are driv-
ing past it, and until you are approximately 15 m away from it.
Parking G
WARNING
If you leave the vehicle when it is only being
braked by Active Parking Assist it could roll
away if:
R there is a malfunction in the system or in
the voltage supply.
R the electrical system in the engine com-
partment, the battery or the fuses are tam-
pered with.
R the battery is disconnected.
R the vehicle is accelerated, e.g. by a vehicle
occupant.
There is a risk of an accident.
Before leaving the vehicle, always secure it
against rolling away.
i Vehicles with automatic transmission:
When PARKTRONIC detects obstacles, Active Parking Assist brakes automatically during
the parking process. You are responsible for
braking in good time. X
Stop the vehicle when the parking symbol
shows the desired parking space in the instru- ment cluster.
X Vehicles with manual transmission: shift to
reverse gear.
Vehicles with automatic transmission: shift to
position R.
The Start Park Assist? Yes: OK No:
Start Park Assist? Yes: OK No:
% message appears in the multifunction
display.
X To cancel the procedure: press the%
button on the multifunction steering wheel or
pull away.
or X To park using Active Parking Assist: press
the a button on the multifunction steering
wheel.
The Park Assist active Accelerate Park Assist active Accelerate
and brake Observe surroundings
and brake Observe surroundings mes-
sage appears in the multifunction display.
X Release the multifunction steering wheel.
X Reverse the vehicle, being ready to brake at
all times. When reversing, drive at a speed
below 10 km/h. Otherwise, Active Parking
Assist will be cancelled.
Vehicles with automatic transmission:
Active Parking Assist brakes the vehicle to a
standstill when the vehicle approaches the
rear border of the parking space.
Manoeuvring may be required in tight parking
spaces.
X Vehicles with manual transmission: stop
as soon as PARKTRONIC sounds the contin-
uous warning tone, if not before.
Manoeuvring may be required in tight parking
spaces.
Vehicles with manual transmission: the
Park Assist active Engage forward Park Assist active Engage forward
gear Observe surroundings gear Observe surroundings message
appears in the multifunction display
Vehicles with automatic transmission: the
Park Assist active Select D Observe Park Assist active Select D Observe
surroundings surroundings message appears in the multi-
function display
X Vehicles with manual transmission: shift
to first gear while the vehicle is stationary.
Vehicles with automatic transmission:
select transmission position Dwhile the vehi-
cle is stationary.
Active Parking Assist immediately steers in
the other direction. Driving systems
185Driving and parking Z

The
Park Assist active Accelerate
Park Assist active Accelerate
and brake Observe surroundings
and brake Observe surroundings mes-
sage appears in the multifunction display.
i You will achieve the best results by waiting
for the steering procedure to complete before
pulling away.
X Drive forwards and be ready to brake at all
times.
Vehicles with automatic transmission:
Active Parking Assist brakes the vehicle to a
standstill.
X Vehicles with manual transmission: stop,
at the latest when PARKTRONIC sounds the
continuous warning tone.
Vehicles with manual transmission: the
Park Assist active Engage reverse
Park Assist active Engage reverse
gear Observe surroundings gear Observe surroundings message
appears in the multifunction display.
Vehicles with automatic transmission: the
Park Assist active Select R Observe
Park Assist active Select R Observe
surroundings surroundings message appears in the multi-
function display.
Additional transmission shifts may be neces-
sary.
As soon as the parking procedure is complete,
the Park Assist switched off
Park Assist switched off message
appears in the multifunction display and you will hear a tone. The vehicle is now parked. The
vehicle is kept stationary without the driver hav- ing to depress the brake pedal. The braking
effect is cancelled when you depress the accel-
erator pedal.
Active Parking Assist no longer supports you
with steering interventions and brake applica-
tions. When Active Parking Assist is finished,
you must steer and brake again yourself.
PARKTRONIC is still available.
X Manoeuvre if necessary.
X Always observe the warning messages dis-
played by PARKTRONIC (Y page 181).
Parking tips:
R The way your vehicle is positioned in the park-
ing space after parking is dependent on vari-
ous factors. These include the position and
shape of the vehicles parked in front and
behind it and the conditions of the location. It
may be the case that Active Parking Assist
guides you too far into a parking space, or not far enough into it. In some cases, it may also
lead you across or onto the kerb. If necessary, you should cancel the parking procedure with
Active Parking Assist.
R You can also preselect transmission position
D. The vehicle redirects and does not drive as
far into the parking space. Should a gear be
changed too early, the parking procedure will be cancelled. A sensible parking position can
no longer be achieved from this position.
Exiting a parking space In order that Active Parking Assist can support
you when exiting the parking space:
R the border of the parking space must be high
enough at the front and the rear. A kerb stoneis too small, for example.
R the border of the parking space must not be
too wide, as the position of the vehicle must
not exceed an angle of 45° to the starting
position as it is manoeuvred into the parking
space.
R a manoeuvring distance of at least 1.0 mmust
be available.
i Vehicles with automatic transmission:
If PARKTRONIC detects obstacles, Active
Parking Assist brakes automatically whilst the vehicle exits the parking space. You are
responsible for braking in good time.
Active Parking Assist can only assist you with
exiting a parking space if you have parked the
vehicle parallel to the direction of travel using
Active Parking Assist.
X Start the engine.
X Release the parking brake.
X Switch on the turn signal in the direction you
are pulling away.
X Vehicles with manual transmission:
engage first or reverse gear.
Vehicles with automatic transmission:
shift the transmission to position
Dor R.
The Start Park Assist? Yes: OK No: Start Park Assist? Yes: OK No:
% message appears in the multifunction
display.
X To cancel the procedure: press the%
button on the multifunction steering wheel or
pull away.
or 186
Driving systemsDriving and pa
rking

Activating Blind Spot Assist
X Make sure that Blind Spot Assist
(Y page 222) is activated in the on-board
computer.
X Turn the key to position 2in the ignition lock.
Warning lamps :in the exterior mirrors light
up red for approximately 1.5 seconds and
then turn yellow.
Towing a trailer
If you couple up a trailer, make sure that you
have correctly established the electrical con-
nection. This can be accomplished by checking
the trailer lighting. Blind Spot Assist is then
deactivated. The indicator lamps in the exterior
mirrors light up yellow and the Blind Spot
Blind Spot
Assist not available when towing a
Assist not available when towing a
trailer See Owner's Manual
trailer See Owner's Manual message
appears in the multifunction display.
i You can deactivate the indicator lamps in
the exterior mirrors.
To do so, you will need to deactivate Blind
Spot Assist if:
R the key 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 by means of camera :at the top of
the windscreen. Lane Keeping Assist detects
lane markings on the road and can warn you
before you leave your lane unintentionally.
This function is available within a speed range
between 60 km/h and 200 km/h. A warning may be given if a front wheel passes
over a lane marking. It will warn you by means of
intermittent vibration through the steering
wheel for up to 1.5 seconds.
Important safety notes G
WARNING
Lane Keeping Assist cannot always clearly
identify lane markings.
In these cases, Lane Keeping Assist may:
R give an unnecessary warning
R not give a warning
There is a risk of an accident.
Always pay particular attention to the traffic
situation and keep in lane, especially if Lane
Keeping Assist alerts you. G
WARNING
The Lane Keeping Assist warning does not
return the vehicle to the original lane. There is a risk of an accident.
Always steer, apply the brakes or accelerate
the vehicle yourself, especially if Lane Keep-
ing Assist alerts you.
If you fail to adapt your driving style, Lane Keep-
ing Assist can neither reduce the risk of an acci-
dent nor override the laws of physics. Lane
Keeping Assist cannot take into account road,
weather or traffic conditions. Lane Keeping
Assist 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 lane.
Lane Keeping Assist does not keep your vehicle in its lane.
The system may be impaired or may not function if:
R there is poor visibility, e.g. due to insufficient
illumination of the road, or due to snow, rain, fog or spray
R there is glare, e.g. from oncoming traffic, the
sun or reflection from other vehicles (e.g. if
the road surface is wet)
R the windscreen is dirty, misted up, damaged
or covered, for instance by a sticker, in the
vicinity of the camera
R no or several, unclear lane markings are pres-
ent for one lane, e.g. in a construction area 202
Driving systemsDriving and pa
rking

Active Lane Keeping Assist
General notes
Active Lane Keeping Assist monitors the area in
front of your vehicle by means of multifunction
camera :at the top of the windscreen. Various
different areas to the front, rear and side of your vehicle are also monitored with the aid of the
radar sensor system. Active Lane Keeping
Assist detects lane markings on the road and
can warn you before you leave your lane unin-
tentionally. If you do not react to the warning, a
lane-correcting application of the brakes can
bring the vehicle back into the original lane.
This function is available in a speed range
between 60 km/h and 200 km/h.
For Active Lane Keeping Assist to assist you
when driving, the radar sensor system must be
operational.
Important safety notes If you fail to adapt your driving style, Active Lane Keeping Assist can neither reduce the risk of an
accident nor override the laws of physics. Active Lane Keeping Assist cannot take account of
road and weather conditions. It may not detect
traffic situations. Active Lane Keeping Assist 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 lane.
Active Lane Keeping Assist cannot continuously
keep your vehicle in its lane. G
WARNING
Active Lane Keeping Assist cannot always
clearly detect lane markings. In such cases, Active Lane Keeping Assist
can:
R give an unnecessary warning and then
make a course-correcting brake application
to the vehicle
R neither give a warning nor intervene
There is a risk of an accident.
Always pay particular attention to the traffic
situation and keep within the lane, especially
if Active Lane Keeping Assist alerts you. Ter-
minate the intervention in a non-critical driv-
ing situation.
The system may be impaired or may not function if:
R there is poor visibility, e.g. due to insufficient
illumination of the road, or due to snow, rain,fog or spray
R there is glare, e.g. from oncoming traffic, the
sun or reflection from other vehicles (e.g. if
the road surface is wet)
R the windscreen is dirty, misted up, damaged
or covered, for instance by a sticker, in the
vicinity of the camera
R the radar sensors in the front or rear bumpers
or the radiator trim are dirty, e.g. obscured by snow
R no or several, unclear lane markings are pres-
ent for one lane, e.g. in a construction area
R the lane markings are worn away, dark or cov-
ered up, e.g. by dirt or snow
R the distance to the vehicle in front is too small
and the lane markings thus cannot be detec-
ted
R the lane markings change quickly, e.g. lanes
branch off, cross one another or merge
R the road is narrow and winding
R there are highly variable shade conditions on
the road
If no vehicle is detected in the adjacent lane and broken lane markings are detected, no lane-cor-
recting brake application is made.
Warning vibration through the steering
wheel 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. 206
Driving systemsDriving and pa
rking

You will find the applicable permissible values,
which must not be exceeded, in the vehicle
documents.
You will find the values approved by the manu-
facturer on the vehicle identification plates and
those for the towing vehicle under "Technical
data" (Y page 344).
When towing a trailer, your vehicle's handling
characteristics will be different in comparison to
when driving without a trailer.
The vehicle/trailer combination:
R is heavier
R is restricted in its acceleration and gradient-
climbing capability
R has an increased braking distance
R is affected more by strong crosswinds
R demands more sensitive steering
R has a larger turning circle
This can impair the vehicle's handling charac-
teristics. Adapt your driving style accordingly.
Maintain a safe distance. Drive carefully.
When towing a trailer, always adjust your speed to the current road and weather conditions. Do
not exceed the maximum permissible speed for
your vehicle/trailer combination. Notes on towing a trailer
General notes The E 500 model cannot be used to tow a trailer.
i When towing a trailer, set the tyre pressure
on the rear axle of the towing vehicle for a
maximum load; see the tyre pressure table in
the fuel filler flap (Y page 324).
Please note that when towing a trailer, the fol-
lowing driving systems have limited availability
or are not available at all.
R PARKTRONIC (Y page 179)
R Active Parking Assist (Y page 183)
R Blind Spot Assist (Y page 200)
i The height of the ball coupling changes with
the load of the vehicle. If necessary, use a
trailer with a height-adjustable drawbar.
You will find fitting dimensions and loads under "Technical data" (Y page 343). Driving tips i
Observe the notes on ESP ®
trailer stabilisa-
tion (Y page 68).
The maximum permissible speed for vehicle/
trailer combinations depends on the type of
trailer. Before beginning the journey, check the
trailer's documents to see what the maximum
permitted speed is. Observe the legally prescri-
bed maximum speed in the relevant country.
For certain Mercedes-Benz vehicles, the maxi-
mum permissible rear axle load is increased
when towing a trailer. See the "Technical data"
section to find out whether this applies to your
vehicle (Y page 344). If you utilise any of the
added maximum rear axle load when towing a
trailer, the vehicle/trailer combination may not
exceed a maximum speed of 100 km/h for rea-
sons concerning the operating permit. This also applies in countries in which the permissible
maximum speed for vehicle/trailer combina-
tions is above 100 km/h.
When towing a trailer, your vehicle's handling
characteristics will be different in comparison to
when driving without a trailer and it will con-
sume more fuel.
Change into a lower gear in good time on long
and steep downhill gradients.
i This also applies if you have activated cruise
control, SPEEDTRONIC or DISTRONIC PLUS.
This will use the braking effect of the engine, so
less braking will be required to maintain vehicle speed. This relieves the load on the brake sys-
tem and prevents the brakes from overheating
and wearing too quickly. If you need additional
braking, depress the brake pedal repeatedly
rather than continuously.
Driving tips If the trailer swings from side to side:
X Do not accelerate.
X Do not countersteer.
X Brake if necessary.
R Maintain a greater distance to the vehicle in
front than when driving without a trailer.
R Avoid braking abruptly. If possible, brake gen-
tly at first to allow the trailer to run on. Then,
increase the braking force rapidly.
R The values given for gradient-climbing capa-
bilities from a standstill refer to sea level.
When driving in mountainous areas, note that Towing a trailer
209Driving and parking Z

!
When DISTRONIC PLUS or the HOLD func-
tion is activated, the vehicle brakes automat- ically in certain situations.
To avoid damage to the vehicle, deactivate
DISTRONIC PLUS and the HOLD function in
the following or similar situations:
R when towing away
R in a car wash
! Preferably use car washes with adjustable
high-pressure jets for pre-washing. This cor-
responds with the specifications for cabriolet
programmes. In car washes that use high
water pressures, there is a risk that a small
amount of water may leak into the vehicle.
! Make sure that the vehicle is not subse-
quently treated with hot wax.
! Make sure that:
R the side windows and sliding sunroof or
soft top are closed completely.
R the blower for the ventilation/heating is
switched off (OFF button is depressed).
R the windscreen wiper switch is at position
0.
The vehicle could otherwise be damaged.
! In car washes with a towing mechanism,
make sure that the automatic transmission is
in transmission position N; otherwise, the
vehicle could be damaged.
R Vehicles with DIRECT SELECT lever and
key:
do not remove the key from the ignition
lock. Do not open the driver's door or front- passenger door when the engine is
switched off. Otherwise, the automatic
transmission selects park position Pauto-
matically and locks the wheels. You can
prevent this by shifting the automatic trans-
mission to Nbeforehand.
R Vehicles with DIRECT SELECT lever and
KEYLESS-GO:
do not open the driver's door or front-
passenger door when the engine is
switched off. Otherwise, the automatic
transmission selects park position Pauto-
matically and locks the wheels.
Observe the following to make sure that the
automatic transmission on vehicles with DIRECT
SELECT stays in position N:X
Make sure the vehicle is stationary and the
ignition is switched off.
X Turn the key to position 2in the ignition lock
(Y page 139).
Use the key instead of the Start/Stop button on vehicles with KEYLESS-GO.
X Depress the brake pedal and keep it
depressed.
X Shift the automatic transmission to position
N.
X Release the brake pedal.
X Release the parking brake.
X Switch off the ignition and leave the key in the
ignition lock.
You can wash the vehicle in an automatic car
wash from the very start.
Wash off excess dirt before cleaning the vehicle
in an automatic car wash.
After using an automatic car wash, wipe off wax
from the windscreen and the wiper blades. This
will prevent smears and reduce wiping noises
caused by residue on the windscreen.
Washing by hand In some countries, washing by hand is only
allowed at specially equipped washing bays.
Observe the legal requirements for each indi-
vidual country.
X Do not use hot water and do not wash the
vehicle in direct sunlight.
X Use a soft sponge to clean.
X Use a mild cleaning agent, such as a car
shampoo approved by Mercedes-Benz.
X Thoroughly hose down the vehicle with a gen-
tle jet of water.
X Do not point the water jet directly towards the
air inlet.
X Use plenty of water and rinse out the sponge
frequently.
X Rinse the vehicle with clean water and dry
thoroughly with a chamois.
X Do not let the cleaning agent dry on the paint-
work.
When using the vehicle in winter, remove all
traces of road salt deposits carefully and as
soon as possible. 296
CareMaintenance and care

X
Slide cover :of positive terminal ;in the direction of the arrow.
X Connect positive terminal ;on your vehicle to positive terminal =of donor battery Busing the
jump lead, always beginning with positive terminal ;on your own vehicle first.
X Start the engine of the donor vehicle and run it at idling speed.
X Connect negative terminal ?of donor battery Bto earth point Aof your vehicle using the jump
lead, connecting the jump lead to donor battery Bfirst.
X Start the engine.
X Before disconnecting the jump leads, let the engines run for several minutes.
X First, remove the jump leads from earth point Aand negative terminal ?, then from positive
clamp ;and positive terminal =. Begin each time at the contacts on your own vehicle first.
X Close cover :of positive clamp ;after removing the jump leads.
X Have the battery checked at a qualified specialist workshop.
Jump-starting is not considered to be a normal operating condition.
i Jump-starting cables and further information regarding jump-starting can be obtained at any
qualified specialist workshop. Towing away and tow-starting
Important safety notes
G
WARNING
Safety relevant functions are restricted or no
longer available if:
R the engine is not running
R the brake system or power steering is mal-
functioning
R there is a malfunction in the voltage supply
or the vehicle's electrical system
When your vehicle is towed away or towed
started, you may require considerably more
effort to steer and brake. There is a risk of an
accident.
In such cases use a rigid towing bar. Before
being towed away or tow started, make sure
the steering moves freely. G
WARNING
When towing or tow-starting another vehicle
and its weight is greater than the permissible gross weight of your vehicle, the:
R towing eye may be torn off
R car/trailer combination may swerve or
even overturn
There is a risk of an accident. When towing or tow-starting another vehicle,
its weight should not be greater than the per-
missible gross weight of your vehicle.
Details on the permissible gross vehicle weight
of your vehicle can be found on the vehicle iden-
tification plate (Y page 336).
! When COLLISION PREVENTION ASSIST
PLUS, DISTRONIC PLUS or the HOLD function is activated, the vehicle brakes automatically
in certain situations.
To avoid damage to the vehicle, deactivate
these systems in the following or similar sit-
uations:
R when towing away
R in a car wash
! Only secure the tow cable or tow bar to the
towing eyes or, if available, to the trailer tow
hitch. You could otherwise damage the vehi-
cle.
! Observe the following points when towing
with a tow rope:
R Secure the tow rope on the same side on
both vehicles.
R Make sure that the tow rope is not longer
than legally permitted. Mark the tow rope in
the middle, e.g. with a white cloth
(30 x 30 cm). This will make other road
users aware that a vehicle is being towed.
R Only secure the tow cable to the towing
eyes or, if available, to the trailer tow hitch. Towing away and tow-starting
315Breakdown assistance Z