
Manual drive program M
General notes
In this drive program, you can briefly change
geary
ourself by using the steering wheel
gearshift paddles. The transmission must be
in position D.
You can activate manua ldrive program Min
the E,E+ (E 300 BlueTEC and E350 BlueTEC)
and Sautomatic drive programs.
i As wellast
emporary drive program M,
you can alsoa ctivate permanent drive pro-
gram M(Y page1 94).
Further information about permanent drive program M(Y page1 98).
Activating
X Shift the transmission to position D.
X Pullt he left-hand or right-hand steering
whee lgearshift paddle (Y page195).
Manual drive program Mis temporarily acti-
vated. The selected geara ndMappear in
the multifunction display.
Shiftin ggears
If you pullont he left or right-hand steering
whee lgearshift paddle,t he automatic trans-
mission switches to manua ldrive program M
for alimited amount of time. Depending on
which gearshift paddle is pulled,t he auto-
matic transmission immediatel yshifts into
the next gearupord own, if permitted.
X To shift up: pullthe right-hand steering
whee lgearshift paddle (Y page195).
The automatic transmission shifts up to the
next gear.
i If the maximu
mengine spee donthe cur-
rently engaged gearisr eachedand you
continue to accelerate, the automatic
transmission automatically shifts up in
order to prevent engine damage.
X To shift down: pullonthe left-hand steer-
ing whee lgearshift paddle (Y page195).
The automatic transmission shifts downto
the next gear. i
If the engine exceeds the maximum
engine spee dwhen shifting down, the auto-
matic transmission protects against engine
damage by not shifting down.
i Automatic downshifting occurs when
coasting.
Gearshift recommendation The gearshift recommendations assist you in
adopting an economica ldriving style .The rec-
ommended geariss hownint he multifunction
display.
X Shift to recommende dgear ;according
to gearshift recommendation :when
show ninthe multifunction display of the
instrument cluster.
Deactivating
If you have activated manua ldrive program
M,i twillr emai nactive for acertain amount of
time. Under certain conditions the minimum
amount of time is extended, e.g. in the case of latera lacceleration, during an overru nphase
or when driving on steep terrain.
When manua ldrive program Mis deactivated,
the automatic transmission shifts into the
automatic drive progra mthat wasl asts elec-
ted.
You can alsod eactivate manua ldrive pro-
gram Myourself:
X Pullont he right-hand steering whee lgear-
shift paddle and hold it in place
(Y page1 95).
or
X Use the DIRECT SELECT leve rtoshift the
transmission position (Y page190). Automatic transmission
197Driving and parking Z

boostin
geffect. You will require considerably
more effor ttosteer and brake. There is arisk
of an accident.
Do not switch off the ignition while driving. ECO display
The ECO display provides feedback on how
economical your driving characteristic sare.
The ECO display assists you in achievin gthe
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%. Ahigher per-
centage count indicates amore economical
driving style.
The ECO display does not indicat ethe actual
fuel consumption .Afixed percentage count
in the ECO display does not indicat eafixed
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 choic eofroute
R the use of electrical consumers
These factors are not included in the ECO dis-
play. The evaluation of your driving style take
sthe
following three categories int oconsideration:
R Acceleration Acceleration (evaluation of all accelera-
tion processes):
- the bar fills up: moderat eacceleration,
especially at higher speeds
- the bar empties: sport yacceleration
R Constant
Constant (assessmen tofdriving behav-
iour at all times):
- the bar fills up: constan tspeed and
avoidance of unnecessary acceleration
and deceleration
- the bar empties: fluctuations in speed
R Coasting Coasting (assessmen tofall deceleration
processes):
- the bar fills up: anticipatory driving ,keep-
ing your distanc eand early release of the
accelerator. The vehicle can coast with-
out use of the brakes.
- the bar empties: frequent braking
i An economical driving style involves driv-
ing at amoderat eengin espeed.
To achieve ahigher value in the categories
Acceleration
Acceleration andConstant
Constant:
R observe the gearshift recommendation
R drive the vehicle in drive program E(vehi-
cles with automatic transmission)
i On long journeys at
aconstan tspeed, e.g.
on the motorway, only the bar for Constant
Constant
will change.
i The ECO display summarises the driving
characteristic sfrom the start of the journey
to its completion. Therefore, ther eare
dynamic changes in the bars at the start of aj ourney. Durin gaprolonge ddriving time,
these changes are smaller. For more
dynamic changes, perfor mamanual reset.
Further information on the ECO display
(Y page 280). 208
Driving tipsDriving and parking

vehicl
eoccupants and that of other road
users.
Further information on driving safety systems (Y page7 7). Cruise control
General notes Cruise control maintains
aconstant road
spee dfor you.Itb rakes automatically in order
to avoi dexceeding the set speed. You must
select alow gearing ood time on long and
steep downhill gradients, especially if the
vehicl eisladen or towing atrailer. By doing
so, you willm ake use of the braking effect of
the engine. This relieves the loadont he 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
stead yspee dfor ap rolonged period. You can
store any road spee dabove 30 km/h.
Important safety notes If you fail to adapt yourd
riving style,cruise
control can neither reduce the risk of an acci-
dent nor overrid ethe lawsofp hysics. Cruise
control cannot take into account road,
weather or traffic conditions. Cruise control is only an aid.Y ou are responsibl efor the dis-
tance to the vehicl einfront, for vehicl espeed,
for braking in good time, and for staying in the lane.
Do not use cruise control:
R in road and traffic conditions which do not
allow you to maintai naconstant speed
(e.g. in heavy traffic or on winding roads)
R on smooth or slippery roads. Braking or
accelerating can caus ethe drive wheels to
lose traction and the vehicl ecouldt hen
skid
R when there is poor visibility, e.g. due to fog,
heavy rain or snow If there is
achange of drivers, advise the new
drive rofthe spee dstored.
Cruise control lever :
To activate or increase speed
; LIM indicator lamp
= To activate at the current speed/last
stored speed
? To activate or reduce 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
leve rindicates which system you have selec-
ted:
R LIMi ndicator lamp off: cruise control is
selected.
R LIMi ndicator lamp on: variable SPEED-
TRONIC is selected.
When you activate cruise control, the stored
spee diss hownint he multifunction display
for five seconds. 212
Driving systemsDriving and parking

Selecting cruise control
X
Check whether LIM indicator lamp :is off.
If it is off, cruise control is already selected. If it is not, press the cruise control lever in
the direction of arrow ;.
LIM indicator lamp :in the cruise control
lever goes out. Cruise control is selected.
Activation conditions To activate cruise control, all of the following
activation condition smust be fulfilled:
R the parking brake must be released.
R you are driving faster than 30 km/h.
R ESP ®
must be switched on, but not inter-
vening.
R the transmission must be in position D.
R the cruise control function must be selec-
ted (Y page 213).
Storing and maintaining the current
speed You can accept the current speed if you are
driving faster than 30 km/h.
X Accelerate the vehicl etothe desired
speed.
X Briefl ypress the cruis econtro llev er up :
or down ;.
X Remov eyourfoo tfromt he accelerator
pedal.
Cruise contro lisactivated .The vehicle
automaticall ymaintains the stored speed.
i Cruise contro
lmaybe unabl etomaintain
the stored spee donuphillgradients. The
stored spee disresumed when the gradient
evens out. Cruise contro lmaintains the
stored spee dondownhil lgradients by
automaticall ybraking the vehicle.
i Vehicles with manua ltransmission:
R always drive at adequate, bu tnot exces-
sive, engine speeds
R change gear in goo dtime.
R if possible, do not change down several
gear satat ime
Storin gthe curren tspeed or callin gup
the las tstored speed G
WARNING
If yo ucallupt he stored speed and it is lower
tha nthe current speed ,the vehicl edeceler-
ates. If yo udonot know the stored speed ,the
vehicl ecould decelerate unexpectedly .There
is ar iskofana ccident.
Pa ya ttentio ntothe roa dand traffi ccondi-
tions befor ecalling up the stored speed .Ifyou
do not know the stored speed ,stor ethe
desired speed again. Dr
ivin gsystems
213Driving an dparking Z

R
on vehicles with manual transmission, you
shift to agear that is too high, and as a
result the engine speed is too low
R on vehicles with automatic transmission,
you shift to position Nwhile driving
If cruise control is deactivated, you will hear a warning tone. You will see the Cruise con‐
Cruise con‐
trol off
trol off message in the multifunction dis-
play for approximately five seconds.
i The last speed stored is cleared when you
switch off the engine. SPEEDTRONIC
Important safety notes SPEEDTRONIC brakes automatically so that
you do not exceed the set speed. Change into
al ower gear in good time on long and steep
downhill gradients. Take particular noteof
this when driving aladen vehicle. By doing so,
you will make use of the braking effect of the engine. This relieves the load on the brake
system and prevent sthe brakes from over-
heating and wearing too quickly. If you need
additional braking, depress the brake pedal
repeatedly rather than continuously.
If you fail to adapt your driving style, SPEED-
TRONIC can neither reduce the risk of an
accident nor override the laws of physics.
SPEEDTRONIC cannot take into account
road, weather or traffic conditions. SPEED-
TRONIC is only an aid. You are responsible for
the distance to the vehicle in front,f or vehicle
speed, for braking in good time, and for stay- ing in lane.
If there is achange of drivers, advise the new
driver of the speed stored.
You can set avariable or permanent limit
speed:
R variable for speed limits, e.g. in built-up
areas
R permanent for long-term speed restric-
tions, e.g. when driving with winter tyres
fitted i
The speed indicated in the speedometer
may differ slightly from the limit speed
stored.
Variable SPEEDTRONIC General notes
:
To store the current speed or ahigher
speed
; LIM indicator lamp
= To store the current speed or calling up
the last stored speed
? To store the current speed or alower
speed
A To switch between cruise control or
DISTRONIC PLUS and variable SPEED-
TRONIC
B To deactivate variable SPEEDTRONIC
With the cruise control lever, you can operate
cruise control or DISTRONIC PLUS and vari-
able SPEEDTRONIC.
The LIM indicator lamp on the cruise control
lever indicates which system you have selec- ted:
R LIM indicator lamp off: cruise control or
DISTRONIC PLUS is selected.
R LIM indicator lamp on: variable SPEED-
TRONIC is selected. Driving systems
215Driving and parking Z

speed is set. Press the cruise control lever
up : for ahigher speed or down ;for a
lower speed.
X To adjust the set speed in 1km/h incre-
ments: briefly press the cruise control
lever up :to the pressure point for a
higher speed or down ;for alower 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
ah igher speed or down ;for alower
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 againify ou:
R drive slower than the stored speed without
kickdown
R set anew speed or
R call up the last speed stored again
The SPEEDTRONIC passive
SPEEDTRONIC passive message in the
multifunction displayd isappears.
Deactivating variable SPEEDTRONIC
It is not possible to deactivate variable
SPEEDTRONIC by braking. There are several waystod
eactivate variable
SPEEDTRONIC:
X Briefly press the cruise control lever for-
wards :.
or X Briefly press the cruise control lever in the
direction of arrow =.
LIM indicator lamp ;in the cruise control
lever goes out. Variable SPEEDTRONIC is
deactivated.
Cruise control or DISTRONIC PLUS is selec-
ted.
i The last speed stored is cleared when you
switch off the engine.
Permanent SPEEDTRONIC You can use the on-board computer to limit
the speed permanently to
avalue between
160 km/h(e.g. for driving on winter tyres) and the maximum speed (Y page 292).
Shortly before the stored speed is reached, it appears in the multifunction display.
Permanent SPEEDTRONIC remains active,
even if variableS PEEDTRONIC is deactivated.
You cannot exceed the stored limit speed,
even if you depress the accelerator pedal
beyond the pressure point (kickdown). DISTRONIC PLUS
General notes DISTRONIC PLUS regulates the speed and
automaticallyh
elps you maintain the dis-
tance to the vehicle detected in front.V ehi-
cles are detected with the aid of the radar
sensor system. DISTRONIC PLUS brakes
automaticallysot hat the set speed is not
exceeded.
Change into alower gear in good time on long
and steep downhill gradients. Take particular note of this when driving aladen vehicle. By
doing so, you will make use of the braking
effect of the engine. This relieves the load on Driving systems
217Driving and parking Z

X
Briefly pull the cruise control lever towards
you :.
X Remove your foot from the accelerator
pedal.
DISTRONIC PLUS is activated. The first
time it is activated, the current speed is
stored. Otherwise, it sets the vehicle cruise speed to the previously store dvalue.
Drivin gwithD ISTRONI CPLUS Pulling away and driving
X
If you wan ttopull away with
DISTRONI CPLUS: remove your foot from
the brake pedal.
X Briefly pull the cruise control lever towards
you :.
or
X Accelerate briefly.
You rvehicle pull sawaya nd adapts its
speed to that of the vehicle in front.
If no vehicle is detected in front, your vehi-
cle accelerate stothe set speed. i
The vehicle can also pull away whe
nitis
facing an unidentifie dobstacl eorisd riving
on adifferent line from another vehicle .The
vehicle then brakes automatically. There is
ar iskofana ccident. Be ready to brake at all
times.
If there is no vehicle in front, DISTRONIC
PLUS operate sinthe same wa yascruise
control.
If DISTRONIC PLUS detects that the vehicle in front ha sslowe ddown, it brakes your vehicle.
In this way, the distance yo uhaves elected is
maintained.
If DISTRONIC PLUS detects afaster-moving
vehicle in front, it increases the driving speed.
However, the vehicle is only accelerate dupto
the speed yo uhaves tored.
Selecting the drive program
DISTRONIC PLUS supports asporty driving
styl ewheny ou have selected the Sor M(AMG
vehicles: S,S+ orM)d riving program
(Y page 194). Acceleration behind the vehicle
in front or to the set speed is then noticeably
more dynamic. If yo uhaves elected the Eor E
+ (AMG vehicles: C)driving program, the vehi-
cle accelerate smore gently. Thi ssetting is
recommende dinstop-and-start traffic.
Selecting the drive program
DISTRONIC PLUS supports asporty driving
styl ewheny ou have selected the Sor M(AMG
vehicles: S,S+ orM)d riving program
(Y page 194). Acceleration behind the vehicle
in front or to the set speed is then noticeably
more dynamic. If yo uhaves elected the Eor E
+ (AMG vehicles: C)driving program, the vehi-
cle accelerate smore gently. Thi ssetting is
recommende dinstop-and-start traffic.
Changing lanes
If yo uchange to the overtaking lane,
DISTRONIC PLUS supports yo uif:
R yo ua re driving faster than 70 km/h
R DISTRONIC PLUS is maintaining the dis-
tance to avehicle in front Drivin
gsystems
221Drivingand parking Z

In
as peed range from 0-60km/h,Stop&Go
Pilotf ocuses on the vehicle in front, taking
into account lane markings, e.g. when follow- ing vehicle sinatraffic jam.
At speedsofm ore than 60 km/h ,Steering
Assist focuses on detected lane markings
(left and right), only focusing on the vehicle in
front if detected lane markings are not pres-
ent.
If these conditions are not present, Steering
Assist and Stop&Go Pilotc annot provide
assistance.
DISTRONIC PLUS must be active in order for
the function to be available.
Important safety notes
If you fail to adapt yourd riving style,
DISTRONIC PLUS with Steering Assist and
Stop&Go Pilotc an neither reduce the risk of
an accident nor override the lawsofp hysics.
It cannot take into account road, weather or
traffic conditions. DISTRONIC PLUS with
Steering Assist and Stop&Go Pilotiso nly an
aid.Y ou are responsible for the distance to
the vehicle in front, for vehicle speed,f or
braking in good time, and for staying in lane.
DISTRONIC PLUS with Steering Assist and
Stop&Go Pilotd oes not detect road and traf-
fic conditions and does not detect all road
users. If you are following avehicle which is
driving towards the edge of the carriageway,
yourv ehicle could come into contact with the
kerb or other road boundaries. Be particularly
aware of other road users, e.g. cyclists, that
are directly next to yourv ehicle.
Obstacles such as traffic pylons on the lane or
projecting out into the lane are not detected.
An inappropriate steering intervention, e.g.
after intentionally driving over alane marking,
can be corrected at any time if you steer
slightly in the opposite direction.
DISTRONIC PLUS with Steering Assist and
Stop&Go Pilotc annot continuousl ykeep your
vehicle in lane. In some cases, the steering
intervention is not sufficient to bring the vehi-
cle back to the lane. In such cases, you must steer the vehicle yourself to ensure that it
does not leave the lane.
The support offered by the system may be
impaired if:
R
there is poor visibility, e.g. due to insuffi-
cient 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 windscree nisdirty, misted up, dam-
aged or covered, for instance by asticker,
in the vicinity of the camera
R no, or several ,unclea rlane markings are
present for one lane, e.g. in aconstruction
area
R the lane markings are worn away, dark or
covered 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
detected
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 highlyv ariable shade conditions
on the road
The system is switched to passive and no lon-
ger assists you by performing steering inter-
ventions if:
R you actively change lanes
R you switch on the turn signal
R you take yourh ands off the steering wheel
or do not steer for aprolonge dperio dof
time
i After you have finished changing lanes,
Steering Assist and Stop&Go Pilota re auto-
matically active again. Driving systems
227Driving and parking Z