
the driver's footwell. Install the floormats
securely and as specified in order to ensure
sufficient clearance for the pedals. Do not useloose floormats and do not place floormats ontop of one another.
GWARNING
Unsuitable footwear can hinder correct usage of the pedals, e.g.:
R shoes with thick soles
R shoes with high heels
R slippers
There is a risk of an accident.
Wear suitable footwear to ensure correct
usage of the pedals.
GWARNING
If you switch off the ignition while driving,
safety-relevant functions are only available
with limitations, or not at all. This could affect, for example, the power steering and the brake
boosting effect. You will require considerably
more effort to steer and brake. There is a risk
of an accident.
Do not switch off the ignition while driving.
GWARNING
If the parking brake has not been fully
released when driving, the parking brake can:
R overheat and cause a fire
R lose its hold function.
There is a risk of fire and an accident. Release
the parking brake fully before driving off.
!Warm up the engine quickly. Do not use
the engine's full performance until it has
reached operating temperature.
Only shift the automatic transmission to
the desired drive position when the vehicle
is stationary.
Where possible, avoid spinning the drive
wheels when pulling away on slippery
roads. You could otherwise damage the
drive train.
!Avoid high engine speeds when the
engine is cold. The engine's service life
could otherwise be significantly shortened.
Do not use the engine's full performance
until it has reached operating temperature.
!AMG vehicles: at low engine oil temper-
atures below 68 ‡ (+20 †), the maximum
engine speed is restricted in order to pro-
tect the engine. To protect the engine and
maintain smooth engine operation, avoid
driving at full throttle when the engine is
cold.
SmartKey positions
gTo remove the SmartKey
1Power supply for some consumers, such
as the windshield wipers
2Ignition (power supply for all consumers)
and drive position
3To start the engine
As soon as the ignition is switched on, all the
indicator lamps in the instrument cluster light up. If an indicator lamp does not go out after
starting the engine or lights up while driving,
see ( Ypage 162).
If the SmartKey is in position 0in the ignition
lock for an extended period of time, it can no
longer be turned in the ignition lock. The
steering is then locked. To unlock, remove the SmartKey and reinsert it into the ignition lock.
The steering is locked when you remove the
SmartKey from the ignition lock.
Driving103
Driving an d parking
Z

XRemove the SmartKey when the engine is
switched off.
The starter battery could otherwise be dis-
charged.
If you cannot turn the SmartKey in the ignition
lock, the starter battery may not be charged
sufficiently. X Check the starter battery and charge it if
necessary ( Ypage 219).
or
X Jump-start the vehicle ( Ypage 220).
iYou can only remove the SmartKey if:
R the SmartKey is in position 0in the igni-
tion lock.
R the automatic transmission selector
lever is in P.
Starting the engine
Important safety notes
GWARNING
Combustion engines emit poisonous exhaust
gases such as carbon monoxide. Inhaling
these exhaust gases leads to poisoning. There is a risk of fatal injury. Therefore never leave
the engine running in enclosed spaces with-
out sufficient ventilation.
GWARNING
Flammable materials introduced through
environmental influence or by animals can
ignite if in contact with the exhaust system orparts of the engine that heat up. There is a risk
of fire.
Carry out regular checks to make sure that
there are no flammable foreign materials in
the engine compartment or in the exhaust
system.
!Do not depress the accelerator when
starting the engine.
Starting procedure
X Shift the automatic transmission to posi-
tion P.
The transmission position display in the
multifunction display shows P.
iFor further information about the auto-
matic transmission, see ( Ypage 105).
iIf you depress the brake when starting the
engine, pedal travel is unusually long and
there is less pedal resistance.
X Make sure that the parking brake is
applied.
X Turn the SmartKey to position 3
( Y page 103) in the ignition lock and release
it as soon as the engine is running.
iYou can also use the touch-start function.
To do this, turn the SmartKey to position 3
( Y page 103) and release it immediately.
The engine then starts automatically.
Pulling away
Automatic transmission
GWARNING
If the engine speed is above the idling speed
and you engage transmission position Dor R,
the vehicle could pull away suddenly. There is a risk of an accident.
When engaging transmission position Dor R,
always firmly depress the brake pedal and do not simultaneously accelerate.
!Only shift the automatic transmission to
reverse gear Ror park position Pwhen the
vehicle is stationary. Otherwise, the auto-
matic transmission could be damaged.
!Do not depress the accelerator pedal
while depressing the brake pedal. This
impairs engine performance and results in
premature wear on the brake system and
drivetrain.
104Driving
Driving and pa rking

The vehicle may roll away. There is a risk of anaccident.
After switching off the engine, always switch
to parking position P. Prevent the parked vehi-
cle from rolling away by applying the parkingbrake.
iBear in mind that the power transmission
between the engine and the transmission is interrupted when the engine is switched
off. For this reason, shift the automatic
transmission to Pwhen the engine is
switched off and the vehicle is at a stand-
still. Apply the parking brake to prevent the vehicle from rolling away.
Selector lever
Overview of transmission positions
!If the engine speed is too high or if the
vehicle is rolling, do not shift the transmis-
sion directly from Dto R, from Rto Dor
directly to P.
Do not open the driver's door while the
vehicle is in motion. At low speeds in trans-
mission position Dor R, park position Pis
otherwise engaged automatically.
The transmission could be damaged.
Selector lever j
Park position
kReverse gear
iNeutral
hDrive In the Digital Operator's Manual you will find
information on the following topics: R
Engaging park position P
R Engaging reverse gear R
R Engaging neutral N
R Neutral Nin the ECO start/stop function
(AMG vehicles)
R Shifting to transmission position D
R Transmission position Din the ECO start/
stop function (AMG vehicles)
Transmission position and drive pro-
gram display
!If the transmission position display in the
multifunction display is not working, you
should pull away carefully to check whether the desired transmission position is
engaged. Select transmission position D.
Do not restrict the shift range.
:Transmission position
;Drive program
Current transmission position :and current
drive program ;appear in the multifunction
display.
The current position of the selector lever is
shown by the indicators next to the selectorlever.
The indicators light up when the SmartKey is inserted into the ignition lock. The indicators go out when the SmartKey is removed from
the ignition lock.
When the selector lever is in position D, you
can influence the gearshifts made by the
automatic transmission by:
R restricting the shift range
R changing gear yourself
106Automatic transmission
Driving and parking

GWARNING
Fuel is poisonous and hazardous to health.
There is a risk of injury.
You must make sure that fuel does not comeinto contact with your skin, eyes or clothing
and that it is not swallowed. Do not inhale fuel
vapors. Keep fuel away from children.
If you or others come into contact with fuel,
observe the following:
R Wash away fuel from skin immediately
using soap and water.
R If fuel comes into contact with your eyes,
immediately rinse them thoroughly with
clean water. Seek medical assistance with-
out delay.
R If fuel is swallowed, seek medical assis-
tance without delay. Do not induce vomit-ing.
R Immediately change out of clothing which
has come into contact with fuel.
!Do not use diesel to refuel vehicles with a
gasoline engine. Even small amounts of the wrong fuel result in damage to the fuel sys-
tem and engine.
!Do not switch on the ignition if you acci-
dentally refuel with the wrong fuel. Other-
wise, the fuel will enter the fuel lines. Notify
a qualified specialist workshop and have
the fuel tank and fuel lines drained com-
pletely.
!Overfilling the fuel tank could damage the
fuel system.
!Take care not to spill any fuel on painted
surfaces. You could otherwise damage the
paintwork.
!Use a filter when refueling from a fuel can.
Otherwise, the fuel lines and/or injection
system could be blocked by particles from
the fuel can.
If you overfill the fuel tank, pressure may build
up in the fuel tank. This could cause fuel to
spray out when the fuel pump nozzle is
removed. There is a risk of injury. The fuel tank is full when the fuel pump nozzle first
switches off. End the refueling process.
For further information on fuel and fuel quality
( Y page 259).
Refueling
Vehicles with a fuel filler flap
Example: G 550 fuel filler cap :
To open the fuel filler flap
;Tire pressure table
=Fuel type
?To insert the fuel filler cap
When you open or close the vehicle with the
SmartKey, the fuel filler flap is automatically
unlocked or locked.
The position of the fuel filler cap is displayed 8 in the instrument cluster. The arrow
next to the filling pump indicates the side of
the vehicle. The fuel filler flap is located to the rear on the right.
Opening the fuel filler cap
X Switch the engine off.
iWhen the engine is running and the fuel
filler flap is open, the yellow reserve fuel
warning lamp and the =(USA only)
or ; (Canada only) Check Engine warn-
ing lamp may light up.
Further information about warning and indi-
cator lamps in the instrument cluster can
be found in the Digital Operator's Manual.
108Refueling
Driving and parking

XRemove the SmartKey from the ignition
lock.
X Turn the fuel filler cap counterclockwise
and remove it.
X Insert the fuel filler cap into the holder
bracket on the inside of filler flap ?.
Refueling
X
Completely insert the filler neck of the fuel
pump nozzle into the tank and refuel.
iDo not add any more fuel after the pump
stops filling for the first time. Otherwise,
fuel may leak out.
Closing
X Replace the fuel filler cap and turn it clock-
wise. The fuel filler cap audibly engages.
X Close the fuel filler flap.
iClose the fuel filler flap before locking the
vehicle. A locking pin otherwise prevents
the fuel filler flap from closing after the
vehicle has been locked.
Fuel filler flap emergency release
The emergency release is located in the cargo
compartment, on the right-hand side when
viewed in the direction of travel, behind the
rear panel trim.
iThe vehicle body in the emergency
release area has sharp edges. There is a
risk of injury. Avoid contact with the edges on the inside of the vehicle body. X
Open the rear door.
X Remove edge protection :.
X Remove rear panel trim ;.
X
Pull emergency release =in the direction
of the arrow.
The fuel filler flap is unlocked.
X Open the fuel filler flap.
Refueling109
Driving and pa rking
Z

Problems with the fuel and fuel tank
ProblemPossible causes/consequences andMSolutions
Fuel is leaking from the
vehicle.The fuel line or the fuel tank is defective.
GWARNING
Risk of explosion or fire.
X Turn the SmartKey to position 0(Y page 103) immediately and
remove it.
X Do not restart the engine under any circumstances.
X Consult a qualified specialist workshop.
The fuel filler flap can-
not be opened.The fuel filler flap is not unlocked. or
The SmartKey batteries are discharged. X Unlock the vehicle ( Ypage 72).
or
X Unlock the vehicle using the mechanical key ( Ypage 73).
X Open the rear door.
X Manually unlock the fuel filler flap using the emergency release (Y page 109).
The fuel filler flap is unlocked, but the opening mechanism is jam- med.
X Manually unlock the fuel filler flap using the emergency release(Y page 109).
X Consult a qualified specialist workshop.
Parking
Important safety notes
GWARNING
If you leave children unsupervised in the vehi-
cle, they could set it in motion by, for example:
R release the parking brake.
R shift the automatic transmission out of the
parking position P.
R start the engine.
In addition, they may operate vehicle equip-
ment and become trapped. There is a risk of
an accident and injury.
When leaving the vehicle, always take the
SmartKey with you and lock the vehicle. Never leave children unsupervised in the vehicle.
GWARNING
Flammable material such as leaves, grass or
twigs may ignite if they come into contact withhot parts of the exhaust system or exhaust
gas flow. There is a risk of fire.
Park the vehicle so that no flammable mate-
rials come into contact with parts of the vehi- cle which are hot. Take particular care not to
park on dry grassland or harvested grainfields.
110Parking
Driving and parking

GWARNING
If you switch off the ignition while driving,
safety-relevant functions are only available
with limitations, or not at all. This could affect,for example, the power steering and the brake
boosting effect. You will require considerably
more effort to steer and brake. There is a risk
of an accident.
Do not switch off the ignition while driving.
Switching off the engine
Important safety notes
GWARNING
If you switch off the ignition while driving,
safety-relevant functions are only available
with limitations, or not at all. This could affect, for example, the power steering and the brake
boosting effect. You will require considerably
more effort to steer and brake. There is a risk
of an accident.
Do not switch off the ignition while driving.
GWARNING
The automatic transmission switches to neu-
tral position Nwhen you switch off the engine.
The vehicle may roll away. There is a risk of an
accident.
After switching off the engine, always switch
to parking position P. Prevent the parked vehi-
cle from rolling away by applying the parkingbrake.
Information in the Digital Operator'sManual
A description of how to switch off the engine
can be found in the Digital Operator's Manual.
Parking brake
GWARNING
If you must brake the vehicle with the parking brake, the braking distance is considerably
longer and the wheels could lock. There is anincreased danger of skidding and accidents.
Only use the parking brake to brake the vehi-cle when the service brake is faulty. Do not
apply the parking brake too firmly. If the
wheels lock, release the parking brake until
the wheels begin turning again.
GWARNING
If you leave children unsupervised in the vehi- cle, they could set it in motion by, for example:
R release the parking brake.
R shift the automatic transmission out of the
parking position P.
R start the engine.
In addition, they may operate vehicle equip-
ment and become trapped. There is a risk of
an accident and injury.
When leaving the vehicle, always take the
SmartKey with you and lock the vehicle. Never
leave children unsupervised in the vehicle.
iWhen you apply parking brake ;to brake
the vehicle, the brake lamps do not light up.
X To apply: pull parking brake ;up firmly.
Parking brake ;is applied.
When the ignition is switched on or the
engine is running, the F(USA only) or
J (Canada only) indicator lamp is lit in
the instrument cluster.
Parking111
Driving and parking
Z

If a vehicle is detected in the monitoring range
of Blind Spot Assist and you switch on the
corresponding turn signal, a double warning
tone sounds. Red warning lamp :flashes. If
the turn signal remains on, vehicles detected
are indicated by the flashing of red warninglamp :. There are no further warning tones.
Switching on Blind Spot Assist
:Yellow indicator lamp/red warning lamp
X Make sure that Blind Spot Assist is activa-
ted in the on-board computer(Y page 147).
X Turn the SmartKey to position 2in the igni-
tion lock ( Ypage 103).
Warning lamps :in the exterior mirrors
light up red for approximately 1.5 seconds
and then turn yellow.
HOLD function
General notes
The HOLD function can assist the driver in the
following situations: R when pulling away, especially on steep
slopes
R when maneuvering on steep slopes
R when waiting in traffic
The vehicle is kept stationary without the
driver having to depress the brake pedal.
The braking effect is canceled and the HOLD
function deactivated when you depress the
accelerator pedal to pull away.
iDo not use the HOLD function when driv-
ing off-road, on steep uphill or downhill gra- dients or on slippery or loose surfaces. The
HOLD function cannot hold the vehicle on
such surfaces.
Activation conditions
You can activate the HOLD function if: R the vehicle is stationary.
R the engine is running or it has been
switched off by the ECO start/stop func-
tion (AMG vehicles).
R the engine is running.
R the driver's door is closed or your seat belt
is fastened.
R the transmission is in position D,R or N.
R DISTRONIC PLUS is deactivated.
Activating the HOLD function
The vehicle's brakes are applied when the
HOLD function is activated. For this reason,
deactivate the HOLD function while in the car
wash or while towing.
X Make sure that the activation conditions
are met.
X Depress the brake pedal.
X Quickly depress the brake pedal furtheruntil ë appears in the multifunction dis-
play.
The HOLD function is activated. You can
release the brake pedal.
iIf depressing the brake pedal the first
time does not activate the HOLD function,
wait briefly and then try again.
126Driving systems
Driving and parking