Brake assistance
see BAS (Brake Assist System)
Brake fluid
Display message ............................ 228
Notes ............................................. 365
Brake lamps
Changing bulb s.............................. 120
Display message ............................ 235
Brakes
ABS .................................................. 65
Adaptive Brake Assist ...................... 67
BAS .................................................. 65
Brake fluid (notes) ......................... 365
Display message ............................ 222
HOLD function ............................... 181
Important safety notes .................. 164
Maintenance .................................. 165
Parking brake ................................ 160
Riding tips ...................................... 164
Warning lamp ................................. 254
Breakdown
Where will I find...? ........................ 306
see Flat tire
see Towing away
see Tow-starting
Brightness control (instrument
cluster lighting) ................................... 33
Bulbs see Replacing bulbs C
California Important notice for retail cus-
tomers and lessees .......................... 25
Calling up a malfunction
see Display messages
Car
see Vehicle
Care
Carpets .......................................... 304
Car wash ........................................ 298
Displa y........................................... 302
Exhaust pipe .................................. 302
Exterior lights ................................ 301
Gear or selector lever .................... 303
General notes ................................ 297
Interior ........................................... 302 Matte finish ................................... 300
Paint .............................................. 299
Plastic trim .................................... 303
Power washe
r................................ 299
Rear view camera .......................... 302
Roof lining ...................................... 304
Seat belt ........................................ 304
Seat cover ..................................... 303
Sensors ......................................... 301
Steering wheel ............................... 303
Trim pieces .................................... 303
Washing by hand ........................... 298
Wheels ........................................... 300
Windows ........................................ 300
Wiper blades .................................. 301
Wooden trim .................................. 303
Cargo compartment enlargement ... 270
Important safety notes .................. 270
Cargo compartment floor
Important safety notes .................. 272
Opening/closing ............................ 272
Stowage well (under )..................... 272
Cargo tie down rings ......................... 271
Car key see SmartKey
Car wash
see Care
Center console
Lower section .................................. 37
Upper section .................................. 36
Central locking
Automatic locking (on-board com-
puter) ............................................. 217
Locking/unlocking (SmartKey )........ 76
Changing bulbs
Brake lamps ................................... 120
Cornering light function ................. 119
High-beam headlamp s................... 119
Low-beam headlamp s.................... 118
Rear fog lamp ................................ 120
Reversing lamps ............................ 120
Turn signals (front) ......................... 119
Turn signals (rear) .......................... 120
Child-proof locks
Important safety notes .................... 63
Rear doors ....................................... 64 6
Index
Kilopascal (kPa) (definition) ........... 346
Labeling (overview) ........................ 341
Load bearing index (definition) ...... 347
Load index .....................................3
44
Load index (definition) ................... 346
M+S tires ....................................... 326
Maximum loaded vehicle weight
(definition) ..................................... 346
Maximum load on a tire (defini-
tion) ............................................... 346
Maximum permissible tire pres-
sure (definition) ............................ .346
Maximum tire load ......................... 339
Maximum tire load (definition) ....... 346
MOExtended tires .......................... 326
Optional equipment weight (defi-
nition) ............................................ 347
PSI (pounds per square inch) (def-
inition) .......................................... .346
Replacing ....................................... 348
Service life ..................................... 326
Sidewall (definition) ....................... 347
Snow chains .................................. 327
Speed rating (definition) ................ 346
Storing .......................................... .348
Structure and characteristics
(definition) ..................................... 345
Summer tires ................................. 167
Summer tires in winter .................. 326
Temperature .................................. 341
TIN (Tire Identification Number)
(definition) ..................................... 347
Tire bead (definition) ..................... .347
Tire pressure (definition) ................ 347
Tire pressures (recommended) ...... 345
Tire size (data) ............................... 352
Tire size designation, load-bearing capacity, speed rating .................... 342
Tire tread ....................................... 325
Tire tread (definition) ..................... 347
Total load limit (definition) ............. 347
Traction ......................................... 340
Traction (definition) ....................... 347
Tread wea r..................................... 340
Uniform Tire Quality Grading
Standards ...................................... 340
Uniform Tire Quality Grading
Standards (definition) .................... 345 Wear indicator (definition) ............. 347
Wheel and tire combination ........... 354
Wheel rim (definition) .................... 345
see Flat tire
Tool
see Vehicle tool kit
Top Tether ............................................ 61
Towing away Important safety guidelines ........... 317
Installing the towing eye ................ 318
Notes for 4MATIC vehicles ............ 320
Removing the towing eye ............... 319
Transporting the vehicle ................ 320
With both axles on the ground ....... 319
With front axle raised ..................... 319
Tow-starting
Emergency engine starting ............ 320
Important safety notes .................. 317
Installing the towing eye ................ 318
Removing the towing eye ............... 319
Traction system
see ETS/4ETS (Electronic Trac-
tion System)
Transmission
see Automatic transmission
Transmission position display ......... 149
Transporting the vehicle .................. 320
Traveling uphill Brow of hill ..................................... 171
Driving downhill ............................. 171
Maximum gradient-climbing capa-
bility ............................................... 171
Trim pieces (cleaning instruc-
tions) .................................................. 303
Trip computer (on-board com-
puter) .................................................. 207
Trip odometer Calling up ....................................... 207
Resetting (on-board computer) ...... 208
see Trip odometer
Trunk
see Cargo compartment
see Tailgate
Trunk load (maximum) ...................... 368
Turn signals Changing bulbs (front) ................... 119
Changing bulbs (rear) .................... 120 20
Index
Display message ............................ 235
Switching on/off ........................... 112
Type identification plate
see Vehicle identification plate U
Unlocking Emergency unlocking ....................... 83
From inside the vehicle (central
unlocking button) ............................. 82 V
Vanity mirror (in the sun visor) ........ 275
Vehicle Correct use ...................................... 28
Data acquisition ............................... 29
Equipment ....................................... 24
Individual settings .......................... 215
Limited Warranty ............................. 29
Loading .......................................... 335
Locking (in an emergency )............... 83
Locking (SmartKey ).......................... 76
Lowering ........................................ 351
Maintenance .................................... 25
Parking for a long period ................ 162
Pulling away ................................... 144
Raising ........................................... 349
Reporting problems ......................... 28
Securing from rolling away ............ 349
Towing away .................................. 317
Tow-starting ................................... 317
Transporting .................................. 320
Unlocking (in an emergency) ........... 83
Unlocking (SmartKey )...................... 76
Vehicle data ................................... 368
Vehicle battery
see Battery (vehicle)
Vehicle data
Roof load (maximum) ..................... 368
Vehicle data (off-road driving)
Approach/departure angle ............ 369
Maximum gradient climbing abil-
ity .................................................. 369
Maximum water depth ................... 369
Vehicle dimensions ........................... 368
Vehicle emergency locking ................ 83Vehicle identification number
see VIN
Vehicle identification plate .............. 360
Vehicle maintenance see ASSYST PLUS
Vehicle tool kit .................................. 306
Ventilation see Climate control
Video (DVD) ........................................ 211
VIN Seat ............................................... 361
Type plate ...................................... 360 W
Warning and indicator lamps ABS ................................................ 254
Brakes ........................................... 254
Check Engine ................................. 260
Coolant .......................................... 260
Distance warning ........................... 262
DISTRONIC PLUS ........................... 262
ESP ®
.............................................. 256
ESP ®
OFF ....................................... 257
Fuel tank ........................................ 260
Overview .......................................... 34
Reserve fue l................................... 260
Restraint system ............................ 259
Seat belt ........................................ 252
SPORT handling mod e................... 257
Tire pressure monitor .................... 263
Warranty .............................................. 24
Washer fluid Display message ............................ 251
Wheel and tire combination
see Tires
Wheel bolt tightening torque ........... 351
Wheel chock ...................................... 349
see Wheel chock
Wheels
Changing a whee l.......................... 347
Checking ........................................ 325
Cleaning ......................................... 300
Cleaning (warning) ......................... 348
General notes ................................ 352
Important safety notes .................. 324
Information on driving .................... 324 Index
21
ion. Never place objects, e.g. cushions, under
or behind the child restraint system. Only usechild restraint systems with the original cover
designed for them. Only replace damaged
covers with genuine covers. G
WARNING
If the child restraint system is installed incor- rectly or is not secured, it can come loose in
the event of an accident, heavy braking or a
sudden change in direction. The child
restraint system could be thrown about, strik- ing vehicle occupants. There is an increased
risk of injury, possibly even fatal.
Always install child restraint systems prop-
erly, even if they are not being used. Make
sure that you observe the child restraint sys-
tem manufacturer's installation instructions.
You will find further information on stowing
objects, luggage or loads under "Loading
guidelines" (Y page 266). G
WARNING
Child restraint systems or their securing sys-
tems which have been damaged or subjected to a load in an accident can no longer protect
as intended. The child cannot then be
restrained in the event of an accident, heavy
braking or sudden changes of direction. There is an increased risk of injury, possibly even
fatal.
Replace child restraint systems which have
been damaged or subjected to a load in an
accident as soon as possible. Have the secur-
ing systems on the child restraint system
checked at a qualified specialist workshop,
before you install a child restraint system
again.
Securing systems for the child restraint sys-
tem are:
R the seat belt system
R the ISOFIX (LATCH-type) securing rings
R the Top Tether anchorages i
If it is absolutely necessary to carry a child
on the front-passenger seat, be sure to
observe the information on the "Occupant
Classification System (OCS)" (Y page 51).
There you will also find information on
deactivating the front-passenger front air
bag.
All child restraint systems must meet the fol-
lowing standards:
R U.S. Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Stand-
ards 213 and 225
R Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety Standards
213 and 210.2
Confirmation that the child restraint system
corresponds to the standards can be found
on an instruction label on the child restraint
system. This confirmation can also be found
in the installation instructions that are inclu-
ded with the child restraint system.
Observe the warning labels in the vehicle inte-
rior and on the child restraint system. LATCH-type (ISOFIX) child seat secur-
ing system G
WARNING
LATCH-type (ISOFIX) child restraint systems
do not offer sufficient protective effect for
children whose weight is greater than 48 lbs
(22 kg) who are secured using the safety belt integrated in the child restraint system. In the
event of an accident, a child might not be
restrained correctly. This poses an increased
risk of injury or even fatal injury.
If the child weighs more than 48 lbs (22 kg),
only use LATCH-type (ISOFIX) child restraint
systems with which the child is also secured
with the vehicle seat belt. Also secure the
child restraint system with the Top Tether
belt, if available.
Always comply with the manufacturer's
installation and operating instructions for the child restraint system used. 60
Children in the vehicleSafety
ETS/4ETS (Electronic Traction System)
i
Observe the "Important safety notes" sec-
tion (Y page 64).
ETS/4ETS traction control is part of ESP ®
.
ETS brakes the drive wheels individually 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 transferred to
the wheel or wheels with traction.
ETS remains active when you deactivate
ESP ®
.
Off-road 4ETS (Electronic Traction Sys-
tem) A 4ETS system specifically suited to off-road
terrain is activated automatically once the off-
road program is activated (Y page 186).
Important safety notes 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.
! Vehicles with 4MATIC: switch off the igni-
tion when the electric parking brake is
being tested on a brake dynamometer.
Application of the brakes by ESP ®
may oth-
erwise destroy the brake system.
! Vehicles with 4MATIC: function or per-
formance tests may only be carried out on
a 2-axle dynamometer. Before you operate the vehicle on such a dynamometer, please
consult a qualified workshop. You could otherwise damage the drive train or the
brake system.
! Do not tow vehicles with 4MATIC with the
front or rear axle raised.
Vehicles without 4MATIC: when towing your
vehicle with the front axle raised, it is impor-
tant that you observe the notes on ESP ®
(Y page 319).
Vehicles with 4MATIC: when towing your
vehicle with both axles on the ground, it is
important that you observe the notes on ESP ®
(Y page 319).
ESP ®
is deactivated if the 00BBESP®
OFF
warning lamp in the instrument cluster lights
up continuously when the engine is running.
If the 00E5 ESP®
warning lamp and the 00BB
ESP ®
OFF warning lamp are lit continuously,
ESP ®
is not available due to a malfunction.
Observe the information on warning lamps
(Y page 256) and display messages which
may be shown in the instrument cluster
(Y page 222).
i 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. Driving safety systems
69Safety Z
Shifting to neutral N
X
When the vehicle is stationary, depress the
brake pedal.
X Push the DIRECT SELECT lever up or down
to the first point of resistance.
If the engine has been switched off, the auto-
matic transmission automatically shifts to N.
Remaining in neutral N
If the automatic transmission is to remain in
neutral N, e.g. for washing the vehicle in car
washes with a towing device, please observe
the following instructions: G
WARNING
If children are left unsupervised in the vehicle, they could:
R open the doors, thus endangering other
people or road users.
R get out and disrupt traffic.
R operate the vehicle's equipment.
Additionally, children could set the vehicle in
motion if, for example, they:
R release the parking brake.
R shifting the automatic transmission out of
park position P
R Start the engine.
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 or animals unattended in the
vehicle. Always keep the SmartKey out of
reach of children.
R Make sure that the ignition is switched on.
R When the vehicle is stationary, depress the
brake pedal and keep it depressed.
R Shift to neutral N.
R Release the brake pedal.
R If the electric parking brake is engaged,
release it.
R Switch off the ignition and leave the Smart-
Key in the ignition lock. Engaging drive position D X
When the vehicle is stationary, depress the
brake pedal.
X Push the DIRECT SELECT lever down past
the first point of resistance. Selector lever
Selector lever in AMG vehicles with P button
005D
Park position with parking lock
005E Reverse gear
005C Neutral
005B Drive
Transmission position and drive pro-
gram display Example
0043
Transmission position display
0044 Drive program display
The current transmission position and drive
program appear in the multifunction display. 150
Automatic transmissionDriving and parking
PLUS warns you visually and audibly. There is
a risk of an accident.
In such cases, apply the brakes yourself and
try to take evasive action.
! 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, DIS-
TRONIC 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. DIS-
TRONIC PLUS is only an aid. You are respon- sible 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 when driving in the right-hand
lane that you overtake vehicles in the left-
hand lane
R be so high when driving in the left-hand lane
that you overtake vehicles in the right-hand
lane
If there is a change of drivers, advise the new
driver of the speed stored.
Cruise control lever 0043
To store the current speed or a higher
speed
0044 To store the current speed or a lower
speed
0087 To deactivate DISTRONIC PLUS
0085 To store the current speed or call up the
last stored speed
0083 To set the specified minimum distance
Activating DISTRONIC PLUS Activation conditions
To activate DISTRONIC PLUS, all of the fol-
lowing activation conditions must be fulfilled:
R the engine must be started. It may take up
to two minutes after pulling away before
DISTRONIC PLUS is operational.
R the electric parking brake must be
released. Driving systems
175Driving 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
Deactivating the HOLD function
(Y page 182).
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.
Activation conditions You can activate the HOLD function if:
R the vehicle is stationary
R the engine is running or if it has been auto-
matically switched off by the ECO start/
stop function
R the driver's door is closed or your seat belt
is fastened
R the electric parking brake is released
R the transmission position D,Ror Nis
engaged while driving a vehicle with an
automatic transmission
R DISTRONIC PLUS is deactivated Activating the HOLD function Example: vehicles with a color multifunction dis-
play
X Make sure that the activation conditions
are met.
X Depress the brake pedal.
X Quickly depress the brake pedal further
until 0043appears in the multifunction dis-
play.
The HOLD function is activated. You can
release the brake pedal.
i If depressing the brake pedal the first
time does not activate the HOLD function,
wait briefly and then try again.
Deactivating the HOLD function The HOLD function is deactivated automati-
cally if:
R you accelerate. On vehicles with automatic
transmission: only when the transmission
is in position Dor R.
R the transmission is in position Pon vehicles
with automatic transmission.
R you depress the brake pedal again with a
certain amount of pressure until 0043disap-
pears from the multifunction display.
R you secure the vehicle using the electric
parking brake.
R you activate DISTRONIC PLUS.
i After a time, the electric parking brake
secures the vehicle and relieves the service brake. 182
Driving systemsDriving and parking