
Starting the vehicle
Important safety notes G
WARNING
If children are left unsupervised in the vehicle, they can:
R open doors and endanger other persons or
road users
R climb out and be injured by the traffic
R operate vehicle equipment and, for exam-
ple, trap themselves.
Children could also set the vehicle in motion, for example by:
R releasing the parking brake
R shifting the automatic transmission out of
park position P
R starting the engine.
There is a risk of an accident and injury.
When leaving the vehicle, always take the key
with you and lock the vehicle. Never leave
children unattended in the vehicle. Always
keep the key out of reach of children. G
WARNING
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. G
WARNING
Flammable materials introduced through
environmental influence or by animals can
ignite if in contact with the exhaust system or parts 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 start-
ing the engine. General notes Vehicles with a petrol engine:
the catalytic
converter is preheated for up to 30 seconds
after a cold start. The sound of the engine may
change during this time.
Automatic transmission X
Shift the transmission to position P
(Y page 154).
The transmission position indicator in the
multifunction display shows P(Y page 154).
i You can start the engine in transmission
position Pand N.
Starting procedure with the key X
To start a diesel engine: turn the key to
position 2in the ignition lock (Y page 146).
The % preglow indicator lamp in the instru-
ment cluster lights up.
X Turn the key to position 3in the ignition lock
(Y page 146) and release it as soon as the
engine is running.
i Vehicles with a diesel engine:
you can
start the engine without preglow if the engine
is warm.
Using KEYLESS-GO to start the engine The Start/Stop button can be used to start the
vehicle without inserting the key into the ignition
lock. The key must be in the vehicle and the
Start/Stop button must be inserted in the igni-
tion lock. This mode for starting the engine oper-
ates independently of the ECO start/stop auto- matic engine start function.
X Depress the brake pedal and keep it
depressed.
X Press the Start/Stop button once
(Y page 146).
Vehicles with a petrol engine: the engine
starts.
Vehicles with a diesel engine: preglow is
activated and the engine starts. 148
DrivingDriving and parking 

Problem
Possible causes/consequences and
M
MSolutions The coolant temperature
display is showing more
than 120 †. The coolant warning lamp may also
be on and a warning tone
may sound. The coolant level is too low. The coolant is too hot and the engine is no
longer being cooled sufficiently.
X Stop as soon as possible and allow the engine and the coolant to
cool down.
X Check the coolant level (Y page 321). Observe the warning notes
as you do so and top up the coolant if necessary. If the coolant level is correct, the radiator fan may be faulty. The cool-
ant is too hot and the engine is no longer being cooled sufficiently.
X If the coolant temperature is below 120 †, you can continue driving
to the nearest qualified specialist workshop.
X Avoid heavy loads on the engine as you do so, e.g. driving in moun-
tainous terrain and stop-start traffic. DYNAMIC SELECT controller
Use the DYNAMIC SELECT controller to change the drive program. Depending on the drive pro-
gram selected, the following vehicle character-
istics will change:
R the drive (engine and transmission manage-
ment)
R the transmission
R the suspension
R the steering
R the availability of the ECO start/stop function
If the ignition is switched off for less than four
hours, the previously selected drive program is
activated when the engine is next started. If the
ignition is switched off for more than four hours,
the Comfort drive program is activated when
the engine is next started. X
Turn DYNAMIC SELECT controller :as many
times as necessary until the desired drive
program is selected.
The selected drive program appears in the
multifunction display. After five seconds the
display goes out.
In addition, the current drive program settings
are displayed in the multimedia system dis-
play.
Available drive programs: Slippery
Optimal driving characteris-
tics on slippery or snow-
covered roads Comfort
Comfortable and economi-
cal driving characteristics
Sport
Sporty driving characteris-
tics
Sport Plus
Particularly sporty driving
characteristics
Individual
Individual settings
Additional information for drive programs
(Y
page 158). DYNAMIC SELECT controller
153Driving and parking Z 

Automatic transmission
Important safety notes
G
WARNING
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. G
WARNING
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 parking
brake. DIRECT SELECT lever
Overview of transmission positions j
Park position with parking lock
k Reverse gear
i Neutral
h Drive
The DIRECT SELECT lever is on the right of the
steering column.
The DIRECT SELECT lever always returns to its
original position. The current transmission posi-
tion P,R, Nor Dappears in the transmission position display in the multifunction display
(Y page 154).
Transmission position and drive pro-
gram display The current transmission position and drive pro-
gram appear in the multifunction display. :
Transmission position
; Gear
= Drive program
The arrows in the transmission position display
show how and into which transmission positions
you can shift using the DIRECT SELECT lever.
If the transmission position display in the mul-
tifunction display is not working, you should pull away carefully to check whether the desired
transmission position is engaged. Ideally, you
should select transmission position D.
Engaging park position P !
If the engine speed is too high, do not shift
the automatic transmission directly from Dto
R, from Rto Dor directly to P. Otherwise, the
automatic transmission could be damaged. j
Park position with parking lock
k Reverse gear
i Neutral
h Drive
X Push the DIRECT SELECT lever in the direction
of arrow P. 154
Automatic trans
missionDriving and parking 

Problems with the transmission
Problem
Possible causes/consequences and
M
MSolutions The transmission has
problems shifting gear. The transmission is losing oil.
X Have the transmission checked at a qualified specialist workshop
immediately. All vehicles (except
Mercedes-AMG vehi-
cles):
The acceleration ability
is deteriorating.
The transmission no lon-
ger changes gear. The transmission is in emergency mode.
It is only partly possible to engage the gears or the transmission is in
position N.
X Stop.
X Shift the transmission to position P.
X Switch off the engine.
X Wait at least ten seconds before restarting the engine.
X Shift the transmission to position Dor R.
X Have the transmission checked at a qualified specialist workshop
immediately. Mercedes-AMG vehi-
cles:
The acceleration ability
is deteriorating.
The transmission no lon-
ger changes gear. The transmission is in emergency mode.
It is only possible to shift into
secondgear and reverse gear.
X Stop.
X Shift the transmission to position P.
X Switch off the engine.
X Wait at least ten seconds before restarting the engine.
X Shift the transmission to position Dor R.
If D is selected, the transmission shifts into secondgear; ifRis
selected, the transmission shifts into reverse gear.
X Have the transmission checked at a qualified specialist workshop
immediately. Refuelling
Important safety notes
G
WARNING
Fuel is highly flammable. If you handle fuel
incorrectly, there is a risk of fire and explo-
sion.
You must avoid fire, naked flames, creating
sparks and smoking. Switch off the engine
and, if applicable, the auxiliary heating before refuelling. G
WARNING
Fuels are poisonous and hazardous to health. There is a danger of injury. Do not swallow fuel or let it come into contact
with skin, eyes or clothing. Do not inhale fuel
vapours. Keep fuels out of the reach of chil-
dren.
If you or others come into contact with fuel,
observe the following:
R Wash the fuel off any affected areas of skin
with water and soap immediately.
R If you get fuel in your eyes, rinse them thor-
oughly with clean water immediately. Seek
immediate medical attention.
R If fuel is swallowed, seek immediate medi-
cal attention. Do not induce vomiting.
R Change any clothing that has come into
contact with fuel immediately. Refuelling
161Driving and parking Z 

X
Add at least 3.8 lof AdBlue ®
.
X Switch on the ignition for at least 60 seconds.
X Start the engine.
i You can also have the AdBlue ®
tank refilled
at a qualified specialist workshop.
Before driving your vehicle outside Europe, have
the AdBlue ®
supply checked at a qualified spe-
cialist workshop.
Further information about BlueTEC exhaust gas
aftertreatment and about AdBlue ®
can
be obtained from any Mercedes-Benz Service
Centre.
Important safety notes AdBlue
®
is a water-soluble fluid for the exhaust
gas aftertreatment of diesel engines. It is:
R non-toxic
R colourless and odourless
R non-flammable
If you open the AdBlue ®
tank, small amounts of
ammonia vapour may be released.
Ammonia vapours have a pungent odour and are
particularly irritating to the skin, to mucous
membranes and to the eyes. You may experi-
ence a burning sensation in your eyes, nose and throat. You may also experience coughing and
watery eyes.
Do not inhale any ammonia vapours that may be
released. Only fill the AdBlue ®
tank in well-ven-
tilated areas.
Do not swallow AdBlue ®
or let it come into con-
tact with skin, eyes or clothing. Keep AdBlue ®
away from children.
If you or others come into contact with AdBlue ®
,
observe the following:
R immediately rinse AdBlue ®
off your skin with
soap and water.
R if AdBlue ®
comes into contact with your eyes,
immediately rinse them thoroughly with clean water. Seek medical attention immediately.
R if AdBlue ®
is swallowed, immediately rinse
your mouth out thoroughly. Drink plenty of
water. Seek medical attention immediately.
R change immediately out of clothing that has
come into contact with AdBlue ®
.
! Only use AdBlue ®
in accordance with
ISO 22241. Do not mix any additives with AdBlue
®
, and do not dilute AdBlue ®
with
water. This may destroy the BlueTEC exhaust
gas aftertreatment system.
! In order to fill the AdBlue ®
tank, the vehicle
must be parked on a level surface. The
AdBlue ®
tank can only be filled as intended
with the vehicle parked on a level surface.
Fluctuations in capacity will thus be avoided.
Filling a vehicle standing on an uneven sur-
face is not permitted. There is a danger of
overfilling, which can cause damage to Blue-
TEC exhaust gas aftertreatment components.
! Surfaces which have come into contact with
AdBlue ®
while refilling should be rinsed
immediately with water, or remove AdBlue ®
with a moist cloth and cold water. If AdBlue ®
has already crystallised, use a sponge and
cold water to clean the area. AdBlue ®
residue
crystallises after a certain amount of time and soils the affected surfaces.
! AdBlue ®
is not a fuel additive and must not
be added to the fuel tank. If AdBlue ®
is added
to the fuel tank, this can lead to engine dam-
age.
Have the AdBlue ®
tank refilled at a qualified
specialist workshop. However, you can also top
up the AdBlue ®
tank:
R at a filling station with an AdBlue ®
filling pump
R with AdBlue ®
refill bottles
R with an AdBlue ®
refill canister
When the pump nozzle switches off automati-
cally during filling at a filling pump, the AdBlue ®
tank has been completely filled. Do not fill the
AdBlue ®
tank any further. AdBlue ®
may leak
out.
To avoid transporting already opened refill con-
tainers in the vehicle, completely empty refill
bottles or canisters when filling the AdBlue ®
tank, if possible.
Further information on AdBlue ®
(Y page 377). Refuelling
165Driving and parking Z 

X
Release the brake pedal.
X Release the electric parking brake.
X Switch off the ignition and leave the key in the
ignition lock.
i The engine can be switched off while the
vehicle is in motion by pressing and holding
the Start/Stop button for about three sec-
onds. This function operates independently of
the ECO start/stop automatic engine switch-
off function. Electric parking brake
General notes G
WARNING
If you leave children unattended in the vehi-
cle, they may be able to set the vehicle in
motion if, for example, they:
R release the parking brake
R shift the automatic transmission out of park
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 key
with you and lock the vehicle. Never leave
children unattended in the vehicle.
The function of the electric parking brake is
dependent on the on-board voltage. If the on-
board voltage is low or if there is a malfunction
in the system, it may not be possible to apply the
released parking brake.
X If this is the case, only park the vehicle on
level ground and secure it to prevent it from
rolling away.
X Shift the automatic transmission to position
P.
It may not be possible to release an applied
parking brake if the on-board voltage is low or if there is a malfunction in the system. Contact a
qualified specialist workshop.
i The electric parking brake carries out a func-
tion check at regular intervals when the engine is switched off. Noises that occur are
normal.
Applying or releasing manually X
To apply: push handle :.
When the electric parking brake is applied,
the red !indicator lamp lights up in the
instrument cluster.
i The electric parking brake can also be
applied when the key is removed.
X To release: pull handle:.
The red !indicator lamp in the instrument
cluster goes out.
i The electric parking brake can only be
released:
R when the key is in position 1in the ignition
lock (Y page 146) or
R if the ignition was switched on using the
Start/Stop button
To ensure that you do not roll backwards when
pulling away on an uphill slope, you can apply
the electric parking brake (Y page 149).
Applying automatically The electric parking brake is automatically
applied when the transmission is in position
P
and:
R the engine is switched off or
R the driver is not wearing a seat belt and the
driver's door is opened
To prevent the electric parking brake from being
automatically applied, pull handle :. Parking
169Driving and pa rking Z 

General notes
H
Environmental note
Protection of the environment is of primary
importance. Treat nature with respect.
Observe all prohibiting signs.
Read this section before driving your vehicle off- road. Practise by driving over more gentle off-
road terrain first.
The following driving systems are specially
adapted to off-road driving:
R AIRMATIC package (vehicle level)
(Y page 194)
R DSR (Downhill Speed Regulation)
(Y page 193)
Observe the following notes:
R Select a vehicle level suitable for the off-road
terrain. To avoid damaging the vehicle, make sure there is always sufficient ground clear-
ance.
R Make sure that items of luggage and loads are
stowed safely and are well secured
(Y page 303).
R Always keep the engine running and in gear
when driving on a downhill gradient. Activate
DSR (Y page 193).
R Drive slowly and evenly, if necessary at walk-
ing pace.
R Ensure that the wheels are in contact with the
ground at all times.
R Drive with extreme care on unknown off-road
routes where visibility is poor. For safety rea- sons, get out of the vehicle first and survey
the off-road route.
R Look out for obstacles such as rocks, holes,
tree stumps and furrows.
R Take care when turning on an uphill or down-
hill slope or when driving across a slope. The
vehicle could otherwise tip over.
R Always keep the doors, the tailgate and the
sliding sunroof closed while the vehicle is in
motion.
R Do not stray from marked routes or paths.
R Observe the notes on off-road fording
(Y page 174).
i Information about retrofitting special all-ter-
rain tyres is available from any qualified spe-
cialist workshop. i
Do not use the HOLD function when driving
off-road, on steep uphill or downhill gradients or on slippery or loose surfaces. The HOLD
function cannot hold the vehicle on such sur-faces.
Checklist before driving off-road X
Engine oil level: check the engine oil and top
it up if necessary.
When driving on steep gradients, the oil level must be sufficiently high to ensure a correct
oil supply in the vehicle.
X AdBlue ®
tank (BlueTEC vehicles): check
the level and top up if necessary
(Y page 164).
X Tyre-change tool kit: check that the jack is
working and make sure you have the wheel
wrench, a robust tow cable and a folding
spade in the vehicle.
X Wheels and tyres: check the tyre tread
depth and tyre pressure.
X Check for damage and remove any foreign
objects, e.g. small stones, from the wheels/
tyres.
X Replace any missing valve caps.
X Replace dented or damaged wheels.
X Wheels: dented or bent wheels can lead to a
loss of tyre pressure and damage to the tyre
bead. Before driving off-road, check the
wheels and replace them if necessary.
Checklist after driving off-road !
If you detect damage to the vehicle after
driving off-road, have the vehicle checked
immediately at a qualified specialist work-
shop.
Driving over rough terrain places greater
demands on your vehicle than driving on normal
roads. After driving off-road, check the vehicle.
This allows you to detect damage promptly and reduce the risk of an accident to yourself and
other road users.
X Deactivate DSR (Y page 193).
X Lower the vehicle level again to a level suita-
ble to the road conditions, e.g. to the normal
level.
X Clean the headlamps and rear lights and
check for damage.
X Clean the front and rear licence plates. 176
Driving tipsDriving and parking 

X
Clean the wheels and tyres with a water jet
and remove any foreign objects.
X Clean the wheels, wheel arches and the vehi-
cle underside with a water jet; check for any
foreign objects and damage.
X Check whether twigs or other parts of plants
have become trapped. These increase the risk
of fire and can damage fuel pipes, brake
hoses or the rubber bellows of the axle joints
and propeller shafts.
X After the trip, examine without fail the entire
undercarriage, wheels, tyres, brakes, body-
work structure, steering, chassis and exhaust
system for damage.
X After driving for extended periods across
sand, mud, gravel, water or in similarly dirty
conditions, have the brake discs, wheels,
brake pads/linings and axle joints checked
and cleaned.
X If you detect strong vibrations after driving
off-road, check for foreign objects in the
wheels and drive train and remove them if
necessary. Foreign objects can disturb the
balance and cause vibrations.
Driving on sand Observe the following rules when driving on
sand:
R Select a higher vehicle level.
R Avoid high engine speeds.
R Use the left-hand steering wheel gearshift
paddle to shift to a lower gear appropriate to the terrain.
R Drive quickly to overcome the rolling resist-
ance. Otherwise, the vehicle could dig itself
into the sand.
R Drive in the tracks of other vehicles if possi-
ble. Make sure that:
- the tyre ruts are not too deep
- the sand is firm enough
- your vehicle has sufficient ground clear-
ance
Tyre ruts and gravel roads !
Check that the ruts are not too deep and
that your vehicle has sufficient clearance.
Otherwise, your vehicle could be damaged or bottom out and get stuck. Observe the following rules when driving along
ruts in off-road terrain or on roads with loose
gravel:
R Select a higher vehicle level.
R Avoid high engine speeds.
R Shift to a lower gear using the left-hand steer-
ing wheel gearshift paddle.
R Drive slowly.
R Where ruts are too deep, drive with the
wheels on one side on the middle section of
turf if possible.
Driving over obstacles !
Obstacles could damage the floor of the
vehicle or components of the chassis. Ask
passengers for guidance when driving over
large obstacles. Any damage to the vehicle
always increases the risk of an accident.
Observe the following rules when driving over
tree stumps, large stones and other obstacles:
R Raise the vehicle level.
R Avoid high engine speeds.
R Shift to a lower gear using the left-hand steer-
ing wheel gearshift paddle.
R Drive very slowly.
R Drive straight over the centre of obstacles. Travelling uphill
Approach/departure angle G
WARNING
If you drive on a steep incline at an angle or
turn on a steep incline, the vehicle could slip
sideways, tip and overturn. There is a risk of
an accident.
When driving on an incline, drive into the line of fall (upwards or downwards in a straight
line) and do not turn.
R Observe the warnings for off-road driving
(Y page 175).
R Follow the line of fall when driving on slopes
and steep inclines.
R Drive slowly.
R Accelerate gently and make sure that the
wheels are gripping. Driving tips
177Driving and parking Z