2015 MERCEDES-BENZ M-Class ESP

R
Highway level is set.
R ADS (Adaptive Damping System) adapts
comfortable damping characteristics to
the current operating and driving condi-
tions.
R 4ETS and the differential lock are adap-
ted for driving on snow-covered roads.
R The automatic transmission selects the
automatic drive program for a comforta-
ble driving style that provides for opti-
mum fuel consumption.
R The soft accelerator pedal curve is selec-
ted, e.g. the accelerator pedal must be
pressed significantly further to acceler-
ate.
R The optimum gear for pulling away is
engaged.
Trailer program Select the trailer program when towing a
trailer. X
Selector wheel 0043 0043engaged: briefly press
selector wheel 0043.
Selector wheel 0043extends.
X To select: turn selector wheel 0043until indi-
cator lamp 0044comes on.
Trailer indicator 0087appears in the multi-
function display.
R Highway level is set.
R ADS (Adaptive Damping System) adapts
comfortable damping characteristics to
the current operating and driving condi-
tions.
R The automatic transmission selects the
automatic drive program for a comforta-
ble driving style that provides for opti-
mum fuel consumption, changing gear at optimum points.
R While pulling away, the differential locks
are engaged. Off-road driving systems
4MATIC (permanent four-wheel drive) If you fail to adapt your driving style, 4MATIC
can neither reduce the risk of accident nor
override the laws of physics. 4MATIC cannot
take account of road, weather and traffic con-
ditions. 4MATIC 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 your lane.
! Never tow the vehicle with one axle
raised. This may damage the transfer case. Damage of this sort is not covered by the
Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty. All
wheels must remain either on the ground or
be fully raised. Observe the instructions for
towing the vehicle with all wheels in full
contact with the ground.
! A function or performance test should
only be carried out on a two-axle dyna-
mometer. Before you operate the vehicle
on such a dynamometer, please consult a Driving systems
249Driving and parking Z

qualified workshop. You could otherwise
damage the drive train or the brake system.
4MATIC ensures that all four wheels are per-
manently driven. Together with ESP ®
and
4ETS, it improves the traction of your vehicle whenever a drive wheel spins due to insuffi-
cient grip.
i In wintry driving conditions, the maximum
effect of 4MATIC can only be achieved if
you use winter tires (M+S tires), with snow
chains if necessary.
Further information about "Driving off-road"
(Y page 191).
DSR (Downhill Speed Regulation) Important safety notes
DSR assists you when driving downhill. It
keeps the speed of travel at the speed set on
the on-board computer. The steeper the
downhill gradient, the greater the DSR brak-
ing effect on the vehicle. When driving on flat stretches of road or on an uphill gradient, the
DSR braking effect is minimal or nonexistent.
DSR controls the set speed when it is active
and the automatic transmission is in the D,R
or Nposition. By accelerating or braking, you
can always drive at a higher or a lower speed
than that set on the on-board computer.
Further information about "Driving off-road"
(Y page 191).
If you fail to adapt your driving style, DSR can
neither reduce the risk of accident nor over-
ride the laws of physics. DSR cannot take
account of road, weather and traffic condi-
tions. DSR 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 your lane.
You are always responsible for keeping con-
trol of the vehicle and for assessing whether
the downhill gradient can be managed. DSR
may not always be able to keep to the set
speed, depending on road surface and tire
conditions. Select a set speed suitable for the prevailing conditions and when necessary,
apply the brakes manually. G
WARNING
If the speed driven and the set speed deviate and you activate DSR on a slippery road sur-
face, the wheels may lose traction. There is an
increased danger of skidding and accidents.
Before switching DSR on, please take into
consideration the road surface and the differ- ence between driving speed and the set
speed.
Activating DSR G
WARNING
If you drive faster than the set speed and acti-
vate DSR, the vehicle will decelerate on down- hill gradients. If you do not know the set
speed, the vehicle could decelerate unexpect-edly. There is a risk of an accident.
Decelerate the vehicle to the set speed before
activating DSR. If you do not know what the
stored set speed is, store the desired set
speed again. Example: vehicles with the ON&OFFROAD package
0043 DSR button
0044 DSR indicator lamp
X Press button 0043.
Indicator lamp 0044lights up.
The 00C6 DSR symbol appears in the mul-
tifunction display.
You can only activate DSR when driving at
speeds below 25 mph (40 km/h). 250
Driving systemsDriving and parking

If the current vehicle speed is too high, the
00C6 DSR symbol appears in the multifunc-
tion display with the Max. speed 25 mph
Max. speed 25 mph
message (Canada: 40 km/h
40 km/h).
i You cannot activate DSR if the SPORT on-
road program is activated. The 00C6DSR
symbol and the Not in Drive Program
Not in Drive Program
SPORT
SPORT message then appears in the multi-
function display.
Deactivating DSR
X Press button 0043.
Indicator lamp 0044goes out.
The 00C6 DSR symbol appears in the mul-
tifunction display with the Off
Off message.
DSR switches off automatically if you drive
faster than 28 mph (Canada: 45 km/h). The
00C6 DSR symbol appears in the multifunc-
tion display with the Off
Off message. The status
indicator in the multifunction display goes
out. You also hear a warning. On vehicles with the ON&OFFROAD package, if you select a
different on-road/off-road program, DSR is
also deactivated.
Changing the set speed X
To increase or decrease in 1 mph incre-
ments (Canada: 1 km/h increments):
briefly press the cruise control lever up 0043for a higher set speed or down
0044for a
lower set speed.
The set speed appears in the multifunction display with the 00C6DSR symbol. It is also
displayed in status indicator 0087.
When DSR is activated, you can change the
set speed to a value between 1 mph and
11 mph (Canada: between 2 km/h and
18 km/h).
i The DSR set speed is always changed in
1 mph increments (Canada: 1 km/h incre-
ments). This is regardless of whether you
press the cruise control lever to or beyond
the pressure point.
Off-road programs (vehicles with the
ON&OFFROAD package) General notes
The off-road programs assist you in driving
off-road. The engine's performance charac-
teristics and the gearshifting characteristics
of the automatic transmission are adapted for
this purpose. ABS, ESP ®
and 4ETS programs
especially adapted to off-road driving are acti-
vated. An accelerator pedal curve suitable for the terrain is selected, i.e. the accelerator
pedal must be depressed further to acceler-
ate.
Do not use the off-road programs on roads
that are snow-covered or icy or if you have
mounted snow chains on your vehicle.
For information on driving off-road, see
(Y page 191).
The following program messages are shown
in the multifunction display until the applica-
ble vehicle level is set. Up to off-road level 2,
you can hide the program messages using the 0038 or the 0076button on the multifunction
steering wheel. Driving systems
251Driving and parking Z

Messages in the multifunction display
If a gear change process has not been successful, the following messages may be displayed in
the multifunction display: Display messages
Possible causes/consequences and
0050 0050Solutions LOW RANGE Max.
LOW RANGE Max.
Speed 40 km/h Speed 40 km/h You have been driving faster than 40 km/h. Additionally, the indi-
cator lamp on the button in the center console blinks.
X Drive more slowly to carry out the gear change process. LOW
LOW
RANGE
RANGE Shift
Shiftto
to
Position N Briefly
Position N Briefly The transmission is in position
Dand you are driving at below
40 km/h.
X Shift the transmission to Nto complete the gear change proc-
ess. LOW
LOW
RANGE
RANGE Shifting
Shifting
Canceled Please
Canceled Please
Reactivate Reactivate The gear change process was not carried out.
X Ensure that all gear change conditions are fulfilled and carry out
the gear change process again. LOW RANGE Stop
LOW RANGE Stop
Apply Apply
Parking
Parking Brake
Brake A warning tone also sounds. The gear change process has not been
completed. LOW RANGE is in the neutral position. There is no
connection between the engine and the drive wheels.
! Do not drive any further. You could otherwise damage the
vehicle's drive train.
X Stop the vehicle. Take into account the road and traffic condi-
tions when doing this.
X Depress the electric parking brake (Y page 184).
X Carry out the gear change process again.
If the gear change process has been carried out, the LOW LOWRANGE
RANGE
Stop Apply Parking Brake
Stop Apply Parking Brake message disappears.ON&OFFROAD menu in the COMAND
display (vehicles with the ON&OFF-
ROAD package) You can display some driving systems, driving
programs and additional information in the
COMAND display.
X Make sure that the SmartKey is in position
2 in the ignition lock.
X Make sure that COMAND is activated, see
the separate COMAND operating instruc-
tions.
X Press function button 0043.
The corresponding displays appear in the
COMAND display:
R level control
R steering angle
R vehicle's angle of inclination Driving systems
255Driving and parking Z

R
uphill or downhill gradient in percentage
R on-road/off-road program selected
R condition of the differential lock for the
transfer case
R the LOW RANGE off-road gear is selected
R condition of the LOW RANGE off-road
gear
R the on-road trailer program is selected Towing a trailer
Important safety notes
G
WARNING
Installing an unsuitable ball coupling may
result in overloading of the trailer tow hitch
and the rear axle. This applies especially if the ball coupling in question is longer or angled
differently. This could seriously impair the
driving characteristics and the trailer can
come loose. There is a risk of an accident.
You should only ever install a ball coupling
that has the permissible dimensions and that
is designed to meet your trailer-towing
requirements. Do not modify the ball coupling
or the trailer tow hitch.
You will find the values approved by the man-
ufacturer on the vehicle identification plates
and those for the towing vehicle under "Tech- nical data" (Y page 460). G
WARNING
If the ball coupling is not installed correctly or not secured with the bolt provided and the
corresponding spring cotter, the trailer may
come loose. There is a risk of an accident.
Always install and secure the ball coupling as
described. Before every journey, ensure that
the ball coupling is secured with the bolt and
the corresponding spring cotter. G
WARNING
If you rest your foot on the brake pedal while
driving, the braking system can overheat. This increases the stopping distance and can even cause the braking system to fail. There is a
risk of an accident.
Never use the brake pedal as a footrest. Never
depress the brake pedal and the accelerator
pedal at the same time. G
WARNING
When the vehicle/trailer combination begins
to lurch, you could lose control of it. The vehi- cle/trailer combination could even rollover.
There is a risk of an accident.
On no account should you attempt to
straighten up the vehicle/trailer combination
by increasing the speed. Reduce vehicle
speed and do not countersteer. Apply the
brake as necessary.
! Depressing the brake pedal constantly
results in excessive and premature wear to
the brake pads.
Please observe the manufacturer's operating instructions for the trailer coupling if a
detachable trailer coupling is used.
Couple and uncouple the trailer carefully. If
you do not couple the trailer to the towing
vehicle correctly, the trailer could become
detached.
Make sure that the following values are not
exceeded:
R the permissible trailer drawbar noseweight
R the permissible trailer load
R the permissible rear axle load of the towing
vehicle
R the maximum permissible gross vehicle
weight of both the towing vehicle and the
trailer
The applicable permissible values, which
must not be exceeded, can be found:
R in the vehicle documents
R on the identification plates for the trailer
tow hitch and the trailer
R on the vehicle identification plate
If the values differ, the lowest value applies. 256
Towing a trailerDriving and pa
rking

When towing a trailer, your vehicle's handling
characteristics will be different in comparison with when driving without a trailer.
The vehicle/trailer combination:
R is heavier
R is restricted in its acceleration and gradi-
ent-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 radius
This could impair the handling characteris-
tics.
When towing a trailer, always adjust your
speed to the current road and weather con-
ditions. Do not exceed the maximum permis- sible speed for your vehicle/trailer combina-
tion. Notes on towing a trailer
General notes R
Do not exceed the legally prescribed max-
imum speed for vehicle/trailer combina-
tions in the relevant country.
This lowers the risk of an accident.
R Only install an approved trailer coupling on
your vehicle.
Further information on availability and on
installation is available from any authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
R The bumpers of your vehicle are not suita-
ble for installing detachable trailer cou-
plings.
R Do not install hired trailer couplings or
other detachable trailer couplings on the
bumpers of your vehicle.
R If you no longer need the ball coupling,
remove it from the ball coupling recess.
This will reduce the risk of damage to the
ball coupling.
i When towing a trailer, set the tire pres-
sure on the rear axle of the towing vehicle for a maximum load; see the tire pressure
table in the fuel filler flap (Y
page 421).
Please note that when towing a trailer, PARK-
TRONIC (Y page 217) and Blind Spot Assist
(Y page 237) are only available with limita-
tions, or not at all.
i On vehicles without level control, the
height of the ball coupling will alter accord-
ing to the load placed on the vehicle. If nec- essary, use a trailer with a height-adjusta-
ble drawbar.
You will find installing dimensions and loads
under "Technical data" (Y page 459).
Driving tips i
Observe the information on ESP ®
trailer
stabilization (Y page 74) and on pulling
away with a trailer (Y page 161).
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 max-imum permissible speed is. Observe the
legally prescribed maximum speed in the rel-
evant country.
For certain Mercedes-Benz vehicles, the max- imum permissible rear axle load is increased
when towing a trailer. See "Technical data" to
find out whether this applies to your vehicle
(Y page 460). If you utilize any of the added
maximum rear axle load when towing a trailer, the vehicle/trailer combination may not
exceed a maximum speed of 60 mph
(100 km/h) for reasons concerning the oper-ating permit. This also applies in countries in
which the permissible maximum speed for
vehicle/trailer combinations is above 60 mph
(100 km/h).
When towing a trailer, your vehicle's handling
characteristics will be different in comparison with when driving without a trailer.
Use the left-hand paddle shifter to shift into a
lower gear in good time on long and steep
downhill gradients. Towing a trailer
257Driving and parking Z

i
This also applies if you have activated
cruise control or DISTRONIC PLUS.
This will use the braking effect of the engine,
so that less braking will be required to main-
tain the speed. This relieves the load on the
brake system 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 counter-steer.
X Brake if necessary.
R Maintain a greater distance from the vehi-
cle in front than when driving without a
trailer.
R Avoid braking abruptly. If possible, brake
gently at first to allow the trailer to run on.
Then, increase the braking force rapidly.
R The values given for gradient-climbing
capabilities from a standstill refer to sea
level. When driving in mountainous areas,
note that the power output of the engine
and, consequently, the vehicle's gradient-
climbing capability, decreases with
increasing altitude. Installing the ball coupling
G
WARNING
If the ball coupling is not correctly installed
and secured, it can come loose during the
journey and endanger other road users. There is a risk of an accident and injury.
Always install and secure the ball coupling as
described. Before every journey, ensure that
the ball coupling is secured with the bolt and
the corresponding spring cotter. G
WARNING
If the ball coupling is not installed correctly or not secured with the bolt provided and the corresponding spring cotter, the trailer may
come loose. There is a risk of an accident.
Always install and secure the ball coupling as described. Before every journey, ensure that
the ball coupling is secured with the bolt and
the corresponding spring cotter. G
WARNING
If the ball coupling is not installed and secured
correctly the trailer may come loose. There is
a risk of an accident.
Install and secure the ball coupling as descri-
bed in the ball coupling installation instruc-
tions. Make sure that the ball coupling is
installed and secured correctly before every
journey. Cover cap
X Pull protective cap 0043in the direction of the
arrow, out of the ball coupling recess.
X Place protective cap 0043in the ball coupling
recess. 258
Towing a trailerDriving and parking

X
Detach the trailer cable and decouple the
trailer.
X Switch off the engine. Permissible trailer loads and drawbar
loads
Weight specifications Maximum permissible gross vehicle
weight rating
The gross trailer weight is calculated by add-
ing the weight of the trailer to the weight of
the load and equipment on the trailer.
You will find installing dimensions and loads
under "Technical data" (Y page 459).
Permissible noseweight
You will find installing dimensions and loads
under "Technical data" (Y page 459).
Loading a trailer R
When loading the trailer, make sure that
neither the permissible gross weight of the
trailer nor the gross vehicle weight is
exceeded. The permissible gross vehicle
weight is indicated on the identification
plate on the B-pillar on the driver's side of
the vehicle.
You can find the maximum permissible val-
ues on the type plates of your vehicle and
the trailer. When calculating how much
weight the vehicle and trailer may carry,
pay attention to the respective lowest val-
ues.
R The trailer drawbar load on the ball coupling
must be added to the rear axle load to avoid exceeding the permissible gross axle
weight. The permissible gross vehicle
weight is indicated on the identification
plate on the B-pillar on the driver's side of
the vehicle.
i Mercedes-Benz recommends a trailer
load where the trailer drawbar noseweight accounts for 8% to 15% of the trailer's per-
missible gross weight.
i The weight of additional accessories, pas-
sengers, and cargo reduces the permissi-
ble trailer load and drawbar load for your
vehicle.
Checking the vehicle and trailer weight R
To check that the weights of the towing
vehicle and the trailer comply with the max-
imum permissible values, have the vehicle/
trailer combination (including the driver,
passengers, and cargo with a fully laden
trailer) weighed on a calibrated weigh-
bridge.
R Check the gross axle weight rating of the
front and rear axles, the gross weight of the
trailer and trailer drawbar load. Removing the ball coupling
X Remove the spring cotter.
X Remove the bolt from the ball coupling
recess.
X Remove the ball coupling from the ball cou-
pling recess.
X Clean the ball coupling if it is dirty.
X Stow the ball coupling so that it cannot be
thrown around.
Observe the loading guidelines (Y page 334)
and the safety notes regarding stowage
spaces (Y page 335).
Information on cleaning and care of the trailer tow hitch can be found at (Y page 376). Storing the ball coupling
G
WARNING
Do not carry the ball coupling in the vehicle
interior if it is not secured.
Otherwise, you and others could be injured by the ball coupling being thrown around if you: 262
Towing a trailerDriving an
d parking