The support provided by the system can 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 reflections (e.g. when the road
surface is wet)
R the windshield is dirty, fogged up, damaged
or covered, for instance by a sticker, in the
vicinity of the camera
R there are no, several or unclear lane mark-
ings for a lane, e.g. in areas with road con-
struction work
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 strong shadows cast 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 lane
R you switch on the turn signal
R take your hands off the steering wheel or do
not steer for a prolonged period of time
i Steering Assist and Stop&Go Pilot are
activated again automatically after a lane
change is completed.
Steering Assist and Stop&Go Pilot do not pro- vide any support:
R on very sharp corners
R when a loss of tire pressure or a defective
tire has been detected and displayed
Pay attention also to the important safety
notes for DISTRONIC PLUS (Y page 178).
The steering interventions are carried out
with a limited steering moment. The system requires the driver to keep his hands on the
steering wheel and to steer himself.
If you do not steer yourself or if you take your
hands off the steering wheel for a prolonged
period of time, the system will first alert you
with a visual warning. A steering wheel sym-
bol appears in the multifunction display. If you have still not started to steer and have not
taken hold of the steering wheel after five
seconds at the latest, a warning tone also
sounds to remind you to take control of the
vehicle. Steering Assist and Stop&Go Pilot are
switched to passive. DISTRONIC PLUS
remains active.
Activating Steering Assist and Stop&Go
Pilot X
Press button 0044.
Indicator lamp 0043lights up. The DTR+: DTR+:
Steering Assist. On
Steering Assist. On message appears
in the multifunction display. Steering Assist and Stop&Go Pilot are activated.
Information in the multifunction display If Steering Assist and Stop&Go Pilot are acti-
vated but not ready for a steering interven-
tion, steering wheel symbol 0043appears in
gray. If the system provides you with support Driving systems
187Driving and parking Z
Make sure no one is underneath the vehicle or
in the immediate vicinity of the wheel arches
when the vehicle is being lowered.
! The vehicle is lowered when the engine is
switched off. When parking, position your
vehicle so that it does not make contact
with the curb as the vehicle is lowered. Your vehicle could otherwise be damaged.
Crosswind Assist The crosswind stabilization operates by
changing wheel loads through distortion of
the ABC spring struts. It reduces impairments
in handling when driving in a straight line and assists during countersteering.
Crosswind Assist is active in the speed range
between 50 mph (80 km/h) and
130 mph (210 km/h) when driving straight
ahead or cornering gently.
Active Body Control ABC Vehicle level
All vehicles except AMG vehicles: depend-
ing on the vehicle level that has been set, the
vehicle automatically adjusts its height
dependent on the current speed. The vehicle is lowered by up to 0.6 in (15 mm) as the
speed increases. As the speed is reduced, the vehicle is raised up to the set vehicle height.
In the event of poor road surface conditions,
the vehicle automatically raises by up to 0.4 in
(10 mm) and harder damping is selected.
AMG vehicles: depending on the vehicle
level that has been selected, the vehicle auto-
matically adjusts its height dependent on the current speed. The vehicle is lowered by up to
0.4 in (10 mm) below the normal level as the speed increases. As the speed is reduced, the
vehicle is raised up to the set vehicle height.
Select the "Normal" setting for normal road
conditions and "Raised" for driving with snow chains or in particularly poor road conditions.
Your selection remains stored even if you
remove the SmartKey from the ignition lock. The "Raised level" setting is canceled if you:
R are driving faster than approximately
75 mph (120 km/h).
R drive for approximately three minutes at a
speed over 50 mph (80 km/h). While driving, the raised level can only be
selected at speeds of under
75 mph (120 km/h).
Setting the raised vehicle level
X Start the engine.
X If indicator lamp 0044 0044is not lit: press but-
ton 0043.
Indicator lamp 0044lights up. The vehicle
height is adjusted to raised level. Setting the normal vehicle level
X Start the engine.
X If indicator lamp 0044
0044is lit: press but-
ton 0043.
Indicator lamp 0044goes out. The vehicle is
adjusted to normal level. 190
Driving systemsDriving and parking
Suspension tuning
The electro-hydraulically controlled ABC sus-
pension system works continuously. This
improves driving safety and comfort. The sys- tem detects the vehicle level and the vehicle
load and adjusts the setting accordingly. You
can also choose between a particularly sporty
mode (SPORT), a comfortable mode (COM-
FORT), as well as a comfortable mode with
cornering function (CURVE).
The ABC suspension system is tuned individ-
ually to each wheel and depends on:
R your driving style, e.g. sporty
R the road surface condition, e.g. bumps
R your individual selection, i.e. sporty or com-
fort or comfort with the CURVE dynamic
cornering function
R the vehicle load
R the force of the side wind
Your selection remains stored even if you
remove the SmartKey from the ignition lock. The firmer suspension setting in SPORT mode
ensures even better contact with the road.
The steering response behavior is sporty.
Select this mode on winding country roads or
highways, for example.
Selecting the sports suspension tuning
X When indicator lamp 0044 0044is off: press but-
ton 0043repeatedly until only indicator
lamp 0044is on.
You have selected the suspension for a
sporty driving style. All vehicles except AMG vehicles:
the
Active Body Control SPORT Active Body Control SPORT message
appears in the multifunction display.
AMG vehicles: theAMG AMG Suspension
Suspension Sys‐
Sys‐
tem SPORT
tem SPORT message appears in the multi-
function display. In COMFORT mode, the driving characteris-
tics of your vehicle are especially comforta-
ble. The steering response behavior is bal-
anced. Select this mode if you favor a com-
fortable driving style.
Selecting the standard comfort mode sus-
pension tuning
X When indicator lamp 0044 0044is off: press but-
ton 0043repeatedly until only indicator
lamp 0044is on.
Indicator lamp 0044lights up. You have selec-
ted the suspension for a comfortable driv-
ing style.
All vehicles except AMG vehicles: the
Active Active Body
BodyControl
Control COMFORT
COMFORTmessage
appears in the multifunction display.
AMG vehicles: theAMG
AMG Suspension
Suspension Sys‐
Sys‐
tem
tem COMFORT
COMFORT message appears in the mul-
tifunction display. Driving systems
191Driving and parking Z
improve driving safety and to reduce fuel con-
sumption. There is also the option to manually
adjust the vehicle level. AIRMATIC consists of
level setting, level control and the Adaptive
Damping System ADS PLUS.
Important safety notes G
WARNING
When the vehicle is being lowered, people
could become trapped if their limbs are
between the vehicle body and the wheels or
underneath the vehicle. There is a risk of
injury.
Make sure no one is underneath the vehicle or in the immediate vicinity of the wheel arches
when the vehicle is being lowered.
Vehicle level Setting the raised vehicle level
It is possible to choose between the "Normal"
and "Raised" vehicle levels. Select the "Nor-
mal" setting for normal road surfaces and
"Raised" for driving with snow chains or on
particularly poor road surfaces. Your selec-
tion remains stored even if you remove the
SmartKey from the ignition lock.
X Start the engine.
If indicator lamp 0044is not lit:
X Press button 0043.
Indicator lamp 0044lights up. The vehicle is
raised by 1.0 in (25 mm) compared to the
normal level. The
Vehicle Rising
Vehicle Rising message appears in
the multifunction display.
i The message disappears after ten sec-
onds, irrespective of the level reached. If
necessary, the vehicle is raised further.
The "Raised level" setting is canceled if you:
R drive at a speed over approximately 75 mph
(120 km/h)
R drive for approximately three minutes at a
speed over 50 mph (80 km/h)
Setting the normal vehicle level X Start the engine.
If indicator lamp 0044is lit:
X Press button 0043.
Indicator lamp 0044goes out. The vehicle is
adjusted to normal level.
Suspension tuning General notes
The Adaptive Damping System ADS PLUS
automatically controls the calibration of the
dampers.
The damping is tuned individually to each
wheel and depends on:
R your driving style, e.g. sporty
R the road surface condition, e.g. bumps
R your individual selection, i.e. sports or com-
fort
Your selection remains stored even if you
remove the SmartKey from the ignition lock.
i You can choose between the sporty and
comfortable mode. One of the two modes is
always active. Driving systems
193Driving and parking Z
Sports tuning
The firmer suspension tuning in sport mode
ensures the best possible contact with the
road. Select this mode when employing a
sporty driving style, e.g. on winding country
roads.
All vehicles except AMG vehicles:
X If indicator lamp 0044
0044 is not lit: press but-
ton 0043.
Indicator lamp 0044lights up. Sports suspen-
sion tuning is selected.
The AIRMATIC SPORT
AIRMATIC SPORT message appears in
the multifunction display.
AMG vehicles:
X If indicator lamp 0044
0044 is not lit: press but-
ton 0043.
Indicator lamp 0044lights up. If the driving
speed is higher than 75 mph (120 km/h),
the vehicle is automatically lowered by
another 0.4 in (10 mm) compared to the
normal level in sport mode.
The AMG
AMG Suspension Suspension System
SystemSPORT
SPORTmes-
sage appears in the multifunction display . Comfort tuning In comfort mode, the driving characteristics
of your vehicle are more comfortable. There-
fore, select this mode if you favor a more
comfortable driving style. Select comfort
mode also when driving fast on straight roads, e.g. on straight stretches of highway.
X If indicator lamp 0044 0044is not lit: press but-
ton 0043.
Indicator lamp 0044lights up. Comfort tuning
is selected.
All vehicles except AMG vehicles: the
AIRMATIC COMFORT
AIRMATIC COMFORT message appears in
the multifunction display.
AMG vehicles: theAMG AMG Suspension
Suspension Sys‐
Sys‐
tem
tem COMFORT
COMFORT message appears in the mul-
tifunction display.
Load compensation The vehicle can compensate differences in
the vehicle level by raising or lowering the
axles.
4MATIC (permanent four-wheel drive)
4MATIC ensures that all four wheels are per-
manently driven. Together with ESP ®
, it
improves the traction of your vehicle when-
ever a drive wheel spins due to insufficient
grip.
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- 194
Driving systemsDriving an
d parking
The sensors must be free from dirt, ice or
slush. They can otherwise not function cor-
rectly. Clean the sensors regularly, taking
care not to scratch or damage them
(Y page 329).
Front sensors Center Approx. 40 in (approx.
100 cm) Corners Approx. 24 in (approx.
60 cm) Rear sensors
Center Approx. 48 in (approx.
120 cm)
Corners Approx. 32 in (approx.
80 cm)
Minimum distance
Center Approx. 8 in (approx.
20 cm)
Corners Approx. 6 in (approx.
15 cm) If there is an obstacle within this range, the
relevant warning displays light up and a warn- ing tone sounds. If the distance falls below
the minimum, the distance may no longer be
shown.
Warning displays 0043
Segments on the left-hand side of the
vehicle
0044 Segments on the right-hand side of the
vehicle
0087 Segments showing operational readiness
The warning displays show the distance
between the sensors and the obstacle. The
warning display for the front area is in the
instrument cluster. The warning display for
the rear area is located on the headliner in the
rear compartment.
The warning display for each side of the vehi- cle is divided into five yellow and two red seg-
ments. PARKTRONIC is operational if opera-
tional readiness indicator 0087lights up.
The selected transmission position and the
direction in which the vehicle is rolling deter- mine which warning display is active when the engine is running. Transmission
position Warning display
D
Front area activated
R,
Nor the vehicle
is rolling back-
wards Rear and front areas
activated
P
No areas activated
One or more segments light up as the vehicle
approaches an obstacle, depending on the
vehicle's distance from the obstacle. 196
Driving systemsDriving and parking
Problems with PARKTRONIC
Problem
Possible causes/consequences and
0050
0050Solutions Only the red segments
in the PARKTRONIC
warning displays are lit.
You also hear a warning
tone for approximately
two seconds.
PARKTRONIC is then
deactivated and the
indicator lamp on the
PARKTRONIC button
lights up. PARKTRONIC has malfunctioned and has switched off.
X If problems persist, have PARKTRONIC checked at a qualified
specialist workshop. Only the red segments
in the PARKTRONIC
warning displays are lit.
PARKTRONIC is then
deactivated. The PARKTRONIC sensors are dirty or there is interference.
X Clean the PARKTRONIC sensors (Y page 329).
X Switch the ignition back on. The problem may be caused by an external source of radio or
ultrasound waves.
X See if PARKTRONIC functions in a different location. Active Parking Assist
General notes Active Parking Assist is an electronic parking
aid with ultrasound. It measures the road on
both sides of the vehicle. A parking symbol
indicates a suitable parking space. Active
steering intervention and brake application
can assist you during parking and when exit-
ing a parking space. You may also use
PARKTRONIC (Y page 195).
Important safety notes Active Parking Assist is merely an aid. It is not
a replacement for your attention to your
immediate surroundings. You are always
responsible for safe maneuvering, parking
and exiting a parking space. Make sure that
no persons, animals or objects are in the
maneuvering range.
When PARKTRONIC is switched off, Active
Parking Assist is also unavailable. G
WARNING
While parking or pulling out of a parking
space, the vehicle swings out and can drive
onto areas of the oncoming lane. This could
result in a collision with another road user.
There is a risk of an accident.
Pay attention to other road users. Stop the
vehicle if necessary or cancel the Active Park- ing Assist parking procedure.
! If unavoidable, you should drive over
obstacles such as curbs slowly and not at a sharp angle. Otherwise, you may damage
the wheels or tires.
Active Parking Assist may possibly indicate
parking spaces which are not suitable for
parking, for example:
R where parking or stopping is prohibited
R in front of driveways or entrances and exits
R on unsuitable surfaces 198
Driving systemsDriving and parking
Active Parking Assist can only assist you with
exiting a parking space if you have parked thevehicle parallel to the direction of travel using
Active Parking Assist.
i If PARKTRONIC detects obstacles, Active
Parking Assist brakes automatically whilst
the vehicle exits the parking space. You are
responsible for braking in good time.
X Start the engine.
X Release the electric parking brake.
X Switch on the turn signal in the direction
you are pulling away.
X Shift the transmission to position Dor R.
The Start Park Assist? Yes: OK No:
Start Park Assist? Yes: OK No:
message appears in the multifunction dis-
play 0038.
X To cancel the procedure: press the0038
button on the multifunction steering wheel
or pull away.
or
X To exit a parking space using Active
Parking Assist: press the0076button on
the multifunction steering wheel.
The Park Assist Active Accelerate Park Assist Active Accelerate
and
and Brake
Brake Observe
Observe Surroundings
Surroundings mes-
sage appears in the multifunction display.
X Let go of the multifunction steering wheel.
X Pull away, being ready to brake at all times.
Do not exceed a maximum speed of
approximately 6 mph (10 km/h) when exit-
ing a parking space. Otherwise Active Park- ing Assist will be canceled.
X Shift the transmission to position Dor Ras
required or according to the message while
the vehicle is stationary.
Active Parking Assist immediately steers in
the other direction. The Park Assist Park Assist
Active Accelerate and Brake
Active Accelerate and Brake
Observe Observe Surroundings
Surroundings message appears
in the multifunction display.
i You will achieve the best results by wait-
ing for the steering procedure to complete before pulling away. If you back up after activation, the steering
wheel is moved to the straight-ahead posi-
tion.
X Drive forwards and back up as prompted by
the PARKTRONIC warning displays, several
times if necessary.
Once you have exited the parking space com- pletely, the steering wheel is moved to the
straight-ahead position. You hear a tone and
the Park Assist Finished
Park Assist Finished message
appears in the multifunction display. You will
then have to steer and merge into traffic on
your own. PARKTRONIC is still available. You
can take over the steering, before the vehicle has exited the parking space completely. This
is useful, for example when you recognize
that it is already possible to pull out of the
parking space.
Canceling Active Parking Assist X
Stop the movement of the multifunction
steering wheel or steer yourself.
Active Parking Assist will be canceled at
once. The Park Assist Canceled Park Assist Canceled mes-
sage appears in the multifunction display.
or X Press the PARKTRONIC button
(Y page 197).
PARKTRONIC is switched off and Active
Parking Assist is immediately canceled.
The Park Assist Canceled Park Assist Canceled message
appears in the multifunction display.
Active Parking Assist is canceled automati-
cally if: R the electric parking brake is engaged
R transmission position Pis selected
R parking using Active Parking Assist is no
longer possible
R you are driving faster than 6 mph (10 km/h)
R a wheel spins, ESP ®
intervenes or fails. The
00E5 warning lamp lights up in the instru-
ment cluster.
A warning tone sounds. The parking symbol
disappears and the multifunction display 202
Driving systemsDriving an
d parking