While driving, the raised level can only be
selected at speeds of under 120 km/h.
Setting the raised vehicle level
X Start the engine.
X If indicator lamp ;
; is not lit: press but-
ton :.
Indicator lamp ;lights up. The vehicle
height is adjusted to the raised level. Setting the normal vehicle level
X Start the engine.
X If indicator lamp ;
;is lit: press but-
ton :.
Indicator lamp ;goes out. The vehicle is
adjusted to normal level.
Suspension setting
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 key from the ignition lock. The firmer suspension setting in SPORT mode
ensures even better contact with the road.
The steering response behaviour is sporty.
Select this mode on winding country roads or
motorways, for example.
Selecting the sports suspension tuning
X When indicator lamp ;
; is off: press but-
ton :repeatedly until only indicator
lamp ;is on.
You have selected the suspension setting
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 Ride Control
AMG Ride Control
SPORT
SPORT message appears in the multifunc-
tion display. 208
Driving systemsDriving and parking
In COMFORT mode, the driving characteris-
tics of your vehicle are especially comforta-
ble. The steering response behaviour is bal-
anced. Select this mode if you prefer a com-
fortable driving style.
Selecting the standard comfort mode sus-
pension tuning
X When indicator lamp ; ;is off: press but-
ton :repeatedly until only indicator
lamp ;is on.
Indicator lamp ;lights up. You have selec-
ted the suspension setting for a comforta-
ble driving style.
All vehicles except AMG vehicles: the
Active
Active Body
Body Control Control COMFORT
COMFORTmessage
appears in the multifunction display.
AMG vehicles: theAMG Ride Control
AMG Ride Control
COMFORT COMFORT message appears in the multi-
function display. In the CURVE driving mode, the vehicle tilts
actively when cornering. The tilt function and
the comfort suspension tuning increase driv-
ing comfort in corners. CURVE is available in
the speed range between 30 km/h and 160 km/h. Select this mode on winding roads
in particular. Outside of this speed range, the
CURVE driving mode corresponds to the com- fort mode.
Selecting CURVE driving mode
X Press button :repeatedly until both indi-
cator lamps ;and =light up.
CURVE driving mode is selected.
All vehicles except AMG vehicles:
CURVE driving mode is selected. The
Active Body Control CURVE
Active Body Control CURVE message
appears in the multifunction display.
AMG vehicles: theAMG Ride Control
AMG Ride Control
CURVE CURVE message appears in the multifunc-
tion display.
ROAD SURFACE SCAN i
This function is not available in all coun-
tries.
When you have chosen the CURVE driving
mode, the ROAD SURFACE SCAN function
continues to be available at speeds of up to 60 km/h. The ROAD SURFACE SCAN function monitors
the road in front of the vehicle using a multi-
function camera :at the top of the wind-
screen. This function is automatically active if
you select comfort suspension tuning. The
system is operational at speeds of up to
130 km/h.
This function allows bumps in the road sur-
face to be detected before the vehicle drives over them. The spring struts are then actu-
ated, with the result that chassis movements Driving systems
209Driving and parking Z
are significantly reduced when driving over
bumps.
The system is deactivated when you select
the raised vehicle level, sports mode or the
dynamic cornering function.
The system may be impaired or may not func-
tion if:
R the road surface is insufficiently lit
R there is poor visibility, e.g. snow, rain, fog or
spray
R there is glare, e.g. from the sun or from
oncoming traffic
R the windscreen is dirty, misted up or cov-
ered, for instance by a sticker, in the vicinity
of the camera
R the road surface has no texture or is reflec-
tive, e.g. in the case of newly laid asphalt,
concrete slabs or puddles
R the distance to the vehicle in front is too
short
R sections of the route have a very small
radius of curvature
R you accelerate hard or brake sharply AIRMATIC
General notes AIRMATIC is an air suspension system with
variable damping for improved driving com-
fort. All-round level control ensures the best
possible suspension and constant ground
clearance, even with a laden vehicle. When
you drive fast, the vehicle is lowered auto-
matically to improve driving safety and to
reduce fuel consumption. There is also the
option to manually adjust the vehicle level.
AIRMATIC consists of level setting, level con-
trol and the Adaptive Damping System ADS
PLUS. Important safety notes G
WARNING
People's limbs may become trapped if they
are located underneath the vehicle or
between the vehicle body and the tyres when the vehicle is lowering. There is a danger of
injury.
When lowering the vehicle, make sure no one
is underneath the vehicle or in the immediate vicinity of the wheel arches.
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
key from the ignition lock.
X Start the engine.
If indicator lamp ;is not lit:
X Press button :.
Indicator lamp ;lights up. The vehicle is
raised by 30 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. 210
Driving systemsDriving and parking
The "Raised level" setting is cancelled if you:
R drive at a speed above approximately
120 km/h
R drive for approximately three minutes at a
speed above 80 km/h
Setting the normal vehicle level X Start the engine.
If indicator lamp ;is lit:
X Press button :.
Indicator lamp ;goes out. The vehicle is
adjusted to normal level.
Suspension setting 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. sport or com-
fort
Your selection remains stored even if you
remove the key from the ignition lock.
i You can choose between the sporty and
comfortable mode. One of the two modes is
always active.
Sport mode 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 ; ;is not lit: press but-
ton :.
Indicator lamp ;lights up. You have selec-
ted "Sports mode".
The AIRMATIC SPORT AIRMATIC SPORT message appears in
the multifunction display.
AMG vehicles:
X If indicator lamp ;
;is not lit: press but-
ton :.
Indicator lamp ;lights up. You have selec-
ted "Sports mode". The vehicle is lowered
compared to the normal level. The lowering
process takes place at different speeds
depending on the country.
The AMG Ride Control SPORT AMG Ride Control SPORT message
appears in the multifunction display.
All vehicles except AMG vehicles: if the
driving speed is higher than 160 km/h, the
vehicle is automatically lowered by 10 mm.
Comfort mode In comfort mode, the driving characteristics
of your vehicle are more comfortable. There-
fore, select this mode if you prefer a more
comfortable driving style. Select Comfort
mode also when driving fast on straight roads,
e.g. on straight stretches of motorway. Driving systems
211Driving and parking Z
X
If indicator lamp ;
;is not lit: press but-
ton :.
Indicator lamp ;lights up. You have selec-
ted "Comfort mode".
All vehicles except AMG vehicles: the
AIRMATIC COMFORT AIRMATIC COMFORT message appears in
the multifunction display.
AMG vehicles: theAMG Ride Control AMG Ride Control
COMFORT
COMFORT message appears in the multi-
function display.
All vehicles except AMG vehicles: if the
driving speed is higher than 160 km/h, the
vehicle is automatically lowered by 10 mm.
Load compensation The vehicle can compensate differences in
the vehicle level by raising or lowering the
axles. 4MATIC (permanent all-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- 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 the lane.
If a drive wheel spins due to insufficient grip:
R when pulling away, only depress the accel-
erator pedal as far as is necessary.
R accelerate less when driving
! 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 implied 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.
i In wintry driving conditions, the maximum
effect of 4MATIC can only be achieved if
you use winter tyres (M+S tyres),with snow
chains if necessary. PARKTRONIC
Important safety notes PARKTRONIC is an electronic parking aid with
ultrasonic sensors. It monitors the area
around your vehicle using six sensors in the
front bumper and six sensors in the rear
bumper. PARKTRONIC indicates visually and
audibly the distance between your vehicle
and an object.
PARKTRONIC is only an aid. It is not a substi-
tute for your attention to the immediate sur-
roundings. The responsibility for safe
manoeuvring and parking remains with you.
Make sure that there are no persons, animals
or objects in range while manoeuvring and
parking.
! When parking, pay particular attention to
objects above or below the sensors, such
as flower pots or trailer drawbars.
PARKTRONIC does not detect such objects
when they are in the immediate vicinity of
the vehicle. You could damage the vehicle
or the objects.
The sensors may not detect snow and
objects which absorb ultrasonic sources.
Ultrasonic sources, such as an automatic
car wash, a lorry's compressed-air brakes
or a pneumatic drill, could cause
PARKTRONIC to malfunction.
PARKTRONIC may not function correctly on uneven terrain.
PARKTRONIC is activated automatically when you:
R switch on the ignition
R shift the transmission to position D,Ror N 212
Driving systemsDriving and parking
PARKTRONIC is deactivated at speeds above
18 km/h. It is reactivated at lower speeds.
Range of the sensors General notes
PARKTRONIC does not take into account
obstacles located:
R below the detection range, e.g. persons,
animals or objects
R above the detection range, e.g. overhang-
ing loads, tail sections or loading ramps of
goods vehicles :
Example: sensors in the front bumper,
left-hand side The sensors must be free of dirt, ice and
slush. Otherwise, they may not function cor-
rectly. Clean the sensors regularly, taking
care not to scratch or damage them
(Y
page 349).
Front sensors Centre Approx. 100 cm
Corners Approx. 60 cm
Rear sensors
Centre Approx. 120 cm
Corners Approx. 80 cm
Minimum distance
Centre Approx. 20 cm
Corners 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. Driving systems
213Driving and parking Z
Warning displays
:
Segments on the left-hand side of the
vehicle
; Segments on the right-hand side of the
vehicle
= 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 roof lining 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 =lights 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. From the:
R sixth segment onwards, you will hear an
intermittent warning tone for approx-
imately two seconds.
R seventh segment onwards, you will hear a
warning tone for approximately two sec-
onds. This indicates that you have now
reached the minimum distance.
Deactivating/Activating PARKTRONIC :
Indicator lamp
; To deactivate/activate PARKTRONIC
If indicator lamp :lights up, PARKTRONIC is
deactivated. Active Parking Assist is then also
deactivated.
i PARKTRONIC is automatically activated
when you turn the key to position 2in the
ignition lock. 214
Driving systemsDriving and parking
Problems with PARKTRONIC
Problem
Possible causes/consequences and
M
MSolutions 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 349).
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 212).
Important safety notes Active Parking Assist is only an aid. It is not a
substitute for your attention to the immediate
surroundings. The responsibility for safe
manoeuvring and parking remains with you.
Make sure that no persons, animals or
objects are in the manoeuvring range.
When PARKTRONIC is deactivated, 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
cause you to collide with other road users.
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 kerbs slowly and not at a
sharp angle. Otherwise, you may damage
the wheels or tyres.
Active Parking Assist may also display spaces not suitable for parking, e.g.:
R parking or stopping prohibitions.
R in front of driveways or entrances and exits.
R unsuitable surfaces. Driving systems
215Driving and parking Z