
High-voltage battery
G
WARNING
In the event of a vehicle fire, the internal pres- sure of the high-voltage battery can exceed a
critical value. In this case flammable gas
escapes through a ventilation valve on the
underbody. The gas can ignite. There is a risk of injury.
Leave the danger zone immediately. Secure
the danger area at a suitable distance, whilst
observing legal requirements. G
WARNING
If the housing of the high-voltage battery has
been damaged, electrolyte and gases may
leak out. These are poisonous and caustic.
There is a risk of injury.
Avoid contact with skin, eyes or clothing.
Immediately rinse electrolyte splashes off
with water and seek medical attention
straight away.
! Exhaustive discharge caused by the vehi-
cle standing idle for lengthy periods can
damage the high-voltage battery.
Hybrid vehicles: if the vehicle is idle for
lengthy periods, run it for a few minutes
once every six weeks to charge up the high- voltage battery. During the charging proc-
ess, switch off all electrical consumers, e.g.
the automatic climate control or the seat
heating.
Plug-in hybrid vehicles: if the vehicle is
idle for lengthy periods leave the high-volt- age battery connected to a charging sta-
tion.
PLUG-IN HYBRID vehicles: charging the high-
voltage battery (Y page 209).
Engine compartment Before opening the hood:
X Apply the electric parking brake.
X Shift the automatic transmission to park
position P. X
Switch the ignition off.
X Remove the Start/Stop button from the
ignition lock (Y page 189).
or X If the SmartKey is inserted in the ignition
lock: remove the SmartKey from the igni-
tion lock.
X Observe the warning notes on the risk of
electric shock (Y page 46).
X Observe the warning notices about the
hood (Y page 404). RBS driving safety system (Recupera-
tive Brake System)
The Recuperative Braking System supports
you when braking with an electronically-con-
trolled brake boost mode and enables the
recovery of kinetic energy (recuperation). G
WARNING
If the Recuperative Braking System malfunc-
tions, braking resistance may be reduced and brake pedal travel may be longer than usual. If
you subsequently depress the brake pedal as usual, the braking effect may not be sufficient.
There is a risk of an accident.
In the event of this malfunction, continue to
depress the brake pedal. Stop the vehicle in
accordance with the traffic conditions. If nec-
essary, contact a qualified specialist work-
shop.
Further information about the Recuperative
Braking System (Y page 276).48
Hybrid vehiclesSafety

!
If the SmartKey is within the rear detec-
tion range of KEYLESS-GO, the following
situations, for example, could lead to the
unintentional opening of the trunk:
R using a car wash
R using a power washer
Make sure that the SmartKey is at least
10 ft (3 m) away from the vehicle.
General notes With KEYLESS-GO and HANDS-FREE
ACCESS, you can open or close the trunk lid
or stop the procedure without using your
hands. This is useful if you have your hands
full. To do this, make a kicking movement
under the bumper with your foot.
Observe the following points:
R Carry your KEYLESS-GO key about your
person. The KEYLESS-GO key must be in
the rear detection range of the vehicle.
R When making the kicking movement, make
sure that you are standing firmly on the
ground and that there is sufficient clear-
ance to the rear of the vehicle. You could
otherwise lose your balance e.g. on ice. R
Always ensure that you only make the kick-
ing movement within the detection range of
sensors :.
R Stand at least 12 in (30 cm) away from the
rear area while doing so.
R Do not come into contact with the bumper
while making the kicking movement. Oth-
erwise, the sensors may not function cor-
rectly. R
HANDS-FREE ACCESS does not function
when the engine is started.
R If a KEYLESS-GO key is within the rear
detection range of KEYLESS-GO, HAND-
FREE ACCESS could be triggered. The trunk
lid could thus be opened or closed unin-
tentionally, for example, if you:
- sit on the edge of the trunk.
- set something down or lift something up
behind the vehicle.
- move the charging cable through the
detection range of the sensors.
- polish the rear of the vehicle.
Do not carry the KEYLESS-GO key about
your person in these situations or in situa-
tions similar to these. This will prevent the
unintentional opening/closing of the trunk.
R Dirt caused by road salt around sensors :
may restrict functionality.
R Using the HANDS-FREE ACCESS with a
prosthetic leg may restrict functionality.
Operation X
To open/close: kick into sensor detection
range :under the bumper with your foot.
You will hear a warning tone while the trunk lid is opening or closing.
X If the trunk lid does not open after sev-
eral attempts: wait at least ten seconds
then move your leg under the bumper once
again.
i If you hold your foot under the bumper for
too long, the trunk lid does not open or Trunk
103Opening and closing Z

users are recognize, the high-beam head-
lamps are switched on.
If you are driving at speeds below approx-
imately 16 mph (25 km/h) or the roads are
adequately illuminated:
The high-beam headlamps are switched off automatically. The Kindicator lamp in
the instrument cluster goes out. The _
indicator lamp in the multifunction display
remains lit.
X To switch off: move the combination
switch back to its normal position or move the light switch to another position.
The _ indicator lamp in the multifunc-
tion display goes out. Headlamps fogged up on the inside
Certain climatic and physical conditions may
cause moisture to form in the headlamp. This moisture does not affect the functionality of
the headlamp. Interior lighting
Overview of interior lighting
Front overhead control panel :
p To switch the left-hand front reading
lamp on/off
; | To switch the automatic interior
lighting control on/off
= c To switch the front interior lighting
on/off ?
u To switch the rear interior lighting
on/off
A p To switch the right-hand front read-
ing lamp on/off
Control panel in the grab handle (rear
compartment) X
To switch on on the corresponding side
of the vehicle: press button;.
Reading lamp :and the make-up lamp
light up.
X To switch off: press button;.
Press once: the make-up lamp goes out.
Press twice: reading lamp :goes out.
X To switch on on both sides of the vehi-
cle: press button =.
Reading lamp :and the make-up lamp
light up.
X To switch off: press button=.
Reading lamp :and the make-up lamp go
out. Interior lighting control
General notes In order to prevent the vehicle's battery from
discharging, the interior lighting functions are
automatically deactivated after some time
unless the SmartKey is in position 2in the
ignition lock.
The color, brightness, zone and display lamp
for the ambient lighting can be set using Interior lighting
155Lights and windshield wipers Z

Problems with "Pre-entry climate control via SmartKey"
Problem
Possible causes/consequences and
M
MSolutions "Pre-entry climate con-
trol via SmartKey" can-
not be switched on or
has switched itself off. The condition of charge of the high-voltage battery is under the
specified minimum condition of charge.
X Start the engine when the vehicle is at a standstill.
The engine powers the electric motor. The electric motor oper-
ates as a generator. The high-voltage battery is being charged.
Further information on charging the high-voltage battery via:
R a mains socket (Y page 212)
R a charging station (Y page 216)
R a wallbox (Y page 215) "Pre-entry climate control via SmartKey" has been started more
than twice with the engine switched off.
X Switch on the engine and let it run for more than ten seconds.
X Try again to switch on "Pre-entry climate control via SmartKey". Pre-entry climate control at time of
departure
Important safety notes G
WARNING
If persons, particularly children are subjected to prolonged exposure to extreme heat or
cold, there is a risk of injury, possibly even
fatal. Never leave children unattended in the
vehicle.
General notes The "Pre-entry climate control at departure
time" function is only available on PLUG-IN
HYBRID vehicles.
You can use the "Pre-entry climate control at
departure time" function to cool or heat the
vehicle interior if the engine is not running.
The "Pre-entry climate control at departure
time" function can be activated regardless of
whether or not the vehicle is connected to an electric power supply. The condition of
charge of the high-voltage battery must be
higher than the specified minimum condition of charge, however. When the vehicle is connected to an electric
power supply, priority is given to charging the
high-voltage battery to the specified mini-
mum charge. "Pre-entry climate control at
departure time" is only activated subse-
quently.
The running time of the "Pre-entry climate
control at departure time" function may be
reduced if:
R the vehicle is not connected to an electric
power supply and
R the high-voltage battery is not fully charged
With active "Pre-entry climate control at
departure time" the condition of charge of the
high-voltage battery can be reduced, even if
the charge cable connector is connected.
When the vehicle is cooled, the following
functions are activated:
R Climate control system
R Blower
R Seat ventilation 182
Operating the climate control systemsClimate control

Useful information
............................188
Notes on breaking-in a new vehi-
cle ....................................................... 188
Driving ............................................... 188
Automatic transmission ...................197
Refueling ............................................ 205
Charging the high-voltage battery
(plug-in hybrid vehicles) ...................209
Parking ............................................... 220
Driving tips ........................................ 224
Driving systems ................................ 229
PLUG-IN HYBRID operation ..............276 187Driving and parking

Problems with fuel and the fuel tank
Problem
Possible causes/consequences and
M
MSolutions Fuel is leaking from the
vehicle. G
WARNING
The fuel line or the fuel tank is faulty.
Risk of explosion or fire. X Apply the electric parking brake.
X Switch off the engine.
X Open the driver's door.
The on-board electronics now have status 0. This is the same as
the SmartKey having been removed.
or, if the SmartKey is inserted in the ignition lock:
X Remove the SmartKey from the ignition lock.
X Do not restart the engine under any circumstances.
X Consult a qualified specialist workshop. The fuel filler flap can-
not be opened. The fuel filler flap is not unlocked.
or
The SmartKey battery is discharged.
X Unlock the vehicle (Y page 91).
or X Unlock the vehicle using the mechanical key (Y page 93).The fuel filler flap is unlocked, but the opening mechanism is jam-
med.
X Consult a qualified specialist workshop. Charging the high-voltage battery
(plug-in hybrid vehicles) Important safety notes
G
DANGER
The vehicle's high voltage electrical system is under high voltage. If you modify components
in the vehicle's high-voltage electrical system or touch damaged components, you may be
electrocuted. The components in the vehi-
cle's high-voltage electrical system may be
damaged in an accident, although the damage
is not visible. There is a risk of fatal injury.
Following an accident, do not touch any high- voltage components and never modify the vehicle's high-voltage electrical system. Have
the vehicle towed away after an accident and
the vehicle's high-voltage electrical system
checked by a qualified specialist workshop. G
WARNING
In the event of a vehicle fire, the internal pres- sure of the high-voltage battery can exceed a
critical value. In this case flammable gas
escapes through a ventilation valve on the
underbody. The gas can ignite. There is a risk of injury.
Leave the danger zone immediately. Secure
the danger area at a suitable distance, whilst
observing legal requirements. Charging the high-voltage battery (plug-in hybrid vehicles)
209Driving and parking Z

G
DANGER
If you use incorrectly installed mains sockets or adapters, extension cables or similar to
connect the charging cable to a mains socket,
this could lead to fires or an electric shock.
There is a risk of fatal injury.
To avoid hazardous situations, observe the
following:
R Only connect the charging cable to mains
sockets that:
- are installed correctly and
- have been approved by an electrical spe-
cialist.
R For safety reasons, only use the charging
cables supplied with the vehicle, or charg-
ing cables which have been approved for
use with this vehicle.
R Never use a damaged charging cable.
R Do not use:
- Extension cables
- Cable drums
- Multiple sockets
R Do not use a socket adapter to connect the
charging cable to the mains socket. The
only exception is if the adapter has been
tested and approved by the manufacturer
for charging the high-voltage battery in an
electric vehicle.
R Always observe the safety notes in the
socket adapter's operating instructions. G
DANGER
Connecting the charging cable to the wallbox via an incorrectly installed wallbox or adapter,
extension cable or similar could cause a fire or an electric shock. There is a risk of fatal injury. To avoid hazardous situations, observe the
following:
R Only connect the charging cable to a wall-
box that:
- is installed correctly and
- has been approved by an electrical spe-
cialist.
R For safety reasons, only use charging
cables that have been tested and approved by the manufacturer for charging the high-
voltage battery in an electric vehicle.
R Never use damaged charging cables.
R Do not extend the charging cable.
R Do not use an adapter.
R Always observe the safety notes in the wall-
box's operating instructions.
The vehicle's high voltage electrical system is
under high voltage.
R Do not tamper with the high-voltage com-
ponents or the orange cables of the high-
voltage electrical system.
R Do not touch high-voltage components or
the orange cables of the high-voltage elec-
trical system when a vehicle has been
involved in a crash.
R Never touch damaged components or the
damaged orange cables of the high-voltage
electrical system.
R Do not remove the covers of the high-volt-
age electrical system components that are
marked with a warning sticker. General notes
Method of operation The vehicle is equipped with a high-voltage
battery for driving. The high-voltage battery
stores the energy needed to operate the elec-
tric motor and releases it again.
The electric motor uses energy that has been
stored in the high-voltage battery when pull-
ing away, accelerating and during the jour-
ney. 210
Cha
rging the high-voltage battery (plug-in hybrid vehi cles)Driving and parking

In overrun mode, kinetic energy is converted
by means of energy recuperation into electri- cal energy and stored in the high-voltage bat-
tery.
The high-voltage battery can be charged as
follows:
R through energy recuperation while the
vehicle is in motion
R during the journey using the CHARGE mode
R with the relevant charging cable at an elec-
trical outlet while the vehicle is stationary
R with the relevant charging cable at a wall-
box while the vehicle is stationary
R with the relevant charging cable at a charg-
ing station while the vehicle is stationary
The high-voltage battery can be charged in a
nominal voltage range from 100 V to 240 V.
High and low outside temperatures Low outside temperatures
At very low outside temperatures the maxi-
mum power output of the high-voltage battery
may be reduced. The high-voltage battery is
then no longer able to provide the normal
electrical power output.
High outside temperatures
To prevent damage to the high-voltage bat-
tery due to very high outside temperatures,
the maximum power output of the high-volt-
age battery is reduced by the vehicle.
Energy consumption and electrical
range The maximum electrical range is generally
reduced by:
R high and low outside temperatures
R the use of air conditioning or heating
R switching on consumers The battery's physical characteristics are
such that leaving the vehicle parked for long
periods at low outdoor temperatures without
charging it can lead to:
R a reduction in battery performance
R longer charge times
Notes on battery care Avoid storing or transporting the vehicle in
temperatures that are too high or too low over
a long period (e.g. container transport).
If you park the vehicle and leave it stationaryfor longer periods, connect it to a power sup-
ply.
Conditions of use Please note the information on exceptions
and limitations in warranty documentation
and in the Maintenance Booklet.
Handling the charging cable and charg- ing cable controls Do not leave the charging cable controls
(Y
page 213) hanging loose from an electrical
outlet. Otherwise, this could result in a poor
contact with the electrical outlet and mal-
functions when charging the vehicle.
To ensure that the cable on the controls of the charging cable is not subjected to incorrect
loads, observe the following:
R Never lift the controls up at the charging
cable connector or the power supply plug.
R Do not carry the controls by the connector.
Heat generated by the charging cable
and connector Pay attention to the "Important safety notes"
(Y page 209).
During the charging process, the charging
cable and connector may heat up. Charging the high-voltage battery (plug-in hybrid vehicles)
211Driving and parking Z