Break-in period .............................. 114
DISTRONIC PLUS ........................... 135
Downhill gradient ........................... 128
Drinking and driving ....................... 127
Driving abroad ............................... 102
Driving in winter ............................. 128
Driving on flooded roads ................ 128
Driving on wet roads ...................... 128
Exhaust check ............................... 127
Fuel ................................................ 127
General .......................................... 127
Hydroplaning ................................. 128
Icy road surfaces ........................... 128
Limited braking efficiency on sal-
ted roads ....................................... 128
Snow chains .................................. 242
Symmetrical low beam.................. 102
The first 1000 miles (1500 km) ..... 114
Wet road surface ........................... 128
DVD video
Operating (on-board computer) ..... 164
see also Digital Operator's Man-
ual .................................................. 188
E
EASY-ENTRY featureFunction/note s................................ 99
EASY-EXIT feature
Function/note s................................ 99
EBD (electronic brake force distri-
bution)
Display message ............................ 169
Function/note s................................ 73
ECO display
Function/note s............................. 128
ECO start/stop function
General information ....................... 119
Electronic Stability Program
see ESP ®
(Electronic Stability Program)
Emergency
Automatic measures after an acci-
dent ................................................. 60
Emergency release
Driver's door .................................... 83
Trunk ............................................... 89
Vehicle ............................................. 83 Emergency Tensioning Devices
Activation ......................................... 57
Emissions control
Service and warranty information .... 24
Engine
Check Engine warning lamp ........... 176
Display message ............................ 174
ECO start/stop function ................ 119
Engine number ............................... 275
Irregular running ............................ 119
Jump-starting ................................. 229
Starting problems .......................... 119
Starting the engine with the
SmartKey ....................................... 118
Starting with the Start/Stop but-
ton ................................................. 118
Switching off .................................. 126
Switching off with the Start/Stop
button ............................................ 126
Switching off with the vehicle key .. 126
Tow-starting (vehicle) ..................... 234
Engine electronics
Problem (malfunction) ................... 119
Engine emergency stop .................... 237
Engine oil
Adding ........................................... 213
Additives ........................................ 278
Checking the oil level ..................... 211
Checking the oil level using the
dipstick .......................................... 211
Checking the oil level using the
on-board computer ........................ 213
Display message ............................ 165
Filling capacity ............................... 278
Notes about oil grade s................... 277
Notes on oil level/consumption .... 211
Viscosity ........................................ 278
Entering an address
see also Digital Operator's Man-
ual .................................................. 188
ESP ®
(Electronic Stability Pro-
gram)
Characteristics ................................. 71
Deactivating/activating ................... 72
Display message ............................ 166
ETS/4ETS ........................................ 71
Function/note s................................ 71
General notes .................................. 71
Index9
Mechanical key ................................ 80
Overview .......................................... 78
Positions (ignition lock) ................. 115
Problem (malfunction) ..................... 82
Starting the engine ........................ 118
SMS
see also Digital Operator's Man-
ual .................................................. 188
Snow chains ...................................... 242
Sockets
Center console .............................. 198
General notes ................................ 198
Rear compartment ........................ .198
Trunk ............................................. 198
Special seat belt retractor .................. 61
Specialist workshop ............................ 27
Speed, controlling
see Cruise control
Speedometer
In the Instrument cluster ................. 33
Selecting the unit of measure-
ment .............................................. 164
see Instrument cluster
Standing lamps
Display message ............................ 165
Switching on/off ........................... 103
Start/Stop button
Removing ....................................... 117
Starting the engine ........................ 118
Start/stop function
see ECO start/stop function
Starting (engine) ................................ 117
STEER CONTROL .................................. 75
Steering
Warning lamps ............................... 186
Steering (display message) .............. 176
Steering Assist (DISTRONIC PLUS)
Display message ............................ 165
Steering assistant STEER CON-TROL
see STEER CONTROL
Steering wheel
Adjusting (electrically) ..................... 99
Button overview ............................... 35
Buttons (on-board computer) ......... 161
Important safety notes .................... 99
Paddle shifters ............................... 121 Steering wheel heating .................... 99
Storing settings (memory func-
tion) ................................................. 99
Steering wheel (cleaning instruc-
tions) ................................................. .218
Steering wheel heating
Switching on/off .............................. 99
Steering wheel paddle shifters ........121
Stowage areas ................................... 196
Stowage compartments
Armrest (under) ............................ .197
Center console .............................. 197
Center console in rear compart-
ment .............................................. 197
Cup holders ................................... 198
Door ............................................... 197
Eyeglasses compartment .............. .197
Glove box ....................................... 197
Important safety information ......... 196
Rear ............................................... 197
Rear seat backrest ......................... 197
Stowage net ................................... 197
Stowage net ....................................... 197
Stowage space
Parcel net retainers ....................... 197
Securing a load .............................. 197
Stowage well beneath the trunk
floor .................................................... 197
Summer tires
In winter ........................................ 242
Sun visor ............................................ 198
Suspension tuning
Active Body Control ABC .............. .140
AIRMATIC ...................................... 141
Switching air-recirculation mode
on/off ................................................. 111
T
Tachometer ........................................ 160
Tail lamps
Display message ............................ 165
see Lights
Tank content
Fuel gauge ....................................... 33
Technical data
Capacities ...................................... 275
Information ................................... .274
Index17
Securing from rolling away ............ 262
Towing away .................................. 232
Transporting .................................. 234
Unlocking (in an emergency) ........... 83
Unlocking (SmartKey) ...................... 79
Vehicle data ................................... 281
Vehicle dimensions ........................... 281
Vehicle emergency locking ................ 83
Vehicle identification number
see VIN
Vehicle identification plate .............. 274
Vehicle level
Active Body Control ABC ............... 140
Vehicle maintenance
see ASSYST PLUS
Vehicle tool kit .................................. 220
Video
see also Digital Operator's Man-
ual .................................................. 188
Video (DVD) ........................................ 164
VIN ...................................................... 274
Voice Control System
see Separate operating instructions
W
Warning and indicator lampsABS ................................................ 179
Brakes ........................................... 178
Check Engine ................................. 176
Coolant .......................................... 183
Distance warning ........................... 184 ESP ®
.............................................. 181
ESP ®
OFF ....................................... 182
General notes ................................ 176
Overview .......................................... 34
PASSENGER AIR BAG ...................... 43
Reserve fue l................................... 176
Restraint system ............................ 182
Seat belt ........................................ 177
Steering ......................................... 186
Tire pressure monitor .................... 185
Warranty .............................................. 24
Washer fluid
Display message ............................ 165
Wheel and tire combination
see Tires
Wheel bolt tightening torque ........... 266Wheel chock
...................................... 262
Wheels
Changing a whee l.......................... 261
Checking ........................................ 241
Cleaning ......................................... 217
Important safety notes .................. 240
Interchanging/changing ................ 261
Mounting a new whee l................... 265
Mounting a whee l.......................... 262
Removing a whee l.......................... 265
Storing ........................................... 262
Tightening torque ........................... 266
Wheel size/tire size ....................... 266
Window curtain air bag
Operation ......................................... 51
Windows
see Side windows
Windshield
Defrosting ...................................... 111
Infrared reflective .......................... 198
Windshield washer fluid
see Windshield washer system
Windshield washer system
Adding washer fluid ....................... 215
Notes ............................................. 280
Windshield wipers
Problem (malfunction) ................... 107
Replacing the wiper blades ............ 106
Switching on/of f........................... 106
Winter driving
Important safety notes .................. 242
Slippery road surfaces ................... 128
Snow chains .................................. 242
Winter operation
Summer tires ................................. 242
Winter tires
M+S tires ....................................... 242
Wiper blades
Cleaning ......................................... 217
Important safety notes .................. 106
Replacing ....................................... 106
Wooden trim (cleaning instruc-
tions) .................................................. 218
Workshop
see Qualified specialist workshop
20Index
The driving safety systems described only
work as effectively as possible when there is
adequate contact between the tires and the
road surface. Pay particular attention to the
information regarding tires, recommended
minimum tire tread depths etc. in the "Wheelsand tires" section ( Ypage 240).
In wintry driving conditions, always use winter tires (M+S tires) and if necessary, snow
chains. Only in this way will the driving safety
systems described in this section work as
effectively as possible.
ABS (Anti-lock Braking System)
General information
ABS regulates brake pressure in such a way
that the wheels do not lock when you brake.
This allows you to continue steering the vehi-
cle when braking. The ! ABS warning lamp in the instrument
cluster lights up when the ignition is switched on. It goes out when the engine is running.
Important safety notes
iObserve the "Important safety notes" sec-
tion ( Ypage 65).
GWARNING
If ABS is faulty, the wheels could lock when
braking. The steerability and braking charac-
teristics may be severely impaired. Addition-
ally, further driving safety systems are deac-
tivated. There is an increased danger of skid-
ding and accidents.
Drive on carefully. Have ABS checked imme-
diately at a qualified specialist workshop.
When ABS is malfunctioning, other systems,
including driving safety systems, will also
become inoperative. Observe the information on the ABS warning lamp ( Ypage 179) and
display messages which may be shown in the
instrument cluster ( Ypage 166).
ABS works from a speed of about 5 mph
(8 km/ h), regardless of road-surface condi- tions. ABS works on slippery surfaces, even
when you only brake gently.
Braking
X
If ABS intervenes: continue to depress the
brake pedal vigorously until the braking sit- uation is over.
X To make a full brake application:
depress the brake pedal with full force.
If ABS intervenes when braking, you will feel a pulsing in the brake pedal.
The pulsating brake pedal can be an indica-
tion of hazardous road conditions, and func-
tions as a reminder to take extra care while
driving.
BAS (Brake Assist System)
General information
BAS operates in emergency braking situa-
tions. If you depress the brake pedal quickly,
BAS automatically boosts the braking force,
thus shortening the stopping distance.
Important safety notes
iObserve the "Important safety notes" sec-
tion ( Ypage 65).
GWARNING
If BAS is malfunctioning, the braking distance
in an emergency braking situation is
increased. There is a risk of an accident.
In an emergency braking situation, depress
the brake pedal with full force. ABS prevents
the wheels from locking.
Braking
X
Keep the brake pedal firmly depressed until
the emergency braking situation is over.
ABS prevents the wheels from locking.
The brakes will function as usual once you
release the brake pedal. BAS is deactivated.
66Driving safety systems
Safety
If ESP®
intervenes:
X Do not deactivate ESP ®
under any circum-
stances.
X Only depress the accelerator pedal as far as
necessary when pulling away.
X Adapt your driving style to suit the prevail-
ing road and weather conditions.
ECO start/stop function
The ECO start/stop function switches the
engine off automatically when the vehicle
stops moving. The engine starts automati-
cally when the driver wants to pull away again. ESP ®
remains in its previously selected sta-
tus. Example: if ESP®
was deactivated before
the engine was switched off, ESP ®
remains
deactivated when the engine is switched on
again.
Deactivating/activating ESP®
Important safety notes
iObserve the "Important safety notes" sec-
tion ( Ypage 65).
You can select between the following states
of ESP ®
:
R ESP ®
is activated.
R ESP ®
is deactivated.
GWARNING
If you deactivate ESP ®
, ESP ®
no longer sta-
bilizes the vehicle. There is an increased risk
of skidding and an accident.
Only deactivate ESP ®
in the situations descri-
bed in the following.
It may be best to deactivate ESP ®
in the fol-
lowing situations:
R when using snow chains
R in deep snow
R on sand or gravel
iActivate ESP ®
as soon as the situations
described above no longer apply. ESP ®
will
otherwise not be able to stabilize the vehi- cle if the vehicle starts to skid or a wheel
starts to spin.
!Avoid spinning the driven wheels for an
extended period with ESP ®
deactivated.
You could otherwise damage the drivetrain.
Deactivating/activating ESP ®
You can deactivate or activate ESP ®
via the
on-board computer.
X To deactivate: (Y page 72).
The å ESP®
OFF warning lamp in the
instrument cluster lights up.
X To activate: (Y page 72).
The å ESP®
OFF warning lamp in the
instrument cluster goes out.
Characteristics when ESP ®
is deactivated
If ESP ®
is deactivated and one or more wheels
start to spin, the ÷ESP®
warning lamp in
the instrument cluster flashes. In such situa-
tions, ESP ®
will not stabilize the vehicle.
If you deactivate ESP ®
:
R ESP ®
no longer improves driving stability.
R engine torque is no longer limited and the
drive wheels are able to spin.
The spinning of the wheels results in a cut-
ting action for better traction on loose sur-faces.
R traction control is still activated.
R ESP ®
still provides support when you
brake.
Crosswind Assist (vehicles without
MAGIC BODY CONTROL)
General information
Vehicles with MAGIC BODY CONTROL: infor-
mation on stabilizing the vehicle in the event
of crosswind ( Ypage 140).
Strong crosswinds can cause your vehicle to
deviate from a straight course. The crosswind
driving assistance function integrated into ESP ®
significantly reduces these effects.
72Driving safety systems
Safety
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 ;is not lit:
X Press button :.
Indicator lamp ;lights up. The vehicle is
raised by 1.0 in (25 mm) compared to the
normal level. The
Vehicle Risingmessage appears in
the multifunction display.
iThe 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 ;is lit:
X Press button :.
Indicator lamp ;goes out. The vehicle is
adjusted to normal level.
Suspension tuning
In the Digital Operator's Manual you can find
information about:
R General notes
R Sports tuning
R Comfort tuning
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- 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.
If a drive wheel spins due to insufficient grip:
R Only depress the accelerator pedal as far as
necessary when pulling away.
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 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.
iIn 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.
Driving systems141
Driving and parking
Z
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
Parking tips:
R On narrow roads, drive as close to the park-
ing space as possible.
R Parking spaces that are littered or over-
grown might be identified or measured
incorrectly.
R Parking spaces that are partially occupied
by trailer drawbars might not be identified
as such or be measured incorrectly.
R Snowfall or heavy rain may lead to a parking
space being measured inaccurately.
R Pay attention to the PARKTRONIC(Y page 143 )warning messages during the
parking procedure.
R You can intervene in the steering procedure
to correct it at any time. Active Parking
Assist will then be canceled.
R When transporting a load which protrudes
from your vehicle, you should not use
Active Parking Assist.
R Never use Active Parking Assist when snow
chains are installed.
R Make sure that the tire pressures are
always correct. This has a direct influence
on the parking characteristics of the vehi-
cle.
Use Active Parking Assist for parking spaces:
R parallel or at right angles to the direction of
travel
R that are on straight roads, not bends
R that are on the same level as the road, e.g.
not on the pavementInformation in the Digital Operator's
Manual
In the Digital Operator's Manual you will find
information on the following topics: R Detecting parking spaces
R Parking
R Exiting a parking space
R Canceling Active Parking Assist
Rear view camera
General notes
Rear view camera :is under a flap in the
trunk lid.
Rear view camera :is an optical parking and
maneuvering aid. It shows the area behind
your vehicle with guide lines in the COMAND display.
The area behind the vehicle is displayed as a
mirror image, as in the rear view mirror.
iThe text of messages shown in the
COMAND display depends on the language setting. The following are examples of rearview camera messages in the COMAND
display.
Important safety notes
The rear view camera is only an aid. It is not a replacement for your attention to your imme- diate surroundings. You are always responsi-
ble for safe maneuvering and parking. When
maneuvering or parking, make sure that there
144Driving systems
Driving and parking
reached. If this is the case, the tire is so wornthat it must be replaced.
Selecting, mounting and replacing tires
R Only mount tires and wheels of the same
type and make.
Exception: it is permissible to install a dif-
ferent type or make in the event of a flat
tire. Observe the "MOExtended tires (tires
with run-flat characteristics" section(Y page 221).
R Only mount tires of the correct size onto
the wheels.
R Break in new tires at moderate speeds for
the first 60 miles (100 km). They only reach
their full performance after this distance.
R Do not drive with tires which have too little
tread depth, as this significantly reduces
the traction on wet roads (hydroplaning).
R Replace the tires after six years at the lat-
est, regardless of wear.
MOExtended tires (tires with run-flat properties)
With MOExtended tires (tires with run flat
characteristics), you can continue to drive
your vehicle even if there is a total loss of
pressure in one or more tires.
MOExtended tires may only be used in con-
junction with an active tire pressure monitor
and only on wheels specifically tested by
Mercedes-Benz.
Notes on driving with MOExtended tires with
a flat tire ( Ypage 221).
iVehicles equipped with MOExtended tires
are not equipped with a TIREFIT kit at the
factory. It is therefore recommended that
you additionally equip your vehicle with a
TIREFIT kit if you mount tires that do not
feature run-flat properties, e.g. winter tires.
A TIREFIT kit can be obtained from a quali- fied specialist workshop.
Winter operation
General notes
You can find information about this in the
Digital Operator's Manual.
Driving with summer tires
At temperatures below 45 ‡(+7 †), summer
tires lose elasticity and therefore traction and braking power. Change the tires on your vehi-cle to M+S tires. Using summer tires at very
cold temperatures could cause cracks to
form, thereby damaging the tires perma-
nently. Mercedes-Benz cannot accept
responsibility for this type of damage.
GWARNING
Damaged tires can cause tire inflation pres-
sure loss. As a result, you could lose control ofyour vehicle. There is a risk of accident.
Check the tires regularly for signs of damage
and replace any damaged tires immediately.
M+S tires
GWARNING
M+S tires with a tire tread depth of less than ã in (4 mm) are not suitable for use in winter
and do not provide sufficient traction. There is
a risk of an accident.
M+S tires with a tread depth of less than ãin
(4 mm) must be replaced immediately.
Further information can be found in the Digi-
tal Operator's Manual.
Snow chains
GWARNING
If snow chains are installed to the front
wheels, they may drag against the vehicle
body or chassis components. This could
cause damage to the vehicle or the tires.
There is a risk of an accident.
242Winter operation
Wheels and tires