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Selector lever positions
0045 Park position
This prevents the vehicle from roll-
ing away when stopped. Only move
the selector lever to Pif the vehicle
is stationary.
You can only remove the key when the selector lever is in this position.
The selector lever is locked in posi- tion Pif the key is removed.
The parking lock should not be
used as a brake when parking.
Always apply the parking brake as
well once you have parked the vehi-
cle. 0046 Reverse gear
Only move the selector lever to
R
when the vehicle is stationary. 0044 Neutral
No power is transmitted from the
engine to the drive wheels. Releas-
ing the brakes will allow you to
move the vehicle freely, e.g. by
pushing.
Do not move the selector lever to N
while driving. The automatic trans-
mission could otherwise be dam-
aged.
If ASR is deactivated or ESP ®
has
malfunctioned: only move the
selector lever to Nif the vehicle is
in danger of skidding, e.g. on icy
roads. 003A Drive
The automatic transmission
changes gear itself. All forward
gears are available.
You can influence the gearshifts
and shift gears yourself or limit the
shift range. Changing gear
The 5-speed automatic transmission adapts
to your individual driving style by continu-
ously adjusting its shift points. These shift
point adjustments take into account the cur-
rent operating and driving conditions. If the
operating or driving conditions change, the
automatic transmission reacts by adjusting
the gearshift program.
When the selector lever is in position D, the
automatic transmission selects the individual gears automatically. This depends on:
R any restriction in the shift range
(Y page 144)
R the position of the accelerator pedal
R the road speed Touchshift
When the selector lever is in position D, you
can perform gearshifts yourself.
X To shift down: press the selector lever to
the left towards D–.
The automatic transmission shifts to the
next gear down, depending on the gear cur-
rently engaged. The shift range is also
restricted.
i The automatic transmission does not shift
down if you press the selector lever
towards D–while traveling at too high a
speed. This protects the engine from over-
revving.
X To shift up: briefly press the selector lever
to the right towards D+.
The automatic transmission shifts to the
next gear up, depending on the current
gearshift program. This also extends the
shift range. Automatic transmission
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X
To derestrict the shift range: press and
hold the selector lever towards D+until D
D
appears in the display again.
The automatic transmission shifts from the
current shift range directly to D.
X To select the optimum shift range: press
and hold the selector lever to the left
towards D–.
The automatic transmission will shift to a
range which allows easy acceleration and
deceleration. To do this, the automatic
transmission will shift down one or more
gears. Shift ranges
When the selector lever is in position Dyou
can restrict or derestrict the shift range for
the automatic transmission.
X To derestrict/restrict the shift range:
press the selector lever briefly to the right
towards D+or left towards D–.
The display shows the selected shift range.
The automatic transmission shifts only as
far as the relevant gear.
i If the maximum engine speed for the
restricted shift range is reached and you
depress the accelerator pedal, the auto-
matic transmission will not shift up. Driving situations
0038
Use the braking effect of the engine
on steep downhill gradients and for
driving:
R on steep mountain roads
R in mountainous terrain
R in arduous conditions 0037
Use the braking effect of the engine
on extremely steep downhill gradi-
ents and long downhill stretches. Driving tips
Accelerator pedal position Your style of driving influences how the auto-
matic transmission shifts gear:
R little throttle: early upshifts
R lots of throttle: later upshifts
Kickdown Use kickdown for maximum acceleration:
X Depress the accelerator pedal beyond the
pressure point.
The automatic transmission shifts to the
next gear down, depending on the engine
speed.
X Ease off on the accelerator pedal once the
desired speed is reached.
The automatic transmission shifts up again.
Maneuvering Maneuvering in a tight space:
X Control the vehicle's speed by braking
carefully.
X Depress the accelerator pedal slightly and
evenly.
i You can shift back and forth between
drive position Dand reverse gear Rat low
speeds without applying the brakes. This
can help you, for example when rapidly
maneuvering the vehicle or rocking it out of snow or slush.
Towing a trailer X
Drive at moderate engine speeds on steep
uphill gradients.
X Depending on the uphill or downhill gradi-
ent, shift down to a shift range adapted to
the driving situation (Y page 144), even if
cruise control is activated. 144
Automatic transmissionDriving an
d parking
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Problems with the transmission
Problem
Possible causes/consequences and
0050
0050Solutions The transmission mal-
functions when shifting
gear. The transmission is losing oil.
X Have the transmission checked immediately at a qualified spe-
cialist workshop. The acceleration char-
acteristics have deter-
iorated noticeably.
The transmission does
not shift. The transmission is in emergency mode.
It is only possible to shift into second gear or reverse gear
R.
X Stop the vehicle.
X Depress the brake pedal.
X Move the selector lever to position P.
X Switch off the engine.
X Wait at least 10 seconds before restarting the engine.
X Depress the brake pedal.
X Move the selector lever to position Dor R.
In position D, the transmission shifts into second gear; in posi-
tion R, the transmission shifts into reverse gear.
X Have the transmission checked immediately at a qualified spe-
cialist workshop. Releasing the parking lock manually
In the event of a malfunction, it is possible to
manually release the selector lever from the
lock in parking position P, e.g. to have the
vehicle towed away. X
Apply the parking brake.
X Remove cover 0043.
X Slide implement 0044as far as it will go into
the opening. X
Push the implement in and simultaneously
move the selector lever out of position P.
The selector lever lock is released. You can now move the selector lever freely again
until it is returned to position P.
X Remove implement 0044.
X Re-install cover 0043.
i The screwdriver from the vehicle tool kit
could function as the implement, for
instance (Y page 274). Refueling
Important safety notes
G
WARNING
Fuel is highly flammable. Improper handling of fuel creates a risk of fire and explosion.
Avoid fire, open flames, smoking and creatingsparks under all circumstances. Switch off the Refueling
145Driving and parking
Z
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engine and, if applicable, the auxiliary heating
before refueling. G
WARNING
Fuel is poisonous and hazardous to health.
There is a risk of injury.
You must make sure that fuel does not come into contact with your skin, eyes or clothing
and that it is not swallowed. Do not inhale fuel
vapors. Keep fuel away from children.
If you or others come into contact with fuel,
observe the following:
R Wash away fuel from skin immediately
using soap and water.
R If fuel comes into contact with your eyes,
immediately rinse them thoroughly with
clean water. Seek medical assistance with-
out delay.
R If fuel is swallowed, seek medical assis-
tance without delay. Do not induce vomit-
ing.
R Immediately change out of clothing which
has come into contact with fuel. G
WARNING
If you mix diesel fuel with gasoline, the flash
point is lower than that of pure diesel fuel.
When the engine is running, exhaust system
components could overheat without being
noticed. There is a risk of fire.
Never refuel with gasoline. Never mix gasoline with diesel fuel. H
Environmental note
If fuels are handled improperly, they pose a
danger to persons and the environment. Do
not allow fuels to run into the sewage system, the surface waters, the ground water or into
the ground.
! Do not use gasoline to refuel vehicles with
a diesel engine. Even small amounts of gas-
oline will cause damage to the fuel system and engine. !
Do not switch on the ignition if you acci-
dentally refuel with the wrong fuel. Other-
wise, the fuel will enter the fuel lines. Notify a qualified specialist workshop and have
the fuel tank and fuel lines drained com-
pletely.
! Overfilling the fuel tank could damage the
fuel system.
! Take care not to spill any fuel on painted
surfaces. You could otherwise damage the paintwork.
! Filter the fuel before transferring it to the
vehicle if you are refueling the vehicle from
barrels or containers.
This will prevent malfunctions in the fuel
system due to contaminated fuel.
Further information on fuel and on fuel grades can be found in the "Technical data" section
(Y page 318). Refueling procedure
The fuel filler flap is on the left side of the
vehicle behind the front door. It is only pos-
sible to open the fuel filler flap when the front door is open.
X Remove the key from the ignition lock.
X Switch off the auxiliary heating system
(Y page 122).
X Open the front left-hand door first, and then
the fuel filler flap.
X Close all vehicle doors to prevent fuel
vapors from entering the vehicle. 146
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X
Turn fuel filler cap 0044counter-clockwise,
remove it and let it hang from strap 0043.
X Completely insert the filler neck of the fuel
pump nozzle into the tank and refuel.
X Only fill the tank until the pump nozzle
switches off. Fuel may otherwise leak out.
X Replace tank filler cap 0044on tank and turn
clockwise.
You will hear a click when the fuel filler cap
is closed fully.
X Open the front left-hand door first, and then
close the filler flap. Problems with the fuel and fuel tank
If your vehicle is losing fuel, the fuel lines or
the fuel tank are defective.
X Turn the key to position 0in the ignition
lock immediately and remove it.
X Do not restart the engine under any cir-
cumstances.
X Consult a qualified specialist workshop.
If the fuel tank has been run dry, after refuel-
ing carry out the following steps:
X Before starting the engine: switch on the
ignition three or four times.
X Turn the key to position 2in the ignition
lock (Y page 138).
The 0028 preglow indicator lamp in the
instrument cluster lights up briefly.
X Once the 0028preglow indicator lamp goes
out, turn the key to position 3in the ignition
lock and release it as soon as the engine is running.
You can start the diesel engine without pre-
glow when the engine is warm. Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF)
Important safety notes H
Environmental note
Dispose of DEF in an environmentally respon- sible manner.
! Only use DEF in accordance with
ISO 22241. Never mix DEF with additives or
thin it with tap water. The exhaust gas after- treatment may otherwise be damaged.
Observe the MB Specifications for Service
Products, Sheet 352.0.
Damage that results from the use of addi-
tives or tap water leads to the loss of the
New Vehicle Limited Warranty.
! If DEF comes into contact with a painted
or aluminum surface, wash the surface off
immediately with plenty of water.
! DEF is not a diesel additive and must not
be mixed with fuel in the tank. Even small
amounts of DEF can cause engine damage.
Damage that results from the blending of
DEF will not be covered by the New Vehicle Limited Warranty.
The exhaust gas aftertreatment requires a
reducing agent, Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF), in order to function correctly.
When opening the DEF tank filler cap at high
outside temperatures, ammonia vapors may
escape.
Ammonia vapors have a pungent smell and
primarily cause irritation of the:
R skin
R mucous membranes
R eyes
You may experience a burning sensation in
your eyes, nose and throat, as well as cough- ing and watering of the eyes.
Do not inhale ammonia vapors. Avoid contact
with DEF.
Do not allow DEF to come into direct contact with your skin; it is hazardous to your health. Refueling
147Driving and parking Z
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Rinse any affected areas off with plenty of
clean water. Consult a doctor if necessary.
i If the DEF level has dropped below the
reserve range, add at least 2.0 US gal
(7.6 l) of DEF at the latest after receiving the second warning message (Y page 182).
i If you switch off the engine at a low out-
side temperature and add DEF, restart the
engine after refueling. If you leave the vehi- cle parked without restarting the engine
and the DEF freezes in the DEF tank, the on-
board computer will only be able to register the new fill level after a defrosting period of
up to 60 minutes. During this time the
engine may only be operated in neutral.
You will find further information on DEF in the "Service products" section (Y page 318).
Refueling procedure DEF filler neck
Non-lockable DEF filler cap
Example: DEF filler cap in the engine compartment
X To open: switch off the ignition.
X Open the hood (Y page 248).
X Turn filler cap 0043counter-clockwise and
remove it.
X To close: replace cap 0043on the filler neck
and turn it clockwise.
You will hear a click when cap 0043is fully
closed.
X Close the hood (Y page 249). Lockable filler cap
Example: DEF filler cap in the engine compartment
X
To open: switch off the ignition.
X Open the hood (Y page 248).
X Remove tool 0085for unlocking tank filler
cap 0043from the footwell on the co-driver's
side (Y page 274).
X Pull cover 0087up, turn 90° and release.
X Insert tool 0085into hole 0044of tank filler
cap 0043.
X Turn filler cap 0043counter-clockwise and
remove it. Make sure that tool 0085remains
in tank filler cap 0043while doing so.
X To close: replace filler cap 0043and turn it
clockwise until closed.
X Pull tool 0085out of tank filler cap 0043and
stow with the vehicle tool kit in the footwell
on the co-driver's side.
X Pull cover 0087up over hole 0044of tank filler
cap 0043, turn and release.
X Turn tank filler cap 0043.
If tank filler cap 0043turns freely, the DEF
tank is closed. 148
RefuelingDriving and pa
rking
Page 151 of 334

Parking
Important safety notes
G
WARNING
Flammable material such as leaves, grass or
twigs may ignite if they come into contact with hot parts of the exhaust system or exhaust
gas flow. There is a risk of fire.
Park the vehicle so that no flammable mate-
rials come into contact with parts of the vehi- cle which are hot. Take particular care not to
park on dry grassland or harvested grain
fields. G
WARNING
If you switch off the ignition while driving,
safety-relevant functions are only available
with limitations, or not at all. This could affect, for example, the power steering and the brake
boosting effect. You will require considerably
more effort to steer and brake. There is a risk of an accident.
Do not switch off the ignition while driving. G
WARNING
If you leave children unsupervised in the vehi- cle, they could set it in motion by, for example:
R release the parking brake.
R shift the automatic transmission out of the
parking position P.
R start the engine.
In addition, they may operate vehicle equip-
ment and become trapped. There is a risk of
an accident and injury.
When leaving the vehicle, always take the
SmartKey with you and lock the vehicle. Never
leave children unsupervised in the vehicle.
! A moving vehicle can lead to damage to
the vehicle or damage to the drive train.
! When the vehicle is parked, always
remove the key to prevent the battery from becoming discharged. On vehicles with a battery isolating switch,
switch off the power supply if the vehicle isto be out of use for a longer period of time.
Always park your vehicle safely and according
to legal requirements and secure it against
rolling away.
To ensure that the vehicle is properly secured against rolling away unintentionally:
R the parking brake must be firmly applied
R the selector lever must be in position Pand
the key must be removed from the ignition lock
R on steep uphill or downhill gradients, the
front wheels must be turned towards the
curb
R the rear axle must be secured, e.g. with a
wheel chock, on steep uphill or downhill
gradients
Use the wheel chock (Y page 151) to do so.
If you leave the vehicle parked for more than
three weeks:
R connect the batteries to a trickle charger or
R disconnect the vehicle's starter battery or
R switch off the electrical system using the
battery main switch (Y page 137) and
R disconnect the vehicle's auxiliary battery
Otherwise, you need to check the battery's
condition of charge every three weeks, since standby power consumption can drain the
battery. If the battery voltage is lower than
12.2 V, the battery must be charged. Other-
wise, the battery may be damaged by exhaus-
tive discharging.
Be sure to observe the notes on disconnect-
ing and charging the batteries under "Bat-
tery“ (Y page 258). You can obtain informa-
tion about trickle chargers from a qualified
specialist workshop. Parking
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Parking brake
G
WARNING
If you leave children unsupervised in the vehi- cle, they could set it in motion by, for example:
R release the parking brake.
R shift the automatic transmission out of the
parking position P.
R start the engine.
In addition, they may operate vehicle equip-
ment and become trapped. There is a risk of
an accident and injury.
When leaving the vehicle, always take the
SmartKey with you and lock the vehicle. Never
leave children unsupervised in the vehicle. G
WARNING
If you must brake the vehicle with the parking brake, the braking distance is considerably
longer and the wheels could lock. There is an
increased danger of skidding and accidents.
Only use the parking brake to brake the vehi- cle when the service brake is faulty. Do not
apply the parking brake too firmly. If the
wheels lock, release the parking brake until
the wheels begin turning again. The brake lamps are not illuminated when you
brake the vehicle using the parking brake.
As a rule, you may only apply the parking
brake when the vehicle is stationary. X
To apply the parking brake: pull brake
lever 0043up as far as the last possible
detent.
The 0066 warning lamp in the instrument
cluster lights up if the engine is running.
i On vehicles with a folding brake lever, you
can then press lever 0043down to the stop.
X To release the parking brake: on vehicles
with a folding brake lever, first pull brake
lever 0043up to the stop.
X Raise brake lever 0043slightly and press
release knob 0044.
X Guide brake lever 0043down to the stop.
The 0066 indicator lamp in the instrument
cluster goes out.
Exceptionally, if the service brake fails, the
parking brake can be used to brake the vehi- cle in an emergency.
X Emergency braking: press and hold
release button 0044and carefully apply brake
lever 0043. Switching off the engine
G
WARNING
The automatic transmission switches to neu-
tral position Nwhen you switch off the engine.
The vehicle may roll away. There is a risk of an
accident.
After switching off the engine, always switch
to parking position P. Prevent the parked vehi-
cle from rolling away by applying the parking
brake.
! If the coolant temperature is very high,
e.g. after driving on hilly roads, leave the
engine running at idle speed for about
two minutes before turning it off.
This allows the coolant temperature to
return to normal.
X Stop the vehicle.
X Shift the automatic transmission to posi-
tion P. 150
ParkingDriving and parking