132Driving and operating
ABS starts to regulate brake pressureas soon as a wheel shows a tendency to lock. The vehicle remains
steerable, even during hard braking.
ABS control is made apparent
through a pulse in the brake pedal
and the noise of the regulation
process.
For optimum braking, keep the brake
pedal fully depressed throughout the
braking process, despite the fact that
the pedal is pulsating. Do not reduce
the pressure on the pedal.
After starting off the system performs
a self-test which may be audible.
Control indicator u 3 86.
Adaptive brake light
During full braking, all three brake
lights flash for the duration of ABS
control.Fault9 Warning
If there is a fault in the ABS, the
wheels may be liable to lock due
to braking that is heavier than
normal. The advantages of ABS are no longer available. During
hard braking, the vehicle can no longer be steered and may
swerve.
Have the cause of the fault remedied
by a workshop.
Parking brake9 Warning
Always apply parking brake firmly
without operating the release
button, and apply as firmly as
possible on a downhill or uphill
slope.
To release the parking brake, pull
the lever up slightly, press the
release button and fully lower the
lever.
Driving and operating133To reduce the operating forces of
the parking brake, depress the
foot brake at the same time.
Control indicator R 3 85.
Brake assist
If the brake pedal is depressed
quickly and forcefully, maximum
brake force is automatically applied
(full braking).
Maintain steady pressure on the brake pedal for as long as full braking is required. Maximum brake force is
automatically reduced when the
brake pedal is released.
Hill start assist The system helps prevent unintendedmovement when driving away on
inclines.
When releasing the foot brake after
stopping on an incline, the brakes
remain on for a further two seconds.
The brakes release automatically as
soon as the vehicle begins to
accelerate.
The hill start assist is not active during
an Autostop.Ride control systems
Traction Control system
The Traction Control system (TC) is a
component of the Electronic Stability
Control (ESC) 3 134.
TC improves driving stability when
necessary, regardless of the type of
road surface or tyre grip, by
preventing the drive wheels from
spinning.
As soon as the drive wheels starts to
spin, engine output is reduced and
the wheel spinning the most is braked
individually. This considerably
improves the driving stability of the
vehicle on slippery road surfaces.
TC is operational after each engine
start as soon as the control indicator
b extinguishes.
When TC operates b flashes.
134Driving and operating9Warning
Do not let this special safety
feature tempt you into taking risks
when driving.
Adapt speed to the road
conditions.
Control indicator b 3 87.
Deactivation
TC can be switched off when spinning of drive wheels is required:
press button t briefly to deactivate
TC, k illuminates. Deactivation is
displayed as status message in the
Driver Information Centre.
TC is reactivated by pressing the t
button again.
TC is also reactivated the next time
the ignition is switched on.
Electronic Stability Control Electronic Stability Control (ESC)
improves driving stability when
necessary, regardless of the type of
road surface or tyre grip. It also
prevents the drive wheels from
spinning.
As soon as the vehicle starts to
swerve (understeer/oversteer),
engine output is reduced and the wheels are braked individually. This
considerably improves the driving
stability of the vehicle on slippery road
surfaces.
ESC is operational after each engine
start as soon as the control indicator b extinguishes.
When ESC operates b flashes.9 Warning
Do not let this special safety
feature tempt you into taking risks
when driving.
Adapt speed to the road
conditions.
Control indicator b 3 87.
Deactivation
For very high-performance driving
ESC can be deactivated: hold button
t depressed for approx. 5 seconds.
Control indicator k and n illuminate.
Driving and operating135
ESC is reactivated by pressing the t
button again. If the TC system was
previously disabled, both TC and
ESC are reactivated.
ESC is also reactivated the next time
the ignition is switched on.
Descent control system The Descent control system (DCS)
allows the vehicle to travel at a low
speed without depressing the foot
brake. The vehicle will automatically
decelerate to a low speed and remain
at that speed when the system is
activated. Some noise or vibration
from the brake system may be
apparent when the system is active.Caution
Use only when descending steep
grades while driving off-road. Do
not use when driving on normal
road surfaces. Unnecessary
usage of the DCS function, such
as while driving on normal roads,
may damage the brake system
and the ESC function.
Switching on
At speeds below approx. 25 mph,
press button u. DCS is operational as
soon as control indicator u
illuminates.
Activation
DCS is active at speeds between 1.2 and 22 mph. Depending on the
current speed, the vehicle will be
accelerated or decelerated to a speed
between 3 and 12 mph. When DCS is active, u flashes.
DCS will only be activated on roads with a certain incline.
Deactivation
DCS is deactivated if the vehicle is
decelerated below 1.2 mph or
accelerated above 22 mph.
Switching off
Press button u again. Control
indicator u extinguishes.
At speeds above 37 mph the system
is deactivated automatically.
136Driving and operatingDriver assistance
systems9 Warning
Driver assistance systems are
developed to support the driver
and not to replace the driver's
attention.
The driver accepts full
responsibility when driving the
vehicle.
When using driver assistance
systems, always take care
regarding the current traffic
situation.
Cruise control
The Cruise control can store and
maintain speeds of approx. 20 to
120 mph. Deviations from the stored
speeds may occur when driving uphill or downhill.
For safety reasons the cruise controlcannot be activated until the foot
brake has been operated once.
Activating in first gear is not possible.
Do not use the cruise control if it is not advisable to maintain a constant
speed.
With automatic transmission, only
activate cruise control in automatic
mode.
Control indicator m 3 89.
Switching on
Press button m: control indicator m in
instrument cluster illuminates white.
Activation
Accelerate to the desired speed and
turn thumb wheel to SET/-: the
current speed is stored and
maintained. Control indicator m in
instrument cluster illuminates green.
Accelerator pedal can be released.
Vehicle speed can be increased by
depressing the accelerator pedal.
When the accelerator pedal is
released, the previously stored speed
is resumed.
Cruise control remains activated
while gearshifting.
Increase speed With cruise control active, hold thumb
wheel turned to RES/+ or briefly turn
to RES/+ repeatedly: speed
increases continuously or in small
increments.
Alternatively accelerate to the desired speed and store by turning to SET/-.
Driving and operating137
Reduce speedWith cruise control active, hold thumb
wheel turned to SET/- or briefly turn to
SET/- repeatedly: speed decreases
continuously or in small increments.
Deactivation
Press button y: control indicator m in
instrument cluster illuminates white.
Cruise control is deactivated. Last
used set speed is stored in memory
for later speed resume.
Automatic deactivation: ■ vehicle speed below approx. 20 mph,
■ vehicle speed above approx. 125 mph,
■ the brake pedal is depressed,
■ the clutch pedal is depressed for a few seconds,
■ selector lever in N,
■ engine speed in a very low range,
■ the Traction Control system or Electronic Stability Control is
operating.Resume stored speed
Turn thumb wheel to RES/+ at a
speed above 20 mph. The stored
speed will be resumed.
Switching off
Press button m: control indicator m in
instrument cluster extinguishes. The
stored speed is deleted.
Pressing button L for activating
speed limiter or switching off the
ignition also switches off cruise
control and deletes the stored speed.
Speed limiter
The speed limiter prevents the
vehicle exceeding a preset maximum speed.
The maximum speed can be set at a
speed above 15 mph.
The driver can only accelerate up to
the preset speed. Deviations from the
limited speed may occur when driving
downhill.
The preset speed limit is displayed in
the top line of the Driver Information
Centre when the system is active.Activation
Press button L. If cruise control or
adaptive cruise control has been
activated before, it is switched off
when speed limiter is activated and
the control indicator m extinguishes.
Set speed limit
With speed limiter active, hold thumb
wheel turned to RES/+ or briefly turn
to RES/+ repeatedly until the desired
maximum speed is displayed in the
Driver Information Centre.
Alternatively accelerate to the desired speed and briefly turn thumb wheel to SET/- : the current speed is stored as
138Driving and operating
maximum speed. Speed limit is
displayed in the Driver Information
Centre.
Change speed limit
With speed limiter active, turn thumb
wheel to RES/+ to increase or SET/-
to decrease the desired maximum
speed.
Exceeding the speed limit
In the event of an emergency it is possible to exceed the speed limit by
depressing the accelerator pedal
firmly beyond the point of resistance.
The limited speed will flash in the
Driver Information Centre and a
chime sounds during this period.
Release the accelerator pedal and the speed limiter function is
reactivated once a speed lower than
the limit speed is obtained.
Deactivation
Press button y: speed limiter is
deactivated and the vehicle can be
driven without speed limit.
The limited speed is stored and a
corresponding message appears in
the Driver Information Centre.
Resume limit speedTurn thumb wheel to RES/+. The
stored speed limit will be obtained.
Switching off
Press button L, the speed limit
indication in the Driver Information
Centre extinguishes. The stored
speed is deleted.By pressing button m to activate
cruise control or adaptive cruise
control or by switching off the ignition, speed limiter is also deactivated and
the stored speed is deleted.
Forward collision alert
The forward collision alert can help to
avoid or reduce the damage caused
by front-end crashes. If a vehicle
directly ahead is approached too
quickly, a warning chime and alert in
the Driver Information Centre is
provided.
Driving and operating141
Control indicator r 3 86.
Activation
When reverse gear is engaged, the
system is activated automatically.
The front parking assist can also be activated at a low speed by pressing
the r button.
An illuminated LED in the parking assist button indicates that the
system is ready to operate.
An obstacle is indicated by a buzzing
sound. The interval between the sounds becomes shorter as the
vehicle gets closer to the obstacle.
When the distance is less than
30 cm, the buzzing is continuous.
If the r button is pressed once
within an ignition cycle, the front
parking assist is always reactivated
when the vehicle speed goes below a certain value.
Deactivation
Deactivate the system by pressing
the r button.
The LED in the button will go out and
Park Assist Off will be displayed in the
Driver Information Centre.
The system is deactivated
automatically at a certain speed.
Fault
In the event of a fault in the system,
r illuminates or a vehicle message
is displayed in the Driver Information
Centre.
Additionally, r illuminates or a
vehicle message is displayed in the
Driver Information Centre if amalfunction of the system due to
temporary conditions like snow
covered sensors is detected.
Vehicle messages 3 95.
Important hints for using the parking assist systems9 Warning
Under certain circumstances,
various reflective surfaces on
objects or clothing as well as
external noise sources may cause the system to fail to detect
obstacles.
Special attention has to be paid to
low obstacles which can damage
the lower part of the bumper. If
such obstacles leave the detection area of the sensors during
approach of the vehicle, a
continuous warning tone will
sound.