
Driving stability control systemsVehicle equipmentThis chapter describes all series equipment as
well as country-specific and special equipment
offered for this model series. Therefore, it also
describes equipment that may not be found in
your vehicle, for instance due to the selected
special equipment or the country version. This
also applies to safety-related functions and
systems.
When using the features and systems descri‐
bed here, adhere to local regulations.
Antilock Brake System ABS ABS prevents locking of the wheels during
braking.
The vehicle remains steerable even during full
brake applications, thus increasing active
safety.
ABS is operational every time you start the en‐
gine.
Electronic brake-force
distribution
The system controls the brake pressure in the
rear wheels to ensure stable braking behavior.
Dynamic Brake Control DBC
When you apply the brakes rapidly, this system automatically produces the maximum braking
force boost. It thus helps to achieve the short‐
est possible braking distance during full brak‐
ing. This system utilizes all of the benefits pro‐
vided by ABS.
Do not reduce the pressure on the brake pedal
for the duration of the full braking.Dynamic Stability Control
DSC
The concept DSC prevents traction loss in the driving
wheels when driving away and accelerating.
DSC also recognizes unstable vehicle condi‐
tions, such as fishtailing or nose-diving. Sub‐
ject to physical limits, DSC helps to keep the
vehicle on a steady course by reducing engine
speed and by applying brakes to the individual
wheels.
Adjust your driving style to the situation
An appropriate driving style is always the
responsibility of the driver.
The laws of physics cannot be repealed, even
with DSC.
Therefore, do not reduce the additional safety
margin by driving in a risky manner.◀
Activating/deactivating DSC DSC can be deactivated/activated via the DSC
OFF program of the Dynamic Driving Control,
refer to page  100.
For better control The DSC indicator lamp flashes: DSC
is controlling the drive forces and brake
forces.
The DSC indicator lamp lights up: DSC has
failed.Seite 99Driving stability control systemsControls99
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Dynamic Traction Control
DTC
The concept The DTC system and the TRACTION program
are a variant of the DSC in which forward mo‐
mentum is optimized.
The system ensures maximum forward mo‐
mentum on special road conditions, e.g., unp‐
lowed snowy roads, but driving stability is lim‐
ited.
It is therefore necessary to drive with appropri‐
ate caution.
You may find it useful to briefly activate DTC
under the following special circumstances:▷When driving in slush or on uncleared,
snow-covered roads.▷When rocking the vehicle or driving off in
deep snow or on loose surfaces.▷When driving with snow chains.
Deactivating/activating Dynamic
Traction Control DTC
The system and program can be deactivated/
activated via Dynamic Driving Control, refer to
page  101.
Dynamic Driving Control The concept
Dynamic Driving Control can be used to adjust
the driving dynamics of the vehicle. Several
programs are available for this purpose; one
program can be activated at a time using the
Dynamic Driving Control buttons.
Operating the programsPress the buttonProgramDSC OFF
TRACTIONSPORT+
SPORT
COMFORT
DSC OFF
Driving stability is limited during acceleration
and when driving in bends.
To increase vehicle stability, activate DSC
again as soon as possible.
Deactivating DSC: DSC OFF Press the button for no longer than
approx. 10 seconds until the indicator
lamp for DSC OFF lights up in the instrument
cluster and DSC OFF appears in the instru‐
ment cluster.
The DSC system is switched off.
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Activating DSCPress the button.
DSC OFF and the DSC OFF indicator
lamp go out.
Indicator/warning lamps
When DSC is deactivated, DSC OFF is dis‐
played in the instrument cluster.
The DSC OFF indicator lamp lights up:
DSC is deactivated.
TRACTION Maximum traction on loose road surfaces. Dy‐
namic Traction Control DTC is switched on.
Driving stability is limited during acceleration
and when driving in bends.
Activating TRACTION Press the button.
TRACTION is displayed in the instru‐
ment cluster.
The DSC OFF indicator lamp lights up in the
instrument cluster.
Deactivating TRACTION Press the button again.
TRACTION and the DSC OFF indica‐
tor lamp go out.
Indicator/warning lamps
When DTC is activated, TRACTION is dis‐
played in the instrument cluster.
The DSC OFF indicator lamp lights up:
Dynamic Traction Control DTC is acti‐
vated.SPORT+
Sporty driving with optimized chassis and sus‐
pension during limited driving stabilization.
Dynamic Traction Control is switched on.
The driver handles several of the stabilization
tasks.
Activating SPORT+ Press the button repeatedly until
SPORT+  
  is selected in the in‐
strument cluster and the DSC OFF indicator
lamp is displayed.
Indicator/warning lamps SPORT+ is displayed in the instrument cluster.
The DSC OFF indicator lamp lights up:
Dynamic Traction Control DTC is acti‐
vated.
SPORT Consistently sporty tuning of the suspension
for greater driving agility with maximum driving
stabilization.
Activating SPORT Press the button repeatedly until
SPORT is selected in the instrument
cluster.
COMFORT For a balanced tuning with maximum driving
stabilization.
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Activating COMFORTPress the button repeatedly until
COMFORT is selected in the instru‐
ment cluster.
Displays in the instrument cluster
The selected program is displayed in the in‐
strument cluster.
Drive-off assistant
This system supports driving away on gradi‐
ents. The parking brake is not required.
1.Hold the vehicle in place with the foot
brake.2.Release the foot brake and drive away
without delay.
After the foot brake is released, the vehicle is
held in place for approx. 2 seconds.
Depending on the vehicle load, the vehicle may
roll back slightly.
Driving off without delay
After releasing the foot brake, start driv‐
ing without delay, since the drive-off assistant
will not hold the vehicle in place for more than
approx. 2 seconds and the vehicle will begin
rolling back.◀
Servotronic
The concept
The Servotronic varies the steering force re‐
quired to turn the wheels depending on the
speed at which you are driving. Power steering
provides strong support at low speeds, which
means that little effort is needed to turn the
wheels. Power steering support lessens as
your speed increases.
The system works automatically.
Malfunction
Malfunctions are displayed via Check Control,
refer to page  82.Seite 102ControlsDriving stability control systems102
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Driving comfortVehicle equipment
This chapter describes all series equipment as
well as country-specific and special equipment
offered for this model series. Therefore, it also
describes equipment that may not be found in
your vehicle, for instance due to the selected
special equipment or the country version. This
also applies to safety-related functions and
systems.
When using the features and systems descri‐
bed here, adhere to local regulations.
Cruise control The concept
Cruise control is available for use at speeds of
approx. 20 mph/30 km/h and higher. The car
then stores and maintains the speed that you
specify using the lever on the steering column.
In order to maintain the specified speed, the
system brakes the vehicle when the engine
braking effect is insufficient on downhill gradi‐
ents.
Do not use cruise control
Do not use the system if unfavorable
conditions make it impossible to drive at a con‐
stant speed, for instance:▷On curvy roads.▷In heavy traffic.▷On slippery roads, in fog, snow or rain, or
on a loose road surface.
Otherwise, you could lose control of the vehi‐
cle and cause an accident.◀
Manual transmission
You can shift gears while cruise control is acti‐
vated. An indicator lamp notifies you that you
should shift gears when you drive for an ex‐
tended period at very high or very low engine
speeds, or the system is deactivated.
One lever for all functions1Storing and maintaining speed or acceler‐
ating2Storing and maintaining speed or deceler‐
ating3Deactivating cruise control4Resuming a speed stored beforehand
Maintaining current speed
Push the lever, arrow 1, or pull it briefly, ar‐
row 2.
The car's current speed is stored and main‐
tained. It is displayed on the speedometer and briefly in the instrument cluster.
On uphill gradients, it may prove impossible to
maintain the set speed if current engine power
output is insufficient. If the engine braking ef‐
fect is insufficient on downhill slopes, the sys‐
tem will brake the vehicle slightly.
Increasing desired speed
Repeatedly press the lever to the resistance
point or beyond, arrow 1, until the desired
speed is reached.
▷Each time the lever is pressed to the point
of resistance, the desired speed increases
by approx. 1 mph/1 km/h.Seite 103Driving comfortControls103
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▷Each time the lever is pressed beyond the
resistance point, the desired speed is in‐
creased by up to 5 mph/10 km/h.
The system stores and maintains the speed.
Accelerating using the lever
Accelerating slightly:
Press the lever to the resistance point, arrow 1,
and hold until the desired speed is reached.
Accelerating significantly:
Press the lever beyond the resistance point,
arrow 1, and hold until the desired speed is
reached.
The vehicle accelerates without pressure on
the accelerator pedal. The system stores and
maintains the speed.
Decreasing speed Repeatedly pull the lever to the resistance
point or beyond, arrow 2, until the desired
speed is displayed.
▷Each time the lever is pulled to the resist‐
ance point, the desired speed is decreased
by approx. 1 mph/1 km/h.▷Each time the lever is pulled beyond the
resistance point, the desired speed is re‐
duced by up to 5 mph or 10 km/h until the
minimum speed of 20 mph/30 km/h is ach‐
ieved.
The system stores and maintains the speed.
Interrupting the system
Push the lever upwards or downwards, ar‐
row 3.
The displays in the speedometer change color.
In addition, the system is automatically inter‐
rupted in the following situations:
▷When the brakes are applied.▷In cars with manual transmission, when
gears are shifted very slowly or if neutral is
engaged.▷In cars with Sport automatic transmission,
when transmission position N is engaged.▷When DTC is activated or DSC is deacti‐
vated.▷When DSC or ABS is intervening.
Cruise control is not deactivated by depressing
the accelerator pedal. Once the accelerator
pedal is released, the stored speed is achieved
again and maintained.
Warning light A message appears on the Control
Display.
The warning light comes on, for ex‐
ample, when cruise control has been deacti‐
vated as a result of DSC intervention.
Deactivating the system
▷Press the lever upward or downward twice,
arrow 3.▷Switch off the ignition.
The stored speed is cleared.
Resuming a speed stored beforehand Press the button, arrow 4. The last stored
speed is resumed and maintained.
Displays in the instrument cluster
1Stored speed2Selected speed is displayed briefly
If --- mph or --- km/h temporarily appears in
the instrument cluster display, it is possible
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that the system prerequisites for operation are
currently not met.
Call up Check Control messages, refer to
page  83.
Malfunction The warning light comes on when the
system has failed.
A message appears on the Control
Display. More information, refer to page  82.
Park Distance Control PDC
The concept PDC supports you when parking.
You are alerted that you are slowly approach‐
ing an object behind the vehicle and, if equip‐
ped accordingly, in front of the vehicle by:▷Signal tones.▷A visual display.
Measurement
Measurements are made by ultrasound sen‐
sors in the bumpers.
The range is approx. 6 ft/2 m.
An acoustic warning is first given:
▷By the front sensors and two rear corner
sensors at approx. 24 in/60 cm.▷By the rear middle sensors at approx.
5 ft/1.50 m.
System limits
Check the traffic situation as well
PDC cannot serve as a substitute for the
driver's personal judgment of the traffic situa‐
tion. Check the traffic situation around the ve‐
hicle with your own eyes. Otherwise, an acci‐
dent could result from road users or objects
located outside of the PDC detection range.
Loud noises from outside and inside the vehi‐
cle may prevent you from hearing the PDC's
signal tone.◀
Avoid driving quickly with PDC
Avoid approaching an object quickly.
Avoid driving away quickly while PDC is not yet
active.
For technical reasons, the system may other‐
wise be too late in issuing a warning.◀
Limits of ultrasonic measurement
The detection of objects can reach the physi‐
cal limits of ultrasonic measurement, for in‐
stance:▷With tow bars and trailer hitches.▷With thin or wedge-shaped objects.▷With low objects.▷With objects with corners and sharp edges.
Low objects already displayed, e.g., curbs, can
move into the blind area of the sensors before
or after a continuous tone sounds.
High, protruding objects such as ledges may
not be detected.
False warnings
PDC may issue a warning under the following
conditions even though there is no obstacle
within the detection range:
▷In heavy rain.▷When sensors are very dirty or covered in
ice.▷When sensors are covered in snow.▷On rough road surfaces.▷In large buildings with right angles and
smooth walls, e.g., in underground ga‐
rages.▷In heavy exhaust.▷Due to other ultrasound sources, e.g.,
sweeping machines, high pressure steam
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Automatic climate control1Temperature, left side of passenger com‐
partment2Maximum cooling3Rear window defroster4Defrosting windows and removing conden‐
sation5Automatic recirculated air control/recircu‐
lated air mode6Manual air distribution7AUTO program8Air flow rate, manual, climate level9Temperature, right side of passenger com‐
partment10Switching cooling function on/off manuallyNote
Sufficient ventilation
When remaining in the vehicle for an ex‐
tended period of time, ensure sufficient exter‐
nal ventilation. Do not continuously use recir‐
culated-air mode; otherwise the air quality in
the interior continuously worsens.◀
Comfortable interior climate For almost all conditions, the AUTO program 7
offers the optimum air distribution and air flow
rate, refer to AUTO programs below. Select a
comfortable interior temperature only.
The following sections contain more detailed
information on the available setting options.
Most of these settings are stored for the re‐
mote control currently in use, Personal Profile
settings, refer to page  31.Air distribution, manual
Depending on the selected setting, the air is
directed to the windshield, to the upper body
area, to the knee area and into the footwell.
Adjusting air distribution manually Press the button repeatedly until
the air distribution is set as re‐
quired. The corresponding LED lights up.
The manual air distribution is also switched on
when the AUTO program is deactivated.
Temperature Set the desired temperatures indi‐
vidually for the driver's and pas‐
senger sides.
The automatic climate control
achieves this temperature as quickly as possi‐
ble regardless of the season, using maximum
cooling or heating power if necessary, and
then maintains it.Seite 110ControlsClimate110
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