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R
EBD ( electronic brake force distribution)
(Y page 60)
R ADAPTIVE BRAKE (Y page 60)Important safety notes
If you fail to adapt your driving style or if you are
inattentive, the driving safety systems can nei-
ther reduce the risk of an accident nor override the laws of physics. Driving safety systems are
merely aids designed to assist driving. You are
responsible for maintaining the distance to the
vehicle in front, for vehicle speed, for braking in
good time, and for staying in lane. Always adapt
your driving style to suit the prevailing road and weather conditions and maintain a safe distancefrom the vehicle in front. Drive carefully.
The driving safety systems described only work
as effectively as possible when there is ade-
quate contact between the tyres and the road
surface. Please pay special attention to the
notes on tyres, recommended minimum tyre
tread depths etc. (Y page 261).
In wintry driving conditions, always use winter
tyres (M+S tyres) and, if necessary, snow
chains. Only in this way will the driving safety
systems described in this section work as effec-
tively as possible. ABS (Anti-lock Braking System)
General notes ABS regulates brake pressure in such a way that
the wheels do not lock when you brake. This
allows you to continue steering the vehicle 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.
ABS works from a speed of about 8 km/h,
regardless of road-surface conditions. ABS
works on slippery surfaces, even when you only brake gently.
Important safety notes i
Observe the "Important safety notes" sec-
tion (Y page 54). G
WARNING
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.
If ABS is malfunctioning, other systems, includ-
ing driving safety systems, will also become
inoperative. Observe the information on the ABS warning lamp (Y page 197) and display mes-
sages which may be shown in the instrument
cluster (Y page 172).
Braking X
If ABS intervenes: continue to depress the
brake pedal with force 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 indication
of hazardous road conditions; this serves as a
reminder to take extra care while driving. BAS (Brake Assist System)
General notes BAS operates in emergency braking situations.
If you depress the brake pedal quickly, BAS
automatically boosts the braking force, thus
shortening the stopping distance.
Important safety notes i
Observe the "Important safety notes" sec-
tion (Y page 54). G
WARNING
If BAS is malfunctioning, the braking distance
in an emergency braking situation is
increased. There is a risk of accident. 54
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In an emergency braking situation, depress
the brake pedal with full force. ABS prevents
the wheels from locking.
Braking X
Keep the brake pedal depressed firmly 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. COLLISION PREVENTION ASSIST
PLUS
General information i
Observe the "Important safety notes" sec-
tion (Y page 54).
COLLISION PREVENTION ASSIST PLUS consists of a distance warning function with an autono-
mous braking function and Adaptive Brake
Assist.
COLLISION PREVENTION ASSIST PLUS can help you to minimise the danger of collision with thevehicle in front or reduce the effects of such a
collision.
If COLLISION PREVENTION ASSIST PLUS
detects a danger of collision, you will be warned
visually and audibly. If you do not react to the
visual and audible collision warning, autono-
mous braking can be initiated in critical situa-
tions. If you apply the brake yourself in a critical situation, COLLISION PREVENTION ASSIST
PLUS Adaptive Brake Assist assists you.
Important safety notes In particular, the detection of obstacles can be
impaired in the following situations:
R dirt on the sensors or obscured sensors
R snow or heavy rain
R interference by other radar sources
R strong radar reflections, for example, in multi-
storey car parks
R a narrow vehicle travelling in front, e.g. a
motorcycle R
a vehicle travelling in front on a different line
R new vehicles or after the COLLISION PRE-
VENTION ASSIST PLUS system has been serv-
iced
Observe the important safety notes in the
"Running-in notes" section (Y page 101).
Following damage to the front end of the vehicle, have the setting and operation of the radar sen-sor checked at a qualified specialist workshop.
This also applies to collisions at low speeds
where there is no visible damage to the front of
the vehicle.
Activating/deactivating The COLLISION PREVENTION ASSIST PLUS is
automatically active when the ignition is
switched on.
You can activate or deactivate COLLISION PRE-
VENTION ASSIST PLUS in the on-board com-
puter. (Y page 164) When the system is deac-
tivated, the distance warning function and the
autonomous braking function are also deactiva-
ted.
If COLLISION PREVENTION ASSIST PLUS is
deactivated, the æsymbol appears in the
assistance graphics display.
Distance warning function General information
The distance warning function can help you to
minimise the risk of a rear-end collision with thevehicle in front or reduce the effects of such a
collision. If the distance warning function
detects a risk of collision with the vehicle in
front, you will be warned visually and audibly.
Important safety notes i Observe the "Important safety notes" sec-
tion for driving safety systems (Y page 54). G
WARNING
The distance warning function does not react:
R to people or animals
R to oncoming vehicles
R to crossing traffic
R when cornering
Thus, the distance warning function cannot
provide a warning in all critical situations.
There is a risk of an accident. Driving safety systems
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Z
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Always pay careful attention to the traffic sit-
uation and be ready to brake. G
WARNING
The distance warning function cannot always
clearly identify objects and complex traffic
situations.
In such cases, the distance warning function
may:
R give an unnecessary warning
R not give a warning
There is a risk of an accident.
Always pay careful attention to the traffic sit-
uation; do not rely on the distance warning
function alone.
Function The distance warning function issues a warning at speeds:
R of approximately 30 km/h or more if, over
several seconds, the distance to the vehicle
travelling in front is insufficient for the driving
speed. The ·distance warning lamp will
then light up on the instrument cluster.
R of approximately 7 km/h or more if you rap-
idly approach a vehicle in front. An intermit-
tent warning tone will then sound and the
· distance warning lamp will light up on
the instrument cluster.
X Brake immediately to increase the distance
from the vehicle in front.
or X Take evasive action provided it is safe to do
so.
Due to the nature of the system, certain com-
plex but non-critical driving conditions may also cause the system to display a warning.
With the help of the radar sensor system, the
distance warning function can detect obstacles
that are in the path of your vehicle for an exten-
ded period of time.
Up to a speed of approximately 70 km/h, the
distance warning function can also react to sta-
tionary obstacles, such as stopped or parked
vehicles. Autonomous braking function If the driver does not react to the distance warn-
ing signal in a critical situation, COLLISION PRE- VENTION ASSIST PLUS can assist with the
autonomous braking function.
The autonomous braking function:
R gives the driver more time to react to critical
driving situations
R can help the driver to avoid an accident or
R reduces the effects of an accident
Vehicles without DISTRONIC PLUS: the
autonomous braking function is available in the following speed ranges:
R from 7 km/h to approximately 105 km/h for
moving objects
R from 7 km/h to approximately 50 km/h for
stationary objects
Vehicles with DISTRONIC PLUS: the autono-
mous braking function is available in the follow-
ing speed ranges:
R from 7 km/h to approximately 200 km/h for
moving objects
R from 7 km/h to approximately 50 km/h for
stationary objects
Due to the nature of the system, complex but
non-critical driving conditions may also cause
the autonomous braking function to engage.
If the autonomous braking function demands
particularly high braking force, preventative
passenger protection measures (PRE-SAFE ®
)
are activated simultaneously (Y page 48).
Adaptive Brake Assist General information
i Observe the "Important safety notes" sec-
tion (Y page 54).
With the help of the radar sensor system, Adap- tive Brake Assist can detect obstacles that are in
the path of your vehicle for an extended period
of time.
If Adaptive Brake Assist detects a risk of colli-
sion with the vehicle in front, it calculates the
brake pressure necessary to avoid a collision. If you apply the brakes forcefully, Adaptive Brake
Assist automatically increases the brake pres-
sure to a level suitable for the traffic conditions.
Adaptive Brake Assist provides braking assis-
tance in hazardous situations at speeds above 56
Driving safety systemsSafety
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7 km/h. It uses the radar sensor system to
assess the traffic situation.
Up to a speed of approximately 250 km/h,
Adaptive Brake Assist is capable of reacting to
moving objects that have already been detected
as such at least once over the period of obser-
vation.
Up to a speed of approximately 70 km/h, Adap-
tive Brake Assist reacts to stationary obstacles.
If Adaptive Brake Assist demands a particularly
high braking force, preventative passenger pro-
tection measures (PRE-SAFE ®
) are activated
simultaneously (Y page 48).
X Keep the brake pedal depressed until the
emergency braking situation is over.
ABS prevents the wheels from locking.
The brakes will work normally again if: R you release the brake pedal
R danger of collision with the vehicle in front no
longer exists
R no obstacle is detected in front of your vehicle
Adaptive Brake Assist is then deactivated.
Important safety notes
i Observe the "Important safety notes" sec-
tion for driving safety systems (Y page 54).G
WARNING
Adaptive Brake Assist cannot always clearly
identify objects and complex traffic situa-
tions.
In such cases, Adaptive Brake Assist can:
R intervene unnecessarily
R not intervene
There is a risk of an accident.
Always pay careful attention to the traffic sit- uation and be ready to brake. Terminate the
intervention in a non-critical driving situation. G
WARNING
Adaptive Brake Assist does not react:
R to people or animals
R to oncoming vehicles
R to crossing traffic
R when cornering As a result, the Adaptive Brake Assist may not
intervene in all critical conditions. There is a
risk of an accident.
Always pay careful attention to the traffic sit- uation and be ready to brake.
Due to the nature of the system, particularly
complicated but non-critical driving conditions
may also cause Adaptive Brake Assist to inter-
vene.
If Adaptive Brake Assist is not available due to a malfunctioning radar sensor system, the brake
system remains available with full brake boost-
ing effect and BAS. Adaptive brake lights
The adaptive brake lights warn following traffic
in an emergency braking situation: R by flashing brake lamps
R the hazard warning lamps are activated
If you brake sharply from a speed of more than
50 km/h or if braking is assisted by BAS or BAS PLUS, the brake lamps flash rapidly. In this way,
traffic travelling behind you is warned in an even
more noticeable manner.
If you brake sharply from a speed of more than
70 km/h to a standstill, the hazard warning
lamps are activated automatically. If the brakes
are applied again, the brake lamps light up con- tinuously. The hazard warning lamps switch off
automatically if you travel faster than 10 km/h.You can also switch off the hazard warning
lamps using the hazard warning button
(Y page 90). ESP
®
(Electronic Stability Program)
General notes i
Observe the "Important safety notes" sec-
tion (Y page 54).
ESP ®
monitors driving stability and traction, i.e.
power transmission between the tyres and the
road surface.
If ESP ®
detects that the vehicle is deviating from
the direction desired by the driver, one or more
wheels are braked to stabilise the vehicle. The
engine output is also modified to keep the vehi- cle on the desired course within physical limits. Driving safety systems
57Safety Z
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ESP
®
assists the driver when pulling away on
wet or slippery roads. ESP ®
can also stabilise
the vehicle during braking.
ETS (Electronic Traction System) i
Observe the "Important safety notes" sec-
tion (Y page 54).
ETS traction control is part of ESP ®
.
Traction control brakes the drive wheels indi-
vidually if they spin. This enables you to pull
away and accelerate on slippery surfaces, for
example if the road surface is slippery on one
side. In addition, more drive torque is transfer-
red to the wheel or wheels with traction.
Traction control remains active if you deactivate
ESP ®
.
Important safety notes i
Observe the "Important safety notes" sec-
tion (Y page 54). G
WARNING
If ESP ®
is malfunctioning, ESP ®
is unable to
stabilise the vehicle. In addition, other driving
safety systems are switched off. This increa-
ses the risk of skidding and an accident.
Drive on carefully. Have ESP ®
checked at a
qualified specialist workshop.
When ESP ®
is deactivated, the åESP®
OFF
warning lamp lights up continuously.
When SPORT handling mode is activated, the
M warning lamp lights up in the instrument
cluster.
When the åandh warning lamps light up
continuously, ESP ®
is not available due to a mal-
function.
Observe the information on warning lamps
(Y page 197) and display messages which may
be shown in the instrument cluster
(Y page 172).
Only use wheels with the recommended tyre
sizes. Only then will ESP ®
function properly. Characteristics of ESP
® General notes
If the ÷ ESP warning lamp goes out before
beginning the journey, ESP ®
is automatically
active.
If ESP ®
intervenes, the ÷ESP®
warning lamp
flashes in the instrument cluster.
If ESP ®
intervenes:
X Do not deactivate ESP ®
under any circum-
stances.
X when pulling away, only depress the acceler-
ator pedal as far as is necessary.
X Adapt your driving style to suit the prevailing
road and weather conditions.
ECO start/stop function
The ECO start/stop function switches the
engine off automatically if the vehicle stops
moving. When pulling away again, the engine
starts automatically. ESP ®
remains in its previ-
ously selected status. 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
i Observe the "Important safety notes" sec-
tion (Y page 54).
You can select between the following ESP ®
sta-
tuses:
R ESP ®
is activated
R SPORT handling mode is activated
R ESP ®
is deactivated
ESP ®
is activated every time the engine is star-
ted, regardless of whether ESP ®
was deactiva-
ted before the engine was switched off. G
WARNING
If you deactivate ESP ®
, ESP ®
no longer sta-
bilises the vehicle. There is an increased risk
of skidding and an accident.
Only deactivate ESP ®
in the situations descri-
bed in the following. 58
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G
WARNING
When SPORT handling mode is activated,
there is a greater risk of skidding and acci-
dents.
Only activate SPORT handling mode in the sit- uations described in the following.
In the following situations, it may be better to
activate SPORT handling mode or deactivate
ESP ®
:
R when snow chains are used
R in deep snow
R on sand or gravel
R on closed roads when the vehicle's own over-
steering and understeering characteristics
are desired
Driving in SPORT handling mode or without
ESP ®
requires a highly qualified and experi-
enced driver.
Activate ESP ®
as soon as the situations descri-
bed above no longer apply. ESP ®
will otherwise
not be able to stabilise the vehicle if the vehicle
starts to skid or a wheel starts to spin.
Deactivating/activating ESP ®X
To activate SPORT handling mode: briefly
press button :.
The M handling mode warning lamp in the
instrument cluster lights up. The SPORT SPORThan‐
han‐
dling mode
dling mode message appears in the multi-
function display.
X To deactivate SPORT handling mode:
briefly press button
:.
The M handling mode warning lamp in the
instrument cluster goes out. ESP ®
is activa-
ted. X
To deactivate ESP ®
:press button :.
The å ESP®
OFF warning lamp in the
instrument cluster lights up. The ÷OFF
OFF
message appears in the multifunction display.
X To activate ESP ®
:when SPORT handling
mode is activated or ESP ®
is deactivated,
press button :.
The å ESP®
OFF warning lamp in the
instrument cluster goes out. The ÷ON ON
message appears in the multifunction display.
Characteristics when SPORT handling
mode is activated
If SPORT handling mode is activated and one or
more wheels start to spin, the ÷ESP®
warn-
ing lamp on the instrument cluster flashes. In
such situations, ESP ®
will stabilise the vehicle
only to a limited degree.
When SPORT handling mode is activated:
R ESP ®
improves driving stability only to a limi-
ted degree
R traction control is still activated
R engine torque is no longer limited and the
drive wheels may start to spin
The spinning of the wheels results in a cut for
better traction on loose surfaces.
R ESP ®
continues to provide assistance when
the brakes are firmly applied
Characteristics when ESP ®
is deactivated
If ESP ®
is deactivated and one or more wheels
start to spin, the ÷ESP®
warning lamp on
the instrument cluster flashes. In such situa-
tions, ESP ®
will not stabilise the vehicle.
If you deactivate ESP ®
:
R ESP ®
no longer improves driving stability
R engine torque is no longer limited and the
drive wheels may start to spin
The spinning of the wheels results in a cut for
better traction on loose surfaces.
R traction control is still activated
R COLLISION PREVENTION ASSIST is no longer
available, nor is it activated if you brake firmly
with assistance from ESP
R PRE-SAFE ®
is no longer available; nor is it
activated if you brake firmly and ESP ®
inter-
venes
R ESP ®
continues to provide assistance when
the brakes are firmly applied Driving safety systems
59Safety Z
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EBD (electronic brake force distribu-
tion)
General notes EBD monitors and controls the brake pressure
on the rear wheels to improve driving stability
while braking.
Important safety notes i
Observe the "Important safety notes" sec-
tion (Y page 54). G
WARNING
If EBD is malfunctioning, the rear wheels can
lock, e.g. under full braking. This increases the risk of skidding and an accident.
You should therefore adapt your driving style
to the different handling characteristics. Have the brake system checked at a qualified spe-
cialist workshop.
Observe information regarding indicator and
warning lamps (Y page 197) as well as display
messages (Y page 174). ADAPTIVE BRAKE
ADAPTIVE BRAKE enhances braking safety and
offers increased braking comfort. In addition to
the braking function, ADAPTIVE BRAKE also fea-
tures the hill start assist function (Y page 104).Protection against theft
Immobiliser
The immobiliser prevents your vehicle from
being started without the correct key.
X To activate with KEYLESS-GO start func-
tion or KEYLESS-GO: switch the ignition off
and open the driver's door.
X To activate with the key: remove the key
from the ignition lock.
X To deactivate: switch on the ignition.
When leaving the vehicle, always take the key
with you and lock the vehicle. Anyone can start
the engine if a valid key has been left inside the
vehicle. i
The immobiliser is always deactivated when
you start the engine. ATA (Anti-Theft Alarm system)
X
To prime: lock the vehicle with the key or
KEYLESS-GO.
Indicator lamp :flashes. The alarm system
is primed after approximately 15 seconds.
X To deactivate: unlock the vehicle with the
key or KEYLESS-GO.
or X Insert the key into the ignition lock.
A visual and audible alarm is triggered if the
alarm system is primed and you open: R a door
R the vehicle with the emergency key element
R the tailgate
R the bonnet
X To switch the alarm off with the key: press
the % or& button on the key.
The alarm is deactivated.
or X Insert the key into the ignition lock.
The alarm is deactivated.
X To deactivate the alarm using KEYLESS-
GO: grasp the outside door handle. The key
must be outside the vehicle.
The alarm is deactivated.
or X Press the Start/Stop button. The key must be
inside the vehicle.
The alarm is deactivated.
The alarm is not switched off, even if you close
the open door that has triggered it, for example.
i If the alarm stays on for more than
30 seconds, the Mercedes‑ Benz emergency60
Protection against theftSafety
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call system automatically sends a message to
the Customer Assistance Centre. This is done by means of a text message or a data con-
nection.
The emergency call system sends a message
or establishes a data connection provided
that:
R you have subscribed to the Mercedes‑Benz
emergency call system
R the Mercedes ‑Benz emergency call system
has been activated properly
R the necessary mobile phone network is
available Tow-away protection
Function An audible and visual alarm is triggered if your
vehicle's angle of inclination is altered while
tow-away protection is primed. This can occur if
the vehicle is jacked up on one side, for exam-
ple.
Activating X
Make sure that:
R the doors are closed
R the tailgate is closed
Only then is tow-away protection primed.
X Lock the vehicle with the key or KEYLESS-GO.
Tow-away protection is primed after approx-
imately 60 seconds.
Switching off X
Unlock the vehicle with the key or KEYLESS-
GO.
or X Insert the key into the ignition lock.
Tow-away protection is switched off automat-
ically. Deactivating X
With KEYLESS-GO start function or vehi-
cles with KEYLESS-GO: switch off the
engine using the Start/Stop button and open the driver's door.
or
X Remove the key from the ignition lock.
X Press button :.
Indicator lamp ;lights up briefly.
X Lock the vehicle with the key or KEYLESS-GO.
Tow-away protection is deactivated.
Tow-away protection remains deactivated until: R the vehicle is unlocked again and
R a door is opened and closed again and
R the vehicle is locked again
To prevent a false alarm, deactivate tow-away
protection if you lock your vehicle and it:
R is being transported
R is being loaded onto a ferry or car transporter,
for example
R is parked on a movable surface, e.g. in a split-
level garage Interior motion sensor
Function When the interior motion sensor is primed, a
visual and audible alarm is triggered if move-
ment is detected in the vehicle interior. This can
occur if someone reaches into the vehicle inte-
rior, for example.
Activating X
Make sure that: Protection against theft
61Safety Z