
GWARNING
The distance warning function does not react:
Rto people or animals
Rto oncoming vehicles
Rto crossing traffic
Rwhen cornering
Thus, the distance warning function cannot
provide a warning in all critical situations.
There is a risk of an accident.
Always pay careful attention to the traffic sit-
uation and be ready to brake.
GWARNING
The distance warning function cannot always
clearly identify objects and complex traffic
situations.
In such cases, the distance warning function
may:
Rgive an unnecessary warning
Rnot give a warning
There is a risk of an accident.
Always pay careful attention to the traffic sit-
uation and do not rely solely on the distance
warning function.
Function
Starting at a speed of approximately 4 mph
(7 km/h), the distance warning function warns
you if you rapidly approach a vehicle in front. An
intermittent warning tone will then sound, and
the · distance warning lamp will light up in
the instrument cluster.
XBrake immediately in order to increase the
distance from the vehicle in front.
or
XTake evasive action, provided it is safe to do
so.
Due to the nature of the system, particularly
complicated 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 44 mph
(70 km/h), the distance warning function can also react to stationary obstacles, such as stop-
ped 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:
Rgives the driver more time to react to critical
driving situations
Rcan help the driver to avoid an accident or
Rreduces the effects of an accident
Vehicles without DISTRONIC PLUS: the
autonomous braking function is available in the
following speed ranges:
Rfrom 4 mph (7 km/h) to approx. 65 mph
(105 km/h) for moving objects
Rfrom 4 mph (7 km/h) to approx. 31 mph
(50 km/h) for stationary objects
Vehicles with DISTRONIC PLUS: the autono-
mous braking function is available in the follow-
ing speed ranges:
Rfrom 4 mph (7 km/h) to approximately
124 mph (200 km/h) for moving objects
Rfrom 4 mph (7 km/h) to approximately
31 mph (50 km/h) for stationary objects
Due to the nature of the system, particularly
complicated but non-critical driving conditions
may also cause the Autonomous Braking Func-
tion to intervene.
If the autonomous braking function requires a
particularly high braking force, preventative
passenger protection measures (PRE-SAFE
®)
are activated simultaneously (Ypage 48).
Adaptive Brake Assist
General information
iObserve the "Important safety notes" sec-
tion (Ypage 52).
With the help of adaptive Brake Assist, the dis-
tance warning signal 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
braking force necessary to avoid a collision. If
you apply the brakes forcefully, adaptive Brake
54Driving safety systems
Safety

side. In addition, more drive torque is transfer-
red to the wheel or wheels with traction.
Traction control remains active, even if you
deactivate ESP
®.
Important safety notes
iObserve the "Important safety notes" sec-
tion (Ypage 52).
GWARNING
If ESP
®is malfunctioning, ESP®is unable to
stabilize the vehicle. Additionally, further driv-
ing safety systems are deactivated. This
increases the risk of skidding and an accident.
Drive on carefully. Have ESP
®checked at a
qualified specialist workshop.
ESP
®is only deactivated if the åwarning
lamp is lit continuously.
When SPORT handling mode is activated, the
M warning lamp lights up in the instrument
panel.
When the åandh warning lamps light up
continuously, ESP
®is not available due to a mal-
function.
Observe the information on warning lamps
(
Ypage 192) and display messages which may
be shown in the instrument cluster
(
Ypage 167).
Only use wheels with the recommended tire
sizes. Only then will ESP
®function properly.
Characteristics of ESP®
General information
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:
XDo not deactivate ESP®under any circum-
stances.
XOnly depress the accelerator pedal as far as
necessary when pulling away.
XAdapt 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 when the vehicle stops
moving. The engine starts automatically when
the driver wants to pull away again. ESP
®
remains in its previously selected status. Exam-
ple: 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 52).
You can select between the following states of
ESP
®:
RESP®is activated.
RSPORT handling mode is activated.
RESP®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.
GWARNING
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
®:
Rwhen using snow chains
Rin deep snow
Ron sand or gravel
Ron closed roads when the vehicle's own over-
steering and understeering characteristics
are desired
Driving in SPORT handling mode or without
ESP
®requires an extremely qualified and expe-
rienced driver.
56Driving safety systems
Safety

!The tailgate swings upwards and out when
opening. Therefore, make sure that there is
sufficient space above the tailgate.
The opening dimensions of the tailgate can be
found in the "Vehicle data" section
(
Ypage 286).
If the rear spoiler has been extended manually
the height when opened is higher by this
amount. If in doubt, retract the rear spoiler again
manually before opening the tailgate
(
Ypage 222).
You can switch the cargo compartment lamp on
and off manually on the overhead control panel
(
Ypage 89).
Do not leave the SmartKey in the cargo com-
partment. You could otherwise lock yourself
out.
You should preferably place luggage or loads in
the cargo compartment. Observe the loading
guidelines (
Ypage 209).
Opening/closing from outside
Opening
XPress the Fbutton on the SmartKey.
The tailgate opens slightly.
XRaise the tailgate.
Closing
XPull the tailgate down using recess :and let
it drop into the lock.
XLock the vehicle if necessary with the &
button on the SmartKey or with KEYLESS-GO
(
Ypage 61).
Unlocking with KEYLESS-GO
Important safety notes
GWARNING
The vehicle's exhaust system may be very hot. If you unlock the cargo compartment with
KEYLESS-GO, you could burn yourself by
touching the exhaust system. There is a risk of
injury. Always ensure that you only make the
kicking movement within the detection range
of sensors.
!If the SmartKey is within the rear detection
range of KEYLESS-GO, the following situa-
tions, for example, could lead to the uninten-
tional opening of the tailgate:
Rusing a car wash
Rusing a power washer
Make sure that the SmartKey is at least 10 ft
(3 m) away from the vehicle.
General notes
Vehicles with KEYLESS-GO without carbon
package: you can unlock the tailgate without
using your hands. This is useful if you have your
hands full. To do this, make a kicking movement
under the rear bumper with your foot.
Cargo compartment69
Opening and closing
Z

Observe the following points:
RCarry your KEYLESS-GO key about your per-
son. The KEYLESS-GO key must be in the rear
detection range of the vehicle.
RWhen making the kicking movement, make
sure that you are standing firmly on the
ground and that there is sufficient clearance
to the rear of the vehicle. You could otherwise
lose your balance e.g. on ice.
RAlways ensure that you only make the kicking
movement within the detection range of sen-
sors :.
RStand at least 12 in (30 cm) away from the
rear area while doing so.
RDo not come into contact with the bumper
while making the kicking movement. Other-
wise, the sensors may not function correctly.
RUnlocking with KEYLESS-GO does not func-
tion when the engine is started.
RDirt caused by road salt around sensors :
may restrict functionality.
Using the HANDS-FREE ACCESS with a pros-
thetic leg may restrict functionality.
RIf a KEYLESS-GO key is within the rear detec-
tion range of KEYLESS-GO, the sensors could
be triggered. Therefore, the tailgate cannot be
unlocked unintentionally if, for example, you:
-sit on the edge of the cargo compartment.
-set something down or lift something up
behind the vehicle.
-polish the rear of the vehicle.
Do not carry the KEYLESS-GO key about your
person in these situations or in situations sim-
ilar to these. This prevents the tailgate from
being unlocked unintentionally.
Operation
XTo unlock: kick into sensor detection
range :below the bumper with your foot.
The tailgate opens slightly.
XTo open: raise the tailgate.
XIf the tailgate does not unlock after sev-
eral attempts: wait at least ten seconds and
then kick under the bumper once again.
If you hold your foot under the bumper for too
long, the tailgate does not unlock. Repeat the
leg movement more quickly if this occurs.
Unlocking from inside the vehicle
Important safety notes
GWARNING
Combustion engines emit poisonous exhaust
gases such as carbon monoxide. If the tailgate is open when the engine is running, particu-
larly if the vehicle is moving, exhaust fumes
could enter the passenger compartment.
There is a risk of poisoning.
Turn off the engine before opening the tail-
gate. Never drive with the tailgate open.
70Cargo compartment
Opening and closing

Correct driver's seat position
GWARNING
You could lose control of your vehicle if you do the following while driving:
Radjust the driver's seat, head restraint,
steering wheel or mirrors
Rfasten the seat belt
There is a risk of an accident.
Adjust the driver's seat, head restraint, steer-
ing wheel and mirror and fasten your seat belt before starting the engine.
Observe the following when adjusting steering
wheel :, seat belt ;and driver's seat =:
Ryou are as far away from the driver's air bag as
possible.
Ryou are sitting in a normal upright position.
Ryour thighs are slightly supported by the seat
cushion.
Ryour legs are not entirely stretched and you
can depress the pedals properly.
Rthe back of your head is supported at eye level
by the center of the head restraint.
Ryou can hold the steering wheel with your
arms slightly bent.
Ryou can move your legs freely.
Ryou can see all the displays in the instrument
cluster clearly.
Ryou should have a good overview of traffic
conditions.
Rthe seat belt is pulled snugly against the bodyand is routed across the center of your shoul-
der and across your hips in the pelvic area.
Further related subjects:
RManual seat adjustment (Ypage 76)
RElectrical seat adjustment (Ypage 77)
RFastening the seat belt correctly (Ypage 39).
RAdjusting the rear-view mirror and exterior
mirrors (Ypage 82).
RStoring the seat, steering wheel and exterior
mirror settings using the memory function
(
Ypage 84).
Seats
Important safety notes
GWARNING
Children could become trapped if they adjust
the seats, particularly when unattended.
There is a risk of injury.
When leaving the vehicle, always take the
SmartKey with you and lock the vehicle. Never
leave children unsupervised in the vehicle.
The seats can still be adjusted when there is no
SmartKey in the ignition lock.
GWARNING
When you adjust a seat, you or other vehicle
occupants could become trapped, e.g. on the seat guide rail. There is a risk of injury.
Make sure when adjusting a seat that no one
has any body parts in the sweep of the seat.
Observe the safety notes on "Air bags"
(
Ypage 40) and "Children in the Vehicle"
(Ypage 49).
Seats75
Seats, steering wheel and mirrors
Z

GWARNING
You could lose control of your vehicle if you do the following while driving:
Radjust the driver's seat, head restraint,
steering wheel or mirrors
Rfasten the seat belt
There is a risk of an accident.
Adjust the driver's seat, head restraint, steer-
ing wheel and mirror and fasten your seat belt before starting the engine.
For safety reasons, seat fore-and-aft adjustment
on electrically adjustable seats is only possible
for a maximum of two seconds when the vehicle
is in motion. The seat fore-and-aft adjustment
can then no longer be set.
GWARNING
If you adjust the seat height carelessly, you or
other vehicle occupants could be trapped and
thereby injured. Children in particular could
accidentally press the electrical seat adjust-
ment buttons and become trapped. There is a
risk of injury.
While moving the seats, make sure that your
hands or other body parts do not get under the
lever assembly of the seat adjustment sys-
tem.
GWARNING
If head restraints are not adjusted correctly,
they cannot provide protection as intended.
There is an increased risk of injury in the head
and neck area, e.g. in the event of an accident or when braking.
Before driving off, make sure for every vehicle
occupant that the center of the head restraint
supports the back of the head at about eye
level.
GWARNING
The seat belt does not offer the intended level of protection if you have not moved the back-
rest to an almost vertical position. When brak-
ing or in the event of an accident, you could
slide underneath the seat belt and sustain
abdomen or neck injuries, for example. This
poses an increased risk of injury or even fatal injury.
Adjust the seat properly before beginning
your journey. Always ensure that the backrest
is in an almost vertical position and that the
shoulder section of your seat belt is routed
across the center of your shoulder.
!To avoid damage to the seats and the seat
heating, observe the following information:
Rkeep liquids from spilling on the seats. If
liquid is spilled on the seats, dry them as
soon as possible.
Rif the seat covers are damp or wet, do not
switch on the seat heating. The seat heat-
ing should also not be used to dry the seats.
Rclean the seat covers as recommended;
see "Interior care".
Rdo not transport heavy loads on the seats.
Do not place sharp objects on the seat
cushions, e.g. knives, nails or tools. The
seats should only be occupied by passen-
gers, if possible.
Rwhen the seat heating is in operation, do
not cover the seats with insulating materi-
als, e.g. blankets, coats, bags, seat covers,
child seats or booster seats.
!Make sure that there are no objects in the
footwell under or behind the seats when mov-
ing the seats back. There is a risk that the
seats and/or the objects could be damaged.
Adjusting the seats manually
General notes
The manually adjustable seat is only available in
Canada.
76Seats
Seats, steering wheel and mirrors

Problems with the seat heating
ProblemPossible causes/consequences andMSolutions
The seat heating has
switched off prematurely
or cannot be switched
on.The on-board voltage is too low because too many electrical consum-
ers are switched on.
XSwitch off electrical consumers that you do not need, such as the
rear window defroster or interior lighting.
Once the battery is sufficiently charged, the seat heating can be
switched back on manually.
Steering wheel
Important safety notes
GWARNING
You could lose control of your vehicle if you do the following while driving:
Radjust the driver's seat, head restraint,
steering wheel or mirrors
Rfasten the seat belt
There is a risk of an accident.
Adjust the driver's seat, head restraint, steer-
ing wheel and mirror and fasten your seat belt before starting the engine.
GWARNING
If the steering wheel is unlocked while the
vehicle is in motion, it could change position
unexpectedly. This could cause you to lose
control of the vehicle. There is a risk of an
accident.
Before starting off, make sure the steering
wheel is locked. Never unlock the steering
wheel while the vehicle is in motion.
GWARNING
Children could injure themselves if they
adjust the steering wheel. There is a risk of
injury.
When leaving the vehicle, always take the
SmartKey with you and lock the vehicle. Never
leave children unsupervised in the vehicle.
The electrically adjustable steering wheel can
still be adjusted when there is no SmartKey in
the ignition lock.
Adjusting the steering wheel
:Adjusts the steering wheel position (fore-
and-aft adjustment)
;Adjusts the steering wheel height
iFurther related subjects:
REASY-ENTRY/EXIT feature (Ypage 80)
RStoring settings (Ypage 84)
EASY-ENTRY/EXIT feature
Important safety notes
GWARNING
When the EASY-ENTRY/EXIT feature adjusts
the steering wheel, you and other vehicle
occupants – particularly children – could
become trapped. There is a risk of injury.
While the EASY-ENTRY/EXIT feature is mak-
ing adjustments, make sure that no one has
any body parts in the sweep of the steering
wheel.
Move the steering wheel adjustment lever if
there is a risk of entrapment by the steering
wheel. The adjustment process is stopped.
80Steering wheel
Seats, steering wheel and mirrors

Press one of the memory function position but-
tons. The adjustment process is stopped. This
function is only available on vehicles with mem-
ory function.
GWARNING
If children activate the EASY-ENTRY/EXIT fea-
ture, they can become trapped, particularly
when unattended. There is a risk of injury.
When leaving the vehicle, always take the
SmartKey with you and lock the vehicle. Never
leave children unsupervised in the vehicle.
GWARNING
If you drive off while the EASY-ENTRY/EXIT
feature is making adjustments, you could lose
control of the vehicle. There is a risk of an
accident.
Always wait until the adjustment process is
complete before driving off.
The EASY-ENTRY/EXIT feature makes getting in
and out of your vehicle easier.
You can activate and deactivate the EASY-
ENTRY/EXIT feature using the multimedia sys-
tem (see the separate operating instructions for
the multimedia system).
Position of the steering wheel when the
EASY-ENTRY/EXIT feature is active
The steering wheel swings upwards when you:
Rremove the SmartKey from the ignition lock
Ropen the driver's door and the Stop button is
in position 1
iThe steering wheel only moves upwards if it
has not already reached the upper stop.
Position of the steering wheel for driv-
ing
The steering wheel is moved to the last selected
position when you:
Rclose the driver's door and
Rpress the Start/Stop button once
When you close the driver's door with the igni-
tion switched on, the steering wheel is also
automatically moved to the previously set posi-
tion. The last position of the steering wheel column is
stored after each manual setting or when you
store the setting with the memory function
(
Ypage 84).
Crash-responsive EASY-EXIT feature
If the crash-responsive EASY-EXIT feature is trig-
gered in an accident, the steering column will
move upwards when the driver's door is opened
or the SmartKey is removed from the ignition
lock. This makes it easier to exit the vehicle and
rescue the occupants.
Mirrors
Exterior mirrors
Important safety notes
GWARNING
You could lose control of your vehicle if you do the following while driving:
Radjust the driver's seat, head restraint,
steering wheel or mirrors
Rfasten the seat belt
There is a risk of an accident.
Adjust the driver's seat, head restraint, steer-
ing wheel and mirror and fasten your seat belt before starting the engine.
GWARNING
The exterior mirror on the front-passenger
side reduces the size of the image. Visible
objects are actually closer than they appear.
This means that you could misjudge the dis-
tance from road users traveling behind, e.g.
when changing lane. There is a risk of an acci-
dent.
For this reason, always make sure of the
actual distance from the road users traveling
behind by glancing over your shoulder.
Mirrors81
Seats, steering wheel and mirrors
Z