
Fu
nctions of ABS (anti-lock braking sy stem) ABS
regulates the brake pressure in critical driv‐
ing situations:
R During braking, the wheels are pr evented
from blocking, e.g. due tomaximum full-s top
braking or insuf ficient traction of the tyres.
R Vehicle steerability while braking is ensured.
R ABS is active from speeds of appr ox.
8 km/h.
If ABS inter venes when braking, you will feel a
pulsing in the brake pedal. The pulsating brake
pedal can be an indication of hazardous road
conditions and can ser veas a reminder totake
ex tra care while driving.
Sy stem limits
ABS may be impaired or may not function if a
malfunction has occur red and theye llow !
ABS warning lamp lights up continuously in the
instrument clus ter af terth e engine is star ted. Fu
nction of BAS (Brake Assist Sy stem) &
WARNING Risk of an accident caused by
a malfunction in BAS (Brake Assi stSys‐
te m)
If BA S is malfunctioning, the braking dis tance
may increase in an emergency braking situa‐
tion. #
Dep ress the brake pedal with full force
in emer gency braking situations. ABS
pr eve nts the wheels from locking. BA
S suppo rts yo ur eme rgency braking situation
with additional brake forc e.
If yo u depress the brake pedal quickl y,BA S is
acti vated:
R BAS au tomatical lyboosts the brake pres‐
sure.
R BAS can sho rten the braking dis tance.
R ABS pr events the wheels from locking.
The brakes will function as usual once you
re lease the brake pedal. BAS is deactivated. Fu
nctions of ESP ®
(Electronic Stability Pro‐
gr am) &
WARNING Risk of skidding if ESP ®
is
malfunctioning
If ESP ®
is malfunctioning, ESP ®
cannot car ry
out vehicle stabilisation. In addition, other
driving saf ety sy stems are switched off. #
Drive on carefull y. #
Have ESP ®
ch ecked at a qualified spe‐
cialist workshop. &
WARNING Risk of skidding if ESP ®
is
deactivated
If yo u deactivate ESP ®
, ESP ®
cannot car ry
out vehicle stabilisation. #
ESP ®
should on lybe deactivated in the
fo llowing situations. ESP
®
monitors and impr oves driving stability and
traction, particular ly inthefo llowing situations:
R When pulling away on wet or slippe ryroads. Driving and parking
18 9 

R
When braking.
R Vehicles with trailer hitch: In trailer opera‐
tion from speeds of 65 km/h, if theve hicle/
trailer combination begins tosw ay from side
to side.
R Instro ng sidewinds when you are driving
fast erthan 80 km/h.
ESP ®
can stabilise theve hicle byinter vening in
th efo llowing ways:
R One or more wheels are braked.
R The engine output is adap ted according to
th e situation.
ESP ®
is deactivated if the ESP ®
OFF å warn‐
ing lamp lights up continuously in the instrument
clus ter:
R Driving stability will no lon ger be impr oved.
R Vehicles with trailer hitch: Stabilisation of
th eve hicle/trailer combination is no longer
active.
R Crosswind Assist is no longer active.
R The drive wheels could spin. R
ETS/4ETS traction control is still active.
% Even when ESP ®
is deactivated, you are still
assis tedby ESP ®
when braking.
ESP ®
is inter vening if the ESP ®
÷ warning
lamp flashes in the instrument clus ter:
R Do not deacti vate ESP ®
.
R Only depress the accelera tor pedal as far as
is necessar y.
R Adapt your driving style to suit the cur rent
ro ad and weather conditions.
Deactivate ESP ®
in thefo llowing situations to
impr ovetraction:
R When using snow chains.
R In deep sn ow.
R On sand or gr avel.
% Spinning the wheels results in a cutting
action which pr ovides better grip.
ESP ®
is deactivated if theå ESP®
OFF warn‐
ing lamp lights up continuously in the instrument
clus ter. If
th e ESP ®
÷ warning lamp lights up continu‐
ousl y,ESP ®
is not available due toa malfunction.
Obse rve any information which may be displa yed
in the instrument clus ter:
R Warning and indicator lamps (→ page 501)
R Display messages (→ page445)
ETS/4ETS (Electronic Traction Sy stem)
ETS/4E TStraction control is pa rtof ESP ®
.
ETS/4ETS can impr ovetheve hicle's traction by
inter vening in thefo llowing ways:
R The drive wheels are braked individually if
th ey spin.
R More drive torque is transferred tothe wheel
or wheels with traction.
Influence of drive prog rams on ESP ®
The drive programs enable ESP ®
to adapt todif‐
fe re nt we ather and road conditions as well as
th e driver's prefer red driving style. You can
select the drive programs using theDY NA MIC
SELECT switch. 19 0
Driving and pa rking 

Ac
tivating/deactivating ESP ®
(Electronic Sta‐
bility Prog ram) Multimedia sy
stem:
, Vehicle .
k Assistance .
ESP #
Activate Oor deacti vate ª the function.
ESP ®
is deactivated if the ESP ®
OFF å warn‐
ing lamp lights up continuously in the instrument
clus ter.
Obser vethe information on warning lamps and
display messages which may be shown in the
instrument clus ter. Fu
nctions of ESP ®
Crosswind Assist ESP
®
Crosswind Assist de tects sudden gu sts of
side wind and helps the driver tokeep theve hi‐
cle in the lane:
R ESP ®
Crosswind Assist is active at vehicle
speeds between 80 km/h and 200 km/h
when driving stra ight ahead or cornering
slight ly. R
The vehicle is stabilised bymeans of individ‐
ual brake application on one side. Fu
nctions of ESP ®
trailer stabilisation &
WARNING Risk of accident in poor road
and weather conditions
In poor road and weather conditions, the
trailer stabilisation cannot pr event lu rching of
th eve hicle/trailer combination. Trailers with
a high centre of grav ity may tip over before
ESP ®
de tects this. #
Alw ays adapt your driving style to suit
th e cur rent road and weather condi‐
tions. When driving with a trailer, ESP
®
can stabilise
yo ur vehicle if the trailer begins tosw ay from
side toside:
R ESP ®
trailer stabilisation is active abo ve
speeds of 65 km/h. R
Slight sw aying is reduced bymeans of a tar‐
ge ted, individual brake application on one
side.
R Intheeve nt of intense sw aying, the engine
output is also reduced and all wheels are
braked.
ESP ®
trailer stabilisation may be impaired or
may not function if:
R The trailer is not connec ted cor rectly or is
not de tected prope rly by theve hicle. Fu
nction of EBD (Electronic Brake forc e Dis‐
tribution) EBD is
characterised bythefo llowing:
R Monitoring and regulating the brake pressure
on there ar wheels.
R Impr oved driving stability when braking,
especially on bends. Driving and parking
19 3 

Fu
nction of Adaptive Brake Lights Ad
aptive Brake Lights warnfollowing traf fic in an
emergency braking situation:
R byflashing brake lamps
R byactivating the hazard warning lights
Ad aptive Brake Lights ha vethefo llowing charac‐
te rist ics:
R Ifyo u brake sharply at a speed abo ve
50 km/h, or if braking is assi sted byBAS or
Ac tive Brake Assi st,th e brake lamps flash
ra pidl y.This pr ovides traf fic tr ave lling behind
yo u with an even more noticeable warning.
R Ifyo u brake sharply toast andstill from a
speed abo ve70 km/h, the hazard warning
lights are activated automatically once the
ve hicle is stationar y.The brake lamps light
up again cons tantly when you depress the
brake pedal. The hazard warning lights
switch off automatically when you drive
fast erthan 10 km/h. You can also swit choff
th e hazard warning lights using the hazard
wa rning button. The
vehicle is braked considerably when moving
fast erthan 50 km/h:
R Brake Assist Sy stem (BAS) and Active Brake
Assi stsupport you during braking.
R Brake Assist activates theAd aptive Brake
Lights.
R The brake lamps flash rapidl y. Cruise control and limiter
Fu
nction of cruise control
Cruise cont rol accelerates and brakes theve hi‐
cle automatically in order tomaintain a pr evi‐
ously stored speed.
If yo u accelerate toove rtake, forex ample, the
st ored speed is not dele ted. If youre mo veyour
fo ot from the accelera tor pedal af terov ertak ing,
cruise control will resume speed regulation back
to thestored speed.
Yo u can operate cruise cont rol with the cruise
control le ver.
If yo ufa ilto adapt your driving style, cruise con‐
trol can neither reduce therisk of an accident
nor override the la wsof ph ysics. It cannot take into account
road, weather or traf fic conditions.
Cruise control is only an aid. You are responsible
fo rth e dis tance totheve hicle in front, forve hi‐
cle speed, for braking in good time and forst ay‐
ing in lane.
Sy stem limitations
Cruise control may be unable tomaintain the
st ored speed on uphill gradients. The stored
speed is resumed when the gradient evens out.
Do not use cruise control in thefo llowing situa‐
tions:
R in traf fic situations whi chrequ ire frequent
ch anges of speed, e.g. in heavy traf fic, on
winding roads
R on slippe ryroads. Accelerating can cause
th e drive wheels tolose traction and the
ve hicle could then skid
R when visibility is poor
Fu nction of the limi ter
The limiter restricts the speed of theve hicle. To
re duce the speed swiftly tothe set speed, the
limiter applies the brakes automatically. Driving and parking
19 9 

Pulling
the cruise control le ver will set the dis‐
pla yed speed limit as the speed, pr ovided that:
R The Speed Limit Pilot has been activated in
th e multimedia sy stem and
R Distance Pilot DISTRONIC has been acti va‐
te d.
If no speed limit is displa yed when the le ver is
operated, the speed set bythe driver is adop ted.
Drive prog ram
The DYNA MIC SELECT switch allo wsyouto
ch ange the driving style of Dis tance Pilot
DISTRONIC. Depending on which drive program
is selected, the driving characteristics can be
ge ared towa rds fuel econom y,comfort or
dynamic per form ance (→ page168).
Sy stem limits
Dis tance Pilot DISTRONIC is acti veinthe
0 km/h to200 km/h speed range.
Ve hicles with the Driving Assistance Pack‐
age: Distance Pilot DISTRONIC is acti veinthe
0 km/h to210 km/h speed range. The sy
stem may be impaired or may not function
in thefo llowing situations:
R In sno w,rain, fog, heavy spr ay, if there is
gl are, in direct sunlight or in great lyvarying
light conditions.
R Ifth e windscreen in the area of the camera is
dirty, mis ted up, damaged or co vered.
R Ifth era dar sensors are dirty or co vered.
Do not use Dis tance Pilot DISTRONIC in thefo l‐
lowing situations:
R Inroad and traf fic conditions whi chdo not
allow youto maintain a cons tant speed, e.g.
in heavy traf fic or on winding roads.
R On slippe ryroads. Braking or accelerating
can cause the drive wheels tolose traction
and theve hicle could then skid.
R When there is poor visibility, e.g. due tofog,
heavy rain or sno w.
R In multi-s torey car par ksor at tollst ations.
R Onroads with steep uphill or downhill gradi‐
ents. Ti
ps
Pa y particular attention in thefo llowing traf fic
situations. In such situations, brake if necessar y.
Dis tance Pilot DISTRONIC is then deactivated:
R When cornering, entering and exiting a bend.
R When not driving in the cent reofthe lane.
R When other vehicles are changing lane.
R Ifth ere are nar row vehicles.
R Ifth ere are obs tacles and stationary vehi‐
cles.
R Ifth ere are crossing vehicles, pedestrians,
mo torcyc lists or cyclists. 204
Driving and parking 

or
#
Accelerate brie fly.
Yo ur vehicle pulls away and adapts its speed
to that of theve hicle in front. If no vehicle is
de tected in front, your vehicle accelerates to
th e set speed.
Ad opting the speed limit as thesto red speed
Re quirements:
R Speed Limit Pilot is activated in the multime‐
dia sy stem (→ page241).
R Distance Pilot DISTRONIC is acti vated.
R The sy stem de tects a traf fic sign indicating a
speed limit. #
Brie fly pull the cruise control le verto wa rds
yo u3.
The displ ayed speed limit is adop ted as the
st ored speed. Your vehicle adapts its speed
to that of theve hicle in front, but only up to
th estored speed. If Speed Limit Pilot is acti‐
va ted, any de tected changes in the speed
limit are adop tedby the sy stem. Collision
warning
If Dis tance Pilot DISTRONIC is unable tosuf fi‐
ciently decele rate theve hicle in order topreve nt
it from approa ching theve hicle in front, you will
be warned visually and acousticall y.An intermit‐
te nt wa rning tone will then sound and the dis‐
ta nce warning lamp will light up in the instru‐
ment clus ter. #
Brake immediately in order toinc rease the
dis tance from theve hicle in front.
or #
Take evasive action pr ovided it is safe todo
so. Fu
nction of DRIVE PIL OT The DRIVE PI
LOT function is available only
on vehicles with the Driving Assistance
pa ckage.
DRIVE PIL OTincludes thefo llowing driving and
driving saf ety sy stems:
R Steering Pilot with Active Lane Change Assi st
( → page 209)
R Distance Pilot DISTRONIC (→ page 202) R
Speed Limit Pil ot (→page 202) St
eering Pilot Fu
nction of Steering Pilot
St eering Pilot is only available forve hicles
with the Driving Assistance Package.
R Steering Pilot is operational at speeds up to
21 0 km/h and helps youto stay inthe cent re
of the lane bymeans of moderate steering
inter ventions.
R It uses as a refere nce theve hicle in front or
th e lane markings, depending on the driven
speed.
R Steering Pilot requ ires you as the driver, to
ke ep your hands on thesteering wheel at all
times so that you are able tointer vene at any
time tocor rect the course of theve hicle and
ke ep it in lane.
R Steering Pilot can be overridden at any time
by steering theve hicle yourself.
R Ifth e sy stem de tects that there are no lane
markings, it uses theve hicle ahead as a ref‐
erence up toa speed of 130 km/h. Driving and parking
209 

Assi
stance when changing lanes is pr ovided if all
th efo llowing conditions are me t:
R You are driving on a mo torw ay or high-speed
multi-lane major road with multiple lanes in
th e direction of tr avel.
R The neighbouring lane is free and separated
by a broken lane marking.
R The driven speed is between 80 km/h and
18 0 km/h.
R The turn signal indicator is switched on for
longer than two seconds.
If th e sy stem is impaired, Active Lane Change
Assi stmay be inter rupte d. If an inter ruption
occurs, display 1appears in the multifunction
display along with a warning tone prom pting you
to take control of theve hicle. Ste
ering and contact de tection
St eering Pilot requ ires you as the driver, tokeep
yo ur hands on thesteering wheel at all times so
th at you are able tointer vene at any time tocor‐
re ct the course of theve hicle and keep it in lane.
The driver must expect a change from active to
passive mode or vice versa at any time.
If yo u are not steering yourself or if you take
yo ur hands off thesteering wheel for a pro‐
longed period of time, the sy stem will, depend‐
ing on the situation, firs t alert you with a visual
wa rning. 1appears in the multifunction displa y.
If yo u are still not steering theve hicle yourself or
if yo u ha venot take n hold of thesteering wheel,
a wa rning tone sounds in addition tothewa rning message
toremind youto take control of the
ve hicle.
The warning message does not appear or disap‐
pears if one of thefo llowing conditions are me t:
R The driver steers theve hicle.
R The driver presses a steering wheel button or
operates Touch Control.
Ac tive Eme rgency Stop Assist
If th e driver continues toigno rethe acoustic
wa rning, Dis tance Pilot DISTRONIC reduces the
speed. If the driver still does not respond, the
ve hicle is decelerated in stages toast andstill.
The driver can cancel the deceleration at any
time byper form ing one of thefo llowing actions:
R Steering
R Braking or accelerating
R Pressing a steering wheel button or operat‐
ing Touch Control
R Activating or deacti vating Steering Pilot or
Dis tance Pilot DISTRONIC
The driver mu stbe ready totake control of the
ve hicle at any time. Driving and parking
211 

%
Once you ha veswitched off the engine, you
cannot restart the engine until you ha ve
deactivated the HOLD function. DY
NA MIC BODY CONT ROL DY
NA MIC BODY CONTROL has thefo llowing
ch aracteristics:
R Variable damping characteristics
R Continual adjustment of the damping forc es
The damping characteristics adapt tothe cur rent
operating and driving situation.
The da mping is tuned individually for each wheel
and is af fected bythefo llowing factors:
R The road sur face conditions R
The drive program selected
R Vehicle load
The drive program can be adjus ted using the
DY NA MIC SELECT switch. AIR
BODY CONT ROL AIR
BODY CONT ROL function
AIR BODY CONTROL is an air suspension sy stem
with variable damping for impr oved driving com‐
fo rt. The all-round le vel control sy stem ensures
th e best possible suspension and const ant
ground clea rance, even wi tha laden vehicle.
When driving at speed, theve hicle is lo wered
automatically toimpr ove driving saf ety and to re
duce fuel consum ption. The option of manually
adjusting theve hicle le vel is also available.
AIR BODY CONTROL comprises:
R Air suspension with variable spring rate
R Automatic le vel control sy stem
R Speed-dependent lo wering toreduce fuel
consum ption
R Manual le vel adjustment
R ADS PLUS (Adaptive Damping Sy stem with
const ant damping forc e adjustment)
R DYNA MIC SELECT switch and le vel button 214
Driving and pa rking