Selecting the drive program
Program selector button (except for AMG vehicles)
Program selector button (AMG vehicles)
XPress program selector button:repeatedly
until the letter for the desired gearshift pro-
gram appears in the multifunction display.
Steering wheel paddle shifters
In the automatic drive program, you can restrict
or derestrict the shift range by using steering
wheel paddle shifters :and ;(
Ypage 123).
In the manual drive program you can change
gears manually using steering wheel paddle
shifters :and ;(
Ypage 124).
iYou can only change gear with the steering
wheel paddle shifters when the transmission
is in position D.
Automatic drive program
Drive program E(drive program Con AMG vehi-
cles) is characterized by the following:
Rcomfort-oriented engine and transmission
settings
Roptimal fuel consumption resulting from the
automatic transmission shifting up sooner
Rthe vehicle pulling away more gently in
forward and reverse gears, unless the accel-
erator pedal is depressed fully
Rincreased sensitivity. This improves driving
stability on slippery road surfaces, for exam-
ple
Rthe automatic transmission shifting up
sooner. This results in the vehicle being driven
at lower engine speeds and the wheels being
less likely to spin
Drive program Sis characterized by the follow-
ing:
Rsporty engine and transmission settings
Rthe vehicle pulling away in first gear
Rthe automatic transmission shifting up later
Rthe fuel consumption possibly being higher as
a result of the later automatic transmission
shift points
Shift ranges
Introduction
When the automatic transmission is in position
D, it is possible to restrict or derestrict the shift
range.
The shift range selected is shown in the multi-
function display. The automatic transmission
shifts only as far as the selected gear.
Setting the shift range is not possible on AMG
vehicles.
Automatic transmission123
Driving and parking
Z
When the engine limiting speed is reached,
the fuel supply is cut to prevent the engine
from overrevving. Always make sure that the
engine speed does not reach the red area of
the tachometer. There is otherwise a risk of
engine damage.
XTo shift up:pull steering wheel paddle
shifter ;.
The automatic transmission shifts up to the
next gear.
XTo shift down: pull steering wheel paddle
shifter :.
The automatic transmission shifts down to
the next gear.
Automatic down shifting occurs when coast-
ing.
If the engine exceeds the maximum engine
speed when shifting down, the automatic
transmission protects against engine damage by not shifting down.
Shift recommendation
The gearshift recommendations assist you in
adopting an economical driving style. The rec-
ommended gear is shown in the multifunction
display.
XIf relevant gearshift recommendation :
appears in the multifunction display on the
instrument cluster, pull the corresponding
steering wheel paddle shifter (
Ypage 123).
The automatic transmission shifts to recom-
mended gear ;.
XIf relevant gearshift recommendation :
appears in the multifunction display in the
instrument cluster, pull the corresponding
steering wheel paddle shifter (see the Digital
Operator's Manual).
The automatic transmission shifts to recom-
mended gear ;.
Manual drive program
General information
In manual drive program M, you can perma-
nently change gear yourself by using the steer-
ing wheel paddle shifters. The transmission
must be in position D. The gear currently selec-
ted and engaged is shown in the multifunction
display.
Manual drive program Mdiffers from drive pro-
grams Eand Swith regard to spontaneity,
responsiveness and smoothness of gear
changes.
Switching on the manual drive program
XShift the transmission to position D.
XPress the program selector button repeatedly
untilMappears in the multifunction display.
Upshifting
!In manual drive program M, the automatic
transmission does not shift up automatically
even when the engine limiting speed for the
current gear is reached. When the engine lim-
iting speed is reached, the fuel supply is cut to
prevent the engine from overrevving. Always
make sure that the engine speed does not
reach the red area of the tachometer. There is
otherwise a risk of engine damage.
Automatic transmission125
Driving and parking
Z
Problems with the automatic transmission
ProblemPossible causes/consequences andMSolutions
The acceleration ability
is deteriorating.
The transmission no lon-
ger changes gear.The transmission is in emergency mode.
It is only possible to shift intosecondgear and reverse gear.
XStop the vehicle.
XShift the transmission to position P.
XTurn the SmartKey to position0in the ignition lock.
XWait at least ten seconds before restarting the engine.
XShift the transmission to position Dor R.
If D is selected, the transmission shifts into secondgear; ifRis
selected, the transmission shifts into reverse gear.
XHave the transmission checked at a qualified specialist workshop
immediately.
You hear a warning tone.You have:
Rswitched off the engine
Ropened the driver's door
Rnot shifted the selector lever to position P
XShift the selector lever to positionP.
Refueling
Important safety notes
GWARNING
Fuel is highly flammable. If you handle fuel
incorrectly, there is a risk of fire and explo-
sion.
You must avoid fire, open flames, creating
sparks and smoking. Switch off the engine
and, if applicable, the auxiliary heating before refueling.
GWARNING
Fuel is poisonous and hazardous to health.
There is a risk of injury.
You must make sure that fuel does not come into contact with your skin, eyes or clothing
and that it is not swallowed. Do not inhale fuel
vapors. Keep fuel away from children.
If you or others come into contact with fuel,
observe the following:
RWash away fuel from skin immediately
using soap and water.
RIf fuel comes into contact with your eyes,
immediately rinse them thoroughly with
clean water. Seek medical assistance with-
out delay.
RIf fuel is swallowed, seek medical assis-
tance without delay. Do not induce vomit-
ing.
RImmediately change out of clothing which
has come into contact with fuel.
!Do not use diesel to refuel vehicles with a
gasoline engine. Even small amounts of the
wrong fuel result in damage to the fuel system
and engine.
!Do not switch on the ignition if you acciden-
tally refuel with the wrong fuel. Otherwise, the
fuel will enter the fuel lines. Notify a qualified
specialist workshop and have the fuel tank
and fuel lines drained completely.
Refueling127
Driving and parking
Z
!Overfilling the fuel tank could damage the
fuel system.
!Take care not to spill any fuel on painted
surfaces. You could otherwise damage the
paintwork.
!Use a filter when refueling from a fuel can.
Otherwise, the fuel lines and/or injection sys-
tem could be blocked by particles from the
fuel can.
If you overfill the fuel tank, pressure may build
up in the fuel tank. This could cause fuel to spray
out when the fuel pump nozzle is removed.
There is a risk of injury. The fuel tank is full when
the fuel pump nozzle first switches off. End the
refueling process.
For further information on fuel and fuel quality
(
Ypage 289).
Refueling
Vehicles with a fuel filler flap
Example: G 550 fuel filler cap
:
To open the fuel filler flap
;Tire pressure table
=Fuel type
?To insert the fuel filler cap
When you open or close the vehicle with the
SmartKey, the fuel filler flap is automatically
unlocked or locked.
The position of the fuel filler cap is displayed
8 in the instrument cluster. The arrow next
to the filling pump indicates the side of the vehi-
cle. The fuel filler flap is located to the rear on
the right.
Opening the fuel filler cap
:To open the fuel filler flap
;Tire pressure table
=Fuel type
?To insert the fuel filler cap
XSwitch the engine off.
iWhen the engine is running and the fuel filler
flap is open, the yellow reserve fuel warning
lamp and the =(USA only) or ;(Can-
ada only) Check Engine warning lamp may
light up.
Further information about warning and indi-
cator lamps in the instrument cluster can be
found in the Digital Operator's Manual.
XRemove the SmartKey from the ignition lock.
XTurn the fuel filler cap counterclockwise and
remove it.
XInsert the fuel filler cap into the holder
bracket on the inside of filler flap ?.
Refueling
XCompletely insert the filler neck of the fuel
pump nozzle into the tank and refuel.
iDo not add any more fuel after the pump
stops filling for the first time. Otherwise, fuel
may leak out.
Closing
XReplace the fuel filler cap and turn it clock-
wise. The fuel filler cap audibly engages.
XClose the fuel filler flap.
iClose the fuel filler flap before locking the
vehicle. A locking pin otherwise prevents the
fuel filler flap from closing after the vehicle
has been locked.
128Refueling
Driving and parking
Fuel filler flap emergency release
The emergencyrelease is locate din th ecargo
compartment, on th eright-hand side when
viewed in th edirection of travel ,behind th erear
panel trim.
iThe vehicl ebody in th eemergenc yrelease
area has shar pedges. Ther eis aris kof injury.
Avoid contact wit hth eedge son th einside of
th evehicl ebody.
XOpen th erear door .
XRemove edge protection :.
XRemove rear panel trim;.
XPull emergencyrelease =in th edirection of
th earrow.
The fuel filler flap is unlocked.
XOpen th efuel filler flap .
Refueling129
Driving and parking
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Problems with the fuel and fuel tank
ProblemPossible causes/consequences andMSolutions
Fuel is leaking from the
vehicle.The fuel line or the fuel tank is defective.
GWARNING
Risk of explosion or fire.
XTurn the SmartKey to position 0(Ypage 112) immediately and
remove it.
XDo not restart the engine under any circumstances.
XConsult a qualified specialist workshop.
The fuel filler flap cannot
be opened.The fuel filler flap is not unlocked.
or
The SmartKey batteries are discharged.
XUnlock the vehicle (Ypage 60).
or
XUnlock the vehicle using the mechanical key (Ypage 61).
XOpen the rear door.
XManually unlock the fuel filler flap using the emergency release
(Ypage 129).
The fuel filler flap is unlocked, but the opening mechanism is jammed.
XManually unlock the fuel filler flap using the emergency release
(Ypage 129).
XConsult a qualified specialist workshop.
Parking
Important safety notes
GWARNING
If you leave children unsupervised in the vehi-
cle, they could set it in motion by, for example:
Rrelease the parking brake.
Rshift the automatic transmission out of the
parking position P.
Rstart the engine.
In addition, they may operate vehicle equip-
ment and become trapped. There is a risk of
an accident and injury.
When leaving the vehicle, always take the
SmartKey with you and lock the vehicle. Never
leave children unsupervised in the vehicle.
GWARNING
Flammable material such as leaves, grass or
twigs may ignite if they come into contact with
hot parts of the exhaust system or exhaust
gas flow. There is a risk of fire.
Park the vehicle so that no flammable mate-
rials come into contact with parts of the vehi-
cle which are hot. Take particular care not to
park on dry grassland or harvested grain
fields.
GWARNING
If you switch off the ignition while driving,
safety-relevant functions are only available
with limitations, or not at all. This could affect, for example, the power steering and the brake
boosting effect. You will require considerably
more effort to steer and brake. There is a risk
of an accident.
130Parking
Driving and parking
XTo release:depress the brake pedal and keep
it depressed.
The selector lever lock is released.
XPull parking brake ;up firmly.
XPress release button :on parking brake ;
and move parking brake ;down to the stop.
When the ignition is switched on or the engine
is running, the F(USA only) or !(Can-
ada only) indicator lamp goes out in the instru-
ment cluster.
iIf you pull away with parking brake ;
applied, a warning tone sounds.
Parking the vehicle for a long period
If you leave the vehicle parked for longer than
four weeks, the battery may be damaged by
exhaustive discharge.
XConnect a trickle charger.
iYou can obtain information about trickle
chargers from a qualified specialist work-
shop.
If you leave the vehicle parked for longer than six
weeks, the vehicle may suffer damage as a
result of lack of use.
XVisit a qualified specialist workshop and seek
advice.
Driving tips
General driving tips
Important safety notes
GWARNING
Always remember that you must concentrate primarily on driving the vehicle. The driver's
concentration must always be directed pri-
marily at road traffic. For your own safety and
that of others, we recommend that you stop
the vehicle at a safe place and in accordance
with the traffic conditions before making or
accepting a phone call.
Comply with all legal requirements if you use
the telephone while driving. Use the hands-
free system and only use the telephone when
road, weather and traffic conditions permit. In
some jurisdictions, it is forbidden for drivers
to use mobile phones while driving.
Only operate COMAND (Cockpit Managementand Data System) in compliance with all legal
requirements and when the road, weather and
traffic conditions permit. You may otherwise
not be able to observe the traffic conditions,
endangering yourself and others.
Remember that your vehicle covers a distance
of 44 ft (approximately 14 m)a second when
it is traveling at only 30 mph (approximately
50 km/h).
GWARNING
If you switch off the ignition while driving,
safety-relevant functions are only available
with limitations, or not at all. This could affect, for example, the power steering and the brake
boosting effect. You will require considerably
more effort to steer and brake. There is a risk
of an accident.
Do not switch off the ignition while driving.
Drive sensibly – save fuel
Observe the following tips to save fuel:
XThe tires should always be inflated to the rec-
ommended tire pressure.
XRemove unnecessary loads.
XRemove roof carriers when they are not nee-
ded.
XWarm up the engine at low engine speeds.
XAvoid frequent acceleration or braking.
XHave all maintenance work performed at the
service intervals specified in the Maintenance
Booklet or indicated by the service interval
indicator.
Fuel consumption also increases when driving in cold weather, in stop-start traffic and in hilly ter-
rain.
Drinking and driving
GWARNING
Drinking and driving and/or taking drugs and driving are very dangerous combinations.
Even a small amount of alcohol or drugs can
132Driving tips
Driving and parking
XReplacedente dor damaged wheels.
XCarr y asoun dspar ewheel.
Checklist after driving off-road
Drivin gove rroug hterrain places greate r
demand son your vehicl ethan driving on normal
roads. Afte rdriving off-road, chec kth evehicle.
This allows you to detec tdamag epromptly and
reduce th eris kof an acciden tto yourself and
other road users.
XShift th etransfer cas eto HIG H
RANGE (Ypage 162).
XDisengage th edifferential locks
(Ypage 166).
XClean th eheadlamps and rear lights and
chec kfor damage.
XClean th efron tand rear license plates.
XClean th ewheels and tires wit h awater je t
and remove any foreign objects .
XClean thewheels, tires ,whee lhousing sand
th evehicl eunderside wit h awater jet; chec k
for any foreign objects and damage.
XChec kwhether twigs or other part sof plants
hav ebecome trapped .These increas eth eris k
of fir eand can damag efuel pipes ,brak e
hoses or th erubber bellows of th eaxl ejoint s
and propelle rshafts .
XAfterth etrip, examin ewithout fail th eentire
undercarriage, wheels, tires ,brakes, body-
wor kstructure, steering ,chassi sand exhaust
system for damage.
XAfte rdriving for extended periods across
sand, mud, gravel, water or in similarl ydirt y
conditions, hav eth ebrak ediscs, wheels,
brak epads/lining sand axl ejoint schecke d
and clea
ned.
XIf you notice stron
gvibration safter off-road
driving ,chec kfor foreign objects in th e
wheels and driv etrain and ,if necessary,
remove them.
Foreign objects can disturb th ebalance and
caus evibrations.
XTes tth ebrakes.
Driving on sand
Observ eth efollowin grule swhen driving on
sand:
RShift th etransfer cas eto LOW
RANGE (Ypage 162).
RAvoid high engin espeeds.
RLimit th eshif trange of th eautomatic trans -
mission according to th eoff-road conditions.
RDrive quickly to overcome th erollin gresist -
ance. Otherwise th evehicle's wheels could
become stuck in loos eground .
RDrive in th etrack sof other vehicles if possi-
ble. When doin gso, mak esur ethat:
-th etire rut sare no tto odeep .
-thesan dis sufficientl yfirm.
-your vehicl ehas sufficien tground clear-
anc e
Tire ruts and gravel roads
!Chec kthat th erut sare no tto odeep and
that your vehicl ehas sufficien tclearance .
Otherwise, your vehicl ecould be damaged or
botto mout and get stuck .
Observ eth efollowin grule swhen driving alon g
rut sin off-road terrain or on road swit hloos e
gravel:
RShift th etransfer cas eto LOW
RANGE (Ypage 162).
RAvoid high engin espeeds.
RObserv eth esafet ynote s (Ypage 137) and
th egeneral note s (Ypage 137) on off-road
driving .
RRestric tth eshif trange of th eautomatic
transmission to 1(Ypage 123).
RDrive slowly.
RWhererut sare to odeep ,driv ewit hth e
wheels of on eside on th ecenter grassy area,
if possible.
Driving over obstacles
!Obstacles could damag eth efloor of th e
vehicl eor component sof th echassis. As k
passenger sfor guidance when driving ove r
larg eobstacles. The passenger should always
keep asaf edistanc efrom th evehicl ewhen
doin gso in order to avoi dinjury as aresult of
unexpecte dvehicl emovements. Afte rdriving
off-road or ove robstacles, chec kth evehicl e
Driving tips139
Driving and parking
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