Driving safet y systems
AB S (Anti-loc k Braking System) ...... .6 5
ADAPTIVE BRAKE ............................. 73
Adaptive Brake Assist ...................... 68
BAS (Brake Assist System) .............. 66
COLLISION PREVENTION ASSIST
PLUS ................................................ 66
Distance warning function ............... 67
EBD (electronic brake force distri-
bution) ............................................. 72
ESP ®
(Electronic Stability Pro-
gram) ............................................... 69
Important safety information ........... 65
Overview .......................................... 65
STEER CONTROL ............................. 73
Driving system
Start-off assist ............................... 194
Driving systems
Active Parking Assist ..................... 203
AMG adaptive sport suspension
system ........................................... 196
ATTENTION ASSIST ........................ 211
Blind Spot Assist ............................ 213
Cruise control ................................ 184
Display message ............................ 253
DISTRONIC PLUS ........................... 186
HOLD function ............................... 193
Lane Keeping Assist ...................... 215
Lane Tracking package .................. 213
PARKTRONIC ................................. 200
RACE START (AMG vehicles) .......... 195
Rear view camera .......................... 208
Driving tips
Automatic transmission ................. 163
Brakes ........................................... 177
Break-in period .............................. 148
Checking brake lining thickness .... 178
DISTRONIC PLUS ........................... 192
Downhill gradient ........................... 177
Drinking and driving ....................... 175
Driving in winter ............................. 179
Driving on flooded roads ................ 179
Driving on sand .............................. 182
Driving on wet roads ...................... 179
Exhaust check ............................... 175
Fuel ................................................ 175
General .......................................... 174
Hydroplaning ................................. 179 Icy road surfaces ........................... 179
Limited braking efficiency on sal-
ted roads ....................................... 177
Off-road driving .............................. 180
Snow chains .................................. 343
The first 1000 miles (1500 km) ..... 148
Tire ruts ......................................... 182
Traveling up hill ............................... 183
We t road surface ........................... 177
DSR (Downhill Speed Regulation)
Display message ............................ 253
Function/notes ............................. 197
DVD video
Operating (on-board computer) ..... 225
DYNAMIC SELECT button
Climate control (3-zone automatic
climate control) ............................. 137
Climate control (air-conditioning
system) .......................................... 134
DYNAMIC SELECT button (all vehi-
cles except Mercedes-AMG vehi-
cles) .................................................... 157
DYNAMIC SELECT controller
(Mercedes-AMG vehicles) ................. 158
E
EASY-PACK tailgate
see Tailgate
EBD (electronic brake force distri-
bution)
Display message ............................ 238
Function/notes ................................ 72
ECO display
Function/notes ............................. 176
On-board computer ....................... 222
ECO start/stop function
Automatic engine start .................. 154
Automatic engine switch-off .......... 154
Deactivating/activating ................. 155
General information ....................... 154
Important safety notes .................. 153
Introduction ................................... 153
Electronic Stability Program
see ESP ®
(Electronic Stability Program)
Electronic Traction System
see ETS/4ETS (Electronic Trac-
tion System) Index 9
IIgnition key
see SmartKey
Ignition lock
see Key positions
Immobilizer .......................................... 73
Indicator and warning lamps
COLLISION PREVENTION ASSIST
PLUS .............................................. 277
Indicator lamps
see Warning and indicator lamps
Indicators
see Turn signals
Instrument cluster
Overview .......................................... 31
Settings ........................................ .2 29
Warning and indicator lamps ........... 32
Instrument cluster lighting .............. 218
Interior lighting
Control .......................................... .1 20
Emergency lighting ........................ 121
Overview ........................................ 120
Reading lamp ................................. 120
J
Jack
Storage location ............................ 322
Using ............................................. 364
Jump starting (engine) ..................... .3 31
K
Key positions
Start/Stop button .......................... 149
KEYLESS-GO
Convenience closing feature ............ 92
Deactivation ..................................... 77
Locking ............................................ 77
Unlocking ......................................... 77
Kickdown
Driving tips ................................... .1 63
Manual gearshifting ....................... 168
Knee bag .............................................. 50 L Lamps
see Warning and indicator lamps
Lane detection (automatic)
see Lane Keeping Assist
Lane Keeping Assist
Activating/deactivating (on-
board computer) ............................ 228
Display message ............................ 254
Function/information .................... 215
Lane Tracking package ..................... 213
Lap time (RACETIMER) ...................... 232
LATCH-type (ISOFIX) child seat
anchors ................................................ 60
License plate lamp (display mes-
sage) ................................................... 249
Light function, active
Display message ............................ 250
Light sensor (display message) ....... 250
Lights
Automatic headlamp mode ............ 116
Cornering light function ................. 119
Fog lamps ...................................... 117
Fogged up headlamps .................... 119
Hazard warning lamps ................... 119
High beam flasher .......................... 119
High-beam headlamps ................... 118
Light switch ................................... 116
Low-beam headlamps .................... 117
Parking lamps ................................ 118
Rear fog lamp ................................ 118
Setting exterior lighting ................. 116
Standing lamps .............................. 118
Switching the daytime running
lamps on/off (on-board com-
puter) ............................................. 230
Turn signals ................................... 118
LIM indicator lamp
DISTRONIC PLUS ........................... 187
Loading guidelines ............................ 280
Locking
see Central locking
Locking (doors)
Automatic ........................................ 84
Emergency locking ........................... 85
From inside (central locking but-
ton) .................................................. 8412
Index
Drivin g safet y systems
Overview of drivin g safet y systemsIn this section , you will fin d information about
th e following drivin g safet y systems :R
AB S ( A nti-loc k B rakin g S ystem)
( Y
page 65) R
BA S ( B rake A ssist S ystem) ( Y
page 66 )R
COLLISION PREVENTION ASSIST PLU S
( Y
page 66 )R
ES P ®
( E lectronic S t ability P rogram)
( Y
page 69 )R
EB D ( E lectroni c B r ak e forc e D i stribution )
( Y
page 72) R
ADAPTIV E BRAKE ( Y
page 73 )R
STEE R CONTROL ( Y
page 73 )
Important safet y notesIf you fail to adapt your drivin g style or if you
are inattentive , th e drivin g safet y systems can
neither reduce th e ris k of an acciden t no r
override th e laws of physics. Driving safet y
systems are merely aids designed to assist
driving. You are responsible fo r maintainin g
th e distanc e to th e vehicle in front, fo r vehicle
speed, fo r braking in goo d time, and fo r stay-
in g in lane. Always adapt your drivin g style to
suit th e prevailin g road and weather condi-
tion s and maintain a saf e distanc e from th e
vehicle in front. Drive carefully.
The drivin g safet y systems described only
wor k as effectively as possible when there is
adequat e contact between th e tires and th e
road surface. Please pay special attention to
th e note s on tires , recommended minimum
tire tread depths, etc. ( Y
page 340).
In wintr y drivin g conditions, always use winte r
tires (M+ S tires ) and if necessary, snow
chains. Only in this way will th e drivin g safet y
systems described in this section wor k as
effectively as possible. ABS (Anti-lock Braking System)
General information AB S regulates brake pressure in suc h a way
that th e wheels do no t loc k when you brake .
Thi s allow s you to continue steerin g th e vehi-
cl e when braking .
The % AB S warnin g lamp in th e instrumen t
cluster lights up when th e ignition is switched
on . It goe s out when th e engin e is running .
AB S works from a speed of about 5 mph
(8 km/h), regardles s of road-surfac e condi-
tions. AB S works on slipper y surfaces, eve n
when you only brake gently.
Important safet y notes
i Observ e th e "Important safet y notes" sec -
tion ( Y
page 65).
G WARNING
If AB S is faulty, th e wheels could loc k when
braking . The steerability and braking charac -
teristics may be severely impaired. Addition -
ally, further drivin g safet y systems are deac -
tivated. There is an increase d danger of skid-
din g and accidents .
Drive on carefully. Hav e AB S checke d imme-
diately at a qualified specialis t workshop .
Whe n AB S is malfunctioning, other systems ,
includin g drivin g safet y systems , will also
becom e inoperative . Observ e th e information
on th e AB S warnin g lamp ( Y
page 269) and
display message s whic h may be shown in th e
instrumen t cluster ( Y
page 236).
Braking X
If ABS intervenes: continue to depress th e
brake peda l vigorousl y until th e braking sit -
uation is over. X
To make a full brak e application:
depress th e brake peda l wit h full force.
If AB S intervenes when braking , you will feel a
pulsin g in th e brake pedal.Driving safety systems 65
Safety Z
X
Select the Assistance Graphic function
using the on-board computer
( Y
page 227).
Tips for driving with DISTRONIC PLUS General notes
The following contains descriptions of certain
road and traffic conditions in which you must
be particularly attentive. In such situations,
brake if necessary. DISTRONIC PLUS is then
deactivated.
Cornering, going into and coming out of a
bend
The ability of DISTRONIC PLUS to detect vehi-
cles when cornering is limited. Your vehicle
may brake unexpectedly or late.
Vehicles traveling on a different line
DISTRONIC PLUS may not detect vehicles
traveling on a different line. The distance to
the vehicle in front will be too short. Other vehicles changing lanes
DISTRONIC PLUS has not detected the vehi-
cle cutting in yet. The distance to this vehicle
will be too short.
Narrow vehicles
DISTRONIC PLUS has not yet detected the
vehicle in front on the edge of the road,
because of its narrow width. The distance to
the vehicle in front will be too short.
Obstructions and stationary vehicles
DISTRONIC PLUS does not brake for obsta-
cles or stationary vehicles. If, for example, the192
Driving systems
Driving and parking
detected vehicle turns a corner and reveals
an obstacle or stationary vehicle, DISTRONIC
PLUS will not brake for these.
Crossing vehicles
DISTRONIC PLUS may detect vehicles that
are crossing your lane by mistake. Activating
DISTRONIC PLUS at traffic lights with cross-
ing traffic, for example, could cause your vehi-
cle to pull away unintentionally.
HOLD function
General notes
The HOLD function can assist the driver in the
following situations: R
when pulling away, especially on steep
slopes R
when maneuvering on steep slopes R
when waiting in traffic
The vehicle is kept stationary without the
driver having to depress the brake pedal.
The braking effect is canceled and the HOLD
function deactivated when you depress the
accelerator pedal to pull away. Important safety notes
G WARNING
When leaving the vehicle, it can still roll away
despite being braked by the HOLD function if: R
there is a malfunction in the system or in
the voltage supply. R
the HOLD function has been deactivated by
pressing the accelerator pedal or the brake
pedal, e.g. by a vehicle occupant. R
the electrical system in the engine com-
partment, the battery or the fuses have
been tampered with. R
the battery is disconnected
There is a risk of an accident.
If you wish to exit the vehicle, always turn off
the HOLD function and secure the vehicle
against rolling away.
! If DISTRONIC PLUS or the HOLD function
is activated, the vehicle brakes automati-
cally in certain situations.
To prevent damage to the vehicle, deacti-
vate DISTRONIC PLUS and the HOLD func-
tion in the following or other similar situa-
tions: R
when towing the vehicle R
in the car wash
Deactivating the HOLD function
( Y
page 194).
Activation conditions
You can activate the HOLD function if: R
the vehicle is stationary R
the engine is running or if it has been auto-
matically switched off by the ECO start/
stop function R
the driver's door is closed or your seat belt
is fastened R
the electric parking brake is released R
DISTRONIC PLUS is deactivated R
the transmission is in position D , R or N on
vehicles with automatic transmission Driving systems 193
Driving and parking Z