the engine speed does not reach the red area
of the rev counter.
X To shift down: pull steering wheel gearshift
paddle :.
The automatic transmission shifts down to
the next gear.
Automatic downshifting 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.
Gearshift recommendation The gearshift recommendation assists you in
adopting a fuel-efficient driving style. The rec-
ommended gear is shown on the multifunction
display.
X When gearshift recommendation :is shown
on the multifunction display of the instrument
cluster, shift to recommended gear ;.
Protection against reaching the over-
revving range (Mercedes-AMG vehicles) !
The automatic transmission does not shift
up automatically even when the engine limit-
ing speed for the current gear is reached.
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 rev counter. There is otherwise a risk of
engine damage. Before the engine speed reaches the red area,
an upshift indicator will be shown on the multi-
function display.
X When message :appears on the multifunc-
tion display, pull the right-hand steering
wheel gearshift paddle.
Kickdown X
For maximum acceleration, depress the
accelerator pedal beyond the pressure point.
The automatic transmission shifts to a lower
gear depending on the engine speed.
X Shift back up once the desired speed is
reached.
During kickdown, you cannot shift gears using
the steering wheel gearshift paddles.
If you apply full throttle, the automatic trans-
mission shifts up to the next gear when the
maximum engine speed is reached. This pre-
vents the engine from overrevving.
Mercedes-AMG vehicles: kickdown is possible
only in the temporary setting. 160
Automatic transmissionDriving an
d parking
X
If this is the case, park the vehicle only on
level ground and secure it to prevent it from
rolling away.
X Shift the automatic transmission to position
P.
It may not be possible to release an applied
parking brake if the on-board voltage is low or if there is a malfunction in the system. Contact a
qualified specialist workshop.
The electric parking brake carries out a function
check at regular intervals when the engine is
switched off. Noises that occur are normal.
Applying or releasing manually X
To apply: push handle :.
When the electric parking brake is applied,
red indicator lamp !lights up on the
instrument cluster.
The electric parking brake can also be applied when the key is removed.
X To release: pull handle:.
Red indicator lamp !on the instrument
cluster goes out.
The electric parking brake can be released only:
R when the key is in position 1or 2in the igni-
tion lock (Y page 144) or
R if the ignition was switched on using the
Start/Stop button
Applying automatically The electric parking brake is automatically
applied when the transmission is in position P
and:
R the engine is switched off or
R the driver is not wearing a seat belt and the
driver's door is opened To prevent the electric parking brake from being
applied automatically, pull handle :.
The electric parking brake is also applied auto-
matically if:
R DISTRONIC PLUS brings the vehicle to a
standstill or
R the HOLD function is keeping the vehicle sta-
tionary or
R Active Parking Assist is keeping the vehicle
stationary
In addition, at least one of the following condi-
tions must be fulfilled:
R the engine is switched off
R the driver is not wearing a seat belt and the
driver's door is opened
R there is a system malfunction
R the power supply is insufficient
R the vehicle is stationary for a lengthy period
Red indicator lamp !on the instrument clus-
ter lights up.
The electric parking brake is not automatically
applied if the engine is switched off by the ECO
start/stop function.
Releasing automatically The electric parking brake of your vehicle is
released automatically when all the following
conditions are fulfilled:
R the seat belt is fastened
R the engine is running
R you accelerate and the transmission is in
position Dor R
or
you shift the transmission position from Pto
position Dor R– You will need to accelerate
more on steeper gradients
If the transmission is in position R, the tailgate
must be closed.
If your seat belt is not fastened, the following
conditions must be fulfilled for the electric park- ing brake to be released automatically:
R the driver's door is closed
R you are shifting from transmission position P
or you have previously driven at speeds
greater than 3 km/h
Ensure that you do not depress the accelerator
pedal unintentionally. Otherwise, the parking
brake will be released and the vehicle will start
to move. Parking
169Driving and parking Z
Emergency braking
The vehicle can also be braked during an emer-
gency by using the electric parking brake.
X While driving, press handle :of the electric
parking brake (Y page 169).
The vehicle is braked as long as you keep
handle :of the electric parking brake
depressed. The longer electric parking brake
handle :is depressed, the greater the brak-
ing force.
During braking:
R a warning tone sounds
R the Release parking brake
Release parking brake display mes-
sage appears
R red indicator lamp !on the instrument
cluster flashes
When the vehicle has been braked to a stand-
still, the electric parking brake is applied. Parking up the vehicle
If you leave the vehicle parked up for longer than
four weeks, the battery may be damaged by
exhaustive discharging.
If you leave the vehicle parked up for longer than
six weeks, it may suffer from lack of use.
X Contact a qualified specialist workshop and
seek advice.
i You can obtain information on trickle charg-
ers from a qualified specialist workshop.
Hybrid vehicles: observe the notes on the high-
voltage battery in the separate Owner's Manual. Driving tips
General driving tips
Important safety notes G
WARNING
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:
X The tyres should always be inflated to the rec-
ommended tyre pressure.
X Remove unnecessary loads.
X Remove roof racks when they are not needed.
X Warm up the engine at low engine speeds.
X Avoid frequent acceleration or braking.
X Have all maintenance work carried out as
indicated by the service intervals in the Ser-
vice Booklet or by the service interval display.
Fuel consumption also increases when driving in
cold weather, in stop-start traffic, on short jour- neys and in hilly terrain. ECO display
The ECO display shows you how economical
your driving style is. The ECO display assists you in achieving the most economical driving style
for the selected settings and prevailing condi-
tions. Consumption can be significantly influ-
enced by your driving style. :
Acceleration
; Coasting
= Constant
? Additional range achieved
Range ?is shown under Bonus Bonusfr. fr.start
start and
represents the additional range achieved since
the beginning of the journey as a result of an
adapted driving style.
If the fuel level has dropped into the reserve
range, the Reserve fuel Reserve fuel display message is
shown instead of range ?on the multifunction 170
Driving tipsDriving and parking
Driving systems
Mercedes-Benz Intelligent Drive
Mercedes-Benz Intelligent Drive stands for inno- vative driver assistance and safety systems
which enhance comfort and support the driver in
critical situations. With these intelligent co-ordi- nated systems Mercedes-Benz has set a mile-
stone on the path towards autonomous driving.
Mercedes-Benz Intelligent Drive embraces all
elements of active and passive safety in one well thought-out system – for the safety of the vehi-
cle occupants and that of other road users.
Further information on driving safety systems
(Y page 68). Cruise control
General notes Cruise control maintains a constant road speed
for you. It brakes automatically in order to avoid
exceeding the set speed. Shift to a lower gear in
good time on long and steep downhill gradients.
Take particular note of this when driving a laden vehicle and when towing a trailer. By doing so,
you will make use of the braking effect of the
engine. This relieves the load on the brake sys-
tem and prevents the brakes from overheating
and wearing too quickly.
Use cruise control only if road and traffic con-
ditions are appropriate for maintaining a steady speed for a prolonged period. You can store anyroad speed above 30 km/h. If you have set a
permanent limit speed, you cannot set the
speed any higher than the fixed limit speed
(Y page 177).
Important safety notes Cruise control can neither reduce the risk of an
accident if you fail to adapt your driving style nor
override the laws of physics. Cruise control can- not take into account road, weather or traffic
conditions. Cruise control is only an aid. You are
responsible for maintaining a safe distance from the vehicle in front, for vehicle speed, for brak-
ing in good time and for staying in lane. Do not use cruise control:
R in road and traffic conditions that do not allow
you to maintain a constant speed, e.g. in
heavy traffic or on winding roads.
R on smooth or slippery roads. Braking or accel-
erating can cause the drive wheels to lose
traction and the vehicle could then skid.
R when there is poor visibility, e.g. due to fog,
heavy rain or snow.
If there is a change of drivers, advise the new
driver of the speed stored.
i The speed indicated in the speedometer
may differ slightly from the speed stored.
Cruise control lever :
To store the current speed or a higher speed
; LIM indicator lamp
= To store the current speed or calling up the
last stored speed
? To store the current speed or a lower speed
A To switch between cruise control and varia-
ble SPEEDTRONIC
B To deactivate cruise control
You can operate cruise control and variable
SPEEDTRONIC with the cruise control lever.
The LIM indicator lamp on the cruise control
lever indicates which system you have selected:
R LIM indicator lamp off: cruise control is
selected
R LIM indicator lamp on: variable SPEED-
TRONIC is selected
When you activate cruise control, the stored
speed is shown on the multifunction display for five seconds. The ésymbol appears on the
multifunction display.
Speedometer with segments: when cruise
control is activated, the segments from the 174
Driving syste
msDriving and parking
In particular, the detection of obstacles can be
impaired in the case of:
R dirt on the sensors or obscured sensors
R snow or heavy rain
R interference by other radar sources
R strong radar reflections, e.g. in multi-storey
car parks
If DISTRONIC PLUS no longer detects a vehicle
in front, it may unexpectedly accelerate to the
speed stored.
This speed can:
R be too high for a filter lane or a slip road
R be so high in the right lane that you pass vehi-
cles driving on the left (in countries where
they drive on the right)
R be so high in the left lane that you pass vehi-
cles driving on the right (in countries where
they drive on the left)
If there is a change of drivers, advise the new
driver of the speed stored.
Cruise control lever :
To activate or increase speed
; Setting the specified minimum distance
= LIM indicator lamp
? To activate at the current speed/last stored
speed
A To activate or reduce speed
B To switch between DISTRONIC PLUS and
variable SPEEDTRONIC
C Deactivating DISTRONIC PLUS
You can operate variable SPEEDTRONIC and
DISTRONIC PLUS with the cruise control lever. LIM indicator lamp
=on the cruise control lever
indicates which function you have selected:
R LIM indicator lamp= =lit:variable SPEED-
TRONIC is selected.
R LIM indicator lamp = =off:DISTRONIC PLUS
is selected
When you activate DISTRONIC PLUS, the
stored speed will appear on the multifunction display for five seconds.
Speedometer with segments: when
DISTRONIC PLUS is activated, the segments
from the stored speed to the end of the scale or to a permanently set speed limit light up.
Selecting DISTRONIC PLUS X
Check whether LIM indicator lamp =is off.
If it is off, DISTRONIC PLUS is already selec-
ted.
X If it is not, move the cruise control lever in the
direction of arrow B.
LIM indicator lamp =in the cruise control
lever goes out. DISTRONIC PLUS is selected.
Activating DISTRONIC PLUS Activation conditions
To activate DISTRONIC PLUS, the following con-
ditions must be fulfilled:
R The engine must be running. It may take up to
two minutes of driving before DISTRONIC
PLUS is ready for use.
R The electric parking brake must be released.
R ESP ®
must be switched on, but must not cur-
rently engage.
R Active Parking Assist must not be activated.
R The transmission must be in position D.
R The driver's door must be closed or your seat
belt must be fastened when you shift from P
to D.
R The front-passenger door and the rear doors
must be closed.
R The DISTRONIC PLUS function must be selec-
ted (Y page 179). Driving systems
179Driving and parking Z
Vehicles with COMAND Online multimedia
system: when you change lanes, DISTRONIC
PLUS monitors the right lane in the case of left-
side traffic or the left lane in the case of right-
side traffic.
Vehicles with Audio 20 multimedia system:
when you change lanes, DISTRONIC PLUS mon- itors the left lane on left-hand-drive vehicles or
the right lane on right-hand-drive vehicles.
Road and traffic conditions The following function is available only in vehi-
cles with the Driving Assistance Plus package.
The function is not operational in all countries.
DISTRONIC PLUS uses additional information
from your navigation system so that it can adapt to certain traffic situations.
This is the case if, while you are following a vehi-
cle, DISTRONIC PLUS is active and you:
R approach or drive around a roundabout
R approach a T-junction
R turn off at a motorway exit
R approach a tollgate
Even if the vehicle in front leaves the detection
range, DISTRONIC PLUS temporarily maintains
the current driving speed and does not acceler-
ate. This is based on the current map data in the navigation system.
Afterwards, the vehicle accelerates back to the
speed you set.
The system takes into account the fact that
overtaking on the right is not permitted on
motorways or high-speed major roads at speeds
of more than 80 km/h. The driving speed is
adjusted to the speed of the queue of vehicles in
the adjacent lane to the left.
Prevention of overtaking on the right applies to
countries where traffic drives on the right. In
countries where traffic drives on the left, over-
taking on the left is prevented accordingly. Stopping G
WARNING
When leaving the vehicle, even if it is braked
only by DISTRONIC PLUS, it could roll away if:
R there is a malfunction in the system or in
the voltage supply.
R DISTRONIC PLUS has been deactivated
with the cruise control lever, e.g. by a vehi-
cle occupant or from outside the vehicle.
R the electrical system in the engine com-
partment, the battery or the fuses have
been tampered with.
R the battery is disconnected.
R the accelerator pedal has been depressed,
e.g. by a vehicle occupant.
There is a risk of an accident.
If you wish to exit the vehicle, always turn off
DISTRONIC PLUS and secure the vehicle
against rolling away.
Further information on deactivating DISTRONIC PLUS (Y page 183).
If DISTRONIC PLUS detects that the vehicle in
front has stopped, it will cause your vehicle to
brake to a standstill.
Once your vehicle is stationary, it remains sta-
tionary and you do not need to depress the
brake.
After a short period, the vehicle is secured by
the electric parking brake, thus relieving the
service brake.
Depending on the specified minimum distance,
your vehicle will come to a standstill at a suffi-
cient distance behind the vehicle in front. The
specified minimum distance is set using the
control on the cruise control lever.
When DISTRONIC PLUS is activated, the trans-
mission is shifted automatically to position Pin
the following situations:
R the driver's seat belt is not fastened and the
driver's door is open
R The engine is switched off, unless it is auto-
matically switched off by the ECO start/stop
function Driving systems
181Driving and parking Z
The electric parking brake secures the vehicle
automatically if DISTRONIC PLUS is activated
when the vehicle is stationary and:
R a system fault occurs
R the power supply is insufficient
If a fault occurs, the transmission may also shift
to position Pautomatically.
Setting a speed X
Push the cruise control lever up :for a
higher speed or down Afor a lower speed.
X Push and hold the cruise control lever until
the desired speed is reached.
X Release the cruise control lever.
The new speed is stored. DISTRONIC PLUS is
activated and adjusts the vehicle's speed to
the new speed stored.
X To adjust the set speed in1 km/hincre-
ments:
briefly push the cruise control lever
up : or down Ato the pressure point.
The last stored speed increases or decreases in 1 km/h increments.
X To adjust the set speed in10 km/hincre-
ments:
briefly push the cruise control lever
up : or down Abeyond the pressure point.
The last stored speed increases or decreases
in 10 km/h increments.
i If you accelerate to overtake, DISTRONIC
PLUS adjusts the vehicle's speed back to the
last speed stored after you have finished over-
taking.
Setting the specified minimum distance You can set the specified minimum distance for
DISTRONIC PLUS by varying the time span
between one and two seconds. This time span
determines the distance that DISTRONIC PLUS
is to maintain from the vehicle in front, depend- ing on the road speed. You can see this distance
on the multifunction display (Y page 183).
Make sure that you maintain the minimum dis-
tance to the vehicle in front as required by law.
Adjust the distance to the vehicle in front if nec- essary. X
To increase: turn control;in direction =.
DISTRONIC PLUS then maintains a greater
distance between your vehicle and the vehicle in front.
X To decrease: turn control;in direction :.
DISTRONIC PLUS then maintains a shorter
distance between your vehicle and the vehicle
in front.
DISTRONIC PLUS displays on the instru- ment cluster Displays in the speedometer
If DISTRONIC PLUS detects a vehicle in front,
the segments between the speed of the vehicle
in front :and stored speed ;light up.
Vehicles with the Driving Assistance Plus
package: the segments likewise light up if a
vehicle in front is detected in the fast lane.
For design reasons, the speed displayed in the
speedometer may differ slightly from the speed
set for DISTRONIC PLUS. 182
Driving systemsDriving and parking
Displays in the assistance graphic
Display when DISTRONIC PLUS is deac-
tivated
: Vehicle in front, if detected
; Distance indicator: current distance to the
vehicle in front
= Specified minimum distance to the vehicle
in front; adjustable
? Own vehicle Display when DISTRONIC PLUS is activa-
ted
: DISTRONIC PLUS active (text only appears
when the cruise control lever is actuated)
; Vehicle in front, if detected
= Specified minimum distance to the vehicle
in front; adjustable
? Own vehicle
X To call up the assistance graphic:select the
Assistance graphic
Assistance graphic function using the on-
board computer (Y page 239).
You will see the stored speed for approx-
imately five seconds when you activate
DISTRONIC PLUS. Deactivating DISTRONIC PLUS
DISTRONIC PLUS can be deactivated in a num-
ber of ways:
X Briefly press the cruise control lever forwards
=.
or X Brake, unless the vehicle is stationary.
or X Briefly push the cruise control lever in the
direction of arrow ;.
Variable SPEEDTRONIC is selected. LIM indi-
cator lamp :in the cruise control lever lights
up.
When you deactivate DISTRONIC PLUS, the DISTRONIC PLUS off DISTRONIC PLUS off message will appear on
the multifunction display for approximately five
seconds.
The last speed stored remains stored until you
switch off the engine.
DISTRONIC PLUS is not deactivated if you
depress the accelerator pedal.
DISTRONIC PLUS is automatically deactivated
in the following situations:
R You apply the electric parking brake or if the
vehicle is automatically secured with the elec-
tric parking brake
R ESP ®
engages or you deactivate ESP ®
R The transmission is in the P,Ror Nposition
R You pull the cruise control lever towards you
in order to pull away and the front-passenger
door or one of the rear doors is open
R The vehicle is skidding
R You activate Active Parking Assist
If DISTRONIC PLUS is deactivated, you will hear
a warning tone. The DISTRONIC DISTRONICPLUS
PLUSoff
offmes-
sage will be displayed on the multifunction dis-
play for approximately five seconds. Driving syste
ms
183Driving an d parking Z