
Drivingtips
General notes
Important safet ynotes
GWARNING
If you switch of fth eignition whil edriving,
safety-relevant function sare only available
wit hlimitations, or no tat all. Thi scould affect,
fo rexample, th epowe rsteerin gand th ebrake
boostin geffect .You will require considerably
more effort to steer and brake .There is aris k
of an accident.
Do no tswitch of fth eignition whil edriving.
GWARNING
If you operat emobile communication equip -
men twhil edriving, you will be distracted from
traffic conditions. You could also los econtro l
of th evehicle. There is aris kof an accident.
Only operat ethis equipmen twhen th evehicle
is stationary.
Observ eth elega lrequirements fo rth ecountry
in whic hyou are driving. Some jurisdiction spro -
hibi tth edriver from usin g amobile phone whil e
drivin g avehicle.
If you mak e acallwhil edriving, always use
hands-free mode. Only operat eth etelephon e
when th etraffic situation permits. If you are
unsure ,pull over to asaf elocation and stop
befor eoperatin gth etelephone.
Bear in min dthat at aspeed of only 30 mph
(approximately 50 km/h), th evehicle cover s a
distanc eof 44 ft (approximately 14 m)per sec-
ond.
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 carried out as
indicated by the service intervals in the Main- tenance Booklet or by the service interval dis-
play.
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
affect your reflexes, perceptions and judg-
ment.
The possibility of a serious or even fatal acci-
dent is greatly increased when you drink or
take drugs and drive.
Do not drink or take drugs and drive or allow
anyone to drive who has been drinking or tak-
ing drugs.
Emission control
GWARNING
Combustion engines emit poisonous exhaust
gases such as carbon monoxide. Inhaling
these exhaust gases leads to poisoning. There
is a risk of fatal injury. Therefore never leave
the engine running in enclosed spaces with-
out sufficient ventilation.
Certain engine systems are designed to keep
the level of poisonous components in exhaust
fumes within legal limits.
These systems only work at peak efficiency if
they are serviced exactly in accordance with the
manufacturer's specifications. Always have
work on the engine carried out at a qualified
specialist workshop. Mercedes-Benz recom-
mends that you use an authorized Mercedes-
Benz Center for this purpose. In particular, work
relevant to safety or on safety-related systems
must be carried out at a qualified specialist
workshop.
The engine settings must not be changed under any circumstances. Furthermore, all specific
service work must be carried out at regular
intervals and in accordance with the Mercedes-
Benz service requirements. Details can be found in the Maintenance Booklet.
160Driving tips
Driving and parking

Observe the notes in the "Winter operation" sec-
tion (Ypage 332).
Off-road driving
Important safety notes
GWARNING
If you drive on a steep incline at an angle or
turn when driving on an incline, the vehicle
could slip sideways, tip and rollover. There is a risk of an accident.
Always drive on a steep incline in the line of
fall (straight up or down) and do not turn 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. There is a risk of fire.
When driving off road or on unpaved roads,
check the vehicle's underside regularly. In
particular, remove parts of plants or other
flammable materials which have become
trapped. In the case of damage, contact a
qualified specialist workshop.
GWARNING
If the vehicle level is high, the vehicle center of gravity is raised. This could cause the vehicle
to tip over more easily on uphill or downhill
gradients. There is a risk of an accident.
Select the lowest possible vehicle level.
!There is a risk of damage to the vehicle if:
Rthe vehicle becomes stuck, e.g. on a high
curb or an unpaved road
Ryou drive too fast over an obstacle, e.g. a
curb or a hole in the road
Ra heavy object strikes the undercarriage or
parts of the chassis
In situations like this, the body, the undercar-
riage, chassis parts, wheels or tires could be
damaged without the damage being visible.
Components damaged in this way can unex-
pectedly fail or, in the case of an accident, no longer withstand the strain they are designed
to.
If the underbody paneling is damaged, com-
bustible materials such as leaves, grass or
twigs can gather between the underbody and
the underbody paneling. If these materials
come in contact with hot parts of the exhaust
system, they can catch fire.
In such situations, have the vehicle checked
and repaired immediately at a qualified spe-
cialist workshop. If on continuing your jour-
ney you notice that driving safety is impaired,
pull over and stop the vehicle immediately,
paying attention to road and traffic condi-
tions. In such cases, consult a qualified spe-
cialist workshop.
When driving off-road, substances such as sand,
mud and water or water mixed with oil may get
into the brakes. This could result in a reduced
braking effect or in total brake failure and also in
increased wear and tear. The braking charac-
teristics change depending on the material
ingressing the brakes. Clean the brakes after
driving off-road. If you detect a reduced braking
effect or grinding noises, have the brake system checked in a qualified specialist workshop as
soon as possible. Adapt your driving style to the
different braking characteristics.
Driving off-road increases the likelihood of dam-
age to the vehicle, which, in turn, can lead to
failure of the mechanical assembly or systems.
Adapt your driving style to suit the terrain con-
ditions. Drive carefully. Have damage to the
vehicle rectified immediately at a qualified spe-
cialist workshop.
Do not switch to transmission position
Nwhen
driving off-road. If you try to brake the vehicle
using the service brake, you could lose cont
rol
of the vehicle. If the gradient is too steep for your
vehicle, drive back down in reverse gear.
General notes
Read this section carefully before driving your
vehicle off-road. Practice by driving over more
gentle off-road terrain first.
Familiarize yourself with the characteristics of
your vehicle and the gear shift operation before driving through difficult terrain.
Driving tips165
Driving and parking
Z

RObserve the rules on off-road driving.
RDo not drive at an angle on slopes, inclines or
gradients, but instead follow the direct line of
fall.
RWhen driving down an incline, make use of the
engine's braking effect. Observe the engine
speed; do not overrev the engine.
RDrive slowly.
RAvoid high engine speeds. Drive at appropri-
ate engine speeds (maximum 3,000 rpm).
RUse the left-hand steering wheel paddle
shifter to shift into a lower gear in good time
on long and steep downhill gradients.
RCheck the brakes after prolonged off-road
driving.
Hill start assist will aid you when pulling away on a hill. For further information about hill start
assist, see (
Ypage 138).
Do not switch to transmission position Nwhen
driving off-road. If you try to brake the vehicle
using the service brake, you could lose control
of the vehicle. If the gradient is too steep for your
vehicle, drive back down in reverse gear.
Always observe the approach/departure angle
values (
Ypage 375).
Maximum gradient-climbing capability
Always observe the maximum gradient climbing ability values (Ypage 376).
Hilltops
When driving up an uphill gradient, slightly
reduce pressure on the accelerator immediately
before reaching the brow of the hill. Make use of
the vehicle's own impetus to travel over the
brow.
This style of driving prevents:
Rthe vehicle from lifting off the ground on the
brow of a hill
Rthe vehicle from traveling too quickly down
the other side
Driving downhill
RDrive slowly.
RDo not drive at an angle down steep inclines.
Steer into the line of fall and drive with the
front wheels aligned straight. Otherwise, the
vehicle could slip sideways, tip and rollover.
RShift to a lower gear using the left-hand pad-
dle shifter before tackling steep downhill gra-
dients.
RActivate DSR. If this is not sufficient, brake
gently. When doing so, make sure that the
vehicle is facing in the direction of the line of
fall.
RCheck that the brakes are working normally
after a long downhill stretch.
iThe special off-road ABS setting enables a
precise, brief and repeated locking of the
front wheels. This causes them to dig into
loose earth. Be aware that the front wheels
easily skid across the ground surface if com-
pletely braked and therefore lose their ability
to steer.
Driving systems
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
(
Ypage 60).
Cruise control
General notes
Cruise control maintains a constant road speed
for you. It brakes automatically in order to avoid
exceeding the set speed. You must select a
lower gear in good time on long and steep down-
hill gradients, especially if the vehicle is laden or
towing a trailer. By doing so, you will make use of the braking effect of the engine. This relieves the
load on the brake system and prevents the
brakes from overheating and wearing too
quickly.
Use cruise control only if road and traffic con-
ditions make it appropriate to maintain a steady
speed for a prolonged period. You can store any
road speed above 20 mph (30 km/h).
168Driving systems
Driving and parking

brake unexpectedly. There is a risk of an acci-
dent.
Pay attention to the road and traffic condi-
tions before calling up the stored speed. If you
do not know the stored speed, store the
desired speed again.
XBriefly pull the cruise control lever towards
you=.
XRemove your foot from the accelerator pedal.
DISTRONIC PLUS is operational and when
first activated accepts the current speed or
adjusts the vehicle's speed to the last speed
stored.
Driving with DISTRONIC PLUS
Pulling away and driving
XIf you want to pull away with DISTRONIC
PLUS: remove your foot from the brake pedal.
XBriefly pull the cruise control lever towards
you?.
or
XAccelerate briefly.
Your vehicle pulls away and adapts its speed
to that of the vehicle in front. If no vehicle is
detected in front, your vehicle accelerates to the set speed.
The vehicle can also pull away when it is facing
an unidentified obstacle or is driving on a differ-
ent line from another vehicle. The vehicle then
brakes automatically.
If there is no vehicle in front, DISTRONIC PLUS
operates in the same way as cruise control.
If DISTRONIC PLUS detects that the vehicle in
front has slowed down, it brakes your vehicle. In
this way, the distance you have selected is main-
tained.
If DISTRONIC PLUS detects a faster-moving
vehicle in front, it increases the driving speed.
However, the vehicle is only accelerated up to
the speed you have stored.
Selecting the drive program
DISTRONIC Plus supports a sporty driving style
when you select the SportorSport Plus drive
program (
Ypage 147). Acceleration behind the
vehicle in front or to the set speed is then notice-
ably more dynamic. If you have selected the
Comfort drive program, the vehicle accelerates more gently. This setting is recommended in
stop-and-start traffic.
Changing lanes
If you change to the passing lane, DISTRONIC
PLUS supports you when:
Ryou are driving faster than 45 mph (70 km/h)
Ryou switch on the appropriate turn signal
RDISTRONIC PLUS does not detect a danger of
collision
If these conditions are fulfilled, your vehicle is
accelerated. Acceleration will be interrupted if
changing lanes takes too long or if the distance
between your vehicle and the vehicle in front
becomes too small.
iWhen you change lanes, DISTRONIC PLUS
monitors the left lane on left-hand-drive vehi-
cles or the right lane on right-hand-drive vehi-
cles.
Stopping
GWARNING
When leaving the vehicle, even if it is braked
only by DISTRONIC PLUS, it could roll away if:
Rthere is a malfunction in the system or in
the voltage supply.
RDISTRONIC PLUS has been deactivated
with the cruise control lever, e.g. by a vehi-
cle occupant or from outside the vehicle.
Rthe electrical system in the engine com-
partment, the battery or the fuses have
been tampered with.
Rthe battery is disconnected.
Rthe 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.
If DISTRONIC PLUS detects that the vehicle in
front is stopping, it brakes your vehicle until it is stationary.
Once your vehicle is stationary, it remains sta-
tionary and you do not need to depress the
brake.
After a time, the electric parking brake secures
the vehicle and relieves the service brake.
Driving systems173
Driving and parking
Z

On long journeys, take regular breaks in good
time to allow yourself to rest. If you do not take
a break, you will be warned again after
15 minutes at the earliest. This will only happen
if ATTENTION ASSIST still detects typical indi-
cators of fatigue or increasing lapses in concen-
tration.
Vehicles with COMAND:if a warning is issued
in the multifunction display, a service station
search is performed in COMAND. You can select a service station and navigation to this service
station will then begin. This function can be acti-
vated and deactivated in COMAND.
Traffic Sign Assist
General notes
Traffic Sign Assist displays the maximum speed
permitted to the driver in the instrument cluster.
The data stored in the navigation system and
general traffic regulations are used to determine
the current speed limit.
As Traffic Sign Assist is a map-based system,
traffic signs put up temporarily (e.g. near road-
works) are not detected.
If a traffic sign that is relevant to your vehicle is
passed, the display of the speed limits is upda-
ted.
Traffic signs with a restriction indicated by an
additional sign (e.g. in wet conditions) are also
shown.
The traffic signs are only displayed with the
restrictions if:
Rthe regulation must be observed with the
restriction, or
RTraffic Sign Assist is unable to determine
whether the restriction applies
If Traffic Sign Assist is unable to determine a
maximum permitted speed from any of the avail-
able sources, no speed limit is displayed in the
instrument cluster either.
Traffic Sign Assist is not available in all coun-
tries. In this case, symbol :is shown in the
assistance graphic display (
Ypage 227).
Important safety notes
Traffic Sign Assist is only an aid and is not always
able to correctly display speed limits. Traffic
signs always have priority over the Traffic Sign
Assist display.
The system may be either functionally impaired
or temporarily unavailable if the information in
the digital street map of the navigation system is
incorrect or out of date.
Instrument cluster display
Displaying the assistance graphic
XCall up the assistance graphics display func-
tion using the on-board computer
(
Ypage 227).
XSelect the Traffic Sign Assist display.
Detected traffic signs are displayed in the
instrument cluster.
Speed limit with unknown restriction
:Maximum permitted speed
;Maximum permitted speed for vehicles for
which the restriction in the additional sign is relevant
=Additional sign for unknown restriction
A maximum permitted speed of 80 mph
(80 km/h) and a speed limit of 60 mph
(60 km/h) with an unknown restriction apply.
202Driving systems
Driving and parking

Outside temperature display
You should pay special attention to road condi-
tions when temperatures are around freezing
point.
Bear in mind that the outside temperature dis-
play indicates the temperature measured and
does not record the road temperature.
The outside temperature display is in the multi-function display (
Ypage 221).
There is a short delay before a change in outside
temperature appears in the multifunction dis-
play.
Coolant temperature display
GWARNING
Opening the hood when the engine is over-
heated or when there is a fire in the engine
compartment could expose you to hot gases
or other service products. There is a risk of
injury.
Let an overheated engine cool down before
opening the hood. If there is a fire in the
engine compartment, keep the hood closed
and contact the fire department.
!A display message is shown if the coolant
temperature is too high.
If the coolant temperature is over 248 ‡
(120 †), do not continue driving. The engine
will otherwise be damaged.
The coolant temperature gage is in the instru-
ment cluster on the right-hand side (
Ypage 31).
Under normal operating conditions and with the
specified coolant level, the coolant temperature
may rise to 248 ‡ (120 †).
Operating the on-board computer
Overview
:Multifunction display
;Right control panel
=Left control panel
XTo activate the on-board computer: turn
the SmartKey to position 1in the ignition lock.
You can control the multifunction display and
the settings in the on-board computer using the
buttons on the multifunction steering wheel.
In vehicles with the COMAND multimedia sys-
tem, you can find further information on the
Voice Control System in the separate operating
instructions.
Left control panel
=
;RCalls up the menu and menu bar
9
:Press briefly:
RScrolls in lists
RSelects a submenu or function
RIn the Audiomenu: selects the
previous or next station, when the
preset list or station list is active,
or an audio track or video scene
RIn the Tel(telephone) menu:
switches to the phone book and
selects a name or telephone num-
ber
220Displays and operation
On-board computer and displays

or: button until desired scene :has
been reached.
Telephone menu
Introduction
GWARNING
If you operate information systems and com-
munication equipment integrated in the vehi-
cle while driving, you will be distracted from
traffic conditions. You could also lose control
of the vehicle. There is a risk of an accident.
Only operate the equipment when the traffic
situation permits. If you are not sure that this
is possible, park the vehicle paying attention
to traffic conditions and operate the equip-
ment when the vehicle is stationary.
When telephoning, you must observe the legal
requirements for the country in which you are
currently driving.
XSwitch on the mobile phone (see the manu-
facturer’s operating instructions).
XSwitch on the multimedia system (see sepa-
rate operating instructions).
XEstablish a Bluetooth®connection to the mul-
timedia system; see the separate operating
instructions.
XPress the =or; button on the steering
wheel to select the Telmenu.
You will see one of the following display mes-
sages in the multifunction display:
RPhone READYor the name of the network
provider: the mobile phone has found a net-
work and is ready to receive.
RPhone No Service: there is no network
available or the mobile phone is searching for
a network.
Accepting a call
If someone calls you when you are in the Telmenu, a display message appears in the multi-
function display.
You can accept a call at any time, even if you are
not in theTel
menu.
XPress the6button on the steering wheel
to accept an incoming call.
Rejecting or ending a call
You can end or reject a call even if you are not in
the Telmenu.
XPress the ~button on the steering wheel
to reject or end a call.
Selecting an entry from the telephone
book
XPress the =or; button on the steering
wheel to select the Telmenu.
XPress the9,:ora button to
switch to the phone book.
XAuthorize access to the phone book on the
phone.
XPress the 9or: button to select the
desired name.
or
XTo start rapid scrolling: press and hold the
9 or: button for longer than one sec-
ond.
Rapid scrolling stops when you release the
button or reach the end of the list.
XIf only one telephone number is stored for
a name: press the 6ora button to
start dialing.
or
XIf there is more than one number for a
particular name: press the6ora
button to display the numbers.
XPress the 9or: button to select the
number you want to dial.
XPress the 6ora button to start dialing.
or
XTo exit the telephone book: press the~
or % button.
Redialing
The on-board computer saves the last names or
numbers dialed in the redial memory.
226Menus and submenus
On-board computer and displays

Service menu
Depending on the equipment installed in the
vehicle, you have the following options in the
Serv.
menu:
RCalling up display messages in message
memory (Ypage 234)
RRestarting the tire pressure loss warning sys-
tem (Ypage 337) or checking the tire pres-
sure electronically (Ypage 339)
RCalling up the service due date
(Ypage 306)
Settings menu
Introduction
Depending on the equipment installed in the
vehicle, In the Sett.menu you have the follow-
ing options:
RChanging the instrument cluster settings
(Ypage 229)
RChanging the light settings (Ypage 229)
RChanging the vehicle settings (Ypage 230)
RChanging the convenience settings
(Ypage 230)
RRestoring the factory settings (Ypage 231)
Instrument cluster submenu
Selecting the distance unit
The Display Unit Speedometer / Odome‐ter:function allows you to choose whether
certain displays appear in kilometers or miles in
the multifunction display.
XPress the =or; button on the steering
wheel to select the Sett.menu.
XPress the:or9 button to select the
Instrument Clustersubmenu.
XPress ato confirm.
XPress the :or9 button to select the
Display Unit Speedometer / Odometer
function.
You will see the selected setting: kmormiles.
XPress the abutton to save the setting.
The selected unit of measurement for distance
applies to:
RDigital speedometer in the Tripmenu
ROdometer and the trip odometer
RTrip computer
RCurrent consumption and the range
RNavigation instructions in the Navimenu
RCruise control
RDISTRONIC PLUS
RASSYST PLUS service interval display
Selecting permanent display
ThePermanent Display:function allows you
to choose whether the multifunction display
always shows the outside temperature or the
speed.
The speed display is inverse to the speedome-
ter.
XPress the =or; button on the steering
wheel to select the Sett.menu.
XPress the:or9 button to select the
Instrument Clustersubmenu.
XConfirm by pressing aon the steering
wheel.
XPress the :or9 button to select the
Permanent Display:function.
The current setting, Outside Temperature,
Speedometer [km/h]or Speedometer[mph]appears.
XTo change the setting: pressaagain.
Light submenu
Setting the daytime running lamps
This function is not available in Canada.
XPress the =or; button on the steering
wheel to select the Sett.menu.
XPress the:or9 button to select the
Lightsubmenu.
Menus and submenus229
On-board computer and displays
Z