
The operating safety of the vehicle could be
jeopardized if you use parts, tires and wheels as
well as accessories relevant to safety which
have not been approved by Mercedes-Benz. This
could lead to malfunctions in safety-relevant
systems, e.g. the brake system. Only use genu-
ine Mercedes-Benz parts or parts of equal qual-ity. Only use tires, wheels and accessories that
have been specifically approved for your vehi-
cle.
We test genuine Sprinter parts, as well as con-
version parts and accessories that have been
specifically approved for the type of vehicle, for:
Rreliability
Rsafety
Rsuitability
Despite ongoing market research, Mercedes-
Benz is unable to assess other parts. Therefore,
we accept no responsibility for the use of such
parts in Sprinter vehicles, even if they have been
officially approved or independently approved
by a testing center.
In some countries, certain parts are only offi-
cially approved for installation or modification if
they comply with legal requirements. All genu-
ine Sprinter parts satisfy these requirements.
Make sure that all parts are suitable for your
vehicle.
Always specify the vehicle identification number
(VIN) and engine number when ordering genuine
Sprinter parts (
Ypage 276).
QR code for rescue card
The QR Code stickers are affixed to the B-pillar
on the driver's and front-passenger side.
In the event of an accident the rescue services
use the QR Code to quickly find the rescue card
for your vehicle. The current rescue card con-
tains the most important information on your
vehicle, e.g. the electric cable routes, in a com-
pact form.
Further information can be found under http://
portal.aftersales.i.daimler.com.
Data stored in the vehicle
Data Recording
A wide range of electronic components in your
vehicle contain data memories. These data memories temporarily or perma-
nently store technical information about:
Rthe vehicle's operating state
Revents
Rfaults
In general, this technical information docu-
ments the state of a component, a module, a
system or the surroundings.
These include, for example:
Roperating conditions of system components,
e.g. fluid levels
Rthe vehicle's status messages and those of its
individual components, e.g. number of wheel
revolutions/speed, deceleration in move-
ment, lateral acceleration, accelerator pedal
position
Rmalfunctions and defects in important system
components, e.g. lights, brakes
Rvehicle reactions and operating conditions in
special driving situations, e.g. airbag deploy-
ment, intervention of stability control sys-
tems
Rambient conditions, e.g. outside temperature
This data is of an exclusively technical nature
and can be used to:
Rassist in detecting and rectifying faults and
defects
Ranalyze vehicle functions, e.g. after an acci-
dent
Roptimize vehicle functions
The data cannot be used to trace the vehicle's
movements.
When your vehicle is serviced, technical infor-
mation can be read from the event data memory
and fault data memory.
Services include, for example:
Rrepair services
Rservice processes
Rwarranty events
Rquality assurance
The vehicle is read out by employees of the ser- vice network (including the manufacturer) using
special diagnostic testers. You can obtain more
information there, if required.
After a fault has been rectified, the information
is deleted from the fault memory or is continu-
ally overwritten.
When operating the vehicle, situations are con-
ceivable in which this technical data, in connec-
Introduction29
Z

dren may burn themselves on these parts,
particularly on the metal parts of the child
restraint system. There is a risk of injury.
If you leave the vehicle, taking the child with
you, always ensure that the child restraint
system is not exposed to direct sunlight. Pro-tect it with a blanket, for example. If the child
restraint system has been exposed to direct
sunlight, let it cool down before securing the
child in it. Never leave children unattended in
the vehicle.
Child-proof locks for the rear door
Rear door
:
Child safety bolt
2Door secured – then make sure that the
child-proof locks are working properly.
3Door released
The child-proof lock on the doors enable you to
secure each door individually.
A door with an activated child-proof lock cannot
be opened from the inside. If the vehicle is
unlocked, the door can be opened from the out-
side.
Pets in the vehicle
GWARNING
If you leave animals unattended or unsecured
in the vehicle, they could press buttons or
switches, for example.
As a result, they could:
Ractivate vehicle equipment and become
trapped, for example
Ractivate or deactivate systems, thereby
endangering other road users
Unsecured animals could also be flung around
the vehicle in the event of an accident or sud-
den steering or braking, thereby injuring vehi- cle occupants. There is a risk of an accident
and injury.
Never leave animals unattended in the vehi-
cle. Always secure animals properly during
the journey, e.g. use a suitable animal trans-
port box.
Driving safety systems
Overview
In this section, you will find information about
the following driving safety systems:
RABS (Anti-lock Braking System)
RASR (Acceleration SkidControl)
RBAS (B rakeAssist System)
REBD (E lectronic Brake Force Distribution)
RESP®(Electronic StabilityProgram)
Important safety notes
If you fail to adapt your driving style or if you are
inattentive, the driving safety systems can nei-
ther reduce the risk of accident nor override the
laws of physics. Driving safety systems are
merely aids designed to assist driving. You are
responsible for the distance to the vehicle in
front, for vehicle speed, braking in good time
and for staying in your lane. Always adapt your
driving style to the prevailing road and weather
conditions and maintain a sufficient, safe dis-
tance from other road users. Drive carefully.
Please note that the driving safety systems
described only work optimally when:
Rthere is adequate contact between the tires
and the road surface
Ryou use winter tires (M+S tires), with snow
chains if necessary, when the road conditions
are wintry.
52Driving safety systems
Safety

Pay particular attention to the information
regarding tires, tire tread and winter operation
under "Wheels and tires" (
Ypage 247).
ABS (Anti-lock Braking System)
Important safety notes
Observe the important safety guidelines for the
driving safety system (Ypage 52).
GWARNING
If ABS is faulty, the wheels could lock when
braking. The steerability and braking charac-
teristics may be severely impaired. Addition-
ally, further driving safety systems are deac-
tivated. There is an increased danger of skid-
ding and accidents.
Drive on carefully. Have ABS checked imme-
diately at a qualified specialist workshop.
If ABS is malfunctioning, other systems will also
fail, including driving safety systems. Observe
the information relating to the !warning
lamp (
Ypage 195).
ABS regulates brake pressure in such a way that
the wheels do not lock when you brake. This
allows you to continue steering the vehicle when
braking.
ABS works from a speed of about 5 mph
(8 km/h), regardless of road-surface conditions. ABS works on slippery surfaces, even when you
only brake gently.
The yellow !warning lamp in the instrument
cluster lights up when the ignition is switched
on. The lamp goes out when the engine starts
running.
Braking
If ABS intervenes when braking, you will feel a
pulsating in the brake pedal.
The pulsating brake pedal can be an indication
of hazardous road conditions and functions as a
reminder to take extra care while driving.
XIf ABS intervenes: continue to depress the
brake pedal with force until the braking sit-
uation is over.
XTo make a full brake application: depress
the brake pedal with full force.
ASR (acceleration skid control)
General notes
Important safety notes
Observe the important safety guidelines for the
driving safety system (Ypage 52).
ASR can neither reduce the risk of an accident
nor suspend the laws of physics if the driver
does not pay attention when pulling away or
accelerating. ASR is only an aid. Always adapt
your driving style to suit the prevailing road and
weather conditions.
If you activate or deactivate the all-wheel drive
in a vehicle with this option, ASR will be deacti- vated for the duration of the activation/deacti-
vation process.
Vehicles without steering wheel buttons: if ASR
is malfunctioning, the :indicator lamp lights
up while the engine is running and the engine
power may be reduced (
Ypage 195).
ASR significantly improves traction, i.e. the
transmission of power from the tires to the road surface, and thus increases the vehicle's driving
stability. If the driving wheels start to spin, ASR
brakes individual drive wheels and limits the
engine torque. ASR thus significantly assists you
when pulling away and accelerating, especially
on wet or slippery roads.
If traction on the road surface is not sufficient,
even ASR will not allow you to pull away without
difficulty. The type of tires and total weight of the
vehicle as well as the gradient of the road also
play a crucial role.
If ASR intervenes, the dwarning lamp in the
instrument cluster flashes.
Activating/deactivating ASR
GWARNING
If deactivated, ASR will not attempt to stabi-
lize the vehicle during pulling away and accel- eration. There is an increased risk of skidding
and of an accident.
Only deactivate ASR in the situations descri-
bed in the following.
!If you deactivate ASR, ESP®will still inter-
vene to stabilize the vehicle. Frequent braking
automatically triggered by ESP
®can damage
the brake system.
Driving safety systems53
Safety
Z

please consult a qualified specialist workshop
in advance. You could otherwise damage the
drive train or the brake system.
If you activate or deactivate the all-wheel drive
in a vehicle with this option, ESP
®will be deac-
tivated for the duration of the activation/deac-
tivation process.
If ESP
®is malfunctioning, the hindicator
lamp lights up while the engine is running and
the engine power may be reduced
(
Ypage 194).
iOnly use wheels with the recommended tire
sizes. Only then will ESP®function properly.
4ETS (Electronic Traction System)
!A function or performance test should only
be carried out on a two-axle dynamometer.
Before you operate the vehicle on such a
dynamometer, please consult a qualified
workshop. You could otherwise damage the
drive train or the brake system.
4ETS is only active when all-wheel drive is acti-
vated (
Ypage 148).
4ETS ensures permanent drive for all four
wheels, and together with ESP
®it improves the
vehicle's traction.
If a driven wheel spins due to lack of traction:
RWhen pulling away, make use of the traction
control integrated in ESP®. Depress the
accelerator pedal as far as necessary.
RWhile driving, slowly take your foot off the
accelerator pedal.
In wintry driving conditions, always use winter
tires (M+S tires) and if necessary, snow chains
(
Ypage 249). This is the only way to get the full
benefit from the all-wheel drive system.
Crosswind Assist
Crosswind Assist does not work if ESP®is deac-
tivated or disabled because of a malfunction.
Crosswind Assist does not react:
Rin the event of severe jolts and vibrations, e.g.
as a result of uneven surfaces or potholes
Rif the vehicle loses traction, e.g. on snow or
ice or when aquaplaning
Rto large and sudden steering movements by
the driver Crosswind Assist is operational again as soon as
the driving conditions return to normal.
Crosswind Assist detects strong crosswind
gusts that can impair the road holding of your
vehicle when driving straight ahead. Crosswind
Assist intervenes depending on the direction
and strength of the crosswind.
A stabilizing brake application helps you to keep
the vehicle on track.
Information appears in the instrument cluster In the event that Crosswind Assist intervenes
noticeably.
On vehicles without steering wheel buttons:
the d indicator lamp in the instrument clus-
ter flashes.
On vehicles with steering wheel buttons: the
d indicator lamp in the instrument cluster
flashes and the message Crosswind Assist
Activeappears in the multifunction display.
Crosswind Assist is active above a vehicle speed
of 50 mph (80 km/h) when the vehicle is driving
straight ahead or cornering gently.
Emergency exit
Emergency exit window
GWARNING
The emergency exit window cannot be locked in place. You risk injury if you exit the vehicle
through the emergency exit window.
RMake sure that nobody becomes trapped,
both when closing and when opening the
emergency exit window.
RThe opened emergency exit window must
be held in place by another person.
Pay attention to traffic conditions.
GWARNING
If the emergency exit window is unlocked
while driving, it could open and slam shut and consequently fall down. There is a risk of an
accident and injury.
Before starting off, make sure that the emer-
gency exit window is locked and the locking
pins are undamaged.
!Make sure there is sufficient clearance
when opening the emergency exit window.
Emergency exit55
Safety
Z

On vehicles with a battery main switch, you must
first switch on the power supply (Ypage 118).
iTo unlock the steering, move the steering
wheel slightly while turning the key to position
1.
Preparing for a journey
Visual check of the vehicle exterior
XIn particular, check the following components
on the vehicle, and on the trailer as necessary:
Rlicense plates, vehicle lighting, turn signals,
brake lamps and wiper blades for dirt and
damage
Rtires and wheels for firm seating, correct
tire pressure and general condition
Rtrailer tow hitch for play and security
The trailer coupling is one of the most
important vehicle parts with regard to road
safety. The separate instructions issued by
the manufacturer pertaining to operation,
care and maintenance should be observed.
Rthat contour markings on attachments and
bodies are in good condition
XRectify any noticeable defects before com-
mencing the journey.
Checks in the vehicle
Emergency equipment and first-aid kit
XCheck the equipment to make sure that it is
accessible, complete and ready for use.
The first aid and breakdown assistance equip-
ment is in the front door stowage compartments
and behind the driver's seat.
Vehicle lighting
XTurn the key to position 2in the ignition lock.
XCheck the lighting system with the aid of a
second person.
XReplace defective bulbs (Ypage 86).
Before driving off
GWARNING
Objects in the driver's footwell may restrict
the clearance around the pedals or block a
depressed pedal. This jeopardizes the oper-
ating and road safety of the vehicle. There is a risk of an accident.
Stow all objects securely in the vehicle so that
they do not get into the driver's footwell.
When using floormats or carpets, make sure
that they are properly secured so that they do not slip or obstruct the pedals. Do not place
several floormats or carpets on top of one
another.
GWARNING
Unsuitable footwear can hinder correct usage of the pedals, e.g.:
Rshoes with thick soles
Rshoes with high heels
Rslippers
There is a risk of an accident.
Wear suitable footwear to ensure correct
usage of the pedals.
XSecure the load as per the loading guidelines
(Ypage 212).
XStow luggage items securely. Secure the load
as per the loading guidelines (Ypage 212).
XMake sure that the floormats and carpets are
properly secured so that they cannot slip and
obstruct the pedals.
XClose all doors.
Starting the engine
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.
!Do not depress the accelerator pedal when
starting the engine.
XBefore starting the engine, make sure that:
120Driving
Driving and parking

Rswitch off the electrical system using the bat-
tery main switch (Ypage 118) and
Rdisconnect the vehicle's auxiliary battery
Otherwise, you need to check the battery's con- dition of charge every three weeks, since
standby power consumption can drain the bat-
tery. If the battery voltage is lower than 12.2 V,
the battery must be charged. Otherwise, the
battery may be damaged by exhaustive dis-
charging.
Be sure to observe the notes on disconnecting
and charging the batteries under "Battery"
(
Ypage 227). You can obtain information about
trickle chargers from a qualified specialist work- shop.
If you leave the vehicle parked for longer than
6 weeks, the vehicle may suffer damage as a
result of lack of use. In this event, consult a
qualified specialist workshop.
Driving tips
General notes
Important safety notes
GWARNING
The driver's attention to the road must always be his/her primary focus when driving. For
your safety and the safety of others, we rec-
ommend that you pull over to a safe location
and stop before placing or taking a telephone
call. If you choose to use the telephone while
driving, please use the hands-free device and
only use the telephone when road, weather
and traffic conditions permit.
Some jurisdictions prohibit the driver from
using a mobile phone while driving a vehicle.
Bear in mind that at a speed of just 30 mph
(approximately 50 km/h), your vehicle covers
a distance of 44 feet (approximately 14 m)
ever yse cond.
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.
!Always observe the ground clearance of the
vehicle and avoid obstacles. On vehicles with a step, ground clearance is further restricted.
Obstacles can damage the vehicle.
If you must drive over obstacles, drive espe-
cially slowly and carefully. If necessary, have
another person direct you.
Drive sensibly – save fuel
In order to save fuel, observe the following tips:
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 moun-
tainous terrain.
Overrun cutoff
If you are in overrun mode and take your foot off
the accelerator pedal, the fuel supply is cut off
when the engine speed is out of the idle speed
control range.
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 are greatly increased when you drink or
take drugs and drive.
Driving tips133
Driving and parking
Z

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 substances in exhaust
fumes within legal limits.
These systems only work optimally if they are
maintained exactly in accordance with the man-
ufacturer's specifications. Any work on the
engine should therefore be carried out by quali-
fied and authorized technicians at a Sprinter
dealer.
The engine settings must not be changed under any circumstances. In addition, all specific
maintenance work must be carried out at regu-
lar intervals and in accordance with the service
requirements of the dealer listed here on the
inside title page. Details can be found in the
Maintenance Booklet.
Short journey
!
If the vehicle is predominantly used for
short-distance driving or is stationary for long
periods, this could lead to a malfunction in the automatic cleaning function for the diesel par-
ticle filter. This can lead to blockage of the
diesel particle filter. This can also result in fuel
collecting in the engine oil and cause engine
failure.
Therefore, if you mainly drive short distances,
drive on a highway or an inter-urban road for
20 minute severy 300 miles (500 km). This facil-
itates the diesel particle filter's burn-off proc-
ess.
Speed limiter
GWARNING
Exceeding the stated tire load-bearing capa-
city and the approved maximum speed could
lead to tire damage or the tire bursting. There is a risk of accident.
Therefore, only use tire types and sizes
approved for your vehicle model. Observe the
tire load rating and speed rating required for
your vehicle.
As the driver, you must find out about the max-
imum speed of the vehicle and the resulting per-
missible maximum speed of the tires (tire and
tire pressure). In particular, also observe the tire
approval regulations for each country.
You must not exceed the speed limit for the tires
listed in the tire pressure tables. You can find
information on tire pressures in the "Wheels and
tires" section (
Ypage 250).
You can permanently limit the maximum speed
of your vehicle to 65 mph (105 km/h) or 75 mph (120 km/h).
We recommend that you have the maximum
speed programmed by an authorized Sprinter
dealer.
Before overtaking, take into consideration that
the engine speed limiter prevents the speed
increasing beyond the programmed maximum
speed.
Driving abroad
Service
An extensive network of authorized Sprinter
Dealers is also at your disposal when you are
traveling abroad. Nevertheless, please bear in
mind that service facilities or replacement parts
may not always be immediately available. You
can obtain a list of workshops at any authorized
Sprinter Dealer.
Fuel
In some countries, only fuels with a higher sulfur
content are available.
Unsuitable fuel can cause engine damage. Infor-
mation on fuel (
Ypage 277).
134Driving tips
Driving and parking

Wet road surfaces
If you have been driving for a long time in heavy
rain without braking, there may be a delayed
response when you first apply the brakes. This
may also occur after driving through a car wash
or deep water.
You must depress the brake pedal more firmly.
Maintain a longer distance to the vehicle in
front.
While paying attention to the traffic conditions,
you should brake the vehicle firmly after driving
on a wet road surface or through a car wash. This
heats the brake discs, so that they dry more
quickly, which protects them against corrosion.
Limited braking performance on salt-
treated roads
When driving on salted roads, salt may start to
build up on the brake disks and brake pads. Thiscan increase braking distances considerably.
Maintain a greater distance to the vehicle in
front.
To remove any build-up of salt that may have
formed:
XApply the brakes at the start of the journey,
occasionally during journey and at the end of
the journey. Make sure that you do not endan-
ger other road users when doing so.
New brake discs and brake pads/
linings
New brake pads and brake discs only reach their
optimal braking effect after a few
100 kilometers. Until then, compensate for this by applying greater force to the brake pedal.
For safety reasons, Mercedes-Benz recom-
mends only installing the following brake discs
and brake pads/linings:
Rbrake discs that have been approved by
Mercedes-Benz
Rbrake pads/linings that have been approved
by Mercedes-Benz or are of an equivalent
standard of quality
Other brake discs or brake pads/linings can
compromise the safety of your vehicle.
Always replace all brake discs and brake pads/
linings on an axle at the same time. Always
install new brake pads/linings when replacing
brake discs.
Parking brake
GWARNING
If you must brake the vehicle with the parking brake, the braking distance is considerably
longer and the wheels could lock. There is an
increased danger of skidding and accidents.
Only use the parking brake to brake the vehi-
cle when the service brake is faulty. Do not
apply the parking brake too firmly. If the
wheels lock, release the parking brake until
the wheels begin turning again.
When driving on wet roads or dirt-covered sur-
faces, road salt and/or dirt may get into the
parking brake. This causes corrosion and a
reduction of braking force.
In order to prevent this, drive with the parking
brake lightly applied from time to time. When
doing so, drive for a distance of approximately
110 yds (100 m) at a maximum speed of 12 mph
(20 km/h).
The brake lamps are not illuminated when you
brake the vehicle using the parking brake.
Driving in wet conditions
Hydroplaning
GWARNING
There is a danger of hydroplaning occurring,
even if you are driving slowly and your tires
have sufficient tread depth, depending on the
depth of water on the road. There is a risk of
an accident.
For this reason, avoid tire ruts and brake care-
fully.
Therefore, in heavy rain or other conditions in
which hydroplaning can occur, drive as follows:
Rreduce your speed
Ravoid tire ruts
Rapply the brakes with care
Driving on flooded roads
!Do not drive through flooded areas. Check
the depth of any water before driving through
it. Drive slowly through standing water. Oth-
136Driving tips
Driving and parking