Driving
●
Electric
al components with a high power
consumption are switched off temporarily
when the engine starts.
● When starting with a cold engine, noise
lev
els may briefly increase. This is quite nor-
mal, and no cause for concern.
● When the outside temperature is below
+5°C (+41°F), if
the engine is diesel, some
smoke may appear under the vehicle when the fuel-operated auxiliary heater is on. Stopping the engine
3
V
alid for vehicles: with Keyless Access
StepSwitch off the engine with the starter
button ››› page 167.
1.Stop the vehicle completely ››› .
2.Press and hold the brake pedal until the step
4 is performed.
3.If you are driving an automatic vehicle, place
the selector lever in position P.
4.Connect the electronic parking brake
››› page 170.
5.
Briefly press the start-up button ››› Fig. 164.
The START ENGINE STOP button blinks again. If
the engine fails to switch off, perform an emer-
gency disconnect ››› page 167.
6.If the vehicle is equipped with a manual gear-
box, put it into 1st or reverse. WARNING
Never switch off the engine while the vehicle
i s
moving. This could cause loss of control of
the vehicle, accidents and serious injury.
● The airbags and belt tensioners do not
work
when the ignition is switched off.
● The brake servo does not work with the en-
gine off.
Therefore, you need to press the
break pedal harder to brake the vehicle.
● Power steering does not work when the en-
gine is
not running. You need more strength
to steer when the engine is switched off.
● If the ignition is switched off, the steering
co
lumn could be locked, making it impossible
to control the vehicle. CAUTION
If the engine is made to work hard for a long
time, it m
ay overheat after being switched
off. To prevent damage to the engine before
switching it off, leave it idle for approx. 2 mi-
nutes in neutral. Note
After switching off the engine, the cooling fan
m a
y continue to operate in the engine com-
partment for a few more minutes, even with
the ignition off. The radiator fan is automati-
cally switched off. “My Beat” Function
For vehicles with a convenience key there is
the “M
y
Beat” function. This feature provides
an additional indication of the vehicle igni-
tion system.
When accessing the vehicle, e.g. by opening
the doors with the remote control, the START ENGINE STOP button flashes, calling at-
t ention t
o the relevant starter system button.
Upon switching the ignition on/off, the light
of the START ENGINE STOP button flashes. With
the en gine sw
itched off, after a few seconds,
the STOP ENGINE START button stops flashing
and g oe
s out.
With the engine running, the START ENGINE STOP button light stays on, indi-
c atin
g that the engine is running. Upon
switching the ignition off with the START ENGINE STOP button, it starts flashing
ag ain.
In
vehicles with the Start-Stop system , the
“My Beat” function also offers additional in-
formation:
● When the engine stops during the Stop
pha
se, the light of the START ENGINE STOP but-
t on s
tays on, since, even though the engine
is off, the Start-Stop system is active.
● When the engine cannot be stated again
with the
Start-Stop system, ›››
page 188, and
needs to be started manually, the »
169
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety
Driving
● To s
top the braking process, release the
button or press the accelerator. WARNING
The improper use of the electronic parking
br ak
e can cause accidents and serious injury.
● Never use the electronic parking brake to
st
op the vehicle, unless it is an emergency.
Braking distances can be considerably lon-
ger, since, under certain circumstances, only
the rear wheels brake. Always use the foot
brake.
● Never accelerate from the engine when a
ge
ar range or a gear is engaged and the en-
gine is running. The vehicle could move, even
if the electronic parking brake is activated. CAUTION
To prevent the vehicle from unintentionally
mo v
ing when parking it, first apply the elec-
tronic parking brake and then remove your
foot from the brake pedal. Note
● In v
ehicles with a manual gearbox, releas-
ing the clutch and accelerating at the same
time automatically disconnects the electronic
parking brake.
● If the vehicle battery is flat, it will not be
pos
sible to disconnect the electronic parking
brake. Use the jump-start ›››
page 58. ●
When the el ectr
onic parking brake is ap-
plied or released, noises may be heard.
● The system performs automatic and audi-
bl
e tests sporadically in the parked vehicle if
some time elapses without the electronic
parking brake being used. Parking
The electronic parking brake should always
be ap
p
lied when the vehicle is parked.
Always note the following points when park-
ing the vehicle: – Use the brake pedal to stop the vehicle.
– Apply the electronic parking brake.
– Put it in 1st gear.
– Switch the engine off and remove the key
from the ignition.
Turn the steering wheel
slightly to engage the steering lock.
– Never leave a vehicle key in the vehicle.
Addition
al notes on parking the vehicle on
gradients:
Turn the steering wheel so that the vehicle
rolls against the kerb if it started to roll.
● If the vehicle is parked facing downhi
ll,
turn the front wheels so that they point to-
wards the kerb . ●
If the
vehicle is parked facing uphill, turn
the front wheels so that they point away from
the kerb.
● Secure the vehicle as usual by applying the
electr
onic parking brake firmly and putting it
in 1st gear. WARNING
● Tak
e measures to reduce the risk of injury
when you leave your vehicle unattended.
● Never park where the hot exhaust system
cou
ld ignite inflammable materials, such as
dry grass, low bushes, spilt fuel etc.
● Never allow vehicle occupants to remain in
the v
ehicle when it is locked. They would be
unable to open the vehicle from the inside,
and could become trapped in the vehicle in
an emergency. In the event of an emergency,
locked doors will delay assistance to vehicle
occupants.
● Never leave children alone in the vehicle.
They c
ould set the vehicle in motion, for ex-
ample, by releasing the electronic parking
brake or the gearshift lever, which would
cause the vehicle to move, but uncontrolla-
bly.
● Depending on weather conditions, it may
become e
xtremely hot or cold inside the vehi-
cle. This can be fatal. 171
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety
Driving
●
Bef
ore driving down a long, steep gradient,
it is advisable to reduce speed and select a
lower gear. This makes use of engine braking
and relieves the brakes. If you still have to
use the brakes, it is better to brake firmly at
intervals than to apply the brakes continu-
ously. Note
● If the br
ake servo is out of action, for exam-
ple when the car is being towed, you will
have to press the brake pedal considerably
harder than normal to make up for the lack of
servo assistance.
● If you wish to equip the vehicle with acces-
sories
such as a front spoiler or wheel covers,
it is important that the flow of air to the front
wheels is not obstructed, otherwise the
brakes can overheat. Front assist system
Electronic stability control (ESC)
The E
SC
helps to improve safety. It reduces
the tendency to skid and improves the stabil-
ity and roadholding of the vehicle. The ESC
detects critical handling situations, such as
vehicle understeer or oversteer, or wheelspin
on the driving wheels. It stabilises the vehi-
cle by braking individual wheels or by reduc-
ing the engine torque. The warning lamp will flash on the instrument panel when the ESC
is
intervening .
The ESC includes the anti-lock brake system
(ABS), the front assist system (HBA), the trac-
tion control system (ASR), electronic differen-
tial lock (EDS), electronic torque control
(XDS) and tractor-trailer sway mitigation*.
ESC also helps stabilise the vehicle by chang-
ing the torque.
Anti-lock brake system (ABS)
ABS prevents the wheels from locking up un-
der braking until the vehicle has reached a
virtual standstill. You can continue to steer
the vehicle even when the brakes are on full.
Keep your foot on the brake pedal and do not
pump the brakes. You will feel the brake ped-
al pulsate while the ABS is working.
Front assist system (HBA)
The brake assist system can reduce the re-
quired braking distance. The braking force is
automatically boosted if you press the brake
pedal quickly in an emergency. You must
keep pressing the brake pedal until the dan-
ger has passed.
Traction control system (ASR)
In the event of wheelspin, the traction control
system reduces the engine torque to match
the amount of grip available. This helps the car to start moving, accelerate or climb a gra-
dient.
El
ectronic differential lock (EDL)
When the EDL detects wheelspin, it brakes
the spinning wheel and directs the power to
the other driven wheel. This function is active
up to approximately 100 km/h (62 mph).
To prevent the disc brake of the braked wheel
from overheating, the EDL cuts out automati-
cally if subjected to excessive loads. The ve-
hicle can still be driven. The EDL will switch
on again automatically when the brake has
cooled down.
Tractor-trailer sway mitigation*
If the vehicle is pulling a trailer, it will control
the following: Tractor-trailers tend to sway.
When the swaying of the trailer is felt by the
vehicle and detected by the ESC, it will auto-
matically brake the towing vehicle within the
limits of the system and mitigate the sway.
Tractor-trailer sway mitigation is not available
in all countries.
Electronic torque management (XDS)
When taking a curve, the driveshaft differen-
tial mechanism allows the outer wheel to turn
at a higher speed than the inner wheel. In
this way, the wheel that is turning faster (out-
er wheel) receives less drive torque than the
inner wheel. This may mean that in certain »
173
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety
Driving
Automatic gearbox/DSG auto-
m atic
gearbox*
Introduction Your vehicle is equipped with an electronical-
ly
c
ontrolled manual gearbox. Torque be-
tween the engine and the gearbox is trans-
mitted via two independent clutches. They re-
place the torque converter found on conven-
tional automatic gearboxes and allow for
smooth, uninterrupted acceleration of the ve-
hicle.
The tiptronic system allows the driver to
change gears manually if desired
››› page 179, Changing gears in tiptronic
mode*.
Selector lever positions Read the additional information carefully
› ›
› page 41
The selector lever position engaged is high-
lighted on the display in the instrument clus-
ter. With the selector lever in the manual
gearbox positions G, D, E and S, the engaged
gear is also indicated on the display.
P – Parking lock
When the selector lever is in this position,
the driven wheels are locked mechanically. The parking lock must be engaged only when
the v
ehicle is stationary ››› .
The int erloc
k button (the button on the selec-
tor lever handle) must be pressed in and si-
multaneously the brake pedal must be de-
pressed before moving the selector lever ei-
ther in or out of position P.
R – Reverse gear
Reverse gear must be engaged only when the
vehicle is stationary and the engine is idling
››› .
T o mo
ve the selector lever to position R, the
interlock button must be pressed in and at
the same time the brake pedal must be de-
pressed. The reverse lights come on when
the selector lever is in the R position with the
ignition on.
N – Neutral (idling)
With the selector lever in this position, the
gear is in neutral.
D/S – Permanent drive (forward) position
The selector lever in the D/S position enables
the gears to be controlled in normal mode (D)
or Sport (S). To select Sport mode (S), move
the selector lever backwards. Moving the lev-
er again will select normal mode (D). The se-
lected driving mode is shown on the instru-
ment panel display. In normal mode
(D), the g
earbox automatical-
ly selects the best gear ratio. This depends
on the engine load, the road speed and the
dynamic gear control programme (DCP).
Sport mode (S) must be selected for a sporty
driving style. This setting makes use of the
engine's maximum power output. When ac-
celerating the gear shifts will be noticeable.
Press the brake pedal to move the selector
lever from N to D/S when the vehicle is sta-
tionary or at speeds below 3 km/h (2 mph)
››› .
Under c er
tain circumstances (e.g. when driv-
ing in mountains) it can be advantageous to
switch temporarily to tiptronic mode
››› page 179, in order to manually select gear
ratios to suit the driving conditions. WARNING
● Tak
e care not to accidentally press the ac-
celerator pedal when the vehicle is stopped.
The vehicle could otherwise start moving im-
mediately (in some cases even if the parking
brake is engaged) resulting in the risk of an
accident.
● Never move the selector lever to R or P
when drivin
g. Failure to follow this instruc-
tion could result in an accident.
● With selector lever in any position (except
P) the v
ehicle must always be held with the
foot brake when the engine is running. This is
because an automatic gearbox still transmits » 177
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety
Operation
power even at idling speed, and the vehicle
t
end
s to “creep”. The accelerator pedal must
on no account be pressed inadvertently when
a gear is engaged with the vehicle stationary.
The vehicle could otherwise start moving im-
mediately (in some cases even if the parking
brake is engaged) resulting in the risk of an
accident.
● While you are selecting a gear and the vehi-
cl
e is stopped with the engine running, do
not accelerate. Failure to follow this instruc-
tion could result in an accident.
● As a driver you should never leave your ve-
hicl
e if the engine is running and a gear is en-
gaged. If you have to leave your vehicle while
the engine is running, you must apply the
handbrake and engage the parking lock (P).
● To avoid accidents, apply the handbrake
and put
the selector lever in position P before
opening the bonnet and working on the vehi-
cle with the engine running. Please always
observe the important safety warnings
››› page 282, Work in the engine compart-
ment. Note
● If the sel
ector lever is moved accidentally
to N when driving, release the accelerator and
let the engine speed drop to idling before se-
lecting gear range D or S again.
● Should the power supply to the selector
lev
er be interrupted in position P, the selector
lever will be locked. If this should happen the
manual release can be used ›››
page 41. Selector lever lock
Fig. 166
Selector lever lock. The selector lever lock prevents gears from
bein g en
gaged inadvertently, so that the ve-
hicle is not set in motion unintentionally.
The selector lever lock is released as follows:
– Switch the ignition on.
– Press the brake pedal and
, at the same
time, hold the lock button in the direction
of the arrow ››› Fig. 166.
Automatic selector lever lock
With the ignition switched on, the selector
lever is locked in the positions P and N. The
brake pedal must be pressed to release the
lever while pressing the release button if the
selector lever is in the position P. As a re-
minder for the driver, with the lever in posi-
tions P or N the following message will be
shown on the display: When stationary, apply footbrake
while selecting a gear.
Lev
el lock only engages with the vehicle sta-
tionary and at speeds of up to 5 km/h
(3 mph). At speeds of over 5 km/h (3 mph)
the lever lock is automatically deactivated in
position N.
The selector lever lock is not engaged if the
selector lever is moved quickly through posi-
tion N (e.g. when shifting from R to D). This
makes it possible, for instance, to rock the
vehicle “backwards and forwards” if it is
stuck. The selector lever lock engages auto-
matically if the brake pedal is not depressed
and the lever is in position N for more than
about two seconds.
Interlock button
The interlock button on the selector lever
handle prevents the driver from inadvertently
engaging certain gears. Press the button in
to disengage the selector lever lock.
Safety interlock for ignition key
Once the ignition has been turned off, the
key may be removed only if the gear selector
is in position P. While the key is not in the ig-
nition, the selector lever is locked in position
P.
178
Driving
Note
● If the sel
ector lever lock does not engage,
there is a fault. The transmission is interrup-
ted to prevent the vehicle from accidentally
moving. Follow the procedure below in order
for the selector lever lock to engage again:
–With a 6-speed gearbox: press the brake
pedal and release it again.
– With a 7-speed gearbox: press the brake
pedal. Move the selector lever to posi-
tion P or N and subsequently engage a
gear.
● Despite a gear being engaged, the vehicle
does
not move forwards or back. Proceed to
the next mode:
– When the vehicle does not move in the
required direction, the system may not
have the gear range correctly engaged.
Press the brake pedal and engage the
gear range again.
– If the vehicle still does not move in the
required direction, there is a system mal-
function. Seek specialist assistance and
have the system checked. Changing gears in tiptronic mode*
Fig. 167
Centre console: changing gear with
tiptr onic Fig. 168
Steering wheel: automatic gearbox
l ev
ers The tiptronic gives the driver the option to
c
h
ange gears manually. Changing gear manually with the selector
lev
er
It is possible to change to tiptronic mode,
both when the vehicle is stopped and while
driving.
– To switch to tiptronic mode, move the se-
lect
or lever from position D/S to the right.
As soon as the change is made the selector
level will be shown in the position M on the
instrument panel display (for example M4
means that the fourth gear is engaged).
– Move the selector lever forwards + to se-
l ect
a higher gear ››› Fig. 167.
– Move the selector lever backwards – to
sel ect
a lower gear.
Changing gear manually with the gearshift
paddles*
The gearshift paddles can be used when the
selector lever is in the position D/S or M.
– Press the gearshift paddle + to select a
higher g e
ar ››› Fig. 168.
– Press the gearshift paddle – to select a
lo w
er gear.
– With the selector lever in position D/S, if no
pa
ddle is operated during a short period of
time, the gearbox control system switches
back to automatic mode. To switch to per-
manent manual gear change using the
gearshift paddles, move the selector lever
from position D/S to the right. »
179
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety
Operation
When accelerating, the gearbox automatical-
ly shif
ts up into the next gear shortly before
the maximum engine speed is reached.
If you select a lower gear, the automatic gear-
box will not shift down until there is no risk of
over-revving the engine.
When the kick-down feature is used, the
gearbox shifts down to a lower gear, depend-
ing on road speed and engine speed.
Driving tips The gearbox changes gear ratios automatical-
ly
a
s the vehicle moves.
The engine can only start with the selector
lever in position P or N. At low temperatures,
below -10°C (50°F), the engine can only start
with the selector lever in position P.
Starting the vehicle
– Press and hold the brake pedal.
– Press and hold the interlock button (the
butt
on on the selector lever handle), move
the selector lever to the desired position,
for instance D ›››
page 177, and release the
interlock button.
– Wait for the gearbox to engage the gear (a
slight
movement can be felt).
– Release the brake and press the accelerator
››
› . Stopping briefly
– Apply the foot brake to hold the vehicle
briefly when s
tationary (for instance at traf-
fic lights). Do not press the accelerator.
Stopping/Parking
If the driver door is opened and the selector
lever is not in position P, the vehicle could
move. The driver message will be: Gear
change: selector lever in the
drive position! . Additionally, a buzzer
will sound.
– Press and hold the brake pedal ››
› .
– Apply the handbrake.
– Move the selector lever to position P.
Ho l
ding the car on a hill
– Always apply the brake pedal firmly to pre-
v
ent the vehicle from “moving backwards;
if necessary, apply the handbrake” ››› .
Do not tr y
to stop the vehicle “rolling back”
by increasing the engine speed when a
gear is engaged (pressing the accelerator)
››› .
St ar
ting off uphill
– Apply the handbrake.
– Once you have engaged a gear press the
acc
elerator carefully and disengage the
handbrake. Driving down hills: in some sit
uations (on
mountain roads or when towing a trailer or
caravan) it can be advantageous to switch
temporarily to the manual gearbox pro-
gramme so that the gear ratios can be selec-
ted manually to suit the driving conditions
››› .
On l ev
el ground it is sufficient to move the
selector lever to position P. On slopes, first
engage the parking brake and then put the
selection lever into the P position. This
avoids overloading the locking mechanism
and it will be easier to move the selector lev-
er from position P. WARNING
Observe the safety warnings ››
› in Selector
l ev
er positions on page 177.
● Never allow the brake to rub and do not use
the brak
e pedal too often or for long periods.
Constant braking causes overheating in the
brakes. This could significantly reduce brak-
ing power, increase braking distance or even
result in the total failure of the brake system.
● To avoid rolling back on gradients always
hol
d the vehicle with the footbrake or hand-
brake if you have to stop. CAUTION
● If
you stop the vehicle on a gradient, do not
attempt to stop it from rolling by depressing
the accelerator when a gear has been selec-
ted. This could cause overheating and 180
Operation
●
Do not s
top in the water, drive in reverse, or
stop the engine in any situation.
● Note that vehicles travelling in the opposite
direction m
ay splash water that could exceed
the maximum permitted water height for your
vehicle.
● Avoid driving through salt water (corro-
sion). Driver assistance systems
St ar
t-Stop System*
Description and operation The Start-Stop system helps save fuel and re-
duc
e C
O2 emissions.
In Start-Stop mode, the engine will automati-
cally switch off when the vehicle stops, when
stopping at traffic lights for example. The ig-
nition remains switched on during the stop-
ping phase. The engine automatically
switches back on when required. In this sit-
uation the light of the START ENGINE STOP but-
t on s
tays on.
As soon as the ignition is switched on, the
Start-Stop function is automatically activa-
ted.
Basic requirements for the Start-Stop mode
● The driver door must be closed.
● The driver must have their seat belt fas-
tened.
● The bonnet
must be closed.
● The engine must have reached a minimum
serv
ice temperature.
● The reverse gear must not be engaged.
● The vehicle must not be on a very steep
slope. WARNING
● Nev er sw
itch the engine off until the vehi-
cle is stationary. The brake servo and power
steering functions will not be completely cov-
ered under warranty. More force may also be
needed to turn the steering wheel or to brake.
As you cannot steer and brake in the normal
manner, there is a greater risk of accidents
and serious injury.
● Never remove the key from the ignition if
the v
ehicle is in motion. Otherwise, the steer-
ing could lock making it impossible to steer
the vehicle.
● To avoid injury, make sure that the Start-
Stop sy
stem is switched off when working in
the engine compartment ››› page 190. CAUTION
The Start-Stop system must always be
sw it
ched off when driving through flooded
areas ››› page 190. Stopping/Starting the engine
Vehicles with a manual gearbox
– When the vehicle is stopped, put it into
neutr al
and release the clutch pedal. The
engine will switch off. The warning lamp
will appear on the instrument panel dis-
play.
188