OperationSwitching the auxiliary heater off:
Automatically once the programmed departure
time has arrived or after the programmed oper-
ating time has elapsed
››› page 163.
Automatically when the control lamp (fuel
level indicator) ››› page 276 lights up.
Automatically when the 12-volt battery charge
is too low ››› page 289. Special feature
Onc
e sw
itched off, the auxiliary heater will
continue to operate for a short period of time
in order to burn the fuel remaining in the sys-
tem and also to expel the exhaust fumes.
Remote control Fig. 162
Auxiliary heater: remote control.
Fig. 162Meaning
Switch the auxiliary heater on
Switch the auxiliary heater off
1Control lamp
If the buttons of the remote control are press-
ed u
nnec
essarily, it could switch on the auxil-
iary heater involuntarily, even when it is out
of range or when the control lamp is flashing.
Control lamp on the remote control
When the buttons are pressed, the control
lamp on the remote control provides the user
with different information:
Control lamp 1Meaning
It will light for about 2 sec-
onds in green.The auxiliary heater has
been switched on using
the
button.
It will light for about 2 sec-
onds in red.The auxiliary heater has
been switched off using
the
button.
It flashes green slowly for
approximately 2 seconds
(approximately 4 times per
second).No on a)
signal has been
received.
Control lamp 1Meaning
It flashes green quickly for
approximately 2 seconds
(approximately 10 times
per second).The auxiliary heater is
locked.
Possible causes: The fuel
tank is almost empty, the
12-volt battery charge is
too low or there is a fault.
It flashes red for approxi-
mately 2 seconds (approx-
imately 4 times per sec-
ond).No off a)
signal has been
received.
It will light for about 2 sec-
onds in orange, then
green or red.The remote control battery
is almost flat. However,
the on or off signal has
been received.
It will light for about 2 sec-
onds in orange, then it
flashes green or red.The remote control battery
is almost flat. No on or off
signal has been received.
It flashes orange for ap-
proximately 5 seconds.The remote control battery
is flat. No on or off signal
has been received.
a) The remote control is out of range. In this case it will be nec-
essary to get closer to the vehicle and press the corresponding
button again.
Replacing the remote control battery
If, when pressing the buttons of the remote
control, control lamp 1 flashes orange for
ap pr
oximately 5 seconds or it does not
switch on, the remote control battery will
need replacing.
162
Air conditioning
The battery is located beneath a cover on the
b ac
k of the remote control.
● To open the cover, lift it slightly at the bot-
tom and s
lide it down.
● Remove the old battery.
● Insert the new battery. When doing so, take
into ac
count the polarity and use batteries of
the same type ››› .
● Replace the battery cover by inserting the
t ab
s at the top and pressing the bottom.
Range
The receiver is inside the vehicle. The remote
control, when fitted with new batteries, has a
range of several hundred metres. Obstacles
between the remote control and the vehicle,
bad weather conditions and discharged bat-
teries can considerably reduce the range of
the remote control. CAUTION
● The r a
dio frequency remote control con-
tains electronic components. Therefore, avoid
getting it wet and exposing it to knocks or di-
rect sunlight.
● The use of inappropriate batteries may
dam
age the radio frequency remote control.
For this reason, always replace the used bat-
tery with another of the same voltage, size
and specifications. For the sake of the environment
● Ple
ase dispose of your used batteries cor-
rectly and with respect for the environment.
● The remote control battery may contain
perc
hlorate. Observe the legal provisions re-
garding disposal.
● Care should be taken so as not to operate
the remot
e control unintentionally so as to
prevent the auxiliary heater being switched
on accidentally. Programming the auxiliary heater
Before pr
ogramming it, check that the vehi-
c
le's date and time are set correctly ››› .
The aux i
liary heater is programmed in the
Auxiliary heater menu of the infotain-
ment system.
Open the Auxiliary heater menu.
● Press the button in the C
limatronic
control panel.
● Press the fu
nction button.
Function button: function
Switch off: The auxiliary heater is immediately switched
off.
Function button: function
Heat, Ventilate: Set to heat or ventilate the vehicle interi-
or when the auxiliary heater is switched on. By pressing
the function button
, you can select the desired
mode.
Set: Opens the Auxiliary heater menu.
Departure time 1, Departure time 2, Departure time 3:
Three different departure times (hh.mm) may be
programmed. If the auxiliary heater should only
be switched on a certain day of the week, this can
also be selected.
Duration: The duration determines the operating
time of the auxiliary heater when switched on us-
ing the fast heating button
on the air condi-
tioning controls. The duration is also used to cal-
culate the departure time for the manual air con-
ditioner. It can be set between 10 and 60 mi-
nutes at 10-minute intervals.
This returns to the main menu.
The programmed departure time determines
the ap
pr
oximate time it should take to reach
the temperature set in the vehicle. The start
of the heating operation is determined auto-
matically depending on the outside tempera-
ture.
Checking the programming
When a departure time is activated and the
ignition is switched off the control lamp of
the fast heating button lights up for approx-
imately 10 seconds. »
163
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety
Operation
WARNING
Never programme the auxiliary heater so that
it sw
itches itself on and is running in an en-
closed space or an area with no ventilation.
The auxiliary heater exhaust fumes contain
carbon monoxide, an odourless and colour-
less toxic gas. Carbon monoxide can cause
people to lose consciousness. It can also
cause death. Operating instructions
The auxiliary heater exhaust system located
belo
w the
vehicle must be kept clear of snow,
mud and other objects. The exhaust fumes
must be able to exit freely. The emissions
generated by the auxiliary heater are re-
moved via an exhaust pipe fitted underneath
the vehicle.
On heating the vehicle interior, depending on
the outside temperature, the warm air is first
directed at the windscreen and then to the
rest of the vehicle interior through the air
vents. Directing the diffusers – towards the
windows for example – can affect air distribu-
tion.
When will the auxiliary heater not be activa-
ted?
● The auxiliary heater requires about as
muc h po
wer as the dipped beam headlights.
If the 12-volt battery charge is too low, the auxiliary heater switches off automatically
and c
annot
be switched on. This avoids prob-
lems when starting the engine.
● The heating must be activated every time
you w
ant to set off. Similarly, the departure
time must reactivate each time.
● The control lamp (fuel
level indicator)
lights up. Note
● Noi se
s will be heard while the auxiliary
heater is running.
● When the air humidity is high and the in-
side t
emperature low, condensation from the
heating and ventilating system may evapo-
rate when the auxiliary heater is switched on.
In this case, steam may be released from un-
derneath the vehicle. This does not mean
that there is a vehicle malfunction.
● If the vehicle is tilted, e.g. if parked on a
slope, the oper
ation of the auxiliary heater
may be restricted if the fuel tank level is low
(just above the reserve level).
● If the auxiliary heater is used a number of
times
for a long period of time, the 12-volt
battery will lose its charge. To recharge the
battery, the vehicle must be driven for a num-
ber of kilometres from time to time. As a
guideline: The journey should last approxi-
mately as long as the heater was connected.
● At temperatures below +5°C (+41°F), the
auxi
liary heater may switch itself on automat-
ically when the engine is switched on. The auxiliary heater is switched off again after a
c
er
tain time.164
Driving
remains switched on. Make sure that the igni-
tion i
s
switched off before leaving the
vehicle, otherwise the battery could dis-
charge. Starter button*
Fig. 164
In the lower part of the centre con-
so l
e: starter button. The vehicle engine can be started with a
s
t
arter button (Press & Drive). To do so, there
must be a valid key inside the vehicle in the
area of the front or rear seats.
In vehicles with the Keyless Access
››› page 112 system, the engine can also be
started with the key in the luggage compart-
ment.
Opening the driver's door when exiting the
vehicle activates the electronic lock on the
steering column if the ignition is disabled. Switching the ignition on/off manually
Briefly p
ush the starter button without touch-
ing the brake or clutch pedal ››› .
F or
vehicles with both manual and automatic
transmission, the starter button text START ENGINE STOP flashes like a heartbeat
when the sy s
tem is preset for switching the
ignition on and off.
Automatic ignition switch-off
If the driver leaves the vehicle, taking the ve-
hicle key with them but leaving the ignition
on, the ignition is switched off automatically
after a certain time. If at that time the dipped
beam is on, the parking lights will stay on for
approx. 30 minutes. The side light can be
turned off by blocking the vehicle
››› page 112 or manually ››› page 131.
Emergency starting function
If no valid key is detected inside the vehicle,
an emergency start-up will be required. The
relevant message will appear in the dash
panel display. This may happen when, for ex-
ample, the battery of the vehicle key button
is very low or flat: ● Immediately after pushing the starter but-
ton, k
eep the vehicle key next to the right
trim of the steering column.
● The ignition connects and the engine starts
autom
atically. Emergency disconnection
If the en
gine does not switch off after briefly
pressing the starter button, an emergency
disconnect will be required:
● Press the starter button twice within 3 sec-
onds
or press it once for more than 1 sec-
ond ››› .
● The engine turns off automatically.
En gine r
estart feature
If no valid key is detected inside the vehicle
after the engine stops, you will only have 5
seconds to restart it. A warning will display
on the dash panel screen.
After this interval, it will not be possible to
start the engine without a valid key inside
the vehicle.
Automatic deactivation of the ignition on ve-
hicles with the Start-Stop system
The ignition is switched off automatically
when the vehicle is stopped and the auto-
matic engine shutdown is active, if:
● The driver's seat belt is not fastened,
● the driver does not step on any pedal,
● the driver door is opened.
Aft
er automatically turning off the ignition, if
the dipped beam is on, the side light re-
mains on for approx. 30 minutes (if the bat-
tery is sufficiently charged). If the driver locks »
167
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety
Operation
situations the torque delivered to the inner
wheel i
s too high, causing the wheels to
spin. On the other hand, the outer wheel is
receiving a lower drive torque than it could
transmit. This causes an overall loss of lateral
grip on the front axle, resulting in understeer
or “lengthening” of the trajectory.
The XDS system can detect and correct this
effect via the sensors and signals of the ESC.
Via the ESC, the XDS will brake the inside
wheel and counter the excess driving torque
of that wheel. This means that the driver's
desired trajectory is much more precise.
The XDS system works in combination with
the ESC and is always active, even when ASR
traction control is disconnected, or the ESC in
Sport mode or disconnected.
Multi-collision brake
In an accident, the multi-collision brake can
help the driver by braking to avoid the risk of
skidding during the accident, which could
lead to further collisions.
The multi-collision brake works for front, side
or rear accidents, when the airbag control
unit records its activation level and the acci-
dent takes place at a speed of over 10 km/h
(6 mph). The ESC automatically brakes the
vehicle, as long as the accident has not dam-
aged the ESC, the brake hydraulics or the on-
board network The following actions control automatic brak-
ing durin
g the accident:
● When the driver presses the accelerator,
the autom
atic braking does not take place.
● When the braking pressure through press-
ing the br
ake pedal is greater than the sys-
tem’s braking pressure the vehicle will brake
automatically.
● Multi-collision braking will not be available
if E
SC is malfunctioning. WARNING
● The E SC, ABS, ASR, ED
S and the electronic
torque control system cannot exceed the lim-
its imposed by the laws of physics. Always
bear this in mind, especially on wet or slip-
pery roads. If you notice the systems cutting
in, you should reduce your speed immediate-
ly to suit the road and traffic conditions. Do
not be encouraged to take risks by the pres-
ence of more safety systems. If you do, an ac-
cident may occur.
● Please remember that the accident risk al-
wa
ys increases if you drive fast, especially in
corners or on a slippery road, or if you follow
too close behind the vehicle in front of you.
The ESC, ABS, brake assist, EDS and the elec-
tronic torque control system cannot prevent
accidents: risk of accidents!
● Accelerate with caution on slippery surfa-
ce
s (for example, icy or snow-covered). De-
spite the control systems, the driven wheels could spin, affecting the stability of the vehi-
c
l
e: risk of accident! Note
● The ABS and ASR w
ill only operate correctly
if the four wheels have identical tyres. Any
differences in the rolling radius of the tyres
can cause the system to reduce engine power
when this is not desired.
● The regulating processes of the systems
can m
ake noises when they intervene.
● If the warning lamp lights
up, or alter-
natively, there could be a fault ››› page 106. Switching on/off the ESC and ASR
The ESC is switched on automatically when
the en
gine i
s started, and only works when
the engine is running and includes the ABS,
EDS and ASR systems.
The ASR function should only be switched off
in situations in which traction is insufficient,
including:
● When driving in deep snow or on surfaces
that
are not very firm.
● To “free” the vehicle if it gets stuck.
Then swit
ch the ASR function back on.
174
Driving
Depending on the finishes and versions,
ther e i
s the possibility of disconnecting only
the ASR or activating the ESC Sport mode.
Disable ASR
The Easy Connect system menu is used to
switch off the ASR ››› page 108. The traction
control system will be disabled.
The control lamp lights up. For vehicles
with a driver information system* the driver
will be informed that ASR is disabled.
Activate ASR
The Easy Connect system menu ››› page 108
is used to switch on the ASR. The traction
control system will be enabled.
The control lamp switches off. For vehicles
with a driver information system* the driver
will be informed that ASR is enabled.
ESC in “Sport” mode
Sport mode can be connected via the Easy
Connect ››› page 108 system menu. The ac-
tion of the ESC and the ASR is limited ››› .
The c ontr
ol lamp lights up. For vehicles
with a driver information system* the driver
will be informed that: Electronic Stability Control
(ESC): sport. Warning! Limited
stability
Dis
able ESC “Sport” mode
Through the Easy Connect system menu
››› page 108. The warning lamp will switch
off. For vehicles with a driver information sys-
tem* the driver will be informed that:
Electronic Stability Control
(ESC): On
ESC in “Offroad” 1)
mode
Turn the Driving Experience button to select
the Offroad mode and connect it
››› page 226. The interventions of the ESC, as
well as of the ASR, EDS and the ABS, adapt to
irregular terrain.
The control lamp lights up. In the dash
panel, the driver will be informed that:
Electronic Stability Control
(ESC): Offroad. Warning! Limited
stability
In the following exceptional situations it may
make sense to activate the Offroad mode to
allow the wheels to spin: ●
When “swin ging” the vehicle to get it un-
stuck.
● Driving in deep snow or on loose surfaces.
● When driving on rough terrain with much of
the car's
weight is lifted off the wheels (axle
articulation).
● Steep descents with braking on unpaved
terr
ain.
For your safety we recommend that you turn
off the Offroad mode when it is not absolute-
ly necessary.
Disable the ESC Offroad mode
Turn the Driving Experience button to select a
different driving mode ››› page 226. The
warning lamp will switch off. The driver will
be informed that:
Electronic Stability Control
(ESC): On
ESC in “Snow” mode 1)
Turn the Driving Experience button to select
the “Snow” mode and connect it
››› page 226. Traction control system (ASR)
interventions adjust to the adhesion of
snowy roads. »1)
Only for 4Drive models.
175
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
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