tions. Even a small amount of alcohol or
drugs can affect your reflexes, perceptions
and judgment.
The possibility of a serious or even fatal
accident 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 drinkingor taking drugs.
Emission control
GWARNING
Combustion engines emit poisonous
exhaust gases such as carbon monoxide.
Inhaling these exhaust gases leads to poi-
soning. There is a risk of fatal injury.
Therefore never leave the engine running
in enclosed spaces without sufficient ven- tilation.
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. There-
fore, only allow qualified and authorized
technicians to perform work on the engine.
The engine settings must not be changed
under any circumstances. Furthermore, all
specific service work must be performed at
regular intervals and in accordance with
smart service requirements. Details can be
found in the Maintenance Booklet.
Braking
Important safety notes
GWARNING
If you shift down on a slippery road surface
in an attempt to increase the engine's
braking effect, the drive wheels could lose
their grip. There is an increased danger of
skidding and accidents.
Do not shift down for additional engine
braking on a slippery road surface.
Downhill gradients
!On long and steep gradients, you must
reduce the load on the brakes by shifting to
a lower gear in good time. This allows you
to take advantage of the engine's braking
effect. This helps you to avoid overheating
the brakes and wearing them out exces-
sively.
When you take advantage of the engine's
braking effect, a drive wheel may not turn
for some time, e.g. on a slippery road sur-
face. This could cause damage to the drive
train, which is not covered by the smart
warranty.
Heavy and light loads
GWARNING
If you rest your foot on the brake pedal
while driving, the braking system can
overheat. This increases the stopping dis-
tance and can even cause the braking system
to fail. There is a risk of an accident.
Never use the brake pedal as a footrest.
Never depress the brake pedal and the
accelerator pedal at the same time.
!Depressing the brake pedal constantly
results in excessive and premature wear to
the brake pads.
If the brakes have been subjected to a heavy
load, do not stop the vehicle immediately.
Drive on for a short while. This allows the
airflow to cool the brakes more quickly.
Wet roads
If you have driven for a long time in heavy
rain without braking, there may be a delayed
reaction from the brakes when braking for the
first time. This may also occur after the vehi-
cle has been washed or driven through deep
water.
You then have to depress the brake pedal more
firmly. Maintain a greater distance from the
vehicle in front.
After driving on a wet road or having the
vehicle washed, brake firmly while paying
attention to the traffic conditions. This will warm up the brake discs, thereby drying them
Driving tips103
>> Driving and parking.
Z
more quickly and protecting them against
corrosion.
Limited braking performance on salt-
treated roads
If you drive on salted roads, a layer of salt
residue may form on the brake discs and brake
pads. This can result in a significantly lon-
ger braking distance.
RBrake occasionally to remove any possible
salt residue. Make sure that you do not
endanger other road users when doing so.
RCarefully depress the brake pedal and the
beginning and end of a journey.
RMaintain a greater distance to the vehicle
ahead.
Servicing the brakes
!The brake fluid level may be too low, if:
Rif the red brake warning lamp lights up
in the instrument cluster and
Ryou hear a warning tone while the engine
is running
Observe additional warning messages in
the multifunction display.
The brake fluid level may be too low due to
brake pad wear or leaking brake lines.
Have the brake system checked immedi-
ately. Consult a qualified specialist work-
shop to arrange this.
!A function or performance test should
only be carried out on a 2-axle dynamome-
ter. If you wish to operate the vehicle on
such a dynamometer, please consult a
qualified specialist workshop in advance.
You could otherwise damage the drive train
or the brake system.
!As the ESP®system operates automati-
cally, the engine and the ignition must be
switched off (the SmartKey must be in posi-
tion 0or 1in the ignition lock) if:
Rthe parking brake is tested using a brake
dynamometer (maximum 10 seconds).
Rthe vehicle is towed with the front axle
raised.
Braking triggered automatically by ESP
®
may seriously damage the brake system. All checks and maintenance work on the brake
system must be carried out at a qualified
specialist workshop.
Have brake pads installed and brake fluid
replaced at a qualified specialist workshop.
If the brake system has only been subject to
moderate loads, you should test the function-
ality of your brakes at regular intervals.
When having brake pads/linings fitted, smart
recommends that you only use those which are
approved for smart vehicles or are of an
equivalent quality standard. Brake pads/
linings which have not been approved for
smart vehicles or which are not of an equiv-
alent quality could affect your vehicle's
operating safety.
smart recommends that you only use brake
fluid which is approved for smart vehicles or
is of an equivalent quality standard. Brake
fluid which has not been approved for smart
vehicles or which
is not of an equivalent
quality could affect your vehicle's operating
safety.
Driving on wet roads
Hydroplaning
If water has accumulated to a certain depth on the road surface, there is a danger of hydro-
planing occurring, even if:
Ryou drive at low speeds.
Rthe tires have adequate tread depth.
For this reason, in the event of heavy rain or in conditions in which hydroplaning may
occur, you must drive in the following man-
ner:
Rlower your speed.
Ravoid ruts.
Ravoid sudden steering movements
Rbrake carefully.
Driving on flooded roads
!Bear in mind that vehicles traveling in
front or in the opposite direction create
waves. This may cause the maximum per-
missible water depth to be exceeded.
Failure to observe these notes may result in damage to the engine, electrical systems
and transmission.
104Driving tips
>> Driving and parking.
Prevent water from entering the vehicle inte-
rior or the engine compartment. If you must
drive through standing water, bear in mind
that:
Rthe water level should not exceed the lower
edge of the vehicle body in still water
Ryou should drive no faster than at walking
pace.
Winter driving
GWARNING
If you shift down on a slippery road surface
in an attempt to increase the engine's
braking effect, the drive wheels could lose
their grip. There is an increased danger of
skidding and accidents.
Do not shift down for additional engine
braking on a slippery road surface.
GDANGER
If the exhaust pipe is blocked or adequate
ventilation is not possible, poisonous
gases such as carbon monoxide (CO) may
enter the vehicle. This is the case, e.g. if
the vehicle becomes trapped in snow. There
is a risk of fatal injury.
If you have to leave the engine running,
keep the exhaust pipe and the area around
the vehicle free of snow. To ensure an ade- quate supply of fresh air, open a window on
the side of the vehicle that is not facing
into the wind.
Have your vehicle winterproofed at a quali-
fied specialist workshop at the onset of win-
ter.
Drive particularly carefully on slippery road
surfaces. Avoid sudden acceleration, steer-
ing and braking maneuvers. Do not use cruise
control.
If the vehicle threatens to skid or cannot be
stopped when moving at low speed:
XTry to bring the vehicle under control
using corrective steering.
XVehicles with automatic transmission:
shift the transmission to position N.The outside temperature indicator is not
designed to serve as an ice-warning device
and is therefore unsuitable for that purpose.
Changes in the outside temperature are dis-
played after a short delay.
Indicated temperatures just above the freez-
ing point do not guarantee that the road sur-
face is free of ice. The road may still be icy,
especially in wooded areas or on bridges.
You should pay special attention to road con-
ditions when temperatures are around freez-
ing point.
For more information on driving with snow
chains, see (
Ypage 179).
For more information on driving with summer
tires, see (
Ypage 179).
Observe the notes in the "Winter operation"
section (
Ypage 179).
Driving systems
Cruise control
General notes
Cruise control maintains a constant road
speed for you. Cruise control does not brake
the vehicle automatically. Only the engine's
braking effect is available. In order to
reduce speed and maintain distance to other
road users, you need to brake yourself. This
interrupts cruise control.
Use cruise control only if road and traffic
conditions make it appropriate to maintain a steady speed for a prolonged period. You can
use cruise control at speeds above 20 mph
(30 km/h).
Important safety notes
If you fail to adapt your driving style, cruise
control can neither reduce the risk of an
accident nor override the laws of physics.
Cruise control cannot take into account road,
weather or traffic conditions. Cruise control
is only an aid. You are responsible for the
distance to the vehicle in front, for vehicle
speed, for braking in good time and for stay-ing in lane.
Driving systems105
>> Driving and parking.
Z
Do not use cruise control:
Rin road and traffic conditions which do not
allow you to maintain a constant speed e.g.
in heavy traffic or on winding roads
Ron slippery road surfaces. Braking or
accelerating could cause the drive wheels
to lose traction and the vehicle could then
skid
Rwhen there is poor visibility, e.g. due to
fog, heavy rain or snow
If there is a change of drivers, advise the new
driver of the speed stored.
Cruise control buttons
0043Activates/deactivates cruise control
0044Stores, increases or reduces the current
speed
0087Calls up the last speed stored
0085Interrupts cruise control
Activating cruise control
Cruise control must be activated before it can
be used.
XPress switch 0043(ON).
Cruise control is activated.
The 0085 symbol appears in the multifunc-
tion display.
iWhen you switch off the engine, cruise
control remains activated and the last
speed stored is cleared.
Storing and maintaining the current
speed
While cruise control is active, you can set the
current speed starting from 20 mph (30 km/h).
XAccelerate the vehicle to the desired
speed.
XPress switch 0044(®) and release it.
XRemove your foot from the accelerator
pedal.
Cruise control is activated. The vehicle
automatically maintains the stored speed.
0085 SET
is shown in the multifunction
display.
iCruise control may be unable to maintain
the stored speed on uphill gradients. The
stored speed is resumed when the gradient
evens out.
On downhill gradients, only the engine's
braking effect is available. You have to
operate the brakes yourself to reduce
speed. This interrupts cruise control.
Calling up the last speed stored
GWARNING
If you call up the stored speed and it is
different to the current speed, the vehicle
will accelerate. If you are not aware of the
stored speed, the vehicle may accelerate
unexpectedly. There is a risk of an acci-
dent.
Pay attention to the road and traffic con-
ditions before calling up the stored speed. If you do not know the stored speed, store
the desired speed again.
XPress button 0087° and release it.
Cruise control is activated and adjusts the vehicle's speed to the last speed stored.
XRemove your foot from the accelerator
pedal.
iWhen you switch off the engine, the last
speed stored is cleared.
Increasing or decreasing the speed
In order to be able to increase or decrease the
speed, a speed must already have been stored.
iCruise control is not deactivated if you
depress the accelerator pedal. For exam-
ple, if you accelerate briefly to overtake,
cruise control adjusts the vehicle's speed
to the last speed stored after you have fin-
ished overtaking.
106Driving systems
>> Driving and parking.
R®: increases the speed
R−: decreases the speed
XPress switch0044(®) or (−) repeatedly
until the desired speed is reached.
The speed is gradually increased or
reduced.
or
XPress and hold switch 0044(®) or (−) until
the desired speed is reached.
XRelease the switch.
The new speed is stored.
Interrupting cruise control
When cruise control is switched on, you can
cancel cruise control at any time and call up
the stored speed again later.
iWhen you switch off the engine, the last
speed stored is cleared.
XPress button 0085± and release it.
or
XBrake.
Cruise control is interrupted.
Cruise control is also canceled when:
Ryou engage the parking brake
Ryou depress the clutch
Resp®intervenes
Deactivating cruise control
XPress switch 0043(OFF).
Cruise control is deactivated.
The 0085 symbol goes out in the multifunc-
tion display.
Parking aid
General notes
The rear parking aid uses an acoustic signal
to indicate the distance between your vehicle
and an obstacle. If you engage reverse gear
while the engine is running, the parking aid is activated automatically.
The parking aid uses three sensors 0043in the
rear bumper to monitor the area behind your
vehicle. The sensors must be free from dirt,
ice or slush. They can otherwise not function
correctly. Clean the sensors regularly, tak-
ing care not to scratch or damage them.
When reverse gear is engaged the system
measures the distance between your vehicle
and an object. If the proximity to the object
behind the vehicle is less than 4.0 ft (1.20 m)
a beeping sound is issued. As the distance to
the object decreases the frequency increa-
ses. When the object is a maximum of 1.0 ft
(30 cm) a continuous tone is issued.
Important safety notes
The parking aid feature is only intended as an
aid. It is not a replacement for your attention
to your immediate surroundings. You are
always responsible for safe maneuvering,
parking and exiting a parking space. When
maneuvering, parking or pulling out of a
parking space, make sure that there are no
persons, animals or objects in the area in
which you are maneuvering.
!When parking, pay particular attention to
objects above or below the sensors, such as
flower pots or trailer drawbars. The park-
ing aid does not detect such objects if they
are in the immediate vicinity of the vehi-
cle. You could damage the vehicle or the
objects.
The sensors may not detect snow and other
objects that absorb ultrasonic waves.
Ultrasonic sources such as an automatic car
wash, the compressed-air brakes of a truck
or a pneumatic drill could cause the park-
ing aid to malfunction.
The parking aid may not function correctly
on uneven terrain.
Driving systems107
>> Driving and parking.
Z
Safety systems
Display messagesPossible causes/consequences and0050Solutions
0075
Malfunction VisitWorkshop
The restraint system is faulty.
GWARNING
The air bags or Emergency Tensioning Devices may either be trig-
gered unintentionally or, in the event of an accident, may not be
triggered.
There is an increased risk of injury.
XDrive on carefully.
XHave the restraint system checked at a qualified specialist
workshop immediately.
For further information about the restraint system, see
(
Ypage 29).
Electronics Mal‐function Stop SeeOperator's Manual
In addition, the 00E5,00DFand0027 (USA) or 00E50025 and004D
(Canada) warning lamps light up in the instrument cluster and a
warning tone sounds.
ABS (Anti-lock Braking System) and ESP
®(Electronic Stability
Program) are malfunctioning. This means that Crosswind Assist
and hill start assist, for example, are also unavailable.
Further driving systems could be switched off automatically.
GWARNING
The brake system continues to function normally, but without the
functions listed above. The front and rear wheels could therefore
lock if you brake hard, for example.
The steerability and braking characteristics may be severely
affected. The braking distance in an emergency braking situation
can increase.
If ESP
®is not operational, ESP®is unable to stabilize the vehicle.
There is an increased risk of skidding and an accident.
XPull over and stop the vehicle safely as soon as possible, paying
attention to road and traffic conditions. Do not continue driv-
ing under any circumstances.
XSecure the vehicle against rolling away (Ypage 100).
XConsult a qualified specialist workshop.
0027(USA
only)
004D(Canada
only)
Release Parking
Brake
You are driving with the parking brake engaged.
XRelease the parking brake.
Display messages119
>> On-board computer and displays.
Z
Vehicle
Display messagesPossible causes/consequences and0050Solutions
0049
BrakeLightsInoper‐ative
The brake lights are not functioning. The actuation or the bulbs/
LEDs are faulty.
GWARNING
Bulbs and lamps are an important aspect of vehicle safety. The
brake lamps are not functioning and are no longer working when
braking.
There is a risk of an accident.
XPull over and stop the vehicle safely as soon as possible, paying
attention to road and traffic conditions.
XSecure the vehicle against rolling away (Ypage 100).
XConsult a qualified specialist workshop.
Switch Off LightsThe lights are still switched on when you leave the vehicle. A
warning tone also sounds.
XTurn the light switch to 0058or003F.
\
(Example of all doors
and tailgate open)
A door or the tailgate is open. A warning tone also sounds.
The display shows the open doors/tailgate.
XPull over paying attention to road and traffic conditions and
stop the vehicle, then close the doors and tailgate.
0052
Power Steering Mal‐function See Opera‐tor's Manual
The power steering is malfunctioning.
GWARNING
You will need to use more force to steer.
There is a risk of an accident.
XCheck whether you are able to apply the extra force required.
XIf you are able to steer safely: carefully drive on to a qualified
specialist workshop.
XIf you are unable to steer safely: do not continue driving. Con-
tact the nearest qualified specialist workshop.
0052
Electronics Mal‐function See Opera‐tor's Manual
The power steering assistance may be malfunctioning. You may
need to use more force to steer.
XDrive on carefully to a qualified specialist workshop and have
the steering checked immediately.
0044
Parking Lock Mal‐function To Park:Apply Parking Brake
Only for vehicles with automatic transmission: the letterN
flashes in the middle of the display if you try to shift to P. A
warning tone also sounds.
The parking lock is malfunctioning.
XApply the parking brake to park.
128Display messages
>> On-board computer and displays.
Safety systems
ProblemPossible causes/consequences and0050Solutions
0075
The red restraint sys-
tem warning lamp is lit
while the engine is
running.The restraint system is faulty.
GWARNING
The air bags or Emergency Tensioning Devices may either be trig-
gered unintentionally or, in the event of an accident, may not be
triggered.
There is an increased risk of injury.
XDrive on carefully.
XHave the restraint system checked at a qualified specialist
workshop immediately.
For further information about the restraint system, see
(
Ypage 29).
0027 (USA only)
004D (Canada only)
00E50025
The red brake system
warning lamp, the yel-
low ESP
®warning lamp
and the yellow ABS
warning lamp light up
while the engine is
running.
GWARNING
The brake system continues to function normally, but without the
functions listed above. The front and rear wheels could therefore
lock if you brake hard, for example.
The steerability and braking characteristics may be severely
affected. The braking distance in an emergency braking situation
can increase.
If ESP
®is not operational, ESP®is unable to stabilize the vehicle.
There is an increased risk of skidding and an accident.
XPull over and stop the vehicle safely as soon as possible, paying
attention to road and traffic conditions. Do not continue driv-
ing under any circumstances.
XSecure the vehicle against rolling away (Ypage 100).
XConsult a qualified specialist workshop.
0027 (USA only)
004D (Canada only)
The red brake system
warning lamp comes on
while the vehicle is
moving. A warning tone
also sounds.You are driving with the parking brake engaged.
XRelease the parking brake.
The warning lamp goes out and the warning tone ceases.
132Warning and indicator lamps in the instrument cluster
>> On-board computer and displays.