Driving and operating135Driving and
operatingDriving hints ............................... 136
Control of the vehicle ...............136
Starting and operating ...............136
New vehicle running-in ............136
Ignition switch positions ...........136
Retained power off ..................137
Starting the engine ..................137
Overrun cut-off ........................ 138
Stop-start system ....................138
Parking .................................... 141
Engine exhaust .......................... 142
Diesel particle filter ..................142
Catalytic converter ...................143
Automatic transmission ..............143
Transmission display ...............143
Selector lever .......................... 144
Manual mode ........................... 145
Electronic driving programmes 145
Fault ........................................ 146
Interruption of power supply ....146
Manual transmission ..................147Manual transmission automa‐
ted .............................................. 147
Transmission display ...............148
Starting the engine ..................148
Selector lever .......................... 148
Manual mode ........................... 150
Electronic driving programmes 150
Fault ........................................ 150
Brakes ........................................ 151
Antilock brake system .............151
Parking brake .......................... 152
Brake assist ............................. 152
Hill start assist ......................... 152
Ride control systems .................153
Traction Control system ..........153
Electronic Stability Control ......154
City mode ................................ 155
Driver assistance systems .........156
Cruise control .......................... 156
Speed limiter ........................... 158
Forward collision alert .............159
Following distance indication ...161
Parking assist .......................... 161
Side blind spot alert .................171
Rear view camera ...................172
Traffic sign assistant ................174
Lane departure warning ..........177
Fuel ............................................ 178
Fuel for petrol engines .............178Fuel for diesel engines ............178
Fuel for liquid gas operation ....179
Refuelling ................................ 180
Fuel consumption - CO 2-
Emissions .............................. 183
Trailer hitch ................................ 184
General information .................184
Driving characteristics and towing tips .............................. 184
Trailer towing ........................... 185
Towing equipment ...................186
Trailer stability assist ...............188
Driving and operating141● The brake vacuum is notsufficient.
● The vehicle is driven at least at walking speed.
● The climate control system requests an engine start.
● The air conditioning is manually switched on.
If the bonnet is not fully closed, a warning message is displayed in the
Driver Information Centre.
If an electrical accessory, e.g. a
portable CD player, is connected to
the power outlet, a brief power drop during restart might be noticeable.
Parking9 Warning
● Do not park the vehicle on an
easily ignitable surface. The
high temperature of the
exhaust system could ignite the
surface.
● Always apply the parking brake. Activate the manual
parking brake without pressing the release button. Apply as
firmly as possible on a downhill slope or uphill slope. Depress
brake pedal at the same time to
reduce operating force.
● Switch off the engine.
● If the vehicle is on a level surface or uphill slope, engage
first gear or set the selector
lever to position P before
removing the ignition key. On
an uphill slope, turn the front
wheels away from the kerb.
If the vehicle is on a downhill
slope, engage reverse gear or
set the selector lever to position
P before removing the ignition
key. Turn the front wheels
towards the kerb.
● Close the windows and the sunroof.
● Remove the ignition key from the ignition switch. Turn the
steering wheel until thesteering wheel lock is felt to
engage.
For vehicles with automatic
transmission, the key can only
be removed when the selector
lever is in position P.
For vehicles with manual
transmission automated, the
key can only be removed from
the ignition switch when the
parking brake is applied.
● Lock the vehicle.
● Activate the anti-theft alarm system.
● The engine cooling fans may run
after the engine has been
switched off 3 191.
Caution
After running at high engine
speeds or with high engine loads,
operate the engine briefly at a low load or run in neutral for
approx. 30 seconds before
switching off, in order to protect
the turbocharger.
142Driving and operatingNotice
In the event of an accident with
airbag deployment, the engine is
switched off automatically if the
vehicle comes to a standstill within a certain time.Engine exhaust9 Danger
Engine exhaust gases contain
poisonous carbon monoxide,
which is colourless and odourless and could be fatal if inhaled.
If exhaust gases enter the interior
of the vehicle, open the windows.
Have the cause of the fault
rectified by a workshop.
Avoid driving with an open load
compartment, otherwise exhaust
gases could enter the vehicle.
Diesel particle filter
The diesel particle filter system filters
harmful soot particles out of the
exhaust gases. The system includes
a self-cleaning function that runs
automatically during driving without
any notification. The filter is cleaned
by periodically burning off the soot
particles at high temperature. This
process takes place automatically
under set driving conditions and may
take up to 25 minutes. Typically it
needs between seven and
12 minutes. Autostop is not available
and fuel consumption may be higher
during this period. The emission of
smells and smoke during this process is normal.
Under certain driving conditions, e.g.
short distances, the system cannot
clean itself automatically.
If cleaning of the filter is required and if previous driving conditions did not
enable automatic cleaning, it will be
indicated by control indicator %.
Simultaneously a warning message
or warning code appears in the Driver
Information Centre.
% illuminates when diesel particle
filter is full. Start cleaning process as
soon as possible.
150Driving and operatingTyre pressure monitoring system
To start the sensor matching process of the tyre pressure monitoring
system, the selector lever must be
moved and held in position N for
five seconds. P illuminates in the
transmission display to indicate that
the sensor matching process can be
started.
Tyre pressure monitoring system 3 213.
Manual mode If a higher gear is selected when the
engine speed is too low, or a lower
gear when the speed is too high, the
shift is not executed. This prevents
the engine from running at too low or too high an engine speed. A warning
message is displayed in the Driver
Information Centre. Vehicle
messages 3 103.
If engine speed is too low, the
transmission automatically shifts to a
lower gear.
If engine speed is too high, the
transmission only switches to a higher gear via kickdown.When + or - is selected in automatic
mode, the transmission switches to
manual mode and shifts accordingly.
Gear shift indication The symbol R with a number
alongside it, is indicated when
gearshifting is recommended for fuel
saving reasons.
Shift indication appears only in
manual mode.
Electronic driving programmes
● Following a cold start, the operating temperature
programme increases engine
speed to quickly bring the
catalytic converter to the required
temperature.
● The adaptive programme tailors gearshifting to the driving
conditions, e.g. greater load or
gradients.Kickdown
If the accelerator pedal is presseddown completely in automatic mode, the transmission shifts to a lower gear
depending on engine speed.
Fault
To prevent damage to the manual transmission automated, the clutch is
engaged automatically at high clutch
temperatures.
In the event of a fault, control indicator g illuminates. Additionally, a
warning message is displayed in the
Driver Information Centre. Vehicle
messages 3 103.
Continued driving is restricted or not possible, depending on the fault.
Have the cause of the fault remedied
by a workshop.
Driving and operating151Brakes
The brake system comprises two
independent brake circuits.
If a brake circuit fails, the vehicle can
still be braked using the other brake
circuit. However, braking effect is
achieved only when the brake pedal
is depressed firmly. Considerably
more force is needed for this. The
braking distance is extended. Seek the assistance of a workshop before
continuing the journey.
When the engine is not running, the
support of the brake servo unit
disappears once the brake pedal has
been depressed once or twice.
Braking effect is not reduced, but
braking requires significantly greater
force. It is especially important to bear this in mind when being towed.
Control indicator R 3 92.
Antilock brake system
Antilock brake system (ABS)
prevents the wheels from locking.ABS starts to regulate brake pressure as soon as a wheel shows a tendency to lock. The vehicle remains
steerable, even during hard braking.
ABS control is made apparent
through a pulse in the brake pedal
and the noise of the regulation
process.
For optimum braking, keep the brake
pedal fully depressed throughout the
braking process, despite the fact that
the pedal is pulsating. Do not reduce
the pressure on the pedal.
After starting-off the system performs
a self-test which may be audible.
Control indicator u 3 92.
Adaptive brake light
During full braking, all three brake
lights flash for the duration of ABS
control.Fault9 Warning
If there is a fault in the ABS, the
wheels may be liable to lock due
to braking that is heavier than
normal. The advantages of ABS are no longer available. During
hard braking, the vehicle can no longer be steered and may
swerve.
Have the cause of the fault remedied
by a workshop.
152Driving and operatingParking brake
Manual parking brake9 Warning
Always apply parking brake firmly
without operating the release
button, and apply as firmly as
possible on a downhill or uphill
slope.
To release the parking brake, pull
the lever up slightly, press the
release button and fully lower the
lever.
To reduce the operating forces of
the parking brake, depress the
brake pedal at the same time.
Control indicator R 3 92.
Brake assist
If the brake pedal is depressed
quickly and forcefully, maximum
brake force is automatically applied
(full braking).
Maintain steady pressure on the
brake pedal for as long as full braking is required. Maximum brake force is
automatically reduced when the
brake pedal is released.
Hill start assist
The system helps prevent unintended movement when driving away on
inclines.
When releasing the brake pedal after
stopping on an incline, the brakes
remain on for a further two seconds.
The brakes release automatically as
soon as the vehicle begins to
accelerate or the two seconds holding
time is over.
The hill start assist is not active during
an Autostop.
Driving and operating153Ride control systems
Traction Control system The Traction Control system (TC) is a
component of the Electronic Stability
Control (ESC).
TC improves driving stability when
necessary, regardless of the type of
road surface or tyre grip, by
preventing the drive wheels from
spinning.
As soon as the drive wheels starts to
spin, engine output is reduced and
the wheel spinning the most is braked
individually. This considerably
improves the driving stability of the
vehicle on slippery road surfaces.
TC is operational after each engine
start as soon as the control indicator
b extinguishes.
When TC operates b flashes.
9 Warning
Do not let this special safety
feature tempt you into taking risks
when driving.
Adapt speed to the road
conditions.
Deactivation
TC can be switched off when spinning of drive wheels is required: press b
briefly.
A status message appears in the
Driver Information Centre when TC is
deactivated.
Control indicator k illuminates.
When TC is deactivated, ESC
remains active but with higher control threshold.
TC is reactivated by pressing b
again. A status message pops-up in
the Driver Information Centre when
TC is reactivated.
TC is also reactivated the next time
the ignition is switched on.
Fault
If there is a fault in the system the
control indicator b illuminates
continuously and a message or a
warning code appears in the Driver
Information Centre. The system is not operational.
Have the cause of the fault remedied
by a workshop.
154Driving and operatingElectronic Stability Control
Electronic Stability Control (ESC)
improves driving stability when
necessary, regardless of the type of
road surface or tyre grip.
As soon as the vehicle starts to
swerve (understeer/oversteer),
engine output is reduced and the wheels are braked individually.
ESC operates in combination with the Traction Control system (TC). It
prevents the drive wheels from
spinning.
ESC is operational after each engine
start as soon as the control indicator
b extinguishes.
When ESC operates b flashes.
9 Warning
Do not let this special safety
feature tempt you into taking risks
when driving.
Adapt speed to the road
conditions.
Control indicator b 3 93.
Deactivation
ESC and TC can be deactivated: ● press and hold b for a minimum
of five seconds: ESC and TC are
both deactivated. k and n
illuminate and status messages
appear in the Driver Information
Centre.
● To deactivate only Traction control system, press b briefly:
TC is inactive but ESC remains
active with higher control
threshold, k illuminates. A status
message appears in the Driver Information Centre when TC isdeactivated.
ESC is reactivated by pressing the
b button again. If the TC system was
previously disabled, both TC and
ESC are reactivated. k and n
extinguish when TC and ESC are
reactivated.
ESC is also reactivated the next time
the ignition is switched on.