190Driving and operatingduring the ignition cycle or until
activation in personalisation menu
again. Vehicle personalisation 3 125.
When using the trailer hitch change
the configuration settings in the
vehicle personalisation menu in the
Info-Display. Vehicle personalisation
3 125.
Fault
In the event of a fault or if the system does not work temporarily, e.g.because of high external noise level
or other interference factors, a
message pops-up in the Driver
Information Centre.
Vehicle messages 3 123.
Basic notes on parking assist
systems9 Warning
Under certain circumstances,
various reflective surfaces on
objects or clothing as well as
external noise sources may cause the system to fail to detect
obstacles.
Special attention must be paid to
low obstacles which can damage
the lower part of the bumper.Caution
Performance of the system can be reduced when sensors are
covered, e.g. by ice or snow.
Performance of the parking assist
system can be reduced due to
heavy loading.
Special conditions apply if there
are taller vehicles in the vicinity
(e.g. off-road vehicles, mini vans,
vans). Object identification and correct distance indication in the
upper part of these vehicles
cannot be guaranteed.
Objects with a very small reflection
cross-section, e.g. objects of
narrow size or soft materials, may
not be detected by the system.
Parking assist systems do not
detect objects outside the
detection range.
Note
The parking assist system
automatically detects factory-fitted
towing equipment. It is deactivated
when the connector is plugged in.
It is possible that the sensor detects a non-existing object (echo
disturbance) caused by external acoustical or mechanic
disturbances.
Note
If engaging a forward gear and
exceeding a certain speed, the rear
parking assist will be deactivated
when the rear carrier system is
extended.
If engaging reverse gear first, the
parking assist will detect the rear
carrier system and provide a buzzing
sound. Press r briefly to
deactivate the parking assist.
Side blind spot alert
The side blind spot alert system
detects and reports objects on either
side of the vehicle, within a specified
"blind spot" zone. The system
displays a visual alert in each exterior
Driving and operating191mirror, when detecting objects that
may not be visible in the interior and
exterior mirrors.
The system's sensors are located in
the bumper on the left and right side
of the vehicle.9 Warning
Side blind spot alert does not
replace driver vision.
The system does not detect:
● vehicles outside the side blind zones which may be rapidly
approaching
● pedestrians, cyclists or animals
Before changing a lane, always
check all mirrors, look over the
shoulder and use the turn signal.
When the system detects a vehicle in the side blind zone while driving
forward, either while passing a
vehicle or being passed, a yellow
warning symbol B will illuminate in
the relevant exterior mirror. If the
driver then activates the turn signal,
the warning symbol B starts flashing
yellow as a warning not to change
lanes.
Note
If the passing vehicle is at least
10 km/h faster than the passed
vehicle, the warning symbol B in the
relevant exterior mirror may not
illuminate.
Side blind spot alert is active from
speeds of 10 km/h up to 140 km/h.
Driving faster than 140 km/h
deactivates the system, indicated by
low lighting warning symbols B in
both exterior mirrors. Reducing the speed again will extinguish the
warning symbols. If a vehicle is then
detected in the blind zone, the
warning symbols B will illuminate as
normal on the relevant side.
When the vehicle is started, both exterior mirror displays will briefly
illuminate to indicate that the system
is operating.
The system can be activated or
deactivated in the Info-Display,
vehicle personalisation 3 125.
The system is deactivated if the
vehicle is towing a trailer.
Deactivation is indicated by a
message in the Driver Information
Centre.
Detection zones
The detection zones start at the rear
bumper and extend approx.
three metres rearwards and to the
sides. The height of the zone is
approx. between half a metre and two metres off the ground.
194Driving and operatingFault
Fault messages are displayed with a 9 on the top line of the Info-Display.
The rear view camera may not
operate properly when:
● The surrounding area is dark.● The sun or the beam of headlights is shining directly into
the camera lens.
● Ice, snow, mud, or anything else covers the camera lens. Clean
the lens, rinse it with water, and
wipe it with a soft cloth.
● The tailgate is not closed correctly.
● The vehicle had a rear-end accident.
● There are extreme temperature changes.Traffic sign assistant
Functionality
The traffic sign assistant system
detects designated traffic signs via a
front camera and displays them in the
Driver Information Centre.
Traffic signs which will be detected
are:
Limit and no passing signs ● speed limit
● no passing
● end of speed limit
● end of no passingRoad signs
beginning and end of:
● city regions (country specific)
● motorways
● A-roads
● play streetsAdd-on signs ● additional hints to traffic signs
● restriction of trailer towing
● tractor constraints
● wet warning
● ice warning
● direction arrows
Speed limit signs are displayed in the
Driver Information Centre until the
next speed limit sign or end of speed
limit is detected or up to a defined sign timeout.
Driving and operating209Trailer hitch
General information
Only use towing equipment that has
been approved for your vehicle.
Vehicles with natural gas engines
require special towing equipment.
Entrust retrofitting of towing
equipment to a workshop. It may be
necessary to make changes that
affect the cooling system, heat
shields or other equipment.
The bulb outage detection function for trailer brake light cannot detect a
partial bulb outage. E.g. in case of
4x 5 Watt bulbs, the function only
detects lamp outage when only a
single 5 Watt lamp remains or none
remain.
Fitting of towing equipment could
cover the opening of the towing eye.
If this is the case use the coupling ball
bar for towing. Always keep the
coupling ball bar in the vehicle.Driving characteristics and
towing tips
Before attaching a trailer, lubricate
the coupling ball. However, do not do
so if a stabiliser, which acts on the
coupling ball, is being used to reduce snaking movements.
For trailers with low driving stability
and caravan trailers with a permitted
gross vehicle weight of more than
1300 kg the use of a stabiliser is
strongly recommended when driving
above 80 km/h.
If the trailer starts snaking, drive more
slowly, do not attempt to correct the
steering and brake sharply if
necessary.
When driving downhill, drive in the
same gear as if driving uphill and
drive at a similar speed.
Adjust tyre pressure to the value
specified for full load 3 275.Trailer towing
Trailer loads
The permissible trailer loads are
vehicle and engine-dependent
maximum values which must not be
exceeded. The actual trailer load is
the difference between the actual
gross weight of the trailer and the
actual coupling socket load with the
trailer coupled.
The permissible trailer loads are
specified in the vehicle documents. In general, they are valid for gradients
up to 12%.
The permissible trailer load applies
up to the specified incline and at sea
level. Since engine power decreases
as altitude increases due to the air
becoming thinner, therefore reducing
climbing ability, the permissible gross
train weight also decreases by 10%
for every 1000 metres of altitude. The gross train weight does not have to be reduced when driving on roads with
slight inclines (less than 8%, e.g.
motorways).
210Driving and operatingThe permissible gross train weight
must not be exceeded. This weight is
specified on the identification plate
3 263.
Vertical coupling load The vertical coupling load is the load
exerted by the trailer on the coupling
ball. It can be varied by changing the
weight distribution when loading the
trailer.
The maximum permissible vertical
coupling load (75 kg) is specified on
the towing equipment identification
plate and in the vehicle documents.
Note
Engines B16DTH, B16DTJ,
B20DTH and B20DTJ: Depending
on the equipment the maximum
permissible vertical coupling load
can be 75 kg or 60 kg.
Always aim for the maximum load,
especially in the case of heavy
trailers. The vertical coupling load
should never fall below 25 kg.Rear axle load
When the trailer is coupled and the
towing vehicle fully loaded, the
permissible rear axle load (see
identification plate or vehicle
documents) may be exceeded by
60 kg , the gross vehicle weight rating
may be exceeded by 60 kg. If the
permissible rear axle load is
exceeded, a maximum speed of
100 km/h applies.
Towing equipmentCaution
When operating without a trailer,
remove the coupling ball bar.
Stowage of coupling ball bar
The bag with the coupling ball bar is
stowed in the load compartment.
Place the strap through the right rear lashing eye, wrap around twice and
tighten the strap to secure the bag.
Depending on version, the coupling
ball bar is stowed in the stowage
compartment in the right sidewall.
212Driving and operatingInsert the tensioned coupling ball bar
in the opening and push firmly
upwards until it audibly engages.
The rotary handle snaps back into its
original position, resting against the
coupling ball bar without a gap.9 Warning
Do not touch rotary handle during
insertion.
Lock the coupling ball bar by turning
the key to position e. Remove the key
and close the protective flap.
Eye for break-away stopping cable
Attach breakaway stopping cable to
eye.
Check that the coupling ball bar is correctly installed
● Green marking on rotary knob must point towards green
marking on coupling ball bar.
● There must be no gap between the rotary handle and the
coupling ball bar.
● The coupling ball bar must be firmly engaged in the opening.
● The coupling ball bar must be locked and the key removed.9Warning
Towing a trailer is permitted only
when a coupling ball bar is fitted correctly. If the coupling ball bardoes not engage correctly, seekthe assistance of a workshop.
Dismounting the coupling ball bar
Open the protective flap and turn the
key to position c to unlock the
coupling ball bar.
Pull out rotary handle and turn
clockwise as far as it will go. Pull out coupling ball bar downwards.
Insert sealing plug in opening. Fold away socket.
Trailer stability assist
If the system detects snaking
movements, engine power is reduced
and the vehicle/trailer combination is
Driving and operating213selectively braked until the snaking
ceases. While system is working keep
steering wheel as still as possible.
Trailer stability assist (TSA) is a
function of the Electronic Stability
Control 3 170.
236Vehicle careNo.Circuit1–2Trailer outlet3Parking assist4Selective catalytic reduction
system5–6–7Power seat8–9Selective catalytic reduction
system10Nitrogen oxide sensor11Trailer module/Trailer socket12Trailer module13Trailer outlet14–15–No.Circuit16Interior mirror/Rear view
camera17Power outlet18–19Steering wheel heating20Sunblind21Heated front seats22–23–24Selective catalytic reduction
system25–26–27–28–29–30–No.Circuit31–32Active damping system/Lane
departure warning