▷Vehicle battery is heavily discharged.▷At higher elevations.▷The engine compartment lid is unlocked.▷HDC Hill Descent Control is activated.▷The parking assistant is activated.▷Stop-and-go traffic.▷Selector lever in selector lever position N,
M/S or R.▷Use of fuel with high ethanol content.
Starting the engine
The engine starts automatically under the fol‐
lowing conditions:
▷Steptronic transmission: by releasing the
brake pedal.
When Automatic Hold is activated: press
the accelerator pedal.
After the engine starts, accelerate as usual.
Safety mode
After the engine switches off automatically, it
will not start again automatically if any one of
the following conditions are met:
▷The driver's safety belt is unbuckled and
the driver's door is open.▷The hood was unlocked.
Some indicator lights light up for a varied
length of time.
The engine can only be started via the Start/
Stop button.
Functional limitations
Even if driving off was not intended, the deacti‐
vated engine starts up automatically in the fol‐
lowing situations:
▷Excessive warming of the car's interior
when the cooling function is switched on.▷The steering wheel is turned.▷Fogging of the windows when the auto‐
matic climate control is switched on.▷Vehicle battery is heavily discharged.▷Excessive cooling of the car's interior when
the heating is switched on.
Activating/deactivating the system
manually
Using the button
Press button.
▷LED comes on: Auto Start/Stop function is
deactivated.
The engine is started during an automatic
engine stop.
The engine can only be stopped or started
via the Start/Stop button.▷LED goes out: Auto Start/Stop function is
activated.
Switching off the vehicle during an
automatic engine stop
During an automatic engine stop, the vehicle
can be switched off permanently, e.g., when
leaving it.
Steptronic transmission:
1.Press the Start/Stop button. The ignition is
switched off. The Auto Start/Stop function
is deactivated.
Selector lever position P is engaged auto‐
matically.2.Set the parking brake.
Engine start as usual via Start/Stop button.
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Automatic deactivation
In certain situations, the Auto Start/Stop func‐
tion is deactivated automatically for safety rea‐
sons, as it is detected that no driver is present.
Malfunction
The Auto Start/Stop function no longer
switches off the engine automatically. A Check Control message is displayed. It is possible to
continue driving. Have the system checked by
a dealer’s service center or another qualified
service center or repair shop.
Parking brake
The concept The parking brake is used to prevent the vehi‐
cle from rolling when it is parked.
Information WARNING
An unsecured vehicle can begin to move
and possibly roll away. There is risk of an acci‐
dent. Before exiting, secure the vehicle against
rolling.
In order to ensure that the vehicle is secured
against rolling away, observe the following:▷Set the parking brake.▷On uphill grades or on a downhill slope,
turn the front wheels in the direction of the
curb.▷On uphill grades or on a downhill slope,
also secure the vehicle, e.g., with a wheel
chock.◀
WARNING
Unattended children or animals can
cause the vehicle to move and endanger them‐
selves and traffic, e.g., due to the following ac‐
tions:
▷Pressing the Start/Stop button.▷Releasing the parking brake.▷Opening and closing the doors or win‐
dows.▷Engaging selector lever position N.▷Using vehicle equipment.
There is risk of accidents or injuries. Do not
leave children or animals unattended in the ve‐
hicle. Take the remote control with you when
exiting and lock the vehicle.◀
Overview
Parking brake
Setting Pull the switch.
The LED lights up.
The indicator lamp lights up red. The
parking brake is set.
While driving
Use as emergency brake while driving:
Pull the switch and hold it. The vehicle brakes
hard while the switch is being pulled.
The indicator lamp lights up red, a sig‐
nal sounds and the brake lights light
up.
A Check Control message is displayed.
If the vehicle is slowed down to a speed of ap‐
prox. 2 mph/3 km/h the parking brake is set.
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Releasing
With the ignition switched on:
Steptronic transmission: press the
switch while the brake is pressed or se‐
lector lever position P is set.
The LED and indicator lamp go out.
The parking brake is released.
Automatic release in cars with
Steptronic transmission
For automatic release, step on the accelerator
pedal.
The LED and indicator lamp go out.
The parking brake is automatically released
when you step on the accelerator:▷Engine on.▷Drive mode engaged.▷Driver buckled in and doors closed.
Automatic Hold
The concept This system assists the driver by automatically
setting and releasing the brake, such as when
moving in stop-and-go traffic.
The vehicle is automatically held in place when
it is stationary.
On inclines, the system prevents the vehicle
from rolling backward when driving off.
Overview
Automatic Hold
Safety information WARNING
An unsecured vehicle can begin to move
and possibly roll away. There is risk of an acci‐
dent. Before exiting, secure the vehicle against
rolling.
In order to ensure that the vehicle is secured
against rolling away, observe the following:▷Set the parking brake.▷On uphill grades or on a downhill slope,
turn the front wheels in the direction of the
curb.▷On uphill grades or on a downhill slope,
also secure the vehicle, e.g., with a wheel
chock.◀
Under the following conditions, Automatic
Hold is automatically deactivated and the park‐
ing brake is set:
▷The engine is switched off.▷A door is opened and driver's safety belt is
unbuckled while the vehicle is stationary.▷The moving vehicle is brought to a stand‐
still using the parking brake.
The indicator lamp switches from
green to red and the letters AUTO H go out.
Activating
This function can be activated when the driv‐
er's door is closed, the safety belt is fastened
and the engine is running.
Press button.
The LED and the letters AUTO H light
up.
The indicator lamp lights up.
Automatic Hold is activated.
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DeactivatingPress button again.
The LED and the letters AUTO H go
out.
Automatic Hold is deactivated.
If the vehicle is being held by Automatic Hold,
press on the brake pedal to deactivate it.
When the parking brake is set manually, Auto‐
matic Hold is deactivated automatically.
Driving Automatic Hold is activated: the vehicle is au‐
tomatically secured against rolling after brak‐
ing to a standstill.
The indicator lamp lights up green.
Step on the accelerator pedal to drive
off.
The brake is released automatically.
The indicator lamp goes out.
ATTENTION
If the vehicle is stationary, Automatic
Hold engages the parking brake. It prevents
the vehicle from rolling in a vehicle wash.
There is a risk of damage to property. Deacti‐
vate Automatic Hold prior to entering the vehi‐
cle wash.◀
Parking The parking brake is automatically set if the
engine is switched off while the vehicle is be‐
ing held by Automatic Hold.
The indicator lamp changes from green
to red.
The parking brake is not set if the en‐
gine is switched off while the vehicle is coast‐
ing to a halt. Automatic Hold is deactivated.
Automatic Hold remains activated during the
engine stop brought about by the Auto Start/
Stop function.WARNING
Unattended children or animals can
cause the vehicle to move and endanger them‐
selves and traffic, e.g., due to the following ac‐
tions:▷Pressing the Start/Stop button.▷Releasing the parking brake.▷Opening and closing the doors or win‐
dows.▷Engaging selector lever position N.▷Using vehicle equipment.
There is risk of accidents or injuries. Do not
leave children or animals unattended in the ve‐
hicle. Take the remote control with you when
exiting and lock the vehicle.◀
Malfunction
In the event of a failure or malfunction of the
parking brake, secure the vehicle against roll‐
ing using a wheel chock, e.g., when leaving it.
After a power failure
Putting the parking brake into
operation
1.Switch on the ignition.2. Press the switch while stepping on
the brake pedal or selector lever position P
is set.
It may take several seconds for the brake to be
put into operation. Any sounds associated with
this are normal.
The indicator lamp in the instrument
cluster goes out as soon as the parking
brake is ready for operation.
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Steptronic transmission
Information WARNING
An unsecured vehicle can begin to move
and possibly roll away. There is risk of an acci‐
dent. Before exiting, secure the vehicle against
rolling.
In order to ensure that the vehicle is secured
against rolling away, observe the following:▷Set the parking brake.▷On uphill grades or on a downhill slope,
turn the front wheels in the direction of the
curb.▷On uphill grades or on a downhill slope,
also secure the vehicle, e.g., with a wheel
chock.◀
Selector lever positions
D Drive
Selector lever position for normal vehicle oper‐
ation. All gears for forward travel are activated
automatically.
R Reverse Select only when the vehicle is stationary.
N Neutral
The vehicle may roll in selector lever posi‐
tion N, e.g. in car washes.
When the ignition is switched off, refer to
page 66, selector lever position P is engaged
automatically.
P Park Select only when the vehicle is stationary. The
drive wheels are blocked.
Selector lever position P is engaged automati‐
cally in the following situations:
▷After the engine is switched off when the
vehicle is in radio-ready state, refer topage 66, or when the ignition is switched
off, refer to page 66, and when selector
lever position R or D is set.▷With the ignition off, if selector lever posi‐
tion N is engaged.▷If the driver's safety belt is unbuckled, the
driver's door is opened, and the brake
pedal is not pressed while the vehicle is
stationary and selector lever position D
or R is engaged.
Kickdown
Kickdown is used to achieve maximum driving
performance. Step on the accelerator pedal
beyond the resistance point at the full throttle
position.
Engaging selector lever positions General information To prevent the vehicle from creeping after you
select a gear, maintain pressure on the brake
pedal until you are ready to start.
▷It is not possible to shift out of selector
lever position P until the engine is running
and the brake is applied.▷With the vehicle stationary, depress the
brake pedal before shifting out of selector
lever position P or N; otherwise, the shift
block will not be deactivated and the shift
command will not be executed.
Selector lever lock
A lock prevents the inadvertent switching to
selector lever position R or the inadvertent
change from selector lever position P.
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downshifting is not possible if the engine
speed is too high.
The selected gear is briefly displayed in the in‐
strument cluster, followed by the currently se‐
lected gear.
Steptronic Sport transmission: avoid automatic upshifting in M/S manual
mode
The Steptronic Sport transmission does not
automatically upshift in M/S manual mode
once the maximum speed is reached, if one of
the following conditions is met:▷DSC deactivated.▷TRACTION activated.▷SPORT+ activated.
In addition, there is no downshifting for kick‐
down.
Ending the sport program/manual
mode
Push the selector lever to the right.
D is displayed in the instrument cluster.
Shift paddles
The shift paddles on the steering wheel allow
you to shift gears quickly while keeping both
hands on the steering wheel.
▷Shift up: briefly pull right shift paddle.▷Shift down: briefly pull left shift paddle.
Gears will only be shifted at appropriate engine
and road speeds, for example downshifting is
not possible if the engine speed is too high.
The selected gear is briefly displayed in the in‐
strument cluster, followed by the current gear.
If the shift paddles on the steering wheel are
used to shift gears in automatic mode, the
transmission switches to manual mode tempo‐
rarily in selector lever position D and perma‐
nently in selector lever position S.
In selector lever position D, after conservative
driving for a certain amount of time in manual
mode or if there has been no acceleration or
shifting of the shift paddles within a certain
amount of time, the transmission switches
back to automatic mode.
Displays in the instrument cluster The selector lever position is dis‐played, for example: P.
Electronic unlocking of the
transmission lock
General information
Electronically unlock the transmission lock to
maneuver vehicle from the danger area.
Unlocking is possible, if the starter can spin the
engine.
Before unlocking the transmission lock, apply
the parking brake to prevent the vehicle from
rolling away.
Engaging selector lever position N1.Press and hold down brake pedal.2.Press the Start/Stop button. The starter
must audibly start.3.Press the unlock button on the selector
lever, see arrow 1, and press and hold the
selector lever into selector lever position N,
see arrow N.Seite 79DrivingControls79
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A corresponding Check Control message
is displayed.4.Release the selector lever and press it
again into selector lever position N within
approx. 6 seconds.
Selector lever position N is displayed in the
instrument cluster.5.Release brake, as soon as the starter
stops.6.Maneuver the vehicle from the danger area
and secure it against moving on its own.
For further information, see the Tow-starting
and towing chapter.
Steptronic Sport transmission:
Launch Control
The concept Launch Control enables optimum acceleration
on surfaces with good traction.
General information
The use of Launch Control causes premature
component wear since this function represents
a very heavy load for the vehicle.
Do not use Launch Control during the break-in,
refer to page 184, period.
To increase vehicle stability, activate DSC
again as soon as possible.
An experienced driver may be able to achieve
better acceleration values in DSC OFF mode.
Requirements
Launch Control is available when the engine is
warmed up, that is, after uninterrupted driving
of at least 6 miles/10 km.
To start with Launch Control do not steer the
steering wheel.
Start with launch control While the engine is running:1. Press button or select Sport+ with
the Driving Dynamics Control.
TRACTION is displayed in the instrument
cluster and the indicator lamp for DSC OFF
lights up.2.Engage selector lever position S.3.With the left foot, forcefully press down on
the brake.4.Press and hold down the accelerator pedal
beyond the resistance point at the full
throttle position, kickdown.
A flag symbol is displayed in the instru‐
ment cluster.5.The starting engine speed adjusts. Within
3 seconds, release the brake.
Before using Launch Control again, allow the
transmission to cool down for approx. 5 mi‐
nutes.
Launch Control adjusts to the surrounding
conditions, for example, wet pavement, when
used again.
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Display in the instrument display▷Current engine speed is displayed in the
tachometer.▷Arrow 1: successive yellow illuminated
fields indicate an increase in the speed.▷Arrow 2: successive orange illuminated
fields indicate the upcoming shift moment.▷Arrow 3: fields are illuminated in red. Do
not wait any further to shift.
When the maximum possible speed is
reached, the entire display flashes. When the
maximum speed is exceeded, the supply of
fuel is interrupted in order to protect the en‐
gine.
Check Control The conceptThe Check Control system monitors functions
in the vehicle and notifies you of malfunctions
in the monitored systems.
A Check Control message is displayed as a
combination of indicator or warning lights and
text messages in the instrument cluster and in
the Head-up Display.
In addition, an acoustic signal may sound and a
text message may appear on the Control Dis‐
play.
Indicator/warning lights
General information
The indicator and warning lights in the instru‐
ment cluster can light up in a variety of combi‐
nations and colors.
Several of the lights are checked for proper
functioning and light up temporarily when the
engine is started or the ignition is switched on.
Red lights
Safety belt reminder Safety belt on the driver's side is not
buckled. For some country-specific
models: passenger belt is not worn or
objects are detected on the front passenger
seat.
Flashing or illuminated: safety belt on the
driver or passenger side is not buckled. The
safety belt reminder can also be activated if
objects are placed on the front passenger seat.
Make sure that the safety belts are positioned
correctly.
Airbag system Airbag system and belt tensioner are
not working.
Have the vehicle checked immediately
by a dealer’s service center or another quali‐
fied service center or repair shop.
Parking brake The parking brake is set.
For additional information, refer to Re‐
lease parking brake, refer to page 71.
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