Driving stability control systemsVehicle features and optionsThis chapter describes all standard, country-
specific and optional features offered with the
series. It also describes features that are not
necessarily available in your car, e. g., due to
the selected options or country versions. This
also applies to safety-related functions and
systems. The respectively applicable country
provisions must be observed when using the
respective features and systems.
Anti-lock Braking System
ABS
ABS prevents locking of the wheels during
braking.
The vehicle contains its steering power even
during full brake applications, thus increasing
active safety.
ABS is operational every time you start the en‐
gine.
Brake assistant When you apply the brakes rapidly, this system
automatically produces the greatest possible
braking force boost. It reduces the braking dis‐
tance to a minimum during emergency stop.
This system utilizes all of the benefits provided
by ABS.
Do not reduce the pressure on the brake pedal
for the duration of the emergency stop.DSC Dynamic Stability
Control
The concept Within the physical limits, the system helps to
keep the vehicle on a steady course by reduc‐
ing engine speed and by applying brakes to
the individual wheels.
General information Dynamic Stability Control detect for example
the following unstable driving conditions:▷Fishtailing, which can lead to oversteering.▷Loss of traction of the front wheels, which
can lead to understeering.
Dynamic Traction Control DTC, refer to
page 130, is a version of the DSC where for‐
ward momentum is optimized.
Information The laws of physics cannot be repealed, not
even with DSC.
WARNING
The system does not release from the
personal responsibility to correctly assess the
traffic situation. Based on the limits of the sys‐
tem, it cannot independently react to all traffic
situations. There is risk of an accident. Adjust
the driving style to the traffic conditions. Watch
traffic closely and actively intervene in the re‐
spective situations.◀
WARNING
When driving with roof load, e.g., with
roof-mounted luggage rack, driving safety may
not be ensured in driving-critical situations due
to the elevated center of gravity. There is risk
of accidents or risk of property damage. Do not
deactivate Dynamic Stability Control DSC
when driving with roof load.◀
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Deactivating DTCPress button again.
TRACTION and the DSC OFF indica‐
tor lamp go out.
Performance Control Performance Control enhances the agility of
the vehicle.
To increase maneuverability, with a corre‐
spondingly sporty driving style, wheels are
braked individually. The resulting braking
power is simultaneously largely compensated
by an engine intervention.
xDrive xDrive is the all-wheel-drive system of your ve‐
hicle. Concerted action by the xDrive and DSC
further optimize traction and driving dynamics.
The xDrive all-wheel-drive system variably dis‐
tributes the drive forces to the front and rear
axles as demanded by the driving situation and
road surface.
Display on the Control Display
Displaying xDrive view1."Vehicle info"2."xDrive status"
The following information is displayed:
▷With a navigation system: compass display
for the driving direction▷Pitch attitude with degree and percentage.▷Transverse gradient with degree indica‐
tion.▷Graphic display for the steering.HDC Hill Descent Control
The concept HDC is a downhill driving assistant that auto‐
matically controls vehicle speed on steep
downhill gradients. Without applying the
brakes, the vehicle moves at slightly more than
walking speed. It the brakes are actively ap‐
plied, the system distributes force according to
the traction.
Vehicle stability and maneuverability are im‐
proved on downhill gradients.
Hill Descent Control can be activated at
speeds below approx. 22 mph/35 km/h. When
driving downhill, the vehicle reduces its speed
and then keeps its speed constant.
Only use HDC in low gears or in selector lever
position D or R.
Increasing or decreasing vehicle
speed
Specify desired speed in the range from ap‐
prox. 4 mph/6 km/h to approx. 15 mph/25 km/h
using the rocker switch of the cruise control on
the steering wheel. Vehicle speed can be
changed by lightly accelerating.▷Press the rocker switch up to the point of
resistance: the speed increases gradually.▷Press up the rocker switch past the point
of resistance: the speed increases while
the rocker switch is pressed.▷Press the rocker switch down to the point
of resistance: the speed decreases gradu‐
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▷Press the rocker switch down past the
point of resistance: when driving forward,
the speed decreases to approx.
6 mph/10 km/h; when reversing, the speed
decreases to approx. 4 mph/6 km/h.
Activating HDC
Press button; the LED above the button
lights up.
Deactivating HDC Press button again. The LED goes out.
HDC is automatically deactivated above
approx. 37 mph/60 km/h.
Display in the instrument cluster The selected speed is displayed
in the speedometer.
▷Green: the system is actively
braking the vehicle.▷Orange: the system is on
standby.
Malfunction
A message is displayed in the instrument clus‐
ter. HDC is not available, for example, due to elevated brake temperatures.
Dynamic Damping Control
The concept This system reduces undesirable vehicle mo‐
tion when using a dynamic driving style or trav‐
eling on uneven road surfaces.
The system enhances driving dynamics and
comfort fitting road surface and driving style.
Programs The system offers several different programs.
The programs can be selected via Driving Dy‐
namics Control.
SPORT
Consistently sporty control of the shock ab‐
sorbers for greater driving agility.
SPORT+ Consistently sporty control of the shock ab‐
sorbers for greater driving agility when driving
with limited driving stabilization.
COMFORT/ECO PRO Balanced control of the vehicle.
Variable sport steering The variable sport steering increases the
steering angle of the front wheels at large steering wheel angles, for example, in tight
curves or when parking. Steering becomes more direct.
It also varies the force required to turn the
wheels in accordance with the vehicle speed.
This results in a sporty steering response. In
addition, it becomes easier to steer during
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ServotronicThe concept
The Servotronic varies the steering force re‐
quired to turn the wheels in accordance with
the vehicle speed. At low speeds, the steering
force is strongly supported, i. e. during steer‐
ing, low force is required. As the speed in‐
creases, the assistance of the steering force is
reduced.
Furthermore, the steering force adapts accord‐
ing to the driving program, so that a direct,
sporty feel and/or comfortable steering is con‐
veyed.
Driving Dynamics Control The conceptThe Driving Dynamics Control helps to fine-
tune the vehicle's settings and features. Vari‐
ous programs can be selected for this purpose.
The Driving Dynamics Control and the DSC
OFF buttons can each be used to activate a
program.
Overview
Button in the vehicleOperating the programsPress buttonProgramDSC OFF
TRACTIONSPORT+
SPORT
COMFORT
ECO PRO
Automatic program change
The system may automatically switch to COM‐
FORT in the following situations:
▷Failure of Dynamic Damping Control.▷Failure of DSC Dynamic Stability Control.▷The vehicle has a flat tire.▷When activating cruise control in TRAC‐
TION or DSC OFF mode.
DSC OFF
When DSC OFF, refer to page 130, is active,
driving stability is limited during acceleration
and when driving in curves.
TRACTION When TRACTION is active, the vehicle has
maximum traction on loose road surfaces. DTC
Dynamic Traction Control, refer to page 130, is
activated. Driving stability is limited during ac‐
celeration and when driving in curves.
SPORT+
Sporty driving with optimized chassis and sus‐
pension and adjusted drivetrain with limited
driving stabilization.
Dynamic Traction Control is switched on.
The driver handles several of the stabilization
tasks.
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Driving comfortVehicle features and options
This chapter describes all standard, country-
specific and optional features offered with the
series. It also describes features that are not
necessarily available in your car, e. g., due to
the selected options or country versions. This
also applies to safety-related functions and
systems. The respectively applicable country
provisions must be observed when using the
respective features and systems.
Active Cruise Control with Stop&Go function, ACC
The conceptUsing this system, a desired speed and a dis‐
tance to a vehicle ahead can be adjusted using
the buttons on the steering wheel.
The system maintains the desired speed on
clear roads. For this purpose, the vehicles ac‐
celerates or brakes automatically.
If a vehicle is driving ahead of you, the system
adjusts the speed of your vehicle within the
given system limits so that the set distance to
the vehicle ahead is maintained.
The distance can be adjusted in several steps.
For safety reasons, it depends on the repective
speed.
If the vehicle ahead of you brakes to a halt, and
then proceeds to drive again within a brief pe‐
riod, the system is able to detect this within the
given system limits.
General information
Depending on the driving settings, the features of the cruise control can change in certain
areas.Information
WARNING
The system does not release from the
personal responsibility to correctly assess the
traffic situation. Based on the limits of the sys‐
tem, it cannot independently react to all traffic
situations. There is risk of an accident. Adjust
the driving style to the traffic conditions. Watch
traffic closely and actively intervene in the re‐
spective situations.◀
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
The desired speed can be incorrectly ad‐
justed or called up by mistake. There is risk of
an accident. Adjust the desired speed to the
traffic conditions. Watch traffic closely and ac‐
tively intervene in the respective situations.◀
WARNING
Risk of accident due to too high speed
differences to other vehicles, e.g., in the fol‐
lowing situations:
▷When fast approaching a slowly moving
vehicle.▷Suddenly swerving vehicle onto the own
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▷When fast approaching standing vehicles.
There is a risk of injury or danger to life. Watch
traffic closely and actively intervene in the re‐
spective situations.◀
Overview
Buttons on the steering wheel
Press but‐
tonFunctionCruise control on/off, interrupt,
refer to page 137Store, maintain speed, refer to
page 138Call up speed, continue cruise
control, refer to page 139Reduce distance, refer to
page 139Increase distance, refer to
page 139Rocker switch:
Set speed, refer to page 138
Radar sensor
A radar sensor is located in the front bumper
for detecting vehicles on the road ahead of the
vehicle.
Always keep radar sensor clean and unob‐
structed.
Camera
The camera is installed near the interior mirror.
Keep the windshield in the area behind the in‐
terior mirror clean and clear.
A dirty or covered area in front of the interior
mirror may hinder the detection of vehicles.
If necessary, clean the area in front of the inte‐
rior mirror, for example, carefully remove salt
residue in the winter.
Functional requirements
Speed range The system is best used on well-constructed
roads.
The minimum speed that can be set is
20 mph/30 km/h. The maximum speed that
can be set depends on the vehicle.
The system can also be activated when sta‐
tionary.
Switching on/off and interrupting
cruise control
Switching on Press button on the steering wheel.
The indicator lights in the instrument cluster
light up and the mark in the speedometer is set
to the current speed.
Cruise control can be used.
DSC will be switched on if needed.
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Switching offTo switch off the system while standing, step
on brake pedal at the same time.
Press button on the steering wheel.▷If active: press twice.▷If interrupted: press once.
The displays go out. The stored desired speed
is deleted.
Interrupting manually Press button on the steering wheel.
If interrupting the system while stationary,
press on the brake pedal at the same time.
Automatic interruption
The system is automatically interrupted in the
following situations:
▷When the driver applies the brakes.▷When selector lever position D is disen‐
gaged.▷When DTC is activated or DSC is deacti‐
vated.▷When DSC is actively controlling stability.▷When SPORT+ is activated with Driving
Dynamics Control.▷If the safety belt and the driver's door are
opened while the vehicle is standing still.▷If the system has not detected objects for
an extended period, for example, on a road
with very little traffic without curb or
shoulder markings.▷If the detection range of the radar is dis‐
rupted, for example, by dirt or heavy fog.▷After a longer stationary period when the
vehicle has been braked to a stop by the
system.Setting the speed
Maintaining/storing the speed
Press the rocker switch while the system is in‐
terrupted.
When the system is switched on, the current
speed is maintained and stored as the desired
speed.
The stored speed is displayed in the speedom‐
eter and briefly in the instrument cluster, refer
to page 139.
DSC will be switched on if needed.
The speed can also be stored bypressing a button.
Press button.
Changing the speed
Press the rocker switch up or down repeatedly
until the desired speed is set.
If active, the displayed speed is stored and the
vehicle reaches the stored speed when the
road is clear.
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Distance displayDistance 1Distance 2Distance 3Distance 4
This value is set automatically after
the system is switched on.The system has been interrupted or
distance control is temporarily sup‐
pressed because the accelerator
pedal is being pressed; a vehicle
was not detected.Distance control is temporarily sup‐
pressed because the accelerator
pedal is being pressed; a vehicle
was detected.
Detected vehicle
Symbol lights up orange:
A vehicle has been detected ahead of
you.
Rolling bars: the detected vehicle has driven
away.
ACC does not accelerate. To accelerate, acti‐
vate ACC, e.g., by briefly stepping on the ac‐
celerator pedal, pressing the RES button or
rocker switch.
Indicator/warning lights Symbol flashes orange:
The conditions are not adequate for
the system to work.
The system was deactivated but applies the
brakes until you actively resume control by
pressing on the brake pedal or accelerator
pedal.
Symbol flashes red and a signal
sounds:
You are requested to intervene by
braking or make an evasive maneuver.
Displays in the Head-up Display Some system information can also be dis‐
played in the Head-up Display.
Distance information The symbol is displayed when the dis‐tance from the vehicle traveling ahead
is too short.
The distance information is active under the
following circumstances:▷Active Cruise Control switched off.▷Display in the Head-up Display selected,
refer to page 98.▷Distance too short.▷Speed greater than approx.
40 mph/70 km/h.
System limits
Detection range
The detection capacity of the system and the
automatic braking capacity are limited.
Two-wheeled vehicles for instance might not
be detected.
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