You can start the drive system if a valid key is in
the vehicle. Switch off the drive system and
always take the key with you when leaving the
vehicle, even if you only leave it for a short time. Pay attention to the important safety notes.
X Depress the brake pedal and keep it
depressed.
X Press the Start/Stop button once
(Y page 109).
The drive system is started. Once the vehicle
is ready to be driven, the Ready
Ready display
(Y page 152) appears in the lower part of the
multifunction display.
Starting procedure with the SmartKey To start the drive system using the key instead
of the Start/Stop button, pull the Start/Stop
button out of the ignition lock.
X Turn the SmartKey to position 3(Y page 109)
in the ignition lock and release it.
The drive system is started. Once the vehicle
is ready to be driven, the Ready Readydisplay
(Y page 152) appears in the lower part of the
multifunction display. Pulling away
The vehicle is equipped with a sound generator.
At low speeds, an electric vehicle makes less
noise than a vehicle with a combustion engine.
The sound generator is activated so that other
road users can hear your vehicle better. The
sound generator is activated at speeds of under
20 mph (30 km/h) and switches off automati-
cally at higher speeds.
X Depress the brake pedal and keep it
depressed.
X Move the DIRECT SELECT lever to position D
or R.
X Release the brake pedal.
X Carefully depress the accelerator pedal.
The electric parking brake is automatically
released (Y page 131).
The red 0049(USA only) or 0024(Canada
only) indicator lamp in the instrument cluster goes out.
The vehicle locks centrally once you have pulled
away. The locking knobs in the doors drop down. You can open the doors from the inside at any
time. It is only possible to move the DIRECT SELECT
selector lever from position
Pto the desired
selector lever position if you depress the brake
pedal. The parking lock is then deactivated and
the electrical parking brake is released auto-
matically. If the brake pedal is not depressed,
the DIRECT SELECT lever can still be moved but
the parking lock remains engaged.
Make sure that no charging cable is plugged in. The parking lock cannot be released if a charg-
ing cable is plugged in. Hill start assist
Hill start assist will aid you when pulling away on
a hill. It holds the vehicle for a short time after
you have removed your foot from the brake
pedal. This gives you enough time to move your foot from the brake pedal to the accelerator
pedal and depress it before the vehicle begins to
roll. G
WARNING
After a short time, hill start assist will no lon-
ger brake your vehicle and it could roll away.
There is a risk of an accident and injury.
Therefore, quickly move your foot from the
brake pedal to the accelerator pedal. Never
leave the vehicle when it is held by hill start
assist.
Hill start assist is not active if:
R you are pulling away on a level road or on a
downhill gradient.
R the DIRECT SELECT lever is in position N.
R the electric parking brake is applied.
R ESP ®
is malfunctioning.
Further information on holding the vehicle sta-
tionary on uphill gradients (Y page 114). Transmission
Important safety notes
Shift the DIRECT SELECT lever to position P
when the drive system is switched off and the
vehicle is stationary. Park position Pis engaged
and the electric parking brake is applied auto-
matically: Transmission
111Driving and parking Z
Driving tips
Holding the vehicle stationary on uphill
gradients Do not hold the vehicle stationary on uphill gra-
dients by depressing the accelerator pedal.
Instead, only ever hold the vehicle stationary on
uphill gradients by:
R depressing the brake pedal
R engaging the electric parking brake
Kickdown Use kickdown for maximum acceleration.
X Depress the accelerator pedal beyond the
pressure point.
The needle in the power display points to the
boost area (Y page 153).
X Ease off the accelerator pedal once the
desired speed is reached.
i Maximum acceleration is available for a limi-
ted time.
Rocking the vehicle free Shifting the transmission repeatedly between
gears
Dand Rmay help to free the vehicle if it
has become stuck in slush or snow. The vehi-
cle's engine management system limits the
speed to a maximum of 5 mph (9 km/h) when
shifting back and forth. To shift back and forth
between transmission positions Dand R, move
the DIRECT SELECT lever up and down past the
point of resistance. Program selector button
The program selector button allows you to
choose between drive programs with different
driving characteristics. X
Press program selector button 0043.
The selected drive program appears in the
multifunction display.
The transmission switches to automatic drive
program Eeach time the drive system is started. E
Economy Comfortable, economical
driving style
S
Sport Sporty driving style
E+
Economy
Plus Comfortable, particularly
economical driving style
Drive programs
Drive program E (Economy) Drive program
Eis characterized by the follow-
ing:
R the vehicle pulling away more gently in
forward gear unless the accelerator pedal is
depressed fully.
R reduced power on the accelerator pedal
increases sensitivity. This supports an even
and economical driving style.
R the wheels are less likely to spin.
R full power output by using kickdown.
Drive program S (Sport) Drive program
Sis characterized by the follow-
ing:
R the vehicle exhibits sporty driving character-
istics.
R the entire power output can be utilized by
depressing the accelerator pedal. 114
TransmissionDriving and pa
rking
The braking performance of the electric motor
using recuperative braking is, in some operating modes, either reduced or not effective:
R when the condition of charge of the high-volt-
age battery increases
R if the high-voltage battery is not yet at a nor-
mal operating temperature
R when driving close to the vehicle's maximum
design speed
R when the vehicle is almost stationary
R in transmission position N
R during and after ESP stability control
If you do not make an additional effort to apply
the brake yourself, the braking effect may not be sufficient. If necessary, counteract the reduced
regenerative braking effect by applying the
brake yourself.
Radar-based recuperation The vehicle uses the Active Brake Assist sensors
during radar-based recuperation ( DAUTO
). The
sensors detect the distance to the vehicle ahead
and its speed. The intensity of recuperation is
then automatically adjusted to the current traf-
fic situation.
The range can then be increased by storing
energy efficiently. Adjustment is infinitely vari-
able from overrun mode (no recuperation) to
maximum recuperation.
Maintain sufficient distance to the vehicle in
front. Mercedes-Benz recommends that you
activate Active Brake Assist as a visual and
acoustic aid.
Examples of radar-based recuperation:
R Approaching a slower vehicle, a decelerating
vehicle or when following a vehicle downhill.
Your vehicle decelerates slightly and increa-
ses recuperation.
R Driving when no vehicle is detected in front or
when a vehicle is detected in the far distance or an accelerating vehicle is detected. Your
vehicle switches to overrun mode at higher
speeds.
R Driving on a steep downhill slope. Accelera-
tion downhill is reduced and recuperation is
increased. This is comparable with shifting
down when driving downhill. X
To activate radar-based recuperation: pull
steering wheel paddle shifter 0043or0044
towards you and hold for about one second.
X To deactivate radar-based recuperation:
briefly pull steering wheel paddle shifter 0043
or 0044 towards you.
If you change between radar-based and manual
recuperation, the following levels are activated
depending on the selection via the steering
wheel paddle shifters: 0043
Steering wheel
paddle shifter - selects
D-
(maximum
recuperation) 0044
Steering wheel
paddle shifter + selects
D+
(overrun) In particular, the function of the radar sensors
can be impaired in the case of:
R there is dirt on the sensors or anything else
covering the sensors
R there is snow or heavy rain
R there is interference by other radar sources
R there are strong radar reflections, for exam-
ple in parking garages
R a narrow vehicle is traveling in front, e.g. a
motorbike
R a vehicle is traveling in front on a different line
relative to the center of your vehicle
Following damage to the front end of the vehicle,
have the radar sensor settings and operation
checked at a qualified specialist workshop
immediately. This also applies to collisions at
slow speeds where there is no visible damage to the front of the vehicle.
If the radar sensors are not available, the system switches automatically to level Dwith moderate
recuperation. Have the radar sensors checked
at a qualified specialist workshop immediately.
Automatic adjustment of recuperation
on downhill gradients The vehicle can detect steep downhill gradients.
To reduce acceleration downhill and to charge
the high-voltage battery, recuperation is
increased steplessly. This is comparable to the
engine brake in a combustion engine when you
downshift a gear on a downhill gradient.
Automatic adjustment of recuperation on down-
hill gradients is available in level DAUTO
or on 116
TransmissionDriving and parking
relevant power socket checked by an electri-
cian.
X To adjust the setting: press button0085
repeatedly until the desired setting is selec-
ted in display 0087.
R Two LEDs are flashing: minimum setting
R All LEDs are flashing: maximum setting
Information about the charging time
(Y page 286)
If, after the charging process, the charging cable
is:
R left connected to the mains socket, the set
value will be used for the next charging proc-
ess.
R removed from the power socket, the values
will be reset to the minimum setting for the
next charging process. You may then need to
reset the values of the maximum charge cur-
rent.
If the charge current values that have been set
on the charging cable and the on-board com-
puter are different, the high-voltage battery is
charged using the lower value.
If the vehicle requires more time than usual to
charge the high-voltage battery, check:
R the settings of the maximum charge current
on the controls of the charging cable
R the settings of the maximum charge current in
the menu of the on-board computer Connecting the charging cable 0043
To open the charge socket flap
0044 Tire pressure table
0087 Socket cap
0085 Fastener
0083 Reference sticker (voltage range)
0084 Vehicle socket
006B Warning sticker (charging cable)
X Shift the DIRECT SELECT lever to position P.
X Switch the ignition off.
X Press the charge socket flap in the direction
of arrow 0043.
The charge socket flap swings up.
X Slide fastener 0085to the right.
Socket cap 0087is open.
X Insert the power supply plug into the electri-
cal outlet to the stop.
X Insert the charging cable connector into vehi-
cle socket 0084to the stop.
The high-voltage battery is being charged.
The vehicle must not be moved while the charg-
ing cable is connected or during charging.
i Depending on the temperature, the engine
cooling system and battery cooling system
may audibly switch on when the charging 124
High-voltage batteryDriving and parking
The vehicle must not be moved while the charg-
ing cable is connected or during charging.
i Depending on the temperature, the engine
cooling system and battery cooling system
may audibly switch on when the charging
cable is connected or during the charging
process.
Removing the charging cable !
Before driving away, you must ensure that,
for your own safety and to avoid damage, the
charging cable has been removed from the
vehicle socket. Otherwise, you cannot shift
the transmission out of position P.
When the charge level display reaches 100%,
the battery is fully charged (Y page 153). When the battery is charged:
X Press and hold button 006Con the charging
cable connector and remove the charging
cable from vehicle socket 0084.
X Close socket cap 0087.
X Close the charge socket flap. Problems with the charging process
Problem
Possible causes/consequences and
0050 0050Solutions The charge socket flap
cannot be opened. The charge socket flap is not unlocked.
X Unlock the vehicle (Y page 66). The SmartKey batteries are discharged.
X Unlock the vehicle manually using the SmartKey (Y page 68).The charge socket flap is unlocked, but the opening mechanism is
jammed.
X Lock and unlock the vehicle.
If, after that, the opening mechanism is still jammed:
X Consult a qualified specialist workshop. The high-voltage battery
is not being charged. A malfunction has occurred during the initialization of the charging
process.
X Ensure that the charging cable is connected to the electrical outlet.
X Remove the charging cable connector from the vehicle socket and
wait 30 seconds; then re-insert it into the vehicle socket.
X If the problem persists, consult a qualified specialist workshop. The high-voltage battery
is not charged during the
charging process when
connected to a power
socket. The electrical outlet is faulty.
X Have the electrical outlet checked to test if it is functioning prop-
erly.
or X Use a different electrical outlet. 126
High-voltage batteryDriving and parking
G
WARNING
If you leave children unsupervised in the vehi- cle, they could set it in motion by, for example:
R release the parking brake.
R shift the transmission out of park position
P.
R start the vehicle's drive system.
They could also operate the vehicle's equip-
ment. There is a risk of an accident and injury.
When leaving the vehicle, always take the
SmartKey with you and lock the vehicle. Never leave children unsupervised in the vehicle.
! While the vehicle is rolling, do not shift the
transmission directly from Dto R, from Rto D
or directly to P.
Do not open the driver's door while the vehi-
cle is in motion. Otherwise, at low speeds in
transmission position Dor R, park position P
is engaged automatically and the electrical
parking brake is applied.
The transmission could be damaged.
! Always secure the vehicle correctly against
rolling away. Otherwise, the vehicle or its driv-
etrain could be damaged.
To ensure that the vehicle is secured against
rolling away unintentionally:
R the electric parking brake must be applied.
R the transmission must be in position P.
R the SmartKey in the ignition lock must be
turned to position 0and removed from the
ignition lock.
R on uphill or downhill gradients, the front
wheels must be turned towards the curb. Switching off the drive system
G
WARNING
If you switch off the ignition while driving,
safety-relevant functions are only available
with limitations, or not at all. This can affect
the power steering and the brake boosting
effect, for example. You will require consider- ably more effort to steer and brake. There is a
risk of an accident.
Do not switch off the ignition while driving. X
Shift the DIRECT SELECT lever to position P.
X With the SmartKey: turn the SmartKey to
position 0in the ignition lock and remove it.
The immobilizer is activated.
X With the Start/Stop button: press the
Start/Stop button (Y page 109).
The drive system and all the indicator lamps in
the instrument cluster go out.
When the driver's door is closed, this corre-
sponds to SmartKey position 1. When the
driver's door is open, this corresponds to
SmartKey position 0: "Key removed".
If you switch the engine off with the transmis-
sion in position Ror D, the transmission auto-
matically shifts to N.
With the SmartKey: if you then open the driv-
er's door or the front-passenger door or remove
the SmartKey from the ignition, the transmis-
sion automatically shifts to P.
With the Start/Stop button: if you then open
the driver's door or the front-passenger door,
the transmission automatically shifts to P.
If you want the transmission to remain in neutral N, e.g. when having the vehicle cleaned in an
automatic car wash with a towing system:
X Vehicles with the Start-Stop button:
remove the Start-Stop button from the igni-
tion lock.
X Insert the SmartKey into the ignition lock.
X All vehicles: switch the ignition on.
X Depress the brake pedal and keep it
depressed.
X Shift to neutral N.
X Release the brake pedal.
X Release the electric parking brake.
X Switch off the ignition and leave the SmartKey
in the ignition lock. Parking
129Driving and parking Z
are completely filled at the same time, the driver
has adopted the most economical driving style
for the selected settings and prevailing condi-
tions. The ECO display border lights up.
The ECO display does not indicate the actual fuel
consumption. The additionally achieved range
displayed under Bonus fr. Start
Bonus fr. Start does not
indicate a fixed consumption reduction.
In addition to driving style, the actual consump- tion is affected by other factors, such as:
R Load
R Tire pressure
R Cold start
R Choice of route
R Active electrical consumers
These factors are not included in the ECO dis-
play.
An economical driving style specially requires
driving at moderate engine speeds.
To achieve a higher value in the categories
"Acceleration" and "Constant", drive the vehicle
in drive program E+orE.
On long journeys at a constant speed, e.g. on the highway, only the outer area for "constant" will
change.
The ECO display summarizes the driving style
from the start of the journey to its completion.
Therefore, there are more marked changes in
the outer areas at the start of a journey. On lon-
ger journeys, there are fewer changes. For more
marked changes, perform a manual rest
(Y page 158).
For more information on the ECO display, see
(Y page 156). Braking
Important safety notes G
WARNING
If you increase the recuperation level on slip- pery road surfaces, the drive wheels may lose
their traction. There is an increased danger of skidding and accidents.
Do not increase the recuperation level on slip-
pery road surfaces. The braking performance of the electric motor
using recuperative braking is, in some operating
modes, either reduced or not effective:
R when the condition of charge of the high-volt-
age battery increases
R if the high-voltage battery is not yet at a nor-
mal operating temperature
R when driving close to the maximum speed
R when the vehicle is almost stationary
R in transmission position N
R during and after ESP stability control
If you do not make an additional effort to apply
the brake yourself, the braking effect may not be
sufficient. If necessary, counteract the reduced regenerative braking effect by applying the
brake yourself.
Downhill gradients On long, steep gradients, you must reduce the
load on the brakes by selecting maximum recu-
peration. This helps you to avoid overheating the
brakes and wearing them out excessively.
Recuperation allows the vehicle to be deceler-
ated without placing a load on the braking sys-
tem.
Do not depress the brake pedal continuously
while the vehicle is in motion, e.g. causing the
brakes to rub by constantly applying light pres-
sure to the pedal. This results in excessive and
premature wear to the brake pads.
Heavy and light loads G
WARNING
If you rest your foot on the brake pedal while
driving, the braking system can overheat. This increases the stopping distance 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. Driving tips
133Driving and parking Z
Wet roads
If you have driven for a long time in heavy rain
without braking, there may be a delayed reac-
tion from the brakes when braking for the first
time. This may also occur after the vehicle has
been washed or driven through deep water.
You 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 more quickly
and protecting them against corrosion.
Limited braking performance on salt-
treated roads If you drive on salted roads, a layer of salt resi-
due may form on the brake discs and brake
pads. This can result in a significantly longer
braking distance.
R In order to prevent any salt build-up, apply the
brakes occasionally while paying attention to
the traffic conditions.
R Carefully depress the brake pedal and the
beginning and end of a journey.
R Maintain a greater distance to the vehicle
ahead.
Servicing the brakes !
The brake fluid level may be too low, if:
R if the red brake warning lamp lights up in
the instrument cluster and
R you 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 immediately.
Consult a qualified specialist workshop to
arrange this.
! A function or performance test should only
be carried out on a 2-axle dynamometer. If
you wish to operate the vehicle on such a
dynamometer, please consult a qualified spe- cialist workshop in advance. You could oth-
erwise damage the drive train or the brake
system. !
As the ESP ®
system operates automatically,
the engine and the ignition must be switched
off (the SmartKey must be in position 0or 1in
the ignition lock) if:
R the electric parking brake is tested on a
brake dynamometer (for a maximum of
ten seconds)
R the 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 spe-
cialist 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 functional- ity of your brakes at regular intervals.
You can find a description of Brake Assist (BAS)
on (Y page 59).
Mercedes-Benz recommends that you only have brake pads/linings installed on your vehicle
which have been approved for Mercedes-Benz
vehicles or which correspond to an equivalent
quality standard. Brake pads/linings which havenot been approved for Mercedes-Benz vehicles
or which are not of an equivalent quality could
affect your vehicle's operating safety.
Mercedes-Benz recommends that you only use
brake fluid that has been specially approved for
your vehicle by Mercedes-Benz, or which corre- sponds to an equivalent quality standard. Brakefluid which has not been approved for
Mercedes-Benz vehicles or which is not of an
equivalent quality could affect your vehicle's
operating safety.
Checking brake lining thickness You can measure the break pad/lining thick-
ness using a test gage. Color-coding (green or
red) on the test gage allows you to determine
whether the brake pad/lining thickness is still
sufficient. The test gage is in the vehicle docu-
ment wallet in the glove box. 134
Driving tipsDriving and parking