Important safety notes
GWARNING
If th eengin eis switched off automatically and
you exit th evehicle, th eengin eis restarte d
automatically. The vehicl emay begi nmoving .
Ther eis aris kof acciden tand injury.
If you wish to exit th evehicle, always tur noff
th eignition and secure th evehicl eagainst
rollin gaway.
Automatic engine switch-off
Gene ral notes
The ECO start/sto pfunction is operational
when th eè ECO symbol is shown in th esta-
tus bar of th edisplay.
Fo rthis to happen, various conditions, includin g
th efollowing, must be met :
RtheECO start/sto pfunction is switched on .
The indicator lamp in th eè ECO butto nis
lit (
Ypage 125).
Rtheoutside temperature is abov e32 ‡(0 †).
Rthe engine has reached its operating temper-
ature.
Rthe set temperature for the vehicle interior
has been reached.
Rthe condition of charge of the starter battery
is sufficient.
Rthe system detects that the windshield is not
fogged up when the air-conditioning system
or automatic climate control is switched on.
Rthe hood is closed.
Rthe driver's seat belt is fastened.
Rthe driver's door is closed.
Rthere is no danger of immediately rolling
backwards, e.g. when stopped on a steep gra-dient.
If a trailer is attached and/or a rear carrier
system is installed and connected electri-
cally, this danger is detected on less steep
gradients.
Only if all the conditions for automatic engine
switch-off are fulfilled, does the display show
the è ECO symbol.
All of the vehicle's systems remain active when
the engine is switched off automatically.
The engine can be switched off automatically a
maximum of four times (initial stop, then three subsequent stops) in succession. After that, the
display hides the èECO symbol. Automatic
engine switch-off is not possible again until the
è ECO symbol is shown again.
If you open the hood after an a
utomatic engine
switch-off, the automatic engine start is deacti-
vated. Once the hood is closed, you have to start
the engine manually.
If the vehicle is stopped in Dor N, the ECO start/
stop function switches off the engine automat-
ically once the vehicle is stationary.
Automatic engine start
General notes
The engine is started automatically if:
Ryou switch off the ECO start/stop function by
pressing the èECO button The indicator
lamp in the èECO button then goes out.
(
Ypage 125)
Ryou depress the accelerator pedal.
Ryou engage reverse gear R.
Ryou unfasten your seat belt.
Ryou open the driver's door.
Rthe vehicle begins to roll away.
Rthe brake system requires this.
Rthe temperature in the vehicle interior
increasingly deviates from the set value.
Rthe system detects moisture on the wind-
shield when the air-conditioning system is
switched on.
Rthe battery's condition of charge is too low.
The engine is started automatically if you:
Rswitch to drive program M(Ypage 129)
Rrelease the brake pedal when in transmission
position Dor N
Rswitch to transmission position P
After shifting from transmission position Rto D,
the ECO start/stop function is not available until
the è ECO symbol is shown in the display.
124Driving
Driving and parking
ProblemPossible causes/consequences andMSolutions
The engine does not
start.
The starter motor cannot
be heard.The battery is discharged or faulty.
XCheck the battery for damage.
XCharge the battery (Ypage 262).
The engine is not running
smoothly and is misfir-
ing.There is a malfunction in the engine electronics or a mechanical com-
ponent of the engine management system.
XOnly depress the accelerator pedal slightly.
Unburnt fuel may otherwise get into the catalytic converter and
damage it.
XHave the cause rectified immediately at a qualified specialist work-
shop.
Automatic transmission
Important safety notes
GWARNING
If the engine speed is above the idling speed
and you engage transmission position Dor R,
the vehicle could pull away suddenly. There is
a risk of an accident.
When engaging transmission position Dor R,
always firmly depress the brake pedal and do not simultaneously accelerate.
GWARNING
The automatic transmission switches to neu-
tral position Nwhen you switch off the engine.
The vehicle may roll away. There is a risk of an
accident.
Before switching off the engine, always switch
to parking position P. Prevent the parked vehi-
cle from rolling away by applying the parking
brake.
!If the engine is switched off, rolling in neutral
N can damage the power transmission and
result in transmission damage.
Always observe the instructions and safety
notes under "Tow starting and towing away"
(
Ypage 274).
Bear in mind that power transmission between
the engine and the transmission is interrupted
when the engine is switched off. For this reason,
shift the automatic transmission to Pbefore the engine is switched off and with the vehicle is
stationary. Apply the parking brake to prevent
the vehicle from rolling away.
DIRECT SELECT lever
Overview of the transmission shift sys-
tem
jPark position with parking lock
kReverse gear
iNeutral
hDrive
The DIRECT SELECT lever is on the right of the
steering column.
The DIRECT SELECT lever always returns to its
original position. The display in the instrument
cluster shows the current transmission position,
namely P,R, Nor D(
Ypage 128).
126Automatic transmission
Driving and parking
Selecting transmission positions
!If the engine speed is too high or the vehicle
is moving, do not shift the automatic trans-
mission directly from Dto R, from Rto Dor
directly to P. The automatic transmission
could otherwise be damaged.
!Only shift the automatic transmission to R
when the vehicle is stationary.
XIf park position Pis selected, depress the
brake pedal to change the transmission posi-
tion.
XDrive position D: push the DIRECT SELECT
lever down beyond the 1st point of resist-
ance.
XReverse gear R: push the DIRECT SELECT
lever up beyond the 1st point of resistance.
iThe ECO start/stop function is not available
when reverse gear is engaged. Further infor-
mation can be found under "ECO start/stop
function" (
Ypage 123).
XNeutral N: push the DIRECT SELECT lever up
or down as far as the 1st point of resistance.
iWhen you switch off the engine, the auto-
matic transmission shifts to Nautomatically.
XPark position P: press the button of the
DIRECT SELECT lever in the direction of arrow
P.
Park position Pis engaged automatically if you:
Rremove the key
Ropen the driver's door while the vehicle is sta-
tionary or traveling at very low speeds and the
transmission is in position Dor R
If you want the automatic transmission to
remain in neutral Nafter you switch off the
engine, you must leave the key in the ignition
lock. This is necessary, for example, when wash-
ing the vehicle in a car wash with a conveyor.
Transmission positions
BPark position
This prevents the vehicle from rolling
away when stopped. Do not shift the
transmission into position Punless
the vehicle is stationary.
The automatic transmission shifts to P automatically if you:
Rremove the key
Ropen the driver's door while the
vehicle is stationary or traveling at
very low speeds and the transmis-
sion is in position Dor R.
The parking lock should not be used
as a brake when parking. Always
apply the parking brake as well once
you have parked the vehicle.
CReverse gear
Only shift the transmission to Rwhen
the vehicle is stationary.
ANeutral
No power is transmitted from the
engine to the drive wheels. Releasing
the brakes will allow you to move the
vehicle freely, e.g. by pushing or tow-
ing.
If ESP
®is deactivated or faulty: shift
the transmission to position Nif the
vehicle is in danger of skidding, e.g.
on icy roads.
When you switch off the engine, the
automatic transmission automati-
cally shifts into neutral N.
!If the engine is switched off, roll-
ing in neutral Ncan damage the
power transmission and result in
transmission damage.
7Drive
The automatic transmission changes
gear itself. All forward gears are avail-
able.
You can influence gearshifts with
your choice of drive program. You
can also restrict the shift range.
Automatic transmission127
Driving and parking
Z
Rincreased sensitivity. This improves driving
stability on slippery road surfaces, for exam-
ple.
Rthe automatic transmission shifts up sooner.
The vehicle thus maintains lower engine
speeds.
Drive program E
Drive programEcohas the following character-
istics:
Rthe vehicle exhibits particularly economical
handling characteristics.
Rthe maximum available engine torque is
reduced.
Roptimal fuel consumption resulting from the
automatic transmission shifting down signifi-
cantly later and up significantly sooner, even
at full-load operation.
No shift point adjustment for adapting to indi-
vidual, dynamic driving styles.
In kickdown, the automatic transmission
automatically shifts to drive program C.
Rincreased sensitivity. This improves driving
stability on slippery road surfaces, for exam-
ple.
Driving tips
Accelerator pedal position
Your style of driving influences how the auto-
matic transmission shifts gear:
Rlittle throttle: early upshifts
Rlots of throttle: later upshifts
Kickdown
Use kickdown for maximum acceleration:
XDepress the accelerator pedal beyond the
pressure point.
The automatic transmission shifts to the next
gear down, depending on the engine speed.
XEase off on the accelerator pedal once the
desired speed is reached.
The automatic transmission shifts up again.
Rocking the vehicle free
At speeds up to 5 mph (9 km/h) you can switch
back and forth between drive position Dand
reverse gear Rwithout applying the brakes. This
helps when rocking the vehicle out of snow or
slush.
XPush the DIRECT SELECT lever alternately up
and down beyond the first point of resistance.
Towing a trailer
XDepending on the downhill gradient, limit the
shift range (Ypage 128) or shift manually into
a lower gear (Ypage 130) in which the engine
will operate in the middle of the engine speed
range. This also applies if cruise control is
activated.
Manual gearshifting
General notes
If you select drive program M, automatic gear-
shifting is deactivated and manual gearshifting
is automatically activated. You must then per-
manently change gear yourself for as long as the
drive program is selected.
Permanent manual gearshifting is deactivated
automatically when you switch from drive pro-
gram Mto another drive program. The auto-
matic transmission then shifts gears automati-
cally. The display shows the selected drive pro-
gram and transmission position Dagain.
Shifting gears
:To shift down
;To shift up
130Automatic transmission
Driving and parking
Problems with the transmission
ProblemPossible causes/consequences andMSolutions
The transmission is
locked in positionP.The vehicle electronics are malfunctioning.
XHave the vehicle electronics checked immediately at a qualified
specialist workshop.
The acceleration charac-
teristics have deteriora-
ted noticeably.
The transmission does
not shift.The transmission is in emergency mode.
It is only possible to shift into second gear or reverse gear R.
XStop the vehicle.
XDepress the brake pedal.
XMove the selector lever to positionP.
XSwitch off the engine.
XWait at least ten seconds before restarting the engine.
XDepress the brake pedal.
XMove the selector lever to positionDor R.
In position D, the transmission shifts into second gear; in position R,
the transmission shifts into reverse gear.
XHave the transmission checked immediately at a qualified specialist
workshop.
Refueling
Important safety notes
GWARNING
Fuel is highly flammable. Improper handling of
fuel creates a risk of fire and explosion.
Avoid fire, open flames, smoking and creating
sparks under all circumstances. Switch off the
engine and, if applicable, the auxiliary heating
before refueling.
GWARNING
Fuel is poisonous and hazardous to health.
There is a risk of injury.
You must make sure that fuel does not come into contact with your skin, eyes or clothing
and that it is not swallowed. Do not inhale fuel
vapors. Keep fuel away from children.
If you or others come into contact with fuel,
observe the following:
RWash away fuel from skin immediately
using soap and water.
RIf fuel comes into contact with your eyes,
immediately rinse them thoroughly with
clean water. Seek medical assistance with-
out delay.
RIf fuel is swallowed, seek medical assis-
tance without delay. Do not induce vomit-
ing.
RImmediately change out of clothing which
has come into contact with fuel.
GWARNING
Electrostatic buildup can create sparks and
ignite fuel vapors. There is a risk of fire and
explosion.
Always touch the vehicle body before opening
the fuel filler flap or touching the fuel pump
nozzle. Any existing electrostatic buildup is
thereby discharged.
132Refueling
Driving and parking
GWARNING
If you leave children unsupervised in the vehi-
cle, they could set it in motion by, for example:
Rrelease the parking brake.
Rshift the automatic transmission out of the
parking position P.
Rstart the engine.
In addition, they may operate vehicle equip-
ment and become trapped. 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.
!Always secure the vehicle correctly against
rolling away. Otherwise, the vehicle or its driv-
etrain could be damaged.
!When the vehicle is parked, always remove
the key to prevent the battery from becoming
discharged.
Always park your vehicle safely and secure it
against rolling away. When parking, observe the
legal requirements of the country in which you
are currently driving.
To ensure that the vehicle is properly secured
against rolling away unintentionally:
Rthe parking brake must be firmly applied
Rthe transmission must be in position Pand the
key must be removed from the ignition lock
Ron steep uphill or downhill gradients, the front
wheels must be turned towards the curb
Parking brake
GWARNING
If you leave children unsupervised in the vehi-
cle, they could set it in motion by, for example:
Rrelease the parking brake.
Rshift the automatic transmission out of the
parking position P.
Rstart the engine.
In addition, they may operate vehicle equip-
ment and become trapped. 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.
GWARNING
If you must brake the vehicle with the parking brake, the braking distance is considerably
longer and the wheels could lock. There is an
increased danger of skidding and accidents.
Only use the parking brake to brake the vehi-
cle when the service brake is faulty. Do not
apply the parking brake too firmly. If the
wheels lock, release the parking brake until
the wheels begin turning again.
The brake lamps are not illuminated when you
brake the vehicle using the parking brake.
As a rule, you may only apply the parking brake
when the vehicle is stationary.
XTo apply the parking brake: depress park-
ing brake pedal ;firmly.
The red F(only USA) or J(only Can-
ada) indicator lamp in the instrument cluster
lights up if the engine is running.
XTo release the parking brake: depress the
brake pedal and keep it depressed.
XPull release handle :.
The parking brake is released abruptly. The
red F (only USA) or J(only Canada)
indicator lamp in the instrument cluster goes
out.
Exceptionally, if the service brake fails, the park-
ing brake can be used to brake the vehicle in an
emergency.
XEmergency braking: pull release handle:
and gradually depress parking brake
pedal ;.
134Parking
Driving and parking
Switching off the engine
Important safety notes
GWARNING
The automatic transmission switches to neu-
tral position Nwhen you switch off the engine.
The vehicle may roll away. There is a risk of an
accident.
After switching off the engine, always switch
to parking position P. Prevent the parked vehi-
cle from rolling away by applying the parking
brake.
!If the coolant temperature is very high, e.g.
after driving on hilly roads, leave the engine
running at idle speed for about two minutes
before turning it off.
This allows the coolant temperature to return
to normal.
Vehicles with automatic transmission
XStop the vehicle.
XShift the transmission to position P.
XApply the parking brake.
XTurn the key to position0in the ignition lock
and remove it.
The immobilizer is activated.
If you switch the engine off with the trans-
mission in position Ror D, the automatic
transmission shifts to Nautomatically.
If you then open one of the front doors or
remove the key from the ignition, the auto-
matic transmission automatically shifts to P.
If you shift the automatic transmission to N
before switching off the engine, the automatic
transmission remains in Neven if a front door
is opened.
XSecure the vehicle to prevent it from rolling
away (Ypage 133).
Parking the vehicle for a long period
If you leave the vehicle parked for longer than
four weeks, the battery may be damaged by
exhaustive discharging.
XDisconnect the battery (Ypage 259).
or
XConnect the battery to a trickle charger.
Be sure to observe the notes on charging the batteries (
Ypage 262).
You can obtain information about trickle
chargers from a qualified specialist work-
shop.
If you leave the vehicle parked for longer than 6
weeks, the vehicle may suffer damage as a
result of lack of use.
XVisit a qualified specialist workshop and seek
advice.
Driving tips
General notes
Important safety notes
GWARNING
If you switch off the ignition while driving,
safety-relevant functions are only available
with limitations, or not at all. This could affect, for example, the power steering and the brake
boosting effect. You will require considerably
more effort to steer and brake. There is a risk
of an accident.
Do not switch off the ignition while driving.
GWARNING
If you operate mobile communication equip-
ment while driving, you will be distracted from traffic conditions. You could also lose control
of the vehicle. There is a risk of an accident.
Only operate this equipment when the vehicle
is stationary.
Observe the legal requirements of the country in
which you are driving. Some jurisdictions pro-
hibit the driver from using a mobile phone while driving a vehicle.
Driving tips135
Driving and parking
Z
Mercedes-Benz recommends that you have the
maximum permissible speed programed at a
Mercedes-Benz Commercial Van Center.
Before overtaking, take into consideration that
the engine speed limiter prevents the speed
increasing beyond the programmed permissible
maximum speed.
Driving abroad
Service
An extensive network of authorized Mercedes-
Benz Centers is also at your disposal when you
are traveling abroad. Nevertheless, please bear
in mind that service facilities or replacement
parts may not always be immediately available.
The relevant workshop directories are available
from any Mercedes-Benz Commercial Van Cen-
ter.
Fuel
In some countries, only fuels with a higher sulfur
content are available.
Unsuitable fuel can cause engine damage. You
will find information about fuel under "Service
products and capacities" (
Ypage 305).
Low-beam headlamps
General notes
When driving in countries in which traffic drives
on the opposite side of the road to the country
where the vehicle is registered, you must switch
the headlamps to symmetrical low beam. This
prevents oncoming traffic from being blinded.
Symmetrical low beam does not illuminate as
large an area of the edge of the road.
Vehicles with halogen headlamps
The headlamps do not need to be switched to
symmetrical low beam. The legal requirements
of countries in which traffic drives on the oppo-
site side of the road to the country where the
vehicle is registered are met without the need to
convert the headlamps.
Transport by rail
Transporting your vehicle by rail may be subject
to certain restrictions or require special meas- ures to be taken in some countries due to vary-
ing tunnel heights and loading standards.
You can obtain information on this from any
Mercedes-Benz Commercial Van Center.
Braking
Important safety notes
GWARNING
If you shift down on a slippery road surface in an attempt to increase the engine's braking
effect, the drive wheels could lose their grip.
There is an increased danger of skidding and
accidents.
Do not shift down for additional engine brak-
ing on a slippery road surface.
Downhill gradients
!Depressing the brake pedal constantly
results in excessive and premature wear to
the brake pads.
This also applies to automatic braking if you
have activated cruise control.
On long and steep downhill gradients, you
should change down to shift range 2or1 in
good time (
Ypage 128).
This should be observed in particular when driv-
ing with a laden vehicle and when towing a
trailer.
You thereby make use of the braking effect of
the engine and do not have to brake as often to
maintain the speed. This relieves the load on the
service brake and prevents the brakes from
overheating and wearing too quickly.
Heavy and light loads
GWARNING
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.
Driving tips137
Driving and parking
Z