2017 MERCEDES-BENZ METRIS traction control

put is also modified to keep the vehicle on the
desired course within physical limits. ESP®can
also stabilize the vehicle during braking.
ESP
®also monitors traction, i.e. power trans-
mission between the tires and the road surface.
The integrated traction control supports you
when pulling away or accelerating on wet, slip-
pery or slick roads. Should the drive wheels spin,
traction control brakes them individually. In
addition, greater drive torque is transmitted to
the wheel or wheels with traction. If traction on
the road surface is not sufficient, even ESP
®will
not allow you to pull away without difficulty. The
type of tires and total weight of the vehicle as
well as the gradient of the road also play a cru-
cial role. Traction control remains active if you
deactivate ESP
®.
If the h warning lamp in the instrument clus-
ter goes out before beginning the journey, ESP
®
is automatically active.
The h warning lamp in the instrument cluster
flashes when ESP
®intervenes:
XDo not deactivate ESP®under any circum-
stances.
Xwhen driving off, apply as little throttle as
possible.
Xadapt your speed and driving style to the pre-
vailing road conditions.
Important safety notes
Observe the important safety guidelines for the
driving safety system (Ypage 64).
GWARNING
If ESP
®is malfunctioning it will not provide
any vehicle stabilization. There is an increased
risk of skidding or of an accident.
Exercise caution when continuing to drive.
Have ESP
®checked at a qualified specialist
workshop.
!Do not run the vehicle on a roller dynamom-
eter (e.g. for performance tests). If you must
operate the vehicle on a roller dynamometer,
please consult a qualified specialist workshop
in advance. You could otherwise damage the
drive train or the brake system.
If ESP
®is malfunctioning, the hwarning
lamp (Ypage 222) lights up continuously while the engine is running and the display shows a
message.
Ron vehicles without steering wheel buttons
(Ypage 194)
Ron vehicles with steering wheel buttons
(Ypage 208)
ESP®is deactivated if the åwarning lamp in
the instrument cluster is lit when the engine is
running.
Only use wheels with the recommended tire
sizes. Only then will ESP
®function properly.
Deactivating or activating ESP®
GWARNING
If you deactivate ESP
®, ESP®no longer sta-
bilizes the vehicle. There is an increased risk
of skidding and an accident.
Only deactivate ESP
®in the situations descri-
bed in the following.
It may be best to deactivate ESP
®in the follow-
ing situations:
Rwhen using snow chains
Rin deep snow
Ron sand or gravel
Activate ESP®as soon as the situations descri-
bed above no longer apply. Otherwise, ESP®
assistance for stabilizing the vehicle will remain significantly reduced, even if the vehicle starts
to skid.
If you deactivate ESP
®:
Rthe å warning lamp in the instrument clus-
ter lights up
Rthe ÷ warning lamp in the instrument clus-
ter flashes if the wheels are spinning
RESP®assistance for stabilizing the vehicle in
the lower speed range up to approximately
37 mph (60 km/h) is significantly reduced
Rengine torque is no longer limited and the
drive wheels are able to spin. The spinning of
the wheels results in a cutting action for bet-
ter traction on loose surfaces
Rtraction control is still activated
RESP®still provides support when you brake
66Driving safety systems
Safety

When driving at altitudes of 2700 yds (2500m)
above sea level, the ECO start/stop function is
no longer available.
Notes on braking on downhill gradients can be
found in the "Braking" section (
Ypage 137).
Driving systems
Cruise control
General notes
Cruise control maintains the speed of the vehi-
cle for you. It brakes automatically in order to
avoid exceeding the set speed.
Use cruise control if road and traffic conditions
make it appropriate to maintain a steady speed
for a prolonged period. You can set any speed
from 30 km/h upwards in increments of 1 km/h
and 10 km/h.
If you have set Miles
as the unit for the digital
speedometer, you can set any speed above
20 mph in increments of 1 mph and 5 mph.
Changing the display unit for the digital speed-
ometer and the distance:
Ron vehicles without steering wheel buttons
(Ypage 175)
Ron vehicles with steering wheel buttons
(Ypage 186)
Cruise control should not be activated when
driving off-road or on construction sites.
Cruise control may be unable to maintain the
stored speed on uphill gradients. The stored
speed is resumed if the uphill gradient evens out
and the vehicle's speed does not fall below
20 mph (30 km/ h). Cruise control maintains the
stored speed on downhill gradients by automat-
ically applying the brakes. Observe the addi-
tional driving tips (
Ypage 137).
Important safety notes
Observe the notes on braking (Ypage 137).
If you fail to adapt your driving style or if you are inattentive, cruise control can neither reduce
the risk of an accident nor override the laws of
physics. Cruise control cannot take road,
weather and traffic conditions into account.
Cruise control is only an aid. You are responsible
for the distance to the vehicle in front, for vehi-
cle speed, for braking in good time and for stay-
ing in lane. If you change wheel size, make sure they corre-
spond to the correct wheel size category
(
Ypage 277). If the category is changed without
recoding the control units in the vehicle, the
functioning of cruise control may be impaired.
Do not use cruise control:
Rin traffic conditions that are unsuitable for
driving at a constant speed, e.g. in heavy traf-
fic, on winding roads or off-road.
Ron slippery roads. Braking or accelerating
may cause the drive wheels to lose traction
and the vehicle could then skid.
Rwhen there is poor visibility, e.g. due to fog,
heavy rain or snow.
If there is a change of drivers, make sure that
you inform the new driver about the set cruise
speed.
Cruise control lever and display
:To activate and store the current speed or a
higher speed
;To activate at the last stored speed
=To activate and store the current speed or a
lower speed
?To deactivate cruise control
The cruise control lever is the lower lever on the
left of the steering column.
When you activate cruise control, the display
briefly shows the Cruise Control
message
and the stored speed.
The display also shows the Vsymbol and the
stored speed:
Rin the header on vehicles without steering
wheel buttons (Ypage 171)
Rin the status area on vehicles with steering
wheel buttons (Ypage 177)
142Driving systems
Driving and parking

Tires
Display messagesPossible causes/consequences andMSolutions
Correct Tire Pres‐sureThe tire pressure is too low in at least one of the tires, or the tire
pressure difference between the wheels is too great.
XCheck the tire pressure at the next opportunity (Ypage 284).
XIf necessary, correct the tire pressure.
XRestart the tire pressure monitor (Ypage 287).
CheckTirePressureSoonAn additional warning tone sounds.
The tire pressure in one or more tires has dropped significantly.
GWARNING
Tire pressure that are too low pose the following hazards:
RThe tires may burst, especially as the load and vehicle speed
increase.
RThe tires may wear excessively and/or unevenly, which may greatly
impair tire traction.
RThe handling as well as steering and braking characteristics may be severely affected.
There is a risk of an accident.
XStop the vehicle without making any sudden steering or braking
maneuvers. Pay attention to the traffic conditions while doing so.
XSecure the vehicle to prevent it from rolling away (Ypage 133).
XCheck the tires and, if necessary, change the wheel (Ypage 296).
XCheck the tire pressure (Ypage 284).
XIf necessary, correct the tire pressure.
Caution! Tire Mal‐func.
The tire pressure in one or more tires has dropped suddenly.
GWARNING
Driving with a flat tire poses a risk of the following hazards:
RA flat tire affects the ability to steer or brake the vehicle.
RYou could then lose control of the vehicle.
RContinued driving with a flat tire will cause excessive heat build-up
and possibly a fire.
There is a risk of an accident.
XStop the vehicle without making any sudden steering or braking
maneuvers. Pay attention to the traffic conditions while doing so.
XSecure the vehicle to prevent it from rolling away (Ypage 133).
XCheck the tires and, if necessary, change the wheel (Ypage 296).
Displa y messages (vehicles without steering wheelbu ttons)201
On-board computer and displays
Z

Tires
Display messagesPossible causes/consequences andMSolutions
AdjustTirePressureThe tire pressure is too low in at least one of the tires, or the tire
pressure difference between the wheels is too great.
XCheck the tire pressure at the next opportunity (Ypage 284).
XIf necessary, correct the tire pressure.
XRestart the tire pressure monitor (Ypage 287).
Check TiresAn additional warning tone sounds.
The tire pressure in one or more tires has dropped significantly. The
display shows the wheel position.
GWARNING
Underinflated tires pose the following risks:
RThe tires may burst, especially as the load and vehicle speed
increase.
RThe tires may wear excessively and/or unevenly, which may greatly
impair tire traction.
RThe handling as well as steering and braking characteristics may be
severely affected.
There is a risk of an accident.
XStop the vehicle without making any sudden steering or braking
maneuvers. Pay attention to the traffic conditions while doing so.
XSecure the vehicle to prevent it from rolling away (Ypage 133).
XCheck the tires and, if necessary, change the wheel (Ypage 296).
XCheck the tire pressure (Ypage 284).
XIf necessary, correct the tire pressure.
Warning Tire Mal‐functionThe tire pressure in one or more tires has dropped suddenly. The dis-
play shows the wheel position.
GWARNING
Driving with a flat tire poses a risk of the following hazards:
RA flat tire affects the ability to steer or brake the vehicle.
RYou could then lose control of the vehicle.
RContinued driving with a flat tire will cause excessive heat build-up
and possibly a fire.
There is a risk of an accident.
XStop the vehicle without making any sudden steering or braking
maneuvers. Pay attention to the traffic conditions while doing so.
XSecure the vehicle to prevent it from rolling away (Ypage 133).
XCheck the tires and, if necessary, change the wheel (Ypage 296).
Tire Pressure Moni‐tor CurrentlyUnavailable
Due to a source of radio interference, no signals can be received from
the wheel sensors. The tire pressure monitor is temporarily malfunc-
tioning.
The tire pressure monitor restarts automatically as soon as the prob-
lem has been solved.
Displa y messages (vehicles withsteering whee lbu ttons)217
On-board computer and displays
Z

Warning/
indicator
lampNSignal type
Possible causes/consequences and M
Solutions
ò!NThe yellow ABS warning lamp is lit while the engine is running.
ABS has been deactivated due to a malfunction. BAS, hill start assist and ESP®as
well as its driving safety systems, for example, are therefore also deactivated.
ATTENTION ASSIST is deactivated and other driving systems could be automati-
cally deactivated.
GWARNING
The brake system continues to function normally, but without the functions listed
above. The wheels could therefore lock prematurely if you brake hard, for example.
This causes steerability and braking to be greatly impaired. The braking distance
can increase in emergency braking situations.
If ESP
®is not operational, ESP®will not stabilize the vehicle.
There is an increased risk of skidding and accidents.
XSwitch the engine off, wait briefly and start the engine again.
XCheck if the display message has disappeared and ESP®is operational.
XIf the display message continues to be displayed:
RDrive on with care.
RVisit a qualified specialist workshop immediately.
If the ABS control unit is faulty, there is also a possibility that other systems, such
as the automatic transmission, will be restricted or unavailable.
÷N The yellow ESP®warning lamp flashes while the vehicle is in motion.
ESP®or traction control is intervening because there is a risk of skidding or at least
one wheel has started to spin.
Cruise control is automatically deactivated.
XWhen starting off, do not depress the accelerator pedal more than is necessary.
XEase off the accelerator pedal while driving.
XAdapt your driving style to suit the weather and road conditions.
XDo not deactivate ESP®.
In rare cases , it may be best to deactivate ESP®(Ypage 66).
222Indicator and warning lamps in the instrument cluster
On-board computer and displays

Regular wheel and tire checks
GWARNING
Damaged tires can cause tire inflation pres-
sure loss. As a result, you could lose control of
your vehicle. There is a risk of accident.
Check the tires regularly for signs of damage
and replace any damaged tires immediately.
Check the wheels and tires of your vehicle for
damage regularly, i.e. at least every two weeks,
as well as after driving off-road or on rough
roads. Damaged wheels can cause a loss of tire
pressure. Pay particular attention to damage
such as:
Rcuts in the tires
Rpunctures
Rtears in the tires
Rbulges on tires
Rdeformation or severe corrosion on wheels
Regularly check the tire tread depth and the
condition of the tread across the whole width of
the tire (
Ypage 278). If necessary, turn the
front wheels to full lock in order to inspect the
inner side of the tire surface.
All wheels must have a valve cap to protect the valve against dirt and moisture. Do not install
anything onto the valve other than the standard
valve cap or other valve caps approved for your vehicle by dealers listed on the inside of the
front cover. Do not install any other valve caps
or systems, e.g. tire pressure monitor systems.
Regularly check the pressure of all the tires,
particularly prior to long trips. Adjust the tire
pressure if ne
cessary (Ypage 280).
The service life of tires depends on various fac-
tors, including the following:
Rdriving style
Rtire pressure
Rmileage
Tire tread
GWARNING
Insufficient tire tread will reduce tire traction.
The tire is no longer able to dissipate water.
This means that on wet road surfaces, the risk
of hydroplaning increases, in particular where
speed is not adapted to suit the driving con-
ditions. There is a risk of accident.
If the tire pressure is too high or too low, tires may exhibit different levels of wear at differ-
ent locations on the tire tread. Thus, you
should regularly check the tread depth and
the condition of the tread across the entire
width of all tires.
Minimum tire tread depth for:
RSummer tires: âin (3 mm)
RM+S tires: ãin (4 mm)
For safety reasons, replace the tires before
the legally prescribed limit for the minimum
tire tread depth is reached.
Marker :shows the location where the bar
indicator (arrow) for tread wear is integrated
into the tire tread.
Tread wear indicators (TWIs) are required by
law. Six indicators are positioned over the tire
tread. They are visible once the tread depth is
approximately áin (1.6 mm). If this is the case,
the tire is so worn that it must be replaced.
Selecting, mounting and replacing
tires
ROnly mount tires and wheels of the same type
and make.
ROnly use wheels with tire sizes approved by
Mercedes-Benz.
ROnly mount tires of the correct size onto the
wheels.
RBreak in new tires at moderate speeds for the
first 65 miles (100 km).
278Operation
Wheels and tires

Snow chains
GWARNING
If snow chains are installed to the front
wheels, they may drag against the vehicle
body or chassis components. This could
cause damage to the vehicle or the tires.
There is a risk of an accident.
To avoid hazardous situations:
Rnever install snow chains to the front
wheels
Ralways install snow chains in pairs to the
rear wheels.
GWARNING
If you drive too fast with snow chains moun-
ted, they may snap. As a result, you could
injure others and damage the vehicle. There is
a risk of an accident.
Observe the maximum permissible speed for
operation with snow chains.
Observe the country-specific laws and regula-
tions for operation with snow chains.
!Check the snow chains for damage before
mounting them. Damaged or worn snow
chains may snap and damage the following
components:
Rwheel
Rwheel housing
Rwheel suspension
For this reason, you must use only snow
chains that are free of defects. Observe the
manufacturer's mounting instructions.
!Vehicles with steel wheels: if you mount
snow chains on steel wheels, you may dam-
age the hub caps. Remove the hub caps from
the relevant wheels before mounting the
snow chains.
Snow chains increase traction on roads in wintry conditions.
For safety reasons, Mercedes-Benz recom-
mends that you only use snow chains or traction
aids which have been approved for Mercedes-
Benz vehicles. The snow chains or traction aids
must be of class U or meet the SAE type U
specification. Information about snow chains can be obtained
from any Mercedes-Benz Commercial Van Cen-
ter.
When mounting snow chains, please bear the
following points in mind:
RSnow chains cannot be mounted on all
wheel/tire combinations. When mounting the
snow chains, note the permissible tire and
snow chain dimensions. Observe the restric-
tions on the use of snow chains under
"Wheel/tire combinations" (
Ypage 300).
RMount snow chains only in pairs and only to
the rear wheels. Observe the manufacturer's
mounting instructions.
ROnly use snow chains when the road is cov-
ered by a layer of snow. Remove the snow
chains as soon as possible when you come to
a road that is not snow-covered.
RThe use of snow chains may be restricted by
local regulations. Observe the appropriate
regulations before mounting snow chains.
RWhen driving with snow chains installed, do
not exceed the maximum permissible speed
of 30 mph (50 km/h).
RCheck the tension of the chains after a dis-
tance of approximately 0.5 miles (1.0 km).
You may wish to deactivate ESP
®when pulling
away with snow chains installed (Ypage 66).
This allows the wheels to spin in a controlled
manner, achieving an increased driving force
(cut
ting action).
Tire pressure
Tire pressure specifications
Important safety notes
GWARNING
Underinflated or overinflated tires pose the
following risks:
Rthe tires may burst, especially as the load
and vehicle speed increase.
Rthe tires may wear excessively and/or
unevenly, which may greatly impair tire
traction.
Rthe driving characteristics, as well as steer-
ing and braking, may be greatly impaired.
There is a risk of an accident.
280Tire pressure
Wheels and tires