
The display in the instrument cluster shows the
present selector lever position or the current
shift range:
Ron vehicles with steering wheel buttons
(Ypage 164)
Ron vehicles without steering wheel buttons
(Ypage 160)
Selector lever positions
BPark position
This prevents the vehicle from rolling
away when stopped. Only move the
selector lever toPif the vehicle is
stationary.
You can only remove the key when
the selector lever is in this position.
The selector lever is locked in posi-
tion Pif the key is removed.
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 move the selector lever to R
when 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.
Do not move the selector lever to N
while driving. The automatic trans-
mission could otherwise be dam-
aged.
If ASR is deactivated or ESP
®has
malfunctioned: only move the selec-
tor lever to Nif the vehicle is in dan-
ger of skidding, e.g. on icy roads.
7Drive
The automatic transmission changes
gear itself. All forward gears are avail-
able.
You can influence the gearshifts and
shift gears yourself or limit the shift
range.
Changing gear
The 5-speed automatic transmission adapts to
your individual driving style by continuously
adjusting its shift points. These shift point
adjustments take into account the current oper-
ating and driving conditions. If the operating or
driving conditions change, the automatic trans-
mission reacts by adjusting the gearshift pro-
gram.
When the selector lever is in position D, the
automatic transmission selects the individual
gears automatically. This depends on:
Rany restriction in the shift range
(Ypage 123)
Rthe position of the accelerator pedal
Rthe road speed
Touchshift
When the selector lever is in position D, you can
perform gearshifts yourself.
XTo shift down: press the selector lever to the
left towards D–.
The automatic transmission shifts to the next gear down, depending on the gear currently
engaged. The shift range is also restricted.
iThe automatic transmission does not shift
down if you press the selector lever towards
D– while traveling at too high a speed. This
protects the engine from overrevving.
XTo shift up: briefly press the selector lever to
the right towards D+.
The automatic transmission shifts to the next
gear up, depending on the current gearshift
program. This also extends the shift range.
XTo derestrict the shift range: press and hold
the selector lever towards D+until D
appears
in the display again.
The automatic transmission shifts from the
current shift range directly to D.
XTo select the optimum shift range: press
and hold the selector lever to the left towards
D–.
The automatic transmission will shift to a
range which allows easy acceleration and
deceleration. To do this, the automatic trans-
mission will shift down one or more gears.
122Automatic transmission
Driving and parking

Do not drink or take drugs and drive or allow
anyone to drive who has been drinking or tak-ing drugs.
Emission control
GWARNING
Combustion engines emit poisonous exhaust
gases such as carbon monoxide. Inhaling
these exhaust gases leads to poisoning. There
is a risk of fatal injury. Therefore never leave
the engine running in enclosed spaces with-
out sufficient ventilation.
Certain engine systems are designed to keep
the level of poisonous substances in exhaust
fumes within legal limits.
These systems only work optimally if they are
maintained exactly in accordance with the man-
ufacturer's specifications. Any work on the
engine should therefore be carried out by quali-
fied and authorized technicians at a Sprinter
dealer.
The engine settings must not be changed under any circumstances. In addition, all specific
maintenance work must be carried out at regu-
lar intervals and in accordance with the service
requirements of the dealer listed here on the
inside title page. Details can be found in the
Maintenance Booklet.
Short journey
!
If the vehicle is predominantly used for
short-distance driving or is stationary for long
periods, this could lead to a malfunction in the automatic cleaning function for the diesel par-
ticle filter. This can lead to blockage of the
diesel particle filter. This can also result in fuel
collecting in the engine oil and cause engine
failure.
Therefore, if you mainly drive short distances,
drive on a highway or an inter-urban road for
20 minute severy 300 miles (500 km). This facil-
itates the diesel particle filter's burn-off proc-
ess.
Speed limiter
GWARNING
Exceeding the stated tire load-bearing capa-
city and the approved maximum speed could
lead to tire damage or the tire bursting. There is a risk of accident.
Therefore, only use tire types and sizes
approved for your vehicle model. Observe the
tire load rating and speed rating required for
your vehicle.
As the driver, you must find out about the max-
imum speed of the vehicle permitted for the
tires (tire and tire pressure). In particular, also
observe the tire approval regulations for each
country.
You must not exceed the speed limit for the tires
listed in the tire pressure tables. You can find
information on tire pressures in the "Wheels and
tires" section (
Ypage 246).
You can permanently limit the speed of your
vehicle to 65 mph (105 km/h) or 75 mph
(120 km/h).
We recommend that you have the speed limit
programmed at an authorized Sprinter dealer.
Before overtaking, take into consideration that
the engine speed limiter prevents the speed
increasing beyond the programmed speed limit.
Driving abroad
Service
An extensive network of authorized Sprinter
Dealers 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. You
can obtain a list of workshops at any authorized
Sprinter Dealer.
Fuel
In some countries, only fuels with a higher sulfur
content are available.
Unsuitable fuel can cause engine damage. Infor-
mation on fuel (
Ypage 273).
Driving tips131
Driving and parking
Z

Low-beam headlamps
When driving in countries in which traffic drives
on the opposite side of the road to the country
where the vehicle is registered, the halogen
headlamps must be partially masked. This pre-
vents glare to oncoming traffic and no longer
illuminates the edge of the road to the same
height and distance.
Have the halogen headlamps masked at a quali-fied specialist workshop before you cross the
border, but as close to it as possible.
When returning from your journey, remove the
adhesive surfaces from the halogen headlamps
as close to the border as possible. Clean the
glass of the headlamps if necessary.
It is not necessary to adjust Bi-Xenon head-
lamps. Legal requirements are fulfilled even
without adjustment.
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 further information from any
authorized Sprinter dealer.
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.
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.
!Depressing the brake pedal constantly
results in excessive and premature wear to
the brake pads.
Downhill gradients
!Depressing the brake pedal constantly
results in excessive and premature wear to
the brake pads.
On long and steep downhill gradients, you
should change down to shift range 2or1 in
good time. This should be observed in particular
when driving with a laden vehicle and when tow-
ing a trailer.
iYou must also change the shift range in
good time when cruise control is switched on.
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.
!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. The brakes are cooled down
more quickly in the airflow.
132Driving tips
Driving and parking

longed rolling of the wheels, e.g. when being
towed, will result in transmission damage.
If the vehicle threatens to skid or cannot be
stopped when moving at low speed:
XShift the transmission to neutral position N.
XTry to maintain control of the vehicle using
corrective steering.
Drive particularly carefully on slippery roads.
Avoid sudden acceleration, steering and braking
maneuvers. Do not use cruise control.
You can find further information on winter tires
and snow chains in the "Winter operation" sec-
tion (
Ypage 245).
Driving off-road
Important safety notes
GWARNING
If you drive on a steep incline at an angle or
turn when driving on an incline, the vehicle
could slip sideways, tip and rollover. There is a risk of an accident.
Always drive on a steep incline in the line of
fall (straight up or down) and do not turn the
vehicle.
GWARNING
When driving off-road, your body is subject to
forces from all directions, due to the uneven
surface. You could be thrown from your seat,
for instance. There is a risk of injury.
Always wear a seat belt, even when driving off-
road.
GWARNING
If you drive over obstacles or in ruts, the steer-
ing wheel may jerk out of your grip, causing
injury to your hands.
Always hold the steering wheel firmly with
both hands. When driving over obstacles, you
must expect steering forces to increase
briefly and suddenly.
GWARNING
Flammable material such as leaves, grass or
twigs may ignite if they come into contact with
hot parts of the exhaust system. There is a risk of fire.
When driving off road or on unpaved roads,
check the vehicle's underside regularly. In
particular, remove parts of plants or other
flammable materials which have become
trapped. In the case of damage, contact a
qualified specialist workshop.
!When driving off-road or on unpaved surfa-
ces, check the underside of the vehicle and
the wheels and tires at regular intervals. In
particular, remove any trapped foreign
objects, e.g. stones and branches.
Such foreign objects may:
Rdamage the chassis, the fuel tank or the
brake system
Rcause imbalances and thus vibrations
Rbe flung out when you continue driving
If there is any damage, inform a qualified spe-
cialist workshop.
When driving off-road and on construction sites,
sand, mud and water mixed with oil, for exam-
ple, may get into the brakes. This may lead to a
reduction in braking performance or total brake
failure, also as a result of increased wear. The
braking characteristics will vary depending on
the material that has got into the system. Clean
the brakes after driving off-road. If you then
notice reduced braking performance or hear
scraping noises, have the brake system checked
at a qualified specialist workshop. Adjust your
driving style to the changed braking character-
istics.
Driving off-road or on construction sites increa-
ses the possibility of vehicle damage which may
in turn lead to the failure of certain assemblies
and systems. Adapt your driving style to the off- road driving c
onditions. Drive carefully. Have
any vehicle damage rectified at a qualified spe-
cialist workshop as soon as possible.
When driving on rough terrain, do not shift the
transmission into the neutral position. You could
lose control when attempting to brake the vehi-
cle with the service brake. If your vehicle cannot
manage an uphill slope, drive back down the
slope in reverse gear.
Driving tips135
Driving and parking
Z

XCheck the wheels and tires and wheel archesfor trapped foreign objects and remove them.
Trapped foreign objects can damage the
wheels and tires or may beflung out from the
veh icle when you continue driving.
XCheck the underbo dyfor trapped branches or
other parts of plants and remove them.
XClean the brake disks, brake padsand axle
jo ints, particular lyafter operation insand,
mud, grit and gravel, water or similarly dirt y
conditions.
XCheck the entire floor assembly, the tires,
wheels, bodywork structure, brakes, steering,
chassis and exhaust system for any damage.
XCheck the service brake for operating safety,
e.g. carry out a brake test.
XIf you notice strong vibrations after driving off-
road, check the wheels and drive train for for-
eign objects again. Remove any foreign
objects which can lead to imbalances and
thus cause vibrations.
Driving systems
Cruise control
General notes
Cruise control maintains the speed of the veh i-
cle for you.
Use cruise control ifroad and traff icconditions
make itappropriate to maintain a steady speed
for a prolonged period. You can set any speed
from 20 mph upwards inincrements of 1 mph.
iIfyou have set km /has the unit for the dig-
ital speedometer (Ypage 167), you can set
any speed from 30 km /hupwards inincre-
ments of 1 km/h.
Cruise control should not beactivated when
driv ing off-road or on construction sites.
Cruise control may not be ableto maintain the
stored speed on uphillordownhill gradients. If
the gradient evens out and the veh icle's speed
does not fall below 20 mph (30 km/h), the
stored speed is resumed.
iThe speed shown in the speedometer may
differ slightly from the speed stored by cruise
control.
Important safety notes
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.
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
Operating cruise control
: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 upper lever on the
left of the steering column.
Displaying the cruise control speed
Vehicles with steering wheel buttons: when
you activate cruise control, the text field in the
display briefly shows the speed
limitmessage
Driving systems137
Driving and parking
Z

Cruise controlisdeactivated automatically
when:
Ryou apply the brakes
Ryouapply the parking brake and the c
indicator lamp inthe instrument cluster lights
up
Ryou are driving slower than 20 mph (30 km/h)
Ryou shift the automat ictransmission to neu-
tral position Nwhile the vehicle is inmotion
RESP®or ASR intervenes
Rthere isa malfunction inthe ESP®, ASR or ABS
system
Problems with cruise control
ProblemPossible causes/consequences and MSolutions
On vehicleswit h steering
wheel buttons, the
speed cannot beset
when cruise control is
activated.The displ ay shows a high-priority message. Thus a change in speed is
not possible.
XProceed as instructed by the message inthe display.
XDeactivate cruise control
COLLISION PREVENTION ASSIST
General notes
COLL ISION PREVENTION AS SISTcomprises the
dist ance warning function and adaptive Brake
Assist.
Distance warning function
Important safety notes
iNote the section on 'Important safety notes'
(Ypage 53).
GWAR NING
The distance warning function does not react:
Rto people or animals
Rto oncoming veh icles
Rto crossing traff ic
Rwhen cornering
Thus, the distance warning function cannot
provide a warning inall critical situations.
There isa risk of an acc ident.
Alwa ys pay careful attention to the traff icsit-
uation and beready to brake.
GWAR NING
The distance warning function cannot always
clearly identify objects and co mplex traff ic
situations.
In such cases, the distance warning function
may:
Rgive an unnecessary warning
Rnot give a warning
There is a risk of an accident.
Alwa ys pay careful attention to the traff icsit-
uation and donot rely solely on the distance
warning function.
Operation
The distance warning function can help you to
minimize the risk of a front-end collision with a
vehicle ahead or reduce the effects of such a
collision. Ifthe distance warning function
detects that there isa risk of a collision, you will
be warned visually and acoustically. Without
your intervention, the distance warning function
cannot prevent a collision.
The distance warning function willissue a warn-
ing at speeds of around 20 mph (30 km/h)or
more if:
Ryou approach a vehicle ahead of you very
quickly. You will then hear an intermittent
warning tone and the red ·warning lamp
in the instrument cluster flashes.
XBrake immediately in order to increase the
distance from the vehicle in front.
or
XTake evasive action provided it is safe to do
so.
Driving systems139
Driving and parking
Z

20 mph (30 km/h). With the help of Adaptive
Brake Assist, the distance warning signal can
detect obstacles that are in the path of your
vehicle for an extended period of time.
When you approach an obstacle and adaptive
Brake Assist detects that there is a risk of a col-
lision, adaptive Brake Assist calculates the brak-ing force necessary to avoid a collision. Should
you apply the brakes forcefully, adaptive Brake
Assist will automatically increase the braking
force to the calculated level.
XKeep the brake pedal depressed until the
emergency braking situation is over.
ABS prevents the wheels from locking.
The brakes function as usual again if:
Ryou release the brake pedal
Rthere is no longer any danger of a collision
Rno obstacle is detected in front of your vehicle
Adaptive Brake Assist is then deactivated.
Up to the maximum vehicle speed, adaptive
Brake Assist can react to moving obstacles that
have already been recognized as such at least
once over the period of observation. Adaptive
Brake Assist does not react to stationary obsta-
cles.
In particular, the detection of obstacles can be
impaired if:
Rdirt on the sensors or anything else covering
the sensors
Rsnow or heavy rain
Rinterference from other radar sources
Rthere are strong radar reflections, for exam-
ple in parking garages
Ra narrow vehicle traveling in front, e.g. a
motorbike
Ra vehicle traveling in front on a different line
If adaptive Brake Assist is not available due to a
malfunction in the radar sensor system, the full
brake boosting effect with the help of BAS
remains available.
Following damage to the front end of the vehicle,
have the configuration and operati
on of the
radar sensor checked at a qualified specialist
workshop. This also applies to collisions at slow
speeds where there is no visible damage to the
front of the vehicle.
Lane Tracking package
Blind Spot Assist
General notes
Blind Spot Assist monitors the areas on either
side of the vehicle that are not visible to the
driver with two lateral, rear-facing radar sensors
in the bumper. It supports you from speeds of
approximately 20 mph (30 km/h). A warning
display in the exterior mirrors draws your atten-
tion to vehicles detected in the monitored area. If you then switch on the corresponding turn
signal to change lane, you will also receive an
optical and audible collision warning.
Important safety notes
GWARNING
Blind Spot Assist does not react to:
Rvehicles overtaken too closely on the side,
placing them in the blind spot area
Rvehicles which approach with a large speed
differential and overtake your vehicle
As a result, Blind Spot Assist may not give
warnings in such situations. There is a risk of
an accident.
Always observe the traffic conditions care-
fully, and maintain a safe lateral distance.
Blind Spot Assist is only an aid. It may fail to
detect some vehicles and is no substitute for
attentive driving. Always ensure that there is
sufficient distance to the side for other road
users and obstacles.
iUSA only:
This device has been approved by the FCC as
a "Vehicular Radar System". The radar sensor
is intended for use in an automotive radar
system only. Removal, tampering, or altering
of the device will void any warranties, and is
not permitted by the FCC. Do not tamper with, alter, or use in any non-approved way.
Any unauthorized modification to this device
could void the user’s authority to operate the
equipment.
Driving systems141
Driving and parking
Z

Lane Keeping Assist does not keep your vehicle
in its lane.
The system may be impaired or may not function
if:
Rif the vehicle is incorrectly loaded
(Ypage 208)
Rthere is poor visibility, e.g. due to insufficient
illumination of the road, or due to snow, rain,
fog or spray
Rthere is glare, e.g. from oncoming traffic, the
sun or reflection from other vehicles (e.g. if
the road surface is wet)
Rthe windshield is dirty, fogged up, damaged or
covered, for instance by a sticker, in the vicin-
ity of the camera
Rno, or several, unclear lane markings are pres-
ent for one lane, e.g. in a construction area
Rthe lane markings are worn away, dark or cov-
ered up, e.g. by dirt or snow
Rthe distance to the vehicle in front is too small
and the lane markings thus cannot be detec-
ted
Rthe lane markings change quickly, e.g. lanes
branch off, cross one another or merge
Rthe road is narrow and winding
Rthere are highly variable shade conditions on
the road
A warning may be given if a front wheel passes
over a lane marking. In addition, a warning tone
sounds and the Ãindicator lamp in the
instrument cluster flashes red.
Activating/deactivating Lane Keeping
Assist
Lane Keeping Assist is automatically activated
when you start the engine.
XTo deactivate: press thejbutton in the
center console (Ypage 36).
On vehicles without steering wheel but-
tons:
OFF
flashes briefly in the display and the Ã
indicator lamp in the instrument cluster
flashes yellow and then lights up continu-
ously.
On vehicles with steering wheel buttons:
The Lane
Keep.AssistDeactivatedmes-
sage appears in the display and the Ã
indicator lamp in the instrument cluster
flashes yellow and then lights up continu-
ously. Lane Keeping Assist is deactivated.
XTo activate:
press thejbutton in the
center console again (Ypage 36).
On vehicles without steering wheel but-
tons:
on
flashes briefly in the display and the Ã
indicator lamp in the instrument cluster goes
out. If a lane marking is detected, the Ã
indicator lamp lights up green.
On vehicles with steering wheel buttons:
The Lane Keep. Assist Activated
mes-
sage appears in the display and the Ã
indicator lamp in the instrument cluster goes
out. If a lane marking is detected, the Ã
indicator lamp lights up green.
Lane Keeping Assist is activated.
A Lane Keeping Assist warning is suppressed if:
Ra driving safety system intervenes, such as
ABS, BAS or ESP®.
Ryou have set the turn signal and a lane change is detected. In this case, the warnings are
suppressed for a certain period of time.
Ryou accelerate hard, e.g. kickdown on vehi-
cles with an automatic transmission.
Ryou brake hard.
Ryou steer actively, e.g. swerve to avoid an
obstacle or change lane quickly.
Ryou cut the corner on a sharp bend.
In order that you are warned only when neces-
sary and in good time if you cross the lane mark-
ing, the system recognizes certain conditions
and warns you accordingly.
Lane Keeping Assist warns you earlier if:
Ryou approach the outer lane marking on a
bend.
Rthe road has very wide lanes, e.g. a freeway.
Rthe system recognizes solid lane markings.
Warnings are given later if:
Rthe road has narrow lanes.
Ryou cut the corner on a bend.
All-wheel drive
Important safety notes
!Never tow the vehicle with one axle raised.
This may damage the transfer case. Damage
of this sort is not covered by the Mercedes-
Benz Limited Warranty. All wheels must
144Driving systems
Driving and parking