iCanada only:
If the wind shield wiper s areswitched on and
you stop the veh icle, the windshield wiper
speed isreduced. For example, ifyou have
selected level IIand stop the veh icle,wipin g
continues with intermittent wipe whilethe
veh icle is stationary. Ifintermittent wipe is
selected, the intervals become longer.
Vehicles with a rain and light sensor: you
can use level Ias the universal setting. The
rain and light sensor sets the appropriate wip-
ing frequency automatically, according to the
intensity of the rain. When you stop the veh i-
cle, leve lsIII and IIare swit ched down to
level Iautomatically.
The wind shield wiper will return to the original
level when you drive faster than 5 mph
(8 km/h).
You can adjust the sensitivit y of the rain and
light sensor using the on-board computer
(
Ypage 170).
In formation on checking the washer fluid level
can befound inthe "Maintenance and care"
section (
Ypage 220).
Switching the rear window wiper on/
off
Combination switch
:
è Rearwindowwiper swit ch
2ôTowipe wit h washer fluid
3ITo swit ch on intermittent wiping
40To swit ch off intermittent wiping
5ô Towipe wit h washer fluid
XTurn the key to position 1or 2in the ignition
lock.
XTurn switch: to the corresponding position The rear window wiper
switches on automati-
cally if you engage reverse gear and the wind-
shield wiper s are on.
Replacing the wiper blades
GWARNING
If the wind shield wipers begin to move while
you are changing the wiperblades, you could
be trapped by the wiper arm. There isa risk of
injury.
Always switch off the windshield wipers and
ignition before changing the wiper blades.
!Never open the hood if a windshield wiper
arm has been folded away from the wind-
shield.
Never fold a windshield wiper armwithout a
wiper blade back onto the windshield/rear
wind ow.
Hold the windshield wiper arm firmly when
you change the wiper blade. If you release the
windshield wiper arm without a wiperblade
and itfalls onto the windshield, the windshield
may be damaged by the force of the impact.
We recommend that you have the wiper
blades replaced at a qualified specialist work-
shop.
!Only hold the wiperblade by the wiperarm.
You could otherwise damage the wiper rub-
ber.
The wind shield will no longerbe wipedproperly
if the wiper blades are worn. Replace the wiper
blades twice a year, ideally in spring and fall.
Fron twindshield wiper arm wit hwiper blade
Windshield wipers95
Lights and windshield wipers
Z
Vehicle with rear-compartment heating/
rear-compartment air conditioning
XTo switch on/off:press theiswitch.
If the indicator lamp in the button lights up,
the rear-compartment heating/rear-com-
partment air conditioning is switched on.
Switching the cooling with air dehu-
midification function on/off
Important information
If you switch off the "Cooling with air dehumid-
ification" function, the air inside the vehicle will
not be cooled (in warm weather) or dehumidi-
fied. The windows could fog up more quickly.
The cooling with air dehumidification function is
only available when the engine is running. The
air inside the vehicle is cooled and dehumidified
according to the temperature selected.
Condensation may appear on the underside of
the vehicle when in cooling mode. This is normal
and not a sign that there is a malfunction.
Switching on and off
Vehicle with air conditioning
XPress the ¿button.
If the indicator lamp in the button lights up,
cooling with air dehumidification is switched
on.
Setting the temperature
Increasing and reducing temperature in
the front compartment via the control
panel
Only change the temperature in small incre-
ments. Start at the center position, or at 72 ‡
(22 †).
XSwitch on climate control (Ypage 100).
XTurn temperature control :clockwise to
increase or counterclockwise to reduce the
temperature (
Ypage 98).
Increasing and reducing temperature in
the rear compartment via the control
panel
Only change the temperature in small incre-
ments.
XSwitch on climate control (Ypage 100).
XTurn rear-compartment temperature control
= (Ypage 99) or rear-compartment air-con-
ditioning system ;(Ypage 100) clockwise
to increase or counterclockwise to reduce the
temperature.
iVehicles with additional air conditioning and
heating in the rear compartment: if you set
the temperature control to the center posi-
tion, only one of the two climate control sys-
tems works in the rear compartment and in
air-recirculation mode (
Ypage 103).
Setting the air distribution
Air distribution settings
The air distribution symbols have the following
meanings:
m Directs air through the center and side
air vents
s
z Directs air to the windshield and the air
vents
q Directs air to the windshield, the air
vents and into the footwell
r Directs air to the air vents and into the
footwell
Adjusting
XSwitch on climate control (Ypage 100).
XSet air-distribution control ?for the heating
(Ypage 97) or air-conditioning system A
(Ypage 98) to the corresponding symbol.
Setting the airflow
XSwitch on climate control (Ypage 100).
XVehicle with heating/rear-compartment
heating: set airflow control ;of the heating
(
Ypage 97) or of the rear-compartment heat-
ing (Ypage 99) to the desired level.
XVehicle with air conditioning/rear-com-
partment air conditioning: press theI
Operating the climate control system101
Climate control
Switching immediate heating mode
on/off
XTo switch on:press theÛorâ button
until the ysymbol in the menu bar flashes.
XPress the bbutton.
The operation duration flashes in the display.
iYou can preset the default value that is
shown (Ypage 113).
XUsing the Ûorâ button, set the
minute value (10 to 120) or select the à
symbol for continuous operation.
XPress the bbutton.
Immediate heating mode is activated. The
time and the ysymbol appear.
XTo switch off: press theÛorâ button
until the ysymbol flashes in the menu bar,
and then press the bbutton.
Immediate heating mode is deactivated. The
y symbol disappears.
The auxiliary heating operates for another
2 minutes and then switches off automati-
cally.
iIf you switch off the ignition during immedi-
ate heating (operating duration 10 to
120 minutes), you also switch off the imme-
diate heating mode. The auxiliary heating
operates for another two minutes and then
switches off automatically.
If you have set continuous operation as the
operating duration and you switch off the igni-
tion, the auxiliary heating switches off auto-
matically after about 15 minutes. If, in the
remaining time, the ignition is switched on
again, continuous operation of the auxiliary
heating continues.
Setting the preselection time
You can set three preselection times using the
timer.
After a malfunction or if the battery has been
disconnected, you must set the preselection
times again. You can find information on mal-
functions in the "Problems with the auxiliary
warm-air heater" section (
Ypage 115).
XPress the Ûorâ button until the B
symbol in the menu bar flashes.
XPress the bbutton.
In the program column, the Gpreselection
memory numbers appear. The selected pre-
selection memory flashes.
XPress the Ûorâ button to select the
desired preselection memory.
XPress the bbutton.
The preselection memory is selected. The
days are shown.
XSet the day and time as described in the "Set-
ting the day, time and operating duration"
section (
Ypage 113).
The preselection time is stored. The program
column disappears. In the display panel, the
on
message and the ysymbol appear.
XPress the bbutton.
The operating duration flashes.
XPress the Ûorâ button to set the
minute value (10 to 120).
XPress the bbutton.
The operating duration for the preselection
time is saved. The time and number of the
selected preselection memory are shown.
iThe preselection memory that will be acti-
vated next is underlined. Additionally, the day
that is set appears.
Deactivating the preselection time
XCarry out the steps as described in the "Set-
ting the preselection time" section.
If the y symbol in the status bar is shown:
XPress the Ûorâ button until the offmessage in the display panel is shown.
XPress thebbutton.
The preselection time is deactivated. The time
is shown.
Setting the heating level
You can set the heating level to a range between 10 and 30.
The heating level corresponds to a preselection
temperature for the vehicle interior. This is a
guide value and may, depending on the outside
temperature, differ from the interior tempera-
ture.
XPress the Ûorâ button until the ß
symbol in the menu bar flashes.
XPress the bbutton.
The heating level display flashes.
XUsing the Ûandâ buttons, set the
desired heating level to a range between 10
and 30.
XPress the bbutton.
The heating level is set and the ysymbol
appears.
114Operating the auxiliary heating system
Climate control
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
Rswitch off the electrical system using the bat-
tery main switch (Ypage 116) and
Rdisconnect the vehicle's auxiliary battery
Otherwise, you need to check the battery's con- dition of charge every three weeks, since
standby power consumption can drain the bat-
tery. If the battery voltage is lower than 12.2 V,
the battery must be charged. Otherwise, the
battery may be damaged by exhaustive dis-
charging.
Be sure to observe the notes on disconnecting
and charging the batteries under "Battery"
(
Ypage 223). 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. In this event, consult a
qualified specialist workshop.
Driving tips
General notes
Important safety notes
GWARNING
The driver's attention to the road must always be his/her primary focus when driving. For
your safety and the safety of others, we rec-
ommend that you pull over to a safe location
and stop before placing or taking a telephone
call. If you choose to use the telephone while
driving, please use the hands-free device and
only use the telephone when road, weather
and traffic conditions permit.
Some jurisdictions prohibit the driver from
using a mobile phone while driving a vehicle.
Bear in mind that at a speed of just 30 mph
(approximately 50 km/h), your vehicle covers
a distance of 44 feet (approximately 14 m)
ever yse cond.
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.
!Always observe the ground clearance of the
vehicle and avoid obstacles. On vehicles with a step, ground clearance is further restricted.
Obstacles can damage the vehicle.
If you must drive over obstacles, drive espe-
cially slowly and carefully. If necessary, have
another person direct you.
Drive sensibly – save fuel
In order to save fuel, observe the following tips:
XThe tires should always be inflated to the rec-
ommended tire pressure.
XRemove unnecessary loads.
XRemove roof carriers when they are not nee-
ded.
XWarm up the engine at low engine speeds.
XAvoid frequent acceleration or braking.
XHave all maintenance work carried out as
indicated by the service intervals in the Main-
tenance Booklet or by the service interval dis-
play.
Fuel consumption also increases when driving in cold weather, in stop-start traffic and in moun-
tainous terrain.
Overrun cutoff
If you are in overrun mode and take your foot off
the accelerator pedal, the fuel supply is cut off
when the engine speed is out of the idle speed
control range.
Drinking and driving
GWARNING
Drinking and driving and/or taking drugs and driving are very dangerous combinations.
Even a small amount of alcohol or drugs can
affect your reflexes, perceptions and judg-
ment.
The possibility of a serious or even fatal acci-
dent are greatly increased when you drink or
take drugs and drive.
130Driving tips
Driving and parking
Wet road surfaces
If you have been driving for a long time in heavy
rain without braking, there may be a delayed
response when you first apply the brakes. This
may also occur after driving through a car wash
or deep water.
You must depress the brake pedal more firmly.
Maintain a longer distance to the vehicle in
front.
While paying attention to the traffic conditions,
you should brake the vehicle firmly after driving
on a wet road surface or through a car wash. This
heats the brake discs, so that they dry more
quickly, which protects them against corrosion.
Limited braking performance on salt-
treated roads
When driving on salted roads, salt may start to
build up on the brake disks and brake pads. Thiscan increase braking distances considerably.
Maintain a greater distance to the vehicle in
front.
To remove any build-up of salt that may have
formed:
XApply the brakes at the start of the journey,
occasionally during journey and at the end of
the journey. Make sure that you do not endan-
ger other road users when doing so.
Checking the brake pad thickness
In addition to monitoring using the brake pad
wear sensor, regularly monitor and check all of
the brake pads by performing a visual inspection
to look for pad material wear.
If you are unable to check the brake wear on the
inside of the wheels, remove the wheels with the tools provided.
Make sure that the brake pad material thickness
never falls below 0.12 in (3 mm). Have the brake pads checked and replaced at a qualified spe-
cialist workshop, if necessary.
Do not solely rely on the brake pad wear sensor.
It is strongly recommended that you have the
brake pads checked at a qualified specialist
workshop at every service displayed in the main-
tenance interval indicator, prior to long journeys
and whenever the wheels are removed.
New brake discs and brake pads/
linings
New brake pads and brake discs only reach their
optimal braking effect after a few
100 kilometers. Until then, compensate for this
by applying greater force to the brake pedal.
For safety reasons, Mercedes-Benz recom-
mends only installing the following brake discs
and brake pads/linings:
Rbrake discs that have been approved by
Mercedes-Benz
Rbrake pads/linings that have been approved
by Mercedes-Benz or are of an equivalent
standard of quality
Other brake discs or brake pads/linings can
compromise the safety of your vehicle.
Always replace all brake discs and brake pads/
linings on an axle at the same time. Always
install new brake pads/linings when replacing
brake discs.
Parking brake
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.
When driving on wet roads or dirt-covered sur-
faces, road salt and/or dirt may get into the
parking brake. This causes corrosion and a
reduction of braking force.
In order to prevent this, drive with the parking
brake lightly applied from time to time. When
doing so, drive for a distance of approximately
110 yds (100 m) at a maximum speed of 12 mph
(20 km/h).
The brake lamps are not illuminated when you
brake the vehicle using the parking brake.
Driving tips133
Driving and parking
Z
Drivingin wet conditions
Hydroplaning
GWARNING
There is adanger of hydroplaning occurring,
eve nif you are drivin gslowly and your tires
hav esufficien ttread depth, dependin gon th e
dept hof water on th eroad. There is aris kof
an accident.
Fo rthis reason ,avoid tire rut sand brake care-
fully.
Therefore, in heav yrain or other condition sin
whic hhydroplaning can occur ,drive as follows:
Rreduce your speed
Ravoid tire rut s
Rapply thebrake swit hcar e
Drivin gon flooded road s
!Do notdrive through floode dareas. Chec k
th edept hof any water befor edrivin gthrough
it .Drive slowly through standin gwater. Oth-
erwise ,water may ente rth evehicle interio ror
th eengin ecompartment. Thi scan damage
th eelectronic component sin th eengin eor
th eautomatic transmission. Water can also
be drawn in by th eengine's air suction nozzles
and this can cause engin edamage.
If you hav eto drive on stretches of road on whic h
water has collected, please bear in min dthat :
Rthewater level of standin gwater should no t
be abov eth elowe redg eof th efron tbumper
Rdo no tdrive faste rthan walkin gspeed
Drivin gin winter
General notes
GWARNING
If you shift down on aslipper yroad surfac ein
an attempt to increase th eengine's braking
effect ,th edrive wheels could los etheir grip.
There is an increase ddanger of skidding and
accidents .
Do no tshift down fo radditional engin ebrak-
in g on aslipper yroad surface.
GDANGER
If th eexhaus tpipe is blocke dor adequat e
ventilation is no tpossible, poisonous gases
suc has carbon monoxide (CO) may ente rth e
vehicle. Thi sis th ecase, e.g. if th evehicle
becomes trappe din snow. There is aris kof
fatal injury.
If you leav eth eengin eor th eauxiliar yheatin g
running ,mak esur eth eexhaus tpipe and are a
around th evehicle are clear of snow. To
ensur ean adequat esupply of fresh air, ope n a
window on th esid eof th evehicle that is no t
facin ginto th ewind.
Hav eyour vehicle winterproofed at aqualified
specialis tworkshop in goo dtime at th eonset of
winter.
iDo no tcover th eradiator ,e.g. wit h awinte r
cover .The measurement sof th eon-boar d
diagnostic system may otherwise return inac-
curat evalues. Some of these values are
legally prescribed and mus ttherefore always
be exact .
Observ eth enote sin th e"Winte roperation "sec -
tion (
Ypage 245).
Slipper yroad surfaces
GWARNING
If you shift down on aslipper yroad surfac ein
an attempt to increase th eengine's braking
effect ,th edrive wheels could los etheir grip.
There is an increase ddanger of skidding and
accidents .
Do no tshift down fo radditional engin ebrak-
in g on aslipper yroad surface.
GWARNING
The outsid etemperature indicator is no t
designed to serve as an ice-warnin gdevic e
and is therefore unsuitable fo rthat purpose.
Indicated temperature sjust abov eth efreez -
in g poin tdo no tguarantee that th eroad sur -
fac eis free of ice. The road may still be icy,
especially in wooded areas or on bridges.
!Vehicles wit hautomatic transmissio nmay
roll only briefly in th eneutral position N.Pro-
134Driving tips
Driving and parking
When loading your vehicle for driving off-road or
on a construction site, keep the vehicle's centerof gravity as low as possible.
Checklist before driving off-road
XCheck the fuel and DEF levels (Ypage 159)
and top up (Ypage 126).
XEngine: check the oil level (Ypage 216) and
add oil (Ypage 218).
Before driving up or down steep gradients, fill
the oil to the maximum level.
iIf you drive up or down steep gradients, the
4 symbol may appear in the display. The
engine operating safety is not put at risk if you
have filled the engine oil to the maximum level
before the journey.
XVehicle tool kit: check that the jack is work-
ing (Ypage 236).
XMake sure that a lug wrench (Ypage 236),
wooden underlay for the jack, a robust tow
cable and a folding spade are carried in the
vehicle.
XWheels and tires: check the tire tread depth
(Ypage 244) and tire pressure
(Ypage 246).
Rules for driving off-road
!Always bear the vehicle's ground clearance
in mind and avoid obstacles, e.g. deep ruts.
Obstacles may damage the following parts of
the vehicle:
Rthe chassis
Rthe drive train
Rthe fuel and supply tanks
For this reason, you should always drive
slowly when driving off-road. If you have to
drive over obstacles, have the front
passenger direct you.
iWe recommend that you additionally carry a
shovel and a recovery rope with shackle in the
vehicle.
REnsure that loads and items of luggage are
securely stowed or lashed down
(
Ypage 208).
RBefore driving off-road, stop the vehicle and
shift to a low gear.
RIf the surface demands it, temporarily deacti-
vate ASR when pulling away (Ypage 54).
ROnly drive off-road with the engine running
and a gear engaged.
RDrive slowly and smoothly. Walking pace is
necessary in many situations.
RAvoid spinning the drive wheels.
RMake sure that the wheels always remain in
contact with the ground.
RDrive with extreme care over unknown terrain
where you can only see for a short distance.
As a precaution, get out of the vehicle to take
a look at the route to be taken in advance.
RCheck the water depth before fording.
RWatch out for obstacles (e.g. rocks, holes,
tree stumps and ruts).
RAvoid edges where the surface could crumble
or break away.
Checklist after driving off-road
!If you detect damage to the vehicle after
driving off-road, have the vehicle checked
immediately at a qualified specialist work-
shop.
Off-road driving places a higher demand on your
vehicle than normal road operation. Check your
vehicle after driving on rough terrain. By doing
so you will notice any damage in good time and
reduce the risk of an accident for yourself and
other road users. Clean your vehicle thoroughly
before driving on public roads.
Observe the following points after driving off-
road, on construction sites and before driving on
public roads:
XVehicles with all-wheel drive: deactivate
all-wheel drive (Ypage 145).
XActivate ASR (Ypage 54).
XClean the headlamps and tail lamps and
check them for damage.
XClean the front and rear license plates.
XClean the windshield, windows and exterior
mirrors.
XClean the steps, door sills and grab handles.
This increases safety of footing.
XClean the wheels and tires, wheel arches and
the underbody of the vehicle with a water jet.
This increases road grip, especially on wet
road surfaces.
136Driving tips
Driving and parking