OperationAutomatic switching
onAutomatic switching
off
The rain sensor detects
rain and activates the
windscreen wipers.When the windscreen wip-
ers have been inactive for
a few minutes.
WARNING
If the road is not well lit and other road users
cannot see the
vehicle well enough or at all,
accidents may occur.
● The automatic dipped beam control ( )
only sw
itches on the dipped beam when
there are no changes in brightness, and not,
for example when it is foggy. Main beam assist*
Main beam assist (Light Assist)
The m
ain be
am a
ssist acts within the limits
of the system and depending on environmen-
tal and traffic conditions. Once switched on,
the system is activated as of a speed of
about 60 km/h (37 mph) and is deactivated
below about 30 km/h (18 mph) ››› .
When the sy s
t
em is activated and the camera
detects other vehicles that may be dazzled,
the main beam is automatically switched off.
Otherwise, the main beam is automatically
switched on.
The main beam assist generally detects illu-
minated areas and deactivates the main beam when passing through a town, for ex-
ample.
Sw
itching the main beam assist on and off
Func-
tionUse
Activate:
– Switch the ignition on and turn the light
switch to position .
– From the base position, move the main
beam and turn signal lever forwards
››› page 141. When the warning lamp
is
displayed on the instrument panel display,
the main beam assist is switched on.
To switch system off:
– Switch off the ignition.
– OR: turn the light switch to a different po-
sition to
››› page 140.
– OR: with main beam on, move the main
beam and turn signal lever backwards.
– OR: move the main beam and turn the
signal lever forwards to manually switch
the main beam on. The main beam assist
will then be deactivated. Malfunctions
The f
o
l
lowing conditions may prevent the
main beam headlight control from turning off
the headlights in time or from turning off al-
together:
● In poorly lit towns with highly reflective
signs.
● Other in
sufficiently lit road users (such as
pedestri
ans or cyclists). ●
On tight bends
and steep slopes (bumps)
and when oncoming vehicles are partially ob-
scured.
● When the drivers of other oncoming vehi-
cle
s (such as a truck) can see over a guard
rail in the centre of the road.
● If the camera is damaged or the power sup-
ply i
s cut off.
● In fog, snow and heavy rain.
● With dust and sand turbulence.
● With loose gravel in the field of vision of
the camera.
● When the fiel
d of vision of the camera is
mist
ed up, dirty or covered by stickers, snow,
ice, etc. WARNING
The convenience features of the main beam
as s
ist should not encourage the taking of
risks. The system is not a replacement for
driver concentration.
● You are always in control of the main beam
and adaptin
g it to the light, visibility and traf-
fic conditions.
● It is possible that the main beam headlight
contro
l does not recognise all driving situa-
tions and is limited under certain circumstan-
ces.
● When the field of vision of the camera is
dirty, c
overed or damaged, operation of the
main beam control may be affected. This also
applies when changes are made to the 142
Lights and visibility
vehicle lighting system, for example, if addi-
tiona
l
headlights are installed. CAUTION
To avoid affecting the operation of the sys-
t em, t ak
e the following points into considera-
tion:
● Clean the field of vision of the camera regu-
larly and m
ake sure it is free of snow and ice.
● Do not cover the field of vision of the cam-
era.
● Check
that the windscreen is not damaged
in the area of
the field of vision of the camera. Note
Main beam and headlight flasher can be
turned on and off m
anually at any time with
the turn signal and main beam lever
››› page 141. Fog lights
Fig. 142
Dash panel: light control. The warning lamps
or also sho
w
, on the
light switch or instrument panel, when the
fog lights are on.
● Switching on front fog lights* : pul
l the
light switch to the first point ››› Fig. 142 1 ,
fr om po
s
itions , or .
● Switching on the rear fog light : com-
pl
etely pull the light switch 2 from position
, or .
● To sw
itch off the fog lights, press the light
switc
h or turn it to position . Note
The rear fog light can dazzle drivers behind
you. Y
ou should use the rear fog light only
when visibility is very poor. For this reason, if
you exceed approximately 60 km/h (38 mph),
the instrument panel will display the follow-
ing warming: Switch off the fog light! Cornering lights*
1) When turning slowly or on very tight bends,
the c
ornerin
g lights
are activated automati-
cally. The cornering lights may be integrated
in the fog lights and are switched on only at
speeds of less than 40 km/h (25 mph).
When reverse gear is engaged, the cornering
lights on both sides of the vehicle switch on,
in order to better illuminate the area for park-
ing.
Function “Coming home” This function may be connected/disconnec-
t
ed thr
ough the r
adio menu. The “Coming
Home” and/or “Leaving Home” delay time
may also be set (default: 30 sec). »1)
This function is not available on vehicles equipped
with f u
ll-LED headlights and bulb fog lights. 143
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety
Lights and visibilitySetting 3Driver only, luggage compartment full
Driving with trailer and minimum draw-
bar load.
Dynamic headlight range control
The contr
o
l is not mounted in vehicles with
dynamic headlight range control. The head-
light range is automatically adjusted accord-
ing to the vehicle load status when they are
switched on. WARNING
Heavy objects in the vehicle may mean that
the hea dlight
s dazzle and distract other driv-
ers. This could result in a serious accident.
● Adjust the light beam to the vehicle load
stat
us so that it does not blind other drivers. Lighting of the instrument panel,
s
c
r
eens and controls Depending on the model, the lighting of the
in
s
trument
panel and controls can be adjus-
ted in the Easy Connect system, using the button and the SETTINGS
fu
nction b
utton
››› page 33. With the ignition on and without light activa-
tion, the instrument
panel lighting remains
activated in daytime light conditions. The
lighting is reduced as the exterior light di-
minishes. In some cases, e.g. when driving
through a tunnel without the function
active, the instrument panel lighting may
even switch off. The objective of this function
is to provide the driver with a visual indica-
tion that he or she should activate the dip-
ped beam.
Interior and reading lights 1) Read the additional information carefully
› ›
›
page 32
Glove compartment and luggage compart-
ment lighting*
When opening and closing the glove com-
partment on the front passenger side and the
rear lid, the respective light will automatically
switch on and off.
Footwell lighting*
The lights in the footwell area below the dash
(driver and front passenger sides) will switch on when the doors are opened and will de-
cre
ase in intensity while driving. This bright-
ness can be adjusted using the Easy Connect
system, by means of the button and the
f u
nction b
utton SETTINGS > Lights >
Interior lighting ›››
page 33).
Ambient light*
The ambient light lights up the area of the
centre console, the footwell area and, de-
pending on the version, the front door pan-
els.
The ambient lighting in the door panels may
change colour. Brightness and colour can be
adjusted using the Easy Connect system, by
means of the button and the function
b utt
on
SETTINGS > Lights > Interior
lighting ›››
page 33). Note
The reading lights switch off when the vehi-
cl e i
s locked using a key or after several mi-
nutes if the key is removed from the ignition.
This prevents the battery from discharging. 1)
Depending on the level of equipment fitted in the
vehic l
e, LEDs can be used for the following interior
lights: front courtesy light, rear courtesy light, foot-
well light, sun blind and glove compartment light. 147
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety
Air conditioning
In the Easy Connect system it is also possible
t o per
form
various adjustments to the Clima-
tronic ››› Fig. 189.
Open the air conditioner menu
● Press the button on the Climatronic
c ontr
ol
panel.
On the top of the screen you can see and
change the current settings, such as, for ex-
ample, the temperature set for the driver side
and for that of passenger. Temperatures up
to +22°C (+72°F) are shown with blue arrows,
and temperatures over +22°C (+72°F) with
red arrows.
To switch a function on or off, or to select a
submenu, you must press the corresponding
function button.
Function button: function
OFFClimatronic is switched off.
ONClimatronic is switched on.
SYNCSynchronise driver and front passenger
temperatures.
Function button: function
SETTINGS
The air conditioning settings submenu
is opened. The following settings can al-
so be adjusted:
Air conditioning profile. : Ad-
just the power of the fan in AUTO mode.
You can choose between low, medium
and high.
Automatic air recirculation :
Switching automatic air recirculation on
and off ››› page 176.
Automatic supplementary heat-
er : Activate/deactivate the automatic
activation of the auxiliary heater for
colder countries (only for engines with
auxiliary heater). With the option deacti-
vated, depending on the outside tem-
perature the heating may need more
time than normal to reach a comfortable
temperature.
BACK : Close the submenu. Air conditioning user instructions
The interior cooling system only works when
the en
gine i
s ru
nning and fan is switched on.
The air conditioner operates most effectively
with the windows and the panoramic sliding
sunroof closed. However, if the vehicle has
heated up after standing in the sun for some
time, the air inside can be cooled more quick- ly by opening the windows and the panoram-
ic sliding s
unroof briefly.
Climatronic: change the temperature unit on
the screen of the radio or on the factory-fit-
ted navigation system
Changing the temperature display from Cel-
sius to Fahrenheit on radio or on the factory-
fitted navigation system is done using the
menu on the instrument panel
››› page 36.
The cooling system cannot be activated
If the air conditioning system cannot be
switched on, this may be caused by the fol-
lowing:
● The engine is not running.
● The fan is switched off.
● The air conditioner fuse has blown.
● The outside temperature is lower than ap-
proxim
ately +3°C (+38°F).
● The air conditioner compressor has been
temporarily
switched off because the engine
coolant temperature is too high.
● Another fault in the vehicle. Have the air
conditioner check
ed by a specialised work-
shop.
Special Characteristics
If the humidity and temperature outside the
vehicle are high, condensation can drip off »
175
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety
Operation
Driving St ar
tin
g and stopping the en-
gine
Switching the ignition on and starting
the engine with the key Fig. 191
Ignition key positions. Read the additional information carefully
› ›
›
page 30
Diesel engines can take a few seconds longer
than usual to start on cold days. Therefore
the clutch pedal (manual gearbox) or the
brake pedal (automatic gearbox) must re-
main pressed until the engine starts up. Dur-
ing preheating, the warning lamp remains
lit.
The preheating time depends on the coolant
and exterior temperatures. With the engine at operating temperature, or at outside temper-
ature
s above +8°C, the warning lamp will
light up for about one second. This means
that the engine starts immediately.
If the engine does not immediately start up,
interrupt the starting process and try again
after 30 seconds. To start the engine again,
return the key to position ››› Fig. 191 1 .
St ar
t
-Stop System*
If the vehicle is stopped and the Start-Stop
system* switches off the engine, the ignition
remains switched on.
Automatic gearbox: before leaving the vehi-
cle, make sure that the ignition is switched
off and the selector lever is in position P.
Driver messages on the instrument panel
display
Press the clutch
This message appears on vehicles with a
manual gearbox if the driver tries to start the
engine without having the clutch pedal
pressed. The engine will only start if you
press the clutch pedal.
Press the brake This message appears on vehicles with an
automatic gearbox if the driver tries to start
the engine without having the brake pedal
pressed. Select N or P
This me
ssage appears if you try to start or
stop the engine when the selector lever of
the automatic gearbox is not in position P or
N. The engine can only start or stop in certain
positions.
Engage position P; the vehicle
can move; doors can only close in
position P.For safety reasons, this driver message ap-
pears and an audible warning sounds if the
selector lever of the automatic gearbox is not
in position P after you switch off the ignition.
Put the selector lever in position P, otherwise
the vehicle could roll away.
Gear change: selector lever in
the drive position! This driver message is displayed when the
selector lever is not in the position P when
the driver door is opened. Additionally, a
buzzer will sound. Put the selector lever in
position P, otherwise the vehicle could roll
away.
Ignition is switched on
This driver message is displayed and a buz-
zer is sounded when the driver door is
opened with the ignition switched on.
178
Driving
The handbrake should be applied firmly to
pr ev
ent
the vehicle from accidentally rolling
away.
Always apply the handbrake when you leave
your vehicle and when you park.
Applying the handbrake
– Pull the handbrake lever up firmly
›››
Fig. 196.
Releasing the handbrake
– Pull the lever up slightly and press the re-
lea
se knob in the direction of the arrow
››› Fig. 196 and guide the handbrake lever
down fully ››› .
A lw
a
ys pull the handbrake all the way up, so
there is less risk of driving off with it still en-
gaged ››› .
The h andbr
ak
e warning lamp lights up
when the handbrake is applied and the igni-
tion switched on. The warning lamp turns off
when the handbrake is released.
If you drive faster than 6 km/h (4 mph) with
the handbrake on, the following message*
will appear on the instrument panel: HAND-
BRAKE ON. You will also hear an audible
warning. WARNING
● Never u se the h
andbrake to stop the vehi-
cle when it is in motion. The braking distance is considerably longer, because braking is
only
ap
plied to the rear wheels. Risk of acci-
dent!
● If the handbrake is only partially released,
this w
ill cause the rear brakes to overheat,
which can impair the function of the brake
system and could lead to an accident. This al-
so causes premature wear on the rear brake
pads. CAUTION
Always apply the handbrake before you leave
the vehic
le. Put it in 1st gear as well. Parking
The handbrake should always be firmly ap-
p
lied when the
v
ehicle is parked.
Always note the following points when park-
ing the vehicle: – Use the brake pedal to stop the vehicle.
– Apply the handbrake.
– Put it in 1st gear.
– Switch the engine off and remove the key
from the ignition. T
urn the steering wheel
slightly to engage the steering lock.
– Never leave a vehicle key in the vehicle. Additional notes on parking the vehicle on
gradient
s:
Turn the steering wheel so that the vehicle
rolls against the kerb if it started to roll.
● If the vehicle is parked facing downhil
l,
turn the front wheels so that they point to-
wards the kerb .
● If the vehicle is parked facing uphill
, turn
the front wheels so that they point away from
the kerb.
● Secure the vehicle as usual by applying the
handbrak
e firmly and putting it in 1st gear. WARNING
● Tak e me
asures to reduce the risk of injury
when you leave your vehicle unattended.
● Never park where the hot exhaust system
coul
d ignite inflammable materials, such as
dry grass, low bushes, spilt fuel etc.
● Never allow vehicle occupants to remain in
the vehic
le when it is locked. They would be
unable to open the vehicle from the inside,
and could become trapped in the vehicle in
an emergency. In the event of an emergency,
locked doors will delay assistance to vehicle
occupants.
● Never leave children alone in the vehicle.
They cou
ld set the vehicle in motion, for ex-
ample, by releasing the handbrake or the
gearbox lever. » 185
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety
Driving
CAUTION
● Never l et
the brakes “drag” by leaving your
foot on the pedal when it is not necessary to
brake. This overheats the brakes, resulting in
longer stopping distances and greater wear.
● Before driving down a long, steep gradient,
it is
advisable to reduce speed and select a
lower gear. This makes use of engine braking
and relieves the brakes. If you still have to
use the brakes, it is better to brake firmly at
intervals than to apply the brakes continu-
ously. Note
● If the br ak
e servo is out of action, for exam-
ple when the car is being towed, you will
have to press the brake pedal considerably
harder than normal to make up for the lack of
servo assistance.
● If you wish to equip the vehicle with acces-
sories s
uch as a front spoiler or wheel covers,
it is important that the flow of air to the front
wheels is not obstructed, otherwise the
brakes can overheat. Braking and stability systems
El ectr
onic
Stability Control (ESC)The ESC helps to improve safety. It reduces
the t
endency
t
o skid and improves the stabil-
ity and roadholding of the vehicle. The ESC detects critical handling situations, such as
vehicl
e understeer or oversteer, or wheelspin
on the driving wheels. It stabilises the vehi-
cle by braking individual wheels or by reduc-
ing the engine torque. The warning lamp will
flash on the instrument panel when the ESC
is intervening .
ESC includes the Anti-lock brake system
(ABS), the brake assist system, the traction
control system (ASR), electronic differential
lock (EDL), electronic self-locking*, selective
torque control* and tractor-trailer sway miti-
gation*. ESC also helps stabilise the vehicle
by changing the torque.
Anti-lock brake system (ABS)
ABS prevents the wheels from locking up un-
der braking until the vehicle has reached a
virtual standstill. You can continue to steer
the vehicle even when the brakes are on full.
Keep your foot on the brake pedal and do not
pump the brakes. You will feel the brake ped-
al pulsate while the ABS is working.
Brake assist system
The brake assist system can reduce the re-
quired braking distance. The braking force is
automatically boosted if you press the brake
pedal quickly in an emergency. You must
keep pressing the brake pedal until the dan-
ger has passed. Traction control system (ASR)
In the event of
wheelspin, the traction control
system reduces the engine torque to match
the amount of grip available. This helps the
car to start moving, accelerate or climb a gra-
dient.
Electronic differential lock (EDL)
When the EDL detects wheelspin, it brakes
the spinning wheel and directs the power to
the other driven wheel. This function is active
up to approximately 100 km/h (62 mph).
To prevent the disc brake of the braked wheel
from overheating, the EDL cuts out automati-
cally if subjected to excessive loads. The ve-
hicle can still be driven. The EDL will switch
on again automatically when the brake has
cooled down.
Tractor-trailer sway mitigation*
If the vehicle is pulling a trailer, it will control
the following: Tractor-trailers tend to sway.
When the swaying of the trailer is felt by the
vehicle and detected by the ESC, it will auto-
matically brake the towing vehicle within the
limits of the system and mitigate the sway.
Tractor-trailer sway mitigation is not available
in all countries.
Electronic torque management (XDS)
When taking a curve, the driveshaft differen-
tial mechanism allows the outer wheel to turn »
187
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety
Driving
The ESC is switched on automatically when
the en gine i
s
started, and only works when
the engine is running and includes the ABS,
EDS and ASR systems.
The ASR and ESC function should only be
switched off in situations in which traction is
insufficient, among others:
● When driving in deep snow or on surfaces
that ar
e not very firm.
● To “free” the vehicle if it gets stuck.
Then switc
h the ASR and ESC function back
on.
Depending on finishes and versions, it is
possible either to disconnect only the ASR or
else activate ESC Sport mode.
ESC in “Sport” mode
Sport mode can be connected via the Easy
Connect ››› page 120 system menu. In front-
wheel drive vehicles, the interventions by the
ESC and the ASR are limited. In four-wheel
drive vehicles, the interventions by the ESC
are limited and the ASR is switched off com-
pletely ››› .
The c ontr
o
l lamp lights up. For vehicles
with a driver information system*, the driver
will be shown the electronic stability
control (ESC) option: sport.
Warning! Limited stability. Disable ESC “Sport” mode
Through the Ea
sy Connect system menu
››› page 120. The warning lamp will switch
off. For vehicles with a driver information sys-
tem*, the driver will be shown the elec-
tronic stability control (ESC)
option: on.
Disable ASR
The Easy Connect system menu is used to
switch off the ASR ››› page 120. The traction
control system will be disabled.
The control lamp lights up. For vehicles
with a driver information system* the driver
will be informed that ASR is disabled.
Activate ASR
The Easy Connect system menu ››› page 120
is used to switch on the ASR. The traction
control system will be enabled.
The control lamp switches off. For vehicles
with a driver information system* the driver
will be informed that ASR is enabled.
Disconnection of the ESC
In some versions of the model, besides the
traction control system (ASR), the electronic
stability programme (ESC) can also be
switched off. ●
Pres s the button ››› Fig. 197 for approxi-
mately 1 second to switch to ESC Sport
mode.
● Press the button ›››
Fig. 197 for approxi-
mately 3 seconds to switch off the Electronic
Stability programme (ESC), including the ASR
function. The control lamp lights up and
the ESC OFF message is displayed perma-
nently on the instrument panel display.
● The ASR and ESC function are reconnected
by pr
essing the button ››› Fig. 197.
● OR: activate or deactivate the ESC Sport or
ESC
function in the Easy Connect system us-
ing the button and the
S
ET
TINGS and
E SC
System function buttons. The
contr
o l
lamp and the ESC OFF message on the in-
strument panel go out. WARNING
You should switch on the ESC Sport mode on-
ly if the tr
affic conditions and your driving
ability allow you to do so safely: risk of skid-
ding!
● With ESC in Sport mode, the stabilising
function w
ill be limited to allow for a sportier
drive. The driving wheels could spin and the
vehicle could “skid”.
● If the ESC is deactivated, the vehicle stabi-
lisation f
unction is not available. » 189
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety