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Driving and operating153Stop-start systemThe stop-start system helps to save
fuel and to reduce the exhaust
emissions. When conditions allow, it
switches off the engine as soon as the
vehicle is at a low speed or at a
standstill, e.g. at a traffic light or in a
traffic jam. It starts the engine
automatically as soon as the clutch is
depressed. A vehicle battery sensor
ensures that an Autostop is only
performed if the vehicle battery is
sufficiently charged for a restart.
Activation
The stop-start system is available as soon as the engine is started, the
vehicle starts-off and the conditions
as stated below in this section are
fulfilled.Deactivation
Deactivate the stop-start system
manually by pressing eco. The
deactivation is indicated when the
LED in the button extinguishes.
Autostop If the vehicle is at a low speed or at a
standstill, activate an Autostop as
follows:
● Depress the clutch pedal.
● Move the selector lever to neutral.
● Release the clutch pedal.
The engine will be switched off while
the ignition stays on.
Indication
An Autostop is indicated by the
needle at the AUTOSTOP position in
the tachometer.
After restart, the idle speed is
indicated.
During an Autostop, the heating and
brake performance will be
maintained.
Conditions for an Autostop
The stop-start system checks if each
of the following conditions is fulfilled.
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Driving and operating155● The vehicle is driven at least atwalking speed.
● The climate control system requests an engine start.
● The air conditioning is manually switched on.
If the bonnet is not fully closed, a warning message is displayed in the
Driver Information Centre.
If an electrical accessory, e.g. a
portable CD player, is connected to
the power outlet, a brief power drop
during engine restart may be
noticeable.
Parking9 Warning
● Do not park the vehicle on an
easily ignitable surface. The
high temperature of the
exhaust system could ignite the
surface.
● Always apply the parking brake. Activate the manual
parking brake without pressing
the release button. Apply as
firmly as possible on a downhill slope or uphill slope. Depress
brake pedal at the same time to
reduce operating force.
For vehicles with electric
parking brake, pull switch m for
a minimum of one second until
control indicator m illuminates
constantly and electric parking
brake is applied 3 111.
● Switch off the engine. ● If the vehicle is on a level surface or uphill slope, engage
first gear or set the selector
lever to position P before
removing the ignition key. On
an uphill slope, turn the front
wheels away from the kerb.
If the vehicle is on a downhill
slope, engage reverse gear or
set the selector lever to position
P before removing the ignition
key. Turn the front wheels
towards the kerb.● Close the windows.
● Remove the ignition key from the ignition switch. Turn the
steering wheel until the
steering wheel lock is felt to
engage.
For vehicles with automatic
transmission, the key can only
be removed when the selector
lever is in position P.
● Lock the vehicle.
● Activate the anti-theft alarm system.
● The engine cooling fans may run
after the engine has been
switched off 3 214.
Caution
After running at high engine
speeds or with high engine loads,
operate the engine briefly at a low load or run in neutral for
approx. 30 seconds before
switching off, in order to protect
the turbocharger.
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Driving and operating161Automatic transmission
The automatic transmission permits
automatic gearshifting (automatic
mode) or manual gearshifting
(manual mode).
Manual shifting is possible in manual mode M by tapping the selector lever
to + or - 3 162.
Transmission display
The mode or selected gear is shown
in the Driver Information Centre.
In automatic mode, the driving
programme is indicated by D.
In manual mode, M and the number
of the selected gear is indicated.
R indicates reverse gear.
N indicates neutral position.
P indicates park position.
Selector leverP:park position, wheels are locked, engage only when the vehicle is
stationary and the parking brake
is appliedR:reverse gear, engage only when
the vehicle is stationaryN:neutralD:automatic modeM:manual mode<:upshift in manual mode]:downshift in manual mode
The selector lever is locked in P and
can only be moved when the ignition
is on, the release button on the
selector lever is pushed and the brake
pedal is applied.
Without brake pedal applied, the
control indicator j illuminates.
If the selector lever is not in P when
the ignition is switched off, control
indicator j flashes.
To engage P or R, press the release
button.
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164Driving and operating3. Push down the release lever andmove the selector lever out of P or
N . If these positions are engaged
again, the selector lever will be
locked in position again. Have the cause of the power supply
interruption remedied by a
workshop.
4. Mount the selector lever trim onto
the centre console and refit.Manual transmission
To engage reverse, depress the
clutch pedal and then press the
release button on the selector lever
and engage the gear.
If the gear does not engage, set the
lever to neutral, release the clutch
pedal and depress again; then repeat
gear selection.
Do not slip the clutch unnecessarily.
When operating, depress the clutch
pedal completely. Do not use the
pedal as a foot rest.
Caution
It is not advisable to drive with the hand resting on the selector lever.
Gear shift indication 3 113.
Stop-start system 3 153.
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166Driving and operatingManual parking brake9Warning
Always apply parking brake firmly
without operating the release
button, and apply as firmly as
possible on a downhill or uphill
slope.
To release the parking brake, pull
the lever up slightly, press the
release button and fully lower the
lever.
To reduce the operating forces of
the parking brake, depress the
foot brake at the same time.
Control indicator R 3 111.
Electric parking brake
Applying when vehicle is stationary
9 Warning
Pull switch m for a minimum of
one second until control indicator
m illuminates constantly and
electric parking brake is applied
3 112. The electric parking brake
operates automatically with
adequate force.
Before leaving the vehicle, check
the electric parking brake status.
Control indicator m 3 112.
The electric parking brake can always
be activated, even if the ignition is off.
Do not operate electric parking brake
system too often with engine not
running, as this will discharge the
vehicle battery.
Releasing
Switch on ignition. Keep foot brake
pedal depressed and then push
switch m.
Drive away function
Vehicles with manual transmission:
Depressing the clutch pedal and then
slightly releasing the clutch pedal and slightly depressing the accelerator
pedal releases the electric parking
brake automatically. This is not
possible when the switch m is pulled
at the same time.
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Driving and operating169Have the cause of the fault remedied
by a workshop.
Electronic Stability Control
Electronic Stability Control (ESC)
improves driving stability when
necessary, regardless of the type of
road surface or tyre grip.
As soon as the vehicle starts to
swerve (understeer/oversteer),
engine output is reduced and the wheels are braked individually.
ESC operates in combination with the Traction Control system (TC). It
prevents the drive wheels from
spinning.
ESC is operational after each engine
start as soon as the control indicator
b extinguishes.
When ESC operates b flashes.
9 Warning
Do not let this special safety
feature tempt you into taking risks
when driving.
Adapt speed to the road
conditions.
Control indicator b 3 113.
Deactivation
ESC and TC can be deactivated: ● hold b pressed for a minimum of
five seconds: ESC and TC are
both deactivated. k and n
illuminate and status messages
appear in the Driver Information
Centre.
● To deactivate only Traction control system press button b
briefly: TC is inactive but ESC
remains active, k illuminates. A
status message appears in the
Driver Information Centre when
TC is deactivated.
ESC is reactivated by pressing the
b button again. If the TC system was
previously disabled, both TC and
ESC are reactivated. k and n
extinguishes when TC and ESC are
reactivated.
ESC is also reactivated the next time
the ignition is switched on.
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170Driving and operatingFault
If there is a fault in the system the
control indicator b illuminates
continuously and a message appears
in the Driver Information Centre. The
system is not operational.
Have the cause of the fault remedied
by a workshop.
Interactive driving system Flex Ride Flex Ride driving system allows the
driver to select between three driving
modes:
● SPORT mode: press SPORT,
LED illuminates.
● TOUR mode: press TOUR, LED
illuminates.
● Normal mode: neither SPORT or
TOUR are pressed, no LED
illuminates.
Deactivate SPORT mode and TOUR
mode by pressing the corresponding
button once more.In each driving mode Flex Ride
networks the following electronic
systems:
● Continuous Damping Control
● Accelerator Pedal Control
● Steering Control
● Automatic transmission
SPORT modeThe settings of the systems are
adapted to a sportier driving style:
● Damping of shock absorbers reacts more stiffly to providebetter contact with the road
surface.
● The engine reacts more quickly to the accelerator pedal.
● Steering support is reduced.
● Shift points of automatic transmission occur later.
TOUR mode
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Driving and operating187If the system does not work as it
should, vehicle messages are
displayed in the Driver Information
Centre.
Vehicle messages 3 122.
Parking assist
Front-rear parking assist9 Warning
The driver bears full responsibility
for the parking manoeuvre.
Always check the surrounding
area when driving backwards or
forwards while using parking
assist system.
The front-rear parking assist
measures the distance between the vehicle and obstacles in front of and
behind the vehicle. It informs and
warns the driver by giving acoustic
signals and display indication.
It uses two different acoustic warning
signals for the front and rear
monitoring areas, each with a
different tone frequency. The signal
for front obstacles sounds via the
front speakers, for rear obstacles it
sounds via the rear speakers.
The system has four ultrasonic
parking sensors each in the rear and
front bumper.
Activation
When reverse gear is engaged, the
front and rear parking assist is ready
to operate.
The system is also activated
automatically at a speed up to
7 mph.
An illuminated LED in the parking
assist button r indicates that the
system is ready to operate.
If r is switched off within an ignition
cycle, the front parking assist is
deactivated. If vehicle speed has exceeded 15 mph beforehand,
parking assist will be reactivated when speed drops below 7 mph.
Indication
The system warns the driver with
acoustic signals against potentially
hazardous obstacles behind and in
front of the vehicle.