STARTING AND DRIVING
* Option/accessory.405
Level control * and shock absorption
Level control and shock absorption are regula- ted automatically in the car.
With rear level control, the car maintains the same height at the rear regardless of load. Levelcontrol can also occur even after the car hasbeen parked.
Shock absorption (Four-C)The shock absorption is adapted according to theselected drive mode and according to the speedof the car. Shock absorption is normally set forthe best possible comfort and is regulated con-tinuously depending on the road surface, thecar's acceleration, braking and cornering.
Settings for level control
Deactivation of air suspension and level control
In certain cases, the function must be deacti- vated, e.g. before the car is raised with a jack *.
The difference in level created by raising the car with a jack can otherwise cause problems for theair suspension. Deactivating the function via the centre display:1. Press
Settings in the top view.
2. Press
My CarSuspension .
3. Select
Disable Leveling Control.
Change the damping level 11
Cars with active chassis (Four-C) and without the drive mode function
* can adjust the shock
absorption level via the centre display: 1. Press
Settings in the top view.
2. Tap on
My CarDrive ModeSuspension Control and select the level.
During transportDuring transport of the car on a ferry, train or truck, the car must be lashed around the tyresand not around other parts of the chassis.Changes in the air suspension may occur duringtransport, which could affect the lashing nega-tively.
Related information
• Drive modes
* (p. 400)
• Loading (p. 227)
All-wheel drive
*
All-wheel drive, AWD (All Wheel Drive), means that the car is driving all four wheels at the sametime, which improves traction.
To achieve the best possible traction and prevent wheel spin the motive force is distributed auto-matically to the wheels with the best grip. Thesystem continuously calculates the need for tor-que to the rear wheels, and can immediatelyredistribute up to half of the motor's torque to therear wheels. All-wheel drive also has a stabilising effect at higher speeds. Under normal driving conditions,the majority of power is transmitted to the frontwheels. When stationary, the all-wheel drive isalways engaged in preparation for maximum trac-tion during acceleration. All-wheel drive characteristics vary depending on the selected drive mode *.
Related information
• Drive modes
* (p. 400)
11
Depends on the car's equipment.
STARTING AND DRIVING
429
snaking. The function is included in the stability system ESC19
.
Reasons for snakingThe snaking phenomenon can occur with any car/trailer combination. Snaking normally occursat high speeds. But, there is a risk of it occurringat lower speeds if the trailer is overloaded or theload is improperly distributed, e.g. too far back. In order for snaking to occur, there must be a triggering factor, e.g.: • Car with trailer subjected to a sudden and powerful side wind.
• Car with trailer drives on an uneven road sur-face or in a pothole.
• Sweeping steering wheel movements.
If snaking has started, it could be difficult or evenimpossible to suppress. This makes the car/trailer combination difficult to control and there isa risk that you could, for example, end up in thewrong lane or leave the carriageway.
Trailer Stability Assist functionThe trailer stability assist function continuallymonitors car movements, particularly lateralmovements. If snaking is detected, the frontwheels are individually braked. This serves to sta-bilise the car/trailer combination. This is oftenenough to help the driver regain control of thecar. If snaking is not eliminated the first time thattrailer stability assist comes into action, the car/trailer combination is braked with all wheels andengine power is reduced. Once snaking has beengradually suppressed and the car/trailer combi-nation is stable once again, the system stopsregulating and the driver once again has full con-trol of the car.
NOTE
The stability function is deactivated if the driver selects Sport mode by deactivating
ESC via the menu system in the centre dis-
play.
The trailer stability assist may fail to engage if the driver uses severe steering wheel movements totry to rectify the snaking because in such a situa-tion the system cannot determine whether it isthe trailer or the driver that is causing the snak-ing.
When trailer stability assist is operating, the ESC symbol
flashes in the driver display.
Related information
• Driving with a trailer (p. 426)
• Driving with a trailer under special conditions (p. 428)
• Electronic stability control (p. 273)
19
Electronic Stability Control (Electronic stability control)
