In addition, at least one of the following condi-
tions must be fulfilled: R
the engine is switched off R
the driver is not wearing a seat belt and the
driver's door is opened R
there is a system malfunction R
the power supply is insufficient R
the vehicle is stationary for a lengthy period
The red I (USA only) or $ (Canada only)
indicator lamp on the instrument cluster goes
out.
The electric parking brake is not automatically
engaged if the engine is switched off by the ECO
start/stop function.
Releasing automatically Your vehicle's electric parking brake is auto-
matically released if all of the following condi-
tions are met: R
the seat belt has been fastened R
the engine is running R
the transmission is in position [ or ^ and
you accelerate
or
you shift the transmission position from ] to
position [ or ^ , you will need to accelerate
more on steeper gradients
If the transmission is in position ^ , the tailgate
must be closed.
If your seat belt is not fastened, the following
conditions must be fulfilled to automatically
release the electric parking brake: R
the driver's door is closed R
You have shifted out of transmission position
] or you have previously driven faster than
2 mph (3 km/h).
Ensure that you do not depress the accelerator
pedal unintentionally. Otherwise, the parking
brake will be released and the vehicle will start
to move.
Emergency braking
The vehicle can also be braked during an emer-
gency by using the electric parking brake. X
While driving, push handle C of the electric
parking brake ( Y
page 159).
The vehicle is braked as long as you keep
handle C of the electric parking brake
depressed. The longer electric parking brake handle C is depressed, the greater the brak-
ing force.
During braking: R
a warning tone sounds R
the Please Release Parking Brake mes-
sage appears R
the red I (USA only) or $ (Canada
only) indicator lamp in the instrument cluster
flashes
When the vehicle has been braked to a stand-
still, the electric parking brake is engaged.
Parking the vehicle for a long period If you leave the vehicle parked for longer than
four weeks, the battery may be damaged by
exhaustive discharging.
If you leave the vehicle parked for longer than six
weeks, the vehicle may suffer damage as a
result of lack of use. X
Visit a qualified specialist workshop and seek
advice.
i You can obtain information about trickle
chargers from a qualified specialist work-
shop.
Hybrid vehicles: be sure to observe the notes
in the supplement. Otherwise, you may not rec-
ognize dangers.
Driving tips
General driving tips
Important safety notes
G WARNING
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.160
Driving tips
Driving and parking
When you change lanes, Distance Pilot
DISTRONIC monitors the left lane (on left-hand-
drive vehicles) or the right lane (on right-hand-
drive vehicles).
Stopping
G WARNING
If you leave the vehicle when it is only being
braked by Distance Pilot DISTRONIC, it could
roll away if: R
there is a malfunction in the system or in
the voltage supply. R
Distance Pilot DISTRONIC is switched off
using the cruise control lever, e.g. by a vehi-
cle occupant or from outside the vehicle R
the electrical system in the engine com-
partment, the battery or the fuses are tam-
pered with. R
the battery is disconnected R
the vehicle is accelerated, e.g. by a vehicle
occupant.
There is a risk of an accident.
Before leaving the vehicle, always deactivate
Distance Pilot DISTRONIC and secure the
vehicle against rolling away.
Further information on deactivating Distance
Pilot DISTRONIC ( Y
page 176).
If Distance Pilot DISTRONIC detects that the
vehicle in front is stopping, it brakes your vehicle
to a stop.
Once your vehicle is stationary, it remains sta-
tionary and you do not need to depress the
brake.
After a time, the electric parking brake secures
the vehicle and relieves the service brake.
Depending on the specified minimum distance,
your vehicle will come to a standstill at a suffi-
cient distance behind the vehicle in front. The
specified minimum distance is set using the
control on the cruise control lever. When Distance Pilot DISTRONIC is activated,
the transmission shifts automatically to position
] if: R
the driver's seat belt is not fastened and the
driver's door is open. R
the engine is switched off, unless it is auto-
matically switched off by the ECO start/stop
function.
The electric parking brake secures the vehicle
automatically if Distance Pilot DISTRONIC is
activated when the vehicle is stationary and: R
a system malfunction occurs. R
the power supply is insufficient.
If a malfunction occurs, the transmission may
also be shifted to position ] automatically.
Setting a speed X
Push cruise control lever up C for a higher
speed or down D for a lower speed.X
To adjust the set speed in 1 mph incre-
ments (1 km/h increments): briefly push
the cruise control lever up C or down D to
the pressure point.
Every time the cruise control lever is pressed
up C or down D the last speed stored is
increased or reduced. X
To adjust the set speed in 5 mph incre-
ments (10 km/h increments): briefly push
the cruise control lever up C or down D
beyond the pressure point.
Every time the cruise control lever is pressed
up C or down D , the last speed stored is
increased or reduced.
i If you accelerate to overtake, Distance Pilot
DISTRONIC adjusts the vehicle's speed to the
last speed stored after you have finished over-
taking.
Setting a specified minimum distance You can set the specified minimum distance for
Distance Pilot DISTRONIC by varying the time
span between one and two seconds. With this
function you can set the minimum distance that
Distance Pilot DISTRONIC maintains to the vehi-
cle in front, depending on vehicle speed. You
can see this distance in the multifunction dis-
play ( Y
page 175).
Make sure that you maintain the minimum dis-
tance to the vehicle in front as required by law.174
Driving systems
Driving and parking
Important safety notes
G WARNIN G
If th e vehicl e is only braked usin g th e HOLD
function , th e vehicl e may rol l away in th e fol -
lowin g situation s when you leav e th e vehicle:R
if there is a malfunction in th e system or in
th e voltag e suppl yR
if th e HOLD function is deactivated by
depressing th e accelerato r pedal or brak e
pedal , e.g. by a vehicl e occupantR
if th e electrical system in th e engin e com-
partment, th e battery or th e fuses are tam -
pered wit h or th e battery is disconnected
Ther e is a ris k of an accident.
Always deactivat e th e HOLD function and
secure th e vehicl e against rollin g away before
you leav e it .
! When DISTRONI C PLU S or th e HOLD func-
tion is activated, th e vehicl e brakes automat -
ically in certain situations.
To avoi d damag e to th e vehicle, deactivat e
DISTRONI C PLU S and th e HOLD function in
th e followin g or similar situations:R
when towin g th e vehicl eR
in th e car wash
Deactivating th e HOLD function ( Y
page 179).
Activation conditions You can activat e th e HOLD function if all of th e
followin g condition s are fulfilled :R
th e vehicl e is stationary.R
th e engin e is runnin g or if it has been auto -
matically switched off by th e ECO start/sto p
function .R
th e driver' s door is closed or your seat belt is
fastened. R
th e electric parking brak e is released.R
th e transmission is in position [ , ^ or \\ .R
DISTRONI C PLU S is deactivated. Activating the HOLD function X
Mak e sur e that th e activation condition s are
met . X
Depress th e brak e pedal .X
Quickly depress th e brak e pedal further
until C appear s in th e multifunction display.
The HOLD function is activated. You can
release th e brak e pedal .
If depressing th e brak e pedal th e first time does
no t activat e th e HOLD function , wait briefly and
then tr y again .
Deactivating the HOLD function The HOLD function is deactivated automatically
if: R
you depress th e accelerato r and th e trans -
mission is in position [ or ^R
th e transmission is in position ]R
you depress th e brak e pedal again wit h a cer-
tai n amoun t of pressur e until display
When overtaking, pay particular attention to the
extended length of your vehicle/trailer combi-
nation.
Due to the length of the vehicle/trailer combi-
nation, you require additional road space when
overtaking before you can change back to the
original lane.
If the automatic transmission repeatedly shifts
between gears on uphill or downhill gradients,
shift to a lower gear.
Driving in a lower gear and at a reduced speed
decreases the risk of engine damage.
If the coolant temperature increases signifi-
cantly when climate control is switched on,
switch climate control off.
Coolant heat can also be dissipated by opening
the windows and switching the ventilation
blower and the interior temperature to the high-
est level.
Decoupling a trailer
G WARNING
If you uncouple a trailer with the overrun
brake engaged, you could trap your hand
between the vehicle and the trailer drawbar.
There is a risk of injury.
Do not uncouple a trailer if the overrun brake
is engaged.
G WARNING
Vehicles with level control:
The vehicle is lowered as soon as you discon-
nect the trailer cable. This could result in your
limbs or those of other people that are
between the vehicle body and tires or under-
neath the vehicle being trapped. There is a
risk of injury.
Make sure that nobody is in the immediate
vicinity of the wheel housings or under the
vehicle when you disconnect the trailer cable.
! Do not disconnect a trailer with an engaged
overrun brake. Otherwise, your vehicle could
be damaged by the rebounding of the overrun
brake. X
Apply the vehicle's parking brake manually. X
Shift the transmission to position ] . X
Close all doors and the tailgate. X
Switch off the engine. X
Secure the vehicle and trailer against rolling
away. X
Remove the trailer cable. X
Remove the safety chains, if there are any. X
Uncouple the trailer.
Removing the ball coupling X
Observe the manufacturer's installation
instructions. X
Press the protective cap into the ball coupling
recess. X
Make sure that the protective cap is firmly in
place.
Observe the loading guidelines ( Y
page 290)
and the safety notes regarding stowage spaces
( Y
page 290).
Information on cleaning and care of the trailer
tow hitch ( Y
page 329).
Trailer power supply
! Accessories with a maximum power con-
sumption of 180 W can be connected to the
permanent power supply.
You must not charge a trailer battery using the
power supply.
The trailer socket of your vehicle is equipped at
the factory with a permanent power supply.
The permanent power supply is supplied via
trailer socket pin 4.
The trailer's permanent power supply is
switched off in the event of low vehicle supply
voltage and after six hours at the latest.
A qualified specialist workshop can provide
more information about installing the trailer
electrics.
Permissible trailer loads and trailer
drawbar noseweights
Weight specifications
The gross trailer weight is calculated as the
weight of the trailer plus the weight of the load
and the trailer's equipment.218
Towing a trailer
Driving and parking