Ris affected more by strong crosswinds
Rdemands more sensitive steering
Rhas a larger turning circle
This could impair the handling characteristics.
When towing a trailer, always adjust your speed
to the current road and weather conditions. Do
not exceed the maximum permissible speed for
your vehicle/trailer combination.
Notes on towing a trailer
General notes
!If you have a trailer tow hitch retrofitted,
changes to the cooling system and drive train
may be necessary, depending on the vehicle
type.
If you have a trailer tow hitch retrofitted,
observe the anchorage points on the chassis
frame.
RDo not exceed the legally prescribed maxi-
mum speed for vehicle/trailer combinations
in the relevant country.
This lowers the risk of an accident.
ROnly install an approved trailer coupling on
your vehicle.
More information on availability and installa-
tion can be obtained at any qualified special-
ist workshop.
RThe bumpers of your vehicle are not suitable
for installing detachable trailer couplings.
RDo not install hired trailer couplings or other
detachable trailer couplings on the bumpers
of your vehicle.
RIf you no longer need the ball coupling,
remove it from the ball coupling recess. This
will reduce the risk of damage to the ball cou-
pling.
When towing a trailer, set the tire pressure on
the rear axle of the towing vehicle for the max-
imum load. You will find the values in the tire
pressure table in the fuel filler flap of the vehicle (
Ypage 369).
Please note that when towing a trailer, the fol-
lowing driving systems have limited availability
or are not available at all:
RParking Assist PARKTRONIC (Ypage 187)
RBlind Spot Assist (Ypage 204)
RActive Lane Keeping Assist (Ypage 210) On vehicles without level control, the height of
the ball coupling will alter according to the load
placed on the vehicle. If necessary, use a trailer
with a height-adjustable drawbar.
You will find installing dimensions and loads
under "Technical data" (
Ypage 394).
Driving tips
Also observe the notes on pulling away with a
trailer (Ypage 138).
The maximum permissible speed for vehicle/
trailer combinations depends on the type of
trailer. Before beginning the journey, check the
trailer's documents to see what the maximum
permissible speed is for your trailer. Observe the
legally permissible maximum speed in the rele-
vant country.
For certain Mercedes-Benz vehicles, the maxi-
mum permissible rear axle load is increased
when towing a trailer. See "Technical data" to
find out whether this applies to your vehicle
(
Ypage 394). If you utilize any of the added
maximum rear axle load when towing a trailer,
the vehicle/trailer combination may not exceed
a maximum speed of 60 mph (100 km/h) for
reasons concerning the operating permit. This
also applies in countries in which the maximum
permissible speed for car/trailer combinations
is greater than 60 mph (100 km/h).
When towing a trailer, your vehicle's handling
characteristics will be different in comparison
with when driving without a trailer.
Use the left-hand steering wheel paddle shifter
to shift into a lower gear in good time on long
and steep downhill gradients.
This also applies if you have activated cruise
control or Distance Pilot DISTRONIC.
This will use the braking effect of the engine, so that less braking will be required to maintain the
speed. This relieves the load on the brake sys-
tem and prevents the brakes from overheating
and wearing too quickly. If you need additional
braking, depress the brake pedal repeatedly
rather than continuously.
Driving tips
If the trailer swings from side to side:
XDo not accelerate.
XDo not counter-steer.
XBrake if necessary.
220Towing a trailer
Driving and parking
Most U.S. states and all Canadian provinces
require by law:
RSafety chains between the towing vehicle and
the trailer. The chains should be cross-wound
under the trailer drawbar. They must be fas-
tened to the vehicle's trailer coupling, not to
the bumper or the axle.
Leave enough play in the chains to make tight
cornering possible.
RA separate brake system for certain types of
trailer.
RSafety switch for braked trailers. Check the
specific legal requirements applicable to your
state.
If the trailer becomes detached from the tow-
ing vehicle, the safety feature triggers the
trailer brakes.
Towing a trailer
There are numerous legal requirements con-
cerning the towing of a trailer, e.g. speed restric-
tions. Make sure that your car/trailer combina-tion complies with the local regulations:
Rin your place of residence
Rin the location to which you are driving
The police and local authorities can provide reli-
able information.
Observe the following when towing a trailer:
RTo gain driving experience and to become
accustomed to the new handling characteris-
tics, you should practice the following in a
traffic-free location:
-cornering
-stopping
-backing up
RBefore driving, check:
-trailer tow hitch
-safety switch for braked trailers
-safety chains
-electrical connections
-lights
-wheels
RAdjust the exterior mirrors to provide an
unobstructed view of the rear section of the
trailer.
RIf the trailer has electronically controlled
brakes, pull away carefully. Brake manually using the brake controller and check whether
the brakes function correctly.
RSecure any objects on the trailer to prevent
the cargo from slipping when the vehicle is in
motion.
RWhen you couple up a trailer, check at regular
intervals that the load is firmly secured. If the
trailer is equipped with trailer lights and
brakes, check the trailer to ensure that these
are working.
RBear in mind that the handling will be less
stable when towing a trailer than when driving
without one. Avoid sudden steering move-
ments.
RThe vehicle/trailer combination is heavier,
accelerates more slowly, has a decreased
gradient climbing capability and a longer
braking distance.
It is more susceptible to side winds and
requires more careful steering.
RIf possible, do not brake suddenly, but instead
depress the brake pedal moderately at first so
that the trailer can activate its brakes. Then
increase the pressure on the brake pedal.
RIf the automatic transmission repeatedly
shifts between gears on uphill or downhill gra-
dients, shift to a lower gear using the left-hand
steering wheel paddle shifter.
A lower gear and lower speed reduce the risk
of engine failure.
RWhen driving downhill, shift to a lower gear to
utilize the engine's braking effect.
Avoid continuous brake application as this
may overheat the vehicle brakes and, if instal-
led, the trailer brakes.
RIf the coolant temperature increases dramat-
ically while the air-condit ioning system is
switched on, switch off the air-conditioning
system.
Coolant heat can also be dissipated by open-
ing the windows and switching the ventilation blower and the interior temperature to the
highest level.
RWhen overtaking, pay particular attention to
the extended length of your vehicle/trailer
combination.
Due to the length of the vehicle/trailer com-
bination, you require additional road space in
relation to the vehicle you are overtaking
before you can change back to the original
lane.
Towing a trailer223
Driving and parking
Z
There is a short delay before a change in outside
temperature appears in the multifunction dis-
play.
Coolant temperature gauge
GWARNING
Opening the hood when the engine is over-
heated or when there is a fire in the engine
compartment could expose you to hot gases
or other service products. There is a risk of
injury.
Let an overheated engine cool down before
opening the hood. If there is a fire in the
engine compartment, keep the hood closed
and contact the fire department.
!A display message is shown if the coolant
temperature is too high.
If the coolant temperature is over 248 ‡
(120 †), do not continue driving. The engine
will otherwise be damaged.
All vehicles except PLUG-IN HYBRID: the
coolant temperature display is on the instru-
ment cluster on the right-hand side (
Ypage 37).
Under normal operating conditions and with the
specified coolant level, the coolant temperature
may rise to 248 ‡ (120 †).
Operating the on-board computer
Overview
:Multifunction display
;Right control panel
=Left control panel
XTo activate the on-board computer: turn
the SmartKey to position 1in the ignition
lock.
You can control the multifunction display and
the settings in the on-board computer using the
buttons on the multifunction steering wheel.
Vehicles with the COMAND multimedia system: you can find further information on the Voice
Control System in the separate operating
instructions.
Vehicles with the Audio 20 multimedia system:
you can find further information on voice-oper-
ated control for navigation in the manufactur-
er's operating instructions.
Displays and operation229
On-board computer and displays
Z
Left control panel
=
;RCalls up the menu and menu bar
9
:Press briefly:
RScrolls in lists
RSelects a submenu or function
RIn theAudiomenu: selects the
previous or next station, when the
preset list or station list is active,
or the previous or next audio track
or video scene
RIn the Tel(Telephone) menu:
switches to the phone book and
selects a name or telephone num-
ber
9
:Press and hold:
RIn the Audiomenu: selects a pre-
set list or a station list in the
desired frequency range or an
audio track or video scene using
rapid scrolling
RIn the Tel(Telephone) menu:
starts rapid scrolling if the phone
book is open
aRConfirms the selection or display
message
RIn the Tel(Telephone) menu:
switches to the phone book and
starts dialing the selected number
%Press briefly:
RBack
RSwitches off voice-operated con-
trol for navigation or the Voice
Control System
RHides display messages or calls up
the last Tripmenu function used
RExits the telephone book/redial
memory
%Press and hold:
RCalls up the standard display in the
Tripmenu
Right control panel
~RRejects or ends a call
RExits the telephone book/redial
memory
6RMakes or accepts a call
RSwitches to the redial memory
W
XRAdjusts the volume
8RMute
?RSwitches on voice-operated con-
trol for navigation or the Voice
Control System
Multifunction display
:Permanent display: outside temperature or
speed (Ypage 238)
;Time
=Text field
?Menu bar
ADrive program (Ypage 145)
BTransmission position (Ypage 145)
XTo display menu bar ?: press the=
or ; button on the steering wheel.
If you do not press any other button, menu
bar ?fades out after a few seconds.
Text field =shows the selected menu or sub-
menu as well as display messages.
230Displays and operation
On-board computer and displays
iSet the time using the multimedia system;
see the Digital Operator's Manual.
Possible displays in the multifunction dis-
play:
RZ Gearshift recommendation, when shifting
manually (Ypage 147)
Rj Parking Pilot (Ypage 190)
RCRUISECruise control (Ypage 169)
R_ Adaptive Highbeam Assist
(Ypage 114)
Rè ECO start/stop function (Ypage 139)
RëHOLD function (Ypage 182)
RaDistance Pilot DISTRONIC Steering Pilot
(Ypage 236)
RDSRDownhill Speed Regulation
(Ypage 213)
Menus and submenus
Menu overview
Press the =or; button on the steering
wheel to call up the menu bar and select a menu.
Operating the on-board computer (
Ypage 229).
Depending on the equipment installed in the
vehicle, you can call up the following menus:
RTripmenu (Ypage 231)
RNavimenu (navigation instructions)
(Ypage 232)
RAudiomenu (Ypage 234)
RTelmenu (telephone) (Ypage 235)
RDriveAssistmenu (assistance)
(Ypage 236)
RServ.menu (Ypage 237)
RSett.menu (settings) (Ypage 238)
RON&OFFROADmenu (Ypage 240)
RAMGmenu (Mercedes-AMG vehicles)
(Ypage 240)
Trip menu
Standard display
XPress and hold the %button on the steer-
ing wheel until the Tripmenu with trip odom-
eter :and odometer ;appears.
Trip computer "From Start" or "From
Reset"
:Distance
;Driving time
=Average speed
?Average fuel consumption
XPress the =or; button on the steering
wheel to select the Tripmenu.
XPress the9or: button to select
From startor From reset.
The values in the From
Startsubmenu are cal-
culated from the start of a journey, while the
values in the From Reset
submenu are calcu-
lated from the last time the submenu was reset
(
Ypage 232).
The From Start
trip computer is automatically
reset if:
Rthe ignition has been switched off for more
than four hours.
R999 hours have been exceeded.
R9,999 miles have been exceeded.
The From reset
trip computer is automatically
reset if the value exceeds 9,999 hours or
99,999 miles.
Menus and submenus231
On-board computer and displays
Z
ECO display
The ECO display is not available for Mercedes-
AMG vehicles.
XPress the=or; button on the steering
wheel to select the Tripmenu.
XPress the9or: button to select ECODISPLAY.
If the ignition remains switched off for longer
than four hours, the ECO display will be auto-
matically reset.
For more information on the ECO display, see
(
Ypage 160).
Displaying the range and current fuel
consumption
Mercedes-AMG vehicles: the menu displays
only the approximate range :.
XPress the=or; button on the steering
wheel to select the Tripmenu.
Digital speedometer
XPress the=or; button on the steering
wheel to select the Tripmenu.
XPress the9or: button to select the
digital speedometer.
A gear shift recommendation Zcan also
appear.
Observe the information on gearshift recom-
mendation Zwhen shifting manually
(
Ypage 147).
Mercedes-AMG vehicles: a gearshift recom-
mendation is shown in the status bar of the
multifunction display and not in the digital
speedometer display.
Resetting values
XPress the =or; button on the steering
wheel to select the Tripmenu.
XPress the9or: button to select the
function that you wish to reset.
XPress ato confirm your selection.
XPress :to select Yesand press ato
confirm.
You can reset the values of the following func-
tions:
RTrip odometer
R"From Start" trip computer
R"From Reset" trip computer
RECO display
If you reset the values in the ECO display, the
values in the "From Start" trip computer are also reset. If you reset the values in the "From Start"
trip computer, the values in the ECO display are
also reset.
Navigation system menu
Displaying navigation instructions
In the Navimenu, the multifunction display
shows navigation instructions.
You can find further information on navigation in
the Digital Operator's Manual in the multimedia
system.
XSwitch on the multimedia system (see the
Digital Operator's Manual)
XPress the =or; button on the steering
wheel to select the Navimenu.
Route guidance not active
:Direction of travel
;Current road
232Menus and submenus
On-board computer and displays
Telephone menu
Introduction
GWARNING
If you operate information systems and com-
munication equipment integrated in the vehi-
cle when driving, you may be distracted from
the traffic situation. You could also lose con-
trol of the vehicle. There is a risk of an acci-
dent.
Only operate this equipment when the traffic
situation permits. If you are not sure that this
is possible, park the vehicle paying attention
to traffic conditions and operate the equip-
ment when the vehicle is stationary.
When telephoning, you must observe the legal
requirements for the country in which you are
currently driving.
XSwitch on the mobile phone (see the manu-
facturer’s operating instructions).
XSwitch on the multimedia system (see the
Digital Operator's Manual)
XEstablish a Bluetooth®connection to the mul-
timedia system (see the Digital Operator's
Manual).
XPress the =or; button on the steering
wheel to select the Telmenu.
You will see one of the following display mes-
sages in the multifunction display:
RPhone READYor the name of the network
provider: the mobile phone has found a net-
work and is ready to receive.
RPhone No Service: there is no network
available or the mobile phone is searching for
a network.
Accepting a call
If someone calls you when you are in the Telmenu, a display message appears in the multi-
function display.
You can accept a call at any time regardless of
the menu selected.
XPress the6button on the steering wheel
to accept an incoming call.
Rejecting or ending a call
You can end or reject a call even if you are not in
the Telmenu.
XPress the ~button on the steering wheel
to reject or end a call.
Selecting an entry from the phone book
XPress the =or; button on the steering
wheel to select the Telmenu.
XPress the9,:ora button to
switch to the phone book.
XAuthorize access to the phone book on the
phone.
XPress the 9or: button to select the
desired name.
or
XTo start rapid scrolling: press and hold the
9 or: button for longer than one sec-
ond.
Rapid scrolling stops when you release the
button or reach the end of the list.
XIf only one telephone number is stored for
a name: press the 6ora button to
start dialing.
or
XIf there is more than one number for a
particular name: press the6ora
button to display the numbers.
XPress the 9or: button to select the
number you want to dial.
XPress the 6ora button to start dialing.
or
XTo exit the telephone book: press the~
or % button.
Redialing
The on-board computer saves the last names or
numbers dialed in the redial memory.
XPress the =or; button on the steering
wheel to select the Telmenu.
XPress the6button to switch to the redial
memory.
XPress the 9or: button to select the
desired name or number.
Menus and submenus235
On-board computer and displays
Z
XPress the6ora button to start dialing.
or
XTo exit the redial memory: press the~
or % button.
Assistance menu
Introduction
Depending on the equipment installed in the
vehicle, you have the following options in the
DriveAssist
menu:
RDisplaying the assistance graphic
(Ypage 236)
RActivating/deactivating the Traffic Sign
Assist display (Ypage 236)
RActivating or deactivating Steering Pilot
(Ypage 236)
RActivating or deactivating Active Brake Assist (Ypage 237)
RActivating or deactivating Active Brake Assist
with cross-traffic function (Ypage 237)
RActivating/deactivating ATTENTION ASSIST
(Ypage 237)
RActivating/deactivating Blind Spot Assist or
Active Blind Spot Assist (Ypage 237)
RActivating/deactivating Lane Keeping Assist
or Active Lane Keeping Assist (Ypage 237)
Displaying the assistance graphic
XPress the =or; button on the steering
wheel to select the DriveAssistmenu.
XPress9or: to select AssistanceGraphic.
XConfirm by pressing aon the steering
wheel.
The multifunction display shows the Distance
Pilot DISTRONIC distance display in the assis-
tance graphic display.
The assistance graphic displays the status of
and information from the following driving
systems or driving safety systems:
RTraffic Sign Assist (Ypage 203)
RDistance Pilot DISTRONIC (Ypage 171)
RActive Brake Assist (Ypage 67)
RActive Brake Assist with cross-traffic func-
tion (Ypage 73)
RATTENTION ASSIST (Ypage 202)
RLane Keeping Assist (Ypage 206) or Active
Lane Keeping Assist (Ypage 210)
RDSR (Ypage 213)
ROff-road program (vehicles with Off-Road
Engineering package) (Ypage 215)
RRear window wiper (Ypage 118)
XPress :to display the ATTENTION ASSIST
assessment.
Traffic Sign Assist
You can switch the Traffic Sign Assist message
function on or off in the TrafficSignAssistmenu. When the function is activated, detected
traffic signs and information appear in the mul-
tifunction display for five seconds.
XPress the=or; button on the steering
wheel to select the DriveAssistmenu.
XPress the9or: button to select
Traffic Sign Assist.
XConfirm by pressing aon the steering
wheel.
The current selection appears.
XTo activate/deactivate the message func-
tion: press the abutton again.
For further information about Traffic Sign Assist,
see (
Ypage 203).
Activating or deactivating Steering Pilot
XPress the =or; button on the steering
wheel to select the DriveAssistmenu.
XPress9or: to select SteeringPilot.
XConfirm by pressing aon the steering
wheel.
The current selection appears.
XTo activate/deactivate: press theabut-
ton again.
When the Steering Pilot is activated, the mul- tifunction display displays a Steering
PilotOnmessage.
Further information about Distance Pilot
DISTRONIC with Steering Pilot (
Ypage 177).
236Menus and submenus
On-board computer and displays