Operation
To switch a function on or off, or to select a
s ubmenu,
y
ou must press the corresponding
function button.
Function button: Function
OFFSwitch off and switch on the Climatronic.
SYNCSynchronise driver and front passenger
temperatures.
SETTINGS
The air conditioning settings submenu is
opened. The following settings can also
be adjusted:
Air conditioning profile. : Adjust
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 174.
BACK : Close the submenu.
*The auxiliary heater submenu opens.
*It enables manual switching on or off of
the windscreen heater.
It enables activation and deactivation of
the PureAir and opens the submenu. Operating the Climatronic through the
E
a
sy
Connect system* 3 Applies to vehicles with Media System Plus / Navi
S y
stem / Navi System Plus. Fig. 173
Easy Connect screen: air conditioner
menu. In the Easy Connect system it is also possible
t
o per
f
orm various adjustments to the Clima-
tronic.
Open the air conditioner menu
● Press the button on the Climatronic
c ontr
o
l 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, y
ou must press the corresponding
function button.
Function button: Function
OFFClimatronic is switched off.
ONClimatronic is switched on.
SYNCSynchronise driver and front passenger
temperatures.
SETTINGS
The air conditioning settings submenu is
opened. The following settings can also
be adjusted:
Automatic supplementary heater :
to activate/deactivate the automatic acti-
vation of the auxiliary heating for colder
countries (only for engines with auxiliary
heating). With the option deactivated, de-
pending on the outside temperature the
heating may need more time than normal
to reach a comfortable temperature.
Automatic windscreen heating *: to
switch the automatic windscreen heating
on and off ››› page 175.
Automatic air recirculation : to
switch automatic air recirculation on and
off ››› page 174.
BACK : to close the submenu.
*The auxiliary heater submenu opens.
*It enables manual switching on or off of
the windscreen heater.
172
Operation
Air outlets Fig. 174
On the dash panel: air vents Air vents
T
o en
s
ure proper heating, cooling and venti-
lation in the vehicle interior, air vents
››› Fig. 174 1 should remain open.
● Turn the corresponding thumbwheel (de-
t ai
l) in the r
equired direction to open and
close the air vents. When the thumbwheel is
in the position, the corresponding air vent
is closed.
● Change the air direction using the ventila-
tion grill
e lever.
There are other additional, non-adjustable air
vents in the dash panel 2 , in the footwell
and in the r ear ar
ea of the interior. Note
Food, medicine and other heat or cold sensi-
tive o b
jects should never be placed in front of
the air outlets as they may be damaged or
made unsuitable for use by the air coming
from the air vents. Air recirculation mode
Basic points
Air recirculation:
Manual recirculation
Air recirculation mode prevents the ambient
air fr
om ent
erin
g the interior. When the outside temperature is very high,
selecting m
anual air recirculation mode for a
short period refreshes the vehicle interior
more quickly.
For safety reasons, air recirculation mode is
switched off when the button is press-
ed or the air distributor turned to .
Switching the manual air recirculation mode
on and off
To switch system on: press the button un-
til the warning lamp lights up.
To switch system off: press the button un-
til the warning lamp goes off.
174
OperationSwitching the auxiliary heater off:
Automatically once the programmed departure
time has arrived or after the programmed oper-
ating time has elapsed
››› page 179.
Automatically when the control lamp (fuel
level indicator) ››› page 292 lights up.
Automatically when the 12-volt battery charge
is too low ››› page 305. Special feature
Once sw
it
ched off, the auxiliary heater will
continue to operate for a short period of time
in order to burn the fuel remaining in the sys-
tem and also to expel the exhaust fumes.
Remote control Fig. 176
Auxiliary heater: remote control.
Fig. 176Meaning
Switch the auxiliary heater on
Switch the auxiliary heater off
1Control lamp
If the buttons of the remote control are press-
ed unnec
e
ssarily, it could switch on the auxil-
iary heater involuntarily, even when it is out
of range or when the control lamp is flashing.
Control lamp on the remote control
When the buttons are pressed, the control
lamp on the remote control provides the user
with different information:
Control lamp 1Meaning
It will light for about 2 sec-
onds in green.The auxiliary heater has
been switched on using
the
button.
It will light for about 2 sec-
onds in red.The auxiliary heater has
been switched off using
the
button.
It flashes green slowly for
approximately 2 seconds
(approximately 4 times per
second).No on a)
signal has been
received.
Control lamp 1Meaning
It flashes green quickly for
approximately 2 seconds
(approximately 10 times
per second).The auxiliary heater is
locked.
Possible causes: The fuel
tank is almost empty, the
12-volt battery charge is
too low or there is a fault.
It flashes orange for ap-
proximately 2 seconds
(approximately 4 times per
second).No off a)
signal has been
received.
It will light for about 2 sec-
onds in orange, then
green or red.The remote control battery
is almost flat. However,
the on or off signal has
been received.
It will light for about 2 sec-
onds in orange, then it
flashes green or red.The remote control battery
is almost flat. No on or off
signal has been received.
It flashes orange for ap-
proximately 5 seconds.The remote control battery
is flat. No on or off signal
has been received.
a) The remote control is out of range. In this case it will be nec-
essary to get closer to the vehicle and press the corresponding
button again.
Replacing the remote control battery
If, when pressing the buttons of the remote
control, control lamp 1 flashes orange for
ap pr
o
ximately 5 seconds or it does not
switch on, the remote control battery will
need replacing.
178
Air conditioning
The battery is located beneath a cover on the
b ac
k
of the remote control.
● To open the cover, lift it slightly at the bot-
tom and slide it
down.
● Remove the old battery.
● Insert the new battery. When doing so, take
into acc
ount the polarity and use batteries of
the same type ››› .
● Replace the battery cover by inserting the
t ab
s
at the top and pressing the bottom.
Range
The receiver is inside the vehicle. The remote
control, when fitted with new batteries, has a
range of several hundred metres. Obstacles
between the remote control and the vehicle,
bad weather conditions and discharged bat-
teries can considerably reduce the range of
the remote control. CAUTION
● The ra dio fr
equency remote control con-
tains electronic components. Therefore, avoid
getting it wet and exposing it to knocks or di-
rect sunlight.
● The use of inappropriate batteries may
damag
e the radio frequency remote control.
For this reason, always replace the used bat-
tery with another of the same voltage, size
and specifications. For the sake of the environment
● Ple a
se dispose of your used batteries cor-
rectly and with respect for the environment.
● The remote control battery may contain
perch
lorate. Observe the legal provisions re-
garding disposal.
● Care should be taken so as not to operate
the remote c
ontrol unintentionally so as to
prevent the auxiliary heater being switched
on accidentally. Programming the auxiliary heater
Before pr
ogramming it, check that the vehi-
c l
e's date and time are set correctly ››› .
The aux i
li
ary heater is programmed in the
Auxiliary heater menu of the infotain-
ment system.
Open the Auxiliary heater menu.
● Press the button in the Clim
atronic
control panel.
● Press the function b
utton.
Function button: function
Switch off: The auxiliary heater is immediately switched
off.
Function button: function
Heat, Ventilate: Set to heat or ventilate the vehicle interi-
or when the auxiliary heater is switched on. By pressing
the function button
, you can select the desired
mode.
Set: Opens the Auxiliary heater menu.
Departure time 1, Departure time 2, Departure time 3:
Three different departure times (hh.mm) may be
programmed. If the auxiliary heater should only
be switched on a certain day of the week, this can
also be selected.
Duration: The duration determines the operating
time of the auxiliary heater when switched on us-
ing the fast heating button
on the air condi-
tioning controls. The duration is also used to cal-
culate the departure time for the manual air con-
ditioner. It can be set between 10 and 60 mi-
nutes at 10-minute intervals.
This returns to the main menu.
The programmed departure time determines
the ap
pr
o
ximate time it should take to reach
the temperature set in the vehicle. The start
of the heating operation is determined auto-
matically depending on the outside tempera-
ture.
Checking the programming
When a departure time is activated and the
ignition is switched off the control lamp of
the fast heating button lights up for ap-
proximately 10 seconds. »
179
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety
Operation
● Sec ur
e the
vehicle as usual by applying the
electronic parking brake 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 electronic parking
brake or the gearshift lever, which would
cause the vehicle to move, but uncontrolla-
bly.
● Depending on weather conditions, it may
become extr
emely hot or cold inside the vehi-
cle. This can be fatal. Information on the brakes
New brake pads
F
or the fir s
t 400 km (250 miles), new brake
pads have not yet reached their maximum
braking capacity, and need to be “run in” first. However, you can compensate for the
slightly r
educed braking effect by applying
more pressure on the brake pedal. Avoid
overloading the brakes while running them
in.
Wear
The rate of wear on the brake pads depends
a great deal on how you drive and the condi-
tions in which the vehicle is operated. This is
a particular problem in urban traffic and
short stretches, or with very sporty driving.
Depending on the speed, the braking force
and the environmental conditions (for exam-
ple, the temperature, air humidity, etc.)
noises may be produced on braking.
Wet roads or road salt
In certain situations (for example, on driving
through flooded areas, in severe downpours
or after washing the vehicle) the braking ac-
tion could be delayed if the discs and pads
are damp, or frozen in winter. In this case the
brakes should be “dried” by pressing the
brake pedal several times.
At high speed and with the windscreen wip-
ers activated, the brake pads will briefly
touch the brake discs. This takes place, al-
though unnoticeable to the driver, at regular
intervals to improve the response time of the
brakes when they are wet. The effectiveness of the brakes can also be
temporari
ly reduced if the vehicle is driven
for some distance without using the brakes
when there is a lot of salt on the road in win-
ter. The layer of salt that accumulates on the
discs and pads can be removed by gently ap-
plying the brakes a few times.
Corrosion
There may be a tendency for corrosion to
form on the discs and dirt to build up on the
brake pads if the vehicle is used infrequently
or the brakes are not used very often.
If the brakes are not used frequently, or if
rust has formed on the disks, it is advisable
to clean off the pads and disks by braking
firmly a few times at a moderately high speed
››› .
F au
lt
in the brake system
If the brake pedal travel should ever increase
suddenly, this may mean that one of the two
brake circuits has failed. Drive immediately
to the nearest specialised workshop and
have the fault repaired. Drive there slowly
and remember that you will have to apply
more pressure on the brake pedal and allow
for longer stopping distances.
188
Operation
the other driven wheel. This function is active
up t o ap
pr
oximately 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
at a higher speed than the inner wheel. In
this way, the wheel that is turning faster (out-
er wheel) receives less drive torque than the
inner wheel. This may mean that in certain
situations the torque delivered to the inner
wheel is too high, causing the wheels to
spin. On the other hand, the outer wheel is
receiving a lower drive torque than it could
transmit. This causes an overall loss of lateral
grip on the front axle, resulting in understeer
or “lengthening” of the trajectory. The XDS system can detect and correct this
effect
via the sensors and signals of the ESC.
Via the ESC, the XDS will brake the inside
wheel and counter the excess driving torque
of that wheel. This means that the driver's
desired trajectory is much more precise.
The XDS system works in combination with
the ESC and is always active, even when ASR
traction control is disconnected, or the ESC in
Sport mode or disconnected.
Multi-collision brake
In an accident, the multi-collision brake can
help the driver by braking to avoid the risk of
skidding during the accident, which could
lead to further collisions.
The multi-collision brake works for front, side
or rear accidents, when the airbag control
unit records its activation level and the acci-
dent takes place at a speed of over 10 km/h
(6 mph). The ESC automatically brakes the
vehicle, as long as the accident has not dam-
aged the ESC, the brake hydraulics or the on-
board network
The following actions control automatic brak-
ing during the accident:
● When the driver presses the accelerator,
the automatic
braking does not take place.
● When the braking pressure through press-
ing the brak
e pedal is greater than the sys- tem’s braking pressure the vehicle will brake
automatic
ally.
● Multi-collision braking will not be available
if ESC
is malfunctioning. WARNING
● The ESC, ABS, ASR, ED S
and the electronic
torque control system cannot exceed the lim-
its imposed by the laws of physics. Always
bear this in mind, especially on wet or slip-
pery roads. If you notice the systems cutting
in, you should reduce your speed immediate-
ly to suit the road and traffic conditions. Do
not be encouraged to take risks by the pres-
ence of more safety systems. If you do, an ac-
cident may occur.
● Please remember that the accident risk al-
way
s increases if you drive fast, especially in
corners or on a slippery road, or if you follow
too close behind the vehicle in front of you.
The ESC, ABS, brake assist, EDS and the elec-
tronic torque control system cannot prevent
accidents: risk of accidents!
● Accelerate with caution on slippery surfa-
ces
(for example, icy or snow-covered). De-
spite the control systems, the driven wheels
could spin, affecting the stability of the vehi-
cle: risk of accident! Note
● The ABS and ASR w i
ll only operate correctly
if the four wheels have identical tyres. Any
differences in the rolling radius of the tyres 190
Driving
When stationary, apply footbrake
while selecting a gear.
L ev
el
lock only engages with the vehicle sta-
tionary and at speeds of up to 5 km/h
(3 mph). At speeds of over 5 km/h (3 mph)
the lever lock is automatically deactivated in
position N.
The selector lever lock is not engaged if the
selector lever is moved quickly through posi-
tion N (e.g. when shifting from R to D). This
makes it possible, for instance, to rock the
vehicle “backwards and forwards” if it is
stuck. The selector lever lock engages auto-
matically if the brake pedal is not depressed
and the lever is in position N for more than
about two seconds.
Interlock button
The interlock button on the selector lever
handle prevents the driver from inadvertently
engaging certain gears. Press the button in
to disengage the selector lever lock.
Safety interlock for ignition key
Depending on the country, once the ignition
has been turned off, the key may be removed
only if the gear selector is in position P. While
the key is not in the ignition, the selector lev-
er is locked in position P. Note
● If the sel ect
or lever lock does not engage,
there is a fault. The transmission is interrup-
ted to prevent the vehicle from accidentally
moving. Follow the procedure below in order
for the selector lever lock to engage again:
–With a 6-speed gearbox: press the brake
pedal and release it again.
– With a 7-speed gearbox: press the brake
pedal. Move the selector lever to posi-
tion P or N and subsequently engage a
gear.
● Despite a gear being engaged, the vehicle
does not
move forwards or back. Proceed to
the next mode:
– When the vehicle does not move in the
required direction, the system may not
have the gear range correctly engaged.
Press the brake pedal and engage the
gear range again.
– If the vehicle still does not move in the
required direction, there is a system mal-
function. Seek specialist assistance and
have the system checked. Engaging gears with the triptonic
mode*
Fig. 182
Centre console: changing gear with
tiptr onic Fig. 183
Steering wheel: automatic gearbox
l ev
er
s The tiptronic gives the driver the option to
c
h
an
ge gears manually. »
195
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety
Driving
Driving down hills: in some s it
uation s (on
mountain roads or when towing a trailer or
caravan) it can be advantageous to switch
temporarily to the manual gearbox pro-
gramme so that the gear ratios can be selec-
ted manually to suit the driving conditions
››› .
On l ev
el
ground it is sufficient to move the
selector lever to position P. On slopes, first
engage the parking brake and then put the
selection lever into the P position. This
avoids overloading the locking mechanism
and it will be easier to move the selector lev-
er from position P. WARNING
Observe the safety warnings ›››
in Selector
lev er po
sitions on page 194.
● Never allow the brake to rub and do not use
the brake ped
al too often or for long periods.
Constant braking causes overheating in the
brakes. This could significantly reduce brak-
ing power, increase braking distance or even
result in the total failure of the brake system.
● To avoid rolling back on gradients always
hold the
vehicle with the footbrake or hand-
brake if you have to stop. CAUTION
● If y
ou stop the vehicle on a gradient, do not
attempt to stop it from rolling by depressing
the accelerator when a gear has been selec-
ted. This could cause overheating and dam- age the automatic gearbox. Apply the hand-
brak
e firm
ly or press the brake pedal in order
to prevent the vehicle from rolling back.
● If you allow the car to roll with the selector
lever in po
sition N with the engine switched
off, the automatic gearbox will be damaged as it will not be lubricated.
● In certain driving situations or traffic condi-
tions, suc
h as frequently starting, prolonged
“creeping” of the vehicle or traffic jams with
continuous stoppages, the gearbox could
overheat causing damage! If the warning
lamp lights up, stop the vehicle as soon as
possible and wait for the gearbox to cool
››› page 200. Kick-down feature
The kick-down feature allows maximum ac-
c
el
er
ation to be reached.
When the accelerator pedal is pressed right
down past the point of resistance at full throt-
tle, the gearbox will shift down to a lower
gear, depending on road speed and engine
speed. The upshift to the next higher gear is
delayed until the engine reaches maximum
rpm. WARNING
Please note that if the road surface is slip-
pery or w
et, the kick-down feature could cause the driving wheels to spin, which could
re
s
ult in skidding. Launch control program
3 Valid for vehicles: with Launch-Control/6-Speed
D SG w
ith diesel engines superior to 125 kW and pet-
rol engines superior to 140 kW.
The Launch control programme enables maxi-
mum acceleration.
Important: the engine must have reached op-
erating temperature and the steering wheel
must not be turned.
The engine speed for launch-control is differ-
ent on petrol and diesel engines. To use the
launch-control you must disconnect the anti-
slip regulation (ASR) through the Easy Con-
nect system menu ››› page 120. The warning
lamp will stay switched on or will flash
slowly depending on whether or not the vehi-
cle has a driver information system*.
On vehicles with the driver information sys-
tem, the ESC lamp lights up permanently and
the corresponding text message Stability
control deactivated (temporary) ap-
pears on the instrument panel to indicate the
deactivation status. »
197Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety