Driving and operating175Fault9Warning
If there is a fault in the ABS, the
wheels may be liable to lock due
to braking that is heavier than
normal. The advantages of ABS are no longer available. During
hard braking, the vehicle can no longer be steered and may
swerve.
Have the cause of the fault remedied
by a workshop.
Parking brake
9 Warning
Before leaving the vehicle, check
parking brake status. Control
indicator m must illuminate
constantly.
Electric parking brake
Applying when vehicle is stationary
9 Warning
Pull switch m for a minimum of
1 second until control indicator m
illuminates constantly and electric
parking brake is applied 3 106.
The electric parking brake
operates automatically with
adequate force.
Before leaving the vehicle, check
the electric parking brake status.
Control indicator m 3 106.
The electric parking brake can always
be activated, even if the ignition is off.
Do not operate electric parking brake
system too often without engine
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 switch m is pulled at
the same time.
Vehicles with automatic transmission: Engaging D and then depressing the
accelerator pedal releases the
electric parking brake automatically.
This is not possible when switch m is
pulled at the same time.
Driving and operating177Extended hold hill start assist
Vehicles with automatic transmission are additionally equipped with the
extended hold hill start assist. This
function holds the vehicle stationary
for up to 5 minutes after the brake
pedal is released.
The electric parking brake will be
automatically activated to prevent
vehicle movement when one of the
following conditions occurs:
● extended hold hill start assist is deactivated after 5 minutes.
● ignition is switched off.
● driver's exit is detected.
Hill start assist or extended hold hill start assist can be selected in the
vehicle personalisation 3 123.
Notice
Hill start assist and extended hold
hill start assist will not be activated in neutral gear. If neutral gear is
selected during an active hold,
assists will deactivate and vehicle
may start moving.Ride control systems
Traction Control system The Traction Control system (TC) is a
component of the Electronic Stability
Control (ESC).
TC improves driving stability when
necessary, regardless of the type of
road surface or tyre grip, by
preventing the drive wheels from
spinning.
As soon as the drive wheels starts to
spin, engine output is reduced and
the wheel spinning the most is braked
individually. This considerably
improves the driving stability of the
vehicle on slippery road surfaces.
TC is operational after each engine
start as soon as the control indicator
b extinguishes.
When TC 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 3 107.
Deactivation
TC can be switched off when spinning of drive wheels is required: press t
briefly.
178Driving and operating
Control indicator k illuminates.
A status message appears in the
Driver Information Centre when TC is
deactivated.
When TC is deactivated, ESC
remains active but with higher control threshold.
TC is reactivated by pressing t again.
A status message pops up in the Driver Information Centre when TC is reactivated.
TC is also reactivated the next time
the ignition is switched on.
Fault
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.
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.
Torque distribution is a special
feature that allocates the torque to the drive wheels before the ESC
intervenes. When cornering, the
wheels on the inner curve are braked
individually. Additionally, engine
torque will be delivered to the drive wheel on the outer curve. This
reduces the tendency of
understeering and improves traction
when cornering fast.
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 3 107.
180Driving and operating● adaptive cruise control
● all-wheel drive
● engine sound enhancement
● instrument cluster theme
SPORT mode
The settings of the systems are
adjusted for a sportier driving style:
● Damping of shock absorbers is set up for increased handling andagility.
● The engine reacts more quickly to accelerator pedal changes.
● Steering support is sportier.
● Automatic transmission shift points optimised for sporty
driving.
● Adaptive cruise control is adjusted for a sportier driving
style.
● All-wheel drive supports active sporty driving of the vehicle.
● Engine sound enhancement intensifies interior engine sound
in a sporty manner.
● Cluster theme changes to sport.
TOUR modeTOUR mode adjusts the settings of
the systems for a comfortable driving
style.
● Damping of shock absorbers is adapted for increased driving
comfort.
● Steering efforts are reduced. ● Adaptive cruise control is adjusted for a more relaxed
driving style.
AUTO mode
All versions except GSi: All settings of the systems are preset to standard
values optimised for daily driving
(default mode). This is the fully
adaptive mode, adjusting systems to
both comfort and sport settings
depending on driving style and driving
situation.
Normal mode
GSi versions only: All settings of the
systems are preset to standard
values optimised for daily driving
(default mode). This mode keeps the
standard values independent of
driving style or driving situation.
Driving and operating183Automatic deactivation:● Vehicle speed is below approx. 20 mph.
● Vehicle speed drops more than 15 mph below the set speed.
● The brake pedal is depressed.
● The clutch pedal is depressed for
a few seconds.
● The selector lever is in N.
● Engine speed is in a very low range.
● The Traction Control system or Electronic Stability Control is
operating.
● Parking brake is applied.
● Simultaneous pressing RES/+
and brake pedal deactivates
cruise control and will delete
stored speed.
Resume stored speed
Turn thumb wheel to RES/+ at a
speed above 20 mph. The stored
speed will be obtained.Switching off the system
Press m, control indicator m in
instrument cluster extinguishes. The
stored speed is deleted.
Pressing L to activate the speed
limiter or switching off the ignition also switches off cruise control and
deletes the stored speed.
Speed limiter
The speed limiter prevents the
vehicle exceeding a preset maximum
speed.
The maximum speed can be set at
speeds above 15 mph up to
125 mph.
The driver can only accelerate up to
the preset speed. Deviations from the
limited speed may occur when driving
downhill.
The preset speed limit is displayed in
the Driver Information Centre when
the system is active.Activation
Press L, symbol L illuminates in the
Driver Information Centre.
If cruise control has been activated
before, it is switched off when speed
limiter is activated and the control
indicator m extinguishes.
Set speed limit
Accelerate to the desired speed and
briefly turn thumb wheel to SET/-: the
current speed is stored as maximum speed.
On Baselevel display L and the
speed limit is displayed.
190Driving and operatingThe system is also automatically
deactivated when:
● Vehicle speed accelerates above
120 mph or slows down below
15 mph. Vehicles with automatic
transmission slows down to a stop without deactivating within
5 minutes.
● The Traction Control system is deactivated or operating.
● The Electronic Stability Control is
deactivated or operating.
● There is no traffic and nothing detected on the road sides forapprox. 1 minute. In this case
there are no radar echoes and
the sensor may report that it is
blocked.
● The active emergency braking system is applying the brakes.
● Driving on steep inclines.
● The radar sensor is blocked by an ice or water film.
● A fault is detected in the radar, camera, engine or brake system.
● The brakes need to cool down.Additionally, the system is
automatically deactivated on vehicles with automatic transmission (full
speed range adaptive cruise control)
when:
● The incline uphill or downhill is greater than 20%.
● The electric parking brake is applied.
● The vehicle is being held to a stop
by the system for more than
5 minutes.
● The vehicle stops, the driver's seat belt is unbuckled and thedriver's door is opened.
When adaptive cruise control is
deactivated, the control indicator C
changes from green to white and a
pop-up message is displayed in the
Driver Information Centre.
The stored speed is maintained.The stored speed is indicated in
brackets in the Driver Information
Centre when the system is
deactivated but not switched off.
The adaptive cruise control symbol
C changes from green to white when
the system is deactivated but not
switched off.9 Warning
When adaptive cruise control is
deactivated, the driver must take
over full brake and engine control
immediately.
Switching off the system
Press v to switch off adaptive cruise
control. The control indicator C
extinguishes in the Driver Information Centre. The stored speed is deleted.
Switching off the ignition also
switches off adaptive cruise control
and deletes the stored speed.
226Driving and operatingFuel
Fuel for petrol engines
Only use unleaded fuel that complies
with European standard EN 228 or
equivalent.
The engine is capable of running with
fuel that contains up to 10% ethanol
(e.g. named E10).
Use fuel with the recommended
octane rating. A lower octane rating can reduce engine power and torque
and slightly increases fuel
consumption.
Caution
Do not use fuel or fuel additives
that contain metallic compounds
such as manganese-based
additives. This may cause engine
damage.
Caution
Use of fuel that does not comply to EN 228 or equivalent can lead to
deposits or engine damage.
Caution
Use of fuel with a lower octane
rating than the lowest possible
rating could lead to uncontrolled combustion and engine damage.
The engine specific requirements
regarding octane rating are given in
the engine data overview 3 289. A
country-specific label at the fuel filler
flap can supersede the requirement.
Fuel additive
Fuel should contain detergent
additives that help prevent engine
and fuel system deposits from
forming. Clean fuel injectors and
intake valves will allow the emission
control system to work properly. In
certain countries fuel does not
contain sufficient quantities of
additive to keep fuel injectors and
intake valves clean. In these
countries a fuel additive is required for
some engines to make up for this lack
of detergency. Only use fuel additive
approved for the vehicle.
Adding fuel additive to the filled fuel
tank is required at least every
10,000 miles or after one year,
whichever occurs first. For further
information, contact your workshop.
Prohibited fuels
Fuels containing oxygenates such as
ethers and ethanol, as well as
reformulated fuel, are available in
some cities. If these fuels comply with
the previously described
specification, then they are
acceptable to use. However, E85
Driving and operating227(85% ethanol) and other fuels
containing more than 15% ethanol
must be used only in FlexFuel
vehicles.Caution
Do not use fuel containing
methanol. It can corrode metal
parts in the fuel system and also
damage plastic and rubber parts.
This damage would not be
covered by the vehicle warranty.
Some fuels, mainly high octane
racing fuels, can contain an octane
enhancing additive called
methylcyclopentadienyl manganese
tricarbonyl (MMT). Do not use fuels or fuel additives with MMT as they can
reduce spark plug life and affect
emission control system
performance. The malfunction
indicator light Z may illuminate
3 106. If this occurs, seek the
assistance of a workshop.
Fuel for diesel engines
Only use diesel fuel that complies
with EN 590 and which has a sulphur
concentration of max. 10 ppm.
Fuels with a biodiesel (compliant with
EN 14214) content of max. 7% by
volume may be used (e.g. named
B7).
If travelling in countries outside the
European Union occasional use of Euro-Diesel fuel with a sulphur
concentration below 50 ppm is
possible.
Caution
Frequent usage of diesel fuel
containing more than 15 ppm
sulphur will cause severe engine
damage.
Caution
Use of fuel that does not comply to EN 590 or similar can lead to
engine powerloss, increased wear
or engine damage and may affect
your warranty.
Do not use marine diesel oils, heating
oils, Aquazole and similar diesel-
water emulsions. Diesel fuels must
not be diluted with fuels for petrol
engines.
Low temperature operation At temperatures below 0 °C, some
diesel products with biodiesel blends may clog, freeze or gel, which mayaffect the fuel supply system. Starting
and engine operation may not work
properly. Make sure to fill winter
grade diesel fuel at ambient
temperatures below 0 °C.
Arctic grade diesel fuel can be used
in extreme cold temperatures below
-20 °C. Using this fuel grade in warm
or hot climates is not recommended