
Automatic drive program
Drive program C (Comfort) Drive program
Cis characterized by the follow-
ing:
R the vehicle delivers comfortable, economical
handling characteristics.
R the vehicle pulls away more gently in forward
and reverse gears, unless the accelerator
pedal is depressed fully.
R the vehicle has improved driving stability, for
example on slippery road surfaces.
R optimal fuel consumption resulting from the
automatic transmission shifting up sooner.
The vehicle is driven in the low engine speed
range and the wheels are less likely to spin.
R gliding mode is available.
R the ECO start/stop function is available.
Drive program S (Sport) Drive program
Sis characterized by the follow-
ing:
R the vehicle exhibits sporty driving character-
istics.
R the automatic transmission shifts up later.
The fuel consumption possibly being higher
as a result of the later automatic transmission
shift points.
R the suspension exhibits stiff springing and
damping settings.
R gliding mode is not available.
R the ECO start/stop function is not available.
R if a period of dynamic driving is followed by an
extended phase with a constant accelerator
pedal position, the vehicle shifts up to a
higher gear. This optimizes fuel consumption.
Drive program S+ (Sport Plus) Drive program
S+is characterized by the fol-
lowing:
R the vehicle exhibits particularly sporty driving
characteristics.
R the automatic transmission shifts up later.
The fuel consumption possibly being higher
as a result of the later automatic transmission
shift points.
R the suspension exhibits particularly hard
springing and damping settings. R
gliding mode is not available.
R the ECO start/stop function is not available.
R if a period of dynamic driving is followed by an
extended phase with a constant accelerator
pedal position, the vehicle shifts up to a
higher gear. This optimizes fuel consumption.
Drive program I (Individual) In drive program
Ithe following properties of the
drive program can be selected:
R the drive (engine management)
R the transmission management
R ESP ®
(Y page 62)
R the suspension (Y page 147)
R the position of the exhaust flap
(Y page 114)
Information about configuring drive program I
with the multimedia system can be found in the
Digital Operator's Manual.
Temporary manual drive program General notes
In this drive program, you can briefly change
gear yourself by using the steering wheel paddle shifters. The transmission must be in position
005B to do this.
You can activate the temporary manual drive
program in the automatic drive program. The
switching times correspond to the previously
active automatic drive program.
In addition to temporary manual drive program
you can also activate manual mode M
(Y page 123).
Activating X
Shift the transmission to position 005B.
X Pull the left-hand or right-hand steering wheel
paddle shifter (Y page 121).
Temporary manual drive program is activated.
The last active drive program 0043and selected
gear 0044appear in the multifunction display. 122
AMG SPEEDSHIFT DCT 7-speed sports trans
missionDriving and parking

Shifting gears
If you pull on the left-hand or right-hand steering
wheel paddle shifter, the automatic transmis-
sion switches to temporary manual drive pro-
gram for a limited amount of time. Depending on
which steering wheel paddle shifter is pulled,
the automatic transmission immediately shifts
into the next gear down or up, if permitted.
X To shift up: pull the right-hand steering wheel
paddle shifter (Y page 121).
The automatic transmission shifts up to the
next gear.
If the maximum engine speed in the currently
engaged gear is reached and you continue to
accelerate, the automatic transmission auto-
matically shifts up in order to prevent engine
damage.
The automatic transmission will not shift up to the next gear when the engine speed is very
low.
X To shift down: pull on the left-hand steering
wheel paddle shifter (Y page 121).
The automatic transmission shifts down to
the next gear.
If the engine were to exceed the maximum
engine speed when shifting down, the auto-
matic transmission protects against engine
damage by not shifting down.
Automatic down shifting occurs when coast-
ing.
When using kickdown, the automatic trans-
mission automatically shifts to a lower gear.
Deactivating If you have activated temporary manual drive
program, it will remain active for a certain
amount of time. Under certain conditions, the
minimum amount of time is extended, e.g. in the
case of lateral acceleration, during overrun
mode or when driving on steep terrain.
When temporary manual drive program is deac-
tivated, the automatic transmission shifts into
the automatic drive program that was last selec-
ted. You can also deactivate temporary manual drive
program yourself:
X Pull on the right-hand steering wheel paddle
shifter and hold it in place (Y page 121).
or
X Use the DYNAMIC SELECT controller to
change the drive program (Y page 116).
Temporary manual drive program is deactiva-
ted. The automatic transmission switches
into the automatic drive program that was last
selected. Manual mode
General notes In manual mode
M, you can permanently change
gear yourself by using the steering wheel paddle shifters. The transmission must be in position
005B to do this.
The switching times correspond to the previ-
ously active automatic drive program.
The transmission only shifts down automatically at low engine speeds depending on the respec-
tive gear.
In addition to manual mode M, you can also
activate temporary manual drive program
(Y page 122).
Activating In manual mode
M, you can change gear your-
self using the steering wheel paddle shifters if
the transmission is in position 005B. You can see
the currently selected drive program and which gear is engaged in the multifunction display.
X Press the M button (Y page 121).
M is shown in the multifunction display and
the indicator lamp on the M button lights up.
Shift recommendation The gearshift recommendations assist you in
adopting an economical driving style. The rec-AMG SPEEDSHIFT DCT 7-speed sports transmission
123Driving and parking Z

ommended gear is shown in the multifunction
display.
X When the corresponding gearshift recom-
mendation 0043appears in the multifunction
display of the instrument cluster, shift to rec-
ommended gear 0044.
Display for shift override If the engine speed becomes too high or too low
as a result of shifting gear, you cannot shift gear
using the steering wheel paddle shifters. If you
then pull the left-hand or right-hand steering
wheel paddle shifter, segments 0043light up red
briefly.
Downshifting X
Pull the left-hand steering wheel paddle
shifter (Y page 121).
In cases where it is permissible, the automatic transmission shifts down to the next gear.
X Maximum acceleration: pull the left-hand
steering wheel paddle shifter until the trans-
mission selects the optimum gear for the cur- rent speed.
If you slow down or stop without shifting down,
the automatic transmission automatically shifts down.
Deactivating X
Press the M button (Y page 121).
The indicator lamp in the button goes out.
RACE drive program (AMG GT C Road-
ster) The RACE drive program is designed for maxi-
mum performance in terms of shift points and engine speeds. The engine and transmission
should be at normal operating temperature for
the RACE drive program (Y page 170). Use the
RACE drive program on a closed-off race circuit.
The RACE drive program is characterized by the
following:
R the vehicle exhibits driving characteristics
suitable for the racetrack.
R all vehicle systems are set for maximum
sportiness.
R for optimum performance, the transmission
shifts up later and shifts down sooner.
R the multifunction display shows the manual
gearshift program without upshift indicator
(Y page 122).
R the gearshift recommendation gives you
information for slowly warming up the drive
assemblies and for adopting a fuel-efficient
driving style (Y page 123). You can follow the
gearshift recommendations at all times and
shift gear accordingly using the steering
wheel paddle shifters. On the basis of the
gearshift recommendation, using the steering wheel paddle shifters, you can optimize the
drive train and engine operating mode at any
time.
R if you have selected a gear manually, this will
be maintained until the vehicle speed increa-
ses or decreases dramatically.
R if you do not follow the gearshift recommen-
dations, the automatic shift points may result
in high fuel consumption.
R the suspension exhibits particularly hard
springing and damping settings.
R the transmission shift and response times are
significantly shorter with more aggressive
gear changes. This is particularly the case
when shifting up. The shift strategy is thus
designed to interact dynamically with the
high-revving engine.
R gliding mode is not available.
R the ECO start/stop function is not available. 124
AMG SPEEDSHIFT DCT 7-speed sports transmissionDriving and parking

running an enclosed space without adequate
ventilation.
Certain engine systems are designed to keep
the level of poisonous components in exhaust
fumes within legal limits.
These systems only work at peak efficiency if
they are serviced exactly in accordance with the manufacturer's specifications. Always have
work on the engine carried out at a qualified
specialist workshop. Mercedes-Benz recom-
mends that you use an authorized Mercedes-
Benz Center for this purpose. In particular, work
relevant to safety or on safety-related systems
must be carried out at a qualified specialist
workshop.
The engine settings must not be changed under
any circumstances. Furthermore, all specific
service work must be carried out at regular
intervals and in accordance with the Mercedes- Benz service requirements.
You can obtain current information concerning
the servicing of your vehicle at any time from a
qualified specialist workshop. This could be an
overview of the maintenance work or any addi-
tional maintenance work, for example. Braking
Important safety notes G
WARNING
If you shift down on a slippery road surface in an attempt to increase the engine's braking
effect, the drive wheels could lose their grip.
There is an increased danger of skidding and
accidents.
Do not shift down for additional engine brak-
ing on a slippery road surface.
Downhill gradients !
On long and steep gradients, you must
reduce the load on the brakes by shifting to a
lower gear in good time. This allows you to
take advantage of the engine's braking effect.
This helps you to avoid overheating the
brakes and wearing them out excessively.
When you take advantage of engine braking, a drive wheel may not turn for some time, e.g.
on a slippery road surface. This could cause damage to the drive train. This type of damage
is not covered by the Mercedes-Benz war-
ranty.
Heavy and light loads G
WARNING
If you rest your foot on the brake pedal while
driving, the braking system can overheat. This increases the stopping distance and can even
cause the braking system to fail. There is a
risk of an accident.
Never use the brake pedal as a footrest. Never
depress the brake pedal and the accelerator
pedal at the same time.
! Depressing the brake pedal constantly
results in excessive and premature wear to
the brake pads.
If the brakes have been subjected to a heavy
load, do not stop the vehicle immediately. Drive on for a short while. This allows the airflow to
cool the brakes more quickly.
Wet roads If you have driven for a long time in heavy rain
without braking, there may be a delayed reac-
tion from the brakes when braking for the first
time. This may also occur after the vehicle has
been washed or driven through deep water.
You have to depress the brake pedal more
firmly. Maintain a greater distance from the
vehicle in front.
After driving on a wet road or having the vehicle
washed, brake firmly while paying attention to
the traffic conditions. This will warm up the
brake discs, thereby drying them more quickly
and protecting them against corrosion.
Limited braking performance on salt-
treated roads If you drive on salted roads, a layer of salt resi-
due may form on the brake discs and brake
pads. This can result in a significantly longer
braking distance.132
Driving tipsDriving and parking

Observe the following rules when driving on salt-
treated roads:
R In order to prevent any salt build-up, apply the
brakes occasionally while paying attention to
the traffic conditions.
R Carefully depress the brake pedal and the
beginning and end of a journey.
R Maintain a greater distance to the vehicle
ahead.
Servicing the brakes !
The brake fluid level may be too low, if:
R if the red brake warning lamp lights up in
the instrument cluster and
R you hear a warning tone while the engine is
running
Observe additional warning messages in the
multifunction display.
The brake fluid level may be too low due to
brake pad wear or leaking brake lines.
Have the brake system checked immediately. Consult a qualified specialist workshop to
arrange this.
All checks and maintenance work on the brake
system must be carried out at a qualified spe-
cialist workshop.
Have brake pads installed and brake fluid
replaced at a qualified specialist workshop.
If the brake system has only been subject to
moderate loads, you should test the functional-
ity of your brakes at regular intervals.
Information on BAS (Brake Assist) (Y page 59).
For safety reasons, Mercedes-Benz recom-
mends only installing the following brake disks
and brake pads/linings:
R brake disks that have been approved by
Mercedes-Benz
R brake pads/linings that have been approved
by Mercedes-Benz or that are of an equivalent
standard of quality
Other brake disks or brake pads/linings can
compromise the safety of your vehicle.
Always replace all brake disks and brake pads/
linings on an axle at the same time. Always
install new brake pads/linings when replacing
brake disks.
The vehicle is equipped with lightweight brake
disks to which the wheel assembly with rim and threaded connection is matched. The use of brake disks other than those
approved by Mercedes-Benz can change the
track width and is subject to approval, if appli-
cable.
Shock-type loads when handling the brake
discs, such as when changing wheels, can lead
to a reduction in comfort when driving with light-
weight brake discs. Avoid shock-type loads on
the lightweight brake disks, particularly on the
brake plate.
Mercedes-Benz recommends that you only use
brake fluid that has been specially approved for your vehicle by Mercedes-Benz, or which corre-
sponds to an equivalent quality standard. Brake fluid which has not been approved for
Mercedes-Benz vehicles or which is not of an
equivalent quality could affect your vehicle's
operating safety.
AMG high-performance and ceramic
brakes The AMG brake systems are designed for heavy
loads. This may lead to noise when braking. This
will depend on:
R Speed
R Braking force
R Environmental conditions, such as tempera-
ture and humidity
The wear of individual components of the brake system, such as the brake pads/linings or brake
discs, depends on the individual driving style
and operating conditions.
For this reason, it is impossible to state a mile-
age that will be valid under all circumstances. An aggressive driving style will lead to high wear.
You can obtain more information on this from a qualified specialist workshop.
New and replaced brake pads and discs only
reach their optimum braking effect after several
hundred kilometers of driving. Compensate for
this by applying greater force to the brake pedal.
Keep this in mind, and adapt your driving and
braking accordingly during this break-in period.
Excessive heavy braking results in correspond-
ingly high brake wear. Observe the brake wear
warning lamp in the instrument cluster and note
any brake status messages in the multifunction
display. Especially for high performance driving,
it is important to maintain and have the brake
system checked regularly. Driving tips
133Driving and parking Z

Driving on wet roads
Hydroplaning If water has accumulated to a certain depth on
the road surface, there is a danger of hydro-
planing occurring, even if:
R you drive at low speeds
R the tires have adequate tread depth
For this reason, in the event of heavy rain or in
conditions in which hydroplaning may occur,
you must drive in the following manner:
R lower your speed
R avoid ruts
R avoid sudden steering movements
R brake carefully
Driving on flooded roads !
Do not drive through flooded areas. Check
the depth of any water before driving through
it. Drive slowly through standing water. Oth-
erwise, water could enter the vehicle interior
or engine compartment. It can then damage
the engine's or automatic transmission's
electronic components. It can also be sucked
in by the engine's air intake connection and
cause engine damage. Winter driving
G
WARNING
If you shift down on a slippery road surface in an attempt to increase the engine's braking
effect, the drive wheels could lose their grip.
There is an increased danger of skidding and
accidents.
Do not shift down for additional engine brak-
ing on a slippery road surface. G
DANGER
If the exhaust pipe is blocked or adequate
ventilation is not possible, poisonous gases
such as carbon monoxide (CO) may enter the vehicle. This is the case, e.g. if the vehicle
becomes trapped in snow. There is a risk of
fatal injury. If you leave the engine or the auxiliary heating
running, make sure the exhaust pipe and area
around the vehicle are clear of snow. To
ensure an adequate supply of fresh air, open a window on the side of the vehicle that is not
facing into the wind.
Have your vehicle winter-proofed at a qualified
specialist workshop at the onset of winter.
Drive particularly carefully on slippery road sur- faces. Avoid sudden acceleration, steering and
braking maneuvers. Do not use cruise control.
If the vehicle threatens to skid or cannot be
stopped when moving at low speed:
X Shift the transmission to position 005C.
The outside temperature indicator is not
designed to serve as an ice-warning device and
is therefore unsuitable for that purpose.
Changes in the outside temperature are dis-
played after a short delay.
Indicated temperatures just above the freezing
point do not guarantee that the road surface is
free of ice. The road may still be icy, especially in wooded areas or on bridges. The vehicle could
skid if you fail to adapt your driving style. Always
adapt your driving style and drive at a speed to
suit the prevailing weather conditions.
You should pay special attention to road condi-
tions when temperatures are around freezing
point.
Further information on driving with snow chains (Y page 265).
Further information on driving with summer
tires (Y page 265).
Observe the notes in the "Winter operation" sec-
tion (Y page 265). Driving systems
Cruise control
General notes Cruise control maintains a constant road speed
for you. It brakes automatically in order to avoid
exceeding the set speed. Change into a lower
gear in good time on long and steep downhill
gradients. This is especially important if the
vehicle is laden. By doing so, you will make use of the braking effect of the engine. This relieves
the load on the brake system and prevents the 134
Driving syste
msDriving and parking

Do not use Active Distance Assist DISTRONIC:
R In road and traffic conditions which do not
allow you to maintain a constant speed, e.g. in
heavy traffic or on winding roads
R on slippery road surfaces. Braking or accel-
erating could cause the drive wheels to lose
traction and the vehicle could then skid
R when there is poor visibility, e.g. due to fog,
heavy rain or snow
Active Distance Assist DISTRONIC may not
detect narrow vehicles driving in front, e.g.
motorcycles, or vehicles driving in a staggered
formation.
In particular, the detection of obstacles can be
impaired if:
R There is dirt on the sensors or anything else
covering the sensors
R There is snow or heavy rain
R There is interference by other radar sources
R There are strong radar reflections, for exam-
ple, in parking garages
If Active Distance Assist DISTRONIC no longer
detects a vehicle in front, Distance Pilot
DISTRONIC may unexpectedly accelerate to the
speed stored.
This speed may:
R be too high if you are driving in a turning lane
or an exit lane
R be so high in the right lane that you pass vehi-
cles driving on the left (in countries where
they drive on the right)
R be so high in the left lane that you pass vehi-
cles driving on the right (right-hand drive
countries)
If there is a change of drivers, advise the new
driver of the speed stored. Cruise control lever 0043
Activates or increases speed
0044 Activates or reduces speed
0087 Deactivates Active Distance Assist
DISTRONIC
0085 Activates at the current speed or last stored
speed
0083 Sets a specified minimum distance
Activating Active Distance Assist
DISTRONIC Activation conditions
To activate Active Distance Assist DISTRONIC,
the following conditions must be fulfilled:
R the engine must be started. It may take up to
two minutes of driving before Active Distance Assist DISTRONIC is ready for use.
R the electric parking brake must be released.
R ESP ®
must be active, but not intervening.
R the transmission must be in position 005B.
R the driver's door must be closed when you
shift from 005Dto005B or your seat belt must be
fastened.
R the front-passenger door and rear doors must
be closed. 138
Driving systemsDriving an
d parking

The following information is displayed:
R the length of the journey since the last break.
R the attention level determined by ATTENTION
ASSIST ( Attention Level
Attention Level), displayed in a
bar display in five levels from high to low.
R if ATTENTION ASSIST is unable to calculate
the attention level and cannot issue a warn-
ing, the System Suspended System Suspended message
appears. The bar display then changes what is shown, e.g. if you are driving at a speed below 37 mph (60 km/h) or above 125 mph
(200 km/h).
Activating ATTENTION ASSIST X
Activate ATTENTION ASSIST using the on-
board computer (Y page 168).
The system determines the attention level of
the driver depending on the setting selected:
Selection of Standard
Standard: the sensitivity with
which the system determines the attention level
is set to normal.
Selection of Sensitive Sensitive: the sensitivity is set
higher. The attention level detected by ATTEN-
TION ASSIST is adapted accordingly and the
driver is warned earlier.
When ATTENTION ASSIST is deactivated, the
00D7 symbol appears in the multifunction dis-
play in the Assistance display.
When ATTENTION ASSIST has been deactivated, it is automatically reactivated after the engine
has been stopped. The sensitivity selected cor-
responds to the last selection activated ( Stand‐
Stand‐
ard ard orSensitive
Sensitive ).
Warning in the multifunction display If fatigue or increasing lapses in concentration
are detected, a warning appears in the multi-
function display: ATTENTION ASSIST
ATTENTION ASSIST Take a Take a
Break!
Break! .
In addition to the message shown in the multi-
function display, you will then hear a warning
tone.
X If necessary, take a break.
X Confirm the message by pressing the 0076
button on the steering wheel.
On long journeys, take regular breaks in good
time to allow yourself to rest. If you do not take a break and ATTENTION ASSIST still detects
increasing lapses in concentration, you will be
warned again after 15 minutes at the earliest. This will only happen if ATTENTION ASSIST still
detects typical indicators of fatigue or increas-
ing lapses in concentration.
If a warning is output in the multifunction dis-
play, a service station search is performed in
COMAND. You can select a service station and
navigation to this service station will then begin.
This function can be activated and deactivated
in COMAND. Lane Tracking package
General notes The Lane Tracking package consists of Blind
Spot Assist (Y page 155) and Lane Keeping
Assist (Y page 157).
Blind Spot Assist General notes
Blind Spot Assist monitors the areas on either
side of the vehicle that are not visible to the
driver with two lateral, rear-facing radar sen-
sors. A warning display in the exterior mirrors
draws your attention to vehicles detected in the
monitored area. If you then switch on the cor-
responding turn signal to change lanes, you will also receive a visual warning and hear a warning
tone.
Blind Spot Assist supports you from a speed of
approximately 20 mph (30 km/h).
Important safety notes G
WARNING
Blind Spot Assist does not react to:
R vehicles overtaken too closely on the side,
placing them in the blind spot area
R vehicles which approach with a large speed
differential and overtake your vehicle
As a result, Blind Spot Assist may not give
warnings in such situations. There is a risk of an accident.
Always observe the traffic conditions care-
fully, and maintain a safe lateral distance.
Blind Spot Assist is only an aid. It may fail to
detect some vehicles and is no substitute for
attentive driving. Always ensure that there is Driving systems
155Driving and parking Z