ual. You will see the current settings of thevarious climate control functions.
DYNAMIC SELECT button (except
Mercedes-AMG vehicles)
You can choose between various drive programswith the DYNAMIC SELECT button(Ypage 129).
If you have selected drive programE:
Rwhen heating, the electrical heater booster isdeactivated and in the warming-up phaseheat output is reduced
Rthe rear window defroster running time isreduced
Depending on the configuration, climate set-tings may also be influenced in the drive pro-gramI.
If you have selected drive programCorS, cli-mate settings are not influenced.
ECO start/stop function
During automatic engine switch-off, the climatecontrol system only operates at a reduced capa-city. If you require the full climate control output,you can switch off the ECO start/stop functionby pressing the ECO button (Ypage 128).
Operating the climate control sys-
tems
Activating/deactivating climate con-
trol
General notes
When the climate control is switched off, the airsupply and air circulation are also switched off.The windows could fog up. Therefore, switch offclimate control only briefly
Air-conditioning system
XTurn the SmartKey to position Hin the igni-tion lock (Ypage 123).
XTo switch on:turn control
The climate control system switches to thefollowing functions:
Rhigh airflow
Rhigh temperature
Rair distribution to the windshield and frontside windows
Rair-recirculation mode off
iThe "Windshield defrosting" function auto-matically sets the blower level to the optimumdefrosting effect. As a result, the airflow mayincrease or decrease automatically after the dbutton is pressed.
iYou can adjust the blower level manuallywhile the "Windshield defrosting" function isin operation:
RAir-conditioning system: turn airflow con-trol
Drive program I (Individual)
In drive programIthe following properties of thedrive program can be selected:
Rthe drive (engine and transmission manage-ment)
Rthe suspension (vehicles with damping sys-tem or AMG adaptive sport suspension sys-tem)
Rthe steering
Rthe availability of the ECO start/stop function
Rthe climate control
Information about configuring drive programIwith the multimedia system can be found in theDigital Operator's Manual.
iTo permanently select the gears in driveprogramIusing the steering wheel paddleshifters, select theM(manual) setting for thedrive.
Drive program E (Economy)
Drive programEis characterized by the follow-ing:
Rcomfort-oriented engine settings.
Roptimal fuel consumption resulting from theautomatic transmission shifting up sooner.
Rthe vehicle pulls away more gently in forwardand reverse gears, unless the acceleratorpedal is depressed fully.
Rthe vehicle has improved driving stability, forexample on slippery road surfaces.
Rthe automatic transmission shifting upsooner. This results in the vehicle being drivenat lower engine speeds and the wheels beingless likely to spin.
Rgliding mode is activated automatically whenengine-internal conditions are fulfilled andthe accelerator is not depressed. At the sametime the transmission’s clutch opens and thevehicle rolls freely using its kinetic energy. Asa result great distances can be completedwithout the engine brake and fuel consump-tion reduced.
iThe availability of gliding mode depends onvarious factors, including the following:
Rthe engine and transmission temperature
Rthe downhill gradient
Rthe vehicle speed
Rperforming regular adaptation functions
When you depress the brake pedal, glidingmode is deactivated, depending on pedalpressure.
When you activate cruise control or ActiveDistance Assist DISTRONIC, gliding mode isnot available.
Mercedes-AMG vehicles
Drive program I (Individual)
In drive programIthe following properties of thedrive program can be selected:
Rthe drive (engine management)
Rthe transmission management
Rthe suspension (vehicles with AMG adaptivesport suspension system)
RESP®
Information about configuring drive programIwith the multimedia system can be found in theDigital Operator's Manual.
Drive program C (Comfort)
Drive programCis characterized by the follow-ing:
Rthe vehicle delivers comfortable, economicalhandling characteristics.
Rthe vehicle pulls away more gently in forwardand reverse gears, unless the acceleratorpedal is depressed fully.
Rthe vehicle has improved driving stability, forexample on slippery road surfaces.
Roptimal fuel consumption resulting from theautomatic transmission shifting up sooner.The vehicle is driven in the low engine speedrange and the wheels are less likely to spin.
Rgliding mode is available.
Rthe ECO start/stop function is available.
Drive program S (Sport)
Drive programSis characterized by the follow-ing:
Rthe vehicle exhibits sporty driving character-istics.
Rthe automatic transmission shifts up later.The fuel consumption possibly being higheras a result of the later automatic transmissionshift points.
Rthe suspension exhibits stiff springing anddamping settings (vehicles with AIR adaptivesport suspension system).
136Automatic transmission
Driving and pa rking
helps you to avoid overheating the brakes andwearing them out excessively.
When you take advantage of engine braking, itis possible that a drive wheel will not rotate forsome time, e.g. on a slippery road surface.This could cause damage to the drive train.This type of damage is not covered by theMercedes-Benz warranty.
Briefly depressing the accelerator pedal ondownhill gradients while the manual drive pro-gramMis temporarily activated: the automatictransmission may switch to the last active auto-matic drive programEorS. The automatic trans-mission may shift to a higher gear. This canreduce the engine's braking effect.
Heavy and light loads
GWARNING
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 constantlyresults in excessive and premature wear tothe brake pads.
If the brakes have been subjected to a heavyload, do not stop the vehicle immediately. Driveon for a short while. This allows the airflow tocool the brakes more quickly.
Wet roads
If you have driven for a long time in heavy rainwithout braking, there may be a delayed reac-tion from the brakes when braking for the firsttime. This may also occur after the vehicle hasbeen washed or driven through deep water.
You have to depress the brake pedal morefirmly. Maintain a greater distance from thevehicle in front.
After driving on a wet road or having the vehiclewashed, brake firmly while paying attention tothe traffic conditions. This will warm up thebrake discs, thereby drying them more quicklyand 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 brakepads. This can result in a significantly longerbraking distance.
RIn order to prevent any salt build-up, apply thebrakes occasionally while paying attention tothe traffic conditions.
RCarefully depress the brake pedal and thebeginning and end of a journey.
RMaintain a greater distance to the vehicleahead.
Servicing the brakes
!The brake fluid level may be too low, if:
Rif the red brake warning lamp lights up inthe instrument cluster and
Ryou hear a warning tone while the engine isrunning
Observe additional warning messages in themultifunction display.
The brake fluid level may be too low due tobrake pad wear or leaking brake lines.
Have the brake system checked immediately.Consult a qualified specialist workshop toarrange this.
!A function or performance test should onlybe carried out on a 2-axle dynamometer. Ifyou wish to operate the vehicle on such adynamometer, please consult a qualified spe-cialist workshop in advance. You could oth-erwise damage the drive train or the brakesystem.
!As the ESP®system operates automatically,the engine and the ignition must be switchedoff (the SmartKey must be in position
For this reason, in the event of heavy rain or inconditions in which hydroplaning may occur,you must drive in the following manner:
Rlower your speed
Ravoid ruts
Ravoid sudden steering movements
Rbrake carefully
Driving on flooded roads
!Do not drive through flooded areas. Checkthe depth of any water before driving throughit. Drive slowly through standing water. Oth-erwise, water could enter the vehicle interioror engine compartment. It can then damagethe engine's or automatic transmission'selectronic components. It can also be suckedin by the engine's air intake connection andcause engine damage.
Winter driving
GWARNING
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.
GDANGER
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 qualifiedspecialist workshop at the onset of winter.
Drive particularly carefully on slippery road sur-faces. Avoid sudden acceleration, steering andbraking maneuvers. Do not use cruise control orActive Distance Assist DISTRONIC.
If the vehicle threatens to skid or cannot bestopped when moving at low speed:
XShift the transmission to position \\.
XTry to bring the vehicle under control usingcorrective steering.
The outside temperature indicator is notdesigned to serve as an ice-warning device andis therefore unsuitable for that purpose.Changes in the outside temperature are dis-played after a short delay.
Indicated temperatures just above the freezingpoint do not guarantee that the road surface isfree of ice. The road may still be icy, especially inwooded areas or on bridges.
You should pay special attention to road condi-tions when temperatures are around freezingpoint.
For more information on driving with snowchains, see (Ypage 293).
For more information on driving with summertires, see (Ypage 292).
Observe the notes in the "Winter operation" sec-tion (Ypage 292).
Driving systems
Cruise control
General notes
Cruise control maintains a constant road speedfor you. It brakes automatically in order to avoidexceeding the set speed. On long and steepdownhill gradients, especially if the vehicle isladen, you must select a low gear in good time.You need to shift manually using the steeringwheel paddle shifters beforehand. By doing so,you will make use of the braking effect of theengine. This relieves the load on the brake sys-tem and prevents the brakes from overheatingand wearing too quickly.
When the engine is running, you can use thecruise control lever to limit the speed to anyspeed between 20 mph (30 km/h) and the tech-nically permitted maximum speed of the vehicle.
Use cruise control if road and traffic conditionsmake it appropriate to maintain a steady speedfor a prolonged period.
150Driving systems
Driving and parking
iCanada only: This device complies withRSS-210 of Industry Canada. Operation issubject to the following two conditions:
1. This device may not cause interference,and
2. This device must accept any interferencereceived, including interference that maycause undesired operation of the device.
Removal, tampering, or altering of the devicewill void any warranties, and is not permitted.Do not tamper with, alter, or use in any non-approved way.
Any unauthorized modification to this devicecould void the user's authority to operate theequipment.
Important safety notes
GWARNING
Active Distance Assist DISTRONIC does not
react to:
Rpeople or animals
Rstationary objects in the road, e.g. stopped
or parked vehicles
Roncoming vehicles and crossing traffic
As a result, Active Distance Assist DISTRONIC
may neither give warnings nor intervene in
such situations. There is a risk of an accident.
Always pay careful attention to the traffic sit-
uation and be ready to brake.
GWARNING
Active Distance Assist DISTRONIC cannot
always clearly identify other road users and
complex traffic situations.
In such cases, Active Distance Assist
DISTRONIC can:
Rgive an unnecessary warning and then
brake the vehicle
Rneither give a warning nor intervene
Raccelerate or brake unexpectedly
There is a risk of an accident.
Continue to drive carefully and be ready to
brake, especially if Active Distance Assist
DISTRONIC warns you.
GWARNING
Active Distance Assist DISTRONIC brakes
your vehicle with up to 50% of the maximum
possible deceleration. If this deceleration is
not sufficient, Active Distance Assist
DISTRONIC alerts you with a visual and acous-
tic warning. There is a risk of an accident.
Adjust your speed in these cases and main-
tain sufficient distance.
Apply the brakes yourself and/or take evasive
action.
!When Active Distance Assist DISTRONIC orthe HOLD function is activated, the vehiclebrakes automatically in certain situations.
To avoid damage to the vehicle, deactivateActive Distance Assist DISTRONIC and theHOLD function in the following or similar sit-uations:
Rwhen towing the vehicle
Rin the car wash
Active Distance Assist DISTRONIC can neitherreduce the risk of an accident if you fail to adaptyour driving style, nor override the laws of phys-ics. Active Distance Assist DISTRONIC cannottake into account road, weather or traffic con-ditions. Active Distance Assist DISTRONIC isonly an aid. You are responsible for the distanceto the vehicle in front, for vehicle speed, forbraking in good time and for staying in your lane.
Do not use Active Distance Assist DISTRONIC:
RIn road and traffic conditions which do notallow you to maintain a constant speed, e.g. inheavy traffic or on winding roads
ROn slippery road surfaces. Braking or accel-erating could cause the drive wheels to losetraction and the vehicle could then skid
RIn poor visibility, e.g. due to fog, heavy rain orsnow
Active Distance Assist DISTRONIC may notdetect narrow vehicles driving in front, e.g.motorcycles, or vehicles driving in a staggeredformation.
In particular, the detection of obstacles can beimpaired if:
RThere is dirt on the sensors or anything elsecovering the sensors
RThere is snow or heavy rain
Driving systems153
Driving and parking
Z
cle with all wheels in full contact with theground.
4MATIC, together with ESP®, improves the trac-tion of your vehicle whenever a drive wheelspins due to insufficient grip.
If you fail to adapt your driving style, 4MATIC canneither reduce the risk of accident nor overridethe laws of physics. 4MATIC cannot takeaccount of road, weather and traffic conditions.4MATIC is only an aid. You are responsible forthe distance to the vehicle in front, for vehiclespeed, for braking in good time and for staying inyour lane.
If a drive wheel spins due to insufficient grip:
ROnly depress the accelerator pedal as far asnecessary when pulling away.
RAccelerate less when driving.
iIn wintry driving conditions, the maximumeffect of 4MATIC can only be achieved if youuse winter tires (M+S tires), with snow chainsif necessary.
DYNAMIC BODY CONTROL
General notes
DYNAMIC BODY CONTROL offers improveddriving comfort and continuously controls thecalibration of the dampers. The damping char-acteristics adapt to the current operating anddriving situation.
The damping is tuned individually to each wheeland depends on:
Ryour driving style, e.g. sporty
Rthe road surface conditions
Rthe drive program selected
The drive program can be set using theDYNAMIC SELECT button (Ypage 129).
Selecting Comfort mode
In theComfortdrive program, the driving char-acteristics of your vehicle are more comforta-ble. Therefore, select this drive program if youprefer a more comfortable driving style. Alsoselect theComfortdrive program when drivingfast on straight roads, e.g. on straight stretchesof highway.
XPress DYNAMIC SELECT button (Ypage 129)as many times as necessary until theCom-fortdrive program is selected.
Selecting Sport mode
The firmer setting of the suspension tuning intheSportdrive program ensures even bettercontact with the road. Select this drive programwhen employing a sporty driving style, e.g. onwinding country roads.
XPress DYNAMIC SELECT button (Ypage 129)as many times as necessary until theSportdrive program is selected.
Parking Assist PARKTRONIC
Important safety notes
Parking Assist PARKTRONIC is an electronicparking aid with ultrasound. It monitors the areaaround your vehicle using six sensors in thefront bumper and six sensors in the rearbumper. Parking Assist PARKTRONIC visuallyand audibly indicates the distance between yourvehicle and an object.
Parking Assist PARKTRONIC is only an aid. It isnot a replacement for your attention to yourimmediate surroundings. You are alwaysresponsible for safe maneuvering, parking andexiting a parking space. Make sure that thereare no persons, animals or objects in the maneu-vering area when you are maneuvering or park-ing.
!When parking, pay particular attention toobjects above or below the sensors, such asflower pots or trailer drawbars. Parking AssistPARKTRONIC does not detect such objectswhen they are in the immediate vicinity of thevehicle. You could damage the vehicle or theobjects.
The sensors may not detect snow and otherobjects that absorb ultrasonic waves.
Ultrasonic sources such as an automatic carwash, the compressed-air brakes of a truck ora pneumatic drill could cause Parking AssistPARKTRONIC to malfunction.
Parking Assist PARKTRONIC may not functioncorrectly on uneven terrain.
162Driving systems
Driving an d parking