Driving and operating217Brake preparation system
When approaching a vehicle ahead
so quickly that a collision is likely, the brake preparation system slightlypressurises the brakes. This reduces
the response time, when a manual or automatic braking is requested.
The brake system is prepared so that braking can occur more rapidly.
Emergency automatic braking
After the brake preparation and just
before the imminent collision, this
function automatically applies limited
braking to reduce the impact speed of
the collision.
Forward looking brake assist
In addition to brake preparation
system and emergency automatic
braking, the forward looking brake
assist function makes the brake assist more sensitive. In this way,
depressing the brake pedal slightly
results immediately in a strong
braking. This function helps the driver
brake quicker and stronger before the imminent collision.9 Warning
Active emergency braking is not
designed to apply strong
autonomous braking or to avoid automatically a collision. It is
designed to reduce the vehicle
speed before collision. It may not
react on stopped vehicles,
pedestrians or animals. After a
sudden lane change, the system
needs a certain time to detect the
next preceding vehicle.
The complete attention of the
driver is always required while
driving. The driver shall always be ready to take action and apply the brakes and steer to avoid
collisions. The system is designed
to work with all occupants wearing their seat belts.
System limitations
The active emergency braking has
limited or no function during rain,
snow or heavy dirt, as the radar
sensor can be covered by a water
film, dust, ice or snow. In case of
sensor blockage, clean the sensor
cover.
In some seldom cases the active
emergency braking system may
provide a short automatic braking in
situations that seem to be
unnecessary, for instance due to
traffic signs in a curve or due to
vehicles in another lane. This is
acceptable operation, the vehicle
does not need service. Firmly apply
the accelerator pedal to override the
automatic braking.
Deactivation and re-activation
Settings can be changed in the
vehicle personalisation menu in the
Info-Display.
Select the relevant setting in
Settings in the Info-Display.
Vehicle personalisation 3 108.
We recommend to deactivate the
system in the vehicle personalisation
in the following cases:
● when the vehicle is being towed
● before using an automatic car wash with ignition switched on
220Driving and operatingThe complete system can be
manually deactivated in the vehicle
personalisation menu in the
Info-Display. It remains deactivated
during the ignition cycle or until
activation in personalisation menu
again. Vehicle personalisation 3 108.
When using the trailer hitch change
the configuration settings in the
vehicle personalisation menu in the
Info-Display. Vehicle personalisation
3 108.
Fault
In the event of a fault or if the system does not work temporarily, e.g.because of high external noise level
or other interference factors, a
message pops-up in the Driver
Information Centre.
Vehicle messages 3 106.Basic notes on parking assist
systems9 Warning
Under certain circumstances,
various reflective surfaces on
objects or clothing as well as
external noise sources may cause the system to fail to detect
obstacles.
Special attention must be paid to
low obstacles which can damage
the lower part of the bumper.
Caution
Performance of the system can be reduced when sensors are
covered, e.g. by ice or snow.
Performance of the parking assist
system can be reduced due to
heavy loading.
Special conditions apply if there
are taller vehicles in the vicinity
(e.g. off-road vehicles, mini vans,
vans). Object identification and
correct distance indication in the
upper part of these vehicles
cannot be guaranteed.
Objects with a very small reflection
cross-section, e.g. objects of
narrow size or soft materials, may
not be detected by the system.
Parking assist systems do not
detect objects outside the
detection range.
Note
The parking assist system
automatically detects factory-fitted
towing equipment. It is deactivated
when the connector is plugged in.
It is possible that the sensor detects a non-existing object (echo
disturbance) caused by external acoustical or mechanic
disturbances.
222Driving and operatingWhen the vehicle is started, both
exterior mirror displays will briefly illuminate to indicate that the system
is operating.
The system can be activated or
deactivated in the Info-Display,
vehicle personalisation 3 108.
The system is deactivated if the
vehicle is towing a trailer.
Deactivation is indicated by a
message in the Driver Information
Centre.
Detection zones
The detection zones start at the rear
bumper and extend approx.
three metres rearwards and to the
sides. The height of the zone is
approx. between half a metre and two metres off the ground.
Side blind spot alert is designed to
ignore stationary objects, e.g.
guardrails, posts, curbs, walls and
beams. Parked vehicles or oncoming
vehicles are not detected.Fault
Occasional missed alerts can occur under normal circumstances and will
increase in wet conditions.
Side blind spot alert does not operate when the left or right corners of the
rear bumper are covered with mud,
dirt, snow, ice, slush, or in heavy
rainstorms. Cleaning instructions
3 280.
In the event of a fault in the system or if the system does not work due to
temporary conditions, a message is
displayed in the Driver Information
Centre. Seek the assistance of a
workshop in case of a permanent fault.
Rear view camera
The rear view camera assists the
driver when reversing by displaying a view of the area behind the vehicle.
The view of the camera is displayed
in the Info-Display.9 Warning
The rear view camera does not
replace driver vision. Note that
objects that are outside the
camera's field of view and the
parking assist sensors, e.g. below
the bumper or underneath the
vehicle, are not displayed.
Do not reverse the vehicle by only
looking at the Info-Display and
check the surrounding area
behind and around the vehicle
before reversing.
Activation
Rear view camera is automatically
activated when reverse gear is
engaged.
Driving and operating225Add-on signs● additional hints to traffic signs
● restriction of trailer towing
● tractor constraints
● wet warning
● ice warning
● direction arrows
Speed limit signs are displayed in the
Driver Information Centre until the
next speed limit sign or end of speed
limit is detected or up to a defined sign
timeout.
Combinations of multiple signs in the
display are possible.
An exclamation mark in a frame
indicates that there is an additional
sign detected which is not recognised
by the system.
The system operates without loss of
performance up to a speed of
200 km/h depending on the lighting
conditions. At night the system is
active up to a speed of 160 km/h.
Display indication Information about the currently valid
traffic signs is available on the
designated traffic sign assistant page in the Driver Information Centre.
Additionally, the currently valid speed
limit is displayed permanently in the
lower line of the Driver Information
Centre. In case a speed limit with
addon is available, a + symbol is
displayed in this area.
Choose ? via MENU and select
traffic sign assistant page with the
adjuster wheel on the turn signal lever 3 101.
When another page on the Driver
Information Centre menu was
selected and then traffic sign
assistant page is chosen again, the
last recognised traffic sign will be
displayed.
Alert function
The alert function can be activated or deactivated in the setting menu of the
traffic sign assistant page.
Driving and operating233The funnel is located on the right-
hand side storage compartment in the
load compartment.
Place the funnel in a straight line to
the filler neck and press with slight
force to insert.
Use the funnel to fill the diesel fuel into the filler neck.
After topping-up, put the funnel into
the plastic bag and stow it in the storage compartment.
Selective catalytic reduction system
3 190.
Fuel filler cap Only use genuine fuel filler caps.
Diesel-engined vehicles have special
fuel filler caps.Trailer hitch
General information Only use towing equipment that has
been approved for your vehicle.
Vehicles with natural gas engines
require special towing equipment.
Entrust retrofitting of towing
equipment to a workshop. It may be
necessary to make changes that
affect the cooling system, heat
shields or other equipment.
The bulb outage detection function for trailer brake light cannot detect a
partial bulb outage. E.g. in case of
4x 5 Watt bulbs, the function only
detects lamp outage when only a
single 5 Watt lamp remains or none
remain.
Fitting of towing equipment could
cover the opening of the towing eye.
If this is the case use the coupling ball
bar for towing. Always keep the
coupling ball bar in the vehicle.Driving characteristics and
towing tips
Before attaching a trailer, lubricatethe coupling ball. However, do not do
so if a stabiliser, which acts on the coupling ball, is being used to reduce
snaking movements.
For trailers with low driving stability
and caravan trailers with a permitted
gross vehicle weight of more than
1300 kg the use of a stabiliser is
strongly recommended when driving
above 80 km/h.
If the trailer starts snaking, drive more slowly, do not attempt to correct the
steering and brake sharply if
necessary.
When driving downhill, drive in the
same gear as if driving uphill and
drive at a similar speed.
Adjust tyre pressure to the value
specified for full load 3 297.
234Driving and operatingTrailer towingTrailer loadsThe permissible trailer loads are
vehicle and engine-dependent
maximum values which must not be
exceeded. The actual trailer load is
the difference between the actual
gross weight of the trailer and the
actual coupling socket load with the
trailer coupled.
The permissible trailer loads are
specified in the vehicle documents. In
general, they are valid for gradients
up to 12%.
The permissible trailer load applies
up to the specified incline and at sea
level. Since engine power decreases
as altitude increases due to the air
becoming thinner, therefore reducing
climbing ability, the permissible gross train weight also decreases by 10%
for every 1000 metres of altitude. The
gross train weight does not have to be reduced when driving on roads with
slight inclines (less than 8%, e.g.
motorways).The permissible gross train weight
must not be exceeded. This weight is
specified on the identification plate
3 287.
Vertical coupling load
The vertical coupling load is the load
exerted by the trailer on the coupling
ball. It can be varied by changing the
weight distribution when loading the
trailer.
The maximum permissible vertical
coupling load (75 kg) is specified on
the towing equipment identification
plate and in the vehicle documents.
Note
Engines D16DTH, D16DTJ,
D20DTH and D20DTJ: Depending
on the equipment the maximum
permissible vertical coupling load
can be 75 kg or 60 kg.
Always aim for the maximum load,
especially in the case of heavy
trailers. The vertical coupling load
should never fall below 25 kg.Rear axle load
When the trailer is coupled and the
towing vehicle fully loaded, the
permissible rear axle load (see
identification plate or vehicle
documents) may be exceeded by
60 kg , the gross vehicle weight rating
may be exceeded by 60 kg. If the permissible rear axle load is
exceeded, a maximum speed of
100 km/h applies.
Towing equipmentCaution
When operating without a trailer,
remove the coupling ball bar.
Driving and operating235Stowage of coupling ball bar
The coupling ball bar is stowed in the
stowage compartment in the right
sidewall.
Fitting the coupling ball bar
Disengage and fold down the socket. Remove the sealing plug from the
opening for the coupling ball bar and
stow it.
Checking the tensioning of the
coupling ball bar
● Red marking on rotary knob must
point towards green marking on
coupling ball bar.
● The gap between the rotary knob
and the coupling ball bar must be approx. 6 mm.
● The key must be in position c.
Otherwise, the coupling ball bar must be tensioned before being inserted:
● Unlock coupling ball bar by turning key to position c.
236Driving and operating
● Pull out rotary knob and turnclockwise as far as it will go.
Inserting the coupling ball bar
Insert the tensioned coupling ball bar
in the opening and push firmly
upwards until it audibly engages.
The rotary handle snaps back into its
original position, resting against the
coupling ball bar without a gap.9 Warning
Do not touch rotary handle during
insertion.
Lock the coupling ball bar by turning
the key to position e. Remove the key
and close the protective flap.
Eye for break-away stopping cable
Attach breakaway stopping cable to
eye.
Check that the coupling ball bar is correctly installed
● Green marking on rotary knob must point towards green
marking on coupling ball bar.
● There must be no gap between the rotary handle and the
coupling ball bar.
● The coupling ball bar must be firmly engaged in the opening.
● The coupling ball bar must be locked and the key removed.9Warning
Towing a trailer is permitted only
when a coupling ball bar is fitted correctly. If the coupling ball bardoes not engage correctly, seekthe assistance of a workshop.