Use cruise control if road and traffic condi-
tions make it appropriate to maintain a steady
speed for a prolonged period. You can set any
speed from 30 km/h
upwards in increments of
1 km/h and 10 km/h.
If you have set Miles as the unit for the digital
speedometer , you can set any speed above
20 mph in increments of 1 mph and 5 mph.
Changing the display unit for the digital speed-
ometer and the distance:
R on vehicles without steering wheel buttons
(Y page 180)
R on vehicles with steering wheel buttons
(Y page 192)
Cruise control should not be activated when
driving off-road or on construction sites.
Cruise control may be unable to maintain the
stored speed on uphill gradients. The stored
speed is resumed if the uphill gradient evens
out and the vehicle's speed does not fall below
20 mph (30 km/h). Cruise control maintains
the stored speed on downhill gradients by
automatically applying the brakes. Observe the
additional driving tips (Y page 142).
Important safety notes Observe the notes on braking (Y page
142).
If you fail to adapt your driving style or if you
are inattentive, cruise control can neither
reduce the risk of an accident nor override the
laws of physics. Cruise control cannot take
road, weather and traffic conditions into
account. Cruise control is only an aid. You are
responsible for the distance to the vehicle in
front, for vehicle speed, for braking in good
time and for staying in lane.
If you change wheel size, make sure they cor-
respond to the correct wheel size category
(Y page 278). If the category is changed with- out recoding the control units in the vehicle,
the functioning of cruise control may be
impaired.
Do not use cruise control:
R in traffic conditions that are unsuitable for
driving at a constant speed, e.g. in heavy
traffic, on winding roads or off-road.
R on slippery roads. Braking or accelerating
may 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. If there is a change of drivers, make sure that
you inform the new driver about the set cruise
speed.
Cruise control lever and display :
To activate and store the current speed or
a higher speed
; To activate at the last stored speed
= To activate and store the current speed or
a lower speed
? To deactivate cruise control
The cruise control lever is the lower lever on
the left of the steering column.
When you activate cruise control, the display
briefly shows the Cruise Control message
and the stored speed.
The display also shows the V symbol and
the stored speed:
R in the header on vehicles without steering
wheel buttons (Y page
176)
R in the status area on vehicles with steering
wheel buttons (Y page 183)
Activation conditions To activate cruise control, all of the following
activation conditions must be fulfilled:
R the parking brake must be released. The
F (only USA) or J (only Canada) indi-
cator lamp in the instrument cluster goes
out
R ESP ®
must be switched on, but not currently
intervening or performing a control action
R you are driving faster than
20 mph
(30 km/h)
R the brake pedal is not depressed Driving systems
147
Driving and parking Z
R
you shift to neutral i while the vehicle is in
motion
R ESP ®
intervenes or you deactivate ESP ®
R there is a malfunction in the ESP ®
or ABS
system
If cruise control automatically deactivates, a
warning tone sounds and the Cruise Con‐
trol Off message appears briefly in the dis-
play.
The V symbol and the display of the stored
speed in the header or in the status area of
the display are then not shown.
Problems with cruise control The speed cannot be set when cruise control
is activated.
The display is showing a message of high pri-
ority and cannot therefore show a change in
speed.
X Proceed as instructed by the message in the
display. COLLISION PREVENTION ASSIST
General notes COLLISION PREVENTION ASSIST helps you:
R to minimize the risk of a front-end collision
with a detected obstacle in the path of your
vehicle
R to reduce the consequences of a collision
with the vehicle in front
The system uses radar sensors to detect vehi-
cles in front.
COLLISION PREVENTION ASSIST consists of
the distance warning function and Adaptive
Brake Assist.
If COLLISION PREVENTION ASSIST is malfunc-
tioning, the display shows a corresponding
message
(Y page 222). Distance warning function Important safety notes
G
WARNING
The distance warning function does not
react:
R to people or animals
R to oncoming vehicles
R to crossing traffic
R when cornering
The distance warning function may not give
warnings in all critical situations. There is a
risk of an accident.
Always pay careful attention to the traffic
situation and be ready to brake.
Always adapt your speed to suit the prevail-
ing road and traffic conditions. G
WARNING
The distance warning function cannot
always clearly identify objects and complex
traffic situations.
In such cases, the distance warning function
may:
R give an unnecessary warning
R not give a warning
There is a risk of an accident.
Always pay careful attention to the traffic
situation and do not rely solely on the dis-
tance warning function.
In particular, the detection of obstacles can be
impaired in the case of: R dirt on the sensors or anything else covering
the sensors
R snow or heavy rain
R interference from other radar sources
R strong radar reflections, for example, in
parking garages
R a narrow vehicle traveling in front, e.g. a
motorbike
R a vehicle traveling in front on a different line
Due to the nature of the system, particularly
complicated but non-critical driving conditions Driving systems
149
Driving and parking Z
may also cause the system to display a warn-
ing.
If you fail to adapt your driving style, the dis-
tance warning function can neither reduce the
risk of an accident nor override the laws of
physics. The distance warning function cannot
take into account road, weather or traffic con-
ditions. The distance warning function is only
an aid. You are responsible for the distance to
the vehicle in front, for vehicle speed, braking
in good time and for staying in your lane.
Following damage to the front end of the vehi-
cle, have the configuration and operation of
the radar sensor checked at a qualified spe-
cialist workshop. This also applies to collisions
at slow speeds where there is no visible dam-
age to the front of the vehicle.
If you change wheel size, make sure they cor-
respond to the correct wheel size category
(Y page
278). If the category is changed with-
out recoding the control units in the vehicle,
the functioning of the distance warning feature
may be impaired. COLLISION PREVENTION
ASSIST may then detect a malfunction and
switch itself off.
Operation
X To activate/deactivate: activate or deacti-
vate the distance warning function in the on-
board computer
(Y page 190).
If the distance warning function of COLLI-
SION PREVENTION ASSIST is activated, the
display shows the Ä symbol:
R in the header
R in the Status Overview of the Assist.
menu (Y page 189)
At speeds up to approx 20 mph (30 km/h)
the display in vehicles with Active Parking
Assist first shows the í status indicator.
Only from a speed of about 20 mph
(30 km/h) does the display show the
Äsymbol instead of the í status indica-
tor.
The distance warning function can help you to
minimize the risk of a front-end collision with a
vehicle ahead or reduce the effects of such a
collision. With the help of the radar sensor sys-
tem, the distance warning function can detect
obstacles that are in the path of your vehicle
for an extended period of time. If the distance
warning function detects that there is a risk of
a collision, you will be warned visually and,
where necessary, acoustically. Without your intervention, the distance warning function
cannot prevent a collision.
The distance warning function issues a warn-
ing at speeds:
R from about
4 mph (7 km/h) if you approach
a vehicle traveling in front or a stationary
vehicle too quickly. The · warning lamp
in the instrument cluster then lights up and
an intermittent warning tone also sounds.
At speeds up to about 45 mph (70 km/h),
the system also detects stationary obsta-
cles, for example stopped or parked vehi-
cles.
X Brake immediately until the distance from
the obstacle increases and the risk of a
front-end collision passes.
or X Take evasive action, provided it is safe to do
so.
Adaptive Brake Assist General notes
Adaptive Brake Assist evaluates the traffic sit-
uation with the help of the radar sensor sys-
tem and can detect obstacles which have been
in your vehicle's path for an extended period
of time. From speeds above 4 mph (7 km/h
),
Adaptive Brake Assist aids you in braking dur-
ing hazardous situations.
Up to a speed of approximately 125 mph
(200 km/h), Adaptive Brake Assist is capable
of reacting to moving obstacles that have
already been detected as such at least once
over the period of observation.
Important safety notes G
WARNING
Adaptive Brake Assist does not react:
R to people or animals
R to oncoming vehicles
R to crossing traffic
R to stationary obstacles
R when cornering
As a result, the Adaptive Brake Assist may
not intervene in all critical conditions. There
is a risk of an accident. 150
Driving systems
Driving and parking
Always pay careful attention to the traffic
situation and be ready to brake. G
WARNING
Adaptive Brake Assist cannot always clearly
identify objects and complex traffic situa-
tions.
In such cases, Adaptive Brake Assist can:
R intervene unnecessarily
R not intervene
There is a risk of an accident.
Always pay careful attention to the traffic
situation and be ready to brake. Terminate
the intervention in a non-critical driving sit-
uation.
In particular, the detection of obstacles can be
impaired in the case of:
R dirt on the sensors or anything else covering
the sensors
R snow or heavy rain
R interference from other radar sources
R strong radar reflections, for example, in
parking garages
R a narrow vehicle traveling in front, e.g. a
motorbike
R a vehicle traveling in front on a different line
Due to the nature of the system, particularly
complicated but non-critical driving conditions
may also cause Adaptive Brake Assist to inter-
vene.
If you fail to adapt your driving style, Adaptive
Brake Assist can neither reduce the risk of
accident nor override the laws of physics.
Adaptive Brake Assist cannot take into
account road, weather or traffic conditions.
Adaptive Brake Assist is only an aid. You are
responsible for the distance to the vehicle in
front, for vehicle speed, braking in good time
and for staying in your lane.
Following damage to the front end of the vehi-
cle, have the configuration and operation of
the radar sensor checked at a qualified spe-
cialist workshop. This also applies to collisions
at slow speeds where there is no visible dam-
age to the front of the vehicle.
If you change wheel size, make sure they cor-
respond to the correct wheel size category
(Y page
278). If the category is changed with- out recoding the control units in the vehicle,
the functioning of Adaptive Brake Assist may
be impaired. COLLISION PREVENTION ASSIST
may then detect a malfunction and switch
itself off.
If Adaptive Brake Assist is not available due to
a malfunction in the radar sensor system, the
brake system remains available with full brake
boosting effect and BAS.
Operation With the help of the radar sensor system,
Adaptive Brake Assist can detect obstacles
that have been in the path of your vehicle for
an extended period of time. Adaptive Brake
Assist does not react to stationary obstacles.
If Adaptive Brake Assist detects a risk of colli-
sion with a vehicle traveling in front or with a
stationary obstacle, the system calculates the
braking force necessary to avoid this collision.
If you apply the brakes forcefully, Adaptive
Brake Assist will automatically increase the
braking force to a level suitable for the traffic
conditions.
X Brake until the distance to the obstacle
increases and the risk of a collision passes.
ABS prevents the wheels from locking.
The brakes function as usual again if:
R you release the brake pedal
R there is no longer any danger of a collision
R no obstacle is detected in front of your vehi-
cle
Braking assistance is then ended. 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 in the bumper. It supports you from
speeds of approximately
20 mph (30 km/h). 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 lane, you will
also receive an optical and audible collision
warning. Driving systems
151
Driving and parking Z
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 vehi-
cle
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
sufficient distance to the side for other road
users and obstacles.
In particular, the detection of obstacles can be
impaired in the case of:
R dirt on the sensors or anything else covering
the sensors
R fog, heavy rain or snow
R narrow vehicles, e.g. motorcycles or bicy-
cles
R very wide lanes
R narrow lanes
R vehicles not driving in the middle of their
lane
R barriers or other road boundaries
Vehicles in the monitoring range are then not
indicated.
i USA only:
This device has been approved by the FCC
as a "Vehicular Radar System". The radar
sensor is intended for use in an automotive
radar system only. Removal, tampering, or
altering of the device will void any warran-
ties, and is not permitted by the FCC. Do
not tamper with, alter, or use in any non-
approved way.
Any unauthorized modification to this device
could void the user’s authority to operate
the equipment. Monitoring range of the sensors
Blind Spot Assist monitors the area shown in
the diagram up to
118 in (3 m) behind and
directly next to your vehicle.
If the lanes are narrow, vehicles driving in the
lane beyond the lane next to your vehicle may
be indicated, especially if the vehicles are not
driving in the middle of their lane. This may be
the case if the vehicles are driving on the inner
side of their lane.
Due to the nature of the system:
R warnings may be issued in error when driv-
ing close to crash barriers or similar solid
lane borders.
R warnings may be interrupted when driving
alongside long vehicles, e.g. trucks, for a
prolonged time.
The two sensors for Blind Spot Assist are inte-
grated into the sides of the rear bumper. Make
sure that the bumper is free of dirt, ice or
slush in the vicinity of the sensors. The radar
sensors must not be covered, for example by
rear-mounted cycle racks or overhanging
loads. Following a severe impact or in the
event of damage to the bumper, have the func-
tion of the radar sensors checked at a quali-
fied specialist workshop. Blind Spot Assist
may otherwise not work properly. 152
Driving systems
Driving and parking
means of intermittent vibration through the
steering wheel for up to
1.5 seconds.
Important safety notes G
WARNING
Lane Keeping Assist cannot always clearly
detect lane markings.
In such cases, Lane Keeping Assist can:
R give an unnecessary warning
R not give a warning
There is a risk of an accident.
Always pay particular attention to the traffic
situation and keep within the lane, espe-
cially if Lane Keeping Assist alerts you. G
WARNING
The Lane Keeping Assist warning does not
return the vehicle to the original lane. There
is a risk of an accident.
You should always steer, brake or accelerate
yourself, in particular if warned by Lane
Keeping Assist.
If you fail to adapt your driving style, Lane
Keeping Assist can neither reduce the risk of
accident nor override the laws of physics.
Lane Keeping Assist cannot take into account
road, weather or traffic conditions. Lane Keep-
ing Assist is only an aid. You are responsible
for the distance to the vehicle in front, for
vehicle speed, braking in good time and for
staying in your lane.
Lane Keeping Assist does not keep your vehi-
cle in its lane.
The system may be impaired or may not func-
tion if:
R there is poor visibility, e.g. due to insuffi-
cient illumination of the road, or due to
snow, rain, fog or spray
R there is glare, e.g. from oncoming traffic,
the sun or reflection from other vehicles
(e.g. if the road surface is wet)
R the windshield is dirty, fogged up, damaged
or covered, for instance by a sticker, in the
vicinity of the camera
R there are no lane markings, or several
unclear lane markings for one lane, e.g.
around construction sites R
the lane markings are worn away, dark or
covered up, e.g. by dirt or snow
R the distance to the vehicle in front is too
short and thus the lane markings cannot be
detected
R the lane markings change quickly, e.g. lanes
branch off, cross one another or merge
R the road is narrow and winding
R there are highly variable shade conditions
on the road
Deactivating and activating Lane Keep-
ing Assist X
Press the Ç button.
If the indicator lamp in the button lights up
and the display shows the Ç symbol in
the status area, Lane Keeping Assist is
switched on but not ready for use.
If you are driving with Lane Keeping Assist
activated at speeds above
40 mph
(60 km/h) and lane markings are detected,
the display shows the Ç symbol highligh-
ted in the status area. Lane Keeping Assist
is then ready for use. Status indicators in the status overview submenu
The display in the Status Overview submenu
of the on-board computer also shows the sta-
tus of Lane Keeping Assist
(Y page 189). If
Lane Keeping Assist is activated but not ready
for use, the display shows the lane markings in
the symbol as broken lines :. If Lane Keeping154
Driving systems
Driving and parking
Ensure that the following weights are not
exceeded:
R the permissible noseweight
R the permissible trailer load
R the permissible rear axle load of the towing
vehicle
R the maximum permissible gross vehicle
weight of both the towing vehicle and the
trailer
R the maximum permissible gross weight of
vehicle/trailer combination
The applicable permissible values that may not
be exceeded can be found:
R in your vehicle documents
R on the type plates for the trailer tow hitch
R on the type plates for the trailer
R on the vehicle identification plate
(Y page
304)
Where the values differ, the lowest is valid.
You will find the values approved by the manu-
facturer on the vehicle identification plates
and those for the towing vehicle in the "Tech-
nical data" section (Y page 315).
Your vehicle behaves differently with a trailer
than without one.
The vehicle/trailer combination:
R is heavier
R is restricted in its acceleration and gradient-
climbing capability
R has an increased braking distance
R is more susceptible to strong crosswinds
R requires more sensitive steering
R has a larger turning radius
This may impair the handling characteristics.
When towing a trailer, always adjust your
speed to suit the road and weather conditions.
Drive carefully. Maintain a safe distance.
If you require any further explanation regard-
ing the information contained in the Operating
Instructions, please contact a Mercedes-Benz
Commercial Van Center.
General notes R
Observe the legally permitted maximum
speed for vehicle/trailer combinations in
the relevant country, state or Canadian
province. Before beginning the journey,
check the trailer's documents for the maxi-
mum permitted speed of your trailer. This reduces the risk of accidents.
R Install only an approved trailer coupling on
your vehicle. Only use a ball coupling for
your Metris trailer tow hitch if it has been
approved for your vehicle. More information
on the availability, mounting and installation
of the trailer electrics is available at any
qualified specialist workshop.
R The trailer coupling is one of the most
important vehicle parts with regard to road
safety. Observe the notes on operation, care
and maintenance of the trailer tow hitch
(see the manufacturer's operating instruc-
tions).
R The bumpers of your vehicle are not suitable
for installing detachable trailer couplings.
R Do not attach rented trailer tow hitches or
other detachable trailer tow hitches to the
bumper.
R Minimize the risk of damage to the ball cou-
pling. If you do not require the ball coupling,
remove it from the ball coupling recess.
You will find weight information under "Techni-
cal data"
(Y page 315).
The height of the ball neck changes according
to the load on the vehicle. If this is case, use a
trailer with a height-adjustable trailer drawbar.
Driving tips The maximum permissible speed for vehicle/
trailer combination depends on the type of
trailer. Before beginning the journey, check
the trailer's documents for the maximum per-
mitted speed of your trailer. Observe the
legally permitted maximum speed in the rele-
vant country, state or Canadian province.
When towing a trailer, your vehicle's handling
characteristics will be different in comparison
to when driving without a trailer and it will con-
sume more fuel.
On long and steep downhill gradients, select a
lower gear.
i This also applies if cruise control is activa-
ted.
This enables you to utilize the engine's braking
effect and you do not need to brake so heavily
to keep the correct speed. This relieves the
load on the brake system and prevents the
brakes from overheating and wearing too
quickly. If you need to brake additionally, to Towing a trailer
169
Driving and parking Z
Observe the following when towing a trailer:
R Practice driving around bends, stopping and
backing up at a place where there is no traf-
fic. This enables you to gain experience and
get used to the new handling characteris-
tics.
R Before driving, check:
- that the trailer tow hitch and ball coupling
are secure
- that the safety switch for a braked trailer
is functioning properly
- that the safety chains are secure and not
damaged
- that the electrical connections are secure
- that the lights are working
- that the wheels are in good order and the
tire pressure is correct
R Adjust the exterior mirrors to provide an
unobstructed view of the rear section of the
trailer.
R If the trailer is equipped with a separate
functional braking system, check before
each journey whether the brakes are func-
tioning correctly.
R Secure the load on the trailer according to
the applicable specifications and current
standards on securing loads
(Y page 244).
R When driving with a trailer, check at regular
intervals that the load is secured and that
the brakes and lights are working.
R Bear in mind that the handling will be less
stable when towing a trailer than when driv-
ing without one. Avoid sudden steering
movements.
R The vehicle/trailer combination is heavier,
accelerates more slowly and has a
decreased gradient climbing capability and a
longer braking distance.
It is more susceptible to crosswinds and
requires cautious steering.
R If possible, do not brake suddenly, but
rather moderately at first so that the trailer
can activate its brakes. Then increase the
force on the brake pedal.
R If the automatic transmission repeatedly
shifts between gears when driving on
inclines, restrict the shift range. Select shift
range 4, 3, 2 or 1.
Driving in a low gear and at a low speed
reduces the risk of damaging the engine. R
When driving on a downhill gradient, shift to
a low gear and take advantage of the
engine's braking effect.
Avoid continuous brake application as this
may overheat the vehicle brakes and, if
installed, the trailer brakes.
R If the coolant temperature increases dra-
matically while the air-conditioning system
is switched on, switch off the air-condition-
ing system.
Coolant heat can also be dissipated by
switching the airflow and the temperature of
the air conditioning to the maximum level.
Open the windows if necessary.
R When overtaking, pay particular attention to
the extended length of your vehicle/trailer
combination.
Due to the length of your vehicle/trailer
combination you need an additional dis-
tance before you can return to your original
lane. Uncoupling a trailer
G
WARNING
If you uncouple a trailer with the overrun
brake engaged, you could trap your hand
between the vehicle and the trailer drawbar.
There is a risk of injury.
Do not uncouple a trailer if the overrun
brake is engaged.
! Do not disconnect a trailer with an
engaged overrun brake. Otherwise, your
vehicle could be damaged by the rebound-
ing of the overrun brake.
X Make sure that the selector lever of the
automatic transmission is in position P.
X Engage the vehicle's parking brake.
X Close all doors.
X Apply the parking brake of the trailer.
X In addition, secure the trailer against rolling
away with a wheel chock or similar object.
X Remove the trailer cable and safety chains
and decouple the trailer. Towing a trailer
171
Driving and parking Z