2020 MERCEDES-BENZ METRIS ESP

G
WARNING
When driving off-road, your body is subject
to forces from all directions, due to the
uneven surface. You could be thrown from
your seat, for instance. There is a risk of
injury.
Always wear a seat belt, even when driving
off-road. G
WARNING
If you drive over obstacles or in ruts, the
steering wheel may jerk out of your grip,
causing injury to your hands.
Always hold the steering wheel firmly with
both hands. When driving over obstacles,
you must expect steering forces to increase
briefly and suddenly. G
WARNING
Flammable material such as leaves, grass or
twigs may ignite if they come into contact
with hot parts of the exhaust system. There
is a risk of fire.
When driving on an unpaved road or off-
road, check the vehicle underside regularly.
In particular, remove trapped plant parts or
other flammable material. Contact a quali-
fied specialist workshop immediately if dam-
age is detected.
! When driving off-road or on unpaved surfa-
ces, check the underside of the vehicle as
well as the wheels and tires at regular inter-
vals. In particular, remove trapped foreign
objects, such as stones and branches.
Such foreign objects could:
R damage the chassis, the fuel tank or the
brake system
R cause imbalance and thereby vibrations
R be thrown out as you continue your jour-
ney
If there is any damage, inform a qualified
specialist workshop.
When driving off-road and on construction
sites, sand, mud and water mixed with oil, for
example, may get into the brakes. This may
lead to a reduction in braking performance or
total brake failure, also as a result of increased wear. The braking characteristics will vary
depending on the material that has got into
the system. Clean the brakes after driving off-
road. If you then notice reduced braking per-
formance or hear scraping noises, have the
brake system checked at a qualified specialist
workshop. Adjust your driving style to the
changed braking characteristics.
Driving off-road or on construction sites
increases the possibility of vehicle damage
which may in turn lead to the failure of certain
assemblies and systems. Adapt your driving
style to the off-road driving conditions. Drive
carefully. Have any vehicle damage rectified at
a qualified specialist workshop as soon as pos-
sible.
When loading your vehicle for driving off-road
or on a construction site, keep the vehicle's
center of gravity as low as possible.
Rules for driving off-road !
Always bear the vehicle's ground clear-
ance in mind and avoid obstacles, e.g. deep
ruts.
Obstacles may damage the following parts
of the vehicle:
R the chassis
R the drive train
R the fuel and supply tanks
For this reason, you should always drive
slowly when driving off-road. If you have to
drive over obstacles, have the front
passenger direct you.
i We recommend that you additionally carry
a shovel and a recovery rope with shackle in
the vehicle.
R Ensure that loads and items of luggage are
securely stowed or lashed down
(Y page
242).
R Before driving off-road, stop the vehicle and
shift to a low gear.
R If the surface requires, temporarily deacti-
vate ESP ®
when pulling away (Y page 69).
R Only drive off-road with the engine running
and a gear engaged.
R Drive slowly and smoothly. Walking pace is
necessary in many situations.
R Avoid spinning the drive wheels.
R Make sure that the wheels always remain in
contact with the ground. Driving tips
145
Driving and parking Z

R
Drive with extreme care over unknown ter-
rain where you can only see for a short dis-
tance. As a precaution, get out of the vehi-
cle to take a look at the route to be taken in
advance.
R Check the water depth before fording.
R Watch out for obstacles (e.g. rocks, holes,
tree stumps and ruts).
R Avoid edges where the surface could crum-
ble or break away.
Checklist after driving off-road !
If you detect damage to the vehicle after
driving off-road, have the vehicle checked
immediately at a qualified specialist work-
shop.
Off-road driving places a higher demand on
your vehicle than normal road operation.
Check your vehicle after driving on rough ter-
rain. By doing so you will notice any damage in
good time and reduce the risk of an accident
for yourself and other road users. Clean your
vehicle thoroughly before driving on public
roads.
Observe the following points after driving off-
road, on construction sites and before driving
on public roads:
X Activate ESP ®
(Y page 69).
X Clean the headlamps and tail lamps and
check them for damage.
X Clean the front and rear license plates.
X Clean the windshield, windows and exterior
mirrors.
X Clean the steps, door sills and grab handles.
This increases safety of footing.
X Clean the wheels/tires, wheel housings and
the underbody of the vehicle with a water
jet.
This increases road grip, especially on wet
road surfaces.
X Check the wheels/tires and wheel housings
for trapped foreign objects and remove
them.
Trapped foreign objects can damage the
wheels/tires and may be flung out from the
vehicle when you continue driving.
X Check the underbody for trapped branches
or other parts of plants and remove them.
Trapped branches or other parts of plants
increase the risk of fire and can cause dam- age to fuel lines, brake hoses and the rubber
bellows of axle joints and drive shafts.
X Clean the brake disks, brake pads and axle
joints, particularly after operation in sand,
mud, grit/gravel, water or similarly dirty
conditions.
X Check the entire floor assembly, the tires,
wheels, bodywork structure, brakes, steer-
ing, chassis and exhaust system for any
damage.
X Check the service brake for operating
safety, e.g. carry out a brake test.
X If you notice strong vibrations after driving
off-road, check the wheels and drive train
for foreign objects again. Remove any for-
eign objects which can lead to imbalances
and thus cause vibrations. Driving in mountainous areas
When driving in mountainous areas, note that
the power output of the engine, and with it its
gradient climbing capability, decrease with
increasing altitude. Please take note of this
particularly when driving with a trailer in moun-
tainous areas.
The maximum permissible trailer loads are
valid for journeys at altitudes up to

1100 yds
(1000 m) above sea level with gradients up to
12%.
Information on maximum permissible trailer
loads can be found in your vehicle registration
papers and on the vehicle identification plate
(Y page 304) or under "Trailer loads" ( Y page 315).
When driving at altitudes of 2700 yds
(2500 m) above sea level, the ECO start/stop
function is no longer available.
Notes on braking on downhill gradients can be
found in the "Braking" section (Y page 142). Driving systems
Cruise control
General notes Cruise control maintains the speed of the vehi-
cle for you. It brakes automatically in order to
avoid exceeding the set speed.146
Driving systems
Driving and parking

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

Warning display
Blind Spot Assist is not active at speeds below
approximately
20 mph (30 km/h). Vehicles in
the monitoring range are then not indicated.
If a vehicle is detected within the monitoring
range of Blind Spot Assist at speeds above
approximately 20 mph (30 km/h), warning
lamp : lights up red in the exterior mirror on
the corresponding side. Warning lamp :
always lights up when a vehicle enters the
blind spot monitoring range from behind or
from the side. When you overtake a vehicle,
the warning only occurs if the difference in
speed is less than 7 mph (11 km/h).
If you select reverse gear, Blind Spot Assist is
inactive.
The intensity of warning lamps : depends on
the brightness of the ambient light and is con-
trolled automatically.
Collision warning If a vehicle is detected in the monitoring range
of Blind Spot Assist and you switch on the cor-
responding turn signal, a double warning tone
sounds once. The warning lamp in the corre-
sponding exterior mirror flashes. If the turn
signal remains on, detected vehicles are indi-
cated by the flashing of the warning lamp in
the exterior mirror. There are no further warn-
ing tones.
Activating Blind Spot Assist X
Make sure that Blind Spot Assist is activa-
ted in the on-board computer (Y page

191).
X Turn the key to position 2 in the ignition
lock.
The warning lamps in the exterior mirrors
light up for approximately

1.5 seconds. Status indicators in the status overview submenu
If Blind Spot Assist is activated, the display
shows symbol : in the Status Overview
submenu of the on-board computer
(Y page

189). If you are driving faster than
20 mph (30 km/h), the symbol also shows
radar waves ; between the two vehicles.
Blind Spot Assist is then ready for use.
Towing a trailer If you attach a trailer, make sure that you have
correctly established the electrical connection.
This can be accomplished by checking the
trailer lighting. Blind Spot Assist is then deacti-
vated and the Blind Spot Assist Cur‐
rently Unavail. See Operator's Manual
message appears in the display. Lane Keeping Assist
General notes Lane Keeping Assist monitors the area in front
of your vehicle by means of camera : which
is mounted at the top of the windshield. Lane
Keeping Assist detects lane markings on the
road and can warn you before you leave your
lane unintentionally.
This function is available in the range between
40 mph (60 km/h

) and 125 mph (200 km/h).
A warning may be given if a front wheel
touches a lane marking. It will warn you by Driving systems
153
Driving and parking Z