Shift ranges
:
To shift down and restrict the shift range
; To shift up and derestrict the shift range
In transmission position h and drive pro-
grams E and C, you can use the steering wheel
paddle shifters to change gear yourself and
restrict or derestrict the shift range of the
automatic transmission.
X To shift down and restrict the shift
range:
briefly pull left steering wheel paddle
shifter :.
The automatic transmission shifts to the
next gear down, depending on the gear cur-
rently engaged. The shift range is also
restricted.
The transmission position indicator also
shows the set shift range, e.g. D2. The auto-
matic transmission shifts only as far as the
relevant gear.
or X Pull and hold left steering wheel paddle
shifter :.
The automatic transmission will shift to a
range which allows easy acceleration and
deceleration. To do this, the automatic
transmission shifts down one or more gears
and restricts the shift range.
The transmission position indicator also
shows the set shift range, e.g. D2. The auto-
matic transmission shifts only as far as the
relevant gear.
The automatic transmission does not shift
down if you pull the left steering wheel pad-
dle shifter whilst traveling at too high a
speed. If the maximum engine speed for the
restricted shift range is reached and you
continue to depress the accelerator pedal,
the automatic transmission will shift up
automatically. This protects the engine from
overrevving. X
To shift up and extend the shift range:
briefly pull right steering wheel paddle
shifter
;.
The automatic transmission shifts to the
next gear up, depending on the gear cur-
rently engaged. This derestricts the shift
range at the same time.
If the display shows only transmission posi-
tion h, the shift range restriction is can-
celed.
X To derestrict the shift range: pull and hold
right steering wheel paddle shifter ;.
The automatic transmission shifts up one or
more gears depending on the gear currently
engaged. At the same time, the shift range
restriction is canceled and the display
shows transmission position D .
Shift ranges and driving situations =
Use the engine's braking effect.
5
Use the braking effect of the engine
on steep downhill gradients and for
driving:
R on steep mountain roads
R in mountainous terrain
R in arduous conditions 4
Use the braking effect of the engine
on extremely steep downhill gradi-
ents and long downhill stretches.
Drive programs
General notes You can use the program selector button to
choose between different drive programs for
the automatic transmission, depending on the
engine. Engine management and the gearshift-
ing characteristics of the automatic transmis-
sion change depending on which drive pro-
gram is selected. Thus, a more comfort-orien-
ted, a more economical, or a sportier driving
style is supported, depending on the wish of
the driver. Selecting drive program M deacti-
vates automatic gearshifting, requiring that
you change gear manually.
After the engine is started, the automatic
transmission automatically switches to drive
program C (Comfort) for a comfortable and
economical driving style. Automatic transmission
133Driving and parking Z
Program selector button
X
Press the É program selector button
repeatedly until the desired drive program is
selected.
The display shows the letter of the selected
drive program at the top of the transmission
position indicator (Y page
132).M Manual Manual gearshifting
C Comfort Comfortable, economical
driving style
E Eco Particularly economical
driving style
Drive program (M)
The Manual drive program is characterized by
the following:
R The automatic transmission must be shifted
manually at all times. the automatic trans-
mission does not shift up automatically even
when the maximum engine speed is reached
(Y page
135).
Drive program S Drive program Sport
has the following charac-
teristics:
R The vehicle exhibits sporty handling charac-
teristics.
R The automatic transmission shifts up at a
later point and shifts down earlier. These
automatic transmission shift points may
increase fuel consumption. Drive program C Drive program Comfort has the following
characteristics:
R
The vehicle delivers comfortable, economi-
cal handling characteristics.
R Optimal fuel consumption resulting from the
automatic transmission shifting up sooner.
R Increased sensitivity. This improves driving
stability on slippery road surfaces, for exam-
ple.
R The automatic transmission shifts up
sooner. The vehicle thus maintains lower
engine speeds.
Drive program E Drive program Eco
has the following charac-
teristics:
R The vehicle exhibits particularly economical
handling characteristics.
R The maximum available engine torque is
reduced.
R Optimal fuel consumption resulting from the
automatic transmission shifting down signif-
icantly later and up significantly sooner,
even at full-load operation.
No shift point adjustment for adapting to
individual, dynamic driving styles.
In kickdown, the automatic transmission
automatically shifts to drive program C.
R Increased sensitivity. This improves driving
stability on slippery road surfaces, for exam-
ple. Driving tips
Accelerator pedal position Your style of driving influences how the auto-
matic transmission shifts gear:
R little throttle: early upshifts
R lots of throttle: later upshifts134
Automatic transmission
Driving and parking
Kickdown
Use kickdown for maximum acceleration:
X Depress the accelerator pedal beyond the
pressure point.
The automatic transmission shifts to the
next gear down, depending on the engine
speed.
X Ease off on the accelerator pedal once the
desired speed is reached.
The automatic transmission shifts up again.
Rocking the vehicle free At speeds up to 5 mph (9 km/h) you can
switch back and forth between drive position
h and reverse gear
k without applying the
brakes. This helps when rocking the vehicle
out of snow or slush.
X Push the DIRECT SELECT lever alternately
up and down beyond the first point of resist-
ance.
Towing a trailer X
Depending on the downhill gradient, limit
the shift range
(Y page 133) or shift man-
ually into a lower gear (Y page 135) in which the engine will operate in the middle
of the engine speed range. This also applies
if cruise control is activated. Manual gearshifting
General notes If you select drive program
M, automatic gear-
shifting is deactivated and manual gearshifting
is automatically activated. You must then per-
manently change gear yourself for as long as
the drive program is selected.
Permanent manual gearshifting is deactivated
automatically when you switch from drive pro-
gram M to another drive program. The auto-
matic transmission then shifts gears automati-
cally. The display shows the selected drive
program and transmission position h again. Shifting gears
:
To shift down
; To shift up
The drive program display shows M and the
transmission position indicator shows the
selected gear.
X To shift up: briefly pull right-hand steering
wheel paddle shifter ;.
If the engine speed is sufficient, the auto-
matic transmission shifts up to the next
gear.
If the maximum engine speed is reached in
the currently engaged gear and you con-
tinue to accelerate, the automatic transmis-
sion will not shift up automatically. Always
make sure that the engine speed does not
reach the red area of the tachometer.
Observe the gearshift recommendation in
the display
(Y page 136). When the engine
reaches its maximum speed, the fuel supply
is cut to prevent the engine from overrev-
ving.
X To shift down: pull briefly on left-hand
steering wheel paddle shifter :.
Provided that the engine will not exceed its
maximum speed when shifting down, the
automatic transmission shifts down to the
next gear.
or
X Pull the left-hand steering wheel paddle
shifter until the automatic transmission
selects the optimum gear for the current
speed.
i When coasting, the automatic transmis-
sion shifts down automatically. Automatic transmission
135
Driving and parking Z
Gearshift recommendation
:
Gearshift direction
; Recommended gear The gearshift recommendations assist you in
adopting an economical driving style.
X When the display shows the gearshift rec-
ommendation, shift to recommended
gear ;. Problems with the transmission
Problem
Possible causes/consequences and
M SolutionsThe transmission is
locked in position j. The vehicle electronics are malfunctioning.
X Have the vehicle electronics checked immediately at a qualified
specialist workshop. The acceleration char-
acteristics have deterio-
rated noticeably.
The transmission does
not shift. The transmission is in emergency mode.
It is only possible to shift into second gear or reverse gear
R.
X Have the transmission checked immediately at a qualified spe-
cialist workshop.
X Stop the vehicle.
X Move the selector lever to j.
X Switch off the engine.
X Wait at least ten seconds before restarting the engine.
X Depress the brake pedal.
X Move selector lever to h or k.
X Have the transmission checked immediately at a qualified spe-
cialist workshop. Refueling
Important safety notes
G
WARNING
Fuel is highly flammable. Improper handling
of fuel creates a risk of fire and explosion.
Avoid fire, open flames, smoking and creat-
ing sparks under all circumstances. Switch
off the engine and, if applicable, the auxiliary
heating before refueling. G
WARNING
Fuels are toxic and harmful to health. There
is a risk of injury.
You must avoid fuels coming into contact
with skin, eyes and clothes or being swal-
lowed.
Do not inhale the fuel vapors. Keep children
away from fuels.
Keep doors and windows closed during the
refueling process. 136
RefuelingDriving and parking
Parking the vehicle for a long period
If you leave the vehicle parked for longer than
four weeks, the battery may be damaged by
exhaustive discharging.
X Disconnect the battery (Y page 260).
or X Connect the battery to a trickle charger.
Be sure to observe the notes on charging
the batteries
(Y page 262).
You can obtain information about trickle
chargers from a qualified specialist work-
shop.
If you leave the vehicle parked for longer than
6 weeks, the vehicle may suffer damage as a
result of lack of use.
X Visit a qualified specialist workshop and
seek advice. Driving tips
General notes
Important safety notes G
WARNING
If you switch off the ignition while driving,
safety-relevant functions are only available
with limitations, or not at all. This could
affect, for example, the power steering and
the brake boosting effect. You will require
considerably more effort to steer and brake.
There is a risk of an accident.
Do not switch off the ignition while driving. G
WARNING
Mobile communications equipment distracts
the driver from traffic conditions. In addi-
tion, the driver could lose control of the
vehicle. There is a risk of an accident.
As a driver, use mobile communications
equipment only when the vehicle is at a
standstill.
As a vehicle occupant, use mobile communi-
cations equipment only in the designated
area, e.g. the rear passenger compartment. Observe the legal requirements of the country
in which you are driving. Some jurisdictions
prohibit the driver from using a mobile phone
while driving a vehicle.
Always use the hands-free system for tele-
phoning while driving. Only use the telephone
if road traffic conditions permit. If this is not
the case, pull over to a safe location before
using the telephone.
Bear in mind that at a speed of just 30 mph
(approximately
50 km/h), your vehicle is cov-
ering a distance of 44 feet (approximately
14 m) every second.
Drive sensibly – save fuel In order to save fuel, observe the following
tips:
X The tires should always be inflated to the
recommended tire pressure.
X Remove unnecessary loads.
X Remove roof carriers when they are not nee-
ded.
X Warm up the engine at low engine speeds.
X Avoid frequent acceleration or braking.
X Have all maintenance work carried out as
indicated by the service intervals in the
Maintenance Booklet or by the service inter-
val display.
Fuel consumption also increases when driving
in cold weather, in stop-start traffic and in
mountainous terrain.
Overrun cutoff If you are in overrun mode and take your foot
off the accelerator pedal, the fuel supply is cut
off when the engine speed is out of the idle
speed control range.
Drinking and driving G
WARNING
Drinking and driving and/or taking drugs
and driving are very dangerous combina-
tions. Even a small amount of alcohol or
drugs can affect your reflexes, perceptions
and judgment.
The possibility of a serious or even fatal
accident is greatly increased when you drink
or take drugs and drive. 140
Driving tips
Driving and parking
of the journey. Make sure that you do not
endanger other road users when doing so.
Checking the brake pad thickness In addition to monitoring using the brake pad
wear sensor, regularly monitor and check all of
the brake pads by performing a visual inspec-
tion to look for pad material wear.
If you are unable to check the brake wear on
the inside of the wheels, remove the wheels
with the tools provided.
Make sure that the brake pad material thick-
ness never falls below
0.12 in (3 mm). Have
the brake pads checked and replaced at a
qualified specialist workshop, if necessary.
Do not solely rely on the brake pad wear sen-
sor.
It is strongly recommended that you have the
brake pads checked at a qualified specialist
workshop at every service displayed in the
maintenance interval indicator, prior to long
journeys and whenever the wheels are
removed.
New brake discs and brake pads/
linings New brake pads and brake discs only reach
their optimal braking effect after about
60 miles
(100 kilometers). Until then, compen-
sate for this by applying greater force to the
brake pedal.
For safety reasons, Mercedes-Benz recom-
mends only installing the following brake discs
and brake pads/linings:
R brake discs that have been approved by
Mercedes-Benz
R brake pads/linings that have been approved
by Mercedes-Benz or are of an equivalent
standard of quality
Other brake discs or brake pads/linings can
compromise the safety of your vehicle.
Always replace all brake discs or brake pads/
linings on an axle at the same time and only
have them replaced at a qualified specialist
workshop. When replacing the brake discs,
always have the brake pads/linings replaced
at the same time. Parking brake G
WARNING
If you must brake the vehicle with the park-
ing brake, the braking distance is considera-
bly longer and the wheels could lock. There
is an increased danger of skidding and acci-
dents.
Only use the parking brake to brake the
vehicle when the service brake is faulty. Do
not apply the parking brake too firmly. If the
wheels lock, release the parking brake until
the wheels begin turning again.
When driving on wet roads or dirt-covered sur-
faces, road salt and/or dirt may get into the
parking brake. This causes corrosion and a
reduction of braking force.
In order to prevent this, drive with the parking
brake lightly applied from time to time. When
doing so, drive for a distance of approximately
110 yds (100 m) at a maximum speed of
12 mph (20 km/h
).
The brake lamps are not illuminated when you
brake the vehicle using the parking brake. Driving in wet conditions
Hydroplaning G
WARNING
There is a danger of hydroplaning occurring,
even if you are driving slowly and your tires
have sufficient tread depth, depending on
the depth of water on the road. There is a
risk of an accident.
For this reason, avoid tire ruts and brake
carefully.
Therefore, in heavy rain or other conditions in
which hydroplaning can occur, drive as fol-
lows:
R reduce your speed
R avoid tire ruts
R apply the brakes with care Driving tips
143
Driving and parking Z
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
Storing and maintaining the current
speed
X
Accelerate the vehicle to the desired speed
above 20 mph (30 km/h
).
X Briefly push the cruise control lever up : or
down =.
X Release the accelerator pedal.
Cruise control is activated. The current
speed is stored and shown briefly in the dis-
play's text field.
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 steer-
ing wheel buttons (Y page 183)
Resuming the stored speed G
WARNING
If you call up the stored speed and it differs
from the current speed, the vehicle acceler-
ates or decelerates. If you do not know the
stored speed, the vehicle could accelerate
or brake unexpectedly. There is a risk of an
accident.
Pay attention to the road and traffic condi-
tions before calling up the stored speed. If
you do not know the stored speed, store the
desired speed again.
X Briefly pull the cruise control lever towards
you ;.
X Release the accelerator pedal.
Cruise control is activated and resumes the
vehicle's speed to the last speed stored.
The stored speed is shown briefly in the dis-
play.
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 steer-
ing wheel buttons (Y page 183)
i When you pull the cruise control lever
towards you for the first time after starting
the engine, cruise control adopts the cur-
rent speed. Setting the speed It may be a moment before the vehicle starts
to accelerate or brake to the set speed. Take
this delay into account when setting the
speed.
X
Press the cruise control lever up : to
increase the speed or down = to reduce
the speed.
The vehicle will accelerate or decelerate.
The speed is shown in the display.
X Release the cruise control lever once the
desired speed is reached.
The displayed speed is stored.
or
X Briefly press the cruise control lever as far
as the 1st pressure point up : or down =.
The last speed stored is increased/reduced
in increments of
1 mph (1 km/h).
or X Briefly press the cruise control lever beyond
the pressure point up : or down =.
The last speed stored is increased/reduced
in increments of
5 mph (10 km/h).
i Cruise control is not deactivated if you
depress the accelerator pedal. If you accel-
erate briefly to overtake, for example, cruise
control resumes the vehicle’s speed to the
last speed stored after you have finished
overtaking.
Deactivating cruise control There are various ways to deactivate cruise
control:
X Briefly press the cruise control lever for-
wards ?.
or X Apply the brakes.
The last speed set remains stored. The last
speed stored is deleted when you switch off
the engine.
Cruise control is deactivated automatically
when:
R you apply the brakes
R you apply the parking brake and the F
(only USA) or J (only Canada) indicator
lamp in the instrument cluster lights up
R you are driving slower than
20 mph
(30 km/h) 148
Driving systems
Driving and parking