2020 MERCEDES-BENZ METRIS steering wheel

Key positions
g
To insert/remove the key, to lock the
steering wheel
1 To unlock the steering wheel, power sup-
ply for some consumers (e.g. the radio)
2 To switch on the ignition, power supply for
all consumers, preglow and drive position
3 To start the engine
i If the key does not belong to the vehicle, it
can still be turned in the ignition lock. How-
ever, the ignition will not be switched on.
The engine cannot be started. Preparing for a journey
Visual check of the vehicle exterior X
In particular, check the following compo-
nents on the vehicle, and on the trailer as
necessary:
R
license plates, vehicle lighting, turn sig-
nals, brake lamps and wiper blades for
dirt and damage
R tires and wheels for firm seating, correct
tire pressure and general condition
R trailer tow hitch for play and security
The trailer coupling is one of the most
important vehicle parts with regard to
road safety. Observe the notes on opera-
tion, care and maintenance of the trailer
tow hitch (see the manufacturer's operat-
ing instructions).
X Rectify any noticeable defects before com-
mencing the journey. Checks in the vehicle Emergency equipment/first-aid kit
X Check the equipment to make sure that it is
accessible, complete and ready for use.
The first aid and breakdown assistance equip-
ment is located:
R in the front door stowage compartments
R in the seat base of the left front seat
R in the rear stowage compartment on the
right-hand side of the vehicle
(Y page 270)
Vehicle lighting
X Turn the key to position 2 in the ignition
lock.
X Check the lighting system with the aid of a
second person.
X Replace defective bulbs (Y page
105). Before driving off
G
WARNING
Objects in the driver's footwell may restrict
the clearance around the pedals or block a
depressed pedal. This jeopardizes the oper-
ating and road safety of the vehicle. There is
a risk of an accident.
Stow all objects securely in the vehicle so
that they do not get into the driver's foot-
well. When using floormats or carpets, make
sure that they are properly secured so that
they do not slip or obstruct the pedals. Do
not place several floormats or carpets on
top of one another. G
WARNING
Unsuitable footwear can hinder correct
usage of the pedals, e.g.:
R shoes with thick soles
R shoes with high heels
R slippers
There is a risk of an accident.
Wear suitable footwear to ensure correct
usage of the pedals. Driving
127
Driving and parking Z

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

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

Driving on flooded roads
!
Do not drive through flooded areas. Check
the depth of any water before driving
through it. Drive slowly through standing
water. Otherwise, water could enter the
vehicle interior or engine compartment. It
can then damage the engine's or automatic
transmission's electronic components. It
can also be sucked in by the engine's air
intake connection and cause engine dam-
age.
If you have to drive on stretches of road on
which water has collected, please bear in mind
that: R the water level of standing water should not
be above the lower edge of the front
bumper
R you must not drive faster than walking
speed Driving in winter
G
WARNING
If you shift down on a slippery road surface
in an attempt to increase the engine's brak-
ing effect, the drive wheels could lose their
grip. There is an increased danger of skid-
ding and accidents.
Do not shift down for additional engine brak-
ing on a slippery road surface.
! An accumulation of snow and ice, particu-
larly when frozen, caught in the area around
the air intake slots, moving parts, the axles
and the wheel arches may:
R restrict air intake
R damage vehicle parts
R cause malfunctions by restricting the
mobility intended by the design (e.g.
reduced possible steering input).
Regularly check the vehicle and remove
snow or ice when traveling in wintry condi-
tions.
If there is any damage, inform a qualified
specialist workshop.
! Vehicles with automatic transmission may
only briefly coast in neutral position N.
Extended coasting of the wheels, e.g. when
towing, results in transmission damage. Have your vehicle winterized at a qualified spe-
cialist workshop at the onset of winter.
Drive particularly carefully on slippery roads.
Avoid sudden acceleration, steering and brak-
ing maneuvers. Do not use cruise control.
If the vehicle threatens to skid or cannot be
stopped when moving at low speed:
X Shift the transmission to position i.
X Try to maintain control of the vehicle using
corrective steering.
The outside temperature indicator is not
designed to serve as an ice-warning device
and is therefore unsuitable for that purpose.
Changes in the outside temperature are dis-
played after a short delay.
Indicated temperatures just above the freezing
point do not guarantee that the road surface is
free of ice. The road may still be icy, especially
in wooded areas or on bridges. If you do not
adjust your driving style, the vehicle may start
to skid. Always adapt your driving style and
drive at a speed to suit the prevailing weather
conditions.
You should pay special attention to road con-
ditions when temperatures are around freezing
point.
You can find further information under:
R "M+S tires" ( Y page
280)
R "Snow chains" (Y page 281)
R "Driving with summer tires" (Y page 280)
Also observe the notes under "Winter opera-
tion" (Y page 280). Driving off-road
Important safety notes G
WARNING
If you drive on a steep incline at an angle or
turn when driving on an incline, the vehicle
could slip sideways, tip and rollover. There is
a risk of an accident.
Always drive on a steep incline in the line of
fall (straight up or down) and do not turn the
vehicle. 144
Driving tips
Driving and parking

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

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

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