2020 MERCEDES-BENZ METRIS wheel

Transmission positions
B Park position
This prevents the vehicle from roll-
ing away when stopped. Only shift
the transmission to
j when the
vehicle is stationary.
The automatic transmission shifts
to j automatically in the following
situations:
R if you pull out the key.
R if you open the driver's door
when the vehicle is stationary or
when driving at a very low speed
and the transmission is in posi-
tion h or k.
The parking lock should not be used
as a brake when parking. Always
apply the parking brake as well
once you have parked the vehicle. C Reverse gear
Only shift the transmission to
k
when the vehicle is stationary. A Neutral
No power is transmitted from the
engine to the drive wheels. Releas-
ing the brakes will allow you to
move the vehicle freely, e.g. by
pushing or towing.
If ESP
®
is deactivated or faulty: shift
the transmission to position i if
the vehicle is in danger of skidding,
e.g. on icy roads.
When you switch off the engine, the
automatic transmission automati-
cally shifts into neutral i.
! When the engine is switched
off, rolling in idle i can damage
the power transmission and
result in transmission damage. 7 Drive
The automatic transmission
changes gear itself. All forward
gears are available.
You can influence gearshifts with
your choice of drive program. You
can also restrict the shift range. Transmission position and drive pro-
gram display
:
Drive program
; Current transmission position or
current gear in drive program M
= Shift range, if restricted
The transmission positions and current drive
program : are shown at the bottom of the
instrument cluster display. The current trans-
mission position is highlighted.
In drive program M, the transmission position
indicator shows the current gear in position D
( Y page
135).
If you restrict the shift range, the transmission
position indicator shows the current transmis-
sion position plus restricted shift range =,
e.g. D2 ( Y page 133).
The arrows in the transmission position display
show how and into which transmission posi-
tions you can change using the DIRECT
SELECT lever. Changing gear
The automatic transmission adapts to your
individual driving style by continuously adjust-
ing its shift points. These shift point adjust-
ments take into account the current operating
and driving conditions. If the operating or driv-
ing conditions change, the automatic transmis-
sion reacts by adjusting the gearshift program.
When the automatic transmission is in trans-
mission position h, it shifts the individual
gears automatically.
This depends on the following factors:
R the drive program selected ( Y page 134)
R any restriction in the shift range
(Y page

133)
R the position of the accelerator pedal
R the road speed
You can also change gear manually if you
select drive program M (Y page 135).132
Automatic transmission
Driving and parking

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

Problems with the fuel and fuel tank
If your vehicle is losing fuel, the fuel lines or
the fuel tank are defective. X Turn the key immediately to position 0 in
the ignition lock and remove it.
X Do not restart the engine under any circum-
stances.
X Consult a qualified specialist workshop. Parking
Important safety notes
G
WARNING
Flammable material such as leaves, grass or
twigs may ignite if they come into contact
with hot parts of the exhaust system or
exhaust gas flow. There is a risk of fire.
Park the vehicle so that no flammable mate-
rials come into contact with parts of the
vehicle which are hot. Take particular care
not to park on dry grassland or harvested
grain fields. G
WARNING
If you leave children unsupervised in the
vehicle, they could set it in motion by, for
example:
R release the parking brake.
R shift the automatic transmission out of
the parking position P.
R start the engine.
In addition, they may operate vehicle equip-
ment and become trapped. There is a risk of
an accident and injury.
When leaving the vehicle, always take the
SmartKey with you and lock the vehicle.
Never leave children unsupervised in the
vehicle. G
WARNING
If you park the vehicle with the transmission
in park position j and the parking brake is
not engaged, the vehicle may roll away.
Engaging park position j is not a fully ade- quate replacement for the parking brake.
There is a risk of accident and injury.
Secure the vehicle against rolling away as
described below.
! Always secure the vehicle correctly against
rolling away. Otherwise, the vehicle or its
drivetrain could be damaged.
! When the vehicle is parked, always remove
the key to prevent the battery from becom-
ing discharged.
Always park your vehicle safely and secure it
against rolling away. When parking, observe
the legal requirements of the country in which
you are currently driving.
Observe the following to ensure that the vehi-
cle is secured correctly to prevent it from roll-
ing away unintentionally: R the parking brake is applied.
R the transmission is in position j and the
key has been removed.
R on uphill or downhill gradients, the front
wheels are turned towards the curb. Parking brake
G
WARNING
If you leave children unsupervised in the
vehicle, they could set it in motion by, for
example:
R release the parking brake.
R shift the automatic transmission out of
the parking position P.
R start the engine.
In addition, they may operate vehicle equip-
ment and become trapped. There is a risk of
an accident and injury.
When leaving the vehicle, always take the
SmartKey with you and lock the vehicle.
Never leave children unsupervised in the
vehicle. 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 138
ParkingDriving and parking

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. The brake lamps are not illuminated when you
brake the vehicle using the parking brake.
As a rule, you may only apply the parking
brake when the vehicle is stationary.
X To apply the parking brake: depress park-
ing brake pedal ; firmly.
The red F (only USA) or J (only Can-
ada) indicator lamp in the instrument cluster
lights up if the engine is running.
X To release the parking brake: depress the
brake pedal and keep it depressed.
X Pull release handle :.
The parking brake is released abruptly. The
red F (only USA) or J (only Canada)
indicator lamp in the instrument cluster
goes out.
Exceptionally, if the service brake fails, the
parking brake can be used to brake the vehicle
in an emergency.
X Emergency braking: pull release handle :
and gradually depress parking brake
pedal ;. Switching off the engine
Important safety notes G
WARNING
The automatic transmission switches to neu-
tral position N when you switch off the
engine. The vehicle may roll away. There is a
risk of an accident.
After switching off the engine, always switch
to parking position P. Prevent the parked
vehicle from rolling away by applying the
parking brake.
! If the coolant temperature is very high, e.g.
after driving on hilly roads, leave the engine
running at idle speed for about
two minutes
before turning it off.
This allows the coolant temperature to
return to normal.
Vehicles with automatic transmission X
Stop the vehicle.
X Shift the transmission to position j.
X Apply the parking brake.
X Turn the key to position u in the ignition
lock and remove it.
The immobilizer is activated.
If you switch the engine off with the trans-
mission in position k or h, the automatic
transmission shifts to i automatically.
If you then open one of the front doors or
remove the key, the automatic transmission
automatically shifts to j.
If you shift the automatic transmission to
i before switching off the engine, the
automatic transmission remains in i even
if a front door is opened.
X Secure the vehicle to prevent it from rolling
away

(Y page 138). Parking
139
Driving and parking Z

Vehicles with halogen headlamps
The headlamps do not need to be switched to
symmetrical low beam. The legal requirements
of countries in which traffic drives on the
opposite side of the road to the country where
the vehicle is registered are met without the
need to convert the headlamps. Transport by rail
Transporting your vehicle by rail may be sub-
ject to certain restrictions or require special
measures to be taken in some countries due
to varying tunnel heights and loading stand-
ards.
You can obtain information on this from any
Mercedes-Benz Commercial Van Center. Braking
Important safety notes 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.
Downhill gradients !
Depressing the brake pedal constantly
results in excessive and premature wear to
the brake pads.
This also applies to automatic braking if you
have activated cruise control.
On long and steep downhill gradients, you
should change down to shift range 2 or 1 in
good time
(Y page 133).
This should be observed in particular when
driving with a laden vehicle and when towing a
trailer.
You thereby make use of the braking effect of
the engine and do not have to brake as often
to maintain the speed. This relieves the load
on the service brake and prevents the brakes
from overheating and wearing too quickly. Heavy and light loads G
WARNING
If you rest your foot on the brake pedal
while driving, the braking system can over-
heat. This increases the stopping distance
and can even cause the braking system to
fail. There is a risk of an accident.
Never use the brake pedal as a footrest.
Never depress the brake pedal and the
accelerator pedal at the same time.
! Depressing the brake pedal constantly
results in excessive and premature wear to
the brake pads.
If the brakes have been subjected to a heavy
load, do not stop the vehicle immediately.
Drive on for a short while. The brakes are
cooled down more quickly in the airflow.
Wet road surfaces If you have been driving for a long time in
heavy rain without braking, there may be a
delayed response when you first apply the
brakes. This may also occur after driving
through a car wash or deep water.
You must depress the brake pedal more firmly.
Maintain a longer distance to the vehicle in
front.
While paying attention to the traffic conditions,
you should brake the vehicle firmly after driv-
ing on a wet road surface or through a car
wash. This heats the brake discs, so that they
dry more quickly, which protects them against
corrosion.
Limited braking performance on salt-
treated roads When driving on salted roads, salt may start to
build up on the brake disks and brake pads.
This can increase braking distances considera-
bly.
Maintain a greater distance to the vehicle in
front.
To remove any build-up of salt that may have
formed:
X Apply the brakes at the start of the journey,
occasionally during journey and at the end 142
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

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