WARNING
New brake pads will not have the optimal braking effect when first fitted.
New brake pads cannot generate the full braking effect during the first 300 km and must first be run
in. A reduced braking effect can be increased by applying more pressure to the brake pedal.
In order to reduce the risk of accidents, serious injuries and the loss of control over the vehicle, you
must drive particularly carefully when driving with new brake pads.
Never drive too close to other vehicles during the run-in time for the new brake pads and never
create a driving situation that will place a heavy load on the brakes.
WARNING
Overheated brakes reduce the braking effect and considerably increase the braking distance.
When driving downhill, the brakes are placed under particular strain and become hot very quickly.
Before driving down a long, steep gradient, reduce speed and change to a lower gear (with manual
gearboxes or in Tiptronic mode with the automatic gearbox). This will make use of the engine
braking effect and relieve the load on the brakes.
Non-standard or damaged front spoilers could restrict the airflow to the brakes and cause them to
overheat.
WARNING
Wet brakes or brakes coated with ice or road salt react more slowly and require longer braking
distances.
Carefully apply the brakes to test them.
Always dry brakes and clean off any coating of ice and salt with a few cautious applications of the
brake when visibility, weather, road and traffic conditions permit.
WARNING
Driving without the brake servo can considerably increase the braking distance and thus cause
accidents and serious injuries.
Never switch the engine or ignition off while the vehicle is in motion.
If the brake servo does not function or the vehicle is being towed, the brake pedal will have to be
depressed more forcefully as the braking distance will be increased due to the lack of assistance for
the brake system.
Avoid any abrupt or sudden driving and braking manoeuvres as this could cause the open boot lid to
move unpredictably.
Any objects protruding from the luggage compartment must be marked to ensure that they are
visible to other road users. Comply with legal regulations.
If items protrude out of the luggage compartment, never use the boot lid to wedge them into place
or hold them in position.
If you have to drive with the boot lid open, you must remove any carriers and the loads attached to
them from the boot lid.
WARNING
Poisonous exhaust fumes could enter the vehicle interior when the boot lid is open. This could result
in loss of consciousness, carbon monoxide poisoning, serious injury and accidents.
You should always drive with the boot lid closed in order to prevent poisonous exhaust fumes from
entering the vehicle.
If exceptional circumstances require you to drive with an open boot lid, you must do the following to
reduce the amount of poisonous exhaust fumes that could enter into the vehicle:
Close all windows and the glass roof.
Switch off the air recirculation mode of the heating and fresh air system or air conditioning system.
Open all vents in the dash panel.
Switch the blower for the heating and fresh air system or for the air conditioning system to the
highest setting.
NOTICE
The vehicle height, and possibly the length, are different when the boot lid is open.
Driving through water
Please follow these points in order to prevent damage to your vehicle when driving through water,
for example on flooded streets:
Check how deep the water is before driving through it. The water may be no higher than the lower
edge of the body ⇒ .
Do not drive faster than walking speed.
Never stop the vehicle, reverse or switch off the engine while in water.
Oncoming vehicles will create waves that could increase the water level for your vehicle to such an
extent that it is not safe to drive through the water.
Always deactivate the start/stop system manually when driving through water ⇒ Start/stop system .
WARNING
After driving through water, mud, slush etc., the brakes may react slowly and the braking distance
will be increased as the brake discs and pads will be wet, or possibly iced up in winter.
Dry and de-ice the brakes using careful braking manoeuvres. Make sure that you do not endanger
any other road users or violate any legal regulations when doing so.
Avoid abrupt and sudden braking manoeuvres directly after driving through water.
NOTICE
If you drive through water, parts of the vehicle, such as the engine, gearbox, running gear and
vehicle electrics, could sustain severe damage.
Never drive through salt water as salt can cause corrosion. Immediately rinse all components that
have been exposed to salt water with fresh water.
Running in the engine
A new engine has to be run in during the first 1,500 kilometres. This enables all the moving parts to
bed in together. During the first few operating hours, the engine has higher internal friction than it
does later.
Do not depress the accelerator fully.
Do not drive the vehicle at more than 2/3 of the maximum engine speed.
Gradually increase speed and engine speed.
The style of driving during the first 1,500 kilometres will also affect the engine quality. Even after this
time – and especially with a cold engine – drive the vehicle at moderate engine speeds in order to
reduce engine wear and to increase the mileage that the engine can cover.
Do not drive at engine speeds which are too low. Always shift down gear if the engine is not running
smoothly.
New tyres ⇒ Wheels and tyres and brake pads ⇒ Notes on driving must be run in carefully.
If the engine is run in gently, its life will be increased and its oil consumption reduced.
Using the vehicle in other countries and continents
The vehicle is produced at the factory specifically for a certain country and complies with this
country's registration regulations valid at the time of vehicle production.
Start/stop system
Fig. 102 In the upper part of the centre console: button for the start/stop system.
The start/stop system automatically switches the engine off when the vehicle is coming to a stop
and when stationary. When required, the engine restarts automatically.
Switching on the start/stop system
The function is automatically activated every time the ignition is switched on. The instrument cluster
display will show information about the current status.
Further information on start/stop mode can be accessed in the Infotainment system using the
button or function button and the Vehicle, Selection, Vehicle status function buttons. This
information also applies to coasting.
Always switch off the start/stop system manually when driving through water.
Indicator lamps
If the indicator lamp lights up, the start/stop system is available and automatic engine stop is
active.
If the indicator lamp lights up, the start/stop system is not available or the start/stop system has
started the engine automatically ⇒ Conditions for an automatic restart .
The display on the instrument cluster may show the status of the start/stop system.
In addition, start/stop information on the current status of the start/stop system can be displayed as
required in Infotainment systems with a navigation function. Touch the i in the start/stop
information to obtain further information on the status.
Vehicles with a manual gearbox
Disengage the gear and release the clutch pedal when the vehicle is coming to a stop, or when it is
stationary. The engine is stopped.
Depress the clutch pedal to restart the engine.
Important preconditions for automatic engine switch-off
The driver is wearing their seat belt.
The driver door is closed.
The instrument cluster shows the status of the start/stop system each time the button is pressed.
If the start/stop system has switched the engine off, it will start again as soon as the system is
deactivated manually with the button.
Always deactivate the start/stop system manually when driving through water.
Start/stop mode when Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) is active
The engine will be switched off after the Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) has brought the vehicle to a
standstill via an active braking intervention ⇒ Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) .
The engine will be switched off after the Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) has brought the vehicle to a
standstill via an active braking intervention ⇒ Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) .
Vehicles with dual clutch gearbox DSG: when adaptive cruise control (ACC) is activated, the
dual clutch gearbox DSG® can switch to coasting mode.
Vehicles with dual clutch gearbox DSG: when adaptive cruise control (ACC) is activated, the
dual clutch gearbox DSG® can switch to coasting mode.
In the following instances, the engine will restart when the Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) is active:
If the accelerator is depressed.
When the Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) has resumed speed and distance control.
If the vehicle ahead has moved on.
WARNING
Never switch off the engine or the ignition while the vehicle is in motion. This can lead to a loss of
vehicle control, accidents and serious injuries.
The airbags and belt tensioners will not work if the ignition is switched off.
The brake servo will not work when the engine is switched off. That is why more pressure on the
brake pedal is needed to brake the vehicle when the engine is switched off.
The power steering will not work when the engine is not running. More power is needed to steer the
vehicle when the engine is switched off.
When the ignition is switched off, the steering lock may activate and you will no longer be able to
steer the vehicle.
The start/stop system must be deactivated if work is to be carried out in the engine compartment.
NOTICE
Fig. 106 Selector lever in Tiptronic position (left-hand drive). Mirror image for right-hand drive
vehicles.
Fig. 107 Steering wheel with paddles for Tiptronic.
The gear that is currently selected will be maintained when the Tiptronic programme is selected.
This remains the case as long as the system does not automatically carry out a change of gear due to
the current driving situation.
Operating Tiptronic with the selector lever
Push the selector lever from position D/S to the right into the Tiptronic gate.
Tap the selector lever forwards ⊕ or back ㊀ to shift gear up or down ⇒ Fig. 106 .
When tapping the selector lever in the Tiptronic gate, it is not necessary to press the lock button on
the selector lever.
Operating Tiptronic with the paddles
Pull the right paddle ⇒ Fig. 107 towards the steering wheel to change up a gear.
Pull the left paddle towards the steering wheel to change down a gear.
To leave Tiptronic mode, pull the right paddle towards the steering wheel for approximately one
second.
Tiptronic is automatically deactivated if the selector paddles are not operated for some time and the
selector lever is not in the Tiptronic gate.
NOTICE
When accelerating, the gearbox automatically shifts up to the next gear shortly before the maximum
permitted engine speed is reached.
When shifting down a gear manually, the gearbox will not change gear until the engine can no longer
be overrevved.
Driving with DSG® dual clutch gearbox
The gearbox changes the forward gears up and down automatically.
Driving down hills
The steeper the gradient, the lower the gear you will need. Lower gears increase the braking effect
of the engine. Never allow the vehicle to roll down mountains or hills in the neutral position N.
Reduce your speed.
Push the selector lever from position D/S to the right into the Tiptronic gate ⇒ Changing gear using
Tiptronic .
Tap the selector lever to the rear to change down gear.
OR: shift down a gear using the paddles on the steering wheel ⇒ Changing gear using Tiptronic .
Stopping and pulling away on an uphill gradient
The steeper the uphill gradient, the lower the gear you will need.
If you wish to stop the vehicle or pull away when driving uphill, you should use the Auto Hold
function ⇒ Electronic parking brake .
When you stop the vehicle on an uphill gradient with a selected position, the vehicle must always be
prevented from rolling by depressing the brake pedal or by applying the electronic parking brake. Do
not release the brake pedal or switch off the electronic parking brake until you are about to pull
away.
Coasting with DSG® dual clutch gearbox
In coasting mode, the momentum of the vehicle can be used to save fuel in conjunction with an
anticipatory driving style. The engine no longer brakes the vehicle – the vehicle can roll for a longer
distance. The function is available only in the selector lever position D and at speeds of
approximately 40 – 130 km/h (25 mph – 80 mph).
Initiating coasting
Select the Eco driving profile in the driving profile selection menu ⇒ Driving profile selection and
4MOTION Active Control .
Take your foot off the accelerator. The engine will be disengaged and run at idling speed. The vehicle
rolls without the braking effect of the engine.
If the speed falls below 130 km/h (80 mph).
Depress the accelerator briefly.
Cancelling coasting mode
Depress the brake pedal forcefully.
OR: depress the accelerator or brake pedal briefly.
OR: pull a paddle towards the steering wheel.
OR: press the selector lever to the Tiptronic position.
OR: change the driving profile from Eco.
If the text message and signal tone are repeated approximately every 10 seconds, park the vehicle
safely as soon as possible and switch the engine off. Allow the gearbox to cool down.
Do not drive on until the signal tone stops in order to avoid damage to the gearbox. You should not
pull away or drive the vehicle at very low speeds while the gearbox is overheated.
Downhill speed control
The downhill speed control system helps when braking and travelling downhill in vehicles with a
DSG® dual clutch gearbox ⇒ . The downhill speed control uses the braking power of the engine.
The DSG® dual clutch gearbox selects the best gear depending on the steepness of the gradient and
the current speed. The selector lever must be in position D/S. The downhill speed control is not
active in Tiptronic mode.
As the downhill speed control can shift down only as far as third gear, it may be necessary to activate
the Tiptronic mode when driving down particularly steep inclines. When in Tiptronic mode, select
second or first gear manually in order to make use of the braking effect of the engine and to relieve
the load on the brakes.
The start/stop system is automatically deactivated as long as downhill speed control is active.
Activating downhill speed control automatically:
If the downhill gradient is greater than approximately 6%.
AND: if the selector lever is in position D/S.
In addition, if the cruise control system or Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) is switched off: if the
vehicle speed is less than approximately 80 km/h (50 mph) or the brake pedal is depressed.
In addition, if the cruise control system or Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) is active: if the stored speed
is exceeded.
Deactivating downhill speed control automatically:
If the downhill gradient becomes less steep.
OR: if the gearbox shifts up a gear because the engine speed is higher than approximately 4,500 rpm.
Or additionally if the cruise control system or Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) is active: if the stored
speed can be maintained.
WARNING
The intelligent downhill speed control technology cannot overcome the laws of physics, and
functions only within the limits of the system. Never let the extra convenience afforded by pull-away
assist systems tempt you into taking any safety risks when driving.
Unintentional vehicle movements can cause serious injury.
The downhill speed control cannot replace the full concentration of the driver.
Always adapt your speed and driving style to suit visibility, weather, road and traffic conditions.