2007 Mercedes-benz CL Class Owners Manual

Vehicles with SmartKey: 왘 With the vehicle at a standstill and the

왘 Depress the brake pedal. 왘 Shift the automatic transmission to

Warning!

ignition switched on shift the automatic transmission to neutral position N.

왘 If engaged, manually release the

electronic parking brake (컄 page 385).

왘 Switch off the ignition and leave the

SmartKey in the starter switch.

Vehicles with KEYLESS-GO*: 왘 With the vehicle at a standstill, depress

the brake pedal and keep it pressed.

왘 With the ignition switched on shift the

automatic transmission to park position P.

왘 Release the brake pedal. 왘 Remove the KEYLESS-GO start/stop

button from the starter switch (컄 page 337).

왘 Insert the SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO

into the starter switch. 왘 Switch on the ignition.

neutral position N.

왘 Release the brake pedal. 왘 If engaged, manually release the

electronic parking brake (컄 page 385).

왘 Switch off the ignition and leave the

SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO in the starter switch.

! Coasting the vehicle, or driving for any other reason in neutral position N can result in trans- mission damage that is not covered by the Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.

Effect ê Drive

The transmission shifts automatically. All forward gears are available.

Getting out of your vehicle without shifting into park position P is dangerous. Also, park position P alone is not intended to or capa- ble of preventing your vehicle from moving, possibly hitting people or objects.

Always engage the electronic parking brake (컄 page 384) in addition to shifting to park position P.

When parked on an incline, turn the front wheels towards the road curb.

Do not park this vehicle in areas where com- bustible materials such as grass, hay or leaves can come into contact with the hot exhaust system, as these materials could be ignited and cause a vehicle fire.

395

Controls in detail Automatic transmission

Warning!

Driving tips

When leaving the vehicle, always remove the SmartKey or SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO* from the starter switch, take it with you, and lock the vehicle. Do not leave children unat- tended in the vehicle, or with access to an unlocked vehicle. Children could shift the automatic transmission out of park position P, which could result in an accident and/or serious personal injury.

Accelerator position Your driving style influences the transmission’s shifting behavior: Less throttle More throttle

Earlier upshifting Later upshifting

Kickdown Use kickdown when you want maximum acceleration. 왘 Press the accelerator past the point of

resistance. Depending on the engine speed the transmission shifts into a lower gear.

왘 Ease on the accelerator when you have

reached the desired speed. The transmission shifts up again.

Stopping When you stop briefly, e.g. at traffic lights: 왘 Leave the transmission in gear. 왘 Hold the vehicle with the brake. When you stop for a longer period of time with the engine idling and/or on a hill: 왘 Engage the electronic parking brake. 왘 Shift into park position P.

Maneuvering When you maneuver in tight areas, e.g. when pulling into a parking space: 왘 Control the vehicle speed by gradually

releasing the brakes.

왘 Accelerate gently. 왘 Never abruptly step on the accelerator.

396

Controls in detail Automatic transmission

Hill start assist system

Warning!

The hill start assist system is not designed to function as a electronic parking brake and does not prevent the vehicle from moving when parked on an incline.

Always engage the electronic parking brake in addition to shifting to park position P.

The hill start assist system is inactive 앫 when starting off on a level road or

downhill grades

앫 with the transmission in neutral

position N

앫 with the electronic parking brake en-

gaged

앫 if the ESP® has switched off due to a

malfunction

On uphill grades with a gradient angle of more than 5°, the hill start assist system maintains the pressure in the brake sys- tem for approximately 1 second after you have released the brake pedal. Therefore, you can start off smoothly without the vehicle moving immediately after releasing the brake pedal.

Rocking the vehicle Rocking the vehicle by shifting between drive position D and reverse gear R can help free a vehicle stuck in mud or snow. The engine control system of this vehicle electronically limits shifting between drive position D and reverse gear R to very low speeds, i.e. approximately 5 mph (9 km/h). To shift between drive position D and reverse gear R, move the gear selector lever past the resistance point up or down.

Working on the vehicle

Warning!

When working on the vehicle, engage the electronic parking brake and shift to park position P. Otherwise the vehicle could roll away.

397

Controls in detail Automatic transmission

Gear ranges

With the automatic transmission in drive position D and driving in program mode C or S (컄 page 399), you can select a gear range for the automatic transmission to operate within. You can limit the gear range by pressing the left gearshift button on the steering wheel gearshift control, and reverse the gear range limit by pressing the right gear- shift button on the steering wheel gearshift control (컄 page 400).

398

The selected gear range appears in the in- strument cluster.

1 Current gear range

Effect

ï The transmission shifts through

sixth gear only (applies to vehicles with 7-speed automatic transmission only).

î The transmission shifts through

fifth gear only (applies to vehicles with 7-speed automatic transmission only).

é The transmission shifts through

fourth gear only.

Effect

è The transmission shifts through

third gear only. With this selection you can use the braking effect of the engine. ç The transmission shifts through

second gear only. Allows the use of engine’s braking power when driving: 앫 on steep downgrades 앫 in mountainous regions 앫 under extreme operating

conditions

æ The transmission operates in

first gear only. For maximum use of engine’s braking effect on very steep or lengthy downgrades.

The selected program mode appears in the instrument cluster.

Automatic shift program

The program mode selector switch is used to adjust 앫 shift program 앫 suspension tuning of ABC (컄 page 429) 앫 engine control

1 Current program mode

! Never change the program mode when the automatic transmission is out of park position P. This could result in a change of driving character- istics for which you may not be prepared.

i The last selected program mode (C or S) is switched on when the engine is restarted.

Program mode selector switch C Comfort S Sport

For comfort driving For standard driving

Controls in detail Automatic transmission

왘 Press the program mode selector

switch repeatedly until the letter of the desired program mode appears in the instrument cluster. Select C for comfort driving: 앫 The vehicle starts out in second

gear (both forward and reverse) for gentler starts. This does not apply if full throttle is applied or gear range 1 is selected.

앫 Traction and driving stability are

improved on icy roads.

앫 Upshifts occur earlier even when

you give more gas. The engine then operates at lower rpms and the wheels are less likely to spin.

Select S for standard driving: 앫 The vehicle starts out in first gear. 앫 Upshifts occur later.

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Controls in detail Automatic transmission

Steering wheel gearshift control

With drive position D selected, you can limit or extend the gear range.

! Allow engine to warm up under low load use. Do not place full load on the engine until the op- erating temperature has been reached. Shift into reverse gear R or park position P only when the vehicle is stopped. Avoid spinning of a drive wheel for an extended period when driving off on slippery road surfaces. This may cause serious damage to the drivetrain which is not covered by the Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.

400

Limiting gear range

Warning!

On slippery road surfaces, never downshift in order to obtain braking action. This could result in drive wheel slip and reduced vehicle control. Your vehicle’s ABS will not prevent this type of loss of control.

왘 Briefly press left shift button 1.

The transmission will shift to the next lower gear as permitted by the shift program. This action simultaneously limits the gear range of the transmis- sion (컄 page 398).

i To avoid overrevving the engine when down- shifting, the transmission will not shift to a lower gear if the engine’s max. speed would be ex- ceeded.

Gearshift control buttons 1 Left shift button: limiting gear range 2 Right shift button: extending gear

range

i You cannot shift with the steering wheel gearshift control buttons when the transmission in position P, N or R.

Extending gear range 왘 Briefly press right shift button 2.

Canceling gear range limit 왘 Press and hold right shift button 2

Emergency operation (Limp-Home Mode)

Controls in detail Automatic transmission

The transmission will shift to the next higher gear as permitted by the shift program. This action simultaneously extends the gear range of the transmis- sion.

i If you press on the accelerator when the en- gine has reached its rpm limit, the transmission will upshift beyond any gear range limit selected.

until the indicator for the current gear range disappears from the instrument cluster (컄 page 398). The transmission will shift from the current gear range directly to gear range D.

Shifting into optimal gear range 왘 Press and hold left shift button 1. The transmission will automatically select the gear range suited for optimal acceleration and deceleration. This will involve shifting down one or more gears.

If vehicle acceleration becomes less re- sponsive or sluggish or the transmission no longer shifts, the transmission is most likely operating in limp-home (emergency operation) mode. In this mode only second gear and reverse gear can be selected. 왘 Stop the vehicle in a safe location. 왘 Shift to park position P. 왘 Turn off the engine. 왘 Wait at least 10 seconds before

restarting.

왘 Restart the engine. 왘 Shift to drive position D (for second

gear) or reverse gear R.

왘 Have the transmission checked at an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center as soon as possible.

401

Controls in detail Instrument cluster

A full view illustration of the instrument cluster can be found in the “At a glance” section of this manual (컄 page 30). The instrument cluster is activated when you: 앫 open a door 앫 switch on the ignition (컄 page 336) 앫 switch on the exterior lamps The language setting for the multifunction display can be changed via COMAND (컄 page 81).

402

Warning!

Adjusting instrument cluster display il- lumination

No messages will be displayed if either the instrument cluster or the multifunction dis- play is inoperative.

As a result, you will not be able to see infor- mation about your driving conditions, such as speed or outside temperature, warning/ indicator lamps, malfunction/warning mes- sages or the failure of any systems. Driving characteristics may be impaired.

If you must continue to drive, please do so with added caution. Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center as soon as possible. i The instrument cluster illumination is

1 Knob

dimmed or brightened automatically to suit am- bient light conditions. The instrument cluster illumination will also be adjusted automatically when you switch on the vehicle’s exterior lamps. 왘 Brightening illumination: Turn

knob 1 clockwise.

왘 Dimming illumination: Turn knob 1

counterclockwise.

Controls in detail Instrument cluster

! Excessive coolant temperature triggers a warning in the multifunction display (컄 page 610). The engine should not be operated with the cool- ant temperature above 248°F (120°C), i.e. in the red zone of the coolant temperature gauge. Doing so may cause serious engine damage which is not covered by the Mercedes-Benz Lim- ited Warranty.

i During severe operating conditions, e.g. stop-and-go traffic, the coolant temperature may rise close to 248°F (120°C), i.e. close to the red zone of the temperature gauge.

Tachometer

The red marking on the tachometer de- notes excessive engine speed.

! Avoid driving at excessive engine speeds, as it may result in serious engine damage that is not covered by the Mercedes-Benz Limited Warran- ty.

To help protect the engine, the fuel supply is interrupted if the engine is operated within the red marking.

Coolant temperature gauge

The coolant temperature gauge is on the left side in the instrument cluster (컄 page 30).

Warning!

앫 Driving when your engine is overheated can cause some fluids which may have leaked into the engine compartment to catch fire. You could be seriously burned.

앫 Steam from an overheated engine can cause serious burns and can occur just by opening the hood. Stay away from the engine if you see or hear steam com- ing from it.

Stop the vehicle in a safe location away from other traffic. Turn off the engine, get out of the vehicle and do not stand near the vehicle until the engine has cooled down.

403

Controls in detail Instrument cluster

Outside temperature indicator

The outside temperature indicator is on the bottom left-hand side of the instru- ment cluster (컄 page 30).

Warning!

The outside temperature indicator is not de- signed to serve as an ice-warning device and is therefore unsuitable for that purpose.

Indicated temperatures just above the freez- ing point do not guarantee that the road sur- face is free of ice. The road may still be icy, especially in wooded areas or on bridges.

The temperature sensor is located in the front bumper area. Due to its location, the sensor can be affected by road or engine heat during idling or slow driving. There- fore, the accuracy of the displayed temper- ature can only be verified by comparison to a thermometer placed next to the sensor, not by comparison to external displays (e.g. bank signs, etc.). When moving the vehicle into colder ambi- ent temperatures (e.g. when leaving your garage), you will notice a delay before the lower temperature is displayed. A delay also occurs when ambient temper- atures rise. This prevents inaccurate tem- perature indications caused by heat radiated from the engine during idling or slow driving.

Fuel gauge

The fuel gauge is on the left-hand side of the instrument cluster (컄 page 30). Once the fuel level has fallen below the reserve mark, the yellow fuel tank reserve warning lamp comes on (컄 page 573).

404

Cruise control

The cruise control automatically maintains the speed you set for your vehicle. The use of the cruise control is recom- mended for driving at a constant speed for extended periods of time. You can set or resume the cruise control at any speed over 20 mph (30 km/h). The cruise control function is operated by means of the cruise control lever.

왔 Driving systems The driving systems of your vehicle are de- scribed on the following pages: 앫 Cruise control (컄 page 405) and

DISTRONIC Plus*(컄 page 411), with which the vehicle can maintain a preset speed.

앫 ABC (컄 page 429) adjusts the vehicle suspension characteristics automati- cally and control the vehicle level.

앫 Parktronic* (컄 page 431) and

Park Assist* (컄 page 435), which serve as a parking assistant.

앫 Dynamic Rear View Monitor*

(컄 page 439) is an electronic and visual parking aid.

앫 Night View Assist* (컄 page 446) illumi-

nates the road with infrared light in addition to the normal headlamps. For information on the ABS, Adaptive Brake, BAS, BAS Plus*, EBP, ESP® and PRE-SAFE® Brake*, see “Driving safety systems” (컄 page 64).

Controls in detail Driving systems

Warning!

The cruise control is a convenience system designed to assist the driver during vehicle operation. The driver is and must always remain responsible for the vehicle’s speed and for safe brake operation.

Only use the cruise control if the road, traffic, and weather conditions make it advisable to travel at a constant speed. 앫 The use of the cruise control can be dan- gerous on winding roads or in heavy traf- fic because conditions do not allow safe driving at a constant speed.

앫 The use of the cruise control can be dan- gerous on slippery roads. Rapid changes in tire traction can result in wheel spin and loss of control.

앫 Deactivate the cruise control when

driving in fog.

The “Resume” function should only be oper- ated if the driver is fully aware of the previ- ously set speed and wishes to resume this particular preset speed.

405

Controls in detail Driving systems

Warning!

The cruise control brakes automatically so that the set speed is not exceeded. The brake pedal depresses when the cruise con- trol engages the brakes.

Keep driver’s foot area clear at all times, in- cluding the area under the brake pedal. Ob- jects stored in this area may impair pedal movement which could interfere with the braking ability of the cruise control system.

Do not place your foot under the brake pedal – your foot could become caught.

Keep in mind that the cruise control is a con- venience system designed to assist the driv- er during vehicle operation. The driver is and must always remain responsible for the ve- hicle’s speed and for safe brake operation.

406

Activating cruise control You can activate the cruise control if the vehicle speed is above 20 mph (30 km/h). In the following cases you cannot activate the cruise control: 앫 when you brake 앫 the vehicle is secured with the elec-

tronic parking brake

앫 when the automatic transmission is set

to position P, R, or N

앫 when ESP® is switched off

i The vehicle speed displayed in the speedom- eter can briefly vary from the speed setting for the cruise control system.

1 Setting current or higher speed

Adjustment in 1 mph increments (to the resistance point) or 5 mph increments (past the resistance point) (Canada: 1 km/h or 10 km/h) 2 Setting current or lower speed

Adjustment in 1 mph increments (to the resistance point) or 5 mph increments (past the resistance point) (Canada: 1 km/h or 10 km/h)

3 Cancel cruise control 4 Activating cruise control or resuming to

last set speed

i On uphill grades, the cruise control may not be able to maintain the set speed. Once the grade eases, the set speed will be resumed. On downhill grades, the cruise control maintains the set speed by braking with the vehicle’s brak- ing system. In addition, on longer downhill grades the automatic transmission will down- shift automatically.

Setting current speed 왘 Accelerate or decelerate to the desired

speed.

왘 Briefly lift the cruise control lever in direction of arrow 1 or depress in direction of arrow 2. The current speed is set.

왘 Remove your foot from the accelerator

pedal. The cruise control is activated. 앫 The current set speed appears in

the multifunction display for ap- proximately 5 seconds.

앫 The corresponding speedometer

segments from the selected speed to the vehicle maximum speed in the multifunction display are illumi- nated.

앫 The set speed is shown by a triangle

in the speedometer.

Controls in detail Driving systems

Canceling cruise control There are several ways to cancel the cruise control: 왘 Step on the brake pedal.

The cruise control is canceled. The last set speed is stored for later use.

or 왘 Briefly push the cruise control lever in

direction of arrow 3. The cruise control is canceled. The last set speed is stored for later use.

i The last stored set speed is deleted when the engine is turned off.

407

Controls in detail Driving systems

i The cruise control switches off automatical- ly when 앫 you step on the brake pedal 앫 the vehicle is secured with the electronic

parking brake In this case, the cruise control speed seg- ments in the multifunction display will go out and no warning sounds.

앫 the vehicle speed is below 20 mph

(30 km/h)

앫 the ESP® is in operation or switched off with

the ESP® switch (컄 page 71)

앫 you set the automatic transmission to N

while driving The cruise control speed segments in the multifunction display will go out and an acoustic warning sounds.

Observe additional messages in the multifunction display that may appear.

! Setting the automatic transmission to N while driving cancels the cruise control. Howev- er, the automatic transmission should not be set to N while driving except to coast when the vehi- cle is in danger of skidding (e.g. on icy roads).

408

Adjustment in 1 mph (Canada: 1 km/h) increments

i The set speed value is increased in 1 mph (Canada: 1 km/h) increments each time you lift the cruise control lever up to the resistance point. 왘 Briefly lift the cruise control lever up to

the resistance point in direction of arrow 1 (컄 page 406).

왘 Release the cruise control lever.

The vehicle speed increases in incre- ments of 1 mph (Canada: 1 km/h).

i Depressing the accelerator pedal does not deactivate the cruise control. After a brief accel- eration (e.g. for passing), the cruise control will resume the last set speed.

Setting a higher speed

Warning!

If you increase the set speed, keep in mind that it may take a brief moment until the ve- hicle has reached the set speed.

Increase the set speed to a value that the prevailing road conditions and legal speed limits permit. Otherwise, sudden and unex- pected acceleration of the vehicle could cause an accident and/or serious injury to you and others.

You can increase the set speed in two ways.

Adjustment in 5 mph (Canada: 10 km/h) increments

i The set speed value is increased in 5 mph (Canada: 10 km/h) increments each time you lift the cruise control lever up past the resistance point. 왘 Briefly lift the cruise control lever up

past the resistance point in direction of arrow 1 (컄 page 406).

왘 Release the cruise control lever.

The vehicle speed increases in incre- ments of 5 mph (Canada: 10 km/h).

i The new speed is set and the vehicle will ac- celerate. Keep in mind that it may take a brief moment until the vehicle has reached the set speed.

Controls in detail Driving systems

Setting a lower speed

Warning!

If you decrease the set speed, keep in mind that it may take a brief moment until the ve- hicle has reached the set speed.

Decelerate the set speed to a value that the prevailing road conditions and legal speed limits permit. Otherwise, sudden and unex- pected deceleration of the vehicle could cause an accident and/or serious injury to you and others.

Adjustment in 1 mph (Canada: 1 km/h) increments

i The set speed value is decreased in 1 mph (Canada: 1 km/h) increments each time you press the cruise control lever down to the resis- tance point. 왘 Briefly press the cruise control lever down to the resistance point in direc- tion of arrow 2 (컄 page 406).

왘 Release the cruise control lever.

The vehicle speed decreases in incre- ments of 1 mph (Canada: 1 km/h).

You can reduce the set speed in two ways.

i When you use the cruise control lever to de- celerate, the brake system will automatically brake the vehicle if the engine’s braking power does not brake the vehicle sufficiently.

409

Controls in detail Driving systems

Adjustment in 5 mph (Canada: 10 km/h) increments

Setting to last stored speed (“Resume” function)

i The set speed value is decreased in 5 mph (Canada: 10 km/h) increments each time you press the cruise control lever down past the re- sistance point. 왘 Briefly press the cruise control lever

down past the resistance point in direction of arrow 2 (컄 page 406).

왘 Release the cruise control lever.

The vehicle speed decreases in incre- ments of 5 mph (Canada: 10 km/h).

i The new speed is set and the vehicle will de- celerate. Keep in mind that it may take a brief moment until the vehicle has reached the set speed.

Warning!

The set speed stored in memory should only be set again if prevailing road conditions permit. Possible acceleration or decelera- tion differences arising from returning to the preset speed could cause an accident and/or serious injury to you and others.

왘 Briefly pull the cruise control lever in

direction of arrow 4 (컄 page 406). The cruise control resumes to the last set speed, or if no speed is stored, it will set and store the current speed.

왘 Remove your foot from the accelerator

pedal. The last set speed appears in the multi- function display for approximately 5 seconds, and the corresponding speedometer segments from the se- lected speed to the vehicle maximum speed are illuminated.

i The last stored set speed is deleted when the engine is turned off.

410

When travelling in Canada in a vehicle not registered in Canada, you must switch off the radar sensor system* (컄 page 272). Canadian law does not permit the use of the radar sensor system* (컄 page 272) for vehicles from outside of Canada. When you switch off the radar sensor system*, the following functions are deactivated: 앫 BAS Plus* (컄 page 67) 앫 DISTRONIC Plus 앫 Park Assist* (컄 page 435) 앫 PRE-SAFE® Brake* (컄 page 73)

DISTRONIC Plus*

When activated, the DISTRONIC Plus adap- tive cruise control system increases the driving convenience afforded by the cruise control while traveling on expressways and other major roadways. 앫 If the DISTRONIC Plus distance sensor detects a slower moving vehicle direct- ly ahead, your vehicle speed will be re- duced so that you follow that vehicle at your preset following distance.

앫 If there is no vehicle directly ahead of you, DISTRONIC Plus will function in the same way as standard cruise con- trol (컄 page 405).

DISTRONIC Plus functions within a speed range of 0 to 120 mph (Canada: 0 to 200 km/h).

Controls in detail Driving systems

Warning!

DISTRONIC Plus is a convenience system. Its speed adjustment reduction capability is intended to make the cruise control more ef- fective and usable when traffic speeds vary. It is not however, intended to, nor does it, re- place the need for extreme care. The re- sponsibility for the vehicle speed and the distance to the vehicle ahead, including most importantly brake operation to assure safe stopping distance, always remains with the driver.

DISTRONIC Plus cannot take street and traf- fic conditions into account.

Complex driving situations are not always fully recognized by DISTRONIC Plus. This could result in wrong or missing distance warnings.

411

Controls in detail Driving systems

Warning!

Warning!

DISTRONIC Plus adaptive cruise control is no substitute for active driving involvement. It does not react to pedestrians or stationary objects, nor does it recognize or predict the curvature and lane layout or the movement of vehicles ahead. DISTRONIC Plus can only apply a maximum of 40% of the vehicle’s braking power.

DISTRONIC Plus may not detect narrow ve- hicles possibly driving in front of you, such as motorcycles and vehicles driving in an offset formation.

It is the driver’s responsibility at all times to be attentive to road, weather and traffic con- ditions and to provide the steering, braking and other driving inputs necessary to retain control of the vehicle.

High-frequency sources such as toll sta- tions, speed measuring systems etc. can cause the DISTRONIC Plus system to tem- porarily cease functioning.

DISTRONIC Plus requires familiarity with its operational characteristics. We strongly rec- ommend that you review the following infor- mation carefully before operating the system.

Warning!

DISTRONIC Plus cannot take street and traf- fic conditions into account. Only use DISTRONIC Plus if the road, weather and traffic conditions make it advisable to travel at a steady speed.

Warning!

Use of DISTRONIC Plus can be dangerous on slippery roads. Rapid changes in tire trac- tion can result in wheel spin and loss of con- trol.

DISTRONIC Plus does not act upon adverse sight distance conditions. Do not use DISTRONIC Plus during conditions of fog and heavy rain, snow or sleet.

Warning!

DISTRONIC Plus cannot take weather condi- tions into account. Switch off DISTRONIC Plus or do not turn it on if: 앫 roads are slippery or covered with snow

or ice. The wheels could lose traction while braking or accelerating, and the vehicle could skid.

앫 the sensor is dirty or visibility is

diminished due to snow, rain or fog. The distance control could be impaired.

Always pay attention to traffic conditions even while DISTRONIC Plus is switched on. Otherwise, you may not be able to recognize dangerous situations until it is too late and could cause an accident resulting in person- al or fatal injury to you or others.

412

Switch off DISTRONIC Plus: 앫 when changing from the left to the right lane if vehicles are moving more slowly in the left lane

앫 when entering a turn lane or highway off

ramp

앫 in complex driving situations, such as in

highway construction zones

In these situations, DISTRONIC Plus will continue to maintain the set speed unless deactivated.

DISTRONIC Plus is designed and intended only to maintain a set speed and keep a set distance from moving objects in front of it.

Controls in detail Driving systems

i Do not use DISTRONIC Plus if you are driv- ing on a road with steep uphill or downhill slopes.

i Due to its radar-emitting nature DISTRONIC Plus may have an appearance similar to a radar detector to law enforcement officials. You may want to refer to this section of your Operator’s Manual when asked.

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 de- vice will void any warranties, 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.

Warning!

The “Resume” function should only be oper- ated if the driver is fully aware of the previ- ously set speed and wishes to resume this particular preset speed.

Warning!

Close attention to road and traffic condi- tions is imperative at all times, regardless of whether or not DISTRONIC Plus is activated.

Use of DISTRONIC Plus can be dangerous on winding roads as conditions do not allow safe driving at a steady speed.

DISTRONIC Plus may not react to stationary objects in the roadway (e.g. a stopped vehi- cle in a traffic jam or a disabled vehicle). DISTRONIC Plus will also not respond to on- coming vehicles.

413

Controls in detail Driving systems

i Canada only: This device complies with RSS-210 of Industry Canada. Operation is subject to the following two conditions: (1) This device may not cause interference, and (2) this device must accept any interference re-

ceived, including interference that may cause undesired operation of the device.

Removal, tampering, or altering of the device will void any warranties, and is not permitted. 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.

414

DISTRONIC Plus displays in multifunc- tion display

1 Speed of the vehicle ahead 2 Set speed 3 Distance warning lamp If DISTRONIC Plus is activated, the marker 2 indicates the set speed.

i The vehicle speed displayed on the speed- ometer can briefly vary from the speed setting on the DISTRONIC Plus system.

When DISTRONIC Plus detects a vehicle driving ahead of you, the ring on the speed- ometer dial comes on between the speed of the vehicle ahead of you and set speed 2. If DISTRONIC Plus calculates that there is a danger of collision: 앫 The distance warning lamp l in the

instrument cluster comes on.

앫 An intermittent warning sounds. 왘 Immediately apply the brake to avoid a

collision. Under no circumstances should the driver await the intermittent warning sound before braking. See the follow- ing warning note. The intermittent warning sound ceases and the distance warning lamp l goes out when the necessary distance to the vehicle ahead is again established.

Controls in detail Driving systems

Warning!

Warning!

Warning!

If you do not receive visual or acoustic warn- ing signals during a critical traffic situation, DISTRONIC Plus has either not recognized the collision risk, has been deactivated, or is malfunctioning.

Remember, whether or not DISTRONIC Plus is operating, it is ultimately always the driv- ers responsibility to apply the brakes in or- der to control the vehicle and avoid a collision.

An intermittent warning sounds and the dis- tance warning lamp l in the instrument cluster is illuminated if the DISTRONIC Plus system calculates that the distance to the vehicle ahead and your vehicle’s current speed indicate that DISTRONIC Plus will not be capable of slowing the vehicle sufficiently to maintain the preset following distance, which creates a danger of a collision.

Immediately brake the vehicle to increase your distance to the preceding vehicle. The warning sound is intended as a final caution that you have not interceded with your own braking inputs to avoid a potentially danger- ous situation. Do not wait for the operation of the warning signal to intercede with your own braking. This will result in potentially dangerous emergency braking which will not always result in an impact being avoid- ed.

Tailgating increases the risk of an accident.

DISTRONIC Plus brakes your vehicle with a maximum of 13 ft/s2. This corresponds to about 40% of the maximum deceleration of your vehicle.

You must also apply the brakes yourself to avoid a collision. DISTRONIC Plus brakes the vehicle in an effort to restore the preset distance or to maintain the set speed. The brake pedal is automatically applied as this happens which results in the brake pedal moving.

Keep driver’s foot area clear at all times, in- cluding the area under the brake pedal. Ob- jects stored in this area may impair pedal movement which could interfere with the braking ability of the DISTRONIC Plus system.

Do not place your foot under the brake pedal – your foot could become caught.

415

Controls in detail Driving systems

Displaying the distance graphic In the “Assistance” menu under “Distance display” you see the current settings for DISTRONIC Plus. The information shown in the multifunction display depends on whether DISTRONIC Plus is activated or deactivated.

i For activating or deactivating the DISTRONIC Plus system, see “Activating DISTRONIC Plus” (컄 page 417) or “Deactivating DISTRONIC Plus” (컄 page 423).

i The menu overview can be found on (컄 page 258). 왘 Press ( or & to select the

“Assistance” menu.

왘 Press % or $ to select the

“Distance display” function.

왘 Press #.

The DISTRONIC Plus distance graphic appears and you will see one of the fol- lowing displays on the multifunction display.

416

DISTRONIC Plus activated When you turn DISTRONIC Plus on, you will see the set speed in the multifunction dis- play for about 5 seconds. You then see the following display in the multifunction dis- play.

DISTRONIC Plus deactivated If DISTRONIC Plus is deactivated, the stan- dard display of DISTRONIC Plus appears in the multifunction display.

1 DISTRONIC Plus activated 2 Your vehicle 3 Preset distance threshold to the

preceding vehicle

4 Preceding vehicle, if detected

1 Preceding vehicle, if detected 2 Actual distance to the preceding

vehicle

3 Preset distance threshold to the

preceding vehicle

4 Your vehicle

DISTRONIC Plus lever The DISTRONIC Plus system is operated by means of the DISTRONIC Plus lever.

Activating DISTRONIC Plus

Warning!

When DISTRONIC Plus is braking, the brake pedal is retracted (i.e. depressed automati- cally). The pedals’ range of motion must not be impeded by any obstacles: 앫 Do not place any objects in the footwell. 앫 Make sure that the floor mats and car-

pets are securely in place.

앫 Do not rest your foot underneath the brake pedal, as it could otherwise be trapped.

You could otherwise cause an accident and injure yourself and others.

Warning!

When DISTRONIC Plus is switched on, the vehicle can be braked. You should therefore switch off DISTRONIC Plus if the vehicle must be towed.

1 Setting current or higher speed

Adjustment in 1 mph increments (to the resistance point) or 5 mph increments (past the resistance point) (Canada: 1 km/h or 10 km/h) 2 Setting current or lower speed

Adjustment in 1 mph increments (to the resistance point) or 5 mph increments (past the resistance point) (Canada: 1 km/h or 10 km/h)

3 Canceling DISTRONIC Plus 4 Activating DISTRONIC Plus or resum-

ing to last set speed

5 Setting target distance

Controls in detail Driving systems

You can activate DISTRONIC Plus when: 앫 you are driving slower than 20 mph (30 km/h) and DISTRONIC Plus has detected a vehicle ahead of you 앫 you are driving above 20 mph

(30 km/h)

i The maximum speed you can set is 120 mph (Canada: 200 km/h).

If DISTRONIC Plus has not been activated after pressing the DISTRONIC Plus lever, you will see the message: “DISTRONIC PLUS- - -” in the multifunction display.

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Switching on while driving 왘 Tap DISTRONIC Plus lever up 1 or down 2 until desired speed is set. DISTRONIC Plus is switched on.

or 왘 Pull DISTRONIC Plus lever briefly in di-

rection of arrow 4 to call up speed last set (컄 page 423). DISTRONIC Plus is switched on.

왘 Take your foot off the accelerator ped-

al. Your vehicle adapts its speed to the ve- hicle ahead, observing the set speed as a maximum value.

i Under 20 mph (30 km/h), you can only switch on DISTRONIC Plus if the vehicle ahead of you has been detected and is shown on the mul- tifunction display. If you no longer see the vehi- cle in front of you on the multifunction display and if it is no longer detected because it has changed lanes, for example, DISTRONIC Plus switches off and you will hear a signal.

i If you do not completely lift your foot off the accelerator pedal, the message “DISTRONIC PLUS override” appears on the mul- tifunction display. The distance to a slower-driv- ing vehicle will not be set. You will drive at the speed you dictate by pressing the accelerator pedal.

Controls in detail Driving systems

In the following cases you cannot activate DISTRONIC Plus: 앫 up to 2 minutes after starting the en-

gine

앫 if the engine is switched off 앫 if you step on the brake pedal while

driving

앫 the vehicle is secured with the elec-

tronic parking brake

앫 if the gear selector lever is in

position P, R, or N

앫 if ESP® is switched off 앫 if the hood is open 앫 if the driver’s door is open and the driv- er has not fastened his or her seat belt

앫 if the radar sensors are switched off

(컄 page 272).

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i If DISTRONIC Plus is switched off, PRE-SAFE® Brake* (컄 page 73) will warn of an impending collision if this function has been activated with the instrument cluster control system (컄 page 268).

Starting off When the vehicle in front of you starts off: 왘 Remove your foot from the brake

pedal.

왘 Pull DISTRONIC Plus lever briefly in di-

rection of arrow 4.

or 왘 Briefly step on the accelerator pedal. Your vehicle starts off and adapts its speed to the vehicle in front of you.

Switching on when approaching a stationary vehicle If the vehicle in front of you is stationary, you can only switch on DISTRONIC Plus if your vehicle is also at a standstill. 왘 Tap DISTRONIC Plus lever up 1 or down 2 until desired speed is set. DISTRONIC Plus is switched on.

or 왘 Pull DISTRONIC Plus lever briefly in di-

rection of arrow 4 to call up speed last set (컄 page 423). DISTRONIC Plus is switched on.

i It is helpful to switch on the DISTRONIC Plus display in the instrument cluster (컄 page 416) since you can only switch on DISTRONIC Plus un- der a speed of 20 mph (30 km/h) when a vehicle has been detected in front of you.

i You can adjust the set speed using the DISTRONIC Plus lever and the target distance using the distance setting switch on the DISTRONIC Plus lever (컄 page 425).

Controls in detail Driving systems

Driving If no vehicle is driving ahead of you, DISTRONIC Plus functions like the cruise control (컄 page 405). When DISTRONIC Plus detects that the ve- hicle in front of you is driving more slowly, it brakes the vehicle in order to keep the distance specified by you. When DISTRONIC Plus detects that the ve- hicle in front of you is driving faster, the ve- hicle accelerates up to the set speed.

Warning!

When you step on the brake pedal, you switch off DISTRONIC Plus except when the vehicle is at a standstill. DISTRONIC Plus will no longer brake your vehicle. You are always responsible for maintaining a distance from other vehicles, observing road speeds and braking well in advance.

419

Warning!

Never get out of the vehicle while DISTRONIC Plus is switched on!

DISTRONIC Plus must never be operated or switched off by passengers or from outside the vehicle.

DISTRONIC Plus is not a substitute for the electronic parking brake and may not be used for parking.

When you get out of the vehicle or switch off the engine, deactivate DISTRONIC Plus and secure the vehicle from rolling away by en- gaging the electronic parking brake.

When DISTRONIC Plus detects that the ve- hicle in front of you is stopping, the vehicle brakes until it also stops. Once DISTRONIC Plus has stopped your vehicle and it is at a standstill, it remains stationary; the brake pedal does not need to be depressed.

i After a short while, your vehicle is secured in place by the electronic parking brake so that the operating brake can be relieved of load.

i Depending on the following distance set us- ing the distance setting switch on the DISTRON- IC Plus lever, your vehicle will stop approximately 13.1 ft away from the vehicle in front of you.

Controls in detail Driving systems

Stopping

Warning!

DISTRONIC Plus’s braking effect is canceled and the vehicle can start to roll if 앫 DISTRONIC Plus is switched off using

the DISTRONIC Plus lever

앫 you accelerate 앫 the system or the power supply is mal- functioning, e.g. due to battery failure

앫 the electrical components in the engine

compartment or the fuses have been manipulated

앫 the battery is disconnected

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Setting the current speed 왘 Accelerate or decelerate to the desired

speed.

왘 Briefly lift the DISTRONIC Plus lever in the direction of arrow 1 or depress in the direction of arrow 2. DISTRONIC Plus is activated and the current speed is set.

왘 Remove your foot from the accelerator

pedal.

i If you do not take your foot off of the accel- erator completely, the following message “DISTRONIC PLUS override” will appear in the multifunction display. The distance to a slower moving vehicle in front of you will not be set. Your vehicle speed will then be determined only by the accelerator ped- al position.

Setting a higher speed

Warning!

If you increase the set speed, keep in mind that it may take a brief moment until the ve- hicle has reached the set speed.

Increase the set speed to a value that the prevailing road conditions and legal speed limits permit. Otherwise, sudden and unex- pected acceleration of the vehicle could cause an accident and/or serious injury to you and others.

You can increase the set speed in two ways.

Controls in detail Driving systems

Adjustment in 1 mph (Canada: 1 km/h) increments

i The set speed value is increased in 1 mph (Canada: 1 km/h) increments each time you lift the DISTRONIC Plus lever up to the resistance point. 왘 Briefly lift the DISTRONIC Plus lever up to the resistance point in direction of arrow 1 (컄 page 416).

왘 Release the DISTRONIC Plus lever.

The vehicle speed increases in incre- ments of 1 mph (Canada: 1 km/h).

421

Controls in detail Driving systems

Adjustment in 5 mph (Canada: 10 km/h) increments

i The set speed value is increased in 5 mph (Canada: 10 km/h) increments each time you lift the DISTRONIC Plus lever up past the resis- tance point. 왘 Briefly lift the DISTRONIC Plus lever up past the resistance point in direction of arrow 1 (컄 page 416).

왘 Release the DISTRONIC Plus lever.

The vehicle speed increases in incre- ments of 5 mph (Canada: 10 km/h).

i The new speed is set and the vehicle will ac- celerate. Keep in mind that it may take a brief moment until the vehicle has reached the set speed.

422

Setting a lower speed

Warning!

If you decrease the set speed, keep in mind that it may take a brief moment until the ve- hicle has reached the set speed.

Decelerate the set speed to a value that the prevailing road conditions and legal speed limits permit. Otherwise, sudden and unex- pected deceleration of the vehicle could cause an accident and/or serious injury to you and others.

Adjustment in 1 mph (Canada: 1 km/h) increments

i The set speed value is decreased in 1 mph (Canada: 1 km/h) increments each time you press the DISTRONIC Plus lever down to the re- sistance point. 왘 Briefly press the DISTRONIC Plus lever

down to the resistance point in direc- tion of arrow 2 (컄 page 416).

왘 Release the DISTRONIC Plus lever.

The vehicle speed decreases in incre- ments of 1 mph (Canada: 1 km/h).

You can reduce the speed in two ways.

i When you use the DISTRONIC Plus lever to decelerate, the brake system will automatically brake the vehicle if the engine’s braking power does not brake the vehicle sufficiently.

Adjustment in 5 mph (Canada: 10 km/h) increments

Setting to last stored speed (“Resume” function)

i The set speed value is decreased in 5 mph (Canada: 10 km/h) increments each time you press the DISTRONIC Plus lever down past the resistance point. 왘 Briefly press the DISTRONIC Plus lever

down past the resistance point in direction of arrow 2 (컄 page 416). 왘 Release the DISTRONIC Plus lever.

The vehicle speed decreases in incre- ments of 5 mph (Canada: 10 km/h).

i The new speed is set and the vehicle will de- celerate. Keep in mind that it may take a brief moment until the vehicle has reached the set speed.

Warning!

The speed stored in memory should only be set again if prevailing road conditions per- mit. Possible acceleration or deceleration differences arising from returning to preset speed could cause an accident and/or seri- ous injury you and others.

왘 Briefly pull the DISTRONIC Plus lever in

direction of arrow 4 (컄 page 416). The DISTRONIC Plus resumes to the last set speed, or if no speed is stored, it will set and store the current speed. 왘 Remove your foot from the accelerator

pedal.

i Upon switching off the engine, the last stored speed is deleted.

Controls in detail Driving systems

Deactivating DISTRONIC Plus There are several ways to deactivate the DISTRONIC Plus system: 왘 Briefly tip the DISTRONIC Plus lever in the direction of arrow 3 (컄 page 416).

or 왘 Step on the brake pedal.

DISTRONIC Plus will be deactivated. The last speed set will be stored into memory.

i The last stored set speed is deleted when the engine is turned off.

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Controls in detail Driving systems

DISTRONIC Plus deactivates automatically when: 앫 the vehicle is secured with the elec-

tronic parking brake

앫 the vehicle speed is below 20 mph

(30 km/h) and no preceding vehicle is detected

앫 the ESP® is in operation or switched off

with the ESP® switch (컄 page 71)

앫 you set the automatic transmission

to P, R, or N while driving

앫 the radar sensors are switched off

(컄 page 272)

앫 the vehicle rolls backward The segments in the multifunction display go out, an acoustic signal sounds, and the message “DISTRONIC PLUS Off” appears in the multifunction display for approximately 5 seconds.

424

! Setting the automatic transmission to N while driving cancels the DISTRONIC Plus. How- ever, the automatic transmission should not be set to N while driving except to coast when the vehicle is in danger of skidding (e.g. on icy roads).

i Depressing the accelerator pedal does not deactivate DISTRONIC Plus. After brief accelera- tion (e.g. for passing), DISTRONIC Plus will re- sume to the last set speed.

If the vehicle has been stopped by DISTRONIC Plus and a malfunction occurs in the system, the message “Brake immedi- ately” will appear on the multifunction dis- play. Step on the brake immediately to prevent the vehicle from rolling. DISTRONIC Plus is then switched off and the message disappears.

Warning!

DISTRONIC Plus switches off and releases the brakes when the vehicle decelerates be- low the minimum speed of 20 mph (30 km/h) by operation of the system un- less DISTRONIC Plus detects a vehicle di- rectly ahead of you. At that time the driver must apply the brakes in order to reduce ve- hicle speed further or bring it to a stop.

Setting the following distance in DISTRONIC Plus You can set the specified following dis- tance for DISTRONIC Plus by varying the time setting between 1.0 and 2.0 seconds. Using this time setting and the current speed of your vehicle, DISTRONIC Plus cal- culates and sets the required following dis- tance to the preceding vehicle. The set distance will be shown in the multifunction display.

Warning!

It is up to the driver to exercise discretion to select the appropriate setting given road conditions, traffic, driver’s preferred driving style and applicable laws and driving recom- mendations for safe following distance.

The distance setting switch for the target distance is located on the DISTRONIC Plus lever.

1 Distance setting switch for target dis-

tance

2 To increase target distance 3 To decrease target distance

Controls in detail Driving systems

Increasing distance Increasing the distance setting causes DISTRONIC Plus to maintain a greater fol- lowing distance to the preceding vehicle. 왘 Move distance setting switch 1 in di-

rection 2.

Decreasing distance Decreasing the distance setting causes DISTRONIC Plus to maintain a shorter fol- lowing distance to the preceding vehicle. 왘 Move distance setting switch 1 in di-

rection 3.

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Controls in detail Driving systems

Driving with DISTRONIC Plus This section describes a number of driving situations where special precaution is re- quired on the part of the driver. Be pre- pared to brake in such situations. Braking will deactivate the DISTRONIC Plus sys- tem.

Warning!

DISTRONIC Plus works to maintain the speed selected by the driver unless a mov- ing obstacle proceeding directly ahead of it in the same travel direction is detected (e.g. following another vehicle ahead of you at your set distance).

This means that: 앫 Your vehicle can pass another vehicle

after you change lanes.

앫 While in a sharp turn or if the vehicle in front is in a sharp turn, DISTRONIC Plus could lose sight of a vehicle traveling in front of it, then your vehicle could accel- erate to the previously selected speed.

DISTRONIC Plus regulates only the distance between your vehicle and those directly ahead of it. It may not register stationary ob- jects in the road, e.g.: 앫 a stopped vehicle in a traffic jam 앫 a disabled vehicle 앫 an oncoming vehicle The driver must always be alert, observe all traffic and intercede as required by means of steering or braking the vehicle.

Warning!

DISTRONIC Plus should not be used in snowy or icy road conditions.

The most likely cause for a malfunctioning system is a dirty sensor (located behind the hood grille), especially at times of snow and ice or heavy rain. In such a case, DISTRONIC Plus will switch off, and the message:

“DISTRONIC PLUS currently unavailable See Oper. Manual” appears in the multifunction display. For cleaning and care of the DISTRONIC Plus sensor, see “Cleaning the DISTRONIC Plus*/ PRE-SAFE® Brake* sys- tem sensors (USA only)”(컄 page 558).

i If the message: “DISTRONIC PLUS currently unavailable See Oper. Manual” disappears during driving and the last speed stored flashes for approximately 5 seconds, the dirt (e.g. slush) has dissolved; DISTRONIC Plus is available again.

Another cause might be that the radar sen- sors have been manually switched off in the instrument cluster control system. Please verify that the radar sensors are switched on (컄 page 272).

426

Turns and bends

Offset driving

Lane changing

Controls in detail Driving systems

In turns or bends, DISTRONIC Plus may not detect a moving vehicle in front, or it may detect one too soon. This may cause your vehicle to brake late or unexpectedly.

A vehicle traveling in your lane but offset from your direct line of travel may not be detected by DISTRONIC Plus. There will be insufficient distance to the vehicle ahead.

DISTRONIC Plus has not yet detected the vehicle changing lanes. There will be insuf- ficient distance to the lane-changing vehi- cle.

427

Controls in detail Driving systems

Narrow vehicles

Obstacles and stationary vehicles

Cross-traffic

Because of their narrow profile, the vehi- cles traveling near the outer edge of the lane have not yet been detected by DISTRONIC Plus. There will be insufficient distance to the vehicles ahead.

DISTRONIC Plus does not brake for obsta- cles or stationary vehicles. If, for example, the vehicle detected in front of you chang- es lanes to bypass an obstacle or station- ary vehicle in front of it, DISTRONIC Plus will not brake for the obstacle or stationary vehicle.

DISTRONIC Plus may inadvertently detect crossing vehicles. If you switch on DIS- TRONIC Plus, for example, at a traffic light with cross-traffic, the vehicle may sudden- ly start to drive off.

428

Active Body Control (ABC)

The ABC system is an active, comput- er-controlled system that hydraulically ad- justs the suspension at all four wheels in response to various driving situations. It automatically selects the optimum suspen- sion tuning and ride height for your vehicle.

Vehicle level control

Warning!

To help avoid personal injury, keep hands and feet away from wheel housing area, and stay away from under the vehicle when lowering the vehicle chassis.

Your vehicle automatically adjusts its ride height to: 앫 increase vehicle safety 앫 reduce fuel consumption The vehicle chassis ride height is raised or lowered according to the selected level setting and to the vehicle speed: 앫 With increasing speed, ride height is re-

duced by up to approximately 0.4 in (10 mm).

앫 With decreasing speed, the ride height is again raised to the selected vehicle level.

i These height adjustments are so small that you may not notice any change.

Controls in detail Driving systems

The following vehicle level settings can be selected when the vehicle is stationary:

Level Normal

Raised

For driving on normal roads. The indicator lamp is off. For driving on rough roads or with snow chains. The indica- tor lamp is on.

Select the “Raised” level setting only when required by current driving conditions. Otherwise: 앫 Fuel consumption may increase. 앫 Handling may be impaired.

i The selected vehicle level setting remains stored in memory even if the engine is turned off and restarted.

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The program mode selector switch (C/S) (컄 page 399) is used to adjust the suspen- sion tuning:

Driving program Suspension tuning C Comfort

comfortable (default setting) sporty for dynamic driving

S Sport

왘 Start the engine. 왘 Select the desired driving program.

Selecting a normal level 왘 Start the engine. If indicator lamp 2 is on: 왘 Press switch 1.

Indicator lamp 2 goes out. The vehicle is adjusted to a normal level.

Suspension tuning The suspension tuning is set according to: 앫 your driving style 앫 road surface conditions 앫 the vehicle loading 앫 your choice of suspension style

Controls in detail Driving systems

1 Vehicle level control switch 2 Indicator lamp

Selecting a higher level 왘 Start the engine. If indicator lamp 2 is off: 왘 Press switch 1.

Indicator lamp 2 comes on. The vehi- cle is raised to a higher level.

430

Parktronic system*

Warning!

Parktronic is a supplemental system. It is not intended to, nor does it replace, the need for extreme care. The responsibility during parking and other critical maneuvers always remains with the driver.

Warning!

Make sure no persons or animals are in the area in which you are maneuvering. You could otherwise injure them.

! Special attention must be paid to objects with smooth surfaces or low silhouettes (e.g. trailer couplings, painted posts, elevated cross- bars or road curbs). Such objects may not be detected by the system and can damage the vehicle.

! The operational function of the Parktronic system can be affected by dirty sensors, espe- cially at times of snow and ice. Make sure that the area on the bumpers around the sensors is free of dirt, ice and/or slush, otherwise the Parktronic system may not function properly, see “Cleaning the Parktronic* system sensors” (컄 page 559).

i Interference caused by other ultrasonic sig- nals (e.g. working jackhammers, car wash, or the air brakes of trucks) can cause the system to send erratic indications, and should be taken into consideration.

The Parktronic system is an electronic parking aid with ultrasonic sensors that helps you while parking. It visually and audibly indicates the relative distance between the vehicle and an ob- stacle. The Parktronic system is automatically ac- tivated when you switch on the ignition, re- lease the electronic parking brake or start the engine and engage gear D, R or N.

Controls in detail Driving systems

The Parktronic system deactivates at speeds over approximately 11 mph (18 km/h). At lower speeds the Parktronic system turns on again. The Parktronic system also deactivates when you set the automatic transmission to P or secure the vehicle in place with the electronic parking brake and switch off the engine. The Parktronic system monitors the sur- roundings of your vehicle with six sensors in the front bumper and four sensors in the rear bumper.

1 Sensors in the front bumper (Only visi-

ble without DISTRONIC Plus*)

431

Controls in detail Driving systems

i To function properly, the sensors must be free of dirt, ice, snow and slush. Clean the sen- sors regularly, being careful not to scratch or damage the sensors, see “Cleaning the Park- tronic* system sensors” (컄 page 559).

Front sensors

Minimum distance

Center Corners

approx. 40 in (100 cm) approx. 24 in (60 cm)

Center Corners

approx. 8 in (20 cm) approx. 6 in (15 cm)

Range of the sensors

Rear sensors

Center Corners

approx. 48 in (120 cm) approx. 32 in (80 cm)

! During parking maneuvers, pay special at- tention to objects located above or below the height of the sensors (e.g. street curbs, painted posts, or trailer hitches etc.). The Parktronic sys- tem will not detect such objects at close range and damage to your vehicle or the object may result. Ultrasonic signals from outside sources (e.g. truck air brakes, car wash, or jackhammers) may impair the operation of the Parktronic system.

If the system detects an obstacle in this range, all the distance warning segments illuminate and you hear a warning signal. If the obstacle is closer than the minimum distance, the actual distance may no long- er be indicated by the system.

432

Warning indicators Visual signals indicate to the driver the rel- ative distance between the sensors and an obstacle. The warning indicator for the front area is in the instrument cluster. The warning indi- cator for the rear area is on the roof liner in the rear.

1 Left side of the vehicle 2 Right side of the vehicle 3 Readiness indicators Each warning indicator is divided into five yellow and two red distance segments for either side of the vehicle. If yellow readiness indicators 3 under the