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ing on the substances that get into the brakes. Clean the brakes after driving off- road. If you notice grinding noises or a reduc- tion in braking performance, have the brake system checked at a qualified specialist work- shop immediately. Adapt your driving style to the altered braking characteristics. Driving off-road increases the possibility of damage to the vehicle, which may cause assemblies or systems to fail. Adapt your driving style to the conditions of the terrain.
Read this section before driving your vehicle off-road. Practise by travelling over more gen- tle off-road terrain first. Off-road driving is only possible with the Off- Road Engineering package (Y page 227). The following driving systems are specially adapted to off-road driving: ROff-road drive program (Y page 227) ROff-road ABS (Y page 69) ROff-road 4ETS (Y page 71) ROff-road ESP®(Y page 73) RDSR (Downhill Speed Regulation)
(Y page 226)
Observe the following notes: RStop your vehicle and, if necessary, select
the off-road drive program (Y page 227) before driving off-road.
RTo avoid damaging the vehicle, make sure there is always sufficient ground clearance. RCheck that items of luggage and loads are
stowed safely and are well secured (Y page 313).
RAlways keep the engine running and in gear when driving on a downhill gradient. Acti- vate DSR (Y page 226).
RDrive slowly and evenly, if necessary at
walking pace.
REnsure that the wheels are in contact with
the ground at all times.
RDrive with extreme care on unknown off-
road routes where visibility is poor. For safety reasons, get out of the vehicle first and survey the off-road route.
RCheck the depth of water before fording
rivers and streams.
RLook out for obstacles such as rocks, holes,
tree stumps and furrows.
RAlways keep the side windows and the pan-
orama sliding sunroof closed during the journey.
RDo not stray from marked routes or paths. i Information about retrofitting special all- terrain tyres is available from any qualified specialist workshop.
Checklist before driving off-road X Engine oil level: check the engine oil and
top it up if necessary.
X Tyre-change tool kit: check that the jack
is working and make sure you have the wheelbrace, a robust tow cable and a fold- ing spade in the vehicle.
X Wheels and tyres: check the tyre tread
depth and tyre pressure.
X Check for damage and remove any foreign
objects, e.g. small stones, from the wheels/tyres.
X Replace any missing valve caps. X Replace dented or damaged wheels.
Checklist after driving off-road Driving over rough terrain places greater demands on your vehicle than driving on nor- mal roads. After driving off-road, check the vehicle. This allows you to detect damage promptly and reduce the risk of an accident to yourself and other road users. X Deactivate DSR (Y page 226). X Clean the headlamps and rear lights and
check for damage.
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181
X Clean the front and rear licence plates. X Clean the wheels/tyres with a water jet and
remove any foreign objects.
X Clean the wheels, wheel arches and the vehicle underside with a water jet; check for any foreign objects and damage.
X Check whether twigs or other parts of
plants have become trapped. These increase the risk of fire and can damage fuel pipes, brake hoses or the rubber bel- lows of the axle joints and propeller shafts.
X After the trip, examine without fail the
entire undercarriage, wheels, tyres, brakes, bodywork structure, steering, chassis and exhaust system for damage.
X After driving in sand, mud, gravel, water or similar dirty conditions, have the following checked and cleaned: Rbrake discs Rwheels Rbrake pads Raxle joints
X If you detect strong vibrations after driving
off-road, check for foreign objects in the wheels and drive train and remove them if necessary. Foreign objects can disturb the balance and cause vibrations.
Driving on sand Observe the following rules when driving on sand: RUse the left-hand steering wheel gearshift paddle to shift to a lower gear appropriate to the terrain.
RDrive quickly to overcome the rolling resist- ance. Otherwise, the vehicle could dig itself into the sand.
RDrive in the tracks of other vehicles if pos-
sible. Make sure that:
the tyre ruts are not too deep the sand is firm enough
- your vehicle has sufficient ground clear-
ance
182 Driving tips
Tyre ruts and gravel roads Observe the following rules when driving along ruts in off-road terrain or on roads with loose gravel: ! Check that the ruts are not too deep and that your vehicle has sufficient clearance. Otherwise, your vehicle could be damaged or bottom out and get stuck.
RSelect the off-road drive program
(Y page 227).
RAvoid high engine speeds. RShift to a lower gear using the left-hand
steering wheel gearshift paddle.
RDrive slowly. RWhere ruts are too deep, drive with the
wheels on one side on the middle section of turf if possible.
Driving over obstacles ! Obstacles could damage the floor of the vehicle or components of the chassis. Ask passengers for guidance when driving over large obstacles. Any damage to the vehicle always increases the risk of an accident.
Observe the following rules when driving over tree stumps, large stones and other obsta- cles: RActivate the off-road program
(Y page 227).
RAvoid high engine speeds. RShift to a lower gear using the left-hand
steering wheel gearshift paddle.
RDrive very slowly. RTry to drive straight over the centre of obstacles: front wheel first, then rear wheel.
Travelling uphill Approach/departure angle G WARNING If you drive up a steep incline at an angle or turn on a steep incline, the vehicle could slip sideways, tip and overturn. There is a risk of an accident. When driving up an incline, drive into the line of fall (upwards or downwards in a straight line) and do not turn.
RObserve the warnings for off-road driving
(Y page 180).
RFollow the line of fall when driving on slopes
and steep inclines.
RBefore driving on extreme uphill and down- hill gradients, select the off-road drive pro- gram (Y page 227).
RDrive slowly. RAccelerate gently and make sure that the
wheels are gripping.
RAvoid high engine speeds, except when driving on sandy and muddy routes with high driving resistance.
RUse the left-hand steering wheel gearshift paddle to shift to a lower gear appropriate to the gradient.
RBefore tackling steep downhill gradients, use the left-hand steering wheel gearshift paddle to shift to a lower gear.
i Hill start assist will aid you when pulling away on a hill. For further information about hill start assist, see (Y page 158).
Do not shift into transmission position N when driving off-road. You could lose control of the vehicle if you attempt to brake the vehicle using the service brake. If the gradient is too steep for your vehicle, back up in reverse gear. Always observe the approach/departure angle values (Y page 391).
Maximum gradient-climbing capability Always observe the maximum gradient climb- ing ability values (Y page 391).
Hilltops When driving up an uphill gradient, slightly reduce pressure on the accelerator immedi- ately before reaching the brow of the hill. Make use of the vehicle's own impetus to travel over the brow. This style of driving prevents: Rthe vehicle from lifting off the ground on the
brow of a hill
Rthe vehicle from travelling too quickly down
the other side.
Driving downhill RDrive slowly. RDo not drive at an angle down steep
inclines. Steer into the line of fall and drive with the front wheels aligned straight. Oth- erwise, the vehicle could slip sideways, tip and overturn.
RBefore tackling steep downhill gradients, use the left-hand steering wheel gearshift paddle to shift to a lower gear.
RActivate DSR. If this is not sufficient, brake gently. When doing so, make sure that the vehicle is facing in the direction of the line of fall.
RCheck that the brakes are working normally
after a long downhill stretch.
i Off-road ABS is activated when the off-
road drive program is selected. At speeds below 30 km/h the front wheels lock cyclically during braking. The digging- in effect achieved in the process reduces the stopping distance when driving off- road. The steerability of the vehicle is con- siderably reduced if the wheels lock.
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183
Driving systems Cruise control Important safety notes Cruise control maintains a constant road speed for you. It brakes automatically in order to avoid exceeding the set speed. You must select a low gear in good time on long and steep downhill gradients, especially if the vehicle is laden or towing a trailer. By doing so, you will make use of the braking effect of the engine. This relieves the load on the brake system and prevents the brakes from over- heating and wearing too quickly. Use cruise control only if road and traffic con- ditions make it appropriate to maintain a steady speed for a prolonged period. You can store any road speed above 30 km/h. If you fail to adapt your driving style, cruise control can neither reduce the risk of an acci- dent nor override the laws of physics. Cruise control cannot take into account road, weather or traffic conditions. Cruise control is only an aid. You are responsible for the dis- tance to the vehicle in front, for vehicle speed, for braking in good time, and for staying in the lane. Do not use cruise control: Rin road and traffic conditions which do not
allow you to maintain a constant speed (e.g. in heavy traffic or on winding roads) Ron smooth or slippery roads. Braking or
accelerating can cause the drive wheels to lose traction and the vehicle could then skid
Rwhen there is poor visibility, e.g. due to fog,
heavy rain or snow
If there is a change of drivers, advise the new driver of the speed stored.
Cruise control lever You can operate cruise control and variable SPEEDTRONIC with the cruise control lever.
184 Driving systems
The LIM indicator lamp on the cruise control lever indicates which system you have selec- ted: RLIM indicator lamp off: cruise control is
selected.
RLIM indicator lamp on: variable SPEED-
TRONIC is selected.
: To activate or increase speed ; LIM indicator lamp = To activate at the current speed/last
stored speed
? To activate or reduce speed A To switch between cruise control and var-
iable SPEEDTRONIC
B To deactivate cruise control When you activate cruise control, the stored speed is shown in the multifunction display for five seconds. Vehicles with the 4-button multifunction steering wheel: the stored speed is then permanently displayed in the status indicator together with the ¯ sym- bol. Vehicles with the 12-button multifunc- tion steering wheel: the segments from the stored speed up to the maximum speed light up in the multifunction display.
Selecting cruise control X Check whether LIM indicator lamp ; is off. If it is off, cruise control is already selected. If it is not, press the cruise control lever in the direction of arrow A. LIM indicator lamp ; in the cruise control lever goes out. Cruise control is selected.
Storing and maintaining the current speed You can store the current speed if you are driving faster than 30 km/h. X Accelerate the vehicle to the desired
speed.
X Briefly press the cruise control lever
up : or down ?.
X Remove your foot from the accelerator
pedal. Cruise control is activated. The vehicle automatically maintains the speed.
i Cruise control may be unable to maintain the stored speed on uphill gradients. The stored speed is resumed when the gradient evens out. Cruise control maintains the stored speed on downhill gradients by automatically braking the vehicle.
i Vehicles with manual transmission:
Ralways drive at adequate, but not exces-
sive, engine speeds.
Rchange gear in good time. Rif possible, do not change down several
gears at a time.
Storing the current speed and calling up the last stored speed G WARNING If you call up a stored speed and this is dif- ferent from the current speed, the vehicle accelerates or brakes. If you do not know what the stored speed is, the vehicle may accelerate or brake unexpectedly. There is a risk of an accident. Take the traffic conditions into account before calling up the stored speed. If you do not know what the stored speed is, store the desired speed again.
X Briefly pull the cruise control lever towards
you =.
X Remove your foot from the accelerator
pedal. The first time cruise control is activated, it stores the current speed or regulates the speed of the vehicle to the previously stored speed.
Setting a speed Keep in mind that it may take a brief moment until the vehicle has accelerated or braked to the set speed. X Press the cruise control lever up : for a higher speed or down ? for a lower speed. X Keep the cruise control lever pressed until
the desired speed is reached.
X Release the cruise control lever.
The new speed is stored.
X To adjust the set speed in 1 km/h incre-
ments: briefly press the cruise control lever up : or down ? to the pressure point. The last stored speed increases or decrea- ses in 1 km/h increments.
X To adjust the set speed in 10 km/h
increments: press the cruise control lever briefly up : or down ? beyond the pres- sure point. The last stored speed increases or decrea- ses in 10 km/h increments.
i Cruise control is not deactivated if you depress the accelerator pedal. For exam- ple, if you accelerate briefly to overtake, cruise control adjusts the vehicle's speed to the last speed stored after you have fin- ished overtaking.
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185
Deactivating cruise control There are several ways to deactivate cruise control: X Briefly press the cruise control lever for-
wards B.
or X Brake or X Briefly press the cruise control lever in the
direction of arrow A. Variable SPEEDTRONIC is selected. LIM indicator lamp ; in the cruise control lever lights up.
Cruise control is automatically deactivated if: Ryou depress the parking brake. Ryou are driving at less than 30 km/h. RESP® intervenes or you deactivate ESP®. Ryou shift into neutral in a vehicle with man- ual transmission while driving or depress the clutch pedal for longer than six sec- onds.
Ron vehicles with manual transmission, you
shift to a gear that is too high, and as a result the engine speed is too low.
Ron vehicles with automatic transmission,
you shift into position N while driving. If cruise control is deactivated, you will hear a warning tone. You will see the Cruise control off message in the multifunction display for approximately five seconds. i The last speed stored is cleared when you
switch off the engine.
SPEEDTRONIC Important safety notes SPEEDTRONIC brakes automatically so that you do not exceed the set speed. You must select a low gear in good time on long and steep downhill gradients, especially if the vehicle is laden or towing a trailer. By doing so, you will make use of the braking effect of
186 Driving systems
the engine. This relieves the load on the brake system and prevents the brakes from over- heating and wearing too quickly. If you need additional braking, depress the brake pedal repeatedly rather than continuously. If you fail to adapt your driving style, SPEED- TRONIC can neither reduce the risk of an accident nor override the laws of physics. SPEEDTRONIC cannot take into account road, weather or traffic conditions. SPEED- TRONIC is only an aid. You are responsible for the distance to the vehicle in front, for vehicle speed, for braking in good time, and for stay- ing in the lane. If there is a change of drivers, advise the new driver of the speed stored. You can set a variable or permanent limit speed: Rvariable for speed limits, e.g. in built-up
areas
Rpermanent for long-term speed restric- tions, e.g. when driving with winter tyres fitted (Y page 187)
i The speed indicated in the speedometer
may differ slightly from the limit speed stored.
Variable SPEEDTRONIC General notes With the cruise control lever, you can operate cruise control or DISTRONIC PLUS and vari- able SPEEDTRONIC. The LIM indicator lamp on the cruise control lever indicates which system you have selec- ted: RLIM indicator lamp off: cruise control or
DISTRONIC PLUS is selected.
RLIM indicator lamp on: variable SPEED-
TRONIC is selected.
You can use the cruise control lever to limit the speed to any speed above 30 km/h while the engine is running.
: To store the current speed or a higher
speed
; LIM indicator lamp = To store the current speed and call up the
last stored speed
? To store the current speed or a lower
speed
A To switch between cruise control and var-
iable SPEEDTRONIC
B To deactivate variable SPEEDTRONIC Selecting variable SPEEDTRONIC X Check whether LIM indicator lamp ; is on. If it is on, variable SPEEDTRONIC is already selected. If it is not, press the cruise control lever in the direction of arrow A. LIM indicator lamp ; in the cruise control lever lights up. Variable SPEEDTRONIC is selected.
Storing the current speed You can use the cruise control lever to limit the speed to any speed above 30 km/h while the engine is running. X Briefly press the cruise control lever to the
pressure point up : or down ?. The current speed is stored. For five sec- onds, the multifunction display shows the stored speed, e.g. Limit 100 km/h. Vehicles with the 4-button multifunction steering wheel: the stored speed is perma- nently displayed in the status indicator, e.g. LIM 100 km/h.
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187
Vehicles with a 12-button multifunction steering wheel: on the speedometer, the segments from the start of the scale up to the stored speed are lit up.
Storing the current speed and calling up the last stored speed G WARNING If you call up the stored speed and it is lower than the current speed, the vehicle deceler- ates. If you do not know the stored speed, the vehicle could decelerate unexpectedly. There is a risk of an accident. Pay attention to the road and traffic condi- tions before calling up the stored speed. If you do not know the stored speed, store the desired speed again.
X Briefly pull the cruise control lever towards
you =.
Making adjustments in 1 km/h incre- ments X Briefly press the cruise control lever to the pressure point, up : for a higher speed or down ? for a lower speed.
or X Keep the cruise control lever pressed to the
pressure point until the desired speed is set. Press the cruise control lever up : for a higher speed or down ? for a lower speed.
Making adjustments in 10 km/h incre- ments X Briefly press the cruise control lever
beyond the pressure point, up : for a higher speed or down ? for a lower speed.
or X Keep the cruise control lever pressed
beyond the pressure point until the desired speed is set. Press the cruise control lever up : for a higher speed or down ? for a lower speed.
Deactivating variable SPEEDTRONIC It is not possible to deactivate variable SPEEDTRONIC by braking. There are several ways to deactivate variable SPEEDTRONIC: X Briefly press the cruise control lever for-
wards B.
or X Briefly press the cruise control lever in the
direction of arrow A. LIM indicator lamp ; in the cruise control lever goes out. Variable SPEEDTRONIC is deactivated. Cruise control is selected.
Variable SPEEDTRONIC is automatically deactivated if: Ryou depress the accelerator pedal beyond the pressure point (kickdown), but only if your current speed does not differ by more than 20 km/h from the stored speed. You will hear a warning tone if this is the case.
Ron vehicles with manual transmission, if you shift to a higher gear and as a result, the engine speed is too low.
i The last speed stored is cleared when you
switch off the engine.
Permanent SPEEDTRONIC You can use the on-board computer to limit the speed permanently to a value between 160 km/h(e.g. for driving on winter tyres) and the maximum speed (Y page 253). Shortly before the stored speed is reached, it appears in the multifunction display. Permanent SPEEDTRONIC remains active, even if variable SPEEDTRONIC is deactivated. You cannot exceed the stored limit speed, even if you depress the accelerator pedal beyond the pressure point (kickdown).
188 Driving systems
DISTRONIC PLUS Important safety notes DISTRONIC PLUS regulates the speed and automatically helps you maintain the dis- tance to the vehicle detected in front. DIS- TRONIC PLUS brakes automatically so that the set speed is not exceeded. You must select a low gear in good time on long and steep downhill gradients, especially if the vehicle is laden or towing a trailer. By doing so, you will make use of the braking effect of the engine. This relieves the load on the brake system and prevents the brakes from overheating and wearing too quickly. If DISTRONIC PLUS detects a slower-moving vehicle in front, your vehicle is braked in order to maintain the preset distance to the vehicle in front. G WARNING DISTRONIC PLUS does not react to: Rpeople or animals Rstationary obstacles on the road, e.g. stop-
ped or parked vehicles
Roncoming and crossing traffic As a result, DISTRONIC PLUS may neither give warnings nor intervene in such situations. There is a risk of an accident. Always pay careful attention to the traffic sit- uation and be ready to brake. G WARNING DISTRONIC PLUS cannot always clearly iden- tify other road users and complex traffic sit- uations. In such cases, DISTRONIC PLUS may: Rgive an unnecessary warning and then
brake the vehicle
Rneither give a warning nor intervene Raccelerate unexpectedly There is a risk of an accident. Continue to drive carefully and be ready to brake, in particular when warned to do so by DISTRONIC PLUS.
G WARNING DISTRONIC PLUS brakes your vehicle with up to 40% of the maximum braking force. If this braking force is insufficient, DISTRONIC PLUS warns you visually and audibly. There is a risk of an accident. In such cases, apply the brakes yourself and try to take evasive action.
! If DISTRONIC PLUS or the HOLD function is activated, the vehicle brakes automati- cally in certain situations. To prevent dam- age to the vehicle, deactivate DISTRONIC PLUS and the HOLD function in the follow- ing or other similar situations: Rwhen towing the vehicle Rin the car wash
If you fail to adapt your driving style, DIS- TRONIC PLUS can neither reduce the risk of an accident nor override the laws of physics. DISTRONIC PLUS cannot take road and weather conditions or traffic conditions into account. DISTRONIC PLUS is only an aid. You are responsible for the distance to the vehicle in front, for vehicle speed, for braking in good time, and for staying in the lane. Do not use DISTRONIC PLUS: Rin road and traffic conditions which do not
allow you to maintain a constant speed (e.g. in heavy traffic or on winding roads) Ron smooth or slippery roads. Braking or
accelerating can cause the drive wheels to lose traction and the vehicle could then skid
Rwhen there is poor visibility, e.g. due to fog,
heavy rain or snow
DISTRONIC PLUS may not detect narrow vehicles driving in front, e.g. motorcycles, or vehicles driving on a different line. In particular, the detection of obstacles can be impaired in the case of: Rdirt on the sensors or obscured sensors Rsnow or heavy rain
Rinterference by other radar sources Rthe possibility of strong radar reflections,
for example, in multi-storey car parks
If DISTRONIC PLUS no longer detects a vehi- cle in front, it may unexpectedly accelerate to the speed stored. This speed can: Rbe too high for a filter lane or a slip road Rbe so high in the right lane that you pass
vehicles driving on the left
Rbe so high in the left lane that you pass
vehicles driving on the right
If there is a change of drivers, advise the new driver of the speed stored. If there is no vehicle in front, DISTRONIC PLUS operates in the same way as cruise control in the speed range between 30 km/h and 200 km/h. If a vehicle is driving in front of you, it operates in the speed range between 0 km/h and 200 km/h. Do not use DISTRONIC PLUS on roads with steep gradients.
Cruise control lever With the cruise control lever, you can operate DISTRONIC PLUS and variable SPEED- TRONIC. The LIM indicator lamp on the cruise control lever indicates which system you have selec- ted: RLIM indicator lamp off: DISTRONIC PLUS
is selected.
RLIM indicator lamp on: variable SPEED-
TRONIC is selected.
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189
: To store the current speed or a higher
speed
; To set the specified minimum distance = LIM indicator lamp ? To store the current speed and call up the
last stored speed
A To store the current speed or a lower
speed
B To switch between DISTRONIC PLUS and
variable SPEEDTRONIC
C To deactivate DISTRONIC PLUS
Selecting DISTRONIC PLUS X Check whether LIM indicator lamp = is off. If it is off, DISTRONIC PLUS is already selec- ted. If it is not, press the cruise control lever in the direction of arrow B. LIM indicator lamp = in the cruise control lever goes out. DISTRONIC PLUS is selec- ted.
Activating DISTRONIC PLUS, storing and maintaining the current speed Activation conditions To activate DISTRONIC PLUS, the following conditions must be fulfilled: Rthe engine must be running. It may take up
to two minutes of driving before DIS- TRONIC PLUS is ready for use.
Rthe parking brake must be released. RESP® must be switched on, but not inter-
vening.
190 Driving systems
RActive Parking Assist must not be activa-
ted.
Rthe transmission must be in position D. Rthe bonnet must be closed. Rthe driver's door must be closed when you shift from P to D or your seat belt must be fastened.
Rthe front-passenger door and the rear
doors must be closed.
Rthe vehicle must not be skidding. Activating while driving When driving at speeds below 30 km/h, you can only activate DISTRONIC PLUS if the vehi- cle in front has been detected and is shown in the multifunction display. If the vehicle in front is no longer detected and displayed, DISTRONIC PLUS switches off and you will hear a tone. X Briefly pull the cruise control lever towards
you ?, or press it up : or down A. DISTRONIC PLUS is activated.
X Keep the cruise control lever pressed
up : or down A until the desired speed is set.
X Remove your foot from the accelerator
pedal. Your vehicle adapts its speed to that of the vehicle in front, but only up to the desired stored speed. i If you do not fully release the accelerator pedal, the DISTRONIC PLUS inactive message appears in the multifunction dis- play. The set distance to a slower-moving vehicle in front will then not be maintained. You will be driving at the speed you deter- mine by the position of the accelerator pedal.
Activating when driving towards a sta- tionary vehicle If the vehicle in front of you is stationary, you can only activate DISTRONIC PLUS once your vehicle is stationary as well.
X Briefly pull the cruise control lever towards
you ?, or press it up : or down A. DISTRONIC PLUS is activated.
i DISTRONIC PLUS can only be activated at under 30 km/h if a vehicle in front has been detected. For this reason, it is helpful if you have the DISTRONIC PLUS distance display shown in the instrument cluster (Y page 248).
X Keep the cruise control lever pressed
up : or down A until the desired speed is set.
i You can use the cruise control lever to set
the stored speed and the control on the cruise control lever to set the specified minimum distance (Y page 192).
Pulling away X If the vehicle in front pulls away: remove
your foot from the brake pedal.
X Briefly pull the cruise control lever towards
you ?.
or X Accelerate briefly.
Your vehicle pulls away and adapts its speed to that of the vehicle in front.
Driving If there is no vehicle in front, DISTRONIC PLUS operates in the same way as cruise control. If DISTRONIC PLUS detects that the vehicle in front has slowed down, it brakes your vehi- cle. In this way, the distance you have selec- ted is maintained. If DISTRONIC PLUS detects that the vehicle in front is driving faster, it accelerates your vehicle, but only up to the speed you have stored.
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191
Changing lanes If you change to the overtaking lane, DIS- TRONIC PLUS supports you if: Ryou are driving faster than 60 km/h RDISTRONIC PLUS is maintaining the dis-
tance to a vehicle in front
Ryou switch on the respective turn signal RDISTRONIC PLUS does not detect a danger
of collision
If these conditions are met, your vehicle is accelerated. Acceleration will be interrupted if changing lanes takes too long or if the dis- tance between your vehicle and the vehicle in front becomes too small. i When you change lanes, DISTRONIC
PLUS monitors the left lane for left-hand- drive vehicles and the right lane for right- hand-drive vehicles.
Vehicles with COMAND Online i The following function is not operational
in all countries.
DISTRONIC PLUS uses additional information from your navigation system so that it can adapt to certain traffic situations. This is the case if, while following a vehicle, DISTRONIC PLUS is active and you: Rapproach or drive around a roundabout Rapproach a T-junction Rturn off at a motorway exit Even if the vehicle in front leaves the detec- tion range, DISTRONIC PLUS temporarily maintains the current driving speed and does not accelerate. This is based on the current map data in the navigation system.
Example: roundabout The current speed is maintained: Rapproximately ten seconds before the roundabout/T-junction and for approx- imately 1.5 seconds when driving on the roundabout
Rapproximately twelve seconds before reaching a motorway exit and approx- imately four seconds after the motorway exit
Afterwards, the vehicle accelerates back to the set speed you specified. Stopping G WARNING When leaving the vehicle, even if it is braked only by DISTRONIC PLUS, it could roll away if: Rthere is a malfunction in the system or in
the voltage supply.
RDISTRONIC PLUS has been deactivated
with the cruise control lever, e.g. by a vehi- cle occupant or from outside the vehicle. Rthe electrical system in the engine com- partment, the battery or the fuses have been tampered with.
Rthe battery is disconnected. Rthe accelerator pedal has been depressed,
e.g. by a vehicle occupant. There is a risk of an accident. If you wish to exit the vehicle, always turn off DISTRONIC PLUS and secure the vehicle against rolling away.
192 Driving systems
Deactivating DISTRONIC PLUS (Y page 194). If DISTRONIC PLUS detects that the vehicle in front is stopping, it brakes your vehicle until it is stationary. Once your vehicle is stationary, it remains stationary and you do not need to depress the brake. i Depending on the specified minimum dis- tance, your vehicle will come to a standstill at a sufficient distance behind the vehicle in front. The specified minimum distance is set using the control on the cruise control lever.
When DISTRONIC PLUS is activated, the transmission is shifted automatically to posi- tion P if: Rthe driver's door is open and the driver's
seat belt is unfastened
Rthe engine is switched off, unless it is auto-
matically switched off by the ECO start/ stop function
Rthe bonnet is opened Ra system fault occurs Rthe power supply is not sufficient
Setting a speed X Press the cruise control lever up : for a higher speed or down A for a lower speed. X Keep the cruise control lever pressed until
the desired speed is reached.
X Release the cruise control lever.
The new speed is stored. DISTRONIC PLUS is activated and adjusts the vehicle's speed to the new speed stored.
X To adjust the set speed in 1 km/h incre-
ments: briefly press the cruise control lever up : or down ; to the pressure point. The last stored speed increases or decrea- ses in 1 km/h increments.
X To adjust the set speed in 10 km/h
increments: press the cruise control lever
briefly up : or down ; beyond the pres- sure point. The last stored speed increases or decrea- ses in 10 km/h increments.
i DISTRONIC PLUS is not deactivated if you depress the accelerator pedal. If you accel- erate to overtake, DISTRONIC PLUS adjusts the vehicle's speed to the last speed stored after you have finished over- taking.
Storing the current speed or calling up the stored speed X Briefly pull the cruise control lever towards
you ?.
X Remove your foot from the accelerator
pedal. DISTRONIC PLUS is activated. The first time it is activated, the current speed is stored. Otherwise, it sets the vehicle cruise speed to the previously stored value.
Setting the specified minimum distance You can set the specified minimum distance for DISTRONIC PLUS by varying the time span between one and two seconds. With this func- tion, you can set the minimum distance that DISTRONIC PLUS keeps to the vehicle in front, dependent on vehicle speed. You can see this distance in the multifunction display (Y page 193). i Make sure that you maintain a sufficient distance to the vehicle in front and comply with the minimum distance as required by law. Adjust the distance to the vehicle in front if necessary.
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193
Displaying DISTRONIC PLUS in the mul- tifunction display General notes In the assistance menu (Y page 247) of the on-board computer, you can select the assis- tance display. Display when DISTRONIC PLUS is deacti- vated X Select the Assist. graphic function using the on-board computer (Y page 248).
When DISTRONIC PLUS is deactivated, you will see the following in the multifunction dis- play:
: Vehicle in front, if detected ; Distance indicator: current distance to
the vehicle in front
= Specified minimum distance to the vehi-
cle in front; adjustable
? Own vehicle Display when DISTRONIC PLUS is activa- ted X Select the Assist. graphic function using the on-board computer (Y page 248).
You will see the stored speed for approx- imately five seconds when you activate DIS- TRONIC PLUS. After this time, you will see the following in the multifunction display while DISTRONIC PLUS is activated:
X To increase: turn control = in direc-
tion ;. DISTRONIC PLUS then maintains a greater distance between your vehicle and the vehicle in front.
X To decrease: turn control = in direc-
tion :. DISTRONIC PLUS then maintains a shorter distance between your vehicle and the vehicle in front.
Displaying DISTRONIC PLUS in the speedometer
Example: vehicles with automatic transmission When DISTRONIC PLUS is activated, one or two segments ; in the set speed range light up. i For design reasons, the speed displayed in the speedometer may differ slightly from the speed set for DISTRONIC PLUS.
If DISTRONIC PLUS detects a vehicle in front, segments ; between speed of the vehicle in front : and stored speed = light up.
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i The last speed stored remains stored until
you switch off the engine.
DISTRONIC PLUS is automatically deactiva- ted if: Ryou apply the parking brake Ryou are driving slower than 25 km/h and there is no vehicle in front, or if the vehicle in front is no longer detected
RESP® intervenes or you deactivate ESP® Rthe transmission is in the P, R or N position Ryou pull the cruise control lever towards you in order to pull away and the front- passenger door or one of the rear doors is open
Rthe vehicle has skidded If DISTRONIC PLUS is deactivated, you will hear a warning tone. You will see the DIS‐ TRONIC PLUS off message in the multifunc- tion display for approximately five seconds. If the vehicle has been stopped by DISTRONIC PLUS and a fault occurs in the system, the Brake immediately message appears in the multifunction display. Depress the brake pedal immediately so that the vehicle does not roll away. DISTRONIC PLUS is then deac- tivated and the message disappears.
Tips for driving with DISTRONIC PLUS General notes The following contains descriptions of certain road and traffic conditions in which you must be particularly attentive. In such situations, brake if necessary. DISTRONIC PLUS is then deactivated.
: Vehicle in front, if detected ; Specified minimum distance to the vehi-
cle in front; adjustable
= Own vehicle ? DISTRONIC PLUS activated
Deactivating DISTRONIC PLUS
There are several ways to deactivate DIS- TRONIC PLUS: X Briefly press the cruise control lever for-
wards :.
or X Brake, unless the vehicle is stationary. or X Briefly press the cruise control lever in the
direction of arrow =. Variable SPEEDTRONIC is selected. LIM indicator lamp ; in the cruise control lever lights up. When you deactivate DISTRONIC PLUS, you will see the DISTRONIC PLUS off message in the multifunction display for approximately five seconds.
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Cornering, going into and coming out of a bend
DISTRONIC PLUS has not detected the vehi- cle cutting in yet. The distance to this vehicle will be too short. Narrow vehicles
The ability of DISTRONIC PLUS to detect vehi- cles when cornering is limited. Your vehicle may brake unexpectedly or late. Vehicles which are not driving in the mid- dle of their lane
DISTRONIC PLUS has not yet detected the vehicle in front on the edge of the carriage- way, because of its narrow width. The dis- tance to the vehicle in front will be too short. Obstructions and stationary vehicles
DISTRONIC PLUS may not detect vehicles which are not driving in the middle of their lane. The distance to the vehicle in front will be too short. Other vehicles changing lane
DISTRONIC PLUS does not brake for obsta- cles or stationary vehicles. If, for example, the detected vehicle turns a corner and reveals an obstacle or stationary vehicle, DISTRONIC PLUS will not brake for these.
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Crossing vehicles
DISTRONIC PLUS may mistakenly detect vehicles that are crossing your lane. Activat- ing DISTRONIC PLUS at traffic lights with crossing traffic, for example, could cause your vehicle to pull away unintentionally.
HOLD function General notes The HOLD function can assist the driver in the following situations: Rwhen pulling away, especially on steep
slopes
Rwhen manoeuvring on steep slopes Rwhen waiting in traffic The vehicle is kept stationary without the driver having to depress the brake pedal. The braking effect is cancelled and the HOLD function is deactivated when you depress the accelerator pedal to pull away. i Do not use the HOLD function when driv- ing off-road, on steep uphill or downhill gra- dients or on slippery or loose surfaces. The HOLD function cannot hold the vehicle on such surfaces.
Important safety notes G WARNING When leaving the vehicle, it can still roll away despite being braked by the HOLD function if: Rthere is a malfunction in the system or in
the voltage supply
Rthe HOLD function is deactivated by the
accelerator pedal being depressed, e.g. by a vehicle occupant
Rthe electrical system in the engine com-
partment, the battery or the fuses are tam- pered with
Rthe battery is disconnected There is a risk of an accident. Before leaving the vehicle, always deactivate the HOLD function and secure the vehicle from rolling away.
! If DISTRONIC PLUS or the HOLD function is activated, the vehicle brakes automati- cally in certain situations. To prevent dam- age to the vehicle, deactivate DISTRONIC PLUS and the HOLD function in the follow- ing or other similar situations: Rwhen towing the vehicle Rin the car wash
Deactivate the HOLD function (Y page 197).
Activation conditions You can activate the HOLD function if: Rthe vehicle is stationary. Rthe engine is running or if it has been auto-
matically switched off by the ECO start/ stop function.
Rthe driver's door is closed or if your seat
belt is fastened.
Rthe parking brake is released. Rthe bonnet is closed. Rthe selector lever is in position D, R or N on
vehicles with automatic transmission.
RDISTRONIC PLUS is deactivated.
Activating the HOLD function X Make sure that the activation conditions
are met.
X Depress the brake pedal. X Quickly depress the brake pedal further
until ë appears in the multifunction dis- play. The HOLD function is activated. You can release the brake pedal.
i If depressing the brake pedal the first
time does not activate the HOLD function, wait briefly and then try again.
Deactivating the HOLD function The HOLD function is deactivated automati- cally if: Ryou accelerate. On vehicles with automatic transmission: only when the transmission is in position D or R.
Rthe transmission is in position P on vehicles
with automatic transmission.
Ryou depress the brake pedal again with a certain amount of pressure until ë dis- appears from the multifunction display.
Ryou activate DISTRONIC PLUS. When the HOLD function is activated, the automatic transmission is shifted automati- cally to position P if: Rthe driver's door is open and the driver's
seat belt is unfastened
Rthe engine is switched off, unless it is auto-
matically switched off by the ECO start/ stop function
Rthe bonnet is opened. Ra system fault occurs Rthe power supply is not sufficient For vehicles with manual transmission, you will see a warning message in the multifunc- tion display if the HOLD function is activated and:
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197
Rthe driver's door is open and the driver's
seat belt is unfastened
Rthe engine is switched off, unless it is auto-
matically switched off by the ECO start/ stop function Rthe bonnet is opened Brake immediately X Immediately depress the brake pedal firmly until the warning message in the multifunc- tion display goes out. This deactivates the HOLD function.
A horn will also sound at regular intervals if the HOLD function is activated and you: Rswitch the engine off, open the driver's
door and take off your seat belt
Ropen the bonnet The sounding of the horn alerts you to the fact that the vehicle has been parked while the HOLD function is still activated. If you attempt to lock the vehicle, the tone becomes louder. The vehicle is not locked until the HOLD func- tion is deactivated. i If the engine has been switched off, it cannot be started again until the HOLD function has been deactivated.
If there is a fault in the system or power supply while the HOLD function is activated, the Brake immediately message is shown in the multifunction display. Immediately depress the brake firmly until the warning message in the multifunction display goes out. On vehicles with automatic transmission, you can also shift into position P. This deactivates the HOLD function.
PARKTRONIC Important safety notes PARKTRONIC is an electronic parking aid with ultrasonic sensors. It monitors the area around your vehicle using six sensors in the front bumper and four sensors in the rear bumper. PARKTRONIC indicates visually and
198 Driving systems
audibly the distance between your vehicle and an object. PARKTRONIC is only an aid. It is not a substi- tute for your attention to the immediate sur- roundings. The responsibility for safe manoeuvring and parking remains with you. Make sure that there are no persons, animals or objects in range while manoeuvring and parking. ! When parking, pay particular attention to objects above or below the sensors, such as flower pots or trailer drawbars. PARK- TRONIC does not detect such objects when they are in the immediate vicinity of the vehicle. You could damage the vehicle or the objects. The sensors may not detect snow and objects which absorb ultrasonic sources. Ultrasonic sources, such as an automatic car wash, a lorry's compressed-air brakes or a pneumatic drill, could cause PARK- TRONIC to malfunction. PARKTRONIC may not function correctly on uneven terrain.
PARKTRONIC is activated automatically if you: Rswitch on the ignition Rshift to position D, R or N on vehicles with
automatic transmission
Rrelease the parking brake PARKTRONIC is deactivated at speeds above 18 km/h. It is reactivated at lower speeds.
: Example: sensors in the front bumper,
left-hand side
Range of the sensors General notes PARKTRONIC does not take into account obstacles located: Rbelow the detection range, e.g. persons,
animals or objects
Rabove the detection range, e.g. overhang- ing loads, tail sections or loading ramps of goods vehicles
The sensors must be free of dirt, ice and slush. Otherwise, they may not function cor- rectly. Clean the sensors regularly, taking care not to scratch or damage them (Y page 336).
Side view
Top view Front sensors Centre Corners
Approx. 100 cm Approx. 60 cm
Rear sensors Centre Corners
Approx. 120 cm Approx. 80 cm
Minimum distance Centre Corners
Approx. 20 cm Approx. 15 cm
If there is an obstacle within this range, the relevant warning displays light up and a warn- ing tone sounds. If the distance falls below the minimum, the distance may no longer be shown.
Warning displays The warning displays show the distance between the sensors and the obstacle. The warning display for the front area is located on the dashboard above the centre air vents. The warning display for the rear area is loca- ted on the roof lining in the rear compart- ment.
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199
The gear lever position or the transmission position of the automatic transmission and the direction in which the vehicle is rolling determine which warning display is active when the engine is running. Manual transmission: Gear lever posi- tion Forwards gear or Neutral Reverse gear, or the vehicle is rolling backwards
Rear and front areas activated
Front area activated
Warning display
Automatic transmission: Transmission position R, N or the vehicle is rolling back- wards
Warning display
Front area activated Rear and front areas activated
No areas activated
Warning display for the front area : Segments on the left-hand side of the
vehicle
; Segments on the right-hand side of the
vehicle
= Segments showing operational readiness The warning display for each side of the vehi- cle is divided into five yellow and two red seg- ments. PARKTRONIC is operational if yellow segments showing operational readiness = light up.
One or more segments light up as the vehicle approaches an obstacle, depending on the vehicle's distance from the obstacle. From the: Rsixth segment onwards, you will hear an
intermittent warning tone for approx- imately two seconds
Rseventh segment onwards, you will hear a warning tone for approximately two sec- onds. This indicates that you have now reached the minimum distance.
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Deactivating/activating PARKTRONIC
: To deactivate/activate PARKTRONIC ; Indicator lamp If indicator lamp ; lights up, PARKTRONIC is deactivated. i PARKTRONIC is automatically activated when you turn the key to position 2 in the ignition lock.
Towing a trailer ! Fold in the ball coupling if the trailer tow hitch is not required. PARKTRONIC meas- ures the minimum detection range to an obstacle from the bumper, not the ball cou- pling.
PARKTRONIC is deactivated for the rear area when you establish an electrical connection between your vehicle and a trailer.
Problems with PARKTRONIC
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201
Problem Only the red segments in the PARKTRONIC warning displays are lit. You also hear a warning tone for approximately two seconds. PARKTRONIC is deacti- vated after approx- imately five seconds, and the indicator lamp in the PARKTRONIC button lights up. Only the red segments in the PARKTRONIC warning displays are lit. PARKTRONIC is deacti- vated after approx- imately five seconds.
Possible causes/consequences and M Solutions PARKTRONIC has malfunctioned and has switched off. X If problems persist, have PARKTRONIC checked at a qualified
specialist workshop.
The PARKTRONIC sensors are dirty or there is interference. X Clean the PARKTRONIC sensors (Y page 336). X Switch the ignition back on. The problem may be caused by an external source of radio or ultrasound waves. X See if PARKTRONIC functions in a different location.
Active Parking Assist Important safety notes Active Parking Assist is an electronic parking aid with ultrasound. Ultrasound is used to measure the road on both sides of the vehicle. A suitable parking space is indicated by the parking symbol. Active steering intervention can assist you during parking. You may also use PARKTRONIC (Y page 197). When PARK- TRONIC is switched off, Active Parking Assist is also unavailable. G WARNING The vehicle will veer out when parking and can take you onto sections of the oncoming lane. As a result, you may collide with other road users. There is a risk of an accident. When parking, pay attention to other road users. Stop the vehicle if necessary or cancel the Active Parking Assist parking procedure.
! If unavoidable, you should drive over
obstacles such as kerbs slowly and not at a sharp angle. Otherwise, you may damage the wheels or tyres.
Active Parking Assist is only an aid. It is not a substitute for your attention to the immediate surroundings. The responsibility for safe manoeuvring and parking remains with you. Make sure that there are no persons, animals or objects in range while manoeuvring and parking. Use Active Parking Assist for parking spaces: Rthat are parallel to the direction of travel Rthat are on straight roads, not bends Rthat are on the same level as the road, e.g.
not on the pavement
202 Driving systems
Parking tips: Ron narrow roads, drive as closely as possi-
ble past the parking space.
Rparking spaces that are littered, overgrown
or partially occupied by trailer drawbars might be identified incorrectly or not at all. Rsnowfall or heavy rain may lead to a parking
space being measured inaccurately.
Rpay attention to the PARKTRONIC
(Y page 199) warning messages during the parking procedure.
Rat any time, you can intervene in the steer- ing procedure to correct it. Active Parking Assist will then be cancelled.
Rwhen transporting a load which protrudes
from your vehicle, you should not use Active Parking Assist.
Rwhen snow chains or an emergency spare wheel are fitted, you should not use Active Parking Assist here either.
Rmake sure that the tyre pressures are
always correct. This has a direct influence on the parking characteristics of the vehi- cle.
Detecting parking spaces Objects located above the height range of Active Parking Assist will not be detected when the parking space is measured. These are not taken into account when the parking procedure is calculated, e.g. overhanging loads, tail sections or loading ramps of goods vehicles. In some circumstances, Active Park- ing Assist may therefore guide you into the parking space too early. G WARNING If objects are located above the detection range, Active Parking Assist may start to steer into the parking space too soon. As a result, you could cause a collision. There is a risk of an accident. If objects are located above the detection range, stop the vehicle and switch Active Parking Assist off.
Active Parking Assist is switched on automat- ically when driving forwards. The system is operational at speeds of up to approximately 35 km/h. While in operation, the system inde- pendently locates and measures parking
