2011 Mercedes-benz R Class Owners Manual

assure that the vehicle is stopped before applying the parking brake. Otherwise the rear wheels could lock up. You could lose control of the vehicle and cause an accident. In addition, the vehicle’s brake lights do not light up when the parking brake is engaged. Make sure not to endanger any other road users when you engage the parking brake.

Driving on wet roads Hydroplaning If water has accumulated to a certain depth on the road surface, there is a danger of hydroplaning occurring, even if: Ryou drive at low speeds Rthe tires have adequate tread depth

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For this reason, in the event of heavy rain or in conditions in which hydroplaning can occur you must drive in the following manner: RLower your speed RAvoid ruts RBrake carefully

Driving on flooded roads ! Do not drive through flooded areas.

Check the depth of any water before driving through it. Drive slowly through standing water. Otherwise, water may enter the vehicle interior or the engine compartment. This can damage the electronic components in the engine or the automatic transmission. Water can also be drawn in by the engine's air suction nozzles and this can cause engine damage.

Prevent water from entering the vehicle interior or engine compartment. If you have to drive through standing water, please note that: Rthe maximum permissible still water depth

is 10 in. (25 cm).

Ryou should drive no faster than at walking

pace.

i Vehicles with the AIRMATIC package:

if you have set the raised vehicle level before driving through standing water, the maximum water depth is 12 in. (30 cm).

Winter driving General notes Have your vehicle winterproofed at a qualified specialist workshop, e.g. at an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center, at the onset of winter. Observe the notes in the "Winter operation" section (Y page 172). i Vehicles with a diesel engine: do not

cover the radiator, e.g. with a protective cover. The measuring function of the

Onboard Diagnosis System may otherwise provide inaccurate values. Some of these values are required by law and must therefore always be accurate.

Slippery road surfaces G Warning If the vehicle becomes stuck in snow, make sure snow is kept clear of the exhaust pipe and from around the vehicle with the engine running. Otherwise, deadly carbon monoxide (CO) gases may enter vehicle interior resulting in unconsciousness and death. To assure sufficient fresh air ventilation, open a window slightly on the side of the vehicle not facing the wind. G Warning! The outside temperature indicator is not designed to serve as an ice-warning device and is therefore unsuitable for that purpose. Indicated temperatures just above the freezing point do not guarantee that the road surface is free of ice. The road may still be icy, especially in wooded areas or on bridges. G 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.

You should drive particularly carefully on slippery road surfaces. Avoid sudden acceleration, steering and braking maneuvers. Do not use cruise control. If the vehicle threatens to skid or cannot be stopped when moving at low speed: X Shift the transmission to position N. i For more information on driving with

snow chains, see .

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G Warning Make sure that you do not endanger other road users when you apply the brakes.

Driving abroad An extensive Mercedes-Benz Service network is also available in other countries. The Service Hotline's current telephone numbers for use when you are abroad are to be found in the "Service24h" section of the Service Booklet.

Driving systems Cruise control Important safety guidelines Cruise control maintains a constant road speed for you. It brakes automatically in order to avoid exceeding the set speed. On long and steep downhill gradients, especially if the vehicle is laden or towing a trailer, you must select shift range 1, 2 or 3 in good time. By doing so, you will make use of the braking effect of the engine, which relieves the load on the brake system and prevents the brakes from overheating and wearing too quickly. Use cruise control only if road and traffic conditions make it appropriate to maintain a steady speed for a prolonged period. You can store any road speed above 20 mph (30 km/h). G 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. RThe use of the cruise control can be

dangerous on winding roads or in heavy

traffic because conditions do not allow safe driving at a constant speed.

RThe use of the cruise control can be dangerous on slippery roads. Rapid changes in tire traction can result in wheel spin and loss of control.

RDeactivate the cruise control when driving

in fog.

The "Resume" function should only be operated if the driver is fully aware of the previously set speed and wishes to resume this particular preset speed. G Warning When cruise control brakes, the brake pedal is pulled back (i.e. operated automatically). The area around the pedal must not be blocked by obstacles: RDo not place any objects in the footwell. REnsure that floormats and carpets are fixed securely. In particular, do not place several floormats on top of one another.

RDo not place your foot under the brake

pedal, as it could become trapped.

Non-compliance could lead you to cause an accident in which you and/or others could be seriously injured.

Cruise control lever

: To store the current speed or a higher

speed

; To store the current speed or a lower

speed

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speed of the vehicle to the previously stored speed.

Setting a speed G Warning Keep in mind that it may take a brief moment until the vehicle has made the necessary adjustments. Increase or decrease the set vehicle speed to a value that the prevailing road conditions and legal speed limits permit. Otherwise, sudden and unexpected acceleration or deceleration of the vehicle could cause an accident and/ or serious injury to you and others.

X Press the cruise control lever to the

pressure point, 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.

i Cruise control is not deactivated if you

depress the accelerator pedal. For example, if you accelerate briefly to overtake, cruise control adjusts the vehicle's speed to the last speed stored after you have finished overtaking.

Setting in 1 mph (Canada: 1 km/h) increments X Briefly press the cruise control lever to the pressure point, up : for a higher speed or down ; for a lower speed. The last speed stored is increased or reduced.

= To deactivate cruise control ? To store the current speed or to call up

the last stored speed

When you activate cruise control, the stored speed is shown in the status indicator of the multifunction display: RCanada only: e.g. ¯90 Km/h Storing and maintaining the current speed You can store the current speed if you are driving faster than 20 mph (30 km/h). X Accelerate the vehicle to the desired

speed.

X Briefly press the cruise control lever

up : or down ; to the pressure point. X Remove your foot from the accelerator

pedal. Cruise control is activated. The vehicle automatically maintains the stored 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 applying the brakes.

Storing the current speed or calling up the last stored speed G Warning The set speed stored in memory should only be set again if prevailing road conditions and legal speed limits permit. Possible acceleration or deceleration differences arising from returning to the preset speed could cause an accident and/or serious injury to you and others.

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

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Setting in 5 mph (Canada: 10 km/h) increments X Briefly press the cruise control lever

beyond the pressure point, up : for a higher speed or down ; for a lower speed. The last speed stored is increased or reduced.

Deactivating cruise control There are several ways to deactivate cruise control: X Briefly press the cruise control lever

forwards =.

or X Brake. Cruise control is automatically deactivated if: Ryou depress the parking brake. Ryou are driving below 20 mph (30 km/h). RESP® intervenes or you deactivate ESP®. Ryou shift the transmission to 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.

DISTRONIC Important safety guidelines DISTRONIC regulates the speed and automatically helps you maintain the distance to the vehicle detected in front. It brakes automatically in order to avoid exceeding the set speed. On long and steep downhill gradients, especially if the vehicle is laden or towing a trailer, you must select shift range 1, 2 or 3
in good time. By doing so, you will make use of the braking effect of the engine, which relieves the load on the brake system and

prevents the brakes from overheating and wearing too quickly. If a slower-moving vehicle is detected in front, DISTRONIC causes your vehicle to brake and maintain the preset distance to the vehicle in front. G Warning! The Distronic requires familiarity with its operational characteristics. We strongly recommend that you review the following information carefully before operating the system. G Warning When DISTRONIC brakes, the brake pedal is pulled back (i.e. operated automatically). The area around the pedal must not be blocked by obstacles: Rdo not place any objects in the footwell. Rensure that floormats and carpets are fixed securely. In particular, do not place several floormats on top of one another.

Rdo not place your foot under the brake

pedal, as it could become trapped.

Non-compliance could lead you to cause an accident in which you and/or others could be seriously injured. G Warning! The Distronic is a convenience system. Its speed adjustment reduction capability is intended to make cruise control more effective and usable when traffic speeds vary. It is not however, intended to, nor does it, replace the need for extreme care. The responsibility for the vehicle’s speed, distance to the preceding vehicle and, most importantly, brake operation to ensure a safe stopping distance, always remains with the driver. The Distronic cannot take street and traffic conditions into account. Complex driving situations are not always fully recognized by the Distronic. This could result in wrong or missing distance warnings.

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If there is no vehicle in front, DISTRONIC operates in the same way as cruise control in the speed range between 20 mph (30 km/h) and 120 mph (200 km/h). If there is a vehicle in front, DISTRONIC operates in the speed range between 0 mph (0 km/h) and 120 mph (200 km/h). Do not use DISTRONIC while driving on roads with steep gradients. G Warning DISTRONIC distance control is not a substitute for the driver's active involvement. It does not react to pedestrians or stationary objects and cannot detect or predict the road's course and the movements of the vehicles in front. DISTRONIC can only brake using 40% of the vehicle's maximum possible braking force. The driver must always pay attention to road, weather and traffic conditions. He must steer, brake and drive the vehicle so that he maintains control over it. High-frequency sources such as toll stations, velocity measurement systems, etc. may cause DISTRONIC to malfunction. G Warning! The Distronic cannot take road and traffic conditions into account. Only use the Distronic if the road, weather and traffic conditions make it advisable to travel at a constant speed. G Warning! Use of the Distronic can be dangerous on slippery roads. Rapid changes in tire traction can result in wheel spin and loss of control. The Distronic does not function in adverse sight and distance conditions. Do not use the Distronic during conditions of fog, heavy rain, snow or sleet.

G Warning! The Distronic cannot take weather conditions into account. Switch off the Distronic or do not switch it on if: Rroads are slippery or covered with snow or

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

Rthe Distronic system sensor cover is dirty or visibility is diminished due to snow, rain or fog, for example. The distance control system functionality could be impaired. Always pay attention to surrounding traffic conditions even while the Distronic is switched on. Otherwise, you may not be able to recognize dangerous situations until it is too late. This could cause an accident in which you and/or others could be injured. G Warning! The "Resume" function should only be operated if the driver is fully aware of the previously set speed and wishes to resume this particular preset speed. G Warning! Close attention to road and traffic conditions is imperative at all times, regardless of whether or not the Distronic is activated. Use of the Distronic can be dangerous on winding roads or in heavy traffic because conditions do not allow safe driving at a constant speed. The Distronic will not react to stationary objects in the roadway (e.g. a stopped vehicle in a traffic jam or a disabled vehicle). The Distronic will also not respond to oncoming vehicles.

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Switch off the Distronic Rwhen changing from the left to the right

lane if vehicles are moving more slowly in the left lane

Rwhen entering a turn lane or highway off

ramp

Rin complex driving situations, such as in

highway construction zones

In these situations, the Distronic will continue to maintain the set speed unless deactivated. The Distronic is designed and intended only to maintain a set speed and keep a set distance from moving objects in front of it.

i 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. Removing, tampering with, or altering the device will void any warranties, and is forbidden by the FCC. Do not tamper with, alter or use in any non- approved way. Any unauthorized modification to this device may invalidate the vehicle's general operating permit.

Cruise control lever

: To store the current speed or a higher

speed

; To store the current speed or a lower

speed

= To deactivate DISTRONIC ? To store the current speed or to call up

the last stored speed

Activating DISTRONIC, storing and maintaining the current speed G Warning! The vehicle can be braked when DISTRONIC is activated. For this reason, deactivate DISTRONIC if the vehicle is to be set in motion by other means (e.g. in a car wash or by towing).

You can activate DISTRONIC in the following circumstances: Rif the engine has been started and you have

been driving for up to two minutes Rwhile driving, except if you brake Rif the parking brake is not applied Rif ESP® is activated Rif the transmission is in position D Activating while driving When driving at speeds below 20 mph (30 km/h), you can only activate DISTRONIC PLUS if the vehicle in front has been detected and is shown in the multifunction display. If the vehicle in front is not shown in the multifunction display and is no longer being detected, because it has changed lanes, for example, DISTRONIC is deactivated and you hear a warning tone. X Briefly pull the cruise control lever towards you ? or press it up : or down ; to the pressure point. DISTRONIC is activated.

X Keep the cruise control lever pressed

up : or down ; 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 You can use the cruise control lever to set the stored speed and the thumbwheel on the cruise control lever to set the specified minimum distance (Y page 179).

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i If you do not fully release the accelerator pedal, the DISTRONIC Override message appears in the multifunction display. The set distance to a slower-moving vehicle in front will then not be maintained. You will be driving at the speed you determine by the position of the accelerator pedal.

Driving If there is no vehicle in front, DISTRONIC operates in the same way as cruise control. If a slower-moving vehicle is detected in front, DISTRONIC causes your vehicle to brake and maintain the preset distance to the vehicle in front. If DISTRONIC detects a faster-moving vehicle in front, it increases the driving speed, but only up to the desired speed you have stored. G Warning! If you depress the brake pedal, DISTRONIC is deactivated. DISTRONIC will then no longer brake your vehicle. In such cases, control the distance from vehicles traveling in front with the brake alone. You could otherwise cause an accident and thereby injure yourself and others. The driver remains fully responsible for the vehicle's distance from other vehicles, the speed being driven and for braking in good time.

Stopping G Warning! DISTRONIC must never be operated, activated or deactivated by a passenger or from outside the vehicle.

If DISTRONIC detects that the vehicle in front is stopping, it brakes your vehicle until it is stationary. i Depending on the specified minimum

distance, your vehicle will come to a standstill at a sufficient distance behind the vehicle in front. The specified minimum distance is set using the thumbwheel on the cruise-control lever.

DISTRONIC is deactivated automatically when stopping: Ron flat stretches of road or on downhill gradients when the vehicle is stationary Rwhile the vehicle is still moving on uphill

gradients, to prevent the vehicle from unexpectedly rolling back when DISTRONIC is deactivated

If DISTRONIC is deactivated, you will hear a warning tone. X To prevent the vehicle from rolling away,

apply the foot brake or parking brake.

Setting a speed G Warning Keep in mind that it may take a brief moment until the vehicle has made the necessary adjustments. Increase or decrease the set vehicle speed to a value that the prevailing road conditions and legal speed limits permit. Otherwise, sudden and unexpected acceleration or deceleration of the vehicle could cause an accident and/ or serious injury to you and others.

X Press the cruise control lever to the

pressure point, 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. DISTRONIC is activated and adjusts the vehicle's speed to the new speed stored.

Setting in 1 mph (Canada: 1 km/h) increments X Briefly press the cruise control lever to the pressure point, up : for a higher speed or down ; for a lower speed. The last speed stored is increased or reduced.

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Setting in 5 mph (Canada: 10 km/h) increments X Briefly press the cruise control lever

beyond the pressure point, up : for a higher speed or down ; for a lower speed. The last speed stored is increased or reduced.

Storing the current speed or calling up the last speed stored G Warning The set speed stored in memory should only be set again if prevailing road conditions and legal speed limits permit. Possible acceleration or deceleration differences arising from returning to the preset speed could cause an accident and/or serious injury to you and others.

X Briefly pull the cruise control lever towards

you ?.

X Remove your foot from the accelerator

pedal. DISTRONIC is activated and accepts the current speed if it is activated for the first time, or adjusts the vehicle's speed to the last speed stored.

Setting the specified minimum distance You can set the specified minimum distance for DISTRONIC by varying the time span between one and two seconds. This time span determines the distance that DISTRONIC should maintain from the vehicle in front, depending on the road speed. You can see this distance in the multifunction display (Y page 180). G 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 recommendations for safe following distance.

X To increase: turn thumbwheel ; towards

=. DISTRONIC then maintains a greater distance between your vehicle and the vehicle in front.

X To decrease: turn thumbwheel ;

towards :. DISTRONIC then maintains a shorter distance between your vehicle and the vehicle in front.

i Make sure that you maintain the

minimum distance to the vehicle in front as required by law. Adjust the distance to the vehicle in front if necessary.

DISTRONIC displays in the speedometer

When DISTRONIC 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.

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If DISTRONIC detects a vehicle in front, segments ; between the speed of the vehicle in front : and stored speed = light up. G Warning! An intermittent warning sounds and the distance warning lamp · in the instrument cluster is illuminated if the Distronic system calculates that the distance to the vehicle ahead and your vehicle’s current speed indicate that the Distronic 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 in which you should intercede with your own braking inputs to avoid a potentially dangerous 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 avoided. Tailgating increases the risk of an accident. G Warning DISTRONIC brakes your vehicle with a maximum deceleration of 13 ft/s2(4 m/s2). This corresponds to approximately 40% of your vehicle's maximum possible braking power. You must apply the brakes yourself to avoid a collision. DISTRONIC brakes the vehicle to restore the set distance to the vehicle in front or to restore the set speed. In this case, the brake pedal is depressed automatically, which can be seen by a movement of the brake pedal. Always keep the driver's footwell clear, including the area under the brake pedal. Objects in this area may impair pedal movement and cause the DISTRONIC braking function to malfunction.

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

DISTRONIC displays in the multifunction display X Press the V or U button to select the DISTRONIC menu (Y page 201). Display when DISTRONIC is switched off When DISTRONIC is deactivated, you will see the following in the multifunction display:

: Vehicle in front, if detected ; Distance indicator, displaying current

distance to the vehicle in front

= Specified minimum distance to the

vehicle in front, adjustable

? Own vehicle Display when DISTRONIC is activated After this time, you will see the following in the multifunction display while DISTRONIC is activated:

: DISTRONIC activated ; Stored speed When activating DISTRONIC and when setting the speed, stored speed ; appears for around five seconds. After approximately five seconds, current saved speed ; is shown in the status indicator in the multifunction display DTR XXX Miles.

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Deactivating DISTRONIC

There are a number of ways to deactivate DISTRONIC: X Briefly press the cruise control lever

forwards :.

or X Brake. i The last speed stored remains stored until

you switch off the engine.

i DISTRONIC is not deactivated if you depress the accelerator pedal. If you accelerate to overtake, DISTRONIC adjusts the vehicle's speed to the last speed stored after you have finished overtaking.

DISTRONIC is automatically deactivated if: Ryou apply the parking brake. Ryou are driving slower than 20 mph

(25 km/h) and there is no vehicle in front, or if the vehicle in front is no longer detected.

RESP® intervenes or if you deactivate ESP®. Ryou shift the transmission to P, R or N. If DISTRONIC is deactivated, you will hear a warning tone. You will see the DISTRONIC Off message in the multifunction display for approximately five seconds.

Tips for driving with DISTRONIC The following contains descriptions of certain road and traffic conditions in which you must be particularly attentive. In such situations,

brake if necessary. DISTRONIC is then deactivated. G Warning! The Distronic works to maintain the speed selected by the driver unless a moving 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: RYour vehicle can pass another vehicle after

you have changed lanes.

RWhile in a sharp turn or if the preceding vehicle is in a sharp turn, the Distronic could lose sight of the preceding vehicle. Your vehicle could then accelerate to the previously selected speed.

The Distronic regulates only the distance between your vehicle and those directly ahead of it, but does not register stationary objects in the road, e.g.: Ra stopped vehicle in a traffic jam Ra disabled vehicle Ran oncoming vehicle The driver must always be alert, observe all traffic and intercede as required by means of steering or braking the vehicle. G Warning! The Distronic should not be used in snowy or icy road conditions.

Cornering, going into and coming out of a bend

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The ability of DISTRONIC to detect vehicles when cornering is limited. Your vehicle may brake unexpectedly or late. Vehicles traveling on a different line

DISTRONIC has not yet detected the vehicle in front on the edge of the road, because of its narrow width. The distance to the vehicle in front will be too short. Obstructions and stationary vehicles

DISTRONIC may not detect vehicles traveling on a different line. The distance to the vehicle in front will be too short. Other vehicles changing lane

DISTRONIC does not brake for obstructions or stationary vehicles. If, for example, the detected vehicle turns a corner and reveals an obstacle or stationary vehicle, DISTRONIC will not brake for these. Crossing vehicles

DISTRONIC has not detected the vehicle cutting in yet. The distance to this vehicle will be too short. Narrow vehicles

DISTRONIC may detect vehicles that are crossing your lane by mistake. Activating DISTRONIC at, for example, a traffic light with crossing traffic, could cause your vehicle to pull away at the wrong time.

Rear axle level control The rear axle level control regulates the vehicle level at the rear axle. The benefit of this is that the vehicle level at the rear axle is kept constant regardless of the load.

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Observe the notes on driving with a trailer (Y page 193).

AIRMATIC package General notes AIRMATIC enables a suspension tuning setting to be selected and regulates the damping behavior and level of your vehicle. The system comprises two components: ADS (Adaptive Damping System) (Y page 183) and level control (Y page 183) . Observe the notes on driving with a trailer (Y page 193).

ADS (Adaptive Damping System) ADS is continuously electronically controlled. It adapts the damping characteristics to the operating and driving situation. Damping is controlled separately for each wheel. This increases driving safety and tire comfort. This depends on: Ryour driving style Rthe road surface conditions Rthe ADS setting Rthe vehicle level setting Your selection remains stored even if you remove the key from the ignition lock.

You can choose between the following ADS settings: RAUTO for normal driving situations; indicator lamps ; and = are off. RSPORT for sporty driving; indicator

lamp ; is on.

RCOMF for a more comfortable ride;

indicator lamp = is on.

X Start the engine. X Press button : repeatedly until the

desired setting is selected.

Level control Level control automatically adapts the vehicle level to the current operating and driving situation. This results in reduced fuel consumption and improved handling. Make changes to the vehicle level while the vehicle is in motion. This enables the vehicle to adjust to the new level as quickly as possible. The vehicle level may change visibly if you park the vehicle and the outside temperature changes. If the temperature drops, the vehicle level is lower; with an increase in temperature, the vehicle level rises. When you unlock the vehicle or open a door, the vehicle begins to balance the load discrepancies while still parked. However, for significant level changes, e.g. after the vehicle has been stationary for a long period, the engine must be on. For safety reasons, the vehicle is only lowered when the doors are closed. Lowering is interrupted if a door is opened and continues once the door has been closed. G Warning! Make sure no one is near the wheel housing or under the vehicle when you lower the vehicle while it is standing still. Limbs could become wedged into or under the vehicle. For safety reasons, the vehicle can only be lowered with all doors and the tailgate closed. Lowering is interrupted if a door or the tailgate

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is opened and will continue after the door is closed again.

! When driving in very poor road conditions,

select a high vehicle level in good time. Make sure that there is always sufficient ground clearance to prevent damage to the vehicle.

! Remove the key from the ignition lock

before raising the vehicle completely, e.g. with a vehicle lift.

Basic settings Select raised level for very poor road conditions (Y page 184) or highway level for normal road conditions (Y page 185). The vehicle is automatically lowered to high- speed level when you: Rdrive faster than 70 mph (112 km/h) Rdrive at speeds between 60 mph

(96 km/h) and 70 mph (112 km/h) for approximately 20 seconds.

The individual vehicle levels differ from highway level as follows: R+1.97 in (+ 50 mm) in raised level R+/–0 in (+/–0 mm) in highway level R–0.78 in (–20 mm) in high-speed level i The high-speed level is not available if you are towing a trailer. Observe the notes on driving with a trailer (Y page 193).

i Observe speed limits. Drive carefully and

at an appropriate speed.

Raised level Only select raised level if this is appropriate for the road conditions. Otherwise, fuel consumption may increase and handling may be affected. If you select raised level at a speed above 40 mph (64 km/h), the Level Selection Not Permitted message appears in the multifunction display.

X Start the engine. Indicator lamp ; is not lit: X Press button :.

Indicator lamp ; flashes. The vehicle rises to raised level.

While the adjustment is taking place, a message appears in the multifunction display, e.g.:

If you press the V, U, * or & button on the multifunction steering wheel, the message will disappear. Once the vehicle has reached raised level, indicator lamp ; remains lit. A message appears in the multifunction display for approximately five seconds, e.g.:

The vehicle level is automatically set to highway level if you are driving faster than 25 mph (40 km/h).

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Highway level ! Make sure that there is enough ground

clearance when the vehicle is being lowered. It could otherwise hit the ground, damaging the underbody.

X Make sure that the doors are closed. X Start the engine. If indicator lamp ; is lit: X Press button :.

Indicator lamp ; flashes. The vehicle is lowered to highway level.

While the adjustment is taking place, a message appears in the multifunction display, e.g.:

If you press the V, U, * or & button on the multifunction steering wheel, the message will disappear. Once highway level has been reached, indicator lamp ; goes out. A message appears in the multifunction display for approximately five seconds, e.g.:

The vehicle level is automatically raised from high-speed level to highway level if the speed drops below 40 mph (64 km/h). The vehicle level is automatically set to highway level if you are driving faster than 25 mph (40 km/h).

4MATIC (permanent four-wheel drive) 4MATIC ensures that all four wheels are permanently driven. Together with ESP® and 4ETS, it improves the traction of your vehicle whenever a drive wheel spins due to insufficient grip. G Warning! If a drive wheel is spinning due to insufficient traction: RWhile driving off, apply as little throttle as

possible.

RWhile driving, ease up on the accelerator

pedal.

RAdapt your speed and driving style to the

prevailing road conditions.

Failure to observe these guidelines could cause the vehicle to skid. The 4MATIC cannot prevent accidents resulting from excessive speed.

! Never tow the vehicle with one axle

raised. This may damage the transfer case. Damage of this sort is not covered by the Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty. All wheels must remain either on the ground or be fully raised. Observe the instructions for towing the vehicle with all wheels in full contact with the ground.

i In wintry driving conditions, the maximum

effect of 4MATIC can only be achieved if

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PARKTRONIC is deactivated at speeds above 11 mph (18 km/h). It is reactivated at lower speeds. PARKTRONIC monitors the area around your vehicle using six sensors in the front bumper and four sensors in the rear bumper.

: Sensors in the front bumper, left-hand

side (example)

Range of the sensors The sensors must be free of dirt, ice and slush; otherwise they may not function correctly. Clean the sensors regularly, taking care not to scratch or damage them (Y page 287).

Side view

you use winter tires (M+S tires), with snow chains if necessary.

! When testing the parking brake, operate the vehicle only briefly (for a maximum of ten seconds) on a brake test dynamometer. When doing this, turn the key to position 0 or 1 in the ignition. Failure to do this can cause damage to the drive train or the brake system.

! Function or performance tests may only be performed on a 2-axle dynamometer. If you wish to operate the vehicle on such a dynamometer, please consult an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center beforehand. You could otherwise damage the drive train or the brake system.

PARKTRONIC Important safety guidelines G Warning! The 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. G Warning! Make sure no persons or animals are in or near the area in which you are parking/ maneuvering. Otherwise, they could be injured.

PARKTRONIC is an electronic parking aid with ultrasonic sensors. It indicates visually and audibly the distance between your vehicle and an object. PARKTRONIC is activated automatically when you: Rswitch on the ignition. Rshift the transmission to position D, R or

N.

Rrelease the parking brake.

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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 center air vents. The warning display for the rear area is in the roof lamp in the rear compartment.

Top view Front sensors Center Corners

Rear sensors Center Corners

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

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

Warning display for the front area : Segments on the left-hand side of the

vehicle

! When parking, pay particular attention to objects above or below the sensors, such as flower pots or trailer drawbars. PARKTRONIC does not detect such objects when they are in the immediate vicinity of the vehicle. You could damage the vehicle or the objects. Ultrasonic sources such as an automatic car wash, a truck's compressed-air brakes or a pneumatic drill could cause PARKTRONIC to malfunction.

Minimum distance Center Corners

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

If there is an obstacle within this range, all warning displays light up and a warning tone sounds. If the distance falls below the minimum, the distance may no longer be shown.

; Segments on the right-hand side of the

vehicle

= Segments showing operational readiness The warning display for each side of the vehicle is divided into five yellow and two red segments. PARKTRONIC is operational if yellow segments showing operational readiness = light up. The selected transmission position determines which warning display is active when the engine is running. Transmission position R or N

Warning display

Front area activated Rear and front areas activated No areas activated

One or more segments light up as the vehicle approaches an obstacle, depending on the vehicle's distance from the obstacle.

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From the: Rsixth segment onwards, you will hear an

intermittent warning tone for approximately two seconds.

Rseventh segment onwards, you will hear a

warning tone for approximately two seconds. This indicates that you have now reached the minimum distance.

Deactivating/activating PARKTRONIC

: To deactivate/activate PARKTRONIC ; Indicator lamp If indicator lamp ; lights up, PARKTRONIC is deactivated.

Towing a trailer PARKTRONIC is deactivated for the rear area when you establish an electrical connection between your vehicle and a trailer. ! Remove the detachable ball coupling if

the trailer tow hitch is not required. PARKTRONIC measures the minimum detection range to an obstacle from the bumper, not the ball coupling.

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Problems with PARKTRONIC

Problem Only the red segments in the PARKTRONIC warning displays are lit. You also hear a warning tone for approximately two seconds. PARKTRONIC is deactivated after approximately 20 seconds and the indicator lamp in the PARKTRONIC button lights up.

Only the red segments in the PARKTRONIC warning displays are lit. PARKTRONIC is deactivated after approximately 20
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 287). 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.

Rear view camera Important safety guidelines The rear view camera is an optical parking aid. It shows the area behind your vehicle in the COMAND APS display. G Warning! Make sure no persons or animals are in or near the area in which you are parking/ maneuvering. Otherwise, they could be injured.

The rear view camera is located in the handle strip of the tailgate.

: Rear view camera

View through the camera The area behind the vehicle is displayed as a mirror image, as in the rear-view mirror.

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G Warning! The rear view camera is only an aid and may display obstacles Rfrom a distorted perspective Rinaccurately Rmay not display obstacles at all The rear view camera does not relieve you of the responsibility to be cautious. Take care and pay careful attention. The rear view camera may not show objects which are Rvery close to the rear bumper Runder the rear bumper Rabove the tailgate handle You are responsible for safety at all times and must continue to pay attention to the immediate surroundings when parking and maneuvering. This includes the area behind, in front of, and beside the vehicle. Otherwise you could endanger yourself and/or others. G Warning! The rear view camera either will not function or will not function to its full capability if Rthe tailgate is open Rit is raining very hard, snowing or foggy Rit is night or you are parking/maneuvering your vehicle in an area where it is very dark Rthe camera is exposed to a very bright white

light

Rthe immediate surroundings are

illuminated with fluorescent light (the display may flicker)

Rthere is a sudden change in temperature, e.g. if you drive into a heated garage from the cold (lens condensation)

Rthe camera lens is dirty or covered Rthe rear of your vehicle is damaged

In this case, have the position and setting of the camera checked by a qualified specialist workshop. Mercedes-Benz recommends that you contact a Mercedes- Benz Center for this purpose.

Do not use the rear view camera in these situations. Otherwise you could injure yourself or others and/or damage property including your vehicle while parking/ maneuvering.

Activating the rear view camera X Make sure that the key is in position 2 in

the ignition lock.

X Make sure that the "rear view camera"

function is selected in COMAND APS; see the separate operating instructions for COMAND APS.

X Engage reverse gear.

The area behind the vehicle is shown in the COMAND APS display with guide lines.

Guide lines in the COMAND APS display G Warning! Use of rear view camera can be dangerous if you are color-blind or have impaired color vision. Only use rear view camera if you can see and distinguish all colored guidelines shown by rear view camera on the COMAND system display. G Warning Please note that objects that do not touch the ground may appear to be further away than they actually are, for example: Rthe bumper of a vehicle parked behind you Rthe trailer drawbar Rthe ball coupling of a trailer tow hitch Rthe rear end of a truck Ra slanted post In such cases, you should not use the guide lines to judge the distance. You may misjudge the distance, which increases the risk of impacting the objects. Even if the object you approach is directly on the ground, do not approach the object any closer than the red guide line.

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Monitoring may be affected by dirty sensors, strong spray or poor visibility caused by snow, rain or mist, for example. In this case, vehicles are detected late or not at all. Always pay attention to traffic conditions and your surroundings. Otherwise, you may fail to recognize dangers in time, cause an accident and injure yourself and others.

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. Removing, tampering with, or altering the device 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.

For Blind Spot Assist to assist you when driving, the radar sensor system must be switched on (Y page 208) and operational.

Monitoring range of the sensors Blind Spot Assist monitors the area up to 10 ft (3 m) behind your vehicle and directly next to your vehicle as shown in the diagram.

Guide lines ; and = show the approximate distance from the rear of the vehicle. Yellow guide line ; indicates a distance of approximately 3 ft (1 m) and red guide line = indicates a distance of approximately 10 in (0.25 m). The distance only applies to objects at ground level. Blue line : depicts the width required for the vehicle. It is used to align the vehicle with the edge of the road, e.g. the curb.

Blind Spot Assist Important safety guidelines Blind Spot Assist uses a radar sensor system to monitor the areas on both sides of your vehicle. It is active at speeds above approximately 20 mph (30 km/h). A warning display in the exterior mirrors draws your attention to vehicles in the monitored area. If you then indicate a turn towards that side before changing lane, you will also receive visual and audible collision warnings. For this purpose, Blind Spot Assist uses sensors in the rear bumper. G Warning Blind Spot Assist is only an aid designed to assist driving. It may fail to detect some vehicles and is no substitute for attentive driving. Blind Spot Assist cannot detect road and traffic conditions. It may fail to detect narrow vehicles, such as motorcycles or bicycles, or may only detect them too late.

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G Warning Blind Spot Assist monitors certain areas in the immediate vicinity of your vehicle. Vehicles that approach and drive past at high speeds are not detected. There is no display and no warning. If the lanes are very wide, it may not be possible to monitor the complete width of the neighboring lane. For this reason, vehicles in the next lane may not be detected, especially if they are driving in a staggered formation. This may be the case if vehicles are driving at that edge of their lane which is furthest away from your vehicle. Always pay attention to traffic conditions and your surroundings. Otherwise, you may fail to recognize dangers in time, cause an accident and injure yourself and others.

If the lanes are narrow, the system may be unable to distinguish the neighboring lane from the one beyond it. For this reason, the system may indicate vehicles in the farther lane, especially if the vehicles are driving in a staggered formation in different lanes. In particular, this may be the case if the vehicles are driving at that edge of their lane which is nearest your vehicle. Due to the nature of the system: Rwarnings may be issued unnecessarily when driving close to crash barriers or similar solid lane borders.

Rthe warning may be interrupted when

traveling next to long vehicles for extended periods.

The two sensors for Blind Spot Assist are integrated into the sides of the rear bumper. Make sure that the bumper is free of dirt, ice or slush around the sensors. For example, the radar sensors must not be covered by bicycle racks or overhanging loads. In the event of a severe impact or damage to the bumpers, have the function of the radar sensors checked at a qualified specialist workshop, e.g. an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.

Blind Spot Assist may otherwise not work properly.

Information and warning display

: Yellow indicator lamp/red warning lamp If Blind Spot Assist is switched on, indicator lamps : in the exterior mirrors light up yellow up to a speed of 20 mph (30 km/h). At speeds above 20 mph (30 km/h), the indicator lamp goes out and Blind Spot Assist is operational. If a vehicle is detected within the monitoring range of Blind Spot Assist at speeds above 20 mph (30 km/h), warning lamp : on the corresponding side lights up red. This warning is always emitted when a vehicle enters the blind spot monitoring range from behind or from the side. When you overtake a vehicle, the warning only occurs if the difference in speed is less than 7 mph (12 km/h). The yellow indicator lamp goes out if the reverse gear is engaged. In this event, Blind Spot Assist is no longer active. The brightness of the indicator/warning lamps is adjusted automatically according to the ambient light. G Warning Blind Spot Assist is not active at speeds under approximately 20 mph (30 km/h). The indicator lamps in the exterior mirrors are yellow. Vehicles in the monitoring range are then not indicated. Always pay attention to traffic conditions and your surroundings. Otherwise, you may fail to

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recognize dangers in time, cause an accident and injure yourself and others.

Collision warning If a vehicle is detected in the monitoring range of Blind Spot Assist and you switch on the turn signal, a double warning tone sounds. Red warning lamp : flashes. If the turn signal remains on, detected vehicles are indicated by the flashing of red warning lamp :. There are no further warning tones.

Switching on Blind Spot Assist X Make sure that the radar sensor system

(Y page 208) and Blind Spot Assist (Y page 210) are activated in the on-board computer.

X Turn the key to position 2 in the ignition

lock. Warning lamps : light up red in the exterior mirrors for approximately 1.5
seconds and then turn yellow.

Towing a trailer When you attach a trailer, make sure you have correctly established the electrical connection. This can be accomplished by checking the trailer lighting. In this event, Blind Spot Assist is deactivated. The indicator lamp lights up yellow in the exterior mirrors and the message: Blind Spot Assist Currently Unavailable See Operator's Manual appears in the multifunction display. i The indicator lamps in the exterior mirrors

can be switched off. To do this, you must deactivate Blind Spot Assist when: Rthe key is in position 2 in the ignition

lock.

Rthe engine is not running. Rthe electrical connection to the trailer

has been established.

Towing a trailer Notes on towing a trailer Important safety instructions G Warning! Failure to use proper equipment and driving technique can result in a loss of vehicle control when towing a trailer. Improper towing or failure to follow the instructions in this manual can result in vehicle damage and/or serious personal injury. Follow the guidelines below carefully to assure safe trailer operation. Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center should you require an explanation of information contained in this manual.

General information ROnly install an approved trailer coupling on

your vehicle. Further information on availability and on installation is available from any authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.

RThe bumpers of your vehicle are not

suitable for installing detachable trailer couplings.

RDo not install hired trailer couplings or

other detachable trailer couplings on the bumpers of your vehicle.

RTo reduce the risk of damage to the ball

coupling, remove it from the ball coupling recess when not in use.

Coupling up a trailer G Warning! Vehicles with AIRMATIC: While you are coupling or decoupling a trailer, make sure nobody locks or unlocks the vehicle and/or opens or closes doors or the tailgate. The vehicle’s level could change and you could endanger yourself and/or others as a result.

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