MERCEDES-BENZ B-CLASS HATCHBACK 2014 Owners Manual

TION ASSIST still detects increasing lapses in
concentration, you will be warned again after
15 minutes at the earliest. This will only hap-
pen if ATTENTION ASSIST still detects typical indicators of fatigue or increasing lapses in
concentration.
If a warning is output in the multifunction dis-
play, a service station search is performed in
COMAND Online. You can select a service
station and navigation to this service station
will then begin. This function can be activated
and deactivated in COMAND Online. Traffic Sign Assist
General notes Traffic Sign Assist displays the maximum
speed permitted and overtaking restrictions
to the driver in the instrument cluster. Driving onto a section of road in the wrong direction
triggers a warning. Traffic Sign Assist detects
traffic signs with camera system :attached
behind the top of the windscreen. The data
and general traffic regulations stored in the
navigation system are also used to determine the current speed limit.
If a traffic sign that is relevant to your vehicleis passed, the display of the speed limits and
overtaking restrictions is updated. The display can also be updated without a
visible traffic sign if:
R the vehicle changes roads (e.g. motorway
exit or slip road)
R a village or town boundary is passed which
is stored in the digital map
R the last traffic sign detected by the camera
has not been repeated
If a sign indicating the end of a restriction
(speed limit or overtaking restriction) is
passed, the sign is displayed for five seconds.
Vehicles with colour multifunction dis-
play: the currently applicable traffic regula-
tion continues to be shown in the assistance
graphic display (Y page 243).
The camera also detects traffic signs with a
restriction indicated by an additional sign
(e.g. in wet conditions).
The traffic signs are only displayed with the
restrictions if:
R the regulation must be observed with the
restriction, or
R Traffic Sign Assist is unable to determine
whether the restriction applies
If Traffic Sign Assist is unable to determine a
maximum permitted speed from any of the
available sources, no speed limit is displayed
in the instrument cluster either. Traffic Sign Assist is not available in all coun-
tries. In vehicles with a colour multifunction
display, display :is shown in the multifunc-
tion display. 218
Driving systemsDriving and parking

Important safety notes
Traffic Sign Assist is only an aid and is not
always able to correctly display speed limits
and overtaking restrictions. Traffic signs
always have priority over the Traffic Sign
Assist display.
The system may be either functionally
impaired or temporarily unavailable if:
R visibility is poor, e.g. due to snow, rain, fog
or spray
R there is glare, e.g. from the sun being low in
the sky
R there is dirt, ice or misting on the wind-
screen in the vicinity of the camera
R traffic signs are hard to detect (dirt, ice,
snow)
R the traffic signs are insufficiently lit at night
R signs are ambiguous (e.g. traffic signs on
construction sites or in adjacent lanes)
R the information in the digital street map of
the navigation system is incorrect or out of
date
Activating Traffic Sign Assist X
Vehicles with colour multifunction dis-
play: activate the Traffic Sign Assist display
using the on-board computer
(Y page 243).
X Vehicles with black and white multi-
function display: activate the Traffic Sign
Assist message function using the on-
board computer (Y page 243).
If you have activated the Traffic Sign Assist
display in the on-board computer, the traffic
regulations (speed limits and overtaking
restrictions) are displayed in the instrument
cluster for five seconds respectively. The
wrong-way warning and the traffic sign dis-
play for speed limits and overtaking restric-
tions remain active even when the display has been deactivated. Instrument cluster display i
The following illustrations are examples of
vehicles with colour multifunction display.
The illustrations of vehicles with black and
white multifunction display differ from
them.
i The unit for the speed limit (km/h or mph)
depends on the country in which you are
driving. It is generally neither shown on the
traffic sign nor on the instrument cluster
but must be taken into account when
observing the maximum permitted speed. Speed limit with overtaking restriction
A maximum permitted speed of 60 km/h
(60 mph)
:and an overtaking restriction ;
apply. :
Maximum permitted speed
; Maximum permitted speed for vehicles
for which the restriction in the additional
sign is relevant
= Additional sign for unknown restriction
Speed limit with unknown restriction Driving systems
219Driving and parking Z

A maximum permitted speed of 80 km/h
(80 mph) and a speed limit of 60 km/h
(60 mph) with an unknown restriction apply. :
Maximum permitted speed
; Additional signs for wet conditions
Speed limits in wet conditions
A maximum permitted speed of 80 km/h
(80 mph) applies in wet conditions and when
Traffic Sign Assist has determined that the
restriction must be observed. End of an overtaking restriction
A maximum permitted speed of 60 km/h
(60 mph) :applies. The overtaking restric-
tion no longer applies ;. The traffic sign for
signalling the end of an overtaking restriction
is displayed for five seconds. End of a speed limit
No speed limit
:applies here. No entry (wrong-way warning)
If no entry signs are passed, a warning mes-
sage is displayed in the instrument cluster
should Traffic Sign Assist detect that you are driving in the wrong direction. You will then
also hear a warning tone. You should imme-
diately check your direction of travel in order to avoid danger to yourself and other road
users. Lane Tracking package
General notes The Lane Tracking package consists of Blind
Spot Assist (Y
page 221) and Lane Keeping
Assist (Y page 223). 220
Driving systemsDriving an
d parking

Blind Spot Assist
General notes
Blind Spot Assist monitors the areas on either
side of the vehicle that are not visible to the
driver with two lateral, rear-facing radar sen-
sors. A warning display in the exterior mirrors
draws your attention to vehicles detected in
the monitored area. If you then switch on the corresponding turn signal to change lanes,
you will also receive a visual and audible col-
lision warning.
Blind Spot Assist supports you from a speed
of approximately 30 km/h.
Important safety notes G
WARNING
Blind Spot Assist does not react to vehicles:
R overtaken too closely on the side, placing
them in the blind spot area
R when the difference in the speed of
approach and overtaking is too great
As a result, Blind Spot Assist cannot warn
drivers in these situations. There is a risk of an accident.
Always pay careful attention to the traffic sit- uation and maintain a safe distance at the side
of the vehicle.
Blind Spot Assist is only an aid. It may fail to
detect some vehicles and is no substitute for
attentive driving. Always ensure that there is
sufficient distance to the side for other road
users and obstacles.
Radar sensors
The radar sensors for Blind Spot Assist are
integrated into the rear bumper. Make sure
that the bumpers are free from dirt, ice or
slush. The sensors must not be covered, for
example by cycle racks or overhanging loads.
Following a severe impact or in the event of
damage to the bumpers, have the function of the radar sensors checked at a qualified spe-
cialist workshop. Blind Spot Assist may no
longer work properly. Monitoring range of the sensors
In particular, the detection of obstacles can
be impaired in the case of:
R dirt on the sensors or obscured sensors
R poor visibility, e.g. due to fog, heavy rain or
snow
R a narrow vehicle travelling in front, e.g. a
motorcycle or a bicycle
R very wide lanes
R narrow lanes
R vehicles not driving in the middle of their
lane
R barriers or other road boundaries
Vehicles in the monitoring range are then not
indicated. Blind Spot Assist monitors the area up to
3.0 mbehind your vehicle and directly next to
your vehicle, as shown in the diagram. For this
purpose, Blind Spot Assist uses radar sensors in the rear bumper.
If the lanes are narrow, vehicles driving in the
lane beyond the lane next to your vehicle may
be indicated, especially if the vehicles are not
driving in the middle of their lane. This may be the case if the vehicles are driving on the inner
side of their lane. Driving systems
221Driving and parking Z

Due to the nature of the system:
R warnings may be issued in error when driv-
ing close to crash barriers or similar solid
lane borders
R warnings may be interrupted when driving
alongside particularly long vehicles, for
example lorries, for a prolonged time
Warning display :
Warning display
Blind Spot Assist is not active at speeds below approximately 30 km/h. Vehicles in the mon-itoring range are then not indicated.
If Blind Spot Assist is activated, indicator
lamp :in the exterior mirrors lights up yel-
low up to a speed of 30 km/h. At speeds
above 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
30 km/h, warning lamp :on the corre-
sponding side lights up red. This warning
always occurs 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 12 km/h.
The yellow indicator lamp goes out if reverse
gear is engaged. Blind Spot Assist is then
deactivated.
The brightness of the indicator/warning
lamps is adjusted automatically according to the ambient light. Collision warning
If a vehicle is detected in the monitoring range
of Blind Spot Assist and you switch on the
corresponding 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.
Activating Blind Spot Assist X Make sure that Blind Spot Assist is activa-
ted in the on-board computer
(Y page 245).
X Turn the key to position 2in the ignition
lock.
Warning lamps :in the exterior mirrors
light up red for approximately 1.5 seconds
and then turn yellow.
Towing a trailer
If you couple up a trailer, make sure that you have correctly established the electrical con-
nection. This can be accomplished by check- ing the trailer lighting. Blind Spot Assist is
then deactivated. The indicator lamps in the
exterior mirrors light up yellow and the
Blind Blind Spot
SpotAssist
Assist not
notavailable
available when
when
towing a trailer See Owner's Manual
towing a trailer See Owner's Manual
message appears in the multifunction dis-
play.
i You can deactivate the indicator lamps in
the exterior mirrors.
To do so, you will need to deactivate Blind
Spot Assist if:
R the key is in position 2in the ignition lock
R the engine is not running
R the electrical connection to the trailer
has been established 222
Driving systemsDriving an
d parking

Lane Keeping Assist
General notes
Lane Keeping Assist monitors the area in
front of your vehicle by means of camera :
at the top of the windscreen. Lane Keeping
Assist detects lane markings on the road and
can warn you before you leave your lane unin-
tentionally.
This function is available within a speed range between 60 km/h and 200 km/h.
A warning may be given if a front wheel
passes over a lane marking. It will warn you by
means of intermittent vibration through the
steering wheel for up to 1.5 seconds.
Important safety notes G
WARNING
Lane Keeping Assist cannot always clearly
identify lane markings.
In these cases, Lane Keeping Assist may:
R give an unnecessary warning
R not give a warning
There is a risk of an accident.
Always pay particular attention to the traffic
situation and keep in lane, especially if Lane
Keeping Assist alerts you. G
WARNING
The Lane Keeping Assist warning does not
return the vehicle to the original lane. There is a risk of an accident. Always steer, apply the brakes or accelerate
the vehicle yourself, especially if Lane Keep-
ing Assist alerts you.
If you fail to adapt your driving style, Lane
Keeping Assist can neither reduce the risk of
an accident nor override the laws of physics.
Lane Keeping Assist cannot take into account road, weather or traffic conditions. Lane
Keeping Assist is only an aid. You are respon-
sible for the distance to the vehicle in front,
for vehicle speed, for braking in good time,
and for staying in lane.
Lane Keeping Assist does not keep your vehi- cle in its lane.
The system may be impaired or may not func-
tion if:
R there is poor visibility, e.g. due to insuffi-
cient illumination of the road, or due to
snow, rain, fog or spray
R there is glare, e.g. from oncoming traffic,
the sun or reflection from other vehicles
(e.g. if the road surface is wet)
R the windscreen is dirty, misted up, dam-
aged or covered, for instance by a sticker,
in the vicinity of the camera
R no or several, unclear lane markings are
present for one lane, e.g. in a construction
area
R the lane markings are worn away, dark or
covered up, e.g. by dirt or snow
R the distance to the vehicle in front is too
small and the lane markings thus cannot be
detected
R the lane markings change quickly, e.g.
lanes branch off, cross one another or
merge
R the road is narrow and winding
R there are highly variable shade conditions
on the road Driving systems
223Driving and parking Z

Activating Lane Keeping Assist
X Activate Lane Keeping Assist using the on-
board computer; to do so, select Standard
Standard
or Adaptive
Adaptive (Ypage 245).
If you drive at speeds above 60 km/h and
lane markings are detected, the lane mark- ings in the assistance graphics display
(Y page 243) are shown in green.
When Standard
Standard is selected, no warning vibra-
tion occurs if:
R you have switched on the turn signals. In
this event, the warnings are suppressed for
a certain period of time.
R a driving safety system intervenes, such as
ABS, BAS or ESP ®
.
When Adaptive
Adaptive is selected, no warning vibra-
tion occurs if:
R you have switched on the turn signals. In
this case, the warnings are suppressed for
a certain period of time.
R a driving safety system intervenes, such as
ABS, BAS or ESP ®
.
R you accelerate hard, e.g. kickdown.
R you brake hard.
R you steer actively, e.g. swerve to avoid an
obstacle or change lane quickly.
R you cut the corner on a sharp bend.
In order that you are warned only when nec-
essary and in good time if you cross the lane marking, the system detects certain condi-
tions and warns you accordingly.
The warning vibration occurs earlier if:
R you approach the outer lane marking on a
bend
R the road has very wide lanes, e.g. a motor-
way
R the system detects solid lane markings
The warning vibration occurs later if:
R the road has narrow lanes
R you cut the corner on a bend Towing a trailer
Important safety notes
G
WARNING
You could lose control of the vehicle/trailer
combination if it begins to swerve. The vehi-
cle/trailer combination could even overturn.
There is a risk of an accident.
On no account should you attempt to
straighten out the vehicle/trailer combina-
tion by increasing speed. Decrease your
speed and do not countersteer. Brake if nec-
essary. G
WARNING
If the maximum the permissible load for a car- rier system is exceeded, the carrier could
come loose from the vehicle and endanger
other road users. There is a risk of an accidentand injury.
Never exceed the permissible noseweight
when using a carrier.
Exceeding the maximum permissible nose-
weight of the trailer drawbar on the ball cou-
pling may cause damage to the following: R your vehicle
R the trailer
R the ball coupling
R trailer tow hitch
The vehicle/trailer combination could
become unstable.
If the noseweight used is lower than the min- imum permissible noseweight, the vehicle/
trailer combination could also become unsta-ble.
To avoid hazardous situations:
R make sure to check the noseweight before
each journey
R use a drawbar noseweight as close as pos-
sible to the maximum noseweight 224
Towing a trailerDriving and pa
rking

R
do not exceed the maximum permissible
noseweight
R do not use a noseweight lower than the
minimum noseweight
Make sure that the following values are not
exceeded:
R the permissible trailer drawbar noseweight
R the permissible trailer load
R the permissible rear axle load of the towing
vehicle
R the maximum permissible gross vehicle
weight of both the towing vehicle and the
trailer
The applicable permissible values, which
must not be exceeded, can be found:
R in your vehicle documents
R on the identification plates of the trailer tow
hitch and the trailer
R on the vehicle identification plate
If the values differ, the lowest value applies.
You will find the values approved by the man-
ufacturer on the vehicle identification plates
and those for the towing vehicle under "Tech- nical data" (Y page 396). G
WARNING
If you release the ball coupling or it does not
engage correctly when folding in, it will swing out. Within pivoting range of the ball coupling,
there is an increased risk of an accident and
injury.
Only release the ball coupling if the pivoting
range is unobstructed. Always make sure that the ball coupling engages when folding in.
When reversing the vehicle towards the
trailer, make sure there is nobody between
the trailer and the vehicle.
Couple and uncouple the trailer carefully. If
you do not couple the trailer to the towing
vehicle correctly, the trailer could become
detached.
When towing a trailer, your vehicle's handling
characteristics will be different in comparison to when driving without a trailer. The vehicle/trailer combination:
R is heavier
R is restricted in its acceleration and gradi-
ent-climbing capability
R has an increased braking distance
R is affected more by strong crosswinds
R demands more sensitive steering
R has a larger turning circle
This can impair the vehicle's handling char-
acteristics. Adapt your driving style accord-
ingly. Maintain a safe distance. Drive care-
fully.
When towing a trailer, always adjust your
speed to the current road and weather con-
ditions. Do not exceed the maximum permis-
sible speed for your vehicle/trailer combina-
tion. Notes on towing a trailer
General notes The B 180 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY Edition model
cannot be used to tow a trailer.
When towing a trailer, set the tyre pressure on
the rear axle of the towing vehicle for the
maximum load. Further information on the
tyre pressure table in the fuel filler flap
(Y page 356).
Please note that when towing a trailer, the
following driving systems have limited avail-
ability or are not available at all.
R PARKTRONIC (Y page 203)
R Blind Spot Assist (Y page 221)
The height of the ball coupling changes with
the load of the vehicle. If necessary, use a
trailer with a height-adjustable drawbar.
You will find fitting dimensions and loads
under "Technical data" (Y page 394).
Driving tips Observe the notes on ESP
®
trailer stabilisa-
tion (Y page 79). Towing a trailer
225Driving and parking Z

The maximum permissible speed for vehicle/
trailer combinations depends on the type of
trailer. Before beginning the journey, check
the trailer's documents to see what the max- imum permitted speed is. Observe the legally
prescribed maximum speed in the relevant
country.
For certain Mercedes-Benz vehicles, the max-
imum permissible rear axle load is increased
when towing a trailer. See the "Technical
data" section to find out whether this applies to your vehicle. If you utilise any of the added
maximum rear axle load when towing a trailer, the vehicle/trailer combination may not
exceed a maximum speed of 100 km/h for
reasons concerning the operating permit.
This also applies in countries in which the
permissible maximum speed for vehicle/
trailer combinations is above 100 km/h.
When towing a trailer, your vehicle's handling
characteristics will be different in comparison to when driving without a trailer and it will
consume more fuel.
Change into a lower gear in good time on long
and steep downhill gradients. For vehicles
with automatic transmission, you need to
have selected manual drive program M
(Y page 175).
This also applies if you have activated cruise
control, SPEEDTRONIC or DISTRONIC PLUS.
This will use the braking effect of the engine,
so less braking will be required to maintain
vehicle speed. This relieves the load on the
brake system and prevents the brakes from
overheating and wearing too quickly. If you
need additional braking, depress the brake
pedal repeatedly rather than continuously.
Briefly depressing the accelerator pedal on
downhill gradients while the manual drive
program Mis temporarily activated (vehicles
with automatic transmission): the automatic
transmission may switch back to the last
active automatic drive program Eor S. The
automatic transmission may shift to a higher
gear. This can reduce the engine's braking
effect. Driving tips If the trailer swings from side to side:
X Do not accelerate.
X Do not countersteer.
X Brake if necessary.
R Maintain a greater distance to the vehicle in
front than when driving without a trailer.
R Avoid braking abruptly. If possible, brake
gently at first to allow the trailer to run on.
Then, increase the braking force rapidly.
R The values given for gradient-climbing
capabilities from a standstill refer to sea
level. When driving in mountainous areas,
note that the power output of the engine,
and consequently the vehicle's gradient-
climbing capability, decrease with increas-
ing altitude. Folding out the ball coupling
G
WARNING
If the ball coupling is not correctly engaged,
the trailer can detach. There is a risk of an
accident.
Always engage the ball coupling as described. G
WARNING
If you release the ball coupling or it does not
engage correctly when folding in, it will swing out. Within pivoting range of the ball coupling,
there is an increased risk of an accident and
injury.
Only release the ball coupling if the pivoting
range is unobstructed. Always make sure that the ball coupling engages when folding in.
Before you can tow a trailer with your vehicle, you must fold out the ball coupling.
The release wheel is located behind the left-
hand side trim panel in the boot. 226
Towing a trailerDriving and parking

X
To open the cover: turn handle:anti-
clockwise, the fold down and remove
cover ;. X
Pull out release wheel =.
X Turn release wheel =anti-clockwise as far
as it will go.
The ball coupling disengages and folds out
behind the rear bumper. Indicator lamp ?
flashes. X
Pull the ball coupling in the direction of the
arrow until it engages in a vertical position.
The indicator lamp on the release wheel
goes out. The power socket folds down
automatically.
The multifunction display shows the
Check Check trailer
trailer hitch
hitchlock
lockdisplay mes-
sage until the ball coupling is engaged.
X Remove the protective covering from the
ball coupling and store it in a safe place.
X Make sure that the ball of the ball coupling
is clean and that it is either greased or dry
(grease free), depending on the instruc-
tions for the trailer. Coupling up a trailer
X Make sure that the transmission is in posi-
tion P.
X Apply the electric parking brake.
X Position the trailer horizontally behind the
vehicle.
X Couple up the trailer.
X Establish the electric connection between
the vehicle and the trailer.
X Check that the trailer lighting system is
working.
A connected trailer is only recognised when
the electrical connection is established
correctly and when the lighting system is
working properly. The function of other sys-
tems, such as ESP ®
or PARKTRONIC also
depends on this. Uncoupling a trailer
G
WARNING
If you uncouple a trailer with an engaged over- run brake, you could trap your hand between
the vehicle and the trailer drawbar. This poses a risk of injury.
Do not uncouple a trailer with an engaged
overrun brake. Towing a trailer
227Driving and parking Z