MERCEDES-BENZ C-CLASS ESTATE 2021 Owners Manual

Driving
Switching on the power supply or ignition
&WARNING Risk of accident and injury due
to leaving children unattended in the vehi-
cle
If children are les unattended in the vehicle,
they could, in particular:
= open doors, thereby endangering other
persons or road users.
= get out and be struck by oncoming traPc.
= operate vehicle equipment and become
trapped, for example.
In addition, the children could also set the
vehicle in motion by, for example:
= releasing the parking brake.
= changing the transmission position.
= starting the vehicle.
Never leave children unattended in the
vehicle.When leaving the vehicle, always take the key with you and lock the vehicle.Keep the vehicle key out of the reach of
children.
Requirements: = The key is in the vehicle and is recognised.
= the brake pedal is not depressed.
To switch on the power supply: press the 1
button once.
You can, for example, activate the windscreen
wiper.
The power supply is switched oM again if the fol-
lowing conditions are met:
= You open the driver's door.
= You press button 1 twice more.
To switch on the ignition: press the 1 button
twice.
Indicator and warning lamps go on in the
driver display.
The ignition is switched oM again if one of the fol-
lowing conditions is met:
= You do not start the vehicle within 15 minutes
and the transmission is in position 005D or the
electric parking brake is applied.
= You press button 1 once.
Driving and parking159

Starting the vehicle

qStarting the vehicle with the start/stop button
&DANGER Risk of death caused by exhaust
gases
Combustion engines emit poisonous exhaust
gases such as carbon monoxide. Inhaling
these exhaust gases is hazardous to health
and leads to poisoning.
Never leave the engine or, if present, the
auxiliary heating running in an enclosed
space without suPcient ventilation.&WARNING Risk of Nre due to Oammable
material in the engine compartment or the
exhaust system
Flammable materials may ignite.
Therefore, check regularly that there are
no Oammable materials in the engine
compartment or on the exhaust system.
Requirements: = The key is in the vehicle and is recognised.
Shis the transmission to position 005D or 005C.Depress the brake pedal and press button 1
once.If the vehicle does not start: Switch oM non-
essential consumers and press button 1
once.If the vehicle still does not start and the dis-
play message Place the key in the marked
space See Owner's Manual also appears in
the driver display: Start the vehicle with the
key in the marked space (emergency opera-
tion mode) (  page 160).%You can switch oM the engine while driving. By
pressing button 1 for about three seconds
or by pressing button 1 three times within
three seconds. Be sure to observe the safety
notes under "Driving tips" (  page 163).
Observe the information regarding display mes-
sages that can be displayed on the driver display.

q Starting the vehicle with the key in the marked
space (emergency operation mode)
If the vehicle does not start and the display mes- sage Place the key in the marked space See
Owner's Manual appears in the driver display, you
can start the vehicle in emergency operation
mode.Make sure that the marked space 2 is
empty.Remove the key 1 from the key ring.Place the key 1 in the marked space 2.
The vehicle will start aser a short time.
If you remove the key 1 from the marked
space 2 the engine continues running. For
further engine starts however, the key 1
must be located in the marked space 2 dur-
ing the entire journey.160Driving and parking

Have the key 1 checked at a qualiNed spe-
cialist workshop.
If the vehicle does not start:
Leave the key 1 in the marked space 2.Depress the brake pedal and start the vehicle
using the start/stop button.%You can also switch on the power supply or
the ignition with the start/stop button.
Observe the information regarding display mes-
sages that can be displayed on the driver display.
Starting the vehicle via Remote Online Services

q Cooling or heating the vehicle interior before
starting the journey
Ensure the following before starting the engine:
= the legal stipulations in the area where your
vehicle is parked allow engine starting via
smartphone.
= it is safe to start and run the engine where
your vehicle is parked.
= the fuel tank is suPciently full.
=
the starter battery is suPciently charged.

q Charging the starter battery before starting the
journey
If the vehicle battery is discharged, you can receive a message on your smartphone. You canthen start the vehicle with the smartphone to
charge the battery. The vehicle is automatically switched oM aser ten minutes.
Ensure the following before starting the engine:
= the legal stipulations in the area where your
vehicle is parked allow engine starting via
smartphone.
= it is safe to start and run the engine where
your vehicle is parked.
= the fuel tank is suPciently full.

q Starting the vehicle (Remote Online)&WARNING Risk of crushing or entrapment
due to unintentional starting of the engine
Limbs could be crushed or trapped if the
engine is started unintentionally during service
or maintenance work.
Always secure the engine against unin-
tentional starting before carrying out
maintenance or repair work.
Requirements: = Park position 005D is selected.
= The anti-thes alarm system is not activated.
= The panic alarm is not activated.
= The hazard warning light system is switched
oM.
= The bonnet is closed.
= The doors are closed and locked.
= The windows and sliding sunroof are closed.
Start the vehicle using the smartphone.
Aser every engine start, the engine runs for
ten minutes.
You can carry out a maximum of two consecutive
starting attempts. You must start the engine with the key before trying to start the engine againwith the smartphone.
Driving and parking161

You can switch oM the engine at any time as fol-
lows:
=
Via the Smartphone App
=
By pressing the

Moving away with optimised acceleration&WARNING Risk of skidding and having an
accident from wheels spinning
When you use optimised acceleration, individ-
ual wheels could spin and you could lose con-
trol of the vehicle.
If ESP n
is deactivated, there is a risk of skid-
ding and accident!
Make sure that no persons or obstacles are in the close vicinity of your vehicle.
Requirements: = the vehicle is run in (  page 162).
= the vehicle and tyres are in good condition.
= you are on a high-grip roadway.
= the engine and transmission are at normal
operating temperature.
*NOTE Increased wear due to optimised
acceleration
When pulling away with optimised accelera-
tion, all components of the drivetrain are sub-
jected to a very high load.
This can lead to increased component wear.
Do not always pull away with optimised
acceleration.Engage the 005B drive position (  page 174).Move the steering wheel to the straight-ahead
position.Select the sportiest available drive program
B or C ( page 171).Deactivating ESP n
( page 194).Depress and hold the brake pedal Nrmly with
your les foot.With your right foot, fully depress the acceler-
ator pedal.Aser no more than Nve seconds, take your les
foot quickly oM the brake, but keep the accel-
erator pedal depressed.
The vehicle pulls away at maximum accelera-
tion.Switch on ESP n
once the acceleration proce-
dure is complete.
Ending optimised acceleration
Remove your foot from the accelerator pedal.Reactivate the ESP n
.%Aser you pull away with optimised accelera-
tion, components of the drivetrain can
become very hot, which means that optimised
acceleration values may be reached again only aser a few minutes.
Notes on driving
&WARNING Risk of accident due to objects
in the driver's footwell
Objects in the driver's footwell may impede
pedal travel or block a depressed pedal.
Driving and parking163

This jeopardises the operating and road safety
of the vehicle.Stow all objects in the vehicle securely so that they cannot get into the driver's
footwell.Always Nt the Ooor mats securely and as
prescribed in order to ensure that there
is always suPcient room for the pedals.Do not use loose Ooor mats and do not
place Ooor mats on top of one another.&WARNING Risk of accident due to incor-
rect footwear
Incorrect footwear includes, for example:
= shoes with platform soles
= shoes with high heels
= slippers
There is a risk of an accident.
Always wear suitable footwear so that
you can operate the pedals safely.&WARNING Risk of accident if the ignition
is switched oM while driving
If you switch oM the ignition while driving,
safety functions are restricted or no longer available.
This may aMect the power steering system and
the brake force boosting, for example.
You will need to use considerably more force
to steer and brake, for example.
Do not switch oM the ignition while driv-
ing.&DANGER Risk of death caused by exhaust
gases
Combustion engines emit poisonous exhaust
gases such as carbon monoxide. Inhaling
these exhaust gases is hazardous to health
and leads to poisoning.
Never leave the engine or, if present, the
auxiliary heating running in an enclosed
space without suPcient ventilation.&WARNING Risk of skidding and of an acci-
dent due to shising down on slippery road
surfaces
If you shis down on slippery road surfaces to
increase the engine braking eMect, the drive
wheels may lose traction.
Do not shis down on slippery road surfa-
ces to increase the engine braking
eMect.&DANGER Risk of fatal injury due to poison-
ous exhaust gases
If the tailpipe is blocked or suPcient ventila-
tion is not possible, poisonous exhaust gases
such as carbon monoxide may enter the vehi- cle. This is the case when the vehicle
becomes stuck in snow, for example.
Keep the tailpipe and the area around
the vehicle free from snow when the
engine or the stationary heater are run-
ning.164Driving and parking

Open a window on the side of the vehicle
facing away from the wind to ensure an
adequate supply of fresh air.&WARNING Risk of accident due to the
brake system overheating
If you leave your foot on the brake pedal when
driving, the brake system may overheat.
This increases the braking distance and thebrake system may even cause the brake sys- tem failure.
Never use the brake pedal as a footrest.Do not depress the brake pedal and the
accelerator pedal at the same time while
driving.*NOTE Engine damage due to excessively
high engine speeds
The engine will be damaged if you drive with
the engine in the overrevving range.
Do not drive with the engine in the over- revving range.*NOTE Causing wear to the brake linings by
permanently depressing the brake pedalDo not permanently depress the brake
pedal while driving.To use braking eMect of the engine, shis
to a lower gear in good time.*NOTE Damage to the drivetrain and
engine when pulling awayDo not warm up the engine while the
vehicle is stationary. Pull away immedi-
ately.Avoid high engine speeds and driving at
full throttle until the engine has reached
its operating temperature.*NOTE Damage to the catalytic converter
due to non-combusted fuel
The engine is not running smoothly and is mis-
Nring.
Non-combusted fuel may get into the catalytic
converter.
Only depress the accelerator pedal
slightly.Have the cause rectiNed immediately at
a qualiNed specialist workshop.*NOTE Reduced battery life due to frequent
short-distance trips
The 12 V battery may not be suPciently
charged when the vehicle is used only for
short-distance trips. This reduces the life of
the battery.
Drive longer distances regularly to
charge the battery.
Notes on driving with a roof load, trailer or fully laden vehicle
When driving with a loaded roof luggage rack or trailer as well as with a fully laden or fully occu-
pied vehicle, the vehicle's driving and steering
characteristics change.
Driving and parking165

You should bear the following in mind:= Do not exceed the permissible roof load and
towing capacity. Also observe the technical
data in the printed Owner's Manual.
= Evenly distribute the roof load, and place
heavy objects at the bottom. Also comply with
the notes on loading the vehicle
(  page 109).
= Drive attentively, and avoid suddenly pulling
away, braking and steering as well as rapid
cornering.
Notes on driving on salt-treated roads The braking eMect is limited on salt-treated roads.
Therefore, observe the following notes:
= due to salt build-up on the brake disks and
brakepads, the braking distance can increase
considerably or result in braking only on one side
= maintain a much greater safe distance to the
vehicle in frontTo remove salt build-up:
= brake occasionally while paying attention to
the traPc conditions
= carefully depress the brake pedal at the end of
the journey and when starting the next jour- ney
Notes on aquaplaning
Aquaplaning can take place once a certain
amount of water has accumulated on the road
surface.
Observe the following notes during heavy precipi-
tation or in conditions in which aquaplaning may occur:
= reduce speed
= avoid tyre ruts
= avoid sudden steering movements
= brake carefully%Also observe the notes on regularly checking
wheels and tyres (  page 349).Notes on driving through water on the road sur-
face
Water which has entered into the vehicle can damage the engine, electrics and transmission.
Water can also enter the air intake of the engine and cause engine damage.
Observe the following if you must drive through water:
= The water, when calm, may only reach the
lower edge of the vehicle body.
= Drive at a maximum speed of 10 km/h; water
can otherwise enter the vehicle interior or
engine compartment.
= Vehicles travelling in front, or oncoming vehi-
cles, can create waves which may exceed the maximum permissible depth of the water.
The braking eMect of the brakes is reduced aser
fording. Brake carefully while paying attention to
the traPc conditions until braking power has been
fully restored.166Driving and parking

Function of rear axle steering
The rear axle steering is an electromechanical
auxiliary steering on the rear axle which adjusts the steering of the rear wheels according to theposition of the front wheels, depending on the
speed. This results in greater manoeuvrability and
improved driving stability, e.g. when cornering.
ECO start/stop function

q ECO start/stop function
%Depending on the engine, the ECO start/stop
function is not available in all drive programs.
Observe the status display in the driver dis-
play for this.
The engine is switched oM automatically in the fol-
lowing situations if all vehicle conditions for an automatic engine stop are met:
= You brake the vehicle to a standstill in trans-
mission position 005B or 005C.
= You depress the brake pedal when travelling at
a low speed.
If the system has detected one of the following situations, the engine will not stop:
= You stop at a stop sign and there is no vehicle
in front of you.
= The vehicle that stopped in front of you starts
up again.
= You manoeuvre, turn the steering wheel
sharply or engage reverse gear.%If the system detects an intelligent stop inhibi-
tor, for example, a stop sign, the engine will not stop.
If you activate the HOLD function or engage
the park position 005D, the engine can be
switched oM in spite of an intelligent stop
inhibitor.
The engine is restarted automatically if:
= You engage transmission position 005B or 005E.
= You depress the accelerator pedal.
= An automatic engine start is required by the
vehicle.
= You release the brake pedal.
=You release the brake pedal on a downhill gra-
dient and the vehicle does not roll.
= The vehicle rolls on a downhill gradient and
does not automatically enter glide mode at
20 km/h.
ECO start/stop function symbols in the driver dis- play:
= The symbol 00D6 (green) appears when the
vehicle is at a standstill: The engine was
switched oM by the ECO start/stop function.
= The symbol 00D5 (yellow) appears when the
vehicle is at a standstill: Not all vehicle condi- tions for an engine stop have been met.
= Neither the symbol 00D6 nor 00D5 appears
when the vehicle is at a standstill: An intelli- gent stop inhibitor was detected, e.g. a stop
sign.
= The symbol X appears: The ECO start/
stop function is deactivated or there is a mal-
function.
If the engine was switched oM by the ECO start/
stop function and you leave the vehicle, a warning
tone sounds and the engine is not restarted. InDriving and parking167

addition, the following display message appears inthe driver display:
Vehicle is operational Switch off vehicle before
exiting
If you do not switch oM the ignition, the ignition is
automatically switched oM aser three minutes.

q Deactivating or activating the ECO start/stop
functionPress button 1.
A display appears in the driver display when
switching the ECO start/stop function oM/on.%A continuous X display appears in the
driver display while the ECO start/stop func- tion is deactivated.
ECO display function
The ECO display shows an evaluation of your driv-
ing style on the driver display depending on the situation. This enables you to check the ePciency
of your driving style and adjust it if necessary. The
ECO display menu shows a ball 2 that will roll
forwards or backwards on a stylised road in the
direction of travel according to the driving charac-
teristics.
Above and below the road, lines mark the area for
an ePcient driving style 3. Ball 2 will light up in
green if it is rolling within these lines. Outside the lines, the ball will light up in orange.
The ECO display assesses the following criteria for an economical driving style:
= coasting at the right time
= consistent speed
= moderate acceleration
The overall assessment of your driving style "from start" is indicated with stars. It starts with Nve
empty stars, which you can Nll one aser the other
if you drive ePciently. When all Nve stars are Nl-
led, a glow appears in the background.%You can call up the ECO display function via
the Classic and Exclusive menus
(  page 264).168Driving and parking