MERCEDES-BENZ R-CLASS FAMILY TOURER 2013 Owners Manual

G
WARNING
DISTRONIC must never be operated,
activated or deactivated by a passenger or
from outside the vehicle.
You can activate DISTRONIC in the following
circumstances:
R if the engine has been started and you have
been driving for up to two minutes
R while driving, except if you brake
R the parking brake is released
R if ESP ®
is activated
R if the transmission is in position D
Activating while driving
X Briefly pull the cruise control leve rtowards
you ?or press it up :or down ;to the
pressure point.
DISTRONIC is activated.
X Press the cruise control lever repeatedly
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.
You can also activate DISTRONIC when
driving at speeds below 20 mph (30 km/h)
but only if the vehicle in front has been
detected and is shown in the multifunction
display .Ifthe vehicle in front is no longer
detected and displayed, DISTRONIC switches
off and you will hear a tone.
i You can use the cruise control lever to set
the stored speed and the control on the
cruise control lever to set the specified
minimum distance (Y page 179).
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 DISTRONIC detects that the vehicle in front
has slowed down, it brakes your vehicle. In
this way, the distance you have selected is
maintained.
If DISTRONIC detects that the vehicle in front
is driving faster, it accelerates your vehicle,
but only up to the stored speed.
Stopping
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.T he specified minimum
distance is set using the control on the
cruise control lever.
DISTRONIC is deactivated automatically
when stopping:
R on flat stretches of road or on downhill
gradients when the vehicle is stationary
R while 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,
depress the brake pedal or engage the
parking brake.
Setting aspeed G
WARNING
Keep in mind tha titmay take a brie fmoment
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 178
Driving systemsDriving and parking

of the vehicle could cause an accident and/
or serious injury to you and others.
X Press the cruise control lever up :for a
higher speed or down ;for a lower speed.
X To adjust the set speed in 1 mph
increments (1 km/h increments): briefly
press the cruise control lever up :or
down ;to the pressure point.
Every time the cruise control lever is
pressed up :or down ;the last speed
stored is increased or reduced.
X To adjust the set speed in 5 mph
increments (10 km/h increments):
briefly press the cruise control lever
up : or down ;to the pressure point.
Every time the cruise control lever is
pressed up :or down ;the last speed
stored is increased or reduced.
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.
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.
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 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. You can set the specified minimum distance
for DISTRONIC by varying the time span
between one and two seconds. With this
function, you can set the minimum distance
that DISTRONIC keeps to the vehicle in front,
dependent on vehicle speed. You can see this
distance in the multifunction display
(Y
page 180).
X To increase: turn control;in direction
=.
DISTRONIC then maintains a greater
distance between your vehicle and the
vehicle in front.
X To decrease: turn control;in
direction :.
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. Driving systems
179Driving and parking Z

DISTRONIC displays in the
speedometer
G
WARNING
An intermittent warning sounds and the
distance warning lamp ·in theinstrument
cluster is illuminated if the DISTRONIC system
calculates tha tthe 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/s 2
(4 m/s 2
).
This corresponds to approximately 40 % of
your vehicle's maximum braking force.
To avoid a collision, you must apply the brakes
yourself. 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 felt by amovement of the brake
pedal.
Always keep the driver's footwell clear of
objects, 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
–y our foot could become caught. 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.
If DISTRONIC detects a vehicle in front,
segments ;between speed of the vehicle in
front :and stored speed =light up.
DISTRONIC displays in the
multifunction display General notes
X
Press the VorU button to select the
DISTRONIC menu (Y
page 202).
Display when DISTRONIC is deactivated :
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 180
Driving systemsDriving and parking

Display when DISTRONIC is activated
:
DISTRONIC activated
; Stored speed
Whe nactivating DISTRONIC and when setting
the speed, stored speed ;appears for
around five seconds.
After approximately five seconds, current
stored speed ;is shown in the multifunction
display status indicator DTR XXX Miles .
Deactivating DISTRONIC There are several 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.
DISTRONIC is automatically deactivated if:
R you engage the parking brake.
R you are driving slowe rthan 20 mph
(25 km/h) and there is no vehicle in front,
or if the vehicle in front is no longer
detected. R
ESP ®
intervenes or you deactivate ESP ®
.
R you shift the transmission to P,Ror 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 Important safety notes
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:
R Your vehicle can pass another vehicle after
you have changed lanes.
R While 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.:
R a stopped vehicle in a traffic jam
R a disabled vehicle
R an 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.
The following contains descriptions of certain
road and traffic conditions in which you must
be particularly attentive. In such situations,
brake if necessary. DISTRONIC PLUS is then
deactivated. Driving systems
181Driving and parking Z

Cornering, going into and coming out of a
bend
The ability of DISTRONIC to detect vehicles
when cornering is limited. Your vehicle may
brake unexpectedly or late.
Vehicles traveling on
adifferent line DISTRONIC may not detectv
ehicles traveling
on a differen tline. The distance to the vehicle
in front will be too short.
Other vehicles changing lanes DISTRONIC has not detected the vehicle
cutting in yet. The distance to this vehicle will
be too short.
Narrow vehicles
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 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.182
Driving systemsDriving and parking

Crossing 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.
Rea
raxle level control
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.
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:
These are ADS (Y
page 183) and the 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 suit
the current operating conditions. The
damping is controlled for each wheel individually. This improves driving safety and
tire comfort.
This depends on:
R
your driving style
R the road surface conditions
R the ADS setting
R the vehicle level setting
Your selection remains stored even if you
remove the SmartKey from the ignition lock. X
Start the engine.
X Press button :repeatedly until the
desired setting is selected.
You can choose between the following ADS
settings:
R AUTO for normal driving situations;
indicator lamps ;and =are off.
R SPORT for sporty driving; indicator
lamp ;is on.
R COMF for a more comfortable ride;
indicator lamp =is on.
Level control Important safety notes
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 Driving systems
183Driving and parking
Z

is opened and will continue after the door is
closed again.
! When driving on extremely rough terrain,
selec tahigh vehicle level in good time.
Make sure there is always sufficient ground
clearance. You will otherwise damage the
vehicle.
! When you raise the vehicle in such a way
that not all wheels have contact with the
ground, remove the SmartKey from the
ignition lock.
General notes
Level control adapts the vehicle level
automatically 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.
If you unlock the vehicle or open a door, the
vehicle begins to compensate for load
discrepancies while still parked. However, for
significant level changes, such as 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 it continues once the door has
been closed.
Basic settings
Select raised level for very poor road
conditions or highway level for normal road
conditions. The vehicle is automatically lowered to high-
speed level when you:
R
drive faster than 70 mph (112 km/h)
R drive 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 raised level: +1.97 in (+50 mm)
R highway level: +/–0 in (+/–0 mm)
R high-speed level: –0.47 in (–12 mm)
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 the speed limitations. Drive
carefully at an appropriate speed.
Raised level X
Start the engine.
Indicator lamp ;is not lit:
X Press button :.
Indicator lamp ;flashes. The vehicle rises
to raised level. Example: vehicles with the AIRMATIC package and
compass184
Driving systemsDriving and parking

During the adjustment, the
Rising message,
for example, appears in the multifunction
display.
If you press the V,U,*or&
button on the multifunctio nsteering wheel,
the message will disappear.
Once the vehicle has reache draised level,
indicator lamp ;remains lit .The Raised Level message appears for approximately
five seconds in the multifunction display.
If you select raised level at a speed above
25 mph (40 km/h), the Level SelectionNot Permitted message appears in the
multifunction display.
The vehicle is automatically lowered to
highway level if you drive faster than
25 mph (40 km/h) at raised level.
Only select raised level when this is
appropriate for the road conditions.
Otherwise, fuel consumption may increase
and handling may be affected.
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. Example: vehicles with the AIRMATIC package and
compass
During the adjustment, the
Being Lowered message, for example, appears in the
multifunction display.
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. The AIRMATIC message appears for approximately five
seconds in the multifunction display.
The vehicle is automatically lowered to
highway level if you drive faster than
25 mph (40 km/h) at raised level. It is
automatically raised to highway level if you
drive slower than 40 mph
(64 km/h) at high-
speed level. 4MATIC (permanent four-wheel drive)
G
WARNING
If a drive wheel is spinning due to insufficient
traction:
R While driving off, apply as little throttle as
possible.
R While driving, ease up on the accelerator
pedal.
R Adap tyour speed and driving style to the
prevailing road conditions.
Failure to observe these guidelines could
cause the vehicle to skid.
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 Driving systems
185Driving and parking Z

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.
! 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 SmartKey to
position 0or 1in the ignition. Failure to do
this can cause damage to the drive train or
the brake system.
! A function or performance test should
only be carried out on atwo-axle
dynamometer. Before you operate the
vehicle on such a dynamometer, please
consult a qualified workshop .You could
otherwise damage the drive train or the
brake system.
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
insufficien tgrip.
i In wintry driving conditions, the maximum
effect of 4MATIC can only be achieved if
you use winter tires (M+S tires), with snow
chains if necessary. PARKTRONIC
Important safety notes 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
ultrasoni
csensors. It indicates visually and
audibly the distance between your vehicle
and an object.
PARKTRONIC is activated automatically when
you:
R switch on the ignition
R shift the transmission to position D,Ror N
R release the parking brake
PARKTRONIC is deactivated at speeds above
11 mph (18km/h). It is reactivated at lower
speeds.
PARKTRONIC monitors the area around your
vehicle using six sensors in the fron tbumper
and four sensors in the rear bumper. :
Example: sensors in the front bumper,
left-hand side
Range of the sensors General notes
!
When parking, pay particular attention to
objects above or below the sensors, such
as flower pots or trailer drawbars.
PARKTRONIC does no tdetec tsuch objects
when they are in the immediate vicinity of
the vehicle. You could damag ethe vehicle
or the objects.
The sensors may not detect snow and other
objects that absorb ultrasonic waves.
Ultrasonic sources such as an automatic
car wash, the compressed-air brakes on a
truck or a pneumatic drill could cause
PARKTRONIC to malfunction. 186
Driving systemsDriving and parking

PARKTRONIC may not function correctly on
uneven terrain.
Side view
Top view
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 293).
Front sensors Center approximately 40in
(approximately 100cm)
Corners approximately 24in
(approximately 60cm)
Rear sensors
Center approximately 48in
(approximately 120cm)
Corners approximately 32in
(approximately 80cm) Minimum distance
Center approximately 8in
(approximately 20cm)
Corners approximately 6in
(approximately 15cm)
If there is an obstacle within this range, the
relevant warning displays light up and a
warning tone sounds. If the distance falls
below the minimum, the distance may no
longer be shown.
Warning displays
Warning display for the fron
tarea
: Segments on the left-hand side of the
vehicle
; Segments on the right-hand side of the
vehicle
= Segments showing operational readiness
The warning displays show the distance
betwee nthe 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.
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. Driving systems
187Driving and parking Z