brakes MERCEDES-BENZ B-CLASS HATCHBACK 2008 Owners Manual

4One-touch gearshifting.
....................93
Program selector button ...................94
Trailer towing. ................................... 95
Working on the vehicle .....................95
AUTOTRONIC
Releasing the parking lock man-
ually. ............................................... 243
Axle load, maximum permissible
..................................................... 287, 288B
Backrest Removing/fitting. ........................... 151
Bag hook............................................. 157
Ball coupling Fitting ............................................. 186
Removing....................................... .190
BAS (Brake Assist)............................... 55
Battery Changing (key).. .............................. 244
Charging. ........................................ 265
Checking (key). ............................... 244
Check lamp (key). ........................... 244
Disconnecting ................................. 264
Display message ............................. 213
Jump-starting. ................................. 266
Maintenance (vehicle)..................... 263
Reconnecting.................................. 266
Removing/fitting. ........................... 265
Vehicle battery. .............................. 263Belt force limiters
Activation.......................................... 37
Belt height adjustment ........................74
Belt tensioners Activation.......................................... 37
Belt warning.......................................... 74
Bonnet Bonnet catch .................................. 172
Opening/closing ............................ 171
Bonnet release lever
Release leve r.................................. 171
Brake Assist
see BAS
Brake fluid .......................................... 299
Display message ............................. 214
Brake lamps
Adaptive............................................ 56
Display message ............................. 217
Brakes
Parking brake................................... .89
Warning lamp..................................2 26
Brake system
Display message ............................. 213
Bulb
see Lamp
Bulbs
Brake lamp. .................................... 249
Cornering light. ............................... 247
Dipped-beam headlamps ................247
Licence plate lamp.......................... 250 Main-beam headlamps
...................247
Overview. ........................................ 245
Parking lamp.................................. .247
Replacing............................... .246, 248
Side lamp....................................... .247
Tail lamp ......................................... 249
Turn signal lamp. ....................248, 249 C
Calling up a malfunction see Message memory menu
Care..................................................... 192
Automatic car wash. .......................193
Exhaust tail pipes............................ 196
Headlamps. .................................... 194
High-pressure cleaners. ..................193
Parktronic. ...................................... 196
Plastic trim. .................................... 195
Rear window. .................................. 194
Side windows.................................. 194
Trailer tow hitch. ............................. 196
CD player/CD changer
Operating (on-board computer)
....................................................... 103
Central locking
Automatic locking (on-board com-
puter). ............................................. 110
Key. .................................................. 60
Central locking/unlocking button ......61 Index
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7
First-aid kit.........................................
201
Flat tyre Equipment. ..................................... 252
MOExtended run-flat system ..........262
Preparing the vehicle. .....................252
TIREFIT kit....................................... 253
Floormat............................................. .164
Foglamps Display message ............................. 218
Fording................................................ 185
Frequencies Telephone. ...................................... 276
Front airbag .......................................... 40
Front-passenger airbag ........................ 40
Front-passenger seat Folding the backrest forward/
back................................................ 157
Removing/fitting. ........................... 155
Fuel...................................................... 291
Diesel. ............................................ 169
Loss. ............................................... 232
Petrol .............................................. 169
Fuel consumption...................... 292, 293
Fuel filler flap Emergency release. ........................242
Opening/closing ............................ 168
Fuel filter
Display message ............................. 214Fuel level
Calling up the range (on-board
computer). ...................................... 112
Display. ............................................. 26
Fuel line
Malfunction..................................... 232
Fuel tank
Defect ............................................. 232
Fuse allocation chart......................... 271
Fuse box.............................................. 271
Fuses................................................... 270 G
Genuine Mercedes-Benz parts.......... 274
Glove compartment ...........................158
Gross vehicle weight, maximum
permissible......................................... 287 H
Handbrake Display message ............................. 214
Head/thorax airbags ...........................41
Headlamps Cleaning. ........................................ 194
Cleaning system. .............................. 79
Misting up. ...................................... 237
Headlamps delayed switch-off
see Exterior lighting delayed switch-off Head restraint
Active head restraint......................... 42
Adjusting (front).......................... 64, 65
Removing (rear). ............................... 66
Head restraints
Adjusting (rear). ................................ 66
Heating
see Air conditioning
High-pressure cleaners..................... 193
Hill start assist..................................... 88 I
Immobiliser........................................... 57
Indicator and warning lamp Air conditioning (malfunction) .........222
Automatic child seat recognition
(malfunction). ................................. 223
Brakes (red). ................................... 226
Engine diagnostics ..........................227
PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF .........45, 223
Reserve fuel. ................................... 229
Seat belt. ........................................ 228
SRS........................................... 37, 226
Thermotronic (malfunction) ............222
Indicator and warning lamps............ 224
Indicator lamps see Warning and indicator lamps Index
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Driving safety sys
tems 55Driving safety systems
Overview of driving safety systems
In this section, you will find information about
the following driving safety systems:
R ABS ( Anti-lock Braking System)
R BAS ( Brake Assist System)
R ESP ®
( Electronic Stability Program)
R Steering assistant STEER CONTROL
i In wintry road conditions, always use win-
ter tyres (M+S tyres) and, where necessary,
snow chains. Only in this way will the driv-
ing safety systems described in this section
work as effectively as possible. G
Risk of accident
The risk of an accident is significantly
increased by driving too fast. This is partic-
ularly the case when cornering as well as
on wet or slippery roads or when driving too
close to the vehicle in front.
The driving safety systems described in this
section can neither reduce this risk nor
override the laws of physics.
For this reason, always adapt your driving
style to suit prevailing road and weather
conditions. Maintain sufficient distance from other road users and objects on the
road.
ABS (Anti-lock Braking System)
ABS regulates brake pressure in such a way
that the wheels do not lock when you brake.
This allows you to continue steering the vehi-
cle when braking.
ABS works from a speed of about 8 km/h
upwards, regardless of road surface condi-
tions. ABS works on slippery surfaces, even
when you only brake gently. G
Risk of accident
Do not depress the brake pedal several
times in quick succession (pumping).
Depress the brake firmly and evenly. Pump-
ing the brake pedal reduces the braking
effect.
Braking If ABS intervenes when braking, you will feel
a pulsing in the brake pedal.
X
If ABS intervenes: continue to depress the
brake pedal with force until the braking sit-
uation is over. X
To make a full brake application:
depress the brake pedal with full force. G
Risk of accident
If ABS is faulty, the wheels could lock when
braking. This limits the steerability of the
vehicle when braking and the braking dis-
tance may increase.
If ABS is deactivated due to a malfunction,
then BAS and ESP are also deactivated.
There is an increased risk of your vehicle
skidding in certain situations.
You should always adapt your driving style
to suit prevailing road and weather condi-
tions. BAS (Brake Assist)
BAS operates in emergency braking situa-
tions. If you depress the brake pedal quickly,
BAS automatically boosts the braking force,
thus shortening the stopping distance.
X Keep the brake pedal firmly depressed until
the emergency braking situation is over.
ABS prevents the wheels from locking.
The brakes will function as usual once you
release the brake pedal. BAS is deactivated. Safety
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Driving safety sys
tems56 G
Risk of accident
If BAS has malfunctioned, the braking sys-
tem remains available with full brake boost-
ing effect. However, braking force is not
automatically increased in emergency
braking situations and the stopping dis-
tance may increase. Adaptive brake lamps
i Adaptive brake lamps are only available in
certain countries.
If you brake sharply from a speed of more
than 50 km/h or if braking is assisted by BAS,
the brake lamps flash rapidly. In this way,
traffic travelling behind you is warned in an
even more noticeable manner.
If you brake sharply from a speed of more
than 70 km/h to a standstill, the hazard warn-
ing lamps are activated automatically. If the
brakes are applied again, the brake lamps
light up continuously. The hazard warning
lamps switch off automatically if you travel
faster than 10 km/h. You can also switch off
the hazard warning lamps using the hazard
warning switch button ( Ypage 79). ESP
®
(Electronic Stability Program)
ESP ®
monitors driving stability and traction,
i.e. power transmission between tyres and
the road surface.
ESP ®
detects when a wheel spins or the vehi-
cle starts to skid. ESP ®
stabilises the vehicle
by targeted braking of individual wheels and
by limiting engine power. It assists you when
pulling away on wet or slippery roads. ESP ®
also stabilises the vehicle during braking.
When ESP ®
intervenes, the vwarning
lamp flashes in the instrument cluster. G
Risk of accident
If the v warning lamp in the instrument
cluster flashes, proceed as follows:
R only depress the accelerator pedal as far
as necessary when pulling away.
R adapt your driving style to suit the pre-
vailing road and weather conditions.
The vehicle could otherwise go into a skid.
ESP ®
cannot reduce the risk of an accident
if you drive too fast. ESP ®
cannot override
the laws of physics.
! The ignition must be switched off (key in
position 0or 1in the ignition lock), if: R
the parking brake is being tested using a
dynamometer
R the vehicle is being towed with the front
axle raised
Application of the brakes by ESP ®
could
otherwise destroy the brake system on the
front axle.
i Only use wheels with the recommended
tyre sizes. Only then will ESP ®
function
properly. Steering assistant STEER CONTROL
The steering assistant STEER CONTROL helps
you by transmitting a noticeable steering
force to the steering wheel in the direction
required for vehicle stabilisation. This steer-
ing assistance is provided in particular if:
R both right wheels or both left wheels are on
a wet or slippery road surface when you
brake
R the vehicle starts to skid
You have control over the steering at all
times. G
Risk of accident
If there is an ESP ®
malfunction, you will not
receive any steering assistance from the Safety
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Driving and pa
rking 89
R
the vehicle is secured with the parking
brake.
R ESP ®
is malfunctioning. Parking
G
Risk of accident
Only remove the key from the ignition lock
when the vehicle is stationary, as you can-
not steer the vehicle with the key removed.
Never leave children unsupervised in the
vehicle. They could release the parking
brake. This could lead to a serious or fatal
accident. G
Risk of fire
Make sure that the exhaust system does
not under any circumstances come into
contact with easily ignitable material such
as dry grass or petrol. The material could
otherwise ignite and set the vehicle on fire. Parking brake 1
Parking brake
2 Release button
X To apply: pull parking brake 1up firmly.
The 3 warning lamp in the instrument
cluster lights up if the engine is running.
i On steep slopes, turn the front wheels
towards the kerb. X
To release: depress the brake pedal and
keep it depressed.
On vehicles with AUTOTRONIC*, the selec-
tor lever lock is released.
X Press release button 2on parking brake
1 and move the parking brake down to the
stop.
The 3 warning lamp in the instrument
cluster goes out. Switching off the engine
G
Risk of accident
If the engine is not running, there is no
power assistance for the steering and
brakes. Steering and braking will then
require significantly greater effort.
As a result, you might lose control of the
vehicle, cause an accident and injure your-
self and others.
Do not switch off the engine while driving.
Vehicles with manual transmission X
Shift to either first or reverse gear.
X Turn the key to position 0(Y page 62) in
the ignition lock and remove it.
The immobiliser is activated. Controls
* optional
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Transmission
92use the braking effect of the engine, so less
braking will be required to prevent the vehi-
cle from gaining speed. This relieves the
load on the brake system and prevents the
brakes from overheating and wearing too
quickly.
Engaging reverse gear
! Only engage reverse gear when the vehi-
cle is stationary, otherwise the transmis-
sion could be damaged.
X Pull the gear lever up, move it to the left and
then back.
Gearshift indicator (BlueEFFI-
CIENCY*vehicles) i
Observing the gearshift indicator in the
instrument cluster's multi-function display
will help you to improve the fuel economy
of your vehicle. X
Shift up or down a gear when the corre-
sponding indicator appears in the instru-
ment cluster's multi-function display.
The shift indicator is meant as a recommen-
dation for an economical driving style. How-
ever, always observe traffic conditions, as
your driving style is determined, in the first
instance, by the traffic situation. AUTOTRONIC* (continuously variable
automatic transmission)
AUTOTRONIC is an electronically controlled,
continuously variable automatic transmis-
sion. The transmission ratio is changed con-
tinuously. This enables it to be ideally adapted
to your individual driving styles and to provide
increased driving comfort. Controls
* optional
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Transmission
931
Drive program (C/S)or(C/S/M)*
2 Gear indicator
If you have selected one-touch gearshifting or
selector lever position D, you can see the cur-
rently engaged gear in the multi-function dis-
play.
You can influence the AUTOTRONIC trans-
mission ratio when the selector lever is in
position Dby changing gear yourself―see
One-touch gearshifting ( Ypage 93). Selector lever positions ì
Park position
Prevents the vehicle from rolling
away when stopped. Only move the
selector lever to
Pwhen the vehicle
is stationary.
The key can only be removed when
the selector lever is in position P. If
the key is removed from the igni-
tion lock, the selector lever is
locked in position P. í
Reverse gear
Only move the selector lever to
R
when the vehicle is stationary. ë
Neutral
No power is transmitted from the
engine to the drive wheels. Releas-
ing the brakes will allow you to
move the vehicle freely, e.g. to
push it or tow it.
If ESP ®
is deactivated or faulty:
only move the selector lever to Nif
the vehicle is in danger of skidding,
e.g. on icy roads. ê
Drive
The transmission selects the opti-
mum gear ratio automatically for
forward mode.
One-touch gearshifting (manual opera-
tion)
When the selector lever is in position
D, you
can select the seven gears yourself.
Activating manual operation
X Press the selector lever lightly to the left
towards D-or to the right towards D+.
M is shown in the multi-function display.
Manual operation is activated. Controls
* optional
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Driving sys
tems 114 Driving systems
Overview of driving systems
The vehicle's driving systems are described
on the following pages:
R Cruise control* and Speedtronic*, which
are used to control the speed of the vehicle
R Parktronic* and active parking assist*,
which can help you to find a parking space,
to manoeuvre and park
R ECO Start-Stop function*, helps you to
save fuel
The ABS, BAS, adaptive brake lights, ESP ®
and STEER CONTROL driving safety systems
are described in the "Driving safety systems"
section ( Ypage 55). Cruise control*
Cruise control maintains a constant road
speed for you. You must select a low gear in
good time on long and steep downhill gradi-
ents, especially if the vehicle is laden or tow-
ing a trailer. 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. G
Risk of accident
Never depress the brake pedal continu-
ously while the vehicle is in motion, e.g.
never cause the brakes to rub by applying
constant slight pedal pressure. This causes
the brake system to overheat, increases
the braking distance and can lead to the
brakes failing completely. G
Risk of accident
Do not change down for additional engine
braking on a slippery road surface. This
could cause the drive wheels to lose their
grip and the vehicle could skid.
Use cruise control only if road and traffic con-
ditions make it appropriate to maintain a
steady speed for a prolonged period. You can
store any road speed above 30 km/h. G
Risk of accident
Cruise control cannot take account of road
and traffic conditions.
Always pay attention to traffic conditions
even when cruise control is activated.
Cruise control is only an aid designed to
assist driving. You are responsible for the
vehicle's speed and for braking in good
time. G
Risk of accident
Do not use cruise control:
R in road and traffic conditions which do
not allow you to maintain a constant
speed (e.g. heavy traffic or winding
roads). You could otherwise cause an
accident.
R on slippery roads. Braking or accelerat-
ing could cause the drive wheels to lose
traction and the vehicle could then skid.
R when there is poor visibility, e.g. due to
fog, heavy rain or snow
Cruise control lever You can operate cruise control and variable
Speedtronic with the cruise control lever.Controls
* optional
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Driving sys
tems 116
Setting a speed X
Press the cruise control lever up 1for a
higher speed or down 4for 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 exam-
ple, if you accelerate briefly to overtake,
cruise control adjusts the vehicle's speed
to the last speed stored after you have fin-
ished overtaking.
i Vehicles with AUTOTRONIC*:
When you decelerate the vehicle using the
cruise control lever, AUTOTRONIC changes
down if deceleration is insufficient.
Making fine adjustments in
1 km/hincrements X
Briefly press the cruise control lever up
1 for a higher speed or down 4for 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 for-
wards 6.
or
X Brake.
or
X Briefly press the cruise control lever in the
direction of arrow 5.
Variable Speedtronic is selected. LIM indi-
cator lamp 2in the cruise control lever
lights up.
Cruise control is automatically deactivated if,
for example:
R aquaplaning is detected
R you press the clutch pedal for more than
four seconds on vehicles with a manual
transmission
R you move the selector lever to Nwhile driv-
ing in vehicles with AUTOTRONIC*
i The last speed stored is cleared when you
switch off the engine. Speedtronic*
Speedtronic is used to make sure that you do
not exceed a stored speed. You must select
a low gear in good time on long and steep
downhill gradients, especially if the vehicle is
laden or towing a trailer. By doing so you will
make use of the braking effect of the engine,
which relieves the load on the brake system
and prevents the brakes from overheating
and wearing too quickly. G
Risk of accident
Never depress the brake pedal continu-
ously while the vehicle is in motion, e.g.
never cause the brakes to rub by applying
constant slight pedal pressure. This causes
the brake system to overheat, increases
the braking distance and can lead to the
brakes failing completely. G
Risk of accident
Do not change down for additional engine
braking on a slippery road surface. This
could cause the drive wheels to lose their
grip and the vehicle could skid. Controls
* optional
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Driving sys
tems 118
Storing the current speed You can use the cruise control lever to limit
the speed to any speed above 30 km/h while
the engine is running.
X Briefly press the cruise control lever up
1 or down 4.
The current speed is stored. Speedtronic
rounds up or down to the nearest ten. You
will see the message "Limit"and the
stored speed in the upper multi-function
display for approximately five seconds. The
yellow LIM indicator lamp lights up in the
instrument cluster.
i On downhill gradients, the speed can be
exceeded despite Speedtronic. In this
case, you will hear a warning tone and the
Limit exceeded message will appear in
the multi-function display. If necessary,
apply the brakes yourself.
Calling up the last speed stored G
Risk of accident
Only select a stored speed if you know what
that speed is and whether it is suitable for
the current driving and traffic situation.
Otherwise, sudden braking could endanger
you or others. X
Briefly pull the cruise control lever towards
you 3.
Making adjustments in 10 km/hincre-
ments X
Briefly press the cruise control lever up
1 for a higher speed or down 4for a
lower speed.
or
X Keep the cruise control lever pressed until
the desired speed is set. Press the cruise
control lever, up 1for a higher speed or
down 4for a lower speed.
Making fine adjustments in
1 km/hincrements X
For a higher speed: briefly pull the cruise
control lever towards you 3.
or
X Keep the cruise control lever pulled
towards you 3until the desired speed is
set. Deactivating variable Speedtronic There are several ways to deactivate variable
Speedtronic:
X
Briefly press the cruise control lever for-
wards 6.
or
X Briefly press the cruise control lever in the
direction of arrow 5.
LIM indicator lamp 2in the cruise control
lever goes out. Variable Speedtronic is
deactivated.
Cruise control is selected.
Variable Speedtronic is deactivated automat-
ically when you depress the accelerator pedal
beyond the pressure point (kickdown), but
only if your current speed does not differ by
more than 20 km/h from the stored speed. G
Risk of accident
It is not possible to deactivate variable
Speedtronic by braking.
i The last speed stored is cleared when you
switch off the engine. Controls
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