brake MERCEDES-BENZ B-CLASS HATCHBACK 2011 Owner's Guide

R
the vehicle is not being steered.
R the driver's door is closed and the seat belt
is fastened.
i The engine can be switched off automat-
ically a maximum of four times (first stop
and three subsequent stops) in succession.
The automatic engine switch-off is then
available agai nafter the ECO symbol
appears in the multifunction display.
i During automatic engine switch-off, the
climate control system only operates at a
reduced capacity. If you require full climate
control capacity, the ECO start/stop func-
tion can be deactivated by pressing the
ECO button (Y page 131).
Vehicles with manual transmission
The ECO start/stop function switches off the
engine automatically at low speeds. X
Brake the vehicle.
X Engage neutral N(Ypage 134) (follow
gearshift instruction :to engage neutral
N, if necessary).
X Release the clutch pedal.
The engine is switched off automatically.
Vehicles with automatic transmission
The ECO start/stop function switches the
engine off automatically if the vehicle is
braked to a standstill and the brake remains
depressed with the transmission in position
D or N.
i You can also activate the HOLD function
whe nthe vehicle is stationary if the engine has been switched off automatically
.Itis
the nnot necessary to continue applying
the brakes during the automatic stop
phase. When you depress the accelerator
pedal, the engine starts automatically and
the braking effect of the HOLD function is
deactivated. Depress the accelerator pedal
carefully, as the engine must be started
first.
Automatic engine start General notes
The engine is started automatically if:
R
the ECO start/stop function is deactivated
by pressing the ECO button.
R the vehicle starts to roll.
R the brake system requires this.
R the system detects moisture on the wind-
screen when the air-conditioning system is
switched on.
R the battery's charge status is too low.
R the driver's seat belt is removed or the driv-
er's door is opened.
R the bonnet is opened.
R you shift the transmission from position D
to Ron a vehicle with automatic transmis-
sion.
R you steer the vehicle.
Vehicles with manual transmission
! Only engage gear when the clutch pedal
is depressed.
The engine is started automatically if you:
R depress the clutch pedal
R depress the accelerator pedal
Vehicles with automatic transmission
The engine is started automatically if you:
R release the brakes when in transmission
position Dor N, unless the HOLD function
is activated or
R engage reverse gear Ror
R depress the accelerator pedal 130
DrivingDriving and parking

!
On long and steep downhill gradients,
especially if the vehicle is ladenort owing
a trailer, you must shift into gear 1, 2or3
in good time. This uses the engine's braking
effect .This relieves the load on the brake
system and prevents the brakes from over-
heating and wearing too quickly. Gear lever
k
Reverse gear
1 to6
Forward gears Shifting to neutral N
X
Depress the clutch pedal fully.
X Move the gear lever to position N:. Neutral N with ECO start/stop func-
tion activated
In neutral N, the engine is switched off if the
vehicle speed is below a certain threshold and
the clutch pedal is not depressed.
For further information on the ECO start/stop
function, see (Y page 129). Engaging reverse gear
! Only shift into reverse gear Rwhen the
vehicle is stationary. Otherwise, you could
damage the transmission.
X Pull the gear lever up, push it to the left and
then pull it back.
i The ECO start/stop function is not avail-
able when reverse gear is engaged.
For further information on the ECO start/
stop function: (Y page 129). Shift recommendation
The gearshift recommendations assist you in
adopting an economical driving style. The rec-
ommended gear is shown in the multifunction
display. X
Shift gear according to gearshift recom-
mendation :shown in the multifunction
display of the instrumentc luster. Automatic transmission
Important safety notes
G
WARNING
The movemen tofthe pedals must not be
impaired in any way.D o not keep any objects
in the driver's footwell. Make sure that floor-
mats or carpets are correctly secured and
that there is sufficient clearance for the ped-
als. 134
Automatic transmissionDriving and parking

Do not place several floormats on top of one
another.
G
WARNING
Do not change down for additional engine
braking on a slippery roa dsurface. This could
cause the drive wheels to lose their grip and
the vehicle could skid. This could cause you
to lose control of your vehicle and cause an
accident. G
WARNING
The clutch may overheat if you hold the vehi-
cle stationary on uphill gradients by depress-
ing the accelerato rpedal. If the clutch does
overheat, a warning tones ounds and a display
message is shown in the multifunction dis-
play. The frictional connection of the clutch
may then be interrupted. The vehicle may roll
away.A s a result, you could cause an acci-
dent.
You will only be able to continue you journey
once the clutch has cooled down and the dis-
play message in the multifunction display has
disappeared.
Never hold the vehicle stationary on uphill
gradients by depressing the accelerator.
Instead, only ever hold the vehicle stationary
on uphill gradients by
R depressing the brake pedal
or
R activating the HOLD function
or
R engaging the electric parking brake
i Bear in mind that the power transmission
between the engine and the transmission
is interrupted when the engine is switched
off. Therefore, to prevent the vehicle from
rolling away, shift the automatic transmis-
sion to park position Pand apply the elec-
tric parking brake when the engine is
switched off and the vehicle is stationary. DIRECTS
ELECT lever
Overview of transmission positions The DIRECT SELECT leve
ris on the right of the
steering column. j
Park position with parking lock
k Reverse gear
i Neutral
h Drive
i The DIRECT SELECT lever always returns
to its original position. The current trans-
mission position P,R, Nor Dappears in the
transmission position display
(Y page 135) in the multifunction display.
Transmission position and drive pro-
gram display The current transmission position and drive
program appearint
he multifunction display. :
Transmission position display
; Drive program display
i The arrows in the transmission position
display show how and into which transmis-
sion positions you can change using the
DIRECT SELECT lever. Automatic transmission
135Driving and parking Z

!
If the transmission position display in the
multifunction display is not working, you
should pull away carefully to check whether
the desired transmission position is
engaged. Ideally, you should select trans-
mission position Dand drive program Eor
S.
Engaging parkp osition PX
Push the DIRECT SELECT lever in the direc-
tion of arrow P.
Transmission position display Pis shown in
the multifunction display.
i When you engage park position P, make
sure that the transmission position display
shows Pin the multifunction display.
i You can only engage park position Pwhen
the vehicle is stationary.
i The automatic transmission shifts into
park position Pautomatically if you open
the driver's door when the vehicle is sta-
tionary or when driving at very low speed
with the transmission in position Dor R. In
addition, a warning tone sounds and a dis-
play message is shown.
i If you depress the brake pedal and push
the DIRECT SELECT lever up or down, the
parking loc kis disengaged and the trans-
mission shifts to neutral N.
At transmission fluid temperatures below
Ò20 †, you can only shift out of park posi-
tion Pinto another transmission position
when the engine is running.
If you want to shift from park position P
directly to Ror D, depress the brake and
push the DIRECT SELECT lever up or down
past the first point of resistance.
! If the engine speed is too high, do not shift
the automatic transmission directly from
D to R, from Rto Dor directly to P. Other-
wise, the automatic transmission could be
damaged. Engaging reverse gear R !
Only shift the automatic transmission to
R when the vehicle is stationary.
i The ECO start/stop function is not avail-
able when reverse gear is engaged.
For further information on the ECO start/
stop function, see (Y page 129).
X Depress the brake pedal while the vehicle
is stationary.
X Push the DIRECT SELECT lever up past the
first point of resistance.
Shifting to neutral N X
Push the DIRECT SELECT lever up or down
to the first point of resistance.
Neutral N with ECO start/stop function
activated The ECO start/stop function switches the
engine off automatically if the vehicle is
braked to a standstill when in neutral
Nand
the brake is still depressed.
For further information on the ECO start/stop
function, see (Y page 129).
Drive position D with ECO start/stop
function activated The ECO start/stop function switches the
engine off automatically if the vehicle is
braked to a standstill when in drive position
D
and the brake is still depressed.
For further information on the ECO start/stop
function, see (Y page 129).
Engaging drive position D X
Depress the brake pedal while the vehicle
is stationary.
X Push the DIRECT SELECT lever down past
the first point of resistance. 136
Automatic transmissionDriving and parking

Transmission positions
B
Park position
This prevents the vehicle fro
mroll-
ing away when stopped. Do not
shift the transmission into position
P (Y page 144) unless the vehicle
is stationary. C
Reverse gear
Only shift the transmission to
R
when the vehicle is stationary. A
Neutral
No power is transmitted from the
engine to the drive wheels.
Releasing 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 shift the transmission to posi-
tion Nif the vehicle is in danger of
skidding, e.g. on icy roads.
When you switch off the engine, the
automatic transmission automati-
cally shifts into neutral N.7
Drive
The automatic transmission
changes gear automatically. All
forward gears are available.
Changing gear
The automatic transmission shifts to the indi-
vidual gears automatically when it is in trans-
mission position D.This automatic gearshift-
ing behaviouri s determined by:
R the selected drive program (Y page 137)
R the position of the accelerator pedal
R the road speed Driving tips
Accelerator pedal position Your style of driving influences how the auto-
matic transmission shifts gear:
R
little throttle: early upshifts
R more throttle: late upshifts
Kickdown Use kickdown for maximum acceleration.
X
Depress the accelerator pedal beyond the
pressure point.
The transmission shifts to a lower gear
depending on the engine speed.
X Ease off the accelerator pedal once the
desired speed is reached.
The automatic transmission shifts back up.
Trailer towing X
Drive in the middle of the engine speed
range on uphill gradients.
X Depending on the uphill or downhill gradi-
ent, select a lower gear (Y page 147), even
if cruise control, DISTRONIC PLUS, or
SPEEDTRONIC are activated. Program selector button
General notes The program selector button allows you to
choose between drive programs with differ-
ent driving characteristics. Automatic transmission
137Driving and parking Z

Manual drive program
Introduction In manual drive program
M, you can change
geary ourself by using the steering wheel
gearshift paddles. For this, the transmission
must be in position D. The gear currently
selected and engaged is shown in the multi-
function display.
Manual drive program Mdiffers from drive
programs Eand Swith regard spontaneity,
responsiveness and smoothness of gear
changes. Gear Driving situations
=
To use the engine's braking effect
5
To use the braking effect of the
engine on downhill gradients and
for driving:
R
on steep mountain roads
R in mountainous terrain
R in arduous conditions 4
To use the braking effect of the
engine on extremely steep downhill
gradients and on long downhill
stretches
Activating the manual drive program
Activating permanently
X
Press the program selector button
(Y page 137) repeatedly until Mappears in
the multifunction display.
Manual drive program Mremains active
until drive program Eor Sis engaged.
Activating temporarily
X Pull the right or left steering wheel gearshift
paddle (Y page 138).
M is shown in the multifunction display.
Manual drive program Mis temporarily
active. Depending on which gearshift pad-
dle is pulled, the automatic transmission
immediately shifts into the next gear down
or up. i
When manual drive program Mis activa-
ted via the steering wheel gearshift pad-
dles, the temporarily active manual drive
program Mwill be deactivated automati-
cally after a limited time, if the driving sit-
uation permits. In this case, the automatic
transmission shifts into the automatic drive
program that was last engaged, i.e. Eor S.
When driving on downhill gradients, the
temporarily active manual drive program
M will only be deactivated if the accelerator
pedal is depressed while the vehicle is roll-
ing downhill.
Upshifting X
Pull the right-hand steering wheel gearshift
paddle (Y page 138).
The automatic transmission shifts up to the
next gear.
i If the maximum engine speed on the cur-
rently engaged gear is reached and you
continue to accelerate, the automatic
transmission automatically shifts up in
order to prevent engine damage.
Downshifting X
Pull the left-hand steerin gwheel gearshift
paddle (Y page 138).
The automatic transmission shifts down to
the next gear.
i If you brake the vehicle or stop without
shifting down, the automatic transmission
will shift down to a gear that will allow the
vehicle to accelerate or pull away again.
i For maximum acceleration, pull the left-
hand steering wheel gearshift paddle until
the transmission selects the optimum gear
for the current speed.
i If the engine exceeds the maximum
engine speed when shifting down, the auto-
matic transmission protects against engine
damage by not shifting down. Automatic transmission
139Driving and parking Z

Problem Possible causes/consequences and
M Solutions
The fuel filler flap can-
not be opened. The fuel filler flap is not unlocked.
or
The key battery is discharged.
X
Unlock the vehicle (Y page 72).
or
X Unlock the vehicle using the emergency key element
(Y page 73). The fuel filler flap is unlocked, but the opening mechanism is jam-
med.
X
Consult a qualified specialist workshop. Parking
Important safety notes
G
WARNING
Only remove the key from the ignition lock
when the vehicle is stationary, as you cannot
steer the vehicle when the key is removed.
Never leave children unsupervised in the vehi-
cle. They might release the electric parking
brake. This could lead to aserious or fatal
accident. G
WARNING
Under no circumstances should the exhaust
system come into contact with flammable
materials such as dry grass or petrol, for
example. Do not park the vehicle on dry grass-
land or harvested grain fields. The hot exhaust
system could otherwise ignite the flammable
material and set the vehicle on fire.
To ensure that the vehicle is secured against
rolling away unintentionally:
R the electric parking brake must be applied.
R on vehicles with manual transmission,
engage first gear or reverse gear.
R on vehicles with automatic transmission,
the transmission must be in position Pand
the transmission position display must
show Pin the multifunction display. R
the key must be removed from the ignition
lock.
R on uphill or downhill gradients, turn the
fron twheels towards the kerb. Switching off the engine
Important safety notes G
WARNING
If the engine is not running, there is no power
assistance for the steering and brakes. Steer-
ing and braking then requires significantly
greater effort.
As a result, you might lose control of the vehi-
cle, cause an accident and injure yourself and
others.
Therefore, do not switch off the engine while
you are driving.
Vehicles with manual transmission X
Shift to either first gear or reverse gear R.
X Turn the key to position 0in the ignition
lock and remove it.
The immobiliser is activated.
X Apply the electric parking brake. 144
ParkingDriving and parking

Vehicles with automatic transmission
X
Apply the electri cparking brake.
X Shift the transmission to position P.
X Turn the key to position 0in the ignition
lock and remove it.
The immobiliser is activated.
i If you switch the engine off with the trans-
mission in position Ror D, the automatic
transmission shifts to Nautomatically.
If you then open the driver's door or the
front-passenger door or remove the key
from the ignition, the automatic transmis-
sion shifts to P.
If you shift the automatic transmission to
N before switching off the engine, the auto-
matic transmission remains in Neven if a
door is opened. Electric parking brake
General notes i
The electric parking brake carries out a
function check at regular intervals when
the engine is switched off .Noises that
occur are normal.
Engaging/releasing manually Engaging
X
Push handle :.
The red !indicator lamp in the instru-
ment cluster lights up. i
The electric parking brake can also be
applied when the key is removed.
Releasing
X Turn the key to position 1in the ignition
lock.
X Pull handle :.
The red !indicator lamp in the instru-
ment cluster goes out.
i You can only release the electric parking
brake when the key is at position 1in the
ignition lock.
Engaging automatically The electric parking brake of your vehicle is
automatically applied if DISTRONIC PLUS
(only for vehicles with automatic transmis-
sion) or the HOLD function brakes the vehicle
until it is stationary or keeps the vehicle sta-
tionary. In addition, at least one of the follow-
ing conditions must be fulfilled:
R
the engine is switched off.
R the driver's door is open and the seat belt
is not fastened.
R there is a system malfunction.
R the power supply is insufficient.
R the vehicle is stationary for a lengthy
period.
The red !indicator lamp in the instrument
cluster lights up.
i The electric parking brake is not automat-
ically engaged if the engine is switched off
by the ECO start/stop function.
Releasing automatically i
The electric parking brake can only be
released automatically in vehicles with
automatic transmission.
The electric parking brake of your vehicle is
released automatically when all of the follow-
ing conditions are fulfilled:
R the engine is running.
R the transmission is in position Dor R. Parking
145Driving and parking Z

R
the seat belt is fastened.
R you depress the accelerator pedal.
If the transmission is in position R, the tailgate
must be closed.
If your seat belt is not fastened, the following
conditions must be fulfilled to automatically
release the electric parking brake:
R the driver's door is closed.
R you have shifted ou toftransmission posi-
tion Por you have previously drive nfaster
than 3 km/h.
Emergency braking The vehicle can also be braked during an
emergency using the electric parking brake.
X While driving, push handle :of the electric
parking brake (Y page 145).
i The vehicle is braked for as long as han-
dle :of the electric parking brake
pressed. The longer the electric parking
brake handle :is depressed, the greater
the braking force.
During braking:
R a warning tone sounds.
R the Release park. brake message
appears.
R the red !indicator lamp in the instru-
men tcluste rflashes.
When the vehicle has been braked to a stand-
still, the electric parking brake is engaged. Parking up the vehicle
If you leave the vehicle parked up for longer
than four weeks, the battery may be damaged
by exhaustive discharging.
X Have the battery disconnected at a quali-
fied specialist workshop or connec ta
trickle charger. If you leave the vehicle parked up for longer
tha
nsix weeks, the vehicle may suffer dam-
age as a result of lack of use.
X Visit a qualified specialist workshop and
seek advice.
i You can obtain information about trickle
chargers fro maqualified specialist work-
shop. Driving tips
General driving tips
Coasting with the engine switched off G
WARNING
Never switch the engine off while the vehicle
is in motion.
There is no power assistance for the steering
and the service brake when the engine is not
running.
You will require considerably more effor tto
steer and brake, and you could therefore lose
control of the vehicle and cause an accident. Short journeys
! Vehicles with adiesel particle filter: if
the vehicle is mostly driven for short dis-
tances, it is possible that malfunctions may
occur during the automatic cleaning of the
diesel particle filter. This may lead to fuel
collecting in the engine oil and cause
engine failure. Therefore, if you frequently
drive short distances, you should take a 20
minute trip on a motorway or rural road at
least every 500km. Brakes
Important safety notes G
WARNING
Do not change down for additional engine
braking on a slippery road surface. This could 146
Driving tipsDriving and parking

cause the drive wheels to los
etheir grip and
the vehicle could skid. G
WARNING
Make sure that other road users are not
endangered by your braking.
Downhill gradients You must select a lower gear in good time on
long and steep downhill gradients, especially
if the vehicle is laden or towing a trailer. To
do so in vehicles with an automatic transmis-
sion, you will need to select the manual drive
program Min advance (Y page 139).
i This also applies if you have activated
cruise control, SPEEDTRONIC or DIS-
TRONIC PLUS.
This will use the braking effect of the engine,
so less braking will be required to prevent the
vehicle from gaining speed. This relieves the
load on the brake system and prevents the
brakes from overheating and wearing too
quickly.
i Vehicles with automatic transmis-
sion: if the accelerator pedal is depressed
briefly on downhill gradients while the man-
ual drive program Mis temporarily activa-
ted, the automatic transmission may
switch back to the last active automatic
drive program Eor S.T he automatic trans-
mission may shift to a higher gear. This can
reduce the engine's braking effect.
Heavy and light loads G
WARNING
Never depress the brake pedal continuously
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.
If the brakes have been subjected to a heavy
load, do not stop the vehicle immediately, but drive on for a short while. This allows the air-
flow to cool the brakes more quickly.
If the brakes have been used only moderately,
you should occasionally test their effective-
ness. To do this, brake more firmly from a
higher speed. This improves the grip of the
brakes.
Wet road surfaces
If driving in heavy rain for a prolonged period
of time without braking, there may be a
delayed reaction from the brakes when brak-
ing for the first time. This may also occur after
the vehicle has been washed.
You have to depress the brake pedal more
firmly. Maintain a greater distance from the
vehicle in front.
After driving on a wet road or having the vehi-
cle washed, brake firmly while paying atten-
tion to the traffic conditions. This will warm
up the brake discs, thereby drying them more
quickly and protecting them against corro-
sion.
Limited braking performance on salt-
treated roads
G
WARNING
The layerofs alt on thebrake discs and the
brake pads/linings may caus eadelay in the
braking effect, resulting in a significantly lon-
ger braking distance, which could lead to an
accident.
To avoid this danger, you should:
R occasionally brake carefully, without put-
ting other road users at risk, when you are
driving on salted roads. This helps to
remove any salt that may have started to
build up on the brake discs and the brake
pads/linings.
R maintain a greater distanc eto the vehicle
ahead and drive with particular care.
R carefully apply the brakes at the end of a
trip and immediately after commencing a
new trip, so that salt residues are removed
from the brake discs. Driving tips
147Driving and parking Z