brake MERCEDES-BENZ B-CLASS HATCHBACK 2015 Owner's Guide

If the DIRECT SELECT lever cannot be engaged
in park position P, the parking brake is engaged
automatically.
Observe the important safety notes on switch-
ing ESP ®
on and off (Y page 66). DIRECT SELECT lever
Overview of transmission positions j
Park position with parking lock
k Reverse gear
i Neutral
h Drive
The DIRECT SELECT lever is on the right of the
steering column.
The DIRECT SELECT lever always returns to its
original position. The current transmission posi- tion P,R, Nor Dappears in the transmission
position display in the multifunction display
(Y page 129).
Transmission position and drive pro-
gram display The current transmission position and drive pro-
gram appear in the multifunction display. :
Transmission position display
; Drive program display The arrows in the transmission position display
show how and into which transmission positions
you can shift using the DIRECT SELECT lever.
If the transmission position display in the mul-
tifunction display is not working, you should pull
away carefully to check whether the desired
transmission position is engaged. Ideally, you
should select transmission position D.
Engaging park position P j
Park position with parking lock
k Reverse gear
i Neutral
h Drive
X Push the DIRECT SELECT lever in the direction
of arrow P.
Transmission position display Pis shown in
the multifunction display.
When you have engaged park position P, make
sure that the transmission position display
shows Pin the multifunction display.
You can only engage park position Pwhen the
vehicle is stationary.
The transmission shifts into park position P
automatically if you open the driver's door when
the vehicle is stationary or when driving at very
low speed with the transmission in position Dor
R.
In addition, a warning tone sounds and a display message is shown.
Depressing the brake and pushing the DIRECT
SELECT lever up or down disengages the park-
ing lock. The transmission is in neutral N.
In order to shift from park position Pdirectly into
R or D:
R depress the brake pedal and
R push the DIRECT SELECT lever up or down
past the first point of resistance Transmission
129Driving and parking Z

Engaging reverse gear R
!
Only shift into reverse gear
Rwhen the vehi-
cle is stationary. You could otherwise damage the vehicle's drive system.
X If the transmission is in position Dor N: push
the DIRECT SELECT lever up past the first
point of resistance.
X If the transmission is in position P: depress
the brake pedal and push the DIRECT SELECT lever up past the first point of resistance.
Shifting to neutral N G
WARNING
If children are left unsupervised in the vehicle, they could:
R open doors, thereby endangering other per-
sons or road users
R get out and be struck by oncoming traffic
R operate vehicle equipment and become
trapped, for example
In addition, the children could also set the
vehicle in motion by, for example:
R releasing the parking brake
R shifting the transmission out of park posi-
tion P
R starting the vehicle's drive system
There is a risk of an accident and injury.
When leaving the vehicle, always take the key with you and lock the vehicle. Never leave
children and animals unattended in the vehi-
cle. Keep the keys out of the reach of children.
X If the transmission is in position Dor R: push
the DIRECT SELECT lever up or down to the
first point of resistance.
X If the transmission is in position P: depress
the brake pedal and push the DIRECT SELECT lever up or down to the first point of resist-
ance.
When the drive system is switched off, the trans-
mission shifts to Nautomatically.
With the key: if you then open the driver's door
or the front-passenger door or remove the key
from the ignition, the transmission automati-
cally shifts to P. With the Start/Stop button:
if you then open
the driver's door or the front-passenger door,
the transmission automatically shifts to P.
If you want the transmission to remain in neutral N, e.g. when having the vehicle cleaned in an
automatic car wash with a towing system:
With the key:
X Switch the ignition on.
X Depress the brake pedal and keep it
depressed.
X Shift to neutral N.
X Release the brake pedal.
X Release the electric parking brake.
X Switch off the ignition and leave the key in the
ignition lock.
With the Start/Stop button:
X Remove the Start/Stop button from the igni-
tion lock.
X Insert the key into the ignition lock.
X Switch the ignition on.
X Depress the brake pedal and keep it
depressed.
X Shift to neutral N.
X Release the brake pedal.
X Release the electric parking brake.
X Switch off the ignition and leave the key in the
ignition lock.
Engaging drive position D X
If the transmission is in position Ror N: push
the DIRECT SELECT lever down past the first
point of resistance.
X If the transmission is in position P: depress
the brake pedal and push the DIRECT SELECT lever down past the first point of resistance. 130
TransmissionDriving and parking

Transmission positions
B Parking lock
This prevents the vehicle from rolling
away when stopped. Only move the
DIRECT SELECT lever to Pwhen the
vehicle is stationary.
The key can only be removed when
the DIRECT SELECT lever is in posi-
tion P. When there is no key in the
ignition lock, the DIRECT SELECT
lever is locked in position P.C Reverse gear
Only move the DIRECT SELECT lever
to
Rwhen the vehicle is stationary. A Neutral
No power is transmitted from the
drive system to the drive wheels.
Releasing the brakes will allow you to
move the vehicle freely.
If ESP ®
is faulty: only move the
DIRECT SELECT lever to Nif the vehi-
cle is in danger of skidding, e.g. on icy
roads. 7 Drive
For driving forwards
Driving tips
Holding the vehicle stationary on uphill
gradients Do not hold the vehicle stationary on uphill gra-
dients by depressing the accelerator pedal.
Instead, only ever hold the vehicle stationary on
uphill gradients by:
R depressing the brake pedal
R engaging the electric parking brake
Kickdown Use kickdown for maximum acceleration:
X Depress the accelerator pedal beyond the
pressure point.
The needle in the power display points to the
boost area (Y page 173).
X Ease off the accelerator pedal once the
desired speed is reached. i
Maximum acceleration is available for a limi-
ted time. Program selector button
The program selector button allows you to
choose between drive programs with different
driving characteristics. X
Press program selector button :.
The selected drive program appears in the
multifunction display.
The transmission switches to automatic drive
program Eeach time the drive system is started. E
Economy Comfortable, economical
driving style
S
Sport Sporty driving style
E+
Economy
Plus Comfortable, particularly
economical driving style
Drive programs
Drive program E (Economy) Drive program
Eis characterised by the follow-
ing:
R the vehicle pulling away more gently in
forward gear unless the accelerator pedal is
depressed fully.
R reduced power on the accelerator pedal
increases sensitivity. This supports an even
and economical driving style.
R the wheels are less likely to spin.
R full power output by using kickdown. Transmission
131Driving and parking Z

Drive program S (Sport)
Drive program
Sis characterised by the follow-
ing:
R the vehicle exhibits sporty driving character-
istics
R the entire power output can be utilised by
depressing the accelerator pedal.
E+ (Economy Plus) Drive program
E+is characterised by the fol-
lowing:
R reduced torque and significantly reduced
power. This supports an especially efficient
and even driving style and results in a reduc-
tion in speed to approximately 110 km/h.
R the vehicle pulling away more gently in
forward gear unless the accelerator pedal is
depressed fully.
R the wheels are less likely to spin.
R particularly efficient overrun.
R full power output by using kickdown.
R the performance of the air-conditioning and
heating systems is reduced. Steering wheel gearshift paddles
Manually adjustable recuperation :
Left-hand steering wheel gearshift paddle -
; Right-hand steering wheel gearshift paddle
+
You can increase or reduce recuperation in over-
run mode using the steering wheel gearshift
paddles. When you remove your foot from the
accelerator pedal, recuperation occurs. The
electric motor is then used as a alternator and
energy is recovered while driving. The recuper- ated electrical energy is stored in the high-volt-
age battery. A higher energy recuperation level
means that the vehicle is braked more power-
fully.
If necessary, counteract the reduced regenera-
tive braking effect by applying the brake your-
self.
Information on the Recuperative Braking Sys-
tem (Y page 67).
X To decrease recuperation: pull right-hand
steering wheel gearshift paddle ;.
X To increase recuperation: pull left-hand
steering wheel gearshift paddle :.
The various recuperation levels are shown in the
transmission position display once Dhas been
selected (Y page 129).
The following recuperation levels are available in
overrun mode:
R no recuperation (D +
, coasting mode)
R moderate recuperation ( D)
R high recuperation ( D-
)
R recuperation depending on the traffic situa-
tion (D AUTO
, radar-based)
You can see the intensity of recuperation in
overrun mode by reading the recuperation per-
formance value shown in the power display
(Y page 173).
Every time drive position Dis selected, the
transmission switches into recuperation level
D AUTO
automatically.
The various different levels are to be used under the following conditions: D
+ Driving without much braking and
without the presence of obstacles
or sharp bends
The vehicle retains the maximum
possible amount of kinetic
energy. D
Normal driving132
TransmissionDriving and pa
rking

D
- Sporty driving or driving on a
downhill gradient
The brake pedal does not need to
be used as often because the
extent of the deceleration is
greater than in D.
Energy use when decelerating is
considerably higher than when
the vehicle is braked with the
brake pedal. D
AUTO
(radar-
based) The intensity of recuperation is
automatically adjusted to the cur-
rent traffic situation.
Default setting In levels
Dand D-
, deceleration can be control-
led in an infinitely variable manner using the
accelerator pedal.
The braking performance of the electric motor
using recuperative braking is, in some operating modes, either reduced or not effective:
R when the charge status of the high-voltage
battery increases
R if the high-voltage battery is not yet at a nor-
mal operating temperature
R when driving close to the maximum design
speed
R when the vehicle is almost stationary
R in transmission position N
R during and after ESP stability control
If you do not make an additional effort to apply
the brake yourself, the braking effect may not be sufficient. If necessary, counteract the reduced regenerative braking effect by applying the
brake yourself.
Radar-based recuperation The vehicle uses the sensors of COLLISION PRE-
VENTION ASSIST PLUS during radar-based
recuperation (D AUTO
). The sensors detect the
distance to the vehicle ahead and its speed. The intensity of recuperation is then automatically
adjusted to the current traffic situation.
The range can then be increased by storing
energy efficiently. Adjustment is infinitely vari-
able from overrun mode (no recuperation) to
maximum recuperation.
Maintain sufficient distance to the vehicle in
front. Mercedes-Benz recommends that you activate COLLISION PREVENTION ASSIST PLUS
as a visual and acoustic aid.
Examples of radar-based recuperation:
R Approaching a slower vehicle, a decelerating
vehicle or when following a vehicle downhill.
Your vehicle decelerates slightly and increa-
ses recuperation.
R Driving when no vehicle is detected in front or
when a vehicle is detected in the far distance or an accelerating vehicle is detected. Your
vehicle switches to overrun mode at higher
speeds.
R Driving on a steep downhill slope. Accelera-
tion downhill is reduced and recuperation is
increased. This is comparable with shifting
down when driving downhill.
X To activate radar-based recuperation: pull
steering wheel gearshift paddle :or;
towards you and hold for about one second.
X To deactivate radar-based recuperation:
briefly pull steering wheel gearshift paddle
:
or ; towards you.
If you change between radar-based and manual
recuperation, the following levels are activated
depending on the selection via the steering
wheel gearshift paddles: :
Steering wheel
gearshift paddle - selects
D-
(maximum
recuperation) ;
Steering wheel
gearshift paddle + selects
D+
(overrun) In particular, the function of the radar sensors
can be impaired in the case of:
R
dirt on the sensors or obscured sensors
R snow or heavy rain
R interference by other radar sources
R strong radar reflections, for example, in multi-
storey car parks
R a narrow vehicle travelling in front, e.g. a
motorcycle
R a vehicle travelling in front on a different line
Following damage to the front end of the vehicle, have the radar sensor settings and operation
checked at a qualified specialist workshop
immediately. This also applies to collisions at
slow speeds where there is no visible damage to the front of the vehicle.
If the radar sensors are not available, the system
switches automatically to level Dwith moderate Transmission
133Driving and parking Z

recuperation. Have the radar sensors checked
at a qualified specialist workshop immediately.
Automatic adjustment of recuperation
on downhill gradients The vehicle can detect steep downhill gradients.
To reduce acceleration downhill and to charge
the high-voltage battery, recuperation is
increased steplessly. This is comparable to the
engine brake in a combustion engine when you
downshift a gear on a downhill gradient.
Automatic adjustment of recuperation on down-
hill gradients is available in level DAUTO
or on
vehicles without steering wheel gearshift pad-
dles in level D.
Intelligent recuperation The vehicle uses the map and camera data of
Traffic Sign Assist in addition to the sensors of
COLLISION PREVENTION ASSIST PLUS during
radar-based recuperation ( DAUTO
). The rate of
recuperation is then automatically adjusted to
the current traffic situation, taking the current
and future maximum speed into account. High-voltage battery
Important safety notes
G
DANGER
The vehicle's high voltage electrical system is under high voltage. If you modify components
in the vehicle's high-voltage electrical system or touch damaged components, you may be
electrocuted. The components in the vehi-
cle's high-voltage electrical system may be
damaged in an accident, although the damage
is not visible. There is a risk of fatal injury.
Do not touch any high-voltage components
after an accident and never modify the vehi-
cle's high-voltage electrical system. Have the vehicle towed away after an accident and the vehicle's high-voltage electrical system
checked by a qualified specialist workshop. G
WARNING
In the event of a vehicle fire, the internal pres- sure of the high-voltage battery could exceed a critical value. In this case, flammable gas
escapes through a vent valve in the vehicle's
underbody. The gas can ignite. There is a risk of injury.
Leave the danger area immediately. Secure
the danger area at a suitable distance, whilst
observing legal requirements. G
DANGER
Connecting the charging cable to the mains
supply via incorrectly installed mains sockets or by means of adapters, extension cables or
similar could cause a fire or an electric shock. There is a risk of fatal injury.
To avoid such risks, observe the following:
R Only connect the charging cable to mains
sockets:
- which have been properly installed and
- which have been inspected by a qualified
electrician
R For safety reasons, only use charging
cables which have been supplied with the
vehicle or which have been approved for
this vehicle.
R Never use a damaged charging cable.
R Do not use:
- extension cables
- extension reels
- multi-outlet sockets
R Never use socket adapters to connect the
charging cable to the mains socket. The
only exception is if the adapter has been
tested and approved by the manufacturer
for charging the high-voltage battery of an
electric vehicle.
R Observe the safety notes in the operating
instructions for the socket adapter. G
DANGER
Connecting the charging cable to the wallbox via an incorrectly installed wallbox or adapter,
extension cable or similar could cause a fire or an electric shock. There is a risk of fatal injury. 134
High-voltage batteryDriving and parking

Parking
Important safety notes
G
WARNING
If you release the parking brake on uphill or
downhill gradients, the vehicle can begin to
move when in park position P. There is a risk
of an accident.
To avoid hazardous situations:
R prevent the parked vehicle from rolling on
uphill or downhill gradients by always
applying the parking brake.
R do not park the vehicle on uphill or downhill
gradients if the parking brake is malfunc-
tioning. G
WARNING
If you leave children unattended in the vehi-
cle, they may be able to set the vehicle in
motion, for example, if they:
R release the parking brake
R shift the transmission out of park position P
R start the vehicle's drive system
In addition, they may operate vehicle equip-
ment. There is a risk of an accident and injury.
When leaving the vehicle, always take the key
with you and lock the vehicle. Never leave
children unattended in the vehicle.
! while the vehicle is rolling, do not shift the
transmission directly from Dto R, from Rto D
or directly to P.
Do not open the driver's door while the vehi-
cle is in motion. Otherwise, at low speeds in
transmission position Dor R, park position P
is engaged automatically and the electrical
parking brake is applied.
The transmission could be damaged.
! Always secure the vehicle correctly against
rolling away. Otherwise, the vehicle or its driv-
etrain could be damaged.
To ensure that the vehicle is safeguarded
against rolling away unintentionally: R the electric parking brake must be applied.
R the transmission must be in position P.R
the key must be turned to position 0in the
ignition lock and then removed from the igni-
tion lock or the Start/Stop button must be
pressed
R on uphill or downhill gradients, turn the front
wheels towards the kerb. Switching off the drive system
G
WARNING
If you switch off the ignition while the vehicle
is in motion, safety-relevant functions are
restricted or not available. This can affect the power steering function and the brake boost-
ing effect, for example. You will then require
considerably more force to steer and brake.
There is a risk of an accident.
Do not switch off the ignition while the vehicle is in motion.
X Shift the DIRECT SELECT lever to position P.
X With the key: turn the key to position 0in the
ignition lock and remove it.
The immobiliser is activated.
X With the Start/Stop button: press the
Start/Stop button (Y page 126).
The drive system and all the indicator lamps in
the instrument cluster go out.
When the driver's door is closed, this corre-
sponds to key position 1. When the driver's
door is open, this corresponds to key position
0: "key removed".
If you switch the drive system off with the trans- mission in position Ror D, the transmission
automatically shifts to N.
With the key: if you then open the driver's door
or the front-passenger door or remove the key
from the ignition, the transmission automati-
cally shifts to P.
With the Start/Stop button: if you then open
the driver's door or the front-passenger door,
the transmission automatically shifts to P.
If you want the transmission to remain in neutral
N, e.g. when having the vehicle cleaned in an
automatic car wash with a towing system: Parking
145Driving and parking Z

With the key:
X Switch the ignition on.
X Depress the brake pedal and keep it
depressed.
X Shift to neutral N.
X Release the brake pedal.
X Release the electric parking brake.
X Switch off the ignition and leave the key in the
ignition lock.
With the Start/Stop button:
X Remove the Start/Stop button from the igni-
tion lock.
X Insert the key into the ignition lock.
X Switch the ignition on.
X Depress the brake pedal and keep it
depressed.
X Shift to neutral N.
X Release the brake pedal.
X Release the electric parking brake.
X Switch off the ignition and leave the key in the
ignition lock. Electric parking brake
General notes G
WARNING
If you leave children unattended in the vehi-
cle, they may be able to set the vehicle in
motion, for example, if they:
R release the parking brake
R shift the transmission out of park position P
R start the vehicle's drive system
In addition, they may operate vehicle equip-
ment. There is a risk of an accident and injury.
When leaving the vehicle, always take the key
with you and lock the vehicle. Never leave
children unattended in the vehicle. The function of the electric parking brake and
the parking lock is dependent on the on-board
voltage. If the on-board voltage is low or if there
is a malfunction in the system, it may not be
possible to apply the released parking brake or
to shift the transmission to the Pposition.
X If this is the case, only park the vehicle on
level ground and secure it to prevent it from
rolling away.
X Shift the transmission to position P.
It may not be possible to release an applied
parking brake if the on-board voltage is low or if
there is a malfunction in the system. Contact a
qualified specialist workshop.
The electric parking brake carries out a function check at regular intervals when the drive system
is switched off. Noises that occur are normal.
Applying or releasing manually X
To apply: push handle :.
When the electric parking brake is applied,
the ! red indicator lamp lights up in the
instrument cluster.
The electric parking brake can also be applied
when the key is removed.
X To release: pull handle:.
The red !indicator lamp in the instrument
cluster goes out.
The electric parking brake can only be
released:
R when the key is in position 1or 2in the
ignition lock (Y page 126) or
R if the ignition was switched on using the
Start/Stop button 146
ParkingDriving and parking

Applying automatically
When the vehicle's HOLD function is holding the
vehicle at a standstill, the electric parking brake is engaged automatically.
In addition, at least one of the following condi-
tions must be fulfilled:
R the drive system 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.
Releasing automatically The electric parking brake of your vehicle is
released automatically when all of the following
conditions are fulfilled:
R the vehicle has been started
R the transmission is in position Dor R
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 out of transmission position
P or you have previously driven faster than
3 km/h
Ensure that you do not depress the accelerator
pedal unintentionally. Otherwise, the parking
brake will be released and the vehicle will start
to move.
Emergency braking The vehicle can also be braked during an emer-
gency by using the electric parking brake.
X While driving, push handle :of the electric
parking brake (Y page 146).
The vehicle is braked as long as you keep
handle :of the electric parking brake
pressed. The longer the electric parking brake
handle :is depressed, the greater the brak-
ing force. During braking:
R a warning tone sounds
R the Release parking brake
Release parking brake message
appears
R the red !indicator lamp in the instrument
cluster flashes
When the vehicle has been braked to a stand-
still, the electric parking brake is applied. Parking up the vehicle
If you leave the vehicle parked up for longer than
four weeks, the battery may be damaged by
exhaustive discharging.
If you leave the vehicle parked up for longer than
six weeks, it may suffer from lack of use.
X Visit a qualified specialist workshop and seek
advice.
i You can obtain information about trickle
chargers from a qualified specialist work-
shop. Driving tips
General notes
Important safety notes G
WARNING
If you switch off the ignition while driving,
safety-relevant functions are only available
with limitations, or not at all. This could affect, for example, the power steering and the brake
boosting effect. You will require considerably
more effort to steer and brake. There is a risk of an accident.
Do not switch off the ignition while driving.
Your vehicle is powered by an electric motor.
The electric motor draws the energy required to
drive the vehicle from the high-voltage battery.
When braking and rolling, kinetic energy is con- verted into electrical energy by energy recovery
and stored in the high-voltage battery.
The range of the vehicle is reduced when con-
sumers are switched on, e.g. THERMOTRONIC. Driving tips
147Driving and pa rking Z

Drive sensibly – save energy
Observe the following tips to save energy:
R The tyres should always be inflated to the rec-
ommended tyre pressure.
R Remove unnecessary loads.
R Remove roof racks when they are not needed.
R Avoid frequent acceleration or braking.
Energy consumption also increases when driv-
ing in low or high outside temperatures, in stop-
start traffic, on short journeys and in hilly ter-
rain. ECO display
The ECO display provides feedback on how eco-
nomical your driving characteristics are. The
ECO display assists you in achieving the most
economical driving style for the selected set-
tings and prevailing conditions. Consumption
can be significantly influenced by your driving
style.
The ECO display consists of three bars:
R Acceleration Acceleration
R Constant
Constant
R Coasting
Coasting
The percentage count is the mean value of the
three bar values. The three bars and the mean
value begin at the value of 50%. A higher per-
centage count indicates a more economical
driving style.
The ECO display does not indicate the actual fuel
consumption. A fixed percentage count in the
ECO display does not indicate a fixed consump- tion.
In addition to driving style, the consumption is
affected by many other factors, such as:
R load
R tyre pressure
R cold start
R choice of route
R the use of electrical consumers These factors are not included in the ECO dis-
play.
The evaluation of your driving style takes the
following three categories into consideration:
R Acceleration
Acceleration (evaluation of all acceleration
processes):
- the bar fills up: moderate acceleration,
especially at higher speeds
- the bar empties: sporty acceleration
R Constant Constant (assessment of driving behaviour
at all times:)
- the bar fills up: constant speed and avoid-
ance of unnecessary acceleration and
deceleration
- the bar empties: fluctuations in speed
R Coasting Coasting (assessment of all deceleration
processes):
- the bar fills up: anticipatory driving, keep-
ing your distance and early release of the
accelerator. The vehicle can coast without
use of the brakes.
- the bar empties: frequent braking
To achieve a higher value in the categories
Acceleration Acceleration andConstant
Constant, drive the vehicle
in drive program E+orE.
On long journeys at a constant speed, e.g. on the motorway, only the bar for Constant
Constant will
change.
The ECO display summarises the driving char-
acteristics from the start of the journey to its
completion. Therefore, there are dynamic
changes in the bars at the start of a journey.
During a prolonged driving time, these changes are smaller. For more dynamic changes, per-
form a manual reset.
Further information on the ECO display
(Y page 176). Brakes
Important safety notes G
WARNING
If you increase the recuperation level on slip- pery road surfaces, the drive wheels may lose
their traction. This increases the risk of skid-
ding and having an accident.
Do not increase the recuperation level on slip-
pery road surfaces. 148
Driving tipsDriving and pa
rking