engine MERCEDES-BENZ CLA COUPE 2016 Owners Manual

The electric parking brake secures the vehicle
automatically if the HOLD function is activated,
the vehicle is stationary and:
R a system fault occurs
R the power supply is insufficient
Vehicles with manual transmission The electric parking brake secures the vehicle
automatically if the HOLD function is activated
and:
R the driver's seat belt is not fastened and the
driver's door is open
R the engine is switched off, unless it is auto-
matically switched off by the ECO start/stop
function
R a system fault occurs
R the power supply is insufficient
The Brake immediately
Brake immediately message may also
appear on the multifunction display.
X Immediately depress the brake pedal firmly
until the warning message on the multifunc-
tion display goes out.
The HOLD function is deactivated.
A horn will sound at regular intervals if you turn
off the engine, take off your seat belt or open the
driver's door when the HOLD function is activa- ted. The horn alerts you to the fact that the
HOLD function is still activated. If you attempt to
lock the vehicle, the tone becomes louder. The
vehicle cannot be locked until you have deacti-
vated the HOLD function.
i Once you have switched off the engine, you
cannot restart it until you have deactivated
the HOLD function. Start-off assist (except Mercedes-
AMG vehicles)
Important safety notes G
WARNING
If you use start-off assist, individual wheels
may start to spin and the vehicle may skid. If
ESP ®
is deactivated, there is a greater danger
of skidding and having an accident. Make sure that no persons or obstacles are in the area
around the vehicle. Start-off assist enables optimum acceleration
from a standstill. For this, a suitably high-grip
road surface is required; the tyres and vehicle
must also be in good condition.
Do not activate start-off assist on public roads.
Observe the safety notes on driving safety sys-
tems (Y page 66).
Be sure to read the safety notes and information
on ESP ®
(Y page 69).
Activating start-off assist X
Deactivate ESP ®
(Y page 209).
X Turn the steering wheel to the straight-ahead
position.
X Depress the brake pedal hard with your left
foot and keep it depressed.
X Shift the transmission to position D.
X Use the DYNAMIC SELECT button to select
the Sdrive program (Y page 141).
X Quickly depress the accelerator pedal fully.
X Take your foot off the brake, but keep the
accelerator pedal depressed.
The vehicle pulls away at maximum acceler-
ation.
i Activate ESP ®
as soon as the acceleration
process has ended. ESP ®
will otherwise not
be able to stabilise the vehicle if the vehicle
starts to skid or a wheel starts to spin.
Cancelling start-off assist
X Remove your foot from the accelerator pedal.
X Reactivate ESP ®
. RACE START (Mercedes-AMG vehi-
cles)
Important safety notes i
RACE START must not be used on normal
roads. RACE START must be activated and
used only on dedicated race circuits, not on
public roads.
i RACE START is only available in
Mercedes‑ AMG vehicles. G
WARNING
If you use RACE START, individual tyres may
get into a spin and the vehicle could skid.
Depending on the selected ESP ®
mode, there 174
Driving systemsDriving and parking

is an increased risk of skidding and having an
accident. Make sure that no persons, animals
or obstacles are within range of the vehicle.
RACE START enables optimum acceleration
from a standing start. For this, a suitably high-
grip road surface is required; the tyres and vehi-
cle must also be in good condition.
i Observe the safety notes on driving safety
systems (Y page 66).
Be sure to read the safety notes and informa-
tion on ESP ®
(Y page 69).
Activation conditions You can activate RACE START if:
R the doors, the bonnet and the boot lid are
closed
R the engine is running and the transmission,
traction control and engine are at operating
temperature
R the steering wheel is in the straight-ahead
position
R the vehicle is stationary and the brake pedal is
depressed (left foot)
R the transmission is in position D
R one of the drive programs S,S+ orRACE is
selected (Y page 141)
Activating RACE START X
Depress the brake pedal with your left foot
and keep it depressed.
X Pull and hold both steering wheel gearshift
paddles.
X The RACE START Confirm: Paddle UP RACE START Confirm: Paddle UP
Cancel: Paddle DOWN
Cancel: Paddle DOWN message appears in
the multifunction display.
X Release both steering wheel gearshift pad-
dles.
i If the activation conditions are no longer ful-
filled, RACE START is cancelled. The RACE
RACE
START not possible See Owner's Man‐
START not possible See Owner's Man‐
ual
ual message appears in the multifunction
display. X
To cancel: pull the left steering wheel shift
paddle (Y page 150).
or X To confirm: pull the right steering wheel shift
paddle (Y page 150).
The RACE START available Depress
RACE START available Depress
accelerator
accelerator message appears in the multi-
function display.
i If you do not depress the accelerator pedal
within a few seconds, RACE START is cancel-
led. The multifunction display shows the
RACE START cancelled RACE START cancelled message.
X Fully depress the accelerator pedal.
The engine speed increases.
The RACE RACE START
START Release
Release brake
braketo
tostart
start
message appears in the multifunction display.
i If the brake pedal is not released after a
short while, RACE START is cancelled. The
multifunction display shows the RACE RACESTART
START
cancelled
cancelled message.
X Take your foot off the brake, but keep the
accelerator pedal depressed.
The vehicle pulls away at maximum acceler-
ation.
The RACE RACE START
START active
active message appears in
the multifunction display.
RACE START is deactivated when the vehicle
reaches a speed of approximately 50 km/h.
RACE START is deactivated immediately if you
release the accelerator pedal during RACE
START or if any of the activation conditions are
no longer fulfilled. The RACE START not pos‐
RACE START not pos‐
sible sible orRACE START cancelled
RACE START cancelled message
appears in the multifunction display.
i After using it several times in short succes-
sion, RACE START will be unavailable until a
certain distance has been driven. AMG RIDE CONTROL
General notes The electronically controlled damping system
works continuously. This improves driving
safety and ride comfort. Driving systems
175Driving and parking Z

The damping is adjusted individually to each
wheel and depends on:
R your driving style, e.g. sporty
R the road surface condition, e.g. bumps
R your individual selection of "Sport" or "Com-
fort"
The suspension setting is adjusted using the
corresponding button on the centre console.
i The mode can also be set using the AMG
DYNAMIC SELECT controller (Y page 141).
If the ignition is switched off for less than four
hours, the previously selected drive program is
activated when the engine is next started. If the ignition is switched off for more than four hours,
Comfort mode is activated when the engine is
next started.
Sport mode The firmer setting of the suspension tuning in
Sport mode ensures even better contact with
the road. Select this mode when employing a
sporty driving style, e.g. on winding country
roads.
X Press button :once.
Indicator lamp ;lights up. You have selected
Sport mode.
The AMG Ride Control SPORT
AMG Ride Control SPORT message
appears in the multifunction display.
Comfort mode In Comfort mode, the driving characteristics of
your vehicle are more comfortable. Select this
mode if you prefer a more comfortable driving
style, but also when driving at speed on straight
roads, e.g. motorways. X
Press button :again to switch off indicator
lamp ;.
You have selected Comfort mode.
The AMG Ride Control COMFORT
AMG Ride Control COMFORT message
appears in the multifunction display. 4MATIC
! Never tow the vehicle with one axle raised.
This may damage the differential. Damage of
this sort is not covered by the Mercedes-Benz
implied warranty. All wheels must remain
either on the ground or be fully raised.
Observe the instructions for towing the vehi-
cle with all wheels in full contact with the
ground.
4MATIC, together with ESP ®
, improves the trac-
tion of your vehicle whenever a drive wheel
spins due to insufficient grip.
If you fail to adapt your driving style, 4MATIC can neither reduce the risk of an accident nor over-
ride the laws of physics. 4MATIC cannot take
account of road, weather and traffic conditions.
4MATIC is only an aid. You are responsible for
the distance to the vehicle in front, for vehicle
speed, for braking in good time and for staying in
lane.
If a drive wheel spins due to insufficient grip:
R when pulling away, only depress the acceler-
ator pedal as far as is necessary.
R accelerate less when driving.
i In wintry driving conditions, the maximum
effect of 4MATIC can only be achieved if you
use winter tyres (M+S tyres), with snow
chains if necessary. Chassis with adaptive adjustable
damping
General notes Suspension with the Adaptive Damping System
provides improved driving comfort and contin-
uously controls the calibration of the dampers.
The damping characteristics adapt to the cur-
rent operating and driving situation. 176
Driving systemsDriving and parking

:
Sensors in the front bumper, left-hand side
(example)
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 289).
Range :
Front sensors detection range
; Rear sensors detection range
Front sensors Centre Approx. 100 cm
Corners Approx. 60 cm
Rear sensors
Centre Approx. 120 cm
Corners Approx. 80 cm Minimum distance
Centre Approx. 20 cm
Corners Approx. 20 cm
If there is an obstacle within this range, the rel-
evant warning displays light up and a warning
tone sounds. If the distance falls below the min- imum, the distance may no longer be shown.
Warning displays :
Segments on the left-hand side of the vehi-
cle
; Segments on the right-hand side of the vehi-
cle
= Segments showing operational readiness
The warning displays show the distance
between the sensors and the obstacle. The
warning display for the front area is located on
the dashboard above the centre air vents. The
warning display for the rear area is located on
the roof lining in the rear compartment.
The warning display for each side of the vehicle
is divided into five yellow and two red segments. If yellow segments =showing operational read-
iness light up, Parking Assist PARKTRONIC is
operational.
The gear lever position or the transmission posi-
tion of the automatic transmission and the
direction in which the vehicle is rolling deter-
mine which warning display is active when the
engine is running. 178
Driving systemsDriving and parking

Parking Pilot will detect only parking spaces
which are:
R parallel or at right angles to the direction of
travel
R that are parallel to the direction of travel and
are at least 1.5 m wide
R that are parallel to the direction of travel and
at least 1.0 m longer than your vehicle
R that are at right angles to the direction of
travel and at least 1.0 mwider than your vehi-
cle
i Note that Parking Pilot cannot measure the
length of a parking space if it is at right angles to the direction of travel. You will need to
judge whether your vehicle will fit in the park-
ing space.
When driving at speeds below 30 km/h, you will
see parking symbol ;as a status indicator in
the instrument cluster. When a parking space
has been detected, an arrow towards the right or the left also appears. Parking Pilot displays only
parking spaces on the front-passenger side as
standard. Parking spaces on the driver's side
are displayed as soon as the turn signal on the
driver's side is activated. When parking on the
driver's side, this must remain activated until
you confirm the use of Parking Pilot by pressing the a button on the multifunction steering
wheel. The system automatically determines
whether the parking space is parallel or at right
angles to the direction of travel.
A parking space is displayed while you are driv- ing past it, and until you are approximately 15 m
away from it.
Parking G
WARNING
If you leave the vehicle when it is only being
braked by Parking Pilot, it could roll away if:
R there is a malfunction in the system or in
the voltage supply.
R the electrical system in the engine com-
partment, the battery or the fuses are tam-
pered with.
R the battery is disconnected
R the vehicle is accelerated, e.g. by a vehicle
occupant.
There is a risk of an accident. Before leaving the vehicle, always secure it
against rolling away.
i Vehicles with automatic transmission:
If Parking Assist PARKTRONIC detects obsta-
cles, Parking Pilot brakes automatically whilst
the vehicle is parking. You are responsible for
braking in good time.
X Stop the vehicle when the parking symbol
shows the desired parking space in the instru-
ment cluster.
X Vehicles with automatic transmission:
shift the transmission to position
R.
Vehicles with manual transmission: shift
to reverse gear.
The Start Parking Pilot?
Start Parking Pilot? Yes: OK Yes: OKNo:
No:
% message appears in the multifunction
display.
X To cancel the procedure: press the%
button on the multifunction steering wheel or
pull away.
or X To park using Parking Pilot: press thea
button on the multifunction steering wheel.
The Parking Pilot active Accelerate Parking Pilot active Accelerate
and brake
and brake Observe surroundings
Observe surroundings mes-
sage appears in the multifunction display.
X Release the multifunction steering wheel.
X Reverse the vehicle, being ready to brake at
all times. When reversing, drive at a speed
below 10 km/h. Otherwise Parking Pilot is
cancelled.
Vehicles with automatic transmission:
Parking Pilot brakes the vehicle to a standstill
when the vehicle approaches the rear border
of the parking space.
Manoeuvring may be required in tight parking spaces.
X Vehicles with manual transmission: stop
when Parking Assist PARKTRONIC sounds the continuous warning tone, if not before.
Manoeuvring may be required in tight parking
spaces.
Vehicles with automatic transmission: the
Parking Pilot active Select D Parking Pilot active Select D Observe
Observe
surroundings
surroundings message appears in the multi-
function display.
Vehicles with manual transmission: the
Parking Pilot active Engage forward Parking Pilot active Engage forward
gear gear Observe surroundings
Observe surroundings message
appears in the multifunction display. 182
Driving systemsDriving and parking

X
Vehicles with automatic transmission:
select transmission position
Dwhile the vehi-
cle is stationary.
Vehicles with manual transmission: shift
to first gear while the vehicle is stationary.
Parking Pilot immediately steers in the other
direction.
The Parking Pilot active Accelerate Parking Pilot active Accelerate
and brake
and brake Observe surroundings
Observe surroundings mes-
sage appears in the multifunction display.
i You will achieve the best results by waiting
for the steering procedure to complete before
pulling away.
X Drive forwards and be ready to brake at all
times.
Vehicles with automatic transmission:
Parking Pilot brakes the vehicle to a standstill
when the vehicle approaches the front border
of the parking space.
Manoeuvring may be required in tight parking spaces.
X Vehicles with manual transmission: stop
when Parking Assist PARKTRONIC sounds the continuous warning tone, if not before.
Vehicles with automatic transmission: the
Parking Pilot active Select R
Parking Pilot active Select R Observe Observe
surroundings
surroundings message appears in the multi-
function display.
Vehicles with manual transmission: the
Parking Pilot active Engage reverse Parking Pilot active Engage reverse
gearObserve surroundings gearObserve surroundings message
appears in the multifunction display.
As soon as the parking procedure is complete,
the Parking Parking Pilot
Pilotended
endedmessage appears in
the multifunction display and a warning tone
sounds. The vehicle is now parked.
Vehicles with automatic transmission: the
vehicle is kept stationary without the driver hav-
ing to depress the brake pedal. The braking
effect is cancelled when you depress the accel- erator pedal.
Parking Pilot no longer supports you with steer-
ing interventions and brake applications. When
Parking Pilot is ended, you must steer and brake again yourself. Parking Assist PARKTRONIC is
still available.
Parking tips:
R The way your vehicle is positioned in the park-
ing space after parking is dependent on vari-
ous factors. These include the position and
shape of the vehicles parked in front of and behind it and the conditions of the location. It
may be the case that Parking Pilot guides you
too far into a parking space, or not far enough
into it. In some cases, it may also lead you
across or onto the kerb. If necessary, you
should abort the parking procedure with Park-
ing Pilot.
R You can also preselect transmission position
D. The vehicle redirects and does not drive as
far into the parking space. Should the trans-
mission change take place too early, the park-
ing procedure will be cancelled. A sensible
parking position can no longer be achieved
from this position.
Exiting a parking space In order that Parking Pilot can support you when
exiting the parking space:
R you need to have parked using Parking Pilot
R the border of the parking space must be high
enough at the front and the rear. A kerb stoneis too small, for example.
R the border of the parking space must not be
too wide, as the position of the vehicle must
not exceed an angle of 45° to the starting
position as it is manoeuvred into the parking
space.
R a manoeuvring distance of at least 1.0 mmust
be available.
Parking Pilot can assist you with exiting a park-
ing space only if you have parked the vehicle
parallel to the direction of travel using the Park-
ing Pilot
i Vehicles with automatic transmission:
If Parking Assist PARKTRONIC detects obsta-
cles, Parking Pilot brakes automatically whilst the vehicle is exiting the parking space. You
are responsible for braking in good time.
X Start the engine.
X Release the electric parking brake.
X Switch on the turn signal in the direction you
will drive out of the parking space.
X Vehicles with automatic transmission:
shift the transmission to position
Dor R.
Vehicles with manual transmission: shift
to forward or reverse gear.
The Start Parking Pilot?
Start Parking Pilot? Yes: OK Yes: OKNo:
No:
% message appears in the multifunction
display. Driving systems
183Driving and parking Z

Select this view when you are driving out of an
exit and the view of crossing traffic is restricted,
for example. ATTENTION ASSIST
General notes ATTENTION ASSIST helps you during long,
monotonous journeys such as on motorways
and trunk roads. It is active in the 60 km/h to
200 km/h speed range. If ATTENTION ASSIST
detects typical indicators of fatigue or increas-
ing lapses in concentration on the part of the
driver, it suggests taking a break.
Important safety notes ATTENTION ASSIST is only an aid. It may not
always detect fatigue or lapses in concentration
until too late, or may not detect them at all. The system is not a substitute for a well-rested and
attentive driver.
The functionality of ATTENTION ASSIST is
restricted, and warnings may be delayed or not
occur at all in the following situations:
R the length of the journey is less than approx-
imately 30 minutes
R if the road condition is poor, e.g. if the surface
is uneven or contains potholes
R in case of strong side winds
R if you have adopted a sporty driving style with
high cornering speeds or high rates of accel-
eration
R if you are predominantly driving at a speed
below 60 km/h or above 200 km/h
R if the time has been set incorrectly
R in active driving situations, such as when you
change lanes or change your speed
ATTENTION ASSIST is reset and starts assessing your tiredness again when you continue your
journey if:
R you switch off the engine
R you take off your seat belt and open the driv-
er's door, e.g. for a change of drivers or to
take a break Displaying the attention level
You can have current status information dis-
played in the Assistance menu (Y
page 208) of
the on-board computer.
X Select the assistance graphic display for
ATTENTION ASSIST using the on-board com-
puter (Y page 208).
The following information is displayed: R the length of the journey since the last break
R the attention level determined by ATTENTION
ASSIST( Attention level
Attention level), displayed in a
bar display in five levels from high to low
R if ATTENTION ASSIST is unable to calculate
the attention level and cannot output a warn-
ing, the System suspended System suspended message
appears. The bar display then changes the
display, e.g. if you are driving at a speed below 60 km/h or above 200 km/h.
Activating ATTENTION ASSIST X
Activate ATTENTION ASSIST using the on-
board computer (Y page 209).
The system determines the attention level of
the driver depending on the setting selected:
Standard Standard selected: the sensitivity with which
the system determines the attention level is set to normal.
Sensitive Sensitive selected: the sensitivity is set
higher. The attention level detected by ATTEN-
TION ASSIST is adapted accordingly and the
driver is warned earlier.
When ATTENTION ASSIST is deactivated, the
é symbol appears in the multifunction dis-
play in the assistance graphic display.
When ATTENTION ASSIST has been deactivated,
it is automatically reactivated after the engine
has been switched off. The sensitivity selected Driving systems
189Driving and parking Z

up to a speed of 30 km/h. At speeds above
30 km/h, the indicator lamp goes out and Blind
Spot Assist is operational.
If a vehicle is detected within the monitoring
range of Blind Spot Assist at speeds above
30 km/h, warning lamp :on the correspond-
ing side lights up red. This warning always
occurs when a vehicle enters the blind spot
monitoring range from behind or from the side.
When you overtake a vehicle, the warning only
occurs if the difference in speed is less than
12 km/h.
The yellow indicator lamp goes out if reverse
gear is engaged. Blind Spot Assist is then deac- tivated.
The brightness of the indicator/warning lamps
is adjusted automatically according to the ambi-
ent light.
Collision warning
If a vehicle is detected in the blind spot moni-
toring range and you switch on the correspond-
ing turn signal, a double warning tone sounds.
Red warning lamp :flashes. If the turn signal
remains on, detected vehicles are indicated by
the flashing of red warning lamp :. There are
no further warning tones.
Activating Blind Spot Assist X Make sure that Blind Spot Assist is activated
in the on-board computer (Y page 209).
X Turn the key to position 2in the ignition lock.
Warning lamps :in the exterior mirrors light
up red for approximately 1.5 seconds and
then turn yellow.
Towing a trailer
If you couple up a trailer, make sure that you
have correctly established the electrical con-
nection. This can be accomplished by checking
the trailer lighting. Blind Spot Assist is then
deactivated. The indicator lamps in the exterior
mirrors light up yellow and the Blind Spot
Blind Spot
Assist not available when towing a Assist not available when towing a
trailer See Owner's Manual trailer See Owner's Manual message
appears in the multifunction display.
i You can deactivate the indicator lamps in
the exterior mirrors. To do so, you will need to deactivate Blind
Spot Assist if:
R the key is in position 2in the ignition lock
R the engine is not running
R the electrical connection to the trailer has
been established
Lane Keeping Assist General notes
Lane Keeping Assist monitors the area in front of
your vehicle by means of multifunction cam-
era :attached at the top of the windscreen.
Lane Keeping Assist detects lane markings on
the road and can warn you before you leave your lane unintentionally.
This function is available in a speed range
between 60 km/h and 200 km/h.
A warning may be given if a front wheel passes
over a lane marking. It will warn you by means of intermittent vibration through the steering
wheel for up to 1.5 seconds.
Important safety notes G
WARNING
Lane Keeping Assist cannot always clearly
identify lane markings.
In these cases, Lane Keeping Assist may:
R give an unnecessary warning
R not give a warning
There is a risk of an accident.
Always pay particular attention to the traffic
situation and keep in lane, especially if Lane
Keeping Assist alerts you. Driving systems
193Driving and parking Z

G
WARNING
If the maximum permissible load for a carrier system is exceeded, the carrier could come
loose from the vehicle and endanger other
road users. There is a risk of an accident and injury.
Never exceed the maximum permissible load
when using a carrier.
! If you have a trailer tow hitch retrofitted,
changes to the engine cooling system may be necessary, depending on the vehicle type.
If you have a trailer tow hitch retrofitted,
observe the anchorage points on the chassis.
Retrofitting a trailer tow hitch is only permissible
if a trailer load is specified in your vehicle docu-
ments. If this is not the case, then the vehicle is not approved for towing a trailer.
For more information, please contact a qualifiedspecialist workshop.
Exceeding the maximum permissible nose-
weight of the trailer drawbar on the ball coupling
may cause damage to the following:
R your vehicle
R trailer
R ball coupling
R trailer tow hitch
The vehicle/trailer combination could become
unstable.
The vehicle/trailer combination could also
become unstable if the noseweight used is lower than the minimum permissible noseweight.
To avoid hazardous situations:
R make sure to check the noseweight before
each journey
R the noseweight should be as close as possible
to the maximum noseweight
R do not exceed the maximum permissible
noseweight
R the noseweight must not be lower than the
minimum permissible noseweight
Make sure that the following values are not
exceeded:
R the permissible noseweight
R the permissible trailer load R
the permissible rear axle load of the towing
vehicle
R the maximum permissible gross vehicle
weight of both the towing vehicle and the
trailer
The applicable permissible values, which must
not be exceeded, can be found:
R in your vehicle documents
R on the identification plates of the trailer tow
hitch and the trailer
R on the vehicle identification plate
If the values differ, the lowest value applies.
You will find the values approved by the manu-
facturer on the identification plates and for the
towing vehicle under "Technical data"
(Y page 334). G
WARNING
If you release the ball coupling or it does not
engage correctly when folding in, it will swing out. Within pivoting range of the ball coupling,
there is an increased risk of an accident and
injury.
Only release the ball coupling if the pivoting
range is unobstructed. Always make sure that the ball coupling engages when folding in.
When reversing the towing vehicle, make sure
there is nobody between the trailer and the vehi- cle.
Couple and uncouple the trailer carefully. If youdo not couple the trailer to the towing vehicle
correctly, the trailer could become detached.
When towing a trailer, your vehicle's handling
characteristics will be different to when driving
without a trailer.
The vehicle/trailer combination:
R is heavier
R is restricted in its acceleration and gradient-
climbing capability
R has an increased braking distance
R is affected more by strong crosswinds
R demands more sensitive steering
R has a larger turning circle
This can impair the vehicle's handling charac-
teristics. Adapt your driving style accordingly.
Maintain a safe distance. Drive carefully.
When towing a trailer, always adjust your speed to the current road and weather conditions. Do Towing a trailer
195Driving and parking Z

not exceed the maximum permissible speed for
your vehicle/trailer combination. Notes on towing a trailer
General notes Trailer towing is not possible on the following
models:
R CLA 180 d BlueEFFICIENCY Edition
R CLA 250 Sport
R CLA 250 Sport 4MATIC
R Mercedes‑AMG CLA 45 4MATIC
When towing a trailer, set the tyre pressure on
the rear axle of the towing vehicle for the max-
imum load. Further information on the tyre pres-
sure table in the fuel filler flap (Y page 313).
Please note that when towing a trailer, the fol-
lowing driving systems have limited availability
or are not available at all.
R Parking Assist PARKTRONIC (Y page 177)
R Blind Spot Assist (Y page 192)
The height of the ball coupling changes with the
load of the vehicle. If necessary, use a trailer
with a height-adjustable drawbar.
You will find fitting dimensions and loads under "Technical data" (Y page 334).
Driving tips Observe the notes on ESP
®
trailer stabilisation
(Y page 72).
The maximum permissible speed for vehicle/
trailer combinations depends on the type of
trailer. Before beginning the journey, check the
trailer's documents to see what the maximum
permitted speed is. Observe the legally prescri-
bed maximum speed in the relevant country.
For certain Mercedes-Benz vehicles, the maxi-
mum permissible rear axle load is increased
when towing a trailer. See the "Technical data"
section to find out whether this applies to your
vehicle. If you utilise any of the added maximum rear axle load when towing a trailer, the vehicle/
trailer combination may not exceed a maximum speed of 100 km/h for reasons concerning the
operating permit. This also applies in countries
in which the permissible maximum speed for
vehicle/trailer combinations is above
100 km/h. When towing a trailer, your vehicle's handling
characteristics will be different to when driving
without a trailer and the vehicle will consume
more fuel.
Shift into a lower gear in good time on long and steep downhill gradients. For vehicles with auto-
matic transmission, you need to have selected
manual drive program M(Y page 150).
This also applies if you have activated cruise
control, SPEEDTRONIC or Distance Pilot
DISTRONIC.
This will use the braking effect of the engine, so
less braking will be required to maintain the
vehicle speed. This relieves the load on the
brake system and prevents the brakes from
overheating and wearing too quickly. If you need additional braking, depress the brake pedal
repeatedly rather than continuously.
Briefly depressing the accelerator pedal on
downhill gradients while the manual drive pro-
gram Mis temporarily activated (vehicles with
automatic transmission): the automatic trans-
mission may switch back to the last active auto-
matic drive program Eor S. The automatic trans-
mission may shift to a higher gear. This can
reduce the engine's braking effect.
Driving tips R
Maintain a greater distance to the vehicle in
front than when driving without a trailer.
R Avoid braking abruptly. If possible, brake gen-
tly at first to allow the trailer to run on. Then,
increase the braking force rapidly.
R The values given for gradient-climbing capa-
bilities from a standstill refer to sea level.
When driving in mountainous areas, note that
the power output of the engine, and conse-
quently the vehicle's gradient-climbing capa-
bility from a standstill, decrease with increas-
ing altitude.
If the trailer swings from side to side:
X Do not accelerate under any circumstances
X Do not countersteer
X Brake, if necessary 196
Towing a trailerDriving an
d parking