manual transmission MERCEDES-BENZ CLS-Class 2012 W218 Owner's Manual

ATA (Anti-Theft Alarm system)Activating/deactivating ...................69
Function ........................................... 69
Switching off the alarm ....................69
ATTENTION ASSIST
Activating/deactivating .................207
Display message ............................ 229
Function/notes ............................. 180
Audio menu (on-board computer) .... 203
Audio system see separate operating instructions
Authorized Mercedes-Benz Center
see Qualified specialist workshop
AUTO lights
Display message ............................ 226
see Lights
Automatic engine start (ECO start/
stop function) .................................... 136
Automatic engine switch-off (ECO
start/stop function) .......................... 136
Automatic headlamp mode .............. 107
Automatic transmission Automatic drive program ...............144
Changing gear ............................... 142
DIRECT SELECT lever .....................140
Display message ............................ 237
Driving tips .................................... 142
Emergency running mode ..............147
Kickdown ....................................... 142
Manual drive program ....................145
Problem (malfunction) ...................147
Program selector button ................143
Pulling away ................................... 135
Selector lever ................................ 139
Shift ranges ................................... 144
Starting the engine ........................134
Steering wheel paddle shifters ......144
Transmission position display ........140
Automatic transmission
emergency mode ............................... 147
B
Back support see Lumbar support
Backup lamp
Changing bulbs .............................. 113
Display message ............................ 225
Bag hook ............................................ 260
BAS (Brake Assist System) ................. 62
Basic settings see Settings
BAS PLUS (Brake Assist System
PLUS) .................................................... 62
Battery (key) Checking .......................................... 76
Battery (SmartKey)
Important safety notes ....................76
Replacing ......................................... 76
Battery (vehicle)
Charging ........................................ 304
Display message ............................ 228
Important safety notes ..................302
Jump starting ................................. 305
Belt
see Seat belts
Blind Spot Assist
Activating/deactivating .................207
Notes/function .............................. 184
see Active Blind Spot Assist
Bottle holder ...................................... 263
Brake Assist System see BAS (Brake Assist System)
Brake fluid
Display message ............................ 219
Notes ............................................. 350
Brake fluid level ................................ 284
Brake lamps Display message ............................ 224
Brakes
ABS .................................................. 61
BAS .................................................. 62
BAS PLUS ........................................ 62
Brake fluid (notes) .........................350
Display message ............................ 217
Driving tips .................................... 152
Important safety notes ..................152
Maintenance .................................. 153
Parking brake ................................ 151
Warning lamp ................................. 243
Breakdown
see Flat tire
see Towing away
Bulbs
see Changing bulbs Index5

Distance warning (warning lamp) .... 251
DISTRONIC PLUS Deactivating ................................... 164
Display message ............................ 232
Displays in the multifunction
display ........................................... 163
Driving tips .................................... 164
Function/notes ............................. 157
Important safety notes ..................157
Setting the specified minimum
distance ......................................... 162
Warning lamp ................................. 251
Doors
Automatic locking (on-board
computer) ...................................... 211
Automatic locking (switch) ............... 80
Central locking/unlocking (key) ......72
Control panel ................................... 34
Display message ............................ 238
Emergency locking ........................... 81
Emergency unlocking .......................81
Important safety notes ....................79
Opening (from inside) ......................80
Drinks holder
see Cup holders
Drive program
Automatic ...................................... 144
Display ........................................... 140
Display (DIRECT SELECT lever) ......140
Manual ........................................... 145
SETUP (on-board computer) ..........213
Drive program selector ..................... 143
Driver's door see Doors
Driver's seat
see Seats
Driving abroad
Mercedes-Benz Service .................285
Symmetrical low beam ..................106
Driving safety systems
ABS (Anti-lock Braking System) .......61
ADAPTIVE BRAKE ............................. 67
BAS (Brake Assist System) ..............62
BAS PLUS (Brake Assist System
PLUS) ............................................... 62
Electronic brake force distribution ...67ESP ®
(Electronic Stability
Program) .......................................... 63
ETS/4ETS (Electronic Traction
System) ........................................... 64
Important safety information ...........61
Overview .......................................... 60
PRE-SAFE ®
Brake ............................. 67
Driving systems
Active Blind Spot Assist .................188
Active Driving Assistance
package ......................................... 187
Active Lane Keeping Assist ............191
Active Parking Assist .....................175
AIRMATIC ...................................... 168
AMG adaptive sport suspension
system ........................................... 170
ATTENTION ASSIST ........................180
Blind Spot Assist ............................ 184
Cruise control ................................ 155
Display message ............................ 229
DISTRONIC PLUS ........................... 157
HOLD function ............................... 166
Lane Keeping Assist ......................186
Lane Tracking package ..................184
Night View Assist Plus ...................181
PARKTRONIC ................................. 171
RACE START (AMG vehicles) ..........167
Rear view camera .......................... 178
Driving tips
Automatic transmission .................142
Brakes ........................................... 152
DISTRONIC PLUS ........................... 164
Downhill gradient ........................... 152
Driving abroad ............................... 106
Driving in winter ............................. 154
Icy road surfaces ........................... 154
Limited braking efficiency on
salted roads ................................... 153
Snow chains .................................. 317
Symmetrical low beam ..................106
Wet road surface ........................... 153
DVD audio (on-board computer) ...... 2038Index

Useful information
i This Operator's Manual describes all
models and all standard and optional
equipment of your vehicle available at the
time of publication of the Operator's
Manual. Country-specific differences are
possible. Please note that your vehicle may
not be equipped with all features
described. This also applies to safety-
related systems and functions.
i Please read the information on qualified
specialist workshops ( Y page 22).
Driving
Important safety notes
GWARNING
Make sure absolutely no objects are
obstructing the pedals' range of movement.
Keep the driver's footwell clear of all
obstacles. If there are any floormats or
carpets in the footwell, make sure the pedals
still have sufficient clearance.
During sudden driving or braking maneuvers
the objects could get caught between the
pedals. You could then no longer brake or
accelerate. This could lead to accidents and
injury.
GWARNING
On slippery road surfaces, never downshift in
order to obtain braking action. This could
result in drive wheel slip and reduced vehicle
control. Your vehicle's ABS will not prevent
this type of loss of control.
GWARNING
It is dangerous to shift the automatic
transmission out of parking position P or
neutral position N if the engine speed is
higher than idle speed. If your foot is not firmly
on the brake pedal, the vehicle could
accelerate quickly forward or in reverse. You
could lose control of the vehicle and hit
someone or something. Only shift into gear
when the engine is idling normally and when
your right foot is firmly on the brake pedal.
! Warm up the engine quickly. Do not use
the engine's full performance until it has
reached operating temperature.
Only shift the automatic transmission to
the desired drive position when the vehicle
is stationary.
Where possible, avoid spinning the drive
wheels when pulling away on slippery
roads. You could otherwise damage the
drive train.
! AMG vehicles: at low engine oil
temperatures (below 68 ‡ (+20 †), the
maximum engine speed is restricted in
order to protect the engine. To protect the
engine and maintain smooth engine
operation, avoid driving at full throttle when
the engine is cold.
SmartKey positions
SmartKey
gTo remove the SmartKey(shift the transmission to position P)1Power supply for some consumers, such
as the windshield wipers2Ignition (power supply for all consumers)
and drive position3To start the engine
If the SmartKey is in position 0 in the ignition
lock for an extended period of time, it can no
132DrivingDriving and parking

XPosition 2 (ignition): press Start/Stop
button : twice.
i
If you press Start/Stop button : once
when in this position and the driver's door
is open, the power supply is deactivated
again.
As soon as the ignition is switched on, all the
indicator lamps in the instrument cluster light
up. If an indicator lamp does not go out after
the engine is started or if it lights up while the
vehicle is in motion, see ( Y page 243).
Starting the engine
Important safety notes
GWARNING
Inhalation of exhaust gas is hazardous to your
health. All exhaust gas contains carbon
monoxide (CO), and inhaling it can cause
unconsciousness and possible death.
Do not run the engine in confined areas (such
as a garage) which are not properly ventilated.
If you think that exhaust gas fumes are
entering the vehicle while driving, have the
cause determined and corrected
immediately. If you must drive under these
conditions, drive only with at least one
window fully open at all times.
! Do not depress the accelerator pedal
when starting the engine.
i The catalytic converter is preheated for
up to 30 seconds after a cold start. During
this time, the engine sound may be
different.
i The catalytic converter is preheated for
up to 30 seconds after a cold start. During
this time, the engine sound may be
different.
Automatic transmissionXShift the transmission to position P.
The transmission position display in the
multifunction display shows P.
i
You can also start the engine when the
transmission is in position N.
Starting procedure with the SmartKey
i To start the engine using the SmartKey
instead of KEYLESS-GO, pull the Start/
Stop button out of the ignition lock.
XTurn the SmartKey to position 3 in the
ignition lock (Y page 132) and release it as
soon as the engine is running.
Using KEYLESS-GO to start the engine
GWARNING
As long as the SmartKey is in your vehicle, the
vehicle can be started. Therefore, never leave
children unattended in the vehicle, as they
could otherwise accidentally start the engine.
When leaving the vehicle, always take the
SmartKey with you and lock the vehicle. Do
not leave children unattended in the vehicle,
or with access to an unlocked vehicle. A
child's unsupervised access to a vehicle could
result in an accident and/or serious personal
injury.
i The Start/Stop button can be used to
start the vehicle manually without inserting
the SmartKey into the ignition lock. The
Start/Stop button must be inserted into
the ignition lock and the SmartKey must be
in the vehicle. This mode for starting the
engine operates independently of the ECO
start/stop automatic engine start function.
XDepress the brake pedal and keep it
depressed.XPress the Start/Stop button ( Y page 133)
once.
The engine starts.134DrivingDriving and parking

Rthe system detects moisture on the
windshield when the air-conditioning
system is switched on.
R the temperature in the vehicle interior
deviates from the set range.
R the charge level of the battery is too low.
Deactivating/activating the ECO start/
stop function
Example: ECO button
Deactivating
XPress button :.
or
XSwitch to drive program S, S+ or
M (Y page 143).
Indicator lamp ; on button :, the ECO
symbol and the Stop/Start active or
Stop/Start inactive message go out in
the multifunction display.
Activating
XPress button :.
or
XSwitch to drive program C(Y page 143).
Indicator lamp ; lights up. If all conditions
for automatic engine switch-off
( Y page 136) are fulfilled, the ECO symbol
is shown in green in the multifunction
display. In addition, the Stop/Start
active message appears in the
multifunction display. If not all conditions
have been fulfilled for automatic engine
switch-off ( Y page 136), the Stop/Start
inactive message is shown in themultifunction display and the ECO symbol
is shown in yellow.
i If you press button : while drive program
S , S+ or M is active, the automatic
transmission shifts to drive program C.
i If indicator lamp ; is off, the ECO start/
stop function has been deactivated
manually or as the result of a malfunction.
The engine will then not be switched off
automatically when the vehicle stops.
i Every time you start the engine, the ECO
start/stop function is switched on and the
automatic transmission shifts to automatic
drive program C.
Driving137Driving and parkingZ

Program selector button
General information
The program selector button allows you to
choose between different driving
characteristics.
Program selector button on all models except AMG
vehicles
E EconomyComfortable, economical
drivingS SportSporty driving style
i
For further information on the automatic
drive program, see ( Y page 144).
XPress program selector button :
repeatedly until the letter for the desired
gearshift program appears in the
multifunction display.
i The automatic transmission shifts to
automatic drive program E each time the
engine is started.
AMG vehicles
Drive program selector with manual drive program
C Controlled
EfficiencyComfortable, economical
drivingS SportSporty driving styleS+ SportPlusExtremely sporty driving
styleM ManualManual gearshiftingRS RACE
STARTOptimal vehicle
acceleration from a
standstill
i For further information on the automatic
drive program, see ( Y page 144).
Only change from automatic drive program C,
S or S+ to manual drive program M when the
vehicle is stationary.
XTurn drive program selector : until the
desired drive program appears in the
multifunction display in the speedometer.
The drive program indicator on drive
program selector : lights up in red.
i
The automatic transmission shifts to
automatic drive program C each time the
engine is started.
i RS cannot be selected during normal
driving. For further information on RACE
START, see ( Y page 167).
Automatic transmission143Driving and parkingZ

Restricting the shift rangeXPull the left-hand steering wheel paddle
shifter.
The automatic transmission shifts down
one gear and restricts the shift range to the
relevant gear.
i If the engine exceeds the maximum
engine speed when shifting down, the
automatic transmission protects against
engine damage by not shifting down.
i If the maximum engine speed for the shift
range is reached and you continue to
accelerate, the automatic transmission
shifts up in order to prevent the engine
from overrevving, even if the shift range is
restricted.
Derestricting the shift range
XPull the right-hand steering wheel paddle
shifter.
The shift range is derestricted.
Clearing the shift range restriction
XPull and hold the right-hand steering wheel
paddle shifter until D is shown again in the
multifunction display.
The automatic transmission shifts from the
current shift range directly to D.
Selecting the ideal shift range
XPull the left-hand steering wheel paddle
shifter and hold it in position.
The automatic transmission shifts to the
gear which allows optimum acceleration
and deceleration. To do this, the automatic
transmission shifts down one or more
gears.Manual drive program
Switching on the manual drive program
The manual drive program is only available for
AMG vehicles.
Manual drive program M is different from
drive programs S and S+ with regard to
spontaneity, responsiveness and
smoothness of gear changes.
Manual drive program M can be selected
using the drive program selector. In manual
drive program M, you can change gear
yourself using the steering wheel paddle
shifters if the transmission is in position D.
The gear currently selected and engaged is
shown in the multifunction display.
XTurn the drive program selector
( Y page 143) until M appears in the
multifunction display.
The indicator M on the drive program
selector lights up in red.
Upshifting
! In manual drive program M, the automatic
transmission does not shift up
automatically even when the engine
limiting speed for the current gear is
reached. When the engine limiting speed is
reached, the fuel supply is cut to prevent
the engine from overrevving. Always make
sure that the engine speed does not reach
the red area of the tachometer. There is
otherwise a risk of engine damage.
XPull the right-hand steering wheel paddle
shifter ( Y page 144).
The automatic transmission shifts up to the
next gear.
Before the engine speed reaches the red area,
an upshift indicator appears in the
multifunction display.
Automatic transmission145Driving and parkingZ

:Gear indicator;Upshift indicator
Downshifting
XPull the left-hand steering wheel paddle
shifter ( Y page 144).
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 paddle shifter until the
transmission selects the optimum gear for
the current speed.
Kickdown
i Kickdown is not possible in manual drive
program M.
Switching off the manual drive program
XTurn the drive program selector
( Y page 143) until C, S or S+ appears in the
multifunction display.146Automatic transmissionDriving and parking

Problems with fuel and the fuel tankProblemPossible causes/consequences and M SolutionsFuel is leaking from the
vehicle.GRisk of explosion or fire
The fuel line or the fuel tank is defective.
XTurn the SmartKey to position 0(Y page 132) in the ignition lock
immediately and remove it.XDo not restart the engine under any circumstances.XConsult a qualified specialist workshop.The fuel filler flap
cannot be opened.The fuel filler flap is not unlocked.
or
The SmartKey battery is discharged.XUnlock the vehicle using the mechanical key ( Y page 75).XOpen the trunk lid.XManually unlock the fuel filler flap using the emergency release
( Y page 149).The fuel filler flap is unlocked, but the opening mechanism is
jammed.XConsult a qualified specialist workshop.Parking
Important safety notes
GWARNING
Do not park this vehicle in areas where
combustible materials can come into contact
with the hot exhaust system. Do not park the
vehicle on dry grassland or harvested grain
fields. Combustible materials, such as grass,
hay or leaves could be ignited by the hot
exhaust system and cause a vehicle fire.
Unintended vehicle movement can cause
serious personal injury or damage to the
vehicle or the vehicle drivetrain. To reduce
such risks, always do the following before
turning off the engine and leaving the vehicle:
R keep your right foot on the brake pedal.
R engage the parking brake.
R shift the automatic transmission to park
position P.
R
slowly release the brake pedal.
R when parked on an incline, always turn the
front wheels towards the road curb.
R turn the SmartKey in the ignition lock to
position 0 and remove the SmartKey from
the ignition lock, or press the KEYLESS-GO
Start/Stop button.
R take the SmartKey with you and lock the
vehicle when leaving.
Switching off the engine
Important safety notes
GWARNING
Do not turn off the engine before the vehicle
has come to a complete stop. With the engine
not running, there is no power assistance for
the brake and steering systems. In this case,
it is important to keep in mind that a
150ParkingDriving and parking

Rthe 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.
Activating RACE STARTXDepress the brake pedal with your left foot,
and keep it depressed.XTurn the drive program selector clockwise
( Y page 143) until the RS lamp lights up.
The multifunction display shows the RACE
START Confirm: Paddle UP Cancel:
Paddle DOWN message.
i
If the conditions for activation are no
longer fulfilled, RACE START is canceled.
The multifunction display shows the RACE
START canceled message.
XTo cancel: pull the left steering wheel shift
paddle ( Y page 144).
or
XTo confirm: pull the right steering wheel
shift paddle ( Y page 144).
The multifunction display shows the RACE
START available Depress
accelerator message.
i
If you do not depress the accelerator
pedal fully within two seconds, RACE
START is canceled. The multifunction
display shows the RACE START not
possible See Operator's Manual
message.
XDepress the accelerator pedal fully.
The engine speed increases to
approximately 4000 rpm.
The multifunction display shows the RACE
START Release brake to start
message.
i If you do not release the brake pedal
within seven seconds, RACE START is
canceled. The multifunction display shows
the RACE START canceled message.XTake your foot off the brake, but keep the
accelerator pedal depressed.
The vehicle pulls away at maximum
acceleration.
The multifunction display shows the RACE
START active message.
RACE START is deactivated when a speed of
approximately 30 mph (Canada: 50 km/h) is
reached. Drive program S+ is activated.
SPORT handling mode remains activated.
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
multifunction display shows the RACE START
not possible See Operator's Manual
message.
i If RACE START is used repeatedly within
a short period of time, it is only available
again after the vehicle has been driven a
certain distance.
AIRMATIC
Vehicle level
Important safety notes
Your vehicle regulates its height
automatically. All-round self-leveling ensures
the best possible suspension and constant
ground clearance, even with a laden vehicle.
When you drive fast, the vehicle is lowered
automatically to improve driving safety and to
reduce fuel consumption.
The following vehicle levels are possible:
R normal
R raised: the vehicle is raised by about 0.80 in
(20 mm) when compared with the normal
level
R lowered: the vehicle is lowered by about
0.40 in (10 mm) when compared with the
normal level
168Driving systemsDriving and parking