warning MERCEDES-BENZ E-CLASS CABRIOLET 2011 Owners Manual

Make sure that the following values are not
exceeded:
R the permissible trailer drawbar 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
You will find the applicable permissible val-
ues, which must not be exceeded, in the vehi-
cle documents.
You will find the values approved by the man-
ufacturer on the vehicle identification plates
and those for the towing vehicle in the "Tech-
nical data" section. G
WARNING
If the Check trailer hitch locking mechanism message appears in the multi-
function display while the vehicle is in motion,
pull over immediately and check whether the
ball coupling is correctly engaged. G
WARNING
Always observe the maximum speed permit-
ted in Germany for vehicle/trailer combina-
tions, even in countries where higher speeds
are permitted. This lowers the risk of an acci-
dent. 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. G
WARNING
On no account should you attempt to draw the
vehicle/trailer combination out by increasing
speed. General information i
When towing atrailer, set the tyre pres-
sure on the rear axle of the towing vehicle
for am aximum load; see the tyre pressure
table in the fuel filler flap (Y page 321).
You will find installation dimensions and loads
in the "Technical data" section
(Y page 343).
The maximum permissible trailer drawbar
noseweight on the ball coupling is 75 kg.
However, the actual noseweight must not
exceed the value given on the trailer tow hitch
and trailer identification plates. The lowest
weight applies.
! Use anoseweight as close as possible to
the maximum permissible noseweight. Do
not use anoseweight of less than 50 kg,
otherwise the trailer may come loose.
Bear in mind that the payload and the rear
axle load are reduced by the actual nose-
weight.
Please note that when towing atrailer, PARK-
TRONIC (Y page 185) and parking guidance
(Y page 189) are only available with limita-
tions, or not at all.
i The height of the ball coupling changes
with the load of the vehicle. If necessary,
use atrailer with aheight-adjustable draw-
bar.
Driving tips i
Observe the notes on ESP ®
trailer stabi-
lisation (Y page 65).
In Germany, the maximum permissible speed
for vehicle/trailer combinations depends on
the type of trailer, and is either 80 km/h or
100 km/h. In some countries, higher maxi-
mum speeds are permissible for vehicle/
trailer combinations. Before beginning the
journey, check the trailer's documents to see
what the maximum permitted speed is.
For certain Mercedes-Ben zvehicles, the max-
imum permissible rear axle load is increased
when towing atrailer. Refer to the "Technical Trailer towing
205Driving and parking Z

data" section to find out whether this applies
to your vehicle. If you utilise any of the added
maximum rear axle load when towin gatrailer,
the vehicle/trailer combination may not
exceed amaximum speed of 100 km/ hfor
reasons concerning the operatin gpermit.
This also applies in countries in which the
permissible maximum speed for vehicle/
trailer combinations is above 100 km/h.
When towin gatrailer, your vehicle's handling
characteristic swill be differen tincomparison
to when driving without atrailer.
The vehicle/trailer combination:
R is heavier
R is restricted in its acceleration and gradi-
ent-climbing capability
R has an increased braking distance
R is affected more by strongc rosswinds
R demands more sensitive steering
R consumes more fuel
On long and steep downhill gradients, you
must shift to alower gear in good time, or on
vehicles with automatic transmission, select
the shift range 1,2or 3.
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 maintain
the speed. This relieves the load on the brake
system and prevent sthe brakes from over-
heating and wearing too quickly. If you need
additional braking, depress the brake pedal
repeatedly rather than continuously.
Driving tips R
Maintain agreater distance from the vehi-
cle in front than when driving without a
trailer.
R Avoid braking abruptly. If possible, brake
gently at first to allow the trailer to run on.
Then, increase the braking force rapidly.
R The values given for gradient-climbing
capabilities from astandstill refer to sea level. When driving in mountainous areas,
notet hat the power output of the engine,
and consequently the vehicle's gradient-
climbing capability, decrease with increas-
ing altitude.
If the trailer swings from side to side:
X Do not accelerate.
X Do not counter-steer.
X Brake if necessary. Folding out the ball coupling
Before you can tow atrailer with your vehicle,
you must fold out the ball coupling.
The release wheel is located behind the left-
hand side trim panel in the boot. G
WARNING
Make sure that the ball coupling is engaged,
either in its folded-out or folded-in position,
and that the indicator lamp is off.
Do not turn the release wheel when atrailer
is coupled up. Otherwise, the trailer might
detach. X
To open the cover: turn handle:anti-
clockwise and fold down cover ;.206
Trailer towingDriving and parking

X
Pull out release wheel ;.
X Turn release wheel ;anti-clockwise until
the ball coupling releases and folds out
from under the rear bumper. Indicator
lamp :flashes. X
Pull the ball coupling in the direction of the
arrow until it engages in avertical position.
Indicator lamp :goes out. The power
socket folds down automatically.
The multifunction display shows the
Trailer hitch Check lock mech. mes-
sage until the ball coupling is engaged.
X Remove the protective cap from the ball
coupling and store it in asafe place.
X Make sure that the ball of the ball coupling
is clean and that, depending on the trailer
specification, it is greased or dry (without
grease) when used. Coupling up
atrailer G
WARNING
Do not disconnect atrailer with an engaged
overrun brake. Otherwise, your hand could
become trapped between the bumper and
trailer drawbar.
X Make sure that the transmission is in posi-
tion P.
X Apply the parking brake.
X Position the trailer level behind the vehicle.
X Couple up the trailer.
X Establish the electrical connection
between the vehicle and the trailer.
X Check that the trailer lighting system is
working. Decoupling
atrailer G
WARNING
As soon as yo uraise the trailer drawbar ,the
unladen vehicl erises slightly. Th evehicl ethen
lowers to driving level.
Make sure tha tnobody is in the vicinit yofthe
wheel arch or the underbody. You could oth-
erwise trap yourself or others. G
WARNING
The vehicle is lowered as soon as you discon-
nect the trailer cable. Make sure that nobody
is in the vicinit yofthe wheel arch or the
underbody. You could otherwise trap yourself
or others.
As soon as you decouple the trailer, the unla-
den vehicle rises slightly. Make sure that you
or others are not injured in the process.
! Do not disconnect atrailer with an
engaged overrun brake. Otherwise, your
vehicle could be damaged by the rebound-
ing of the overrun brake.
X Make sure that the transmission is in posi-
tion P.
X Apply the parking brake. Trailer towing
207Driving and parking Z

X
Secure the traile ragainst rolling away.
X Remove the trailer cable and decouple the
trailer. Folding in the ball coupling
i Fold the ball coupling back in if you are
not using the trailer tow hitch. G
WARNING
Make sure that no persons or animals are in
the pivoting range of the ball coupling. Other-
wise, they could be injured.
X Place the protective cap on the ball cou-
pling.
The release wheel is located behind the left-
hand side trim panel in the boot. X
To open the cover: turn handle:anti-
clockwise and fold down cover ;. X
Pull out release wheel ;.
X Turn release wheel ;anti-clockwise.
The ball coupling unlocks and lowers. Indi-
cator lamp :flashes. X
Press the ball coupling in the direction of
the arrow until it engages behind the
bumper.
Indicator lamp :goes out and the mes-
sage in the multifunction display disap-
pears. Trailer power supply
When it leaves the factory, your vehicle's
trailer socket is equipped with apermanent
power supply and apower supply that is
switched on via the ignition lock.
The permanent power supply is supplied via
trailer socket pin 9.
The power supply that is switched on via the
ignition lock is supplied via trailer socket pin
10.
! You can connect consumers with apower
rating of up to 240 Wtothe permanent
power supply and up to 180 Wtothe power
supply that is switched on via the ignition
lock.
You must not charge atrailer battery using
the power supply.
The trailer's permanent power supply is
switched off in the event of low vehicle supply
voltage and after six hours at the latest. 208
Trailer towingDriving and parking

Useful information
............................212
Importan tsafet ynotes .................... 212
Displays and operation ....................212
Menus and submenus ......................216
Display messages ............................. 232
Warning and indicator lamp sinthe
instrument cluster ............................255 211On-boar
dcomputer and displays

Useful information
i This Owner's Manual describes all models
and all standard and optional equipment
available to your vehicle at the time of pub-
lication of the Owner's Manual. Country-
specific deviation sare possible. Please
not ethat your vehicle may not be equipped
with all feature sdescribed. This also
applies to safety-relevan tsystems and
functions.
i Pleas ereadt he information on qualified
specialist workshop s(Ypage 22). Important safet
ynotes
You will fin danillustration of th einstrument
cluster in th e"At ag lance "section
(Y page 28). G
WARNING
Only use th eon-bo ardc om puter when road
and traffic condition spermit .You would oth-
erwise be distracted and unable to concen-
trate properly on driving, and could cause an
accident. G
WARNING
If the instrument cluster or multifunction dis-
play fails, no messages can be displayed.
This means that you will not see information
about the driving situation, such as the speed,
outside temperature, warning/indicator
lamps, display messages or system failures.
Handling characteristics may be affected.
Adapt your driving style and speed accord-
ingly.
Immediately consult aqualified specialist
workshop which has the necessary specialist
knowledge and tools to carry out the work
required. Mercedes-Benz recommends that
you use aMercedes-Benz Service Centre for
this purpose. In particular, work relevant to
safety or on safety-related systems must be
carried out at aqualified specialist workshop. G
WARNING
The on-board computer only records and dis-
plays malfunctions and warnings from certain
systems. For this reason, you should always
make sure that your vehicle is safe to use. You
could otherwise cause an accident by driving
an unsafe vehicle. G
WARNING
The operating safety of your vehicle could be
jeopardised if maintenance work is carried
out incorrectly. As aresult, you could lose
control of the vehicle and cause an accident.
In addition, the safety systems may no longer
be able to protec tyou or others as they are
designed to do.
Always have maintenance work carried out at
aq ualified specialist workshop. The qualified
specialist workshop must have the necessary
specialist knowledge and tools to carry out
the work required. Mercedes-Benz recom-
mends that you use aMercedes-Benz Service
Centre for this purpose. In particular, work
relevant to safety or on safety-related sys-
tems must be carried out at aqualified spe-
cialist workshop. Displays and operation
Coolant temperature gauge
The coolant temperature gauge is in the
instrument cluster on the right-hand side.
Under normal operating conditions and with
the specified coolant level, the coolant tem-
perature may rise to 120 †.
At high outside temperatures and when driv-
ing uphill, the coolant temperature may rise
to the end of the scale. Rev counter
The red band in the rev counter indicates the
engine's overrevving range. 212
Displays and operationOn-board computer and displays

!
Do not drive in the overrevving range.
Doing so will damage the engine.
The fuel supplyisi nterrupted to protect the
engine when the red band is reached. Outside temperatured
isplay
The outside temperature displayisint he mul-
tifunction display( Ypage 214). G
WARNING
At temperatures just above freezing point, the
street may be icy, especiallyinw ooded areas
or on bridges. If you do not adapty our driving
style to the conditions, the vehicle could skid.
For this reason, adapt your driving style and
speed to the weather conditions.
Changes in the outside temperature are dis-
playeda fterashort delay. Speedometer with segments
The segment sinthe speedometer indicate
which speed range is available.
Cruise control (Y page 169) activated:
The segment slight up from the stored speed
to the maximum speed.
Variable SPEEDTRONIC (Y page 180) activa-
ted:
The segment slight up from the start of the
scale to the selected limit speed.
DISTRONIC PLUS (Y page 171) activated:
One or two segment sinthe set speed range
light up.
DISTRONIC PLUS detect savehicle in front:
The segment sbetween the speed of the vehi-
cle in front and the stored speed light up. Operating the on-board computer
Overview The on-board computer is activated as soon
as you turn the key to position
1in the ignition
lock.
You can control the multifunction display and
the settings in the on-board computer using
the button sonthe multifunction steering
wheel. :
Multifunction display
; Switches on LINGUATRONIC; see the sep-
arate operating instructions
= Right control panel
? Left control panel
A Back button Displays and operation
213On-board computer and displays Z

Menus and submenus
Menu overview
The number of menus show ndepends on the optional equipment in the vehicle. Function
:
Trip menu (Y
page 217) ;
Navi menu (navigation instructions) (Y
page 218)=
Audio menu (Y
page 219) ?
Tel menu (telephone) (Y
page 221)A
Assist. menu (assistance) (Y
page 222)B
Service menu (Y
page 224)
R calls up display messages ( Ypage 232)
R tyre pressure loss warning (Y page 322)
R ASSYST PLUS servic einterval display (Y page 284) C
Settings menu (Y
page 224) The
Audio ,
Navi and
Tel menus differ slightly in vehicles with an audio system and vehicles
with COMAND APS.T he examples given in this Owner's Manual apply to vehicles equipped
with COMAND APS. 216
Menus and submenusOn-board computer and displays

Telephon
emenu
Introduction Functions and displays ar
edependen tonthe
optional equipment installed in your vehicle.
You can place your mobile phone in the
mobile phone bracket (Y page 273), or set
up aB luetooth ®
connection to the audios ys-
tem or COMAND APS (see the separate oper-
ating instructions).
i You can obtain further information about
suitable mobile phones and connecting
mobile phones via Bluetooth ®
:
R in any Mercedes Benz Service Centre
R on the Internet at http://
www.mercedes-benz.com/connect G
WARNING
Observe the legal requirements of the country
in which you are currently driving regarding
the use of mobile phones in the vehicle.
If it is permitted to use mobile phones while
the vehicle is in motion, you should only use
them when the road and traffic conditions
allow.O therwise, yo umaybe distracted from
the traffi cconditions ,cause an accident and
injure yourself and others.
X Switch on the mobil ephone and audi osys-
tem or COMAND APS (see the separate
operating instructions).
X Press the =or; button on the steer-
ing whee ltoselect theTel menu.
Yo uw ills ee one of the following displa ymes-
sage sint he multifunctio ndisplay:
R Please enter PIN :t
he mobile phone has
been placed in the mobile phone bracket
and the PIN has not been entered.
X Enter the PIN using the mobile phone, LIN-
GUATRONIC, the audios ystem or
COMAND APS.
The mobile phone will search for anetwork. R
Telephone ready or the name of the net-
work provider: the mobile phone has found
an etwork and is ready to receive.
R Telephone No Service :non
etwork is
available, or the mobile phone is searching
for anetwork.
Accepting acall If someone call
syou whe nyou are in the
Tel menu,
adisplay message appears in the
multifunction display ,for example: X
Press the 6button on the steering
wheel to accept an incomin gcall.
If you are not in the Tel menu, you can still
accept acall.
Rejecting or ending acall X
Press the ~button on the steering
wheel.
If you are not in the Tel menu, you can still
reject or end acall.
Dialling anumber from the phone book If you
rmobile phone is able to receive calls,
you can search for and dial anumber from the
phone book in the audio system or COMAND
APS at any time.
X Copy the telephone book of the mobile
phone into the audio system or to COMAND
APS (see the separate operating instruc-
tions).
X Press the =or; button on the steer-
ing wheel to select the Tel menu.
X Press the 9,:ora button to call
up the phone book. Menus and submenus
221On-board computer and displays Z

X
Press =or; on the steerin gwheel
to select the Assist. menu.
X Press 9or: to select Speed Lim.
Asst. .
X Press a.
The multifunction display shows Speed
Limit Assist.
X Press :.
The curren tselection is displayed.
X To activate or deactivate: pressa.
If Speed Limit Assist is operational and the
message function is activated, the multifunc-
tion display shows the Äsymbol when the
ignition is switched on.
Showing the distance display This function is only available with DIS-
TRONIC PLUS.
X Press =or; on the steering wheel
to select the Assist. menu.
X Press the 9or: button to select
Distanc edisplay .
X Press a.
The DISTRONIC PLUS distanc edisplay
(Y page 178)a ppears in the multifunction
display.
Deactivating/activating ESP ®G
WARNING
If the ä warning lamp in the instrument
cluster flashes, proceed as follows:
R do not deactivat eESP®
under any circum-
stances.
R only depress the accelerator pedal as far as
necessary when pulling away.
R adapt your driving style to suit the prevail-
ing road and weather conditions.
Otherwise, the vehicle could skid.
ESP ®
cannot reduce the risk of an acciden tif
you drive to ofast. ESP ®
canno toverride the
laws of physics. Fo
rfurther information about ESP ®
,s ee
(Y page 64).
X Start th eengine.
X Press =or; on thesteerin gwheel
to select the Assist. menu.
X Press the 9or: buttontos elect
ESP .
X Press the abutton.
X To deactivate: pressaagain.
The å warning lamp in the instrument
cluster comes on. G
WARNING
If the å warning lamp in the instrument
cluster lights up when the engine is running,
ESP ®
is deactivated or is unavailabl edue to a
malfunction. The risk that your vehicle may
start to skid then increases in certain situa-
tions.
Always adapt your driving style to the prevail-
ing road and weather conditions.
X To activate: pressaagain.
The å warning lamp in the instrument
cluster goes out.
Activating/deactivating the PRE-SAFE ®
Brake PRE-SAFE
®
Brake is only available in vehicles
with DISTRONIC PLUS.
X Press =or; on the steerin gwheel
to select the Assist. menu.
X Press 9or: to select PreSafe Brake .
X Press the abutton.
The current selection is displayed.
X To activate/deactivate: pressa
again.
When PRE-SAFE ®
Brake (Y page 66) is acti-
vated, the multifunction display shows the
Ä symbol as long as the HOLD function is
not activated (Y page 184). Menus and submenus
223On-board computer and displays Z