MERCEDES-BENZ E-Class CABRIOLET 2013 C207 Owner's Manual

just enough to restore the preset speed or the
preset distance to the vehicle in front.
G
WARNING
If you do not receive visual or acoustic
warning signals during a critical traffic
situation, DISTRONIC PLUS has either not
recognized the collision risk, has been
deactivated or is malfunctioning.
Remember,
whether or not DISTRONIC PLUS
is operating, it is ultimately always the drivers
responsibility to apply the brakes in order to
control the vehicle and avoid a collision.
General notes DISTRONIC PLUS regulates the speed and
automatically helps you maintain the
distance to the vehicle detected in front.
DISTRONIC PLUS brakes automatically so
that the set speed is not exceeded.
On long and steep downhill gradients,
especially if the vehicle is laden, you must
select shift range 1, 2 or 3 in good time. By
doing so, you will make use of the braking
effect of the engine, which relieves the load
on

the brake system and prevents the brakes
from overheating and wearing too quickly.
If DISTRONIC PLUS detects a slower-moving
vehicle in front, your vehicle is braked in order
to maintain the preset distance to the vehicle
in front.
If you want DISTRONIC PLUS to assist you,
the radar sensor system must be activated
(Y page 226) and operational.
If there is no vehicle in front, DISTRONIC
PLUS operates in the same way as cruise
control in the speed range between 20 mph
(Canada: 30 km/h) and120 mph (Canada:
200 km/h). If a vehicle is driving in front of
you, it operates in the speed range between
0 mph (0 km/h) and 120 mph (Canada:
200 km/h).
Do not use DISTRONIC PLUS while driving on
roads with steep gradients. As DISTRONIC PLUS transmits radar waves,
it can resemble the radar detectors of the
responsible authorities. You can refer to the
relevant chapter in the Operator's Manual if
questions are asked about this.
i
USA only:
This

device has been approved by the FCC
as a “Vehicular Radar System”. The radar
sensor is intended for use in an automotive
radar system only. Removal, tampering, or
altering of the device will void any
warranties, and is not permitted by the
FCC. Do not tamper with, alter, or use in
any non-approved way.
Any unauthorized modification to this
device could void the user’s authority to
operate the equipment.
i Canada only: This device complies with
RSS-210 of Industry Canada. Operation is
subject to the following two conditions:
1. This device may not cause interference,
and
2. this device must accept any interference
received, including interference that may
cause undesired operation of the device.
Removal, tampering, or altering of the
device will void any warranties and is not
permitted. Do not tamper with, alter, or use
the device in any non-approved way.
Any unauthorized modification to this
device could void the user's authority to
operate the equipment. Driving systems
179
Driving and parking Z

Cruise control lever
:
To store the current speed or a higher
speed
; To store the current speed or a lower
speed
= To deactivate DISTRONIC PLUS
? To store the current speed or calling up
the last stored speed
A To set the specified minimum distance
Activating DISTRONIC PLUS Important safety notes
G
WARNING
The vehicle can be braked when DISTRONIC
PLUS is activated. For this reason, deactivate
DISTRONIC PLUS if the vehicle is to be set in
motion by other means (e.g. in a car wash or
by towing).
Activation conditions
In order to activate DISTRONIC PLUS, the
following conditions must be fulfilled:
R the engine must be started. It may take up
to two minutes after pulling away before
DISTRONIC PLUS is operational.
R the parking brake must be released.
R ESP ®
must be active, but not intervening.
R the transmission must be in position D.
R the hood must be closed.
R the driver's door must be closed when you
shift from P to D or your seat belt must be
fastened. R
the front-passenger door must be closed.
R the vehicle must not skid.
Activating while driving X
Briefly pull the cruise control lever towards
you ; or press it up : or down =.
DISTRONIC PLUS is selected.
X Press the cruise control lever repeatedly
up : or down = until the desired speed
is set.
X Remove your foot from the accelerator
pedal.
Your

vehicle adapts its speed to that of the
vehicle in front, but only up to the desired
stored speed.
When driving at speeds below 20 mph
(30 km/h),
you can only activate DISTRONIC
if the vehicle in front has been detected and
is shown in the multifunction display. If the
vehicle in front is no longer detected and
displayed, DISTRONIC PLUS switches off and
a tone sounds.
i If you do not fully release the accelerator
pedal, the DISTRONIC PLUS Override
message appears in the multifunction
display. The set distance to a slower-
moving vehicle in front will then not be
maintained. You will be driving at the speed
you determine by the position of the
accelerator pedal. 180
Driving systems
Driving and parking

Activating when driving towards a
stationary vehicle
X
Briefly pull the cruise control lever towards
you ; or press it up : or down =.
DISTRONIC PLUS is selected.
X Press the cruise control lever repeatedly
up : or down = until the desired speed
is set.
If the vehicle in front of you is stationary, you
can only activate DISTRONIC PLUS once your
vehicle is stationary as well.
i DISTRONIC PLUS can only be activated at
under 20 mph (30km/h) if a vehicle in front
has been detected. Therefore, the
DISTRONIC PLUS distance display in the
instrument cluster should be activated
(Y page 221).
i You can use the cruise control lever to set
the stored speed and the control on the
cruise control lever to set the specified
minimum distance (Y page 184).
Pulling away and driving G
WARNING
When you step on the brake pedal, you switch
off the DISTRONIC PLUS except when the
vehicle

is at a standstill. The DISTRONIC PLUS
will no longer brake your vehicle. You are
always responsible for maintaining a distance
from other vehicles, observing road speeds
and braking well in advance.
X If the vehicle in front pulls away:
remove
your foot from the brake pedal.
X Briefly pull the cruise control lever towards
you ;, or press it up : or down =.
or
X Accelerate briefly.
Your vehicle pulls away and adapts its
speed to that of the vehicle in front.
If there is no vehicle in front, DISTRONIC
PLUS operates in the same way as cruise
control. If DISTRONIC PLUS detects that the vehicle
in front has slowed down, it brakes your
vehicle. In this way, the distance you have
selected is maintained.
If DISTRONIC PLUS detects that the vehicle
in front is driving faster, it accelerates your
vehicle, but only up to the speed you have
stored.
Changing lanes
G
WARNING
DISTRONIC PLUS and Active Blind Spot Assist
are only aids designed to assist driving.
They do not relieve you of the responsibility
of paying attention. The driver remains fully
responsible for the vehicle's distance from
other vehicles, the vehicle's speed and for
braking

in good time. Always pay attention to
traffic conditions and your surroundings.
Otherwise, you may fail to recognize dangers
in time, cause an accident and injure yourself
and others.
If you change to the passing lane, DISTRONIC
PLUS supports you when:
R you are driving faster than 40 mph
(60 km/h).
R DISTRONIC PLUS is maintaining the
distance to a vehicle in front.
R you switch on the appropriate turn signal.
R DISTRONIC PLUS does not detect a danger
of collision.
If these conditions are fulfilled, your vehicle
is accelerated. Acceleration will be
interrupted if changing lanes takes too long
or if the distance between your vehicle and
the vehicle in front becomes too small.
i When changing lanes, DISTRONIC PLUS
monitors the left lane on left-hand drive
vehicles and the right lane on right-hand
drive vehicles. Driving systems
181
Driving and parking Z

Vehicles with COMAND/Audio 50
Example: traffic circle
i
The following function is not operational
in all countries.
DISTRONIC
PLUS uses additional information
from your navigation system so that it can
react appropriately to certain traffic
situations. This is the case if, while following
a vehicle, DISTRONIC PLUS is active and you:
R approach or drive through a traffic circle
R approach a T-intersection
R turn off at a freeway exit
Even if the vehicle in front leaves the
detection range, DISTRONIC PLUS
temporarily maintains the current driving
speed and does not accelerate. This is based
on the current map data in the navigation
system.
The current speed is maintained:
R approximately 10 seconds before the
traffic circle/T-intersection and
approximately 1.5 seconds when driving on
a traffic circle
R approximately 12 seconds before reaching
a freeway exit and approximately
4 seconds after the freeway exit
Afterwards, the vehicle accelerates back to
the set speed you specified.
Vehicles with COMAND
i The following function is not operational
in all countries. DISTRONIC PLUS uses additional information
from your navigation system so that it can
react appropriately to certain traffic
situations. This is the case if, while following
a

vehicle, DISTRONIC PLUS is active and you:
R approach or drive through a traffic circle
R approach a T-intersection
R turn off at a freeway exit
Even if the vehicle in front leaves the
detection range, DISTRONIC PLUS
temporarily maintains the current driving
speed and does not accelerate. This is based
on the current map data in the navigation
system. Example: traffic circle
The current speed is maintained:
R
approximately ten seconds before the
traffic circle/T-intersection and for
approximately

1.5 seconds when driving on
the traffic circle
R approximately twelve seconds before
reaching a freeway exit and approximately
four seconds after the freeway exit
Afterwards, the vehicle accelerates back to
the set speed you specified.
Stopping G
WARNING
Never get out of the vehicle when DISTRONIC
PLUS is activated.
DISTRONIC PLUS must also never be
operated, activated or deactivated by a
passenger or from outside the vehicle. 182
Driving systems
Driving and parking

DISTRONIC PLUS does not replace the
parking brake and must not be used for
parking.
The DISTRONIC PLUS braking effect is
canceled and the vehicle can start moving if:
R
DISTRONIC PLUS is deactivated using the
cruise control lever.
R you accelerate.
R there is a malfunction in the system or an
interruption in the power supply, e.g.
battery failure.
R the electrical system in the engine
compartment, the battery or the fuses are
tampered with.
R the battery is disconnected.
If you wish to leave the vehicle or park it,
deactivate DISTRONIC PLUS and secure the
vehicle against rolling away.
If DISTRONIC PLUS detects that the vehicle
in
front is stopping, it brakes your vehicle until
it is stationary.
Once your vehicle is stationary, it remains
stationary and you do not need to depress the
brake.
i Depending on the specified minimum
distance, your vehicle will come to a
standstill at a sufficient distance behind the
vehicle in front. The specified minimum
distance is set using the control on the
cruise control lever.
You will see a warning message in the
multifunction display if DISTRONIC PLUS is
activated and:
R the driver's door is open and the driver's
seat belt is unfastened.
R the engine is switched off, unless it is
automatically switched off by the ECO
start/stop function.
R the hood is opened.
Shift to 'P' X
Shift the transmission to position P to
prevent the vehicle from rolling away.
DISTRONIC PLUS is deactivated. The
warning message in the multifunction
display disappears.
The horn will also sound at regular intervals if
DISTRONIC PLUS is activated and you:
R switch the engine off, open the driver's
door and remove your seat belt
R open the hood
The

sounding of the horn alerts you to the fact
that the vehicle has been parked while
DISTRONIC PLUS is still activated. The sound
becomes louder if you attempt to lock the
vehicle. The vehicle is not locked until
DISTRONIC PLUS is deactivated.
i If the engine has been switched off, it
cannot be started again until DISTRONIC
PLUS has been deactivated.
If DISTRONIC PLUS is activated and a
malfunction occurs in the system or if there
is a disruption in the power supply, the
Brake Immediately message is shown in
the multifunction display. Depress the brake
firmly immediately until the warning message
disappears from the multifunction display or
shift the transmission to position P.
DISTRONIC PLUS is then deactivated.
Setting a speed G
WARNING
Keep in mind that it may take a brief moment
until the vehicle has made the necessary
adjustments.
Increase

or decrease the set vehicle speed to
a value that the prevailing road conditions and
legal speed limits permit. Otherwise, sudden
and unexpected acceleration or deceleration
of the vehicle could cause an accident and/
or serious injury to you and others. Driving systems
183
Driving and parking Z

:
To store the current speed or a higher
speed
; To store the current speed or a lower
speed
= To deactivate DISTRONIC PLUS
? To store the current speed or calling up
the last stored speed
A To set the specified minimum distance
X Press the cruise control lever up : for a
higher
speed or down ; for a lower speed.
X To adjust the set speed in 1 mph
increments

(1 km/h increments): briefly
press the cruise control lever up : or
down ; to the point of resistance.
Every time the cruise control lever is
pressed up : or down ;, the last speed
stored is increased or reduced.
X To adjust the set speed in 5 mph
increments (10 km/h increments):
briefly press the cruise control lever
up :

or down ; to the point of resistance.
Every time the cruise control lever is
pressed up : or down ;, the last speed
stored is increased or reduced.
i DISTRONIC
PLUS is not deactivated if you
depress the accelerator pedal. If you
accelerate to overtake, DISTRONIC PLUS
adjusts the vehicle's speed to the last
speed stored after you have finished
overtaking. Storing the current speed or calling up
a stored speed G
WARNING
The set speed stored in memory should only
be set again if prevailing road conditions and
legal speed limits permit. Possible
acceleration or deceleration differences
arising from returning to the preset speed
could

cause an accident and/or serious injury
to you and others. X
Briefly pull the cruise control lever towards
you :.
X Remove your foot from the accelerator
pedal.
DISTRONIC PLUS is activated. The first
time it is activated, the current speed is
stored.

Otherwise, it sets the vehicle cruise
speed to the previously stored value.
Setting the specified minimum distance G
WARNING
It is up to the driver to exercise discretion to
select the appropriate setting given road
conditions, traffic, driver's preferred driving
style and applicable laws and driving
recommendations

for safe following distance.184
Driving systems
Driving and parking

You can set the specified minimum distance
for
DISTRONIC PLUS by varying the time span
between one and two seconds. With this
function, you can set the minimum distance
that DISTRONIC PLUS keeps to the vehicle in
front, dependent on vehicle speed. You can
see this distance in the multifunction display
(Y page 185).
X To increase: turn control ; in direction
=.
DISTRONIC

PLUS then maintains a greater
distance between your vehicle and the
vehicle in front.
X To decrease: turn control ; in
direction :.
DISTRONIC

PLUS then maintains a shorter
distance between your vehicle and the
vehicle in front.
i Make
sure that you maintain a sufficiently
safe distance from the vehicle in front.
Adjust the distance to the vehicle in front if
necessary. DISTRONIC PLUS displays in the
speedometer When DISTRONIC PLUS is activated, one or
two

segments ; in the set speed range light
up.
If DISTRONIC PLUS detects a vehicle in front,
segments ; between speed of the vehicle in
front : and stored speed = light up.
When DISTRONIC PLUS is activated, one or
two segments ; in the set speed range light
up.
If DISTRONIC PLUS detects a vehicle in front,
segments ; between speed of the vehicle in
front : and stored speed = light up.
i For design reasons, the speed displayed
in the speedometer may differ slightly from
the speed set for DISTRONIC PLUS.
DISTRONIC PLUS displays in the
multifunction display General notes
You can select the distance display in the
Assistance menu (
Y page 221)of the on-
board computer. Driving systems
185Driving and parking Z

Display when DISTRONIC PLUS is
deactivated
:
Vehicle in front, if detected
; Distance indicator, current distance to
the vehicle in front
= Specified minimum distance to the
vehicle in front; adjustable
? Own vehicle
X Select the Distance Display function
using the on-board computer
(Y page 221).
Display when DISTRONIC PLUS is
activated :
DISTRONIC PLUS activated
; Own vehicle
= Specified minimum distance to the
vehicle in front; adjustable
? Vehicle in front, if detected
You will see the stored speed for about five
seconds when you activate DISTRONIC PLUS. X
Select the Distance Display function
using the on-board computer
(Y page 221).
i You will see the stored speed for about
five

seconds when you activate DISTRONIC
PLUS.
Deactivating DISTRONIC PLUS G
WARNING
DISTRONIC PLUS is deactivated and releases
the brakes if the vehicle is slowed down to a
speed

below 20 mph (30km/h) by the system,
provided that DISTRONIC PLUS does not
detect a vehicle directly in front. At this point,
the driver must apply the brakes in order to
slow down further and bring the vehicle to a
standstill. There are several ways to deactivate
DISTRONIC PLUS:
X
Briefly press the cruise control lever
forwards :.
or
X Brake, unless the vehicle is stationary.
When you deactivate DISTRONIC PLUS, you
will see the DISTRONIC PLUS Off message
in

the multifunction display for approximately
five seconds.
i The last speed stored remains stored until
you switch off the engine. 186
Driving systems
Driving and parking

DISTRONIC PLUS is automatically
deactivated if:
R
you engage the parking brake.
R you are driving slower than
15 mph
(25 km/h) and there is no vehicle in front,
or if the vehicle in front is no longer
detected.
R ESP ®
intervenes or you deactivate ESP ®
.
R the transmission is in the P, R or N position.
R you switch off the radar sensor system
(Y page 226).
R you pull the cruise control lever towards
you in order to pull away and the front-
passenger door is open.
R the vehicle has skidded.
If DISTRONIC PLUS is deactivated, you will
hear a warning tone. You will see the
DISTRONIC PLUS Off message in the
multifunction display for approximately five
seconds.
If the vehicle has been stopped by DISTRONIC
PLUS and a malfunction occurs in the system,
the Brake Immediately message appears in
the multifunction display. Depress the brake
pedal immediately so that the vehicle does
not roll away. DISTRONIC PLUS is then
deactivated, and the message disappears.
Tips for driving with DISTRONIC PLUS Important safety notes
G
WARNING
The DISTRONIC PLUS works to maintain the
speed
selected by the driver unless a moving
obstacle proceeding directly ahead of it in the
same travel direction is detected (e.g.
following another vehicle ahead of you at your
set distance).
This means that:
R Your vehicle can pass another vehicle after
you have changed lanes.
R While in a sharp turn or if the preceding
vehicle is in a sharp turn, the DISTRONIC
PLUS could lose sight of the preceding vehicle. Your vehicle could then accelerate
to the previously selected speed.
The DISTRONIC PLUS regulates only the
distance between your vehicle and those
directly ahead of it. It may not register
stationary objects in the road, e.g.:
R a stopped vehicle in a traffic jam
R a disabled vehicle
R an oncoming vehicle
The driver must always be alert, observe all
traffic

and intercede as required by means of
steering or braking the vehicle. G
WARNING
The DISTRONIC PLUS should not be used in
snowy or icy road conditions.
The

following contains descriptions of certain
road and traffic conditions in which you must
be particularly attentive. In such situations,
brake if necessary. DISTRONIC PLUS is then
deactivated.
Cornering, going into and coming out of a
bend The ability of DISTRONIC PLUS to detect
vehicles when cornering is limited. Your
vehicle may brake unexpectedly or late. Driving systems
187
Driving and parking Z

Vehicles traveling on a different line
DISTRONIC PLUS may not detect vehicles
traveling on a different line. The distance to
the vehicle in front will be too short.
Other vehicles changing lanes
DISTRONIC PLUS has not detected the
vehicle cutting in yet. The distance to this
vehicle will be too short.
Narrow vehicles
DISTRONIC PLUS has not yet detected the
vehicle in front on the edge of the road, because of its narrow width. The distance to
the vehicle in front will be too short.
Obstructions and stationary vehicles
DISTRONIC PLUS does not brake for
obstacles or stationary vehicles. If, for
example,
the detected vehicle turns a corner
and reveals an obstacle or stationary vehicle,
DISTRONIC PLUS will not brake for these.
Crossing vehicles DISTRONIC PLUS may mistakenly detect
vehicles that are crossing your lane.
Activating DISTRONIC PLUS at traffic lights
with

crossing traffic, for example, could cause
your vehicle to pull away unintentionally. 188
Driving systems
Driving and parking