parking break MERCEDES-BENZ E-Class SEDAN 2012 W212 Owner's Manual

Index ....................................................... 4Introduction ......................................... 22At a glance ........................................... 27Safety ................................................... 37Opening/closing ................................. 73Seats, steering wheel and mirrors ....97Lights and windshield wipers ..........113Climate control ................................. 129Driving and parking ..........................143On-board computer and displays ....213Stowing and features .......................273Maintenance and care ......................307Breakdown assistance .....................321Wheels and tires ............................... 345Technical data ................................... 379
Contents3

ATA (Anti-Theft Alarm system)Activating/deactivating ...................72
Function ........................................... 72
Switching off the alarm ....................72
ATTENTION ASSIST
Activating/deactivating .................225
Display message ............................ 249
Function/notes ............................. 199
Audio menu (on-board computer) .... 221
Audio system see separate operating instructions
Authorized Mercedes-Benz Center
see Qualified specialist workshop
AUTO lights
Display message ............................ 245
see Lights
Automatic engine start (ECO start/
stop function) .................................... 149
Automatic engine switch-off (ECO
start/stop function) .......................... 149
Automatic headlamp mode .............. 116
Automatic transmission Automatic drive program ...............157
Changing gear ............................... 155
DIRECT SELECT lever .....................153
Display message ............................ 257
Driving tips .................................... 155
Emergency running mode ..............160
Kickdown ....................................... 156
Manual drive program ....................158
Problem (malfunction) ...................160
Program selector button ................156
Pulling away ................................... 147
Selector lever ................................ 152
Shift ranges ................................... 157
Starting the engine ........................147
Steering wheel paddle shifters ......157
Transmission position display ........153
Transmission positions ..................155
Automatic transmission
emergency mode ............................... 160
B
Back support see Lumbar support
Bag hook ............................................ 282
BAS (Brake Assist System) ................. 64
Basic settings
see Settings
BAS PLUS (Brake Assist System
PLUS) .................................................... 64
Battery (SmartKey) Checking .......................................... 78
Important safety notes ....................78
Replacing ......................................... 78
Battery (vehicle)
Charging ........................................ 337
Display message ............................ 247
Important safety notes ..................335
Jump starting ................................. 338
Belt
see Seat belts
Blind Spot Assist
Activating/deactivating .................225
Notes/function .............................. 203
see Active Blind Spot Assist
BlueTEC (DEF) .................................... 387
Bottle holder ...................................... 290
Brake Assist System see BAS (Brake Assist System)
Brake fluid
Display message ............................ 237
Notes ............................................. 388
Brake fluid level ................................ 312
Brake lamps Display message ............................ 243
Brakes
ABS .................................................. 64
BAS .................................................. 64
BAS PLUS ........................................ 64
Brake fluid (notes) .........................388
Display message ............................ 235
Driving tips .................................... 171
High-performance brake system ....173
Important safety notes ..................171
Maintenance .................................. 172
Parking brake ................................ 169
Warning lamp ................................. 263
Breakdown
see Flat tire
see Towing away/tow-starting
Bulbs
see Changing bulbs Index5

Never use a bulb which has been dropped.
Such a bulb may break or even explode and
injure you.
Halogen bulbs are pressurized and can
explode when you change them, particularly
if they are very hot. You should therefore wear
eye protection and gloves when you are
changing them.
Overview: changing bulbs/bulb types
You can change the following bulbs. The bulb
type can be found in the legend.
Halogen headlamps
:Low-beam headlamps 12
: H7 55 W;High-beam headlamp: H7 55 W=Parking lamp/standing lamp: W 5 W?Turn signal lamp: 3457A
Bi-Xenon headlamps
:Cornering lamp: H7 55 W;Infrared light (Night View Assist Plus):
H11 55 W
Changing the front bulbs
Low-beam headlamps (halogen
headlamps)
Due to their location, have the bulbs in the
left-hand headlamp changed at a qualified
specialist workshop, e.g. an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
XSwitch off the lights.XOpen the hood.XTurn housing cover : counter-clockwise
and pull it out.XTurn bulb holder ; counter-clockwise and
pull it out.XTake the bulb out of bulb holder ;.XInsert the new bulb into bulb holder ;.12
Due to their location, have the bulbs in the left-hand headlamp changed at a qualified specialist workshop,
e.g. an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.122Replacing bulbsLights and windshield wipers

Useful information ............................144
Breaking-in notes .............................. 144
Driving ............................................... 144
Automatic transmission ...................152
Refueling ............................................ 160
Parking ............................................... 167
Driving tips ........................................ 169
Driving systems ................................ 175143Driving and parking

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 25).
Breaking-in notes
The first 1000 miles (1500 km)
The more you look after the engine when it is
new, the more satisfied you will be with its
performance in the future.
R Drive at varying vehicle speeds and engine
speeds for the first 1000 miles (1500 km)
for this reason.
R Avoid overstraining the vehicle during this
period, e.g. driving at full throttle.
R Change gear in good time, at the latest
when the tachometer needle is 2
/ 3 of the
way to the red area in the tachometer
display.
R If possible, do not depress the accelerator
pedal past the point of resistance
(kickdown).
R Only select shift ranges 3, 2 or 1 when
driving slowly, e.g. in mountainous terrain.
After 1000 miles (1500 km), you can increase
the engine speed gradually and bring the
vehicle up to full speed.
Additional breaking-in notes for AMG
vehicles:
R do not drive faster than 85 mph
(140 km/h) in the first 1000 miles
(1500 km).
R only allow the engine to reach a maximum
engine speed of 4500 rpm briefly.
R change gear in good time.
i You should also observe these notes on
running in if the engine or parts of the drive
train on your vehicle have been replaced.
i Always observe the respective speed
restrictions.
AMG vehicles with rear axle locking
differential
Your vehicle is equipped with a self-locking
differential on the rear axle. For better
protection of the differential on the rear axle,
carry out an oil change after a breaking-in
phase of 2000 miles (3000 km). This oil
change extends the service life of the
differential. Have the oil change carried out
at a qualified specialist workshop. Mercedes-
Benz recommends that you use an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center for this purpose.
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.
144DrivingDriving and parking

AMG high-performance and ceramic
brakesGWARNING
New vehicle brake pads and discs, and
replacement brake pads and discs may take
several hundred miles of driving until they
provide optimum braking efficiency. Until that
time, you may need to use increased brake
pedal pressure while braking. Please be aware
of this and adjust your driving and braking
accordingly during this break-in period.
Excessive high-demand braking will cause
correspondingly high brake wear. Please be
attentive to the brake warning lamp in the
instrument cluster and brake condition
messages in the multifunction display.
Especially for high performance driving, it is
important to maintain and have the brake
system checked regularly.
The AMG brake systems are designed for
heavy loads. This may lead to noise when
braking. This will depend on:
R speed
R braking force
R environmental conditions, such as
temperature and humidity
The wear of individual components of the
brake system, such as the brake pads/linings
or brake discs, depends on the individual
driving style and operating conditions.
For this reason, it is impossible to state a
mileage that will be valid under all
circumstances. An aggressive driving style
will lead to high wear. You can obtain further
information about this from your authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
Driving on wet roads
Hydroplaning
If water has accumulated to a certain depth
on the road surface, there is a danger of
hydroplaning occurring, even if:
R you drive at low speeds.
R the tires have adequate tread depth.
For this reason, in the event of heavy rain or
in conditions in which hydroplaning can occur
you must drive in the following manner:
R reduce your speed
R avoid ruts
R brake carefully
Driving on flooded roads
! Do not drive through flooded areas.
Check the depth of any water before driving
through it. Drive slowly through standing
water. Otherwise, water may enter the
vehicle interior or the engine compartment.
This can damage the electronic
components in the engine or the automatic
transmission. Water can also be drawn in
by the engine's air suction nozzles and this
can cause engine damage.
Winter driving
Important safety notes
GWARNING
If the vehicle becomes trapped in snow,
ensure that snow is kept away from the
exhaust pipe and from around the vehicle as
long as the engine is running. Otherwise,
poisonous carbon monoxide (CO) may enter
the vehicle, resulting in loss of consciousness
and even death.
To assure sufficient fresh air ventilation, open
a window slightly on the side of the vehicle
not facing the wind.
At the onset of winter, have your vehicle
winterproofed at a qualified specialist
Driving tips173Driving and parkingZ

Rthe trunk lid/the tailgate is open
R it is raining or snowing strongly or if it is
foggy
R it is night or if you are parking/
maneuvering your vehicle in a very dark
area
R a very bright white light is affecting the
camera
R the immediate vicinity is illuminated with
fluorescent light (the display of the
COMAND system can flicker)
R temperature changes abruptly, for example
if you drive out of the cold into a heated
garage (condensation on the lens)
R the camera lens is dirty or covered
R the rear of your vehicle is damaged
In this case, have the position and the
setting of the camera checked at a
specialist workshop. Mercedes-Benz
recommends that you consult a Mercedes-
Benz Center for this purpose.
Do not use the rear view camera in these
situations. You could otherwise injure
yourself and other people and/or cause
damage - including damage to your vehicle -
while parking/maneuvering.
Activating the rear view cameraXMake sure that the SmartKey is in position
2 in the ignition lock.XMake sure that the "rear view camera"
function is selected in COMAND (see the
separate operating instructions for
COMAND).XEngage reverse gear.
The area behind the vehicle is shown in the
COMAND display.
ATTENTION ASSIST
Important safety notes
ATTENTION ASSIST helps you during long,
monotonous journeys such as on freeways
and interstate highways. It is active in the
range between 50 mph (80 km/h) and
112 mph (180 km/h).
If ATTENTION ASSIST detects typical
indicators of fatigue or increasing lapses in
concentration on the part of the driver, it
suggests you take a break.GWARNING
ATTENTION ASSIST is only an aid and may
detect your tiredness or lapses in
concentration too late or not at all. It is not a
substitute for a well-rested and attentive
driver.
Fatigue may cause you to recognize
hazardous situations too late, misjudge a
situation or react more slowly. For this
reason, make sure you feel rested before you
begin driving and during your journey. Make
sure that you take regular breaks in time,
particularly on long journeys. Otherwise, you
may fail to recognize dangers in time, cause
an accident and injure yourself and others.
ATTENTION ASSIST assesses your level of
fatigue or lapses in concentration by taking
the following criteria into account:
R your personal driving style, e.g. steering
characteristics
R driving conditions, e.g. time, driving time
The functionality of ATTENTION ASSIST is
restricted and warnings may be delayed or
not occur at all:
R if the road condition is poor, e.g. if the
surface is uneven or if there are potholes
R if there is a strong side wind
R if you have adopted a sporty driving style
with high cornering speeds or high rates of
acceleration
R if you predominantly drive at speeds under
50 mph (80 km/h) or over 112 mph
(180 km/h)
R if you are currently using COMAND or
making a telephone call with it
Driving systems199Driving and parkingZ

Rif the time has been set incorrectly
R in active driving situations, such as when
you change lanes or change your speed
Warning and display messages in the
multifunction displayXActivate ATTENTION ASSIST using the on-
board computer ( Y page 225).
Symbol : appears in the multifunction
display.
If ATTENTION ASSIST is active, you will be
warned no sooner than 20 minutes after your
journey has begun. You will then hear an
intermittent warning tone twice, and the
Attention Assist: Time for a rest?
message appears in the multifunction
display.
XIf necessary, take a break.XPress a to confirm the message.
On long journeys, take regular breaks in good
time to allow yourself to rest properly. If you
do not take a break and ATTENTION ASSIST
still detects typical indicators of fatigue or
increasing lapses in concentration, you will be
warned again after 15 minutes at the earliest.
ATTENTION ASSIST is reset when you
continue your journey and starts assessing
your tiredness again if:
R you switch off the engine.
R you take off your seat belt and open the
driver's door, e.g. for a change of drivers or
to take a break.
Night View Assist Plus
Important safety notes
In addition to the illumination provided by the
normal headlamps, Night View Assist Plus
uses infrared light to illuminate the road. The
Night View Assist Plus camera picks up the
infrared light and displays a grayscale image
in the COMAND display. The image displayed
in COMAND corresponds to a road lit up by
high-beam headlamps. This enables you to
see the road's course and any obstacles in
good time. If pedestrian recognition is
activated, pedestrians recognized by the
system are highlighted in the Night View
Assist Plus display.
GWARNING
Night View Assist Plus is only an aid designed
to assist driving. It is not a substitute for
attentive driving. Do not rely solely on the
Night View Assist Plus display. Continue to
look through the windshield. You are
responsible for safety and must drive in
accordance with traffic conditions. You could
otherwise put yourself and others in danger.
The system may be impaired or unavailable if:
R there is poor visibility, e.g. due to snow,
rain, fog or heavy spray.
R the windshield is dirty, fogged up or
covered, for instance by a sticker, in the
vicinity of the camera.
R you are driving on bends, uphill gradients
or downhill gradients.
Light from the headlamps of oncoming
vehicles does not affect the Night View Assist
Plus display in the multifunction display. This
is also the case if you cannot switch on the
high-beam headlamps due to oncoming
traffic.
GWARNING
The Night View Assist Plus cannot record
objects immediately in front of or next to the
vehicle. When maneuvering, continue to look
through the windshield. Make sure no
200Driving systemsDriving and parking

Driving systemsDisplay messagesPossible causes/consequences and M SolutionsÀ
Attention Assist:
Pause!Based on specific criteria, ATTENTION ASSIST has determined that
the driver is tired or paying less attention. A warning tone also
sounds.XIf necessary, take a break.
During long journeys, take regular breaks in good time so you get
enough rest.
À
Attention Assist
InoperativeATTENTION ASSIST has failed.XVisit a qualified specialist workshop.¨
Vehicle RisingYour vehicle is adjusting to the level you have selected.¨
Vehicle Rising
Please Wait The vehicle level is too low when the vehicle is stationary. A
warning tone also sounds.XDo not pull away.
The vehicle level is set when the display message disappears.¨
Pull Over Car Too
LowYou have pulled away while the vehicle level is still too low.
AIRMATIC sets the vehicle to the selected level after a short
period.XPull over and stop the vehicle safely as soon as possible, paying
attention to road and traffic conditions.XApply the parking brake.XWait until the display message disappears before pulling away.GRisk of accident
AIRMATIC is defective. A warning tone also sounds.
XDo not drive faster than 50 mph (80 km/h).XMake only slight steering movements. Otherwise, the front
fender or the tires could be damaged if the steering movement
is too large.XListen for scraping sounds.XPull over and stop the vehicle safely, paying attention to road
and traffic conditions, and select a higher vehicle level.
Depending on the malfunction, it may be possible to raise the
vehicle.XVisit a qualified specialist workshop.Display messages249On-board computer and displaysZ

Display messagesPossible causes/consequences and M SolutionsService Required
Do Not Shift Gears
Visit DealerYou cannot change the transmission position due to a malfunction.
A warning tone also sounds.
If transmission position D is selected:XDrive to a qualified specialist workshop without shifting the
transmission from position D.
If transmission position R, N or P is selected:
XNotify a qualified specialist workshop or breakdown service.Only Shift
to 'P' when
Vehicle is
StationaryThe vehicle is moving.XPull over and stop the vehicle safely as soon as possible, paying
attention to road and traffic conditions.XShift the transmission to position P.NSedan: the trunk lid is open.XClose the trunk lid.AWagon: the tailgate is open.XClose the tailgate.M or?GRisk of accident
The hood is open.
XPull over and stop the vehicle safely as soon as possible, paying
attention to road and traffic conditions.XApply the parking brake.XClose the hood.CAt least one door is open.XClose all the doors._
Rear Left Backrest
Not Latched orRear
Right Backrest Not
LatchedGRisk of injury
Sedan with through-loading feature in the rear bench seat:
The backrest in the rear is not engaged on the left-hand and/or
right-hand side.
XPush the backrest back until it engages.258Display messagesOn-board computer and displays