brakes MERCEDES-BENZ GLA-Class 2015 X156 Owner's Guide

If DISTRONIC PLUS detects a faster-moving
vehicle in front, it increases the driving speed.
The vehicle is only accelerated up to the
speed you have stored.
Selecting the drive program
DISTRONIC Plus supports a sporty driving
style when you have selected the S or M driv- ing program (Y page 152). Acceleration
behind the vehicle in front or to the set speed is then noticeably more dynamic. If you have
selected the E driving program, the vehicle
accelerates more gently. This setting is rec-
ommended in stop-and-start traffic.
Changing lanes
If you change to the passing lane, DISTRONIC PLUS supports you when:
R you are driving faster than 43.5 mph
(70 km/h)
R DISTRONIC PLUS is maintaining the dis-
tance 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 dis-
tance between your vehicle and the vehicle in front becomes too small.
Stopping G
WARNING
When leaving the vehicle, even if it is braked
only by DISTRONIC PLUS, it could roll away if:
R there is a malfunction in the system or in
the voltage supply.
R DISTRONIC PLUS has been deactivated
with the cruise control lever, e.g. by a vehi-
cle occupant or from outside the vehicle.
R the electrical system in the engine com-
partment, the battery or the fuses have
been tampered with.
R the battery is disconnected.
R the accelerator pedal has been depressed,
e.g. by a vehicle occupant. There is a risk of an accident.
If you wish to exit the vehicle, always turn off
DISTRONIC PLUS and secure the vehicle
against rolling away.
For further information on deactivating DIS-
TRONIC PLUS (Y page 178).
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 After a time, the electric parking brake
secures the vehicle and relieves the service brake.
i Depending on the specified minimum dis-
tance, 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.
The electric parking brake automatically
secures the vehicle if DISTRONIC PLUS is
activated and:
R the seat belt is unfastened 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 malfunction occurs.
R the power supply is not sufficient.
If a malfunction occurs, then the transmission may be shifted into position Pautomatically.
Setting a speed Keep in mind that it may take a brief moment
until the vehicle has accelerated or braked to the speed set. Driving systems
177Driving and parking Z

!
If DISTRONIC PLUS or the HOLD function
is activated, the vehicle brakes automati-
cally in certain situations. To prevent dam-
age to the vehicle, deactivate DISTRONIC
PLUS and the HOLD function in the follow-
ing or other similar situations:
R when towing the vehicle
R in the car wash
Deactivating the HOLD function
(Y page 182).
General notes The HOLD function can assist the driver in the
following situations:
R when pulling away, especially on steep
slopes
R when maneuvering on steep slopes
R when waiting in traffic
The vehicle is kept stationary without the
driver having to depress the brake pedal.
The braking effect is canceled and the HOLD
function deactivated when you depress the
accelerator pedal to pull away.
Activation conditions You can activate the HOLD function if:
R the vehicle is stationary
R the engine is running or if it has been auto-
matically switched off by the ECO start/
stop function
R the driver's door is closed or your seat belt
is fastened
R the electric parking brake is released
R the transmission position D,Ror Nis
engaged while driving a vehicle with an
automatic transmission
R DISTRONIC PLUS is deactivated Activating the HOLD function Example: vehicles with a color multifunction dis-
play
X Make sure that the activation conditions
are met.
X Depress the brake pedal.
X Quickly depress the brake pedal further
until 0043appears in the multifunction dis-
play.
The HOLD function is activated. You can
release the brake pedal.
i If depressing the brake pedal the first
time does not activate the HOLD function,
wait briefly and then try again.
Deactivating the HOLD function The HOLD function is deactivated automati-
cally if:
R you accelerate. On vehicles with automatic
transmission: only when the transmission
is in position Dor R.
R the transmission is in position Pon vehicles
with automatic transmission.
R you depress the brake pedal again with a
certain amount of pressure until 0043disap-
pears from the multifunction display.
R you secure the vehicle using the electric
parking brake.
R you activate DISTRONIC PLUS.
i After a time, the electric parking brake
secures the vehicle and relieves the service brake. 182
Driving systemsDriving and parking

vated. SPORT handling mode remains activa-
ted.
RACE START is deactivated immediately if
you release the accelerator pedal during
RACE START or if any of the activation condi-
tions are no longer fulfilled. The RACE
RACE START START
Not Possible
Not Possible orRACE START Canceled
RACE START Canceled
message appears in the multifunction dis-
play.
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. 4MATIC
4MATIC ensures that all four wheels are per-
manently driven. Together with ESP ®
, it
improves the traction of your vehicle when-
ever a drive wheel spins due to insufficient
grip.
If you fail to adapt your driving style, 4MATIC
can neither reduce the risk of accident nor
override the laws of physics. 4MATIC cannot
take account of road, weather and traffic con- ditions. 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 your lane.
If a drive wheel spins due to insufficient grip:
R Only depress the accelerator pedal as far as
necessary when pulling away.
R Accelerate less when driving.
! Never tow the vehicle with one axle
raised. This may damage the transfer case.
Damage of this sort is not covered by the
Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty. All
wheels must remain either on the ground or be fully raised. Observe the instructions for
towing the vehicle with all wheels in full
contact with the ground.
i In wintry driving conditions, the maximum
effect of 4MATIC can only be achieved if
you use winter tires (M+S tires), with snow
chains if necessary. DSR
Important safety notes i
DSR (Downhill Speed Regulation) is only
available for vehicles with the Off-Road
Engineering package.
DSR is an aid to assist you when driving down-
hill. It keeps the speed of travel at the speed
selected on the on-board computer. The
steeper the downhill gradient, the greater the
DSR braking effect on the vehicle. When driv-
ing on flat stretches of road or on an uphill
gradient, the DSR braking effect is minimal or nonexistent.
DSR controls the vehicle’s speed when it is
activated and the transmission is in position
D, Ror N. You can drive at a higher or a lower
speed than that set on the on-board computer at any time by accelerating or braking.
If you fail to adapt your driving style, DSR can
neither reduce the risk of accident nor over-
ride the laws of physics. DSR cannot take
account of road, weather and traffic condi-
tions. DSR 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 your lane.
You are always responsible for keeping con-
trol of the vehicle and for assessing whether
the downhill gradient can be managed. DSR
may not always be able to keep to the set
speed, depending on road surface and tire
conditions. Select a set speed suitable for the prevailing conditions and when necessary,
apply the brakes manually. G
WARNING
If the speed driven and the set speed deviate and you activate DSR on a slippery road sur-
face, the wheels may lose traction. There is an
increased danger of skidding and accidents.
Before switching DSR on, please take into
consideration the road surface and the differ- ence between driving speed and the set
speed. 184
Driving systemsDriving and parking

The sensors may not detect snow and other
objects that absorb ultrasonic waves.
Ultrasonic sources such as an automatic
car wash, the compressed-air brakes on a
truck or a pneumatic drill could cause
PARKTRONIC to malfunction.
PARKTRONIC may not function correctly on uneven terrain.
PARKTRONIC is activated automatically when you:
R switch on the ignition
R shift the transmission to position D,Ror N
R release the electric parking brake
PARKTRONIC is deactivated at speeds above
11 mph (18 km/h) . It is reactivated at lower
speeds.
Range of the sensors General notes
PARKTRONIC does not take objects into con-
sideration that are:
R below the detection range, e.g. people, ani-
mals or objects
R above the detection range, e.g. overhang-
ing loads, truck overhangs or loading ramps 0043
Sensors in the front bumper, left-hand
side (example) Side view
Top view
The sensors must be free from dirt, ice or
slush. They can otherwise not function cor-
rectly. Clean the sensors regularly, taking
care not to scratch or damage them
(Y page 301).
Front sensors Center Approx. 40 in (approx.
100 cm)
Corners Approx. 24 in (approx.
60 cm)
Rear sensors
Center Approx. 48 in (approx.
120 cm)
Corners Approx. 32 in (approx.
80 cm)
Minimum distance
Center Approx. 8 in (approx.
20 cm)
Corners Approx. 8 in (approx.
20 cm) Driving systems
187Driving and parking Z

system independently locates and measures
parking spaces on both sides of the vehicle.
Active Parking Assist will only detect parking spaces:
R parallel or at right angles to the direction of
travel
R that are parallel to the direction of travel
and at least 59 in (1.5 m) wide
R that are parallel to the direction of travel
and at least 39.5 in (1.0 m) longer than your
vehicle
R that are at right angles to the direction of
travel and at least 39.5 in (1.0 m) wider
than your vehicle
i In the case of parking spaces that are at
right angles to the direction of travel,
please ensure that the parking space is
long enough to accommodate your vehicle.
When driving at speeds below 19 mph
(30 km/h), you will see the 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. By default, Active Parking Assist
only displays parking spaces on the front-
passenger side. Parking spaces on the driv-
er'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 switched on until you acknowledge the use of
Active Parking Assist by pressing the 0076
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
driving past it, and until you are approx-
imately 50 ft (15 m) away from it. Parking G
WARNING
If you leave the vehicle when it is only being
braked by Active Parking Assist 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 have
been tampered with.
R the battery is disconnected.
R the accelerator pedal has been depressed,
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
PARKTRONIC detects obstacles, Active
Parking Assist brakes automatically during the parking process. You are responsible
for braking in good time.
X Stop the vehicle when the parking space
symbol shows the desired parking space in
the instrument cluster.
X Shift the transmission to position R.
The Start Park Assist? Yes: OK No: Start Park Assist? Yes: OK No:
0038 message appears in the multifunction
display.
X To cancel the procedure: press the0038
button on the multifunction steering wheel or pull away.
or
X To park using Active Parking Assist:
press the 0076button on the multifunction
steering wheel.
The Park Assist Active Accelerate Park Assist Active Accelerate
and
and Brake
Brake Observe
Observe Surroundings
Surroundings mes-
sage appears in the multifunction display.
X Let go of the multifunction steering wheel.
X Back up the vehicle, being ready to brake at
all times. Do not exceed a maximum speed of approximately 5 mph (10 km/h) when Driving systems
191Driving and parking Z

backing up. Otherwise Active Parking
Assist will be canceled.
Active Parking Assist brakes the vehicle to a standstill when the vehicle approaches
the rear border of the parking space.
Maneuvering may be required in tight park-
ing spaces.
The Park Assist Active Select D
Park Assist Active Select D
Observe
Observe Surroundings Surroundings message appears in
the multifunction display.
X Shift the transmission to position Dwhile
the vehicle is stationary.
Active Parking Assist immediately steers in
the other direction.
The Park Assist Active Accelerate Park Assist Active Accelerate
and
and Brake
Brake Observe
Observe Surroundings
Surroundings mes-
sage appears in the multifunction display.
i You will achieve the best results by wait-
ing for the steering procedure to complete before pulling away.
X Drive forwards and be ready to brake at all
times.
Active Parking Assist brakes the vehicle to a standstill.
The Park Assist Active Select R
Park Assist Active Select R
Observe
Observe Surroundings Surroundings message appears in
the multifunction display.
As soon as the parking procedure is com-
plete, the Park Assist Finished Park Assist Finished message
appears and a warning tone sounds. The vehi- cle is now parked. The vehicle is kept station-
ary without the driver having to depress the
brake pedal. The braking effect is canceled
when you depress the accelerator pedal.
Active Parking Assist no longer supports you
with steering interventions and brake appli-
cations. When Active Parking Assist is fin-
ished, you must steer and brake again your-
self. PARKTRONIC is still available.
X Maneuver if necessary.
X Always observe the warning messages dis-
played by PARKTRONIC (Y page 188).Parking tips:
R The way your vehicle is positioned in the
parking space after parking is dependent
on various factors. These include the posi-
tion and shape of the vehicles parked in
front and behind it and the conditions of the location. It may be the case that Active
Parking Assist 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 curb. If necessary, you should can-
cel the parking procedure with Active Park- ing Assist.
R You can also engage forward gear prema-
turely. The vehicle redirects and does not
drive as far into the parking space. Should a
gear be changed too early, the parking pro- cedure will be canceled. A sensible parking
position can no longer be achieved from
this position.
Exiting a parking space In order that Active Parking Assist can sup-
port you when you exit the parking space:
R the border of the parking space must be
high enough. A curb is too small, for exam-
ple.
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 maneuvering into the park-
ing space.
R a maneuvering distance of at least 3.3 ft
(1.0 m) must be available.
i Vehicles with automatic transmission:
If PARKTRONIC detects obstacles, Active
Parking Assist brakes automatically whilst
the vehicle exits the parking space. You are
responsible for braking in good time.
Active Parking Assist can only assist you with exiting a parking space if you have parked thevehicle parallel to the direction of travel using
Active Parking Assist. 192
Driving systemsDriving and parking

Stolen vehicle recovery service
If your vehicle has been stolen:
X Notify the police.
The police will issue a numbered incident
report.
X This number will be forwarded to the
Mercedes-Benz Customer Assistance Cen-
ter together with your PIN.
The Mercedes-Benz Customer Assistance
Center then tries to locate the system. The Mercedes-Benz Customer Assistance Cen-ter contacts you and the local law enforce-
ment agency if the vehicle is located.
However, only the law enforcement agency is informed of the location of the vehicle.
i If the anti-theft alarm system is activated
for longer than 30 seconds, the Mercedes-
Benz Customer Assistance Center is auto-
matically notified.
Vehicle remote malfunction diagnosis With the vehicle remote malfunction diagno-
sis (Vehicle Health Check), the Customer
Assistance center can provide improved sup-
port for problems with your vehicle. During anexisting call, vehicle data is transferred to the
Customer Assistance center. The customer
service representative can use the received
data to decide what kind of assistance is
required. You are then, for example, guided to the nearest authorized Mercedes-Benz Cen-
ter or a recovery vehicle is called.
If vehicle data needs to be transferred during
an MB Info call or a Roadside Assistance call, this is initiated by the Customer Assistance
center. You will see the Roadside Assis‐
Roadside Assis‐
tance Connected
tance Connected message in the COMAND
display. If the vehicle remote malfunction
diagnosis can be started, the Request for
Request for
vehicle diagnosis received. Start
vehicle diagnosis received. Start
vehicle diagnosis? vehicle diagnosis? message appears in
the display. X
Confirm the message with Yes
Yes.
X When the Vehicle Diagnosis Please
Vehicle Diagnosis Please
start ignition
start ignition message appears, turn
the SmartKey to position 2in the ignition
lock (Y page 143).
X When the Please
Pleasefollow
followthe
theinstruc‐
instruc‐
tions received by phone and move
tions received by phone and move
your vehicle to a safe position. your vehicle to a safe position.
message appears, follow the customer ser-
vice representative's instructions.
The message in the display disappears.
If you select Cancel Cancel, the vehicle remote
malfunction diagnosis is canceled com-
pletely.
The vehicle operating state check begins.
You will see the Vehicle diagnosis Vehicle diagnosis
activated.
activated. message.
When the diagnosis is completed, the Send
Send
vehicle diagnostics data//(Voice
vehicle diagnostics data//(Voice
connection may be//interrupted dur‐ connection may be//interrupted dur‐
ing ing data
data transfer)
transfer) message appears. The
vehicle data can now be sent to the Customer Assistance center.
X Press OK
OKto confirm the message.
The voice connection with the Customer
Assistance center is terminated.
You will see the Vehicle Diagnosis:
Vehicle Diagnosis:
Transferring data... Transferring data... message.
The vehicle data is sent to the Customer
Assistance center.
Depending on what the customer service rep-
resentative agreed with you, the voice con-
nection is re-established after the transfer is
complete. If necessary, you will be contacted at a later time by another means, e.g. by e-
mail or phone.
Further functions of the vehicle remote mal-
function diagnosis include, for example:
R transfer of service data to the Customer
Assistance center. If a service is overdue,
the COMAND display shows a message
about various special offers at your work-
shop.
R monthly status information e-mail on oil
level, air pressure, maintenance, brakes, 284
FeaturesStowage and features

should drive for a few minutes after clean-
ing. Braking heats the brake discs and the
brake pads/linings, thus drying them. The
vehicle can then be parked.
Regular care of your vehicle is a condition for
retaining the quality in the long term.
Use care products and cleaning agents rec-
ommended and approved by Mercedes-Benz. Exterior care
Automatic car wash G
WARNING
Braking efficiency is reduced after washing
the vehicle. There is a risk of an accident.
After the vehicle has been washed, brake
carefully while paying attention to the traffic
conditions until full braking power is restored.
! If DISTRONIC PLUS or the HOLD function
is activated, the vehicle brakes automati-
cally in certain situations. To prevent dam-
age to the vehicle, deactivate DISTRONIC
PLUS and the HOLD function in the follow-
ing or other similar situations:
R when towing the vehicle
R in the car wash
! Never clean your vehicle in a Touchless
Automatic Car Wash as these use special
cleaning agents. These cleaning agents can
damage the paintwork or plastic parts.
! Make sure that the automatic transmis-
sion is in position Nwhen washing your
vehicle in a tow-through car wash. The vehi-
cle could be damaged if the transmission is
in another position.
! Make sure that: R
the side windows and the sliding sunroof
are fully closed.
R the ventilation/heating is switched off
(the OFF button has been pressed/the
airflow control is set to position 0).
R the windshield wiper switch is in position
0.
Otherwise, the vehicle might be damaged.
You can wash the vehicle in an automatic car
wash from the very start.
If the vehicle is very dirty, pre-wash it before
cleaning it in an automatic car wash.
After using an automatic car wash, wipe off
wax from the windshield and the wiper
blades. This will prevent smears and reduce
wiping noises caused by residue on the wind- shield.
Washing by hand In some countries, washing by hand is only
allowed at wash bays that are specially
designed for this purpose. Observe the legal
requirements in all countries concerned.
X Do not use hot water and do not wash the
vehicle in direct sunlight.
X Use a soft sponge to clean.
X Use a mild cleaning agent, such as a car
shampoo approved by Mercedes-Benz.
X Thoroughly hose down the vehicle with a
gentle jet of water.
X Do not point the water jet directly towards
the air inlet.
X Use plenty of water and rinse out the
sponge frequently.
X Rinse the vehicle with clean water and dry
thoroughly with a chamois.
X Do not let the cleaning agent dry on the
paintwork.
When using the vehicle in winter, remove all
traces of road salt deposits carefully and as
soon as possible. 298
CareMaintenance and care

!
When COLLISION PREVENTION ASSIST
PLUS, DISTRONIC PLUS or the HOLD func- tion is activated, the vehicle brakes auto-
matically in certain situations. To avoid
damage to the vehicle, deactivate these
systems in the following or similar situa-
tions:
R when towing the vehicle
R in the car wash
! Only secure the tow rope or tow bar at the
towing eyes. Otherwise, the vehicle could
be damaged.
! Do not use the towing eyes for recovery
purposes as this could damage the vehicle.
If in doubt, recover the vehicle with a crane.
! When towing, pull away slowly and
smoothly. If the tractive power is too high,
the vehicles could be damaged.
! The vehicle can be towed a maximum of
30 miles (50km). The towing speed of
30 mph (50km/h) must not be exceeded.
If the vehicle has to be towed more than
30 miles (50km), the front axle must be
raised or the entire vehicle raised and
transported.
! Do not tow with sling-type equipment.
This could damage the vehicle.
! If you tow or tow-start another vehicle, its
weight must not exceed the maximum per- missible gross vehicle weight of your vehi-
cle.
If the vehicle can no longer be driven because
of an accident or breakdown, you have the
following options:
R transporting the vehicle
As a rule, you should have the vehicle trans-
ported.
R towing the vehicle with a tow rope or tow
bar
Only tow the vehicle in exceptional cases.
When towing a vehicle, the transmission must be in position N. The battery must be connected and charged.
Otherwise, you:
R cannot turn the SmartKey to position 2in
the ignition lock
R cannot release the electric parking brake
R cannot shift the transmission to position N
i The function of the electric parking brake
and the parking lock is dependent on the
on-board voltage. If the on-board voltage is low or there is a malfunction in the system,
it may not be possible to apply the released parking brake or shift the transmission to
position P.
i Switch off non-essential consumers, e.g.
the radio.
i Disarm the automatic locking feature
before the vehicle is towed (Y page 217).
You could otherwise be locked out when
pushing or towing the vehicle. Installing/removing the towing eye
Installing the towing eye Example: towing eye mounting covers
X Remove the towing eye from the stowage
space. 318
Towing and tow-startingBreakdown assistance

Useful information
i This Operator's Manual describes all
models and all standard and optional equip- ment 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 Read the information on qualified special-
ist workshops (Y page 28). Important safety notes
G
WARNING
If wheels and tires of the wrong size are used, the wheel brakes or suspension components
may be damaged. There is a risk of an acci-
dent.
Always replace wheels and tires with those
that fulfill the specifications of the original
part.
When replacing wheels, make sure to use the
correct:
R designation
R model
When replacing tires, make sure to use the
correct:
R designation
R manufacturer
R model G
WARNING
A flat tire severely impairs the driving, steer-
ing and braking characteristics of the vehicle.
There is a risk of accident.
Tires without run-flat characteristics:
R do not drive with a flat tire.
R immediately replace the flat tire with your
emergency spare wheel or spare wheel, or
consult a qualified specialist workshop. Tires with run-flat characteristics:
R pay attention to the information and warn-
ing notices on MOExtended tires (tires with
run-flat characteristics).
Accessories that are not approved for your
vehicle by Mercedes-Benz or that are not
being used correctly can impair operating
safety.
Before purchasing and using non-approved
accessories, visit a qualified specialist work-
shop and inquire about:
R suitability
R legal stipulations
R factory recommendations
Information on dimensions and types of
wheels and tires for your vehicle can be found (Y page 352).
Information on air pressure for the tires on
your vehicle can be found:
R on the vehicle's Tire and Loading Informa-
tion placard on the B-pillar
R on the tire pressure label on the fuel filler
flap (Y page 158)
R under "Tire pressure" (Y page 328)
i Further information on wheels and tires
can be obtained at any qualified specialist
workshop. Operation
Information on driving
R If the vehicle is heavily loaded, check the
tire pressures and correct them if neces-
sary.
R While driving, pay attention to vibrations,
noises and unusual handling characteris-
tics, e.g. pulling to one side. This may indi- cate that the wheels or tires are damaged.If you suspect that a tire is defective,
reduce your speed immediately. Stop the
vehicle as soon as possible to check the
wheels and tires for damage. Hidden tire
damage could also be causing the unusual 324
OperationWheels and tires