parking brake MERCEDES-BENZ GLS 2018 Owner's Guide

Before driving off-road, check the wheels and
replace them if necessary.
Checklist after driving off-road
! If you detect damage to the vehicle after
driving off-road, have the vehicle checked
immediately at a qualified specialist work-
shop.
Driving over rough terrain places greater
demands on your vehicle than driving on normal
roads. After driving off-road, check the vehicle.
This allows you to detect damage promptly and
reduce the risk of an accident to yourself and
other road users. X
If the Offroad or Offroad Plus drive program
is selected: select the Individual , Sport ,
Comfort or Slippery drive program
( Y
page 147).X
Deactivate the LOW RANGE off-road gear
( Y
page 221).X
Deactivate DSR ( Y
page 218).X
Lower the vehicle level again to a level suita-
ble to the road conditions, e.g. to the normal
level. X
Clean the headlamps and rear lights and
check for damage. X
Clean the front and rear license plates. X
Clean the wheels and tires with a water jet
and remove any foreign objects. X
Clean the wheels, wheel housings and the
vehicle underside with a water jet; check for
any foreign objects and damage. X
Check whether twigs or other parts of plants
have become trapped. These increase the risk
of fire and can damage fuel pipes, brake
hoses or the rubber bellows of the axle joints
and propeller shafts. X
After the trip, examine without fail the entire
undercarriage, wheels, tires, brakes, body-
wor k stru cture, steering, chassis and exhaust
system
for damage.X
After driving for extended periods across
sand, mud, gravel, water or in similarly dirty
conditions, have the brake discs, wheels,
brake pads/linings and axle joints checked
and cleaned. X
If you detect strong vibrations after off-road
travel, check for foreign objects in the wheels
and drive train and remove them if necessary.
Foreign objects can disturb the balance and
cause vibrations. Driving on sand Observe the following rules when driving on
sand: R
Select the Offroad drive program (vehicles
without Off-Road Engineering package)
( Y
page 219). R
Select the Offroad drive program (vehicles
with Off-Road Engineering package)
( Y
page 220). R
Select a higher vehicle level. R
Avoid high engine speeds. R
Use the left-hand steering wheel paddle
shifter to shift to a lower gear appropriate to
the terrain. R
Drive quickly to overcome the rolling resist-
ance. Otherwise the vehicle's wheels could
become stuck in loose ground. R
Drive in the tracks of other vehicles if possi-
ble. Make sure that: -
the tire ruts are not too deep. -
the sand is sufficiently firm. -
the ground clearance of the vehicle is suf-
ficient.
Tire ruts and gravel roads
! Check that the ruts are not too deep and
that your vehicle has sufficient clearance.
Otherwise, your vehicle could be damaged or
bottom out and get stuck.
Observe the following rules when driving along
ruts in off-road terrain or on roads with loose
gravel: R
Select the Offroad drive program (vehicles
without Off-Road Engineering package)
( Y
page 219). R
Select the Offroad drive program (vehicles
with Off-Road Engineering package)
( Y
page 220). R
Select a higher vehicle level. R
Avoid high engine speeds. R
Shift to a lower gear using the left-hand steer-
ing wheel paddle shifter. R
Drive slowly. R
Where ruts are too deep, drive with the
wheels of one side on the center grassy area,
if possible.172
Driving tips
Driving and parking

Drivin g over obstacles
! Obstacles could damage th e floor of th e
vehicle or component s of th e chassis. As k
passenger s fo r guidanc e when drivin g over
larg e obstacles. The passenger should always
keep a saf e distanc e from th e vehicle when
doin g so in order to avoid injury as a result of
unexpecte d vehicle movements . Afte r drivin g
off-road or over obstacles, chec k th e vehicle
fo r possible damage, especially to th e under-
bod y and th e component s of th e chassis.
Observ e th e followin g rule s when drivin g over
tree stumps, larg e stones and other obstacles:R
Selec t th e Offroad drive program (vehicles
without Off-Road Engineerin g package)
( Y
page 219). R
Selec t th e Offroad drive program (vehicles
wit h Off-Road Engineerin g package)
( Y
page 220). R
Selec t LO W RANGE offroad gear (vehicles
wit h Off-Road Engineerin g package)
( Y
page 221) R
Raise th e vehicle level.R
Avoid hig h engin e speeds .R
Shift to a lowe r gear usin g th e left-han d steer -
in g whee l paddle shifter.R
Drive ver y slowly.R
Drive straight over th e center of obstacles.
Traveling uphil l
Approach/departur e angle
G WARNING
If you drive on a steep inclin e at an angle or
turn when drivin g on an incline, th e vehicle could slip sideways , ti p and rollover. There is a
ris k of an accident.
Always drive on a steep inclin e in th e lin e of
fall (straight up or down ) and do no t turn th e
vehicle. R
Observ e th e rule s on off-road driving.R
Do no t drive at an angle on slopes , inclines or
gradients, but instead follow th e direc t lin e of
fall . R
Whe n drivin g down an incline, mak e use of th e
engine's braking effect . Observ e th e engin e
speed; do no t overrev th e engine.R
Selec t th e Offroad drive program (vehicles
without Off-Road Engineerin g package)
( Y
page 219). R
Selec t th e Offroad drive program (vehicles
wit h Off-Road Engineerin g package)
( Y
page 220). R
Before drivin g on extreme uphill and downhill
gradients, selec t th e LO W RANGE offroad
gear (vehicles wit h Off-Road Engineerin g
package) ( Y
page 221). R
Drive slowly. R
Avoid hig h engin e speeds . Drive at appropri-
at e engin e speeds (maximum 3,000 rpm). R
Use th e left-han d steerin g whee l paddle
shifter to shift into a lowe r gear in goo d time
on lon g and steep downhill gradients. R
Chec k th e brake s after prolonged off-road
driving.
Hil l start assist will aid you when pulli ng a way on
a h
ill . Fo r further information about hill start
assist , see ( Y
page 143).
Do no t switch to transmissio n position N when
drivin g off-road. If you tr y to brake th e vehicle
usin g th e servic e brake , you could los e contro l
of th e vehicle. If th e gradient is to o steep fo r your
vehicle, drive bac k down in revers e gear .
Always observ e th e approach/departure angle
values ( Y
page 394).
Maximum gradient-climbing capabilit y
Always observ e th e maximum gradient climbin g
ability values ( Y
page 394).Driving tips 173
Driving and parking Z

Hilltops When driving up an uphill gradient, slightly
reduce pressure on the accelerator immediately
before reaching the brow of the hill. Make use of
the vehicle's own impetus to travel over the
brow.
This style of driving prevents: R
the vehicle from lifting off the ground on the
brow of a hill R
the vehicle from traveling too quickly down
the other side
Driving downhill R
Drive slowly. R
Do not drive at an angle down steep inclines.
Steer into the line of fall and drive with the
front wheels aligned straight. Otherwise, the
vehicle could slip sideways, tip and rollover. R
Shift to a lower gear using the left-hand pad-
dle shifter before tackling steep downhill gra-
dients. R
Activate DSR. If this is not sufficient, brake
gently. When doing so, make sure that the
vehicle is facing in the direction of the line of
fall. R
Check that the brakes are working normally
after a long downhill stretch.
i The special off-road ABS setting enables a
precise, brief and repeated locking of the
front wheels. This causes them to dig into
loose earth. Be aware that the front wheels
easily skid across the ground surface if com-
pletely braked and therefore lose their ability
to steer.
Driving systems
Intelligent Drive Mercedes-Benz Intelligent Drive stands for inno-
vative driver assistance and safety systems
which enhance comfort and support the driver in
critical situations. With these intelligent co-ordi-
nated systems Mercedes-Benz has set a mile-
stone on the path towards autonomous driving.
Mercedes-Benz Intelligent Drive embraces all
elements of active and passive safety in one well
thought out system – for the safety of the vehi-
cle occupants and that of other road users. Further information on driving safety systems
( Y
page 66).
Cruise control
General notes Cruise control maintains a constant road speed
for you. It brakes automatically in order to avoid
exceeding the set speed. You must select a
lower gear in good time on long and steep down-
hill gradients, especially if the vehicle is laden or
towing a trailer. By doing so, you will make use of
the braking effect of the engine. This relieves the
load on the brake system and prevents the
brakes from overheating and wearing too
quickly.
Use cruise control only if road and traffic con-
ditions make it appropriate to maintain a steady
speed for a prolonged period. You can store any
road speed above 20 mph (30 km/h).
i Cruise control should not be activated when
driving off-road.
Important safety notes If you fail to adapt your driving style, cruise con-
trol can neither reduce the risk of an accident
nor override the laws of physics. Cruise control
cannot take into account the road, traffic and
weather conditions. Cruise control 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.
Do not use cruise control: R
in road and traffic conditions which do not
allow you to maintain a constant speed, e.g. in
heavy traffic or on winding roads R
on slippery road surfaces. Braking or accel-
erating could cause the drive wheels to lose
traction and the vehicle could then skid R
when there is poor visibility, e.g. due to fog,
heavy rain or snow
If there is a change of drivers, advise the new
driver of the speed stored.174
Driving systems
Driving and parking

Deactivating cruis e contro lThere are severa l ways to deactivat e cruise con-
trol: X
Briefly press th e cruise contro l lever for-
ward s C .
or X
Brake.
Cruise contro l is automatically deactivated if:R
you engage th e electric parking brakeR
you are drivin g at les s than 20 mph (30 km/ h)R
ESP ®
intervenes or you deactivate ESP ®
R
you activate DSR R
you activate the Offroad Plus program (vehi-
cles with the Off-Road Engineering package) R
you shift the transmission to position N while
driving
If cruise control is deactivated, you will hear a
warning tone. You will see the Cruise Con‐
trol Off message in the multifunction display
for approximately five seconds.
i When you switch off the engine, the last
speed stored is cleared.
Distance Pilot DISTRONIC
General notes Distance Pilot DISTRONIC regulates the speed
and automatically helps you maintain the dis-
tance to the vehicle detected in front. Vehicles
are detected with the aid of the radar sensor
system. Distance Pilot DISTRONIC brakes auto-
matically so that the set speed is not exceeded.
You must select a lower gear in good time on
long and steep downhill gradients, especially if
the vehicle is laden or towing a trailer. By doing
so, you will make use of the braking effect of the
engine. This relieves the load on the brake sys-
tem and prevents the brakes from overheating
and wearing too quickly.
If Distance Pilot DISTRONIC detects that there is
a risk of a collision, you will be warned visually
and acoustically. Without your intervention, Dis-
tance Pilot DISTRONIC cannot prevent a colli-
sion. An intermittent warning tone will then
sound and the distance warning lamp will light
up in the instrument cluster. Brake immediately
in order to increase the distance to the vehicle in front or take evasive action provided it is safe to
do so.
For Distance Pilot DISTRONIC to assist you
when driving, the radar sensor system must be
operational.
Distance Pilot DISTRONIC ope rates in the range
b etween 0 mph (0 km/h) and 120 mph
(200 km/h).
Do not use Distance Pilot DISTRONIC while driv-
ing on roads with steep gradients.
Since Distance Pilot DISTRONIC 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. Removing, tampering with, or
altering the device will void any warranties,
and is not permitted by the FCC. Do not tam-
per 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 harmful inter-
ference, and
2. This device must accept any interference
received, including interference that may
cause undesired operation of the device.
Do not tamper with, alter or use in any non-
appro ved w ay.
Any unauthorized modification to this device
could void the user's authority to operate the
equipment.
Important safety notes
G WARNING
Distance Pilot DISTRONIC does not react to: R
people or animals R
stationary objects on the road, e.g. stopped
or parked vehicles R
oncoming vehicles and crossing traffic176
Driving system s
Dr ivi ng an d parking

As a result, Distance Pilot DISTRONIC may
neither give warnings nor intervene in such
situations. There is a risk of an accident.
Always pay careful attention to the traffic sit-
uation and be ready to brake.
G WARNING
Distance Pilot DISTRONIC cannot always
clearly identify other road users and complex
traffic situations.
In such cases, Distance Pilot DISTRONIC may: R
give an unnecessary warning and then
brake the vehicle R
neither give a warning nor intervene R
accelerate or brake unexpectedly
There is a risk of an accident.
Continue to drive carefully and be ready to
brake, especially if Distance Pilot DISTRONIC
warns you.
G WARNING
Distance Pilot DISTRONIC brakes your vehicle
with up to 50% of the maximum possible
deceleration. If this deceleration is not suffi-
cient, Distance Pilot DISTRONIC alerts you
with a visual and acoustic warning. There is a
risk of an accident.
Apply the brakes yourself in these situations
and try to take evasive action.
! When Distance Pilot DISTRONIC or the
HOLD function is activated, the vehicle
brakes automatically in certain situations.
To avoid damage to the vehicle, deactivate
DISTRONIC PLUS and the HOLD function in
the following or similar situations: R
when towing the vehicle R
in the car wash
The Distance Pilot DISTRONIC R
can neither reduce the risk of accident nor
override the laws of physics if you fail to adapt
your driving style. R
cannot take into account road, weather or
traffic conditions. R
is only an aid. You are responsible for the dis-
tance to the vehicle in front, for vehicle speed, for braking in good time and for staying in your
lane.
Do not use Distance Pilot DISTRONIC: R
in road and traffic conditions which do not
allow you to maintain a constant speed, e.g. in
heavy traffic or on winding roads R
on slippery road surfaces. Braking or accel-
erati ng could cause the drive wheels to lose
tra ction and the vehicle could then skid R
in poor visibility, e.g. due to fog, heavy rain or
snow
Distance Pilot DISTRONIC may not detect nar-
row vehicles driving in front, e.g. motorcycles, or
vehicles driving on a different line.
In particular, the detection of obstacles can be
impaired if: R
there is dirt on the sensors or anything else
covering the sensors R
there is snow or heavy rain R
there is interference by other radar sources R
there are strong radar reflections, for exam-
ple, in parking garages
If Distance Pilot DISTRONIC no longer detects a
vehicle in front, it may unexpectedly accelerate
to the speed stored.
This speed may: R
be too high if you are driving in a turning lane
or an exit lane R
be so high when driving in the right-hand lane
that you overtake vehicles in the left-hand
lane R
be so high when driving in the left-hand lane
that you overtake vehicles in the right-hand
lane
If there is a change of drivers, advise the new
driver of the speed stored.Driving systems 177
Driving an d parking Z

The vehicle can also pull away when it is facing
an unidentified obstacle or is driving on a differ-
ent line from another vehicle. The vehicle then
brakes automatically.
If there is no vehicle in front, Distance Pilot
DISTRONIC operates in the same way as cruise
control.
If Distance Pilot DISTRONIC detects a slower-
moving vehicle in front, it brakes your vehicle. In
this way, the distance you have selected is main-
tained.
If Distance Pilot DISTRONIC detects a faster-
moving vehicle in front, it increases the driving
speed. However, the vehicle is only accelerated
up to the speed you have stored.
Selecting the drive program Distance Pilot DISTRONIC supports a sporty
driving style if you have selected the Sport or
Sport Plus drive program ( Y
page 151). Accel-
eration behind the vehicle in front or to the set
speed is then noticeably more dynamic. If you
have selected the Comfort drive program, the
vehicle accelerates more gently. This setting is
recommended in stop-and-start traffic.
Changing lanes If you change to the overtaking lane, Distance
Pilot DISTRONIC supports you if: R
you are driving faster than 45 mph (70 km/ h)R
you switch on th e appropriat e tur n signalR
Distanc e Pilo t DISTRONI C does no t currentl y
detec t a danger of collision
If these condition s are fulfilled , your vehicl e is
accelerated. Acceleration will be interrupted if
changin g lanes takes to o lon g or if th e distanc e
between your vehicl e and th e vehicl e in fron t
become s to o small.
i Whe n you chang e lanes, Distanc e Pilo t
DISTRONI C monitors th e right lan e (in left-
side traffic) or th e lef t lan e (in right-side traf-
fic). Stopping
G WARNIN G
If you leav e th e vehicl e when it is only bein g
braked by Distanc e Pilo t DISTRONIC, it could
rol l away if: R
there is a malfunction in th e system or in
th e voltag e supply. R
Distanc e Pilo t DISTRONI C is switched off
usin g th e cruise control lever, e.g. by a vehi-
cle occupant or from outside th e vehicl eR
th e electrica l system in th e engin e com-
partment, th e battery or th e fuses are tam -
pered with. R
th e battery is disconnected R
th e vehicl e is accelerated, e.g. by a vehicl e
occupant .
There is a ris k of an accident.
Befor e leavin g th e vehicle, always deactivat e
Distanc e Pilo t DISTRONI C and secure th e
vehicl e against rollin g away.
If Distanc e Pilo t DISTRONI C detects that th e
vehicl e in fron t is stopping , it brakes your vehicl e
to a stop.
Once your vehicl e is stationary, it remain s sta-
tionary and you do no t need to depress th e
brake.
Afte r a time, th e electric parkin g brak e secures
th e vehicl e and relieves th e servic e brake.
Dependin g on th e specified minimum distance,
your vehicl e will come to a standstill at a suffi-
cient distanc e behind th e vehicl e in front. The
specified minimum distanc e is set usin g th e
contro l
on th e cruise control lever.
The transmission is shifted automatically to
position P if, wit h Distanc e Pilo t DISTRONI C
activated and th e vehicl e stationary:R
th e driver's doo r is open and th e driver's seat
belt is unfastened. R
th e engin e is switched off , unless it is auto-
matically switched off by th e ECO start/sto p
function .
The electric parkin g brak e secures th e vehicl e
automatically if, wit h Distanc e Pilo t DISTRONI C
activated and th e vehicl e stationary:R
a system malfunction occurs. R
th e powe r supply is no t sufficient.Driving systems 179
Driving and parking Z

Distance Pilot DISTRONIC is automatically deac-
tivated if: R
you engage the electric parking brake or if the
vehicle is automatically secured with the elec-
tric parking brake R
ESP ®
intervenes or you deactivate ESP ®
R
the transmission is in the P , R or N positionR
you pull the cruise control lever towards you
in order to pull away and the front-passenger
door or one of the rear doors is open R
you activate Parking Pilot R
the vehicle is skidding
A warning tone sounds. The Distance Pilot
Off message will appear in the multifunction
display for approximately five seconds.
Distance Pilot DISTRONIC is automatically deac-
tivated if: R
you activate DSR R
you activate the OFFROAD Program+ (vehi-
cles with the Off-Road Engineering package)
The

Tips for driving with Distance Pilot
DISTRONIC General notes Pay particular attention in the following traffic
situations: R
Cornering, entering and exiting a bend: the
ability of Distance Pilot DISTRONIC to detect
vehicles during cornering is limited. Your vehi-
cle may brake unexpectedly or late. R
Driving on a different line: Distance Pilot
DISTRONIC may not detect vehicles which are
not driving in the middle of their lane. The dis-
tance to the vehicle in front will be too short. R
Other vehicles changing lanes: Distance Pilot
DISTRONIC has not detected the vehicle cut-
ting in yet. The distance to this vehicle will be
too short. R
Narrow vehicles: Distance Pilot DISTRONIC
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. R
Obstacles and stationary vehicles: Distance
Pilot DISTRONIC does not brake for obstacles
or stationary vehicles. If, for example, the
detected vehicle turns a corner and an obsta-
cle or stationary vehicle is then revealed, Dis-
tance Pilot DISTRONIC will not brake for
them. R
Crossing traffic: Distance Pilot DISTRONIC
may mistakenly detect vehicles that are
crossing your lane. Activating Distance Pil ot
DIST
RONIC at, for example, a traffic light with
crossing traffic, could cause your vehicle to
pull away at the wrong time.
In such situations, brake if necessary. Distance
Pilot DISTRONIC will then be deactivated. Distance Pilot DISTRONIC with Steering
Pilot General notes
Distance Pilot DISTRONIC with Steering Pilot
aids you in keeping the vehicle in the center of
the driving lane by means of moderate steering
interventions in a speed range from 0 - 125 mph
(0 - 200 km/h).
It monitors the area in front of your vehicle by
means of camera system C at the top of the
windshield.
In a speed range from 0 - 37 mph (0 - 60 km/h),
the extended automatic Re-start in traffic jams
focuses on the vehicle in front, taking into
account lane markings, e.g. when following vehi-
cles in a traffic jam.
At speeds of more than 37 mph (60 km/h),
Steering Pilot focuses on clear lane markings
(left and right), only focusing on the vehicle in
front if clear lane markings are not present.
If these conditions are not present, Steering
Pilot cannot provide assistance.
Distance Pilot DISTRONIC must be active in
order for the function to be available.
Important safety notes
If you fail to adapt your driving style, Distance
Pilot DISTRONIC and Steering Pilot can neither
reduce the risk of an accident nor override the
laws of physics. It cannot take into account
road, weather or traffic conditions. Distance
Pilot DISTRONIC with Steering Pilot is only an
a i d. 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.
Distance Pilot DISTRONIC with Steering Pilot
does not detect road and traffic conditions and
does not detect all road users. If you are follow-
ing a vehicle which is driving towards the edge of
the road, your vehicle could come into contact182
Driving system s
Dr ivi ng an d parking

HOLD function
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.
i Do not use the HOLD function when driving
off-road, on steep uphill or downhill gradients
or on slippery or loose surfaces. The HOLD
function cannot hold the vehicle on such sur-
faces.
Important safety notes
G WARNING
If the vehicle is only braked using the HOLD
function, the vehicle may roll away in the fol-
lowing situations when you leave the vehicle: R
if there is a malfunction in the system or in
the voltage supply R
if the HOLD function is deactivated by
depressing the accelerator pedal or brake
pedal, e.g. by a vehicle occupant R
if the electrical system in the engine com-
partment, the battery or the fuses are tam-
pered with or the battery is disconnected
There is a risk of an accident.
Always deactivate the HOLD function and
secure the vehicle against rolling away before
you leave it.
! When Distance Pilot DISTRONIC or the
HOLD function is activated, the vehicle
brakes automatically in certain situations.
To avoid damage to the vehicle, deactivate
Distance Pilot DISTRONIC and the HOLD
function in the following or similar situations: R
when towing the vehicle R
in the car wash
Deactivate the HOLD function ( Y
page 187). 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 is in position [ , ^ or \\R
Distance Pilot DISTRONIC is deactivated
Activating the HOLD function X
Make sure that the activation conditions are
met. X
Depress the brake pedal. X
Quickly depress the brake pedal further
until C appears in the multifunction display.
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 automatically
if: R
you depress the accelerator and the trans-
mission is in position [ or ^R
you shift the transmission to position ]R
you depress the brake pedal again with a cer-
tain amount of pressure until C disappears
from the multifunction display R
you secure the vehicle using the electric park-
ing brake R
you activate Distance Pilot DISTRONIC
i After a time, the electric parking brake
secures the vehicle and relieves the service
brake.Driving systems 187
Driving and parking Z

When the HOLD function is activated, the trans-
mission is automatically shifted to position ]
if: R
the driver's door is open and the driver's seat
belt is unfastened R
the engine is switched off, unless it is auto-
matically switched off by the ECO start/stop
function
The electric parking brake secures the vehicle
automatically if the HOLD function is activated
when the vehicle is stationary and: R
a system malfunction occurs R
the power supply is insufficient
On steep uphill or downhill gradients or if there
is a malfunction, the transmission may also be
automatically shifted to position ] .
AIRMATIC package
General notes AIRMATIC is an air suspension system with var-
iable damping for improved driving comfort.
Level control ensures the best possible suspen-
sion 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. There is also
the option to manually adjust the vehicle level.
AIRMATIC consists of: R
level settings R
level control and R
ADS or ADS PLUS (Adaptive Damping Sys-
tem)
All vehicles (except Mercedes-AMG vehi-
cles): your vehicle may also be equipped with
the ACTIVE CURVE SYSTEM ( Y
page 189).
Mercedes-AMG vehicles: your vehicle is equip-
ped with the ACTIVE CURVE SYSTEM
( Y
page 189).
Observe the notes on driving with a trailer
( Y
page 225).
The vehicle level can be set using the DYNAMIC
SELECT controller ( Y
page 147) or the level but-
ton ( Y
page 190). The setting always corre-
sponds to the last selected function. Important safety notes
G WARNING
When the vehicle is being lowered, people
could become trapped if their limbs are
between the vehicle body and the wheels or
underneath the vehicle. There is a risk of
injury.
Make sure no one is underneath the vehicle or
in the immediate vicinity of the wheel arches
when the vehicle is being lowered.
If you unlock the vehicle or open a door, the
vehicle begins to compensate for load discrep-
ancies while still parked. However, for signifi-
cant level changes, such as after the vehicle has
been stationary for a long period, the engine
must be on. For safety reasons, the vehicle is
only lowered when the doors are closed. Low-
ering is interrupted if a door is opened, and it
continues once the door has been closed.
ADS and ADS PLUS (Adaptive Damping
System)
General notes The Adaptive Damping System automatically
controls the calibration of the dampers. The
damping characteristics adapt to the current
operating and driving situation.
The damping is tuned individually to each wheel
and depends on: R
your driving style, e.g. sporty R
the road surface conditions R
the drive program selected R
the vehicle level setting
Selecting Comfort mode188
Driving systems
Driving and parking