tow MERCEDES-BENZ M-Class 2013 W166 Owner's Guide

Deactivating DISTRONIC PLUS
There are several ways to deactivate
DISTRONIC PLUS:
X Briefly press the cruise control lever
forwards 0002.
or
X Brake, unless the vehicle is stationary.
Whe nyou 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.
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.
DISTRONIC PLUS is automatically
deactivated if:
R you engage the electric parking brake or if
the vehicle is automatically secured with
the electric 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,Ror Nposition
R you switch off the radar sensor system
(Y page 277) R
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 DSR
R you activate off-road program 2onvehicles
with the ON&OFFROAD package
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.
Displays in the instrument cluster Displays in the speedometer
Example: DISTRONIC PLUS displays in the
speedometer
When DISTRONIC PLUS is activated, one or
two segments
0003in the set speed range light
up.
If DISTRONIC PLUS detects avehicle in front,
segments 0003between speed of the vehicle in
front 0002and stored speed 001Flight up.
i For design reasons, the speed displayed
in the speedometer may differ slightly from
the speed set for DISTRONIC PLUS. Driving systems
201Driving and parking Z

If you wish to exit the vehicle, always turn off
the HOLD function and secure the vehicle
against rolling away.
! If DISTRONIC PLUS or the HOLD function
is activated, the vehicle brakes
automatically in certain situations. To
prevent damage to the vehicle, deactivate
DISTRONIC PLUS and the HOLD function in
the following or other similar situations:
R when towing the vehicle
R in the car wash
Deactivate the HOLD function (Y page 208).
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 withou tthe
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 surfaces.
Activation conditions You can activate the HOLD function if:
R
the vehicle is stationary
R the engine is running
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 D,Ror N
R DISTRONIC PLUS 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 0001 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 accelerate and the transmission is in
position Dor R
R you shift the transmission to position P
R you depress the brake pedal again with a
certain amount of pressure until 0001
disappears 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.
The electric parking brake automatically
secures the vehicle if the HOLD function is
activated and:
R the driver's door is open and the driver's
seat belt is unfastened.
R the engine is switched off.
R a system malfunction occurs.
R the power supply is not sufficient.
On steep uphill or downhill inclines or if there
is a malfunction, the transmission may also
be automatically shifted into position P.208
Driving systemsDriving and parking

Towing
atrailer !
Fold in the ball coupling if the trailer tow
hitch is not required .PARKTRONIC
measures the minimu mdetection range to
an obstacle from the bumper, not the ball
coupling.
PARKTRONIC is deactivated for the rear area
when you establish an electrical connection
between your vehicle and a trailer. 216
Driving systemsDriving and parking

Parking tips:
R
On narrow roads, drive as close to the
parking space as possible.
R Parking spaces that are littered, overgrown
or partially occupied by trailer drawbars
might be identified incorrectly or not at all.
R Snowfall or heavy rain may lead to a parking
space being measured inaccurately.
R Pay attention to the PARKTRONIC
(Y page 215) warning messages during the
parking procedure.
R When transporting a load which protrudes
from your vehicle, you should not use
Active Parking Assist.
R Never use Active Parking Assist when snow
chains are installed.
R Make sure that the tire pressures are
always correct. This has adirec tinfluence
on the parking characteristics of the
vehicle.
General notes Active Parking Assist is an electronic parking
aid with ultrasound. Ultrasound is used to
measure the road on both sides of the vehicle.
As
uitable parking space is indicated by the
parking symbol. Active steering intervention
can assis tyou during parking.
You may also use PARKTRONIC
(Y page 213). When PARKTRONIC is switched
off, Active Parking Assist is also unavailable.
Use Active Parking Assist for parking spaces:
R that are parallel to the direction of travel
R that are on straight roads, not bends
R that are on the same level as the road, e.g.
not on the pavement
Detecting parking spaces G
WARNING
If there are objects above the detection range,
Active Parking Assist may turn prematurely.
You may cause a collision as a result. There is
a risk of an accident. If there are objects above the detection range,
stop and deactivate Active Parking Assist.
Objects located above the height range of
Active Parking Assist will not be detected
when the parking space is measured. These
are not taken into account when the parking
procedure is calculated, e.g. overhanging
loads, tail sections or loading ramps of goods
vehicles. In some circumstances, Active
Parking Assist may therefore guide you into
the parking space too early. 0002
Detected parking space on the left
0003 Parking symbol
001F Detected parking space on the right
Active Parking Assist is switched on
automatically when driving forwards. The
system is operational at speeds of up to
approximately 22 mph (35 km/h) .While in
operation, the system independently locates
and measures parking spaces on both sides
of the 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. By default, Active Parking Assist only
displays parking spaces on the front-
passenger side. Parking spaces on the
driver's side are displayed as soon as the turn
signal on the driver's side is activated. To park
on the driver's side, you must leave the
driver's side turn signal switched on. This
must remain switched on until you
acknowledge the use of Active Parking Assist
by pressing the 000Bbutton on the
multifunction steering wheel.
When a parking space has been detected, an
arrow towards the right or the left also
appears. 218
Driving systemsDriving and parking

message appears in the multifunction
display.
or
X Press the PARKTRONIC button on the
center console (Y page 215).
PARKTRONIC is switched off and Active
Parking Assist is immediatel ycanceled.
The Park Assist Canceled message
appears in the multifunction display.
Active Parking Assist is canceled
automatically if:
R parking using Active Parking Assist is no
longer possible.
R you are driving faster than 6mph
(10 km/h).
R a wheel spins, ESP ®
intervenes or fails .The
000F warning lamp lights up in the
instrument cluster.
Aw arning tone sounds. The parking symbol
disappears and the multifunction display
shows the Park Assist Canceled message.
When Active Parking Assist is canceled, you
must steer again yourself.
Towing
atrailer For vehicles with a trailer tow hitch, the
minimum length for parking spaces is slightly
increased.
If you have attached a trailer to your vehicle,
you should not use Active Parking Assist.
Once the electrical connectio nis established
between your vehicle and the trailer, Active
Parking Assist is no longer available.
PARKTRONIC is deactivated for the rear area. Rear view camera
Important safety notes The rear view camera is only an aid. It is not
a replacement for your attention to your
immediate surroundings. You are always
responsible for safe maneuvering and
parking. When maneuvering or parking, make sure that there are no persons, animals or
objects in the area in which you are
maneuvering.
Under the following circumstances, the rear
view camera will not function, or will function
in a limited manner:
R the tailgate is open
R in heavy rain, snow or fog
R at night or in very dark places
R if the camera is exposed to very bright light
R if the area is lit by fluorescent light or LED
lighting (the display may flicker)
R if there is a sudden change in temperature,
e.g. when driving into a heated garage in
winter
R if the camera lens is dirty or obstructed
R if the rear of your vehicle is damaged.In
this event, have the camera positio nand
setting checked at a qualified specialist
workshop.
General notes Rear view camera
0002is in the handle on the
tailgate.
Rear view camera 0002is an optical parking and
maneuvering aid. It shows the area behind
your vehicle with guide lines in the COMAND
display.
The area behind the vehicle is displayed as a
mirror image, as in the rear view mirror.
i The text of messages shown in the
COMAND display depends on the language
setting. The following are examples of rear Driving systems
221Driving and parking Z

view camera messages in the COMAND
display.
Activating/deactivating the rear view
camera X
To activate: make sure that the SmartKey
is in position 2in the ignition lock.
X Make sure that the function "show rear
view camera display" is selected in
COMAND.
X Engage reverse gear.
The area behind the vehicle is show ninthe
COMAND display with guide lines.
X To change the function mode for
vehicles with trailer tow hitch: using the
COMAND controller, select symbol 0002for
the "Reverse parking" function or
symbol 0003for "Coupling up a trailer" (see
the separate COMAND operating
instructions).
The symbol of the selected function is
highlighted.
To deactivate: the rear view camera is
deactivated if you:
R shift the transmission to position P
R drive forwards 33 ft (10 m)
R shift the transmission from Rto another
position (after 15 seconds)
R drive forwards at a speed of over 5mph
(10km/h) Displays in the COMAND display The rear view camera may show a distorted
view of obstacles, show them incorrectly or
not at all. The rear view camera does not show
objects in the following positions:
R
very close to the rear bumper
R under the rear bumper
R in the area immediately above the tailgate
handle
! Objects not at ground level may appear to
be further away than they actually are, e.g.:
R the bumper of a parked vehicle
R the drawbar of a trailer
R the ball coupling of a trailer tow hitch
R the rear section of an HGV
R a slanted post
Use the guidelines only for orientation.
Approach objects no further than the
bottom-most guideline. 0002
White guide line without turning the
steering wheel, vehicle width including
the exterior mirrors (static)
0003 Yellow guide line at a distance of
approximately 13 ft (4.0m) from the rear
of the vehicle
001F Red guide line for the vehicle width
including the exterior mirrors, for current
steering wheel angle (dynamic)
001E Yellow lane marking tires at current
steering wheel angle (dynamic) 222
Driving systemsDriving and parking

"Coupling up a trailer" function
!
The following distance specifications
refer to trailer tow hitches with ball
coupling that have been approved for this
vehicle by Mercedes-Benz.D istances may
differ if you use other ball couplings. In this
case, take into account that actual
distances will not match the following
distance specifications. Otherwise you
could damage the trailer and vehicle. 0002
Vehicle center point on the yellow guide
line at a distance of approximately 3ft
(1 m) from the rear of the vehicle
0003 Trailer drawbar
001F Ball coupling
This function is only available on vehicles with
a trailer tow hitch.
X Set the height of trailer drawbar 0003so that
it is slightly higher than ball coupling 001F.
X Position the vehicle centrally in fron tof
trailer drawbar 0003. 0002
Ball coupling
0003 Red guide line at a distance of
approximately 10 in (0.25 m)from the ball
coupling
001F Trailer drawbar marker assistant
001E Trailer drawbar
001C Symbol for the "Coupling up a trailer"
function
X Use the COMAND controlle rto select
symbol 001C, see the separate operating
instructions for COMAND.
The "Coupling up a trailer" function is
selected. The distance specifications now
only apply to objects that are at the same
level as the ball coupling.
X Reverse carefully, making sure that trailer
drawbar marker assistant 001Fpoints
approximately in the direction of trailer
drawbar 001E.
X Reverse carefully until trailer drawbar 001E
reaches red guide line 0003.
X Couple up the trailer (Y page 253). 360° camera (surround view)
Important safety notes The 360° camera is only an aid. It is not a
replacement for your attention to your
immediate surroundings. You are always
responsible for safe maneuvering and
parking. When maneuvering or parking, make
sure that there are no persons, animals or Driving systems
225Driving and parking Z

objects in the area in which you are
maneuvering.
The 360° camera may show a distorted view
of obstacles, show them incorrectly or not at
all. It cannot show objects in the following
areas:
R
under the front bumper
R very close to the front bumper
R very close to the rear bumper
R under the rear bumper
R in close range above the handle on the
trunk lid
R very close to the exterior mirrors
You are always responsible for safety, and
must always pay attention to your
surroundings when parking and
maneuvering. This applies to the areas
behind, in front of and beside the vehicle. You
could otherwise endanger yourself and
others.
The rear view camera will not function or will
function in a limited manner:
R if the doors are open
R if the exterior mirrors are folded in
R if the trunk lid is open
R in heavy rain, snow or fog
R at night or in very dark places
R if the cameras are exposed to very bright
light
R if the area is lit by fluorescent light or LED
lighting (the display may flicker)
R if you exit a heated garage in winter,
resulting in a rapid change in temperature
R if the camera lenses are dirty or covered
R if the vehicle components in which the
cameras are installed are damaged. In this
event, have the camera position and setting
checked at a qualified specialist workshop.
Do not use the 360° camera in this case. You
can otherwise injure others or cause damage
to objects or the vehicle. General notes The 360° camera is a system consisting of
four cameras.
The system analyzes images from the
following cameras:
R
Rear view camera
R Front camera
R Two cameras in the exterior rear view
mirrors
The cameras capture the immediate
surroundings of the vehicle. The system
supports you, e.g. when parking or if vision is
restricted at an exit.
The 360° camera images can be shown in full
screen mode or in seven different split-screen
views on the COMAND display .Asplit-screen
view also includes a top view of the vehicle.
This view is calculated from the data supplied
by the installed cameras (virtual camera).
The seven split-scree nviews are:
R top view and picture from the rear view
camera (130° viewin gangle)
R top view and picture from the front camera
(withou tdisplaying the maximum steering
wheel angle)
R top view and enlarged rear view
R top view and enlarged front view
R top view and trailer view (vehicles with
trailer tow hitch)
R top view and pictures fro mthe rearward
facing mirror cameras (rear wheel view)
R top view and pictures from the forward
facing mirror cameras (front wheel view)
i The top view and trailer view are available
for vehicles equipped with a trailer tow
hitch.
When the function is active and you shift the
transmission from position Dor Rto N, you
see the previous view in the COMAND
display. The dynamic guidelines are hidden.
When you change between transmission
positions Dand R, you see the previously
selected front or rear view. 226
Driving systemsDriving and parking

Activation conditions
The 360° camera imag
ecan be displayed if:
R your vehicle is equipped with a 360°
camera
R COMAND is switched on, see the separate
COMAND operating instructions
R the 360° camera function is activated
Activating the 360° camera using the
SYS button X
Press and hold the 0003button for longer
than 2seconds, see the separate COMAND
operating instructions.
Depending on whether position Dor Ris
engaged, the following is shown:
R full screen display with the image from
the front camera
R full screen display with the image from
the rear camera
Activating the 360° camer awith
COMAND X
Press the 0003button, see the separate
COMAN Doperating instructions.
X Select System by turning
000E0002000Fthe
COMAND controller and press 000Cto
confirm.
X Select 360° camera and press
000Cto
confirm.
Depending on whether position Dor Ris
engaged, the following is shown:
R a split screen with top view and the
image from the front camera or
R a split screen with top view and the
image from the rear view camera
For further information about the COMAND
Controller, see the separate COMAND
operating instructions. Activating the 360° camer
ausing
reverse gear The 360° camera images can be
automatically displayed by engaging reverse
gear.
X
Make sure that the SmartKey is in position
2in the ignition lock.
X Make sure that the Activation by R gear setting is active in COMAND, see the
separate COMAND operating instructions.
X To show the 360° camer aimage: engage
reverse gear.
The COMAND display shows the area
behind the vehicle in spli tscreen:
R vehicle with guide lines
R top view of the vehicle
Selecting the split-screen and full
screen displays X
To switc hbetween spli tscreen views:
switch to the line with the vehicle icons by
sliding 000B0002the COMAND controller.
X Turn 000E0002000F the COMAND controller and
selec tone of the vehicle symbols.
X To switc hto full screen mode: select
Full screen by turning
000E0002000Fthe
COMAND controller and press 000Cto
confirm.
Displays in the COMAND display Important safety notes
!
Objects not at ground level may appear to
be further away than they actually are, e.g.:
R the bumper of a parked vehicle
R the drawbar of a trailer
R the ball coupling of a trailer tow hitch
R the rear section of an HGV
R a slanted post
Use the guidelines only for orientation.
Approach objects no further than the
bottom-mos tguideline. Driving systems
227Driving and parking Z

indicator lamp goes out and Blind Spot Assist
is operational.
If a vehicle is detected within the monitoring
range of Blind Spot Assist at speeds above
20 mph (30km/h), warning lamp 0002on the
corresponding side lights up red. This warning
is always emitted when a vehicle enters the
blind spot monitoring rang efrom behind or
from the side .When you overtake a vehicle,
the warning only occurs if the difference in
speed is less than 7mph (12km/h).
The yellow indicator lamp goes out if reverse
gear is engaged. In this event, Blind Spot
Assist is no longer active.
The brightness of the indicator/warning
lamps is adjusted automatically according to
the ambient light.
Collision warning
If a vehicle is detected in the monitoring range
of Blind Spot Assist and you switch on the
corresponding turn signal, a double warning
tone sounds. Red warning lamp 0002flashes. If
the turn signal remains on, vehicles detected
are indicated by the flashing of red warning
lamp 0002.There are no further warning tones.
Switching on Blind Spot Assist X
Make sure that the radar sensor system
(Y page 277) and Blind Spot Assist (Y
page 273) are activated in the on-board
computer.
X Turn the SmartKey to position 2in the
ignition lock.
Warning lamps 0002in the exterior mirrors
light up red for approximately
1.5 seconds and then turn yellow.
Towing atrailer
When you attach a trailer, make sure you have
correctly established the electrical
connection. This can be accomplished by
checking the trailer lighting. In this event,
Blind Spo tAssist is deactivated. The indicator
lamp in the exterior mirrors lights up yellow,
and the Blind Spot Assist Currently Unavailable See Operator's Manual
message appears in the multifunction
display.
i
You can deactivate the indicator lamps in
the exterior mirrors.
To do so, switch off Blind Spot Assist when:
R the SmartKey is in position 2in the
ignition lock
R the engine is not running
R the electrical connection to the trailer
has been established
Lane Keeping Assist Important safety notes
G
WARNING
Lane Keeping Assist may not always clearly
recognize lane markings.
In this case, Lane Keeping Assist may:
R give an unnecessary warning
R not give a warning
There is a risk of an accident.
Always pay particular attention to the traffic
situation and stay in lane, in particular if
warned by Lane Keeping Assist. Driving systems
235Driving and parking Z