drive mode MERCEDES-BENZ M-Class 2015 W166 Owner's Manual

Alarm system
see ATA (Anti-Theft Alarm system)
Ambient lighting
Setting the brightness (on-board
computer) ...................................... 278
Setting the color (on-board com-
puter) ............................................ .278
AMG adaptive sport suspension
system ................................................ 215
AMG menu (on-board computer) ..... 281
Anti-lock braking system see ABS (Anti-lock Braking System)
Anti-Theft Alarm system
see ATA (Anti-Theft Alarm system)
Approach/departure angle .............. 194
Ashtray ............................................... 348
Assistance display (on-board com-
puter) ................................................. .275
Assistance menu (on-board com-
puter) ................................................. .275
ASSYST PLUS Displaying a service message ....... .371
Hiding a service message .............. 371
Notes ............................................. 370
Resetting the service interval dis-
play ................................................ 371
Service message ............................ 370
Special service requirements ......... 371
ATA (Anti-Theft Alarm system)
Activating/deactivating ................... 77
Function .......................................... .77
Switching off the alarm .................... 77
ATTENTION ASSIST
Activating/deactivating ................. 276
Display message ............................ 304
Function/note s............................. 233
Audio menu (on-board computer) .... 272
Audio system see separate operating instructions
Authorized Mercedes-Benz Center
see Qualified specialist workshop
Authorized workshop
see Qualified specialist workshop
AUTO lights
Display message ............................ 300
see Lights
Automatic car wash (care) ............... 372Automatic engine start (ECO start/
stop function) .................................... 163
Automatic engine switch-off (ECO
start/stop function) .......................... 162
Automatic headlamp mode .............. 120
Automatic transmission Accelerator pedal position ............. 171
Automatic drive program ............... 173
Changing gear ............................... 171
DIRECT SELECT lever ..................... 168
Display message ............................ 315
Drive program display .................... 168
Driving tips .................................... 171
Emergency running mode .............. 177
Engaging drive position .................. 170
Engaging neutral ............................ 169
Engaging park position automati-
cally ............................................... 169
Engaging reverse gear ................... 169
Engaging the park position ............ 168
Kickdown ....................................... 171
Manual drive progra m.................... 173
Manual drive program (AMG vehi-
cles) ............................................... 174
Manual drive program (vehicles
with the ON&OFFROAD package) .. 174
Overview ........................................ 168
Problem (malfunction) ................... 177
Program selector button ................ 172
Pulling away ................................... 160
Starting the engine ........................ 160
Steering wheel paddle shifters ...... 172
Trailer towing ................................. 171
Transmission position display ........ 168
Transmission positions .................. 170
Automatic transmission emer-
gency mode ....................................... 177
Axle load, permissible (trailer tow-
ing) ...................................................... 460 B
Bag hook ............................................ 339
Ball coupling Installing ........................................ 258
Removing ....................................... 262
Storing ........................................... 262
BAS (Brake Assist System) ................. 68 Index
5

the Service and Guarantee booklet or simply
call the Mercedes-Benz Customer Assistance
Center (USA) at the hotline number
1-800-FOR-MERCede s(1-800-367-6372 )or
Customer Service (Canada) at
1-800-387-0100. Vehicle operation outside the USA
and Canada
If you plan to operate your vehicle in foreign
countries, please be aware that:
R service facilities or replacement parts may
not be readily available.
R unleaded fuel for vehicles with a catalytic
converter may not be available. Leaded fuel may cause damage to the catalytic con-
verter.
R the fuel may have a considerably lower
octane rating. Unsuitable fuel can cause
engine damage.
Some Mercedes-Benz models are available
for delivery in Europe through our European
Delivery Program. For details, consult an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center or write to
one of the following addresses.
In the USA
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC
European Delivery Department
One Mercedes Drive
Montvale, NJ 07645-0350
In Canada
Mercedes-Benz Canada, Inc.
European Delivery Department
98 Vanderhoof Avenue
Toronto, Ontario M4G 4C9 Sports Utility Vehicle
G
WARNING
Due to the high center of gravity, the vehicle
may start to skid and roll over in the event of
an abrupt steering maneuver and/or when the vehicle's speed is not adapted to the road
conditions. There is a risk of an accident.
Always adapt your speed and driving style to
the vehicle's driving characteristics and to theprevailing road and weather conditions.
Utility vehicles have a significantly higher roll-
over rate than other types of vehicles.
Failure to operate this vehicle safely may
result in an accident, rollover of the vehicle,
and severe or fatal injury.
In a rollover crash, an unbelted person is sig- nificantly more likely to die than a person
wearing a seat belt.
You and all vehicle occupants should always
wear your seat belts. Operating safety
Important safety notes
G
WARNING
If you do not have the prescribed service/
maintenance work or any required repairs
carried out, this can result in malfunctions or system failures. There is a risk of an accident.
Always have the prescribed service/mainte-
nance work as well as any required repairs
carried out at a qualified specialist workshop. G
WARNING
If you switch off the ignition while driving,
safety-relevant functions are only available
with limitations, or not at all. This could affect, for example, the power steering and the brake
boosting effect. You will require considerably
more effort to steer and brake. There is a risk of an accident.
Do not switch off the ignition while driving. G
WARNING
Flammable material such as leaves, grass or
twigs may ignite if they come into contact with hot parts of the exhaust system. There is a risk of fire. Introduction
27 Z

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 29). Panic alarm
X
To activate: press0033button 0043for at
least one second.
An alarm sounds and the exterior lighting
flashes.
X To deactivate: press0033button 0043
again.
or
X Insert the SmartKey into the ignition lock.
or X Press the KEYLESS-GO Start/Stop button.
The KEYLESS-GO key must be in the vehi-
cle. Occupant safety
Restraint system: introduction
The restraint system reduces the risk of occu-
pants hitting parts of the vehicle interior in the
event of an accident. Furthermore, the
restraint system may also reduce the forces
exerted on the vehicle occupants when an
accident occurs.
The restraint system includes:
R Seat belt system
R Air bags
R Child restraint system
R Child seat securing system
The components of the restraint system work
in conjunction with each other. They can only
offer the intended level of protection if all
vehicle occupants:
R are correctly wearing their seat belts.
(Y page 47)
R adjust their seat and head restraint prop-
erly (Y page 105).
The driver is also responsible for ensuring
that the steering wheel has been correctly
positioned. Observe the information relating
to the correct driver's seat position
(Y page 104).
Always ensure the air bag can inflate properly if deployed (Y page 50).
An air bag supplements a correctly fastened
seat belt and is an additional safety device
providing increased protection for vehicle
occupants in appropriate accident situations.
For example, if the protection already provi-
ded by a correctly fastened seat belt will suf-
fice, the air bags are not deployed. Further-
more, only the air bags that would increase
the degree of protection afforded to the vehi- cle occupants in the event of an accident are deployed. Seat belts and air bags generally do
not protect against objects penetrating the
vehicle from the outside.
Information on the restraint system operation can be found under "Triggering of belt ten-
sioners and air bags" (Y page 58).44
Occupant safetySafety

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 29). Correct driver's seat position
G
WARNING
You could lose control of your vehicle if you do the following while driving:
R adjust the driver's seat, head restraint,
steering wheel or mirrors
R fasten the seat belt
There is a risk of an accident.
Adjust the driver's seat, head restraint, steer-
ing wheel and mirror and fasten your seat belt before starting the engine. X
Observe the safety guidelines on seat
adjustment (Y page 105).
X Make sure that seat 0087is adjusted prop-
erly.
Electrical seat adjustment (Y page 106)
When adjusting the seat, make sure that:
R you are as far away from the driver's air bag
as possible.
R you are sitting in a normal upright position.
R you can fasten the seat belt properly.
R you have moved the backrest to an almost
vertical position.
R you have set the seat cushion angle so that
your thighs are gently supported.
R you can depress the pedals properly.
X Check whether the head restraint is adjus-
ted properly.
When doing so, make sure that you have
adjusted the head restraint so that the back of your head is supported at eye level by the
center of the head restraint. Also make
sure that you have adjusted the head
restraint so that the back of your head is as close to the head restraint as possible. Thiswill be the case if the head restraint is
adjusted correctly (Y page 107).
X Observe the safety guidelines on steering
wheel adjustment (Y page 111).
X Make sure that steering wheel 0043is adjus-
ted properly.
Adjusting the steering wheel manually
(Y page 111)
Adjusting the steering wheel electrically
(Y page 112)
When adjusting the steering wheel, make
sure that:
R you can hold the steering wheel with your
arms slightly bent.
R you can move your legs freely.
R you can see all the displays in the instru-
ment cluster clearly.
X Observe the safety guidelines for seat belts
(Y page 46). 104
Correct driver's seat positionSeats, steering wheel and mirrors

when you store the setting with the memory
function (Y page 116).
Crash-responsive EASY-EXIT feature If the crash-responsive EASY-EXIT feature is
triggered in an accident, the steering column
will move upwards when the driver's door is
opened. This occurs irrespective of the posi-
tion of the SmartKey in the ignition lock. This makes it easier to exit the vehicle and rescue the occupants.
The crash-responsive EASY-EXIT feature is
only operational if the EASY-EXIT/ENTRY fea-
ture is activated in the on-board computer
(Y page 279). Mirrors
Rear-view mirror
X
Anti-glare mode: flick anti-glare lever 0043
forwards or back. Exterior mirrors
Adjusting the exterior mirrors G
WARNING
The exterior mirror on the front-passenger
side reduces the size of the image. Visible
objects are actually closer than they appear.
This means that you could misjudge the dis-
tance from road users traveling behind, e.g.
when changing lane. There is a risk of an acci-
dent. For this reason, always make sure of the
actual distance from the road users traveling
behind by glancing over your shoulder.
X
Turn the SmartKey to position 1or 2in the
ignition lock (Y page 157).
X Press button 0043for the left-hand exterior
mirror or button 0044for the right-hand exte-
rior mirror.
The indicator lamp in the corresponding
button lights up in red.
The indicator lamp goes out again after
some time. You can adjust the selected
mirror using adjustment button 0087as long
as the indicator lamp is lit.
X Press adjustment button 0087up, down, or to
the left or right until you have adjusted the
exterior mirror to the correct position. You
should have a good overview of traffic con- ditions.
The convex exterior mirrors provide a larger
field of vision.
The exterior mirrors are heated automatically
if the rear window defroster is switched on
and the outside temperature is low. 114
MirrorsSeats, steering wheel and mirrors

Folding the exterior mirrors in or out
electrically X
Turn the SmartKey to position 1or 2in the
ignition lock (Y page 157).
X Briefly press button 0043.
Both exterior mirrors fold in or out.
i Make sure that the exterior mirrors are
always folded out fully while driving. They
could otherwise vibrate.
i If you are driving faster than 30 mph
(47 km/h), you can no longer fold in the
exterior mirrors.
Setting the exterior mirrors If the battery has been disconnected or com-
pletely discharged, the exterior mirrors must
be reset. The exterior mirrors will otherwise
not fold in when you select the "Fold in mir-
rors when locking" function in the on-board
computer (Y page 280).
X Turn the SmartKey to position 1in the igni-
tion lock (Y page 157).
X Briefly press button 0043.
Folding the exterior mirrors in or out
automatically If the "Fold in mirrors when locking" function
is activated in the on-board computer:
(Y page 280) R
the exterior mirrors fold in automatically as
soon as you lock the vehicle from the out-
side.
R the exterior mirrors fold out again automat-
ically as soon as you unlock the vehicle and
then open the driver's or front-passenger
door.
Exterior mirror pushed out of position If an exterior mirror has been pushed out of
position, proceed as follows:
X Vehicles without electrically folding
exterior mirrors: move the exterior mirror
into the correct position manually.
X Vehicles with electrically folding exte-
rior mirrors: press and hold button for
folding the mirrors 0043(Ypage 115) until
you hear a click and then the mirror engage
in position.
The mirror housing is engaged again and
you can adjust the exterior mirrors as usual
(Y page 114). Automatic anti-glare mirrors
The rear-view mirror and the exterior mirror
on the driver's side automatically go into anti- glare mode if the following conditions are met simultaneously:
R the ignition is switched on and
R incident light from headlamps strikes the
sensor in the rear-view mirror.
i The mirrors do not go into anti-glare mode
if reverse gear is engaged or if the interior
lighting is switched on. Mirrors
115Seats, steering wheel and mirrors Z

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 29). Exterior lighting
General notes
For reasons of safety, Mercedes-Benz recom- mends that you drive with the lights switchedon even during the daytime. In some coun-
tries, operation of the headlamps varies due
to legal requirements and self-imposed obli-
gations. Driving abroad
Conversion to symmetrical low beam Switch the headlamps to symmetrical low
beam in countries in which traffic drives on
the opposite side of the road from the country
where the vehicle is registered. This prevents glare to oncoming traffic. When using sym-
metrical lights, the edge of the road is not lit
as widely and as far ahead as normal.
Have the headlamps converted at a qualified
specialist workshop as close to the border as
possible before driving in these countries.
Conversion to asymmetrical low beam
after returning Have the headlamps converted back to asym-
metrical low-beam headlamps at a qualified
specialist workshop as soon as possible after crossing the border again. Setting the exterior lighting
Setting options Exterior lighting can be set using:
R the light switch
R the combination switch (Y page 123)
R the on-board computer (Y page 277)
Light switch Operation
0047
0063
Left-hand standing lamps
0048 0064
Right-hand standing lamps
0049 0060
Parking lamps, license plate and
instrument cluster lighting
004A 0058
Automatic headlamp mode, control-
led by the light sensor
004B 0058
Low-beam/high-beam headlamps
0084 005E
Rear fog lamp
If you hear a warning tone when you leave the
vehicle, the lights may still be switched on.
X Turn the light switch to 0058.
The exterior lighting (except the parking/
standing lamps) switches off automatically if
you: R remove the SmartKey from the ignition lock
R open the driver's door with the SmartKey in
position 0.
Automatic headlamp mode G
WARNING
When the light switch is set to 0058, the low-
beam headlamps may not be switched on 120
Exterior lightingLights and windshield wipers

automatically if there is fog, snow or other
causes of poor visibility due to the weather
conditions such as spray. There is a risk of an
accident.
In such situations, turn the light switch to
0058.
The automatic headlamp feature is only an
aid. The driver is responsible for the vehicle's lighting at all times. 0047
0063
Left-hand standing lamps
0048 0064
Right-hand standing lamps
0049 0060
Parking lamps, license plate and
instrument cluster lighting
004A 0058
Automatic headlamp mode, control-
led by the light sensor
004B 0058
Low-beam/high-beam headlamps
0084 005E
Rear fog lamp
0058 is the favored light switch setting. The
light setting is automatically selected accord- ing to the brightness of the ambient light
(exception: poor visibility due to weather con-
ditions such as fog, snow or spray):
R SmartKey in position 1in the ignition lock:
the parking lamps are switched on or off
automatically depending on the brightness of the ambient light.
R With the engine running: if you have acti-
vated the daytime running lamps function
via the on-board computer, the daytime
running lamps or the low-beam headlamps and parking lamps are switched on or off
automatically depending on the brightnessof the ambient light. X
To switch on automatic headlamp
mode: turn the light switch to 0058.
Only for Canada:
The daytime running lamps improve the visi-
bility of your vehicle during the day. The day- time running lamps function is required by lawin Canada. It cannot therefore be deactivated.
When the engine is running and the vehicle is
stationary: if you move the selector lever from a drive position to P, the daytime running
lamps/low-beam headlamps go out after
three minutes.
When the engine is running, the vehicle is
stationary and in bright ambient light: if you
turn the light switch to 0060, the daytime
running lamps and parking lamps switch on.
If the engine is running and you turn the light
switch to 0058, the manual settings take
precedence over the daytime running lamps.
USA only:
The daytime running lamps improve the visi-
bility of your vehicle during the day. To do this,
the daytime running lamps function must be
switched on using the on-board computer
(Y page 277).
If the engine is running and you turn the light
switch to 0060or0058, the manual settings
take precedence over the daytime running
lamps.
i In the USA, the daytime running lamps are
deactivated upon delivery from the factory.
Low-beam headlamps G
WARNING
When the light switch is set to 0058, the low-
beam headlamps may not be switched on
automatically if there is fog, snow or other
causes of poor visibility due to the weather
conditions such as spray. There is a risk of an
accident.
In such situations, turn the light switch to
0058. Exterior lighting
121Lights and windshield wipers Z

0087
To direct the airflow through the rear air vents
0085 To direct the airflow through the footwell vents Optimum use of dual-zone automatic
climate control
The following contains notes and recommen-
dations on optimum use of the dual-zone
automatic climate control.
R Activate climate control using the 0058and
005A/0056 buttons. The indicator lamps in
the 0058 and005A/0056 buttons light up.
R Set the temperature to 72 ‡ (22 †).
R Only use the "Windshield defrosting" func-
tion briefly until the windshield is clear
again.
R Only use air-recirculation mode briefly, e.g.
if there are unpleasant outside odors or
when in a tunnel. The windows could oth-
erwise fog up, since no fresh air is drawn
into the vehicle in air-recirculation mode.
R Use the ZONE function to adopt the tem-
perature settings on the driver's side for
the front-passenger side as well. The indi-
cator lamp above the 00D6button goes
out.
R Vehicles with COMAND: if you change the
settings of the climate control system, the
climate status display appears for approx-
imately three seconds at the bottom of the
screen in the COMAND display. See also
the separate COMAND operating instruc-
tions. You will see the current settings of
the various climate control functions.
During automatic engine switch-off, the cli-
mate control system only operates at a
reduced capacity. If you require the full cli-
mate control output, you can switch off the
ECO start/stop function by pressing the ECO
button (Y page 163). Overview of climate control systems
141Climate control

Optimum use of 3-zone automatic cli-
mate control
The following contains instructions and rec-
ommendations to enable you to get the most
out of your 3-zone automatic climate control.
R Activate climate control using the 0058and
005A buttons. The indicator lamps above
the 0058 and005A buttons light up.
R In automatic mode, you can also use the
00F0 button to set a climate mode
(FOCUS/MEDIUM/DIFFUSE). The
MEDIUM level is recommended.
R Set the temperature to 72 ‡ (22 †).
R Only use the "Windshield defrosting" func-
tion briefly until the windshield is clear
again.
R Only use air-recirculation mode briefly, e.g.
if there are unpleasant outside odors or
when in a tunnel. The windows could oth-
erwise fog up, since no fresh air is drawn
into the vehicle in air-recirculation mode.
R Use the ZONE function to adopt the tem-
perature settings on the driver's side for
the front-passenger side and the rear com- partment as well. The indicator lamp above
the 00D6 button goes out.
R Use the residual heat function if you want to
heat or ventilate the vehicle interior when
the ignition is switched off. The residual
heat function can only be activated or deac- tivated with the ignition switched off.
R Vehicles with COMAND: if you change the
settings of the climate control system, the
climate status display appears for approx-
imately three seconds at the bottom of the
screen in the COMAND display. See also
the separate COMAND operating instruc-
tions. You will see the current settings of
the various climate control functions.
During automatic engine switch-off, the cli-
mate control system only operates at a
reduced capacity. If you require the full cli-
mate control output, you can switch off the
ECO start/stop function by pressing the ECO button (Y page 163). Operating the climate control sys-
tems
Switching climate control on/off
General notes When the climate control is switched off, the
air supply and air circulation are also
switched off. The windows could fog up.
Therefore, switch off climate control only
briefly
i Switch on climate control primarily using
the 0058 button (Y page 146).
In the rear compartment, you can also switch
climate control on and off using the 0058and
0078 buttons.
Activating/deactivating X
Turn the SmartKey to position 2in the igni-
tion lock (Y page 157).
X To activate: press the0058button.
The indicator lamp in the 0058button lights
up. Airflow and air distribution are set to
automatic mode.
or
X Press the 0078button.
The indicator lamp in the 0078button goes
out. The previously selected settings are
restored.
X To deactivate: press the0078button.
The indicator lamp in the 0078button lights
up. Activating/deactivating cooling with
air dehumidification
General notes If you deactivate the "Cooling with air-dehu-
midification" function, the air inside the vehi-
cle will not be cooled. The air inside the vehi-
cle will also not be dehumidified. The win-
dows can fog up more quickly. Therefore, only deactivate the "Cooling with air-dehumidifi-
cation" function briefly. 144
Operating the climate control systemsClimate control