Get Driving and parking -> Driving tips Guide for Mercedes B Class SUV First Generation (2005-2010)

the seat belt is fastened.

you depress the accelerator pedal.

If the transmission is in position R, the tailgate

must be closed.

If your seat belt is not fastened, the following

conditions must be fulfilled to automatically

release the electric parking brake:

the driver's door is closed.

you have shifted outoftransmission posi-

tion P or you have previously drivenfaster

than 3 km/h.

Emergency braking

The vehicle can also be braked during an

emergency using the electric parking brake.

While driving, push handle : of the electric

parking brake (Y page 145).

The vehicle is braked for as long as han-

dle : of the electric parking brake

pressed. The longer the electric parking

brake handle : is depressed, the greater

the braking force.

During braking:

a warning tone sounds.

the

Release park. brake

message

appears.

the red ! indicator lamp in the instru-

mentclusterflashes.

When the vehicle has been braked to a stand-

still, the electric parking brake is engaged.

Parking up the vehicle

If you leave the vehicle parked up for longer

than four weeks, the battery may be damaged

by exhaustive discharging.

Have the battery disconnected at a quali-

fied specialist workshop or connecta

trickle charger.

If you leave the vehicle parked up for longer

thansix weeks, the vehicle may suffer dam-

age as a result of lack of use.

Visit a qualified specialist workshop and

seek advice.

You can obtain information about trickle

chargers fromaqualified specialist work-

shop.

Driving tips

General driving tips

Coasting with the engine switched off

WARNING

Never switch the engine off while the vehicle

is in motion.

There is no power assistance for the steering

and the service brake when the engine is not

running.

You will require considerably more effortto

steer and brake, and you could therefore lose

control of the vehicle and cause an accident.

Short journeys

Vehicles with adiesel particle filter: if

the vehicle is mostly driven for short dis-

tances, it is possible that malfunctions may

occur during the automatic cleaning of the

diesel particle filter. This may lead to fuel

collecting in the engine oil and cause

engine failure. Therefore, if you frequently

drive short distances, you should take a 20

minute trip on a motorway or rural road at

least every 500km.

Brakes

Important safety notes

WARNING

Do not change down for additional engine

braking on a slippery road surface. This could

146

Driving tips

Driving and parking

cause the drive wheels to losetheir grip and

the vehicle could skid.

WARNING

Make sure that other road users are not

endangered by your braking.

Downhill gradients

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. To

do so in vehicles with an automatic transmis-

sion, you will need to select the manual drive

program M in advance (Y page 139).

This also applies if you have activated

cruise control, SPEEDTRONIC or DIS-

TRONIC PLUS.

This will use the braking effect of the engine,

so less braking will be required to prevent the

vehicle from gaining speed. This relieves the

load on the brake system and prevents the

brakes from overheating and wearing too

quickly.

Vehicles with automatic transmis-

sion: if the accelerator pedal is depressed

briefly on downhill gradients while the man-

ual drive program M is temporarily activa-

ted, the automatic transmission may

switch back to the last active automatic

drive program E or S.The automatic trans-

mission may shift to a higher gear. This can

reduce the engine's braking effect.

Heavy and light loads

WARNING

Never depress the brake pedal continuously

while the vehicle is in motion, e.g. never cause

the brakes to rub by applying constant slight

pedal pressure. This causes the brake system

to overheat, increases the braking distance

and can lead to the brakes failing completely.

If the brakes have been subjected to a heavy

load, do not stop the vehicle immediately, but

drive on for a short while. This allows the air-

flow to cool the brakes more quickly.

If the brakes have been used only moderately,

you should occasionally test their effective-

ness. To do this, brake more firmly from a

higher speed. This improves the grip of the

brakes.

Wet road surfaces

If driving in heavy rain for a prolonged period

of time without braking, there may be a

delayed reaction from the brakes when brak-

ing for the first time. This may also occur after

the vehicle has been washed.

You have to depress the brake pedal more

firmly. Maintain a greater distance from the

vehicle in front.

After driving on a wet road or having the vehi-

cle washed, brake firmly while paying atten-

tion to the traffic conditions. This will warm

up the brake discs, thereby drying them more

quickly and protecting them against corro-

sion.

Limited braking performance on salt-

treated roads

WARNING

The layerofsalt on thebrake discs and the

brake pads/linings may causeadelay in the

braking effect, resulting in a significantly lon-

ger braking distance, which could lead to an

accident.

To avoid this danger, you should:

occasionally brake carefully, without put-

ting other road users at risk, when you are

driving on salted roads. This helps to

remove any salt that may have started to

build up on the brake discs and the brake

pads/linings.

maintain a greater distanceto the vehicle

ahead and drive with particular care.

carefully apply the brakes at the end of a

trip and immediately after commencing a

new trip, so that salt residues are removed

from the brake discs.

Driving tips

147

Driving and parking

New brake pads/linings

WARNING

New brake pads/linings onlyreach their opti-

mum braking effectafter several hundred kil-

ometres of driving. Before this optimumbrak-

ing effect is reached, you should compensate

for the reduced braking effect by applying

greater pressure when braking. This also

applies after the brake discs or the brake

pads/linings have been replaced.

For safety reasons, Mercedes-Benz recom-

mends that you only have brake pads/linings

fitted to yourvehicle which have been

approved for Mercedes-Benz vehicles or

which correspond to an equivalent quality

standard. Brake pads/linings which have not

been approved for Mercedes-Benzvehicles or

which are not of an equivalent quality could

affect your vehicle's operating safety.

Tyre traction

WARNING

Whereas the vehicle can be fully controlled at

a certain speed on dry roads, you must reduce

your speed on wet or icy roads to achieve the

same road safety. You could otherwise cause

an accident.

Pay particular attention to the road conditions

at temperatures around freezing point.

If ice has formed on the road surface (e.g.

from fog), a thin film of water rapidly forms on

the ice when you brake, considerably reduc-

ing tyre traction. Drive with particular care in

such weather conditions.

Driving on wet roads

Aquaplaning

If water has accumulated to a certain depth

on the road surface, there is a danger of aqua-

planing occurring, even if:

you are driving at low speeds.

the tyres have adequate tread depth.

For this reason, do not drive in tyre ruts, and

brake carefully.

Driving on flooded roads

Bear in mind that vehicles travelling in

front or in the opposite direction create

waves. This may cause the maximum per-

missible water depth to be exceeded.

These notes must be observed under all

circumstances. You could otherwise dam-

age the engine, the electronics or the trans-

mission.

If you have to drive on stretches of road on

which water has collected, please bear in

mind that:

the maximum permissible still water depth

is 25 cm.

you should drive no faster than at walking

pace.

Winter driving

General notes

WARNING

If the vehicle becomes trapped in snow,

ensure that snow is kept away from the

exhaust pipe and from around the vehicle as

long as the engine is running. Otherwise, poi-

sonous carbon monoxide (CO) may enter the

vehicle, resulting in loss of consciousness and

even death.

To assure sufficientfresh air ventilation, open

a window slightly on the side of the vehicle

not facing the wind.

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Driving tips

Driving and parking

Have your vehicle winterproofed at a qualified

specialist workshop at the onset of winter.

Observe the notes in the "Winter operation"

section(Ypage 294).

Driving with summer tyres

Observe the notes in the "Winter operation"

section (Y page 294).

Slippery road surfaces

WARNING

Do not shift down for additional engine brak-

ing on a slippery road surface. This could

cause the drive wheels to lose their grip and

the vehicle could skid.

If the vehicle threatens to skid or cannot be

stopped when moving at low speed:

Vehicles with manual transmission:

shift to neutral.

Vehicles with automatic transmission:

shift the transmission to position N.

Try to bring the vehicle under control by

using corrective steering.

You should drive particularly carefully on slip-

pery road surfaces.Avoid sudden accelera-

tion, steering and braking manoeuvres.

For more information on driving with

snow chains, see (Y page 295).

Driving systems

Cruise control

General notes

Cruise control maintains a constant road

speed for you.Itbrakes automatically in order

to avoid exceeding the set speed. You must

select a lower gearingood time on long and

steep downhill gradients, especially if the

vehicle is laden or towing a trailer. For vehi-

cles with automatic transmission, you need

to have selected manual drive program

M(Y page 147). 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 30 km/h.

Important safety notes

WARNING

Do not change down for additional engine

braking on a slippery road surface. This could

cause the drive wheels to lose their grip and

the vehicle could skid.

WARNING

Cruise control cannot take account of road

and traffic conditions.

Always pay attention to traffic conditions

even when cruise control is activated.

Cruise control is only an aid designed to assist

driving. You are responsible for the vehicle's

speed and for braking in good time.

WARNING

Do not use cruise control

in traffic conditions that do not allow you to

drive at a constant speed (e.g. heavy traffic

or winding roads). You may otherwise

cause an accident.

on slippery roads. The drive wheels may

lose their grip when braking or accelerating

and the vehicle may skid.

when there is low visibility, e.g. due to fog,

heavy rain or snow.

Cruise control lever

You can operate cruise control and variable

SPEEDTRONIC with the cruise control lever.

Driving systems

149

Driving and parking

Driving and parking -> Driving tips for Your Mercedes B Class SUV First Generation (2005-2010)

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