Driving systems
Overview of driving systems
The vehicle's driving systems are described on the following pages:
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Cruise control* and Speedtronic* which are used to control the speed of the vehicle
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Dynamic handling package with sports mode*, which is used to adjust the vehicle's suspension system
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4*MATIC (permanent four-wheel drive), for optimum traction
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Parktronic*, which assists you in parking and manoeuvring
The ABS, BAS, adaptive brake lights, ESP® and EBV (electronic brake-power distribution) driving safety systems are described in the "Driving safety systems" section more.
Cruise control*
Cruise control maintains a constant road speed for you. It brakes automatically in order to avoid exceeding the set speed. On long and steep downhill gradients, especially if the vehicle is laden or towing a trailer, you must shift to a lower gear in good time or select shift range 1, 2 or 3 in vehicles with automatic transmission*. In this way you will make use of the braking effect of the engine, which relieves the load on the brake system and prevents the brakes from overheating and wearing too quickly.
 | Risk of accident |
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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.
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Use cruise control only if road and traffic conditions make it appropriate to maintain a steady speed for a prolonged period. You can store any road speed above 30 km/h.
| Risk of accident |
|
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.
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| Risk of accident |
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Do not use
cruise control:
-
in road and traffic conditions which do not allow you to maintain a constant speed (e.g. heavy traffic or winding roads). You could otherwise cause an accident.
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on slippery roads. Braking or accelerating could cause the drive wheels to lose traction and the vehicle could then skid.
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when there is poor visibility, e.g. due to fog, heavy rain or snow
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Cruise control display in speedometer (vehicles with 12-button luxury multi-function steering wheel*)
When cruise control is activated, the segments light up in the multi-function display from the set speed to the maximum speed.
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 | Segments |
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Cruise control lever
You can operate cruise control and variable Speedtronic with the cruise control lever.
The LIM indicator lamp on the cruise control lever indicates which system you have selected:
 |
| To store the current speed or a higher speed |
 | LIM indicator lamp |
 | Selecting the current or last stored speed |
 | To store the current speed or a lower speed |
 | To switch between cruise control and variable Speedtronic |
 | Deactivating cruise control |
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When cruise control is activated, the stored speed is displayed in the multi-function display for five seconds. In vehicles with the 4-button multi-function steering wheel, the stored speed is then permanently displayed in the status indicator together with the 
symbol.
Selecting cruise control
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Check whether LIM indicator lamp is off.
If it is off, cruise control is already selected.
If it is not, press the cruise control lever in the direction of arrow .
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| |
LIM indicator lamp in the cruise control lever goes out. Cruise control is selected.
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Storing and maintaining the current speed
You can store the current speed if you are driving faster than 30 km/h.
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Accelerate the vehicle to the desired speed.
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| |
Briefly press the cruise control lever to the pressure point up or down .
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| |
Remove your foot from the accelerator pedal.
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Cruise control is activated. The vehicle automatically maintains the stored speed.
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Cruise control may be unable to maintain the stored speed on uphill gradients. The stored speed is resumed when the gradient evens out. Cruise control maintains the stored speed on downhill gradients by automatically applying the brakes.
Vehicles with manual transmission:
-
Always drive at adequate but not excessive engine speeds.
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Change gear in good time.
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If possible, do not change down several gears at a time.
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Selecting the current or last stored speed
| Risk of accident |
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Only select a stored speed if you know what that speed is and whether it is suitable for the current situation. Otherwise, sudden acceleration or braking could endanger you or others.
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Briefly pull the cruise control lever towards you .
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Remove your foot from the accelerator pedal.
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The first time cruise control is activated it stores the current speed or regulates the speed of the vehicle to the previously stored speed.
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Setting a speed
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Press the cruise control lever to the pressure point up for a higher speed or down for a lower speed.
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Keep the
cruise control lever pressed until the desired speed is reached.
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Release the cruise control lever.
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The new speed is stored.
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Cruise control is not deactivated if you depress the accelerator pedal. For example, if you accelerate briefly to overtake, cruise control adjusts the vehicle's speed to the last speed stored after you have finished overtaking.
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Deceleration of the vehicle by means of the cruise control lever is assisted by automatic application of the brakes.
Vehicles with automatic transmission*:
On long downhill gradients, the automatic transmission shifts down as a further measure.
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Making adjustments in 1 km/h increments
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Briefly press the cruise control lever to the pressure point, up for a higher speed or down for a lower speed.
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The last speed stored is increased or reduced.
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Adjustment in 10 km/h increments
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Briefly press the cruise control lever beyond the pressure point up for a higher speed or down for a lower speed.
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The last speed stored is increased or reduced.
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Deactivating cruise control
There are several ways to deactivate cruise control:
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Briefly press the cruise control lever forwards .
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or
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Brake.
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or
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Briefly press the cruise control lever in the direction of arrow .
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Variable Speedtronic
is selected. LIM indicator lamp in the cruise control lever lights up.
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Cruise control is automatically deactivated if, for example:
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you depress the parking brake
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you are driving at less than 30 km/h
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ESP® is intervening or you deactivate ESP®
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with a vehicle with manual transmission, you change into neutral or if the clutch is depressed for longer than 6 seconds
-
you move the selector lever to N in vehicles with automatic transmission* while driving
If cruise control is deactivated, you will hear a warning tone. You see the Cruise control off message in the multi-function display for approximately five seconds.
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The last speed stored is cleared when you switch off the engine.
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Speedtronic*
Speedtronic brakes automatically so that you do not exceed the
set speed. On long and steep downhill gradients, especially if the vehicle is
laden or towing a trailer, you must shift to a lower gear in good time or
select shift range 1, 2 or 3 in vehicles with
automatic transmission*. By
doing so you will make use of the braking effect of the engine, which relieves
the load on the brake system and prevents the brakes from overheating and
wearing too quickly. If you need additional braking, depress the brake pedal
repeatedly rather than continuously.
| Risk of accident |
|
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.
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| Risk of accident |
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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.
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You can set a variable or
permanent limit speed:
-
Variable
for speed limits, e.g. in built-up areas
-
Permanent
for long-term speed restrictions, e.g. for driving on winter tyres
more
| Risk of accident |
|
Speedtronic is only an aid designed to assist driving. You are responsible for the vehicle's speed and for braking in good time.
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The speed indicated
in the speedometer may differ slightly from the limit speed stored.
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Variable
Speedtronic
You can operate
cruise control* and variable
Speedtronic with the cruise control lever.
The LIM indicator lamp
on the cruise control lever indicates which system you have selected:
You can use the
cruise control lever to limit the speed to any speed above
30 km/h while the engine is running.
|
| To store the current speed or a
higher speed |
| LIM indicator lamp |
| To select the current or last stored
speed |
| To store the current speed or a
lower speed |
| To switch between cruise
control* and variable
Speedtronic |
| To deactivate variable
Speedtronic |
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Selecting
variable Speedtronic
| |
Check whether LIM
indicator lamp
is on.
If it is
on, variable Speedtronic is already selected.
If it is not, press
the cruise control lever in the direction of arrow
.
|
| |
LIM indicator lamp
in the cruise
control lever lights up. Variable Speedtronic is
selected.
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| Risk of accident |
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If there is a change of drivers, advise the new driver of the limit speed stored.
Only use Speedtronic when you do not have to accelerate suddenly to a speed higher than the stored limit speed allows. You could otherwise cause an accident.
You can only exceed the limit speed stored if you deactivate variable Speedtronic:
It is not possible to deactivate variable Speedtronic by braking.
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Storing the
current speed
You can use the
cruise control lever to limit the speed to any speed above
30 km/h while the engine is running.
| |
Briefly press the
cruise control lever to the pressure point up
or down
.
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The current speed
is stored. For five seconds, the multi-function display shows the stored speed,
e.g. Limit 100
km/h.
Vehicles with the
4-button multi-function steering wheel: the stored speed is permanently
displayed in the status indicator, e.g.
LIM
100 km/h.
Vehicles with a
12-button luxury multi-function steering wheel*: the segments from the start of
the scale up to the stored speed light up in the
speedometer.
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Storing the
current speed or calling up the last stored speed
| Risk of accident |
|
Only select a stored speed if you know what that speed is and whether it is suitable for the current driving and traffic situation. Otherwise, sudden braking could endanger you or others.
|
| |
Briefly pull the
cruise control lever towards you
.
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Making fine
adjustments in 1 km/h increments
Making
adjustments in 10 km/h increments
To deactivate
variable Speedtronic
There are several ways to
deactivate variable Speedtronic:
| |
Briefly press the
cruise control lever forwards
.
|
or
| |
Briefly press the
cruise control lever in the direction of arrow
.
|
| |
LIM indicator lamp
in the cruise
control lever goes out. Variable Speedtronic is deactivated.
Cruise
control* is
selected.
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Variable
Speedtronic is deactivated automatically when you depress the accelerator pedal
beyond the pressure point (kickdown) but only if your current speed does not
differ by more than 20 km/h from the stored speed. You will hear
a warning tone if this is the case.
| Risk of accident |
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It is not possible to deactivate variable Speedtronic by braking.
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The last speed
stored is cleared when you switch off the engine.
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Permanent
Speedtronic (vehicles with a 12-button luxury multi-function steering
wheel*)
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Permanent
Speedtronic is only available for certain countries.
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You can use the
on-board computer to limit the speed permanently to a value between 160
km/h (e.g. for driving with winter tyres) and the maximum speed.
Shortly before the
stored speed is reached it is shown in the multi-function display.
You cannot exceed
the stored limit speed, even if you depress the accelerator pedal beyond the
pressure point (kickdown).
Setting
permanent Speedtronic
Dynamic handling package with sports mode*
The most important part of the dynamic handling package with sports mode is the adjustable suspension system. This automatically controls and adapts the suspension to the respective driving situation.
The calibration of the suspension depends on:
If your vehicle is equipped with automatic transmission*, the dynamic handling package with sports mode also includes steering wheel gearshift paddles* with a manual gearshift program* more.
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Start the engine.
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Sports tuning
The heightened tension of the suspension tuning in sports mode ensures even better contact with the road. Select this mode when employing a sporty driving style, e. g. on winding secondary roads.
Your selection remains stored until you switch off the engine.
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Press button .
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Indicator lamp lights up. Sports suspension tuning is selected. Depending on the engine output, the accelerator pedal is more responsive. On vehicles with automatic transmission*, gearshift program S is selected.
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Comfort tuning
In comfort mode, the driving characteristics of your vehicle are more comfortable. Select this mode if you prefer a more comfortable driving style, but also when driving fast on straight roads, e.g. motorways.
| |
Press button .
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Indicator lamp goes out. The comfortable suspension tuning is selected. On vehicles with automatic transmission*, gearshift program C is selected.
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4MATIC* (permanent four-wheel drive)
4MATIC
ensures that all four wheels are permanently driven. Together with ESP®, it
improves the traction of your vehicle whenever a drive wheel spins due to
insufficient grip.
| Risk of accident |
|
4MATIC cannot reduce the risk of an accident if you drive too fast.
If a drive wheel spins due to insufficient grip:
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Only depress the accelerator pedal as far as necessary when pulling away.
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Accelerate less when driving.
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Adapt your driving style to suit road and traffic conditions.
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In wintry driving
conditions, the maximum effect of 4MATIC can only be achieved if you use winter
tyres (M+S tyres), with snow chains if necessary.
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Parktronic*
| Risk of accident |
|
Parktronic is only an aid and may not detect all obstacles. It is not a substitute for attentive driving.
You are always responsible for safety and must continue to pay attention to your immediate surroundings when parking and manoeuvring. You could otherwise endanger yourself and others.
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| Risk of injury |
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Make sure that no persons or animals are in the manoeuvring range. Otherwise, they could be injured.
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Parktronic is an electronic parking aid. It indicates visually and audibly the distance between your vehicle and an object.
Parktronic is automatically activated when you switch on the ignition and release the parking brake.
Parktronic is deactivated at speeds above 18 km/h. It is reactivated at lower speeds.
Parktronic monitors the area around your vehicle using six sensors in the front bumper and four sensors in the rear bumper.
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| Example: sensors in the front bumper, left-hand side |
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Range of the sensors
The sensors must be free of dirt, ice and slush, otherwise they may not function correctly. Clean the sensors regularly, taking care not to scratch or damage them.
Side view: Saloon shown as an example
Top view: Saloon shown as an example
Front sensors
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Centre
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Approximately 100 cm
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Corners
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Approximately 60 cm
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Rear sensors
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Centre
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Approximately 120 cm
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Corners
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Approximately 80 cm
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Pay particular attention to objects above or below the sensors when parking, such as flower pots or trailer towbars. Parktronic does not detect such objects when they are in the immediate vicinity of the vehicle. You could damage the vehicle or the objects.
Ultrasonic sources such as an automatic car wash, a lorry's compressed-air brakes or a pneumatic drill could cause Parktronic to malfunction.
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Minimum distance
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Centre
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Approximately 20 cm
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Corners
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Approximately 15 cm
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If there is an obstacle within this range, all warning displays light up and a tone sounds. If the distance falls below the minimum clearance, it may no longer be shown.
Warning displays
The warning displays show the distance between the sensors and the obstacle. The warning display for the front area is located on the dashboard above the centre air vents. The warning display for the rear area is in the roof trim at the rear.
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| Left-hand side of the vehicle |
| Right-hand side of the vehicle |
| Indicator segments |
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Front area warning display
The warning display for each side of the vehicle is divided into five yellow and two red segments. Parktronic is operational if yellow indicator segments light up.
The gear lever or selector lever position* determines which warning display is active:
Manual transmission:
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Gear lever position
|
Warning display
|
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Forwards gear
or
Neutral
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Front area activated
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Reverse gear
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Rear and front areas activated
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Automatic transmission*:
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Selector lever position
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Warning display
|
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D
|
Front area activated
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R or N
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Rear and front areas activated
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P
|
No areas activated
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One or more segments light up as the vehicle approaches an obstacle, depending on the vehicle's distance from the obstacle.
From the:
-
sixth segment onwards, you will hear an intermittent warning tone for approximately two seconds.
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seventh segment onwards, you will hear a warning tone for approximately two seconds. You have reached the minimum distance.
Deactivating/activating Parktronic
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| Indicator lamp |
| Deactivating/activating Parktronic |
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If indicator lamp is on, Parktronic is deactivated.
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Parktronic is automatically activated when you turn the key to position 2 in the ignition lock.
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Trailer towing*
Parktronic is deactivated for the rear area when you establish an electrical connection between your vehicle and the trailer.
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Fold in the ball coupling if the trailer tow hitch is not required. Parktronic measures the minimum detection range to an obstacle from the bumper, not the ball coupling.
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or
to
highlight the
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or
to highlight
the 
