2014 Mercedes-Benz M-CLASS Owner’s Manual

The 2014 Mercedes-Benz M-Class is the best premium SUV when it comes to luxury, versatility, and speed. The M-Class gets people’s attention with its bold design and careful craftsmanship. It has a unique mix of refined elegance and strong capabilities. This SUV has a wide range of powerful engine choices, advanced safety features, and cutting-edge technology. It also has a spacious and luxurious interior for both the driver and the passengers. The 2014 M-Class shows that Mercedes-Benz is still committed to giving drivers a truly elevated and demanding driving experience. Its innovative infotainment system and ability to adapt off-road are just two examples.

Dashboard

1. Steering wheel paddle shifters
2. Combination switch
3. Instrument cluster
4. Horn
5. DIRECT SELECT lever
6. PARKTRONIC warning display
7. Overhead control panel
8. Climate control systems
9. Ignition lock Start/Stop button
10. Adjusting the steering wheel manually
11. Adjusting the steering wheel electrically
    Steering wheel heating
12. Cruise control lever
13. Opening the hood
14. Diagnostics connection
15. Electric parking brake
16. Light switch
17. Night View AssistPlus

Automatic transmission

Important safety notes

WARNING
If the engine speed is above the idling speed and you engage transmission position D or R, the vehicle could pull away suddenly. There is a risk of an accident.
When engaging transmission position D or R, always firmly depress the brake pedal and do not simultaneously accelerate.
The automatic transmission switches to neutral position N when you switch off the engine. The vehicle may roll away. There is a risk of an accident.
After switching off the engine, always switch to parking position P. Prevent the parked vehicle from rolling away by applying the parking brake.

Transmission position and drive program display
If the transmission position display in the multifunction display is not working, you should pull away carefully to check whether the desired transmission position is engaged. Ideally, you should select trans-mission position D and, in AMG vehicles, drive program C or S.
Transmission position and drive program display

1. Transmission position display
2. Drive program display
   The current transmission position and drive program appear in the multifunction display.
   The arrows in the transmission position display show how and into which transmission positions you can change using the DIRECT SELECT lever.

Engaging park position P
If the engine speed is too high or the vehi-cle is moving, do not shift the automatic transmission directly from D to R, from R to D or directly to P. The automatic transmission could otherwise be damaged.

Engaging park position P automatically
Park position P is automatically engaged if:

• you switch off the engine using the SmartKey and remove the SmartKey.
• you switch off the engine using the Start/ Stop button and open one of the front doors.
• you open the driver’s door when the vehicle is stationary or driving at very low speed and the transmission is in position D or R.

Engaging reverse gear R
Only shift the automatic transmission to R when the vehicle is stationary.

• If the transmission is in position D or N: push the DIRECT SELECT lever up past the first point of resistance.
  If the transmission is in position P: depress the brake pedal and push the DIRECT SELECT lever up past the first point of resistance.

Shifting to neutral N

WARNING
If children are left unsupervised in the vehicle, they could:

• open the doors, thus endangering other people or road users.
• get out and disrupt traffic.
• operate the vehicle’s equipment.
  Additionally, children could set the vehicle in motion if, for example, they:
• release the parking brake.
• shifting the automatic transmission out of park position P
• Start the engine.
  There is a risk of an accident and injury.
  When leaving the vehicle, always take the SmartKey with you and lock the vehicle. Never leave children or animals unattended in the vehicle. Always keep the SmartKey out of reach of children.

If the transmission is in position D or R: push the DIRECT SELECT lever up or down to the first point of resistance.
If the transmission is in position P: depress the brake pedal and push the DIRECT SELECT lever up or down to the first point of resistance.

If the engine has been switched off, the automatic transmission automatically shifts to N.
If you want the automatic transmission to remain in neutral N, e.g. when having the vehicle cleaned in an automatic car wash with a towing system, observe the following notes:
Using the SmartKey:

• Make sure that the ignition is switched on.
• When the vehicle is stationary, depress the brake pedal and keep it depressed.
• Shift to neutral N.
• Release the brake pedal.
• If the electric parking brake is engaged, release it.
• Switch off the ignition and leave the SmartKey in the ignition lock.
  Using KEYLESS-GO:
• Make sure that the ignition is switched on.
• When the vehicle is stationary, depress the brake pedal and keep it depressed. REngage park position P.
• Release the brake pedal.
• Remove the Start/Stop button from the ignition lock.
• Insert the SmartKey into the ignition lock. RSwitch on the ignition.
• Depress the brake pedal and keep it depressed.
• Shift to neutral N.
• Release the brake pedal.
• If the electric parking brake is engaged, release it.
• Switch off the ignition and leave the SmartKey in the ignition lock.

Stowage areas

Useful information
This Operator’s Manual describes all models and all standard and optional equipment 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.
Read the information on qualified specialist workshops: (Y page 28).

Loading guidelines

WARNING
If objects, luggage or loads are not secured or not secured sufficiently, they could slip, tip over or be flung around and thereby hit vehicle occupants. There is a risk of injury, particularly in the eventofsudden braking or a sudden change in direction.
Always store objects so that they cannot be flung around. Secure objects, luggage or loads against slipping or tipping before the journey.
Combustion engines emit poisonous exhaust gases such as carbon monoxide. If the tailgate is open when the engine is running, particularly if the vehicle is moving, exhaust fumes could enter the passenger compartment. There is a risk of poisoning.
Turn off the engine before opening the tailgate. Never drive with the tailgate open.

The gross vehicle weight (GVW) is the vehicle weight including fuel, vehicle tool kit, spare wheel, installed accessories, vehicle occupants and luggage/cargo.
The gross load limit and the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) for your vehicle must never be exceeded. The gross load limit and the GVWR are specified on the vehicle identification plate on the B-pillar of the driver’s door (Y page 409).
The load must also be distributed so that the weight on each axle never exceeds the gross axle weight rating (GAWR) for the front and rear axles. The specifications for GVWR and GAWR are on the vehicle identification plate on the B-pillar of the driver’s door (page 409).
Observe the notes on the loading the vehicle (Y page 409).
The handling characteristics of a laden vehicle are dependent on the distribution of the load within the vehicle. For this reason, you should observe the following notes when transporting a load:

• Never exceed the maximum permissible gross vehicle weight or the gross axle weight rating of the vehicle (including occupants).
• The cargo compartment is the preferred place to carry objects.
• Position heavy loads as far forwards as possible and as low down in the cargo compartmentas possible.
• The load must not protrude above the upper edge of the seat backrests.
• Always place the load against the rear or front seat backrests. Make sure that the seat backrests are securely locked into place.
• Always place the load behind unoccupied seats if possible.
• Use the cargo tie down rings and the parcel nets to transport loads and luggage.
• Use cargo tie-down rings and fastening materials appropriate for the weight and size of the load.
• Hook in the cargo net when loading.
• Secure the load with sufficiently strong and wear-resistant tie-downs. pad sharp edges for protection.

Important safety notes

WARNING
If objects in the passenger compartment are stowed incorrectly, they can slide or be thrown around and hit vehicle occupants. There is a risk of injury, particularly in the event of sudden braking or a sudden change in direction.

• Always stow objects so that they cannot be thrown around in such situations.
• Always make sure that objects do not protrude from stowage spaces, parcel nets or stowage nets.
• Close the lockable stowage spaces while driving.
• Stow and secure objects that are heavy, hard, pointy, sharp-edged, fragile or too large in the cargo compartment.

Stowage compartment under the armrest
To open: pull handle 1 up.
The armrest folds out.
In the stowage compartment, there is a stowage tray.
Depending on the vehicle’s equipment, a USB connection and an AUX IN connection or a Media Interface are installed in the stowage compartment.
Media Interface is a universal interface for mobile audio equipment, e.g. for an iPod® or MP3 Player.
There is a removable stowage tray in the storage compartment, in which objects such as an iPod® can be stored.

FAQ