2016 Mercedes-Benz B-CLASS Owner’s Manual

The 2016 Mercedes-Benz B-Class is a big step forward in the German automaker’s quest to make a compact car that combines luxury, flexibility, and cutting-edge technology. This unique model is a great mix of style and usefulness, with a sleek and efficient design that not only looks good but also helps the car use less gas. When you step inside the B-Class, you’ll find an elegant and comfortable interior that was made with care. It has high-quality materials, beautiful finishes, and enough space for both people and things. The advanced technology and connectivity choices take the driving experience to a whole new level. Smartphones and an easy-to-use infotainment system can be used together to keep you connected and entertained while you’re on the go. Safety is at the top of Mercedes-Benz’s list of priorities when it comes to engineering. The B-Class comes with a full set of driver-assistance features and safety technologies that give both the driver and their passengers peace of mind.

Door control panel

1. Opens the door 79
2. Unlocks/locks the vehicle 80
3. Saves the seat and exterior mirror settings 97
4. Adjusts the seats electrically 91
5. Adjusts and folds the exterior mirrors in/out electrically 95
6. WOpens/closes the side windows 83
7. Activates/deactivates the override feature for the side windows in the rear compartment 62

Transmission

Hill start assist
Hill start assist will aid you when pulling away on a hill. It holds the vehicle for a short time after you have removed your foot from the brake pedal. This gives you enough time to move your foot from the brake pedal to the accelerator pedal and depress it before the vehicle begins to roll.

WARNING
After a short time, hill start assist will no lon-ger brake your vehicle and it could roll away. There is a risk of an accident and injury.
Therefore, quickly move your foot from the brake pedal to the accelerator pedal. Never leave the vehicle when it is held by hill start assist.

Hill start assist is not active if:

• you are pulling away on a level road or on a downhill gradient.
• the DIRECT SELECT lever is in position N.
• the electric parking brake is applied.
• ESP® is malfunctioning.
  Further information on holding the vehicle stationary on uphill gradients (page 137).

Important safety notes
Shift the DIRECT SELECT lever to position P when the drive system is switched off and the vehicle is stationary. Park position P is engaged and the electric parking brake is applied automatically:
If the DIRECT SELECT lever cannot be engaged in park position P, the parking brake is engaged automatically.
Observe the important safety notes on
switching ESP® on and off (Y page 67).

DIRECT SELECT lever
Overview of transmission positions

• Park position with parking lock
• Reverse gear
• Neutral
• Drive
  The DIRECT SELECT lever is on the right of the steering column.
  The DIRECT SELECT lever always returns to its original position. The current transmission position P, R, N or D appears in the transmission position display in the multifunction dis-play (page 134).

Transmission position and drive program display
The current transmission position and drive program appear in the multifunction display.

1. Transmission position display
2. Drive program display
   The arrows in the transmission position dis-play show how and into which transmission positions you can shift using the DIRECT SELECT lever.
   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 transmission position D.

Engaging park position P

• Park position with parking lock
• Reverse gear
• Neutral
• Drive
• Push the DIRECT SELECT lever in the direction of arrow P.
  Transmission position display P is shown in the multifunction display.

When you have engaged park position P, make sure that the transmission position dis-play shows P in the multifunction display.
You can only engage park position P when the vehicle is stationary.
The transmission shifts into park position P automatically if you open the driver’s door when the vehicle is stationary or when driving at very low speed with the transmission in position D or R.
In addition, a warning tone sounds and a display message is shown.
Depressing the brake and pushing the DIRECT SELECT lever up or down disengages the parking lock. The transmission is in N neutral.  In order to shift from park position P directly into R or D:

• depress the brake pedal and
• push the DIRECT SELECT lever up or down past the first point of resistance

Engaging reverse gear R
Only shift into reverse gear R when the vehicle is stationary. You could otherwise damage the drive system.

• 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.
• shift the transmission out of park position P
• start the vehicle’s drive system.
  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.

When the drive system is switched off, the transmission shifts to N automatically.
With the SmartKey: if you then open the driver’s door or the front-passenger door or remove the SmartKey from the ignition, the transmission automatically shifts to P.
With the Start/Stop button: if you then open the driver’s door or the front-passenger door, the transmission automatically shifts to P.
If you want the transmission to remain in neutral N, e.g. when having the vehicle cleaned in an automatic car wash with a towing system:

Using the SmartKey:

• Switch on the ignition.
• Depress the brake pedal and keep it depressed.
• Shift to neutral N.
• Release the brake pedal.
• Release the electric parking brake.
• Switch off the ignition and leave the SmartKey in the ignition lock.
  With the Start/Stop button:
• Remove the Start/Stop button from the ignition lock.
• Insert the SmartKey into the ignition lock. X Switch on the ignition.
• Depress the brake pedal and keep it depressed.
• Shift to neutral N.
• Release the brake pedal.
• Release the electric parking brake.
• Switch off the ignition and leave the Smart-Key in the ignition lock.

Engaging drive position D

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

Driving tips

Holding the vehicle stationary on uphill gradients
Do not hold the vehicle stationary on uphill gradients by depressing the accelerator pedal. Instead, only ever hold the vehicle sta-tionary on uphill gradients by:

• depressing the brake pedal
• engaging the electric parking brake
  Kickdown 
• Use kick down for maximum acceleration.
• Depress the accelerator pedal beyond the pressure point.
  The needle in the power display points to the boost area(Y page 183).
• Ease off the accelerator pedal once the desired speed is reached.
  Maximum acceleration is available fora limited time.

Rocking the vehicle free
Shifting the transmission repeatedly between gears D and R may help to free the vehicle if it has become stuck in slush or snow. The vehi-cle’s engine management system limits the speed to a maximum of 5 mph (9 km/h) when shifting back and forth. To shift back and forth between transmission positions D and R, move the DIRECT SELECT lever up and down past the point of resistance.

Drive programs
Drive program E (Economy)
Drive program E is characterized by the following:

• the vehicle pulling away more gently in forward gear unless the accelerator pedal is depressed fully.
• reduced power on the accelerator pedal increases sensitivity. This supports an even and economical driving style.
• the wheels are less likely to spin.
• full power output by using kick down.

Drive program S (Sport)
Drive program S is characterized by the following:

• the vehicle exhibits sporty driving characteristics.
• the entire power output can be utilized by depressing the accelerator pedal.

E+ Economy Plus
Drive program E+ is characterized by the following:

• reduced torque and significantly reduced power. This supports an especially efficient and even driving style and results in a reduction in speed to approximately 70 mph (110 km/h).
• the vehicle pulling away more gently in forward gear unless the accelerator pedal is depressed fully.
• the wheels are less likely to spin. Particularly efficient overrun.
• full power output by using kick down. The performance of the air-conditioning system and heating are reduced.

FAQ