Hill Descent Control (HDC)

Operating Principle

HDC is a hill descent control system that reduces speed on steep downhill slopes and thus helps you maintain control of the vehicle in these difficult conditions. Without any action on your part, the vehicle moves at approximately walking pace.

HDC can be switched on at speeds up to 35 km/h. When descending a hill, the speed is reduced to approximately 8 km/h, which is only slightly above walking pace, and is maintained at this level.

HDC may only be switched on when the automatic transmission is in position D or R.

Increasing and reducing speed

You can vary this speed between 6 km/h and 25 km/h by accelerating or braking.

You can also select a speed within the specified range using the cruise control lever.

On gradients steeper than 10%, the speed can be reduced to approximately 4 km/h by pulling the lever past the pressure point in the direction of arrow 3.

1 Increasing speed
2 Lever pulled to the pressure point: speed reduces to approximately 6 km/h
3 Lever pulled past the pressure point:

on gradients steeper than 10%, the speed can be reduced to approximately 4 km/h

Switching on HDC

Press the button. The LED in the button lights up.

The HDC indicator lamp lights up in the instrument cluster.

When the automatic system is braking the vehicle, the LED flashes.

Switching HDC Off

Press the button again. The LED in the button and the HDC indicator lamp go out.

HDC switches off automatically when speed exceeds 60 km/h.

Displays in the instrument cluster

1 Set speed display
2 HDC indicator lamp

Malfunctions

HDC is temporarily unavailable due to brake overheating if:

► the LED in the button and the HDC indicator lamp go out when the system is on
► the LED in the button and the HDC indicator lamp do not light up when the system is switched on