Mercedes-Benz E-Class Quiz
Driving and parking

CRUISE CONTROL

In this manual: Driving and parking
Introduction — 5At a glance — 6Safety — 25Opening and Closing — 17Seats, steering wheel and mirrors — 12Lights and windshield wipers — 11Climate Control — 11Driving and parking — 44On-board computer and displays — 29Stowing and Useful Information. Good to Know — 1Stowing and Useful Information. Storage Options — 10Stowage and convenience features. Convenience features — 7Maintenance and care — 11Roadside assistance — 13Wheels and tires — 13Technical data — 13
~5min read

CRUISE CONTROL in the Mercedes E-Class (4th generation, W212, 2009–2016) allows relaxed driving at a constant speed and relieves the driver on long journeys. The system offers practical functions such as automatic braking on downhill gradients to protect the brake system and increase safety.

General Notes

CRUISE CONTROL maintains the speed for you. To avoid exceeding the set speed, it brakes automatically. On long and steep downhill gradients, especially when the vehicle is loaded or towing a trailer, downshift to a lower gear in good time. This uses the braking effect of the engine. This relieves the brake system and prevents the brakes from overheating and wearing out too quickly.

Use CRUISE CONTROL when you can drive at a constant speed for a longer period. You can set any speed above 30 km/h.

Important Safety Notes

CRUISE CONTROL cannot reduce the risk of an accident caused by an unadapted driving style, nor can it override physical limits. CRUISE CONTROL cannot take road and weather conditions or the traffic situation into account. CRUISE CONTROL is only an aid. You are responsible for safe distance, speed, timely braking and staying in your lane.

Do not use CRUISE CONTROL

  • in traffic situations that do not allow driving at a constant speed, e.g. in heavy traffic or on winding roads
  • on slippery or icy roads. The drive wheels can lose grip due to braking or accelerating, and the vehicle may skid
  • in poor visibility, e.g. due to fog, heavy rain or snow.
When changing drivers, make the driver aware of the stored speed.

Cruise control lever

TEMPOMAT Hebel
Switch on or increase speed
LIM indicator lamp
Switch on with the current or last stored speed
Switch on or reduce speed
Switch between CRUISE CONTROL and variable SPEEDTRONIC
Switch off CRUISE CONTROL
Use the CRUISE CONTROL lever to operate CRUISE CONTROL and the variable SPEEDTRONIC.

The LIM indicator lamp on the CRUISE CONTROL lever shows which system you have selected:

  • LIM indicator lamp off: CRUISE CONTROL is selected.
  • LIM indicator lamp on: variable SPEEDTRONIC is selected.
When you switch on CRUISE CONTROL, the stored speed is shown in the multifunction display for five seconds.

Select CRUISE CONTROL

TEMPOMAT wählen

Check whether the LIM indicator lampis off.

If it is, CRUISE CONTROL is already selected.

If it is not, move the CRUISE CONTROL lever in the direction of the arrowpress.

  • The LIM indicator lampin the CRUISE CONTROL lever is off. CRUISE CONTROL is selected.

    Activation conditions

    To switch on CRUISE CONTROL, all of the following conditions must be met:
    • The parking brake must be released.
    • You are driving faster than 30 km/h.
    • ESP must be switched on but must not be intervening.
    • The transmission must be in position D.
    • CRUISE CONTROL must be selected .

    Store and hold the current speed

    Aktuelle Geschwindigkeit speichern und halten

    When driving above 30 km/h, you can adopt the current speed.

    Accelerate the vehicle to the desired speed.

    Briefly push the CRUISE CONTROL lever upor briefly push it downtap.

    Take your foot off the accelerator pedal.
  • CRUISE CONTROL is switched on. The vehicle automatically maintains the speed now stored. Info
    On an uphill gradient, CRUISE CONTROL may not be able to maintain the speed. When the gradient decreases, the stored speed is resumed. On a downhill gradient, CRUISE CONTROL maintains the speed by braking automatically.
    Vehicles with manual transmission:
    • Always drive at a sufficient but not excessively high engine speed.
    • Shift in good time.
    • Avoid downshifting several gears at once.

    Store current speed or recall last stored speed

    WARNING

    If you recall the stored speed and it is lower than the current speed, the vehicle will brake. If you do not know the stored speed, the vehicle may brake unexpectedly. Risk of accident!

    Consider the traffic situation before recalling the stored speed. If you do not know the stored speed, store the desired speed again.Aktuelle Geschwindigkeit speichern oder zuletzt gespeicherte Geschwindigkeit abrufen

    Briefly pull the CRUISE CONTROL lever toward you.

    Take your foot off the accelerator pedal.

  • CRUISE CONTROL is switched on. When activated for the first time, it adopts the current speed or regulates to the last stored speed.

    Setting the speed

    Geschwindigkeit einstellen

    Push the CRUISE CONTROL lever upfor a higher speed, or downpress for a lower speed.

    Hold the CRUISE CONTROL lever until the desired speed is reached.

    Release the CRUISE CONTROL lever.

  • The new speed is stored.Adjusting in 1 km/h steps: briefly push the CRUISE CONTROL lever up to the pressure pointor briefly push it downtap.
  • The last stored speed increases or decreases in 1 km/h steps.Adjusting in 10 km/h steps: briefly push the CRUISE CONTROL lever up past the pressure pointor briefly push it downpress.
  • The last stored speed increases or decreases in 10 km/h steps. Note
    Accelerating does not switch off CRUISE CONTROL. If you accelerate briefly, e.g. to overtake, CRUISE CONTROL resumes regulating to the last stored speed afterwards.

    Switch off CRUISE CONTROL

    TEMPOMAT ausschalten

    You have several ways to switch off CRUISE CONTROL:

    Briefly push the CRUISE CONTROL lever forwardtap.

    or

    Braking.

    or

    Briefly move the CRUISE CONTROL lever in the direction of the arrowpress.
  • Variable SPEEDTRONIC is selected. The LIM indicator lampin the CRUISE CONTROL lever is on. CRUISE CONTROL switches off automatically when
    • you step on the parking brake
    • you drive slower than 30 km/h
    • ESP regulates or you switch off ESP
    • on vehicles with manual transmission, you shift into neutral while driving or depress the clutch pedal for longer than six seconds
    • on vehicles with manual transmission, you select too high a gear and the engine speed drops too much
    • on vehicles with automatic transmission, you shift the transmission into position N while driving.
    When CRUISE CONTROL switches off, you hear a warning tone. The multifunction display shows the message CRUISE CONTROL Off for about five seconds.

    Info

    If you switch off the engine, the last stored speed is deleted.

    The CRUISE CONTROL of the Mercedes E-Class W212 (model years 2009–2016) makes driving at a constant speed easier and reduces driver fatigue. Especially on long journeys, it helps you drive relaxed and safely.

    The clear instructions on use, for example on downhill gradients or in poor visibility, emphasize the high safety standard of this model series.

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