Mercedes-Benz C-Class (W205) 2015 - 2021 Owners Manual: Function of Active Brake Assist

Active Brake Assist consists of the following functions:

• Distance warning function

• Autonomous braking function

• Situation-dependent braking assistance

• Vehicles with Driving Assistance Package: Evasive Steering Assist

Active Brake Assist can help you to minimize the risk of a collision with vehicles, cyclists or pedestrians, or reduce the effects of such a collision.

If Active Brake Assist has detected a risk of collision, a warning tone sounds and the distance warning lamp lights up in the instrument cluster.

If you do not react to the warning, autonomous braking can be initiated in critical situations.

In especially critical situations, Active Brake Assist can initiate autonomous braking directly.

In this case, the warning lamp and warning tone occur simultaneously with the braking application.

If you apply the brake yourself in a critical situation or apply the brake during autonomous braking, situation-dependent braking assistance occurs. The brake pressure increases up to maximum full-stop braking if necessary.

If autonomous braking or situation-dependent braking assistance has occurred, display 1 appears in the multifunction display and then automatically goes out after a short time.

If the autonomous braking function or the situation- dependent braking assistance is triggered, additional preventive measures for occupant protection (PRE-SAFE) may also be initiated.

Also observe the system limitations of Active Brake Assist.

The individual subfunctions are available in the following speed ranges: Distance warning function

The distance warning function issues a warning in the following situations:

• From approximately 4 mph (7 km/h), if your vehicle is critically close to a vehicle or pedestrian, you will hear an intermittent warning tone and the distance warning lamp lights up in the instrument cluster.

Brake immediately or take evasive action, provided it is safe to do so and the traffic situation allows this.

The distance warning function can aid you in the following situations with an intermittent warning tone and a warning lamp:

Autonomous braking function

The autonomous braking function may intervene at speeds starting from approximately 4 mph (7 km/h) in the following situations:

Situation-dependent braking assistance

Situation-dependent braking assistance may intervene at speeds starting from approximately 4 mph (7 km/h) in the following situations:

Canceling a brake application of Active Brake Assist

You can cancel a brake application of Active Brake Assist at any time by:

• Fully depressing the accelerator pedal or with kickdown.
• Releasing the brake pedal.

Active Brake Assist may cancel the brake application when one of the following conditions is fulfilled:

• You maneuver to avoid the obstacle.
• There is no longer a risk of collision.
• An obstacle is no longer detected in front of your vehicle.

Evasive Steering Assist (only vehicles with Driving Assistance Package)

Evasive Steering Assist has the following characteristics:

• The ability to detect stationary or moving pedestrians.
• Assistance through power-assisted steering if it detects a swerving maneuver.
• Activation by an abrupt steering movement during a swerving maneuver.
• Assistance during swerving and straightening of the vehicle.
• Reaction from a speed of approximately 12 mph (20 km/h) up to a speed of approximately 43 mph (70 km/h).

You can prevent the assistance at any time by actively steering.

System limitations

Full system performance is not available for a few seconds after switching on the ignition or after driving off.

The system may be impaired or may not function in the following situations:

• In snow, rain, fog, heavy spray, if there is glare, in direct sunlight or in greatly varying ambient light.
• If the sensors are dirty, fogged up, damaged or covered.
• If the sensors are impaired due to interference from other radar sources, e.g. strong radar reflections in parking garages.
• If a loss of tire pressure or a defective tire has been detected and displayed.
• In complex traffic situations where objects cannot always be clearly identified.
• If pedestrians or vehicles move quickly into the sensor detection range.
• If pedestrians are hidden by other objects.
• If the typical outline of a pedestrian cannot be distinguished from the background.
• If a pedestrian is not detected as such, e.g. due to special clothing or other objects.
• On bends with a tight radius.

Setting Active Brake Assist

Multimedia system: Vehicle →Assistance

• Active Brake Assist

Vehicles without Driving Assistance Package: The settings can be made after starting the vehicle.

Vehicles with Driving Assistance Package: The settings can be made when the ignition is switched on.

The following settings are available:

• Early
• Medium
• Late

• Select a setting.

Your selection is retained when the vehicle is next started.

Deactivating Active Brake Assist

It is recommended that you always leave Active Brake Assist activated.

• Select Off.

  The distance warning function and the autonomous braking function are deactivated.

  Vehicles without Driving Assistance Package: When the vehicle is next started, the medium setting is automatically selected.

  Vehicles with Driving Assistance Package: Evasive Steering Assist is not available.

  When the ignition is next started, the medium setting is selected automatically and Evasive Steering Assist is available.

If Active Brake Assist is deactivated, the symbol appears in the status bar of the multifunction display.