Multifunction Steering Wheel Interface

With the aid of the multifunction steering wheel (MFL) the driver can operate the following vehicle functions directly from the steering wheel:

• Radio functions
  
• Telephone functions
  
• Cruise control functions
  

In addition to a high degree of convenience, the multifunction steering wheel also offers the driver increased safety:

Cruise control

On the right-hand side of the steering wheel is a group of buttons for operating the cruise control which have the following functions:

• Resume: the vehicle accelerates or slows down to the last speed stored only if being driven without cruise control at that moment. The set speed is then maintained.
  
• Accelerate: The speed is increased by 1 km/h by briefly hitting this button. If pressed longer, the speed is increased until the button is released again. The cruise control can only be activated if all the following conditions are met:
  
  • ”Accelerate” button has not been operated before switching on cruise control
    
  • Current speed is more than 30 km/h
    
  • The brake pedal is not depressed
    
  • The clutch pedal is not depressed and a gear is engaged (power transmission detected by DME) on vehicles with manual transmission
    
  • Transmission setting ”2” ... ”D” is engaged on vehicles with automatic transmission
    
  • No shut-down conditions active:
    
    • No controls being operated (cluctch, brake, ”Off” button)
      
    • No fault conditions on the system
      
• Decelerate: The driving speed is reduced from the set cruise control by pressing the deceleratebutton on the steering wheel.”” The speed is decreased by 1 km/h by briefly hitting this button. If the button is held pressed for longer, the speed is continuously decreased until the button is released. However, it is not possible for the driving speed to drop below the minimum set speed.
  The deceleration process is halted by any of the following shut-down conditions:
  
  • Active cancellation by means of the ”Off” button
    
  • Operating brake pedal
    
  • Operation of the clutch pedal (manual gearbox)
    
  • Selection of transmission setting ”P”, ”N” or ”R” (automatic transmission)
    
• OFF: Switching off cruise control (Tempomat) function.
  
• I/O: Activating cruise control function: When the engine is running or the ignition switched on, operating the master switch (I/0) activates cruise control. Cruise control has to be activated before it can be switched on. This prevents the cruise control being switched on by unintentional operation of one of the controls. Tempomat standby is indicated by an LED in the instrument cluster. Assuming all the switch-on conditions are met, cruise control can then be switched on by pressing the ”Accelerate” button.
  

Diagnosis

If faults occur during operation, corresponding fault codes are stored in the fault memory of the DME.

In the event of brake light switch, clutch switch or gear detection switch malfunctions, the cruise control is generally deactivated for safety reasons (see also ”Sensors, detectors” => ”Clutch/gear detection switch”).