Mersedes Maybach S-Class. Service Manual — part 12

Important safety notes

G

WARNING

DISTRONIC PLUS does not react to:

R

people or animals

R

stationary obstacles on the road, e.g. stop-

ped or parked vehicles

R

oncoming and crossing traffic

As a result, DISTRONIC PLUS may neither give

warnings nor intervene in such situations.

There is a risk of an accident.
Always pay careful attention to the traffic sit-

uation and be ready to brake.

G

WARNING

DISTRONIC PLUS cannot always clearly iden-

tify other road users and complex traffic sit-

uations.
In such cases, DISTRONIC PLUS may:

R

give an unnecessary warning and then

brake the vehicle

R

neither give a warning nor intervene

R

accelerate or brake unexpectedly

There is a risk of an accident.
Continue to drive carefully and be ready to

brake, in particular when warned to do so by

DISTRONIC PLUS.

G

WARNING

DISTRONIC PLUS brakes your vehicle with up

to 50% of the maximum possible deceleration.

If this braking force is insufficient, DISTRONIC

PLUS warns you visually and audibly. There is

a risk of an accident.
In such cases, apply the brakes yourself and

try to take evasive action.

!

If DISTRONIC PLUS or the HOLD function is

activated, the vehicle brakes automatically in

certain situations.

To prevent damage to the vehicle, deactivate

DISTRONIC PLUS and the HOLD function in

the following or other similar situations:

R

when towing the vehicle

R

in the car wash

If you fail to adapt your driving style, DISTRONIC

PLUS can neither reduce the risk of accident nor

override the laws of physics. DISTRONIC PLUS

cannot take into account the road, traffic and

weather conditions. DISTRONIC PLUS is only an

aid. You are responsible for the distance to the

vehicle in front, for vehicle speed, for braking in

good time and for staying in your lane.

Do not use DISTRONIC PLUS:

R

in road and traffic conditions which do not

allow you to maintain a constant speed, e.g. in

heavy traffic or on winding roads

R

on slippery road surfaces. Braking or accel-

erating could cause the drive wheels to lose

traction and the vehicle could then skid

R

when there is poor visibility, e.g. due to fog,

heavy rain or snow

DISTRONIC PLUS may not detect narrow vehi-

cles driving in front, e.g. motorcycles, or vehi-

cles driving on a different line.

In particular, the detection of obstacles can be

impaired if:

R

there is dirt on the sensors or anything else

covering the sensors

R

there is snow or heavy rain

R

there is interference by other radar sources

R

there are strong radar reflections, for exam-

ple, in parking garages

If DISTRONIC PLUS no longer detects a vehicle

in front, DISTRONIC PLUS may unexpectedly

accelerate the vehicle to the stored speed.

This speed may:

R

be too high if you are driving in a filter lane or

an exit lane

R

be so high in the right lane that you pass vehi-

cles driving on the left (left-hand drive coun-

tries)

R

be so high in the left lane that you pass vehi-

cles driving on the right (right-hand drive

countries)

If there is a change of drivers, advise the new

driver of the speed stored.

200

Driving systems

Driv

ing

and

parking

Cruise control lever

:

To activate or increase speed

;

To activate or reduce speed

=

To deactivate DISTRONIC PLUS

?

To activate at the current speed/last stored

speed

A

To set the specified minimum distance

Activating DISTRONIC PLUS

Activation conditions

In order to activate DISTRONIC PLUS, the fol-

lowing conditions must be fulfilled:

R

the engine must be started. It may take up to

two minutes after pulling away before

DISTRONIC PLUS is operational.

R

the electric parking brake must be released.

R

ESP

®

must be active, but not intervening.

R

Active Parking Assist must not be activated.

R

the transmission must be in position D.

R

the driver's door must be closed when you

shift from P to D or your seat belt must be

fastened.

R

the front-passenger door and rear doors must

be closed.

Activating

X

Briefly pull the cruise control lever towards

you ;, up : or down = .

DISTRONIC PLUS is selected.

X

To adjust the set speed in 1 mph incre-

ments (1 km/h increments): briefly press

the cruise control lever up : to the pressure

point for a higher speed, or down = for a

lower speed.

Every time the cruise control lever is pressed

up or down, the last speed stored is increased

or reduced.

or

X

To adjust the set speed in 5 mph incre-

ments (10 km/h increments): briefly press

the cruise control lever up : past the pres-

sure point for a higher speed, or down = for

a lower speed.

Every time the cruise control lever is pressed

up or down, the last speed stored is increased

or reduced.

X

Remove your foot from the accelerator pedal.

Your vehicle adapts its speed to that of the

vehicle in front, but only up to the desired

stored speed.

i

If you do not fully release the accelerator

pedal, the

DISTRONIC PLUS Suspended

mes-

sage appears in the multifunction display. The

set distance to a slower-moving vehicle in

front will then not be maintained. You will be

driving at the speed you determine by the

position of the accelerator pedal.

You can also activate DISTRONIC PLUS when

stationary. The lowest speed that can be set is

20 mph (30 km/h).

X

Briefly pull the cruise control lever towards

you ; or press it up : or down =.

DISTRONIC PLUS is selected.

Driving systems

201

Dr

iving

and

par

king

Z

Activating at the current speed/last

stored speed

G

WARNING

If you call up the stored speed and it differs

from the current speed, the vehicle acceler-

ates or decelerates. If you do not know the

stored speed, the vehicle could accelerate or

brake unexpectedly. There is a risk of an acci-

dent.
Pay attention to the road and traffic condi-

tions before calling up the stored speed. If you

do not know the stored speed, store the

desired speed again.

X

Briefly pull the cruise control lever towards

you :.

X

Remove your foot from the accelerator pedal.

DISTRONIC PLUS is activated. The first time it

is activated, the current speed is stored. Oth-

erwise, it sets the vehicle cruise speed to the

previously stored value.

Driving with DISTRONIC PLUS

Pulling away and driving

X

If you want to pull away with DISTRONIC

PLUS: remove your foot from the brake pedal.

X

Briefly pull the cruise control lever towards

you :.

or

X

Accelerate briefly.

Your vehicle pulls away and adapts its speed

to that of the vehicle in front. If no vehicle is

detected in front, your vehicle accelerates to

the set speed.

The vehicle can also pull away when it is facing

an unidentified obstacle or is driving on a differ-

ent line from another vehicle. The vehicle then

brakes automatically. Be ready to brake at all

times.

If there is no vehicle in front, DISTRONIC PLUS

operates in the same way as cruise control.

If DISTRONIC PLUS detects that the vehicle in

front has slowed down, it brakes your vehicle. In

this way, the distance you have selected is main-

tained.

If DISTRONIC PLUS detects a faster-moving

vehicle in front, it increases the driving speed.

However, the vehicle is only accelerated up to

the speed you have stored.

Selecting the drive program

All vehicles (except AMG vehicles):

DISTRONIC PLUS supports a sporty driving style

when you select the S drive program

(

Y

page 173). Acceleration behind the vehicle in

front or to the set speed is then noticeably more

dynamic. If you have selected the E driving pro-

gram, the vehicle accelerates more gently. This

setting is recommended in stop-and-start traf-

fic.

AMG vehicles: DISTRONIC Plus supports a

sporty driving style when you select the S or M

drive program (

Y

page 173). Acceleration

behind the vehicle in front or to the set speed is

then noticeably more dynamic. When you select

the C drive program, the vehicle accelerates

more gently. This setting is recommended in

stop-and-start traffic.

Changing lanes

If you change to the passing lane, DISTRONIC

PLUS supports you when:

R

you are driving faster than 45 mph (70 km/h)

R

you switch on the appropriate turn signal

R

DISTRONIC PLUS does not detect a danger of

collision

202

Driving systems

Dr

iv

ing

and

pa

rkin

g

If these conditions are fulfilled, your vehicle is

accelerated. Acceleration will be interrupted if

changing lanes takes too long or if the distance

between your vehicle and the vehicle in front

becomes too small.

i

When you change lanes, DISTRONIC PLUS

monitors the left lane on left-hand-drive vehi-

cles or the right lane on right-hand-drive vehi-

cles.

Stopping

G

WARNING

When leaving the vehicle, even if it is braked

only by DISTRONIC PLUS, it could roll away if:

R

there is a malfunction in the system or in

the voltage supply.

R

DISTRONIC PLUS has been deactivated

with the cruise control lever, e.g. by a vehi-

cle occupant or from outside the vehicle.

R

the electrical system in the engine com-

partment, the battery or the fuses have

been tampered with.

R

the battery is disconnected.

R

the accelerator pedal has been depressed,

e.g. by a vehicle occupant.

There is a risk of an accident.
If you wish to exit the vehicle, always turn off

DISTRONIC PLUS and secure the vehicle

against rolling away.

For further information on deactivating

DISTRONIC PLUS (

Y

page 205).

If DISTRONIC PLUS detects that the vehicle in

front is stopping, it brakes your vehicle until it is

stationary.

Once your vehicle is stationary, it remains sta-

tionary and you do not need to depress the

brake.

After a time, the electric parking brake secures

the vehicle and relieves the service brake.

Depending on the specified minimum distance,

your vehicle will come to a standstill at a suffi-

cient distance behind the vehicle in front. The

specified minimum distance is set using the

control on the cruise control lever.

When DISTRONIC PLUS is activated, the trans-

mission is shifted automatically to position P if:

R

the driver's seat belt is not fastened and the

driver's door is open.

R

the engine is switched off, unless it is auto-

matically switched off by the ECO start/stop

function.

The electric parking brake secures the vehicle

automatically if DISTRONIC PLUS is activated

when the vehicle is stationary and:

R

a system malfunction occurs.

R

the power supply is not sufficient.

If a malfunction in the electric parking brake

occurs, then the transmission may also be shif-

ted into position P automatically.

Setting a speed

X

Press the cruise control lever up : for a

higher speed or down ; for a lower speed.

X

To adjust the set speed in 1 mph incre-

ments (1 km/h increments): briefly press

the cruise control lever up : or down ; to

the pressure point.

Every time the cruise control lever is pressed

up : or down ; the last speed stored is

increased or reduced.

X

To adjust the set speed in 5 mph incre-

ments (10 km/h increments): briefly press

the cruise control lever up : or down ; to

the pressure point.

Every time the cruise control lever is pressed

up : or down ;, the last speed stored is

increased or reduced.

i

If you accelerate to overtake, DISTRONIC

PLUS adjusts the vehicle's speed to the last

speed stored after you have finished overtak-

ing.

Driving systems

203

Dr

iving

and

par

king

Z

Setting a specified minimum distance

You can set the specified minimum distance for

DISTRONIC PLUS by varying the time span

between one and two seconds. With this func-

tion, you can set the minimum distance that

DISTRONIC PLUS keeps to the vehicle in front,

dependent on vehicle speed. You can see this

distance in the multifunction display

(

Y

page 204).

i

Make sure that you maintain the minimum

distance to the vehicle in front as required by

law. Adjust the distance to the vehicle in front

if necessary.

X

To increase: turn control ; in direction =.

DISTRONIC PLUS then maintains a greater

distance between your vehicle and the vehicle

in front.

X

To decrease: turn control ; in direction :.

DISTRONIC PLUS then maintains a shorter

distance between your vehicle and the vehicle

in front.

DISTRONIC PLUS displays in the instru-

ment cluster

Displays in the speedometer

When you switch on DISTRONIC PLUS, trian-

gle ; shows the stored speed.

If DISTRONIC PLUS detects a vehicle in front,

segments between the speed of the vehicle in

front : and stored speed ; light up. The seg-

ments likewise light up if a vehicle in front is

detected in the fast lane.

i

For design reasons, the speed displayed in

the speedometer may differ slightly from the

speed set for DISTRONIC PLUS.

Display when DISTRONIC PLUS is deacti-

vated

:

Vehicle in front, if detected

;

Distance indicator, current distance to the

vehicle in front

=

Specified minimum distance to the vehicle

in front; adjustable

?

Own vehicle

In the Assistance menu (

Y

page 269) of the on-

board computer, you can select the assistance

graphics display.

X

Select the

Assistance Graphic

function

using the on-board computer (

Y

page 268).

204

Driving systems

Dr

iving

and

parking

Display when DISTRONIC PLUS is activa-

ted

:

DISTRONIC PLUS active (text only appears

when the cruise control lever is actuated)

;

Vehicle in front, if detected

=

Specified minimum distance to the vehicle

in front; adjustable

?

Own vehicle

In the Assistance menu (

Y

page 269) of the on-

board computer, you can select the assistance

graphics display.

X

Select the

Assistance Graphic

function

using the on-board computer (

Y

page 268).

You will see the stored speed for about five sec-

onds when you activate DISTRONIC PLUS.

Deactivates DISTRONIC PLUS

There are several ways to deactivate

DISTRONIC PLUS:

X

Briefly press the cruise control lever for-

wards :

or

X

Brake, unless the vehicle is stationary

When you deactivate DISTRONIC PLUS, you will

see the

DISTRONIC PLUS Off

message in the

multifunction display for approximately five sec-

onds.

i

The last speed stored remains stored until

you switch off the engine.

i

DISTRONIC PLUS is not deactivated if you

depress the accelerator pedal.

DISTRONIC PLUS is automatically deactivated

if:

R

you engage the electric parking brake or if the

vehicle is automatically secured with the elec-

tric parking brake

R

ESP

®

intervenes or you deactivate ESP

®

R

the transmission is in the P, R or N position

R

you pull the cruise control lever towards you

in order to pull away and the front-passenger

door or one of the rear doors is open

R

the vehicle has skidded

R

you activate Active Parking Assist

If DISTRONIC PLUS is deactivated, you will hear

a warning tone. You will see the

DISTRONIC

PLUS Off

message in the multifunction display

for approximately five seconds.

Tips for driving with DISTRONIC PLUS

General notes

Pay particular attention in the following traffic

situations:

R

Cornering, going into and coming out of a

bend

R

Vehicles traveling on a different line

R

Other vehicles changing lanes

R

Narrow vehicles

R

Obstructions and stationary vehicles

R

Crossing vehicles

In such situations, brake if necessary.

DISTRONIC PLUS is then deactivated.

Driving systems

205

Dr

iv

in

g

an

d

parkin

g

Z

Cornering, going into and coming out of a

bend

The ability of DISTRONIC PLUS to detect vehi-

cles when cornering is limited. Your vehicle may

brake unexpectedly or late.

Vehicles traveling on a different line

DISTRONIC PLUS may not detect vehicles trav-

eling on a different line. The distance to the

vehicle in front will be too short.

Other vehicles changing lanes

DISTRONIC PLUS has not detected the vehicle

cutting in yet. The distance to this vehicle will be

too short.

Narrow vehicles

DISTRONIC PLUS has not yet detected the vehi-

cle in front on the edge of the road, because of

its narrow width. The distance to the vehicle in

front will be too short.

Obstructions and stationary vehicles

DISTRONIC PLUS does not brake for obstacles

or stationary vehicles. If, for example, the detec-

ted vehicle turns a corner and reveals an obsta-

cle or stationary vehicle, DISTRONIC PLUS will

not brake for these.

Crossing vehicles

DISTRONIC PLUS may mistakenly detect vehi-

cles that are crossing your lane. Activating

206

Driving systems

Dr

iv

ing

and

pa

rk

ing

DISTRONIC PLUS at traffic lights with crossing

traffic, for example, could cause your vehicle to

pull away unintentionally.

DISTRONIC PLUS with Steering Assist

and Stop&Go Pilot

General notes

DISTRONIC PLUS with Steering Assist and

Stop&Go Pilot aids you in keeping the vehicle in

the center of the driving lane by means of mod-

erate steering interventions at speeds of

0 - 125 mph (0 - 200 km/h).

It monitors the area in front of your vehicle by

means of multifunction camera :, at the top of

the windshield.

At speeds of 0 - 37 mph (0 - 60 km/h), Stop&Go

Pilot focuses on the vehicle in front, taking into

account lane markings, e.g. when following vehi-

cles in a traffic jam.

At speeds of more than 37 mph (60 km/h)

Steering Assist focuses on detected lane mark-

ings (left and right), and only on the vehicle in

front if lane markings are missing.

Steering Assist and Stop&Go Pilot do not pro-

vide any support if these conditions do not exist.

DISTRONIC PLUS must be active in order for the

function to be available.

Important safety notes

If you fail to adapt your driving style, DISTRONIC

PLUS with Steering Assist and Stop&Go Pilot

can neither reduce the risk of an accident nor

override the laws of physics. It cannot take

account of road, weather and traffic conditions.

DISTRONIC PLUS with Steering Assist and

Stop&Go Pilot is only an aid. You are responsible

for the distance to the vehicle in front, for vehi-

cle speed, for braking in good time and for stay-

ing in your lane.

DISTRONIC PLUS with Steering Assist and

Stop&Go Pilot does not detect road and traffic

conditions. If you are following a vehicle which is

driving towards the edge of the road, your vehi-

cle could come into contact with the curb or

other road boundaries. Be particularly aware of

other road users, e.g. cyclists, that are directly

next to your vehicle.

Obstacles such as building site huts on the lane

or projecting out into the lane are not detected.

An inappropriate steering intervention, e.g. after

intentionally driving over a lane marking, can be

corrected at any time if you steer slightly in the

opposite direction.

DISTRONIC PLUS with Steering Assist and

Stop&Go Pilot cannot continuously keep your

vehicle in lane. In some cases, the steering

intervention is not sufficient to bring the vehicle

back to the lane. In such cases, you must steer

the vehicle yourself to ensure that it does not

leave the lane.

The support provided by the system can be

impaired if:

R

there is poor visibility, e.g. due to insufficient

illumination of the road, or due to snow, rain,

fog or spray

R

there is glare, e.g. from oncoming traffic, the

sun or reflections (e.g. when the road surface

is wet)

R

the windshield is dirty, fogged up, damaged or

covered, for instance by a sticker, in the vicin-

ity of the camera

R

there are no, several or unclear lane markings

for a lane, e.g. in areas with road construction

work

R

the lane markings are worn away, dark or cov-

ered up, e.g. by dirt or snow

R

the distance to the vehicle in front is too small

and the lane markings thus cannot be detec-

ted

R

the lane markings change quickly, e.g. lanes

branch off, cross one another or merge

R

the road is narrow and winding

R

there are strong shadows cast on the road

The system is switched to passive and no longer

assists you by performing steering interventions

if:

R

you actively change lane

R

you switch on the turn signal

R

take your hands off the steering wheel or do

not steer for a prolonged period of time

Driving systems

207

Dr

ivi

ng

an

d

parkin

g

Z

i

Steering Assist and Stop&Go Pilot are acti-

vated again automatically after a lane change

is completed.

Steering Assist and Stop&Go Pilot do not pro-

vide any support:

R

on very sharp corners

R

when a loss of tire pressure or a defective tire

has been detected and displayed

Pay attention also to the important safety notes

for DISTRONIC PLUS (

Y

page 200).

The steering interventions are carried out with a

limited steering moment. The system requires

the driver to keep his hands on the steering

wheel and to steer himself.

If you do not steer yourself or if you take your

hands off the steering wheel for a prolonged

period of time, the system will first alert you with

a visual warning. A steering wheel symbol

appears in the multifunction display. If you have

still not started to steer and have not taken hold

of the steering wheel after five seconds at the

latest, a warning tone also sounds to remind you

to take control of the vehicle. Steering Assist

and Stop&Go Pilot are switched to passive.

DISTRONIC PLUS remains active.

Activating Steering Assist and Stop&Go

Pilot

X

Press button ;.

Indicator lamp : lights up. The

DTR+:

Steering Assist. On

message appears in

the multifunction display. Steering Assist and

Stop&Go Pilot are activated.

Information in the multifunction display

If Steering Assist and Stop&Go Pilot are activa-

ted but not ready for a steering intervention,

steering wheel symbol : appears in gray. If the

system provides you with support by means of

steering interventions, symbol : is shown in

green.

Deactivating Steering Assist and Stop&Go

Pilot

X

Press button ;.

Indicator lamp : goes out. The

DTR+:

Steering Assist. Off

message appears in

the multifunction display. Steering Assist and

Stop&Go Pilot are deactivated.

When DISTRONIC PLUS is deactivated or not

available, Steering Assist and Stop&Go Pilot are

deactivated automatically.

HOLD function

General notes

The HOLD function can assist the driver in the

following situations:

R

when pulling away, especially on steep slopes

R

when maneuvering on steep slopes

R

when waiting in traffic

The vehicle is kept stationary without the driver

having to depress the brake pedal.

The braking effect is canceled and the HOLD

function deactivated when you depress the

accelerator pedal to pull away.

208

Driving systems

Driving

and

parki

ng

Important safety notes

G

WARNING

When leaving the vehicle, it can still roll away

despite being braked by the HOLD function if:

R

there is a malfunction in the system or in

the voltage supply.

R

the HOLD function has been deactivated by

pressing the accelerator pedal or the brake

pedal, e.g. by a vehicle occupant.

R

the electrical system in the engine com-

partment, the battery or the fuses have

been tampered with.

R

the battery is disconnected

There is a risk of an accident.
If you wish to exit the vehicle, always turn off

the HOLD function and secure the vehicle

against rolling away.

Further information on deactivating the HOLD

function (

Y

page 209).

!

If DISTRONIC PLUS or the HOLD function is

activated, the vehicle brakes automatically in

certain situations.

To prevent damage to the vehicle, deactivate

DISTRONIC PLUS and the HOLD function in

the following or other similar situations:

R

when towing the vehicle

R

in the car wash

Activation conditions

You can activate the HOLD function if all of the

following conditions are fulfilled:

R

the vehicle is stationary.

R

the engine is running or if it has been auto-

matically switched off by the ECO start/stop

function.

R

the driver's door is closed or your seat belt is

fastened.

R

the electric parking brake is released.

R

the transmission is in position D, R or N.

R

DISTRONIC PLUS is deactivated.

Activating the HOLD function

X

Make sure that the activation conditions are

met.

X

Depress the brake pedal.

X

Quickly depress the brake pedal further

until : appears in the multifunction display.

The HOLD function is activated. You can

release the brake pedal.

i

If depressing the brake pedal the first time

does not activate the HOLD function, wait

briefly and then try again.

Deactivating the HOLD function

The HOLD function is deactivated automatically

if:

R

you accelerate and the transmission is in

position D or R.

R

you shift the transmission to position P.

R

you depress the brake pedal again with a cer-

tain amount of pressure until ë disap-

pears from the multifunction display.

R

you secure the vehicle using the electric park-

ing brake.

R

you activate DISTRONIC PLUS.

i

After a time, the electric parking brake

secures the vehicle and relieves the service

brake. The HOLD function is then deactiva-

ted.

When the HOLD function is activated, the trans-

mission is shifted automatically to position P if:

R

the driver's seat belt is not fastened and the

driver's door is open.

R

the engine is switched off, unless it is auto-

matically switched off by the ECO start/stop

function.

Driving systems

209

Dr

iv

ing

and

pa

rkin

g

Z

The electric parking brake secures the vehicle

automatically if the HOLD function is activated

when the vehicle is stationary and:

R

a system malfunction occurs.

R

the power supply is not sufficient.

If a malfunction in the electric parking brake

occurs, then the transmission may also be shif-

ted into position P automatically.

MAGIC BODY CONTROL

General notes

MAGIC BODY CONTROL consists of Active Body

Control (ABC), ROAD SURFACE SCAN as well as

automatic vehicle stabilization in the event of a

crosswind.

Your vehicle automatically adjusts its ride height

to improve driving safety and reduce fuel con-

sumption. The suspension mode is adjusted

according to your selection (sports or comfort),

the road surface conditions and the vehicle load.

A multifunction camera detects bumps in the

road surface before the vehicle drives over

them. This reduces chassis movements.

Important safety notes

G

WARNING

When the vehicle is being lowered, people

could become trapped if their limbs are

between the vehicle body and the wheels or

underneath the vehicle. There is a risk of

injury.
Make sure no one is underneath the vehicle or

in the immediate vicinity of the wheel arches

when the vehicle is being lowered.

!

The vehicle is lowered when the engine is

switched off. When parking, position your

vehicle so that it does not make contact with

the curb as the vehicle is lowered. Your vehi-

cle could otherwise be damaged.

Crosswind Assist

The crosswind stabilization operates by chang-

ing wheel loads through adjusting the ABC

spring struts. It reduces impairments in handling

when driving in a straight line and assists during

countersteering.

Crosswind Assist is active in the speed range

between 50 mph (80 km/h) and

130 mph (210 km/h) when driving straight

ahead or cornering gently.

Active Body Control ABC

Vehicle level

All vehicles except AMG vehicles: depending

on the vehicle level that has been set, the vehi-

cle automatically adjusts its height dependent

on the current speed. The vehicle is lowered by

up to 0.6 in (15 mm) as the speed increases. As

the speed is reduced, the vehicle is raised up to

the set vehicle height.

AMG vehicles: depending on the vehicle level

that has been selected, the vehicle automati-

cally adjusts its height dependent on the current

speed. The vehicle is lowered by up to 0.4 in

(10 mm) below the normal level as the speed

increases. As the speed is reduced, the vehicle

is raised up to the set vehicle height.

Select the "Normal" setting for normal road con-

ditions and "Raised" for driving with snow chains

or in particularly poor road conditions.

Setting the vehicle level

X

To raise the vehicle: press button :.

Indicator lamp ; lights up.

X

To lower the vehicle: press button : again.

Indicator lamp ; goes out.

Your selection remains stored even if you

remove the SmartKey from the ignition lock.

Suspension tuning

The electronically controlled ABC suspension

system detects the vehicle level and the vehicle

load and adjusts the setting accordingly. You

can also choose between a particularly sporty or

a comfortable tuning.

210

Driving systems

Dr

iv

ing

and

pa

rk

ing

The ABC suspension system is tuned individu-

ally to each wheel and depends on:

R

your driving style, e.g. sporty

R

the road surface condition, e.g. bumps

R

your individual selection, i.e. sports or com-

fort

R

the vehicle load

R

the force of the side wind

Your selection remains stored even if you

remove the SmartKey from the ignition lock.

The firmer setting of the suspension tuning in

SPORT mode ensures even better contact with

the road. The steering response behavior is

sporty. Select this mode when employing a

sporty driving style on flat roads, e.g. on high-

ways.
Selecting the sports suspension setting

X

When indicator lamp ; is off: press but-

ton : repeatedly until only indicator lamp ;

is on.

Sports suspension tuning is selected.

All vehicles except AMG vehicles: the

Active Body Control SPORT

message

appears in the multifunction display.

AMG vehicles: the

AMG Suspension Sys‐

tem SPORT

message appears in the multi-

function display.

In COMFORT mode, the driving characteristics

of your vehicle are especially comfortable. The

steering response behavior is balanced. Select

this mode if you favor a comfortable driving

style.
Selecting the comfortable suspension setting

X

When indicator lamp ; is off: press but-

ton : repeatedly until only indicator lamp ;

is on.

Comfortable suspension tuning is selected.

All vehicles except AMG vehicles: the

Active Body Control COMFORT

message

appears in the multifunction display.

AMG vehicles: the

AMG Suspension Sys‐

tem COMFORT

message appears in the multi-

function display.

ROAD SURFACE SCAN

i

This function is not available in all countries.

The ROAD SURFACE SCAN function monitors

the road in front of the vehicle using multifunc-

tion camera : at the top of the windshield. This

function is automatically active if you select

comfort suspension tuning. The system is

operational at speeds of up to 81 mph

(130 km/h).

This function allows bumps in the road surface

to be detected before the vehicle drives over

them. The spring struts are then actuated, with

the result that chassis movements are signifi-

cantly reduced when driving over bumps.

The system is deactivated when you select the

raised vehicle level or sports mode.

The system may be impaired or may not function

if:

R

the road surface is insufficiently lit

R

there is poor visibility, e.g. snow, rain, fog or

spray

R

there is glare, e.g. from the sun or from

oncoming traffic

R

the windshield is dirty, fogged up or covered,

for instance by a sticker, in the vicinity of the

camera

R

the road surface has no texture or is reflec-

tive, e.g. in the case of newly laid asphalt,

concrete slabs or puddles

R

the distance to the vehicle in front is too short

Driving systems

211

Driving

and

parking

Z

R

sections of the route have a very small radius

of curvature

R

you accelerate hard or brake sharply

AIRMATIC

General notes

AIRMATIC is an air suspension with variable

damping for improved driving comfort. All-round

level control ensures the best possible suspen-

sion and constant ground clearance, even with a

laden vehicle. When you drive fast, the vehicle is

lowered automatically to improve driving safety

and to reduce fuel consumption. There is also

the option to manually adjust the vehicle level.

AIRMATIC consists of level setting, level control

and the Adaptive Damping System ADS PLUS.

Important safety notes

G

WARNING

When the vehicle is being lowered, people

could become trapped if their limbs are

between the vehicle body and the wheels or

underneath the vehicle. There is a risk of

injury.
Make sure no one is underneath the vehicle or

in the immediate vicinity of the wheel arches

when the vehicle is being lowered.

Vehicle level

Setting the raised vehicle level

It is possible to choose between the "Normal"

and "Raised" vehicle levels. Select the "Normal"

setting for normal road surfaces and "Raised"

for driving with snow chains or on particularly

poor road surfaces. Your selection remains

stored even if you remove the SmartKey from

the ignition lock.

X

Start the engine.

If indicator lamp ; is not lit:

X

Press button :.

Indicator lamp ; lights up. The vehicle is

raised by 1.0 in (25 mm) compared to the

normal level.

The

Vehicle Rising

message appears in the

multifunction display.

i

The message disappears after ten seconds,

irrespective of the level reached. If necessary,

the vehicle is raised further.

The "Raised level" setting is canceled if you:

R

drive at a speed above approximately 75 mph

(120 km/h)

R

drive for approximately three minutes at a

speed above 50 mph (80 km/h)

Setting the normal vehicle level

X

Start the engine.

If indicator lamp ; is lit:

X

Press button :.

Indicator lamp ; goes out. The vehicle is

adjusted to normal level.

Suspension tuning

General notes

The Adaptive Damping System ADS PLUS auto-

matically controls the calibration of the damp-

ers.

The damping is tuned individually to each wheel

and depends on:

R

your driving style, e.g. sporty

R

the road surface condition, e.g. bumps

R

your individual selection, i.e. sports or com-

fort

Your selection remains stored even if you

remove the SmartKey from the ignition lock.

i

You can choose between the sporty and

comfortable mode. One of the two modes is

always active.

212

Driving systems

Driving

and

parking

Sports tuning

The firmer setting of the suspension tuning in

SPORT mode ensures the best possible contact

with the road. Select this mode when employing

a sporty driving style, e.g. on winding country

roads.
All vehicles except Mercedes-AMG vehicles:

X

If indicator lamp ; is not lit: press but-

ton :.

Indicator lamp ; lights up. Sports suspen-

sion tuning is selected. The vehicle is lowered

by 0.4 in (10 mm) compared to the normal

level.

The

AIRMATIC SPORT

message appears in the

multifunction display.

Mercedes-AMG vehicles:

X

If indicator lamp ; is not lit: press but-

ton :.

Indicator lamp ; lights up. If the driving

speed is higher than 75 mph (120 km/h), the

vehicle is automatically lowered by another

0.4 in (10 mm) compared to the normal level

in sport mode.

The

AMG Suspension System SPORT

mes-

sage appears in the multifunction display.

Comfort tuning

In comfort mode, the driving characteristics of

your vehicle are more comfortable. Therefore,

select this mode if you favor a more comfortable

driving style. Select comfort mode also when

driving fast on straight roads, e.g. on straight

stretches of highway.

X

If indicator lamp ; is not lit: press but-

ton :.

Indicator lamp ; lights up. Comfort tuning is

selected.

All vehicles except Mercedes-AMG vehi-

cles: the

AIRMATIC COMFORT

message

appears in the multifunction display.

Mercedes-AMG vehicles: the

AMG Suspen‐

sion System COMFORT

message appears in

the multifunction display.

If the driving speed is higher than 75 mph

(120 km/h), the vehicle is automatically low-

ered in comfort mode by 0.4 in (10 mm) com-

pared to the normal level.

Load compensation

The vehicle can compensate differences in the

vehicle level by raising or lowering the axles.

4MATIC (permanent four-wheel drive)

4MATIC ensures that all four wheels are perma-

nently driven. Together with ESP

®

, it improves

the traction of your vehicle whenever a drive

wheel spins due to insufficient grip.

If you fail to adapt your driving style, 4MATIC can

neither reduce the risk of accident nor override

the laws of physics. 4MATIC cannot take

account of road, weather and traffic conditions.

4MATIC is only an aid. You are responsible for

the distance to the vehicle in front, for vehicle

speed, for braking in good time and for staying in

your lane.

If a drive wheel spins due to insufficient grip:

R

Only depress the accelerator pedal as far as

necessary when pulling away.

R

Accelerate less when driving.

!

Never tow the vehicle with one axle raised.

This may damage the transfer case. Damage

of this sort is not covered by the Mercedes-

Benz Limited Warranty. All wheels must

remain either on the ground or be fully raised.

Observe the instructions for towing the vehi-

cle with all wheels in full contact with the

ground.

i

In wintry driving conditions, the maximum

effect of 4MATIC can only be achieved if you

use winter tires (M+S tires), with snow chains

if necessary.

Driving systems

213

Dr

iving

and

parking

Z

PARKTRONIC

Important safety notes

PARKTRONIC is an electronic parking aid with

ultrasonic sensors. It monitors the area around

your vehicle using six sensors in the front

bumper and six sensors in the rear bumper.

PARKTRONIC indicates visually and audibly the

distance between your vehicle and an object.

PARKTRONIC is only an aid. It is not a replace-

ment for your attention to your immediate sur-

roundings. You are always responsible for safe

maneuvering, parking and exiting a parking

space. When maneuvering, parking or pulling

out of a parking space, make sure that there are

no persons, animals or objects in the area in

which you are maneuvering.

!

When parking, pay particular attention to

objects above or below the sensors, such as

flower pots or trailer drawbars. PARKTRONIC

does not detect such objects when they are in

the immediate vicinity of the vehicle. You

could damage the vehicle or the objects.

The sensors may not detect snow and other

objects that absorb ultrasonic waves.

Ultrasonic sources such as an automatic car

wash, the compressed-air brakes on a truck

or a pneumatic drill could cause PARKTRONIC

to malfunction.

PARKTRONIC may not function correctly on

uneven terrain.

PARKTRONIC is activated automatically when

you:

R

switch on the ignition

R

shift the transmission to position D, R or N

PARKTRONIC is deactivated at speeds above

11 mph (18 km/h). It is reactivated at lower

speeds.

Range of the sensors

General notes

PARKTRONIC does not take objects into con-

sideration that are:

R

below the detection range, e.g. people, ani-

mals or objects.

R

above the detection range, e.g. overhanging

loads, truck overhangs or loading ramps.

:

Sensors in the front bumper, left-hand side

(example)

The sensors must be free from dirt, ice or slush.

They can otherwise not function correctly. Clean

the sensors regularly, taking care not to scratch

or damage them (

Y

page 362).

Front sensors

Center

Approx. 40 in (approx.

100 cm)

Corners

Approx. 24 in (approx.

60 cm)

214

Driving systems

Dr

iving

and

parking

Rear sensors

Center

Approx. 48 in (approx.

120 cm)

Corners

Approx. 32 in (approx.

80 cm)

Minimum distance

Center

Approx. 8 in (approx. 20 cm)

Corners

Approx. 6 in (approx. 15 cm)

If there is an obstacle within this range, the rel-

evant warning displays light up and a warning

tone sounds. If the distance falls below the min-

imum, the distance may no longer be shown.

Warning displays

:

Segments on the left-hand side of the vehi-

cle

;

Segments on the right-hand side of the vehi-

cle

=

Segments showing operational readiness

The warning displays show the distance

between the sensors and the obstacle. The

warning display for the front area is in the instru-

ment cluster. The warning display for the rear

area is located on the headliner in the rear com-

partment.

The warning display for each side of the vehicle

is divided into five yellow and two red segments.

PARKTRONIC is operational if operational read-

iness indicator = lights up.

The selected transmission position and the

direction in which the vehicle is rolling deter-

mine which warning display is active when the

engine is running.

Transmission posi-

tion

Warning display

D

Front area activated

R, N or the vehicle is

rolling backwards

Rear and front areas

activated

P

No areas activated

One or more segments light up as the vehicle

approaches an obstacle, depending on the vehi-

cle's distance from the obstacle.

From the:

R

sixth segment onwards, you will hear an inter-

mittent warning tone for approximately two

seconds.

R

seventh segment onwards, you will hear a

warning tone for approximately two seconds.

This indicates that you have now reached the

minimum distance.

Deactivating/activating PARKTRONIC

:

Indicator lamp

;

Deactivating/activating PARKTRONIC

If indicator lamp : is on then PARKTRONIC is

deactivated. Active Parking Assist is then also

deactivated.

i

PARKTRONIC is automatically activated

when you turn the SmartKey to position 2 in

the ignition lock.

Driving systems

215

Drivi

ng

and

parki

ng

Z