heating MERCEDES-BENZ S CLASS 2016 User Guide

Problems with the steering wheel heating Problem
Possible causes/consequences and P Solutions
The steering wheel heat-
ing has switched off pre-
maturely or cannot be
switched on. The on-board voltage is too low because too many electrical consum-
ers are switched on. X
Switch off electrical consumers that you do not need, such as the
rear window defroster or interior lighting.
EASY-ENTRY/EXIT feature
Important safety notes
G WARNING
When the EASY-ENTRY/EXIT feature adjusts
the steering wheel and the driver's seat, you
and other vehicle occupants – particularly
children – could become trapped. There is a
risk of injury.
While the EASY-ENTRY/EXIT feature is mak-
ing adjustments, make sure that no one has
any body parts in the sweep of the seat and
the steering wheel.
If there is a risk of becoming trapped by R
the steering wheel: move the steering
wheel adjustment lever. R
the seat: press the switch for seat adjust-
ment.
The adjustment process is stopped.
Press one of the memory function position
switches. The adjustment process is stopped.
This function is only available on vehicles with
memory function.
G WARNING
If children activate the EASY-ENTRY/EXIT fea-
ture, they can become trapped, particularly
when unattended. There is a risk of injury.
When leaving the vehicle, always take the
SmartKey with you and lock the vehicle. Never
leave children unsupervised in the vehicle.
G WARNING
If you drive off while the EASY-ENTRY/EXIT
feature is making adjustments, you could lose control of the vehicle. There is a risk of an
accident.
Always wait until the adjustment process is
complete before driving off.
The EASY-ENTRY/EXIT feature makes getting in
and out of your vehicle easier.
You can activate and deactivate the EASY-
ENTRY/EXIT feature using the multimedia sys-
tem (see the separate operating instructions).
Position of the steering wheel and the
driver's seat when the EASY-ENTRY/
EXIT feature is active The steering wheel tilts upwards and the driver's
seat moves backwards if you: R
remove the SmartKey from the ignition lock R
with KEYLESS-GO: open the driver's door;
KEYLESS-GO must be in position 1R
with the SmartKey: open the driver's door;
the SmartKey must be in position 0 or 1 in the
ignition lock ( Y
page 162) R
open the driver's door when the ignition is
switched off
i The steering wheel only tilts upwards and
the driver's seat only moves backwards if the
driving position is stored after seat or steering
wheel adjustment.
The last position of the steering wheel or seat is
stored if: R
the ignition is switched off R
the setting is stored with the memory function
( Y
page 126).
i The steering wheel only moves upwards if it
has not already reached the upper stop. The
driver's seat only moves backwards if it is not
already in the rearmost position.122
Steering wheel
Seats, steering wheel and mirrors

Problems with the rear window defroster Problem
Possible causes/consequences and P Solutions
The rear window
defroster has deactiva-
ted prematurely or can-
not be activated. The battery has not been sufficiently charged. X
Switch off any consumers that are not required, e.g. reading lamps,
interior lighting or the seat heating.
When the battery is sufficiently charged, the rear window defroster
can be activated again.
Switching air-recirculation mode
on/off
General notes You can also temporarily deactivate the flow of
fresh air manually if unpleasant odors are enter-
ing the vehicle from outside. The air already
inside the vehicle will then be recirculated.
If you switch on air-recirculation mode, the win-
dows can fog up more quickly, in particular at
low temperatures. Only use air-recirculation
mode briefly to prevent the windows from fog-
ging up.
Activating/deactivating X
Turn the SmartKey to position 2 in the ignition
lock ( Y
page 162).X
To activate: press the r rocker switch up
or down.
The indicator lamp in the r rocker switch
lights up.
Air-recirculation mode switches on automati-
cally: R
at high outside temperatures R
at high levels of pollution R
in a tunnel
The indicator lamp in the r rocker switch is
not lit when automatic air-recirculation mode is
activated. Outside air is added after about
30 minutes. X
To deactivate: press the r rocker switch
up or down.
The indicator lamp in the r rocker switch
goes out. Air-recirculation mode deactivates automati-
cally: R
after approximately five minutes at outside
temperatures below approximately 41 ‡
(5 †) R
after approximately five minutes if cooling
with air dehumidification is deactivated R
after approximately 30 minutes at outside
temperatures above approximately 41 ‡
(5 †) if the "Cooling with air dehumidifica-
tion" function is activated
Switching the residual heat on or off
General notes Vehicles with rear-compartment climate
control: once the engine is switched off, it is
possible to make use of the residual heat of the
engine to continue heating or ventilating the
rear and front compartment of the vehicle for
approximately 15 minutes. If the "Residual heat"
function is set for only the front or only the rear
compartment, it is possible to continue heating
or ventilating for approximately 30 minutes.
Vehicles without rear-compartment climate
control: once the engine is switched off, it is
possible to make use of the residual heat of the
engine to continue heating or ventilating the
front compartment of the vehicle for approx-
imately 30 minutes.
The heating or ventilation time depends on the
temperature that has been set.152
Operating the climate control systems
Climate control

Problems with the perfume atomizer Problem
Possible causes/consequences and P Solutions
The vehicle interior is not
perfumed although the
perfume atomizer is acti-
vated. The perfume vial has not been pushed into the holder as far as it will
go. X
Slide the perfume vial into the holder as far as it will go.
The perfume vial is not filled sufficiently. X
Pre-filled vials: dispose of the empty vial.X
Use a new pre-filled vial. X
Refillable vials: fill the perfume vial with a maximum of 0.5 fl. oz.
(15 ml) of the same perfume.
The perfume atomizer is faulty. X
Have the perfume atomizer checked at a qualified specialist work-
shop.
Ionization You can use the "Ionization" function to purify
the air in the vehicle interior and attain an
improved interior climate.
The ionization of the interior air is odorless and
cannot be perceived directly in the vehicle inte-
rior.
You can switch ionization on or off using the
multimedia system (see the separate operating
instructions).
Ionization can only be switched on if the front
climate control system is activated. The side air
vent on the driver's side must be open.
Pre-entry climate control via Smart-
Key
General notes The "Pre-entry climate control via SmartKey"
function is only available in PLUG-IN HYBRID
vehicles.
Before getting in, the driver's seat area or the
whole interior can be briefly warmed or ventila-
ted in advance with the air from the air vents
being pre-cooled.
The high-voltage battery must be sufficiently
charged before "Pre-entry climate control via
SmartKey" can be activated. When the vehicle is pre-cooled, the following
functions are activated if required: R
Climate control system R
Blower R
Seat ventilation
When the vehicle is pre-heated, the following
functions are activated if required: R
Climate control system R
Blower R
Seat heating R
Steering wheel heating R
Exterior mirror heating R
Rear window defroster
If you have activated the following functions
using the multimedia system, they are activated
together with the "Pre-entry climate control via
SmartKey" function: R
Armrest heating R
Perfume atomizer R
Ionization
Activating the perfume atomizer or ionization
(see separate operating instructions).
Activating or deactivating "Pre-entry
climate control via SmartKey"
Before "Pre-entry climate control via SmartKey"
can be activated, you must activate the function
via the multimedia system (see separate oper-
ating instructions).Operating the climate control systems 155
Climate control Z

X
To activate pre-entry climate control via
SmartKey: unlock the vehicle with the Smart-
Key or KEYLESS-GO.
The climate control functions are activated
for up to 5 minutes for pre-heating and pre-
cooling.
To deactivate "Pre-entry climate control via
SmartKey": "Pre-entry climate control via
SmartKey" switches off automatically when the
engine is started.
The following functions remain active after the
engine is started: R
Seat heating (heating) R
Seat ventilation (ventilation) R
Armrest heating R
Perfume atomizer R
Ionization
An activated "Pre-entry climate control via
SmartKey" function can be deactivated using
the rocker switch ( Y
page 158).156
Operating the climate control systems
Climate control

Problems with "Pre-entry climate control via SmartKey" Problem
Possible causes/consequences and P Solutions
"Pre-entry climate con-
trol via SmartKey" can-
not be switched on or
has switched itself off. The condition of charge of the high-voltage battery is under the speci-
fied minimum condition of charge. X
Start the engine when the vehicle is at a standstill.
The engine powers the electric motor. The electric motor operates
as a generator. The high-voltage battery is being charged.
Further information on charging the high-voltage battery via: R
a mains socket ( Y
page 183)R
a charging station ( Y
page 186)R
a wallbox ( Y
page 185)
"Pre-entry climate control via SmartKey" has been started more than
twice with the engine switched off. X
Switch on the engine and let it run for more than ten seconds. X
Try again to switch on "Pre-entry climate control via SmartKey".
Pre-entry climate control at time of
departure
Important safety notes
G WARNING
If persons, particularly children are subjected
to prolonged exposure to extreme heat or
cold, there is a risk of injury, possibly even
fatal. Never leave children unattended in the
vehicle.
General notes The "Pre-entry climate control at departure
time" function is only available in PLUG-IN
HYBRID vehicles.
You can use the "Pre-entry climate control at
departure time" function to cool or heat the
vehicle interior if the engine is not running.
The "Pre-entry climate control at departure
time" function can be activated regardless of
whether or not the vehicle is connected to an
electric power supply. The condition of charge of
the high-voltage battery must be higher than the
specified minimum condition of charge, how-
ever.
When the vehicle is connected to an electric
power supply, priority is given to charging the
high-voltage battery to the specified minimum charge. "Pre-entry climate control at departure
time" is only activated subsequently.
The running time of the "Pre-entry climate con-
trol at departure time" function may be reduced
if: R
the vehicle is not connected to an electric
power supply and R
the high-voltage battery is not fully charged
With active "Pre-entry climate control at depar-
ture time" the condition of charge of the high-
voltage battery can be reduced, even if the
charge cable connector is connected.
When the vehicle is cooled, the following func-
tions are activated if required: R
Climate control system R
Blower R
Seat ventilation
When the vehicle is heated, the following func-
tions are activated if required: R
Climate control system R
Blower R
Seat heating R
Steering wheel heating R
Armrest heating R
Exterior mirror heating R
Rear window defroster
If you have switched on the perfume atomizer or
the ionization using the multimedia system,Operating the climate control systems 157
Climate control Z

these will be activated together with the "Pre-
entry climate control at departure time".
Activating the perfume atomizer or ionization
(see separate operating instructions).
Setting the departure time You can set the departure time using the on-
board computer or via the My Mercedes Electric
– Vehicle Homepage. The activation of the "Pre-
entry climate control at departure time" func-
tion can be linked to this departure time. Your
vehicle will then be cooled or heated until the
desired temperature is reached in time for the
set departure time. "Pre-entry climate control at
departure time" will be activated a maximum of
55 minutes before departure. If the departure is
delayed, the vehicle will be heated or cooled for
another five minutes. X
To set the departure time: set the departure
time using the on-board computer
( Y
page 272). Set the departure time via the
My Mercedes Electric – Vehicle Homepage
( Y
page 189).X
To activate or deactivate "Pre-entry cli-
mate control at departure time": activate
or deactivate "Pre-entry climate control at
departure time" via the multimedia system
(see the separate operating instructions).
Activate or deactivate "Pre-entry climate con-
trol at departure time" via the My Mercedes
Electric – Vehicle Homepage ( Y
page 189).
When activating the "Pre-entry climate control
at departure time" function: you can select
w h ether only the driver's area or the whole vehi-
cle interior should be heated or cooled.
The "Pre-entry climate control at departure
time" function switches off automatically when
the vehicle is started. The following functions
remain active: R
Seat heating R
Seat ventilation R
Armrest heating R
Steering wheel heating R
Perfume atomizer R
Ionization
Switching off "Pre-entry climate control at
departure time": the activated "Pre-entry cli-
mate control at departure time" can be switched
off using the rocker switch ( Y
page 158). Activating or deactivating "Immediate
pre-entry climate control" using the
rocker switch You can activate "Immediate pre-entry climate
control" even if the vehicle interior is already at
the desired temperature. This means that the
vehicle interior continues to be cooled or
heated, e.g. if the journey is interrupted for up to
50 minutes, and the interior temperature is kept
constant.
X
To activate or deactivate "Immediate pre-
entry climate control": press rocker
switch C up or down.
The blue or red indicator lamp on the rocker
switch lights up or goes out.
The colors of the indicator lamps on rocker
switch C have the following meanings: R
blue: cooling activated R
red: heating activated R
yellow: departure time is preselected
Setting the air vents
Important safety notes
G WARNING
Very hot or very cold air can flow from the air
vents. This could result in burns or frostbite in
the immediate vicinity of the air vents. There
is a risk of injury.
Make sure that all vehicle occupants always
maintain a sufficient distance to the air out-
lets. If necessary, redirect the airflow to
another area of the vehicle interior.158
Setting the air vents
Climate control

Problems with the transmission Problem
Possible causes/consequences and P Solutions
The transmission has
problems shifting gear. The transmission is losing oil. X
Have the transmission checked at a qualified specialist workshop
immediately.
The acceleration ability
is deteriorating.
The transmission no lon-
ger changes gear. The transmission is in emergency mode.
7G-TRONIC: it is only possible to shift into second gear and reverse
gear.
9G-TRONIC: it is only partly possible to engage the gears or the trans-
mission is in position N .X
Stop the vehicle. X
Shift the transmission to position P .X
Switch off the engine. X
Wait at least ten seconds before restarting the engine. X
Shift the transmission to position D or R .
7G-TRONIC: If D is selected, the transmission shifts into second
gear, if R is selected, the transmission shifts into reverse gear. X
Have the transmission checked at a qualified specialist workshop
immediately.
Problems with PLUG-IN HYBRID operation ( Y
page 254).
Transfer case This section is only valid for vehicles with 4-
wheel drive (4MATIC). Power is always trans-
mitted to both axles.
! Performance tests may only be carried out
on a 2-axle dynamometer. The brake system
or transfer case could otherwise be damaged.
Contact a qualified specialist workshop for a
performance test.
! Since ESP ®
engages automatically, the igni-
tion must be switched off (the SmartKey or
Start/Stop button must be in position 0 or 1 )
if: R
the electric parking brake is being tested
on a brake dynamometer R
the vehicle is being towed with only one
axle raised (not permitted for vehicles with
4MATIC).
The brake system could otherwise be dam-
aged. ! Vehicles with 4MATIC must not be towed
with either the front or the rear axle raised, as
doing so will damage the transmission.
Refueling
Important safety notes
G WARNING
Fuel is highly flammable. If you handle fuel
incorrectly, there is a risk of fire and explo-
sion.
You must avoid fire, open flames, creating
sparks and smoking. Switch off the engine
and, if applicable, the auxiliary heating before
refueling.
G WARNING
Fuel is poisonous and hazardous to health.
There is a risk of injury.
You must make sure that fuel does not come
into contact with your skin, eyes or clothing Refueling 177
Driving and parking Z

Setting the maximum charge current
G WARNING
If the charge current draw via a mains socket
is too high during the charging process, the
external electrical system may overheat.
There is a risk of fire.
Before beginning the charging process, check
the maximum permissible charge current
locally. Consult a qualified expert to do so
where necessary.
If necessary, adjust your vehicle's settings.
! An excessive charge current can blow a fuse
or lead to overheating of the external power
supply. Check whether the external power
supply is compatible with the set charge cur-
rent. If necessary, lower the set charge cur-
rent or use another power socket.
Before starting the charging process at a power
socket, check the maximum permissible charge
current for the relevant power socket or the
building.
You can set the maximum permissible charge
current: R
on the controls of the charging cable R
in the on-board computer menu
( Y
page 272).
The lower value of the two charge current set-
tings – on the charge cable controls and in the
on-board computer – determines the maximum
charge current. If you cannot set the precise
maximum permitted charge current, select the
next lowest available value.
Only set the maximum permitted charge current
in the on-board computer menu if: R
it is not possible to set the charge current on
the charging cable R
the precise maximum permitted charge cur-
rent can only be set via the on-board com-
puter
How to set the maximum permissible charge
current on the charging cable, is described as
follows. X
To adjust the setting: press button

R
Accel. (evaluation of all acceleration pro-
cesses) -
The bar fills up: moderate acceleration,
especially at higher speeds -
The bar empties: sporty acceleration R
Constant (assessment of driving behavior at
all times) -
The bar fills up: constant speed and avoid-
ance of unnecessary acceleration and
deceleration -
The bar empties: fluctuations in speed R
Coasting (assessment of all deceleration
processes) -
The bar fills up: anticipatory driving, keep-
ing your distance and early release of the
accelerator. The vehicle can coast without
use of the brakes. -
The bar empties: frequent braking
An economical driving style specially requires
driving at moderate engine speeds.
To achieve a higher value in the categories
Accel. and Constant ,R
observe the gearshift recommendations. R
drive in drive program E
On long journeys at a constant speed, e.g. on the
highway, only the bar for Constant
will change.
The ECO display summarizes the driving char-
acteristics from the start of the journey to its
completion. For this reason, the bars change
dynamically at the beginning of the journey. On
longer journeys, there are fewer changes. For
more dynamic changes, carry out a manual
reset.
For further information on the ECO display, see
( Y
page 262).
Brakes
Important safety notes
G WARNING
If you shift down on a slippery road surface in
an attempt to increase the engine's braking
effect, the drive wheels could lose their grip.
There is an increased danger of skidding and
accidents.
Do not shift down for additional engine brak-
ing on a slippery road surface. Downhill gradients
! On long and steep gradients, you must
reduce the load on the brakes by shifting to a
lower gear in good time. This allows you to
take advantage of the engine's braking effect.
This helps you to avoid overheating the
brakes and wearing them out excessively.
When you take advantage of engine braking, a
drive wheel may not turn for some time, e.g.
on a slippery road surface. This could cause
damage to the drive train. This type of damage
is not covered by the Mercedes-Benz war-
ranty.
Heavy and light loads
G WARNING
If you rest your foot on the brake pedal while
driving, the braking system can overheat. This
increases the stopping distance and can even
cause the braking system to fail. There is a
risk of an accident.
Never use the brake pedal as a footrest. Never
depress the brake pedal and the accelerator
pedal at the same time.
! Depressing the brake pedal constantly
results in excessive and premature wear to
the brake pads.
If the brakes have been subjected to a heavy
load, do not stop the vehicle immediately. Drive
on for a short while. This allows the airflow to
cool the brakes more quickly.
Wet roads If you have driven for a long time in heavy rain
without braking, there may be a delayed reac-
tion from the brakes when braking for the first
time. This may also occur after the vehicle has
been washed or driven through deep water.
You have to depress the brake pedal more
firmly. Maintain a greater distance from the
vehicle in front.
After driving on a wet road or having the vehicle
washed, brake firmly while paying attention to
the traffic conditions. This will warm up the
brake discs, thereby drying them more quickly
and protecting them against corrosion.194
Driving tips
Driving and parking

sponds to an equivalent quality standard. Brake
fluid which has not been approved for
Mercedes-Benz vehicles or which is not of an
equivalent quality could affect your vehicle's
operating safety.
AMG high-performance and ceramic
brakes The high-performance brake system is only
available on Mercedes-AMG vehicles.
The AMG brake systems are designed for heavy
loads. This may lead to noise when braking. This
will depend on: R
Speed R
Braking force R
Environmental conditions, such as tempera-
ture and humidity
The wear of individual components of the brake
system, such as the brake pads/linings or brake
discs, depends on the individual driving style
and operating conditions.
For this reason, it is impossible to state a mile-
age that will be valid under all circumstances. An
aggressive driving style will lead to high wear.
You can obtain more information on this from a
qualified specialist workshop.
New and replaced brake pads and discs only
reach their optimum braking effect after several
hundred kilometers of driving. Compensate for
this by applying greater force to the brake pedal.
Keep this in mind, and adapt your driving and
braking accordingly during this break-in period.
Excessive heavy braking results in correspond-
ingly high brake wear. Observe the brake wear
warning lamp in the instrument cluster and note
any brake status messages in the multifunction
display. Especially for high performance driving,
it is important to maintain and have the brake
system checked regularly.
Driving on wet roads
Hydroplaning
If water has accumulated to a certain depth on
the road surface, there is a danger of hydro-
planing occurring, even if: R
you drive at low speeds R
the tires have adequate tread depth For this reason, in the event of heavy rain or in
conditions in which hydroplaning may occur,
you must drive in the following manner: R
lower your speed R
avoid ruts R
avoid sudden steering movements R
brake carefully
Driving on flooded roads
! Do not drive through flooded areas. Check
the depth of any water before driving through
it. Drive slowly through standing water. Oth-
erwise, water may enter the vehicle interior or
the engine compartment. This can damage
the electronic components in the engine or
the automatic transmission. Water can also
be drawn in by the engine's air suction nozzles
and this can cause engine damage.
Winter driving
G WARNING
If you shift down on a slippery road surface in
an attempt to increase the engine's braking
effect, the drive wheels could lose their grip.
There is an increased danger of skidding and
accidents.
Do not shift down for additional engine brak-
ing on a slippery road surface.
G DANGER
If the exhaust pipe is blocked or adequate
ventilation is not possible, poisonous gases
such as carbon monoxide (CO) may enter the
vehicle. This is the case, e.g. if the vehicle
becomes trapped in snow. There is a risk of
fatal injury.
If you leave the engine or the auxiliary heating
running, make sure the exhaust pipe and area
around the vehicle are clear of snow. To
ensure an adequate supply of fresh air, open a
window on the side of the vehicle that is not
facing into the wind.
Have your vehicle winter-proofed at a qualified
specialist workshop at the onset of winter.196
Driving tips
Driving and parking