traction control MERCEDES-BENZ S CLASS 2016 Owners Manual

1, 2, 3 ... 4ETS (Electronic Traction System)
see ETS/4ETS (Electronic Trac-
tion System)
4MATIC (permanent four-wheel
drive) .................................................. 213
12 V socket
see Sockets
115 V socket ...................................... 337
360° camera
Cleaning ........................................ .3 63
Function/notes ............................ .2 24
A ABS (Anti-lock Braking System)
Display message ............................ 278
Function/notes ................................ 68
Warning lamp ................................. 316
Accident
Automatic measures after an acci-
dent ................................................. 61
Activating/deactivating cooling
with air dehumidification ................. 146
Activating/deactivating Night
View Assist Plus
With spotlight function ................... 232
Active Blind Spot Assist
Activating/deactivating (on-
board computer) ............................ 271
Display message ............................ 301
Function/information .................... 234
Active Body Control (ABC)
Display message ............................ 300
Function/notes ............................. 210
Active Lane Keeping Assist
Activating/deactivating (on-
board computer) ............................ 271
Display message ............................ 301
Function/information .................... 237
Active multicontour seat .................. 117
Active Parking Assist
Detecting parking spaces .............. 217
Display message ............................ 302
Exiting a parking space .................. 219
Function/notes ............................. 216
Important safety notes .................. 216 Parking .......................................... 218
ADAPTIVE BRAKE ................................. 75
Adaptive Brake Assist
Function/notes ................................ 72
Adaptive Damping System (ADS) ..... 212
Adaptive Highbeam Assist Plus
Display message ............................ 293
Function/notes ............................. 133
Switching on/off ........................... 133
Additional speedometer ................... 274
Additives (engine oil) ........................ 430
Air bags
Belt bags .......................................... 48
Cushion air bags .............................. 53
Deployment ..................................... 57
Display message ............................ 289
Front air bag (driver, front
passenger) ....................................... 52
Important safety notes .................... 50
Introduction ..................................... 50
Knee bag .......................................... 52
Occupant Classification System
(OCS) ............................................... 53
PASSENGER AIR BAG i nd icator
lamps ............................................... 46
Side impact air bag .......................... 52
Window curtain air bag .................... 53
Air vents
Glove box ....................................... 159
Important safety notes .................. 158
Rear ............................................... 160
Setting ........................................... 158
Setting the center air vents ........... 159
Setting the side air vents ............... 159
Air-conditioning system
see Climate control
AIRMATIC
Display message ............................ 299
Function/notes ............................. 212
Alarm
ATA (Anti-Theft Alarm system) ......... 78
Switching off (ATA) .......................... 78
Switching the function on/off
(ATA) ................................................ 78
Alarm system
see ATA (Anti-Theft Alarm system)
Anti-lock braking system
see ABS (Anti-lock Braking System) Index 3

ECO display
Function/notes ............................ .1 93
On-board computer ....................... 262
ECO start/stop function
Automatic engine start .................. 167
Automatic engine switch-off .......... 166
Deactivating/activating ................. 167
General information ....................... 166
Important safety notes .................. 166
Introduction ................................... 166
Electronic Stability Program
see ESP ®
(Electronic Stability Program)
Emergency
Automatic measures after an acci-
dent ................................................. 61
Emergency release
Driver's door ................................... .8 7
Trunk ............................................... 94
Vehicle ............................................. 87
Emergency Tensioning Devices
Activation ......................................... 57
Emissions control
Service and warranty information ... .2 5
Engine
Check Engine warning lamp .......... .3 20
Display message ............................ 294
ECO start/stop function ................ 166
Engine number ............................... 427
Irregular running ............................ 169
Jump-starting ................................. 376
Starting (important safety notes) ... 164
Starting problems .......................... 169
Starting the engine with the
SmartKey ....................................... 164
Starting via smartphone ................ 164
Starting with the Start/Stop but-
ton ................................................. 164
Switching off .................................. 190
Switching off with the Start/Stop
button ............................................ 190
Switching off with the vehicle key .. 190
Tow-starting (vehicle) ..................... 381
Engine electronics
Problem (malfunction) ................... 169
Engine oil
Adding .......................................... .3 55
Additives ........................................ 430
Checking the oil leve l ..................... 353 C he
cking the oil level using the
dipstick .......................................... 353
Checking the oil level using the
on-board computer ........................ 355
Display message ............................ 296
Filling capacity ............................... 430
General notes ................................ 429
Notes about oil grades ................... 429
Notes on oil level/consumption .... 353
Temperature (on-board computer,
Mercedes-AMG vehicles) .............. .2 75
Viscosity ........................................ 430
ESP ®
(Electronic Stability Pro-
gram)
AMG menu (on-board computer) ... 276
Characteristics ................................. 73
Deactivating/activating ................. 269
Deactivating/activating (notes) ....... 74
Display message ............................ 278
Function/notes ................................ 73
General notes .................................. 73
Important safety information ........... 73
Trailer stabilization ........................... 74
Warning lamp ................................. 317
ETS/4ETS (Electronic Traction Sys-
tem) ...................................................... 73
Exhaust
see Exhaust pipe
Exhaust check ................................... 193
Exhaust pipe
Cleaning ......................................... 363
Exhaustive discharging (high-volt-
age battery) ....................................... 374
Exterior lighting
Cleaning ......................................... 362
see Lights
Exterior mirrors
Adjusting ....................................... 123
Dipping (automatic) ....................... 124
Folding in/out (automatically) ....... 124
Folding in/out (electrically) ........... 124
Out of position (troubleshooting) ... 124
Setting ........................................... 124
Storing settings (memory func-
tion) ............................................... 126
Storing the parking position .......... 125
Eyeglasses compartment ................. 326Index 9

There is a risk of an accident.
Always pay careful attention to the traffic sit-
uation and be ready to brake. Terminate the
intervention in a non-critical driving situation.
G WARNING
Adaptive Brake Assist does not react: R
to people or animals R
to oncoming vehicles R
to crossing traffic R
when cornering
As a result, the Adaptive Brake Assist may not
intervene in all critical conditions. There is a
risk of an accident.
Always pay careful attention to the traffic sit-
uation and be ready to brake.
Due to the nature of the system, particularly
complicated but non-critical driving conditions
may also cause Adaptive Brake Assist to inter-
vene.
If adaptive Brake Assist is not available due to a
malfunction in the radar sensor system, the
brake system remains available with full brake
boosting effect and BAS.
ESP ®
(Electronic Stability Program)
General notes
i Observe the "Important safety notes" sec-
tion ( Y
page 68).
ESP ®
monitors driving stability and traction, i.e.
power transmission between the tires and the
road surface.
If ESP ®
detects that the vehicle is deviating from
the direction desired by the driver, one or more
wheels are braked to stabilize the vehicle. The
engine output is also modified to keep the vehi-
cle on the desired course within physical limits.
ESP ®
assists the driver when pulling away on
wet or slippery roads. ESP ®
can also stabilize
the vehicle during braking. ETS/4ETS (Electronic Traction System)
i Observe the "Important safety notes" sec-
tion ( Y
page 68).
ETS traction control is part of ESP ®
. On vehicles
with 4MATIC, 4ETS is part of ESP ®
.
Traction control brakes the drive wheels indi-
vidually if they spin. This enables you to pull
away and accelerate on slippery surfaces, for
example if the road surface is slippery on one
side. In addition, more drive torque is transfer-
red to the wheel or wheels with traction.
Traction control remains active, even if you
deactivate ESP ®
.
Important safety notes
G WARNING
If ESP ®
is malfunctioning, ESP ®
is unable to
stabilize the vehicle. Additionally, further driv-
ing safety systems are deactivated. This
increases the risk of skidding and an accident.
Drive on carefully. Have ESP ®
checked at a
qualified specialist workshop.
If the

Drive particularly carefully on slippery road sur-
faces. Avoid sudden acceleration, steering and
braking maneuvers. Do not use the cruise con-
trol or DISTRONIC PLUS.
If the vehicle threatens to skid or cannot be
stopped when moving at low speed: X
Shift the transmission to position N .
The outside temperature indicator is not
designed to serve as an ice-warning device and
is therefore unsuitable for that purpose.
Changes in the outside temperature are dis-
played after a short delay.
Indicated temperatures just above the freezing
point do not guarantee that the road surface is
free of ice. The road may still be icy, especially in
wooded areas or on bridges.
You should pay special attention to road condi-
tions when temperatures are around freezing
point.
For more information on driving with snow
chains, see ( Y
page 386).
For more information on driving with summer
tires, see ( Y
page 386).
Observe the notes in the "Winter operation" sec-
tion ( Y
page 386).
Driving systems
Mercedes-Benz Intelligent Drive Mercedes-Benz Intelligent Drive stands for inno-
vative driver assistance and safety systems
which enhance comfort and support the driver in
critical situations. With these intelligent co-ordi-
nated systems Mercedes-Benz has set a mile-
stone on the path towards autonomous driving.
Mercedes-Benz Intelligent Drive embraces all
elements of active and passive safety in one well
thought out system – for the safety of the vehi-
cle occupants and that of other road users.
Further information on driving safety systems
( Y
page 68).
Cruise control
General notes
Cruise control maintains a constant road speed
for you. It brakes automatically in order to avoid
exceeding the set speed. Change into a lower
gear in good time on long and steep downhill gradients. This is especially important if the
vehicle is laden. By doing so, you will make use
of the braking effect of the engine. This relieves
the load on the brake system and prevents the
brakes from overheating and wearing too
quickly.
You can use cruise control if you want to drive at
a steady speed for a prolonged period of time.
You can store any road speed above 20 mph
(30 km/h).
Important safety notes If you fail to adapt your driving style, cruise con-
trol can neither reduce the risk of an accident
nor override the laws of physics. Cruise control
cannot take into account the road, traffic and
weather conditions. Cruise control 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 cruise control: 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
If there is a change of drivers, advise the new
driver of the speed stored.
Cruise control lever
C
To activate or increase speed
D
To activate or reduce speed

Display messages
Possible causes/consequences and P Solutions
Check Tires The tire pressur e in on e or mor e tires has dropped significantly. The
whee l position is shown in th e multifunction display.
A warning tone also sounds.
G WARNIN G
Tir e pressures that are to o low pos e th e followin g hazards :R
they may burst, especially as th e load and vehicl e speed increase.R
they may wear excessivel y and/o r unevenly, whic h may greatl y
impair tire traction .R
th e drivin g characteristics , as well as steering and braking , may be
greatl y impaired.
There is a ris k of an accident.X
Stop th e vehicl e without making any sudden steering or braking
maneuvers . Pay attention to th e traffic condition s as you do so.X
Secur e th e vehicl e against rollin g away ( Y
page 189).X
Chec k th e tires and , if necessary, follow th e instruction s for a flat
tire ( Y
page 367). X
Chec k th e tire pressur e ( Y
page 390).X
If necessary, correc t th e tire pressure.
Warnin g Tir e Mal ‐
function The tire pressur e in on e or mor e tires has dropped suddenly. The whee l
position is shown in th e multifunction display.
G WARNIN G
Drivin g wit h a flat tire poses a ris k of th e followin g hazards :R
a flat tire affects th e abilit y to steer or brak e th e vehicle.R
you could lose control of th e vehicle.R
continued drivin g wit h a flat tire will caus e excessive heat build-up
and possibl y a fire.
There is a ris k of an accident.X
Stop th e vehicl e without making any sudden steering or braking
maneuvers . Pay attention to th e traffic condition s as you do so.X
Secur e th e vehicl e against rollin g away ( Y
page 189).X
Chec k th e tires and , if necessary, follow th e instruction s for a flat
tire ( Y
page 367).
Tir e Press. Monito r
Currently Unavaila‐
ble Becaus e there is interferenc e from a stron g source of radi o waves, no
signals from th e tire pressur e sensor s are detected. The tire pressur e
monitor is temporarily malfunctioning .X
Drive on .
The tire pressur e monitor restarts automatically as soo n as th e
problem has been resolved.
TirePress . Sen ‐
sor(s) Missin g There is no signal from th e tire pressur e sensor of on e or several
wheels. The pressur e of th e affecte d tire is no t displayed in th e mul-
tifunction display. X
Hav e th e fault y tire pressur e sensor replace d at a qualified special -
ist workshop . Display messages 30 7
On-board computer and displays Z

Regular checking of wheels and tires
G WARNING
Damaged tires can cause tire inflation pres-
sure loss. As a result, you could lose control of
your vehicle. There is a risk of accident.
Check the tires regularly for signs of damage
and replace any damaged tires immediately.
Check wheels and tires for damage at least once
a month. Check wheels and tires after driving
off-road or on rough roads. Damaged wheels
can cause a loss of tire pressure. Pay particular
attention to damage such as: R
cuts in the tires R
punctures R
tears in the tires R
bulges on tires R
deformation or severe corrosion on wheels
Regularly check the tire tread depth and the
condition of the tread across the whole width of
the tire ( Y
page 385). If necessary, turn the
front wheels to full lock in order to inspect the
inner side of the tire surface.
All wheels must have a valve cap to protect the
valve against dirt and moisture. Do not mount
anything onto the valve other than the standard
valve cap or other valve caps approved by
Mercedes-Benz for your vehicle. Do not use any
other valve caps or systems, e.g. tire pressure
monitoring systems.
Regularly check the pressure of all the tires par-
ticularly prior to long trips. Adjust the tire pres-
sure as necessary ( Y
page 387).
The service life of tires depe nds, among other
thi ngs, on the following factors: R
driving style R
tire pressure R
distance covered
Notes on tire tread
G WARNING
Insufficient tire tread will reduce tire traction.
The tire is no longer able to dissipate water.
This means that on wet road surfaces, the risk
of hydroplaning increases, in particular where speed is not adapted to suit the driving con-
ditions. There is a risk of accident.
If the tire pressure is too high or too low, tires
may exhibit different levels of wear at differ-
ent locations on the tire tread. Thus, you
should regularly check the tread depth and
the condition of the tread across the entire
width of all tires.
Minimum tire tread depth for: R
Summer tires:

R
Break in new tires at moderate speeds for the
first 60 miles (100 km). They only reach their
full performance after this distance. R
Do not drive with tires which have too little
tread depth, as this significantly reduces the
traction on wet roads (hydroplaning). R
Replace the tires after six years at the latest,
regardless of wear.
MOExtended tires (tires with run-flat
properties) With MOExtended tires (tires with run flat char-
acteristics), you can continue to drive your vehi-
cle even if there is a total loss of pressure in one
or more tires.
MOExtended tires may only be used in conjunc-
tion with an active tire pressure loss warning
system or with an active tire pressure monitor
and on wheels specifically tested by Mercedes-
Benz.
Notes on driving with MOExtended tires with a
flat tire ( Y
page 368).
Vehicles equipped with MOExtended tires are
not equipped with a TIREFIT kit at the factory. It
is therefore recommended that you additionally
equip your vehicle with a TIREFIT kit if you mount
tires that do not feature run-flat properties, e.g.
winter tires. A TIREFIT kit can be obtained from
a qualified specialist workshop.
Winter operation
General notes Have your vehicle winterproofed at a qualified
specialist workshop at the onset of winter.
Observe the notes in the "Changing a wheel"
section ( Y
page 405).
Driving with summer tires At temperatures below 45 ‡ (+7 †), summer
tires lose elasticity and therefore traction and
braking power. Change the tires on your vehicle
to M+S tires. Using summer tires at very cold
temperatures could cause cracks to form,
thereby damaging the tires permanently.
Mercedes-Benz cannot accept responsibility for
this type of damage. G WARNING
Damaged tires can cause tire inflation pres-
sure loss. As a result, you could lose control of
your vehicle. There is a risk of accident.
Check the tires regularly for signs of damage
and replace any damaged tires immediately.
M+S tires
G WARNING
M+S tires with a tire tread depth of less than

To avoid hazardous situations: R
never install snow chains to the front
wheels R
always install snow chains in pairs to the
rear wheels.
For safety reasons, Mercedes-Benz recom-
mends that you only use snow chains that have
been specially approved for your vehicle by
Mercedes-Benz, or are of a corresponding
standard of quality.
If you intend to mount snow chains, please bear
the following points in mind: R
Snow chains may not be mounted on all
wheel/tire combinations. Permissible wheel-
tire combinations ( Y
page 410).R
Only use snow chains when driving on roads
completely covered by snow. Remove the
snow chains as soon as possible when you
come to a road that is not snow-covered. R
Local regulations may restrict the use of snow
chains. Observe the appropriate regulations if
you wish to mount snow chains. R
Do not exceed the maximum permissible
speed of 31 mph (50 km/h). R
On vehicles with AIRMATIC ( Y
page 212) or
Magic Body Control (MBC) ( Y
page 210), you
must drive at raised vehicle level if snow
chains have been mounted. R
When snow chains are installed, never use
Active Parking Assist ( Y
page 216).
You may wish to deactivate ESP ®
when pulling
away with snow chains installed ( Y
page 74).
You can thereby allow the wheels to spin in a
controlled manner, achieving an increased driv-
ing force (cutting action). Tire pressure
Tire pressure specifications
Important safety notes
G WARNING
Underinflated or overinflated tires pose the
following risks: R
the tires may burst, especially as the load
and vehicle speed increase. R
the tires may wear excessively and/or
unevenly, which may greatly impair tire
traction. R
the driving characteristics, as well as steer-
ing and braking, may be greatly impaired.
There is a risk of an accident.
Follow recommended tire inflation pressures
and check the pressure of all the tires includ-
ing the spare wheel: R
monthly, at least R
if the load changes R
before beginning a long journey R
under different operating conditions, e.g.
off-road driving
If necessary, correct the tire pressure.
The data on the Tire and Loading Information
placard and tire pressure table shown here are
examples. Tire pressure specifications are vehi-
cle-specific and may deviate from the data
shown here. The tire pressure specifications
that are valid for your vehicle can be found on
the Tire and Loading Information placard and
tire pressure table on the vehicle.
General notes The recommended tire pressures for the tires
mounted at the factory can be found on the
labels described here.
Further information on tire pressures can be
obtained at a qualified specialist workshop. Tire pressure 387
Wheels and tires Z

Example: R
Treadwear grade: 200R
Traction grade: AAR
Temperature grade: A
All passenger car tires must conform to the stat-
utory safety requirements in addition to these
grades.
i The actual values for tires are vehicle-spe-
cific and may deviate from the values in the
illustration.
Treadwear The treadwear grade is a comparative rating
based on the wear rate of the tire when tested
under controlled conditions on a specified U.S.
government course. For example, a tire graded
150 would wear one and one-half times as well
on the government test track as a tire graded
100.
The relative performance of tires depends upon
the actual conditions of their use, however, and
may depart significantly from the norm due to
variations in driving habits, service practices
and differences in road characteristics and cli-
mate.
Traction
G WARNING
The traction grade assigned to this tire is
based on straight-ahead braking traction
tests, and does not include acceleration, cor-
nering, hydroplaning, or peak traction char-
acteristics.
! Avoid wheelspin. This can lead to damage to
the drive train.
The traction grades – from highest to lowest –
are AA, A, B and C. Those grades represent the
tire's ability to stop on wet pavement as meas-
ured under controlled conditions on specified
government test surfaces of asphalt and con-
crete. A tire marked C may have poor traction
performance.
The safe speed on a wet, snow covered or icy
road is always lower than on dry road surfaces.
You should pay special attention to road condi-
tions when temperatures are around freezing
point. Mercedes-Benz recommends a minimum tread
depth of