MERCEDES-BENZ S CLASS 2023 Owners Manual

Driving
Notes on Mercedes-AMG vehicles
Observe the notes on the following topics in the
Supplement, otherwise you may fail to recognize dangers.
\bThe availability of certain functions depends
on the equipment and model of the vehicle.
= Emotion Start
= AMG Real Performance Sound
= AMG ceramic high-performance composite
brake system
= RACE START
= AMG RIDE CONTROL \f
= AMG ACTIVE RIDE CONTROL
= AMG steering-wheel buttons
Notes on plug-in hybrids

qNotes on plug-in hybrid operation
&WARNING Risk of chemical burns and poi-
soning from damaged high-voltage battery
If the housing of the high-voltage battery has
been damaged, electrolyte and gases may
leak out.
Avoid contact with the skin, eyes or
clothing.Immediately rinse electrolyte splashes
o"M with water and seek medical atten-
tion straight away.&DANGER Risk of "Nre and explosion from
excessive internal pressure of the high-
voltage battery
In the event of a vehicle "Nre, "Oammable gas
can escape and ignite.
If there is an unusual smell, smoke or
burn marks, stop the charging process
immediately.Leave the danger zone immediately.
Secure the danger area at a su"Pcient
distance.Call the "Nre service.*NOTE Mercedes-AMG vehiclesObserve the notes in the Supplement.
You could otherwise fail to recognize
dangers.
The hybrid system combines a combustion engine
with an electric motor.
Characteristics when the vehicle is at a standstill: = The combustion engine is generally switched
o"M.
= Idle speed occurs only in certain instances.
Characteristics when the vehicle is started: = If the high-voltage battery is su"Pciently
charged, the vehicle can be started with the electric drive system without the combustionengine (noiseless start).
Driving and parking199

=If the high-voltage battery for the electric drive
system is not su"Pciently charged or the vehi-
cle conditions for a silent start are not met,
the vehicle will start with the combustion
engine.\bDepending on the system, it may happen that even though the high-voltage battery is
charged, electric mode has restricted or no availability. Once the combustion engine hasbeen operated for long enough and ambient
conditions permit, electric mode is again
available without restriction.
Characteristics with moderate power output
requests:
= The combustion engine is switched o"M as
o"sen as possible during the journey.
= The vehicle can, depending on the drive pro-
gram selected and the state of charge of the
high-voltage battery, be accelerated electri-
cally up to a speed of approximately 87 mph
(140 km/h).
Characteristics with high power output requests:
= The electric motor supports the combustion
engine (boost e"Mect), e.g. when you pull away
or accelerate.
= The high-voltage battery is discharging.
Characteristics when the accelerator pedal is
released during the journey:
= The electric motor will be operated as an alter-
nator when in overrun mode and during brak-
ing.
= The high-voltage battery is being charged.
Notes on electric mode:
= Vehicles with hybrid systems generate signi"N-
cantly less noise when stationary and when
being driven than vehicles with combustion engines.
= When you are driving in electric mode, the
vehicle may not be heard by other road usersdue to the signi"Ncantly reduced noise gener-
ated when the car is in motion and when at a
standstill.For this reason the vehicle is equipped with a sound generator, which serves as an acousticvehicle alerting system (AVAS). This safety
device is prescribed by law.
The external noise of the sound generator is
perceptible in the vehicle interior when the vehicle is stationary and at low speeds and
does not represent a malfunction.
= If not all of the vehicle conditions for electric
mode are met, then the combustion engine is switched on.
= Performance restrictions in electric mode are
possible due to the operating temperature of
the high-voltage battery and drive system, the ambient temperature and aging of the high-voltage battery.
= In electric mode, the maximum output is not
permanently available and may drop to the
level of continuous output.
Notes on the acoustic vehicle alerting system: = The sound generator generates a stationary
noise and speed-dependent vehicle noise
emissions at a speed of up to around 19 mph
(30 km/h).200Driving and parking

=This helps other road users, particularly
pedestrians and cyclists, to hear your vehicle
better.
= When you drive at speeds above 13 mph
(20 km/h) the acoustic vehicle alerting sys- tem will gradually switch o"M.

q Manually disconnecting the high-voltage on-
board electrical system&DANGER Risk of death and "Nre due to
modi"Ned and/or damaged components of
the high-voltage on-board electrical sys- tem
The vehicle\bs high-voltage on-board electrical
system is under high voltage. If you modify
component parts in the vehicle\bs high-voltage
on-board electrical system or touch damaged
component parts, you may be electrocuted. In
addition, modi"Ned and/or damaged compo-
nents may cause a "Nre.
In the event of an accident or impact to the
vehicle underbody, components of the high-
voltage electrical system may be damaged
although the damage is not visible.
Never make any modi"Ncations to the
high-voltage on-board electrical system.Do not switch on or use the vehicle if its
high-voltage on-board electrical system
components have been modi"Ned or dam-
aged.Never touch damaged components of
the high-voltage on-board electrical sys- tem.A"ser an accident, do not touch any com-
ponents of the high-voltage on-board
electrical system.A"ser an accident, have the vehicle trans-
ported away.Have the components of the high-voltage
on-board electrical system checked at a
quali"Ned specialist workshop and
replaced if necessary.Requirements
Disconnect the high-voltage on-board electrical system manually only in the following situations:
= The u restraint system warning lamp lights
up on the driver\bs display, e.g. a"ser an acci-
dent.
= The vehicle is badly damaged, e.g. a"ser an
accident, and the restraint system compo- nents have not been triggered.Driving and parking201

Operating the high-voltage disconnect deviceSwitch o"M the vehicle.Shi"s the transmission to position ].Apply the electric parking brake.Secure the vehicle against rolling away.Open the hood.Press release tab 1 in the direction of the
arrow and pull it out.Pull high-voltage disconnect device 2 in the
direction of the arrow until it engages.
The high-voltage on-board electrical system will be switched o"M.
All work on the hybrid system (including a"ser the
high-voltage on-board electrical system has been
disconnected manually) may be carried out only at a quali"Ned specialist workshop.
Switching on the power supply or the vehicle
&WARNING Risk of accident and injury due
to children le"s unattended in the vehicle
If you leave children unattended in the vehicle,
they could, in particular:
= open doors, thereby endangering other
persons or road users.
= get out and be struck by oncoming tra"Pc.
= operate vehicle equipment and become
trapped, for example.
In addition, the children could also set the
vehicle in motion by, for example:
= releasing the parking brake.
= changing the gearbox position.
= starting the vehicle.Never leave children unattended in the
vehicle.When leaving the vehicle, always take the key with you and lock the vehicle.Keep the key out of reach of children.
Requirements
= The key is in the vehicle and is detected.
= The brake pedal is not depressed.
202Driving and parking

To switch on the power supply: press button
1 once.
You can, for example, switch on the windshield
wiper.
The power supply will be switched o"M again if the
following conditions are met:
= You open the driver\bs door.
= You press button 1 twice more.
To switch on the vehicle: press button 1
twice.
Indicator and warning lamps will light up on
the driver\bs display.
The vehicle will be switched o"M again if one of the
following conditions is met:
= You do not start the vehicle within 15 minutes
and the transmission is in position ] or the
electric parking brake is applied.
= You press button 1 once.
Starting the vehicle

qStarting the vehicle with the start/stop button
&DANGER Risk of death caused by exhaust
gases
Combustion engines emit poisonous exhaust
gases such as carbon monoxide. Inhaling
these exhaust gases is hazardous to health
and leads to poisoning.
Never leave the engine or, if present, the
auxiliary heating running in an enclosed
space without su"Pcient ventilation.&WARNING Risk of "Nre due to "Oammable
materials in the engine compartment or
on the exhaust system
Flammable materials may ignite.
Therefore, regularly check that there are
no "Oammable foreign materials in the
engine compartment or on the exhaust
system.
Requirements
= The key is in the vehicle and is detected.
Shi"s the transmission to position ] or \\.Depress the brake pedal and press button 1
once.If the vehicle does not start: switch o"M non-
essential consumer equipment and press but-
ton 1 once.If the vehicle still does not start and the Place
the Key in the Marked Space See Operator's Driving and parking203

Manual display message appears on the driv-
er\bs display: start the vehicle with the key in the marked space (emergency operation
mode) (  page 204).\bYou can switch o"M the vehicle while driving. To
do this, press and hold button 1 for about
three seconds or press button 1 three times
within three seconds. Be sure to observe the safety notes concerning this under "Driving
tips" (  page 207).
Observe any information regarding display mes-
sages that may be shown on the driver\bs display.

q Starting the vehicle with the key in the marked
space (emergency operation mode)
If the vehicle does not start and the Place the
Key in the Marked Space See Operator's Manual
display message appears on the driver\bs display, you can start the vehicle in emergency operation
mode.
Make sure that cup holder 2 is empty.Remove key 1 from the key ring.Place key 1 in cup holder 2.
The vehicle will start a"ser a short time.
If you remove key 1 from cup holder 2, the
vehicle can be driven. For further vehicle
starts, however, key 1 must be located in
cup holder 2 during the entire journey.Have key 1 checked at a quali"Ned specialist
workshop.
If the vehicle does not start:
Leave key 1 in cup holder 2.Depress the brake pedal and start the vehicle
using the start/stop button.\bYou can switch on the power supply or the
vehicle with the start/stop button.
Observe any information regarding display mes-
sages that may be shown on the driver\bs display.
Starting the vehicle via Remote Online Services

q Cooling or heating the vehicle interior before
starting the journey
Ensure the following before starting the engine:
= The legal stipulations in the area where your
vehicle is parked allow engine starting via
smartphone.
= It is safe to start and run the engine where
your vehicle is parked.
= The fuel tank is su"Pciently full.
= The starter battery is su"Pciently charged.

q Charging the starter battery before starting the
journey
You can receive a message on your smartphone
when the state of charge of the starter battery is
204Driving and parking

low. You can then start the vehicle with the smart-phone to charge the battery. The vehicle is auto-matically switched o"M a"ser ten minutes.
Ensure the following before starting the engine:
= The legal stipulations in the area where your
vehicle is parked allow engine starting via
smartphone.
= It is safe to start and run the engine where
your vehicle is parked.
= The fuel tank is su"Pciently full.

q Starting the vehicle (Remote Online)&WARNING Risk of crushing or entrapment
due to unintentional starting of the engine
Limbs could be crushed or trapped if the
engine is started unintentionally during service
or maintenance work.
Always secure the engine against unin-
tentional starting before carrying out
maintenance or repair work.
Requirements
= Park position ] is selected.
=
The anti-the"s alarm system is not activated.
= The panic alarm is not activated.
= The hazard warning light system is switched
o"M.
= The hood is closed.
= The doors are closed and locked.
= The windows and sliding sunroof are closed.Start the vehicle using the smartphone.
A"ser every engine start, the engine runs for
ten minutes.
You can carry out a maximum of two consecutive
starting attempts. You must start the engine with the key before trying to start the vehicle againwith the smartphone.
You can switch o"M the vehicle at any time as fol-
lows:
= Using the smartphone app
= By pressing the Ü or U button on the
key
\bFurther information can be found in the smartphone app.Securing the vehicle against starting before carry-
ing out maintenance or repair work:Switch on the hazard warning light system.
or
Unlock the doors.
or
Open a side window or the sliding sunroof.
Notes on breaking-in a new vehicle
To preserve the engine during the "Nrst 1000 miles
(1500 km):
= Drive at varying road speeds and engine
speeds.
= No faster than 85 mph (140 km/h).
= Drive the vehicle in drive mode A or  .
= Shi"s to the next higher gear at the very latest
when the needle reaches the last third before the red area in the tachometer.
= Do not shi"s down manually in order to brake.
= Avoid overstraining the vehicle, e.g. driving at
full throttle.
Driving and parking205

=Do not depress the accelerator pedal past the
pressure point (kickdown).
= Increase the engine speed gradually and
accelerate the vehicle to full speed only a"ser
1000 miles (1500 km).
This also applies when the engine or parts of the
drivetrain have been replaced.
Please also observe the following breaking-in
notes:
= In certain handling and driving safety systems,
the sensors adjust automatically while a cer-
tain distance is being driven a"ser the vehicle
has been delivered or a"ser repairs. Full sys-
tem e"Mectiveness is reached only when this
teaching-in process has concluded.
= Brake pads, brake disks and tires that are
either new or have been replaced achieve opti-
mum braking e"Mect and grip only a"ser several
hundred kilometers. Compensate the reduced braking e"Mect by applying greater force to the
brake pedal.Notes on optimizing acceleration
If all necessary requirements and activation con-
ditions are ful"Nlled, the best possible acceleration
can be achieved from a standstill.
Do not use optimized acceleration on public
roads. Individual wheels could spin and you could
lose control of the vehicle. There is an increased
risk of skidding and/or accident.
Be sure to observe the safety notes and informa-
tion on ESP n
( page 255).
Pulling away with optimized acceleration
&WARNING Risk of skidding and accidents
due to the wheels spinning
If you pull away using optimized acceleration,
individual wheels can spin and the vehicle can
skid.
There is an increased risk of skidding and
accidents, especially when ESP n
is switched
o"M!
Make sure that there are no persons or
obstacles in the vicinity of the vehicle.
Requirements
= the vehicle is run in (  page 205).
= the vehicle and tires are in good condition.
= the roadway has a high-grip surface.
= the engine and transmission are at normal
operating temperature.
*NOTE Increased wear due to optimized
acceleration
When pulling away with optimized accelera-
tion, all components of the drivetrain are sub-
jected to a very high load.
This can lead to increased component wear.
Do not always pull away with optimized
acceleration.Engage the [ drive position (  page 224).Move the steering wheel to the straight-ahead
position.206Driving and parking

Select the C drive program (  page 220).Deactivating ESP n
( page 257).Depress and hold the brake pedal "Nrmly with
your le"s foot.With your right foot, fully depress the acceler-
ator pedal.A"ser no more than "Nve seconds, take your le"s
foot quickly o"M the brake, but keep the accel-
erator pedal depressed.
The vehicle will pull away at maximum acceler-
ation.Switch on ESP n
once the acceleration proce-
dure is complete.
Ending optimized acceleration
Remove your foot from the accelerator pedal.Reactivate ESP n
.\bA"ser you pull away with optimized accelera-
tion, components of the drivetrain can
become very hot, which means that optimized
acceleration values may only be reached again a"ser a few minutes.Notes on driving&WARNING Risk of accident due to objects
in the driver\bs footwell
Objects in the driver\bs footwell may impede
pedal travel or block a depressed pedal.
This jeopardizes the operating and road safety
of the vehicle.
Stow all objects in the vehicle securely so that they cannot get into the driver\bs
footwell.Always install the "Ooor mats securely
and as prescribed in order to ensure that
there is always su"Pcient room for the
pedals.Do not use loose "Ooor mats and do not
place "Ooor mats on top of one another.&WARNING Risk of accident due to incor-
rect footwear
Incorrect footwear includes, for example:
= Shoes with platform soles
= Shoes with high heels
= Slippers
There is a risk of an accident.
Always wear suitable footwear so that
you can operate the pedals safely.&WARNING Risk of accident if the vehicle is
switched o"M while driving
If you switch o"M the vehicle while driving,
safety functions are restricted or no longer
available.
This may a"Mect the power steering system and
the brake force boosting, for example.
You will need to use considerably more force
to steer and brake, for example.
Do not switch o"M the vehicle while driv-
ing.Driving and parking207

&DANGER Risk of death caused by exhaust
gases
Combustion engines emit poisonous exhaust
gases such as carbon monoxide. Inhaling
these exhaust gases is hazardous to health
and leads to poisoning.
Never leave the engine or, if present, the
auxiliary heating running in an enclosed
space without su"Pcient ventilation.&WARNING Risk of skidding and of an acci-
dent due to shi"sing down on slippery road
surfaces
If you shi"s down on slippery road surfaces to
increase the engine braking e"Mect, the drive
wheels may lose traction.
Do not shi"s down on slippery road surfa-
ces to increase the engine braking
e"Mect.&DANGER Risk of fatal injury due to poison-
ous exhaust gases
If the tailpipe is blocked or su"Pcient ventila-
tion is not possible, poisonous exhaust gases
such as carbon monoxide may enter the vehi- cle. This is the case, for example, if the vehicle
gets stuck in the snow.
Keep the tailpipe and the area around
the vehicle free from snow when the
engine or the stationary heater is run-
ning.Open a window on the side of the vehicle
facing away from the wind to ensure an
adequate supply of fresh air.&WARNING Risk of accident and injury due
to being under the in"Ouence of alcohol
and drugs while driving
Drinking and driving and/or taking drugs and
driving are very dangerous combinations. Even a small amount of alcohol or drugs can a"Mect
your re"Oexes, perceptions and judgment.
The possibility of a serious or even fatal acci-
dent are greatly increased when you drink or
take drugs and drive.Do not drink or take drugs and drive or
allow anyone to drive who has been
drinking or taking drugs.&WARNING Risk of accident due to the
brake system overheating
If you leave your foot on the brake pedal when
driving, the brake system may overheat.
This increases the braking distance and thebrake system can even fail.
Never use the brake pedal as a footrest.Do not depress the brake pedal and the
accelerator pedal at the same time while
driving.*NOTE Engine damage due to excessively
high engine speeds
The engine will be damaged if you drive with
the engine in the overrevving range.
208Driving and parking