distronic MERCEDES-BENZ S430 2005 W220 Owner's Manual

ContentsDriving safety systems ......................... 80
ABS ................................................ 80
BAS ................................................ 81
ESP ................................................. 82
Four wheel electronic traction
system (4MATIC) with the ESP ....... 85
Anti-theft systems................................ 86
Immobilizer..................................... 86
Anti-theft alarm system .................. 87
Tow-away alarm ............................. 89Controls in detail............................... 91
Locking and unlocking ......................... 92
SmartKey ....................................... 92
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO*......... 96
Opening the doors from
the inside ..................................... 102
Opening the trunk ........................ 103
Closing the trunk .......................... 105
Trunk lid emergency release ........ 111
Power closing assist
for doors and trunk lid .................. 112
Automatic central locking ............ 112
Locking and unlocking
from the inside ............................. 113Seats ................................................. 114
Easy-entry/exit feature ................ 114
Removing and installing
front seat head restraints............. 116
Rear seats .................................... 117
Rear seat head restraints ............. 120
Lumbar support............................ 122
Multicontour backrest* ................ 122
Drive-dynamic seat* .................... 124
Seat heating* ............................... 125
Seat ventilation* .......................... 127
Memory function ............................... 128
Storing positions into memory ..... 129
Recalling positions from memory . 129
Storing exterior rear view
mirror parking position................. 130
Lighting.............................................. 131
Exterior lamp switch..................... 131
Combination switch ..................... 135
Hazard warning flasher ................ 136
Interior lighting............................. 137
Courtesy lighting .......................... 139
Door entry lamps ......................... 139
Trunk lighting ............................... 139Instrument cluster ............................. 140
Instrument cluster illumination .... 140
Coolant temperature gauge ......... 141
Trip odometer .............................. 141
Tachometer .................................. 142
Outside temperature indicator ..... 142
Clock............................................ 142
Control system .................................. 143
Multifunction display.................... 143
Multifunction steering wheel........ 144
Menus .......................................... 146
Standard display menu ................ 148
AUDIO menu ................................ 148
CD changer* operating mode ...... 151
TEL menu* ................................... 153
NAVI menu ................................... 155
Distronic* menu .......................... 156
Trip computer menu..................... 157
Vehicle status message
memory menu .............................. 159
Settings menu .............................. 160

Contents
Automatic transmission ..................... 173
One-touch gearshifting................. 175
Gear ranges ................................. 176
Gear selector lever position ......... 177
Automatic shift program .............. 179
Driving tips ................................... 180
Steering wheel gearshift control
(Speedshift) S 55 AMG................. 181
Manual shift program S 55 AMG .. 183
Emergency operation
(Limp Home Mode) ...................... 185
Good visibility .................................... 186
Headlamp cleaning system*
(Standard on S 500, S 600,
S 55 AMG).................................... 186
Rear view mirrors ......................... 186
Electrically folding exterior
rear view mirrors .......................... 188
Windshield wipers ........................ 189
Sun visors .................................... 190
Rear window sunshade* .............. 191
Rear door window sunshade* ...... 191Automatic climate control .................. 192
Setting the temperature................ 195
Adjusting air distribution............... 196
Adjusting air volume ..................... 198
Maximum cooling MAXCOOL ........ 198
Defrosting ..................................... 199
Air recirculation mode .................. 199
Charcoal filter ............................... 200
Rear window defroster .................. 201
Deactivating the climate
control system .............................. 202
Air conditioning............................. 202
Residual heat and ventilation ........ 203
Ventilated storage compartment .. 204
Rear passenger compartment
adjustable air vents....................... 204
Rear passenger compartment
climate control* ............................ 205
Power windows .................................. 207
Opening and closing the power
windows........................................ 207
Synchronizing the power
windows........................................ 209
Summer opening feature .............. 209
Convenience closing feature......... 210Power tilt/sliding sunroof .................. 211
Opening and closing the power
tilt/sliding sunroof........................ 211
Synchronizing the power
tilt/sliding sunroof........................ 213
Driving systems .................................. 214
Cruise control ............................... 214
Distronic* ..................................... 217
Airmatic ........................................ 229
Active Body Control (ABC)* .......... 231
Parktronic system*
(Parking assist) ............................. 235
Loading .............................................. 240
Roof rack* .................................... 240
Loading instructions ..................... 241
Cargo tie-down hooks ................... 241
Useful features ................................... 242
Vanity mirrors ............................... 242
Storage compartments ................. 243
Ashtrays........................................ 251
Cigarette lighters .......................... 252
Heated steering wheel* ................ 253
Telephone* ................................... 254
Tele Aid ......................................... 255
Garage door opener ...................... 264
Infrared reflecting windshield ....... 270

23 At a glance
Cockpit
Item
Page
1
Combination switch

Turn signals


Windshield wipers


High beam
51
52
135
2
Cruise control lever

Cruise control


Distronic*
221
214
217
3
Instrument cluster
24
4
Multifunction steering
wheel
26
5
Steering wheel gearshift
control (S 55 AMG only)
181
Item
Page
6
Lever for voice control sys-
tem*, see separate operat-
ing instructions
7
Front Parktronic* warning
indicator for right
front area
237
8
Overhead control panel
29
9
Glove box lock
244
a
Glove box lid release
244
b
Glove box
244
c
Center console
27, 28
d
Starter switch
34
e
Horn
Item
Page
f
Steering wheel adjustment
stalk
Heated steering wheel*
40
253
g
Parking brake pedal
48
h
Hood lock release
286
j
Parking brake release
48
k
Door control panel
30
l
Exterior lamp switch
131
m
Headlamp washer button*
186
n
Front Parktronic* warning
indicator for left front area
237

25 At a glance
Instrument cluster
Item
Page
1
Coolant temperature gauge
141
2
Fuel gauge with fuel tank
reserve warning lamp
341
3
LLeft turn signal
indicator lamp
51
KRight turn signal
indicator lamp
51
4
Speedometer with:vElectronic Stability
Program (ESP)
warning lamp
343
lDistance warning
lamp
Vehicles without Distronic*:
Distance warning lamp with-
out function. It illuminates
when the ignition is on. It
should go out when the en-
gine is running.
342
5
Tachometer
142
Item
Page
6
Right display with:<Seat belt telltale
343
AHigh beam headlamp
indicator lamp
50
-Antilock Brake
System (ABS)
indicator lamp
338
7
JReset button
140
8
Display with:

Gear selector lever
position
174


Program mode
174


Digital clock
(see COMAND operating
instructions)
9
Multifunction display
with:

Trip odometer
141


Main odometer
141
Item
Page
a
Outside temperature
indicator
142
b
Left display with:1Supplemental
restraint system
indicator lamp
345
;Brake warning lamp,
USA only
339
3Brake warning lamp,
Canada only?Engine malfunction
indicator lamp,
USA only
340
±Engine malfunction
indicator lamp,
Canada onlyHTire inflation pres-
sure warning lamp
307
c
Knob for instrument cluster
illumination
140

28 At a glanceCenter consoleLower part
Item
Page
1
KEYLESS-GO* start/stop
button
35
2
Gear selector lever for
automatic transmission
46
3
Front passenger front
air bag off indicator lamp
73
4
Thumbwheel for setting
distance in Distronic*
224
5
Distance warning func-
tion* on/off button
224
6
Lower storage compart-
ments
7
Program mode selector for
automatic transmission
179

83 Safety and Security
Driving safety systems
For more information, see “Practical hints”
(page 337).Switching off the ESP
To improve the vehicle's traction, turn off
the ESP in driving situations where it would
be advantageous to have the drive wheels
spin and thus cut into surfaces for better
grip such as:


starting out on slippery surfaces and in
deep snow in conjunction with snow
chains


in sand or gravel
Warning!
G
The ESP cannot prevent the natural laws of
physics from acting on the vehicle, nor can
it increase the traction afforded. The ESP
cannot prevent accidents, including those
resulting from excessive speed in turns, or
hydroplaning. Only a safe, attentive, and
skillful driver can prevent accidents. The ca-
pabilities of an ESP equipped vehicle must
never be exploited in a reckless or danger-
ous manner which could jeopardize the us-
er’s safety or the safety of others.iDistronic* is switched off when ESP is
activated.iThe ESP will only function properly if
you use wheels of the recommended
tire size (
page 422).
!Because of the ESP’s automatic opera-
tion, the engine and ignition must be
shut off (SmartKey in starter switch
position0 or1 or KEYLESS-GO
start/stop button* in position0 or1)
when

the parking brake is being tested on
a brake test dynamometer


the vehicle is being towed with the
front/rear axle raised
Active braking action through the ESP
may otherwise seriously damage the
brake system.
Warning!
G
The ESP should not be switched off during
normal driving other than in the circum-
stances described below. Disabling of the
system will reduce vehicle stability in stan-
dard driving maneuvers.iDistronic* cannot be activated when
the ESP has been deactivated.

147 Controls in detail
Control system
Menus, submenus and functions
Menu1
Standard dis-
play
Menu2
AUDIO
Menu3
Telephone*
Menu4
NAVI
Menu5
Distronic*
Menu6
Trip computer
Menu7
Vehicle status
message memory
Menu8
Settings
(page 148)
(page 148)
(page 153)
(page 155)
(page 156)
(page 157)
(page 159)
(page 160)
Commands/submenusCall up mainte-
nance service
display
Select radio
station
Load phone
book
Activate
route guid-
ance
Call up set-
tings
Fuel consump-
tion statistics
after start
Call up vehicle mal-
function, warning
and system status
messages stored in
memory
Reset to fac-
tory settings
Check tire in-
flation pres-
sure*
Select satellite
radio station*
(USA only)
Search for
name in
phone book
Fuel consump-
tion statistics
since the last
reset
Instrument
cluster
submenu
Check engine
oil level
Select CD
track
Select
number last
dialed
Call up range
Lighting
submenu
Digital speed-
ometer
Select MP3-CD
track
Vehicle
submenuConvenience
submenu

156 Controls in detailControl systemDistronic* menu
Use the
DISTRONIC
menu to display the
current settings for your Distronic system.
What information is shown in the display
depends on whether the Distronic system
is active or inactive.
Please refer to the “Driving systems” sec-
tion of this manual (page 217) for in-
structions on how to activate Distronic.

Press buttonè orÿ repeatedly
until you see one of the following two
pictures in the display.Distronic deactivated
When Distronic is deactivated you will see
the standard display in the display.
1Vehicle ahead, if detected
2Actual distance to vehicle ahead
3Preset distance threshold to vehicle
ahead
4Symbol for activated distance warning
function
5Your vehicleDistronic activated
When you activate Distronic, you will see
the set speed for about five seconds in the
Distronic display. The following display
then appears:
1Distronic activated

214 Controls in detailDriving systemsThe driving systems of your vehicle are de-
scribed on the following pages:

Cruise control and Distronic*, with
which the vehicle can maintain a preset
speed.


Airmatic adjusts the vehicle suspen-
sion characteristics automatically and
controls the vehicle level.


ABC* with vehicle level control system,
with which you can change vehicle sus-
pension characteristics.


Parktronic*, which serves as a parking
assistant.
For information on the BAS, ABS, and ESP
driving systems, see “Driving safety sys-
tems” (
page 80).
Cruise control
Cruise control automatically maintains the
speed you set for your vehicle.
Use of cruise control is recommended for
driving at a constant speed for extended
periods of time. You can set or resume
cruise control at any speed over 20 mph
(30 km/h).
The cruise control function is operated by
means of the cruise control lever.
The cruise control lever is the uppermost
lever on the left-hand side of the steering
column (
page 22).
Warning!
G
Cruise control is a convenience system de-
signed to assist the driver during vehicle op-
eration. The driver is and must remain at all
times responsible for the vehicle speed and
for safe brake operation.
Only use cruise control if the road, traffic
and weather conditions make it advisable to
travel at a steady speed.

The use of cruise control can be danger-
ous on winding roads or in heavy traffic
because conditions do not allow safe
driving at a steady speed.


The use of cruise control can be danger-
ous on slippery roads. Rapid changes in
tire traction can result in wheel spin and
loss of control.


Deactivate cruise control when driving
in fog.
The “Resume” function should only be oper-
ated if the driver is fully aware of the previ-
ously set speed and wishes to resume this
particular preset speed.

217 Controls in detail
Driving systems
Distronic*
When activated, the Distronic adaptive
cruise control system increases driving
convenience afforded by the cruise control
during travel on expressways and other
major roads.

If the Distronic distance sensor detects
a slower moving vehicle directly ahead,
your vehicle speed will be reduced so
that you follow that vehicle at a preset
distance.


If there is no vehicle directly ahead of
you, Distronic will function in the same
way as cruise control (
page 214).
Warning!
G
Distronic adaptive cruise control is no sub-
stitute for active driving involvement. It does
not react to stationary objects, nor does it
recognize or predict the curvature and lane
layout or the movement of vehicles ahead.
Distronic can only apply a maximum of 20%
of the vehicle’s braking power.
It is the driver’s responsibility at all times to
be attentive to traffic and road conditions
and to provide the steering, braking and oth-
er driving inputs necessary to retain control
of the vehicle.Warning!
G
Distronic is a convenience system. Its speed
adjustment reduction capability is intended
to make cruise control more effective and
usable when traffic speeds vary. However, it
is not intended to, nor does it, replace the
need for extreme care. The responsibility for
the vehicle speed and the distance to the ve-
hicle ahead, including most importantly
brake operation to assure safe stopping dis-
tance, always rests with the driver.
Distronic cannot take street and traffic con-
ditions into account.
Warning!
G
Distronic requires familiarity with its opera-
tional characteristics. We strongly recom-
mend that you review the following
information carefully before operating the
system.iUSA only:
This device complies with Part 15 of
the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to
the following two conditions:

This device may not cause harmful
interference, and


this device must accept any inter-
ference received, including interfer-
ence that may cause undesired
operation.
Any unauthorized modification to this
device could void the user’s authority
to operate the equipment.