MERCEDES-BENZ S500 2004 W220 Owner's Manual

200 Controls in detailSliding/pop-up roof

Switch on ignition.
Opening and closing the
sliding/pop-up roof

To open, close, raise or lower the slid-
ing/pop-up roof, move the switch to re-
sistance point in the required
direction1to4.
Release the switch when the roof has
reached the desired position.
Express-opening and Express-closing
the sliding/pop-up roof

To open, close, raise or lower the
sliding/pop-up roof, move the switch
past the resistance point in the re-
quired direction1to4 and release.
The sliding/pop up roof opens or clos-
es completely, or opens to the last set
opening position.Stopping the sliding / pop-up roof

Move the switch in any direction.
!To avoid damaging the seals, do not
transport any objects with sharp edges
which can stick out of the
sliding/pop-up roof.
Do not open the sliding / pop-up roof if
there is snow or ice on the roof, as this
could result in malfunctions.
The sliding/pop-up roof can be opened
or closed manually should an electrical
malfunction occur (
page 352).
iYou can also open or close the
sliding/pop-up roof using the:

SmartKey (summer opening/con-
venience future) (
page 201)


button, in the control panel of
the automatic climate control
(page 182)


buttone in the control panel of
the automatic climate control
(page 188)
iSelecting a sliding/pop-up roof open-
ing position
To select a sliding/pop-up roof opening
position, press the switch to the resis-
tance point and release it when the
sliding/pop-up roof has reached the
desired position.
The sliding/pop-up roof now opens to
the position set when the switch is
pressed past the resistance point in the
“open” direction.iIf the movement of the
sliding/pop-up roof is blocked during
the closing procedure, the roof will
stop and reopen slightly.

201 Controls in detail
Sliding/pop-up roof
Opening and closing the
sliding/pop-up roof with the SmartKey
The power windows (
page 195) will also
be opened or closed when you operate the
sliding/pop-up roof with the SmartKey.

Aim transmitter eye at the driver’s door
handle.Opening (Summer opening feature)
If the weather is warm, you can ventilate
the vehicle before driving off by simulta-
neously:


opening the sliding/pop-up roof


opening the side windows


turning on the seat ventilation* for the
driver’s seat
To do so, follow the instructions below:

Press and hold button Πafter un-
locking the vehicle.
The windows and sliding/pop-up roof
begin to open after approximately one
second.

Release the Πbutton to stop proce-
dure.Closing (Convenience feature)

Press and hold button ‹ after lock-
ing the vehicle.
The windows and sliding/pop-up roof
begin to close after approximately one
second.

Release the ‹ button to stop proce-
dure.
Make sure all the side windows and the
sliding/pop-up roof are properly closed
before leaving the vehicle.
Warning!
G
Never operate the windows or
sliding/pop-up roof if there is the possibility
of anyone being harmed by the opening or
closing procedure.
In the event that the procedure causes po-
tential danger, the procedure can be imme-
diately halted by releasing the remote
control button. To reverse direction of
movement, press Œ for opening or ‹
for closing.

202 Controls in detailSliding/pop-up roofClosing the sliding/pop-up roof with
KEYLESS-GO* (Convenience feature)
The power window (
page 195) will also
be closed when the sliding/pop-up roof is
operated with KEYLESS-GO.

Press and hold lock button at door
(page 55) until the sliding/pop-up
roof and the side windows are closed.
Synchronizing the sliding / pop-up roof
The power sliding/pop-up roof must be re-
synchronized each time after:

the battery has been disconnected


the sliding/pop-up roof has been
closed manually


the sliding/pop-up roof does not open
smoothly


a malfunction
Synchronizing

Switch on ignition.

Press and hold the switch in
direction1 until the sliding/pop-up
roof is fully raised at the rear.
Hold the switch for approximately one
second.
The sliding/pop-up roof is synchro-
nized.
Warning!
G
When closing the windows and the
sliding/pop-up roof, make sure that there is
no danger of anyone being harmed by the
closing procedure.
The sliding/pop-up roof will not automati-
cally reopen if blocked during convenience
closing.
If potential danger exists, proceed as fol-
lows:

Release the lock button.


Pull on the door handle and hold firmly.
The side windows and the
sliding/pop-up roof will open for as long
as the door handle is held but the door
is not opened.

203 Controls in detail
Driving systems
Driving systems
The 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 sys-
tems, with which you can change vehi-
cle suspension characteristics


Parktronic*, which serves as a parking
assistant
For information on the BAS, ABS, and ESP
driving systems, see “Driving safety sys-
tems” (
page 77).
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 above 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 found on the left-hand side of the
steering column (
page 20).
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 traffic, road
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.

204 Controls in detailDriving systems1Set current or higher speed
2Set current or lower speed
3Cancel cruise control
4Resume at last set speedSetting current speed

Accelerate or decelerate to the desired
speed.

Briefly lift1 or depress2 the cruise
control lever.
The current speed is set.

Remove your foot from the accelerator
pedal.
Cruise control is activated.Canceling cruise control
There are several ways to cancel cruise
control:

Step on the brake pedal.
or

Briefly push the cruise control lever to
position3.
Cruise control will be canceled. The
last speed set will be stored for later
use.
iOn uphill or downhill grades, cruise
control may not be able to maintain the
set speed. Once the grade eases, the
set speed will be resumed.
!Moving gear selector lever to
positionN while driving also cancels
cruise control. However, the gear se-
lector lever should not be moved to
positionN while driving except to coast
when the vehicle is in danger of skid-
ding (e.g. on icy roads).iThe last stored speed is canceled when
you turn off the engine.

205 Controls in detail
Driving systems
Setting a higher speed
Lift the cruise control lever to
position1 and hold it up until the de-
sired speed is reached.

Release the cruise control lever.
The new speed is set.
Setting a lower speed

Depress the cruise control lever to
position2 and hold it down until the
desired speed is reached.

Release the cruise control lever.
The new speed is set.Fine adjustment in 1 mph
(Canada: 1 km/h) increments
Faster

Briefly tip the cruise control lever in the
direction of arrow1.
Slower

Briefly tip the cruise control lever in the
direction of arrow2.Setting to last stored speed (“Resume”
function)

Briefly push the cruise control lever to
position4.
The cruise control will resume the last
set speed.

Remove your foot from the accelerator
pedal.
iDepressing the accelerator pedal does
not deactivate cruise control. After
brief acceleration (e.g. for passing),
cruise control will resume the last
speed set.
iWhen you use the cruise control lever
to decelerate, the transmission will au-
tomatically downshift if the engine’s
braking power does not slow the vehi-
cle sufficiently.
Warning!
G
The speed stored in memory should only be
set again if prevailing road conditions per-
mit. Possible acceleration or deceleration
differences arising from returning to preset
speed could cause an accident and/or seri-
ous injury to you and others.

206 Controls in detailDriving systemsDistronic*
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 203).
Warning!
G
Distronic adaptive cruise control is no sub-
stitute for active driving involvement. It does
not react to stationary objects, nor recog-
nize or predict the curvature and lane layout
or the movement of vehicles ahead. Distron-
ic 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.iFor operation in the USA only: This de-
vice 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.

207 Controls in detail
Driving systems
Warning!
G
Distronic cannot take street and traffic con-
ditions into account. Only use Distronic if
the weather, road, and traffic conditions
make it advisable to travel at a steady
speed.Warning!
G
Use of Distronic can be dangerous on slip-
pery roads. Rapid changes in tire traction
can result in wheel spin and loss of control.
Distronic does not act upon adverse sight
distance conditions. Do not use Distronic
during conditions of fog and heavy rain,
snow or sleet.
Warning!
G
Close attention to road and traffic condi-
tions is imperative at all times, regardless of
whether or not Distronic is activated.
Use of Distronic can be dangerous on wind-
ing roads or in heavy traffic because condi-
tions do not allow safe driving at a steady
speed.
Distronic will not react to stationary objects
in the roadway (e.g. a stopped vehicle in a
traffic jam or a disabled vehicle). Distronic
will also not respond to oncoming vehicles.
Switch off Distronic:

when changing from the left to the right
lane if vehicles are moving more slowly
in the left lane


when entering a turn lane or highway off
ramp


in complex driving situations, such as in
highway construction zones
In these situations, Distronic will continue to
maintain the set speed unless deactivated.
Distronic is designed and intended only to
maintain a set speed and keep a set dis-
tance from moving objects in front of it.Warning!
G
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.

208 Controls in detailDriving systemsDistronic displays in the speedometer
dialSet speedIf Distronic is activated, one or two seg-
ments come on around the set speed.
SegmentsIf Distronic detects a vehicle directly
ahead, the segments from the speed of the
vehicle ahead to the set speed come on.
If Distronic calculates that there is a dan-
ger of collision (
page 214):


The red Distronic warning lampl in
the instrument cluster comes on.


An intermittent warning sounds.

Immediately brake the vehicle to avoid
a collision.
Under no circumstances should the
driver await the intermittent warning
sound before braking. See the follow-
ing warning note.
The intermittent warning sound ceases
and the red Distronic warning
lampl goes out when the neces-
sary distance to the vehicle ahead is
again established.
iThe vehicle speed displayed on the
speedometer can briefly vary from the
speed setting on the Distronic system.

209 Controls in detail
Driving systems
Distronic menu in the control system
In the Distronic menu you see the current
settings for Distronic. What appears in the
display depends on whether Distronic and
the distance warning function are turned
on or off.
Press buttonè orÿ repeatedly
until you see one of the following dis-
plays.
Warning!
G
An intermittent warning sounds and the
Distronic warning lampl in the instru-
ment cluster is illuminated if the Distronic
system calculates that the distance to the
vehicle ahead and your vehicle’s current
speed indicate that Distronic will not be ca-
pable of slowing the vehicle sufficiently to
maintain the preset following distance,
which creates a danger of a collision.
Immediately brake your vehicle to increase
the distance between your vehicle and the
vehicle in front of you. The warning sound is
intended as a final caution that you have not
interceded with your own braking inputs to
avoid a potentially dangerous situation. Do
not wait for the operation of the warning sig-
nal to intercede with your own braking, as
that will result in potentially dangerous
emergency braking which will not always re-
sult in an impact being avoided.
Tailgating increases the risk of an accident.
Warning!
G
Distronic brakes your vehicle with a maxi-
mum of 6.5 ft/s
2 (2 m/s
2). This corre-
sponds to about 20% of the maximum
deceleration ability of your vehicle.
Distronic brakes the vehicle in an effort to
restore the preset distance or to maintain
the speed. The brake pedal is automatically
applied as this happens which results in the
brake pedal moving.
Keep driver’s foot area clear at all times, in-
cluding the area under the brake pedal. Ob-
jects stored in this area may impair pedal
movement which could interfere with the
braking ability of the Distronic system.
Do not place your foot under the brake pedal
– your foot could become caught.