traction control MERCEDES-BENZ E-CLASS SALOON 2009 Owners Manual

Driver's knee airbag
............................41
Driver's seat position ..........................92
Driving abroad ................................... 233
Driving safety systems .......................58
ABS .................................................. 58
ADAPTIVE BRAKE ............................. 63
Adaptive brake lamps ......................60
BAS .................................................. 59
BAS PLUS ........................................ 59
EBV .................................................. 63
ESP ®
............................................... 60
PRE-SAFE ®
Brake ............................ .63
Driving systems ................................ 137
4MATIC .......................................... 156
AIRMATIC (except E 63 AMG) ........154
AMG Ride Control sports suspen-
sion (E 63 AMG) ............................. 155
ATTENTION ASSIST ........................163
Blind Spot Assist ............................ 167
Cruise control ................................ 138
Distronic Plus ................................ 140
HOLD function ............................... 151
Lane Keeping Assist ......................169
Lane package ................................ 167
Night View Assist Plus ...................165
Parking Guidance ........................... 159
Parktroni c...................................... 157
RACE START (E 63 AMG) ...............153
Reversing camera ..........................162
Speed Limit Assist .........................164
Speedtronic ................................... 148
Driving tips ........................................ 114
Braking .......................................... 231
Distronic Plus ................................ 147
Driving abroad .............................. 233
Driving on wet roads .....................233
Fording ......................................... 233
Trailer towing ................................. 235
Winter ............................................ 231
DVD audio
Operating (on-board computer) .....127
DVD video
Operating (on-board computer) .....127 E
EASY-ENTRY feature ............................ 85
Activating/deactivating (on-
board computer) ............................ 136
EASY-EXIT feature ............................... 85
Crash-responsive ............................. 85
EASY-PACK convenience box ...........201
Easy-Pack fix kit ................................ 202
EASY-PACK folding luggage-com-
partment floor ................................... 204
EASY-PACK loading sill protector ....205
EBV (electronic brake force distri-
bution) .................................................. 63
Display message ............................ 266
ECO Start/Stop function ..................108
Electronic brake force distribution See EBV ........................................... 63
Electronic Stability Program
see ESP ®
......................................... 60
Electronic Traction Support
see ETS
Emergency key element
Lost ............................................... 297
Emergency locking
Vehicle .......................................... .299
Emergency release
Fuel filler fla p................................. 301
Emergency running mode
Automatic transmission .................293
Emergency spare wheel
Storage location ............................ 249
Emergency starting ...........................326
Emergency unlocking Boot ............................................... 300
Tailgate .......................................... 300
Vehicle .......................................... .299
Engine
Running irregularl y......................... 292
Starting problems ..........................291
Starting with KEYLESS GO .............105
Starting with the key ..................... .103
Switching off .................................. 107
Engine diagnostics warning
lamp .................................................... 285
Engine electronics .............................330
Malfunction ................................... .291
Engine number .................................. 3338
Index 212_AKB; 2; 4, en-GB
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limiting the engine output until the vehicle/
trailer combination has stabilised.
Trailer stabilisation is active above speeds of
about 65 km/h. G
Risk of accident
If road and weather conditions are poor,
trailer stabilisation will not be able to prevent
the trailer from swerving and will thus be
unable to reduce the risk of an accident. Trail-
ers with a high centre of gravity can tip over
before ESP ®
can detect this.
Trailer stabilisation does not work if ESP ®
is
deactivated or disabled because of a mal-
function.
ETS (Electronic Traction Support) Traction control 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.
Traction control remains active when you
deactivate ESP ®
. G
Risk of accident
Traction control cannot reduce the risk of an
accident if you drive too fast. Traction control
cannot override the laws of physics.
Activating/deactivating ESP ®
(except
E 63 AMG) ESP
®
is activated automatically when the
engine is running.
It may be best to deactivate ESP ®
in the fol-
lowing situations:
R when using snow chains
R in deep snow
R on sand or gravel G
Risk of accident
Activate ESP ®
as soon as the situations
described above no longer apply. ESP ®
will
otherwise not be able to stabilise the vehicle
if the vehicle starts to skid or a wheel starts
to spin.
If you deactivate ESP ®
:
R ESP ®
no longer improves driving stability.
R engine torque is not limited and the drive
wheels are able to spin. The spinning
wheels produce a cutting effect for better
traction.
R traction control is still activated.
R ESP ®
still provides support when you
brake.
i If ESP ®
is deactivated and one or more
wheels start to spin, the äwarning lamp
in the instrument cluster flashes. In such
situations, ESP ®
will not stabilise the vehi-
cle. X
To deactivate: press button:.
The å warning lamp in the instrument
cluster lights up. G
Risk of accident
If the å warning lamp in the instrument
cluster is lit when the engine is running,
ESP ®
is deactivated or not available due to a
malfunction. There is an increased risk of your
vehicle skidding in certain situations. Driving safety systems
61Safety
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You should always adapt your driving style to
suit prevailing road and weather conditions.
X To activate: press button :.
The å warning lamp in the instrument
cluster goes out.
E 63 AMG Activating/deactivating ESP
®
Sport
ESP ®
is activated automatically when the
engine is running.
It may be best to activate ESP ®
Sport in the
following situations:
R when using snow chains
R in deep snow
R on sand or gravel
Otherwise, you should only use ESP ®
Sport
on designated race circuits. G
Risk of accident
Deactivate ESP ®
Sport and activate ESP ®
as
soon as the situations described above no
longer apply. Otherwise, ESP ®
Sport will only
be able to stabilise the vehicle to a limited
degree if the vehicle starts to skid or a wheel
starts to spin.
If you activate ESP ®
Sport:
R ESP ®
only improves driving stability to a
limited degree.
R engine torque is only restricted to a limited
degree and the drive wheels are able to
spin. The spinning wheels produce a cut-
ting effect for better traction.
R traction control is still activated.
R ESP ®
still provides support when you brake
firmly.
i If ESP ®
Sport is activated and one or more
wheels start to spin, the äwarning lamp
in the instrument cluster flashes. ESP ®
only
stabilises the vehicle to a limited degree. X
To activate: briefly press the :button.
The ì warning lamp in the instrument
cluster lights up. The message ESP-SPORT
appears in the multi-function display.
X To deactivate: briefly press the :button.
The ì warning lamp in the instrument
cluster goes out. The message ESP-ON
appears in the multi-function display.
Activating/deactivating ESP ®
ESP ®
is activated automatically when the
engine is running.
It may be best to deactivate ESP ®
in the fol-
lowing situations:
R when using snow chains
R in deep snow
R on sand or gravel G
Risk of accident
Activate ESP ®
as soon as the situations
described above no longer apply. ESP ®
will
otherwise not be able to stabilise the vehicle
if the vehicle starts to skid or a wheel starts
to spin.
If you deactivate ESP ®
:
R ESP ®
no longer improves driving stability.
R engine torque is no longer limited and the
drive wheels are able to spin. The spinning
wheels produce a cutting effect for better
traction.
R traction control is still activated. 62
Driving safety systemsSafety
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X
Press the abutton to confirm.
X Press the :or9 button to select the
Automatic door locks: function.
You will see the selected setting: onor
off.
X Press the abutton to save the setting.
Activating/deactivating the radar sensor
system*
i You must deactivate the radar sensor sys-
tem in certain countries and near radio
telescope facilities. You will find further
information under "Radar sensor system"
in the index.
Vehicles with a navigation system*: the radar
sensor system is deactivated automatically if
you are close to radio telescope facilities.
The following systems are switched off when
the radar sensor system is deactivated:
R Distronic Plus* (Y page 140)
R BAS PLUS* (Y page 59)
R PRE-SAFE ®
Brake* (Y page 63)
R Blind Spot Assist* (Y page 167)
X Press the =or; button on the steer-
ing wheel to select the Settingsmenu.
X Press the :or9 button to select the
Vehicle submenu.
X Press the abutton to confirm.
X Press the 9or: button to select the
Radar sensor (See Owner's Man.):
You will see the selected setting: onor
off.
X Press the abutton to save the setting.
Heating* Auxiliary heating* departure time
Only vehicles with auxiliary heating have this
submenu.
In the
Heating submenu, you can select a
stored departure time or change a departure time, at which the vehicle is preheated by the
auxiliary heating.
The auxiliary heating timer function calcu-
lates the switch-on time according to the out-
side temperature so that the vehicle is pre-
heated by the departure time. When the
departure time is reached, the auxiliary heat-
ing continues to heat for a further five
minutes and then switches off. The auxiliary
heating adopts the 2-zone Thermatic or the
3-zone Thermotronic *temperature settings.
You can switch off the auxiliary heating by
using the remote control or the auxiliary heat-
ing button on the centre console. G
Risk of poisoning
Exhaust fumes are produced when the auxili-
ary heating is in operation. Inhaling these
exhaust fumes can be poisonous. You should
therefore switch off the auxiliary heating in
confined spaces without an extraction sys-
tem, e.g. a garage. G
Risk of fire
When the auxiliary heating is in operation,
parts of the vehicle can become very hot.
Make sure that the exhaust system does
not under any circumstances come into con-
tact with highly flammable materials such as
dry grass or fuels. The highly flammable mate-
rial could otherwise ignite and set the vehicle
alight. Select your parking space accordingly.
Operating the auxiliary heating is therefore
prohibited at filling stations or when your vehi-
cle is being refuelled. Always switch off the
auxiliary heating at filling stations.
Selecting the departure time or deactivat-
ing a selected departure time
X Press the =or; button on the steer-
ing wheel to select the Settingsmenu.
X Press the :or9 button to select the
Heating submenu.
X Press the abutton to confirm.
You will see the selected setting.
X Press the abutton to confirm. On-board computer
135Controls
* optional
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X
Press the =or; button on the steer-
ing wheel to select the Settingsmenu.
X Press the :or9 button to select the
Convenience submenu.
X Press the abutton to confirm.
X Press the :or9 button to select the
Fold in mirrors when locking: func-
tion.
You will see the selected setting: onor
off.
X Press the abutton to save the setting.
Restoring the factory settings For safety reasons, not all functions are reset:
the Limit Speed (winter tyres): func-
tion in permanent Speedtronic can only be set
in the Vehicle submenu. If you want to reset
the Daytime driving lamps: in theLight
submenu, you must turn the key in the igni-
tion lock to position 1.
X Press the =or; button on the steer-
ing wheel to select the Settingsmenu.
X Press the :or9 button to select the
Factory setting submenu.
X Press the abutton to confirm.
The Reset all settings? message
appears.
X Press the :or9 button to select
Yes orNo.
X Press the abutton to confirm the selec-
tion.
If you have selected Yes, the multi-function
display shows a confirmation message. Driving systems
Overview of driving systems
The vehicle's driving systems are described
on the following pages:
R cruise control, Distronic Plus* and Speed-
tronic, which are used to control the speed
of the vehicle
R HOLD function, which makes pulling away
easier, particularly on steep uphill gradi-
ents
R RACE START (E 63 AMG), which makes pull-
ing away on race tracks easier
R AIRMATIC* (except E 63 AMG), which is
used to adjust the vehicle's suspension
system
R AMG RIDE CONTROL sports suspension
(E 63 AMG), which is used to adjust the
vehicle's suspension system
R 4MATIC* (permanent four-wheel drive), for
optimum traction
R PARKTRONIC* and Parking Guidance*,
which assist you in finding a parking space,
as well as when manoeuvring and parking
R reversing camera*, which assists you when
parking and manoeuvring
R ATTENTION ASSIST, which helps you
detect tiredness or increasing lapses in
concentration
R Speed Limit Assist*, which shows you
speed limits that are detected in the multi-
function display
R Night View Assist Plus*, which assists you
when driving in the dark
R lane package*, which assists you with Blind
Spot Assist when changing lanes and warns
you against leaving your lane unintention-
ally with Lane Keeping Assist
The ABS, BAS, BAS PLUS*, adaptive brake
lights, ESP ®
, EBV and ADAPTIVE BRAKE driv-
ing safety systems and the PRE-SAFE ® Driving systems
137Controls
* optional
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Sport mode
The firmer suspension tuning in Sport mode
ensures even better contact with the road.
Select this mode when employing a sporty
driving style, e.g. on winding secondary
roads.
X Press button :once.
Indicator lamp ?lights up. Sport suspen-
sion mode has been selected.
In the multi-function display the AMG Ride
Control SPORT message appears.
Sport + mode
The very firm setting of the suspension tuning
in Sport + mode ensures the best possible
contact with the road. Select this mode only
when driving on race circuits.
If indicator lamps =and ?are off:
X Press button :twice.
Both indicator lamps =and ?light up.
Sport + suspension mode has been selec-
ted.
In the multi-function display the AMG Ride
Control SPORT + message appears.
If indicator lamp ?lights up:
X Press button :once.
Second indicator lamp =lights up. Sport +
suspension mode has been selected.
In the multi-function display the AMG Ride
Control SPORT + message appears. Comfort mode
In comfort mode, the driving characteristics
of your vehicle are more comfortable. Select
this mode if you prefer a more comfortable
driving style, but also when driving fast on
straight roads, e.g. motorways.
X Press button :repeatedly until indicator
lamps =and ?go out.
Comfort suspension mode has been selec-
ted.
In the multi-function display the AMG Ride
Control COMFORT message appears.
Storing and calling up settings
Once the suspension tuning and drive pro-
gram have been selected, you can store and
call up your settings using AMG button ;.
X To store: press AMG button ;until you
hear a tone.
X To call up: press AMG button ;.
The stored suspension tuning and drive
program are selected.
X To display: briefly press AMG button ;.
Your selection appears in the multi-func-
tion display. 4MATIC*
4MATIC ensures that all four wheels are per-
manently driven. Together with ESP ®
, it
improves the traction of your vehicle when-
ever a drive wheel spins due to insufficient
grip. G
Risk of accident
4MATIC cannot reduce the risk of an accident
if you drive too fast.
If a drive wheel spins due to insufficient grip:
R only depress the accelerator pedal as far as
necessary when pulling away.
R accelerate less when driving.
R adapt your driving style to suit road and
traffic conditions. 156
Driving systemsControls
* optional
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X
Convenience opening: press and hold the
g button for a second until the side win-
dows and the sliding/tilting sunroof*/pan-
orama sliding sunroof* have reached their
original position.
The indicator lamp above the gbutton
goes out. Air-recirculation mode is deacti-
vated.
i If you open the side windows or the slid-
ing/tilting sunroof* or panorama sliding
sunroof* manually after closing with the
convenience closing feature, they will
remain in this position when opened using
the convenience opening feature. Switching the residual heat on/off
The "residual heat" function is only available
with Thermotronic luxury 3-zone automatic
climate control*.
It is possible to make use of the residual heat
of the engine to continue heating the station-
ary vehicle for up to 30 minutes after the
engine has been switched off. The heating
time depends on the temperature that has
been set.
i The blower will run at a low speed regard-
less of the airflow setting.
i If you activate the "residual heat" function
at high temperatures, only the ventilation
will be activated. The blower runs at
medium speed.
i It is possible that the "residual heat" func-
tion may be activated automatically an hour
after the key is removed. The vehicle is then
ventilated for 30 minutes to dry the air con-
ditioning system.
X Turn the key to position 0in the ignition
lock or remove it.
X To switch on: press theÌbutton.
The indicator lamp above the Ìbutton
lights up. X
To deactivate: press theÌbutton.
The indicator lamp above the Ìbutton
goes out.
i The residual heat automatically switches
off after around 30 minutes or if:
R the ignition is switched on
R the battery voltage drops Switching the auxiliary heating/ven-
tilation* on/off
Notes on the auxiliary heating/ventila-
tion system G
Risk of poisoning
Exhaust fumes are produced when the auxili-
ary heating is in operation. Inhaling these
exhaust fumes can be poisonous. You should
therefore switch off the auxiliary heating in
confined spaces without an extraction sys-
tem, e.g. a garage. G
Risk of fire
When operating the auxiliary heating, parts of
the vehicle may become very hot, and highly
inflammable material such as fuels could be
ignited. Operating the auxiliary heating is thus
prohibited at filling stations or when your vehi-
cle is being refuelled. You must therefore
switch off the auxiliary heating at filling sta-
tions.
i Switch the auxiliary heating on regularly
once a month for about ten minutes.
The auxiliary heating heats the air in the vehi-
cle interior to the set temperature without
using the heat of the running engine. The aux-
iliary heating is operated using the vehicle's
fuel. For this reason, the tank content must
be at least at reserve fuel level to ensure that
the auxiliary heating functions.
The auxiliary heating/ventilation automati-
cally adjusts to changes in temperature and
weather conditions. For this reason, the aux-
iliary heating could switch from ventilation Air conditioning
181Controls
* optional
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Tyres and wheels
Points to remember
! For safety reasons, Mercedes-Benz rec-
ommends that you only use tyres, wheels
and accessories which have been approved
by Mercedes-Benz specifically for your
vehicle. These tyres have been specially
adapted for use with the control systems,
such as ABS or ESP ®
, and are marked as
follows:
R MO = Mercedes-Benz Original
R MOE = Mercedes-Benz Original Exten-
ded* (tyres with run-flat characteristics)
R MO1 = Mercedes-Benz Original (only
specific AMG tyres)
Only use Mercedes-Benz Original Extended
tyres* on wheels that have been specifi-
cally approved by Mercedes-Benz.
If you use other tyres, wheels and acces-
sories, Mercedes-Benz cannot accept any
responsibility for damage that may result
from this. Further information about tyres,
wheels and approved combinations can be
obtained from any Mercedes-Benz Service
Centre.
! If you fit tyres other than those tested and
recommended by Mercedes-Benz, charac-
teristics such as handling, noise levels and
fuel consumption, etc. may be adversely
affected. In addition, when driving with a
load, tyre dimensional variations could
cause the tyres to come into contact with
the bodywork and axle components. This
could result in damage to the tyres or the
vehicle.
! Retreaded tyres are neither tested nor
recommended by Mercedes-Benz, since
previous damage cannot always be detec-
ted on retreaded tyres. As a result,
Mercedes-Benz cannot guarantee vehicle
safety if retreaded tyres are fitted. Do not
fit used tyres if you have no information
about their previous usage. G
Risk of accident
Tyres, wheels or accessories which have not
been approved by Mercedes-Benz for your
vehicle or are not used as they should be, can
impair driving safety. As a result, you could
cause an accident. Before purchasing and
using them, enquire about their suitability,
legal stipulations and factory recommenda-
tions at a Mercedes-Benz Service Centre.
Modification work on the brake system and
wheels is not permitted, nor is the use of
spacer plates or brake dust shields. This inva-
lidates the General Operating Permit for the
vehicle.
Notes on selecting, fitting and replac-
ing tyres R
Only fit tyres and wheels of the same type
and make.
R Only fit tyres of the correct size onto the
wheels.
R After fitting new tyres, run them in at mod-
erate speeds for the first 100 km as they
only reach their full performance after this
distance.
R Fit new tyres on the front wheels first if
tyres of the same size are required on the
front and rear wheels.
R Replace the tyres after six years at the lat-
est, regardless of wear. This also applies to
the spare wheel*.
R Do not drive with tyres which have too little
tread depth, as this significantly reduces
the traction on wet roads (aquaplaning).
! Store tyres that are not being used in a
cool, dry and preferably dark place. Protect
the tyres against oil, grease, petrol and die-
sel.
Notes on regularly inspecting wheels
and tyres R
Regularly check the wheels and tyres of
your vehicle for damage (e.g. cuts, punctu- Tyres and
wheels
223Operation
* optional
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Problem
Possible causes/consequences and
X XSolutions ·
The red distance
warning lamp*
lights up while
the vehicle is in
motion. A warn-
ing tone also
sounds. G
Risk of accident
Distronic Plus* has detected a stationary obstacle in your line of
travel. The vehicle will not be braked automatically.
X Be prepared to brake immediately.
X Pay careful attention to the traffic situation. You may have to
brake or take evasive action. ä
å
!
The yellow ESP
®
and ESP ®
OFF
warning lamps
and the yellow
ABS warning
lamp are lit while
the engine is
running. G
Risk of accident
ABS and ESP ®
are faulty. Other systems, e.g. BAS, BAS PLUS*,
PRE-SAFE ®
, PRE-SAFE ®
Brake*, the HOLD function, hill start
assist and ESP ®
trailer stabilisation, are also unavailable due to a
malfunction. The brake system continues to function normally, but
without the functions listed above. Therefore, the wheels could
lock if you brake hard, for example.
ATTENTION ASSIST is deactivated.
X Observe the additional messages in the multi-function display
(Y page 251).
X Drive on carefully.
X Visit a qualified specialist workshop. ä
The yellow ESP ®
warning lamp
flashes while the
vehicle is in
motion. G
Risk of accident
ESP ®
or traction control has intervened because there is a risk of
skidding or at least one wheel has started to spin.
Cruise control or Distronic Plus* is deactivated.
X Only depress the accelerator pedal as far as necessary when
pulling away.
X Release the accelerator pedal while you are driving.
X Adapt your driving style to suit the road and weather conditions.
X Do not deactivate ESP ®
.
Exceptions: all models, except E 63 AMG (Y page 61), E 63 AMG
(Y page 62). å
The yellow ESP ®
OFF warning
lamp is lit while
the engine is
running. G
Risk of accident
ESP ®
and ESP ®
trailer stabilisation are deactivated. ESP ®
will not
stabilise the vehicle if it starts to skid or if a wheel starts to spin.
X Reactivate ESP ®
.
Exceptions: all models, except E 63 AMG (Y page 61), E 63 AMG
(Y page 62).
X Adapt your driving style to suit the road and weather conditions. 282
TroubleshootingPractical advice
* optional
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