suspension MERCEDES-BENZ E WAGON 2005 S211 Owner's Manual

244 Controls in detailDriving systemsAirmatic DC (Dual Control)*
Airmatic automatically selects the opti-
mum suspension tuning and ride height for
your vehicle. The Airmatic consists of two
components:

Adaptive Damping System (ADS)


Vehicle level control
The ADS automatically selects the opti-
mum damping for the respective driving
conditions. At the same time the suspen-
sion is set to either sporty or comfort.Suspension tuning
The suspension tuning is set according to:


Your driving style


Road surface conditions


Your choice of suspension style,
“sporty I”, “sporty II” or “comfortable”,
which you select using the damping
button.
The following suspension styles are
available:

Comfortable
Both indicator lamps2 are off.


Sporty I
One indicator lamp2 is on.


Sporty II
Both indicator lamps2 are on.1Damping button
2Indicator lamps

Start the engine.

Press the damping button1 until the
desired suspension style is set.iThe selected suspension style is stored
in memory, even after the SmartKey is
removed from the starter switch.iIn the sporty suspension style the vehi-
cle is lowered up to 0.6 in (15 mm).

245 Controls in detail
Driving systems
Vehicle level control
Your vehicle automatically adjusts its ride
height to

reduce fuel consumption


increase vehicle safety
The following vehicle chassis ride heights
can be selected:


Normal


RaisedThe vehicle chassis ride height is raised or
lowered according to the selected level
setting and to the vehicle speed:


At a speed approximately above
68 mph (110 km / h) and the sporty
suspension style selected
(page 244), ride height is reduced
automatically by up to approximately
0.6in (15mm).


With decreasing speed, the ride height
is again raised to the “Normal” level.Select the “Raised” level only when re-
quired by current driving conditions. Oth-
erwise


fuel consumption may increase


handling may be impaired
iThese height adjustments are so small
that you may not notice any change.
Warning!
G
To help avoid personal injury, keep hands
and feet away from wheel housing area, and
stay away from under the vehicle when low-
ering the vehicle chassis.

307 Operation
Tires and wheels
Tires and wheels
See an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center
for information on tested and recommend-
ed rims and tires for summer and winter
operation. They can also offer advice con-
cerning tire service and purchase.
Retreaded tires are not tested or recom-
mended by Mercedes-Benz, since previous
damage cannot always be recognized on
retreads. Mercedes-Benz can therefore
not assure the operating safety of the
vehicle when such tires are used.
Important guidelines

Only use sets of tires and rims of the
same type and make.


Tires must be of the correct size for the
rim.


Break in new tires for approximately
60 miles (100 km) at moderate
speeds.


Regularly check the tires and rims for
damage. Dented or bent rims can
cause tire inflation pressure loss and
damage to the tire beads.


If vehicle is heavily loaded, check tire
inflation pressure and correct as
required.


Do not allow your tires to wear down
too far. Adhesion properties on wet
roads are sharply reduced at tread
depths under
1/8 in (3 mm).


When replacing individual tires, you
should mount new tires on the front
wheels first (on vehicles with
same-sized wheels all around).
Warning!
G
Replace rims or tires with the same designa-
tion, manufacturer and type as shown on the
original part. See an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center for further informa-
tion. If incorrectly sized rims and tires are
mounted:

The wheel brakes or suspension compo-
nents can be damaged


The correct operating clearance of the
wheels and the tires are no longer guar-
anteed
Warning!
G
Worn, old tires can cause accidents. If the
tire tread is badly worn, or if the tires have
sustained damage, replace them.
When replacing rims, use only genuine
Mercedes-Benz wheel bolts specified for the
particular rim type. Failure to do so can re-
sult in the bolts loosening and possibly an
accident.

430 Practical hintsTowing the vehicleMercedes-Benz recommends that the vehi-
cle be transported with all wheels off the
ground using flatbed or appropriate wheel
lift/dolly equipment. This method is pref-
erable to other types of towing.When circumstances do not permit the
recommended towing methods, the vehi-
cle may be towed with all wheels on the
ground or front wheels raised (except vehi-
cles with 4MATIC) only so far as necessary
to have the vehicle moved to a safe loca-
tion where the recommended towing
methods can be employed.
!Use flatbed or wheel lift / dolly equip-
ment with SmartKey in starter switch
turned to position0.
Do not tow with sling-type equipment.
Towing with sling-type equipment over
bumpy roads will damage radiator and
supports.
To prevent damage during transport,
do not tie down vehicle by its chassis or
suspension parts.
Switch off the tow-away alarm and the
automatic central locking.
Do not tow-start the vehicle.
!Vehicles with 4MATIC:
Do not tow with one axle raised. Doing
so could damage the transfer case,
which is not covered by the
Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.
All wheels must be on or off the ground.
Observe instructions for towing the ve-
hicle with all wheels on the ground.
!If the vehicle is towed with the front
axle raised (not permissible for vehicles
with 4MATIC), the engine must be shut
off (SmartKey in starter switch
position0 or 1). Otherwise the ESP will
immediately be engaged and will apply
the rear wheel brakes.
When towing the vehicle with all wheels
on the ground, the selector lever must
be in positionN and the SmartKey
must be in starter switch position2.
When towing the vehicle with all wheels
on the ground or the front axle raised,
the vehicle may be towed only for dis-
tances up to 30 miles (50 km) and at a
speed not to exceed 30 mph
(50 km/h).

432 Practical hintsTowing the vehicle
iTo signal turns while being towed with
the hazard warning flasher in use, turn
SmartKey in starter switch to
position2 and activate the combina-
tion switch for the left or right turn sig-
nal in the usual manner – only the
selected turn signal will operate.
Upon canceling the turn signal, the haz-
ard warning flasher will operate again.
!When towing the vehicle with all wheels
on the ground, please note the follow-
ing:
With the automatic central locking acti-
vated and the SmartKey in starter
switch position2, or KEYLESS-GO*
start / stop button in position2, the ve-
hicle doors lock if the left front wheel
as well as the right rear wheel are turn-
ing at vehicle speeds of approximately
9mph (15km/h) or more.
Switch off the tow-away alarm
(page 99).
To prevent the vehicle door locks from
locking, deactivate the automatic cen-
tral locking (
page 122).
Towing of the vehicle should only be
done using the properly installed tow-
ing eye bolt. Never attach tow cable,
tow rope or tow rod to the vehicle chas-
sis, frame or suspension parts.
iThe selector lever will remain locked in
positionP and the SmartKey will not
turn in the starter switch if the battery
is disconnected or discharged. For
more information, see “Battery”
(page 424) and “Jump starting”
(page 428).
For information on manual unlocking of
the transmission selector lever, see
(page 405).

481 Index
Seat belts 69
Cleaning 349
Fastening 44
Proper use of 46, 71
Safety guidelines 66
Warning lamp 357
Seat heater*
Switching off 132
Switching on 132
Seat ventilation*
Switching off 133
Switching on 133
Seating capacity 312
Seats 124
Adjusting 38
Drive-dynamic seat* with multicontour
features 130
Easy entry/exit feature* 124
Heater* 132
Split rear bench seat* 247
Ventilation 133
Selecting display 166, 167
Selector lever
Lock 47, 183
Message in the display 368Position (automatic
transmission) 183
Self-test
Occupant Classification System 81
Tele Aid* 270
Service
Batteries 424
Calling up the maintenance service
indicator 341
Service and warranty information 10
Service life (tires) 308
Service memory
Messages in display 397
Setting
Convenience functions 164, 175
Cruise control 229
Daytime running lamp mode 170
Distronic* time interval 239
Exterior rear view mirror parking
position 140
Higher speed in cruise control 231
Higher speed in Distronic* 237
Hours (clock) 168
Individual vehicle settings 162
Interior lighting delayed
switch-off 173Lamps and lighting (control
system) 170
Language, multifunction display 166
Locator lighting 171
Lower speed in cruise control 231
Lower speed in Distronic* 238
Miles/kilometers in
speedometer 165
Minutes (clock) 168, 169
Parking position for exterior rear view
mirrors 176
Slower speed in cruise control 231
Slower speed in Distronic* 238
SmartKey dependent memory 176
Speed in cruise control 231
Speed in Distronic* 237
Speedometer display mode 165
Suspension tuning 244
Temperature (interior) 201, 214
Temperature indicator 165
Tire inflation pressure 167
Units
Speedometer 165
Temperature 165
Tire inflation pressure 167
Vehicle level control 245

483 Index
SRS 464
SRS indicator lamp 25, 359
Standing lamps 141
Standing water 292
Starter switch 34
Positions 34
Starting difficulties 49
Starting position 34
Starting the engine 47
Steering column
Height adjustment 41
Length adjustment 41
Steering wheel
Adjusting 40
Cleaning 350
Electrical adjustment 41
Stolen vehicle
Recovery services 277
Stopping
Power tilt /sliding sunroof* 227
Windows 223
Storage box in cargo compartment 255
Storage compartment with cup holder in
the center armrest 263
Storage compartments 259
Glove box 259Storage space under center armrest (Vehi-
cles with cup holder in the center
console) 260
Storing (Memory function*)
Positions in memory 139
Storing tires 309
Submenus
Convenience 175
For settings 155
In control system 157
Instrument cluster 165, 167
Lighting 170
Resetting functions in Control
system 163
Selecting 163
Settings menu 163
Vehicle 174
Sun visors 193
Supplemental Restraint System
(SRS) 464
Suspension tuning
For comfortable driving style 244
For sporty driving style 244
Switching off
Automatic central locking (control
system) 174Engine 57
ESP 91
Hazard warning flasher 146
Headlamps 57
Seat heating* 132
Switching on
Automatic central locking (control
system) 174
ESP 92
Hazard warning flasher 146
Headlamps 51
Parking lamps 141
Seat heating* 132
Windshield wipers 52
Symbol (Distronic*)
Distance warning function* 160
Synchronizing
ESP 367
Power tilt /sliding sunroof* 227
Power windows 223
Synchronizing the time 168
T
Tachometer 152
Displaying gear range 186
Overspeed range 152
Tail lamps 411, 415