suspension MERCEDES-BENZ E320 2004 W211 Owner's Manual

226 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).

227 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 above approximately above
68 mph (110 km / h) and the sporty
suspension style selected
(page 226), 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.

289 Operation
Tires and wheels
Tires and wheels
See your authorized Mercedes-Benz Cen-
ter for information on tested and recom-
mended rims and tires for summer and
winter operation. They can also offer ad-
vice concerning 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 vehi-
cle when such tires are used.
See your authorized Mercedes-Benz Cen-
ter for information on tested and recom-
mended rims and tires for summer and
winter operation.
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 pressure loss and damage to
the tire beads.


If vehicle is heavily loaded, check tire
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
1⁄8in (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 your 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.

381 Practical hints
Towing the vehicle
Towing the vehicle
Mercedes-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 Mer-
cedes-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).

383 Practical hints
Towing 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
9 mph (15 km / h) or more.
Switch off the tow-away alarm
(page 85).
To prevent the vehicle door locks from
locking, deactivate the automatic cen-
tral locking (
page 106).
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. See
notes on the battery (
page 375) or
on jump starting (
page 378).
Manual unlocking transmission selec-
tor lever (
page 357).

435 Index
Speed in cruise control 213
Speed in Distronic* 219
Speedometer display mode 141
Suspension tuning 226
Synchronizing the time 144
Temperature (interior) 178, 188
Temperature indicator 141
Tire inflation pressure 143
Units
Speedometer 141
Temperature 141
Tire inflation pressure 143
Vehicle level control 227
Settings
Calling up Distronic* 136, 217
Convenience functions 150
Factory, KEYLESS-GO* 94
Factory, SmartKey 89
Individual 152
Lighting (control system) 146
Menus and submenus 131
Resetting all (control system) 138
Resetting in the submenu 139
Selective 89, 94Settings menu
Functions in 138
Individual vehicle settings 138
Submenus 139
Shift lock 415
Shifting
Gear selector lever positions 161
Into optimal gear range (automatic
transmission) 159
Side impact airbags 61
Side marker lamps 359, 363
Side windows
Automatic opening 198
Cleaning 306
Closing 197, 198, 199
Closing with KEYLESS-GO* 200, 203
Closing with SmartKey 199
Opening 197, 199
Opening fully (Express-open) 198
Opening with SmartKey 199
Stopping 199
Synchronizing power windows 200
Simultaneous wiping and washing
Windshield wipers 49Single wipe 49
Ski sack* 233
Removing 236
Unfolding and loading 233
Unloading and folding 235
SL 55 AMG Kompressor
MANUAL shift program mode 165
Sliding/pop-up roof* 201
Closing 201
Closing with KEYLESS-GO* 200, 203
Closing with SmartKey 202
Opening 201
Opening with SmartKey 202
Stopping 202
Synchronizing 204
Sliding/pop-up roof* or panorama slid-
ing/pop-up roof*
Emergency operations 358
SmartKey 88
Battery check lamp 89, 94
Checking the batteries 91, 96
Factory setting 89
Global locking 89
Global locking and unlocking 89
Global unlocking 89

437 Index
Submenus
Convenience 150
For settings 131
In control system 133
Instrument cluster 141, 143
Lighting 146
Resetting functions in Control
system 139
Selecting 139
Settings menu 139
Vehicle 149
Sun visors 170
Supplemental Restraint System
(SRS) 415
Suspension tuning
For comfortable driving style 226
For sporty driving style 226
Switching off
Automatic central locking (control
system) 149
Engine 52
ESP 78
Hazard warning flasher 124
Headlamps 52
Seat heating* 114Switching on
Automatic central locking (control
system) 149
ESP 79
Front fog lamps 122
Hazard warning flasher 124
Headlamps 47
High beams 123
Parking lamps 119
Rear fog lamp 122
Seat heating* 114
Windshield wipers 48
Symbol (Distronic*)
Distance warning function* 136
Synchronizing
ESP 323
Panorama sliding/pop-up roof* 209
Power windows 200
Sliding/pop-up roof* 204
Time 144
T
Tachometer 128
Displaying gear range 160
Overspeed range 128
Tail lamps 360, 363
Tar stains 303Tele Aid
Messages in display 345, 346
Tele Aid System 415
Tele Aid* 250
Emergency calls 252
Information 255
Initiating an emergency call
manually 253
Remote door unlock 257
Roadside Assistance 254
SOS button 253
Stolen vehicle tracking services 258
System self-check 251
Tele Aid System 250
Upgrade signals 256
Telematics* 415
Telephone* 24, 249
Answering a call 156
Dialing a number from the phone
book 156
Ending a call 156
Loading phone book* 156
Messages in the display 346
Operating 155
Redialing 157