Distronic MERCEDES-BENZ E320 2005 W211 Owner's Manual

Contents
Control system .................................. 145
Multifunction display .................... 145
Multifunction steering wheel ........ 146
Menus .......................................... 148
Standard display menu ................ 150
AUDIO menu ................................ 150
NAV* menu .................................. 152
Distronic* menu........................... 152
Vehicle status message memory
menu ............................................ 153
Settings menu .............................. 154
Trip computer menu..................... 170
TEL menu* ................................... 171
Automatic transmission ..................... 174
One-touch gearshifting................. 176
Gear ranges ................................. 177
Gear selector lever position ......... 178
Automatic shift programm ........... 179
Driving tips ................................... 180
Steering wheel gearshift control
(Speedshift) E 55 AMG ................. 181
Manual shift program E 55 AMG .. 183
Emergency operation
(Limp Home Mode) ...................... 185Good visibility ..................................... 186
Headlamp cleaning system* ......... 186
Rear view mirrors.......................... 186
Sun visors ..................................... 188
Rear window sunshade* ............... 189
Roller sunblind* in the rear doors . 190
Rear window defroster .................. 191
Dual-zone automatic climate control .. 192
Deactivating the dual-zone
automatic climate control system. 197
Setting the temperature................ 197
Adjusting air distribution............... 198
Adjusting air volume ..................... 198
Defrosting ..................................... 199
Air recirculation mode .................. 199
Air conditioning............................. 201
Residual heat and ventilation*
(available on climate control
panel design A only)...................... 202
Heater booster system
(Diesel engine) .............................. 2034-zone automatic climate control* ..... 204
Deactivating the 4-zone
automatic climate control system 209
Setting the temperature ............... 210
Adjusting air distribution .............. 210
Adjusting air volume ..................... 211
Defrosting ..................................... 211
Maximum cooling MAX COOL ....... 212
Air recirculation mode .................. 212
Air conditioning ............................ 214
Residual heat and ventilation
(available on climate control
panel design A only) ..................... 215
Rear air conditioning..................... 216
Heater booster system
(Diesel engine) .............................. 217
Power windows .................................. 218
Opening and closing the windows 218
Synchronizing power windows ...... 220
Summer opening feature .............. 220
Convenience closing feature......... 221
Power tilt /sliding sunroof* ............... 223
Opening and closing the power
tilt/sliding sunroof........................ 223
Synchronizing the power tilt/
sliding sunroof .............................. 225

ContentsPanorama roof with power tilt/
sliding panel*..................................... 226
Opening and closing the roller
sunblinds for the panorama
roof with power tilt/sliding panel . 226
Opening and closing the panorama
roof with power tilt/sliding panel . 227
Synchronizing the panorama
roof with power tilt/sliding panel . 229
Solar panel* ................................. 230
Driving systems ................................. 231
Cruise control............................... 231
Distronic*..................................... 235
Airmatic DC (Dual Control)* ......... 247
Parktronic system
(Parking assist)* ........................... 250
Loading .............................................. 254
Roof rack* .................................... 254
Ski sack* ...................................... 254
Split rear bench seat* .................. 257
Expanding the cargo area* ........... 259
Loading instructions ..................... 260
Cargo tie-down rings* .................. 261Useful features .................................. 262
Storage compartments ................ 262
Cup holders.................................. 265
Ashtrays ....................................... 268
Cigarette lighter ........................... 269
12-V socket* ................................ 269
Heated steering wheel* ............... 270
Telephone* .................................. 270
Tele Aid* ...................................... 271
Garage door opener ..................... 279
Operation......................................... 285
The first 1000 miles (1500 km) ......... 286
Driving instructions ........................... 287
Drive sensibly – save fuel............. 287
Drinking and driving ..................... 287
Pedals .......................................... 287
Power assistance ......................... 288
Brakes.......................................... 288
Driving off .................................... 290
Parking......................................... 290
Tires ............................................. 290
Hydroplaning................................ 291
Tire traction ................................. 292
Tire speed rating .......................... 292
Winter driving instructions ........... 294
Standing water............................. 295
Passenger compartment .............. 295
Driving abroad ............................. 295
Control and operation of radio
transmitter ................................... 295
Catalytic converter
(Gasoline engine) ......................... 296
Oxidation catalyst (Diesel engine) 297
Emission control .......................... 297
Coolant temperature.................... 298

23 At a glance
Cockpit
Item
Page
1
Parking brake pedal
48, 55
2
Hood lock release
303
3
Steering wheel adjustment
stalk
40
Heated steering wheel*
270
4
Parking brake release
48
5
Combination switch

Turn signals
51


Windshield wipers
51


High beam
50
6
Door control panel
30
7
Exterior lamp switch
133
Item
Page
8
Headlamp washer button*
186
9
Steering wheel gearshift
control (E55 AMG only)
181
a
Cruise control lever

Cruise control
239


Distronic*
235
b
Instrument cluster
24,
142
c
Multifunction steering
wheel
26,
146
d
Horn
e
Lever for voice control sys-
tem*, see separate
operating instructions
Item
Page
f
Starter switch
34
g
Front Parktronic* warning
indicator
250
h
Overhead control panel
29
j
Mobile phone/Glasses box
262
k
Glove box lid release, glove
box lock
262
l
Glove box
262
m
Center console
27

25 At a glance
Instrument cluster
Item
Page
1
LLeft turn signal indi-
cator lamp
2
vABS/ ESP warning
lamp
357
3
Speedometer
4
Multifunction display
145
5
lDistance warning
lamp
Vehicles without Distronic*:
Warning lamp without func-
tion. It illuminates with the
ignition on. It should go out
when the engine is running.
361
6
KRight turn signal indi-
cator lamp
7
Coolant temperature indi-
cator with:•Coolant temperature
warning lamp
361
Item
Page
8
Tachometer with:1Supplemental Re-
straint System
indicator lamp
364
-Antilock Brake Sys-
tem (ABS) indicator
lamp
356
362
BLow beam headlamp
indicator lamp
50
AHigh beam headlamp
indicator lamp
137
9
Main odometer with:

Selector lever position
46


Program mode
179
a
Clock with:
159
;Brake warning lamp,
USA only
358
3Brake warning lamp,
Canada only
358
Item
Page
?Engine malfunction
indicator lamp, USA
only
359
±Engine malfunction
indicator lamp, Cana-
da only
359
HTire inflation pres-
sure warning lamp*
363
qPreglow indicator
lamp, Diesel engine
only
47
b
Fuel display with:AFuel reserve warning
lamp
362
c
Reset button for:

Resetting trip odometer
143


Adjusting instrument
cluster illumination
142


Confirming new time set-
tings
159

28 At a glanceCenter consoleLower part
Item
Page
1
Ashtray
268
2
KEYLESS-GO* start/stop
button
35
3
Selector lever for
automatic transmission
46,
178
4
Parking assist (Parktronic
system)* deactivation
switch
250
5
Adaptive damping system
(ADS)* switch
247
Item
Page
6
Vehicle level control
switch*
248
7
Thumbwheel for setting
distance in Distronic*
242
8
Distance warning func-
tion* on/off switch
243
9
Program mode selector
switch for automatic trans-
mission
179

89 Safety and Security
Driving safety systems
Switching off the ESP
To improve the vehicle's traction, turn off
the ESP in driving situations where it would
be advantageous to have 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 gravelWhen you switch off the ESP


the ESP does not stabilize the vehicle


the engine output is not limited, which
allows the drive wheels to spin and
thus cut into surfaces for better grip


the traction control will still brake a
spinning wheel


the ESP continues to operate when you
are braking


you cannot activate Distronic*The switch is located on the center con-
sole.
1ESP switch

Press ESP switch 1 until the
ABS/ESP warning lamp v in the in-
strument cluster comes on.
The ESP is deactivated.
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 driving
maneuvers.!Turn on the ESP immediately if the
aforementioned circumstances do not
apply anymore.
iWhen the ESP is switched off and one
or more drive wheels are spinning, the
ABS/ESP warning lamp v in the
speedometer flashes. However, the
ESP will then not stabilize the vehicle.

149 Controls in detail
Control system
Menus, submenus and functions
Menu1
Menu2
Menu3
Menu4
Menu5
Menu6
Menu7
Menu8
Standard
display
AUDIO
NAV*
Distronic*
Vehicle status
message mem-
ory
Settings
Trip computer
Telephone
(page 150)
(page 150)
(page 152)
(page 152)
(page 153)
(page 154)
(page 170)
(page 171)
Commands/submenusDigital speed-
ometer
Select radio
station
Activate
route guid-
ance
Call up set-
tings
Call up vehicle
malfunction,
warning and sys-
tem status mes-
sages stored in
memory
Reset to factory
settings
Fuel consumption
statistics after
start
Load phone
book
Call up main-
tenance sys-
tem display
Operate CD
player
Instrument clus-
ter submenu
Fuel consumption
statistics since
the last reset
Search for
name in
phone book
Check tire
pressure*
Time/Date sub-
menu
Call up range
Check engine
oil level
Lighting sub-
menuVehicle sub-
menuConvenience
submenuDynamic seat*
submenu

152 Controls in detailControl systemNAV* menu
The
Nav
menu contains the functions
needed to operate your navigation system.

Press buttonè orÿ repeatedly
until you see the message
NAV
in the
display.


If the navigation system is switched off,
the message
NAV off
is shown in the
display.


If the navigation system is switched on,
the message
NAV Active
is shown in
the display.
Please refer to the COMAND manual for in-
structions on how to activate the route
guidance system.
Distronic* menu
Use the Distronic menu to display the cur-
rent 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 235) 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
4Your vehicle
5Symbol for activated distance warning
function

153 Controls in detail
Control system
Distronic activated
When Distronic is activated,
Distronic

and the set speed are seen in the display.
1Distronic activated
Vehicle status message memory menu
Use the vehicle status message memory
menu to scan malfunction and warning
messages that may be stored in the sys-
tem. Such messages appear in the multi-
function display and are based on
conditions or system status the vehicle’s
system has recorded.

Press buttonè orÿ repeatedly
until the vehicle status message mem-
ory appears in the multifunction dis-
play.
No vehicle status messages
If no conditions are recorded in memory,
the message in the multifunction display
is:
NO MESSAGESVehicle status messages have been re-
corded
If conditions have occurred, causing status
messages to be recorded the number of
messages appears in the multifunction dis-
play:
Warning!
G
Malfunction and warning messages are only
indicated for certain systems and are inten-
tionally not very detailed. The malfunction
and warning messages are simply a remind-
er with respect to the operation of certain
systems and do not replace the owner’s
and/or driver’s responsibility to maintain
the vehicle’s operating safety by having all
required maintenance and safety checks
performed on the vehicle and by bringing
the vehicle to an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center to address the malfunction and
warning messages (
page 367).

231 Controls in detail
Driving systems
Driving systems
The following driving systems are ex-
plained 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


Parktronic system*, which assists the
driver during parking maneuvers
The BAS, ABS, ESP and SBC are described
in the “Safety and Security” section
(
page 85).
Cruise control
The 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 25 mph
(40 km /h).
E 320 4MATIC, E 500 4MATIC:
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 22).
Warning!
G
Cruise control is a convenience system de-
signed to assist the driver during vehicle op-
eration. The driver is and must always
remain 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.