suspension MERCEDES-BENZ E320 2005 W211 Owner's Manual

247 Controls in detail
Driving systems
Airmatic 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).

248 Controls in detailDriving systemsVehicle 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 247), 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.

311 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 vehi-
cle when such tires are used.
See an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center
for information on tested and recommend-
ed 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 inflation pressure loss and
damage to the tire beads.


If vehicle is heavily loaded, check tire
inflation pressure and correct as re-
quired.


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 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, only use 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.

439 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
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).

441 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 95).
To prevent the vehicle door locks from
locking, deactivate the automatic cen-
tral locking (
page 118).
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 433) or “Jump starting”
(page 436).
Manual unlocking of the transmission
selector lever (
page 412).

495 Index
Seat belts 67
Cleaning 353
Fastening 43
Proper use of 45, 69
Safety guidelines 64
Warning lamp 362
Seat heater*
Switching off 128
Switching on 128
Seat ventilation*
Switching off 128
Switching on 128
Seating capacity 316
Seats 121
Adjusting 37
Drive-dynamic seat* with multicontour
features 126
Easy entry/exit feature* 121
Heater* 127
Split rear bench seat* 257
Ventilation 128
Securing cargo
Cargo tie-down rings 261
Selecting display 158, 159
Selector lever
Lock 46, 174Message in the display 373
Position (automatic
transmission) 174
Self-test
Occupant Classification System 79
Tele Aid* 272
Service
Batteries 433
Service and warranty information 10
Service life (tires) 312
Setting
Convenience functions 156, 167
Cruise control 232
Daytime running lamp mode 162
Distronic* time interval 242
Exterior rear view mirror parking
position 132
Higher speed in cruise control 234
Higher speed in Distronic* 240
Hours (clock) 160
Individual vehicle settings 154
Interior lighting delayed
switch-off 165
Lamps and lighting (control
system) 162
Language, multifunction display 158Locator lighting 163
Lower speed in cruise control 234
Lower speed in Distronic* 241
Miles/kilometers in
speedometer 157
Minutes (clock) 160, 161
Parking position for exterior rear view
mirrors 168
Slower speed in cruise control 234
Slower speed in Distronic* 241
SmartKey dependent memory 168
Speed in cruise control 234
Speed in Distronic* 240
Speedometer display mode 157
Suspension tuning 247
Synchronizing the time 160
Temperature (interior) 197, 210
Temperature indicator 157
Tire inflation pressure 159
Units
Speedometer 157
Temperature 157
Tire inflation pressure 159
Vehicle level control 248

497 Index
Snow chains 342
Solar panel* 230
Spare fuses 443
Spare wheel 407
Speed
Saving current 232
Speed settings
Cruise control 234
Distronic* 240, 241
Speedometer
Displays 237
Settings units 157
Speedometer display mode
Selecting 157
Split rear bench seat* 257
Sporty driving style 247
SRS 475
SRS indicator lamp 25, 364
Standing lamps 133
Standing water 295Starter switch 33
Positions 33
Starting difficulties 48
Starting position 33
Starting the engine 46
Steering column
Height adjustment 40
Length adjustment 40
Steering wheel
Adjusting 39
Cleaning 354
Electrical adjustment 40
Stolen vehicle
Tracking services 279
Stopping
Sliding/pop-up roof* 225, 229
Windows 220
Storage compartment with cup holder in
the armrest 266
Storage compartments 262
Glove box 262Storage space under center armrest 263
Storing (Memory function*)
Positions into memory 131
Storing tires 313
Submenus
Convenience 167
For settings 147
In control system 149
Instrument cluster 157, 159
Lighting 162
Resetting functions in Control
system 155
Selecting 155
Settings menu 155
Vehicle 166
Sun visors 188
Supplemental Restraint System
(SRS) 475
Suspension tuning
For comfortable driving style 247
For sporty driving style 247