Driving MERCEDES-BENZ E500 2004 W211 Repair Manual

188 Controls in detailAutomatic climate control*Nearly all dust particles, pollutants and
odors are filtered out before outside air en-
ters the passenger compartment through
the air distribution system.
The air conditioning will not engage (no
cooling) if the AC
OFF
mode is selected
(
page 186).
Setting the temperature
Use temperature control3 for the left
side or5 for the right side to separately
adjust the air temperature on each side of
the passenger compartment. You should
raise or lower the temperature setting in
small increments, preferably starting
at 72°F (22°C).
Warning!
G
Follow the recommended settings for heat-
ing and cooling given on the following pag-
es. Otherwise the windows could fog up,
impairing visibility and endangering you and
others.
iSevere conditions (e.g. strong air pollu-
tion) may require replacement of the fil-
ter before its scheduled interval. A
clogged filter will reduce the air volume
to the interior.
If the vehicle interior is hot, ventilate
the interior before driving off.
Keep the air intake grille in front of the
windshield free of snow and debris.
Do not obstruct air flow by placing ob-
jects on the air flow-through exhaust
slots below the rear window.
iWhen operating the climate control
system in automatic mode, you will
only rarely need to adjust the tempera-
ture, air volume and air distribution.

199 Controls in detail
Power windows
Stopping windows
Press or pull respective switch again.
Opening and closing the windows with
the SmartKey
The sliding / pop-up roof* (
page 202) or
panorama sliding / pop-up roof*
(
page 208) will also be opened or closed
when the power windows are operated
with the SmartKey.

Aim transmitter eye at the front door
handle.
Opening (Summer opening feature)
If the weather is warm, you can ventilate
the vehicle before driving off by simulta-
neously:


opening the sliding/pop-up roof


opening the side windows


switching on the seat ventilation
To do so, follow the instructions below:

Press and hold button Πafter un-
locking the vehicle.
The windows and sliding / pop-up roof
or panorama sliding/pop-up roof* be-
gin to open after approximately one
second.

Release the Πbutton to stop proce-
dure.Closing (Convenience feature)

Press and hold button ‹ after lock-
ing the vehicle.
The windows and sliding / pop-up roof
or panorama sliding/pop-up roof* be-
gin to close after approximately one
second.

Release the ‹ button to stop proce-
dure.
Make sure all side windows and the
sliding / pop-up roof or panorama slid-
ing/pop-up roof* are properly closed be-
fore leaving the vehicle.
Warning!
G
Never operate the windows or sliding /
pop-up roof or panorama sliding/pop-up
roof* if there is the possibility of anyone be-
ing harmed by the opening or closing proce-
dure.
In the event that the procedure causes po-
tential danger, the procedure can be imme-
diately halted by releasing the button on the
SmartKey. To reverse direction of move-
ment, press Œ for opening or ‹ for
closing.

203 Controls in detail
Sliding / pop-up roof*
Opening (Summer opening feature)
If the weather is warm, you can ventilate
the vehicle before driving off by simulta-
neously:

opening the sliding/pop-up roof


opening the side windows


switching on the seat ventilation*
To do so, follow the instructions below:

Press and hold buttonΠafter un-
locking the vehicle.
The windows and sliding / pop-up roof
begin to open after approximately
one second.

Release transmit button to interrupt
procedure.Closing (Convenience feature)

Press and hold button‹ after lock-
ing the vehicle.
The windows and sliding / pop-up roof
begin to close after approximately
one second.

Release the ‹ button to stop proce-
dure.
Make sure all side windows and the slid-
ing/pop-up roof are properly closed before
leaving the vehicle.
Closing the sliding / pop-up roof with
KEYLESS-GO*
The power windows (
page 200) will also
be closed when you operate the
sliding / pop-up roof with KEYLESS-GO.

Press and hold lock button at door
(page 54) until the side windows and
the sliding / pop-up roof are closed.
Warning!
G
When closing the windows and the
sliding / pop-up roof, be sure that there is no
danger of anyone being harmed by the clos-
ing procedure.
The sliding/pop-up roof will not automati-
cally reopen if blocked during convenience
closing.
If potential danger exists, proceed as fol-
lows:

Release the lock button.


Pull on the door handle and hold firmly.
The side windows and the
sliding / pop-up roof will open for as long
as the door handle is held but the door
not opened.

208 Controls in detailPanorama sliding / pop-up roof*Opening and closing panorama
sliding / pop-up roof with the SmartKey
The power windows (
page 197) will also
be opened or closed when the panorama
sliding / pop-up roof is operated with the
SmartKey.

Aim transmitter eye at the driver’s door
handle.Opening (Summer opening feature)
If the weather is warm, you can ventilate
the vehicle before driving off by simulta-
neously:


opening the sliding/pop-up roof


opening the side windows


switching on the seat ventilation*
If roller sunblinds are closed:

Press and hold buttonΠafter un-
locking the vehicle.
The windows and roller sunblinds begin
to open after approximately
one second.

Press and hold buttonΠagain.
The panorama sliding / pop-up roof tilts
and opens.If roller sunblinds are already open:

Press and hold buttonΠafter un-
locking the vehicle.
The windows move down and the pan-
orama sliding / pop-up roof tilts and
opens after approximately one second.

Release transmit button to stop proce-
dure.
Closing (Convenience feature)

Press and hold button ‹ after lock-
ing the vehicle.
The windows and panorama
sliding/pop-up roof begin to close after
approximately one second.

Release the ‹ button to stop proce-
dure.
Make sure all side windows and the pan-
orama sliding/pop-up roof are properly
closed before leaving the vehicle.
Warning!
G
Never operate the windows or panorama
sliding / pop-up roof if there is the possibility
of anyone being harmed by the opening or
closing procedure.
In case the procedure causes potential dan-
ger, the procedure can be immediately halt-
ed by releasing the remote control button.
To reverse direction of movement
pressŒ for opening or ‹ for closing.

211 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 74).
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 any speed
over 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 20).
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.

212 Controls in detailDriving systems1Set current or higher speed
2Set current or lower speed
3Cancel cruise control
4Resume at previously set speed
Saving current speed
Accelerate or decelerate to the desired
speed.

Briefly lift1 or depress2 the cruise
control lever.
The current speed is set.

Remove your foot from the accelerator
pedal.
Cruise control is activated.Canceling cruise control
There are several ways to cancel cruise
control:

Step on the brake pedal.
or

Briefly push the cruise control lever to
position3.
Cruise control will be canceled. The
last speed set will be stored for later
use.iOn uphill or downhill grades, cruise
control may not be able to maintain the
set speed. Once the grade eases, the
set speed will be resumed.
!Moving gear selector lever to
positionN while driving also cancels
cruise control. However, the gear se-
lector lever should not be moved to
positionN while driving except to coast
when the vehicle is in danger of skid-
ding (e.g. on icy roads).iThe last stored speed is canceled when
you turn off the engine.

213 Controls in detail
Driving systems
Setting stored speed (“Resume”
function)
Briefly push the cruise control lever to
position4.
The cruise control will resume the last
previously set speed.

Remove your foot from the accelerator
pedal.Setting a higher speed

Lift the cruise control lever to
position1 and hold it up until the de-
sired speed is reached.

Release the cruise control lever.
The new speed is set.
Setting a lower speed

Depress the cruise control lever to
position2 and hold it down until the
desired speed is reached.

Release the cruise control lever.
The new speed is set.Fine adjustment in 1 mph
(Canada: 1 km / h) increments
Faster

Briefly tip the cruise control lever in the
direction of arrow1.
Slower

Briefly tip the cruise control lever in the
direction of arrow2.
Warning!
G
The speed stored in memory should only be
set again if prevailing road conditions per-
mit. Possible acceleration or deceleration
differences arising from returning to preset
speed could cause an accident and / or seri-
ous injury to you and others.
iDepressing the accelerator pedal does
not deactivate cruise control. After
brief acceleration (e.g. for passing),
cruise control will resume the last
speed set.
iWhen you use the cruise control lever
to decelerate, the transmission will au-
tomatically downshift if the engine’s
braking power does not brake the vehi-
cle sufficiently.

214 Controls in detailDriving systemsDistronic*
When activated, the Distronic adaptive
cruise control system increases driving
convenience afforded by the cruise control
during travel on expressways and other
major roads.

If the Distronic distance sensor detects
a slower moving vehicle directly ahead,
your vehicle speed will be reduced so
that you follow that vehicle at a preset
distance.


If there is no vehicle directly ahead of
you, Distronic will function in the same
way as cruise control (
page 218).
Warning!
G
Distronic adaptive cruise control is no sub-
stitute for active driving involvement. It does
not react to stationary objects, nor recog-
nize or predict the curvature and lane layout
or the movement of vehicles ahead.
Distronic can only apply a maximum of 20%
of the vehicle’s braking power.
It is the driver’s responsibility at all times to
be attentive to traffic and road conditions
and to provide the steering, braking and oth-
er driving inputs necessary to retain control
of the vehicle.Warning!
G
Distronic is a convenience system. Its speed
adjustment reduction capability is intended
to make cruise control more effective and
usable when traffic speeds vary. However, it
is not intended to, nor does it, replace the
need for extreme care. The responsibility for
the vehicle speed and the distance to the ve-
hicle ahead, including most importantly
brake operation to assure safe stopping dis-
tance, always rests with the driver.
Distronic cannot take street and traffic con-
ditions into account.
Warning!
G
Distronic requires familiarity with its opera-
tional characteristics. We strongly recom-
mend that you review the following
information carefully before operating the
system.iFor operation in the USA only: This de-
vice complies with Part 15 of the
FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the
following two conditions:

this device may not cause harmful
interference, and


this device must accept any inter-
ference received, including interfer-
ence that may cause undesired
operation.
Any unauthorized modification to this
device could void the user’s authority
to operate the equipment.

215 Controls in detail
Driving systems
Warning!
G
Distronic cannot take street and traffic con-
ditions into account. Only use Distronic if
the road, weather and traffic conditions
make it advisable to travel at a steady
speed.Warning!
G
Use of Distronic can be dangerous on slip-
pery roads. Rapid changes in tire traction
can result in wheel spin and loss of control.
Distronic does not act upon adverse sight
distance conditions. Do not use Distronic
during conditions of fog and heavy rain,
snow or sleet.
Warning!
G
Close attention to road and traffic condi-
tions is imperative at all times, regardless of
whether or not Distronic is activated.
Use of Distronic can be dangerous on wind-
ing roads or in heavy traffic because condi-
tions do not allow safe driving at a steady
speed.
Distronic will not react to stationary objects
in the roadway (e.g. a stopped vehicle in a
traffic jam or a disabled vehicle). Distronic
will also not respond to oncoming vehicles.
Switch off Distronic:

when changing from the left to the right
lane if vehicles are moving more slowly
in the left lane


when entering a turn lane or highway off
ramp


in complex driving situations, such as in
highway construction zones
In these situations, Distronic will continue to
maintain the set speed unless deactivated.
Distronic is designed and intended only to
maintain a set speed and keep a set dis-
tance from moving objects in front of it.Warning!
G
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.

216 Controls in detailDriving systemsDistronic displays in the speedometer
dial
1Set speed
If Distronic is activated, one or two seg-
ments come on around the set speed.1Segments
If Distronic detects a vehicle directly
ahead, the segments from the speed of the
vehicle ahead to the set speed come on.
If Distronic calculates that there is a dan-
ger of collision:


The DTR warning lampl in the in-
strument cluster comes on red.


An intermittent warning sounds.

Immediately brake the vehicle to avoid
a collision.Under no circumstances should the
driver await the intermittent warning
sound before braking. See the fallow-
ing warning note.
The intermittent warning sound ceases
and the red DTR warning lampl
goes out when the necessary distance
to the vehicle ahead is again estab-
lished.
iThe vehicle speed displayed on the
speedometer can briefly vary from the
speed setting on the Distronic system.