instrument cluster MERCEDES-BENZ E550 4MATIC 2007 W211 Owner's Guide

168 Controls in detailControl systemThe table below shows what settings can
be changed within the various menus. De-
tailed instructions on making individual
settings can be found on the following pag-
es.Instrument cluster
Time/Date
Lighting
Vehicle
Convenience
(page 169)
(page 171)
(page 173)
(page 176)
(page 178)
Selecting speedometer display
mode
Synchronizing the time
Setting daytime running
lamp mode (USA only)
Setting automatic
locking
Activate easy-en-
try/exit feature
Selecting language
Setting the time (hours)
Setting locator lighting
Audio search function
Setting parking posi-
tion for exterior rear
view mirror
1
1If equipped.Selecting display (speed dis-
play or outside temperature)
for status line
Setting the time (minutes)
Ambient lighting
Selecting display (speed dis-
play or outside temperature)
for basic display
Setting the date (month)
Setting headlamps de-
layed shut-off
Setting the date (day)
Setting interior lighting
delayed shut-off
Setting the date (year)

169 Controls in detail
Control system
Instrument cluster submenu
Access the
Instr. cluster
submenu via
the
Settings
menu. Use the
Instr. clus-
ter
submenu to change the instrument
cluster display settings. The following
functions are available:Selecting speedometer display mode

Move the selection marker with
buttonæ orç to the
Instr.
cluster
submenu.

Press buttonj ork repeatedly
until the message
Display unit
Speed-/odometer appears in the multi-
function display.
The selection marker is on the current
setting.

Press button æ or ç to set
speedometer unit to
km or
miles
.Selecting language

Move the selection marker with
buttonæ orç to the
Instr.
cluster
submenu.

Press buttonj ork repeatedly
until the message
Language
appears in
the multifunction display.
The selection marker is on the current
setting.

Press buttonæ orç to select
the language to be used for the multi-
function display messages.
Function
Page
Selecting speedometer display
mode
169
Selecting language
169
Selecting display (speed display
or outside temperature) for sta-
tus line display
170
Selecting display (speed display
or outside temperature) for basic
display
170


180 Controls in detailControl systemFuel consumption statistics since start
Press buttonÿ orè repeatedly
until you see the first function of the
trip computer menu.

Press buttonj ork repeatedly
until the message
From start
appears
in the multifunction display.
1Distance driven since start
2Time elapsed since start
3Average speed since start
4Average fuel consumption since startFuel consumption since last reset

Press buttonÿ orè repeatedly
until you see the first function of the
trip computer menu.

Press buttonj ork repeatedly
until the message
Since reset
appears
in the multifunction display:
1Distance driven since last reset
2Time elapsed since last reset
3Average speed since last reset
4Average fuel consumption since last re-
setResetting fuel consumption statistics

Press buttonÿ orè repeatedly
until you see the first function of the
trip computer menu.

Press buttonj ork repeatedly
until you see the reading that you want
to reset in the multifunction display.

Press and hold the reset button in the
instrument cluster (
page 26) until
the value is reset to 0.
i
All statistics stored since the last engine
start will be reset approximately 4 hours after
the SmartKey in the starter switch is turned to
position0 or removed from the starter switch.
Resetting will not occur if you turn the SmartKey
back to position1 or2 within this time period.

255 Controls in detail
Driving systems
Distronic 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 (representing the
difference) 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 distance warning lampl in the
instrument cluster comes on red.


An intermittent warning sounds.
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.
i
The vehicle speed displayed on the speed-
ometer can briefly vary from the speed setting
on the Distronic system.

261 Controls in detail
Driving systems
Setting the following distance in
Distronic
You can set the specified following dis-
tance for Distronic by varying the time set-
ting between 1.0 and 2.0 seconds. Using
this time setting and the current speed of
your vehicle, Distronic calculates and sets
the required following distance to the vehi-
cle ahead. The set distance will be shown
in the multifunction display.
The thumbwheel for making the time set-
ting is located on the lower section of the
center console.1Distance warning function on/off
switch
2Indicator lamp
3Thumbwheel for setting distance
Increasing distance
Increasing the distance setting tells
Distronic to maintain a greater following
distance to the vehicle ahead.

Turn thumbwheel3 towards¯.Decreasing distance
Decreasing the distance setting tells
Distronic to maintain a smaller following
distance to the vehicle ahead.

Turn thumbwheel3 towards®.
Distance warning function
When Distronic is deactivated, this func-
tion will continue to warn you when recog-
nizing a stationary obstacle or a slower
vehicle moving in the vehicle’s path and
the danger of a collision exists:


The distance warning lampl in the
instrument cluster comes on.


An intermittent warning will sound if
necessary.
If these warnings are issued, you must
brake manually to maintain a safe distance
and avoid a collision with the vehicle
ahead.
Warning!
G
It is up to the driver to exercise discretion to
select the appropriate setting given road
conditions, traffic, driver’s preferred driving
style and applicable laws and driving recom-
mendations for safe following distance.

300 Controls in detailUseful features
Remote door unlock
In case you have locked your vehicle unin-
tentionally (e.g. SmartKey inside vehicle),
and the reserve SmartKey is not handy:
Contact the Mercedes-Benz Response
Center at 1-800-756-9018 (in the USA)
or 1-888-923-8367 (in Canada).
You will be asked to provide your pass-
word which you provided when you
completed the subscriber agreement.

Then return to your vehicle and pull the
trunk recessed handle for a minimum
of 20 seconds until the SOS button is
flashing.
The message
Call connected
appears
in the multifunction display.
As an alternative, you may unlock the vehi-
cle via Internet using the ID and password
sent to you shortly after the completion of
your acquaintance call.
The Response Center will then unlock your
vehicle with the remote door unlocking
feature.
i
When a Tele Aid call has been initiated, the
COMAND system audio is muted and the select-
ed mode (radio or CD) pauses. The optional cel-
lular phone (if installed) switches off. If you must
use this phone, the vehicle must be parked. Dis-
connect the coiled cord and place the call. The
COMAND navigation* system (if engaged) will
continue to run. The multifunction display in the
instrument cluster is available for use, and spo-
ken commands are only available by pressing the
RPT button on the COMAND unit. A pop-up win-
dow will appear in the COMAND display to indi-
cate that a Tele Aid call is in progress.
i
The remote door unlock feature is available
if the relevant cellular phone network is avail-
able.
The SOS button will flash and the message
Call connected
will appear in the multifunc-
tion display to indicate receipt of the door unlock
command.
Once the vehicle is unlocked, a Response Center
specialist will attempt to establish voice contact
with the vehicle occupants.
If the trunk recessed handle was pulled for more
than 20 seconds before door unlock authoriza-
tion was received by the Response Center, you
must wait 15 minutes before pulling the trunk re-
cessed handle again.

311 Operation
Driving instructions
If your brake system is normally only sub-
jected to moderate loads, you should occa-
sionally test the effectiveness of the
brakes by applying above-normal braking
pressure at higher speeds. This will also
enhance the grip of the brake pads.
Refer to the description of the Brake Assist
System (BAS) (
page 99).Brake pad wear or a leak in the system may
be the reason for low brake fluid level in
the reservoir.
The brake fluid level in the reservoir may
be too low if the brake warning lamp in the
instrument cluster comes on and an
acoustic warning sounds although the
parking brake is released (
page 383).
Observe additional messages in the multi-
function display that may appear
(
page 413).
Have the brake system inspected
immediately. Contact an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
All checks and service work on the brake
system should be carried out by qualified
technicians only. Contact an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
Only install brake pads and brake fluid
recommended by Mercedes-Benz.After hard braking, it is advisable to drive
on for some time, rather than immediately
park, so that the air stream will cool down
the brakes faster.
Warning!
G
Make sure not to endanger any other road
users when carrying out these braking ma-
neuvers.
Warning!
G
If other than recommended brake pads are
installed, or other than recommended brake
fluid is used, the braking properties of the
vehicle can be degraded to an extent that
safe braking is substantially impaired. This
could result in an accident.!
When driving down long and steep grades,
relieve the load on the brakes by shifting into a
lower gear to use the engine’s braking power.
This helps prevent overheating of the brakes and
reduces brake pad wear.

312 OperationDriving instructionsHigh-performance brake system
(E 63 AMG only)
The high-performance brake system is de-
signed to operate under the extremely high
operating demands required to accommo-
date the performance capabilities of the
vehicle. The brakes may produce a squeak-
ing-type noise depending on the

vehicle speed


brake force applied


ambient conditions, e.g. temperature
and humidity
As with any brake system, the wear of indi-
vidual brake system components such as
brake pads or disks strongly depends on
your driving style and the conditions under
which you operate the vehicle. Thus, a driv-
ing style calling for high demand braking
will cause your vehicle’s brakes to wear
more quickly.
Driving off
Apply the brakes to test them briefly after
driving off. Perform this procedure only
when the road is clear of other traffic.
Warm up the engine smoothly. Do not
place full load on the engine until the oper-
ating temperature has been reached.
Warning!
G
New vehicle brake pads and discs, and
replacement brake pads and discs may take
several hundred miles of driving until they
provide optimum braking efficiency. Until
that time, you may need to use increased
brake pedal pressure while braking. Please
be aware of this and adjust your driving and
braking accordingly during this break-in
period.
Excessive high demand braking will cause
correspondingly high brake wear. Please be
attentive to the brake warning lamp in the
instrument cluster and brake condition mes-
sages in the multifunction display. Especial-
ly for high performance driving, it is
important to maintain and have the brake
system checked regularly.
!
When driving off on a slippery surface, do
not allow a drive wheel to spin for an extended
period with the ESP
® switched off. Doing so may
cause serious damage to the drivetrain which is
not covered by the Mercedes-Benz Limited
Warranty.
!
Simultaneously depressing the accelerator
pedal and applying the brake reduces engine
performance and causes premature brake and
drivetrain wear.

367 Operation
Maintenance
Clearing the maintenance service
indicator message
The maintenance service indicator mes-
sage is automatically cleared

after approximately 10 seconds, when
you switch on the ignition or when
reaching the service threshold while
driving


after approximately 30 seconds, once
the suggested maintenance service
term has passed
You can also clear it yourself:

Press the reset button 1 on the left
side of the instrument cluster.The maintenance service indicator
message is cleared and the standard
display appears in the multifunction
display (
page 151).
Maintenance service term exceeded
If you have exceeded the suggested main-
tenance service term, you will see the fol-
lowing message in the multifunction
display:
Service A exceeded by XXXXX miles (km)
Service A exceeded by XXX days
Service A exceeded by X day In addition, a signal sounds when the mes-
sage appears.
Any authorized Mercedes-Benz Center will
reset the maintenance service indicator
following a completed maintenance
service.
i
Vehicles equipped with FSS PLUS (F
lexible
S
ervice S
ystem PLUS) only (Canada vehicles, de-
pending on vehicle production date):


FSS PLUS evaluates engine temperature, oil
level, vehicle speed, engine speed, distance
driven and the time elapsed since the last
service and calculates other maintenance
service work required.


The interval between maintenance services
depends on your driving habits. A gentle driv-
ing style, moderate engine speeds and the
avoidance of short-distance trips will length-
en the interval between services.

380 Practical hintsWhat to do if …Lamps in instrument clusterGeneral information:
If any of the following lamps in the instru-
ment cluster fails to come on during thebulb self-check when switching on the igni-
tion, have the respective bulb checked and
replaced if necessary.Problem
Possible cause/consequence
Suggested solution
-
The yellow ABS indicator lamp
comes on while the engine is
running.
The ABS has detected a malfunction and has
switched off. The BAS, ESP
®, EBP and
PRE-SAFE
® are also switched off (see
messages in the multifunction display).
The brake system is still functioning normally
but without the ABS available.
If the ABS control unit is malfunctioning, oth-
er systems such as the Parktronic system*,
Distronic*, or the automatic transmission
may also be malfunctioning.

Continue driving with added caution.
Wheels may lock during hard braking,
reducing steering capability.

Read and observe messages in the
multifunction display (
page 396).

Have the system checked at an autho-
rized Mercedes-Benz Center as soon
as possible.
Failure to follow these instructions in-
creases the risk of an accident.
The charging voltage has fallen below
10 volts. The ABS has switched off.
The battery might not be charged sufficiently.
When the voltage is above this value
again, the ABS is operational again and
the ABS indicator lamp should go out.
If the ABS indicator lamp does not go out:
Have the generator (alternator) and
the battery checked.