MERCEDES-BENZ S CLASS 2003 Owners Manual

211 Controls in detail
Driving systems
AIRMATIC
AIRMATIC automatically selects the opti-
mum suspension tuning and ride height for
your vehicle. AIRMATIC consists of two
components:

Adaptive Damping System (ADS)


Level control system
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 regular.Suspension tuning
The suspension tuning is set according to:


Your driving style


Road surface conditions


Your choice of suspension style,
“sporty” or “regular”, which you select
using the damping switch.
The following suspension styles are avail-
able:


Regular
Both indicator lamps1 are off.


Sporty I
One indicator lamp1 is on.


Sporty II
Both indicator lamps1 are on.1Indicator lamps
2Damping switch

Start the engine.

Press the damping switch2 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.

212 Controls in detailDriving systemsVehicle level control with AIRMATIC
Your vehicle automatically adjusts its ride
height to:

reduce fuel consumption


increase vehicle safety
The vehicle chassis ride height is raised or
lowered according to the selected level
setting and to the vehicle speed:


With increasing speed, ride height is re-
duced by up to approximately
3/4inch
(20 mm).


With decreasing speed, the ride height
is again raised to the selected vehicle
level.The following vehicle level settings can be
selected when the vehicle is stationary:
Select the "Raised" level setting only when
required by current driving conditions.
Otherwise:


Fuel consumption may increase


Handling may be impairedThe switch with the indicator lamps is lo-
cated in the upper part of the center con-
sole.
1Indicator lamp
2Vehicle level control switch
iThese height adjustments are so small
that you may not notice any change.
LevelNormal
For driving on normal roads.
The indicator lamp is off.
Raised
For driving on rough roads or
with snow chains.The indica-
tor lamp is on.
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.

213 Controls in detail
Driving systems

Briefly press switch2 to change from
one level setting to the other.
The message:AIRMATIC
VEHICLE RISING appears in the multifunction display
when changing from normal level to
raised level. The indicator lamp is then
lit. The display switches off when the
vehicle is raised.

Press switch2 again to lower the vehi-
cle. The indicator lamp is off.The selected vehicle level setting remains
stored in memory even if the engine is
turned off and restarted except when you


exceed a speed of 75 mph (120 km/h)
or


maintain a speed of between 50 mph
(80 km/h) and 75 mph (120 km/h) for
more than 5 minutes
The vehicle then lowers to regular level.
The message:
AIRMATIC
LEV. SELECT. CANCELED!appears in the multifunction display and
the indicator lamp is off. The display
switches off when the vehicle is raised.
Active Body Control (ABC)*
The ABC system automatically selects the
optimum suspension tuning and ride
height for your vehicle.
Suspension tuning
The suspension tuning is set according to:

Your driving style


Road surface conditions


The vehicle loading


Your choice of suspension style,
“sporty” or “regular”, which you select
using the ABC button
The selected suspension style is stored
in memory, even after the SmartKey is
removed from the starter switch.

214 Controls in detailDriving systemsThe ABC switch with the indicator lamps is
located in the upper part of the center con-
sole.
1Indicator lamp
2ABC switch
Start the engine.Suspension for sporty driving style
The setting for sporty driving is selected
when indicator lamp1 is illuminated.

Press switch2 to change from regular
suspension to sporty suspension style.
Indicator lamp1 comes on.Suspension for regular driving style
The setting for regular driving is selected
when indicator lamp1 is off.

Press switch2 to change from sporty
suspension style to regular suspension
style.
Indicator lamp1 goes out.

215 Controls in detail
Driving systems
Vehicle level control with ABC*
Your vehicle automatically adjusts its ride
height to:

reduce fuel consumption


increase vehicle safety
The vehicle chassis ride height is raised or
lowered according to the selected level
setting and to the vehicle speed:


W it h incre as ing s pee d, rid e hei ght i s re -
duced by up to approximately 1.4 inch
(35 mm).


With decreasing speed, the ride height
is again raised to the selected vehicle
level.Select the level 1 and 2 settings only when
required by current driving conditions.
Otherwise:


Fuel consumption may increase


Handling may be impairediThese 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.

216 Controls in detailDriving systemsThe following vehicle level settings can be
selected when the vehicle is stationary:
The switch with the indicator lamps is lo-
cated in the upper part of the center con-
sole.
1Indicator lamps
2Vehicle level control switch

Briefly press switch2 to change from
one level setting to the next. When ve-
hicle is at level 2, pressing the switch
will return the vehicle to normal level.
The message:ACTIVE BODY CONTROL
VEHICLE RISING appears in the multifunction display.
The display switches off when the vehi-
cle is raised.
Vehicle level when
stationary
Use for
Ride height increase
over normal
Automatic lowering
Indicator lamps
Normal
Normal operation
None
Max. approx. 0.6 in (15 mm)
Both lamps off
Level 1
Driving with snow chains
(page 247)
Max. 0.4 in (10 mm)
1
1Dependent on loading
Max. approx. 1.0 in (25 mm)
One lamp lit
Level 2
Very rough road surface
conditions
Max. 0.8 in (20 mm)
1
Max. approx. 1.4 in (35 mm)
Both lamps lit

217 Controls in detail
Driving systems
Normal level (see table)
Speed-dependent lowering of vehicle
chassis (approximate values):

Between 0 mph (0 km/h) and 40 mph
(65 km/h) – none


Between 40 mph (65 km/h) and
87 mph (140 km/h) – lowered
progressively by approximately 0.6 in
(15 mm).Raised level 1 (see table)
Speed-dependent lowering of vehicle
chassis (approximate values):


Between 0 mph (0 km/h) and 38 mph
(60 km/h) - raised by approximately
0.4in (10mm)


Between 38 mph (60 km/h) and
118 mph (190 km/h) - lowered
progressively by approximately 1.0 in
(25 mm)Raised level 2 (see table)
Speed-dependent lowering of vehicle
chassis (approximate values):


Between 0 mph (0 km/h) and 18 mph
(30 km/h) - raised by approximately
0.8in (20mm)


Between 18 mph (30 km/h) and
38 mph (60 km/h) – lowered progres-
sively by approximately 0.4 in (10 mm)


Between 38 mph (60 km/h) and
118 mph (190 km/h) – lowered pro-
gressively by additional 1.0 in (25 mm)
iPressing the switch twice in quick suc-
cession will cause the vehicle to imme-
diately raise or lower according to the
starting level.
The selected vehicle level setting re-
mains stored in memory even if the en-
gine is turned off and restarted.

218 Controls in detailDriving systemsParktronic system* (Parking assist)
The Parktronic system is an electronic aid
designed to assist the driver during park-
ing maneuvers. It visually and audibly indi-
cates the relative distance between the
vehicle and an obstacle.
The Parktronic system is automatically ac-
tivated when you switch on the ignition
and release the parking brake. The Park-
tronic system deactivates at speeds
exceeding 11 mph (18 km/h). At lower
speeds the Parktronic system turns on
again.The Parktronic system monitors the sur-
roundings of your vehicle with six sensors
in the front bumper and four sensors in the
rear bumper.
1Sensors in the front bumperWarning!
G
Parktronic is a supplemental system. It is
not intended to, nor does it replace, the
need for extreme care. The responsibility
during parking and other critical maneuvers
always rests with the driver.
Special attention must be paid to objects
with smooth surfaces or low silhouettes
(e.g. trailer couplings, painted posts, or road
curbs). Such objects may not be detected by
the system and can damage the vehicle.
The operational function of the Parktronic
can be affected by dirty sensors, especially
at times of snow and ice, see “Cleaning the
Parktronic* system sensors” (
page 285).
Interference caused by other ultrasonic sig-
nals (e.g. working jackhammers or the air
brakes of trucks) can cause the system to
send erratic indications, and should be tak-
en into consideration.
Warning!
G
Make sure that no persons or animals are in
the area in which you are maneuvering. You
could otherwise injure them.

219 Controls in detail
Driving systems
Range of the sensors
To function properly, the sensors must be
free of dirt, ice, snow and slush. Clean the
sensors regularly, being careful not to
scratch or damage the sensors.Front sensors
Rear sensorsMinimum distance
If the system detects an obstacle in this
range, all the warning lamps light up and
you hear a warning signal. If the obstacle is
closer than the minimum distance, the ac-
tual distance might no longer be indicated
by the system.
Center
approx. 40 in (100 cm)
Corners
approx. 24 in (60 cm)
Center
approx. 48 in (120 cm)
Corners
approx. 32 in (80 cm)
!During parking maneuvers, pay special
attention to objects located above or
below the height of the sensors (e.g.
planters or trailer hitches). The Park-
tronic system will not detect such ob-
jects at close range and damage to
your vehicle or the object may result.
Ultrasonic signals from outside sourc-
es (e.g. truck air brakes or jackham-
mers) may impair the operation of the
Parktronic system.
Center
approx. 8 in (20 cm)
Corners
approx. 6 in (15 cm)

220 Controls in detailDriving systemsWarning indicators
Visual signals indicate to the driver the rel-
ative distance between the sensors and an
obstacle. The warning indicators for the
front area are located in the dashboard
(page 20). The warning indicator for the
rear area is integrated in the rear trim.
1Left front area warning indicator2Right front area warning indicator
Each warning indicator is divided into six
yellow and two red segments for either
side of the vehicle. The Parktronic system
is ready when the border around the indi-
cator is illuminated.The position of the gear selector lever de-
termines which warning indicators will be
activated.
Selector lever po-
sition
Warning indicator
D
Front area activated
R or N
Front and rear area
activated
P
Neither activated