MERCEDES-BENZ S CLASS 2005 Owners Manual

229 Controls in detail
Driving systems
Airmatic
Airmatic automatically selects the opti-
mum suspension tuning and ride height for
your vehicle. Airmatic consists of two com-
ponents:

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,
“sport” or “convenience”, which you
select using the damping switch.
The following suspension styles are avail-
able:


Convenience
Both indicator lamps1 are off.


Sports 1
One indicator lamp1 is on.


Sports 2
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.

230 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 ¾ in
(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 on the upper part of the front center
console.
1Indicator lamp
2Vehicle level control switch

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.
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.

231 Controls in detail
Driving systems
The indicator lamp is then lit. The dis-
play switches off when the vehicle is
raised.

Press switch2 again to lower the ve-
hicle. 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
LEVELING CANCELLEDappears 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.The ABC button with the indicator lamps is
located on the upper part of the front cen-
ter console.
1Indicator lamp
2ABC button

Start the engine.

232 Controls in detailDriving systemsSuspension for sporty driving style
The setting for sporty driving is selected
when indicator lamp1 is illuminated.
Press button2.
Indicator lamp1 comes on.
Suspension for regular driving style
The setting for regular driving is selected
when indicator lamp1 is off.

Press button2.
Indicator lamp1 goes out. 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:


With increasing speed, ride height is re-
duced by up to approximately 1.4 in
(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.

233 Controls in detail
Driving systems
The following vehicle level settings can be
selected when the vehicle is stationary:
The button with the indicator lamps is lo-
cated on the upper part of the front center
console.
1Indicator lamps
2Vehicle level control button

Briefly press button2 to change from
one level setting to the next. When ve-
hicle is at level 2, pressing the button
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
Raised level1
Driving with snow chains
(page 327)
Max. 0.4 in (10 mm)
1
1Dependent on load
Max. approx. 1.0 in (25 mm)
One lamp lit
Raised level 2
Very rough road surface
conditions
Max. 0.8 in (20 mm)
1
Max. approx. 1.4 in (35 mm)
Both lamps lit

234 Controls in detailDriving systemsNormal 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
0.8 in (20 mm)


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 approximately
1.0 in (25 mm)
iPressing the button 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.

235 Controls in detail
Driving systems
Parktronic 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 placed the gear selector lever in posi-
tion D, R, or N.
The Parktronic system deactivates at
speeds over approximately 11 mph
(18 km/h). At lower speeds the Parktronic
system turns on again.
The Parktronic system also deactivates
when you place the gear selector lever in
position P.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
system can be affected by dirty sensors, es-
pecially at times of snow and ice, see
“Cleaning the Parktronic* system sensors”
(page 333).
Interference caused by other ultrasonic sig-
nals (e.g. working jackhammers, car wash,
or the air brakes of trucks) can cause the
system to send erratic indications, and
should be taken into consideration.
Warning!
G
Make sure no persons or animals are in the
area in which you are maneuvering. You
could otherwise injure them.

236 Controls in detailDriving systemsRange 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 see “Clean-
ing the Parktronic* system sensors”
(page 333).
Front sensors
Rear sensors
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, car wash, or
jackhammers) may impair the opera-
tion of the Parktronic system.

237 Controls in detail
Driving systems
Minimum distance
If the system detects an obstacle in this
range, all the distance warning segments
illuminate and you hear a warning signal. If
the obstacle is closer than the minimum
distance, the actual distance may no long-
er be indicated by the system.
Warning 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 above the left air
vents and center air vents in the dash-
board. The warning indicator for the rear
area is integrated in the rear trim.1Left side of the vehicle
1Right side of the vehicleEach warning indicator is divided into six
yellow and two red distance segments for
either side of the vehicle. The Parktronic
system is ready when the border around
the indicator is illuminated.
The position of the gear selector lever de-
termines which warning indicators will be
activated.Center
approx. 8 in (20 cm)
Corners
approx. 6 in (15 cm)
Gear selector
lever position
Warning indicator
D
Front area activated
R or N
Front and rear area
activated
P
Neither activated

238 Controls in detailDriving systemsAs your vehicle approaches an object, one
or more distance segments will illuminate,
depending on the distance. When the
eighth distance segment illuminates, you
have reached the minimum distance.

Front area: An intermittent acoustic
warning will sound as the first red dis-
tance segment illuminates and a con-
stant acoustic warning lasting a
maximum of two seconds will sound for
the second red distance segment. The
signal is canceled when the gear selec-
tor lever is placed in position P.


Rear area: An intermittent acoustic
warning will sound as the first red dis-
tance segment illuminates and a con-
stant acoustic warning lasting a
maximum of two seconds will sound for
the second red distance segment. The
signal is canceled when the gear selec-
tor lever is placed in position D orP.Switching the Parktronic system
on/off
The Parktronic system can be switched off
manually.
The Parktronic button is located in the up-
per part of the front center console.
1Indicator lamp
2Parktronic buttonSwitching off the Parktronic system

Press button 2.
Indicator lamp 1 comes on.
Switching on the Parktronic system

Press button 2 again.
Indicator lamp 1 goes out.iThe Parktronic system is automatically
switched on when the ignition is
switched on (
page 34).