warning MERCEDES-BENZ S CLASS 2007 Owners Manual

374 Controls in detailAutomatic transmissionHill start assist system
On uphill grades with a gradient angle of
more than 5°, the hill start assist system
maintains the pressure in the brake sys-
tem for approximately 1 second after you
have released the brake pedal. Therefore,
you can start off smoothly without the
vehicle moving immediately after releasing
the brake pedal.The hill start assist system is inactive


when starting off on a level road or
downhill grades


with the automatic transmission in
neutral position N


with the electric parking brake set


if the ESP
® has switched off due to a
malfunction
Automatic shift program
The program mode selector switch is used
to adjust

shift program


suspension tuning of Airmatic*
(page 402) or ABC* (
page 404)


engine control
Program mode selector switchC Comfort For comfort driving
S Sport For standard driving
The selected program mode CorS ap-
pears in the tachometer display.
Warning!
G
The hill start assist system is not designed
to function as a parking brake and does not
prevent the vehicle from moving when
parked on an incline.
Always set the electric parking brake in
addition to shifting to park positionP.

376 Controls in detailAutomatic transmission1Right button: upshift
2Left button: downshift
Downshifting

Briefly press button2 on the back of
the steering wheel.
The automatic transmission will shift to
the next lower gear as permitted by the
shift program. This action simulta-
neously limits the gear range of the au-
tomatic transmission (
page 372).
Upshifting

Briefly press button1 on the back of
the steering wheel.
The automatic transmission will shift to
the next higher gear as permitted by
the shift program. This action simulta-
neously extends the gear range of the
automatic transmission.Canceling gear range limit

Press and hold button1 on the back
of the steering wheel until the cipher
for the current gear range disappears
from the tachometer display
(page 372).
The automatic transmission will shift
from the current gear range directly to
gear rangeD.
Shifting into optimal gear range

Press and hold button2 on the back
of the steering wheel.
The automatic transmission will auto-
matically select the gear range suited
for optimal acceleration and decelera-
tion. This will involve shifting down one
or more gears.
i
You cannot shift with the steering wheel
gearshift buttons when the automatic transmis-
sion in positionP,N orR.Warning!
G
On slippery road surfaces, never downshift
in order to obtain braking action. This could
result in drive wheel slip and reduced
vehicle control. Your vehicle’s ABS will not
prevent this type of loss of control.
i
To avoid overrevving the engine when down-
shifting, the automatic transmission will not shift
to a lower gear if the engine’s max. speed would
be exceeded.
i
If you press on the accelerator when the en-
gine has reached its rpm limit, the automatic
transmission will upshift beyond any gear range
limit selected.

378 Controls in detailInstrument clusterA full view illustration of the instrument
cluster can be found in the “At a glance”
section of this manual (
page 28).
The instrument cluster is activated when
you:


open a door


switch on the ignition (
page 315)


switch on the exterior lamps
The language setting for the multifunction
display can be changed via COMAND
(
page 79).Adjusting instrument cluster and
COMAND display illumination
1To adjust instrument cluster illumina-
tion and multifunction display
2To adjust COMAND display

Brightening illumination: Turn
knob1 or2 clockwise.

Dimming illumination: Turn knob1
or2 counterclockwise.
Coolant temperature gauge
Warning!
G
No messages will be displayed if either the
instrument cluster or the multifunction dis-
play is inoperative.
As a result, you will not be able to see infor-
mation about your driving conditions, such
as speed or outside temperature, warning/
indicator lamps, malfunction/warning mes-
sages or the failure of any systems. Driving
characteristics may be impaired.
If you must continue to drive, please do so
with added caution. Visit an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center as soon as possible.i
The instrument cluster illumination is
dimmed or brightened automatically to suit am-
bient light conditions.
The instrument cluster illumination will also be
adjusted automatically when you switch on the
vehicle’s exterior lamps.
Warning!
G


Driving when your engine is overheated
can cause some fluids which may have
leaked into the engine compartment to
catch fire. You could be seriously
burned.


Steam from an overheated engine can
cause serious burns and can occur just
by opening the hood. Stay away from
the engine if you see or hear steam com-
ing from it.
Stop the vehicle in a safe location away from
other traffic. Turn off the engine, get out of
the vehicle and do not stand near the vehicle
until the engine has cooled down.

379 Controls in detail
Instrument cluster
Tachometer
The red marking on the tachometer de-
notes excessive engine speed.
To help protect the engine, the fuel supply
is interrupted if the engine is operated
within the red marking.
Outside temperature indicator
The outside temperature indicator is on
the bottom left-hand side of the instru-
ment cluster.
The temperature sensor is located in the
front bumper area. Due to its location, the
sensor can be affected by road or engine
heat during idling or slow driving. There-
fore, the accuracy of the displayed temper-
ature can only be verified by comparison to
a thermometer placed next to the sensor,
not by comparison to external displays
(e.g. bank signs, etc.).When moving the vehicle into colder ambi-
ent temperatures (e.g. when leaving your
garage), you will notice a delay before the
lower temperature is displayed.
A delay also occurs when ambient temper-
atures rise. This prevents inaccurate tem-
perature indications caused by heat
radiated from the engine during idling or
slow driving.
Fuel gauge
The fuel gauge is on the left-hand side of
the instrument cluster (
page 28). Once
the fuel level has fallen below the reserve
mark, the yellow segment indicator for the
fuel reserve comes on (page 550).
!
Excessive coolant temperature triggers a
warning in the multifunction display
(
page 588).
The engine should not be operated with the cool-
ant temperature above 248°F (120°C), i.e. in
the red zone of the coolant temperature gauge.
Doing so may cause serious engine damage
which is not covered by the Mercedes-Benz Lim-
ited Warranty.
i
During severe operating conditions,
e.g. stop-and-go traffic, the coolant temperature
may rise close to 248°F (120°C), i.e. close to
the red zone of the temperature gauge.
!
Avoid driving at excessive engine speeds, as
it may result in serious engine damage that is not
covered by the Mercedes-Benz Limited Warran-
ty.
Warning!
G
The outside temperature indicator is not de-
signed to serve as an ice-warning device and
is therefore unsuitable for that purpose.
Indicated temperatures just above the freez-
ing point do not guarantee that the road sur-
face is free of ice. The road may still be icy,
especially in wooded areas or on bridges.

380 Controls in detailDriving systemsThe driving systems of your vehicle are de-
scribed on the following pages:

Cruise control and DISTRONIC Plus*,
with which the vehicle can maintain a
preset speed.


Distance warning function* (only avail-
able with DISTRONIC Plus*), which
warns of a stationary obstacle or slow-
er moving vehicle that you are closing
on to quickly.


Airmatic (S 550 only) and ABC* adjust
the vehicle suspension characteristics
automatically and control the vehicle
level.


Parktronic* and Park Assist*, which
serve as a parking assistant.


Dynamic Rear View Monitor* is an
electronic and visual parking aid.


Night View Assist* illuminates the road
with infrared light in addition to the nor-
mal headlamps.For information on the ABS, Adaptive
Brake, BAS, BAS Plus*, EBP, and ESP
® driv-
ing systems, see “Driving safety systems”
(
page 69).
Cruise control
Cruise control automatically maintains the
speed you set for your vehicle.
The use of cruise control is recommended
for driving at a constant speed for extend-
ed periods of time. You can set or resume
cruise control at any speed over 20 mph
(30 km/h).
The cruise control function is operated by
means of the cruise control lever.
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’s speed
and for safe brake operation.
Only use the 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.

381 Controls in detail
Driving systems
1Setting current or higher speed
Adjustment in 1 mph increments (to re-
sistance point) or 5 mph increments
(past resistance point)
(Canada: 1 km/h or 10 km/h)
2Setting current or lower speed
Adjustment in 1 mph increments (to re-
sistance point) or 5 mph increments
(past resistance point)
(Canada: 1 km/h or 10 km/h)
3Cancel cruise control
4Resume to last set speedActivating cruise control
You can activate cruise control if the vehi-
cle speed is above 20 mph (30 km/h).
In the following cases you cannot activate
cruise control:


when you brake


the vehicle is secured with the electric
parking brake


if the automatic transmission is set to
positionP, R, or N


if ESP
® is switched off
Setting current speed

Accelerate or decelerate to the desired
speed.

Briefly lift the cruise control lever in
direction of arrow1 or depress in
direction of arrow2.
The current speed is set.
Warning!
G
Cruise control brakes automatically so that
the set speed is not exceeded. The brake
pedal depresses when cruise control engag-
es the brakes.
Keep driver’s foot area clear at all times, in-
cluding the area under the brake pedal. Ob-
jects stored in this area may impair pedal
movement which could interfere with the
braking ability of the cruise control system.
Do not place your foot under the brake pedal
– your foot could become caught.
Keep in mind that cruise control is a conve-
nience system designed to assist the driver
during vehicle operation. The driver is and
must always remain responsible for the ve-
hicle’s speed and for safe brake operation.


382 Controls in detailDriving systems
Remove your foot from the accelerator
pedal.
Cruise control is activated.

The last set speed appears in the
multifunction display for approxi-
mately 5 seconds.


The corresponding speedometer
segments from the selected speed
to the vehicle maximum speed in
the multifunction display are illumi-
nated.


The set speed is shown by a triangle
in the speedometer.Canceling cruise control
There are several ways to cancel cruise
control:

Step on the brake pedal.
Cruise control is canceled. The last
speed set is stored for later use.
or

Briefly push the cruise control lever in
direction of arrow3.
Cruise control is canceled. The last
speed set is stored for later use.
i
On uphill grades, cruise control may not be
able to maintain the set speed. Once the grade
eases, the set speed will be resumed.
On downhill grades, cruise control maintains the
set speed with braking from the vehicle’s braking
system. In addition, on longer downhill grades
the automatic transmission will automatically
downshift.
i
Upon switching off the engine, the last
stored speed is deleted.
i
Cruise control switches off automatically
when


you step on the brake pedal


the vehicle is secured with the parking brake
In this case the segments in the multifunc-
tion display go out and no warning sounds.


the vehicle speed is below 20 mph
(30 km/h)


the ESP
® is in operation or switched off with
the ESP® switch (
page 73)


you set the automatic transmission toN
while driving
The segments in the multifunction display go out,
and an acoustic warning sounds.
!
Setting the automatic transmission toN
while driving cancels cruise control. However,
the automatic transmission should not be set
toN while driving except to coast when the vehi-
cle is in danger of skidding (e.g. on icy roads).
i
Depressing the accelerator pedal does not
deactivate cruise control. After brief accelera-
tion (e.g. for passing), cruise control will resume
the last speed set.


383 Controls in detail
Driving systems
Setting a higher speed
You can increase the set speed in two
ways.
Adjustment in 1 mph (Canada: 1 km/h)
increments
Briefly lift the cruise control lever to the
resistance point in direction of
arrow1 (
page 381).

Release the cruise control lever.
The vehicle set speed increases in in-
crements 1 mph (Canada: 1 km / h).Adjustment in 5 mph
(Canada: 10 km/h) increments

Briefly lift the cruise control lever past
the resistance point in direction of
arrow1 (
page 381).

Release the cruise control lever.
The vehicle set speed increases in in-
crements 5 mph (Canada: 10 km / h).
Setting a lower speed
You can reduce the set speed in two ways.
Adjustment in 1 mph (Canada: 1 km/h)
increments

Briefly press the cruise control lever
down to the resistance point in direc-
tion of arrow2 (
page 381).
i
The set speed value is increased in 1 mph
(Canada: 1 km/h) increments each time you lift
the cruise control lever up to the resistance
point.
Warning!
G
You can increase the vehicle set speed in
5 mph (Canada 10 km/h) increments. When
using this feature, keep in mind that it may
take a brief moment until the vehicle has
reached the set speed.
Increase the vehicle set speed to a value
that the prevailing road conditions permit.
Otherwise, sudden and unexpected acceler-
ation of the vehicle could cause an accident
and/or serious injury to you and others.i
The set speed value is increased in 5 mph
(Canada: 10 km/h) increments each time you lift
the cruise control lever up past the resistance
point.
i
The new speed is set and the vehicle will ac-
celerate. Keep in mind that it may take a brief
moment until the vehicle has reached the set
speed.
i
When you use the cruise control lever to de-
celerate, the brake system will automatically
brake the vehicle if the engine’s braking power
does not brake the vehicle sufficiently.
i
The set speed value is decreased in 1 mph
(Canada: 1 km/h) increments each time you
press the cruise control lever down to the resis-
tance point.


384 Controls in detailDriving systems
Release the cruise control lever.
The vehicle set speed decreases in in-
crements 1 mph (Canada: 1 km / h).
Adjustment in 5 mph
(Canada: 10 km/h) increments

Briefly press the cruise control lever
down past the resistance point in
direction of arrow2 (
page 381).

Release the cruise control lever.
The vehicle set speed decreases in in-
crements 5 mph (Canada: 10 km / h).
Setting to last stored speed
(“Resume” function)

Briefly pull the cruise control lever in
the direction of arrow4 (
page 381).
The cruise control resumes to the last
set speed or if no speed is stored, it will
set and store the current speed.

Remove your foot from the accelerator
pedal.
The last set speed appears in the multi-
function display for approximately
5 seconds, and the corresponding speed-
ometer segments from the selected speed
to the vehicle maximum speed are illumi-
nated.
Warning!
G
You can decrease the vehicle set speed in
5 mph (Canada 10 km/h) increments. When
using this feature, keep in mind that it may
take a brief moment until the vehicle has
reached the set speed.
Decelerate the vehicle set speed to a value
that the prevailing road conditions permit.
Otherwise, sudden and unexpected deceler-
ation of the vehicle could cause an accident
and/or serious injury to you and others.i
The set speed value is decreased in 5 mph
(Canada: 10 km/h) increments each time you
press the cruise control lever down past the re-
sistance point.
i
The new speed is set and the vehicle will de-
celerate. Keep in mind that it may take a brief
moment until the vehicle has reached the set
speed.Warning!
G
The set speed stored in memory should only
be set again if prevailing road conditions
permit. Possible acceleration or decelera-
tion differences arising from returning to the
preset speed could cause an accident
and/or serious injury to you and others.
i
The last stored set speed is deleted when
the engine is turned off.


385 Controls in detail
Driving systems
DISTRONIC Plus*
When activated, the DISTRONIC Plus adap-
tive cruise control system increases driv-
ing convenience afforded by the cruise
control during travel on expressways and
other major roads.

If the DISTRONIC Plus distance sensor
detects a slower moving vehicle direct-
ly ahead, your vehicle speed will be re-
duced so that you follow that vehicle at
a preset distance.


If there is no vehicle directly ahead of
you, DISTRONIC Plus will function in
the same way as cruise control
(page 380).
DISTRONIC Plus functions within a speed
range of 0 to 124 mph (0 to 200 km/h).
Warning!
G
DISTRONIC Plus is a convenience system.
Its speed adjustment reduction capability is
intended to make cruise control more effec-
tive and usable when traffic speeds vary. It
is not however, intended to, nor does it, re-
place the need for extreme care. The re-
sponsibility for the vehicle speed and the
distance to the vehicle ahead, including
most importantly brake operation to assure
safe stopping distance, always rests with
the driver.
DISTRONIC Plus cannot take street and traf-
fic conditions into account.
Complex driving situations are not always
fully recognized by DISTRONIC Plus. This
could result in wrong or missing distance
warnings.
Warning!
G
The DISTRONIC Plus adaptive cruise control
is no substitute for active driving involve-
ment. It does not react to pedestrians or sta-
tionary objects, nor does it recognize or
predict the curvature and lane layout or the
movement of vehicles ahead.
DISTRONIC Plus can only apply a maximum
of 40% of the vehicle’s braking power.
DISTRONIC Plus may not detect narrow ve-
hicles possibly driving in front of you, such
as motorcycles and vehicles driving in an
offset formation.
It is the driver’s responsibility at all times to
be attentive to road, weather and traffic con-
ditions and to provide the steering, braking
and other driving inputs necessary to retain
control of the vehicle.
High-frequency sources such as toll sta-
tions, speed measuring systems etc. can
cause the DISTRONIC Plus system to tem-
porarily cease functioning properly.