traction control MERCEDES-BENZ S-Class 2014 W222 Owner's Manual

1, 2, 3 ...
115 V socket ...................................... 329
12 V socket see Sockets
360° camera
Cleaning .........................................3 58
Function/notes ............................. 230
4ETS
see ETS/4ETS (Electronic
Traction System)
4MATIC (permanent four-wheel
drive) .................................................. 218A
ABS (Anti-lock Braking System) Display message ............................ 266
Function/notes ................................ 71
Important safety notes ....................71
Warning lamp ................................. 304
Accident
Automatic measures after an
accident ........................................... 57
Activating/deactivating cooling
with air dehumidification .................156
Activating/deactivating Night
View Assist Plus
With spotlight function ................... 238
Active Blind Spot Assist
Activating/deactivating (on-
board computer) ............................ 261
Display message ............................ 290
Function/informatio n.................... 240
Active Body Control (ABC)
Display message ............................ 288
Function/notes ............................. 214
Active Lane Keeping Assist
Activating/deactivating (on-
board computer) ............................ 262
Display message ............................ 289
Function/informatio n.................... 243
Active multicontour seat ..................125
Active Parking Assist Detecting parking spaces ..............222
Display message ............................ 290
Exiting a parking space ..................224
Function/notes ............................. 221Important safety notes
..................221
Parking .......................................... 223
ADAPTIVE BRAKE ................................. 78
Adaptive Brake Assist Function/notes ................................ 75
Adaptive Damping System (ADS) ..... 217
Adaptive Highbeam Assist Display message ............................ 283
Function/notes ............................. 141
Switching on/off ........................... 142
Adaptive Highbeam Assist PLUS
Display messages ..........................283
Function/notes ............................. 143
Switching on/off ........................... 144
Additional speedometer ...................263
Additives (engine oil) ........................426
Air bags Belt bags .......................................... 63
Cushion air bag s.............................. 51
Display message ............................ 279
Front air bag (driver, front
passenger) ....................................... 48
Important safety notes ....................46
Knee bag .......................................... 49
PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF
indicator lamp .................................. 51
Safety guidelines ............................. 45
Side impact air bag ..........................49
Window curtain air bag ....................50
Air-conditioning system
see Climate control
AIRMATIC
Display message ............................ 287
Function/notes ............................. 216
Air vents
Glove box ...................................... .167
Important safety notes ..................166
Rear ............................................... 167
Setting ........................................... 166
Setting the center air vents ...........166
Setting the side air vents ...............167
Alarm
ATA (Anti-Theft Alarm system) .........81
Switching off (ATA) ..........................81
Switching the function on/off
(ATA) ................................................ 81
Alarm system
see ATA (Anti-Theft Alarm system) 4
Index

ETS/4ETS (Electronic Traction
System)
........................................... 76
Important safety information ...........70
Overview .......................................... 70
PRE-SAFE ®
Brake ............................ .78
STEER CONTROL ............................. 80
Driving systems
360°camera .................................. 230
Active Blind Spot Assist .................240
Active Body Control .......................214
Active Lane Keeping Assist ............243
Active Parking Assist .....................221
AIRMATIC ...................................... 216
ATTENTION ASSIST ........................234
Cruise control ................................ 199
Display message ............................ 287
DISTRONIC PLUS ........................... 201
DISTRONIC PLUS with Steering
Assist ............................................. 210
Driving Assistance package ...........240
HOLD function ............................... 212
Night View Assist Plus ...................236
PARKTRONIC ................................. 218
Rear view camera .......................... 226
Driving tips
AMG ceramic brakes .....................197
Automatic transmission .................182
Brakes ........................................... 196
Break-in period .............................. 170
DISTRONIC PLUS ........................... 208
Downhill gradient ........................... 196
Drinking and driving .......................194
Driving abroad ............................... 138
Driving in winter ............................ .198
Driving on flooded roads ................198
Driving on wet roads ......................198
Exhaust check ............................... 194
Fuel ................................................ 194
General .......................................... 193
Hydroplaning ................................. 198
Icy road surfaces ........................... 198
Limited braking efficiency on
salted road s................................... 196
Snow chains .................................. 387
Symmetrical low bea m.................. 138
The first 1000 miles (1500 km) .....170
Wet road surface ........................... 196DVD video
Operating (on-board computer) .....256 E
EASY-ENTRY feature Function/notes ............................. 129
EASY-EXIT feature
Function/notes ............................. 129
EBD (electronic brake force
distribution)
Display message ............................ 269
Function/notes ................................ 78
ECO display
Function/notes ............................. 195
On-board computer .......................251
ECO start/stop function
Automatic engine start ..................176
Automatic engine switch-off ..........175
Climate control .............................. 155
Deactivating/activating .................177
General information .......................175
Important safety notes ..................175
Introduction ................................... 175
Electronic Stability Program
see ESP ®
(Electronic Stability Program)
Emergency
Automatic measures after an
accident ........................................... 57
Emergency release
Driver's door .................................... 92
Trunk ............................................... 98
Vehicle ............................................. 92
Emergency Tensioning Devices
Function .......................................... .62
Safety guideline s............................. 45
Emissions control
Service and warranty information ....23
Engine
Check Engine warning lamp ........... 308
Display message ............................ 283
ECO start/stop function ................175
Engine number ............................... 423
Irregular running ............................ 178
Jump-starting ................................. 373
Starting problems ..........................178
Starting the engine with the
SmartKey ....................................... 174 Index
9

of reacting to moving objects that have
already been recognized as such at least once
over the period of observation. Adaptive
Brake Assist does not react to stationary
obstacles. ESP
®
(Electronic Stability Program)
General notes i
Observe the "Important safety notes"
section (Y page 70).
ESP ®
monitors driving stability and traction,
i.e. power transmission between the tires and
the road surface.
If ESP ®
detects that the vehicle is deviating
from the direction desired by the driver, one
or more wheels are braked to stabilize the
vehicle. The engine output is also modified to
keep the vehicle on the desired course within
physical limits. ESP ®
assists the driver when
pulling away on wet or slippery roads. ESP ®
can also stabilize the vehicle during braking.
ETS/4ETS (Electronic Traction System) i
Observe the "Important safety notes"
section (Y page 70).
ETS/4ETS traction control is part of ESP ®
.
Traction control brakes the drive wheels
individually if they spin. This enables you to
pull away and accelerate on slippery surfaces,
for example if the road surface is slippery on
one side. In addition, more drive torque is
transferred to the wheel or wheels with
traction.
Traction control remains active, even if you
deactivate ESP ®
.
Important safety notes G
WARNING
If ESP ®
is malfunctioning, ESP ®
is unable to
stabilize the vehicle. Additionally, further
driving safety systems are deactivated. This
increases the risk of skidding and an accident. Drive on carefully. Have ESP
®
checked at a
qualified specialist workshop.
! Vehicles with 4MATIC: switch off the
ignition when the electric parking brake is
being tested on a brake dynamometer.
Application of the brakes by ESP ®
may
otherwise destroy the brake system.
Vehicles without 4MATIC: observe the notes
on ESP ®
(Y page 377) when towing the
vehicle with a raised rear axle.
ESP ®
is deactivated if the 00BBwarning lamp
in the instrument cluster lights up
continuously when the engine is running.
If the 00E5 warning lamp lights up
continuously, ESP ®
is not available due to a
malfunction.
Observe the information on warning lamps
(Y page 305) and display messages which
may be shown in the instrument cluster
(Y page 266).
i Only use wheels with the recommended
tire sizes. Only then will ESP ®
function
properly.
Characteristics of ESP ® General information
If the
00E5 ESP warning lamp goes out before
beginning the journey, ESP ®
is automatically
active.
If ESP ®
intervenes, the 00E5ESP®
warning
lamp flashes in the instrument cluster.
If ESP ®
intervenes:
X Do not deactivate ESP ®
under any
circumstances.
X Only depress the accelerator pedal as far
as necessary when pulling away.
X Adapt your driving style to suit the
prevailing road and weather conditions. 76
Driving safety systemsSafety

ECO start/stop function
The ECO start/stop function switches the
engine off automatically when the vehicle
stops moving. The engine starts
automatically when the driver wants to pull
away again. ESP ®
remains in its previously
selected status. Example:if ESP®
was
deactivated before the engine was switched
off, ESP ®
remains deactivated when the
engine is switched on again.
Deactivating/activating ESP ®Important safety notes
i
Observe the "Important safety notes"
section (Y page 70).
You can select between the following states
of ESP ®
:
R ESP ®
is activated.
R ESP ®
is deactivated. G
WARNING
If you deactivate ESP ®
, ESP ®
no longer
stabilizes the vehicle. There is an increased
risk of skidding and an accident.
Only deactivate ESP ®
in the situations
described in the following.
It may be best to deactivate ESP ®
in the
following situations:
R when using snow chains
R in deep snow
R on sand or gravel
i Activate ESP ®
as soon as the situations
described above no longer apply. ESP ®
will
otherwise not be able to stabilize the
vehicle if the vehicle starts to skid or a
wheel starts to spin.
! Avoid spinning the driven wheels for an
extended period with ESP ®
deactivated.
You could otherwise damage the drivetrain. Deactivating/activating ESP
®
You can deactivate or activate ESP ®
via the
on-board computer.
X To deactivate:(Y page 77).
The 00BB ESP®
OFF warning lamp in the
instrument cluster lights up.
X To activate: (Ypage 77).
The 00BB ESP®
OFF warning lamp in the
instrument cluster goes out.
Characteristics when ESP ®
is deactivated
If ESP ®
is deactivated and one or more wheels
start to spin, the 00E5ESP®
warning lamp in
the instrument cluster flashes. In such
situations, ESP ®
will not stabilize the vehicle.
If you deactivate ESP ®
:
R ESP ®
no longer improves driving stability.
R engine torque is no longer limited and the
drive wheels are able to spin.
The spinning of the wheels results in a
cutting action for better traction on loose
surfaces.
R traction control is still activated.
R ESP ®
still provides support when you
brake.
Crosswind driving assistance General information
Vehicles with MAGIC BODY CONTROL:
information on stabilizing the vehicle in the
event of crosswind (Y
page 213).
Strong crosswinds can cause your vehicle to
deviate from a straight course. The crosswind
driving assistance function integrated into
ESP ®
significantly reduces these effects.
ESP ®
intervenes automatically according to
the direction and intensity of the crosswinds
affecting your vehicle.
ESP stabilities the vehicle with braking
interventions to assist you in keeping the
vehicle in the lane.
Crosswind driving assistance is active at
vehicle speeds above 50 mph (80 km/h) Driving safety systems
77Safety Z

Have your vehicle winterproofed at a qualified
specialist workshop at the onset of winter.
Drive particularly carefully on slippery road
surfaces. Avoid sudden acceleration, steering
and braking maneuvers. Do not use the cruise
control or DISTRONIC PLUS.
If the vehicle threatens to skid or cannot be
stopped when moving at low speed:
X Shift the transmission to position N.
The outside temperature indicator is not
designed to serve as an ice-warning device
and is therefore unsuitable for that purpose.
Changes in the outside temperature are
displayed after a short delay.
Indicated temperatures just above the
freezing point do not guarantee that the road
surface is free of ice. The road may still be icy,
especially in wooded areas or on bridges.
You should pay special attention to road
conditions when temperatures are around
freezing point.
For more information on driving with snow
chains, see (Y page 387).
For more information on driving with summer
tires, see (Y page 386).
Observe the notes in the "Winter operation"
section (Y page 386). Driving systems
Mercedes-Benz Intelligent Drive
Mercedes-Benz Intelligent Drive stands for
innovative driver assistance and safety
systems which enhance comfort and support
the driver in critical situations. With these
intelligent co-ordinated systems Mercedes-
Benz has set a milestone on the path towards
autonomous driving.
Mercedes-Benz Intelligent Drive embraces all
elements of active and passive safety in one
well thought out system – for the safety of the
vehicle occupants and that of other road
users. Further information on driving safety systems
(Y page 70). Cruise control
Important safety notes Cruise control maintains a constant road
speed for you. It brakes automatically in order
to avoid exceeding the set speed. Change into
a lower gear in good time on long and steep
downhill gradients. This is especially
important if the vehicle is laden. By doing so,
you will make use of the braking effect of the
engine. This relieves the load on the brake
system and prevents the brakes from
overheating and wearing too quickly.
Use cruise control only if road and traffic
conditions make it appropriate to maintain a
steady speed for a prolonged period. You can
store any road speed above 20 mph
(30 km/h).
If you fail to adapt your driving style, cruise
control can neither reduce the risk of an
accident nor override the laws of physics.
Cruise control cannot take into account the
road, traffic and weather conditions. Cruise
control is only an aid. You are responsible for
the distance to the vehicle in front, for vehicle
speed, for braking in good time and for
staying in your lane.
Do not use cruise control:
R in road and traffic conditions which do not
allow you to maintain a constant speed e.g.
in heavy traffic or on winding roads
R on slippery road surfaces. Braking or
accelerating could cause the drive wheels
to lose traction and the vehicle could then
skid
R when there is poor visibility, e.g. due to fog,
heavy rain or snow
If there is a change of drivers, advise the new
driver of the speed stored. Driving systems
199Driving and parking Z

!
If DISTRONIC PLUS or the HOLD function
is activated, the vehicle brakes
automatically in certain situations. To
prevent damage to the vehicle, deactivate
DISTRONIC PLUS and the HOLD function in
the following or other similar situations:
R when towing the vehicle
R in the car wash
If you fail to adapt your driving style,
DISTRONIC PLUS can neither reduce the risk
of accident nor override the laws of physics.
DISTRONIC PLUS cannot take into account
the road, traffic and weather conditions.
DISTRONIC PLUS is only an aid. You are
responsible for the distance to the vehicle in
front, for vehicle speed, for braking in good
time and for staying in your lane.
Do not use DISTRONIC PLUS:
R in road and traffic conditions which do not
allow you to maintain a constant speed e.g.
in heavy traffic or on winding roads
R on slippery road surfaces. Braking or
accelerating could cause the drive wheels
to lose traction and the vehicle could then
skid
R when there is poor visibility, e.g. due to fog,
heavy rain or snow
DISTRONIC PLUS may not detect narrow
vehicles driving in front, e.g. motorcycles, or
vehicles driving on a different line.
In particular, the detection of obstacles can
be impaired if:
R dirt on the sensors or anything else
covering the sensors
R snow or heavy rain
R interference by other radar sources
R strong radar reflections, for example, in
parking garages
If DISTRONIC PLUS no longer detects a
vehicle in front, DISTRONIC PLUS may
unexpectedly accelerate the vehicle to the
stored speed. This speed may:
R
be too high if you are driving in a filter lane
or an exit lane
R be so high in the right lane that you pass
vehicles driving on the left (left-hand drive
countries)
R be so high in the left lane that you pass
vehicles driving on the right (right-hand
drive countries)
If there is a change of drivers, advise the new
driver of the speed stored.
Cruise control lever 0043
To activate or increase speed
0044 To activate or reduce speed
0087 To deactivate DISTRONIC PLUS
0085 To activate at the current speed/last
stored speed
0083 To set the specified minimum distance
Activating DISTRONIC PLUS Activation conditions
In order to activate DISTRONIC PLUS, the
following conditions must be fulfilled:
R
the engine must be started. It may take up
to two minutes after pulling away before
DISTRONIC PLUS is operational.
R the electric parking brake must be
released.
R ESP ®
must be active, but not intervening.
R Active Parking Assist must not be
activated. Driving systems
203Driving and parking Z

Display messages Possible causes/consequences and
0050
0050Solutions Check Tires
Check Tires The tire pressure in one or more tires has dropped significantly.
The wheel position is displayed in the multifunction display.
A warning tone also sounds.
G WARNING
With tire pressures which are too low, there is a risk of the
following hazards:
R they may burst, especially as the load and vehicle speed
increase.
R they may wear excessively and/or unevenly, which may greatly
impair tire traction.
R the driving characteristics, as well as steering and braking, may
be greatly impaired.
There is a risk of an accident.
X Stop the vehicle without making any sudden steering or braking
maneuvers. Pay attention to the traffic conditions as you do so.
X Secure the vehicle against rolling away ( Ypage 190).
X Check the tires and, if necessary, follow the instructions for a
flat tire (Y page 365).
X Check the tire pressure (Y page 391).
X If necessary, correct the tire pressure. Warning Tire Warning Tire
Malfunction Malfunction The tire pressure in one or more tires has dropped suddenly. The
wheel position is shown in the multifunction display.
G WARNING
If you drive with a flat tire, there is a risk of the following hazards:
R a flat tire affects the ability to steer or brake the vehicle.
R You could lose control of the vehicle.
R continued driving with a flat tire will cause excessive heat build-
up and possibly a fire.
There is a risk of an accident.
X Stop the vehicle without making any sudden steering or braking
maneuvers. Pay attention to the traffic conditions as you do so.
X Secure the vehicle against rolling away ( Ypage 190).
X Check the tires and, if necessary, follow the instructions for a
flat tire (Y page 365). 296
Display
messagesOn-board computer and displays

Warning/
indicator
lamp 0051
0051 Signal type
Possible causes/consequences and 0050
0050 Solutions 00E5
0051
The yellow ESP ®
warning lamp flashes while the vehicle is in motion.
ESP ®
or traction control has intervened because there is a risk of skidding or
at least one wheel has started to spin.
Cruise control or DISTRONIC PLUS is deactivated.
X When pulling away, only depress the accelerator pedal as far as necessary.
X Ease off the accelerator pedal while the vehicle is in motion.
X Adapt your driving style to suit the road and weather conditions.
X Do not deactivate ESP ®
.
In rare cases (Y page 76), it may be best to deactivate ESP ®
. 00E5
0051
The yellow ESP ®
warning lamp is lit while the engine is running.
ESP ®
, BAS, BAS PLUS, COLLISION PREVENTION ASSIST, PRE-SAFE ®
,
PRE-SAFE ®
PLUS, PRE-SAFE ®
Brake, the HOLD function, hill start assist and
crosswind driving assistance are not available due to a malfunction.
ATTENTION ASSIST is deactivated.
G WARNING
The brake system continues to function normally, but without the functions
listed above.
The braking distance in an emergency braking situation can thus increase.
If ESP ®
is not operational, ESP ®
is unable to stabilize the vehicle.
There is an increased risk of skidding and an accident.
X Observe the additional display messages in the multifunction display.
X Drive on carefully.
X Visit a qualified specialist workshop. 00BB
0051
The yellow ESP ®
OFF warning lamp is lit while the engine is running.
ESP ®
is deactivated.
G WARNING
If ESP ®
is switched off, ESP ®
is unable to stabilize the vehicle.
There is an increased risk of skidding and an accident.
X Reactivate ESP ®
.
In rare cases (Y page 76), it may be best to deactivate ESP ®
.
X Adapt your driving style to suit the road and weather conditions.
If ESP ®
cannot be activated:
X Drive on carefully.
X Have ESP ®
checked at a qualified specialist workshop. 306
Warning and indicator lamps in the instrument clusterOn-board computer and displays

and wheels checked at a qualified specialist
workshop.
When parking your vehicle, make sure that
the tires do not get deformed by the curb or
other obstacles. If it is necessary to drive over
curbs, speed humps or similar elevations, try
to do so slowly and at an obtuse angle.
Otherwise, the tires, particularly the
sidewalls, may be damaged. Regular checking of wheels and tires
G
WARNING
Damaged tires can cause tire inflation
pressure loss. As a result, you could lose
control of your vehicle. There is a risk of
accident.
Check the tires regularly for signs of damage
and replace any damaged tires immediately.
Regularly check the wheels and tires of your
vehicle for damage at least once a month, as
well as after driving off-road or on rough
roads. Damaged wheels can cause a loss of
tire pressure. Pay particular attention to
damage such as:
R cuts in the tires
R punctures
R tears in the tires
R bulges on tires
R deformation or severe corrosion on wheels
Regularly check the tire tread depth and the
condition of the tread across the whole width
of the tire (Y page 385). If necessary, turn
the front wheels to full lock in order to inspect
the inner side of the tire surface.
All wheels must have a valve cap to protect
the valve against dirt and moisture. Do not
mount anything onto the valve other than the
standard valve cap or other valve caps
approved by Mercedes-Benz for your vehicle.
Do not use any other valve caps or systems,
e.g. tire pressure monitoring systems. Regularly check the pressure of all the tires
particularly prior to long trips. Adjust the tire
pressure as necessary (Y
page 387).
The service life of tires depends, among other
things, on the following factors:
R driving style
R tire pressure
R distance covered Important safety notes on the tire
tread
G
WARNING
Insufficient tire tread will reduce tire traction.
The tire is no longer able to dissipate water.
This means that on wet road surfaces, the risk
of hydroplaning increases, in particular where
speed is not adapted to suit the driving
conditions. There is a risk of accident.
If the tire pressure is too high or too low, tires
may exhibit different levels of wear at
different locations on the tire tread. Thus, you
should regularly check the tread depth and
the condition of the tread across the entire
width of all tires.
Minimum tire tread depth for:
R Summer tires: 00CEin (3 mm)
R M+S tires: 00CFin (4 mm)
For safety reasons, replace the tires before
the legally prescribed limit for the minimum
tire tread depth is reached. Bar indicator
0043for tread wear is integrated
into the tire tread. Operation
385Wheels and tires Z

been developed specifically for driving in
snow.
Use M+S tires of the same make and tread on
all wheels to maintain safe handling
characteristics.
Always observe the maximum permissible
speed specified for the M+S tires you have
mounted.
When you have mounted M+S tires:
X Check the tire pressures (Y page 390).
X Restart the tire pressure monitor
(Y page 393). Snow chains
G
WARNING
If snow chains are installed to the front
wheels, they may drag against the vehicle
body or chassis components. This could
cause damage to the vehicle or the tires.
There is a risk of an accident.
To avoid hazardous situations:
R never install snow chains to the front
wheels
R always install snow chains in pairs to the
rear wheels.
For safety reasons, Mercedes-Benz
recommends that you only use snow chains
that have been specially approved for your
vehicle by Mercedes-Benz, or are of a
corresponding standard of quality.
If you intend to mount snow chains, please
bear the following points in mind:
R Snow chains may not be mounted on all
wheel/tire combinations. Permissible
wheel-tire combinations (Y page 413).
R Only use snow chains when driving on
roads completely covered by snow.
Remove the snow chains as soon as
possible when you come to a road that is
not snow-covered.
R Local regulations may restrict the use of
snow chains. Observe the appropriate regulations if you wish to mount snow
chains.
R Do not exceed the maximum permissible
speed of 30 mph (50 km/h).
R On vehicles with AIRMATIC (Y page 216)or
Active Body Control (ABC) (Y page 214),
you must drive at raised vehicle level if
snow chains have been installed.
i You may wish to deactivate
ESP ®
(Y page 77) when pulling away with
snow chains installed. You can thereby
allow the wheels to spin in a controlled
manner, achieving an increased driving
force (cutting action). Tire pressure
Tire pressure specifications
Important safety notes G
WARNING
Underinflated or overinflated tires pose the
following risks:
R the tires may burst, especially as the load
and vehicle speed increase.
R the tires may wear excessively and/or
unevenly, which may greatly impair tire
traction.
R the driving characteristics, as well as
steering and braking, may be greatly
impaired.
There is a risk of an accident.
Follow recommended tire inflation pressures
and check the pressure of all the tires
including the spare wheel:
R monthly, at least
R if the load changes
R before beginning a long journey
R under different operating conditions, e.g.
off-road driving
If necessary, correct the tire pressure.
i The specifications on the sample Tire and
Loading Information placard and tire Tire pressure
387Wheels and tires Z