suspension MERCEDES-BENZ S-Class 2015 W222 Owner's Manual

Problem (malfunction) ..................... 95
Starting the engine ........................ 192
Snow chains ...................................... 445
Sockets
Center console .............................. 384
General notes ................................ 384
Rear compartment .........................3 85
Trunk ............................................. 385
Special seat belt retractor .................. 69
Specialist workshop ............................ 29
Speed, controlling
see Cruise control
Speedometer
Activating/deactivating the addi-
tional speedometer ........................ 313
Digital ............................................ 301
In the Instrument cluster ................. 35
Selecting the unit of measure-
ment .............................................. 312
see Instrument cluster
Standing lamps
Display message ............................ 335
Switching on/off ........................... 151
Start/Stop button
Removing ....................................... 191
Starting the engine ........................ 192
Start/stop function
see ECO start/stop function
Starting (engine) ................................ 191
STEER CONTROL .................................. 86
Steering
Warning lamps ............................... 369
Steering (display message) .............. 353
Steering Assist and Stop&Go Pilot
(DISTRONIC PLUS)
Display message ............................ 347
Steering assistant STEER CON-
TROL
see STEER CONTROL
Steering wheel
Adjusting (electrically) ................... 137
Button overview ............................... 37
Buttons (on-board computer) ......... 295
Cleaning ......................................... 418
EASY ENTRY/EXIT feature ............. 139
Important safety notes .................. 137
Paddle shifters ............................... 201 Steering wheel heating .................. 138
Storing settings (memory func-
tion) ............................................... 144
Steering wheel heating
Problem (malfunction) ................... 139
Switching on/off ........................... 138
Steering wheel paddle shifters ........201
Stowage areas ................................... 372
Stowage compartments
Armrest (under) ............................ .374
Center console .............................. 373
Center console in rear compart-
ment .............................................. 375
Cup holders ................................... 378
Door ............................................... 374
Eyeglasses compartment .............. .373
Glove box ....................................... 373
Important safety information ......... 372
Rear ............................................... 374
Rear seat backrest ......................... 375
Stowage net ................................... 376
Under driver's seat/front-
passenger sea t.............................. 374
Stowage net ....................................... 376
Stowage space
Folding table .................................. 376
Parcel net retainers ....................... 376
Securing a load .............................. 376
Stowage well beneath the trunk
floor .................................................... 377
Summer tires
In winter ........................................ 444
Sun visor ............................................ 380
Suspension tuning
Active Body Control ABC ............... 244
AIRMATIC ...................................... 247
SETUP (on-board computer) .......... 314
Switching air-recirculation mode
on/off ................................................. 177 T
Tachometer ........................................ 294
Tail lamps
Display message ............................ 334
see Lights
Tank content
Fuel gauge ....................................... 35 Index
19

Center console
Function Page
:
Switches COMAND on/off
(see the separate Opera-
tor's Manual) ;
Adjusts the volume/mute
(see the separate Opera-
tor's Manual) =
èECO start/stop func-
tion 194
?
Touchpad (see the separate
Operator's Manual) Telephone keypad (see the
separate operating instruc-
tions) A
É
Sets the vehicle level 244,
246 Selects the operating mode
(PLUG-IN HYBRID vehicles) 280
B
Adjusts the suspension set-
tings 244,
246 Function Page
C
Û
Selects the drive pro-
gram/program selector
button 200
Ñ
Selects the drive pro-
gram/program selector
button (AMG vehicles) 200
Selects automatic drive
programs E, S and E+
(PLUG-IN HYBRID vehicles)
285
D
Back button (see the sepa-
rate Operator's Manual)
E
Seat adjustment button
(see the separate operating
instructions) F
Navigation button (see the
separate Operator's Man-
ual) G
Radio button (see the sep-
arate Operator's Manual)
H
£
Hazard warning
lamps 152
I
Media button (see the sep-
arate Operator's Manual) Center console
39At a glance

Activating the HOLD function
X
Make sure that the activation conditions
are met.
X Depress the brake pedal.
X Quickly depress the brake pedal further
until :appears in the multifunction dis-
play.
The HOLD function is activated. You can
release the brake pedal.
i If depressing the brake pedal the first
time does not activate the HOLD function,
wait briefly and then try again.
Deactivating the HOLD function The HOLD function is deactivated automati-
cally if:
R you accelerate and the transmission is in
position Dor R.
R you shift the transmission to position P.
R you depress the brake pedal again with a
certain amount of pressure until ëdis-
appears from the multifunction display.
R you secure the vehicle using the electric
parking brake.
R you activate DISTRONIC PLUS.
i After a time, the electric parking brake
secures the vehicle and relieves the service
brake. The HOLD function is then deacti-
vated. When the HOLD function is activated, the
transmission is shifted automatically to posi-
tion Pif:
R the driver's seat belt is not fastened and the
driver's door is open
R the engine is switched off, unless it is auto-
matically switched off by the ECO start/
stop function
The electric parking brake secures the vehicle automatically if DISTRONIC PLUS is activated
when the vehicle is stationary and:
R a system malfunction occurs.
R the power supply is not sufficient.
If a malfunction in the electric parking brake
occurs, then the transmission may also be
shifted into position Pautomatically. Magic Body Control
General notes MAGIC BODY CONTROL consists of Active
Body Control (ABC), ROAD SURFACE SCAN
as well as automatic vehicle stabilization in
the event of a crosswind.
Your vehicle automatically adjusts its ride
height to improve driving safety and reduce
fuel consumption. The suspension mode is
adjusted according to your selection (sports
or comfort), the road surface conditions and
the vehicle load. A multifunction camera
detects bumps in the road surface before the
vehicle drives over them. This reduces chas-
sis movements.
Important safety notes G
WARNING
When the vehicle is being lowered, people
could become trapped if their limbs are
between the vehicle body and the wheels or
underneath the vehicle. There is a risk of
injury. Driving systems
243Driving and parking
Z

Make sure no one is underneath the vehicle or
in the immediate vicinity of the wheel arches
when the vehicle is being lowered.
! The vehicle is lowered when the engine is
switched off. When parking, position your
vehicle so that it does not make contact
with the curb as the vehicle is lowered. Your vehicle could otherwise be damaged.
Crosswind Assist The crosswind stabilization operates by
changing wheel loads through adjusting the
ABC spring struts. It reduces impairments in
handling when driving in a straight line and
assists during countersteering.
Crosswind Assist is active at vehicle speeds
above 50 mph (80 km/h) when driving
straight ahead or cornering gently.
Active Body Control ABC Vehicle level
All vehicles except AMG vehicles:
depend-
ing on the vehicle level that has been set, the
vehicle automatically adjusts its height
dependent on the current speed. The vehicle is lowered by up to 0.6 in (15 mm) as the
speed increases. As the speed is reduced, the
vehicle is raised up to the set vehicle height.
AMG vehicles: depending on the vehicle
level that has been selected, the vehicle auto- matically adjusts its height dependent on the
current speed. The vehicle is lowered by up to 0.4 in (10 mm) below the normal level as the
speed increases. As the speed is reduced, the vehicle is raised up to the set vehicle height.
Select the "Normal" setting for normal road
conditions and "Raised" for driving with snow chains or in particularly poor road conditions.
Your selection remains stored even if you
remove the SmartKey from the ignition lock. Setting the raised vehicle level
X Start the engine.
X If indicator lamp ; ;is not lit: press but-
ton :.
Indicator lamp ;lights up. The vehicle
height is adjusted to raised level. Setting the normal vehicle level
X Start the engine.
X If indicator lamp ;
;is lit: press but-
ton :.
Indicator lamp ;goes out. The vehicle is
adjusted to normal level.
Suspension tuning
The electronically controlled ABC suspension
system works continuously. This improves
driving safety and comfort. The system
detects the vehicle level and the vehicle load and adjusts the setting accordingly. You can
also choose between a particularly sporty or a
comfortable tuning. 244
Driving systemsDriving and parking

The ABC suspension system is tuned individ-
ually to each wheel and depends on:
R your driving style, e.g. sporty
R the road surface condition, e.g. bumps
R your individual selection, i.e. sports or com-
fort
R the vehicle load
R the force of the side wind
Your selection remains stored even if you
remove the SmartKey from the ignition lock. The firmer suspension setting in SPORT mode
ensures even better contact with the road.
The steering response behavior is sporty.
Select this mode when employing a sporty
driving style on flat roads, e.g. on highways.
Selecting the sports suspension tuning
X If indicator lamp ; ;is not lit: press but-
ton :.
Indicator lamp ;lights up. You have selec-
ted the suspension for a sporty driving
style.
All vehicles except AMG vehicles: the
Active Body Control SPORT
Active Body Control SPORT message
appears in the multifunction display.
AMG vehicles: theAMG
AMG Suspension Suspension Sys‐
Sys‐
tem SPORT
tem SPORT message appears in the multi-
function display. In COMFORT mode, the driving characteris-
tics of your vehicle are especially comforta-
ble. The steering response behavior is bal-
anced. Select this mode if you favor a com-
fortable driving style.
Selecting the standard comfort mode sus-
pension tuning
X If indicator lamp ;
; is not lit: press but-
ton :.
Indicator lamp ;lights up. You have selec-
ted the suspension for a comfortable driv-
ing style.
All vehicles except AMG vehicles: the
Active Active Body
BodyControl
Control COMFORT
COMFORTmessage
appears in the multifunction display.
AMG vehicles: theAMG
AMG Suspension
Suspension Sys‐
Sys‐
tem
tem COMFORT
COMFORT message appears in the mul-
tifunction display.
ROAD SURFACE SCAN i
This function is not available in all coun-
tries. Driving systems
245Driving and parking Z

The ROAD SURFACE SCAN function monitors
the road in front of the vehicle using multi-
function camera :at the top of the wind-
shield. This function is automatically active if you select comfort suspension tuning. The
system is operational at speeds of up to
81 mph (130 km/h).
This function allows bumps in the road sur-
face to be detected before the vehicle drives
over them. The spring struts are then actu-
ated, with the result that chassis movements
are significantly reduced when driving over
bumps.
The system is deactivated when you select
the raised vehicle level or sports mode.
The system may be impaired or may not func-
tion if:
R the road surface is insufficiently lit
R there is poor visibility, e.g. snow, rain, fog or
spray
R there is glare, e.g. from the sun or from
oncoming traffic
R the windshield is dirty, fogged up or cov-
ered, for instance by a sticker, in the vicinity
of the camera
R the road surface has no texture or is reflec-
tive, e.g. in the case of newly laid asphalt,
concrete slabs or puddles
R the distance to the vehicle in front is too
short
R sections of the route have a very small
radius of curvature
R you accelerate hard or brake sharply AIRMATIC
General notes AIRMATIC is an air suspension with variable
damping for improved driving comfort. All-
round level control ensures the best possible suspension and constant ground clearance,
even with a laden vehicle. When you drive
fast, the vehicle is lowered automatically to
improve driving safety and to reduce fuel con- sumption. There is also the option to manually
adjust the vehicle level. AIRMATIC consists of
level setting, level control and the Adaptive
Damping System ADS PLUS.
Important safety notes G
WARNING
When the vehicle is being lowered, people
could become trapped if their limbs are
between the vehicle body and the wheels or
underneath the vehicle. There is a risk of
injury.
Make sure no one is underneath the vehicle or in the immediate vicinity of the wheel arches
when the vehicle is being lowered.
Vehicle level Setting the raised vehicle level
It is possible to choose between the "Normal"
and "Raised" vehicle levels. Select the "Nor-
mal" setting for normal road surfaces and
"Raised" for driving with snow chains or on
particularly poor road surfaces. Your selec-
tion remains stored even if you remove the
SmartKey from the ignition lock.
X Start the engine.
If indicator lamp ;is not lit:
X Press button :.
Indicator lamp ;lights up. The vehicle is
raised by 1.0 in (25 mm) compared to the
normal level. 246
Driving systemsDriving and parking

The
Vehicle Rising
Vehicle Rising message appears in
the multifunction display.
i The message disappears after ten sec-
onds, irrespective of the level reached. If
necessary, the vehicle is raised further.
The "Raised level" setting is canceled if you:
R drive at a speed over approximately 75 mph
(120 km/h)
R drive for approximately three minutes at a
speed over 50 mph (80 km/h)
Setting the normal vehicle level X Start the engine.
If indicator lamp ;is lit:
X Press button :.
Indicator lamp ;goes out. The vehicle is
adjusted to normal level.
Suspension tuning General notes
The Adaptive Damping System ADS PLUS
automatically controls the calibration of the
dampers.
The damping is tuned individually to each
wheel and depends on:
R your driving style, e.g. sporty
R the road surface condition, e.g. bumps
R your individual selection, i.e. sports or com-
fort
Your selection remains stored even if you
remove the SmartKey from the ignition lock.
i You can choose between the sporty and
comfortable mode. One of the two modes is
always active. Sports tuning The firmer suspension tuning in sport mode
ensures the best possible contact with the
road. Select this mode when employing a
sporty driving style, e.g. on winding country
roads.
All vehicles except AMG vehicles:
X If indicator lamp ;
; is not lit: press but-
ton :.
Indicator lamp ;lights up. Sports suspen-
sion tuning is selected. The vehicle is low-
ered by 0.4 in (10 mm) compared to the
normal level.
The AIRMATIC SPORT AIRMATIC SPORT message appears in
the multifunction display.
AMG vehicles:
X If indicator lamp ;
;is not lit: press but-
ton :.
Indicator lamp ;lights up. If the driving
speed is higher than 75 mph (120 km/ h),
the vehicle is automatically lowered by
another 0.4 in (10 mm) compared to the
normal level in sport mode.
The AMG
AMG Suspension Suspension System
SystemSPORT
SPORTmes-
sage appears in the multifunction display . Driving systems
247Driving and parking Z

Comfort tuning
In comfort mode, the driving characteristics
of your vehicle are more comfortable. There-
fore, select this mode if you favor a more
comfortable driving style. Select comfort
mode also when driving fast on straight roads, e.g. on straight stretches of highway.
X If indicator lamp ;
; is not lit: press but-
ton :.
Indicator lamp ;lights up. Comfort tuning
is selected.
All vehicles except AMG vehicles: the
AIRMATIC COMFORT AIRMATIC COMFORT message appears in
the multifunction display.
AMG vehicles: theAMG
AMG Suspension Suspension Sys‐
Sys‐
tem
tem COMFORT
COMFORT message appears in the mul-
tifunction display.
If the driving speed is higher than 75 mph
(120 km/h), the vehicle is automatically low-
ered by another 0.4 in (10 mm) compared to
the normal level in comfort mode.
Load compensation The vehicle can compensate differences in
the vehicle level by raising or lowering the
axles. 4MATIC (permanent four-wheel drive)
4MATIC ensures that all four wheels are per-
manently driven. Together with ESP ®
, it
improves the traction of your vehicle when-
ever a drive wheel spins due to insufficient
grip. If you fail to adapt your driving style, 4MATIC
can neither reduce the risk of accident nor
override the laws of physics. 4MATIC cannot
take account of road, weather and traffic con-
ditions. 4MATIC 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.
If a drive wheel spins due to insufficient grip:
R Only depress the accelerator pedal as far as
necessary when pulling away.
R Accelerate less when driving.
! Never tow the vehicle with one axle
raised. This may damage the transfer case.
Damage of this sort is not covered by the
Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty. All
wheels must remain either on the ground or be fully raised. Observe the instructions for
towing the vehicle with all wheels in full
contact with the ground.
i In wintry driving conditions, the maximum
effect of 4MATIC can only be achieved if
you use winter tires (M+S tires), with snow
chains if necessary. PARKTRONIC
Important safety notes PARKTRONIC is an electronic parking aid with
ultrasonic sensors. It monitors the area
around your vehicle using six sensors in the
front bumper and six sensors in the rear
bumper. PARKTRONIC indicates visually and
audibly the distance between your vehicle
and an object.
PARKTRONIC is only an aid. It is not a replace-
ment for your attention to your immediate
surroundings. You are always responsible for
safe maneuvering, parking and exiting a park- ing space. When maneuvering, parking or
pulling out of a parking space, make sure that
there are no persons, animals or objects in
the area in which you are maneuvering. 248
Driving systemsDriving and parking

X
Use : or9 to select the Addi‐
Addi‐
tional Speedometer
tional Speedometer function.
The current selection is displayed.
X To activate/deactivate: press thea
button again.
Restoring the factory settings X
Use ò on the steering wheel to call up
the list of menus.
X Press the :or9 button on the steer-
ing wheel to select the Settings
Settingsmenu.
X Confirm by pressing aon the steering
wheel.
X Press the :or9 button to select the
Factory Settings
Factory Settings submenu.
X Press ato confirm.
The Reset All Settings?
Reset All Settings? message
appears.
X Press the :or9 button to select No
No
or Yes
Yes.
X Press ato confirm the selection.
If you have selected Yes
Yes, the multifunction
display shows a confirmation message.
For safety reasons, the Daytime Running
Daytime Running
Lights
Lights function in the Lights
Lightssubmenu is
only reset if the vehicle is stationary. AMG menu in AMG vehicles
AMG displays :
Digital speedometer
; Gear indicator
= Upshift indicator ?
Transmission fluid temperature
A Engine oil temperature
X Use ò on the steering wheel to call up
the list of menus.
X Press the :or9 button on the steer-
ing wheel to select the AMG AMGmenu.
X Confirm by pressing aon the steering
wheel.
Upshift indicator UP UP= indicates that the
engine has reached the overrevving range
when in the manual gearshift program.
Upshift indicator UP UP= fades out other mes-
sages until you have shifted up.
If the engine oil temperature is below 160 ‡
(71 †), the symbol in oil temperature display
A is shown in blue. Avoid driving at full
engine output during this time.
If the transmission fluid temperature is below 122 ‡ (50 †), the symbol in oil temperature
display ?is shown in blue. Avoid driving at
full engine output during this time.
SETUP :
Drive program (C C/SS/MM)
; ESP ®
mode (ON ON/OFFOFF)
= Suspension tuning (SPORT SPORT/COMFORTCOMFORT)
X Use ò on the steering wheel to call up
the list of menus.
X Press the :or9 button on the steer-
ing wheel to select the AMG AMGmenu. 314
Menus and submenusOn-board computer and displays

Useful information
i This Operator's Manual describes all
models and all standard and optional equip- ment of your vehicle available at the time of
publication of the Operator's Manual.
Country-specific differences are possible.
Please note that your vehicle may not be
equipped with all features described. This
also applies to safety-related systems and
functions.
i Read the information on qualified special-
ist workshops (Y page 29). Important safety notes
G
WARNING
If wheels and tires of the wrong size are used, the wheel brakes or suspension components
may be damaged. There is a risk of an acci-
dent.
Always replace wheels and tires with those
that fulfill the specifications of the original
part.
When replacing wheels, make sure to use the
correct:
R designation
R model
When replacing tires, make sure to use the
correct:
R designation
R manufacturer
R model G
WARNING
A flat tire severely impairs the driving, steer-
ing and braking characteristics of the vehicle.
There is a risk of accident.
Tires without run-flat characteristics:
R do not drive with a flat tire.
R immediately replace the flat tire with your
emergency spare wheel or spare wheel, or
consult a qualified specialist workshop. Tires with run-flat characteristics:
R pay attention to the information and warn-
ing notices on MOExtended tires (tires with
run-flat characteristics).
Accessories that are not approved for your
vehicle by Mercedes-Benz or that are not
being used correctly can impair operating
safety.
Before purchasing and using non-approved
accessories, visit a qualified specialist work-
shop and inquire about:
R suitability
R legal stipulations
R factory recommendations
Information on the dimensions and types of
wheels and tires for your vehicle can be found in the "Wheel/tire combinations" section
(Y page 471).
Information on air pressure for the tires on
your vehicle can be found:
R on the vehicle's Tire and Loading Informa-
tion placard on the B-pillar (Y page 453)
R on the tire pressure label on the fuel filler
flap (Y page 207)
R under "Tire pressure" (Y page 445) Operation
Information on driving
If the vehicle is heavily loaded, check the tire pressures and correct them if necessary.
While driving, pay attention to vibrations,
noises and unusual handling characteristics,
e.g. pulling to one side. This may indicate that the wheels or tires are damaged. If you sus-
pect that a tire is defective, reduce your
speed immediately. Stop the vehicle as soon
as possible to check the wheels and tires for
damage. Hidden tire damage could also be
causing the unusual handling characteristics.
If you find no signs of damage, have the tires and wheels checked at a qualified specialist
workshop. 442
OperationWheels and tires