steering MERCEDES-BENZ S CLASS 2016 Owner's Guide

Problems with the perfume atomizer Problem
Possible causes/consequences and P Solutions
The vehicle interior is not
perfumed although the
perfume atomizer is acti-
vated. The perfume vial has not been pushed into the holder as far as it will
go. X
Slide the perfume vial into the holder as far as it will go.
The perfume vial is not filled sufficiently. X
Pre-filled vials: dispose of the empty vial.X
Use a new pre-filled vial. X
Refillable vials: fill the perfume vial with a maximum of 0.5 fl. oz.
(15 ml) of the same perfume.
The perfume atomizer is faulty. X
Have the perfume atomizer checked at a qualified specialist work-
shop.
Ionization You can use the "Ionization" function to purify
the air in the vehicle interior and attain an
improved interior climate.
The ionization of the interior air is odorless and
cannot be perceived directly in the vehicle inte-
rior.
You can switch ionization on or off using the
multimedia system (see the separate operating
instructions).
Ionization can only be switched on if the front
climate control system is activated. The side air
vent on the driver's side must be open.
Pre-entry climate control via Smart-
Key
General notes The "Pre-entry climate control via SmartKey"
function is only available in PLUG-IN HYBRID
vehicles.
Before getting in, the driver's seat area or the
whole interior can be briefly warmed or ventila-
ted in advance with the air from the air vents
being pre-cooled.
The high-voltage battery must be sufficiently
charged before "Pre-entry climate control via
SmartKey" can be activated. When the vehicle is pre-cooled, the following
functions are activated if required: R
Climate control system R
Blower R
Seat ventilation
When the vehicle is pre-heated, the following
functions are activated if required: R
Climate control system R
Blower R
Seat heating R
Steering wheel heating R
Exterior mirror heating R
Rear window defroster
If you have activated the following functions
using the multimedia system, they are activated
together with the "Pre-entry climate control via
SmartKey" function: R
Armrest heating R
Perfume atomizer R
Ionization
Activating the perfume atomizer or ionization
(see separate operating instructions).
Activating or deactivating "Pre-entry
climate control via SmartKey"
Before "Pre-entry climate control via SmartKey"
can be activated, you must activate the function
via the multimedia system (see separate oper-
ating instructions).Operating the climate control systems 155
Climate control Z

Problems with "Pre-entry climate control via SmartKey" Problem
Possible causes/consequences and P Solutions
"Pre-entry climate con-
trol via SmartKey" can-
not be switched on or
has switched itself off. The condition of charge of the high-voltage battery is under the speci-
fied minimum condition of charge. X
Start the engine when the vehicle is at a standstill.
The engine powers the electric motor. The electric motor operates
as a generator. The high-voltage battery is being charged.
Further information on charging the high-voltage battery via: R
a mains socket ( Y
page 183)R
a charging station ( Y
page 186)R
a wallbox ( Y
page 185)
"Pre-entry climate control via SmartKey" has been started more than
twice with the engine switched off. X
Switch on the engine and let it run for more than ten seconds. X
Try again to switch on "Pre-entry climate control via SmartKey".
Pre-entry climate control at time of
departure
Important safety notes
G WARNING
If persons, particularly children are subjected
to prolonged exposure to extreme heat or
cold, there is a risk of injury, possibly even
fatal. Never leave children unattended in the
vehicle.
General notes The "Pre-entry climate control at departure
time" function is only available in PLUG-IN
HYBRID vehicles.
You can use the "Pre-entry climate control at
departure time" function to cool or heat the
vehicle interior if the engine is not running.
The "Pre-entry climate control at departure
time" function can be activated regardless of
whether or not the vehicle is connected to an
electric power supply. The condition of charge of
the high-voltage battery must be higher than the
specified minimum condition of charge, how-
ever.
When the vehicle is connected to an electric
power supply, priority is given to charging the
high-voltage battery to the specified minimum charge. "Pre-entry climate control at departure
time" is only activated subsequently.
The running time of the "Pre-entry climate con-
trol at departure time" function may be reduced
if: R
the vehicle is not connected to an electric
power supply and R
the high-voltage battery is not fully charged
With active "Pre-entry climate control at depar-
ture time" the condition of charge of the high-
voltage battery can be reduced, even if the
charge cable connector is connected.
When the vehicle is cooled, the following func-
tions are activated if required: R
Climate control system R
Blower R
Seat ventilation
When the vehicle is heated, the following func-
tions are activated if required: R
Climate control system R
Blower R
Seat heating R
Steering wheel heating R
Armrest heating R
Exterior mirror heating R
Rear window defroster
If you have switched on the perfume atomizer or
the ionization using the multimedia system,Operating the climate control systems 157
Climate control Z

these will be activated together with the "Pre-
entry climate control at departure time".
Activating the perfume atomizer or ionization
(see separate operating instructions).
Setting the departure time You can set the departure time using the on-
board computer or via the My Mercedes Electric
– Vehicle Homepage. The activation of the "Pre-
entry climate control at departure time" func-
tion can be linked to this departure time. Your
vehicle will then be cooled or heated until the
desired temperature is reached in time for the
set departure time. "Pre-entry climate control at
departure time" will be activated a maximum of
55 minutes before departure. If the departure is
delayed, the vehicle will be heated or cooled for
another five minutes. X
To set the departure time: set the departure
time using the on-board computer
( Y
page 272). Set the departure time via the
My Mercedes Electric – Vehicle Homepage
( Y
page 189).X
To activate or deactivate "Pre-entry cli-
mate control at departure time": activate
or deactivate "Pre-entry climate control at
departure time" via the multimedia system
(see the separate operating instructions).
Activate or deactivate "Pre-entry climate con-
trol at departure time" via the My Mercedes
Electric – Vehicle Homepage ( Y
page 189).
When activating the "Pre-entry climate control
at departure time" function: you can select
w h ether only the driver's area or the whole vehi-
cle interior should be heated or cooled.
The "Pre-entry climate control at departure
time" function switches off automatically when
the vehicle is started. The following functions
remain active: R
Seat heating R
Seat ventilation R
Armrest heating R
Steering wheel heating R
Perfume atomizer R
Ionization
Switching off "Pre-entry climate control at
departure time": the activated "Pre-entry cli-
mate control at departure time" can be switched
off using the rocker switch ( Y
page 158). Activating or deactivating "Immediate
pre-entry climate control" using the
rocker switch You can activate "Immediate pre-entry climate
control" even if the vehicle interior is already at
the desired temperature. This means that the
vehicle interior continues to be cooled or
heated, e.g. if the journey is interrupted for up to
50 minutes, and the interior temperature is kept
constant.
X
To activate or deactivate "Immediate pre-
entry climate control": press rocker
switch C up or down.
The blue or red indicator lamp on the rocker
switch lights up or goes out.
The colors of the indicator lamps on rocker
switch C have the following meanings: R
blue: cooling activated R
red: heating activated R
yellow: departure time is preselected
Setting the air vents
Important safety notes
G WARNING
Very hot or very cold air can flow from the air
vents. This could result in burns or frostbite in
the immediate vicinity of the air vents. There
is a risk of injury.
Make sure that all vehicle occupants always
maintain a sufficient distance to the air out-
lets. If necessary, redirect the airflow to
another area of the vehicle interior.158
Setting the air vents
Climate control

G WARNING
If you switch off the ignition while driving,
safety-relevant functions are only available
with limitations, or not at all. This could affect,
for example, the power steering and the brake
boosting effect. You will require considerably
more effort to steer and brake. There is a risk
of an accident.
Do not switch off the ignition while driving.
G WARNING
If the parking brake has not been fully
released when driving, the parking brake can: R
overheat and cause a fire R
lose its hold function.
There is a risk of fire and an accident. Release
the parking brake fully before driving off.
! Do not warm up the engine with the vehicle
stationary. Drive off immediately. Avoid high
engine speeds and driving at full throttle until
the engine has reached its operating temper-
ature.
Only shift the automatic transmission to the
desired drive position when the vehicle is sta-
tionary.
Where possible, avoid spinning the drive
wheels when pulling away on slippery roads.
You could otherwise damage the drive train.
! Mercedes-AMG vehicles: at low engine oil
temperatures below 68 ‡ (+20 †), the max-
imum engine speed is restricted in order to
protect the engine. To protect the engine and
maintain smooth engine operation, avoid driv-
ing at full throttle when the engine is cold.
Observe the important safety notes for PLUG-IN
HYBRID vehicles ( Y
page 42). SmartKey positions
SmartKey
Z
To remove the SmartKey G
Power supply for some consumers, such as
the windshield wipers H
Ignition (power supply for all consumers)
and drive position I
To start the engine
The SmartKey can be turned in the ignition lock
even if it is not the correct SmartKey for the
vehicle. The ignition is not switched on. The
engine cannot be started.
Start/Stop button
General notes All vehicles are equipped with a removable
Start/Stop button.
The Start/Stop button must be inserted in the
ignition lock and the Smartkey must be in the
vehicle.
When you insert the Start/Stop button into the
ignition lock, the system needs approximately
two seconds recognition time. You can then use
the Start/Stop button.
Pressing the Start/Stop button several times in
succession corresponds to the different key
positions in the ignition lock. This is only the
case if you are not depressing the brake pedal.
If you depress the brake pedal and press the
Start/Stop button, the engine starts immedi-
ately.
A check which periodically establishes a radio
connection between the vehicle and the Smart-
Key determines whether a valid SmartKey is in
the vehicle. This occurs, for example, when
starting the engine.162
Driving
Driving and parking

Aut oma tic trans mi ssion
Import ant safety notes
G WARNIN G
If th e engin e spee d is abov e th e idlin g spee d
and you engage transmission position D or R ,
th e vehicl e could pull away suddenly. There is
a ris k of an accident.
When engagin g transmission position D or R ,
always firmly depress th e brak e pedal and do
no t simultaneously accelerate .
G WARNIN G
The automatic transmission switches to neu-
tral position N when you switch off th e engine.
The vehicl e may rol l away. There is a ris k of an
accident.
Afte r switching off th e engine, always switch
to parking position P . Preven t th e parked vehi-
cle from rollin g away by applyin g th e parking
brake.
Observ e th e important safet y note s for PLUG-I N
HYBRID vehicles ( Y
page 42).
DIRECT SELECT lever
Overview of trans mi ssion positions
]
Park position wit h parking loc k
^
Reverse gear
\\
Neutral
[
Drive
The DIRECT SELECT lever is on th e right of th e
steering column . The DIRECT SELECT lever always return s to it s
original position . The curren t transmission posi-
tion P , R , N or D appear s in th e transmission
position display ( Y
page 172) in th e multifunc-
tion display.
Engaging pa rk position P
! If th e engin e spee d is to o high or th e vehicl e
is moving , do no t shif t th e automatic trans -
mission directl y from D to R , from R to D or
directl y to P . The automatic transmission
could otherwise be damaged.
]
Park position wit h parking loc k^
Reverse gear \\
Neutral [
Drive X
Push th e DIRECT SELECT lever in th e direction
of arrow P .
Engaging pa rk position P automaticallyPark position P is automatically engage d if:R
you switch off th e engin e usin g th e SmartKey
and remove th e SmartKey R
you switch off th e engin e usin g th e SmartKey
or usin g th e Start/Sto p butto n and open th e
driver's door or front-passenger door R
th e driver's door is opened when th e vehicl e is
stationary or drivin g at ver y low spee d and th e
transmission is in position D or R
Under certain conditions, th e automatic trans -
mission shifts automatically to transmission
position P if th e HOLD function or DISTRONI C
PLU S is activated. Observ e th e information on
th e HOLD function ( Y
page 209) and on
DISTRONI C PLU S ( Y
page 203).170
Automatic transmission
Driving an d parking

You can also activate manual drive program M
using the steering wheel paddle shifters
( Y
page 174). In manual drive program M , you
can briefly change gear yourself by using the
steering wheel paddle shifters.
Mercedes-AMG vehicles
C Controlled
Efficiency Comfortable, economical
driving
S Sport Sporty driving style
M Manual Manual gear shifting
Permanent drive program M is only available for
Mercedes-AMG vehicles.
Further information about permanent drive pro-
gram M ( Y
page 175).
You can also activate manual drive program M
using the steering wheel paddle shifters
( Y
page 174). In manual drive program M , you
can briefly change gear yourself by using the
steering wheel paddle shifters.
For further information on the automatic drive
program, see ( Y
page 174).
Steering wheel paddle shifters
You can activate manual drive program M in the
E ( C in AMG vehicles) and S automatic drive
programs using steering wheel paddle shift-
ers C and D ( Y
page 174). In manual drive
program M , you can briefly change gear yourself
by using the steering wheel paddle shifters.
Mercedes-AMG vehicles: you can also activate
manual drive program M with the program
selector button ( Y
page 175). In manual drive
program M , you can permanently change gear
yourself by using the steering wheel paddle
shifters. Automatic drive program
Automatic drive program E Drive program E (drive program C on Mercedes-
AMG vehicles) is characterized by the following: R
comfort-oriented engine settings. R
optimal fuel consumption resulting from the
automatic transmission shifting up sooner. R
the vehicle pulling away more gently in
forward and reverse gears, unless the accel-
erator pedal is depressed fully. R
the vehicle having improved driving stability,
for example on slippery road surfaces. R
the automatic transmission shifting up
sooner. This results in the vehicle being driven
at lower engine speeds and the wheels being
less likely to spin.
Automatic drive program S Drive program S is characterized by the follow-
ing: R
sporty engine settings. R
the vehicle pulling away in first gear. R
the automatic transmission shifting up later.
the fuel consumption possibly being higher as
a result of the later automatic transmission
shift points.
Manual drive program M
General notes In this drive program, you can briefly change
gear yourself by using the steering wheel paddle
shifters. The transmission must be in position D .
You can activate manual drive program M in the
E ( C in Mercedes-AMG vehicles) and S auto-
matic drive programs.
Mercedes-AMG vehicles: as well as temporary
drive program M , you can also activate perma-
nent drive program M . Further information
about permanent drive program M
( Y
page 175).
Activating X
Shift the transmission to position D .X
Pull the left or right steering wheel paddle
shifter ( Y
page 174).
Manual drive program M is temporarily acti-
vated.174
Automatic transmission
Driving and parking

All vehicles (except Mercedes-AMG vehi-
cles: )M and the selected gear appear in the
multifunction display.
Further information on activating manual drive
program M on PLUG-IN HYBRID vehicles
( Y
page 250).
Shifting gears If you pull on the left or right steering wheel
paddle shifter, the automatic transmission
switches to manual drive program M for a limi-
ted amount of time. Depending on which paddle
shifter is pulled, the automatic transmission
immediately shifts into the next gear down or
up, if permitted. X
To shift up: pull the right-hand steering wheel
paddle shifter ( Y
page 174).
The automatic transmission shifts up to the
next gear.
If the maximum engine speed on the currently
engaged gear is reached and you continue to
accelerate, the automatic transmission auto-
matically shifts up in order to prevent engine
damage.
Mercedes-AMG vehicles: the automatic
transmission will not shift up to the next gear
when the engine speed is very low. X
To shift down: pull on the left-hand steering
wheel paddle shifter ( Y
page 174).
The automatic transmission shifts down to
the next gear.
If the engine exceeds the maximum engine
speed when shifting down, the automatic
transmission protects against engine damage
by not shifting down.
Automatic down shifting occurs when coast-
ing.
Shift recommendation The gearshift recommendations assist you in
adopting an economical driving style. The rec-
ommended gear is shown in the multifunction
display. X
Shift to recommended gear D according to
gearshift recommendation C when shown in
the multifunction display of the instrument
cluster.
Deactivating If you have activated manual drive program M , it
will remain active for a certain amount of time.
Under certain conditions the minimum amount
of time is extended, e.g. in the case of lateral
acceleration, during an overrun phase or when
driving on steep terrain.
If manual drive program M has been deactiva-
ted, the automatic transmission shifts into the
automatic drive program that was last selected.
You can also deactivate manual drive program
M yourself: X
Pull on the right-hand steering wheel paddle
shifter and hold it in place ( Y
page 174).
or X
Use the DIRECT SELECT lever to switch the
transmission position.
or X
Use the program selector button to change
the drive program ( Y
page 173).
Manual drive program M is deactivated. The
automatic transmission switches to the pre-
viously activated drive program E (drive pro-
gram C on Mercedes-AMG vehicles) or S .
Manual drive program (Mercedes-
AMG vehicles)
General information In this drive program, you can permanently
change gear yourself by using the steering
wheel paddle shifters. The transmission must be
in position D .
Manual drive program M is different from drive
program S with regard to spontaneity, respon-
siveness and smoothness of gear changes.
As well as this permanent drive program M , you
can also activate temporary drive program
M ( Y
page 174).Automatic transmission 175
Driving and parking Z

Switching on the manual drive program In manual drive program M , you can change gear
using the steering wheel paddle shifters if the
transmission is in position D . You can see the
currently selected drive program and which gear
is engaged in the multifunction display. X
Press the program selector button
( Y
page 173) repeatedly until M appears in
the multifunction display.
Upshifting
! In manual drive program M , the automatic
transmission does not shift up automatically
even when the engine limiting speed for the
current gear is reached. When the engine lim-
iting speed is reached, the fuel supply is cut to
prevent the engine from overrevving. Always
make sure that the engine speed does not
reach the red area of the tachometer. There is
otherwise a risk of engine damage.
C
Gear indicatorD
Upshift indicator
Before the engine speed reaches the red area,
an upshift indicator will be shown in the multi-
function display. X
When message D appears in the multifunc-
tion display, pull on the right-hand steering
wheel paddle shifter.
Downshifting X
Pull the left-hand steering wheel paddle
shifter ( Y
page 174).
The automatic transmission shifts down to
the next gear if this is permissible. Maximum acceleration X
Pull the left-hand steering wheel paddle
shifter until the transmission selects the opti-
mum gear according to the speed.
If you slow down or stop without shifting down,
the automatic transmission automatically shifts
down.
Switching off the manual drive program X
Press the program selector button
( Y
page 173) repeatedly until C or S appears
in the multifunction display.176
Automatic transmission
Driving and parking

R
the seat belt has been fastened R
you depress the accelerator pedal
If the automatic transmission is in position R ,
the trunk lid must be closed.
If your seat belt is not fastened, the following
conditions must be fulfilled to automatically
release the electric parking brake: R
the driver's door is closed. R
you have shifted out of transmission position
P or you have previously driven faster than
2 mph (3 km/h).
Ensure that you do not depress the accelerator
pedal unintentionally. Otherwise the parking
brake will be released and the vehicle will start
to move.
Emergency braking The vehicle can also be braked during an emer-
gency by using the electric parking brake. X
While driving, push handle C of the electric
parking brake ( Y
page 190).
The vehicle is braked as long as you keep
handle C of the electric parking brake
pressed. The longer electric parking brake
handle C is depressed, the greater the brak-
ing force.
During braking: R
a warning tone sounds R
the Please Release Parking Brake mes-
sage appears R
the red I (USA only) or $ (Canada
only) indicator lamp in the instrument cluster
flashes
When the vehicle has been braked to a stand-
still, the electric parking brake is engaged.
Parking the vehicle for a long period If you leave the vehicle parked for longer than
four weeks, the battery may be damaged by
exhaustive discharging.
If you leave the vehicle parked for longer than six
weeks, the vehicle may suffer damage as a
result of lack of use. X
Visit a qualified specialist workshop and seek
advice.
PLUG-IN HYBRID vehicles: observe the impor-
tant safety notes for the high-voltage battery
( Y
page 374). Driving tips
General driving tips
Important safety notes
G WARNING
If you switch off the ignition while driving,
safety-relevant functions are only available
with limitations, or not at all. This could affect,
for example, the power steering and the brake
boosting effect. You will require considerably
more effort to steer and brake. There is a risk
of an accident.
Do not switch off the ignition while driving.
G WARNING
If you operate mobile communication equip-
ment while driving, you will be distracted from
traffic conditions. You could also lose control
of the vehicle. There is a risk of an accident.
Only operate this equipment when the vehicle
is stationary.
Observe the legal requirements for the country
in which you are driving. Some jurisdictions pro-
hibit the driver from using a mobile phone while
driving a vehicle.
If you make a call while driving, always use
hands-free mode. Only operate the telephone
when the traffic situation permits. If you are
unsure, pull over to a safe location and stop
before operating the telephone.
Bear in mind that at a speed of only 30 mph
(approximately 50 km/h), the vehicle covers a
distance of 44 ft (approximately 14 m) per sec-
ond.
Drive sensibly – save fuel Observe the following tips to save fuel: X
The tires should always be inflated to the rec-
ommended tire pressure. X
Remove unnecessary loads. X
Remove roof racks when they are not needed. X
Warm up the engine at low engine speeds. X
Avoid frequent acceleration or braking. X
Have all maintenance work carried out as
indicated by the service intervals in the Main-192
Driving tips
Driving and parking

sponds to an equivalent quality standard. Brake
fluid which has not been approved for
Mercedes-Benz vehicles or which is not of an
equivalent quality could affect your vehicle's
operating safety.
AMG high-performance and ceramic
brakes The high-performance brake system is only
available on Mercedes-AMG vehicles.
The AMG brake systems are designed for heavy
loads. This may lead to noise when braking. This
will depend on: R
Speed R
Braking force R
Environmental conditions, such as tempera-
ture and humidity
The wear of individual components of the brake
system, such as the brake pads/linings or brake
discs, depends on the individual driving style
and operating conditions.
For this reason, it is impossible to state a mile-
age that will be valid under all circumstances. An
aggressive driving style will lead to high wear.
You can obtain more information on this from a
qualified specialist workshop.
New and replaced brake pads and discs only
reach their optimum braking effect after several
hundred kilometers of driving. Compensate for
this by applying greater force to the brake pedal.
Keep this in mind, and adapt your driving and
braking accordingly during this break-in period.
Excessive heavy braking results in correspond-
ingly high brake wear. Observe the brake wear
warning lamp in the instrument cluster and note
any brake status messages in the multifunction
display. Especially for high performance driving,
it is important to maintain and have the brake
system checked regularly.
Driving on wet roads
Hydroplaning
If water has accumulated to a certain depth on
the road surface, there is a danger of hydro-
planing occurring, even if: R
you drive at low speeds R
the tires have adequate tread depth For this reason, in the event of heavy rain or in
conditions in which hydroplaning may occur,
you must drive in the following manner: R
lower your speed R
avoid ruts R
avoid sudden steering movements R
brake carefully
Driving on flooded roads
! Do not drive through flooded areas. Check
the depth of any water before driving through
it. Drive slowly through standing water. Oth-
erwise, water may enter the vehicle interior or
the engine compartment. This can damage
the electronic components in the engine or
the automatic transmission. Water can also
be drawn in by the engine's air suction nozzles
and this can cause engine damage.
Winter driving
G WARNING
If you shift down on a slippery road surface in
an attempt to increase the engine's braking
effect, the drive wheels could lose their grip.
There is an increased danger of skidding and
accidents.
Do not shift down for additional engine brak-
ing on a slippery road surface.
G DANGER
If the exhaust pipe is blocked or adequate
ventilation is not possible, poisonous gases
such as carbon monoxide (CO) may enter the
vehicle. This is the case, e.g. if the vehicle
becomes trapped in snow. There is a risk of
fatal injury.
If you leave the engine or the auxiliary heating
running, make sure the exhaust pipe and area
around the vehicle are clear of snow. To
ensure an adequate supply of fresh air, open a
window on the side of the vehicle that is not
facing into the wind.
Have your vehicle winter-proofed at a qualified
specialist workshop at the onset of winter.196
Driving tips
Driving and parking