sport mode MERCEDES-BENZ S CLASS 2016 Owners Manual

Useful information
i This Operator's Manual describes all models
and all standard and optional equipment of
your vehicle available at the time of publica-
tion of the Operator's Manual. Country-spe-
cific 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 specialist
workshops ( Y
page 28).
Hybrid vehicles
General notes Hybrid technology combines a fuel efficient
internal combustion engine with a powerful
electric motor.
Important safety notes
Danger of electric shock
G DANGER
The vehicle's high-voltage electrical system is
under high voltage. If you modify components
in the vehicle's high-voltage electrical system
or touch damaged components, you may be
electrocuted. The components in the vehi-
cle's high-voltage electrical system may be
damaged in an accident, although the damage
is not visible. There is a risk of fatal injury.
Following an accident, do not touch any high-
voltage components and never modify the
vehicle's high-voltage electrical system. Have
the vehicle towed away after an accident and
the vehicle's high-voltage electrical system
checked by a qualified specialist workshop.
When towing a vehicle after an accident, be sure
to observe the following sections: R
Transporting the vehicle ( Y
page 381)R
Towing a vehicle with both axles on the
ground ( Y
page 380)
Read the safety instructions on towing and tow-
starting ( Y
page 379). All components of the hybrid drive system are
marked with yellow warning stickers that warn
you of the danger of high voltage. The cables of
the vehicle's high-voltage electrical system are
orange in color.
The ignition must be switched off when carrying
out general tasks, such as adding washer fluid to
the windshield washer system or checking the
coolant level.
Automatic switching off of the hybrid
drive system If components of the restraint system are acti-
vated during an accident, the hybrid drive sys-
tem is automatically deactivated.
The hybrid drive system is not activated when
the vehicle is started if: R
an electrical short circuit is detected in the
hybrid drive system R
an electrical connection in the hybrid drive
system is disconnected
This ensures that you do not come into contact
with high voltage.
Manual switching off of the hybrid drive
system The hybrid drive system can be deactivated
manually using the high voltage switch-off
device.
! To prevent damage to the hybrid drive sys-
tem please observe the following instruc-
tions: R
only deactivate the hybrid drive system
manually in the following situations. R
work on the hybrid drive system may only
be carried out at a qualified specialist work-
shop, even when it has been deactivated
manually.42
Hybrid vehicles
Safety

R
Accel. (evaluation of all acceleration pro-
cesses) -
The bar fills up: moderate acceleration,
especially at higher speeds -
The bar empties: sporty acceleration R
Constant (assessment of driving behavior at
all times) -
The bar fills up: constant speed and avoid-
ance of unnecessary acceleration and
deceleration -
The bar empties: fluctuations in speed R
Coasting (assessment of all deceleration
processes) -
The bar fills up: anticipatory driving, keep-
ing your distance and early release of the
accelerator. The vehicle can coast without
use of the brakes. -
The bar empties: frequent braking
An economical driving style specially requires
driving at moderate engine speeds.
To achieve a higher value in the categories
Accel. and Constant ,R
observe the gearshift recommendations. R
drive in drive program E
On long journeys at a constant speed, e.g. on the
highway, only the bar for Constant
will change.
The ECO display summarizes the driving char-
acteristics from the start of the journey to its
completion. For this reason, the bars change
dynamically at the beginning of the journey. On
longer journeys, there are fewer changes. For
more dynamic changes, carry out a manual
reset.
For further information on the ECO display, see
( Y
page 262).
Brakes
Important safety notes
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. Downhill gradients
! On long and steep gradients, you must
reduce the load on the brakes by shifting to a
lower gear in good time. This allows you to
take advantage of the engine's braking effect.
This helps you to avoid overheating the
brakes and wearing them out excessively.
When you take advantage of engine braking, a
drive wheel may not turn for some time, e.g.
on a slippery road surface. This could cause
damage to the drive train. This type of damage
is not covered by the Mercedes-Benz war-
ranty.
Heavy and light loads
G WARNING
If you rest your foot on the brake pedal while
driving, the braking system can overheat. This
increases the stopping distance and can even
cause the braking system to fail. There is a
risk of an accident.
Never use the brake pedal as a footrest. Never
depress the brake pedal and the accelerator
pedal at the same time.
! Depressing the brake pedal constantly
results in excessive and premature wear to
the brake pads.
If the brakes have been subjected to a heavy
load, do not stop the vehicle immediately. Drive
on for a short while. This allows the airflow to
cool the brakes more quickly.
Wet roads If you have driven for a long time in heavy rain
without braking, there may be a delayed reac-
tion from the brakes when braking for the first
time. This may also occur after the vehicle has
been washed or driven through deep water.
You have to depress the brake pedal more
firmly. Maintain a greater distance from the
vehicle in front.
After driving on a wet road or having the vehicle
washed, brake firmly while paying attention to
the traffic conditions. This will warm up the
brake discs, thereby drying them more quickly
and protecting them against corrosion.194
Driving tips
Driving and parking

The electric parking brake secures the vehicle
automatically if the HOLD function 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 shif-
ted into position P automatically.
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 con-
sumption. 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 chassis 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.
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 vehi-
cle could otherwise be damaged.
Crosswind Assist
The crosswind stabilization operates by chang-
ing 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 in the speed range
between 50 mph (80 km/ h) and
130 mph (210 km/h) when driving straight
ahead or cornering gently.
Active Body Control ABC Vehicle level All vehicles except AMG vehicles: depending
on the vehicle level that has been set, the vehi-
cle 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 automati-
cally 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 con-
ditions and "Raised" for driving with snow chains
or in particularly poor road conditions.
Setting the vehicle level X
To raise the vehicle: press button C .
Indicator lamp D lights up.X
To lower the vehicle: press button C again.
Indicator lamp D goes out.
Your selection remains stored even if you
remove the SmartKey from the ignition lock.
Suspension tuning
The electronically controlled ABC suspension
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.210
Driving systems
Driving and parking

The ABC suspension system is tuned individu-
ally 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 setting of the suspension tuning 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 high-
ways.
Selecting the sports suspension setting X
When indicator lamp D is off: press but-
ton C repeatedly until only indicator lamp D
is on.
Sports suspension tuning is selected.
All vehicles except AMG vehicles: the
Active Body Control SPORT message
appears in the multifunction display.
AMG vehicles: the AMG Suspension Sys‐
tem SPORT message appears in the multi-
function display.
In COMFORT mode, the driving characteristics
of your vehicle are especially comfortable. The
steering response behavior is balanced. Select
this mode if you favor a comfortable driving
style.
Selecting the comfortable suspension setting X
When indicator lamp D is off: press but-
ton C repeatedly until only indicator lamp D
is on.
Comfortable suspension tuning is selected. All vehicles except AMG vehicles: the
Active Body Control COMFORT message
appears in the multifunction display.
AMG vehicles: the AMG Suspension Sys‐
tem COMFORT message appears in the multi-
function display.
ROAD SURFACE SCAN
i This function is not available in all countries.
The ROAD SURFACE SCAN function monitors
the road in front of the vehicle using multifunc-
tion camera C at the top of the windshield. 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 surface
to be detected before the vehicle drives over
them. The spring struts are then actuated, with
the result that chassis movements are signifi-
cantly 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 function
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 covered,
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 shortDriving systems 211
Driving and parking Z

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 suspen-
sion 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 consumption. 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 "Normal"
setting for normal road surfaces and "Raised"
for driving with snow chains or on particularly poor road surfaces. Your selection remains
stored even if you remove the SmartKey from
the ignition lock. X
Start the engine.
If indicator lamp D is not lit:X
Press button C .
Indicator lamp D lights up. The vehicle is
raised by 1.0 in (25 mm) compared to the
normal level.
The Vehicle
Rising message appears in the
multifunction display.
i The message disappears after ten seconds,
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 above approximately 75 mph
(120 km/h) R
drive for approximately three minutes at a
speed above 50 mph (80 km/h)
Setting the normal vehicle level X
Start the engine.
If indicator lamp D is lit:X
Press button C .
Indicator lamp D goes out. The vehicle is
adjusted to normal level.
Suspension tuning
General notes The Adaptive Damping System ADS PLUS auto-
matically controls the calibration of the damp-
ers.
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.212
Driving systems
Driving and parking

Sports tuning The firmer setting of the 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 Mercedes-AMG vehicles: X
If indicator lamp D is not lit: press but-
ton C .
Indicator lamp D lights up. Sports suspen-
sion tuning is selected. The vehicle is lowered
by 0.4 in (10 mm) compared to the normal
level.
The AIRMATIC
SPORT message appears in the
multifunction display.
Mercedes-AMG vehicles: X
If indicator lamp D is not lit: press but-
ton C .
Indicator lamp D 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 Suspension System SPORT mes-
sage appears in the multifunction display.
Comfort tuning
In comfort mode, the driving characteristics of
your vehicle are more comfortable. Therefore,
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 D is not lit: press but-
ton C .
Indicator lamp D lights up. Comfort tuning is
selected. All vehicles except Mercedes-AMG vehi-
cles: the AIRMATIC COMFORT
message
appears in the multifunction display.
Mercedes-AMG vehicles: the AMG Suspen‐
sion System COMFORT message appears in
the multifunction display.
If the driving speed is higher than 75 mph
(120 km/h), the vehicle is automatically low-
ered in comfort mode by 0.4 in (10 mm) com-
pared to the normal level.
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 perma-
nently driven. Together with ESP ®
, it improves
the traction of your vehicle whenever 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 conditions.
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 vehi-
cle 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.Driving systems 213
Driving and parking Z

Exiting 360° camera display mode The 360° camera display is stopped R
when you select transmission position P , orR
when you are driving at moderate speeds
The view which was active before the 360° cam-
era was displayed appears in the multimedia
system. You can also stop the 360° camera dis-
play split-screen view by selecting the 8
symbol in the display and then confirming with
the COMAND controller.
ATTENTION ASSIST
General notes ATTENTION ASSIST helps you during long,
monotonous journeys, such as on highways. It is
active in the 37 mph (60 km/h) to 125 mph
(200 km/h) range. If ATTENTION ASSIST
detects typical indicators of fatigue or increas-
ing lapses in concentration on the part of the
driver, it suggests taking a break.
Important safety notes ATTENTION ASSIST is only an aid to the driver. It
might not always recognize fatigue or increasing
inattentiveness in time or fail to recognize them
at all. The system is not a substitute for a well-
rested and attentive driver.
The functionality of ATTENTION ASSIST is
restricted and warnings may be delayed or not
occur at all: R
if the length of the journey is less than approx-
imately 30 minutes R
if the road condition is poor, e.g. if the surface
is uneven or if there are potholes R
if there is a strong side wind R
if you have adopted a sporty driving style with
high cornering speeds or high rates of accel-
eration R
if you are predominantly driving slower than
37 mph (60 km/ h) or faster than 125 mph
(200 km/ h)R
if you are driving with the active Steer Assist
of DISTRONIC PLUS R
if the time has been set incorrectly R
in active driving situations, such as when you
change lanes or change your speed The ATTENTION ASSIST tiredness assessment
is deleted and restarted when continuing the
journey, if: R
you switch off the engine R
you take off your seat belt and open the driv-
er's door, e.g. for a change of drivers or to
take a break
Displaying the attention level
You can have current status information dis-
played in the assistance menu ( Y
page 269) of
the on-board computer. X
Select the Assistance display for ATTENTION
ASSIST using the on-board computer
( Y
page 268).
The following information is displayed: R
length of the journey since the last break. R
the attention level determined by ATTENTION
ASSIST ( Attention Level ), displayed in a
bar display in five levels from high to low R
if ATTENTION ASSIST is unable to calculate
the attention level and cannot issue a warn-
ing, the System Suspended message
appears. The bar display then changes the
display, e.g. if you are driving at a speed below
37 mph (60 km/h) or above 124 mph
(200 km/h).
Activating ATTENTION ASSIST X
Activate ATTENTION ASSIST using the on-
board computer ( Y
page 271).
The system determines the attention level of
the driver depending on the setting selected:
If Standard is selected: the sensitivity with
which the system determines the attention level
is set to normal.
If Sensitive is selected: the sensitivity is set
higher. The attention level detected by Attention228
Driving systems
Driving and parking

Pulling away X
Depress the brake pedal and keep it
depressed. X
Shift the transmission to position D or R .X
If the Apply Brake to Shift from 'P'
display message appears in the multifunction
display, depress the brake pedal more firmly
and select the desired transmission position. X
Release the brake pedal. X
Carefully depress the accelerator pedal.
For further information on pulling away
( Y
page 165).
Driving
Program selector button Automatic drive programs E, S and E+
X
Press program selector button C to change
the drive program.
The selected drive program appears in the
multifunction display. The program selector button allows you to
choose between different driving characteris-
tics.
E Economy R
Comfortable, economical
driving R
Electric operation mode
is used as often as possi-
ble R
ECO start/stop function
is available
S Sport R
Sporty driving style with
boost mode R
The internal combustion
engine is always
switched on
E+ Economy
Plus R
Comfortable, economical
driving R
Electric operation mode
is used as often as possi-
ble R
The ECO start/stop func-
tion is available R
Double pulses in the hap-
tic accelerator pedal, as
an indication to release
the accelerator pedal
( Y
page 251) R
After the accelerator
pedal has been released,
the coasting characteris-
tics of the vehicle are
adapted to the traffic
conditions
For further information on the automatic drive
program, see ( Y
page 174).
Manual drive program
In addition to automatic drive programs E and S ,
you can switch to manual drive program M using
the steering wheel paddle shifters.
In manual drive program M , you can briefly
change gear yourself by using the steering
wheel paddle shifters. The transmission must be
in position D . In manual drive program M the
internal combustion engine is always switched
on.250
PLUG ‑ IN HYBRID operation
Driving and parking

Hybrid drive system Display messages
Possible causes/consequences and P Solutions
r Vehicle Operational
Switch the Ignition
Off Before Exiting PLUG-IN HYBRID vehicles:
You are leaving the vehicle when it is in a ready-to-drive state. The
READY indicator in the multifunction display is on. A warning tone also
sounds.
If you leave the vehicle: X
Secure the vehicle against rolling away ( Y
page 189).X
Switch off the ignition and remove the SmartKey.
If you do not leave the vehicle: X
Switch off the electrical consumers, e.g. automatic climate control,
seat heating.
Please note the following: the electrical consumers are supplied by the
12 V battery. If the vehicle is left in a ready-to-drive state for an exten-
ded period, it will switch off once the 12 V battery is almost empty. It
will then only be possible to start the vehicle using a second battery
(jump-starting).
Change the current
drive program
before changing the
operating mode. or
Exit manual drive
program M before
changing the operat‐
ing mode. PLUG-IN HYBRID vehicles:
You have attempted to change the operating mode when in automatic
drive program S (Sport) or manual drive program M .X
Activate the drive program E (Economy) or E+ (Economy Plus)
( Y
page 250). X
Select the preferred operating mode HYBRID , E-MODE , E-SAVE or
CHARGE ( Y
page 243).
E-MODE Currently
Unavailable PLUG-IN HYBRID vehicles:
The condition of charge of the high-voltage battery has dropped to the
lower limit and the E-MODE operating mode has been switched off.
Driving with the internal combustion engine is activated and the oper-
ating mode switches to the basic HYBRID setting.X
Continue driving using the internal combustion engine.
You can switch to the E-SAVE or CHARGE operating mode as
required ( Y
page 243).
If you select CHARGE , the high-voltage battery is charged.
Once the charge level display for the high-voltage battery has
increased slightly, you can switch to the E-MODE operating mode
again. Display messages 297
On-board computer and displays Z

Display messages
Possible causes/consequences and P Solutions
Onl y E-MODE Availa ‐
ble Power Limite d
Refuel Immediately PLUG-I N HYBRID vehicles:
The fuel tan k has been run dry and th e combustion engin e has been
switched off .
A warning tone also sounds.
The vehicl e will be powered by electrical energ y only. Performance is
restricted and th e vehicl e may accelerate mor e slowly than normal.X
Refue l at th e neares t gas station without fail .
In th e "Total range and electric range" menu, you can display th e
approximat e range of th e vehicl e ( Y
page 248).
Engine wil l not
restar t Servic e
required You canno t start th e engin e again due to a malfunction .
A warning tone also sounds.
If th e engin e is running:X
Visit a qualified specialist workshop .
If you switch off th e engine:X
Secur e th e vehicl e against rollin g away ( Y
page 189).X
Notify a qualified specialist workshop or breakdown service.
á Towing Not Permit ‐
ted See Operator' s
Manual The hybrid drive system is faulty. X
Hav e th e vehicl e transporte d on a transporte r or trailer to th e near-
est qualified specialist workshop .