traction control MERCEDES-BENZ S-Class CABRIOLET 2017 A217 Owner's Manual

1, 2, 3 ...
4ETS (Electronic Traction System)see ETS/4ETS (Electronic Trac-
tion System)
4MATIC (permanent four-wheel
drive) .................................................. 161
12 V socket
see Sockets
360° camera
Cleaning ........................................ .284
Function/notes .............................1 72
A
ABS (Anti-lock Braking System)
Display message ............................ 205
Function/notes ................................ 61
Warning lamp ................................. 235
Accident
Automatic measures after an acci-
dent ................................................. 57
Activating media mode
General notes ................................ 252
Activating/deactivating cooling
with air dehumidification ................. 116
Activating/deactivating Night
View Assist Plus
With spotlight function ................... 180
Active Blind Spot Assist
Activating/deactivating (on-
board computer) ............................ 200
Display message ............................ 222
Function/information .................... 181
Active Lane Keeping Assist
Activating/deactivating (on-
board computer) ............................ 200
Display message ............................ 221
Function/information .................... 184
Active multicontour seat .................... 98
Active Parking Assist
Detecting parking spaces .............. 165
Display message ............................ 222
Exiting a parking space .................. 167
Function/notes ............................. 164
Important safety notes .................. 164
Parking .......................................... 166
ADAPTIVE BRAKE ................................. 68 Adaptive Brake Assist
Function/notes ................................ 65
Adaptive Damping System (ADS) ..... 160
Adaptive Highbeam Assist Plus
Display message ............................ 216
Function/notes ............................. 109
Switching on/off ........................... 110
Additional speedometer ................... 202
Additives (engine oil) ........................ 332
Address book
see also Digital Operator's Man-
ual .................................................. 243
Adjusting the volume
Multimedia system ........................ 244
Air bags
Deployment ..................................... 54
Display message ............................ 214
Front air bag (driver, front
passenger) ....................................... 47
Head bag ......................................... 49
Important safety notes .................... 46
Introduction ..................................... 46
Knee bag .......................................... 48
Occu

pant Classification System
(OCS) ............................................... 49
PASSENGER AIR BAG indicator
lamps ............................................... 42
Side impact air bag .......................... 48
Air vents
Glove box ....................................... 122
Important safety notes .................. 121
Rear ............................................... 122
Setting ........................................... 121
Setting the center air vents ........... 122
Setting the side air vents ............... 122
Switching AIRSCARF on/off .......... 100
Air-conditioning system
see Climate control
AIRCAP
Cleaning instructions ..................... 282
Extending/retracting ....................... 91
Important safety notes .................... 91
AIRMATIC
Display message ............................ 220
Function/notes ............................. 159
AIRSCARF
Switching on/off ........................... 100
4Index

EASY-EXIT featureCrash-responsive .......................... .103
Function/notes .............................1 02
EBD (electronic brake force distri-
bution)
Display message ............................ 207
Function/notes ................................ 68
ECO display
Function/notes .............................1 45
On-board computer ....................... 191
ECO start/stop function
Automatic engine start .................. 128
Automatic engine switch-off .......... 128
Deactivating/activating ................. 129
General information ....................... 128
Important safety notes .................. 127
Introduction ................................... 127
Electronic Stability Program
see ESP
®(Electronic Stability Program)
Electronic Traction System
see ETS/4ETS (Electronic Trac-
tion System)
Emergency
Automatic measures after an acci-
dent ................................................. 57
Emergency release
Driver's door ....................................7 9
Trunk ............................................... 84
Vehicle ............................................. 79
Emergency Tensioning Devices
Activation ......................................... 54
Emissions control
Service and warranty information ....2 6
Engine
Check Engine warning lamp .......... .238
Display message ............................ 217
ECO start/stop function ................ 127
Engine number ............................... 329
Irregular running ............................ 130
Jump-starting ................................. 294
Starting (important safety notes) ... 125
Starting problems .......................... 130
Starting the engine with the
SmartKey ....................................... 126
Starting via smartphone ................ 126
Starting with the Start/Stop but-
ton ................................................. 126
Switching off .................................. 141 Tow-starting (vehicle) ..................... 299
Engine electronics
Problem (malfunction) ................... 130
E

ngine oil
Adding ...........................................2 75
Additives ........................................ 332
Checking the oil level ..................... 274
Checking the oil level using the
dipstick .......................................... 274
Checking the oil level using the
on-board computer ........................ 274
Display message ............................ 219
Filling capacity ............................... 332
General notes ................................ 331
Notes about oil grades ................... 331
Notes on oil level/consumption .... 274
Temperature (on-board computer,
Mercedes-AMG vehicles) ...............2 03
Entering an address
see also Digital Operator's Man-
ual ..................................................2 43
ESP
®(Electronic Stability Pro-
gram)
AMG menu (on-board computer) ... 203
Characteristics ................................. 67
Deactivating/activating ................. 198
Deactivating/activating (notes) ....... 67
Display message ............................ 205
Function/notes ................................ 66
General notes .................................. 66
Important safety information ........... 66
Warning lamp ................................. 235
ETS/4ETS (Electronic Traction Sys-
tem) ...................................................... 66
Exhaust
see Exhaust pipe
Exhaust check ................................... 145
Exhaust pipe
Cleaning ......................................... 285
Exterior lighting
Cleaning ......................................... 284
Setting options .............................. 107
see Lights
Exterior mirrors
Adjusting ....................................... 103
Dipping (automatic) ....................... 104
Folding in/out (automatically) ....... 104
10Index

Optional equipment weight (defi-
nition) ............................................ 320
PSI (pounds per square inch) (def-
inition) ...........................................319
Replacing ....................................... 320
Service life ..................................... 303
Sidewall (definition) ....................... 320
Snow chains .................................. 304
Speed rating (definition) ................ 319
Storing ...........................................3 21
Structure and characteristics
(definition) ..................................... 318
Summer tires in winter .................. 304
Temperature .................................. 315
TIN (Tire Identification Number)
(definition) ..................................... 320
Tire bead (definition) ......................3 20
Tire pressure (definition) ................ 320
Tire pressures (recommended) ...... 319
Tire size (data) ............................... 325
Tire size designation, load-bearing
capacity, speed rating .................... 315
Tire tread ....................................... 303
Tire tread (definition) ..................... 320
Total load limit (definition) ............. 320
Traction ......................................... 314
Traction (definition) ....................... 320
Tread wear ..................................... 314
Uniform Tire Quality Grading
Standards ...................................... 314
Uniform Tire Quality Grading
Standards (definition) .................... 318
Wear indicator (definition) ............. 320
Wheel and tire combination ........... 325
Wheel rim (definition) .................... 319
see Flat tire
Touchpad
Changing the station/music
track .............................................. 246
Character suggestions ................... 245
Deleting characters ....................... 246
Entering a space ............................ 246
Entering characters ....................... 245
Gesture control .............................. 245
Handwriting recognition ................ 246
Operating the touchpad ................. 245
Overview ........................................ 245
Qu

ick access for Audio .................. 246 Quick access for telephone ........... 246
Switching ....................................... 245
Switching input line ....................... 246
Tow-starting
Emergency engine starting ............ 299
Important safety notes .................. 297
Towing away
Important safety guidelines ........... 297
Installing the towing eye ................ 298
Notes for 4MATIC vehicles ............ 299
Removing the towing eye ............... 298
Transporting the vehicle ................ 299
With both axles on the ground ....... 298
Towing eye ......................................... 288
Traffic reports
see also Digital Operator's Man-
ual .................................................. 243
Traffic Sign Assist
Activating ....................................... 177
Display message ............................ 223
Function/notes ............................. 177
Important safety notes .................. 177
Instrument cluster display ............. 178
Switching on/off ........................... 199
Transfer case ..................................... 138
Transmission
see Automatic transmission
Transporting the vehicle .................. 299
Trim pieces (cleaning instruc-
tions) .................................................. 286
Trip computer (on-board com-
puter) .................................................. 192
Trip odometer
Calling up ....................................... 191
Resetting (on-board computer) ...... 192
Trunk
Emergency release .......................... 84
Emergency release button ............... 85
Important safety notes .................... 80
Locking separately ........................... 84
Opening ........................................... 81
Opening/closing (automatically
from inside) ...................................... 83
Opening/closing (automatically
from outside) ................................... 81
Opening/closing (from outside,
HANDS-FREE ACCESS) .................... 82
Index21

If adaptive Brake Assist demands particularly
high braking force, preventative passenger pro-
tection measures (PRE-SAFE
®) are activated
simultaneously (Ypage 56).
XKeep the brake pedal depressed until the
emergency braking situation is over.
ABS prevents the wheels from locking.
The brakes will work normally again if:
Ryou release the brake pedal.
Rthere is no longer any danger of a collision.
Rno obstacle is detected in front of your vehi-
cle.
Adaptive Brake Assist is then deactivated.
Important safety notes
GWARNING
Adaptive Brake Assist cannot always clearly
identify objects and complex traffic situa-
tions.
In such cases, Adaptive Brake Assist can:
Rintervene unnecessarily
Rnot intervene
There is a risk of an accident.
Always pay careful attention to the traffic sit- uation and be ready to brake. Terminate the
intervention in a non-critical driving situation.
GWARNING
Adaptive Brake Assist does not react:
Rto people or animals
Rto oncoming vehicles
Rto crossing traffic
Rwhen cornering
As a result, the Adaptive Brake Assist may not
intervene in all critical conditions. There is a
risk of an accident.
Always pay careful attention to the traffic sit- uation and be ready to brake.
Due to the nature of the system, particularly
complicated but non-critical driving conditions
may also cause Brake Assist to intervene.
If adaptive Brake Assist is not available due to a
malfunction in the radar sensor system, the
brake system remains available with full brake
boosting effect and BAS.
ESP®(Electronic Stability Program)
General notes
iObserve the "Important safety notes" sec-
tion (Ypage 61).
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 vehi-
cle 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)
iObserve the "Important safety notes" sec-
tion (Ypage 61).
ETS traction control is part of ESP
®. On vehicles
with 4MATIC, 4ETS is part of ESP®.
Traction control brakes the drive wheels indi-
vidually 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 transfer-
red to the wheel or wheels with traction.
Traction control remains active, even if you
deactivate ESP
®.
Important safety notes
GWARNING
If ESP
®is malfunctioning, ESP®is unable to
stabilize the vehicle. Additionally, further driv-
ing safety systems are deactivated. This
increases the risk of skidding and an accident.
Drive on carefully. Have ESP
®checked at a
qualified specialist workshop.
If the å ESP
®OFF warning lamp lights up
continuously, then ESP®is deactivated.
If the ÷ ESP®warning lamp lights up contin-
uously, ESP®is not available due to a malfunc-
tion.
Observe the information on warning lamps
(
Ypage 235) and display messages which may
66Driving safety systems
Safety

be shown in the instrument cluster
(Ypage 205).
Only use wheels with the recommended tire
sizes. Only then will ESP
®function properly.
Characteristics of ESP®
General information
If the ÷ ESP warning lamp goes out before
beginning the journey, ESP®is automatically
active.
If ESP
®intervenes, the ÷ESP®warning lamp
flashes in the instrument cluster.
If ESP
®intervenes:
XDo not deactivate ESP®under any circum-
stances.
XOnly depress the accelerator pedal as far as
necessary when pulling away.
XAdapt your driving style to suit the prevailing
road and weather conditions.
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, e.g. if
ESP®was deactivated before the engine was
automatically switched off.
Deactivating/activating ESP®
Important safety notes
iObserve the "Important safety notes" sec-
tion (Ypage 61).
You can select between the following states of
ESP
®:
RESP®is activated.
RESP®is deactivated.
GWARNING
If you deactivate ESP
®, ESP®no longer sta-
bilizes the vehicle. There is an increased risk
of skidding and an accident.
Only deactivate ESP
®in the situations descri-
bed in the following. It may be best to deactivate ESP
®in the follow-
ing situations:
Rwhen using snow chains
Rin deep snow
Ron sand or gravel
Spinning the wheels results in a cutting action
which provides better grip.
iActivate 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 (Ypage 198).
ESP®deactivated:
The å ESP®OFF warning lamp in the instru-
ment cluster lights up.
ESP
®activated:
The å ESP®OFF warning lamp in the instru-
ment cluster goes out.
Characteristics when ESP®is deactivated
If ESP®is deactivated and one or more wheels
start to spin, the ÷ESP®warning lamp in the
instrument cluster flashes. In such situations,
ESP
®will not stabilize the vehicle.
If you deactivate ESP®:
RESP®no longer improves driving stability.
REngine torque is no longer limited and the
drive wheels are able to spin.
RTraction control is still activated.
RCOLLISION PREVENTION ASSIST is no longer
available; nor is it activated if you brake firmly
with assistance from ESP
®.
RPRE-SAFE®is no longer available, nor is it
activated if you brake firmly and ESP®inter-
venes.
RPRE-SAFE®Brake is no longer available, it is
also not activated if you brake firmly and ESP®
intervenes.
RESP®still provides support when you brake
firmly.
Driving safety systems67
Safety
Z

critical situations. With these intelligent co-ordi-
nated systems Mercedes-Benz has set a mile-
stone 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 vehi-
cle occupants and that of other road users.
Further information on driving safety systems
(
Ypage 61).
Cruise control
General 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.
You can use cruise control if you want to drive at
a steady speed for a prolonged period of time.
You can store any road speed above 20 mph
(30 km/h).
Important safety notes
If you fail to adapt your driving style, cruise con-
trol 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 maintaining a safe
distance to the vehicle in front, for vehicle
speed, for braking in good time and for staying in
lane.
Do not use cruise control:
Rin road and traffic conditions which do not
allow you to maintain a constant speed, e.g. in
heavy traffic or on winding roads
Ron slippery road surfaces. Braking or accel-
erating could cause the drive wheels to lose
traction and the vehicle could then skid
Rwhen 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.
Cruise control lever
:Activates or increases speed
;Activates or reduces speed
=Deactivates cruise control
?Activates at the current speed/last stored
speed
When you activate cruise control, the stored
speed is shown in the multifunction display for
five seconds. In the speedometer, the segments
light up from the stored speed to the end of the
scale.
Storing and maintaining the current
speed
You can store the current speed if you are driv-
ing faster than 20 mph (30 km/h).
XAccelerate the vehicle to the desired speed.
XBriefly press the cruise control lever up :or
down ;.
XRemove your foot from the accelerator pedal.
Cruise control is activated. The vehicle auto-
matically maintains the stored speed.
iCruise control may be unable to maintain
the stored speed on uphill gradients. The
stored speed is resumed when the gradient
evens out. Cruise control maintains the
stored speed on downhill gradients by auto-
matically applying the brakes.
Calling up the last speed stored
GWARNING
If you call up the stored speed and it is lower
than the current speed, the vehicle deceler-
ates. If you do not know the stored speed, the vehicle could decelerate unexpectedly. There
is a risk of an accident.
Driving systems149
Driving and parking
Z

Tires
Display messagesPossible causes/consequences andMSolutions
PleaseCorrectTirePressureThe tire pressure is too low in at least one of the tires, or the tire
pressure difference between the wheels is too great.
XCheck the tire pressures at the next opportunity (Ypage 308).
XIf necessary, correct the tire pressure.
XRestart the tire pressure monitor (Ypage 310).
Check TiresThe tire pressure in one or more tires has dropped significantly. The
wheel position is shown in the multifunction display.
A warning tone also sounds.
GWARNING
Tire pressures that are too low pose the following hazards:
Rthey may burst, especially as the load and vehicle speed increase.
Rthey may wear excessively and/or unevenly, which may greatly
impair tire traction.
Rthe driving characteristics, as well as steering and braking, may be
greatly impaired.
There is a risk of an accident.
XStop the vehicle without making any sudden steering or braking
maneuvers. Pay attention to the traffic conditions as you do so.
XSecure the vehicle against rolling away (Ypage 140).
XCheck the tires and, if necessary, follow the instructions for a flat
tire (Ypage 288).
XCheck the tire pressure (Ypage 308).
XIf necessary, correct the tire pressure.
Warning Tire Mal‐functionThe tire pressure in one or more tires has dropped suddenly. The wheel
position is shown in the multifunction display.
GWARNING
Driving with a flat tire poses a risk of the following hazards:
Ra flat tire affects the ability to steer or brake the vehicle.
Ryou could lose control of the vehicle.
Rcontinued driving with a flat tire will cause excessive heat build-up
and possibly a fire.
There is a risk of an accident.
XStop the vehicle without making any sudden steering or braking
maneuvers. Pay attention to the traffic conditions as you do so.
XSecure the vehicle against rolling away (Ypage 140).
XCheck the tires and, if necessary, follow the instructions for a flat
tire (Ypage 288).
226Displa y messages
On-board computer and displays

Warning/
indicator
lampNSignal type
Possible causes/consequences and M
Solutions
÷NThe 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.
XWhen pulling away, only depress the accelerator pedal as far as necessary.
XEase off the accelerator pedal while the vehicle is in motion.
XAdapt your driving style to suit the road and weather conditions.
XDo not deactivate ESP®.
In exceptional cases, it may be better to deactivate ESP®:
Rwhen using snow chains
Rin deep snow
Ron sand or gravel
Observe the important safety notes on ESP®(Ypage 66).
÷N The yellow ESP®warning lamp is lit while the engine is running.
ESP®is malfunctioning.
Other driving systems and driving safety systems may also malfunction.
GWARNING
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.
XObserve the additional display messages in the multifunction display.
XDrive on carefully.
XVisit a qualified specialist workshop immediately.
236Warning and indicator lamps in the instrument cluster
On-board computer and displays

only on wheels specifically tested by Mercedes-
Benz.
Notes on driving with MOExtended tires with a
flat tire (
Ypage 289).
Vehicles equipped with MOExtended tires are
not equipped with a TIREFIT kit at the factory. It
is therefore recommended that you additionally
equip your vehicle with a TIREFIT kit if you mount
tires that do not feature run-flat properties, e.g.
winter tires. A TIREFIT kit can be obtained from a qualified specialist workshop.
Winter operation
General notes
Have your vehicle winterproofed at a qualified
specialist workshop at the onset of winter.
Observe the notes in the "Changing a wheel"
section (
Ypage 320).
Driving with summer tires
At temperatures below 45 ‡ (+7 †), summer
tires lose elasticity and therefore traction and
braking power. Change the tires on your vehicle
to M+S tires. Using summer tires at very cold
temperatures could cause cracks to form,
thereby damaging the tires permanently.
Mercedes-Benz cannot accept responsibility for
this type of damage.
GWARNING
Damaged tires can cause tire inflation pres-
sure 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.
M+S tires
GWARNING
M+S tires with a tire tread depth of less than
ã in (4 mm) are not suitable for use in winter
and do not provide sufficient traction. There is
a risk of an accident.
M+S tires with a tread depth of less than ãin
(4 mm) must be replaced immediately. At temperatures below 45
‡(+7 †), use winter
tires or all-season tires. Both types of tire are
identified by the M+S marking.
Only winter tires bearing the isnowflake
symbol in addition to the M+S marking provide
the best possible grip in wintry road conditions.
Only these tires will allow driving safety systems
such as ABS and ESP
®to function optimally in
winter. These tires have been developed specif-
ically for driving in snow.
Use M+S tires of the same make and tread on all
wheels to maintain safe handling characteris-
tics.
Always observe the maximum permissible
speed specified for the M+S tires you have
mounted.
When you have mounted M+S tires:
XCheck the tire pressures (Ypage 308).
XRestart the tire pressure monitor
(Ypage 310).
Snow chains
GWARNING
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:
Rnever install snow chains to the front
wheels
Ralways install snow chains in pairs to the
rear wheels.
For safety reasons, Mercedes-Benz recom-
mends 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:
RSnow chains may not be mounted on all
wheel/tire combinations. Permissible wheel-
tire combinations (
Ypage 325).
ROnly 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.
304Winter operation
Wheels and tires

RLocal regulations may restrict the use of snow
chains. Observe the appropriate regulations if
you wish to mount snow chains.
RDo not exceed the maximum permissible
speed of 31 mph (50 km/h).
ROn vehicles with AIRMATIC (Ypage 159), you
must drive at raised vehicle level if snow
chains have been mounted.
RIf snow chains have been mounted, you must
not use Active Parking Assist (Ypage 164).
You may wish to deactivate ESP®(Ypage 67)
when pulling away with snow chains mounted.
You can thereby allow the wheels to spin in a
controlled manner, achieving an increased driv-
ing force (cutting action).
Tire pressure
Tire pressure specifications
Important safety notes
GWARNING
Underinflated or overinflated tires pose the
following risks:
Rthe tires may burst, especially as the load
and vehicle speed increase.
Rthe tires may wear excessively and/or
unevenly, which may greatly impair tire
traction.
Rthe driving characteristics, as well as steer-
ing 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 includ-
ing the spare wheel:
Rmonthly, at least
Rif the load changes
Rbefore beginning a long journey
Runder different operating conditions, e.g.
off-road driving
If necessary, correct the tire pressure.
The data on the Tire and Loading Information
placard and tire pressure table shown here are
examples. Tire pressure specifications are vehi-
cle-specific and may deviate from the data shown here. The tire pressure specifications
that are valid for your vehicle can be found on
the Tire and Loading Information placard and
tire pressure table on the vehicle.
General notes
The recommended tire pressures for the tires
mounted at the factory can be found on the
labels described here.
Further information on tire pressures can be
obtained at a qualified specialist workshop.
Tire and Loading Information placard
:Recommended tire pressures
The Tire and Loading Information placard is on
the B-pillar on the driver's side (
Ypage 311).
The Tire and Loading Information placard con-
tains the recommended tire pressures for cold
tires. The recommended tire pressures are valid
for the maximum permissible load and up to the
maximum permissible vehicle speed.
Tire pressure table
The tire pressure table is on the inside of the fuel
filler flap. It shows the tire pressure for all tires
permitted at the factory for this vehicle; see
illustration (example).
Tire pressure305
Wheels and tires
Z