cruise control MERCEDES-BENZ S430 2004 W220 Owner's Manual

Contents
Control system .................................. 134
Multifunction display .................... 134
Multifunction steering wheel ........ 135
Menus .......................................... 137
Standard display menu ................ 139
AUDIO menu ................................ 139
CD changer* operating mode ...... 142
TEL menu* ................................... 144
NAVI menu ................................... 147
Distronic* menu........................... 147
Trip computer menu..................... 148
Malfunction memory menu .......... 150
Settings menu .............................. 151
Automatic transmission ..................... 164
One-touch gearshifting................. 165
Gear ranges ................................. 166
Gear selector lever position ......... 167
Steering wheel gearshift control
(Speedshift) S 55 AMG................. 168
Program mode selector switch..... 170
Accelerator position ..................... 170
Manual shift program S 55 AMG .. 171
Emergency operation
(Limp home mode) ....................... 173Good visibility ..................................... 174
Rear view mirror ........................... 174
Electrically folding exterior rear
view mirrors .................................. 176
Windshield wipers ......................... 177
Headlamp cleaning system*
(Standard on S 500, S 600,
S 55 AMG) .................................... 177
Sun visors ..................................... 178
Rear window sunshade* ............... 179
Rear door window sunshade* ....... 179
Automatic climate control .................. 180
Setting the temperature................ 183
Adjusting air distribution............... 184
Adjusting air volume ..................... 186
Maximum cooling MAXCOOL ........ 186
Defrosting ..................................... 187
Air recirculation mode .................. 187
Charcoal filter ............................... 188
Rear window defroster .................. 189
Deactivating the climate control
system .......................................... 190
Air conditioning............................. 190
Residual heat and ventilation ........ 191Ventilated storage compartment
(except S 55 AMG) ....................... 192
Rear passenger compartment
adjustable air vents ...................... 192
Rear passenger compartment
climate control*............................ 193
Power windows .................................. 195
Opening and closing the windows 195
Synchronizing the power windows 198
Sliding/pop-up roof............................ 199
Opening and closing the
sliding/pop-up roof....................... 199
Synchronizing the sliding /
pop-up roof ................................... 202
Driving systems .................................. 203
Cruise control ............................... 203
Distronic* ..................................... 206
AIRMATIC ..................................... 218
Active Body Control (ABC)* .......... 220
Parktronic* (Parking assist) .......... 224
Loading .............................................. 229
Roof rack* .................................... 229
Loading instructions ..................... 229
Cargo tie-down hooks ................... 230

21 At a glance
Cockpit
Item
Page
1
Combination switch

Turn signals


Windshield wipers


High beam
47
48
128
2
Cruise control lever

Cruise control


Distronic*
210
203
206
3
Instrument cluster
22
4
Multifunction steering
wheel
24
5
Gear range indicator, clock
22
6
Lever for voice control sys-
tem*, see separate operat-
ing instructions
Item
Page
7
Front Parktronic* (Parking
assist) warning indicator
for right front area
226
8
Overhead control panel
27
9
Glove box lock
231
a
Glove box lid release
231
b
Glove box
231
c
Center console
25
d
Starter switch
31
e
Horn
f
Steering wheel adjustment
stalk
Heated steering wheel*
37
240
Item
Page
g
Parking brake pedal
45
h
Hood lock release
272
j
Parking brake release
45
k
Door control panel
28
l
Exterior lamp switch
124
m
Headlamp washer button*
177
n
Front Parktronic* (Parking
assist) warning indicator
for left front area
226

23 At a glance
Instrument cluster
Item
Page
1
Coolant temperature gauge
132
2
Fuel gauge with:Fuel reserve warning lamp
308
3
LLeft turn signal
indicator lamp
47
KRight turn signal
indicator lamp
4
Speedometer with:vESP warning lamp
308
lDistance warning
lamp
Vehicles without Distronic*:
Warning lamp without func-
tion. It illuminates when the
ignition is on. It should go
out when the engine is run-
ning.
307
5
Tachometer
133
6
Right display with: 308
Item
Page
AHigh beam headlamp
indicator
48
-Antilock Brake Sys-
tem (ABS) warning
lamp
304
7
Reset button
131
8
Display with:

Program mode
170


Gear range indicator
166


Digital clock (see
COMAND operating in-
structions)
9
Multifunction display
with:

Trip odometer
132


Main odometer
132
Stored speed for:

Cruise control
203


Distronic*
206
Item
Page
a
Outside temperature indica-
tor
133
b
Left display with:1Supplemental
restraint system
indicator lamp
310
;Brake warning lamp,
USA only
305
3Brake warning lamp,
Canada only?Engine malfunction
indicator lamp, USA
only
306
±Engine malfunction
indicator lamp,
Canada onlyHTire pressure warning
lamp
287,
309
c
Knob for instrument cluster
illumination
131

203 Controls in detail
Driving systems
Driving systems
The driving systems of your vehicle are de-
scribed on the following pages:

Cruise control and Distronic*, with
which the vehicle can maintain a preset
speed


AIRMATIC adjusts the vehicle suspen-
sion characteristics automatically and
controls the vehicle level.


ABC* with vehicle level control sys-
tems, with which you can change vehi-
cle suspension characteristics


Parktronic*, which serves as a parking
assistant
For information on the BAS, ABS, and ESP
driving systems, see “Driving safety sys-
tems” (
page 77).
Cruise control
Cruise control automatically maintains the
speed you set for your vehicle.
Use of cruise control is recommended for
driving at a constant speed for extended
periods of time. You can set or resume
cruise control at any speed above 20 mph
(30 km/h).
The cruise control function is operated by
means of the cruise control lever.
The cruise control lever is the uppermost
lever found on the left-hand side of the
steering column (
page 20).
Warning!
G
Cruise control is a convenience system de-
signed to assist the driver during vehicle op-
eration. The driver is and must remain at all
times responsible for the vehicle speed and
for safe brake operation.
Only use cruise control if the traffic, road
and weather conditions make it advisable to
travel at a steady speed.

The use of cruise control can be danger-
ous on winding roads or in heavy traffic
because conditions do not allow safe
driving at a steady speed.


The use of cruise control can be danger-
ous on slippery roads. Rapid changes in
tire traction can result in wheel spin and
loss of control.


Deactivate cruise control when driving
in fog.
The “Resume” function should only be oper-
ated if the driver is fully aware of the previ-
ously set speed and wishes to resume this
particular preset speed.

204 Controls in detailDriving systems1Set current or higher speed
2Set current or lower speed
3Cancel cruise control
4Resume at last set speedSetting current speed

Accelerate or decelerate to the desired
speed.

Briefly lift1 or depress2 the cruise
control lever.
The current speed is set.

Remove your foot from the accelerator
pedal.
Cruise control is activated.Canceling cruise control
There are several ways to cancel cruise
control:

Step on the brake pedal.
or

Briefly push the cruise control lever to
position3.
Cruise control will be canceled. The
last speed set will be stored for later
use.
iOn uphill or downhill grades, cruise
control may not be able to maintain the
set speed. Once the grade eases, the
set speed will be resumed.
!Moving gear selector lever to
positionN while driving also cancels
cruise control. However, the gear se-
lector lever should not be moved to
positionN while driving except to coast
when the vehicle is in danger of skid-
ding (e.g. on icy roads).iThe last stored speed is canceled when
you turn off the engine.

205 Controls in detail
Driving systems
Setting a higher speed
Lift the cruise control lever to
position1 and hold it up until the de-
sired speed is reached.

Release the cruise control lever.
The new speed is set.
Setting a lower speed

Depress the cruise control lever to
position2 and hold it down until the
desired speed is reached.

Release the cruise control lever.
The new speed is set.Fine adjustment in 1 mph
(Canada: 1 km/h) increments
Faster

Briefly tip the cruise control lever in the
direction of arrow1.
Slower

Briefly tip the cruise control lever in the
direction of arrow2.Setting to last stored speed (“Resume”
function)

Briefly push the cruise control lever to
position4.
The cruise control will resume the last
set speed.

Remove your foot from the accelerator
pedal.
iDepressing the accelerator pedal does
not deactivate cruise control. After
brief acceleration (e.g. for passing),
cruise control will resume the last
speed set.
iWhen you use the cruise control lever
to decelerate, the transmission will au-
tomatically downshift if the engine’s
braking power does not slow the vehi-
cle sufficiently.
Warning!
G
The speed stored in memory should only be
set again if prevailing road conditions per-
mit. Possible acceleration or deceleration
differences arising from returning to preset
speed could cause an accident and/or seri-
ous injury to you and others.

206 Controls in detailDriving systemsDistronic*
When activated, the Distronic adaptive
cruise control system increases driving
convenience afforded by the cruise control
during travel on expressways and other
major roads.

If the Distronic distance sensor detects
a slower moving vehicle directly ahead,
your vehicle speed will be reduced so
that you follow that vehicle at a preset
distance.


If there is no vehicle directly ahead of
you, Distronic will function in the same
way as cruise control (
page 203).
Warning!
G
Distronic adaptive cruise control is no sub-
stitute for active driving involvement. It does
not react to stationary objects, nor recog-
nize or predict the curvature and lane layout
or the movement of vehicles ahead. Distron-
ic can only apply a maximum of 20% of the
vehicle’s braking power.
It is the driver’s responsibility at all times to
be attentive to traffic and road conditions
and to provide the steering, braking and oth-
er driving inputs necessary to retain control
of the vehicle.Warning!
G
Distronic is a convenience system. Its speed
adjustment reduction capability is intended
to make cruise control more effective and
usable when traffic speeds vary. However, it
is not intended to, nor does it, replace the
need for extreme care. The responsibility for
the vehicle speed and the distance to the ve-
hicle ahead, including most importantly
brake operation to assure safe stopping dis-
tance, always rests with the driver.
Distronic cannot take street and traffic con-
ditions into account.
Warning!
G
Distronic requires familiarity with its opera-
tional characteristics. We strongly recom-
mend that you review the following
information carefully before operating the
system.iFor operation in the USA only: This de-
vice complies with Part 15 of the
FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the
following two conditions:

This device may not cause harmful
interference, and


this device must accept any inter-
ference received, including interfer-
ence that may cause undesired
operation.
Any unauthorized modification to this
device could void the user’s authority
to operate the equipment.

210 Controls in detailDriving systemsDistronic deactivated
If Distronic is deactivated, the standard
display of Distronic appears in the multi-
function display.
1Vehicle ahead, if detected
2Actual distance to vehicle ahead
3Preset distance threshold to vehicle
ahead
4Symbol for activated distance warning
function
5Your vehicleDistronic activated
When you turn Distronic on, you will see
the set speed in the multifunction display
for about five seconds. You then see the
following display in the multifunction dis-
play.
1Distronic activatedCruise control lever
The Distronic system is operated by means
of the cruise control lever.
The cruise control lever is the uppermost
lever found on the left-hand side of the
steering column.
1Set current or higher speed
2Set current or lower speed
3Deactivate Distronic
4Resume at last set speed

211 Controls in detail
Driving systems
Activating Distronic
You can activate Distronic if:

you are driving between 25 mph
(40 km/h) and 110 mph (180 km/h)


the ESP is activated (
page 79)
If Distronic has not been activated after
pressing the cruise control lever you will
see the message
---
in the multifunction
display.
In the following cases you cannot activate
Distronic:


up to two minutes after starting the en-
gine


when you brake


if you have set the parking brake


if the gear selector lever is in
positionP, R, or N


if the ESP is switched offSetting the current speed

Accelerate or decelerate to the desired
speed.

Briefly lift or depress the cruise control
lever.
Distronic is activated and the current
speed is set.

Remove your foot from the accelerator
pedal.Setting a higher speed

Briefly tip the cruise control lever in the
direction of arrow1 (
page 210) to
increase vehicle speed in increments
of 5 mph (Canada: 10 km/h)
The new speed is set.
The stored speed is displayed in the multi-
function display for approximately five sec-
onds (
page 210), and one or two
segments around the stored speed come
on on the speedometer (
page 208).
iIf you do not take your foot off of the
accelerator completely, the following
message will appear in the multifunc-
tion display: DISTRONIC OVERRIDE
.
Distronic will not work to maintain the
distance to a slower moving vehicles in
front of you. Your vehicle speed will
then be determined only by the accel-
erator pedal position.
iDepressing the accelerator pedal does
not deactivate Distronic. After brief ac-
celeration (e.g. for passing), the cruise
control will resume the last speed set.

212 Controls in detailDriving systemsSetting a lower speed
Briefly tip the cruise control lever in the
direction of arrow2 (
page 210) to
decrease vehicle speed in increments
of 5 mph (Canada: 10 km/h)
The new speed is set.
The stored speed is displayed in the multi-
function display for approximately five sec-
onds (
page 210), and one or two
segments around the stored speed come
on on the speedometer (
page 208).Fine adjustment in 1 mph
(Canada: 1 km/h) increments
Faster

Briefly tip the cruise control lever in the
direction of arrow4 (
page 210).Setting to last stored speed (“Resume”
function)

Briefly tip the cruise control lever in the
direction of arrow4 (
page 210).
Distronic is set to the last stored
speed.

Remove your foot from the accelerator
pedal.
iWhen you use the cruise control lever
to decelerate, the transmission will au-
tomatically downshift if the rate of de-
celeration is too low.
Warning!
G
The speed stored in memory should only be
set again if prevailing road conditions per-
mit. Possible acceleration or deceleration
differences arising from returning to preset
speed could cause an accident and/or seri-
ous injury you and others.