2002 MERCEDES-BENZ S430 lights

190 Interior equipment
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Interior lighting
1Left front reading lamp
Press the button to switch the reading lamp on or
off. The left reading lamp (7) in the interior rear
view mirror will be switched on or off.
2Rear interior lights
Press the button to switch the rear passenger
compartment lights on / off.3Right front reading lamp
Press the button to switch the reading lamp on or
off. The right reading lamp (8) in the rear view
mirror will be switched on or off.
4To switch off automatic function:
Press the rocker switch.
The interior lighting remains switched off, even
when centrally unlocking or opening a door or the
electronic key is removed from the starter switch.
5To select automatic function:
Press the rocker switch to the center position.
Interior lamps are switched on in darkness, when
unlocking the vehicle, opening a door or removing
the electronic key from starter switch.
Interior lamps are switched off (soft fade) delayed,
when locking the vehicle, closing the doors or
inserting the electronic key in starter switch.
However, there will be no delay when the electronic
key is in starter switch position 2.
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192 Interior equipment
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Courtesy lighting
The interior of your vehicle is equipped with various
different lighting installations to help you to orient
yourself better in the dark.
Entrance lamps, exit lamps
With exterior lamps on or electronic key in starter
switch position 1, the lamps in the door trays illuminate.
The lights will remain on for approximately 5 minutes if
the electronic key is in starter switch position 0 and
exterior lamps are switched off.Footwell lighting
With parking lamps on, the footwell is illuminated.
Center console lighting
Turn the electronic key in the starter switch to
position 1. The center console is illuminated from the
inside rear view mirror.
Door entry lamps
The appropriate entry lamp switches on if a door is
opened in darkness and if the interior lighting is
switched to automatic function.
The entry lamp switches off automatically when the
door is closed.

239 Automatic transmission
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Stopping
For brief stops, e.g. at traffic lights, leave the
transmission in gear and hold vehicle with the service
brake.
For longer stops with the engine idling, shift into “N”
or “P” and hold the vehicle with the service brake.
When stopping the vehicle on an uphill gradient, do not
hold it with the accelerator, use the brake. This avoids
unnecessary transmission heat build up.
Maneuvering
To maneuver in tight areas, e.g. when pulling into a
parking space, control the vehicle speed by gradually
releasing the brakes. Accelerate gently and never
abruptly step on the accelerator.
To rock a vehicle out of soft ground (mud or snow),
alternately shift from forward to reverse, while applying
slight partial throttle.Rocking a vehicle free in this manner may cause the
ABS or traction system malfunction indicator lamp to
come on. Turn off and restart the engine to clear the
malfunction indication.
Wa r n i n g !
Getting out of your vehicle with the selector lever
not fully engaged in position “P” is dangerous.
Also, when parked on an incline, position “P” alone
may not prevent your vehicle from moving,
possibly hitting people or objects.Always set the parking brake in addition to shifting
to position “P”, see page 246 for parking brake. When parked on an incline, also turn front wheel
against curb.Wa r n i n g !
When leaving the vehicle always remove the
electronic key from the starter switch, take the
KEYLESS-GO-card (if so equipped) with you and
lock the vehicle. Do not leave children unattended
in the vehicle, or with access to an unlocked
vehicle. Children could move the gear selector lever
from position “P”, which could result in an
accident or serious injury.

272 Driving systems
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Distance warning function
Even if Distronic is deactivated, the distance to the
vehicle ahead continues to be measured, see page 275
for multifunction display.
The Distronic lamp in the speedometer dial illuminates
to advise the driver of a situation which under normal
braking conditions and dry surfaces should have been
addressed by the driver.
The distance warning function can be activated
separately, see page 272. It operates when driving at
speeds above approx. 25 mph (Canada: 40 km/h).
When recognizing a stationary obstacle or a slower
vehicle moving in the vehicle’s path and the danger of a
collision exists, the distance warning lamp in the
speedometer dial lights up and simultaneously an
intermittent warning sounds.
When pressing the service brake pedal, the warning
sound stops. The warning sound also stops, when the
distance to the vehicle ahead is sufficient again without
applying the service brake pedal. In this case the
distance warning lamp also extinguishes.Important!
With Distronic switched off, only the distance warning
function operates, meaning the vehicle does not slow
down.
Distronic does not register oncoming vehicles. Therefore
there is no distance warning.
Important!
Complex driving situations are not always fully
recognized by Distronic, which could result in wrong or
missing distance warnings. See page 269 for additional
driving hints.
Wa r n i n g !
If the distance warning lamp in the speedometer
dial lights up while driving and an intermittent
warning sounds, immediate attention on the part of
the driver is required.As required by the traffic situation, apply the
service brakes and navigate around a possible
obstacle. However, do not drive by relying on the
distance warning function as that will result in an
emergency braking application which, especially
depending on road surface conditions and driver
reaction, will not always be able to avoid a collision.

273 Driving systems
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Distronic settings
1Switch – for distance warning function
2Thumbwheel – for setting distance
Distronic provides a range of following distances to the
vehicle in front. The medium setting is noticeable by a
detent in the center position of the thumbwheel (2).
If you want to:
•Increase distance – turn thumbwheel (2)
towards¯.•Decrease distance – turn thumbwheel (2)
towards®.
To switch the distance warning function on or off:
To switch on – press upper half of switch (1).
The indicator lamp in the switch lights up. If the
Distronic menu is active in the multifunction display, a
loudspeaker symbol appears.
To switch off – press lower half of the switch (1).
The indicator lamp in the switch goes out. If the
Distronic menu is active in the multifunction display,
the loudspeaker symbol disappears.
See page 272 for distance warning function and
page 275 for multifunction displays.
Wa r n i n g !
It is up to the driver to exercise discretion to select
the appropriate setting given road conditions,
traffic, driver’s preferred driving style and
applicable laws and driving recommendations for
safe following distance.

285 Driving systems
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Level control system for vehicles with
Airmatic system
The switch for the ride height adjustment is located on
the center console.
Press the switch when the engine is running:
1Raised level
2Normal level
3Indicator lampThe vehicle ride height in the normal level mode is
adjusted automatically according to the vehicle speed.
This increases vehicle safety and reduces fuel
consumption.
At speeds exceeding approximately 70 mph (110 km / h)
the vehicle ride height is reduced to approximately one
half inch (15 mm) below the normal level. The vehicle is
returned to the normal ride height setting once the
speed falls below approximately 35 mph (60 km / h).
Normal level
The system is set to normal level when the indicator
lamp (3) is not illuminated.
When the raised level ride height returns to the normal
level ride height, the indicator lamp (3) goes out.
Raised level
To select the raised level mode, press the upper half of
the switch (1). The indicator lamp (3) comes on.
Use the raised level setting for rough sections of the
road, for example.
The vehicle is raised by approximately 3/4 inch (20 mm).
The indicator lamp (3) lights up.

289 Driving systems
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Adaptive damping system (ADS)
The switch is located on the center console.
Press the switch when the engine is running:
1Firm damping program I and II
2Soft damping program
3Indicator lamp
4Indicator lamp Depending upon road surface conditions, driving style,
and damping program selected, ADS will automatically
adjust for optimal ride comfort.
The selected damping mode is stored in memory when
removing the electronic key from the starter switch.
The following settings are available:
Soft damping program – indicator lamps (3, 4) are
switched off.
Firm damping program I – indicator lamp (3) lights up.
Firm damping program II – indicator lamps (3, 4) light
up.
Soft damping program
Setting for regular driving.
The soft damping mode is activated when bot h indicator
lamps (3, 4) are switched off.
To change from soft to firm damping mode, press upper
half of switch (2) once or twice.
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290 Driving systems
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Firm damping program I
Setting for sporty driving.
Changing from soft damping program:
Press upper half of switch (1) once. The indicator
lamp (3) lights up.
Changing from firm damping program II:
Press lower half of switch (2). The indicator lamp (4)
goes out.Firm damping program II
Setting for very sporty driving.
Changing from soft damping:
Press upper half of switch (1) twice. The indicator
lamps (3, 4) light up.
Changing from firm damping program I:
Press upper half of switch (1) once. The indicator
lamp (4) lights up in addition to indicator lamp (3).