2002 MERCEDES-BENZ S500 Memory

213 Garage door opener
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Operation of remote control:
1. Turn electronic key in starter switch to position 1
or 2.
2. Select and press the appropriate button to activate
the remote controlled device. The integrated remote
control transmitter continues to send the signal as
long as the button is pressed – up to 20 seconds.Erasing the remote control memory:
1. Turn electronic key in starter switch to position 1
or 2.
2. Simultaneously holding down the left and right side
buttons for approximately 20 seconds, or until the
control lamp blinks rapidly, will erase the codes of
all three channels.

263 Driving systems
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index The speed stored in memory is displayed in the
multifunction display, and one or two segments around
the stored speed light up in the speedometer dial, see
page 276.
1Accelerate and set:
To increase the speed by 5 mph (Canada: 10 km/h) –
briefly lift lever up.
2Decelerate and set:
To reduce the speed by 5 mph (Canada: 10 km/h) –
briefly depress lever.3Canceling
To cancel Distronic, briefly push lever to position 3.
The last set speed remains stored in memory.
4Resume
•If the lever is briefly pulled to position 4 when
driving at a speed above approximately 25 mph
(Canada: 40 km/h), the vehicle resumes the
speed which was selected prior to the
cancellation of Distronic.
•For minor increases of speeds in increments of
1 mph (Canada: 1 km/h) – briefly pull lever to
position 4.
The last memorized speed is canceled when the
electronic key in the starter switch is turned to
position 1 or 0.
1
3
4
2

265 Driving systems
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index •For a more precise setting the speed can be
increased in increments of 1 mph (Canada: 1 km/h)
by briefly pulling the control lever in direction (4).
Caution!
If the driver’s foot is not fully removed from the
accelerator pedal, the message “DISTRONIC OVERRIDE”
is displayed while the Distronic control system is being
overridden and it will not regulate the preset vehicle
speed and following distance. The vehicle speed and
following distance will be determined only by the
accelerator pedal position.Invalid attempts to activate
The multifunction display will show “––– MPH” during
invalid attempts to activate Distronic. Distronic will not
activate in the following situations:
•below a speed of approx. 25 mph
(Canada: 40 km/h),
•while the electronic stability program (ESP) is
switched off – ESP warning lampv in
speedometer dial is illuminated, see page 112,
•by moving the distronic control lever in “RESUME”
direction (4) when no speed is stored in memory,
•during the initialization and self-test phase after the
engine is started – this can take up to 2 minutes,
•while depressing the service brake pedal,
•while the parking brake is set – check ;warning
lamp (Canada: !) in instrument cluster, see
page 112,
•with the gear selector lever in position “P”, “R”
or “N” – check gear range indicator display in
instrument cluster, see page 112.
See page 332 for malfunction and warning messages if
the Distronic is malfunctioning.
Wa r n i n g !
Distronic brakes (up to 20% of vehicle braking
power) the vehicle to restore the preset distance or
to maintain the speed. The brake pedal is
automatically applied as this happens.Keep driver’s foot area clear at all times, including
the area under the brake pedal. Objects stored in
this area may impair pedal movement which could
interfere with the braking ability of the Distronic
system.Do not place your foot under the brake pedal – your
foot could become caught.

266 Driving systems
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Deactivation of Distronic
Briefly move the distronic control lever in “OFF”
direction (3) – the stored speed remains in the memory
until the electronic key in the starter switch is turned to
position 1 or 0.
Distronic is also deactivated if:
•the service brake pedal is depressed,
•the parking brake is activated,
•the vehicle decelerates to less than approximately
25 mph (Canada: 40 km/h), e.g. while maintaining
the distance to the vehicle ahead,•the gear selector lever is moved to position “N”,
•the electronic stability program (ESP) is active,
•the electronic stability program (ESP) is switched off
manually.
Note:
A signal sounds and the message “DISTRONIC OFF”
appears for 5 seconds in the multifunction display
everytime Distronic is deactivated (except when moving
distronic control lever in “OFF” direction).
Wa r n i n g !
The Distronic switches off and releases the brakes
when the vehicle decelerates below the minimum
speed of 25 mph (Canada: 40 km/h) by operation of
the system. At that time, the driver must apply the
brakes in order to reduce vehicle speed further or
bring it to a stop.

274 Driving systems
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Notes:
With the distance warning function activated, you will
still be advised by an intermittent audible warning if a
potential emergency braking circumstance has been
detected, even if Distronic has been deactivated.
The last selected warning function mode (on/off) will be
stored in memory, even when removing the electronic
key from the starter switch.

276 Driving systems
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Displays in the speedometer dial
When Distronic system is activated, one or two
segments around the speed stored in memory light up
in the speedometer dial.If a vehicle is detected ahead, those segments in the
speedometer dial light up that indicate the speed range
from the speed of the vehicle in front up to the Distronic
stored speed.
When the vehicle in front can no longer be detected,
only the segments around the stored speed light up. The
vehicle is accelerated to the stored speed.

284 Driving systems
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Active body control (ABC)
(optional, standard on model S 600)
The switch is located on the center console
Press the switch when the engine is running:
1Suspension for sporty driving style
2Suspension for regular driving style
3Indicator lamp for sporty driving styleThe maximum suspension range is selected
automatically according to the selected ABC
mode (1 or 2), road condition, and driving style.
The selected suspension style is stored in memory, even
with the electronic key removed from the starter switch.
Suspension for regular driving style
This is the setting for general driving.
The system is set to regular driving mode when the
indicator lamp (3) is not illuminated.
Press lower half of switch to change from suspension
style for sporty driving to regular driving style.
Suspension for sporty driving style
This is the setting for sporty driving.
Press upper half of switch (1) to select suspension style
for sporty driving. The indicator lamp (3) comes on.
Note:
See “ACTIVE BODY CONTROL” on page 320 for
malfunction and warning messages.

286 Driving systems
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
The message “AIR SPRING – VEHICLE RISING” appears
in the multifunction display. The display switches off
when the vehicle is raised.
Notes:
The raised level setting switches off at speeds exceeding
approximately 75 mph (120 km / h), or if vehicle speed
is operated between 50 mph (80 km / h) and 75 mph
(120 km / h) for approximately 5 minutes. The message
“AIR SPRING – LEVEL CANCELLED” appears in the
display.
The raised level setting will be stored in memory after
the electronic key is removed from the starter switch if
you did not drive at the aforementioned speeds.
See “AIR SPRING” on page 331 for malfunction and
warning messages.Level control system for vehicles with
Active Body Control (ABC)
The switch is located on the center console.
Press the switch when the engine is running:
1Raise vehicle chassis
2Lower vehicle chassis
3Indicator lamp
4Indicator lamp