Page 217 of 435
216 Controls in detailDriving systems
The most likely cause for a malfunctioning
system is a dirty sensor (located behind
the hood grille), especially at times of snow
and ice or heavy rain. In such a case, Dis-
tronic will switch off, and the message CURRENTLY UNAVAILABLE SEE OPER.
MANUAL
appears in the multifunction dis-
play.
For cleaning and care of the Distronic sen-
sor, see “Cleaning the Distronic* system
sensor cover” (
page 299).Turns and bends
In turns or bends, Distronic may not detect
a moving vehicle in front, or it may detect
one too soon. This may cause your vehicle
to brake late or unexpectedly.
Distronic regulates only the distance be-
tween your vehicle and those directly ahead
of it, but does not register stationary objects
in the road, e.g.:
a stopped vehicle in a traffic jam
a disabled vehicle
an oncoming vehicle
The driver must always be on the alert, ob-
serve all traffic and intercede as required by
steering or braking the vehicle.
Warning!
G
Distronic should not be used in snowy or icy
road conditions.
iIf the message
CURRENTLY UNAVAILABLE
SEE OPER. MANUAL
disappears during
driving and the last speed stored flash-
es for approximately five seconds, the
dirt (e.g. slush) has dissolved; Distronic
is again operational.
Page 220 of 435
219 Controls in detail
Driving systems
Vehicle level control with AIRMATIC
Your vehicle automatically adjusts its ride
height to:
reduce fuel consumption
increase vehicle safety
The vehicle chassis ride height is raised or
lowered according to the selected level
setting and to the vehicle speed:
With increasing speed, ride height is re-
duced by up to approximately
3/4in
(20 mm).
With decreasing speed, the ride height
is again raised to the selected vehicle
level.The following vehicle level settings can be
selected when the vehicle is stationary:
Select the "Raised" level setting only when
required by current driving conditions.
Otherwise:
Fuel consumption may increase
Handling may be impairedThe switch with the indicator lamps is lo-
cated in the upper part of the center con-
sole.
1Indicator lamp
2Vehicle level control switch
Briefly press switch2 to change from
one level setting to the other.
The message:AIRMATIC
VEHICLE RISING appears in the multifunction display
when changing from normal level to
raised level.
iThese height adjustments are so small
that you may not notice any change.
LevelNormal
For driving on normal roads.
The indicator lamp is off.
Raised
For driving on rough roads or
with snow chains.The indica-
tor lamp is on.
Warning!
G
To help avoid personal injury, keep hands
and feet away from wheel housing area, and
stay away from under the vehicle when low-
ering the vehicle chassis.
Page 222 of 435
221 Controls in detail
Driving systems
Suspension for sporty driving style
The setting for sporty driving is selected
when indicator lamp1 is illuminated.
Press switch2.
Indicator lamp1 comes on.
Suspension for regular driving style
The setting for regular driving is selected
when indicator lamp1 is off.
Press switch2.
Indicator lamp1 goes out. Vehicle level control with ABC*
Your vehicle automatically adjusts its ride
height to:
reduce fuel consumption
increase vehicle safety
The vehicle chassis ride height is raised or
lowered according to the selected level
setting and to the vehicle speed:
With increasing speed, ride height is re-
duced by up to approximately 1.4 in
(35 mm).
With decreasing speed, the ride height
is again raised to the selected vehicle
level.Select the level 1 and 2 settings only when
required by current driving conditions.
Otherwise:
Fuel consumption may increase
Handling may be impairediThese height adjustments are so small
that you may not notice any change.Warning!
G
To help avoid personal injury, keep hands
and feet away from wheel housing area, and
stay away from under the vehicle when low-
ering the vehicle chassis.
Page 225 of 435
224 Controls in detailDriving systemsParktronic* (Parking assist)
The Parktronic system is an electronic aid
designed to assist the driver during park-
ing maneuvers. It visually and audibly indi-
cates the relative distance between the
vehicle and an obstacle.
The Parktronic system is automatically ac-
tivated when you switch on the ignition
and release the parking brake. The Park-
tronic system deactivates at speeds over
11 mph (18 km/h). At lower speeds the
Parktronic system turns on again.The Parktronic system monitors the sur-
roundings of your vehicle with six sensors
in the front bumper and four sensors in the
rear bumper.
1Sensors in the front bumperWarning!
G
The Parktronic is a supplemental system. It
is not intended to, nor does it replace, the
need for extreme care. The responsibility
during parking and other critical maneuvers
always rests with the driver.
Special attention must be paid to objects
with smooth surfaces or low silhouettes
(e.g. trailer couplings, painted posts, or road
curbs). Such objects may not be detected by
the system and can damage the vehicle.
The operational function of the Parktronic
system can be affected by dirty sensors, es-
pecially at times of snow and ice, see
“Cleaning the Parktronic* system sensors”
(page 299).
Interference caused by other ultrasonic sig-
nals (e.g. working jackhammers or the air
brakes of trucks) can cause the system to
send erratic indications, and should be tak-
en into consideration.
Warning!
G
Make sure that no persons or animals are in
the area in which you are maneuvering. You
could otherwise injure them.
Page 226 of 435
225 Controls in detail
Driving systems
Range of the sensors
To function properly, the sensors must be
free of dirt, ice, snow and slush. Clean the
sensors regularly, being careful not to
scratch or damage the sensors.Front sensors
Rear sensorsMinimum distance
If the system detects an obstacle in this
range, all the warning lamps come on and
you hear a warning signal. If the obstacle is
closer than the minimum distance, the ac-
tual distance might no longer be indicated
by the system.
Center
approx. 40 in (100 cm)
Corners
approx. 24 in (60 cm)
Center
approx. 48 in (120 cm)
Corners
approx. 32 in (80 cm)
!During parking maneuvers, pay special
attention to objects located above or
below the height of the sensors (e.g.
planters or trailer hitches). The Park-
tronic system will not detect such ob-
jects at close range and damage to
your vehicle or the object may result.
Ultrasonic signals from outside sourc-
es (e.g. truck air brakes or jackham-
mers) may impair the operation of the
Parktronic system.
Center
approx. 8 in (20 cm)
Corners
approx. 6 in (15 cm)
Page 227 of 435
226 Controls in detailDriving systemsWarning indicators
Visual signals indicate to the driver the rel-
ative distance between the sensors and an
obstacle. The warning indicators for the
front area are located above the left air
vents and center air vents in the dash-
board (
page 21). The warning indicator
for the rear area is integrated in the rear
trim.
1Left front area warning indicator1Right front area warning indicator
Each warning indicator is divided into six
yellow and two red segments for either
side of the vehicle. The Parktronic system
is ready when the border around the indi-
cator is illuminated.The position of the gear selector lever de-
termines which warning indicators will be
activated.
Selector lever po-
sition
Warning indicator
D
Front area activated
R or N
Front and rear area
activated
P
Neither activated
Page 228 of 435
227 Controls in detail
Driving systems
As your vehicle approaches an object, one
or more segments will come on, depending
on the distance between your vehicle and
the object. When the eighth segment
comes on, you have reached the minimum
distance.
Front area: An intermittent acoustic
warning will sound as the first red seg-
ment comes on and a constant acous-
tic warning, both lasting a maximum of
three seconds, will sound for the eighth
segment, i.e. the second red segment.
The signal is canceled when the gear
selector lever is placed in position P.
Rear area: An intermittent acoustic
warning will sound as the first red seg-
ment comes on and a constant acous-
tic warning, both lasting a maximum of
three seconds, will sound for the eighth
segment, i.e. the second red segment.
The signal is canceled when the gear
selector lever is placed in position D
orP.Switching the Parktronic system
on/off
You can switch off the Parktronic system
manually.
The Parktronic switch is located in the up-
per section of the center console.
1Indicator lamp
2Parktronic on/offSwitching off the Parktronic system
Press switch2.
Indicator lamp1 comes on.
Switching on the Parktronic system
Press switch2 again.
Indicator lamp1 goes out.
Page 229 of 435
228 Controls in detailDriving systemsParktronic malfunction
There is a malfunction in the Parktronic
system if the red segments of the Park-
tronic warning indicator come on and a
warning sounds. The Parktronic system
will switch itself off after 30 seconds and
the indicator lamp on the Parktronic switch
comes on.
Have the Parktronic system checked
by an authorized Mercedes-Benz Cen-
ter as soon as possible.If only the red segments of the Parktronic
warning indicator come on and no warning
sounds, then the sensors of the Parktronic
system are dirty or malfunctioning. Mal-
function may also be caused by interfer-
ence from other radio or ultrasonic signals.
The Parktronic system will switch itself off
after 20 seconds.
Clean Parktronic system sensors
(page 299).
Switch on ignition.
or
Check Parktronic operation at another
location to rule out interference from
outside radio or ultrasonic signals.
