2005 MERCEDES-BENZ E320 adjust

208 Controls in detail4-zone automatic climate control*
The climate control is a 4-zone intelligent
climate control system. Your vehicle interi-
or is divided into 4 zones.With the help of a sun sensor, the climate
control determines the relation of the sun
to the vehicle and automatically adjusts
the inside temperature for every individual
zone.
You can set the temperature for each of
the 4 zones separately. These settings can
be assigned to a SmartKey and stored in
memory (
page 168).
The climate control is operational whenev-
er the engine is running. It cools the vehi-
cle’s interior according to the angle and
intensity of the sun’s rays, the outside tem-
perature and the selected temperature.
You can operate the climate control sys-
tem in either the automatic or manual
mode.
Warning!
G
When operating the climate control, the air
that enters the passenger compartment
through the air vents in the footwell can be
very hot or very cold (depending on the set
temperature). This may cause burn or frost-
bite to unprotected skin in the immediate
area of the air vents. Always keep sufficient
distance between unprotected parts of the
body and the footwell air vents. If necessary
change the air flow using the air distribution
controls (
page 206) to direct the air away
from the footwell air vents.

210 Controls in detail4-zone automatic climate control*Setting the temperature
Use temperature control rocker
switches3 and5 (
page 206) or
(
page 207) to separately adjust the air
temperature on each side of the passenger
compartment. You should raise or lower
the temperature setting in small incre-
ments, preferably starting at 72°F (22°C).Increasing

Push top of temperature control rocker
switch3 and/or5 (
page 206) or
(
page 207).
The climate control system will corre-
spondingly adjust the interior air tem-
perature.
Decreasing

Push bottom of temperature control
rocker switch3and/or 5
(page 206) or (
page 207).
The climate control system will corre-
spondingly adjust the interior air tem-
perature.
Adjusting air distribution
Use the air distribution controls1 and7
(page 206) or (
page 207) or to sepa-
rately adjust the air distribution on each
side of the passenger compartment. The
following symbols are found on the con-
trols:
iWhen operating the climate control
system in automatic mode, you will
only rarely need to adjust the tempera-
ture, air volume and air distribution.
Symbol
Function
a
Directs air through the center,
side and rear passenger com-
partment air vents
Z
Directs air to the windows
X
Directs air into the entire vehi-
cle interior
Y
Directs air to the footwells

211 Controls in detail
4-zone automatic climate control*
Adjusting manually
Turn air distribution controls on each
side of the passenger compartment to
the desired symbol.
The indicator lamp in theU button
goes out.
Adjusting automatically

Press left or rightU button
(page 206) or (
page 207).
The indicator lamp in theU button
illuminates. The air distribution is ad-
justed automatically.
Windshield fogged on the outside

Switch the windshield wipers on.

Press the left or rightU button
(page 206) or (
page 207).
Adjusting air volume
Adjusting manually
Nine blower speeds are available.
Press
to decrease or Q
(page 206) or (
page 207) to in-
crease air volume to the desired level.
The
AUTO
display disappears and the
automatic mode is switched off. The
selected blower speed is shown in the
display.
Adjusting automatically

Press left or right U button
(page 206) or (
page 207).
The
AUTO
display appears and the air
volume is adjusted automatically.
Defrosting
Activating
Press buttonP(
page 206) or
button0 (
page 207).
The indicator lamp on the button
comes on.
The air conditioning switches
automatically to the following functions:


maximum blowing and heating
power


air flows onto the windshield and
the front side windows


the air recirculation mode is
switched off
iThese settings should only be selected
for a short time.

216 Controls in detail4-zone automatic climate control*Rear air conditioning
1Left rear center air vent, adjustable
2Right rear center air vent, adjustable
3Thumbwheel for air volume control for
right rear center air vent
4Temperature rocker switch, right
5Display
6Temperature rocker switch, left
7Thumbwheel for air volume control for
left rear center air vent
Display1Temperature, left
2Temperature, right
Basic settings
We recommend setting the temperature
on both the left- and right-hand sides to
72°F (22°C). This ensures a pleasant tem-
perature in the rear of the vehicle.
The temperatures for the left- and
right-hand sides can be set using tempera-
ture rocker switches4 and6.Adjusting the rear settings with the
front control panel
Display
Press the™ button (
page 206) or
the5 button (
page 207).
The display switches over.
The temperature for the rear left- and
right-hand sides of the vehicle can be set
with temperature rocker switches3
and5.
The temperature display disappears ap-
proximately five seconds after the last
SmartKey confirmation and switches back
to the normal display.

231 Controls in detail
Driving systems
Driving systems
The following driving systems are ex-
plained 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


Parktronic system*, which assists the
driver during parking maneuvers
The BAS, ABS, ESP and SBC are described
in the “Safety and Security” section
(
page 85).
Cruise control
The 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 25 mph
(40 km /h).
E 320 4MATIC, E 500 4MATIC:
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 22).
Warning!
G
Cruise control is a convenience system de-
signed to assist the driver during vehicle op-
eration. The driver is and must always
remain responsible for the vehicle speed
and for safe brake operation.
Only use cruise control if the road, traffic
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.

234 Controls in detailDriving systemsSetting a higher speed
Lift cruise control lever to position1
and hold it up until the desired speed is
reached.

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

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

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

Briefly tip cruise control lever in direc-
tion of arrow1.
Slower

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

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

Remove your foot from the accelerator
pedal.
The selected speed appears in the multi-
function display for approximately five sec-
onds, and the corresponding speedometer
segments from the selected speed to the
vehicle maximum speed are illuminated.
iDepressing the accelerator pedal does
not deactivate cruise control. After
brief acceleration (e.g. for passing),
cruise control will resume the last
speed set.
iE 320 CDI, E 320, E 500, E 55 AMG:
When you use the cruise control lever
to decelerate, the brake system will au-
tomatically brake the vehicle if the en-
gine’s braking power does not brake
the vehicle sufficiently.
E 320 4MATIC, E 500 4MATIC:
When you use the cruise control lever
to decelerate, the transmission will au-
tomatically downshift if the engine’s
braking power does not brake 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 the pre-
set speed could cause an accident and/or
serious injury to you and others.

235 Controls in detail
Driving systems
Distronic*
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 239).
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.
Distronic 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.iUSA only:
This device complies with Part 15 of
the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to
the following two conditions:
(1) This device may not cause harmful
interference, and
(2) 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.

241 Controls in detail
Driving systems
Setting a lower speed
Briefly tip the cruise control lever in the
direction of arrow2 (
page 239) 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
multifunction display for approximately
five seconds (
page 239), and one or
two segments around the stored speed
come on, on the speedometer
(
page 237).Fine adjustment in 1 mph
(Canada: 1 km/h) increments
Faster

Briefly tip the cruise control lever in the
direction of arrow4 (
page 239).Setting stored speed
(“Resume” function)

Briefly tip the cruise control lever in the
direction of arrow4 (
page 239).
Distronic is activated and 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 to you and others.