2006 MERCEDES-BENZ E500 distronic

Contents
Control system .................................. 153
Multifunction display .................... 153
Multifunction steering wheel ........ 154
Menus .......................................... 156
Standard display menu ................ 159
AUDIO menu ................................ 159
NAV* menu .................................. 161
Distronic* menu........................... 161
Vehicle status message memory
menu ............................................ 162
Settings menu .............................. 163
Trip computer menu..................... 178
TEL menu* ................................... 180
Automatic transmission ..................... 183
Gear selector lever position ......... 185
Driving tips ................................... 186
Gear ranges ................................. 188
Automatic shift program .............. 189
Gear selector lever one-touch
gearshifting .................................. 190
Steering wheel gearshift control
one-touch gearshifting E 55 AMG 191
Manual shift program E 55 AMG .. 193
Emergency operation
(Limp Home Mode) ...................... 196Good visibility ..................................... 197
Headlamp cleaning system* ......... 197
Rear view mirrors.......................... 197
Sun visors ..................................... 199
Rear window sunshade* ............... 200
Roller sunblind* in the rear doors . 201
Rear window defroster .................. 201
Dual-zone automatic climate control
(USA only) .......................................... 202
Deactivating the climate control
system .......................................... 206
Operating the climate control
system in automatic mode............ 206
Setting the temperature................ 207
Adjusting air distribution............... 208
Adjusting air volume ..................... 209
Front defroster.............................. 209
Air recirculation mode .................. 210
Air conditioning............................. 212
Rear passenger compartment
adjustable air vents....................... 2134-zone automatic climate control* ..... 214
Deactivating the climate control
system .......................................... 219
Operating the climate control
system in automatic mode ........... 220
Setting the temperature ............... 221
Adjusting air distribution .............. 222
Adjusting air volume ..................... 223
Front defroster ............................. 223
Maximum cooling MAX COOL ....... 224
Air recirculation mode .................. 224
Air conditioning ............................ 227
Residual heat and ventilation
(Canada only)................................ 228
Rear climate control ..................... 229
Power windows .................................. 231
Opening and closing the windows 231
Synchronizing power windows ...... 233
Summer opening feature .............. 234
Convenience closing feature......... 235
Power tilt/sliding sunroof* ................ 236
Opening and closing the power
tilt/sliding sunroof........................ 236
Synchronizing the power
tilt/sliding sunroof........................ 238

ContentsPanorama roof with power
tilt/sliding panel* .............................. 239
Opening and closing the roller
sunblinds for the panorama roof
with power tilt/sliding panel ........ 239
Opening and closing the
panorama roof with power
tilt/sliding panel........................... 240
Synchronizing the panorama
roof with power tilt/sliding panel . 242
Driving systems ................................. 243
Cruise control............................... 243
Distronic*..................................... 247
Airmatic DC (Dual Control)* ......... 259
Parktronic system
(Parking assist)* ........................... 263
Loading .............................................. 268
Roof rack* .................................... 268
Ski sack* ...................................... 268
Split rear bench seat* .................. 271
Expanding the cargo area* ........... 273
Loading instructions ..................... 274
Cargo tie-down rings* .................. 275Useful features .................................. 276
Storage compartments ................ 276
Cup holders.................................. 278
Ashtrays ....................................... 281
Cigarette lighter ........................... 282
Power outlet................................. 283
Heated steering wheel* ............... 283
Floormats ..................................... 284
Telephone* .................................. 285
Tele Aid ........................................ 286
Garage door opener ..................... 293
Operation......................................... 301
The first 1 000 miles (1 500 km) ........ 302
Driving instructions ........................... 303
Drive sensibly – save fuel............. 303
Drinking and driving ..................... 303
Pedals .......................................... 303
Power assistance ......................... 304
Brakes.......................................... 304
Driving off .................................... 306
Parking......................................... 306
Tires ............................................. 307
Hydroplaning................................ 307
Tire traction ................................. 308
Tire speed rating .......................... 308
Winter driving instructions ........... 309
Standing water............................. 310
Passenger compartment .............. 311
Driving abroad ............................. 311
Control and operation of radio
transmitter ................................... 311
Catalytic converter
(Gasoline engine) ......................... 312
Oxidation catalyst (Diesel engine) 312
Emission control .......................... 313
Coolant temperature.................... 314

23 At a glance
Cockpit
Item
Page
1
Parking brake pedal
53, 61
2
Hood lock release
319
3
Steering wheel adjustment
stalk
43
Heated steering wheel*
283
4
Parking brake release
53
5
Combination switch

Turn signals
55


Windshield wipers
56


High beam
55
6
Door control panel
32
7
Exterior lamp switch
141
Item
Page
8
Headlamp washer button*
197
9
Steering wheel gearshift
control (E55 AMG only)
191
a
Cruise control lever

Cruise control
243


Distronic*
247
b
Instrument cluster
24,
150
c
Multifunction steering
wheel
26,
154
d
Horn
e
Lever for voice control sys-
tem*, see separate
operating instructions
Item
Page
f
Starter switch
36
g
Front Parktronic* warning
indicator
263
h
Overhead control panel
29
j
Mobile phone/Glasses box
276
k
Glove box lid release, glove
box lock
276
l
Glove box
276
m
Center console
27

25 At a glance
Instrument cluster
Item
Page
1
LLeft turn signal
indicator lamp
2
vABS/ESP
® warning
lamp
375
3
Speedometer
4
Multifunction display
153
5
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 running.
380
6
KRight turn signal
indicator lamp
7
Coolant temperature
indicator with:
151
•Coolant temperature
warning lamp
379
Item
Page
8
Tachometer with:1Supplemental
Restraint System (SRS)
indicator lamp
383
-Antilock Brake System
(ABS) indicator lamp
374
380
BLow beam headlamp
indicator lamp
54
AHigh beam headlamp
indicator lamp
145
9
Main odometer with:

Gear selector lever
position
50


Program mode
189
a
Clock with:
168
;Brake warning lamp,
USA only
376
3Brake warning lamp,
Canada only
376
Item
Page
úEngine malfunction
indicator lamp,
USA only
377
±Engine malfunction
indicator lamp,
Canada only
377
HCombination low tire
pressure/TPMS mal-
function telltale*
381
qPreglow indicator
lamp, Diesel engine
only
51
b
Fuel display with:AFuel reserve warning
lamp
380
c
Reset button for:

Resetting trip odometer
151


Adjusting instrument
cluster illumination
150


Confirming new time
settings
168

28 At a glanceCenter consoleLower part
Item
Page
1
Ashtray
281
2
KEYLESS-GO* start/stop
button
37
3
Gear selector lever for
automatic transmission
50,
185
4
Parking assist (Parktronic
system)* deactivation
switch
263
5
Adaptive Damping System
(ADS)* switch
259
Item
Page
6
Vehicle level control
switch*
260
7
Thumbwheel for setting
distance for Distronic*
255
8
Distance warning function*
on/off switch
256
9
Program mode selector
switch for automatic
transmission
189

96 Safety and SecurityDriving safety systemsSwitching off the ESP
®
To improve the vehicle’s traction, turn off
the ESP
® in driving situations where it
would be advantageous to have drive
wheels spin and thus cut into surfaces for
better grip such as:


when driving with snow chains


in deep snow


in sand or gravelWhen you switch off the ESP
®


the ESP
® does not stabilize the vehicle


the engine output is not limited, which
allows the drive wheels to spin and
thus cut into surfaces for better grip


the traction control will still brake a
spinning wheel


the ESP
® continues to operate when
you are braking


you cannot activate Distronic*The switch is located on the center con-
sole.
1ESP
® switch (off/on)

Press ESP
® switch 1 until the
ABS/ESP®warning lamp v in the
instrument cluster comes on.
The ESP
® is deactivated.
Warning!
G
The ESP
® should not be switched off during
normal driving other than in the circum-
stances described below. Disabling of the
system will reduce vehicle stability in driving
maneuvers.
Do not switch off the ESP
® when a
Minispare or collapsible tire is mounted.
!Turn on the ESP
® immediately if the
aforementioned circumstances do not
apply anymore.
iWhen the ESP
® is switched off and one
or more drive wheels are spinning, the
ABS/ESP
® warning lamp v in the
speedometer flashes. However, the
ESP
® will then not stabilize the vehicle.

157 Controls in detail
Control system
Menus, submenus and functions
Menu1
Menu2
Menu3
Menu4
Standard display
AUDIO
NAV*
Distronic*
(page 159)
(page 159)
(page 161)
(page 161)
Commands/submenusDigital speedometer
Select radio station
Show route guidance instruc-
tions, current direction trav-
eled
Call up settings
Call up maintenance system
display
Operate CD player
Check tire inflation pressure*Check engine oil level

161 Controls in detail
Control system
NAV* menu
The
NAV
menu contains the functions
needed to operate your navigation system.

Press buttonè orÿ repeatedly
until you see the message
NAV
in the
multifunction display.


If COMAND is switched off, the mes-
sage
NAV off
appears in the multifunc-
tion display.


With COMAND switched on but route
guidance not activated, the direction of
travel and, if available, the name of the
street currently traveled on appear in
the multifunction display.


With COMAND switched on and route
guidance activated, the direction of
travel and maneuver instructions ap-
pear in the multifunction display.
Please refer to the COMAND manual for in-
structions on how to activate the route
guidance system.
Distronic* menu
Use the Distronic menu to display the cur-
rent settings for your Distronic system.
What information is shown in the multi-
function display depends on whether the
Distronic system is active or inactive.
Please refer to the “Driving systems” sec-
tion of this manual (
page 247) for in-
structions on how to activate Distronic.

Press buttonè orÿ repeatedly
until you see one of the following two
pictures in the multifunction display.Distronic deactivated
When Distronic is deactivated, you will see
the standard display in the multifunction
display.
1Vehicle ahead, if detected
2Actual distance to vehicle ahead
3Preset distance threshold to vehicle
ahead
4Your vehicle
5Symbol for activated distance warning
function