2006 MERCEDES-BENZ SL65AMG Owner's Manual

208 Controls in detailDriving systemsIt is the driver’s responsibility at all times to
be attentive to road, weather and traffic con-
ditions and to provide the steering, braking
and other 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. It is not
however, intended to, nor does it, replace
the need for extreme care. The responsibili-
ty for the vehicle speed and the distance to
the vehicle ahead, including most impor-
tantly brake operation to assure safe stop-
ping distance, 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.
iCanada only:
This device complies with RSS-210 of
Industry Canada. Operation is subject
to the following two conditions:
(1) This device may not cause interfer-
ence, and
(2) this device must accept any inter-
ference received, including interfer-
ence that may cause undesired
operation of the device.
Any unauthorized modification to this
device could void the user’s authority
to operate the equipment.Warning!
G
Distronic cannot take street and traffic con-
ditions into account. Only use Distronic if
the weather and traffic conditions make it
advisable to travel at a steady speed.


209 Controls in detail
Driving systems
Distronic displays in the speedometer
dial
If Distronic detects a vehicle directly
ahead, the DTR indicator lamp E in the
speedometer dial comes on white.
If Distronic calculates that there is a dan-
ger of collision

the DTR warning lamp E in the
speedometer comes on red


an intermittent warning sounds

Immediately brake the vehicle to avoid
a collision.
Under no circumstances should the
driver await the intermittent warning
sound before braking. See the follow-
ing warning note.
The intermittent warning sound ceases
and the red DTR warning lamp E
goes out when the necessary distance
to the vehicle ahead is again estab-
lished.
Warning!
G
Use of Distronic can be dangerous on slip-
pery roads. Rapid changes in tire traction
can result in wheel spin and loss of control.
Distronic does not act upon adverse sight
distance conditions. Do not use Distronic
during conditions of fog and heavy rain,
snow or sleet.Warning!
G
Close attention to road and traffic condi-
tions is imperative at all times, regardless of
whether or not Distronic is activated.
Use of Distronic can be dangerous on wind-
ing roads or in heavy traffic because condi-
tions do not allow safe driving at a steady
speed.
Distronic will not react to stationary objects
in the roadway (e.g. a stopped vehicle in a
traffic jam or a disabled vehicle). Distronic
will also not respond to oncoming vehicles.
Switch off Distronic:

when changing from the left to the right
lane if vehicles are moving more slowly
in the left lane


when entering a turn lane or highway off
ramp


in complex driving situations, such as in
highway construction zones
In these situations, Distronic will continue to
maintain the set speed unless deactivated.
Distronic is designed and intended only to
maintain a set speed and keep a set dis-
tance from moving objects in front of it.
Warning!
G
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.

210 Controls in detailDriving systems1Red DTR warning lamp E
Warning!
G
An intermittent warning sounds and the
DTR warning lamp (red) E in the speed-
ometer dial is illuminated if the Distronic
system calculates that the distance to the
vehicle ahead and your vehicle’s current
speed indicate that Distronic will not be ca-
pable of slowing the vehicle sufficiently to
maintain the preset following distance,
which creates a danger of a collision.
Immediately brake the vehicle to increase
the distance to the vehicle in front of you.
The warning sound is intended as a final cau-
tion that you have not interceded with your
own braking inputs to avoid a potentially
dangerous situation. Do not wait for the op-
eration of the warning signal to intercede
with your own braking, as that will result in
potentially dangerous emergency braking
which will not always result in an impact be-
ing avoided.
Tailgating increases the risk of an accident.
Warning!
G
The Distronic brakes your vehicle with a
maximum of 6.5 ft/s
2 (2 m/s
2). This corre-
sponds to about 20% of the maximum decel-
eration ability of your vehicle.
Distronic brakes the vehicle in an effort to
restore the preset distance or to maintain
the speed.

211 Controls in detail
Driving systems
Distronic menu in the control system
In the Distronic menu you can read the cur-
rent settings for Distronic. What appears in
the left multifunction display depends on
whether the Distronic is turned on or off.
Press button è or ÿ repeatedly
until you see one of the following dis-
plays.Distronic deactivated
When Distronic is deactivated, you will see
the standard display in the left multifunc-
tion display.
1Vehicle ahead, if detected
2Actual distance to vehicle ahead
3Preset distance threshold to vehicle
ahead
4Your vehicle
5Symbol for activated distance warning
functionDistronic activated
When Distronic is activated, the DTR sym-
bol and the set speed appear in the left
multifunction display.
1Symbol for activated Distronic
2Set speed

212 Controls in detailDriving systemsCruise control lever
The Distronic system 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.
1Set current or higher speed
2Set current or lower speed
3Deactivate Distronic
4Resume at last set speedActivating Distronic
You can activate Distronic if


the vehicle speed is within a certain
range. The range is between
20 mph (30 km/h) and 110 mph
(180 km/h).


the ESP
® is activated (
page 85).
When Distronic is activated the speedome-
ter display will show a message such as
DTR 60 mph
.
If Distronic is deactivated, the speedome-
ter display will show the message
DTR --- mph
.
In the following cases you cannot activate
Distronic:


up to 2 minutes after starting the en-
gine


when you brake


if you have set the parking brake


if the gear selector lever is in
positionP, R, or N.


if the ESP
® is switched off1Set speed
2White DTR indicator lamp E
Setting the current speed

Accelerate or decelerate to the desired
speed.iThe vehicle speed displayed on the
speedometer can briefly vary from the
speed setting on the Distronic system.

213 Controls in detail
Driving systems

Briefly lift or depress the cruise control
lever.
The current speed is set.

Remove your foot from the accelerator
pedal.Setting a higher speed

Briefly tip the cruise control in direction
of arrow1 (
page 212) to increase
the vehicle speed in increments of
5 mph (Canada: 10 km/h).
The new speed is set.Setting a lower speed

Briefly tip the cruise control in direction
of arrow2 (
page 212) to decrease
the vehicle speed in increments of
5 mph (Canada: 10 km/h).
The new speed is set.
Fine adjustment in 1 mph
(Canada: 1 km/h) increments
Faster

Briefly tip the cruise control lever in
direction of arrow4 (
page 212).
iIf you do not take your foot off of the
accelerator completely, the following
message will appear in the speedome-
ter display field:DTR override
.
The distance to slower moving vehicles
in front of you will not be set. Your ve-
hicle speed will then be determined
only by the accelerator pedal position.
iDepressing the accelerator pedal does
not deactivate Distronic. After brief ac-
celeration (e.g. for passing), the cruise
control will resume the last speed set.
iWhen you use the cruise control lever
to decelerate, the brakes will be ap-
plied to support deceleration.
In addition, the transmission will auto-
matically downshift on long downhill
grades.

214 Controls in detailDriving systemsSetting to last stored speed
(“Resume” function)
Briefly tip the cruise control lever in
direction of arrow4 (
page 212).
Distronic is set to the last stored
speed.

Remove your foot from the accelerator
pedal.Deactivating Distronic
There are several ways to deactivate the
Distronic system:

Briefly tip the cruise control lever in
direction of arrow3 (
page 212).
or

Step on the brake pedal.
Distronic will be deactivated. The last
speed set will be stored into memory.Distronic deactivates automatically when


you set the parking brake


you drive slower than
20 mph (30 km/h) (
page 212)


the ESP
® is active (
page 85) or you
deactivate the ESP
®


You move the gear selector lever into
positionN.
A signal will sound. The
DTR off
mes-
sage appears in the speedometer dis-
play for approximately 5 seconds.
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 endanger yourself and oth-
ers.
iThe last stored speed is deleted when
you turn off the engine.
Warning!
G
Distronic switches off and releases the
brakes when the vehicle decelerates below
the minimum speed of 25 mph (40 km / h)
or, depending on vehicle production date,
20 mph (30 km/h) by operation of the sys-
tem. At that time the driver must apply the
brakes in order to reduce vehicle speed fur-
ther or bring it to a stop.

215 Controls in detail
Driving systems
Setting the following distance in
Distronic
You can set the specified following dis-
tance for Distronic by varying the time set-
ting between 1.0 and 2.0 seconds. Using
this time setting and the current speed of
your vehicle, Distronic calculates and sets
the required following distance to the vehi-
cle ahead. The set distance will be shown
in the speedometer display field.
The thumbwheel for making the time set-
ting is located on the lower section of the
center console.1Distance warning function on/off
switch
2Thumbwheel for setting distance
Increasing distance
Increasing the distance setting tells Dis-
tronic to maintain a greater following dis-
tance to the vehicle ahead.

Turn thumbwheel2 towards ¯.Decreasing distance
Decreasing the distance setting tells Dis-
tronic to maintain a smaller following dis-
tance to the vehicle ahead.

Turn thumbwheel2 towards ®.
Distance warning function
When Distronic is deactivated, this func-
tion will continue to warn you when recog-
nizing a stationary obstacle or a slower
vehicle moving in your vehicle’s path and
the danger of a collision exists:


The DTR warning lamp E comes on
red.


An intermittent warning will sound if
necessary.
If these warnings are issued, you must
brake manually to maintain a safe distance
and avoid a collision with the vehicle
ahead.
Warning!
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 recom-
mendations for safe following distance.