2007 MERCEDES-BENZ E63AMG suspension

61 Getting started
Parking and locking
Parking and locking
You have now completed your first drive.
You have properly stopped and parked
your vehicle. End your drive as follows.Warning!
G
With the engine not running, there is no
power assistance for the brake and steering
systems. In this case, it is important to keep
in mind that a considerably higher degree of
effort is necessary to brake and steer the ve-
hicle.Warning!
G
Vehicles with Airmatic: If you have selected
the Comfort suspension tuning
(page 265), the vehicle lowers slightly
when it is locked. You should therefore
make sure that no one is standing near the
wheel arches or lying underneath the vehi-
cle when it is being locked. Otherwise, per-
sonal injury could result.
Warning!
G
Do not park this vehicle in areas where com-
bustible materials such as grass, hay or
leaves can come into contact with the hot
exhaust system, as these materials could be
ignited and cause a vehicle fire.
To reduce the risk of personal injury, or
damage to the vehicle drivetrain, as a result
of vehicle movement, before turning off the
engine and leaving the vehicle always:

Keep right foot on brake pedal.


Firmly depress parking brake pedal.


Move the gear selector lever to
positionP.


Slowly release brake pedal.


When parked on an incline, turn front
wheel towards the road curb.


Turn the SmartKey to starter switch
position0 and remove, or press
start / stop button (vehicles with
KEYLESS-GO*).


Take the SmartKey or the SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO* and lock vehicle when
leaving.
!
Vehicles with Airmatic: If you have selected
the Comfort suspension tuning (
page 265),
the vehicle lowers slightly when you lock it within
approximately 60 seconds after switching off the
engine. When parking, make sure that your vehi-
cle cannot come into contact with other objects,
such as a curb, while lowering. Your vehicle
could otherwise be damaged.

265 Controls in detail
Driving systems
Airmatic DC (Dual Control)
(only available on E 550, E 550 4MATIC, E 63 AMG)
Airmatic automatically selects the opti-
mum suspension tuning and ride height for
your vehicle. The Airmatic consists of two
components:

Adaptive Damping System (ADS)


Vehicle level control
The ADS automatically selects the opti-
mum damping for the respective driving
conditions. At the same time the suspen-
sion is set to either Sport 1, Sport 2 or
Comfort.
Suspension tuning
The suspension tuning is set according to:


Your driving style


Road surface conditions


Your choice of suspension style,
Sport 1, Sport 2 or Comfort, which you
select using the damping button1The following suspension styles are
available:


Comfort
Both indicator lamps2 are off.


Sport 1
One indicator lamp2 is on.


Sport 2
Both indicator lamps2 are on.
1Damping button
2Indicator lamps

Start the engine.

Press the damping button1 until the
desired suspension style is set.
!
If you have selected the Comfort suspen-
sion tuning, the vehicle lowers slightly when you
lock it within approximately 60 seconds after
switching off the engine. When parking, make
sure that your vehicle cannot come into contact
with other objects, such as a curb, while lower-
ing. Your vehicle could otherwise be damaged.
i
The selected suspension style is stored in
memory, even after the SmartKey is removed
from the starter switch.

267 Controls in detail
Driving systems
The following vehicle level settings can be
selected when the vehicle is stationary and
the engine is running:Vehicle level
when stationary
Indicator lamp
Suspension
tuning
Use for
Ride height increase
over normal
Automatic lowering
Normal
Lamp off
Comfort
For driving on normal
roads
None
Max. approx. 0.4 in (10 mm)
Normal
Lamp off
Sport 1 or 2
For driving on normal
roads
None
Max. approx. 0.6 in (15 mm)
Raised
Lamp on
Comfort
For driving on rough
roads or with snow
chains
Approx. 0.8 in (20 mm)
Max. approx. 1.2 in (30 mm)
Raised
Lamp on
Sport 1 or 2
For driving on rough
roads or with snow
chains
Approx. 0.8 in (20 mm)
Max. approx. 1.4 in (35 mm)

333 Operation
Tires and wheels
Tires and wheels
See an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center
for information on tested and recommend-
ed rims and tires for summer and winter
operation. They can also offer advice con-
cerning tire service and purchase.
Important guidelines

Only use sets of tires and rims of the
same type and make.


Tires must be of the correct size for the
rim.


Break in new tires for approximately
60 miles (100 km) at moderate
speeds.


Regularly check the tires and rims for
damage. Dented or bent rims can
cause tire inflation pressure loss and
damage to the tire beads.


If vehicle is heavily loaded, check tire
inflation pressure and correct as
required.


Do not allow your tires to wear down
too far. Adhesion properties on wet
roads are sharply reduced at tread
depths of less than
1/8in (3 mm).


When replacing individual tires, you
should mount new tires on the front
wheels first (on vehicles with
same-sized wheels all around).
Warning!
G
Replace rims or tires with the same designa-
tion, manufacturer and type as shown on the
original part. See an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center for further informa-
tion. If incorrectly sized rims and tires are
mounted:

The wheel brakes or suspension compo-
nents can be damaged


The correct operating clearance of the
wheels and the tires are no longer guar-
anteed
Warning!
G
Worn, old tires can cause accidents. If the
tire tread is badly worn, or if the tires have
sustained damage, replace them.
When replacing rims, only use Genuine
Mercedes-Benz wheel bolts specified for the
particular rim type. Failure to do so can re-
sult in the bolts loosening and possibly an
accident.
Retreaded tires are not tested or recom-
mended by Mercedes-Benz, since previous
damage cannot always be recognized on re-
treads. The operating safety of the vehicle
cannot be assured when such tires are used.

466 Practical hintsTowing the vehicleMercedes-Benz recommends that the vehi-
cle be transported with all wheels off the
ground using flatbed or appropriate wheel
lift/dolly equipment. This method is pref-
erable to other types of towing.When circumstances do not permit the
recommended towing methods, the vehi-
cle may be towed with all wheels on the
ground or front wheels raised (except vehi-
cles with 4MATIC) only so far as necessary
to have the vehicle moved to a safe loca-
tion where the recommended towing
methods can be employed.!
Do not tow-start the vehicle.
!
Use flatbed or wheel lift/dolly equipment
with SmartKey in starter switch turned to
position0.
Do not tow with sling-type equipment. Towing
with sling-type equipment over bumpy roads will
damage radiator and supports.
To prevent damage during transport, do not tie
down vehicle by its chassis or suspension parts.
Switch off the tow-away alarm and the automatic
central locking.
!
Vehicles with 4MATIC:
Do not tow with one axle raised. Doing so could
damage the transfer case, which is not covered
by the Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.
All wheels must be on or off the ground. Observe
instructions for towing the vehicle with all
wheels on the ground.
Warning!
G
If circumstances require towing the vehicle
with all wheels on the ground, always tow
with a tow bar if:

the engine will not run


there is a malfunction in the brake
system


there is a malfunction in the power sup-
ply or in the vehicle’s electrical system
as that will be necessary to adequately con-
trol the towed vehicle.
Prior to towing the vehicle with all wheels on
the ground, make certain the SmartKey is in
starter switch position2.
If the SmartKey is left in the starter switch
position0 for an extended period of time, it
can no longer be turned in the switch. In this
case, the steering is locked. To unlock, re-
move SmartKey from starter switch and re-
insert.

467 Practical hints
Towing the vehicle
Warning!
G
With the engine not running, there is no
power assistance for the brake and steering
systems. In this case, it is important to keep
in mind that a considerably higher degree of
effort is necessary to brake and steer the ve-
hicle. Adapt your driving accordingly.!
If the vehicle is towed with the front axle
raised (not permissible for vehicles with
4MATIC), the gear selector lever must be in
positionN and the engine must be shut off
(SmartKey in starter switch position0 or1).
Active braking action through the ESP
® may
otherwise seriously damage the brake system.
When towing the vehicle with all wheels on the
ground, the gear selector lever must be in
positionN and the SmartKey must be in starter
switch position2.
When towing the vehicle with all wheels on the
ground or the front axle raised, the vehicle may
be towed only for distances up to 30 miles
(50 km) and at a speed not to exceed 30 mph
(50 km/h).
!
Towing of the vehicle should only be done
using the properly installed towing eye bolt.
Never attach tow cable, tow rope or tow rod to
the vehicle chassis, frame or suspension parts.
i
When towing the vehicle with all wheels on
the ground, please note the following:
With the automatic central locking activated and
the SmartKey in starter switch position2, or
KEYLESS-GO
* start/stop button in position2,
the vehicle doors lock if the left front wheel as
well as the right rear wheel are turning at vehicle
speeds of approximately 9 mph (15 km/h) or
more.
To prevent the vehicle door locks from locking,
deactivate the automatic central locking
(
page 127).
i
To signal turns while being towed with the
hazard warning flasher in use, turn SmartKey in
starter switch to position2 and activate the
combination switch for the left or right turn sig-
nal in the usual manner – only the selected turn
signal will operate.
Upon canceling the turn signal, the hazard warn-
ing flasher will operate again.
i
The gear selector lever will remain locked in
positionP and the SmartKey will not turn in the
starter switch if the battery is disconnected or
discharged. For more information see “Batter-
ies” (page 460) or “Jump starting”
(
page 464).
For information on manual unlocking of the gear
selector lever, see (
page 438).

501 Index
A
ABS 97
Indicator lamp 380
Messages in display 398, 413
Accelerator position, automatic
transmission 188
Accessory weight 359
Accident 60
Active Bi-Xenon headlamps* see Head-
lamps
Active head restraints 87
Adaptive Damping System see ADS
ADS 265
Air bags 70
Children 71
Front, Driver 74
Front, Passenger 74
Safety guidelines 72
Side impact 75
Window curtain 75
Air conditioning refrigerant 495
Air conditioning system see Climate con-
trol system
Air conditioning, Cooling 217, 233
Air distribution 211, 228
Air pressure 359Air pressure see Tire inflation
pressure 342
Air pump, electric
Turning on 457
Air recirculation mode 214, 231
Air vents 211, 228
Air volume 212, 229
Airmatic DC (Dual Control)
Messages in display 430
Suspension tuning 265
Airmatic DC (Dual Control) 265
Vehicle level control 266
Alarm system see Anti-theft systems
Alignment bolt (vehicle tool kit) 434, 455
AMG menu 157
Anticorrosion/antifreeze 499
Antilock Brake System see ABS
Anti-theft systems 106
Anti-theft alarm system 106
Immobilizer 106
Aquaplaning see Hydroplaning
Ashtrays 287
Aspect ratio 359AUDIO menu 161
Operating CD player 162
Selecting radio station 161
Selecting satellite radio* station 161
Audio search function 177
Audio system
CD mode 162
Auto-dimming
Rear view mirrors 198
Automatic central locking, Control
system 176
Automatic headlamp mode 138
Automatic lighting control, Interior
lighting 145
Automatic locking when driving 176
Automatic shift program 190

515 Index
Shifting, Automatic transmission 184
Side impact air bags 75
Side marker lamps
Cleaning lenses 372
Side windows see Power windows
Sidewall 361
Ski bag* (Canada only) 274
SmartKey see Key, SmartKey 110
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO* see Key,
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO* 113
Snow chains 365
Snow tires 364
Spare fuses 469
Spare wheel 432
Mounting 452
Speed settings
Cruise control 251
Distronic* 259
Speedometer 27, 255
SRS 68
Indicator lamp 27, 390
Message in display 429
Standing water, Driving through 317
Starter switch 37
Positions 37
Starting difficulties, Engine 54Starting, Engine 52
Steering column 45
Steering wheel 45
Buttons 28
Steering wheel gearshift control one-touch
gearshifting*
Automatic transmission 192
Steering wheel, Cleaning 376
Stolen Vehicle Recovery services 301
Storage compartments 32
Cup holder 285
Glove box 282
Parcel net in front passenger
footwell 282
Rear armrest 283
Rear center console 282
Ruffled storage bags 283
Storing
Tires 335
Submenus
In control system
Submenus see Control system menus and
submenus
Sun visors 201
Sunroof see Power tilt/sliding sunroof
Sunshade* 202Suspension tuning
For comfortable driving style 265
For sporty driving style 265
Suspension tuning see Airmatic DC (Dual
Control)
Symbols used in this operator’s
manual 15
T
Tachometer 27, 149
Overspeed range 149
Tail lamps 448
Cleaning lenses 372
Messages in display 425
Replacing bulbs 448
Taillamps
Messages in display 425
Tar stains 370