2007 MERCEDES-BENZ E63AMG WAGON cruise control

254 Controls in detailDriving systemsDistronic deactivated
When Distronic is deactivated you will see
the standard display of Distronic 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
functionDistronic activated
If you turn Distronic on, you will see the set
speed in the multifunction display for
about 5 seconds. When Distronic is
activated, you will see the following display
in the multifunction display.
1Distronic activatedCruise control lever
The Distronic system is operated by means
of the cruise control lever.
The cruise control lever is the uppermost
lever 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 speed

255 Controls in detail
Driving systems
Activating Distronic
You can activate Distronic if

you are driving between 20 mph
(30 km/h) and 110 mph (180 km/h)


the ESP
® is activated (
page 100)
If Distronic has not been activated after
pressing the cruise control lever you will
see the message
---
in the multifunction
display.
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 offSetting the current speed

Accelerate or decelerate to the desired
speed.

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 lever in di-
rection of arrow1 (
page 254) to in-
crease 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
5 seconds (
page 254), and one or
two segments around the stored speed
come on in the speedometer
(
page 252).
i
If you do not take your foot off the
accelerator completely, the following message
will appear in the multifunction display:
DISTRONIC
overrideThe distance to a slower moving vehicles in front
of you will not be set. Your vehicle speed will
then be determined only by the accelerator ped-
al position.
i
Depressing the accelerator pedal does not
deactivate Distronic. After brief acceleration
(e.g. for passing), the cruise control will resume
the last speed set.

256 Controls in detailDriving systemsSetting a lower speed
Briefly tip the cruise control lever in di-
rection of arrow2 (
page 254) to de-
crease 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
5 seconds (
page 254), and one or
two segments around the stored speed
come on in the speedometer
(
page 252).Fine adjustment in 1 mph
(Canada: 1 km/h) increments
Faster

Briefly tip the cruise control lever in di-
rection of arrow4 (
page 254).Setting to last stored speed
(“Resume” function)

Briefly tip the cruise control lever in di-
rection of arrow4 (
page 254).
Distronic is activated and set to the last
stored speed.

Remove your foot from the accelerator
pedal.
i
When you use the cruise control lever to de-
celerate, the brakes will be applied to support
deceleration.
In addition, the transmission will automatically
downshift on long downhill grades.
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.

257 Controls in detail
Driving systems
Deactivating Distronic
There are several ways to deactivate the
Distronic system:
Briefly tip the cruise control lever in di-
rection of arrow3 (
page 254).
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)


the ESP
® is active (
page 100) or you
deactivate the ESP
®


you move the gear selector lever into
positionN
A signal will sound. The
DISTRONIC off

message appears in the multifunction
display for approximately 5 seconds.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 multifunction display.
The thumbwheel for making the time set-
ting is located on the lower section of the
center console.
i
The following message will appear in the
multifunction display for approximately
5seconds:
DISTRONIC offThe 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 20 mph (30 km/h)
by operation of the system. At that time the
driver must apply the brakes in order to re-
duce vehicle speed further or bring it to a
stop.
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.

316 OperationDriving instructionsIf you are uncertain about the correct read-
ing of the information given on a tire’s side-
wall, any authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center will be glad to assist you.
Winter driving instructions
The most important rule for slippery or icy
roads is to drive sensibly and to avoid
abrupt acceleration, braking and steering
maneuvers. Do not use the cruise control
system under such conditions.
When the vehicle is in danger of skidding,
move gear selector lever to positionN. Try
to keep the vehicle under control by cor-
rective steering action.Road salts and chemicals can adversely af-
fect braking efficiency. Increased pedal
force may become necessary to produce
the normal braking effect.
Depressing the brake pedal periodically
when traveling at length on salt-strewn
roads can bring road-salt-impaired braking
efficiency back to normal.
If the vehicle is parked after being driven
on salt-treated roads, the braking efficien-
cy should be tested as soon as possible af-
ter driving is resumed.
i
For information on speed ratings for winter
tires, see “Winter driving” (
page 363).
For additional general information on tire speed
markings on tire sidewall, see “Tire speed rating”
(
page 360).
i
For more information on driving with snow
chains, see “Snow chains” (
page 364).
Warning!
G
On slippery road surfaces, never downshift
in order to obtain braking action. This could
result in drive wheel slip and reduced vehi-
cle control. Your vehicle’s ABS will not pre-
vent this type of control loss.
Warning!
G
Make sure not to endanger any other road
users when carrying out these braking ma-
neuvers.

380 Practical hintsWhat to do if …Problem
Possible cause/consequence
Suggested solution
v
The yellow ESP
® warning
lamp flashes while driving.
The ESP
® or traction control has come into
operation because of detected traction loss
in at least one tire.
The cruise control and the Distronic* system
are deactivated.

When driving off, apply as little throttle as
possible.

While driving, ease up on the accelerator.

Adapt your speed and driving to the pre-
vailing road and weather conditions.

Do not deactivate the ESP
®.
Exceptions: (
page 102).
Failure to follow these instructions increases
the risk of an accident.

397 Practical hints
What to do if …
Display message
Possible cause/consequence
Possible solution
Cruise con-
trol
--- mph(USA only)--- km/h(Canada only)
You have tried to switch on cruise
control below a speed of 20 mph
(30 km/h).

Drive faster than 20 mph (30 km/h) and
save the speed.
DISTRONIC
--- mph(USA only)--- km/h(Canada only)
You have tried to switch on Distronic
below a speed of 20 mph (30 km/h).

Drive faster than 20 mph (30 km/h) and
save the speed.
inoperative
The Distronic* is malfunctioning or
the display is malfunctioning.

Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center
as soon as possible.

415 Practical hints
What to do if …
Display symbol
Display message
Possible cause/consequence
Possible solution
•
The cooling fan for the coolant is malfunc-
tioning.

Observe the coolant temperature indicator
in the instrument cluster (
page 27).
If the coolant temperature is under 248°F
(120°C), you may continue driving to an au-
thorized Mercedes-Benz Center.

Avoid placing heavy loads on the engine
(e.g. by driving uphill) as well as
stop-and-go traffic.

Have the fan replaced as soon as possible.
±
Display malfunction
Visit workshop
Certain electronic systems are unable to
relay information to the control system.
The following systems may have failed:

Coolant temperature display


Tachometer


Cruise control display

Have the electronic systems checked by an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Engine
Service
There may be a malfunction in:

the fuel injection system


the ignition system


the exhaust system

Have the engine checked as soon as possi-
ble by an authorized Mercedes-Benz Cen-
ter.