2007 MERCEDES-BENZ ML63AMG warning

246 Controls in detailDriving systems
1Setting current or higher speed
Adjustment in 1 mph increments (to
the resistance point) or 5 mph
increments (past the resistance point)
(Canada: 1 km/h or 10 km/h)
2Setting current or lower speed
Adjustment in 1 mph increments (to
the resistance point) or 5 mph
increments (past the resistance point)
(Canada: 1 km/h or 10 km/h)
3Canceling cruise control
4Resume to last set speed
Warning!
G
The cruise control is a convenience system
designed to assist the driver during vehicle
operation. The driver is and must always
remain responsible for the vehicle’s speed
and for safe brake operation.
Only use the cruise control if the road, traffic
and weather conditions make it advisable to
travel at a constant speed.

The use of the cruise control can be
dangerous on winding roads or in heavy
traffic because conditions do not allow
safe driving at a constant speed.


The use of the cruise control can be
dangerous on slippery roads. Rapid
changes in tire traction can result in
wheel spin and loss of control.


Deactivate the cruise control when
driving in fog.
The “Resume” function should only be
operated if the driver is fully aware of the
previously set speed and wishes to resume
this particular preset speed.
Warning!
G
The cruise control brakes automatically so
that the set speed is not exceeded. The
brake pedal depresses when the cruise con-
trol engages the brakes.
Keep driver’s foot area clear at all times,
including the area under the brake pedal.
Objects stored in this area may impair pedal
movement which could interfere with the
braking ability of the cruise control system.
Do not place your foot under the brake pedal
– your foot could become caught.
Keep in mind that the cruise control is a
convenience system designed to assist the
driver during vehicle operation. The driver is
and must always remain responsible for the
vehicle’s speed and for safe brake
operation.

248 Controls in detailDriving systems
Setting a higher speed
You can increase the speed in two ways.
Adjustment in 1 mph (Canada: 1 km/h)
increments
Briefly lift the cruise control lever up to
the resistance point in direction of
arrow1 (
page 246).

Release the cruise control lever.
The vehicle speed increases in incre-
ments of 1 mph (Canada: 1km/h).Adjustment in 5 mph
(Canada: 10 km/h) increments
i
The cruise control switches off
automatically when


you step on the brake pedal


you depress the parking brake pedal
The cruise control switches off automatically and
an acoustic warning will sound when


the vehicle speed is below 20 mph
(30 km/h)


the ESP
® is in operation


the ESP
® is switched off with the ESP
®
switch (
page 99)


the ESP
® has switched off due to a
malfunction (
page 419)


you set the automatic transmission toN
while driving
Observe additional messages in the
multifunction display that may appear.
!
Setting the automatic transmission toN
while driving cancels the cruise control.
However, the automatic transmission should not
be set toN while driving except to coast when
the vehicle is in danger of skidding (e.g. on icy
roads).
i
Depressing the accelerator pedal does not
deactivate the cruise control. After a brief accel-
eration (e.g. for passing), the cruise control will
resume the last set speed.
i
The set value is increased in 1 mph
(Canada: 1 km/h) increments each time you lift
the cruise control lever up to the resistance
point.
Warning!
G
You can increase the vehicle speed in
5 mph (Canada 10 km/h) increments.
When using this feature, keep in mind that it
may take a brief moment until the vehicle
has reached the set speed.
Increase the vehicle speed to a value that
the prevailing road conditions permit. Other-
wise, sudden and unexpected acceleration
of the vehicle could cause an accident
and/or serious injury to you and others.i
The set value is increased in
5 mph (Canada: 10 km/h) increments each time
you lift the cruise control lever past the
resistance point.

249 Controls in detail
Driving systems

Briefly lift the cruise control lever up
past the resistance point in direction of
arrow1 (
page 246).

Release the cruise control lever.
The vehicle speed increases in incre-
ments of 5 mph (Canada: 10 km/h).
Setting a lower speed
You can reduce the speed in two ways.Adjustment in 1 mph (Canada: 1 km/h)
increments

Briefly press the cruise control lever
down to the resistance point in direc-
tion of arrow2 (
page 246).

Release the cruise control lever.
The vehicle speed decreases in incre-
ments of 1 mph (Canada: 1 km/h).Adjustment in 5 mph
(Canada: 10 km/h) increments
i
The new speed is set and the vehicle will
accelerate. Keep in mind that it may take a brief
moment until the vehicle has reached the set
speed.
i
When you use the cruise control lever to
decelerate, the brake system will automatically
brake the vehicle if the engine’s braking power
does not brake the vehicle sufficiently.
i
The set value is decreased in 1 mph
(Canada: 1 km/h) increments each time you
press the cruise control lever down to the resis-
tance point.
Warning!
G
You can decrease the vehicle speed in
5 mph (Canada 10 km/h) increments. When
using this feature, keep in mind that it may
take a brief moment until the vehicle has
reached the set speed.
Decelerate the vehicle speed to a value that
the prevailing road conditions permit. Other-
wise, sudden and unexpected deceleration
of the vehicle could cause an accident
and/or serious injury to you and others.i
The set value is decreased in 5 mph
(Canada: 10 km/h) increments each time you
press the cruise control lever down past the
resistance point.

250 Controls in detailDriving systems
Briefly press the cruise control lever
down past the resistance point in direc-
tion of arrow2 (
page 246).

Release the cruise control lever.
The vehicle speed decreases in incre-
ments of 5 mph (Canada: 10 km/h).Setting to last stored speed
(“Resume” function)

Briefly pull the cruise control lever in di-
rection of arrow4 (
page 246).
The cruise control resumes to the last
set speed, or if no speed is stored, it
will set and store the current speed.

Remove your foot from the accelerator
pedal.
The last set speed appears in the multi-
function display for approximately
5 seconds.
Distronic*
When activated, the Distronic adaptive
cruise control system increases the driving
convenience afforded by the cruise control
while traveling on expressways and other
major roadways.

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 your
preset following distance.


If there is no vehicle directly ahead of
you, Distronic will function in the same
way as standard cruise control
(page 245).
i
The new speed is set and the vehicle will
decelerate. Keep in mind that it may take a brief
moment until the vehicle has reached the set
speed.
Warning!
G
The set speed stored in memory should only
be set again if prevailing road conditions
permit. Possible acceleration or decelera-
tion differences arising from returning to the
preset speed could cause an accident
and/or serious injury to you and others.

251 Controls in detail
Driving systems
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’s speed, distance to the
preceding vehicle and, most importantly,
brake operation to ensure a safe stopping
distance, always rests with the driver.
Distronic cannot take road and traffic condi-
tions into account.
Complex driving situations are not always
fully recognized by Distronic. This could
result in wrong or missing distance
warnings.
Warning!
G
Distronic adaptive cruise control is no
substitute for active driving involvement. It
does not react to pedestrians or on station-
ary objects, nor does it recognize or predict
the lane curvature or the movement of
preceding vehicles.
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 the road, weather and traffic
conditions. Additionally, the driver must
provide the steering, braking and other
driving inputs necessary to remain in control
of the vehicle.
High-frequency sources such as toll
stations, speed measuring systems etc. can
cause the Distronic system to malfunction.
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.Warning!
G
Distronic cannot take road and traffic condi-
tions into account. Only use Distronic if the
road, weather and traffic conditions make it
advisable to travel at a constant speed.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.


252 Controls in detailDriving systemsDistronic does not act upon adverse sight
and distance conditions. Do not use
Distronic during conditions of fog, heavy
rain, snow or sleet.Warning!
G
Distronic cannot take weather conditions
into account. Switch off Distronic or do not
switch it on if:

roads are slippery or covered with snow
or ice. The wheels could lose traction
while braking or accelerating, and the
vehicle could skid.


the sensor is dirty or visibility is
diminished due to snow, rain or fog, for
example. The distance control system
functionality could be impaired.
Always pay attention to surrounding traffic
conditions even while Distronic is switched
on. Otherwise, you may not be able to recog-
nize dangerous situations until it is too late.
This could cause an accident in which you
and others could be injured.
Warning!
G
The “Resume” function should only be
operated if the driver is fully aware of the
previously set speed and wishes to resume
this particular preset speed.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
winding roads or in heavy traffic because
conditions do not allow safe driving at a
continuous 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.


254 Controls in detailDriving systemsIf Distronic calculates that there is a dan-
ger of collision:

The distance warning lampl in the
instrument cluster comes on
(page 27).


An intermittent warning sounds.

Immediately apply the brake 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 distance warning lampl
goes out when the necessary distance
to the vehicle ahead is again estab-
lished.
Warning!
G
An intermittent warning sounds and the
distance warning lampl in the instru-
ment cluster 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
your distance to the preceding vehicle. The
warning sound is intended as a final caution
in which you should intercede with your own
braking inputs to avoid a potentially danger-
ous situation. Do not wait for the operation
of the warning signal to intercede with your
own braking. This will result in potentially
dangerous emergency braking which will
not always result in an impact being avoid-
ed.
Tailgating increases the risk of an accident.
Warning!
G
Distronic brakes your vehicle with a maxi-
mum deceleration of 6.5 ft/s
2 (2 m/s
2). This
corresponds to about 20% of the maximum
deceleration of your vehicle.
Distronic brakes the vehicle in an effort to
restore the preset distance or to maintain
the set speed.
Keep driver’s foot area clear at all times, in-
cluding the area under the brake pedal. Ob-
jects stored in this area may impair pedal
movement which could interfere with the
braking ability of the Distronic system.
Do not place your foot under the brake pedal
– your foot could become caught.

255 Controls in detail
Driving systems
DISTRONIC menu in the control system
Use the
DISTRONIC
menu to display the
current settings for your Distronic system.
The information shown in the multifunction
display depends on whether the Distronic
system is activated or deactivated.

Press buttonè orÿ repeatedly
until you see one of the following two
displays in the multifunction display.Distronic activated
When you turn Distronic on, you will see
the set speed in the multifunction display
for about 5 seconds. When Distronic is
activated, the following display appears in
the multifunction display.
1Distronic activated
2Set vehicle speedDistronic deactivated
When Distronic is deactivated, you will see
the standard Distronic display in the multi-
function display.
1Preceding vehicle, if detected
2Actual distance to the preceding vehi-
cle
3Preset distance threshold to the pre-
ceding vehicle
4Your vehicle
Cruise 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.
i
For activating or deactivating the Distronic
system, see “Activating Distronic” (
page 256)
or, see “Deactivating Distronic” (
page 259).
For activating or deactivating the Distance warn-
ing function, see “Distance warning function*”
(
page 179).