2007 MERCEDES-BENZ S CLASS cruise control

392 Controls in detailDriving systemsStarting off
When the vehicle in front of you starts off:
Remove your foot from the brake
pedal.

Pull DISTRONIC Plus lever briefly in di-
rection of arrow4.
or

Briefly step on the accelerator pedal.
Your vehicle starts off and adapts its speed
to the vehicle in front of you.
Driving
If no vehicle is driving ahead of you, DIS-
TRONIC Plus functions like cruise control
(
page 380).
When DISTRONIC Plus detects that the ve-
hicle in front of you is driving more slowly,
it brakes the vehicle in order to keep the
distance specified by you.
When DISTRONIC Plus detects that the ve-
hicle in front of you is driving faster, the ve-
hicle accelerates up to the set speed.Stopping
When DISTRONIC Plus detects that the ve-
hicle in front of you is stopping, the vehicle
brakes until it also stops.
Warning!
G
When you step on the brake pedal, you
switch off DISTRONIC Plus except when the
vehicle is at a standstill. DISTRONIC Plus will
no longer brake your vehicle. You are always
responsible for maintaining a distance from
other vehicles, observing road speeds and
braking well in advance.Warning!
G
DISTRONIC Plus’s braking effect is canceled
and the vehicle can start to roll if

DISTRONIC Plus is switched off using
the DISTRONIC Plus lever


you accelerate


the system or the power supply is mal-
functioning, e.g. due to battery failure


the electrical components in the engine
compartment or the fuses have been
manipulated


the battery is disconnected
Warning!
G
Never get out of the vehicle while DISTRON-
IC Plus is switched on!
DISTRONIC Plus must never be operated or
switched off by passengers or from outside
the vehicle.
DISTRONIC Plus is not a substitute for the
electric parking brake and may not be used
for parking.
When you get out of the vehicle or switch off
the engine, deactivate DISTRONIC Plus and
secure the vehicle from rolling away by en-
gaging the electric parking brake.

484 OperationDriving instructionsTire speed rating
Regardless of the tire speed rating, local
speed limits should be obeyed. Use pru-
dent driving speeds appropriate to prevail-
ing conditions.An electronic speed limiter prevents your
vehicle from exceeding a speed of
130 mph (210 km/h). The factory
equipped tires on your vehicle may have a
tire speed rating above the maximum
speed permitted by the electronic speed
limiter.
Make sure your tires have the required tire
speed rating as specified for your vehicle in
the “Technical data” section (
page 655),
for example when purchasing new tires.
For information on how to identify the tire
speed rating on a tire’s sidewall, see “Tire
size designation, load and speed rating”
(
page 518).
If 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
or DISTRONIC Plus* system under such
conditions.
When the vehicle is in danger of skidding,
move gear selector lever to position N. Try
to keep the vehicle under control by cor-
rective steering action.
Warning!
G
Even when permitted by law, never operate
a vehicle at speeds greater than the maxi-
mum speed rating of the tires.
Exceeding the maximum speed for which
tires are rated can lead to sudden tire fail-
ure, causing loss of vehicle control and pos-
sibly resulting in an accident and/or serious
personal injury and possible death, for you
and for others.
i
For information on driving with snow chains,
see “Snow chains” (
page 531).
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.

549 Practical hints
What to do if …?
Problem
Possible cause/consequence
Suggested solution
l
Only vehicles with DISTRONIC
Plus*: The red distance warning
lamp comes on while driving.
You are too close to the vehicle in front of
you to maintain selected speed.

Apply the brakes immediately to in-
crease the following distance.
l
Only vehicles with DISTRONIC
Plus*: The red distance warning
lamp comes on while driving
and you hear a warning sound.


You are gaining too rapidly on the vehi-
cle ahead of you.


The distance warning system has recog-
nized a stationary obstacle on your
probable line of travel.

Apply the brakes immediately.

Carefully observe the traffic situation.
You may need to brake or maneuver to
avoid hitting an obstacle.
v
The yellow ESP
® warning lamp
flashes while driving.
The ESP
® or ETS has come into operation
because of detected traction loss in at least
one tire.
Cruise control and DISTRONIC Plus* are de-
activated.

When driving off, apply as little throttle
as possible.

While driving, ease up on the accelera-
tor.

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

Do not deactivate the ESP
®. Exceptions:
(
page 73).
Failure to follow these instructions increas-
es the risk of an accident.

559 Practical hints
What to do if …?
Text messagesDisplay
Possible cause/consequence
Possible solution
Apply brake
to shift
from ’P’
You have tried to Shift the automatic trans-
mission to D, R or N without stepping on
the brake.

Step on brake.
USA only:
Cruise control
- - - mph
Canada only:
Cruise control
- - - km/h
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.
ESP
® is deactivated.

Activate ESP
® (page 72).
The automatic transmission is in position P,
R or N.

Shift the automatic transmission toD (
page 367).
The system is overheated.

Wait until the system cools down.
The vehicle is secured in place by the elec-
tric parking brake.

Release electric parking brake (
page 364).
Cruise control
inoperative
Cruise control is malfunctioning.

Have cruise control checked by an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.

671 Technical terms
Cockpit
All instruments, switches, buttons and
indicator/warning lamps in the passen-
ger compartment needed for vehicle
operation and monitoring.
Cold tire inflation pressure
(
page 526)
COMAND
(Cockpit M
anagement and D
ata Sys-
tem)
Information and operating center for
vehicle sound and communications
systems, including the radio and navi-
gation system, as well as other optional
equipment (CD changer, telephone*,
etc.).
C-pillar
The C-pillar is the rear connecting pillar
between the roof and the vehicle body
(->B-pillar, ->C-pillar).Cruise control
Driving convenience system that auto-
matically maintains the vehicle speed
set by the driver.
Curb weight
(
page 526)
DISTRONIC Plus*
A driving convenience cruise control
system which helps the driver maintain
a pre-selected speed:


If there is no vehicle directly ahead,
the system operates in the same
way as conventional ->cruise con-
trol.


If a slower moving vehicle is ahead,
DISTRONIC Plus will reduce your
vehicle speed to the extent permit-
ted by reduced throttle and up to
20% braking power to maintain the
preset minimum following distance.DOT
(D
epartment o
f T
ransportation)
(
page 526)
DVD
(Digital V
ersatile D
isc)
Digital storage medium for storing
large amounts of data, e.g. movies.
DVD-R
(D
igital V
ersatile D
isc R
ecordable)
->DVD which can be written to once
and read many times.
DVD+R
(D
igital V
ersatile D
isc R
ecordable)
->DVD which can be written to once
and read many times.
DVD-RW
(D
igital V
ersatile D
isc R
ew
ritable)
->DVD which can be read and written
to many times.

681 Index
Batteries, vehicle 634
Charging 637
Discharged, Jump starting 639
Disconnecting 636
For electrical consumers 634
For starter 634
Message in display 586
Reconnecting 638
Removing 637
Bead 526
Beverage holder see Cup holder
Bi-Xenon headlamps see Headlamps
Bluetooth
Settings (COMAND) 217
Brake assist system (BAS Plus) 71
Brake assist system (BAS) 71
Brake fluid 490, 662, 663
Brake lamp bulbs 622
Brake lamp, high mounted 622
Brake pads
Message in display 575
Brake warning lamp 29
Brakes 480
Warning lamp 545Break-in period 478
Bulbs, replacing 621
Additional turn signals 622
Brake lamps 622
Fog lamps 622
Front lamps 622
High beam 622
High mounted brake lamp 622
License plate lamps 622
Low beam 622
Parking and standing lamps 622
Rear fog lamp 622
Turn signal lamps 622
C
CAC (Customer Assistance Center) 670
California retail buyers and lessees, impor-
tant notice for 15
Can holder see Cup holder
CAN system 670
Canceling
Cruise control 382
Capacities and recommended
fuel/lubricants 661Cargo area see Trunk
Cargo tie-down hooks 453
Carpets, Cleaning and care of 542
Catalytic converter 487
CD
Ejecting (COMAND) 109
Loading (COMAND) 107
Menu overview (COMAND) 110
Playback options (COMAND) 114
Selecting a medium (COMAND) 112
Selecting a track (COMAND) 113
CD (COMAND) 104
Central locking
Automatic 313
Locking/unlocking from inside 314
Central locking/unlocking switches 314
Certification label 652
Change of address or ownership 16
Changing
Vehicle level (ABC*) 404
Vehicle level (Airmatic) 402

683 Index
Corner-illuminating lamps 347
Courtesy lighting 350
Cruise control 380, 671
Activating 381
Canceling 382
Driving downhill 382
Driving uphill 382
Message in display 559
Setting current speed 381
Setting to last stored speed (“Resume”
function) 384
Cup holder
Cleaning 541
In front seat armrest 452
In rear seat armrest 452
Curb weight 526, 671
Customer Assistance Center see CAC
D
Date
Setting (COMAND) 214
Daytime running lamp mode 344
Deceleration
With DISTRONIC Plus* 388
Deep water see Standing water
Defrosting 429Delayed switch-off
Exterior lighting (COMAND) 220
Interior lighting (COMAND) 226
Department of Transportation see DOT
Destination entry (COMAND) 153
Destination memory (COMAND) 195
Difficulties
While driving 362
While starting 360
Digital speedometer 246
Additional speedometer 255
Dimensions, Vehicle 660
Direction of rotation, Tires 503
Displays
Additional speedometer 255
Digital speedometer 246
DISTRONIC Plus* 387
Maintenance service indicator 532
Multifunction display 241
Vehicle status message see Multifunc-
tion display messages
Distance
Decreasing in DISTRONIC Plus* 397
Increasing in DISTRONIC Plus* 396
Setting in DISTRONIC Plus* 396
Distance to Empty (Range) 246Distance warning function*
Activating 397
Deactivating 397
Distance warning lamp 397
Intermittent warning sound 397
DISTRONIC Plus* 385
Activated 389
Activating 390
Calling up settings 389
Cleaning system sensor 537
Deactivated 389
Deactivating 395
Deceleration 388
Decreasing distance 397
Decreasing time interval 396
Displays in the speedometer dial 387
Distance warning function 397
Driving hints 397
Increasing distance 396
Increasing time interval 396
Intermittent signal tone 388
Lever 390
Menu 389
Messages in display 560
Sensor cover 537
Setting a higher speed 393

684 Index
Setting a slower speed 394
Setting following distance 396
Setting the current speed 393
Setting to last stored speed (“Resume”
function) 395
Warning and indicator lamps 388
Warning lamp 549
Document holder 455
Door
Control panel 38, 39, 42
Entry lamps 350
Inside door handle 312
Locking 305, 309
Locking with Tele Aid 469
Messages in display 562, 590
Opening from inside vehicle 312
Opening from outside 305, 309
Power closing assist 313
Unlocking 305, 309
Unlocking with Tele Aid 468
DOT 526
Downhill driving
Cruise control 382
Drink holder see Cup holder
Drinking and driving 479Drive-dynamic multicontour seats*, front
Adjusting (COMAND) 240
Driving 359
Abroad 486
Hydroplaning 483
In winter 484
Instructions 359, 479
Problems 362
Safety systems 69
Through standing water 485
With DISTRONIC Plus* 397
Driving maneuver (COMAND) 185
Driving off 481
Driving safety systems
ABS 69
Adaptive Brake Lights (S 600 and USA
only) 70
BAS 71
BAS Plus 71
EBP 71
ESP
®
72
ETS 73Driving systems 380
ABC* 403
Airmatic 401
Cruise control 380
DISTRONIC Plus* 385
Driving safety systems 69
Dynamic Rear View Monitor* 413
Park Assist* 409
Parktronic system* 405
Vehicle level control (ABC*) 403
Vehicle level control (Airmatic) 401
Driving tips 373
Kickdown 373
DVD 104
Audio (COMAND) 104
Changer (COMAND) 107
Changer (Voice Control*) 286
Ejecting (COMAND) 109
Loading (COMAND) 107
Playback options (COMAND) 114
Selecting a medium (COMAND) 112
Selecting a track (COMAND) 113
Setting the audio format
(COMAND) 114