2007 MERCEDES-BENZ SL65AMG warning

216 Controls in detailDriving systemsIf Distronic detects a vehicle directly
ahead, the Distronic indicator lamp E
in the speedometer dial comes on white.
If Distronic calculates that there is a dan-
ger of collision:

The distance warning lamp E in the
speedometer comes on red.


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 red distance warning
lampE goes out when the neces-
sary distance to the vehicle ahead is
established again.
Warning!
G
An intermittent warning sounds and the
distance warning lamp (red) E in the
speedometer dial is illuminated if the Dis-
tronic 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 preceding vehicle. The
warning sound is intended as a final caution
that you have not interceded 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, as that 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 maxi-
mum deceleration ability of your vehicle.
Distronic brakes the vehicle in an effort to
restore the preset distance or to maintain
the set speed.

217 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 (page 218) or deac-
tivated (
page 220).

Press button è or ÿ repeatedly
until you see one of the following dis-
plays in the multifunction display.Distronic deactivated
When Distronic is deactivated, you will see
the standard display in the left multifunc-
tion display.
1Preceding vehicle, if detected
2Actual distance to preceding vehicle
3Preset distance threshold to preceding
vehicle
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
i
For information on the distance warning
function*, see “Distance warning function*”
(
page 224).

220 Controls in detailDriving systemsSetting to last stored speed
(“Resume” function)
Briefly pull the cruise control lever in
direction of arrow4 (
page 218).
Distronic resumes the last stored
speed or, if no speed is stored, it will
set and store the current speed.

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

Step on the brake pedal.
or

Briefly push the cruise control lever in
direction of arrow3 (
page 218).
Distronic will be deactivated. The last set
speed will be stored into memory.
The following message appears in the mul-
tifunction display for approximately
5 seconds:
DTR off
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 caused an accident
and/or serious injury to you and others.
i
The last stored set speed is deleted when
the engine is turned off.
i
Distronic deactivates automatically when


you depress the parking brake pedal


the vehicle speed is below
20 mph (30 km/h) (
page 218)


the ESP
® is in operation or switched off with
the ESP® switch (
page 91)


you move the gear selector lever into
positionN
An acoustic warning sounds and the mes-
sage
DTR off
appears in the multifunction
display for approximately 5 seconds.
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
reduce vehicle speed further or bring it to a
stop.

221 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 pre-
ceding vehicle. The set distance will ap-
pear in the right multifunction display
(page 217).
The distance setting thumbwheel for the
time setting is located on the lower section
of the center console.1Thumbwheel for setting following
distanceIncreasing distance
Increasing the distance setting tells
Distronic to maintain a greater following
distance to the preceding vehicle.

Turn thumbwheel1 towards ¯.
Decreasing distance
Decreasing the distance setting tells
Distronic to maintain a shorter following
distance to the preceding ahead.

Turn thumbwheel1 towards ®.
!
Moving the gear selector lever to positionN
while driving cancels the Distronic. However, the
gear selector lever should not be moved to
positionN 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 Distronic. After brief acceleration
(e.g. for passing), the Distronic will resume the
last speed set.
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.

222 Controls in detailDriving systemsDriving with Distronic
This section describes a number of driving
situations where special precaution is re-
quired on the part of the driver. Be pre-
pared to brake in such situations. This will
deactivate the Distronic system.The most likely cause for a malfunctioning
system is a dirty sensor (located behind
the hood grille), especially at times of snow
and ice or heavy rain. In such a case,
Distronic will switch off, and the message
Distronic Currently unavailable. See
Oper. Manual
appears in the multifunction
display.
For cleaning and care of the Distronic sen-
sor, see “Cleaning the Distronic* system
sensor cover” (page 325).
Warning!
G
Distronic works to maintain the speed se-
lected by the driver unless a moving obsta-
cle proceeding directly ahead of it in the
same travel direction is detected (e.g. fol-
lowing another vehicle ahead of you at your
set distance. This means that:

Your vehicle can pass another vehicle
after you have changed lanes.


While in a sharp turn or if the preceding
vehicle is in a sharp turn, Distronic could
lose sight of the preceding vehicle. Your
vehicle could then accelerate to the pre-
viously set speed.
Distronic regulates only the distance be-
tween your vehicle and those directly ahead
of it, but does not register stationary objects
in the road, e.g.:

a stopped vehicle in a traffic jam


a disabled vehicle


an oncoming vehicle
The driver must always be alert, observe all
traffic and intercede as required by means
of steering or braking the vehicle.
Warning!
G
Distronic should not be used in snowy or icy
road conditions.
i
If the message
Distronic available
again
appears in the multifunction display dur-
ing driving, the dirt (e.g. slush) has dissolved.
Distronic is available again if you reactivate it
(
page 218).

224 Controls in detailDriving systemsNarrow vehicles
Because of their narrow profile, the vehi-
cles traveling near the outer edges of the
lane have not yet been detected by
Distronic. There will be insufficient dis-
tance to the vehicles ahead.
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 distance warning lamp E in the
speedometer 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 preceding
vehicle.
When depressing the brake pedal, the
warning sound ceases. The warning sound
will also cease when the distance to the
preceding vehicle is sufficient again with-
out applying the brakes. In this case, the
distance warning lamp will also go out.
Warning!
G
If the distance warning lamp (red) E in
the speedometer comes on while driving
and/or an intermittent warning sounds, im-
mediate attention on part of the driver is
required.
As required by the traffic situation, apply the
brakes and navigate around a possible ob-
stacle. However, do not drive by relying on
the distance warning function, as this will
result in an emergency braking application.
This will not always enable you to avoid a
collision, especially when traveling on vary-
ing road surface conditions and with varying
driver reaction.i
Complex driving situations are not always
fully recognized by the distance warning func-
tion. This could result in wrong or missing dis-
tance warnings.

225 Controls in detail
Driving systems
1Distance warning function switchActivating

Press switch1.
The indicator lamp on the switch
comes on. A loudspeaker symbol ap-
pears in the right multifunction display
(page 217).
Deactivating

Press switch1 once more.
The indicator lamp on the switch goes
out. No loudspeaker symbol appears in
the right multifunction display.
Active Body Control (ABC)
The ABC system is an active, comput-
er-controlled system that hydraulically ad-
justs the suspension at all four wheels in
response to various driving situations. It
automatically selects the optimum suspen-
sion tuning and ride height for your vehicle.
Vehicle level control
Your vehicle automatically adjusts its ride
height to:

increase vehicle safety


reduce fuel consumptionWarning!
G
To help avoid personal injury, keep hands
and feet away from wheel housing area, and
stay away from under the vehicle when low-
ering the vehicle chassis.

228 Controls in detailDriving systemsSuspension for sporty driving style
The setting for sporty driving is selected
when indicator lamp2 is illuminated.
Press button1.
Indicator lamp2 comes on.
Suspension for regular driving style
The setting for regular driving is selected
when the indicator lamp2 is off.

Press button1.
Indicator lamp2 goes out.
Parktronic system* (Parking assist)
The Parktronic system is an electronic aid
with ultrasonic sensors. It is designed to
assist the driver during parking maneu-
vers. It visually and audibly indicates the
relative distance between the vehicle and
an obstacle.
The Parktronic system is automatically ac-
tivated when you switch on the ignition, re-
lease the parking brake, or place the gear
selector lever in position D, R, or N. The
Parktronic system deactivates at speeds
exceeding approximately 11 mph
(18 km/h). At lower vehicle speeds the
Parktronic system turns on again. Warning!
G
Parktronic is a supplemental system. It is
not intended to, nor does it replace, the
need for extreme care. The responsibility
during parking and other critical maneuvers
always rests with the driver.
Special attention must be paid to objects
with smooth surfaces or low silhouettes
(e.g. trailer couplings, painted posts, or road
curbs). Such objects may not be detected by
the system and can damage the vehicle.
The operational function of the Parktronic
system can be affected by dirty sensors, es-
pecially at times of snow and ice. See
“Cleaning the Parktronic* system sensors”
(page 326).
Warning!
G
Make sure no persons or animals are in the
area in which you are maneuvering. Other-
wise you run the risk of causing injury.!
Interference caused by other ultrasonic sig-
nals (e.g. working jackhammers, car wash, or the
air brakes of trucks) can cause the system to
send erratic indications, and should be taken
into consideration.