2007 MERCEDES-BENZ SL65AMG Owner's Manual

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.

226 Controls in detailDriving systemsThe vehicle chassis ride height is raised or
lowered according to the selected level
setting and to the vehicle speed:

With increasing speed, ride height is re-
duced by up to approximately 0.5 inch
(12 mm).


With decreasing speed, the ride height
is again raised to the selected vehicle
level.The following vehicle level settings can be
selected when the vehicle is stationary:
Select the level 1 and level 2 settings only
when required by current driving condi-
tions. Otherwise:


Fuel consumption may increase.


Handling may be impaired.The ABC vehicle level control button with
the indicator lamps is located in the lower
section of the center console.
1Indicator lamp 1
2Indicator lamp 2
3ABC vehicle level control button
i
These height adjustments are so small that
you may not notice any change.
Vehicle
level
Use for
Indicator
lamps
Normal
For driving on nor-
mal roads.
Both
lamps off
Level 1
For driving on
rough roads or with
snow chains
(page 318).
One
lamp on
Level 2
For driving on very
rough road surface
conditions.
Both
lamps on
i
The selected vehicle level setting remains
stored in memory, even if the engine is turned off
and restarted.

227 Controls in detail
Driving systems

Start the engine (
page 52).

Briefly press button3 to change from
one level setting to the next.

The normal level is selected if both
indicator lamps are off.


At level 1, indicator lamp1 is on.


At level 2, both indicator lamps are
on.
When the vehicle is at level 2, pressing
the button will return the vehicle to nor-
mal level.Suspension tuning
The suspension tuning is set according to:


Your driving style


Road surface conditions


The vehicle loading


Your choice of suspension style
You can set the following suspension
styles:


Regular (Comfort)


SportyThe ABC suspension tuning button with the
indicator lamp is located in the lower sec-
tion of the center console.
1ABC suspension tuning button
2Indicator lamp

Start the engine (
page 52).
i
Pressing the button twice in quick succes-
sion will cause the vehicle to immediately raise
or lower to the new vehicle level as selected.
i
The selected setting is stored, even if the en-
gine is turned off.

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.

229 Controls in detail
Driving systems
The Parktronic system also deactivates
when you place the gear selector lever in
position P or depress the parking brake
pedal.
The Parktronic system monitors the sur-
roundings of your vehicle with six sensors
in the front bumper and four sensors in the
rear bumper.
1Sensors in the front bumperRange of the sensorsFront sensors
Rear sensorsi
To function properly, the sensors must be
free of dirt, ice, snow and slush. Clean the sen-
sors regularly, being careful not to scratch or
damage the sensors, see “Cleaning the Park-
tronic system* sensors” (
page 326).
Center
approx. 40 in (100 cm)
Corners
approx. 24 in (60 cm)
Center
approx. 48 in (120 cm)
Corners
approx. 32 in (80 cm)
!
During parking maneuvers, pay special at-
tention to objects located above or below the
height of the sensors (e.g. planters or trailer
hitches). The Parktronic system will not detect
such objects at close range and damage to your
vehicle or the object may result.
Ultrasonic signals from outside sources (e.g.
truck air brakes, car wash, or jackhammers) may
impair the operation of the Parktronic system.

230 Controls in detailDriving systemsMinimum distance
If the system detects an obstacle in this
range, all the distance warning segments
illuminate and you hear a warning signal. If
the obstacle is closer than the minimum
distance, the actual distance may no long-
er be indicated by the system.Warning indicators
Visual signals indicate to the driver the rel-
ative distance between the sensors and an
obstacle.
The warning indicator for the front area is
located above the center air vents in the
dashboard. The warning indicator for the
rear area is integrated in the rear trim.
Front area warning indicator1Left side of the vehicle
2Right side of the vehicleEach warning indicator is divided into six
yellow and two red distance segments for
either side of the vehicle. The Parktronic
system is ready when the border around
the indicator is illuminated.
The position of the gear selector lever de-
termines which warning indicators will be
activated.
Center
approx. 8 in (20 cm)
Corners
approx. 6 in (15 cm)
Gear selector
lever position
Warning indicator
D
Front area activated
R or N
Front and rear area
activated
P
Neither activated

231 Controls in detail
Driving systems
As your vehicle approaches an object, one
or more distance segments will illuminate,
depending on the distance. When the
eighth distance segment illuminates, you
have reached the minimum distance.

Front area: An intermittent acoustic
warning will sound as the first red dis-
tance segment illuminates and a con-
stant acoustic warning lasting a
maximum of 2 seconds will sound for
the second distance segment. The sig-
nal is canceled when the gear selector
lever is placed in position P or the park-
ing brake is set.


Rear area: An intermittent acoustic
warning will sound when the first dis-
tance segment illuminates. This signal
quickens with each additional distance
segment lit. When the eighth distance
segment illuminates, the acoustic
warning becomes a constant signal.
The signal is canceled when the gear
selector lever is placed in positionD
orP or the parking brake is set.Switching the Parktronic system
on/off
You can switch off the Parktronic system
manually.
The Parktronic switch is located in the low-
er part of the center console (
page 32).
1Parktronic switch
2Indicator lamp
Switching off

Press Parktronic switch1.
Indicator lamp2 comes on.Switching on

Press Parktronic switch1 once more.
Indicator lamp2 goes out.
Parktronic system malfunction
If only the red distance segments illumi-
nate and an acoustic warning sounds,
there is a malfunction in the Parktronic
system. The Parktronic system will auto-
matically switch off after 20 seconds and
the indicator lamp in the Parktronic switch
comes on.

Have the Parktronic system checked
by an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center as soon as possible.
i
The Parktronic system switches on automat-
ically when you switch on the ignition
(
page 39).