2007 MERCEDES-BENZ SL65AMG brake

213 Controls in detail
Driving systems
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’s speed will be reduced so
that you follow that vehicle at the pre-
set following distance.


If there is no vehicle directly ahead of
you, Distronic will function in the same
way as standard cruise control
(page 209).
Warning!
G
Distronic adaptive cruise control is not a
substitute for active driving involvement. It
does not react to pedestrians or stationary
objects, recognize or predict the lane curva-
ture nor 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. In addition, the driver must pro-
vide the steering, braking and other driving
inputs necessary to remain in control of the
vehicle.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 assure a safe stopping
distance, always rests with the driver.
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 street and traffic con-
ditions into account. Only use Distronic if
the road, weather and traffic conditions
make it advisable to travel at a constant
speed.

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.

218 Controls in detailDriving systemsCruise control lever
The Distronic system is operated by means
of the cruise control lever.
The cruise control lever is the uppermost
lever found on the left-hand side of the
steering column.
1Setting current or higher speed
2Setting current or lower speed
3Deactivate Distronic
4Activating Distronic or resuming at last
set speedActivating Distronic
You can activate Distronic when the vehi-
cle speed is between 20 mph (30 km/h)
and 110 mph (180 km/h).
When Distronic is activated, the left multi-
function display will show a message such
as
DTR 55 mph
.
If Distronic is not activated after the cruise
control lever is pulled, the left multifunc-
tion display will show the message
DTR --- mph
.
In the following cases you cannot activate
Distronic:


up to 2 minutes after starting the en-
gine


when you brake


when you have set the parking brake


when the gear selector lever is set to
positionP, R, or N.


when the ESP
® is switched off1White Distronic indicator lamp E
2Set speed
i
The vehicle speed displayed in the speedom-
eter can briefly vary from the speed setting for
the Distronic.

219 Controls in detail
Driving systems
Setting the current speed
Accelerate or decelerate to the desired
speed.

Briefly lift the cruise control lever in
direction of arrow1 or depress in
direction of arrow2 (
page 218).
Distronic is activated and the current
speed is set.

Remove your foot from the accelerator
pedal.Setting a higher speed

Briefly tip the cruise control lever in
direction of arrow1 (
page 218) to
increase the vehicle speed in incre-
ments of 5 mph (Canada: 10 km/h).
The new speed is set.Setting a lower speed

Briefly tip the cruise control lever in di-
rection of arrow2 (
page 218) to de-
crease the vehicle speed in increments
of 5 mph (Canada: 10 km/h).
The new speed is set.
Fine adjustment in 1 mph
(Canada: 1 km/h) increments
Faster

Briefly pull the cruise control lever in
direction of arrow4 (
page 218).
i
If you do not take your foot off of the accel-
erator but continue to accelerate past the set
speed, the following message will appear in the
multifunction display:
DTR override
.
The distance to slower moving vehicles in front
of you will not be set. Your vehicle speed will
then be determined only by the accelerator
pedal 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.
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.

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.

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).

223 Controls in detail
Driving systems
Turns and bends
In turns or bends, Distronic may not detect
a moving vehicle in front, or it may detect
one too soon. This may cause your vehicle
to brake late or unexpectedly.Offset driving
A vehicle traveling in your lane but offset
from your direct line of travel may not be
detected by Distronic. There will be insuffi-
cient distance to the vehicle ahead.Lane changing
Distronic has not yet detected the vehicle
changing lanes. There will be insufficient
distance to the lane-changing vehicle.

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.