2008 MERCEDES-BENZ S63AMG ESP

445 Controls in detail
Driving systems
The Parktronic system is an electronic
parking aid with ultrasonic sensors that
helps you while parking.
It visually and audibly indicates the relative
distance between the vehicle and an ob-
stacle.
The Parktronic system is automatically ac-
tivated when you switch on the ignition, re-
lease the electronic parking brake or start
the engine and engage gear D, R or N.The Parktronic system deactivates at
speeds over approximately 11 mph
(18 km/h). At lower speeds the Parktronic
system turns on again.
The Parktronic system also deactivates
when you set the automatic transmission
to P or secure the vehicle in place with the
electronic parking brake and switch off the
engine.
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 bumper (Only visi-
ble without DISTRONIC Plus*)Range of the sensors
!The operational function of the Parktronic
system can be affected by dirty sensors, espe-
cially at times of snow and ice.
Make sure that the area on the bumpers around
the sensors is free of dirt, ice and/or slush,
otherwise Parktronic may not function properly,
see “Cleaning the Parktronic* system sensors”
(
page 589).
iInterference 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.
iTo 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 589).

448 Controls in detail
Driving systems
Switching off the Parktronic sys-
tem: Press button 1.
Indicator lamp 2 comes on.
Switching on the Parktronic system:
Press button 1 again.
Indicator lamp 2 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 Cen-
ter as soon as possible.
If only the red distance segments illumi-
nate and no acoustic warning sounds, the
Parktronic system sensors are dirty or
there is an interference from other radio or
ultrasonic signals. The Parktronic system
will automatically switch off after 20 sec-
onds and the indicator lamp in the Park-
tronic switch comes on.
Switch off the ignition (page 344).
Clean the Parktronic system sensors
(
page 589).
Switch on the ignition.
or
Check the Parktronic system operation
at another location to rule out interfer-
ence from outside radio or ultrasonic
signals.
Park Assist*
iThe Parktronic system is automatically
switched on when the ignition is switched on
(
page 344).
Warning!G
Park Assist 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 remains with the driver.
Warning!G
Make sure no persons or animals are in the
area in which you are maneuvering. You
could otherwise injure them.
!Special attention must be paid to objects
with smooth surfaces or low silhouettes (e.g.
trailer couplings, painted posts, elevated cross-
bars or road curbs). Such objects may not be de-
tected by the system and can damage the
vehicle.

449 Controls in detail
Driving systems
Park Assist is an electronic parking aid
with radar sensors that helps you while
parking.When travelling in Canada in a vehicle not
registered in Canada, you must switch off
the radar sensor system* (
page 282).
Canadian law does not permit the use of
the radar sensor system* (
page 282) for
vehicles from outside of Canada. When you
switch off the radar sensor system*, the
following functions are deactivated:

BAS Plus* (page 69)

DISTRONIC Plus* (page 424)

Park Assist

PRE-SAFE® Brake* (page 76)
It visually and audibly indicates the relative
distance between the vehicle and an ob-
stacle.
Park Assist is automatically activated
when the engine is running and the trans-
mission is in position D, R or N.
The Park Assist system deactivates at
speeds over approximately 11 mph. At
lower speeds the Parktronic system turns
on again.
iUSA only:
This device has been approved by the FCC as a
“Vehicular Radar System”. The radar sensor is
intended for use in an automotive radar system
only. Removal, tampering, or altering of the de-
vice will void any warranties, and is not permitted
by the FCC. Do not tamper with, alter, or use in
any non-approved way.
Any unauthorized modification to this device
could void the user’s authority to operate the
equipment.
iCanada only:
This device complies with RSS-210 of Industry
Canada. Operation is subject to the following
two conditions:
(1) This device may not cause interference, and
(2) this device must accept any interference re-
ceived, including interference that may
cause undesired operation of the device.
Removal, tampering, or altering of the device will
void any warranties, and is not permitted. Do not
tamper with, alter, or use in any non-approved
way.
Any unauthorized modification to this device
could void the user’s authority to operate the
equipment.
!The operational function of the Park Assist
system can be affected by dirty sensors, espe-
cially at times of snow and ice.
Make sure that the area on the bumpers around
the sensors is free of dirt, ice and/or slush,
otherwise Park Assist may not function properly,
see “Cleaning the Park Assist* system sensors
(USA only)” (
page 590).
!High-frequency sources such as toll sta-
tions, speed measuring systems, etc. can cause
the Park Assist system to malfunction. You can
switch off the Park Assist using the Park Assist
button (
page 452) or switch off the radar sen-
sors (
page 282) to prevent possible malfunc-
tion.

452 Controls in detail
Driving systems

Front area:
As soon as the first red segment lights
up, you will hear an intermittent warn-
ing tone for approximately two sec-
onds. Once the second red segment
lights up, you will hear a continuous
warning tone. You have reached the
minimum distance.

Rear area:
As soon as the first red segment lights
up, you will hear an intermittent warn-
ing tone for approximately two sec-
onds. Once the second red segment
lights up, you will hear a continuous
warning tone. You have reached the
minimum distance.Collision warning
Park Assist can detect obstacles from a
considerable distance. If you drive in re-
verse towards an obstacle, you will hear a
warning tone. You must then brake in or-
der to avoid a collision. The warning tone
for a collision will not sound when the vehi-
cle is at a standstill very close to the obsta-
cle. In this case, you will hear a
corresponding tone for the warning indica-
tor in the rear area.Switching Park Assist system on/off
The Park Assist system can be switched off
manually.
The Park Assist button with the indicator
lamp is located on the control panel on the
right-hand side of the instrument cluster.
1Park Assist button
2Indicator lamp
iDuring strong rainfall, the warning indicators
and warning tones may be triggered, for exam-
ple, by water splashing into the area of the sen-
sors.
iDuring strong rainfall, the collision warning
may be triggered, for example, by water splash-
ing into the area of the sensors.
iWhen the indicator lamp is on, the Park
Assist system is switched off.

454 Controls in detail
Driving systems
View through the camera
iThe image from the Dynamic Rear View
Monitor is shown on the COMAND display
(
page 31).
Warning!G
Please note that objects which do not touch
the ground, such as the bumper of a vehicle
parked behind you, a trailer hitch, or the
back of a truck, may appear to be further
away than they actually are. In this case, you
should not use the guide lines to judge dis-
tance. The use of the guide lines to judge
distance increases the risk of impacting the
objects.
Warning!G
The Dynamic Rear View Monitor is a supple-
ment system. It is not intended to, nor does
it replace, the need for extreme care. The re-
sponsibility during parking and other driving
maneuvers always remains with the driver.
The Dynamic Rear View Monitor may show
obstacles with a distorted perspective, in-
correctly or not at all.
Special attention must be paid to objects
outside of the camera’s field of view such as
those located very close to or below the rear
bumper, or above the recessed grip of the
luggage compartment lid. Such objects may
not be detected by the system and can dam-
age the vehicle.
The Dynamic Rear View Monitor does not
warn you about impending collisions with
objects. The driver is always responsible for
safety and must continue to pay attention to
the immediate surroundings while parking
or maneuvering the vehicle. This applies not
only to the area behind the vehicle, but also
to the area in front of and to the sides of the
vehicle. Failure to do so could result in injury
to persons and/or damage to the vehicle or
other property. We also recommend that the
driver use the Parktronic system* or Park
Assist* when parking or maneuvering the
vehicle.

457 Controls in detail
Driving systems
1Yellow and blue guide lines for vehicle
width
2Yellow 13 ft (4 m) guide line
3Yellow 39 in (1 m) guide line
4Red 10 in (0.25 m) guide line
The red 10 in (0.25 m) guide line4, the
yellow 39 in (1 m) guide line3 and the
yellow 13 ft (4 m) guide line2 correspond
to the relevant distance from the rear of
the vehicle. The yellow and blue guide lines
for vehicle width1 show the required
width for the vehicle.5Blue guide lines for straight driving
6Symbol for “reverse parking”
7Yellow and red guide lines for cornering
When you turn the steering wheel out of
the straight-ahead position, the positions
of the yellow and red guide lines7
change depending on the steering wheel’s
position. The space required by the vehicle
for reverse cornering is indicated by yellow
and red guide lines7.
Warning!G
Please note that objects which do not touch
the ground, such as the bumper of a vehicle
parked behind you, a trailer hitch, or the
back of a truck, may appear to be further
away than they actually are. In this case, you
should not use the guide lines to judge dis-
tance as the use of the guide lines to judge
distance increases the risk of impacting the
objects.
Even when the object you approach is di-
rectly on the ground (and nothing on the ob-
ject extends above the ground beyond the
object’s contours directly touching the
ground) and no objects that do not touch
the ground, such as the bumper of a vehicle
parked behind you, a trailer hitch, or the
back of a truck are in the path, do not ap-
proach the object on the ground any closer
than red guide line4.

459 Controls in detail
Driving systems
Stop the vehicle

at a distance of approximately
three feet (one meter) parallel to
the vehicle that is in front of the de-
sired parking space.

in such a way that the front of the
parked vehicle is parallel to your
rear wheel.
Switch on COMAND (page 85).
Move gear selector lever to position R
(reverse gear).
1Vertical blue guide line
2Symbol for “parallel parking”
Use the COMAND controller
(
page 88) to select “parallel parking”
function2.
You will see the guide lines for parallel
parking on the COMAND display.
Back up carefully parallel to parked car
until the respective vertical blue guide
line1 is at the end of the parked vehi-
cle next to you.
Stop the vehicle.1Vertical blue guide line
3Extended blue guide line
4Blue guide lines for vehicle contour
With the vehicle at a standstill, turn
steering wheel in parking direction until
blue guide lines3 and 1 appear and
the rectangle formed by guide lines 4
shows the desired parking position. If
another vehicle is located next to you,
the extended blue guide line3 must
just touch the corresponding vertical
blue guide line1.Warning!G
If the respective vertical blue guide line1
is not yet located at the end of the parked
vehicle and you are already turning into the
parking space, you could collide with the
parked vehicle. Stop the parking procedure
immediately. Pull out of the parking space
and start the parking procedure over again.


461 Controls in detail
Driving systems
With the vehicle at a standstill, turn
steering wheel as far as it will go in the
opposite direction.
The guide lines for straight driving7
and cornering6 appear in the
COMAND display.
Back up using the set wheel angle until
blue guide line7 for straight driving is
parallel to the edge of the parking
space, e.g. the curb.
Now straighten out steering wheel and
back up until you still have just enough
room behind the vehicle.
While doing so, observe
Parktronic* (
page 444) or Park As-
sist* (
page 448) warning indicators.
Night View Assist*
Night View Assist illuminates the road with
infrared light in addition to the normal
headlamps.
A camera at the top of the windshield mea-
sures the infrared light and shows a
black-and-white image on the multifunc-
tion display. The image on the multifunction display cor-
responds to a road lit up by high-beam
headlamps.
Warning!G
Night View Assist is only an aid to support
you while driving and cannot substitute your
careful attention. Do not rely on the display
of the Night View Assist; instead, continue
to look through the windshield. You are al-
ways responsible for safety and must drive
in accordance with traffic conditions. Other-
wise, you could endanger yourself and oth-
ers.
If it is foggy, raining or snowing, the clarity of
the Night View Assist image on the multi-
function display may be diminished.Warning!G
Night View Assist cannot record objects im-
mediately in front of or next to the vehicle.
When maneuvering, continue to look
through the windshield. Make sure no per-
sons or animals are in the area in which you
are maneuvering. You could otherwise in-
jure them.