2010 MERCEDES-BENZ E350 Distronic

XRelease the brake pedal.XCarefully depress the accelerator pedal.
The hill-start assist system is inactive
R when starting off on a level road or downhill
grades
R with the automatic transmission in neutral
position N
R with the parking brake engaged
R if the ESC has switched off due to a
malfunction
All-wheel drive (4MATIC)
In vehicles with all-wheel drive (4MATIC),
both axles are powered at all times when the
vehicle is being operated. The 4MATIC
improves traction in conjunction with the ESC
( Y page 65) and the Electronic Traction
System (ETS/4-ETS) ( Y page 65).
GWarning!
If a drive wheel is spinning due to insufficient
traction:
R While driving off, apply as little throttle as
possible.
R While driving, ease up on the accelerator
pedal.
R Adapt your speed and driving style to the
prevailing road conditions.
Failure to observe these guidelines could
cause the vehicle to skid.
The 4MATIC cannot prevent accidents
resulting from excessive speed.
! Do not tow with one axle raised. Doing so
could damage the transfer case, which is
not covered by the Mercedes-Benz Limited
Warranty. All wheels must be on or off the
ground. Observe instructions for towing the
vehicle with all wheels on the ground.
! Only conduct operational or performance
tests on a two-axle dynamometer. If such
tests are necessary, contact an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center. You could
otherwise seriously damage the brake
system and/or the transfer case which is
not covered by the Mercedes-Benz Limited
Warranty.
i In winter operation, the maximum
effectiveness of the 4MATIC is only
achieved with winter tires ( Y page 252) or
snow chains as required.
HOLD function
The HOLD function can assist you
R when driving off, especially on steep slopes
R when maneuvering on steep slopes
R when waiting in traffic
The vehicle is kept stationary without the
driver having to depress the brake pedal.
Upon depressing the accelerator pedal, the
braking effect is canceled and the HOLD
function is deactivated.
Activation conditions
You can activate the HOLD function when
R the vehicle is stationary
R the engine is running
R your seat belt is fastened or the driver’s
door is closed
R the parking brake is released
R the hood is closed
R the automatic transmission is in neutral
position N, drive position D, or reverse gear
R
R the DISTRONIC PLUS is deactivated
( Y page 156)
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Activating HOLD XMake sure the activation conditions are
met.
XDepress the brake pedal.XContinue to depress the brake pedal with
increased pedal pressure until the message
HOLD appears in the multifunction display.
The HOLD function is activated. You can
now release the brake pedal.
Example illustration, HOLD function activated
iIf the HOLD function is not activated when
depressing the brake pedal, wait briefly and
repeat the above steps.
GWarning!
The vehicle’s brakes are applied when the
HOLD function is activated. Therefore,
deactivate the HOLD function, for example,
when the vehicle is pulled through an
automatic car wash or being towed.
Deactivating HOLD
The HOLD function is switched off when
Ryou depress the accelerator pedal with the
automatic transmission in drive position D
or reverse gear R
Ryou shift the automatic transmission into
park position P
Ryou depress the brake pedal fully again
until the message HOLD in the multifunction
display disappears
Ryou activate the DISTRONIC PLUS
GWarning!
The braking effect of the HOLD function is
canceled and the vehicle can start to roll if
Rthe HOLD function is deactivated by
depressing the accelerator pedal or the
brake pedal
Rthe HOLD function or the power supply is
malfunctioning, e.g. due to battery failure
Rthe electrical components in the engine
compartment or the fuses have been
manipulated
Rthe battery is disconnected
GWarning!
Never get out of the vehicle while the HOLD
function is activated!
The HOLD function must never be operated
or deactivated by passengers or from outside
the vehicle.
The HOLD function does not replace the
parking brake. It must not be used to secure
the vehicle when parking.
Deactivate the HOLD function when leaving
or parking the vehicle. Use the parking brake
to secure the vehicle.
When the HOLD function is activated, the
automatic transmission shifts into park
position P automatically when
Ropening the driver’s door and releasing the
seat belt
Rturning off the engine
Ropening the hood
Ra system malfunction occurs
Rthe on-board voltage is insufficient
The HOLD function is deactivated.
AIRMATIC (E 550 and E 550 4MATIC)
Introduction
The AIRMATIC lets you select the chassis and
suspension setup. The chassis and
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XCleaning inside of windshield: Use a soft,
non-scratching cloth ( Y page 263).
Blind Spot Assist
The Blind Spot Assist uses radar sensors to
monitor the area on both sides of your
vehicle. It will assist you when you change
lanes driving at speeds of above 20 mph
(30 km/h). A red warning lamp will come on
in the exterior rear view mirror as soon as
another vehicle is detected. If you then
activate the corresponding turn signals to
change lanes, the red warning lamp flashes
and warning sounds (collision warning). The
Blind Spot Assist operates using sensors in
the rear bumper.
GWarning!
The Blind Spot Assist is only a driving aid and
may not detect all vehicles.
The Blind Spot Assist may not be able to
detect narrow vehicles such as motorcycles
or bicycles, or it may not detect them until it
is too late.
The monitoring function may be impaired if
your sensors are dirty, subject to heavy spray,
or if visibility is poor due to e.g. snow, rain, or
fog. This can result in vehicles not being
detected or being detected too late.
The Blind Spot Assist cannot detect road,
traffic and weather conditions.
It is the driver’s responsibility at all times to
be attentive to road, weather and traffic
conditions and to provide the steering,
braking and other driving inputs necessary to
retain control of the vehicle. Failure to do so
could result in recognizing dangers too late,
possibly resulting in an accident and serious
injury to yourself and others.
In order for the Blind Spot Assist to function,
the radar sensors must be switched on and
operational.
When traveling in Canada in a vehicle not
registered in Canada, you must switch off the
radar sensor system ( Y page 144). Canadian
law does not permit the use of the radar
sensor system for vehicles from outside of
Canada. When you switch off the radar sensor
system, the following functions are
deactivated:
R Blind Spot Assist
R BAS PLUS ( Y page 63)
R PRE-SAFE ®
Brake ( Y page 69)
R DISTRONIC PLUS ( Y page 149)
i USA 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 device 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.
i Canada 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 received, 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.
Sensor monitoring range
The Blind Spot Assist is able to monitor a
range up to 10 ft (3 m) to the rear and both
sides of the vehicle.
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control. Other settings may result in
damage to your vehicle.
! Some tire sizes do not leave adequate
clearance for snow chains. To help avoid
serious damage to your vehicle or tires,
make sure the use of snow chains is
permissible as specified in the “Technical
data” section of this Operator’s Manual.
Snow chains should only be driven on snow-
covered roads at speeds not to exceed
30 mph (50 km/h). Remove chains as soon
as possible when driving on roads without
snow.
Observe the following guidelines when using
snow chains:
R Use of snow chains is not permissible with
all wheel/tire combinations ( Y page 353).
R Use snow chains in pairs and on rear
wheels only. Follow the manufacturer’s
mounting instructions.
! If snow chains are mounted to the front
wheels, they may scrape against the body
or axle components. The tires or the vehicle
could be damaged as a result.
R Only use snow chains that are approved by
Mercedes-Benz. Any authorized Mercedes-
Benz Center will be glad to advise you on
this subject.
R Use of snow chains may be prohibited
depending on location. Always check local
and state laws before installing snow
chains.
R Do not use snow chains on the spare wheel.
i When driving with snow chains, you may
wish to switch off the ESC ( Y page 66)
before setting the vehicle in motion. This
will improve the vehicle’s traction.Winter driving instructionsGWarning!
If the vehicle becomes stuck in snow, make
sure snow is kept clear of the exhaust pipe
and from around the vehicle with the engine
running. Otherwise, deadly carbon monoxide
(CO) gases may enter vehicle interior
resulting in unconsciousness and death.
To assure sufficient fresh air ventilation, open
a window slightly on the side of the vehicle
not facing the wind.
GWarning!
The outside temperature indicator is not
designed to serve as an ice-warning device
and is therefore unsuitable for that purpose.
Indicated temperatures just above the
freezing point do not guarantee that the road
surface is free of ice. The road may still be icy,
especially in wooded areas or on bridges.
GWarning!
On slippery road surfaces, never downshift in
order to obtain braking action. This could
result in drive wheel slip and reduced vehicle
control. Your vehicle’s ABS will not prevent
this type of loss of control.
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, shift
the automatic transmission to neutral
position N. Try to keep the vehicle under
control by corrective steering action.
i For information on driving with snow
chains, see “Snow chains” ( Y page 252).
Road salts and chemicals can adversely
affect braking efficiency. Increased pedal
force may become necessary to produce the
normal brake effect.
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XOnly use a mild vehicle wash detergent,
such as Mercedes-Benz approved Car
Shampoo.XThoroughly spray the vehicle with a
diffused jet of water.XDo not spray directly towards the
ventilation intake.XUse plenty of water and rinse the sponge
and chamois frequently.XRinse with clean water and dry with a
chamois thoroughly.
Do not allow cleaning agents to dry on the
finish.
Automatic car wash
GWarning!
The vehicle is braked when the HOLD function
or DISTRONIC PLUS is activated. Therefore,
deactivate the HOLD function or DISTRONIC
PLUS before the vehicle is washed in an
automatic car wash.
You can have your vehicle washed in an
automatic car wash from the start. Brushless
car washes are preferable.
XTo protect the filter system, activate the air
recirculation mode using button g on
the climate control panel.
! Do not clean your vehicle in an automatic
touchless car wash which uses caustic
spray. Caustic spray will damage the paint
or ornamental moldings.
If the vehicle is very dirty, prewash it before
running it through the automatic car wash.
! Make sure the combination switch is set
to wiper setting $. Otherwise, the rain
sensor could activate and cause the wipers
to move unintentionally. This may lead to
vehicle damage.
Due to the width of the vehicle, fold in
exterior rear view mirrors prior to running
the vehicle through an automatic car wash
to prevent damage to the mirrors.
XWhen taking the vehicle through an
automatic conveyor-type car wash:
Make sure the automatic transmission
remains in neutral position N. Observe
instructions, see “Remaining in neutral
position N” ( Y page 117).
When leaving the automatic car wash, make
sure the mirrors are folded out.
After running the vehicle through an
automatic car wash, wipe any wax off of the
windshield and the wiper blade inserts. This
will prevent smears and reduce wiping noise
which can be caused by residual wax on the
windshield.
Ornamental moldings
XFor regular cleaning and care of ornamental
moldings, use a damp cloth.
! Do not use chrome cleaner on ornamental
moldings. Although ornamental moldings
may have chrome appearance, they could
be made of anodized aluminum that will be
damaged when cleaned with chrome
cleaner. Instead, use a damp cloth to clean
those ornamental moldings.
For very dirty ornamental moldings of
which you are sure are chrome-plated, use
a chrome cleaner. If in doubt whether an
ornamental molding is chrome-plated,
contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.
Headlamps, brake lamps, tail lamps,
side markers, turn signal lenses
XUse a mild vehicle wash detergent, such as
Mercedes-Benz approved Car Shampoo,
with plenty of water.
! Only use window cleaning solutions that
are suitable for plastic lamp lenses.
Window cleaning solutions which are not
suitable may damage the plastic lamp
lenses of the headlamps. Therefore, do not
use abrasives, solvents or cleaners that
contain solvents.
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Cleaning the driving systems sensorsXSwitch off the ignition.XClean DISTRONIC PLUS/PRE-SAFE® Brake
system sensor cover : by hand.
To clean DISTRONIC PLUS/PRE-SAFE® Brake
system sensor cover : and the bumper area
near sensors ; observe the following:
RUse a mild vehicle wash detergent, such as
Mercedes-Benz approved Car Shampoo,
with plenty of water.
RUse a soft, non-scratching cloth.
! If you use a power washer to clean the
sensor covers, observe the following:
RFollow the instructions provided by the
power washer manufacturer.
RMaintain a distance between the sensor
covers and the nozzle of the power
washer.
Cleaning the rear view camera lensXOnly use clean water and a soft, non-
scratching cloth to clean rear view camera
lens :.
Be careful not to apply wax to rear view
camera lens : when waxing the vehicle. If
necessary, remove the wax using the
Mercedes-Benz approved Car Shampoo with
plenty of water.
! Do not clean the camera and the area
around the camera
Rwith a high-pressure cleaner
Rwith a dry cloth and strong pressure
Rwith aggressive cleaning agents
You could otherwise damage the camera.
Cleaning the windshield in front of the
Night View Assist Plus camera
The Night View Assist Plus camera is located
in front of the interior rear view mirror.
GWarning!
Please do not forget that your primary
responsibility is to drive the vehicle. A driver’s
attention to the road must always be his/her
primary focus when driving. For your safety
and the safety of others, stop before trying to
remove window fogging or cleaning the
window in front of the Night View Assist Plus
camera.
Bear in mind that at a speed of just 30 mph
(approximately 50 km/h), your vehicle is
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Text messages
Safety systemsDisplay messagesPossible causes/consequences and M SolutionsPRE-SAFEInoperativ
e See
Operator's
ManualThe PRE-SAFE ®
system has failed. All other occupant safety
systems, such as the air bags, are still available.XContact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center as soon as
possible.PRE-SAFEFunctions
Currently
Limited
See
Operator's
ManualThe PRE-SAFE ®
Brake is temporarily unavailable.
The PRE-SAFE ®
Brake is deactivated because:
R the DISTRONIC PLUS cover in the radiator grille is dirty
R the area around the sensors in the front or the rear bumper
is dirty
R its function is impaired as a result of heavy precipitation
R the radar sensor system is temporarily inoperative due to
electromagnetic interference near television and radio
transmitter stations, toll stations, speed measuring
systems, etc.
R the system is out of the operating temperature range
R the battery voltage is insufficient
R E 63 AMG only: The ESC has been switched off.
The PRE-SAFE ®
Brake becomes operational again and the
message in the multifunction display disappears when:
R dirt on the radiator grille has fallen off while driving (e.g.
slush or snow)
R the system recognizes full sensor availability (due to
lessening rain or the road surface drying)
R the system is within the operating temperature range
R E 63 AMG only: The ESC is switched back on.
If the message in the multifunction display does not
disappear:XClean the DISTRONIC PLUS cover in the radiator grille
( Y page 263).XClean the front and the rear bumper ( Y page 263).XRestart the vehicle.XWait until the battery recovers.274Vehicle status messages in the multifunction displayPractical hints
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Display messagesPossible causes/consequences and M SolutionsDISTRONIC
PLUSCurrently
Unavailabl
e See
Operator's
ManualThe DISTRONIC PLUS is temporarily unavailable.
The DISTRONIC PLUS is deactivated because:
R the DISTRONIC PLUS cover in the radiator grille is dirty
R its function is impaired as a result of heavy precipitation
R the radar sensor system is temporarily inoperative due to
electromagnetic interference near television and radio
transmitter stations, toll stations, speed measuring
systems, etc.
R the radar sensors do not sense any other vehicles or
objects, i.e. road sign or similar to this, for a long time
R the system is out of the operating temperature range
R the battery voltage is insufficientXIf necessary, clean the DISTRONIC PLUS cover in the
radiator grille ( Y page 263).XRestart the vehicle.XTry activating the DISTRONIC PLUS again later.XWait until the system is within the operating temperature
range or the battery recovers.
The DISTRONIC PLUS becomes operational again without the
engine being restarted when:
R dirt on the radiator grille has fallen off while driving (e.g.
slush or snow)
R the system recognizes full sensor availability (due to
lessening rain or the road surface drying)
R the message in the multifunction display disappears
DISTRONIC
PLUSInoperativ
eThe DISTRONIC PLUS is malfunctioning.
The BAS PLUS and the PRE-SAFE ®
Brake are also not
available.XContact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center as soon as
possible.DISTRONIC
PLUSOverrideYou have accelerated. The DISTRONIC PLUS has switched off.XStop accelerating.280Vehicle status messages in the multifunction displayPractical hints
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