DISTRONIC PLUS deactivated
When the DISTRONIC PLUS is deactivated,
you will see the following display in the
multifunction display.
Example illustration
:Preceding vehicle, if detected;Actual distance to the preceding vehicle=Preset distance threshold to the
preceding vehicle
?Your vehicleAPRE-SAFE® Brake activated
DISTRONIC PLUS lever
:Setting current or higher speed;Setting current or lower speed=Deactivating the DISTRONIC PLUS?Activating the DISTRONIC PLUS or
resuming to the last set speed
ASetting following distanceActivating DISTRONIC PLUSGWarning!
When the DISTRONIC PLUS is switched on,
the vehicle can be braked. You should
therefore switch off the DISTRONIC PLUS if
the vehicle must be towed.
You can activate the DISTRONIC PLUS when
the vehicle speed is above 20 mph
(30 km/h).
It is also possible to activate the DISTRONIC
PLUS when the vehicle speed is below
20 mph (30 km/h) and the DISTRONIC PLUS
has detected a preceding vehicle.
If the DISTRONIC PLUS is activated, one or
two segments ; (Y page 151) around set
speed = (Y page 151) in the multifunction
display are illuminated.
The maximum vehicle speed you can set is
120 mph (Canada: 200 km/h).
If the DISTRONIC PLUS is not activated after
the DISTRONIC PLUS lever is pulled in
direction of arrow ? (Y page 153), you will
see the message: DISTRONIC PLUS ---
mph in the multifunction display.
In the following cases you cannot activate the
DISTRONIC PLUS:
Rwithin 2 minutes after driving off, following
an engine start
Rif the vehicle is secured with the parking
brake
Rif the ESC is switched off or has switched
off due to a malfunction
Rwhen the automatic transmission is in park
position P, reverse gear R, or neutral
position N
Rif the hood is open
Rif the driver’s door is open and the driver
has not fastened his or her seat belt
Rif the front passenger or a rear passenger
door is open
Rif the radar sensors are switched off
(Y page 144)
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Switching on while driving
You can switch on the DISTRONIC PLUS when
the vehicle speed is above 20 mph
(30 km/h).
Below 20 mph (30 km/h), you can only switch
on the DISTRONIC PLUS if the preceding
vehicle has been detected and is shown in the
multifunction display. If you no longer see the
preceding vehicle in the multifunction display
and if it is no longer detected because it has
changed lanes, for example, the DISTRONIC
PLUS switches off and a signal sounds.
XPull the DISTRONIC PLUS lever briefly in
direction of arrow ? to call up the last set
speed, or if no speed is stored, to set and
store the current speed.
The DISTRONIC PLUS is switched on.
or
XTap the DISTRONIC PLUS lever up : or
down ; until desired speed is set.
The DISTRONIC PLUS is switched on.XRemove your foot from the accelerator
pedal.
Your vehicle adapts its speed to the
preceding vehicle, observing the set speed
as a maximum value.
If you do not completely remove your foot
from the accelerator pedal, the message
DISTRONIC PLUS Override appears in the
multifunction display. The distance to a
slower-driving vehicle will not be set. You will
drive at the speed you dictate by pressing the
accelerator pedal.
Switching on when approaching a
stationary vehicle
It is helpful to switch on the DISTRONIC PLUS
display in the multifunction display to see that
a preceding vehicle is detected
( Y page 152). You can only switch on the
DISTRONIC PLUS below a speed of 20 mph
(30 km/h) when a preceding vehicle is
detected.
If the preceding vehicle is stationary, you can
only switch on the DISTRONIC PLUS if your
vehicle is also at a standstill.XPull the DISTRONIC PLUS lever briefly in
direction of arrow ?.
The DISTRONIC PLUS is switched on.XTap the DISTRONIC PLUS lever up : or
down ; until desired speed is set.
You can adjust the set speed using the
DISTRONIC PLUS lever and the target
distance using the distance setting switch on
the DISTRONIC PLUS lever ( Y page 157).
i If the DISTRONIC PLUS is switched off,
the PRE-SAFE ®
Brake (Y page 69) will warn
of an impending collision if this function has
been activated with the instrument cluster
control system ( Y page 137).
Starting off
When the preceding vehicle starts off:
XRemove your foot from the brake pedal.XPull the DISTRONIC PLUS lever briefly in
direction of arrow ?.
or
XBriefly step on the accelerator pedal.
Your vehicle starts off and adapts its speed
to the preceding vehicle.
Driving
If there is no preceding vehicle, the
DISTRONIC PLUS functions like the cruise
control ( Y page 146).
When the DISTRONIC PLUS detects that the
preceding vehicle is driving more slowly, it
brakes the vehicle in order to keep the
distance specified by you.
When the DISTRONIC PLUS detects that the
preceding vehicle is driving faster, it
accelerates the vehicle up to the set speed.
GWarning!
When you step on the brake pedal, you switch
off the DISTRONIC PLUS except when the
vehicle is at a standstill. The DISTRONIC PLUS
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will no longer brake your vehicle. You are
always responsible for maintaining a distance
from other vehicles, observing road speeds
and braking well in advance.
StoppingGWarning!
The braking effect of the DISTRONIC PLUS is
canceled and the vehicle can start to roll if
R the DISTRONIC PLUS is switched off using
the DISTRONIC PLUS lever
R you accelerate
R the DISTRONIC PLUS system or the power
supply is malfunctioning, e.g. due to battery
failure
R the electrical components in the engine
compartment or the fuses have been
manipulated
R the battery is disconnected
GWarning!
Never get out of the vehicle while the
DISTRONIC PLUS is switched on!
The DISTRONIC PLUS must never be operated
or switched off by passengers or from outside
the vehicle.
The DISTRONIC PLUS is not a substitute for
the parking brake. It must not be used to
secure the vehicle when parking.
When you get out of the vehicle or switch off
the engine, deactivate the DISTRONIC PLUS
and secure the vehicle from rolling away by
engaging the parking brake.
When the DISTRONIC PLUS detects that the
preceding vehicle is stopping, the vehicle
brakes until it also stops. Once the vehicle is
at a standstill, it remains stationary, without
depressing the brake pedal.
Depending on the following distance set
using the distance setting switch on the
DISTRONIC PLUS lever ( Y page 157), the
vehicle will stop adequate away from the
preceding vehicle.
When the DISTRONIC PLUS is activated and
the vehicle is at a standstill, the automatic
transmission shifts into park position P
automatically when
R opening the driver’s door and releasing the
seat belt
R turning off the engine
R opening the hood
R a system malfunction occurs
R the on-board voltage is insufficient
The DISTRONIC PLUS is deactivated.
Setting the current speedXAccelerate or decelerate to the desired
speed.XBriefly lift the DISTRONIC PLUS lever in
direction of arrow : or depress in
direction of arrow ; (Y page 153).
The current speed is set.XRemove your foot from the accelerator
pedal.
i If you do not take your foot off of the
accelerator pedal and continue to
accelerate past the set speed, the following
message will appear in the multifunction
display:
DISTRONIC PLUS Override
The distance to a slower moving vehicle in
front of you will not be set. Your vehicle
speed will then be determined only by the
accelerator pedal position.
Changing the set speed
GWarning!
Keep in mind that it may take a brief moment
until the vehicle has made the necessary
adjustments.
Increase or decrease the set vehicle speed to
a value that the prevailing road conditions and
legal speed limits permit. Otherwise, sudden
and unexpected acceleration or deceleration
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Ryou shift the automatic transmission into
park position P, reverse gear R, or neutral
position N while driving
Rthe radar sensors are switched off
Ryou pull the DISTRONIC PLUS lever in
direction of arrow ? (Y page 153) for
driving off and the passenger door is open
The segments indicating the set speed in the
multifunction display go out, an acoustic
signal sounds, and the message DISTRONIC
PLUS Off appears in the multifunction
display for approximately 5 seconds.
GWarning!
The DISTRONIC PLUS 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
unless the DISTRONIC PLUS detects a vehicle
directly ahead of you. At that time the driver
must apply the brakes in order to reduce
vehicle speed further or bring it to a stop.
Depressing the accelerator pedal does not
deactivate the DISTRONIC PLUS. After a brief
acceleration (e.g. for passing), the
DISTRONIC PLUS will resume the last set
speed.
Setting the following distance in
DISTRONIC PLUS
You can set the specified following distance
for the DISTRONIC PLUS by varying the time
setting between 1.0 and 2.0 seconds. Using
this time setting and the current speed of
your vehicle, the DISTRONIC PLUS calculates
and sets the required following distance to
the preceding vehicle.
The set distance will be shown in the
multifunction display.
GWarning!
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
recommendations for safe following distance.
XIncreasing distance: Turn distance
setting switch : in direction of arrow ;.
Increasing the distance setting tells the
DISTRONIC PLUS to maintain a greater
following distance to the preceding vehicle.
XDecreasing distance: Turn distance
setting switch : in direction of arrow =.
Decreasing the distance setting tells the
DISTRONIC PLUS to maintain a shorter
following distance to the preceding vehicle.
Driving with DISTRONIC PLUS
This section describes a number of driving
situations where special precaution is
required on the part of the driver. Be prepared
to brake in such situations. Braking will
deactivate the DISTRONIC PLUS system.
GWarning!
The DISTRONIC PLUS works to maintain the
speed selected by the driver unless a moving
obstacle proceeding directly ahead of it in the
same travel direction is detected (e.g.
following another vehicle ahead of you at your
set distance).
This means that:
RYour vehicle can pass another vehicle after
you have changed lanes.
RWhile in a sharp turn or if the preceding
vehicle is in a sharp turn, the DISTRONIC
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PLUS could lose sight of the preceding
vehicle. Your vehicle could then accelerate
to the previously selected speed.
The DISTRONIC PLUS regulates only the
distance between your vehicle and those
directly ahead of it. It may not register
stationary objects in the road, e.g.:
Ra stopped vehicle in a traffic jam
Ra disabled vehicle
Ran oncoming vehicle
The driver must always be alert, observe all
traffic and intercede as required by means of
steering or braking the vehicle.
GWarning!
The DISTRONIC PLUS should not be used in
snowy or icy road conditions.
The most likely cause for a malfunctioning
system is a dirty sensor (located in the hood
grille and in the bumper), especially at times
of snow and ice or heavy rain.
In such a case, the DISTRONIC PLUS will
switch off, and the message DISTRONIC
PLUS Currently Unavailable See
Operator's Manual appears in the
multifunction display.
For cleaning and care of the sensors, see
(Y page 263).
iIf the message DISTRONIC PLUS
Currently Unavailable See
Operator's Manual disappears during
driving and the last speed stored flashes for
approximately 5 seconds, the dirt (e.g.
slush) has dissolved; the DISTRONIC PLUS
is available again.
Another cause might be that the radar
sensors have been manually switched off in
the instrument cluster control system. Please
verify that the radar sensors are switched on
(Y page 144).
Turns and bends
In turns or bends, the DISTRONIC PLUS may
not detect a preceding vehicle, 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 the DISTRONIC PLUS. There will be
insufficient distance to the preceding vehicle.
Lane changing
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The DISTRONIC PLUS has not yet detected
the vehicle changing lanes. There will be
insufficient distance to the lane-changing
vehicle.
Narrow vehicles
Because of their narrow profile, the vehicles
traveling near the outer edges of the lane
have not yet been detected by the DISTRONIC
PLUS. There will be insufficient distance to
the preceding vehicles.
Obstacles and stationary vehicles
The DISTRONIC PLUS does not brake for
obstacles or stationary vehicles. If, for
example, the vehicle detected in front of you
changes lanes to bypass an obstacle or
stationary vehicle in front of it, the
DISTRONIC PLUS will not brake for the
obstacle or stationary vehicle.
Cross-traffic
The DISTRONIC PLUS may inadvertently
detect crossing vehicles. If you switch on the
DISTRONIC PLUS, for example, at a traffic
light with cross traffic, the vehicle may
suddenly start to drive off.
RACE START (E 63 AMG)
RACE START enables optimum acceleration
from a standing start with suitable high-grip
road surface conditions.
GWarning!
RACE START is only available when the ESC
SPORT mode is switched on. ESC SPORT
stabilizes the vehicle only to a limited extent
if the vehicle starts to skid or when a wheel is
spinning.
RACE START should be used only on closed
tracks. Always adapt your speed and driving
to the prevailing road and weather conditions.
Conditions for activation
RACE START can be activated when
Rthe doors are closed
Rthe engine is running and has reached its
operating temperature of approximately
80†. This is the case when the engine oil
temperature indicator in the multifunction
display stops flashing.
RESC SPORT is switched on (Y page 67)
Rthe multifunction steering wheel is in the
straight-ahead position
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Rthe vehicle is standing still and the brake
pedal is depressed (left foot)
R the automatic transmission is in drive
position D
Activating RACE STARTXDepress the brake pedal with your left foot
and keep it depressed.XTurn the program mode selector dial
clockwise ( Y page 121) until the RS lamp
on the dial comes on.
The message RACE START Confirm:
Paddle UP Cancel: Paddle DOWN
appears in the multifunction display.
i When the activation conditions are not
fulfilled anymore, RACE START is canceled.
The message RACE START Canceled
appears in the multifunction display.
XTo cancel: Pull left steering wheel gearshift
control ( Y page 122).
or
XTo confirm: Pull right steering wheel
gearshift control ( Y page 122).
The message RACE START Available
Depress gas pedal. appears in the
multifunction display.
i If you do not depress the accelerator
pedal within 2 seconds, RACE START is
canceled. The message RACE START Not
Possible See Operator’s Manual
appears in the multifunction display.
XDepress the accelerator pedal fully.
The engine speed rises to approximately
4000 rpm.
The message RACE START Release
brake to start appears in the
multifunction display.
i If you do not release the brake pedal
within 7 seconds, RACE START is canceled.
The message RACE START Canceled
appears in the multifunction display.XTake your foot off the brake pedal while
keeping the accelerator pedal depressed.
The vehicle pulls away at maximum
acceleration.
The message RACE START Active appears
in the multifunction display.
RACE START deactivates at a vehicle speed
of approximately 30 mph
(Canada: 50 km/h). The automatic
transmission switches to program mode S+.
ESC SPORT remains switched on.
RACE START is canceled immediately if you
release the accelerator pedal while RACE
START is active or when the activation
conditions are not fulfilled anymore. The
message RACE START Not Possible See
Operator’s Manual appears in the
multifunction display.
i If RACE START is used repeatedly in a
short period of time, it is only available
again after having driven the vehicle a
certain distance.
Hill-start assist system
On uphill grades, the hill-start assist system
maintains the pressure in the brake system
for approximately 1 second after you have
released the brake pedal. Therefore, you can
start off smoothly without the vehicle moving
immediately after releasing the brake pedal.
GWarning!
The hill-start assist system is not designed to
function as a parking brake. It does not
prevent the vehicle from moving when parked
on an incline.
Always engage the parking brake in addition
to shifting the automatic transmission into
park position P.
XDepress the brake pedal.XShift the automatic transmission into drive
position D or reverse gear R.160Driving systemsControls in detail
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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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