2011 MERCEDES-BENZ CLS-CLASS display

X
Immediately apply the brakes to avoid a
collision.
Under no circumstances should the driver
await the intermittent warning sound
before braking.
The intermittent warning sound ceases and
the distance warning lamp · goes out
when the necessary distance to the vehicle
ahead is established again. G
Warning!
An intermittent warning sounds and the
distance warning lamp · in the instrument
cluster is illuminated if the Distronic system
calculates that the distance to the vehicle
ahead and your vehicle’s current speed
indicate that the Distronic will not be capable
of slowing the vehicle sufficiently to maintain
the preset following distance, which creates
a danger of a collision.
Immediately brake the vehicle to increase
your distance to the preceding vehicle. The
warning sound is intended as a final caution
in which you should intercede with your own
braking inputs to avoid a potentially
dangerous situation. Do not wait for the
operation of the warning signal to intercede
with your own braking. This will result in
potentially dangerous emergency braking
which will not always result in an impact being
avoided.
Tailgating increases the risk of an accident. G
Warning!
The Distronic brakes your vehicle with a
maximum deceleration of 6.5 ft/s 2
(2 m/s 2
).
This corresponds to approximately 20% of the
maximum deceleration of your vehicle.
The Distronic brakes the vehicle in an effort
to restore the preset distance or to maintain
the set speed.
Distronic menu in the control system The information shown in the multifunction
display depends on whether the Distronic system and/or the distance warning function
are activated or deactivated.
i
To activate or deactivate the Distronic
system, see ( Y page 133) or see
(Y page 134).
To activate or deactivate the Distance
warning function, see (Y page 137).
X Press button V or U repeatedly until
one of the following two displays appears
in the multifunction display.
Distronic deactivated When the Distronic is deactivated, you will
see the standard Distronic display in the
multifunction display.
:
Preceding vehicle, if detected
; Actual distance to the preceding vehicle
= Preset distance threshold to the
preceding vehicle
? Your vehicle
A Symbol for activated distance warning
function ( Y page 137)
Distronic activated When the Distronic is activated
:, you will
see the set speed in the multifunction display
for approximately 5 seconds. The following
display appears in the multifunction display. 132
Driving systemsControls in detail
219_AKB; 4; 54, en-US
d2ureepe,
Version: 2.11.8.1 2009-05-11T16:21:02+02:00 - Seite 132
ProCarManuals.com

Cruise control lever
The Distronic system is operated by means of
the cruise control lever.
:
Setting current or higher speed
; Setting current or lower speed
= Deactivating the Distronic
? Activating the Distronic, resuming to the
last set speed or increasing speed in
1 mph (Canada: 1 km/h) increments
Activating Distronic You can activate the Distronic when the
vehicle speed is between 20 mph (30 km/h)
and 110 mph (180 km/h).
When the Distronic is activated, one or two
cruise control speed segments around the set
speed in the multifunction display are
illuminated. The multifunction display will
briefly show a message such as
DISTRONIC 55 MPH
(Canada: DISTRONIC 90 km/h).
If the Distronic is not activated after the
cruise control lever is pulled in direction of
arrow
? (Y page 133), you will see the
message — in the multifunction display.
In the following cases you cannot activate the
Distronic:
R up to 2 minutes after starting the engine
R when you brake
R when you have engaged the parking brake R
when the automatic transmission is in park
position P, reverse gear R, or neutral
position N
R when the ESP ®
is switched off or has
switched off due to a malfunction
The vehicle speed displayed on the
speedometer can briefly vary from the speed
setting on the Distronic system.
Setting the current speed X
Accelerate or decelerate to the desired
speed.
X Briefly lift the cruise control lever in
direction of arrow : or depress in
direction of arrow ; (Y page 133).
X Remove 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 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.
Setting a higher speed G
Warning!
Keep in mind that it may take a brief moment
until the vehicle has made the necessary
adjustments.
Increase the set vehicle speed to a value that
the prevailing road conditions and legal speed
limits permit. Otherwise, sudden and
unexpected acceleration of the vehicle could
cause an accident and/or serious injury to
you and others.
You can increase the set speed in 1 mph
(Canada: 1 km/h) increments or in 5 mph
(Canada: 10 km/h) increments. Driving systems
133Controls in detail
219_AKB; 4; 54, en-US
d2ureepe, Version: 2.11.8.1 2009-05-11T16:21:02+02:00 - Seite 133 Z
ProCarManuals.com

Adjustment in 5 mph (Canada:
10 km/h) increments
X
Briefly lift the cruise control lever up in
direction of arrow : (Y page 133).
The new speed is set and the vehicle will
accelerate.
Keep in mind that it may take a
brief moment until the vehicle has reached
the set speed.
Fine adjustment in 1 mph (Canada:
1 km/h) increments
X Briefly pull the cruise control lever in
direction of arrow ? (Y page 133).
Setting a lower speed G
Warning!
Keep in mind that it may take a brief moment
until the vehicle has made the necessary
adjustments.
Decrease

the set vehicle speed to a value that
the prevailing road conditions and legal speed
limits permit. Otherwise, sudden and
unexpected deceleration of the vehicle could
cause an accident and/or serious injury to
you and others.
i When you use the cruise control lever to
decelerate, the brake system will
automatically brake the vehicle if the
engine’s braking power does not brake the
vehicle sufficiently.
Adjustment in 5 mph (Canada:
10 km/h) increments
X Briefly press the cruise control lever down
in direction of arrow ; (Y page 133).
The new speed is set and the vehicle will
decelerate.

Keep in mind that it may take a
brief moment until the vehicle has reached
the set speed. Setting stored speed (Resume function) G
Warning!
The set speed stored in memory should only
be set again if prevailing road conditions and
legal speed limits permit. Possible
acceleration or deceleration differences
arising from returning to the preset speed
could

cause an accident and/or serious injury
to you and others.
X Briefly pull the cruise control lever in
direction of arrow ? (Y page 133).
If no speed is stored, the current speed is
set and stored.
X Remove your foot from the accelerator
pedal.
Deactivating Distronic X
Depress the brake pedal.
or
X Briefly push the cruise control lever in
direction of arrow = (Y page 133).
The cruise control speed segments in the
multifunction display will go out and the
following message appears briefly in the
multifunction display: DISTRONIC Off
The last set speed is stored for later use.
The last stored speed is deleted from memory
when the engine is turned off.
The Distronic switches off automatically
when you depress the brake pedal or you
engage the parking brake. In this case, the
cruise control speed segments in the
multifunction display will go out.
The

Distronic also switches off automatically
when
R the vehicle speed falls below 20 mph
(30 km/h)
R the ESP ®
is in operation
R the ESP ®
is switched off with the ESP ®
switch 134
Driving systems
Controls in detail
219_AKB; 4; 54, en-US
d2ureepe,
Version: 2.11.8.1 2009-05-11T16:21:02+02:00 - Seite 134
ProCarManuals.com

R
the ESP ®
has switched off due to a
malfunction
R you shift the automatic transmission into
neutral position N while driving
The cruise control speed segments in the
multifunction display goes out and an
acoustic warning will sound. Observe
additional messages in the multifunction
display that may appear. G
Warning!
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.
Depressing the accelerator pedal does not
deactivate the Distronic. After a brief
acceleration (e.g. for passing), the Distronic
will resume the last set speed.
Setting the following distance in
Distronic You can set the specified following distance
for Distronic by varying the time setting
between 1.0 and 2.0 seconds. Using this time
setting and the current speed of your vehicle,
Distronic calculates and sets the required
following distance to the preceding vehicle.
The set distance will be shown in the
multifunction display.
G
Warning!
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. X
Increasing distance: Turn
thumbwheel : towards ª.
Increasing the distance setting tells
Distronic to maintain a greater following
distance to the preceding vehicle.
X Decreasing distance: Turn
thumbwheel : towards ¥.
Decreasing the distance setting tells
Distronic to maintain a shorter following
distance to the preceding vehicle.
Driving with Distronic 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 system.
G
Warning!
The Distronic 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:
R Your vehicle can pass another vehicle after
you have changed lanes.
R While in a sharp turn or if the preceding
vehicle is in a sharp turn, the Distronic
could lose sight of the preceding vehicle.
Your vehicle could then accelerate to the
previously selected speed. Driving systems
135Controls in detail
219_AKB; 4; 54, en-US
d2ureepe, Version: 2.11.8.1 2009-05-11T16:21:02+02:00 - Seite 135 Z
ProCarManuals.com

The Distronic regulates only the distance
between your vehicle and those directly
ahead of it, but does not register stationary
objects in the road, e.g.:
R
a stopped vehicle in a traffic jam
R a disabled vehicle
R an oncoming vehicle
The driver must always be alert, observe all
traffic and intercede as required by means of
steering or braking the vehicle. G
Warning!
The Distronic should not be used in snowy or
icy road conditions.
The most likely cause for a malfunctioning
system is a dirty Distronic system sensor
cover (located in the hood grille), especially
at times of snow and ice or heavy rain.
In such a case, the Distronic will switch off,
and the message DISTRONIC Currently
Unavailable – See Operator’s Manual
appears in the multifunction display.
For cleaning and care of the Distronic system
sensor cover, see (Y page 219).
i If the message DISTRONIC Currently
Unavailable – See Operator’s
Manual disappears during driving and the
last set speed flashes for approximately
5 seconds, the dirt (e.g. slush) has
dissolved; the Distronic works again.
Turns and bends In turns or bends, the 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 the Distronic. There will be insufficient
distance to the preceding vehicle.
Lane changing
The Distronic has not yet detected the vehicle
changing lanes. There will be insufficient
distance to the lane-changing vehicle.
Narrow vehicles136
Driving systemsControls in detail
219_AKB; 4; 54, en-US
d2ureepe,
Version: 2.11.8.1 2009-05-11T16:21:02+02:00 - Seite 136
ProCarManuals.com

Because of their narrow profile, the vehicles
traveling near the outer edges of the lane
have not yet been detected by the Distronic.
There will be insufficient distance to the
preceding vehicles.
Distance warning function
When the Distronic is deactivated, this
function will continue to warn you when
recognizing a stationary obstacle or a slower
vehicle moving in your vehicle’s path and the
danger of a collision exists:
R
The distance warning lamp · in the
instrument cluster comes on.
R An intermittent warning will sound if
necessary.
If these warnings are issued, you must apply
the brakes 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 without
applying the brakes. In this case, the distance
warning lamp · will also go out. G
Warning!
If the distance warning lamp · in the
instrument cluster comes on while driving
and/or an intermittent warning sounds,
immediate attention on the part of the driver
is required. As required by the traffic
situation, apply the brakes and navigate
around a possible obstacle. 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 varying road surface
conditions and with varying driver reaction.
Complex driving situations are not always
fully recognized by the distance warning
function. This could result in wrong or missing
distance warnings. X
Activating/deactivating: Press
switch :.
When the distance warning function is
activated, indicator lamp ; in switch :
comes on. A loudspeaker symbol appears
in the multifunction display ( Y page 132). Airmatic DC (Dual Control)
Introduction The AIRMATIC DC lets you select the chassis
and suspension setup. The chassis and
suspension setup adjusts the damping
behavior and the ride height for your vehicle.
The AIRMATIC DC consists of two
components. The Adaptive Damping System
(ADS) (
Y page 137) and the vehicle level
control ( Y page 138).
Adaptive Damping System (ADS) The fine tuning of the damping is dependent
on
R
your driving style
R road surface conditions
R vehicle loading
R your personal settings Driving systems
137Controls in detail
219_AKB; 4; 54, en-US
d2ureepe, Version: 2.11.8.1 2009-05-11T16:21:02+02:00 - Seite 137 Z
ProCarManuals.com

Climate control system
Control panels
4-zone automatic climate control Function Recommendation/Notes
Front climate
control panel
1
Air distribution,
driver’s side (Y page 149)
2
Front defroster i
Keep this setting selected only until the
windshield or the side windows are clear
again. (Y page 149)
3
Temperature
control, driver’s side,
raising i
Set the temperature to 72‡ (22†). (Y page 147)
4
Display
5
Temperature
control, passenger
side, raising i
Set the temperature to 72‡ (22†). (Y page 147)
6
Rear window
defroster (Y page 151)
7
Air distribution,
passenger side (Y page 149)Climate control system
143Controls in detail
219_AKB; 4; 54, en-US
d2ureepe, Version: 2.11.8.1 2009-05-11T16:21:02+02:00 - Seite 143 Z
ProCarManuals.com

Function Recommendation/Notes
O
Temperature
control, left, raising i
Set the temperature to 72 ‡ (22†). (Y page 147)
P
Display
Q
Temperature
control, right, raising i
Set the temperature to 72
‡ (22†). (Y page 147)
R
Temperature
control, right,
lowering i
Set the temperature to 72
‡ (22†). (Y page 147)
S
Temperature
control, left,
lowering i
Set the temperature to 72
‡ (22†). (Y page 147)
Notes on climate control system
The climate control system is operational
whenever the engine is running. You can
operate the climate control system in either
the automatic or manual mode. The system
cools or heats the interior depending on the
selected interior temperature.
It can only function optimally when you are
driving with the windows and the tilt/sliding
sunroof closed.
Nearly

all dust particles, pollutants and odors
are filtered out before outside air enters the
passenger compartment through the air
distribution system. G
Warning!
Severe conditions (e.g. strong air pollution)
may require replacement of the filter before
its

scheduled replacement interval. A clogged
filter will reduce the air volume to the interior
and the windows could fog up, impairing
visibility and endangering you and others.
Have a clogged filter replaced as soon as
possible at an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.
The air conditioning will not engage (no
cooling) if the A/C mode (Y page 146) is
deactivated. G
Warning!
Follow the recommended settings for heating
and cooling given on the following pages.
Otherwise the windows could fog up,
impairing visibility and endangering you and
others.
X Keep the air intake grille in front of the
windshield free of snow and debris.
Do not obstruct air flow by placing objects on
the air flow-through exhaust slots below the
rear window.
i If the vehicle interior is hot, ventilate the
interior before driving off, see “Summer
opening feature” ( Y page 96). The climate
control will then adjust the interior
temperature to the set value much faster. Deactivating the climate control
system
G
Warning!
When the climate control system is
deactivated, the outside air supply and
circulation are also deactivated. Only choose
this setting for a short time. Otherwise the
windows

could fog up, impairing visibility and
endangering you and others. Climate control system
145
Controls in detail
219_AKB; 4; 54, en-US
d2ureepe, Version: 2.11.8.1 2009-05-11T16:21:02+02:00 - Seite 145 Z
ProCarManuals.com