2011 MERCEDES-BENZ E-CLASS SALOON distronic

Display messages Possible causes/consequences and
M Solutions
PRE-SAFE
Functions cur‐
rently limited See
Owner's Manual G
Risk of accident
PRE-SAFE ®
Brake is temporarily inoperative. Possible causes:
R the DISTRONIC PLUS cover in the radiator grille is dirty.
R function is impaired due to heavy rain or snow.
R the sensors in the bumpers are dirty.
R the rada rsensor system is temporarily inoperative, e.g. due to
electromagnetic radiation emitted by nearby TV or radio sta-
tions or other sources of electromagnetic radiation.
R AMG vehicles: ESP ®
is inactive.
R the system is outside the operating temperature range.
R The on-board voltage is too low.
If the display message does not disappear:
X Pull over and stop the vehicle safely as soon as possible, paying
attention to road and traffic conditions.
X Apply the parking brake.
X Clean the DISTRONIC PLUS cover in the radiator grille
(Y page 330).
X Clean the bumpers (Y page 330).
X Restart the engine.
X AMG vehicles: reactivate ESP ®
(Y page 73).
If the system detects that the sensors are fully operational, the
display message disappears.
PRE-SAFE ®
Brake is operational again. PRE-SAFE
Functions limited
See Owner's Manual G
Risk of accident
PRE-SAFE ®
Brake is faulty. BASP LUS or the distance warning sig-
nal may also have failed.
X Visit a qualified specialist workshop. ü If the symbol appears in the multifunction display,
aseat belt
tongue has been clipped into a rear seat belt buckle.
For further information on the status indicator for the rear seat
belts: (Y page 52). Display messages
257On-board computer and displays Z

Display messages Possible causes/consequences and
M Solutions
Radar sensor
deactivated autom.
See Owner's Manual Vehicles with a navigation system: the vehicle is close to a radio
telescope facility and is therefore prohibited from transmitting any
rada
rsignals .The radar sensor system has switched off automat-
ically (Y page 398).
DISTRONIC PLUS (Y page 185) is deactivated automatically if it is
activated. Awarning tone also sounds.
Blind Spo tAssist (Y page 212) or Active Blind Spot Assist
(Y page 216) is deactivated automatically if it is activated. The
yellow 9indicator lamps also light up in the exterior mirrors.
BAS PLUS (Brake Assist PLUS) (Y page 70) and PRE-SAFE®
Brake
(Y page 75) are also not available.
X Drive on.
Once you have moved far enough away from the radio telescope,
the above functions are available again. Radar sensor
deactivated See
Owner's Manual The radar sensor system is deactivated.
X
Check whether or not the radar sensor system may be activated
(Y page 398).
X Switch on the radar sensor system (Y page 247).Lane Keeping
Assist currently
unavailable See
Owner's Man‐
ual orActive Lane
Keeping Assist cur‐
rently unavailable
See Owner's Manual Lane Keeping Assist or Active Lane Keeping Assist is deactivated
and temporarily inoperative. Possible causes:
R
the windscreen is dirty in the camera's field of vision.
R visibility is impaired due to heavy rain, snow or fog.
R there are no lane markings for a longer period.
R the lane markings are worn, dark or covered, e.g. by dirt or snow.
If the display message does not disappear:
X Pull over and stop the vehicle safely as soon as possible, paying
attention to road and traffic conditions.
X Apply the parking brake.
X Cleant he windscreen.
If the system detects that the camera is fully operational, the dis-
play message disappears.
Lane Keeping Assist or Active Lane Keeping Assist is operational
again. Lane Keeping
Assist inopera‐
tive orActive Lane
Keeping Assist
inoperative Lane Keeping Assist or Active Lane Keeping Assist is faulty.
X
Visit a qualified specialist workshop. 268
Display messagesOn-board computer and displays

Display messages Possible causes/consequences and
M Solutions
Parking Guidance
cancelled Parking Guidance is deactivated. Possible causes:
R
the vehicle is skidding.
R the sensors are dirty.
R A malfunction has occurred.
Aw arning tone also sounds.
X Reactivate Parking Guidance late r(Y page 203).
If the parking space symbol does not appear in the multifunction
display at speeds below 30 km/h:
X Clean the sensors (Y page 330).
X Restart the engine.
If the parking space symbol still does not appear in the multifunc-
tion display at speeds below 30 km/h:
X Visit a qualified specialist workshop. Parking Guidance has been deactivated because you are no longer
following the recommended path.
X
Park again and, while doing so, observe the display messages
in the multifunction display. Parking Guidance
finished The vehicle is parked.
Awarning tone also sounds.
The display message disappears automatically. DISTRONIC PLUS
off DISTRONIC PLU
Shas been deactivated (Y page 185). If it was
deactivated automatically, a warning tone also sounds. DISTRONIC PLUS
available again DISTRONIC PLU
Sis operational againa fter having beentempo-
rarily unavailable. You can now reactivate DISTRONIC PLUS
(Y page 185). 270
Display messagesOn-board computer and displays

Display messages Possible causes/consequences and
M Solutions
DISTRONIC PLUS
currently unavail‐
able See Owner's
Manual DISTRONIC is deactivated and temporarily inoperative. Possible
causes:
R
the DISTRONIC PLUS cover in the radiator grille is dirty.
R function is impaired due to heavy rain or snow.
R the sensors in the bumpers are dirty.
R the rada rsensor system is temporarily inoperative, e.g. due to
electromagnetic radiation emitted by nearby TV or radio sta-
tions or other sources of electromagnetic radiation.
R the system is outside the operating temperature range.
R The on-board voltage is too low.
Aw arning tone also sounds.
If the display message does no tdisappear:
X Pull over and stop the vehicle safely as soon as possible, paying
attention to road and traffic conditions.
X Apply the parking brake.
X Clean the DISTRONIC PLUS cover in the radiator grille
(Y page 330).
X Clean the bumpers (Y page 330).
X Restar tthe engine.
If the system detects that the sensors are fully operational, the
display message disappears.
DISTRONIC is operational again. DISTRONIC PLUS
inoperative DISTRONIC PLUS is faulty. BAS PLUS and PRE-SAFE
®
Brake may
also have failed.
Aw arning tone also sounds.
X Visi taqualified specialist workshop. DISTRONIC PLUS
suspended You have depressed the accelerator pedal. DISTRONIC PLUS is no
longer controlling the speed of the vehicle.
X
Remove your foot from the accelerator pedal. DISTRONIC PLUS
--- km/h An activation condition for DISTRONIC PLUS is not fulfilled.
X
Check the activation conditions for DISTRONIC PLUS
(Y page 185). DISTRONIC PLUS and
SPEEDTRONIC
inoperative DISTRONIC PLUS and SPEEDTRONIC are faulty. A warning tone
also sounds.
X Visit a qualified specialist workshop. Display messages
271On-board computer and displays Z

Vehicle
Display messages Possible causes/consequences and
M Solutions
To start engine,
shift to either P
or N You have attempted to start the engine with the transmission in
position
Ror D.
X Shift the transmission to position Por N. P
Select Park (P) Vehicles with automatic transmission with a selector lever:
You have switched off the engine with the Start/Stop button and
opened the driver's door.
You wanted to lock the vehicle.
Aw arning tone also sounds.
or
You have switched off the engine with the Start/Stop butto nand
opened the driver's door with the transmission in position N.
X Shift the transmission to position P. Vehicles with automatic transmission with a selecto
rlever:
While the HOLD function or DISTRONIC PLUS is active, you have:
R opened the driver's door and released the seat belt or
R switched off the engine or
R opened the bonnet
At one may also sound at regular intervals. The tone becomes
louder if you attempt to lock the vehicle.
You cannot start the engine.
X Shift the transmission to position P.
You can restart the engine. Auxiliary battery
malfunction The auxiliary battery for the automatic transmission is no longer
being charged.
X
Visit a qualified specialist workshop. Apply brake to
deselect Park (P)
position You have attempted to move the transmission selector lever to
position D,Ror Nwithout depressing the brake pedal.
X Depress the brake pedal. Vehicle
not in position P Vehicles with DIRECT SELECT lever:
The driver's door is open and the transmission is in position
R,N
or D.
Aw arning tone also sounds.
X Shift the transmission to position P.
X Apply the parking brake. Display messages
275On-board computer and displays Z

Problem Possible causes/consequences and
M Solutions
Jäå!
The red brake warning
lamp, the yellow ESP
®
and ESP ®
OFF warning
lamps and the yellow
ABS warning lamp are
lit while the engine is
running. G
Risk of accident
ABS and ESP ®
are malfunctioning. Therefore, BAS, BAS PLUS,
EBD, PRE-SAFE ®
, PRE-SAFE ®
Brake, the HOLD function, hill start
assist, the adaptive brake lights and ESP ®
trailer stabilisation, for
example, are not available either.
The brake system continues to function normally, but without the
functions listed above. The wheels could therefore lock if you
brake hard, for example.
ATTENTION ASSIST is deactivated.
X Observe the additional display messages in the multifunction
display.
X Drive on carefully.
X Visit a qualified specialist workshop. ä
The yellow ESP
®
warn-
ing lamp flashes while
the vehicle is in motion. G
Risk of accident
ESP ®
or traction control has intervened because there is a risk of
skidding or at least one wheel has started to spin.
Cruise control or DISTRONIC PLUS is deactivated.
X Only depress the accelerator pedal as far as necessary when
pulling away.
X Accelerate more gently while the vehicle is in motion.
X Adapt your driving style to suit the road and weather conditions.
X Do not deactivate ESP ®
.
For exceptions, see: (Y page 72).å
The yellow ESP
®
OFF
warning lamp is lit while
the engine is running. G
Risk of accident
ESP ®
and ESP ®
trailer stabilisation are deactivated. ESP ®
will not
stabilise the vehicle if it starts to skid or if awheel starts to spin.
X Reactivate ESP ®
.
For exceptions, see: (Y page 72).
X Adapt your driving style to suit the road and weather conditions.
If ESP ®
cannot be activated:
X Have ESP ®
checked at a qualified specialist workshop. Warning and indicator lamps in the instrument cluster
283On-board computer and displays Z

Driving systems
Problem Possible causes/consequences and
M Solutions
·
The red distance warn-
ing lamp lights up while
the vehicle is in motion.
G
Risk of accident
The distance to the vehicle in fron tis too small for the speed
selected.
X Increase the distance. ·
The red distance warn-
ing lamp lights up while
the vehicle is in motion.
Aw
arning tone also
sounds. G
Ris
kofa ccident
You are approaching a vehicle or a stationary obstacle in your line
of travel at too high a speed.
X Be prepared to brake immediately.
X Pay careful attention to the traffic situation. You may have to
brake or take evasive action.
More information about DISTRONIC PLUS (Y page 185) and
PRE-SAFE ®
Brake (Y page 75). Tyres
Problem Possible causes/consequences and
M Solutions
h
The yellow tyre pres-
sure monitor warning
lamp is on.
G
Ris
kofa ccident
The tyre pressure monito rhas detected a loss of pressure in at
least one of the tyres.
X Stop the vehicle without making any sudde nsteering or braking
manoeuvres .Pay attentio nto the traffic conditions as you do
so.
X Observe the additional display messages in the multifunction
display.
X Check the tyre pressure. If necessary, correc tthe tyre pressure
(Y page 368).
X If necessary, change a wheel (Y page 370). Warning and indicator lamps in the instrument cluster
287On-board computer and displays Z

Care of the exterior
Automatic car wash G
WARNING
Braking efficiency is reduced after washing
the vehicle .This could cause an accident. For
this reason, following a car wash, drive with
particular care until the brakes are dry. G
WARNING
The vehicle is braked when the HOLD function
or DISTRONIC PLUS is activated. Therefore,
deactivate the HOLD function and DISTRONIC
PLUS before the vehicle is washed in an auto-
matic car wash.
You can wash the vehicle in an automatic car
wash from the very start.
Wash off excess dirt before cleaning the vehi-
cle in an automatic car wash.
! In car washes with a towing mechanism,
make sure that the automatic transmission
is in transmission position N; otherwise,
the vehicle could be damaged.
R Vehicles with DIRECT SELECT lever and
key:
do not remove the key from the ignition
lock. Do not open the driver's door or
front-passenger door when the engine is
switched off. Otherwise, the automatic
transmission selects park position P
automatically and locks the wheels. You
can prevent this by shifting the auto-
matic transmission to Nbeforehand.
R Vehicles with DIRECT SELECT lever and
KEYLESS-GO:
do not open the driver's door or front-
passenger door when the engine is
switched off. Otherwise, the automatic
transmission selects park position P
automatically and locks the wheels.
Observe the following to make sure that the
automatic transmission on vehicles with
DIRECT SELECT stays in position N:X
Make sure the vehicle is stationary and the
ignition is switched off.
X Turn the key to position 2(Ypage 155) in
the ignition lock.
Use the key instead of the Start/Stop but-
ton on vehicles with KEYLESS-GO.
X Depress and hold the brake pedal.
X Shift the automatic transmission to posi-
tion N.
X Release the brake pedal.
X Release the parking brake.
X Switch off the ignition and leave the key in
the ignition lock.
! Make sure that:
R the side windows and sliding sunroof are
closed completely.
R the blower for the ventilation/heating is
switched off (OFF button is depressed).
R the windscreen wiper switch is at posi-
tion 0.
The vehicle could otherwise be damaged.
After using an automatic car wash, wipe off
wax from the windscreen and the wiper
blades. This will prevent smears and reduce
wiping noises caused by residue on the wind-
screen.
Washing by hand In some countries, washing by hand is only
allowed at specially equipped washing bays.
Observe the legal requirements for each indi-
vidual country.
X
Do not use hot water and do not wash the
vehicle in direct sunlight.
X Use a soft sponge to clean.
X Use a mild cleaning agent, such as a car
shampoo approved by Mercedes-Benz.
X Thoroughly hose down the vehicle with a
gentle jet of water.
X Do not point the water jet directly towards
the air inlet.
X Use plenty of water and rinse out the
sponge frequently. Care
327Maintenance and care Z