2011 MERCEDES-BENZ S-Class ignition

XIf indicator lamp ; is lit: press
button :.
Indicator lamp ; goes out. You have
selected the suspension for a comfortable
driving style.
The AIRMATIC COMFORT message appears
in the multifunction display.
Active Body Control (ABC)
Vehicle level
Your vehicle automatically adjusts its ride
height to improve driving safety and reduce
fuel consumption.
Depending on the vehicle height that has
been set, the vehicle automatically adjusts its
height, depending on the current speed. As
the speed is increased, the vehicle is lowered
up to 0.6 in (15 mm). As the speed is reduced,
the vehicle is raised up to the set vehicle
height.
GWarning
The vehicle is lowered when the engine is
switched off. Therefore, make sure that
nobody is in the vicinity of the wheel housing
or under the vehicle when you switch off the
engine. Otherwise, limbs could become
trapped.
! The vehicle is lowered when the engine is
switched off. Make sure when parking that
you position your vehicle so that it does not
make contact with the curb as the vehicle
is lowered. Your vehicle could otherwise be
damaged.
iAMG vehicles: the vehicle is lowered by
about 0.4 in (10 mm) when the engine is
switched off.
Setting the vehicle level
Select the "Normal" setting for normal road
surfaces and "Raised" for driving with snow
chains or on particularly poor road surfaces.
GWarning!
To help avoid personal injury, keep hands and
feet away from wheel housing area, and stay
away from under the vehicle when lowering
the vehicle chassis.
Your selection remains stored even if you
remove the SmartKey from the ignition lock.
Setting raised level
XStart the engine.
If indicator lamp ; is not lit:
XPress button :.
Indicator lamp ; lights up. The vehicle
height is adjusted to raised level.
Setting the normal level
XStart the engine.
If indicator lamp ; is lit:
XPress button :.
Indicator lamp ; goes out. The vehicle is
adjusted to normal level.
Suspension tuning
The electronically controlled ABC suspension
system works continuously. This improves
driving safety and comfort.
The ABC suspension system is tuned
individually to each wheel and depends on:
Ryour driving style, e.g. sporty
Rthe road surface condition, e.g. bumps
338Driving systemsDriving and parking

Ryour individual selection, i.e. sports or
comfort
Rthe vehicle load
Your selection remains stored even if you
remove the SmartKey from the ignition lock.
Sports tuning
The firmer suspension tuning in Sport mode
ensures even better contact with the road.
Select this mode if you prefer a firmer
suspension tuning.
XIf indicator lamp ; is not lit: press
button :.
Indicator lamp ; lights up. You have
selected the suspension for a sporty driving
style.
The ABC Active Body Control SPORT
message appears in the multifunction
display.
Comfort tuning
In comfort mode, the driving characteristics
of your vehicle are more comfortable. Select
this mode if you prefer a more comfortable
driving style.
XIf indicator lamp ; is lit: press
button :.
Indicator lamp ; goes out. You have
selected the suspension for a comfortable
driving style.
The ABC Active Body Control
COMFORT message appears in the
multifunction display.
4MATIC (permanent four-wheel drive)
4MATIC ensures that all four wheels are
permanently driven. Together with ESP®, it
improves the traction of your vehicle
whenever a drive wheel spins due to
insufficient grip.
GWarning!
If a drive wheel is spinning due to insufficient
traction:
RWhile driving off, apply as little throttle as
possible.
RWhile driving, ease up on the accelerator
pedal.
RAdapt 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.
! Never tow the vehicle with one axle
raised. This may damage the transfer case.
Damage of this sort is not covered by the
Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty. All
wheels must remain either on the ground
or be fully raised. Observe the instructions
for towing the vehicle with all wheels in full
contact with the ground.
iIn wintry driving conditions, the maximum
effect of 4MATIC can only be achieved if
you use winter tires (M+S tires), with snow
chains if necessary.
PARKTRONIC
Important safety notes
GWarning!
The PARKTRONIC 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.
Driving systems339Driving and parkingZ

GWarning!
Make sure no persons or animals are in or
near the area in which you are parking/
maneuvering. Otherwise, they could be
injured.
PARKTRONIC is an electronic parking aid with
ultrasonic sensors. It indicates visually and
audibly the distance between your vehicle
and an object.
PARKTRONIC is activated automatically when
you:
Rswitch on the ignition.
Rshift the transmission to position D, R or
N.
Rrelease the electric parking brake.
PARKTRONIC is deactivated at speeds above
11 mph (18 km/h). It is reactivated at lower
speeds.
PARKTRONIC monitors the area around your
vehicle using six sensors in the front bumper
and four sensors in the rear bumper.
:Sensors in the front bumper, left-hand
side (example)
Range of the sensors
The sensors must be free of dirt, ice and
slush; otherwise they may not function
correctly. Clean the sensors regularly, taking
care not to scratch or damage them
(Y page 456).
Side view
Top view
Front sensors
CenterApprox. 40 in (100 cm)CornersApprox. 24 in (60 cm)
Rear sensors
CenterApprox. 48 in (120 cm)CornersApprox. 32 in (80 cm)
! When parking, pay particular attention to
objects above or below the sensors, such
as flower pots or trailer drawbars.
PARKTRONIC does not detect such objects
when they are in the immediate vicinity of
the vehicle. You could damage the vehicle
or the objects.
Ultrasonic sources such as an automatic
car wash, a truck's compressed-air brakes
or a pneumatic drill could cause
PARKTRONIC to malfunction.
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Problems with PARKTRONICProblemPossible causes/consequences and M SolutionsOnly the red segments
in the PARKTRONIC
warning displays are lit.
You also hear a warning
tone for approximately
two seconds.
PARKTRONIC is
deactivated after
approximately
20 seconds, and the
indicator lamp in the
PARKTRONIC button
lights up.PARKTRONIC has malfunctioned and has switched off.XIf problems persist, have PARKTRONIC checked at a qualified
specialist workshop.Only the red segments
in the PARKTRONIC
warning displays are lit.
PARKTRONIC is
deactivated after
approximately 20
seconds.The PARKTRONIC sensors are dirty or there is interference.XClean the PARKTRONIC sensors ( Y page 456).XSwitch the ignition back on.The problem may be caused by an external source of radio or
ultrasound waves.XSee if PARKTRONIC functions in a different location.Parking Guidance
Important safety notes
Parking Guidance is an electronic parking aid
with ultrasound. Ultrasound is used to
measure the road on both sides of the vehicle.
A suitable parking space is indicated by the
parking symbol. You receive steering
instructions when parking. You may also use
PARKTRONIC ( Y page 339).
GWarning
Parking Guidance is merely an aid and may
display parking spaces that are not suitable
for parking, for example:
R no-parking areas
R parking spaces with unsuitable surfaces
(road surface)
R driveways
R entrances and exits
Parking Guidance detects and measures
potential parking spaces while driving past.
Changes to the parking space after this point
are not taken into account, for example if the
vehicle in front of or behind the parking space
changes position or objects in the parking
space are moved.
Even when using Parking Guidance, you are
still responsible for driving carefully. If you
rely on Parking Guidance alone, you could
cause an accident and injure yourself and
others.
Safety always remains your responsibility and
you must continue paying careful attention to
your immediate surroundings when parking
and maneuvering.342Driving systemsDriving and parking

Do not use the rear view camera in these
situations. Otherwise you could injure
yourself or others and/or damage property
including your vehicle while parking/
maneuvering.
Activating the rear view camera
XMake sure that the SmartKey is in
position 2 in the ignition lock.
XEngage reverse gear.
The area behind the vehicle is shown in the
COMAND display with guide lines.
Guide lines in the COMAND display
GWarning!
Use of rear view camera can be dangerous if
you are color-blind or have impaired color
vision.
Only use rear view camera if you can see and
distinguish all colored guidelines shown by
rear view camera on the COMAND system
display.
GWarning
Please note that objects that do not touch the
ground may appear to be further away than
they actually are, for example:
Rthe bumper of a vehicle parked behind you
Rthe trailer drawbar
Rthe ball coupling of a trailer tow hitch
Rthe rear end of a truck
Ra slanted post
In such cases, you should not use the guide
lines to judge the distance. You may misjudge
the distance, which increases the risk of
impacting the objects.
Even if the object you approach is directly on
the ground, do not approach the object any
closer than the red guide line.
Guide lines ; and = show the approximate
distance to the rear area. Yellow guide
line ; indicates a distance of approximately
3 ft (1 m) and red guide line = indicates a
distance of approximately 10 in (0.25 m). The
distances only apply to objects at ground
level. Blue guide line : depicts the width
required for the vehicle. It is used to align the
vehicle with the edge of the road, e.g. the
curb.
ATTENTION ASSIST
Important safety guidelines
ATTENTION ASSIST helps you during long,
monotonous journeys such as on highways
and trunk roads. It is active in the range
between 50 mph (80 km/h) and 112 mph
(180 km/h).
If ATTENTION ASSIST detects fatigue or
increasing lapses in concentration on the part
of the driver, it suggests you take a break.
GWarning!
The ATTENTION ASSIST is only an aid to the
driver. It might not recognize fatigue or
increasing inattentiveness in time or fail to
recognize them at all. The system cannot
substitute a rested and attentive driver.
Fatigue can cause you to recognize dangers
too late, to misjudge potential dangers, or to
react slower. Therefore, make sure to be
rested before and during your trip. Take rests
early enough and regularly, especially during
long trips. Failure to do so could cause you to
Driving systems347Driving and parkingZ

accordance with traffic conditions. You could
otherwise put yourself and others in danger.
The system may be impaired or unavailable if:
Rthere is poor visibility, e.g. due to snow,
rain, fog or heavy spray.
Rthe windshield is dirty, fogged up or
covered, for instance by a sticker, in the
vicinity of the camera.
Ryou are driving on bends, uphill gradients
or downhill gradients.
Light from the headlamps of oncoming
vehicles does not affect the Night View Assist
Plus display in the multifunction display. This
is also the case if you cannot switch on the
high-beam headlamps because of oncoming
traffic.
GWarning!
The Night View Assist Plus cannot record
objects immediately in front of or next to the
vehicle. When maneuvering, continue to look
through the windshield. Make sure no
persons or animals are in the area in which
you are maneuvering. You could otherwise
injure them.
iInfrared light is not visible to the human
eye and therefore does not glare. Night
View Assist Plus can therefore remain
switched on even if there is oncoming
traffic.
:Night View Assist Plus cameraSwitching on Night View Assist Plus
You can only activate Night View Assist Plus
if:
Rthe SmartKey is in position 2 in the ignition
lock.
Rit is dark.
Rthe light switch is in the c or L
position.
Rreverse gear has not been engaged.
XPush rocker switch : up.
The Night View Assist Plus display appears
in the multifunction display.
:Night View Assist Plus display;Pedestrian recognized=Framing?Symbol for active pedestrian recognitionASpeed display
iThe infrared headlamps only switch on
when the vehicle is driving at speeds of at
least 6 mph (10 km/h). This means that you
do not have the full visual range while
Driving systems349Driving and parkingZ

When Blind Spot Assist is activated, indicator
lamp : in the exterior mirrors lights up in
yellow at speeds of up to 20 mph (30 km/h).
At speeds above 20 mph (30 km/h), the
indicator lamp goes out and Blind Spot Assist
is operational.
If a vehicle is detected within the monitoring
range of Blind Spot Assist at speeds above
20 mph (30 km/h), warning lamp : on the
corresponding side lights up in red. This
warning is always emitted when a vehicle
enters the blind spot monitoring range from
behind or from the side. When you overtake
a vehicle, the warning only occurs if the
difference in speed is less than 7 mph
(12 km/h).
The yellow indicator lamp goes out if reverse
gear is engaged. In this event, Blind Spot
Assist is no longer active.
The brightness of the indicator/warning
lamps is adjusted automatically according to
the ambient light.
GWarning
Blind Spot Assist is not active at speeds under
approximately 20 mph (30 km/h). The
indicator lamps in the exterior mirrors are
yellow. Vehicles in the monitoring range are
then not indicated.
Always pay attention to traffic conditions and
your surroundings. Otherwise, you may fail to
recognize dangers in time, cause an accident
and injure yourself and others.
Collision warning
If a vehicle is detected in the monitoring range
of Blind Spot Assist and you switch on the turn
signal, a double warning tone sounds. Red
warning lamp : flashes. If the turn signal
remains on, detected vehicles are indicated
by the flashing of red warning lamp :. There
are no further warning tones.
Switching on Blind Spot Assist
XMake sure that the radar sensor system
(Y page 378) and Blind Spot Assist
(Y page 376) are activated in the on-board
computer.
XTurn the SmartKey to position 2 in the
ignition lock.
Warning lamps : light up red in the
exterior mirrors for approximately 1.5
seconds and then turn yellow.
Lane Keeping Assist
Important safety notes
Lane Keeping Assist monitors the area in
front of your vehicle by means of a camera at
the top of the windshield. Lane Keeping Assist
detects lane markings on the road and warns
you before you leave your lane
unintentionally.
:Lane Keeping Assist camera
If you select km/h on the on-board computer
in the Display Unit Speed-/Odometer:
function (Y page 377), Lane Keeping Assist
is activated from speeds of 60 km/h. If the
mph display unit is selected, the assistance
range begins at 40 mph.
GWarning
Lane Keeping Assist does not keep your
vehicle in its lane. It is only an aid and may
detect the lane markings on the road
incorrectly or not at all.
354Driving systemsDriving and parking

Optical and acoustic collision warning
When you switch on the appropriate turn
signals to change lanes, and a vehicle is
detected in the side monitoring range of
Active Blind Spot Assist, you receive an
optical and acoustic collision warning. You
then hear a double warning tone, and red
warning lamp : flashes. If the turn signal
remains on, detected vehicles are indicated
by the flashing of red warning lamp :. There
are no further warning tones.
Course-correcting brake application
If Active Blind Spot Assist detects a risk of
lateral collision in the monitoring range,
under certain circumstances, it will brake the
vehicle briefly on one side. This is designed to
help you avoid a collision.
This function is available in the range between
20 mph and 120 mph (30 km/h and
200 km/h).
When a course-correcting brake application
occurs, red warning lamp : flashes in the
exterior mirror and the following message, for
example, appears in the multifunction
display:
GWarning
Active Blind Spot Assist is only an aid
designed to assist driving. It is not a substitute
for attentive driving. In some cases, the
course-correcting brake application is not
sufficient to avoid a collision. In such a case,
you must steer, brake or accelerate.
In very rare cases, the system may
erroneously detect a danger of collision in the
area of crash barriers or similar lane borders
and apply the brakes. Active Blind Spot Assist
does not detect all traffic situations and road
users. Always make sure that there is
sufficient distance to the side for other traffic
or obstacles. An inappropriate brake
application may be interrupted at any time if
you steer slightly in the opposite direction or
accelerate.
You are responsible for the vehicle's speed,
braking in good time, and steering correctly.
Always adapt your driving style to suit the
prevailing road and weather conditions.
Always pay attention to traffic conditions and
your surroundings. Otherwise, you may fail to
recognize dangers in time, cause an accident
and injure yourself and others.
Either a very slight course-correcting brake
application, or none at all, may occur if:
Rother vehicles and/or objects, such as
crash barriers, are detected in the
immediate vicinity of your vehicle.
Ra vehicle approaches you too closely at the
side.
Ryou have adopted a sporty driving style with
high cornering speeds.
Ryou brake or accelerate decisively.
Ra driving safety system intervenes, such as
ESP® or PRE-SAFE® Brake.
RESP® is deactivated.
Ra loss of tire pressure or a defective tire has
been detected and displayed.
Activating Active Blind Spot Assist
XMake sure that the radar sensor system
(Y page 378) and Active Blind Spot Assist
(Y page 376) are activated in the on-board
computer.
XTurn the key to position 2 in the ignition
lock.
Warning lamps : light up red in the
exterior mirrors for approximately 1.5
seconds and then turn yellow.
358Driving systemsDriving and parking