2011 MERCEDES-BENZ S-Class lights

fastened, the 7 seat belt warning lamp
lights up for six seconds each time the engine
is started. It then goes out once the driver and
the front passenger have fastened their seat
belts.
If the driver's seat belt is not fastened after
the engine is started, an additional warning
tone will sound. The warning tone goes out
after approximately six seconds or once the
driver's seat belt is fastened.
If, after six seconds, the driver or front-
passenger have not fastened their seat belts
and the doors are closed:
R the 7 seat belt warning lamp remains
illuminated as long as either the driver's or
front-passenger seat belt is not fastened.
R if the vehicle speed exceeds 15 mph
(25 km/h), the 7 seat belt warning
lamp lights up. Additionally, a warning tone
will sound with increasing intensity for a
maximum of 60 seconds or until the
driver's and front-passenger seat belt are
fastened.
If the driver/front passenger unfasten their
seat belt while the vehicle is in motion, the
7 seat belt warning lamp lights up and a
warning tone sounds again.
The warning tone ceases even if the driver or
front passenger have still not fastened their
seat belt after 60 seconds. The 7 seat belt
warning lamp stops flashing but remains
illuminated.
After the vehicle comes to a standstill, the
warning tone is reactivated and the 7 seat
belt warning lamp flashes again if the vehicle
speed again exceeds 15 mph (25 km/h) .
The 7 seat belt warning lamp only goes
out if:
R both the driver and the front passenger
have fastened their seat belts.
or
R the vehicle is stationary and a door is open.
i For more information on the 7 seat
belt warning lamp, see "Indicator andwarning lamps in the instrument cluster,
seat belt" ( Y page 414).
Emergency Tensioning Devices and
seat belt force limiters
The front seat belts and the outer seat belts
in the rear are equipped with ETDs and belt
force limiters.
! If the front-passenger seat is not
occupied, do not engage the seat belt
tongue in the buckle on the front-
passenger seat. Otherwise, the Emergency
Tensioning Device could be triggered in the
event of an accident.
The belt tensioners tighten the seat belts in
an accident, pulling them close against the
body.
Belt tensioners do not correct incorrect seat
positions or incorrectly fastened seat belts.
Belt tensioners do not pull vehicle occupants
back towards the backrest.
Seat belt force limiters, when triggered, help
to reduce the peak force exerted by the seat
belt on the vehicle occupant.
The front belt force limiters are synchronized
with the front air bags, which take on a part
of the deceleration force. Thus, the force
exerted on the occupant is distributed over a
greater area.
The belt tensioners can only be activated
when:
R the ignition is switched on.
R the restraint systems are operational; see
"SRS warning lamp" ( Y page 42).
R the belt tongue is engaged in the buckle on
each of the three-point seat belts in the
front.
R the front-passenger seat is occupied and
the belt tongue is engaged in the buckle on
the front-passenger side.
The belt tensioners on the outside seats in the
rear compartment are triggered
independently of the lock status of the seat
belts.
Occupant safety59SafetyZ

The belt tensioners are triggered depending
on the type and severity of an accident:
R in the event of a head-on or rear-end
collision, if the vehicle decelerates or
accelerates rapidly in a longitudinal
direction during the initial stages of the
impact
R in the event of a side impact, on the side
opposite the impact if the vehicle
decelerates or accelerates rapidly in a
lateral direction
R in certain situations, if the vehicle
overturns and the system determines that
it can provide additional protection
If the air bags are deployed, you will hear a
bang and a small amount of powder may also
be released. Only in rare cases will the bang
affect your hearing. The powder that is
released generally does not constitute a
health hazard. The 6 SRS warning lamp
lights up.GWarning
Pyrotechnic Emergency Tensioning Devices
that have been deployed must be renewed.
For your safety, when disposing of Emergency
Tensioning Devices, always observe the
safety instructions. These are available from
any authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
The PRE-SAFE ®
system has electrically
operated reversible pre-tensioners that do
not require replacement after activation.
Automatic comfort-fit feature
The front seat belts have an automatic
comfort-install feature. In vehicles with a rear
bench seat with electrically adjustable outer
seats, the seat belts for the outer seats have
an automatic comfort-install feature. The
automatic comfort-install feature reduces the
retraction force of the seat belts. This results
in increased seat belt comfort.
Children in the vehicle
Important safety notes
GWarning
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the
SmartKey from the ignition lock. Always take
the SmartKey with you and lock the vehicle.
Do not leave children unattended in the
vehicle, even if they are secured in a child
restraint system, or with access to an
unlocked vehicle. A child's unsupervised
access to a vehicle could result in an accident
and/or serious personal injury. The children
could:
R injure themselves on parts of the vehicle
R be seriously or fatally injured through
excessive exposure to extreme heat or cold
R injure themselves or cause an accident with
vehicle equipment that can be operated
even if the SmartKey is removed from the
ignition lock or removed from the vehicle,
such as seat adjustment, steering wheel
adjustment, or the memory function
If children open a door, they could injure other
persons or get out of the vehicle and injure
themselves or be injured by following traffic.
Do not expose the child restraint system to
direct sunlight. The child restraint system's
metal parts, for example, could become very
hot, and the child could be burned on these
parts.
GWarning!
Do not carry heavy or hard objects in the
passenger compartment or trunk unless they
are firmly secured in place.
Unsecured or improperly positioned cargo
increases a child's risk of injury in the event
of
R strong braking maneuvers
R sudden changes of direction
R an accident
60Children in the vehicleSafety

section must never be exploited in a reckless
or dangerous manner which could jeopardize
the user's safety or the safety of others.
Always adjust your driving style to the
prevailing road and weather conditions and
keep a safe distance to other road users and
objects on the street.
If a driving system malfunctions, other driving
safety systems may also switch off. Observe
indicator and warning lamps that may come
on as well as messages in the multifunction
display that may appear.GWarning!
HYBRID vehicles: It is imperative that you read
the HYBRID Supplemental Operating
Instructions included in your vehicle literature
portfolio. You may otherwise not receive all
necessary safety information and warning for
the operation of your vehicle.
i In wintry driving conditions, always use
winter tires (M+S tires) and if necessary,
snow chains. Only in this way will the
driving safety systems described in this
section work as effectively as possible.
ABS (Anti-lock Braking System)
Important safety notes
GWarning
Observe "Important safety notes"
( Y page 66).
GWarning
Do not pump the brake pedal. Use firm, steady
brake pedal pressure instead. Pumping the
brake pedal defeats the purpose of the ABS
and significantly reduces braking
effectiveness.
ABS regulates brake pressure in such a way
that the wheels do not lock when you brake.
This allows you to continue steering the
vehicle when braking.
ABS works from a speed of about
5 mph (8 km/h) upwards, regardless of road-
surface conditions. ABS works on slippery
surfaces, even when you only brake gently.
The ! warning lamp in the instrument
cluster lights up when the ignition is switched
on. It goes out when the engine is running.
Braking
If ABS intervenes when braking, you will feel
a pulsing in the brake pedal.
XIf ABS intervenes: continue to depress the
brake pedal with force until the braking
situation is over.XTo make a full brake application:
depress the brake pedal with full force.GWarning
If the ABS malfunctions, other driving systems
such as the BAS or the ESP ®
are also switched
off. Observe indicator and warning lamps that
may come on as well as messages in the
multifunction display that may appear.
If the ABS malfunctions, the wheels may lock
during hard braking, reducing the steering
capability and extending the braking distance.
The pulsating brake pedal can be an
indication of hazardous road conditions and
functions as a reminder to take extra care
while driving.
BAS (Brake Assist System)
GWarning
Observe "Important safety notes"
( Y page 66).
BAS operates in emergency braking
situations. If you depress the brake pedal
quickly, BAS automatically boosts the braking
force, thus shortening the stopping distance.
XKeep the brake pedal firmly depressed until
the emergency braking situation is over.
ABS prevents the wheels from locking.Driving safety systems67SafetyZ

Rdisturbance from other radar sources
R strong radar reflection such as in parking
garages
BAS PLUS uses radar signals that are not
reflected well by narrow objects and
absorptive materials. For this reason BAS
PLUS will not react to persons, animals, and
approaching traffic or cross-traffic.
BAS PLUS may not detect narrow vehicles
driving in front of you, such as motorcycles
and vehicles driving offset from your vehicle
center.
Following a collision or accident-related
damage to the front end of the vehicle, have
the configuration and operation of the radar
sensors checked at an authorized Mercedes-
Benz Center.
If BAS PLUS is not available due to a
malfunction in the radar sensor system, the
brake system remains available with full
brake boosting effect and BAS.
Adaptive brake lights
i Adaptive brake lamps are only available in
the USA and only on the S 600 and S65
AMG.
If you brake sharply from a speed of more
than 30 mph (50 km/h) or if braking is
assisted by BAS or BAS PLUS, the brake
lamps flash rapidly. In this way, traffic
traveling behind you is warned in an even
more noticeable manner.
If you brake from a speed of more than
40 mph (70 km/h) to a standstill, the hazard
warning lamps are switched on automatically
when the vehicle is stationary. If the brakes
are applied again, the brake lamps light up
continuously. The hazard warning lamps
switch off automatically if you drive faster
than 6 mph (10 km/h) again. You can also
switch off the hazard warning lamps using the
hazard warning lamp button ( Y page 276).
ESP ®
(Electronic Stability Program)
Important safety notesGWarning
Observe "Important safety notes"
( Y page 66).
If ESP ®
detects that the vehicle is deviating
from the direction desired by the driver, one
or more wheels are braked to stabilize the
vehicle. If necessary, the engine output is also
modified to keep the vehicle on the desired
course within physical limits. ESP ®
assists
the driver when pulling away on wet or
slippery roads. ESP ®
can also stabilize the
vehicle during braking.
If ESP ®
intervenes, the ÷ warning lamp
flashes in the instrument cluster.
GWarning
Under no circumstances should you
deactivate ESP ®
when the ÷ ESP®
warning lamp in the instrument cluster
flashes. Proceed as follows:
R when driving off, apply as little throttle as
possible.
R while driving, ease up on the accelerator
pedal.
R adapt your speed to suit the prevailing road
and weather conditions.
failure to observe these guidelines could
cause the vehicle to skid. ESP ®
cannot
prevent accidents resulting from excessive
speed.
! Vehicles without 4MATIC: switch the
ignition off when:
R the electric parking brake is being tested
using a brake dynamometer.
R the vehicle is being towed with the front/
rear axle raised.
Application of the brakes by ESP ®
may
otherwise destroy the brake system.
Driving safety systems69SafetyZ

! Vehicles with 4MATIC: switch off the
ignition when the electric parking brake is
being tested on a brake dynamometer.
Application of the brakes by ESP ®
may
otherwise destroy the brake system.
i Only use wheels with the recommended
tire sizes. Only then will ESP ®
function
properly.
ETS/4ETS (Electronic Traction System)GWarning
Observe "Important safety notes"
( Y page 66).
Traction control is part of ESP ®
.
Traction control brakes the drive wheels
individually if they spin. This enables you to
pull away and accelerate on slippery surfaces,
for example if the road surface is slippery on
one side. On vehicles with 4MATIC, more
drive torque is also transferred to the wheel
or wheels with traction.
Traction control remains active if you
deactivate ESP ®
.
Activating/deactivating ESP ®
GWarning!
The ESP should not be switched off during
normal driving other than in the
circumstances described below. Disabling
the system will reduce vehicle stability in
driving maneuvers.
Do not switch off the ESP when a spare wheel
is mounted.
GWarning
S 63 AMG: ESP ®
should not be deactivated
during normal driving.
Deactivating the system results in the
following:
R no restriction to the engine torque
R loss of system-supported traction control
"ESP OFF" is designed for driving on closed
tracks when the vehicle's own oversteering
and understeering characteristics are desired
and requires an extremely qualified and
experienced driver who is able to handle
these critical driving situations.
You could lose control of your vehicle and
cause an accident.
Beware of these limits if you deactivate
ESP ®
.
Do not deactivate ESP ®
when the emergency
or spare wheel is mounted.
ESP ®
is activated automatically when the
engine is running.
It may be best to deactivate ESP ®
in the
following situations:
R when using snow chains
R in deep snow
R on sand or gravelGWarning!
Switch on the ESP immediately if the
aforementioned circumstances do not apply
anymore. Otherwise the ESP will not stabilize
the vehicle when it is starting to skid or a
wheel is spinning.
When you deactivate ESP ®
:
R ESP ®
no longer improves driving stability.
R the engine's torque is no longer limited and
the drive wheels can spin. The spinning of
the wheels results in a cutting action, which
provides better grip.
R traction control is still activated.
R ESP ®
still provides support when you
brake.
If ESP ®
is deactivated and one or more wheels
start to spin, the ÷ warning lamp in the
instrument cluster flashes. In such situations,
ESP ®
will not stabilize the vehicle.
XTo deactivate: (Y page 375).
The å warning lamp in the instrument
cluster lights up.70Driving safety systemsSafety

GWarning
When the å ESP®
OFF warning lamp is lit,
ESP ®
is deactivated.
If the ÷ ESP®
warning lamp and the
å ESP®
OFF warning lamp remain lit,
ESP ®
is not available due to a malfunction.
When ESP ®
is deactivated or not operational,
vehicle stability in standard driving
maneuvers is reduced.
Adapt your speed and driving to the prevailing
road conditions and to the non-operating
status of the ESP ®
.
! Avoid spinning a drive wheel for an
extended period with ESP ®
switched off.
This could cause serious damage to the
drive train.
XTo activate: (Y page 375).
The å warning lamp in the instrument
cluster goes out.
EBD (Electronic Brake-force
Distribution)
GWarning
Observe "Important safety notes"
( Y page 66).
EBD monitors and controls the brake
pressure on the rear wheels to improve
driving stability while braking.
GWarning
If the EBD malfunctions, the brake system will
still function with full brake boost. However,
the rear wheels could lock up during
emergency braking situations, for example.
You could lose control of the vehicle and
cause an accident.
Adapt your driving style to the changed
driving characteristics.
Adaptive Brake
ADAPTIVE BRAKE enhances braking safety
and offers increased braking comfort. In
addition to the braking function, ADAPTIVE
BRAKE also has the HOLD function
( Y page 335) and hill start assist
( Y page 302). For further information, see
Driving tips ( Y page 320).
PRE-SAFE ®
Brake (vehicles with
DISTRONIC PLUS)
PRE-SAFE ®
Brake can help you to minimize
the risk of a frontal collision with a vehicle
ahead or reduce the effects of such a
collision.
At speeds above approximately
20 mph (30 km/h), this function warns you
when you are rapidly approaching the vehicle
in front. An intermittent warning tone sounds
and the · distance warning lamp lights up
in the instrument cluster.
Due to the nature of the system, particularly
complicated driving conditions may cause the
system to display an unnecessary warning.
If the driver and front-passenger have
fastened their seat belts, PRE-SAFE ®
Brake
can also can also perform the following at
speeds of above approximately
20 mph (30 km/h):
R brake the vehicle automatically at speeds
up to approximately 124 mph (200 km/h)
R trigger preventative passenger protection
measures (PRE-SAFE ®
) ( Y page 53)
GWarning!
An intermittent warning sounds and the
distance warning lamp · in the instrument
cluster is illuminated if the PRE-SAFE ®
Brake
calculates that the distance to the vehicle
ahead and your vehicle's current speed
indicate that the PRE-SAFE ®
Brake will not be
capable of slowing the vehicle sufficiently to
maintain the preset following distance, which
creates a danger of a collision.
Driving safety systems71SafetyZ

GWarning
Batteries contain toxic and caustic
substances. For this reason, keep batteries
out of the reach of children.
If a battery has been swallowed, seek medical
help immediately.
GWarning
The SmartKey batteries contain perchlorate
material, which may require special handling
and regard for the environment. Observe
government disposal guidelines. California
residents, see www.dtsc.ca.gov/
HazardousWaste/Perchlorate/
index.cfm .
Checking the battery
XPress the & or % button.
The SmartKey battery is working properly if
battery charge indicator lamp : lights up
briefly.
If battery charge indicator lamp : does not
light up briefly during the test, the SmartKey
battery is discharged.
XReplace the SmartKey battery
( Y page 80).
i
You can obtain a SmartKey battery at any
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
i If the SmartKey battery is checked within
signal range of the vehicle, pressing the
& or % button results in the vehicle
being locked or unlocked respectively.
Changing the battery
You require a CR 2025 3 V cell battery.
XTake the mechanical key out of the
SmartKey ( Y page 79).XPress mechanical key ; into the opening
in the SmartKey in the direction of the
arrow until battery tray cover : opens. Do
not hold the cover closed while doing so.XRemove the cover of the battery tray.XRepeatedly tap the SmartKey against your
palm until battery = falls out.XInsert the new battery with the positive
pole facing upwards. Use a lint-free cloth to
do so.XInsert the front tabs of the battery tray's
cover first and then press to close it.XCheck the function of all SmartKey buttons
on the vehicle.80SmartKeyOpening and closing

You can use the override button to disable
this function (Y page 65).
The button is located in the rear door on the
front-passenger side.
:To select the front-passenger seat or rear-
compartment seat
;Seat height=Head restraint height?Backrest angleASeat fore-and-aft adjustmentXTo select the front-passenger seat:
press button :.
The front-passenger seat is selected if the
indicator lamp in the button lights up.
XAdjust the front-passenger seat with
buttons ;, =, ? and A.
XTo select the rear-compartment seat:
press button :.
The rear-compartment seat is selected
again.
Adjusting the head restraints
Adjusting the head restraint height
electrically
XTo adjust the head restraint height: slide
the switch for head restraint adjustment
(Y page 102) up or down in the direction of
the arrow.
Adjusting the NECK-PRO head
restraints
Adjusting
XPull or push the bottom of NECK-PRO head
restraint :.
Resetting
The NECK-PRO head restraints are moved
forwards in the event of a rear collision in the
direction of travel and have to be reset
afterwards (Y page 54).
Adjusting NECK-PRO luxury head
restraints
Adjusting
GRisk of injury
When folding back the side cushions, do not
hold the area between the side cushion and
the cushion holder. There is a danger of
becoming trapped.
You can adjust side bolsters : of the NECK-
PRO luxury head restraints individually.
104SeatsSeats, steering wheel and mirrors