Braking
Important safety notes G
WARNING
If you shift down on a slippery road surface in
an attempt to increase the engine's braking
effect, the drive wheels could lose their grip.
There is an increased danger of skidding and
accidents.
Do not shift down for additional engine
braking on a slippery road surface.
Downhill gradients !
On long and steep gradients, you must
reduce the load on the brakes by shifting
early to a lower gear. This allows you to take
advantage of the engine braking effect and
helps avoid overheating and excessive
wear of the brakes.
When you take advantage of the engine
braking effect, a drive wheel may not turn
for some time, e.g. on a slippery road
surface. This could cause damage to the
drive train. This type of damage is not
covered by the Mercedes-Benz warranty.
Heavy and light loads G
WARNING
If you rest your foot on the brake pedal while
driving, the braking system can overheat. This
increases the stopping distance and can even
cause the braking system to fail. There is a
risk of an accident.
Never use the brake pedal as a footrest. Never
depress the brake pedal and the accelerator
pedal at the same time.
! Depressing the brake pedal constantly
results in excessive and premature wear to
the brake pads.
If the brakes have been subjected to a heavy
load, do not stop the vehicle immediately.
Drive on for a short while. This allows the
airflow to cool the brakes more quickly. Wet roads If you have driven for a long time in heavy rain
without braking, there may be a delayed
reaction from the brakes when braking for the
first time. This may also occur after the
vehicle has been washed or driven through
deep water.
You have to depress the brake pedal more
firmly. Maintain a greater distance from the
vehicle in front.
After driving on a wet road or having the
vehicle washed, brake firmly while paying
attention to the traffic conditions. This will
warm up the brake discs, thereby drying them
more quickly and protecting them against
corrosion.
Limited braking performance on salt-
treated roads If you drive on salted roads, a layer of salt
residue may form on the brake discs and
brake pads. This can result in a significantly
longer braking distance.
R In order to prevent any salt build-up, apply
the brakes occasionally while paying
attention to the traffic conditions.
R Carefully depress the brake pedal and the
beginning and end of a journey.
R Maintain a greater distance to the vehicle
ahead.
Servicing the brakes !
If the red brake warning lamp lights up in
the instrument cluster and you hear a
warning tone while the engine is running,
the brake fluid level may be too low.
Observe additional warning messages in
the multifunction display.
The brake fluid level may be too low due to
brake pad wear or leaking brake lines.
Have the brake system checked
immediately. This work should be carried
out at a qualified specialist workshop. 196
Driving tipsDriving an
d parking
!
Vehicles with 4MATIC: function or
performance tests may only be carried out
on a 2-axle dynamometer. If you wish to
operate the vehicle on such a
dynamometer, please consult an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center in
advance. You could otherwise damage the
drive train or the brake system.
! Vehicles with 4MATIC: the ESP®
system
operates automatically. The engine and the
ignition must therefore be switched off (the
SmartKey must be in position 0or 1in the
ignition lock or the Start/Stop button must
be in position 0or 1) if the electric parking
brake is tested on a brake dynamometer.
Braking triggered automatically by ESP ®
may cause severe damage to the brake
system.
! Vehicles without 4MATIC: the ESP®
system operates automatically. The engine
and the ignition must therefore be switched
off (the SmartKey must be in position 0or
1 in the ignition lock or the Start/Stop
button must be in position 0or 1) if:
R the electric parking brake is tested using
a brake dynamometer.
R the vehicle is towed with one axle raised.
Braking triggered automatically by ESP ®
may cause severe damage to the brake
system.
All checks and maintenance work on the
brake system must be carried out at a
qualified specialist workshop. Consult a
qualified specialist workshop to arrange this.
Have brake pads installed and brake fluid
replaced at a qualified specialist workshop.
If the brake system has only been subject to
moderate loads, you should test the
functionality of your brakes at regular
intervals.
Information on BAS (Brake Assist)
(Y page 71) and BAS PLUS (Brake Assist
PLUS) (Y page 72). For safety reasons, Mercedes-Benz
recommends only installing the following
brake disks and brake pads/linings:
R
brake disks that have been approved by
Mercedes-Benz
R brake pads/linings that have been
approved by Mercedes-Benz or that are of
an equivalent standard of quality
Other brake disks or brake pads/linings can
compromise the safety of your vehicle.
Always replace all brake disks and brake
pads/linings on an axle at the same time.
Always install new brake pads/linings when
replacing brake disks.
The vehicle is equipped with lightweight
brake disks to which the wheel assembly with
rim and threaded connection is matched.
The use of brake disks other than those
approved by Mercedes-Benz can change the
track width and is subject to approval, if
applicable.
Shock-type loads when handling the brake
disks, such as when changing wheels, can
lead to a reduction in comfort when driving
with lightweight brake disks. Avoid shock-
type loads on the lightweight brake disks,
particularly on the brake plate.
Mercedes-Benz recommends that you only
use brake fluid that has been specially
approved for your vehicle by Mercedes-Benz,
or which corresponds to an equivalent quality
standard. Brake fluid which has not been
approved for Mercedes-Benz vehicles or
which is not of an equivalent quality could
affect your vehicle's operating safety.
AMG high-performance and ceramic
brakes The high-performance brake system is only
installed on the S 63 AMG 4MATIC. Driving tips
197Driving and parking Z
R
you are driving faster than 6 mph
(10 km/h)
R a wheel spins, ESP ®
intervenes or fails. The
00E5 warning lamp lights up in the
instrument cluster.
A warning tone sounds. The parking symbol
disappears and the multifunction display
shows the Park Assist Canceled
Park Assist Canceled
message.
When Active Parking Assist is canceled, you
must steer and brake again yourself.
If a system malfunction occurs, the vehicle is
braked to a standstill. To drive on, depress the
accelerator again. Rear view camera
General notes Rear view camera
0043is in the trunk lid handle.
Rear view camera 0043is an optical parking and
maneuvering aid. It shows the area behind
your vehicle with guide lines in the COMAND
display.
The area behind the vehicle is displayed as a
mirror image, as in the rear view mirror.
i The text of messages shown in the
COMAND display depends on the language
setting. The following are examples of rear
view camera messages in the COMAND
display. Important safety notes The rear view camera is only an aid. It is not
a replacement for your attention to your
immediate surroundings. You are always
responsible for safe maneuvering and
parking. When maneuvering or parking, make
sure that there are no persons, animals or
objects in the area in which you are
maneuvering.
Under the following circumstances, the rear
view camera will not function, or will function
in a limited manner:
R
if the trunk lid is open
R in heavy rain, snow or fog
R at night or in very dark places
R if the camera is exposed to very bright light
R if the area is lit by fluorescent light or LED
lighting (the display may flicker)
R if there is a sudden change in temperature,
e.g. when driving into a heated garage in
winter
R if the camera lens is dirty or obstructed.
Observe the notes on cleaning
(Y page 358)
R if the rear of your vehicle is damaged. In
this event, have the camera position and
setting checked at a qualified specialist
workshop
The field of vision and other functions of the
rear view camera may be restricted due to
additional accessories on the rear of the
vehicle (e.g. license plate holder, bicycle
rack).
i The rear view camera is protected from
raindrops and dust by means of a flap.
When the rear view camera is activated,
this flap opens.
The flap closes again when:
R you have finished the maneuvering
process
R you switch off the engine
Observe the notes on cleaning
(Y page 358). 226
Driving syste
msDriving and parking
Night View Assist Plus can recognize larger
animals such as deer, cows or horses using
typical characteristics.
The system does not detect:
R smaller animals, e.g. dogs and cats
R animals whose silhouette is not clearly
recognizable.
When detected, animals are marked with
small color frame corners. In contrast to
pedestrian recognition, there is no separate
readiness symbol in the multifunction
display.
Switching Night View Assist on/off Activation conditions
You can only activate Night View Assist Plus
if all of the following conditions are met:
R the ignition is switched on (Y page 171) or
the engine has been started.
R the light switch is in the 0058or0058
position.
R reverse gear has not been engaged.
Activating Night View Assist Plus X
Press button 0043.
The Night View Assist Plus display appears
in the multifunction display.
i The infrared headlamps only switch on in
the dark from speeds of approximately
6 mph (10 km/h). This means that you do
not have the full visual range while the
vehicle is stationary and cannot check
whether Night View Assist Plus is working. The infrared headlamps are deactivated at
speeds below 3 mph (5 km/h). The Night
View image continues to be displayed until
you deactivate it by pressing button 0043.
Automatic delayed switch-off
You can select the Night View Assist Night View Assist
Automatic
Automatic Activation
Activation option via the Night
View Assist menu. The pedestrian and animal
search function remains active even when the
Night View image is not displayed. In the dark,
in unlit surroundings and at speeds of more
than 60 km/h, the Night View image is
automatically displayed in the multifunction
display as soon as pedestrians or animals are
detected.
X In the assistance menu, select automatic
delayed switch-off of Night View Assist Plus
(Y page 260).
Deactivating Night View Assist Plus
X Press button 0043.
The Night View Assist Plus display
disappears from the multifunction display.
Night View Assist is deactivated.
Spotlight function General notes
Under certain conditions, the spotlight
function uses the headlamps to flash at
detected pedestrians.
The spotlight function is only active if:
R
pedestrian recognition is active
R the road surface is not lit
R the driving speed is at least 40 mph
(60 km/h)
R the "Adaptive Highbeam Assist"
(Y page 142) or "Adaptive Highbeam Assist
PLUS" function is activated
The spotlight function is not active or is active
only to a limited extent if:
R you are driving in city traffic
R there are pedestrians located in the area of
an oncoming vehicle or a vehicle in front 238
Driving systemsDriving and parking
Maintenance menu
Introduction In the
Serv
Servmenu, you have the following
options:
R Calling up display messages in message
memory (Y page 265)
R Checking the tire pressure electronically
(Y page 391)
R Calling up the service due date
(Y page 352)
R Displaying the coolant temperature
(Y page 259)
Displaying the coolant temperature G
WARNING
Opening the hood when the engine is
overheated or when there is a fire in the
engine compartment could expose you to hot
gases or other service products. There is a
risk of injury.
Let an overheated engine cool down before
opening the hood. If there is a fire in the
engine compartment, keep the hood closed
and contact the fire department.
! A display message is shown if the coolant
temperature is too high.
If the coolant temperature is over
248 ‡(120 †), do not continue driving. The
engine will otherwise be damaged.
The coolant temperature is also shown
digitally in the tachometer (Y page 33).X
Use 00E2 on the steering wheel to call up
the list of menus.
X Press the 0064or0063 button on the
steering wheel to select the Service
Service
menu.
X Confirm by pressing 0076on the steering
wheel.
X Use 0064 or0063 to select the Coolant Coolant
submenu.
The coolant temperature is shown as a bar
display.
Under normal operating conditions and with
the specified coolant level, the coolant
temperature may rise to 248 ‡ (120 †). Settings menu
Introduction In the
Settings Settings menu, you have the following
options:
R Changing assistance settings
(Y page 259)
R Changing the light settings (Y page 262)
R Changing the instrument cluster settings
(Y page 262)
R Restoring the factory settings
(Y page 263)
Assistance submenu Deactivating/activating ESP
®
Observe the "Important safety notes" section
in the description of ESP (Y page 76). Menus and submenus
259On-board computer and displays Z
Display messages Possible causes/consequences and
0050
0050Solutions 0049
Switch Off Lights Switch Off Lights The lights are still switched on when you leave the vehicle. A
warning tone also sounds.
X
Turn the light switch to 0058.Adaptive Highbeam Adaptive Highbeam
Assist Assist
Inoperative Inoperative
or
Adaptive Highbeam
Adaptive Highbeam
Assist Plus Assist Plus
Inoperative Inoperative Adaptive Highbeam Assist or Adaptive Highbeam Assist Plus is
faulty.
X
Visit a qualified specialist workshop. Adaptive Highbeam Adaptive Highbeam
Assist Currently Assist Currently
Unavailable See Unavailable See
Operator's Manual Operator's Manual
or
Adaptive Adaptive
Highbeam Assist
Highbeam Assist
Plus Currently Plus Currently
Unavailable See Unavailable See
Operator's Manual Operator's Manual Adaptive Highbeam Assist or Adaptive Highbeam Assist Plus is
deactivated and temporarily not operational. Possible causes are:
R
the windshield in the camera's field of vision is dirty.
R visibility is impaired due to heavy rain, snow or fog.
X Clean the windshield.
If the system detects that the camera is fully operational, display
message Adaptive Highbeam Assist Now Available Adaptive Highbeam Assist Now Available or
Adaptive Highbeam Assist Plus Available Again
Adaptive Highbeam Assist Plus Available Again is
displayed.
Adaptive Highbeam Assist or Adaptive Highbeam Assist Plus is
operational again. Engine
Display messages Possible causes/consequences and
0050 0050Solutions 00BD
Check Coolant Check Coolant
Level See Level See
Operator's Manual Operator's Manual The coolant level is too low.
!
Avoid making long journeys with too little coolant in the engine
cooling system. The engine will otherwise be damaged.
X Add coolant, observing the warning notes before doing so
(Y page 351).
X If coolant needs to be added more often than usual, have the
engine coolant system checked at a qualified specialist
workshop. 00AC 00AC The fan motor is faulty.
X
At coolant temperatures below 248 ‡ (120 †), drive to the
nearest qualified specialist workshop.
X Avoid subjecting the engine to heavy loads, e.g. driving in
mountainous terrain, and stop-and-go traffic. Display
messages
283On-board computer and displays Z
Engine
Warning/
indicator
lamp 0051 0051
Signal type
Possible causes/consequences and 0050
0050 Solutions 00B9
0051
The yellow Check Engine warning lamp lights up while the engine is running.
There may be a malfunction, for example:
R in the engine management
R in the fuel injection system
R in the exhaust system
R in the ignition system (for vehicles with gasoline engines)
R in the fuel system
The emission limit values may be exceeded and the engine may be in
emergency mode.
X Have the vehicle checked as soon as possible at a qualified specialist
workshop.
i In some states, you must immediately visit a qualified specialist workshop
as soon as the yellow Check Engine warning lamp lights up. This is due to
the legal requirements in effect in these states. If in doubt, check whether
such legal regulations apply in the state in which you are currently driving. 00B6
0051
The yellow reserve fuel warning lamp lights up while the engine is running.
The fuel level has dropped into the reserve range.
X Refuel at the nearest gas station. 00B6
0051
The yellow reserve fuel warning lamp flashes while the vehicle is in motion.
In addition, the 00B9Check Engine warning lamp may light up.
The fuel system pressure is too low. The fuel filler cap is not closed correctly
or the fuel system is leaking.
X Check that the fuel filler cap is correctly closed.
X If the fuel filler cap is not correctly closed: close the fuel filler cap.
X If the fuel filler cap is closed: visit a qualified specialist workshop.308
Warning and indicator lamps in the instrument clusterOn-board computer and displays
Warning/
indicator
lamp 0051 0051
Signal type
Possible causes/consequences and 0050
0050Solutions X
Leave the vehicle and keep a safe distance from the vehicle until the engine
has cooled down.
X Check the coolant level and add coolant, observing the warning notes
(Y page 351).
X If you need to add coolant more often than usual, have the engine coolant
system checked.
X Make sure that the air supply to the engine radiator is not blocked, e.g. by
snow, slush or ice.
X At coolant temperatures below 248 ‡(120 †), drive to the nearest qualified
specialist workshop.
X Avoid subjecting the engine to heavy loads, e.g. driving in mountainous
terrain, and stop-and-go traffic. Driving systems
Warning/
indicator
lamp 0051 0051
Signal type
Possible causes/consequences and 0050
0050Solutions 00BA
0051
The red distance warning lamp lights up while the vehicle is in motion.
The distance to the vehicle in front is too small for the speed selected.
X Increase the distance. 00BA
0051
The red distance warning lamp lights up while the vehicle is in motion. A
warning tone also sounds.
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.
Further information on PRE-SAFE ®
Brake (Y page 78).
For further information on the distance warning function of COLLISION
PREVENTION ASSIST: (Y page 73). Warning and indicator lamps in the instrument cluster
311On-board computer and displays Z