2015 MERCEDES-BENZ S-Class tires

The AMG brake systems are designed for
heavy loads. This may lead to noise when
braking. This will depend on:
R speed
R braking force
R environmental conditions, such as temper-
ature and humidity
The wear of individual components of the
brake system, such as the brake pads/linings or brake discs, depends on the individual driv-
ing style and operating conditions.
For this reason, it is impossible to state a
mileage that will be valid under all circum-
stances. An aggressive driving style will lead
to high wear. You can obtain further informa-
tion about this from your authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
New and replaced brake pads and discs only
reach their optimum braking effect after sev-
eral hundred kilometers of driving. Compen-
sate for this by applying greater force to the
brake pedal. Keep this in mind, and adapt
your driving and braking accordingly during
this break-in period.
Excessive heavy braking results in corre-
spondingly high brake wear. Observe the
brake wear warning lamp in the instrument
cluster and note any brake status messages
in the multifunction display. Especially for
high performance driving, it is important to
maintain and have the brake system checked regularly. Driving on wet roads
Hydroplaning If water has accumulated to a certain depth
on the road surface, there is a danger of
hydroplaning occurring, even if:
R you drive at low speeds.
R the tires have adequate tread depth. For this reason, in the event of heavy rain or in
conditions in which hydroplaning may occur,
you must drive in the following manner:
R lower your speed.
R avoid ruts.
R avoid sudden steering movements.
R brake carefully.
Driving on flooded roads !
Do not drive through flooded areas.
Check the depth of any water before driving through it. Drive slowly through standing
water. Otherwise, water may enter the
vehicle interior or the engine compartment.
This can damage the electronic compo-
nents in the engine or the automatic trans- mission. Water can also be drawn in by the
engine's air suction nozzles and this can
cause engine damage. Winter driving
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 brak-
ing on a slippery road surface. G
DANGER
If the exhaust pipe is blocked or adequate
ventilation is not possible, poisonous gases
such as carbon monoxide (CO) may enter the vehicle. This is the case, e.g. if the vehicle
becomes trapped in snow. There is a risk of
fatal injury.
If you leave the engine or the auxiliary heating
running, make sure the exhaust pipe and area
around the vehicle are clear of snow. To
ensure an adequate supply of fresh air, open a window on the side of the vehicle that is not
facing into the wind. 228
Driving tipsDriving and parking

Have your vehicle winterproofed at a qualified
specialist workshop at the onset of winter.
Drive particularly carefully on slippery road
surfaces. Avoid sudden acceleration, steering
and braking maneuvers. Do not use the cruise
control or DISTRONIC PLUS.
If the vehicle threatens to skid or cannot be
stopped when moving at low speed:
X Shift the transmission to position N.
The outside temperature indicator is not
designed to serve as an ice-warning device
and is therefore unsuitable for that purpose.
Changes in the outside temperature are dis-
played after a short delay.
Indicated temperatures just above the freez-
ing point do not guarantee that the road sur-
face is free of ice. The road may still be icy,
especially in wooded areas or on bridges.
You should pay special attention to road con-
ditions when temperatures are around freez-
ing point.
For more information on driving with snow
chains, see (Y page 445).
For more information on driving with summer tires, see (Y page 444).
Observe the notes in the "Winter operation"
section (Y page 444). Driving systems
Mercedes-Benz Intelligent Drive
Mercedes-Benz Intelligent Drive stands for
innovative driver assistance and safety sys-
tems which enhance comfort and support the
driver in critical situations. With these intelli-
gent co-ordinated systems Mercedes-Benz
has set a milestone on the path towards
autonomous driving.
Mercedes-Benz Intelligent Drive embraces all elements of active and passive safety in one
well thought out system – for the safety of the
vehicle occupants and that of other road
users. Further information on driving safety systems
(Y page 76). Cruise control
General notes Cruise control maintains a constant road
speed for you. It brakes automatically in order
to avoid exceeding the set speed. Change into a lower gear in good time on long and steep
downhill gradients. This is especially impor-
tant if the vehicle is laden. By doing so, you
will make use of the braking effect of the
engine. This relieves the load on the brake
system and prevents the brakes from over-
heating and wearing too quickly.
Use cruise control only if road and traffic con-
ditions make it appropriate to maintain a
steady speed for a prolonged period. You can store any road speed above 20 mph
(30 km/h).
Important safety notes If you fail to adapt your driving style, cruise
control can neither reduce the risk of an acci-
dent nor override the laws of physics. Cruise
control cannot take into account the road,
traffic and weather conditions. Cruise control is only an aid. You are responsible for the dis-
tance to the vehicle in front, for vehicle speed,
for braking in good time and for staying in
your lane.
Do not use cruise control:
R in road and traffic conditions which do not
allow you to maintain a constant speed e.g.
in heavy traffic or on winding roads
R on slippery road surfaces. Braking or accel-
erating could cause the drive wheels to lose
traction and the vehicle could then skid
R when there is poor visibility, e.g. due to fog,
heavy rain or snow
If there is a change of drivers, advise the new
driver of the speed stored. Driving systems
229Driving and parking Z

Comfort tuning
In comfort mode, the driving characteristics
of your vehicle are more comfortable. There-
fore, select this mode if you favor a more
comfortable driving style. Select comfort
mode also when driving fast on straight roads, e.g. on straight stretches of highway.
X If indicator lamp ;
; is not lit: press but-
ton :.
Indicator lamp ;lights up. Comfort tuning
is selected.
All vehicles except AMG vehicles: the
AIRMATIC COMFORT AIRMATIC COMFORT message appears in
the multifunction display.
AMG vehicles: theAMG
AMG Suspension Suspension Sys‐
Sys‐
tem
tem COMFORT
COMFORT message appears in the mul-
tifunction display.
If the driving speed is higher than 75 mph
(120 km/h), the vehicle is automatically low-
ered by another 0.4 in (10 mm) compared to
the normal level in comfort mode.
Load compensation The vehicle can compensate differences in
the vehicle level by raising or lowering the
axles. 4MATIC (permanent four-wheel drive)
4MATIC ensures that all four wheels are per-
manently driven. Together with ESP ®
, it
improves the traction of your vehicle when-
ever a drive wheel spins due to insufficient
grip. If you fail to adapt your driving style, 4MATIC
can neither reduce the risk of accident nor
override the laws of physics. 4MATIC cannot
take account of road, weather and traffic con-
ditions. 4MATIC is only an aid. You are
responsible for the distance to the vehicle in
front, for vehicle speed, for braking in good
time and for staying in your lane.
If a drive wheel spins due to insufficient grip:
R Only depress the accelerator pedal as far as
necessary when pulling away.
R Accelerate less when driving.
! 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.
i In 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 PARKTRONIC is an electronic parking aid with
ultrasonic sensors. It monitors the area
around your vehicle using six sensors in the
front bumper and six sensors in the rear
bumper. PARKTRONIC indicates visually and
audibly the distance between your vehicle
and an object.
PARKTRONIC is only an aid. It is not a replace-
ment for your attention to your immediate
surroundings. You are always responsible for
safe maneuvering, parking and exiting a park- ing space. When maneuvering, parking or
pulling out of a parking space, make sure that
there are no persons, animals or objects in
the area in which you are maneuvering. 248
Driving systemsDriving and parking

Problems with PARKTRONIC
Problem
Possible causes/consequences and
M
MSolutions Only the red segments
in the PARKTRONIC
warning displays are lit.
You also hear a warning
tone for approximately
two seconds.
PARKTRONIC is then
deactivated and the
indicator lamp on the
PARKTRONIC button
lights up. PARKTRONIC has malfunctioned and has switched off.
X If problems persist, have PARKTRONIC checked at a qualified
specialist workshop. Only the red segments
in the PARKTRONIC
warning displays are lit.
PARKTRONIC is then
deactivated. The PARKTRONIC sensors are dirty or there is interference.
X Clean the PARKTRONIC sensors (Y page 415).
X Switch the ignition back on. The problem may be caused by an external source of radio or
ultrasound waves.
X See if PARKTRONIC functions in a different location. Active Parking Assist
General notes Active Parking Assist is an electronic parking
aid with ultrasound. It measures the road on
both sides of the vehicle. A parking symbol
indicates a suitable parking space. Active
steering intervention and brake application
can assist you during parking and when exit-
ing a parking space. You may also use
PARKTRONIC (Y page 248).
Important safety notes Active Parking Assist is merely an aid. It is not
a replacement for your attention to your
immediate surroundings. You are always
responsible for safe maneuvering, parking
and exiting a parking space. Make sure that
no persons, animals or objects are in the
maneuvering range.
When PARKTRONIC is switched off, Active
Parking Assist is also unavailable. G
WARNING
While parking or pulling out of a parking
space, the vehicle swings out and can drive
onto areas of the oncoming lane. This could
result in a collision with another road user.
There is a risk of an accident.
Pay attention to other road users. Stop the
vehicle if necessary or cancel the Active Park- ing Assist parking procedure.
! If unavoidable, you should drive over
obstacles such as curbs slowly and not at a sharp angle. Otherwise, you may damage
the wheels or tires.
Active Parking Assist may possibly indicate
parking spaces which are not suitable for
parking, for example:
R where parking or stopping is prohibited
R in front of driveways or entrances and exits
R on unsuitable surfaces Driving systems
251Driving and parking Z

Activating/deactivating the rear view
camera X
To activate: make sure that the SmartKey
is in position 2in the ignition lock.
X Make sure that the Activation by R
Activation by R
gear
gear function is selected in COMAND (see
separate operating instructions).
X Engage reverse gear.
The rear view camera flap opens. The area
behind the vehicle is shown in the
COMAND display with guide lines.
The image from the rear view camera is
available throughout the maneuvering
process.
To deactivate: the rear view camera deacti-
vates if you shift the transmission to Por after
driving forwards a short distance.
Displays in the COMAND display The rear view camera may show a distorted
view of obstacles, show them incorrectly or
not at all. The rear view camera does not show
objects in the following positions:
R very close to the rear bumper
R under the rear bumper
R in the area immediately above the tailgate
handle
! Objects not at ground level may appear to
be further away than they actually are, e.g.:
R the bumper of a parked vehicle
R the drawbar of a trailer
R the ball coupling of a trailer tow hitch
R the rear section of an HGV
R a slanted post
Use the guidelines only for orientation.
Approach objects no further than the bot-
tom-most guideline. :
Yellow guide line at a distance of approx-
imately 13 ft (4.0 m) from the rear of the
vehicle
; White guide line without turning the steer-
ing wheel, vehicle width including the
exterior mirrors (static)
= Yellow guide line for the vehicle width
including the exterior mirrors, for current
steering wheel angle (dynamic)
? Yellow lane marking tires at current steer-
ing wheel angle (dynamic) A
Yellow guide line at a distance of approx-
imately 3 ft (1.0m) from the rear of the
vehicle
B Vehicle center axle (marker assistance)
C Bumper
D Red guide line at a distance of approx-
imately 12 in (0.30 m) fromthe rear of the
vehicle
The guide lines are shown when the trans-
mission is in position R.
The distance specifications only apply to
objects that are at ground level. Driving systems
257Driving and parking Z

Activating the 360° camera using
reverse gear The 360° camera images can be automati-
cally displayed by engaging reverse gear.
X Make sure that the SmartKey is in position
2 in the ignition lock.
X Make sure that the Activation by R
Activation by R
gear gear function is selected in COMAND (see
separate operating instructions).
X To show the 360° camera image: engage
reverse gear.
The area behind the vehicle is shown in the
COMAND display in split-screen mode. You see the top view of the vehicle and the
image from the rear view camera.
Selecting the split-screen and full
screen displays Switching between split screen views:
X To switch to the line with the vehicle icons:
slide ZVthe controller.
X To select a vehicle icon: turn the controller.
Switching to full screen mode:
X 180° View
180° View Turn and press the controller.
i The 180° option is only available in the
following views:
R Top view with picture from the rear view
camera
R Top view with picture from the front cam-
era
Displays in the COMAND display Important safety notes
The camera system may show a distorted
view of obstacles, show them incorrectly or
not at all. Obstacles are not shown by the
system in the following locations:
R under the front and rear bumpers
R very close to the front and rear bumpers
R in close range above the handle on the
trunk lid R
very close to the exterior mirrors
R in the transitional areas between the vari-
ous cameras in the virtual top view
! Objects not at ground level may appear to
be further away than they actually are, e.g.:
R the bumper of a parked vehicle
R the drawbar of a trailer
R the ball coupling of a trailer tow hitch
R the rear section of an HGV
R a slanted post
Use the guidelines only for orientation.
Approach objects no further than the bot-
tom-most guideline.
Top view with picture from the rear view
camera :
Yellow guide line at a distance of approx-
imately 13 ft (4.0 m) from the rear of the
vehicle
; Symbol for the split screen setting with
top view and rear view camera image
= Guide line for the maximum steering angle
? Yellow lane marking tires at current steer-
ing wheel angle (dynamic)
A Yellow guide line for the vehicle width
including the exterior mirrors, for current
steering wheel angle (dynamic) 262
Driving systemsDriving an
d parking

B
Vehicle center axle (marker assistance)
C Yellow guide line at a distance of approx-
imately 3 ft (1.0 m) from the rear of the
vehicle
D Bumper
E Red guide line at a distance of approx-
imately 12 in (0.30 m) from the rear of the
vehicle
The guide lines are shown when the trans-
mission is in position R.
The distance specifications only apply to
objects that are at ground level.
Top view with picture from the front cam-
era :
Symbol for the split screen setting with
top view and front camera image
; Yellow guide line at a distance of approx-
imately 13 ft (4.0 m)from the front of the
vehicle
= Yellow guide line for the vehicle width
including the exterior mirrors, for current
steering wheel angle (dynamic)
? Yellow lane marking tires at current steer-
ing wheel angle (dynamic) A
Red guide line at a distance of approx-
imately 12 in (0.30 m) from the front of the
vehicle
B Yellow guide line at a distance of approx-
imately 3 ft (1.0 m) from the front of the
vehicle
Top view and enlarged rear view :
Symbol for the split screen setting with
top view and rear view camera image
enlarged
; Red guide line at a distance of approx-
imately 12 in (0.30 m) from the rear of the
vehicle
This view assists you in estimating the dis-
tance to the vehicle behind you.
i This setting can also be selected as an
enlarged front view. Driving systems
263Driving and parking Z

Display messages
Possible causes/consequences and
M
MSolutions AIRMATIC is defective. A warning tone also sounds.
X Do not drive at speeds above 50 mph (80 km/h).
X Make only slight steering movements. Otherwise, the front
fender or the tires could be damaged if the steering movement
is too large.
X Listen for scraping sounds.
X Pull over and stop the vehicle safely, paying attention to road
and traffic conditions, and select a higher vehicle level.
Depending on the malfunction, it may be possible to raise the
vehicle.
X Visit a qualified specialist workshop. ¨
Malfunction Malfunction The AIRMATIC function is restricted. The vehicle's handling char-
acteristics may be affected.
X Do not drive at speeds above 50 mph (80 km/h).
X Visit a qualified specialist workshop. ABC Malfunction
ABC Malfunction
Stop Vehicle Stop Vehicle The Active Body Control (ABC) vehicle level is too low.
X Pull over and stop the vehicle safely as soon as possible, paying
attention to road and traffic conditions.
After a few seconds, the vehicle level is adjusted and the display
message disappears. The vehicle is leaking oil.
The display message is shown continuously.
X Pull over and stop the vehicle safely as soon as possible, paying
attention to road and traffic conditions. Do not continue driving
under any circumstances.
X Consult a qualified specialist workshop. The display message is shown continuously.
Active Body Control (ABC) is malfunctioning.
X Do not drive at speeds above 50 mph (80 km/h).
X Make only slight steering movements. Otherwise, the front
fender or the tires could be damaged if the steering movement
is too large.
X Listen for scraping sounds.
X Visit a qualified specialist workshop. ABC ABC
Vehicle
Vehicle Rising
Rising
Please
Please Wait
WaitBriefly
Briefly The vehicle level is too low when the vehicle is stationary. A warn-
ing tone also sounds.
X Do not pull away.
The vehicle level is set when the display message disappears. 342
Display messagesOn-board computer and displays