2015 MERCEDES-BENZ S-Class heating

X
To open/close: press control=.
The control pops out.
X Turn control =counter-clockwise or
clockwise.
X To adjust the air direction: hold side air
vent ;by the middle fin and move it up or
down or to the left or right. Setting the glove box air vent
! Close the air vent when heating the vehi-
cle.
At high outside temperatures, open the air
vent and activate the "cooling with air dehu- midification" function. Otherwise, temper-
ature-sensitive items stored in the glove
box could be damaged.
When the climate control system is activated, the glove box can be ventilated, for instance
to cool its contents. The level of airflow
depends on the airflow and air distribution
settings. :
Air vent thumbwheel
; Air vent
X To open/close: turn thumbwheel :to the
left or right. Setting the rear-compartment air
vents
Setting the center vents in the rear com-
partment :
Rear-compartment air vent, left
; Rear-compartment air vent, right
= Rear-compartment air vent control, right
? Rear control panel
A Rear-compartment air vent control, left
Vehicles with rear-compartment climate con-
trol
X To open/close: press control=orA.
The control pops out.
X Turn control =orA counter-clockwise or
clockwise.
X To adjust the air direction: hold the rear
air vent :or; by the middle fin and move
up or down or to the left or right. Setting the air vents
185Climate control Z

Problems with the transmission
Problem
Possible causes/consequences and
M
MSolutions The transmission has
problems shifting gear. The transmission is losing oil.
X Have the transmission checked at a qualified specialist work-
shop immediately. The acceleration ability
is deteriorating.
The transmission no
longer changes gear. The transmission is in emergency mode.
It is only possible to shift into
secondgear and reverse gear.
X Stop the vehicle.
X Shift the transmission to position P.
X Switch off the engine.
X Wait at least ten seconds before restarting the engine.
X Shift the transmission to position Dor R.
If D is selected, the transmission shifts into secondgear; ifRis
selected, the transmission shifts into reverse gear.
X Have the transmission checked at a qualified specialist work-
shop immediately. Problems with PLUG-IN HYBRID operation (Y
page 290).Transfer case
! Performance tests may only be carried
out on a 2-axle dynamometer. The brake
system or transfer case could otherwise be
damaged. Contact a qualified specialist
workshop for a performance test.
! To prevent ESP ®
from intervening, the
ignition must be switched off (SmartKey or
the Start/Stop button in position 0or 1) if:
R the electric parking brake is being tested
on a brake dynamometer.
R the vehicle is being towed with only one
axle raised (not permitted for vehicles
with 4MATIC).
The brake system could otherwise be dam-
aged.
! Vehicles with 4MATIC must not be towed
with either the front or the rear axle raised,
as doing so will damage the transmission. This section is only valid for vehicles with 4-
wheel drive (4MATIC). Power is always trans-
mitted to both axles. Refueling
Important safety notes
G
WARNING
Fuel is highly flammable. If you handle fuel
incorrectly, there is a risk of fire and explo-
sion.
You must avoid fire, open flames, creating
sparks and smoking. Switch off the engine
and, if applicable, the auxiliary heating before refueling. G
WARNING
Fuel is poisonous and hazardous to health.
There is a risk of injury.
You must make sure that fuel does not come into contact with your skin, eyes or clothing Refueling
205Driving and parking
Z

In overrun mode, kinetic energy is converted
by means of energy recuperation into electri- cal energy and stored in the high-voltage bat-
tery.
The high-voltage battery can be charged as
follows:
R through energy recuperation while the
vehicle is in motion
R during the journey using the CHARGE mode
R with the relevant charging cable at an elec-
trical outlet while the vehicle is stationary
R with the relevant charging cable at a wall-
box while the vehicle is stationary
R with the relevant charging cable at a charg-
ing station while the vehicle is stationary
The high-voltage battery can be charged in a
nominal voltage range from 100 V to 240 V.
High and low outside temperatures Low outside temperatures
At very low outside temperatures the maxi-
mum power output of the high-voltage battery
may be reduced. The high-voltage battery is
then no longer able to provide the normal
electrical power output.
High outside temperatures
To prevent damage to the high-voltage bat-
tery due to very high outside temperatures,
the maximum power output of the high-volt-
age battery is reduced by the vehicle.
Energy consumption and electrical
range The maximum electrical range is generally
reduced by:
R high and low outside temperatures
R the use of air conditioning or heating
R switching on consumers The battery's physical characteristics are
such that leaving the vehicle parked for long
periods at low outdoor temperatures without
charging it can lead to:
R a reduction in battery performance
R longer charge times
Notes on battery care Avoid storing or transporting the vehicle in
temperatures that are too high or too low over
a long period (e.g. container transport).
If you park the vehicle and leave it stationaryfor longer periods, connect it to a power sup-
ply.
Conditions of use Please note the information on exceptions
and limitations in warranty documentation
and in the Maintenance Booklet.
Handling the charging cable and charg- ing cable controls Do not leave the charging cable controls
(Y
page 213) hanging loose from an electrical
outlet. Otherwise, this could result in a poor
contact with the electrical outlet and mal-
functions when charging the vehicle.
To ensure that the cable on the controls of the charging cable is not subjected to incorrect
loads, observe the following:
R Never lift the controls up at the charging
cable connector or the power supply plug.
R Do not carry the controls by the connector.
Heat generated by the charging cable
and connector Pay attention to the "Important safety notes"
(Y page 209).
During the charging process, the charging
cable and connector may heat up. Charging the high-voltage battery (plug-in hybrid vehicles)
211Driving and parking Z

Controls on the charging cable
:
Alternating current status indicator
; Control/protection system indicator
= Charge current indicator
? Charge current setting button
When displays :and ;on the charging
cable light up, this means the following: Display
:
: Lights up
green The external power supply
connection is working prop-
erly. The high-voltage bat-
tery can be charged. Flashes red A malfunction has been
detected in the external
power supply. The high-volt-
age battery is recharged as
soon as the electricity signal
registers normal values. Lights up red There is a malfunction. The
charging cable must be
removed from the electrical
outlet and then re-inserted.
Display
; ; Lights up
green There are no malfunctions.
The high-voltage battery
can be charged.
Lights up red An impermissible current is
being supplied to the con-
trol unit. The high-voltage
battery cannot be charged. i
For information on problems relating to
the charging process, see (Y page 218).
Setting the maximum charge current G
WARNING
If the charge current draw via a mains socket is too high during the charging process, the
external electrical system may overheat.
There is a risk of fire.
Before beginning the charging process, checkthe maximum permissible charge current
locally. Consult a qualified expert to do so
where necessary.
If necessary, adjust your vehicle's settings.
! An excessive charge current can blow a
fuse or lead to overheating of the external
power supply. Check whether the external
power supply is compatible with the set
charge current. If necessary, lower the set
charge current or use another power
socket.
You can set a limit for the values of the charge current used in charging the high-voltage bat-
tery. This acts as a means of preventing the
power supply from overloading. You can set
this limit by using the controls on the charging
cable or in the on-board computer's menu.
Only set the maximum charge current in the
on-board computer menu if there are no
charge current settings on the charging
cable.
The default standard value in the vehicle cor- responds to the maximum charge current
value.
The default standard value on the charging
cable is the minimum charge current setting.This corresponds to the minimum available
charge current from the power supply. The
value on the charging cable can be increased
and is described in the following section.
i The value of the maximum setting and the
adjustment values may vary depending on
the country. Charging the high-voltage battery (plug-in hybrid vehicles)
213Driving and parking Z

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 brak-
ing 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 sur-
face. This could cause damage to the drive train. This type of damage is not covered bythe 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 air-
flow 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 reac-
tion 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 vehi- cle washed, brake firmly while paying atten-
tion to the traffic conditions. This will warm up
the brake discs, thereby drying them more
quickly and protecting them against corro-
sion.
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 atten- tion 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 warn-
ing tone while the engine is running, the
brake fluid level may be too low. Observe
additional warning messages in the multi-
function display.
The brake fluid level may be too low due to brake pad wear or leaking brake lines.
Have the brake system checked immedi-
ately. This work should be carried out at a
qualified specialist workshop.
! Vehicles with 4MATIC:
function or per-
formance tests may only be carried out on 226
Driving tipsDriving an
d parking

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

Change into a lower gear in good time on long
and steep downhill gradients. This is espe-
cially important 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 overheating and wearing too quickly.
If DISTRONIC PLUS detects that there is a risk of a collision, you will be warned visually and
acoustically. DISTRONIC PLUS cannot pre-
vent a collision without your intervention. An
intermittent warning tone will then sound and the distance warning lamp will light up in the
instrument cluster. Brake immediately in
order to increase the distance to the vehicle
in front or take evasive action provided it is
safe to do so.
DISTRONIC PLUS operates in range between 0 mph (0 km/h) and 120 mph (200 km/h).
Do not use DISTRONIC PLUS while driving onroads with steep gradients.
As DISTRONIC PLUS transmits radar waves, it
can resemble the radar detectors of the
responsible authorities. You can refer to the
relevant chapter in the Operator's Manual if
questions are asked about this.
i USA only: This device has been approved
by the FCC as a "Vehicular Radar System".
The radar sensor is intended for use in an
automotive radar system only. Removal,
tampering, or altering of the device will void
any warranties, and is not permitted by the
FCC. Do not tamper with, alter, or use in
any non-approved way.
Any unauthorized modification to this
device could void the user's authority to
operate the equipment.
i Canada only: This device complies with
RSS-210 of Industry Canada. Operation is
subject to the following two conditions:
1. This device may not cause harmful inter-
ference, and
2. This device must accept any interference
received, including interference that may
cause undesired operation of the device. Removal, tampering, or altering of the
device will void any warranties, and is not
permitted. Do not tamper with, alter, or use in any non-approved way.
Any unauthorized modification to this
device could void the user's authority to
operate the equipment.
Important safety notes G
WARNING
DISTRONIC PLUS does not react to:
R people or animals
R stationary obstacles on the road, e.g. stop-
ped or parked vehicles
R oncoming and crossing traffic
As a result, DISTRONIC PLUS may neither give
warnings nor intervene in such situations.
There is a risk of an accident.
Always pay careful attention to the traffic sit- uation and be ready to brake. G
WARNING
DISTRONIC PLUS cannot always clearly iden- tify other road users and complex traffic sit-
uations.
In such cases, DISTRONIC PLUS may:
R give an unnecessary warning and then
brake the vehicle
R neither give a warning nor intervene
R accelerate or brake unexpectedly
There is a risk of an accident.
Continue to drive carefully and be ready to
brake, in particular when warned to do so by
DISTRONIC PLUS. G
WARNING
DISTRONIC PLUS brakes your vehicle with up to 50 %of the maximum possible deceleration.
If this braking force is insufficient, DISTRONIC
PLUS warns you visually and audibly. There is a risk of an accident.
In such cases, apply the brakes yourself and
try to take evasive action. 232
Driving systemsDriving and parking