2015 MERCEDES-BENZ S-Class snow chains

Drive program
Automatic ...................................... 202
Manual .......................................... .202
Manual (AMG vehicles) .................. 203
SETUP (on-board computer) .......... 314
Driver's door
see Doors
Driver's/front-passenger seat
Stowage compartment .................. 374
Driving abroad
Mercedes-Benz Service ................. 411
Symmetrical low bea m.................. 150
Driving Assistance package ............. 270
Driving safety systems
ABS (Anti-lock Braking System) ....... 76
ADAPTIVE BRAK E............................. 84
Adaptive Brake Assist ...................... 81
BAS (Brake Assist System) .............. 77
BAS PLUS with Cross-Traffic
Assist ............................................... 77
COLLISION PREVENTION ASSIST
PLUS ................................................ 79
Distance warning function ............... 80
EBD (electronic brake force distri- bution) ............................................. 83
ESP ®
(Electronic Stability Pro-
gram) ............................................... 81
ETS/4ETS (Electronic Traction
System) ........................................... 82
Important safety information ........... 76
Overview .......................................... 76
PRE-SAFE ®
Brake ............................. 84
Recuperative Brake System ............. 48
STEER CONTROL ............................. 86
Driving systems
360°camera .................................. 260
Active Blind Spot Assist ................. 270
Active Body Control ABC ............... 244
Active Lane Keeping Assist ............ 273
Active Parking Assist ..................... 251
AIRMATIC ...................................... 246
ATTENTION ASSIST ........................ 264
Cruise control ................................ 229
Display message ............................ 341
DISTRONIC PLUS ........................... 231
DISTRONIC PLUS with Steering
Assist and Stop&Go Pilot ............... 240 Driving Assistance packag
e........... 270
HOLD function ............................... 242
Night View Assist Plus ................... 266
PARKTRONIC ................................. 248
Rear view camera .......................... 256
Driving tips
AMG ceramic brakes ..................... 227
Automatic transmission ................. 200
Brakes ........................................... 226
Break-in period .............................. 188
DISTRONIC PLUS ........................... 238
Downhill gradient ........................... 226
Drinking and driving ....................... 224
Driving abroad ............................... 150
Driving in winter ............................. 228
Driving on flooded roads ................ 228
Driving on wet roads ...................... 228
Exhaust check ............................... 224
Fuel ................................................ 224
General .......................................... 224
Hydroplaning ................................. 228
Icy road surfaces ........................... 228
Limited braking efficiency on sal-
ted roads ....................................... 226
Snow chains .................................. 445
Symmetrical low beam .................. 150
The first 1000 miles (1500 km) ..... 188
Wet road surface ........................... 226
DVD video
Operating (on-board computer) ..... 305 E
EASY-ENTRY feature Function/note s............................. 139
EASY-EXIT feature
Crash-responsive ........................... 140
Function/note s............................. 139
EBD (electronic brake force distri-
bution)
Display message ............................ 320
Function/note s................................ 83
ECO display
Function/note s............................. 225
On-board computer ....................... 300
ECO start/stop function
Automatic engine start .................. 194
Automatic engine switch-off .......... 193 Index
9

Problem (malfunction) ..................... 95
Starting the engine ........................ 192
Snow chains ...................................... 445
Sockets
Center console .............................. 384
General notes ................................ 384
Rear compartment .........................3 85
Trunk ............................................. 385
Special seat belt retractor .................. 69
Specialist workshop ............................ 29
Speed, controlling
see Cruise control
Speedometer
Activating/deactivating the addi-
tional speedometer ........................ 313
Digital ............................................ 301
In the Instrument cluster ................. 35
Selecting the unit of measure-
ment .............................................. 312
see Instrument cluster
Standing lamps
Display message ............................ 335
Switching on/off ........................... 151
Start/Stop button
Removing ....................................... 191
Starting the engine ........................ 192
Start/stop function
see ECO start/stop function
Starting (engine) ................................ 191
STEER CONTROL .................................. 86
Steering
Warning lamps ............................... 369
Steering (display message) .............. 353
Steering Assist and Stop&Go Pilot
(DISTRONIC PLUS)
Display message ............................ 347
Steering assistant STEER CON-
TROL
see STEER CONTROL
Steering wheel
Adjusting (electrically) ................... 137
Button overview ............................... 37
Buttons (on-board computer) ......... 295
Cleaning ......................................... 418
EASY ENTRY/EXIT feature ............. 139
Important safety notes .................. 137
Paddle shifters ............................... 201 Steering wheel heating .................. 138
Storing settings (memory func-
tion) ............................................... 144
Steering wheel heating
Problem (malfunction) ................... 139
Switching on/off ........................... 138
Steering wheel paddle shifters ........201
Stowage areas ................................... 372
Stowage compartments
Armrest (under) ............................ .374
Center console .............................. 373
Center console in rear compart-
ment .............................................. 375
Cup holders ................................... 378
Door ............................................... 374
Eyeglasses compartment .............. .373
Glove box ....................................... 373
Important safety information ......... 372
Rear ............................................... 374
Rear seat backrest ......................... 375
Stowage net ................................... 376
Under driver's seat/front-
passenger sea t.............................. 374
Stowage net ....................................... 376
Stowage space
Folding table .................................. 376
Parcel net retainers ....................... 376
Securing a load .............................. 376
Stowage well beneath the trunk
floor .................................................... 377
Summer tires
In winter ........................................ 444
Sun visor ............................................ 380
Suspension tuning
Active Body Control ABC ............... 244
AIRMATIC ...................................... 247
SETUP (on-board computer) .......... 314
Switching air-recirculation mode
on/off ................................................. 177 T
Tachometer ........................................ 294
Tail lamps
Display message ............................ 334
see Lights
Tank content
Fuel gauge ....................................... 35 Index
19

Snow chains .................................. 445
Winter operation
Summer tires ................................. 444
Winter tires
M+S tire s....................................... 444
Wiper blades
Cleaning ......................................... 415
Important safety notes .................. 158
Replacing ....................................... 158
Wooden trim (cleaning instruc-
tions) .................................................. 418
Workshop
see Qualified specialist workshop Index
23

When the override feature is activated, the
controls in the rear compartment are disabled
for:
R the rear side windows
R adjustment of the front-passenger seat
from the rear compartment
R the sunblinds:
- of the rear side windows
- of the rear window
- in the roof Pets in the vehicle
G
WARNING
If you leave animals unattended or unsecured in the vehicle, they could press buttons or
switches, for example.
As a result, they could:
R activate vehicle equipment and become
trapped, for example
R activate or deactivate systems, thereby
endangering other road users
Unsecured animals could also be flung around
the vehicle in the event of an accident or sud- den steering or braking, thereby injuring vehi-
cle occupants. There is a risk of an accident
and injury.
Never leave animals unattended in the vehi-
cle. Always secure animals properly during
the journey, e.g. use a suitable animal trans-
port box. Driving safety systems
Overview of driving safety systems
In this section, you will find information about the following driving safety systems:
R ABS (Anti-lock BrakingSystem)
(Y page 76)
R BAS ( Brake Assist System) (Y page 77)
R BAS PLUS (Brake AssistSystem PLUS) with
Cross-Traffic Assist (Y page 77)R
COLLISION PREVENTION ASSIST PLUS
(distance warning function and Adaptive
Brake Assist) (Y page 79)
R ESP ®
(Electronic StabilityProgram)
(Y page 81)
R EBD ( Electronic Brake force Distribution)
(Y page 83)
R ADAPTIVE BRAKE (Y page 84)
R PRE-SAFE ®
Brake (Y page 84)
R STEER CONTROL (Y page 86) Important safety notes
If you fail to adapt your driving style or if you
are inattentive, the driving safety systems can
neither reduce the risk of an accident nor
override the laws of physics. Driving safety
systems are merely aids designed to assist
driving. You are responsible for maintaining
the distance to the vehicle in front, for vehicle
speed, for braking in good time and for stay-
ing in lane. Always adapt your driving style to
suit the prevailing road and weather condi-
tions and maintain a safe distance from the
vehicle in front. Drive carefully.
The driving safety systems described only
work as effectively as possible when there is
adequate contact between the tires and the
road surface. Please pay special attention to
the notes on tires, recommended minimum
tire tread depths, etc. (Y page 442).
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)
General information ABS regulates brake pressure in such a way
that the wheels do not lock when you brake.
This allows you to continue steering the vehi-
cle when braking. 76
Driving safety systemsSafety

Only deactivate ESP
®
in the situations descri-
bed in the following.
It may be best to deactivate ESP ®
in the fol-
lowing situations:
R when using snow chains
R in deep snow
R on sand or gravel
i Activate ESP ®
as soon as the situations
described above no longer apply. ESP ®
will
otherwise not be able to stabilize the vehi-
cle if the vehicle starts to skid or a wheel
starts to spin.
! Avoid spinning the driven wheels for an
extended period with ESP ®
deactivated.
You could otherwise damage the drivetrain.
Deactivating/activating ESP ®
You can deactivate or activate ESP ®
via the
on-board computer.
X To deactivate: (Ypage 82).
The å ESP®
OFF warning lamp in the
instrument cluster lights up.
X To activate: (Ypage 82).
The å ESP®
OFF warning lamp in the
instrument cluster goes out.
Characteristics when ESP ®
is deactivated
If ESP ®
is deactivated and one or more wheels
start to spin, the ÷ESP®
warning lamp in
the instrument cluster flashes. In such situa-
tions, ESP ®
will not stabilize the vehicle.
If you deactivate ESP ®
:
R ESP ®
no longer improves driving stability.
R engine torque is no longer limited and the
drive wheels are able to spin.
The spinning of the wheels results in a cut- ting action for better traction on loose sur-faces.
R traction control is still activated.
R ESP ®
still provides support when you
brake. Crosswind Assist (vehicles without
MAGIC BODY CONTROL) General information
Vehicles with MAGIC BODY CONTROL: infor-
mation on stabilizing the vehicle in the event
of crosswind (Y
page 243).
Strong crosswinds can cause your vehicle to
deviate from a straight course. The crosswind
driving assistance function integrated into
ESP ®
significantly reduces these effects.
ESP ®
intervenes automatically according to
the direction and intensity of the crosswinds
affecting your vehicle.
ESP intervenes with stabilizing braking to
assist you in keeping the vehicle in the lane.
Crosswind Assist is active at vehicle speeds
above 50 mph (80 km/h) when driving
straight ahead or cornering gently.
Important safety notes
Crosswind Assist does not work if ESP ®
is
deactivated or disabled because of a mal-
function. EBD (electronic brake force distribu-
tion)
General information EBD monitors and controls the brake pres-
sure on the rear wheels to improve driving
stability while braking.
Important safety notes i
Observe the "Important safety notes" sec-
tion (Y page 76). G
WARNING
If EBD is malfunctioning, the rear wheels can
lock, e.g. under full braking. This increases the risk of skidding and an accident.
You should therefore adapt your driving style
to the different handling characteristics. Have the brake system checked at a qualified spe-
cialist workshop. Driving safety systems
83Safety Z

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

Make sure no one is underneath the vehicle or
in the immediate vicinity of the wheel arches
when the vehicle is being lowered.
! The vehicle is lowered when the engine is
switched off. When parking, position your
vehicle so that it does not make contact
with the curb as the vehicle is lowered. Your vehicle could otherwise be damaged.
Crosswind Assist The crosswind stabilization operates by
changing wheel loads through adjusting the
ABC spring struts. It reduces impairments in
handling when driving in a straight line and
assists during countersteering.
Crosswind Assist is active at vehicle speeds
above 50 mph (80 km/h) when driving
straight ahead or cornering gently.
Active Body Control ABC Vehicle level
All vehicles except AMG vehicles:
depend-
ing on the vehicle level that has been set, the
vehicle automatically adjusts its height
dependent on the current speed. The vehicle is lowered by up to 0.6 in (15 mm) as the
speed increases. As the speed is reduced, the
vehicle is raised up to the set vehicle height.
AMG vehicles: depending on the vehicle
level that has been selected, the vehicle auto- matically adjusts its height dependent on the
current speed. The vehicle is lowered by up to 0.4 in (10 mm) below the normal level as the
speed increases. As the speed is reduced, the vehicle is raised up to the set vehicle height.
Select the "Normal" setting for normal road
conditions and "Raised" for driving with snow chains or in particularly poor road conditions.
Your selection remains stored even if you
remove the SmartKey from the ignition lock. Setting the raised vehicle level
X Start the engine.
X If indicator lamp ; ;is not lit: press but-
ton :.
Indicator lamp ;lights up. The vehicle
height is adjusted to raised level. Setting the normal vehicle level
X Start the engine.
X If indicator lamp ;
;is lit: press but-
ton :.
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 system
detects the vehicle level and the vehicle load and adjusts the setting accordingly. You can
also choose between a particularly sporty or a
comfortable tuning. 244
Driving systemsDriving and parking

The ROAD SURFACE SCAN function monitors
the road in front of the vehicle using multi-
function camera :at the top of the wind-
shield. This function is automatically active if you select comfort suspension tuning. The
system is operational at speeds of up to
81 mph (130 km/h).
This function allows bumps in the road sur-
face to be detected before the vehicle drives
over them. The spring struts are then actu-
ated, with the result that chassis movements
are significantly reduced when driving over
bumps.
The system is deactivated when you select
the raised vehicle level or sports mode.
The system may be impaired or may not func-
tion if:
R the road surface is insufficiently lit
R there is poor visibility, e.g. snow, rain, fog or
spray
R there is glare, e.g. from the sun or from
oncoming traffic
R the windshield is dirty, fogged up or cov-
ered, for instance by a sticker, in the vicinity
of the camera
R the road surface has no texture or is reflec-
tive, e.g. in the case of newly laid asphalt,
concrete slabs or puddles
R the distance to the vehicle in front is too
short
R sections of the route have a very small
radius of curvature
R you accelerate hard or brake sharply AIRMATIC
General notes AIRMATIC is an air suspension with variable
damping for improved driving comfort. All-
round level control ensures the best possible suspension and constant ground clearance,
even with a laden vehicle. When you drive
fast, the vehicle is lowered automatically to
improve driving safety and to reduce fuel con- sumption. There is also the option to manually
adjust the vehicle level. AIRMATIC consists of
level setting, level control and the Adaptive
Damping System ADS PLUS.
Important safety notes G
WARNING
When the vehicle is being lowered, people
could become trapped if their limbs are
between the vehicle body and the wheels or
underneath the vehicle. There is a risk of
injury.
Make sure no one is underneath the vehicle or in the immediate vicinity of the wheel arches
when the vehicle is being lowered.
Vehicle level Setting the raised vehicle level
It is possible to choose between the "Normal"
and "Raised" vehicle levels. Select the "Nor-
mal" setting for normal road surfaces and
"Raised" for driving with snow chains or on
particularly poor road surfaces. Your selec-
tion remains stored even if you remove the
SmartKey from the ignition lock.
X Start the engine.
If indicator lamp ;is not lit:
X Press button :.
Indicator lamp ;lights up. The vehicle is
raised by 1.0 in (25 mm) compared to the
normal level. 246
Driving systemsDriving and parking