2016 MERCEDES-BENZ S CLASS Owners Manual

i Cruise control is not deactivated if you
depr ess the accelerator pedal. If you acceler-
ate to overtake, cruise control adjusts the
veh icle 's speed to the last speed stored after
you have finished overtaking.
Deactivating cruise control
There are several ways to deactivate cruise con-
trol: X
Briefly press cruise the control lever for-
wards C .
or X
Brake.
Cruise control is automatically deactivated if:R
you engage the electr ic parking brakeR
you are driv ing at less than 20 mph (30 km/h)R
ESP ®
intervenes or you deactivate ESP ®
R
you shift the transmission to position N while
driv ing
If cruise control is deactivate d, you will hear a
warning tone. You will see the Cruise Con‐
trol Off message in the multifunction displ ay
for approximate ly five seconds.
i When you swit ch off the engine, the last
speed stored is cleared.
DISTRONIC PLUS
General notes
DI ST RONIC PLUS regulates the speed and auto-
matically helps you maintain the dist ance to the
veh icle detected in front. Veh icle s are detected
wit h the aid of the radar sensor system.
DI ST RONIC PLUS brakes automatically so that
the set speed is not excee ded. Change into a lower gear in good time on long
and steep downhill gradients. This is especially
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 wear-
ing too quickly.
If DI ST RONIC PLUS detects that there is a risk of
a collision, you will be warned visually and
acoustically. DI ST RONIC PLUS cannot prevent a
collision without your intervention. An intermit-
tent warning tone will then sound and the dis-
tance warning lamp will light up in the instru-
ment 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 (20 0 km/ h) .
Do not use DISTRONIC PLUS while driving on
roads with steep gradients.
As DISTRONIC PLUS transmits radar waves, it
can resemble the radar de tectors o f the respon-
s
ible 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 auto-
motive radar system only. Removal, tamper-
ing, or altering of the device will void any war-
ranties, 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.Driving system s 199
Dr ivi ng an d parking Z

Important safety notes
G WARNIN G
DISTRONI C PLU S does no t reac t to :R
people or animals R
stationary obstacles on th e road , e.g. stop-
ped or parked vehicles R
oncomin g and crossing traffic
As a result , DISTRONI C PLU S may neither giv e
warning s no r interven e in suc h situations.
Ther e is a ris k of an accident.
Always pay careful attention to th e traffic sit -
uation and be read y to brake.
G WARNIN G
DISTRONI C PLU S canno t always clearly iden -
tify other road user s and comple x traffic sit -
uations.
In suc h cases, DISTRONI C PLU S may:R
giv e an unnecessary warning and then
brak e th e vehicl eR
neither giv e a warning no r interven eR
accelerate or brak e unexpectedly
Ther e is a ris k of an accident.
Continue to driv e carefully and be read y to
brake, in particular when warned to do so by
DISTRONI C PLUS.
G WARNIN G
DISTRONI C PLU S brakes your vehicl e wit h up
to 50 %o f 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.
! If DISTRONIC PLUS or the HOLD function is
activated, the vehicle brakes automatically in
certain situations.
To prevent damage to the vehicle, deactivate
DISTRONIC PLUS and the HOLD function in
the following or other similar situations: R
when towing the vehicle R
in the car wash If you fail to adapt your driving style, DISTRONIC
PLUS can neither reduce the risk of accident nor
override the laws of physics. DISTRONIC PLUS
cannot take into account the road, traffic and
weather conditions. DISTRONIC PLUS 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.
Do not use DISTRONIC PLUS: 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
DISTRONIC PLUS may not detect narrow vehi-
cles driving in front, e.g. motorcycles, or vehi-
cles driving on a different line.
In particular, the detection of obstacles can be
impaired if: R
there is dirt on the sensors or anything else
covering the sensors R
there is snow or heavy rain R
there is interference by other radar sources R
there are strong radar reflections, for exam-
ple, in parking garages
If DISTR ONIC PLUS no longer detects a vehicle
in front, DISTRONIC PLUS may unexpectedly
accelerate the vehicle to the stored speed.
This speed may: R
be too high if you are driving in a filter lane or
an exit lane R
be so high in the right lane that you pass vehi-
cles driving on the left (left-hand drive coun-
tries) R
be so high in the left lane that you pass vehi-
cles driving on the right (right-hand drive
countries)
If there is a change of drivers, advise the new
driver of the speed stored.200
Driving systems
Driving and parking

Cruise control lever
C
To activate or increase speedD
To activate or reduce speed

Activating at the current speed/last
st ore d speed
G WARNIN G
If you call up th e store d spee d and it differs
from th e curren t speed, th e vehicl e acceler -
ate s or decelerates. If you do no t know th e
store d speed, th e vehicl e could accelerate or
brak e une xp ectedly. Ther e is a ris k of an acci-
dent.
Pay attentio n to th e road and traffic condi-
tions before calling up th e store d speed. If you
do no t know th e store d speed, store th e
desired spee d again .
X
Briefl y pull th e cruise control leve r towards
you C .X
Remove your foo t from th e accelerato r pedal.
DISTRONI C PLU S is activated. The first tim e it
is activated, th e curren t spee d is stored. Ot h-
erwise, it set s th e vehicl e cruise spee d to th e
previously store d value .
Driving with DISTRONIC PLUS
Pulling away and driving X
If you want to pull awa y with DISTRONIC
PLUS : remove your foo t from th e brak e pedal.X
Briefl y pull th e cruise control leve r towards
you C .
or X
Accelerat e briefly.
Your vehicl e pulls away and adapt s its spee d
to that of th e vehicl e in front. If no vehicl e is
detected in front, your vehicl e accelerate s to
th e set speed.
The vehicl e can also pull away when it is facing
an unidentified obstacle or is driving on a differ-
en t lin e from another vehicle. The vehicl e then
brakes automatically. Be read y to brak e at all
times.
If there is no vehicl e in front, DISTRONI C PLU S
operate s in th e same way as cruise control .
If DISTRONI C PLU S detect s that th e vehicl e in
fron t has slowe d down , it brakes your vehicle. In
this way, th e distanc e you have selected is main -
tained.
If DISTRONI C PLU S detect s a faster-moving
vehicl e in front, it increases th e driving speed.
However, th e vehicl e is only accelerate d up to
th e spee d you have stored.
Selecting th e drive programAll veh icles (excep t AMG veh icles):
DISTRONI C PLU S support s a sporty driving style
when you select th e S driv e program
( Y
page 173). Acceleration behind th e vehicl e in
fron t or to th e set spee d is then noticeably mor e
dynamic . If you have select ed th e E d riving pro -
g
ram , th e vehicl e accelerate s mor e gently. This
settin g is recommended in stop-and-star t traf-
fic .
AMG veh icles: DISTRONI C Plus support s a
sporty driving style when you select th e S or M
driv e program ( Y
page 173). Acceleration
behind th e vehicl e in fron t or to th e set spee d is
then noticeably mor e dynamic . When you select
th e C driv e program , th e vehicl e accelerate s
mor e gently. This settin g is recommended in
stop-and-star t traffic.
Changing lanes
If you chang e to th e passing lane , DISTRONI C
PLU S support s you when :R
you are driving faste r than 45 mph (70 km/h)R
you switch on th e appropriat e tur n signalR
DISTRONI C PLU S does no t detect a danger of
collisio n202
Driving systems
Driving and parking

If these conditions are fulfilled, your vehicle is
accelerated. Acceleration will be interrupted if
changing lanes takes too long or if the distance
between your vehicle and the vehicle in front
becomes too small.
i When you change lanes, DISTRONIC PLUS
monitors the left lane on left-hand-drive vehi-
cles or the right lane on right-hand-drive vehi-
cles.
Stopping
G WARNING
When leaving the vehicle, even if it is braked
only by DISTRONIC PLUS, it could roll away if: R
there is a malfunction in the system or in
the voltage supply. R
DISTRONIC PLUS has been deactivated
with the cruise control lever, e.g. by a vehi-
cle occupant or from outside the vehicle. R
the electrical system in the engine com-
partment, the battery or the fuses have
been tampered with. R
the battery is disconnected. R
the accelerator pedal has been depressed,
e.g. by a vehicle occupant.
There is a risk of an accident.
If you wish to exit the vehicle, always turn off
DISTRONIC PLUS and secure the vehicle
against rolling away.
For further information on deactivating
DISTRONIC PLUS ( Y
page 205).
If DISTRONIC PLUS detects that the vehicle in
front is stopping, it brakes your vehicle until it is
stationary.
Once your vehicle is stationary, it remains sta-
tionary and you do not need to depress the
brake.
After a time, the electric parking brake secures
the vehicle and relieves the service brake.
Depending on the specified minimum distance,
your vehicle will come to a standstill at a suffi-
cient distance behind the vehicle in front. The
specified minimum distance is set using the
control on the cruise control lever. When DISTRONIC PLUS is activated, the trans-
mission is shifted automatically to position P if:R
the driver's seat belt is not fastened and the
driver's door is open. R
the engine is switched off, unless it is auto-
matically switched off by the ECO start/stop
function.
The electric parking brake secures the vehicle
automatically if DISTRONIC PLUS is activated
when the vehicle is stationary and: R
a system malfunction occurs. R
the power supply is not sufficient.
If a malfunction in the electric parking brake
occurs, then the transmission may also be shif-
ted into position P automatically.
Setting a speed
X
Press the cruise control lever up C for a
higher speed or down D for a lower speed.X
To adjust the set speed in 1 mph incre-
ments (1 km/h increments): briefly press
the cruise control lever up C or down D to
the pressure point.
Every time the cruise control lever is pressed
up C or down D the last speed stored is
increased or reduced. X
To adjust the set speed in 5 mph incre-
ments (1 0 km/h increments): briefly press
the cruise control lever up C or down D to
the pressure point.
Every time the cruise control lever is pressed
up C or down D , the last speed stored is
increased or reduced.
i If you accelerate to overtake, DISTRONIC
PLUS adjusts the vehicle's speed to the last
speed stored after you have finished overtak-
ing.Driving systems 203
Driving and parking Z

Setting a specified minimum distance You can set the specified minimum distance for
DISTRONIC PLUS by varying the time span
between one and two seconds. With this func-
tion, you can set the minimum distance that
DISTRONIC PLUS keeps to the vehicle in front,
dependent on vehicle speed. You can see this
distance in the multifunction display
( Y
page 204).
i Make sure that you maintain the minimum
distance to the vehicle in front as required by
law. Adjust the distance to the vehicle in front
if necessary.
X
To increase: turn control D in direction

Display when DISTRONIC PLUS is activa -
te d
C
DISTRONIC PLU S active (tex t only appears
when th e cruise control lever is actuated)D
Vehicl e in front, if detecte d

Cornering, going into and coming out of a
bend
The ability of DISTRONIC PLUS to detect vehi-
cles when cornering is limited. Your vehicle may
brake unexpectedly or late.
Vehicles traveling on a different line
DISTRONIC PLUS may not detect vehicles trav-
eling on a different line. The distance to the
vehicle in front will be too short.
Other vehicles changing lanes
DISTRONIC PLUS has not detected the vehicle
cutting in yet. The distance to this vehicle will be
too short. Narrow vehicles
DISTRONIC PLUS has not yet detected the vehi-
cle in front on the edge of the road, because of
its narrow width. The distance to the vehicle in
front will be too short.
Obstructions and stationary vehicles
DISTRONIC PLUS does not brake for obstacles
or stationary vehicles. If, for example, the detec-
ted vehicle turns a corner and reveals an obsta-
cle or stationary vehicle, DISTRONIC PLUS will
not brake for these.
Crossing vehicles
DISTRONIC PLUS may mistakenly detect vehi-
cles that are crossing your lane. Activating206
Driving systems
Driving and parking