2016 MERCEDES-BENZ S CLASS display

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

i Steering Assist and Stop&Go Pilot are acti-
vated again automatically after a lane change
is completed.
Steering Assist and Stop&Go Pilot do not pro-
vide any support: R
on very sharp corners R
when a loss of tire pressure or a defective tire
has been detected and displayed
Pay attention also to the important safety notes
for DISTRONIC PLUS ( Y
page 200).
The steering interventions are carried out with a
limited steering moment. The system requires
the driver to keep his hands on the steering
wheel and to steer himself.
If you do not steer yourself or if you take your
hands off the steering wheel for a prolonged
period of time, the system will first alert you with
a visual warning. A steering wheel symbol
appears in the multifunction display. If you have
still not started to steer and have not taken hold
of the steering wheel after five seconds at the
latest, a warning tone also sounds to remind you
to take control of the vehicle. Steering Assist
and Stop&Go Pilot are switched to passive.
DISTRONIC PLUS remains active.
Activating Steering Assist and Stop&Go
Pilot
X
Press button D .
Indicator lamp C lights up. The DTR+:
Steering Assist. On message appears in
the multifunction display. Steering Assist and
Stop&Go Pilot are activated. Information in the multifunction display
If Steering Assist and Stop&Go Pilot are activa-
ted but not ready for a steering intervention,
steering wheel symbol C appears in gray. If the
system provides you with support by means of
steering interventions, symbol C is shown in
green.
Deactivating Steering Assist and Stop&Go
Pilot X
Press button D .
Indicator lamp C goes out. The DTR+:
Steering Assist. Off message appears in
the multifunction display. Steering Assist and
Stop&Go Pilot are deactivated.
When DISTRONIC PLUS is deactivated or not
available, Steering Assist and Stop&Go Pilot are
deactivated automatically.
HOLD function
General notes The HOLD function can assist the driver in the
following situations: R
when pulling away, especially on steep slopes R
when maneuvering on steep slopes R
when waiting in traffic
The vehicle is kept stationary without the driver
having to depress the brake pedal.
The braking effect is canceled and the HOLD
function deactivated when you depress the
accelerator pedal to pull away.208
Driving systems
Driving and parking

Important safety notes
G WARNIN G
When leaving th e vehicle, it can still rol l away
despit e bein g braked by th e HOLD function if:R
there is a malfunction in th e system or in
th e voltag e supply.R
th e HOLD function has been deactivated by
pressin g th e accelerato r pedal or th e brak e
pedal , e.g. by a vehicl e occupant .R
th e electrical system in th e engin e com-
partment, th e battery or th e fuses have
been tampered with. R
th e battery is disconnected
Ther e is a ris k of an accident.
If you wish to exit th e vehicle, always tur n off
th e HOLD function and secure th e vehicl e
against rollin g away.
Further information on deactivating th e HOLD
function ( Y
page 209).
! If DISTRONI C PLU S or th e HOLD function is
activated, th e vehicl e brakes automatically in
certain situations.
To preven t damag e to th e vehicle, deactivat e
DISTRONI C PLU S and th e HOLD function in
th e followin g or other similar situations:R
when towin g th e vehicl eR
in th e car wash
Activation conditions You can activat e th e HOLD function if all of th e
followin g condition s are fulfilled :R
th e vehicl e is stationary.R
th e engin e is runnin g or if it has been auto -
matically switched off by th e ECO start/sto p
function .R
th e driver' s door is closed or your seat belt is
fastened. R
th e electric parking brak e is released.R
th e transmission is in position D , R or N .R
DISTRONI C PLU S is deactivated. Activating the HOLD function X
Mak e sur e that th e activation condition s are
met . X
Depress th e brak e pedal .X
Quickly depress th e brak e pedal further
until C appear s in th e multifunction display.
The HOLD function is activated. You can
release th e brak e pedal .
i If depressing th e brak e pedal th e first time
does no t activat e th e HOLD function , wait
briefly and then tr y again .
Deactivating the HOLD function The HOLD function is deactivated automatically
if: R
you accelerate and th e transmission is in
position D or R . R
you shif t th e transmission to position P .R
you depress th e brak e pedal again wit h a cer-
tai n amoun t of pressur e until

The ABC suspension system is tuned individu-
ally to each wheel and depends on: R
your driving style, e.g. sporty R
the road surface condition, e.g. bumps R
your individual selection, i.e. sports or com-
fort R
the vehicle load R
the force of the side wind
Your selection remains stored even if you
remove the SmartKey from the ignition lock.
The firmer setting of the suspension tuning in
SPORT mode ensures even better contact with
the road. The steering response behavior is
sporty. Select this mode when employing a
sporty driving style on flat roads, e.g. on high-
ways.
Selecting the sports suspension setting X
When indicator lamp D is off: press but-
ton C repeatedly until only indicator lamp D
is on.
Sports suspension tuning is selected.
All vehicles except AMG vehicles: the
Active Body Control SPORT message
appears in the multifunction display.
AMG vehicles: the AMG Suspension Sys‐
tem SPORT message appears in the multi-
function display.
In COMFORT mode, the driving characteristics
of your vehicle are especially comfortable. The
steering response behavior is balanced. Select
this mode if you favor a comfortable driving
style.
Selecting the comfortable suspension setting X
When indicator lamp D is off: press but-
ton C repeatedly until only indicator lamp D
is on.
Comfortable suspension tuning is selected. All vehicles except AMG vehicles: the
Active Body Control COMFORT message
appears in the multifunction display.
AMG vehicles: the AMG Suspension Sys‐
tem COMFORT message appears in the multi-
function display.
ROAD SURFACE SCAN
i This function is not available in all countries.
The ROAD SURFACE SCAN function monitors
the road in front of the vehicle using multifunc-
tion camera C at the top of the windshield. 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 surface
to be detected before the vehicle drives over
them. The spring struts are then actuated, with
the result that chassis movements are signifi-
cantly 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 function
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 covered,
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 shortDriving systems 211
Driving and parking Z

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 suspen-
sion 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 consumption. 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 "Normal"
setting for normal road surfaces and "Raised"
for driving with snow chains or on particularly poor road surfaces. Your selection remains
stored even if you remove the SmartKey from
the ignition lock. X
Start the engine.
If indicator lamp D is not lit:X
Press button C .
Indicator lamp D lights up. The vehicle is
raised by 1.0 in (25 mm) compared to the
normal level.
The Vehicle
Rising message appears in the
multifunction display.
i The message disappears after ten seconds,
irrespective of the level reached. If necessary,
the vehicle is raised further.
The "Raised level" setting is canceled if you: R
drive at a speed above approximately 75 mph
(120 km/h) R
drive for approximately three minutes at a
speed above 50 mph (80 km/h)
Setting the normal vehicle level X
Start the engine.
If indicator lamp D is lit:X
Press button C .
Indicator lamp D goes out. The vehicle is
adjusted to normal level.
Suspension tuning
General notes The Adaptive Damping System ADS PLUS auto-
matically controls the calibration of the damp-
ers.
The damping is tuned individually to each wheel
and depends on: R
your driving style, e.g. sporty R
the road surface condition, e.g. bumps R
your individual selection, i.e. sports or com-
fort
Your selection remains stored even if you
remove the SmartKey from the ignition lock.
i You can choose between the sporty and
comfortable mode. One of the two modes is
always active.212
Driving systems
Driving and parking

Sports tuning The firmer setting of the suspension tuning in
SPORT mode ensures the best possible contact
with the road. Select this mode when employing
a sporty driving style, e.g. on winding country
roads.
All vehicles except Mercedes-AMG vehicles: X
If indicator lamp D is not lit: press but-
ton C .
Indicator lamp D lights up. Sports suspen-
sion tuning is selected. The vehicle is lowered
by 0.4 in (10 mm) compared to the normal
level.
The AIRMATIC
SPORT message appears in the
multifunction display.
Mercedes-AMG vehicles: X
If indicator lamp D is not lit: press but-
ton C .
Indicator lamp D lights up. If the driving
speed is higher than 75 mph (120 km/h), the
vehicle is automatically lowered by another
0.4 in (10 mm) compared to the normal level
in sport mode.
The AMG Suspension System SPORT mes-
sage appears in the multifunction display.
Comfort tuning
In comfort mode, the driving characteristics of
your vehicle are more comfortable. Therefore,
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 D is not lit: press but-
ton C .
Indicator lamp D lights up. Comfort tuning is
selected. All vehicles except Mercedes-AMG vehi-
cles: the AIRMATIC COMFORT
message
appears in the multifunction display.
Mercedes-AMG vehicles: the AMG Suspen‐
sion System COMFORT message appears in
the multifunction display.
If the driving speed is higher than 75 mph
(120 km/h), the vehicle is automatically low-
ered in comfort mode by 0.4 in (10 mm) com-
pared to the normal level.
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 perma-
nently driven. Together with ESP ®
, it improves
the traction of your vehicle whenever 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 conditions.
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 vehi-
cle 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.Driving systems 213
Driving and parking Z

Rear sensors Center Approx. 48 in (approx.
120 cm)
Corners Approx. 32 in (approx.
80 cm)
Minimum distance Center Approx. 8 in (approx. 20 cm)
Corners Approx. 6 in (approx. 15 cm)
If there is an obstacle within this range, the rel-
evant warning displays light up and a warning
tone sounds. If the distance falls below the min-
imum, the distance may no longer be shown.
Warning displays
C
Segments on the left-hand side of the vehi-
cleD
Segments on the right-hand side of the vehi-
cle