2018 MERCEDES-BENZ S-CLASS SEDAN ESP

125mp h(2 00 km/h) when driving stra ight
ahead or cornering slightly.
RThe vehicle is stabilized bymeans of individ‐
ual brake application on one side.
Fu nction of EBD (electronic brake forc e dis‐
tribution)
EBD is characterized bythefo llowing:
RMonitoring and regulating the brake pressure
on there ar wheels.
RImpr oved driving stability when braking,
especially on bends.
Fu nction of STEER CONT ROL
STEER CONTROL helps youby transmitting a
noticeable steering forc eto thesteering wheel in
th e direction requiredforve hicle stabilization.
This steering recommendation is given part icu‐
lar lyin thefo llowing situations:
RBo th right wheels or bo thleft wheels are on
a we t or slippe ryroad sur face when you
brake.
RThe vehicle starts toskid.
Sy stem limitations
ST EER CONTROL may be impaired or may not
function in thefo llowing situations:
RESP®is deactivated.
RESP®is malfunctioning.
RThe steering is malfunctioning.
If ESP
®is malfunctioning, youwill be assis ted
fur ther by the electric po werst eering.
Fu nction of Active Brake Assi st
Active Brake Assi stconsist s of:
RDistance warning function
RAu tonomous braking function
RSituation-dependent braking assist ance
RVehicles with Driving Assistance Pack‐
age: Evasi veSteering Assist
Ac tive Brake Assi stcan help youto minimize the
ri sk of a collision with vehicles or pedestrians or
to reduce the ef fects of such a collision. If
Ac tive Brake Assi sthas de tected a risk of colli‐
sion, you will be warned visually and acousti‐
cally.
If yo udo not react tothe visual or acoustic warn‐
ing, autonomous braking can be initiated in criti‐
cal situations.
In especially critical situations, Active Brake
Assi stcan initiate autonomous braking direct ly.
In this case, the visual and acoustic warning
occurs simultaneously with the braking applica‐
tion.
If yo uappl yth e brake yourself in a critical situa‐
tion or applyth e brake during autonomous brak‐
ing, situation-dependent braking assis tance
occurs . This increases the brake pressure up to
maximum full-s top braking if necessar y.
If th e autonomous braking function or the situa‐
tion-dependent braking assis tance is trig gered,
additional pr eventive measures for occupant
pr otection (PRE-SAFE®) may also be initiated, if
th eve hicle is equipped with these.
19 2
Driving and pa rking

&WARNING Risk of an accident caused by
limited de tection per form ance of Active
Brake Assi st
Ac tive Brake Assi stcannot al ways clear ly
identify objects and complex traf fic situa‐
tions.
In such cases,Active Brake Assi stmight:
RGive a warning or brake without reason
RNo t give a warning or not brake
#Alw ays pay careful attention tothe traf‐
fi c situation; do not rely on Active Brake
Assi stalone. Active Brake Assi stis only
an aid. The driver is responsible for
maintaining a sui table dis tance tothe
ve hicle in front, vehicle speed and for
braking in good time.
#Be prepared tobrake or swer veif nec‐
essar y.
Also obser vethe sy stem limitations of Active
Brake Assi st.
The individual subfunctions are available in
th efo llowing speed ranges:
Distance warning function The dis
tance warning function issues a warning
at speeds:
RFr om appr oximately 4 mph (7 km/h), if your
ve hicle is critically close toave hicle or
pedestrian. An intermittent warning tone
sounds and the· distance warning lamp
lights up in the instrument clus ter.
Brake immediately or take evasive action, pr ovi‐
ded it is safe todo so and the traf fic situation
allo wsthis.
The distance warning function can aid you in thefo llowing situations with an intermit tent wa rning tone and a warning lamp:
Ve hicles tr aveling in
front St
ationary vehicles Crossing vehicles Crossing pedestrians Stationary pedes‐
trians
Ve hicles without Driv‐
ing Assis tance pa ck‐
age up
toappr ox.15 5mp h
(250 km/h) up
toappr ox. 50 mph
(80 km/h) no
reaction uptoappr ox.37 mph
(60 km/h) no
reaction
Ve hicles with Driving
Assis tance pa ckage up
toappr ox.15 5mp h
(250 km/h) up
toappr ox. 62 mph
(100 km/h) up
toappr ox. 43 mph
(70 km/h) up
toappr ox. 43 mph
(70 km/h) up
toappr ox. 43 mph
(70 km/h)
Driving and parking 19
3

Canceling a brake application ofActive Brake
Assi st
Yo u can cancel a brake applic ation of Active
Brake Assi stat any time by:
RDep ressing the accelera tor pedal fully.
RRe leasing the brake pedal.
Ac tive Brake Assi stcancels the inter vention
when at least one of thefo llowing conditions is
fulfilled:
RYo u maneuver to avoidthe obs tacle.
RThere is no longer a risk of collision.
RAn obs tacle is no longer de tected in front of
yo ur vehicle.
Evasive Steering Assist (only vehicles with
Driving Assistance pac kage)
Evasive Steering Assist has thefo llowing charac‐
te rist ics:
RCan de tect stationary or crossing pedes‐
trians.
RCan assist the driver with additional steering
assis tance if it de tects a swerving maneuver.
RCan be acti vatedby an abrupt steering mo ve‐
ment during a swerving maneu ver.
RCan assist during swerving and stra ightening
of theve hicle.
RCan react from a speed of appr oximately
12 mp h(2 0 km/h) up toa speed of appr ox‐
imately 43 mph(7 0 km/h).
RYo u can preve ntthe assis tance at any time
by active steering.
&
WARNING Risk of an accident despite
Evasive Steering Assist
Evasive Steering Assist cannot always clearly
identify objects and complex traf fic situa‐
tions.
In addition, thesteering support of Evasive
St eering Assist is generally not suff icientto
av oid a collision.
In such cases Evasive Steering Assist can:
Rgive an unnecessary warning or pr ovide
assis tance
Rnot give awa rning or not pr ovide assis‐
ta nce
#Alw ays pay careful attention tothe traf‐
fi c situation; do not rely on Ev asive
St eering Assist alone.
#Be ready tobrake and take evasive
action if necessar y.
#Preve ntthe assis tance byactively steer‐
ing in non-critical driving situations.
#Drive at an appropriate speed if pedes‐
trians are close tothe path of your vehi‐
cle.
Also obser vethe sy stem limitations of Evasive
St eering Assist.
Sy stem limitations
The sy stem may be impaired or may not function
in thefo llowing situations:
RIn sno w,rain, fog, heavy spr ay, if there is
gl are, in direct sunlight or in greatlyvarying
ambient light.
RIf th e sensors are dirty, fogged up, damaged
or co vered.
Driving and parking 19
5

Cruise cont rol is operated using the cor respond‐
ing steering wheel buttons. You can store any
ro ad speed abo ve15 mp h (20 km/h).
If yo ufa ilto adapt your drivin gst yle, cruise con‐
trol can neither reduce therisk of an accident
nor override the la wsof ph ysics. It cannot take
into account road, weather or traf fic conditions.
Cruise control is only an aid. You are responsible
fo rth e dis tance totheve hicle in front, forve hi‐
cle speed, for braking in good time and forst ay ‐
ing in lane.
Displa ysinthe multifunction display
The status of cruise control and thestored
speed are shown in the multifunction displa y.
1Cruise control is selecte d
2Speed is sa ved, cruise control is deactivated
3Speed is sa ved, cruise control is activated
% The segments between thestored speed and
th e end of the segment display light up in
th e speedome ter.
Sy stem limitations
Cruise control may be unable tomaintain the
st ored speed on uphill gradients. The stored
speed is resumed when the gradient evens out.
Change into a lo werge ar in good time on long
and steep downhill gradients. Take particular
no te ofthis when driving a laden vehicle. By doing so,
youwill make use of the braking ef fect
of the engine. This relie vesth e load on the brake
sy stem and pr events the brakes from overheat‐
ing and wearing tooqu ickl y.
Do not use cruise control in thefo llowing situa‐
tions:
RIn traf fic situations whi chrequ ire frequent
ch anges of speed, e.g. in heavy traf fic, on
winding roads
ROn slippery roads. Accelerating can cause
th e drive wheels tolose traction and the
ve hicle could then skid
RWhen visibility is poor
Operating cruise control
& WARNING Risk of accident due tostored
speed
If yo u call up thestored speed and this is
lo we rth an your cur rent speed, theve hicle
decelerates.
#Ta ke into account the tra ffic situation
before calling up thestored speed.
Driving and parking 19
7

Requirements:RESP®must be activated, but not inter vening.
RThe driving speed is at least 15mp h
(20 km/h).
#To switch on cruise control: pushrocker
switch 1up.
#Toactivate cruise control: pushrock er
switch 2up (SET+) or down (SET-).
#Remo veyour foot from the accelerator pedal.
The cur rent speed is stored and maintained
by theve hicle.
#To increase/reduce speed: pressrock er
switch 2up/down.
The stored speed is increased or reduced by
1 mp h(1 km/h).
or
#Press rocker switch 2beyond the pressure
point.
The stored speed is increased or reduced by
5 mp h(1 0 km/h).
or
#Ac celerate theve hicle tothe desired speed.
#Push rocker switch 2up.
If cruise control is activated and Traf fic Sign
Assist has detected speed restriction signs, and
th ese maximum permissible speeds are dis‐
pla yed in the instrument clus ter:
#To adopt the de tected speed: pushrocker
switch 3up.
The maximum permissible speed shown by
th e traf fic sign is stored and theve hicle
maintains this speed.
#To deactivate cruise control:
push rocker switch 3(CNCL) down.
When cruise control is deactivated:
RRo cker switch 2(SET+) or (SET-) sa vesth e
cur rently driven speed and theve hicle main‐
ta ins this speed.
RRo cker switch 3(RES) calls up the speed
last stored and theve hicle maintains this
speed.
#To switch off cruise control: pushrock er
switch 1down.
% Ifyo u brake, deactivate ESP
®or if ESP®
inter venes, cruise control is deacti vated.
When youswit choff theve hicle, the last
speed stored is cleared.
Setting the speed limit for winter tires
Multimedia sy stem:
,9HKLFOH.î 9HKLFOH 6HWWLQJV.:LQ
WHU 7LUHV /LPLW
#Select a speed or deactivate the function.
19 8
Driving and pa rking

Active Di stance Assist DI STRONIC
Function of Active Di stance Assist
DI STRO NIC
Active Dis tance Assist DISTRONIC maintains the
set speed on free-flowing roads. If vehicles
ahead are de tected, the set dis tance is main‐
ta ined, if necessary until theve hicle comes toa
halt. The vehicle accelerates or brakes depend‐
ing on the dis tance totheve hicle in front and
th e set speed. Speed (in thera nge between
15 mp h(2 0 km/h) and 130mp h(210 km/h))
and the dis tance totheve hicle ahead are set
and sa ved on thesteering wheel. Other
features of Active Dis tance Assist
DISTRONIC:
RAd justs the driving style depending on the
selected drive program (fuel-saving, comfort‐
able or dynamic) (
→page 172)
RRe sponds in urban speed ranges tostation‐
ary vehicles (e xcept bicycles, mo torcyc les
and pedestrians) if conditions are suf ficient
to enable de tection.
RInitiates rapid acceleration tothestored
speed, if the turn signal indicator is switched
on tochange totheov ertak ing lane.
RTake s one-sided overtaking restrictions into
account on free ways or on multi-lane roads
with separate car riag ewa ys.
Ve hicles with Active Parking Assis t:ifth eve hicle
has been braked toast andstill on multi-lane,
separate car riag ewa ysby Active Dis tance Assist
DISTRONIC, it can au tomatically follow theve hi‐
cle in front driving off again, within 30 seconds.
If a crit

ical situation is de tected when driving off,
a visual and acoustic warning is given indicating
th at the driver must now take control of theve hi‐
cle. The vehicle is not accelerated any fur ther. Ac
tive Dis tance Assist DISTRONIC is only an aid.
The driver is responsible forth e dis tance tothe
ve hicle in front, forve hicle speed and for braking
in good time.
Sy stem limitations
The sy stem may be impaired or may not function
in thefo llowing ins tances, forex ample:
RIn snow ,ra in, fog, heavy spr ay, if there is
gl are, in direct sunlight or in greatly varying
ambient light.
RThe windshield in the area of the camera is
dirty, fogged up, damaged or co vered.
RIfth era dar sensors are dirty or co vered.
ROn slippery roads, braking or accelerating
can cause the drive wheels tolose traction
and theve hicle could then skid.
RIn parking garage s or on roads with steep
uphill or downhill gradients.
Do not use Active Dis tance Assist DISTRONIC in
th ese situations.
Driving and parking 19
9

&WARNING Risk of accident from acceler‐
ation or braking byActive Dis tance
Assist DISTRONIC
Ac tive Dis tance Assist DISTRONIC may accel‐
erate or brake in thefo llowing cases, for
ex ample:
RIfth eve hicle pulls away using Active Dis‐
ta nce Assist DISTRONIC.
RIfth estored speed is called up and is
considerably faster or slo werth an the
cur rently driven speed.
RIfAc tive Dis tance Assist DISTRONIC no
longer de tects a vehicle in front or does
not react toreleva nt objects.
#Alw ays carefully obser vethe traf fic con‐
ditions and be ready tobrake at all
times.
#Ta ke into account the tra ffic situation
before calling up thestored speed.
&
WARNING Risk of accident due toinsuf‐
fi cient decele ration byActive Dis tance
Assist DISTRONIC
Ac tive Dis tance Assist DISTRONIC brakes
yo ur vehicle with up to50 % of the maximum
possible deceleration. If this decele ration is
not suff icient,Active Dis tance Assist
DISTRONIC alerts you with a visual and
acoustic warning.
#In these cases, adjust your speed and
ke ep a suf ficient dist ance.
#Braketheve hicle yourself and/or take
ev asive action.
&
WARNING Risk of accident if de tection
function of Active Dis tance Assist
DISTRONIC is impaire d
Ac tive Dis tance Assist DISTRONIC does not
re act or only pa rtially reacts:
RWhen driving on a dif fere nt line tothe
ve hicle ahead or changing lane.
RTo pedestrians, animals, bicycles or
mo tor bikes, stationary vehicles or unex‐
pected obs tacles.
RTo complex traffic situations.
RTo oncoming vehicles and crossing traf‐
fi c.
Ac tive Dis tance Assist DISTRONIC can nei‐
th er give warnings nor inter vene in such sit‐
uations.
#Alw ays obser vethe tra ffic conditions
carefully and react accordingl y.
OperatingActive Di stance Assist DI STRO NIC
Re quirements:
RThe vehicle has been star ted.
RThe elect ric park ing brake is released.
RESP®is activated and is not inter vening.
RThe transmission is in position h.
RAllthe doors are closed.
RCheck of thera dar sensor sy stem success‐
fully comple ted (vehicle tra veling fasterthan
12 mp h (20 km/h)).
200
Driving and parking

#Toincrease or reduce the speci fied dis‐
tance from theve hicle in front: press
rock er switch 2up or down.
Function of Active Speed Limit Assi st
%
The availability of thefo llowing function is
countr y-dependent.
If a change in the speed limit is de tected and
Ac tive Dis tance Assist DISTRONIC is acti vated,
Ac tive Dis tance Assist DISTRONIC assumes this
new speed as thestored speed.
The driven speed is adjus ted when theve hicle is
le ve l with the traf fic sign at the latest. In the
case of signs indicating entry into an urban area,
th e speed is adap ted beforehand. The speed
limit display in the Instrument Display is alw ays
updated when theve hicle is le vel with the tra ffic
sign.
If th ere is no speed restriction on an unlimi ted
st re tch of road (e.g. on a free way), there com‐
mended speed is adop ted as thestored speed.
The sy stem uses the speed stored on an unlimi‐
te dstre tch of road as there commended speed.
If yo udo not alter thestored speed on an unlimi‐
te dstre tch of road, there commended speed is
80 mph (130 km/h).
If Ac tive Dis tance Assist DISTRONIC has been
put into passive modebypressing the accelera‐
to r pedal, only speed limits which are higher
th an the set speed are adop ted. Ac
tive Speed Limit Assi stcan be configu red in
th e multimedia sy stem (→page 235).
Ac tive Speed Limit Assi stis only an aid. The
driver is responsible forth e dis tance
totheve hi‐
cle in front, forve hicle speed and for bra

king in
good time. The maximum permissible speed also
depends on factors such asthero ad sur face and
traf fic conditions.
Sy stem limitations
Te mp orary speed restrictions (e.g. for a cer tain
time or due towe ather conditions) cannot be
proper lyde tected bythe sy stem. The maximum
permissible speed applying for a vehicle with a
trailer is not de tected bythe sy stem. In these sit‐
uations you must adjust your speed yourself.
&
WARNING Risk of accident due toActive
Speed Limit Assi stadapting theve hicle's
speed
The speed adop tedby Active Speed Limit
Assi stmay be too high or incor rect in some
individual cases, such as:
RInthewe t or in fog
202
Driving and parking