2019 MERCEDES-BENZ S CLASS Owners Manual

RThe engine isrunning or has been automati‐cally switched offbythe ECOstart/stopfunction.
RThe electric parking brake isreleased.
RActive Distance AssistDISTRONIC is deacti‐vated.
RThe transmission is in position[,^or\\.
Activating the HOLD function
#Depressthe brake pedal and after a shorttimequickly depress further untilthe

Available suspension settings
Drive programCharacteristics
C(Sport)RThe suspension tuning isfirmer.
RThevehicle is settothe low level.
RThevehicle is not lowered any further ifyou are traveling at higher speeds.
RWhen driving at speeds below 50mph (80 km/h)thevehicle israised again.
A(Comfort)
;(Economy)
RThe suspension tuning is comfortable.
RThevehicle is settothe normal level.
RWhen driving at speeds above77mph (125 km/h)thevehicle is lowered.
RWhen driving at speeds below 50mph (80 km/h)thevehicle israised again.
RWhen driving at speeds above100mph (160 km/h)thevehicle continuestobe lowered.
RWhen driving at speeds between75mph (120 km/h) and100mph (160 km/h)thevehicle israised again.
Settingthevehicle level
&WARNINGRisk of accident becausevehicle level istoo high
Ifyou drive at a highervehicle level,the driv‐ingcharacteristics may be impaired duetothe highervehicle center of gravity.
Thevehicle can drift outwards,forexample,whensteering or cornering.
#Alwayschoose avehicle level which issuitedtothe drivingstyle andtheroadsurface conditions.
&WARNINGRisk of entrapment fromvehi‐cle lowering
When loweringthevehicle, people couldbecome trapped iftheir limbs are betweenthevehicle body andthe tires or underneaththevehicle.
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#Make sure no one is underneaththevehicle or inthe immediate vicinity ofthe wheel arches whenyou lowerthevehicle.
&WARNINGRisk of entrapment fromvehi‐cle lowering
Vehicles with AIRMATIC or level control:Whenyou unload luggage or leavethevehi‐cle,thevehiclefirstrises slightly andthenreturnstothe set level shortly afterwards.
You or anyone else inthe vicinity ofthewheel arches orthe underbody couldthusbecome trapped.
Thevehicle can also be lowered after beinglocked.
#When leavingthevehicle, make surethat nobody is inthe vicinity ofthewheel arches orthe underbody.
Requirements:RThevehicle has beenstarted.
RThevehicle must not be movingfasterthan50mph (80 km/h).
Raisingthevehicle
#Press button1.Indicator lamp2lights up.
Thevehicle is settothe high level.
Your selection is saved.
Thevehicle is lowered again inthefollowing sit‐uations:
RWhen drivingfasterthan75mph(120 km/h).
RWhen driving between 50mph (80 km/h)and75mph (120 km/h)for approximatelythree minutes.
RAfter selecting a drive program usingtheDYNAMIC SELECT switch.
Thevehicle is adjustedtothe height ofthe lastactive drive program.
Loweringthevehicle
#Press button1.Indicator lamp2goes out. Thevehicle isadjustedtothe height ofthe last active driveprogram.
MAGICBODYCONTROL
MAGICBODYCONTROL functionMAGICBODYCONTROL is an electrohydraulicsuspension withvariable dampingfor improveddriving comfort. The all-round level control sys‐
Driving and parking217

tem ensuresthe best possible suspension andconstant ground clearance,even witha ladenvehicle. When driving at speed,thevehicle islowered automaticallytoimprove driving safetyandtoreduce fuel consumption. The suspensiontuning is adjusted depending ontheroad sur‐face,vehicle load andthe drive program selec‐ted. TheROAD SURFACE SCAN function detectsareas of unevenness intheroad beforeyou driveoverthembymeans of a multifunction camera.Thisreduceschassis movements. The option ofmanually adjustingthevehicle level is alsoavail‐able.
The damping is tuned individuallyfor each wheeland is affectedbythefollowingfactors:
RThe drivingstyle, e.g. sporty
RTheroad condition, e.g. bumps
RThe individual selection ofthe drive program:C(Sport),A(Comfort),N(CURVE)or;(Economy)
MAGICBODYCONTROL comprises:
RActive Body Control ABC
RROAD SURFACE SCAN
RCurveinclination function CURVE
RAutomatic level control system
RAutomaticvehiclestabilization intheevent ofsidewinds
RSpeed-dependent loweringtoreduce fuelconsumption
RManually selectable high-level settingforgreater ground clearance
RDYNAMIC SELECT switch and level button
218Driving and parking

Available suspension settings
Drive programCharacteristics
C(Sport)RThe suspension tuning isfirmer.
RWhen driving at speeds between 40mph (65 km/h) and87mph (140 km/h)thevehicle is loweredsteadilyandremains atthis level uptothe maximumvehicle speed.
RWhenreturningtospeeds between87mph (140 km/h) and 40mph (65 km/h)thevehicle israised again.
RROAD SURFACE SCAN is deactivated.
A(Comfort)RThe suspension tuning is comfortable.
RThevehicle is settothe normal level.
RROAD SURFACE SCAN is active.
N(CURVE)RThe suspension tuning is comfortable.
RThevehicle is settothe normal level.
RThe curveinclination function is active.
RROAD SURFACE SCAN is active.
;(Economy)RThe suspension tuning is comfortable.
RThevehicle is settothe normal level.
RROAD SURFACE SCAN is deactivated.
Driving and parking219

Crosswind Assist
The crosswindstabilization:
ROperatesbychanging wheel loadsthroughadjustingthe ABC springstruts.
RReduces disruptions when drivingstraightahead.
RSupports countersteering.
RIs active inthe speedrange between 50mph(80 km/h) and130mph (210km/h) whendrivingstraight ahead or corneringgently.
Function ofROAD SURFACE SCAN
%This function is notavailable in all countries.
ROAD SURFACE SCAN:
RMonitorstheroad in front ofthevehicleusing multifunction camera1.
RIs active when one of drive programsA(Comfort) orN(CURVE) is selected.
RDetects unevenness intheroad surface, e.g.bumps, beforethevehicle drivesoverthem.
RReduceschassis movements.
System limitations
ROAD SURFACE SCAN can be impaired inthefollowing situations or canstop functioning:
RIftheroadwayis insufficiently lit, e.g. atnight.
RIn snow,rain,fog, heavy spray, ifthere isglare, in direct sunlight or in greatlyvaryingambient light.
RIfthe windshield inthe area of multifunctioncamera1is dirty,fogged up, damaged orcovered.
RIftheroad surface has no opticstructure orreflects light.
RIfthe distancetothevehicle in front istooshort.
RIf sections oftheroute haveaverysmallradius of curvature.
RDuring dynamic driving maneuver,e.g. ifyouaccelerate or brakethevehicle sharply.
RAtspeeds below 5mph (7 km/h) or above112mph (180 km/h).
RIfthevehicle is at araised level or in driveprogramC(Sport).
220Driving and parking

Observethe notes on cleaningthe multifunctioncamera (→page 409).
Settingthevehicle level
&WARNINGRisk of accident becausevehicle level istoo high
Ifyou drive at a highervehicle level,the driv‐ingcharacteristics may be impaired duetothe highervehicle center of gravity.
Thevehicle can drift outwards,forexample,whensteering or cornering.
#Alwayschoose avehicle level which issuitedtothe drivingstyle andtheroadsurface conditions.
&WARNINGRisk of entrapment fromvehi‐cle lowering
When loweringthevehicle, people couldbecome trapped iftheir limbs are betweenthevehicle body andthe tires or underneaththevehicle.
#Make sure no one is underneaththevehicle or inthe immediate vicinity of
the wheel arches whenyou lowerthevehicle.
&WARNINGRisk of entrapment fromvehi‐cle lowering
Vehicles with AIRBODYCONTROL orlevel control system:Whenyou unload lug‐gageor leavethevehicle,thevehiclefirstrises slightly andthenreturnstothe set levelshortly afterwards.
You or anyone else inthe vicinity ofthewheel arches orthe underbody couldthusbecome trapped.
Thevehicle can also be lowered after beinglocked.
#When leavingthevehicle, make surethat nobody is inthe vicinity ofthewheel arches orthe underbody.
Requirements:RThevehicle has beenstarted.
RThevehicle must not be movingfasterthan75mph (120 km/h).
ROnly lower thevehicle:whenthevehicle isstationary,allthe doors havetobe closed.
Raisingthevehicle
#Press button1.Indicator lamp2lights up.
Thevehicle is settothe high level.
Your selection is saved.
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Thevehicle is lowered again inthefollowing sit‐uations:
RWhen drivingfasterthan75mph(120 km/h).
RWhen driving between 50mph (80 km/h)and75mph (120 km/h)for approximatelythree minutes.
RAfter selecting a drive program usingtheDYNAMIC SELECT switch.
Thevehicle is adjustedtothe height ofthe lastactive drive program.
Loweringthevehicle
#Press button1.Indicator lamp2goes out. Thevehicle isadjustedtothe height ofthe last active driveprogram.
Parking AssistPARKTRONIC
Function ofParking AssistPARKTRONIC
Parking AssistPARKTRONIC is an electronicparking assistance system with ultrasound. Itmonitorsthe area aroundyourvehicle using sixsensors1inthe front bumper and six sensorsintherear bumper.Parking AssistPARKTRONICshowsyouthe distance betweenyourvehicleand a detected obstacle visually and audibly.
Parking AssistPARKTRONIC is onlyan aid. It isnot a substituteforyour attentiontothe sur‐roundings. Theresponsibilityfor safe maneuver‐ing and parkingremains withyou. Make surethatthere are no persons, animals or objects in
the maneuvering area while maneuvering andparking in/exiting parking spaces.
Inthestandard setting, an intermittentwarningtone sounds from a distance of approximately1.0ft(0.3 m)toan obstacle in front and approx‐imately 3.3ft(1.0 m)toan obstacle behind. Acontinuoustone sounds from a distance ofapproximately 0.7ft(0.2 m). UsingtheWarnearlysetting inthe multimedia system,thewarningtonesfor front and side impact protec‐tion can also be settosound at a greater dis‐tance of approximately 3.3ft(1.0 m)(→page 225).
%TheWarnearlysetting is always active intherear ofthevehicle.
IfParking AssistPARKTRONIC is deactivated,ActiveParking Assist is unavailable.
222Driving and parking