2019 MERCEDES-BENZ S CLASS steering

Active Distance Assist DISTRONIC
Function ofActive Distance AssistDISTRONIC
Active Distance AssistDISTRONIC maintainstheset speed on free-flowingroads. Ifvehicles infront are detected,the set distance is main‐tained, if necessary,untilthevehicle comesto ahalt. Thevehicle accelerates or brakes depend‐ing onthe distancetothevehicle in front andthe set speed. The speed (intherange between15mph (20 km/h) and130mph (210km/h))andthe distancetothevehicle in front are setand saved onthesteering wheel.
Otherfeatures ofActive Distance AssistDISTRONIC:
RAdjuststhe drivingstyle depending ontheselected drive program (fuel-saving, comfort‐able or dynamic) (→page175)
RReactstostationaryvehicles detected inurban speedranges (except bicycles andmotorcycles)
RInitiates accelerationtothestored speed ifthe turn signal indicator is switched ontochangetotheovertaking lane.
RTakes one-sidedovertakingrestrictions intoaccount on highways or on multi-laneroadswith separateroadways (country-dependent).
Vehicles withActiveParking Assist:ifthevehicle has been brakedtoastandstill on multi-lane, separateroadwaysbyActive DistanceAssistDISTRONIC, it can automaticallyfollowthevehicle in front driving off again within30 seconds. If a critical situation is detectedwhen driving off, a visual and acousticwarning isgiven indicatingthatthe driver must nowtakecontrol ofthevehicle. Thevehicle is not acceler‐ated any further.
Active Distance AssistDISTRONIC is only an aid.The driver isresponsibleforkeeping a safe dis‐tancetothevehicle in front,forvehicle speedandfor braking in good time.
System limitations
The system may be impaired or may not functioninthefollowing instances:
RIn snow,rain,fog, heavy spray, ifthere isglare, in direct sunlight or in greatlyvaryingambient light.
RThe windshield inthe area ofthe camera isdirty,fogged up, damaged or covered.
RIftheradar sensors are dirty or covered.
RIn parkinggarages or onroads withsteepuphill or downhill gradients.
RIfthere are narrowvehicles in front, such asbicycles or motorcycles.
In addition, on slipperyroads, braking or accel‐erating can cause one or several wheelstolosetraction andthevehicle couldthen skid.
Do not useActive Distance AssistDISTRONIC inthese situations.
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RIfthe driver depressesthe accelerator orbrake pedal duringthe process.
System limitationsRoute-based speed adaptation does nottakeright ofwayregulations into account. The driverisresponsiblefor complying withroad trafficregulations and driving at a suitable speed.
In difficult conditions (e.g. unclearroads, narrowlanes,wetroad surfaces, snow or ice) or whendriving witha trailer,the speed adjustment madebythe system may not always be suitable. Inthese situationsthe driver must interveneaccordingly.
&WARNINGRisk of accident in spiteofroute-based speed adjustment
Route-based speed adjustment might mal‐function or betemporarily unavailable inthefollowing situations:
RIf map data is not uptodate oravailable
RIfyou do notfollowthe selectedrouteguidance
RIfthe setroute isre-planned
RInroad construction areas
RWhentowing a trailer
RIn badweather orroad conditions
RIfthe accelerator pedal is depressed
#Adjustthe speedtothe traffic situation.
Settingroute-based speed adjustment
Requirements:RActive Distance AssistDISTRONIC is activa‐ted.
Multimedia system:
,Vehicle.kAssistance.Speed
Adjustment
#Activatesor deactivateSthe function.
ActiveSteering Assist
Function ofActiveSteering AssistActiveSteering Assist is country-dependent andonlyavailableforvehicles withthe Driving Assis‐tancePackage.
ActiveSteering Assist is operational at speedsupto130mph (210km/h) and helpsyoutostayinthe center ofthe lanebymeans of moderatesteering interventions. It usesthevehicle in frontandthe lane markings as areference dependingonthe driven speed.
Whenthe system is activelysteering,theèsymbol is shown in green inthe multifunctiondisplay.
Steering andtouch detectionThe driver isrequiredtokeeptheir hands onthesteering wheel at all times andtobe abletointervene at any time. The driver mustexpect achange from activetopassive mode or viceversa at any time.
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Ifthe systemreaches a system limitation orthedriver has notsteeredthevehiclefor a consider‐able period of time or hasremovedtheir handsfromthesteering wheel,the system will,depending onthe situation,first alertthe driverwith a visualwarning. Display1appears inthemultifunction display.Ifthe driverstill does notsteerthevehicle, or hasstill nottaken hold ofthesteering wheel, arepeatedwarningtonesounds in additiontothe visualwarning mes‐sagetoremindthe drivertotakecontrol ofthevehicle.
Thewarning message does not appear or disap‐pears if one ofthefollowing conditions are met:
RThe driversteersthevehicle.
RThe driver presses asteering wheel button oroperatesTouch Control.
ActiveSteering Assist is only an aid. The driver isresponsibleforthe distancetothevehicle infront,forvehicle speed,for braking in good timeandforstaying in lane. Beforechanging lanes,the driver must make surethatthe neighboringlane is free (glanceoverthe shoulder).
System limitationsActiveSteering Assist has a limitedsteeringtor‐quefor lateral guidance. In some cases,thesteering intervention is not sufficienttokeepthevehicle inthe lane.
Ifthe detection of lane markings andvehiclesahead is impaired,ActiveSteering Assistswitchestopassive mode. The system providesno support inthis case. Duringthe transitionfromthe activetopassivestatus,theèsym‐bol is shown as enlarged andflashesyellow.Oncethe system is passivetheèsymbol isgrayed out inthe multifunction display.
The system may be impaired or may not functioninthefollowing instances:
RIn snow,rain,fog, heavy spray, ifthere isglare, direct sunlight,greatlyvarying ambientlight,reflections orstrong shadowsontheroadway.
RInsufficientroad illumination.
RThe windshield inthe area ofthe camera isdirty,fogged up, damaged or covered.
RAbsence of lane markings, or several unclearlane markings, or ifthe markingschangerap‐idly.
RThe distancetothevehicle in front istoosmall andthe lane markingsthus cannot bedetected.
RTheroad is narrow and winding.
RObstacles onthe lane or projecting out intothe lane.
The system does not provide assistance inthefollowing conditions:
ROn tight bends, traffic circles and when turn‐ing.
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RWhen activelychanging lane without switch‐ing onthe turn signal.
&WARNINGRisk of accident ifActiveSteering Assist unexpectedlystops func‐tioning
Ifthe system limitations ofActiveSteeringAssist arereachedthere is no guaranteethatthe system willremain active or willkeepthevehicle in lane.
#Alwayskeepyour hands onthesteeringwheel and observethe traffic carefully.
#Alwayssteerthevehicle paying atten‐tiontotraffic conditions.
&WARNINGRisk of accident ifActiveSteering Assist unexpectedly intervenes
A malfunction inthe detection of lane mark‐ings and objects can occur.
This could cause unexpectedsteering inter‐vention.
#Steer accordingtotraffic conditions.
ActivatingActiveSteering Assist
RequirementsRESP®must be activated, but not intervening.
RActive Distance AssistDISTRONIC is activa‐ted.
#If indicator lamp1is off: press button2.
Function ofActive Lane Change Assist
%Theavailability ofthefollowing function iscountry-dependent.
Active Lane Change Assistsupportsthe driverwhenchanging lanesbyapplyingsteeringtorqueifthe driver operates a turn signal.
Assistance whenchanging lanes is provided if allthefollowing conditions are met:
RYou are driving on a freeway orroad withmultiple lanes inthe direction of travel.
RThe neighboring lane is separatedbya bro‐ken lane marking.
RNovehicle is detected inthe adjacent lane.
RThe driven speed is between 50mph(80 km/h) and110mph (180 km/h).
RActive Lane Change Assistis switched on inthe multimedia system.
RActiveSteering Assist is switched on andactive.
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If novehicle is detected inthe adjacent lane anda lanechange is permitted,thesteering wheelsymbol andthe arroware shown in green2.TheLane Change to the Leftmessage appears,forexample. IfActive Lane Change Assisthasbeen activated withthe turn signal indicator buta lanechange is not immediately possible,thesteering wheel symbolremains green andthearrowappearsgray1. Whenthe lanechangesupportstarts,the turn signal indicator is auto‐matically activated.
If a lanechange is not possible,the arrow fadesout after afew seconds and a new lanechangemust be initiated. An immediate lanechange is
only possible on freeway sections without speedlimits.
Ifthe system is impaired,Active Lane ChangeAssistmay be canceled. If it is canceled,theLane Change Canceledmessage appears inthemultifunction display and awarningtone sounds.
&WARNINGRisk of accident fromchang‐ing lanetoan occupied adjacent lane
Lane ChangeAssistcannot alwaysdetectclearlyifthe adjacent lane is free.
The lanechange might be initiated althoughthe adjacent lane is not free.
#Beforechanging lanes, make surethatthe neighboring lane is free andthere isno dangerto otherroad users.
#Monitorthe lanechange.
&WARNINGRisk of accident if LaneChange Assistunexpectedlystops func‐tioning
Ifthe system limitationsfor Lane ChangeAssist havebeenreached,there is no guar‐anteethatthe system willremain active.
Lane Change Assist cannotthen assistyoubyapplyingsteeringtorques.
#Always monitorthe lanechange andkeepyour hands onthesteering wheel.Observethe traffic conditions andsteerand/or brake if necessary.
System limitationsThe system limitations ofActiveSteering AssistapplytoActive Lane Change Assist(→page 208).
The system may also be impaired or may notfunction inthefollowing situations:
RThe sensors intherear bumper are dirty,damaged or covered,for instanceby asticker or ice and snow.
RTheexterior lighting is malfunctioning.
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Activating/deactivatingActive Lane ChangeAssistMultimedia system:
,Vehicle.kAssistance
#SelectLane Change Assist.
#Activatesor deactivateSthe function.
Function ofActive EmergencyStop AssistIfthe driver continually ignoresthe visual oracousticwarningtoputtheir hands onthesteer‐ing wheel,theBeginning Emergency Stopmes‐sage appears inthe multifunction display.Ifthedriverstill does notrespond,Active DistanceAssistDISTRONICreducesthe speed. Thevehi‐cle is decelerated instagestoastandstill.Atspeeds below 40mph (60 km/h)the hazardwarning lights switch on automatically.
Whenthevehicle isstationary,thefollowingactions are carried out:
RThevehicle is secured withthe electric park‐ing brake
RActive Distance AssistDISTRONIC is ended
RThevehicle is unlocked
RIf possible, an emergency call is placedtothe Mercedes-Benz emergency call center
The driver can cancelthe deceleration at anytimebyperforming one ofthefollowing actions:
RSteering
RBraking or accelerating
RPressing asteering wheel button
ROperatingTouch Control
RActivating or deactivatingActive DistanceAssistDISTRONIC
OverviewofActive Distance AssistDISTRONIC displaysinthe instrument clus‐ter
The assistance graphic andthestatus displayshowthestatus ofthefollowing functions intheinstrument cluster:
RActive Distance AssistDISTRONIC
RRoute-based speed adaptation
RActiveSteering Assist
Assistant display
1Route-based speed adaptation (type ofrouteevent)
2Vehicle in front
3Distance indicator
4Set specified distance
5Ownvehicle
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Active Distance Assist DISTRONICstatus dis‐play androute-based speed adaptation
1Active Distance AssistDISTRONIC selected,set specified distance (number of segmentsbelowthevehicle)
2Active Distance AssistDISTRONIC deactiva‐ted, speedstored
3Active Distance AssistDISTRONIC active,speedstored, novehicle detected (brightvehicle symbol)
4Active Distance AssistDISTRONIC active,speedstored,vehicle detected (greenvehi‐cle symbol)
5Active Distance AssistDISTRONIC androute-based speed adaptation active, speedstored
%On highways or high-speed majorroads,thegreençvehicle symbol is displayed cycli‐cally whenthevehicle isreadytopullaway.
SpeedometerThestored speed is highlighted onthe speedom‐eter. Ifthe speed ofthevehicle in front orthespeed adjustment is lessthanthestored speedduetotherouteevent ahead,the segments inthe speedometer light up.Activation or deactiva‐tion ofActive Distance AssistDISTRONIC, aswell as alterationstothe speed duetomanual orautomatic adoption ofthe speed limit, are dis‐played inthe controlfeedback ofthe multifunc‐tion display on a single line.
ActiveSteering Assiststatus display
1Graysteering wheel:ActiveSteering Assistswitched on and passive
2Greensteering wheel:ActiveSteering Assistswitched on and active
3Flashingsteering wheel: prompttothe drivertoactively confirmor transition from activetopassivestatus, system limitation detected
Duringthe transition fromthe activetopassivestatus, symbol3is shown as enlarged andflashesyellow.Oncethe system is passive, sym‐bol1is shown as grayinthe multifunction dis‐play.
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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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