2021 MERCEDES-BENZ S-CLASS SALOON LONG ground clearance

%
This function must be activated in vehicles
without Driving Assis tance Package, so that
Emer gency Stop Assist is fully available.
Fu rther information on Emer gency Stop Assist
(/ page 286) AIRMA
AIRMA
TIC
TIC F
F
unction of AIRMA
unction of AIRMA TIC
TIC
AIRMATIC is an air suspension system with varia-
ble damping for impr oved driving comfort. The all-
ro und le vel control system ensures the best possi-
ble suspension and constant ground clearance,
ev en with a laden vehicle. When driving at speed,
th eve hicle is lo wered automatically toimpr ove
driving saf ety and toreduce fuel consum ption.
Yo u also ha vethe option of manually adjusting the
ve hicle le vel.
AIRMATIC includes thefo llowing components and
functions:
R air suspension with automatic all-round le vel
cont rol
R speed-dependent lo wering toreduce fuel con-
sum ption R
increased vehicle le velfo rgr eater ground
clearance, selected via the multimedia system
R ADS PLUS (Adaptive Damping System with
constant damping forc e adjustment)
Suspension se Suspension se tting depending on t
tting depending on t he dr
he driv
ive pr
e pr o-
o-
gr
gr am
am
Drive prog ram C andB:
R The suspension setting is /rmer.
R The vehicle is set tolow le vel -1.
R The vehicle is lo weredto low le vel -2 when
driving at speeds abo ve120 km/h.
R When driving at speeds below 80 km/h, the
ve hicle is raised again tolow le vel -1.
Drive prog ram A and;:
R The suspension setting is comfor table.
R The vehicle is set tothe normal le vel.
R The vehicle is lo weredto low le vel -1 when
driving at speeds abo ve120 km/h.
R The vehicle is lo weredto low le vel -2 when
driving at speeds abo ve160 km/h. R
When driving at speeds below 120 km/h, the
ve hicle is raised again tolow le vel -1.
R When driving at speeds below 80 km/h, the
ve hicle is raised again tothe normal le vel.
% Oper
Oper ation wit
ation wit h a tr
h a trailer or bicy
ailer or bicy cle r
cle rac
ack:
k: if
transport equipment, such as a trailer or a
bicycle rack , is attached tothe trailer hitch
and the electrical connection has been cor-
re ctly es tablished, theve hicle remains at nor-
mal le vel ir respecti veof speed or the drive
prog ram selected.
Se Se tting t
tting t he v
he vehicle lev
ehicle lev el
el &
W
WARNING
ARNING Risk of accident because vehi-
cle le vel is too high
Driving characteristics may be impaired.
The vehicle can driT outwards, forex ample,
when steering or cornering. #
Choose a vehicle le vel which is suited to
th e driving style and thero ad sur face
conditions. Driving and parking
305
305

Low
Low
er
ering t
ing t he v
he vehicle
ehicle #
Select t.
The indica tor lamp goes out.
The vehicle is adjusted tothe height of the
active drive prog ram.
% Inthe Sport drive prog ram, only the normal
ve hicle le vel is possible when the trailer
soc ket is contacted (trailer/bicycle rack ). E-A
E-A
CTIVE BOD
CTIVE BOD Y C
Y CONTR
ONTR OL
OL F
F
unction of E-A
unction of E-A CTIVE BOD
CTIVE BODY C
Y CONTR
ONTR OL
OL
E- AC TIVE BODY CONTROL is an electrohydraulic
suspension system with variable damping for
impr oved driving comfort. The all-round le vel con-
trol system ensures the best possible suspension
and constant ground clearance, even with a laden
ve hicle. When driving at speed, theve hicle is lo w-
ered automatically toimpr ovedriving saf ety and
to reduce fuel consum ption. The suspension set-
ting is adjusted depending on thero ad sur face,
ve hicle load and the drive prog ram selected.
The ROAD SURF ACE SCAN function de tects areas
of une venness in thero ad before you drive over th
em bymeans of a multifunction camera. This
re duces chassis mo vements.
The damping is adjus ted individually toeach
wheel and depends on thefo llowing factors:
R Driving st yle, e.g. sporty
R Road condition, e.g. bumps
R Drive prog ram
E- AC TIVE BODY CONTROL is comprised of thefo l-
lowing functions and components:
R V Vehicles wit
ehicles wit h Dr
h Driving Assist
iving Assist ance P
ance Pack
ackag
age:
e:
RO AD SURF ACE SCAN
R Cur veinclination function CURVE
R Air suspension with automatic le vel control
R Speed-dependent lo wering toreduce fuel con-
sum ption
R ADS PLUS: Adaptive Damping System with
cons tant adjustment of damping characteris-
tics
R DYNAMIC SELECT button for selecting a drive
prog ram (/ page 228)
R Manual le vel adjustment via the multimedia
system Drive prog
ram C andB
R The suspension setting is /rmer.
R The vehicle is set tolow le vel -1.
R The vehicle is lo weredto low le vel -2 when
driving at speeds abo veappr ox. 120 km/h.
R When driving at speeds below appro x.
80 km/h, theve hicle is raised again tolow
le ve l -1.
R ROAD SURF ACE SCAN is active.
Drive prog ram A, Nand;
R The suspension setting is comfor table.
R The vehicle is set tothe normal le vel.
R The vehicle is lo weredto low le vel -1 when
driving at speeds abo ve120 km/h.
R The vehicle is lo weredto low le vel -2 when
driving at speeds abo ve160 km/h.
R When driving at speeds below 120 km/h, the
ve hicle is raised again tolow le vel -1.
R When driving at speeds below 80 km/h, the
ve hicle is raised again tothe normal le vel. Driving and parking
307
307

*
N
NO
OTE
TE Damage from automatic braking If one of
thefo llowing functions is switched
on, theve hicle brakes automatically in cer tain
situations:
R Active Brake Assist
R Active Distance Assist DISTRONIC
R HOLD function
R Active Parking Assist
To avoid damage totheve hicle, deactivate
th ese systems in thefo llowing or similar situa-
tions: #
during towing #
in a car wash *
N
NOOTE
TE Damage due tounsuitable car wash #
Before driving into a car wash make sure
th at the car wash is suitable forth eve hi-
cle dimensions. #
Ensu rethere is su1cient ground clear-
ance between the underbody and the
guide rails of the car wash. #
Ensure that the clearance width of the
car wash, in particular the width of the
guide rails, is su1cient. To
avo id damage toyour vehicle when using a car
wa sh, ensu rethefo llowing beforehand:
R Active Distance Assist DISTRONIC is deactiva-
te d.
R The HOLD function is switched o..
R The 360° Camera or there ve rsing camera is
switched o..
R The vehicle is loc ked and the door handles
re tracted.
R The side windo wsand sliding sunroof are com-
ple tely closed.
R The blo werfo rth eve ntilation and heating is
switched o..
R The windscre en wiper switch is in position g.R
The key is at a minimum dis tance of 6 m away
from theve hicle. Otherwise the boot lid or a
door could open unintentionall y.
R For car washes with a con veyo r system:
- Neutral iis engaged.
- The vehicle is loc ked from inside.
% If, aTer the car wash, youre mo vethewax
from the windscreen and wiper rubbers, this
will pr event smearing and reduce wiper noise. Inf
Inf
or
ormation on using a high-pr
mation on using a high-pr essur
essure cleaner
e cleaner &
W
WARNING
ARNING Risk of an accident when using
high-pressure cleaners with round-spr ay
nozzles
The water jet can cause extern ally invisible
damage.
Components damaged in this wa y may un ex-
pectedly fail. #
Do not use a high-pressure cleaner with
round-spr aynozzles. 430 430
Maintenance and ca
re

Displa
Displa
y messag
y messag es P
es Possible causes/conseq
ossible causes/consequences and uences andM
MSolutions
Solutions
ï
Check trailer hitch
lock (white display message) *T
he trailer hitch is not operational during a jou rney with a trailer. &
W WARNING
ARNING Risk of an accident if the ball neck is not loc ked
The trailer may become de tach ed. #
Stop theve hicle immediately in accordance with the tra1c conditions. Do not continue driving. #
Uncouple the trailer and secure it against rolling away. #
Initiate a new swivelling procedu reand do not re-couple the trailer until the display message disappears. #
Initiate a new swivel mo vement (/ page 337). #
When the display message disappears, couple up the trailer and drive on.
If th e display message does not disappear, the trailer hitch is malfunctioning and the ball neck is not loc ked. #
Do not couple up the trailer. Drive on without the trailer. No tethere duced ground clearance due tothe unloc ked
ball nec k. #
Consult a quali/ed specialist workshop.
*W hen theve hicle is stationary with a coupled trailer, the trailer hitch is not operational. #
Uncouple the coupled trailer and secure it against rolling away. #
If t
If the ball nec
he ball nec k has been re
k has been retr
tract
act ed:
ed: initiate a new swi vel mo vement (/ page 337).
The ball neck will engage vertically in the loc ked position and then engage beneath the bumper. Display messages and
warning/indicator lamps
517
517

Displa
Displa
y messag
y messag es P
es Possible causes/conseq
ossible causes/consequences and uences andM
MSolutions
Solutions #
If t
If the ball nec
he ball nec k has been e
k has been e xt
xtended:
ended: initiate a new swivel mo vement (/ page 337).
The ball neck will engage beneath the bumper.
If th e display message does not disappear, the trailer hitch is malfunctioning and the ball neck is not loc ked. #
Do not couple up the trailer. Drive on without the trailer. No tethere duced ground clearance due tothe unloc ked
ball nec k. #
Consult a quali/ed specialist workshop.
Please teach in trailer cou-
pling again using the but-
ton in load compartment
Wait for it to extend/
retract *T
he swivel mo vement of the trailer hitch is impaired. #
Use the button on the boot lid totrigger a ne w,comple teswivel mo vement until the ball neck engages beneath the
bumper.
Head-up display currently
unavailable See Owner's
Manual *T
he head-up displ ayistemp orarily una vailable. Possible causes:
R malfunctions in the po wer supply
R signal inter fere nce #
Stop in accordance with the tra1c conditions and switch theve hicle o. and on again. #
Ifth e display message still appears, consult a quali/ed specialist workshop.
Head-up display inoperative *The head-up displ ayhas an internal er ror. #
Consult a quali/ed specialist workshop. 518 518
Displ
aymessages and warning/indicator lamps

Displa
Displa
y messag
y messag es P
es Possible causes/conseq
ossible causes/consequences and uences andM
MSolutions
Solutions
If th e display message does not disappear and a warning tone also sounds, AIRMATIC is malfunctioning: #
Do not drive at speeds greater than 80 km/h and consult a quali/ed specialist workshop immediatel y.
* N
NO
OTE
TE The tyres on the front axle or thefe nders could be damaged bylarge stee ring mo vements #
Avoid lar gestee ring mo vements while driving and lis tenfo r scraping sounds. #
Ifyo u hear scraping sounds, pull over and stop theve hicle in accordance with the tra1c conditions, and set a
higher vehicle le vel if possible. #
Set a higher vehicle le vel (/ page 305).
Depending on the malfunction, theve hicle will be raised.
É Vehicle rising Please wait *T
hevehicle le vel is too lo w.The vehicle will be raised tothe selected vehicle le vel. #
Wait until the display message disappears before pulling away.
É
Compressor is cooling *D
uetofrequent le velch anges within a short space of time, the compressor /rst needs tocool down in order toset the
selected vehicle le vel.
When the compressor has cooled down, theve hicle will continue rising tothe selected vehicle le vel. #
Drive on in a manner appropriate forth e cur rent le vel. Make sure that there is su1cient ground clearance. 552
552
Display messages and
warning/indicator lamps