Mercedes-Benz 2008 S550 4MATIC Automobile User Manual


 
437
Controls in detail
Driving systems
The distance setting switch for the target
distance is located on the DISTRONIC Plus
lever.
1 Distance setting switch for target dis-
tance
2 To increase target distance
3 To decrease target distance
Increasing distance
Increasing the distance setting causes
DISTRONIC Plus to maintain a greater fol-
lowing distance to the vehicle ahead.
̈ Move distance setting switch 1 in di-
rection 2.
Decreasing distance
Decreasing the distance setting causes
DISTRONIC Plus to maintain a shorter fol-
lowing distance to the vehicle ahead.
̈ Move distance setting switch 1 in di-
rection 3.
Driving with DISTRONIC Plus
This section describes a number of driving
situations where special precaution is re-
quired on the part of the driver. Be pre-
pared to brake in such situations which will
deactivate the DISTRONIC Plus system.
Warning! G
DISTRONIC Plus works to maintain the
speed selected by the driver unless a mov-
ing obstacle proceeding directly ahead of it
in the same travel direction is detected (e.g.
following another vehicle ahead of you at a
distance set by DISTRONIC Plus).
This means that:
ț Your vehicle can pass another vehicle
after you change lanes.
ț While in a sharp turn or if the vehicle in
front is in a sharp turn, DISTRONIC Plus
could lose sight of a vehicle traveling in
front of it, then your vehicle could accel-
erate to the previously selected speed.
DISTRONIC Plus regulates only the distance
between your vehicle and those directly
ahead of it. It may not register stationary ob-
jects in the road, e.g.:
ț a stopped vehicle in a traffic jam
ț a disabled vehicle
ț an oncoming vehicle
The driver must always be on the alert, ob-
serve all traffic and intercede as required by
steering or braking the vehicle.
Warning! G
DISTRONIC Plus should not be used in
snowy or icy road conditions.