2008 Mercedes S-Class Owner's Manual - Page 438

Controls in detail Driving systems The distance setting switch for the target distance is located on the DISTRONIC Plus lever. Decreasing distance Decreasing the distance setting causes DISTRONIC Plus to maintain a shorter following distance to the vehicle ahead. Move distance setting switch 1 in direction 3. Driving with DISTRONIC Plus This section describes a number of driving situations where special precaution is required on the part of the driver. Be prepared to brake in such situations which will deactivate the DISTRONIC Plus system. Warning! This means that: Your vehicle can pass another vehicle after you change lanes. 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 accelerate 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 objects in the road, e.g.: a stopped vehicle in a traffic jam a disabled vehicle an oncoming vehicle The driver must always be on the alert, observe all traffic and intercede as required by steering or braking the vehicle. 1 Distance setting switch for target distance 2 To increase target distance 3 To decrease target distance Increasing distance Increasing the distance setting causes DISTRONIC Plus to maintain a greater following distance to the vehicle ahead. Move distance setting switch 1 in direction 2. G DISTRONIC Plus works to maintain the speed selected by the driver unless a moving 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). Warning! G DISTRONIC Plus should not be used in snowy or icy road conditions. 437