2009 Mercedes E-Class Owner's Manual - Page 171

Controls in detail Driving systems setting and the current speed of your vehicle, Distronic calculates and sets the required following distance to the preceding vehicle. The set distance will be shown in the multifunction display. Increasing the distance setting tells Distronic to maintain a greater following distance to the preceding vehicle. X This means that: RYour G Warning! It is up to the driver to exercise discretion to select the appropriate setting given road conditions, traffic, driver's preferred driving style and applicable laws and driving recommendations for safe following distance. Decreasing distance: Turn thumbwheel 1 towards ®. Decreasing the distance setting tells Distronic to maintain a shorter following distance to the preceding vehicle. vehicle can pass another vehicle after you have changed lanes. in a sharp turn or if the preceding vehicle is in a sharp turn, Distronic could lose sight of the preceding vehicle. Your vehicle could then accelerate to the previously selected speed. RWhile Driving with Distronic 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. Braking will deactivate the Distronic system. Distronic regulates only the distance between your vehicle and those directly ahead of it, but does not register stationary objects in the road, e.g.: Ra Ra stopped vehicle in a traffic jam disabled vehicle oncoming vehicle G Warning! Distronic 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 your set distance). 1 Thumbwheel for setting distance X Ran The driver must always be alert, observe all traffic and intercede as required by means of steering or braking the vehicle. G Warning! Distronic should not be used in snowy or icy road conditions. The most likely cause for a malfunctioning system is a dirty Distronic system sensor cover (located in the hood grille), especially at times of snow and ice or heavy rain. Increasing distance: Turn thumbwheel 1 towards ¯. Z 169