2011 Mercedes S-Class Owner's Manual - Page 324

322 Driving tips ! Vehicles with 4MATIC: as the ESP® system operates automatically, the engine and the ignition system must be switched off (SmartKey in position 0 or 1 in the ignition lock or Start/Stop button in position 0 or 1) when: messages in the multifunction display. Especially for high performance driving, it is important to maintain and have the brake system checked regularly. Driving and parking Rtesting the electric parking brake on a brake dynamometer. Ryou intend to have the vehicle towed with one of the axles raised. Braking maneuvers triggered automatically by ESP® may seriously damage the brake system. If your brake system is only subjected to moderate loads, you should regularly test your brake system's function by forcefully depressing the brake pedal when driving at high speed. This also improves the brake pads' friction. The high-performance brake system is designed for heavy loads. This may lead to noise when braking. This will depend on: Rspeed Rbraking force Renvironmental conditions, such as temperature and humidity The wear of individual components of the brake system, such as the brake pads/linings or brake discs, depends on the individual driving style and operating conditions. Driving on wet roads Hydroplaning If water has accumulated to a certain depth on the road surface, there is a danger of hydroplaning occurring, even if: Ryou Rthe G Warning Make sure that you do not endanger other road users when you apply the brakes. A description of Brake Assist (BAS) can be found on (Y page 67) or of BAS PLUS on (Y page 68). High-performance brake system for AMG vehicles The high-performance brake system is only installed on the S 63 AMG and S 65 AMG. drive at low speeds tires have adequate tread depth For this reason, in the event of heavy rain or in conditions in which hydroplaning can occur you must drive in the following manner: RLower RAvoid G Warning your speed ruts RBrake carefully New vehicle brake pads and discs, and replacement brake pads and discs may take several hundred miles of driving until they provide optimum braking efficiency. Until that time, you may need to use increased brake pedal pressure while braking. Please be aware of this and adjust your driving and braking accordingly during this break-in period. Excessive high-demand braking will cause correspondingly high brake wear. Please be attentive to the brake warning lamp in the instrument cluster and brake condition Driving on flooded roads ! Do not drive through flooded areas. Check the depth of any water before driving through it. Drive slowly through standing water. Otherwise, water may enter the vehicle interior or the engine compartment. This can damage the electronic components in the engine or AUTOTRONIC. Water can also be drawn in by the engine's air suction nozzles and this can cause engine damage.