2011 Mercedes SL-Class Owner's Manual - Page 141

Driving systems The thumbwheel for adjusting the following distance is located on the right side of the center console. X Increasing distance: Turn thumbwheel : towards ª. Increasing the distance setting tells Distronic to maintain a greater following distance to the preceding vehicle. X 139 The 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 Decreasing distance: Turn thumbwheel : towards ¥. Decreasing the distance setting tells Distronic to maintain a shorter following distance to the preceding vehicle. The driver must always be alert, observe all traffic and intercede as required by means of steering or braking the vehicle. G Warning! 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. The Distronic should not be used in snowy or icy road conditions. G Warning! The 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). This means that: RYour vehicle can pass another vehicle after 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. In such a case, the Distronic will switch off, and the message DISTRONIC Currently Unavailable - See Oper. Manual appears in the multifunction display. For cleaning and care of the Distronic system sensor cover, see (Y page 218). you have changed lanes. RWhile i If the message DISTRONIC Currently Unavailable - See Oper. Manual disappears during driving, the dirt (e.g. slush) has dissolved; the Distronic is available again if you reactivate it (Y page 136). Turns and bends in a sharp turn or if the preceding vehicle is in a sharp turn, the Distronic could lose sight of the preceding vehicle. Your vehicle could then accelerate to the previously selected speed. In turns or bends, the Distronic may not detect a moving vehicle in front, or it may Z Controls in detail Ran