Mercedes-Benz M-Class 2007 Owners Manual User Manual
Page 262
261
Controls in detail
Driving systems
Decreasing distance
Decreasing the distance setting tells
Distronic to maintain a smaller following
distance to the preceding vehicle.
̈
Turn distance setting switch
1 in
direction of arrow
2.
Driving with Distronic
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. Braking
will deactivate the Distronic system.
The most likely cause for a malfunctioning
system is a dirty sensor (located behind
the hood grille), especially at times of snow
and ice or heavy rain. In such a case,
Distronic will switch off, and the message
DISTRONIC currently unavailable
–
See
Operator’s Manual
appears in the multi-
function display.
For cleaning and care of the Distronic sen-
sor, see “Cleaning the Distronic* system
sensor cover” (
Warning!
G
Distronic works to maintain the speed se-
lected by the driver unless a moving obsta-
cle proceeding directly ahead of it in the
same travel direction is detected (e.g. fol-
lowing another vehicle ahead of you at your
set distance).
This means that:
ț
Your vehicle can pass another vehicle
after you have changed lanes.
ț
While 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.
Distronic regulates only the distance be-
tween your vehicle and those directly ahead
of it, but does not register stationary objects
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 alert, observe all
traffic and intercede as required by means
of steering or braking the vehicle.
Warning!
G
Distronic should not be used in snowy or icy
road conditions.
i
If the message
DISTRONIC available
again appears during driving the dirt (e.g.
slush) has dissolved; Distronic works again, if
you reactivate it (