ADS (Adaptive Damping System)
General notes
ADS adapts the damping characteristics to the current operating and driving situation.
This depends on:
- your driving style
- the road surface conditions
- the ADS setting
- the vehicle level setting
Your selection remains stored even if you remove the SmartKey from the ignition lock.

– Start the engine.
Sports tuning
The firmer suspension tuning in Sport mode ensures even better contact with the road.
Select this mode when employing a sporty driving style, e.g. on winding country roads.
– Press button 1.
Indicator lamp 2 lights up. Sports
suspension tuning is selected. The vehicle
is lowered by 0.6 in (15 mm).
Comfort tuning
In Comfort mode, the driving characteristics of your vehicle are more comfortable. Select this mode if you favor a more comfortable driving style, but also when driving fast on straight roads, e.g. freeways.
– Press button 1.
Indicator lamp 3 lights up. Comfort tuning
is selected. The vehicle is raised by
0.6 in (15 mm).
See also:
Body testing facility: the M-Class on the road simulator
A totally dependable body and chassis systems that can cope with high levels
of strain under even the most demanding conditions over hundreds of thousands of
kilometres are particularly indispensa ...
Changing gea
The automatic transmission shifts to the
individual gears automatically when it is in
transmission position D. This automatic
gearshifting behavior is determined by:
- a shift range restr ...
Driving systems
Display messages
Level Selection
Not Permitted
Possible causes/consequences and ►
Solutions
You cannot change the vehicle level, because:
• you are exceeding the permissible speed ...
