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Engineering glossary

A-D

E-H, I-R, S-Z

ABS Sensors on the front and rear wheels keep the standard anti-lock braking system informed about the speed of the wheels at all times. If the wheels threaten to lock during braking, the brakes are repeatedly released and applied for fractions of a second, so that the wheels continue to turn and the vehicle remains steerable even in emergency braking.

Airbag In combination with the proven seat belts and belt-tensioners the standard driver's airbag reduces the risk of injury in frontal collisions. In a severe collision, the airbag is deployed in fractions of a second and prevents the head or the upper part of the body of the belted driver from making contact with the steering wheel or instrument panel.

Airbag: for front passenger's Almost a third of car journeys are made with two occupants in the car. It is important therefore that the front passenger should be optimally protected at all times, since like the driver he or she runs a higher risk of sustaining severe injuries. Particularly in severe frontal collisions, the protection provided by the seatbelt and belt tensioner is not always adequate. Mercedes-Benz therefore offers a front passenger's airbag in all saloons of the C-class, the E-class and the S-class.

AMG AMG have been building on Mercedes-Benz for over 20 years now. In the true sense of the word. Both technical refinement and individualistic styling mean that you're driving a very personalised Mercedes. Whether you express your individuality by opting for a more powerful engine with a specially matched suspension, or whether you prefer the styling package with side skirts, and front and rear spoilers in the same colour as the car, your AMG Mercedes will always be first and foremost a Mercedes. Which is why it comes with all the original Mercedes-Benz guarantees. Ask your dealer for details of what is available, ex-factory.

Anti-corrosion protection The longer a car remains in use, the better its constituent raw materials are utilised. Thus proper anti-corrosion treatment is of the utmost importance. At particularly critical points of the bodywork, galvanised sheet metal is used. And to prevent rust developing in inaccessible places, all cavities are sealed. The wheelarches are lined with plastic, to prevent the anti-corrosion treatment being damaged by chippings. Further protection is provided by the multi-layer paintwork structure, which provides high long-term protection and ensures optimal surface quality. E-class, C-class.

APS The Auto-Pilot System APS, developed by Bosch-Blaupunkt and Mercedes-Benz, is a satellite-supported navigation system, which will soon make it easy to get to your destination even in totally unknown surroundings. The driver enters the town and street, limited at first to Germany, and the system guides him along the quickest route to his or her destination. The required information is obtained from the digital road map stored on a CD-ROM. A magnetic field sensor informs the system about the current driving direction. The APS sensors provide information about the driving route and speed. And the exact geographic location of the vehicle is determined by a satellite-supported navigation system.

ASD The automatic locking differential improves handling when moving off on a road surface which is slippery on just one side. The locking differential is immediately disengaged when the brakes are applied, so that the ABS function is unaffected. A major advantage of ASD is that it switches on and off automatically at the appropriate moments, thus relieving strain on the driver. A warning light in the instrument cluster alerts the driver whenever ASD is in operation. E-class coupé and cabrio, E-class T-models, S-class.

Automatic transmissions All Mercedes-Benz cars can be fitted on request with a 4-speed torque converter automatic transmission. In the case of petrol-engined vehicles, you can choose between two programmes: "S" for Standard and "E" for Economy. In "S" mode, the transmission shifts normally. In the "E" mode, shifting takes place at lower engine speeds, thus reducing fuel consumption and facilitating a smoother, more comfort-conscious driving style. Alternatively, a 5-speed automatic transmission is optionally available for the 4-valve 6-cylinder petrol models (also for model E-420).

Auxiliary heater The auxiliary heater has a timeswitch for presetting of two different "on" times. So your car will be pleasantly warm and your windows clear as soon as you get in, even in the cold season. The warmed coolant reduces engine wear and fuel consumption. E-class coupé and cabrio, E-class T-models.

BAS The Brake Assist System (BAS), an electronic system by Mercedes-Benz, interprets the braking behavior of the driver and initiates the full braking effect when it identifies an emergency situation. This reduces the braking distance substantially.

Belt tensioners In a more severe frontal impact, the belt tensioners instantly pull the driver's and front passenger's belts more tightly around their body. This increases the effectiveness of the seatbelts, since the forward displacement of the upper part of the body is reduced. E-class, S-class.

Brakes The hydraulic dual-circuit brake system features large disc brakes, for safe braking. Optimal cooling of the brakes enhances their endurance. The risk of a decline in braking power on long, steep descents - for example mountain passes - due to overheating is thus reduced. The wear indicator for the front brake linings offers additional safety: on reaching a certain level of lining wear, or on reaching the minimum level in the brake fluid reservoir, a warning light comes on in the instrument cluster.

Bumpers To prevent minor impacts from landing you with costly repair bills, both the front and the rear of the vehicle are protected by bumpers with integrated impact-absorbing bodies of flexible polypropyline. These protect the bodywork from damage in impacts with a rigid obstacle at speeds of up to 3.5 km/h.

Catalytic converter Mercedes-Benz was the first manufacturer in Germany to fit all its petrol models as standard with closed-loop three-way catalytic converter. That was as long ago as 1986. The catalytic converter reduces pollutant emissions by more than 90 % compared with a vehicle without this system. Today, we use catalytic converters even in touring car racing. And of course, a component which has such environmental benefits must not be a burden when it comes to disposing of it. We take old catalytic converters back and reimburse the customer for the residual value. This helps to conserve valuable resources and reduce waste. E-class, C-class.

Central locking The central locking system allows you to open and close all the outer locks of your Mercedes, including the fuel tank flap, quickly and reliably. With multi-point central locking, it makes no difference whether you actuate the system from the driver's door, the front passenger's door or the tailgate. Simply press the button on your remote control unit and all the locks will be simultaneously locked or opened.

Diesel: four-valve technology In a four-valve engine, each cylinder has two intake valves and two exhaust valves. Due to better cylinder charging and the central positioning of the pre-chamber, the four-valve design - considerably more sophisticated than the traditional two-valve design - results in more complete combustion. Output is increased, consumption reduced and pollutant emissions minimised. By offering four-valve engines for diesel cars too, Mercedes-Benz has once again set standards in terms of intelligent automotive innovation. Our diesel engines are service-friendly, have a long life and thanks to full encapsulation are so quiet in operation that it is difficult to tell them apart from a petrol engine. All Mercedes-Benz diesel engines feature electronically controlled idle speed adaptation. With the standard exhaust gas recirculation and oxidation catalyst they are also particularly environment-friendly.

Double wishbone front suspension The new double wishbone front suspension provides improved ride comfort, compared with the shock absorber strut system, in which the shock absorbers form part of the wheel location system. Each front wheel is now located by two wishbones rather than one. This subjects the shock absorbers to less stress as they have only to carry out damping functions and are thus able to react more quickly to road conditions. C-class, E-class saloons, S-class

All information given concerning standard equipment and performance are valid for the Federal Republic of Germany.