Mercedes-Benz C 230 1998 Owner's Manual page 97

Brake A ssist System (BAS)
W arning!
BAS cannot prevent the
natural laws of physics from
acting on the vehicle, nor can
it increase braking efficiency
beyond that afforded by the
condition of the vehicle brakes
and tires or the traction
afforded. The BAS cannot
prevent accidents, including
those resulting from excessive
speed in turns, follow ing
another vehicle too closely, or
aquaplaning. Only a safe,
attentive, and skillful driver
can prevent accidents. The
capabilities of a BAS equipped
car must never be exploited in
a reckless or dangerous m an­
ner which could jeo pardize the
user's safety or the safety of
others.
The Brake A ssist System is de­
signed to m axim ize the ve hicle 's
braking capability during em ergen­
cy braking m aneuvers by having
maxim um pow er boost applied to
the brakes more quickly in em er­
gency braking conditions than
m ight otherw ise be afforded solely
by the driver's braking style. This
can help reduce braking distances
over w hat ordinary driving and
braking style m ight do. The BAS
com plem ents the Antilock Brake
System (ABS).
To receive the benefit of the
system you m ust apply continuous
full braking pow er during the
stopping sequence. Do not reduce
brake pedal pressure.
Once the brake pedal is released,
the BAS is deactivated
The indicator lam ps for the ASR
and ESP are com bined with the
BAS indicator lamp.
The BAS/ASR or BAS/ESP
malfunction indicator lamp in the
instrum ent cluster com e on with
the electronic key in steering lock
position 2 and should go out with
the engine running.
If the BAS/ASR or BAS/ESP
m alfunction indicator lam p com es
on perm anently w hile the engine is
running, a m alfunction has been
detected in either system . As a
result, it is possible that now only
partial engine output will be
available, and pressing the accel­
erator pedal will require more
effort. If the BAS m alfunctions,the
brake system functions in the usual
manner, but w ithout BAS.
If the charging voltage falls below
10 volts, the m alfunction indicator
lam p com es on and the BAS is
sw itched off. W hen the voltage is
above this value again, the
m alfunction indicator lam p should
go out and the BAS is operational.
W ith the ABS m alfunctioning,
the BAS, ASR or ESP are also
sw itched off. Both m alfunction
indicator lam ps com e on with the
engine running.
Have the BAS, ASR or ESP
checked at your authorized
M ercedes-Benz dealer as soon
as possbile.