Vehicle level MERCEDES-BENZ S550 4MATIC 2008 W221 Owner's Manual

Contents
Control systems................................ 83
COMAND operating safety ................... 84
COMAND introduction ......................... 85
Availability of functions while the
vehicle is in motion ........................ 85
Switching COMAND on or off ......... 85
COMAND components ................... 85
Operating COMAND ....................... 90
Main menus of COMAND ............... 96
COMAND FM/AM radio ..................... 100
Submenu overview ....................... 100
Switching to radio mode .............. 101
Switching wavebands ................... 101
Selecting stations/channels ........ 101
Saving stations ............................. 103
Station name display .................... 104
COMAND satellite radio* (USA only) . 105
Submenu overview ....................... 105
Introduction to Satellite radio....... 106
Switching to satellite radio ........... 106
Main satellite radio menu ............. 107
Selecting program category ......... 108
Tuning in channels ....................... 108
Saving channels ........................... 110
Show program info ....................... 111Channel update ............................ 111
Calling SIRIUS Service Center ...... 111
COMAND audio CD/audio DVD/MP3 112
Safety precautions ....................... 112
Notes about MP3 mode ............... 112
Notes about audio DVD operation 114
Notes about CDs/DVDs ............... 114
Notes about handling CDs/DVDs 115
Inserting CDs and DVDs............... 115
Inserting a PCMCIA card .............. 117
Ejecting CDs and DVDs ................ 117
Ejecting a PCMCIA card ............... 118
Submenu overview ....................... 119
Switching to audio CD, audio DVD
or MP3 mode ............................... 120
Stop function ............................... 121
Pause function ............................. 121
Selecting CD/DVD/MP3 media ... 121
Selecting a track .......................... 122
Fast forward/rewind .................... 122
Selecting a folder ......................... 122
Setting the audio format .............. 123
Playback options .......................... 123
COMAND video DVD (USA only) ........ 124
Automatic picture fade-out .......... 124
Notes about video DVD operation 124Notes about handling DVDs ......... 125
Functional limitations................... 125
Inserting or ejecting DVDs ........... 125
Submenu overview of
video DVD .................................... 126
Switching to video DVD mode...... 126
Hiding/showing the
DVD control menu ....................... 127
Hiding/showing the menu system 127
Fast forward/rewind .................... 127
Selecting the DVD medium .......... 127
Stop playback .............................. 128
Pause playback ............................ 128
Selecting scene/chapter ............. 128
Selecting film/track..................... 128
Screen settings ............................ 128
DVD menu.................................... 129
Stopping the film or skipping to
the beginning/end of a scene...... 130
Switching to the next highest DVD
menu level ................................... 130
Back to the film............................ 130
Setting the language and
audio format ................................ 131
Subtitles and camera angles ........ 131
Interactive content....................... 131

Contents
Infrared reflecting windshield ....... 524
Operation......................................... 525
The first 1000 miles (1500 km) ......... 526
Driving instructions ............................ 527
Drive sensibly – save fuel ............. 527
Drinking and driving ..................... 527
Pedals .......................................... 527
Power assistance ......................... 527
Brakes .......................................... 528
Driving off..................................... 530
Parking ......................................... 530
Tires ............................................. 531
Hydroplaning ................................ 531
Tire traction .................................. 532
Tire speed rating .......................... 532
Winter driving instructions ........... 533
Standing water ............................. 534
Passenger compartment .............. 535
Driving abroad .............................. 535
Control and operation of radio
transmitters.................................. 535
Catalytic converter ....................... 536
Emission control........................... 536
Coolant temperature .................... 537At the gas station .............................. 538
Refueling ...................................... 538
Check regularly and before
a long trip ..................................... 540
Engine compartment ......................... 541
Hood ............................................ 541
Engine oil ..................................... 543
Transmission fluid level ................ 546
Active Body Control* (ABC*)
fluid level...................................... 547
Coolant level ................................ 547
Windshield washer system and
headlamp cleaning system ........... 548
Tires and wheels ................................ 550
Important guidelines .................... 550
Tire care and maintenance ........... 551
Direction of rotation ..................... 553
Loading the vehicle ...................... 553
Recommended tire
inflation pressure ......................... 558
Checking tire inflation pressure ... 560
Tire labeling.................................. 567
Load identification ....................... 571
DOT, Tire Identification Number
(TIN) ............................................. 572
Maximum tire load ....................... 573Maximum tire inflation pressure .. 573
Uniform Tire Quality Grading
Standards (U.S. vehicles) ............. 574
Tire ply material ........................... 575
Tire and loading terminology........ 576
Rotating tires ............................... 578
Winter driving .................................... 580
Winter tires .................................. 580
Snow chains................................. 581
Maintenance...................................... 582
Maintenance service indicator
message ...................................... 582
Calling up the maintenance
service indicator display .............. 583
Resetting the maintenance
service indicator .......................... 584
Vehicle care....................................... 585
Cleaning and care of vehicle ........ 585
Practical hints................................. 597
What to do if …? ................................ 598
Lamps in instrument cluster ........ 598
Air bag off indicator lamp............. 610
Vehicle status messages in the
multifunction display.................... 612

27 At a glance
Cockpit
ItemPage
1Combination switch

High beam

Corner-illuminating lamps

Windshield wipers

Turn signals
375
376
381
393
2Lever for

Cruise control

DISTRONIC Plus*
420
424
3Horn
4Multifunction steering wheel265
5Instrument cluster28
6Steering wheel gearshift con-
trol411
7Gear selector lever for
automatic transmission389
ItemPage
8Control panel with

Front passenger front
air bag indicator lamp

Vehicle level control
switch

Electronic Stability Pro-
gram (ESP®) switch

Parktronic*/Park Assist*
deactivation switch

Swivel COMAND display

COMAND/instrument
cluster display
illumination
50
441,
443
73
447,
452
87
417
9COMAND display85
aOverhead control panel33
bAutomatic climate control
Center console, upper part 469
32
ItemPage
cGlove box lock494
dCover of compartment with

CD/DVD changer

PCMCIA card slot
115
117
eCenter console, lower part30
fStarter switch
KEYLESS-GO* start/stop
button344
345
gSteering wheel adjustment
Heated steering wheel* 359
360
hHeadlamp cleaning button375
jElectronic parking brake395
kHood lock release541
lDoor control panel34
mNight View Assist*461
nExterior lamp switch371

56 Safety and Security
Occupant safety
If the active head restraints have been trig-
gered in an accident, the active head re-
straints must be reset. Otherwise, the
active head restraints cannot offer any ad-
ditional protection in the event of another
rear-end collision.
For information on resetting the activated
active head restraints, see “Resetting acti-
vated head restraints” (
page 675).
You cannot remove the active head re-
straint on the driver’s and front passen-
ger’s seats.
For removal contact an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
For information on head restraint adjust-
ment, see “Head restraints” (
page 353).Preventive occupant safety
(PRE-SAFE®)
Your vehicle automatically takes preven-
tive measures to better protect the occu-
pants in the following hazardous
situations.
Warning!G
Only use seat or head restraint covers which
have been tested and approved by
Mercedes-Benz for your vehicle model.
Using other seat or head restraint covers
may interfere with or prevent the activation
of the active head restraints.
Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Cen-
ter for availability.
Warning!G
For your protection, drive only with properly
positioned head restraints.
Adjust head restraint so that it is as close to
the head as possible and the center of the
head restraint supports the back of the head
at eye level. This will reduce the potential for
injury to the head and neck in the event of
an accident or similar situation.
Do not drive the vehicle without the seat
head restraints. Head restraints are intend-
ed to help reduce injuries during an acci-
dent.
Warning!G
The PRE-SAFE® system is intended to re-
duce the effects of an accident on properly
seat-belted vehicle occupants. Despite
having the PRE-SAFE
® system in your vehi-
cle, the possibility of injuries occurring as a
result of an accident cannot be eliminated.
Therefore, you should always drive carefully
and adjust your driving to the prevailing
road, weather, and traffic conditions.

67 Safety and Security
Driving safety systems
Braking
At the instant one of the wheels is about to
lock up, a slight pulsation can be felt in the
brake pedal, indicating that the ABS is in
the regulating mode.
Keep firm and steady pressure on the
brake pedal while experiencing the pul-
sation.
Continuous, steady brake pedal pressure
yields the advantages provided by the ABS,
namely braking power and the ability to
steer the vehicle.
The pulsating brake pedal can be an indica-
tion of hazardous road conditions and
functions as a reminder to take extra care
while driving.
Emergency brake maneuver
Keep continuous full pressure on the
brake pedal.For more information, see “Practical hints”
(
page 598).
Adaptive Brake
Adaptive Brake provides a high level of
braking safety as well as increased braking
comfort. It is coupled with ABS, ESP
® and
BAS. Adaptive Brake takes driver and vehi-
cle characteristics into consideration, thus
achieving an optimal braking effect.
Warning!G
When the ABS is malfunctioning, the BAS,
BAS Plus* and ESP® are also switched off.
When the ABS is malfunctioning, the wheels
may lock during hard braking, reducing
steering capability and extending the brak-
ing distance.
Warning!G
The ABS cannot prevent the natural laws of
physics from acting on the vehicle, nor can
it increase braking or steering efficiency
beyond that afforded by the condition of the
vehicle brakes and tires or the traction
afforded. The ABS cannot prevent acci-
dents, including those resulting from exces-
sive speed in turns, following another
vehicle too closely, or hydroplaning.
Only a safe, attentive, and skillful driver can
prevent accidents.
The capabilities of an ABS equipped vehicle
must never be exploited in a reckless or dan-
gerous manner which could jeopardize the
user’s safety or the safety of others.

69 Safety and Security
Driving safety systems
BAS Plus*
The Brake Assist System Plus (BAS Plus)
operates in emergency braking situations
and uses radar sensors* to assess the traf-
fic situation. BAS Plus assists you in brak-
ing at speeds above approximately 20 mph
(30 km/h).
When travelling in Canada in a vehicle not
registered in Canada, you must switch off
the radar sensor system* (
page 282).
Canadian law does not permit the use of
the radar sensor system* (
page 282) for
vehicles from outside of Canada. When you
switch off the radar sensor system*, the
following functions are deactivated:

BAS Plus

DISTRONIC Plus* (page 424)

Park Assist* (page 448)

PRE-SAFE® Brake* (page 76)BAS Plus detects obstacles that are in your
driving path for a sufficient period of time
to permit the system to recognize these
obstacles. If you approach the detected
obstacle quickly, BAS Plus calculates the
level of brake power boost appropriate for
the circumstance to supply when the driv-
er applies the brakes.
iUSA only:
This device has been approved by the FCC as a
“Vehicular Radar System”. The radar sensor is
intended for use in an automotive radar system
only. Removal, tampering, or altering of the de-
vice will void any warranties, and is not permitted
by the FCC. Do not tamper with, alter, or use in
any non-approved way.
Any unauthorized modification to this device
could void the user’s authority to operate the
equipment.
iCanada only:
This device complies with RSS-210 of Industry
Canada. Operation is subject to the following
two conditions:
(1) This device may not cause interference, and
(2) this device must accept any interference re-
ceived, including interference that may
cause undesired operation of the device.
Removal, tampering, or altering of the device will
void any warranties, and is not permitted. Do not
tamper with, alter, or use in any non-approved
way.
Any unauthorized modification to this device
could void the user’s authority to operate the
equipment.
Warning!G
BAS Plus is a convenience system designed
to assist the driver during vehicle operation.
The responsibility for the vehicle speed and
the distance to the vehicle ahead, including
most importantly brake operation to assure
safe stopping distance, always remains with
the driver.
Always pay attention to traffic conditions
even while BAS Plus is switched on. Other-
wise, you may not be able to recognize
dangerous situations until it is too late and
could cause an accident resulting in person-
al or fatal injury to you or others.

70 Safety and Security
Driving safety systems
When you step quickly on the brake pedal
in an emergency braking situation,
BAS Plus automatically regulates the
brake power boost to a level that is suit-
able for the traffic situation.
If BAS Plus requires a particularly high
brake power boost, PRE-SAFE
® is activat-
ed at the same time.
Keep constant pressure on the brake
pedal until the emergency braking situ-
ation is over.
During this process, ABS prevents the
wheels from locking up.
The brakes will resume normal operation
after

the brake pedal is released

no obstacles are detected in your path

the system no longer senses a risk of a
collision
BAS Plus is deactivated.BAS Plus can react to stationary obstacles
such as standing or parked vehicles at
road speeds of up to approximately
40 mph (70 km/h).
BAS Plus can only assist you when the
radar sensors are switched on and func-
tional. You can check whether the sensors
are active by switching on DISTRONIC
Plus* (
page 424) or using the “Radar
sensor” menu (
page 282) in the instru-
ment cluster control system.
After a hard collision or damage to the
front of the vehicle from an accident, have
the adjustment and operation of the radar
sensors checked by an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
If BAS Plus is not available due to a radar
sensor malfunction, the braking system
will continue to function normally with full
brake boost and full standard BAS
function.
Warning!G
BAS Plus will only respond with brake assis-
tance if it has clearly detected an object. De-
tection can be impeded by

dirty or covered sensors

snowfall or heavy rain

disturbance from other radar sources

strong radar reflection such as in park-
ing garages
BAS Plus uses radar signals that are not re-
flected well by narrow objects and absorp-
tive materials. For this reason BAS Plus will
not react to

persons and animals

approaching traffic or cross-traffic
BAS Plus may not detect narrow vehicles
driving in front of you, such as motorcycles
and vehicles driving offset from your vehicle
center.

170 Control systems
COMAND navigation (introduction)
Exiting menu: Slide omp or press
back button L in the center console
(
page 86).
Geo-coordinate display
Illustration: map with geo-coordinate dis-
play switched on
1Current height above sea level
2Number of GPS satellites from which
signals for positioning can be received
3Coordinate displayDisplay options with geo-coordinate dis-
play switched on
If the crosshair is displayed on the map
view (map was moved manually), only dis-
play 3 is visible.
It shows either the coordinates of the
crosshair or other data on the crosshair
position, e.g. a street name. The digital
map must contain relevant data in order
for this other data to be displayed.Switching the geo-coordinate display on
or off
Select “Navi”
“Navi”
“Map Dis-
play”.
The map display list appears.
Select “Coordinates”.
The geo-coordinate display is switched
on or off, depending on the previous
status. A checkmark indicates which
status is active.
Exiting menu: Slide omp or press
back button L in the center console
(
page 86).
Setting route type (USA only)
Depending on your vehicle’s production
date the route type function may not be
available.
You can set the following route types:

“Fast Route”: COMAND calculates a
route with the shortest possible (mini-
mized) driving time.
iThe list shows all symbols that are contained
in the digital map across all states (USA) and/or
provinces (CDN). Not all POIs in all states (USA)
or in all provinces (CDN) are available, however.
Certain POI symbols may not be displayed on the
map, even if the symbol display is switched on. iThere must be sufficient GPS reception for
displays 1, 2 and 3 to be shown. Height dis-
play 1 is an approximation because the naviga-
tion system uses the GPS signals for the
calculation.
iIf there is no crosshair on the map view, dis-
plays 1, 2 and 3 are visible. Display 3
shows the coordinates of the current vehicle po-
sition.

265 Control systems
Instrument cluster control system
Multifunction steering wheel
The displays in the multifunction display
and the settings in the control system are
controlled using the buttons on the multi-
function steering wheel.
The information available in the multifunc-
tion display is arranged in menus, each
containing a number of functions or sub-menus. For example, in the “Settings”
menu, you will find functions for making
settings to your vehicle. There are func-
tions for calling up information and for
making settings to your vehicle.
It is helpful to think of the menus as being
arranged in a circular pattern:
Press & or ( repeatedly to
switch menus.
The number of menus available in the sys-
tem depends on which optional equipment
is installed in your vehicle.
Press button L to return to the next
highest menu level.
From a menu’s highest level, you will al-
ways see the screen from the “Trip” menu
that was last active. When you press L
again, you switch to the standard display
(
page 268).
For information about warning and mal-
function messages appearing in the multi-
function display (
page 612).
1Multifunction display
2sto take a call
to dial
to redial
tto end a call
to reject an incoming call
æto increase volume
çto decrease volume
Fto mute
3!to accept a call
to activate Voice Control*
4Lback/to cancel Voice
Control*
5$to scroll up
%to scroll down
&to scroll to the right
(to scroll to the left
#to confirm selection

267 Control systems
Instrument cluster control system
Telephone* (page 276)Assistance* (page 279)Service (page 280)Settings (page 281)
Commands/submenus
Dialing a number from the
phone bookDisplaying the distance graph-
ic*, DISTRONIC Plus*
(USA only)Calling up vehicle malfunction,
warning and system status
messages stored in memorySetting daytime running lamp
mode (USA only)
RedialingActivating/deactivating
PRE-SAFE® Brake* (USA only)
Checking tire inflation pres-
sureSwitching additional speedome-
ter on or off
Answering a callSwitching on the Dynamic
Rear View Monitor*
automaticallyCalling up maintenance ser-
vice displaySwitching radar sensors* on or
off (USA only)
Ending a call or rejecting an in-
coming callChecking engine oil level*