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

360 Controls in detail
Steering wheel
Adjusting steering wheel up or
down: Move stalk up or down in the di-
rection of arrow2.
Heated steering wheel*
The steering wheel heating warms up the
leather area of the steering wheel.
1Switching on
2Switching off
3Indicator lamp
Switch on the ignition (page 344).
Switching on: Turn switch at the tip of
stalk in the direction of arrow1.
The steering wheel is heated. Indicator
lamp3 comes on.
Switching off: T u r n s w i t c h a t t h e t i p o f
stalk in the direction of arrow2.
The steering wheel heating is turned
off. Indicator lamp3 goes out.
iThe steering wheel heating will not switch
on, when the temperature of the vehicle interior
is above 86°F (30°C).
iIndicator lamp3 flashes or goes out

in case of power surge or undervoltage

in case of a steering wheel heating malfunc-
tion
iThe steering wheel heating switches off au-
tomatically:

when you remove the SmartKey from the
starter switch

on vehicles with KEYLESS-GO*, when you
switch off the ignition (
page 344) and
open the driver’s door

when the temperature of the vehicle interior
is above 86°F (30°C)

after approximately 24 minutes


361 Controls in detail
Mirrors
Mirrors
Adjust the interior and exterior rear view
mirrors before driving so that you have a
good view of the road and traffic condi-
tions.
Interior rear view mirror
Manually adjust the interior rear view
mirror.
For more information, see “Auto-dimming
rear view mirrors” (
page 363).
Exterior rear view mirrors1 Selector switch for right or left exterior
mirror
2Adjustment button
Switch on the ignition (page 344).
Press button1 repeatedly until de-
sired exterior mirror is selected.
The left or right indicator lamp in
button1 comes on.
Push adjustment button2 up, down,
left, or right according to the desired
setting.
Warning!G
Exercise care when using the passenger
side exterior rear view mirror. The mirror
surface is convex (outwardly curved surface
for a wider field of view). Objects in mirror
are closer than they appear. Check your in-
terior rear view mirror or glance over your
shoulder before changing lanes.
iWhen you press button1 for the first time,
the exterior mirror on the driver’s side is always
selected.
If you do not make adjustments to the selected
exterior rear view mirror within 15 seconds, the
indicator lamp goes out. You will then have to se-
lect the desired exterior rear view mirror again
before any adjustments can be made. Adjust-
ments can only be made with the indicator lamp
for the respective exterior rear view mirror but-
ton illuminated.
iAt low ambient temperatures, the exterior
rear view mirrors will be heated automatically.
iThe memory function (page 365) lets you
store the setting for the exterior rear view mir-
rors together with the setting for the steering
wheel and the seat positions.

362 Controls in detail
Mirrors
Power folding exterior rear view
mirrors
Folding exterior rear view mirrors in
and out automatically
When the corresponding function in the
COMAND system is activated
(
page 244):

The exterior rear view mirrors automat-
ically fold in as soon as the vehicle is
locked from the outside.

The exterior rear view mirrors automat-
ically fold out as soon as the vehicle is
unlocked and the driver’s or front pas-
senger door are subsequently opened.Folding exterior rear view mirrors in
and out manually
The exterior rear view mirrors can vibrate if
they are not folded out completely.
1Folds the exterior mirrors in and outSwitch on the ignition (page 344).
Folding in: Press button1.
Folding out: Press button1 again.
!Before driving the vehicle through an auto-
matic car wash, fold the exterior mirrors in. Oth-
erwise they may get damaged.
iThe mirrors do not fold out if they were pre-
viously folded in manually.
iIf you are driving at more than approximately
9mph (15km/h), you will not be able to fold the
exterior mirrors in.
!If an exterior rear view mirror housing is
forcibly pushed forward (hit from the rear), repo-
sition it manually by applying firm pressure until
it snaps back into place.
If an exterior rear view mirror housing is forcibly
pushed rearward (hit from the front), press
button1 to fold mirrors in, then press
button1 again to fold mirrors out. Do not force
mirrors by hand as this may damage the adjust-
ment mechanism.
The mirror housing is then properly positioned
and you can adjust the mirror in the usual man-
ner.

363 Controls in detail
Mirrors
Auto-dimming rear view mirrors
The reflection brightness of the exterior
rear view mirror on the driver’s side and
the interior rear view mirror will respond
automatically to glare when

the ignition is switched on
(
page 344)
and

incoming light from headlamps falls on
the sensor in the interior rear view
mirror
The interior rear view mirror will not react if

reverse gearR is engaged

the interior lighting is turned on
Warning!G
The auto-dimming function does not react if
incoming light is not aimed directly at the
sensors in the interior rear view mirror.
The interior rear view mirror and the exterior
rear view mirror on the driver’s side do not
react, for example, if the rear window sun-
shade is in raised position.
Light hitting the mirror(s) at certain angles
(incident light) could blind you. As a result,
you may not be able to observe traffic con-
ditions and could cause an accident.
Warning!G
Exercise care when using the passen-
ger-side exterior rear view mirror. The mirror
surface is convex (outwardly curved surface
for a wider field of view). Objects in mirror
are closer than they appear. Check your in-
side rear view mirror or glance over your
shoulder before changing lanes.

364 Controls in detail
Mirrors
Activating exterior rear view mirror
parking position
Follow these steps to activate the mirror
parking position so that the passen-
ger-side exterior rear view mirror will be
turned downward to the stored position.
Make sure you have stored a parking
position for the passenger-side exterior
rear view mirror (
page 367).
Make sure the “Lower mirror when re-
versing” function in the “Exterior Mirror
Convenience Settings” submenu of the
COMAND system is selected
(
page 244).
Switch on the ignition (page 344).1Selector switch for right or left exterior
mirror
Press switch1 repeatedly until the
exterior mirror on the front passenger
side is selected.
Shift the automatic transmission in re-
verse gearR.
The passenger-side exterior rear view
mirror will be turned downward to the
stored position.
The exterior rear view mirror returns to its
previously stored driving position:

when you switch off the ignition

10 seconds after you have put the au-
tomatic transmission out of reverse
gearR

immediately once your vehicle exceeds
a speed of approximately 6 mph
(10 km/h)

immediately when you press button1
for driver’s side exterior rear view mir-
ror.iWith the automatic transmission in reverse
gear
R, the previously selected exterior rear
view mirror is activated.
iIf you adjust the exterior mirrors while they
are in the parking position, the new mirror posi-
tion is stored as a new parking position.

365 Controls in detail
Memory function
Memory function
Prior to operating the vehicle, the driver
should check and adjust the seat height,
seat position fore and aft, and seat back-
rest angle if necessary, to ensure adequate
control, reach, and comfort. The head re-
straint should also be adjusted for proper
height. See also the section on air bags
(
page 42) for proper seat positioning.
In addition, adjust the steering wheel to
ensure adequate control, reach, operation
and comfort. Both the interior and exterior
rear view mirrors should be adjusted for
adequate rear vision.
Fasten seat belts. Infants and small chil-
dren should be seated in a properly se-
cured restraint system that complies with
U.S. Federal Motor Vehicle Safety
Standards 213 and 225 and Canadian
Motor Vehicle Safety Standards 213 and
210.2.With the memory function you can store up
to 3 different configurations.
Each stored position on the driver’s side
includes the following settings:

Driver’s seat, head restraint height and
backrest position

Multicontour seat*: previously saved
setting

Drive-dynamic multicontour seat*: ac-
tivation/deactivation

Steering wheel position

Exterior rear view mirrors positionEach stored position on the passenger side
includes the following settings:

Seat position and lumbar support

Multicontour seat*: previously saved
setting

Drive-dynamic multicontour seat*: ac-
tivation/deactivation
Each stored position in the rear passenger
compartment includes the following set-
tings (Canada only):

Seat position

Multicontour seat*: previously saved
setting
Warning!G
Do not activate the memory function while
driving. Activating the memory function
while driving could cause the driver to lose
control of the vehicle.

366 Controls in detail
Memory function
MMemory button
1 2 3Memory position buttons
Switch on the ignition (page 344).
or
Open the respective door.
Storing positions into memory
Adjust the seat (page 347) to the de-
sired position.
On the driver’s side: Adjust the steering
wheel (
page 359) and the exterior
rear view mirrors (
page 361) to the
desired position.
Press memory buttonM.
Release memory buttonM and press
one of the memory position buttons
within 3 seconds.
All the settings are stored with the se-
lected position.
Recalling positions from memory
Press and hold one of the position
buttons until the seat, steering wheel
and exterior rear view mirrors have fully
moved to the stored positions.
!Do not operate the power seats using the
memory button if the seat backrest is in an ex-
cessively reclined position. Doing so could cause
damage to front or rear seats.
First move seat backrest to an upright position.
iReleasing the button immediately stops
movement to the stored positions.
The multicontour seat* and/or lumbar support
will continue to be adjusted.

367 Controls in detail
Memory function
Storing exterior rear view mirror park-
ing position
For easier parking, you can adjust the pas-
senger-side exterior rear view mirror so
that you can see the right rear wheel as
soon as you engage reverse gearR.
For information on activating the parking
position, see “Activating exterior rear view
mirror parking position” (
page 364).
1Memory button M
2Adjustment button
3Selector switch for right or left exterior
mirror
Stop the vehicle.
Make sure the ignition is switched on
(
page 344).
Press switch3 until the exterior mir-
ror on the front passenger side is se-
lected.
Adjust the passenger-side exterior rear
view mirror with button2 so that you
see the rear wheel and the road curb.
Press memory button M.
Within 3 seconds, press one of the
adjustment buttons2.
The parking position is stored if the
mirror does not move.
iIf the mirror does move, repeat the above
steps. After the setting is stored, you can move
the mirror again.

368 Controls in detail
Fastening the seat belts
Warning!G
Always fasten your seat belt before driving
off. Always make sure all of your passengers
are properly restrained.
Failure to wear and properly fasten and
position your seat belt greatly increases
your risk of injuries and their likely severity
in an accident. You and your passengers
should always wear seat belts.
If you are ever in an accident, your injuries
can be considerably more severe without
your seat belt properly buckled. Without
your seat belt buckled, you are much more
likely to hit the interior of the vehicle or be
ejected from it. You can be seriously injured
or killed.
In the same crash, the possibility of injury or
death is lessened if you are wearing your
seat belt. The air bags can only provide the
protection they were designed to afford if
the occupants are using their seat belts
(
page 42).
Warning!G
According to accident statistics, children
are safer when properly restrained in the
rear seating positions than in the front seat-
ing position. Thus, we strongly recommend
that children be placed in the rear seats
whenever possible. Regardless of seating
position, children 12 years old and under
must be seated and properly secured in an
appropriately sized infant restraint, toddler
restraint, or booster seat recommended for
the size and weight of the child. For addi-
tional information, see “Children in the vehi-
cle” (
page 57).
A child’s risk of serious or fatal injuries is
significantly increased if the child restraints
are not properly secured in the vehicle and
the child is not properly secured in the child
restraint.
Warning!G
Never let more people ride in the vehicle
than there are seat belts available. Be sure
everyone riding in the vehicle is correctly re-
strained with a separate seat belt. Never use
a seat belt for more than one person at a
time.
Warning!G
Never ride in a moving vehicle with the seat
backrest in an excessively reclined position
as this can be dangerous. You could slide
under the seat belt in a collision. If you slide
under it, the seat belt would apply force at
the abdomen or neck. That could cause se-
rious or even fatal injuries. The seat back-
rest and seat belt provide the best restraint
when the wearer is in a nearly upright posi-
tion and the seat belt is properly positioned
on the body.

369 Controls in detail
Fastening the seat belts
1Seat belt outlet
2Latch plate
3Buckle
4Release button
Pull the seat belt smoothly from the
seat belt outlet 1.
Place the shoulder portion of the seat
belt across the top of your shoulder
and the lap portion across your hips.
Push latch plate2 into buckle3 until
it clicks.
If necessary, tighten the lap portion to
a snug fit by pulling shoulder portion
up.
To release the seat belt, press release
button4 and guide latch plate back to
seat belt outlet.
Warning!G
Read and observe the additional warning no-
tices printed in the “Safety and Security”
section (
page 40).