warning MERCEDES-BENZ S CLASS 2007 Owners Manual

411 Controls in detail
Driving systems
Warning indicators
Visual signals indicate to the driver the rel-
ative distance between the sensors and an
obstacle.
The warning indicator for the front area is
in the instrument cluster. The warning indi-
cator for the rear area is on the roof liner in
the rear.
1Left side of the vehicle
2Right side of the vehicle
3Indicator
Each warning indicator is divided into five
yellow and two red distance segments for
either side of the vehicle.
If yellow indicators 3 under the segments
are lit, Park Assist is ready to measure.The position of the gear selector lever de-
termines which warning indicators will be
activated.
As your vehicle approaches an object, one
or more distance segments will illuminate,
depending on the distance. When the sev-
enth distance segment illuminates, you
have reached the minimum distance.


Front area:
As soon as the first red segment lights
up, you will hear an intermittent warn-
ing tone for approx. two seconds. Once
the second red segment lights up, you
will hear a continuous warning tone.
You have reached the minimum dis-
tance.


Rear area:
As soon as the first red segment lights
up, you will hear an intermittent warn-
ing tone for approx. two seconds. Once
the second red segment lights up, you
will hear a continuous warning tone.
You have reached the minimum dis-
tance.
Gear selector
lever position
Warning indicator
D
Front area activated
R
Front and rear area
activated
N
With the electric park-
ing brake engaged:
neither activated.
With the electric park-
ing brake released:
front and rear area acti-
vated.
P
Neither activated
i
During strong rainfall, the warning indicators
and warning tones may be triggered, for exam-
ple, by water splashing into the area of the sen-
sors.

412 Controls in detailDriving systemsCollision warning
Park Assist can detect obstacles from a
considerable distance. If you drive in re-
verse towards an obstacle, you will hear a
warning tone. You must then brake in or-
der to avoid a collision. The warning tone
for a collision will not sound when the vehi-
cle is at a standstill very close to the obsta-
cle. In this case, you will hear a
corresponding tone for the warning indica-
tor in the rear area.Switching Park Assist system on/off
The Park Assist system can be switched off
manually.
The Park Assist button with the indicator
lamp is located on the control panel on the
right-hand side of the instrument cluster.
1Park Assist button
2Indicator lamp

Switching off Park Assist system:
Press button 1.
Indicator lamp 2 comes on.

Switching on Park Assist system:
Press button 1 again.
Indicator lamp 2 goes out.
i
During strong rainfall, the collision warning
may be triggered, for example, by water splash-
ing into the area of the sensors.
i
When the indicator lamp is on, the Park
Assist system is switched off.
i
The Park Assist system is automatically
switched on when the ignition (
page 315) and
radar sensors are switched on (page 256).

413 Controls in detail
Driving systems
Dynamic Rear View Monitor*
The Dynamic Rear View Monitor is an elec-
tronic and visual parking aid. It shows you
the area behind the vehicle on the
COMAND display.
In addition, the Dynamic Rear View Moni-
tor contains guide lines to help you with re-
verse parking (back-in parking) and
parallel parking.
The area behind the vehicle is displayed as
a reverse-mirror image similar to the view
in a rear-view mirror.The Dynamic Rear View Monitor is in the
handle strip of the trunk lid.
1Dynamic Rear View Monitor
View through the camera
i
The image from the Dynamic Rear View
Monitor is shown on the COMAND display
(
page 31).
Warning!
G
Please note that objects which do not touch
the ground, such as the bumper of a vehicle
parked behind you, a trailer hitch, or the
back of a truck, may appear to be further
away than they actually are. In this case, you
should not use the guide lines to judge dis-
tance. The use of the guide lines to judge
distance increases the risk of impacting the
objects.

414 Controls in detailDriving systemsWarning!
G
The Dynamic Rear View Monitor is a supple-
ment system. It is not intended to, nor does
it replace, the need for extreme care. The re-
sponsibility during parking and other driving
maneuvers always rests with the driver.
The Dynamic Rear View Monitor may show
obstacles with a distorted perspective, in-
correctly or not at all.
Special attention must be paid to objects
outside of the camera’s field of view such as
those located very close to or below the rear
bumper, or above the recessed grip of the
luggage compartment lid. Such objects may
not be detected by the system and can dam-
age the vehicle.
The Dynamic Rear View Monitor does not
warn you about impending collisions with
objects. The driver is always responsible for
safety and must continue to pay attention to
the immediate surroundings while parking
or maneuvering the vehicle. This applies not
only to the area behind the vehicle, but also
to the area in front of and to the sides of the
vehicle. Failure to do so could result in injury
to persons and/or damage to the vehicle or
other property. We also recommend that the
driver use the Parktronic system* or Park
Assist* when parking or maneuvering the
vehicle.Warning!
G
Make sure that no persons or animals are
standing in the area where you are maneu-
vering. You could otherwise injure them.Warning!
G
The Dynamic Rear View Monitor may not
function if:

the trunk lid is not completely closed


it is raining or snowing heavily, or if
there is thick fog


in a very dark area


the camera is exposed to very strong
white light (white stripes may appear on
the COMAND display)


the surrounding area is lit with fluores-
cent light (the COMAND display can
flicker)


there is a sudden change in tempera-
ture, for example when you drive out of
the cold into a heated garage in winter
(lens condensation)


outside temperatures are very high (lens
condensation)


the camera lens is dirty or covered, see
“Cleaning of the Dynamic Rear View
Monitor lens*” (
page 538)


the rear of your vehicle is damaged. In
this case, have the position and setting
of the camera checked by a qualified
technician. Contact an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
Do not use the Dynamic Rear View Monitor
if the roads are icy, slippery or covered with
snow. The vehicle could slip causing the ac-
tual vehicle position to deviate from the one
shown on the COMAND display.

415 Controls in detail
Driving systems
Switching on Dynamic Rear View Moni-
tor

Switch on the ignition (
page 315).

Switch on COMAND (
page 79).

Move gear selector lever to position R
(reverse gear).
The COMAND display will show the
area behind the vehicle with guide lines
to help you reverse into a parking
place.
Reverse parking (back-in parking)This function helps you when you are re-
versing in a straight line or backing in at
any angle.
The space required by the vehicle for re-
versing is shown by guide lines.
When you turn the steering wheel to a
straight-ahead position, you will see the
guide lines on the COMAND display in the
following order:
1Yellow and blue guide lines for vehicle
width
2Yellow 13 ft (4 m) guide line
3Yellow 39 in (1 m) guide line
4Red 10 in (0.25 m) guide line
This may cause injury to you or others, or
damage the vehicle or objects.
Mounting tires/rims of other specification
than the original equipment tires/rims may
impair the function of the Dynamic Rear
View Monitor. Contact an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.Warning!
G
Use of Dynamic Rear View Monitor can be
dangerous if you are color-blind or have im-
paired color vision.
Only use Dynamic Rear View Monitor if you
can see and distinguish all colored guide
lines shown by Dynamic Rear View Monitor
on the COMAND display.i
The Dynamic Rear View Monitor must be ac-
tivated in the instrument cluster control system
in order for it to be switched on (
page 253).
i
If you activate a different function on the
driver’s COMAND controls while reverse parking
or parallel parking, the image from the back-up
camera is interrupted.
To reactivate the camera, take the vehicle out of
reverse gear and then re-engage reverse gear
again.

416 Controls in detailDriving systemsThe red 10 in (0.25 m) guide line4, the
yellow 39 in (1 m) guide line3 and the
yellow 13 ft (4 m) guide line2 correspond
to the relevant distance from the rear of
the vehicle. The yellow and blue guide lines
for vehicle width1 show the required
width for the vehicle.
5Blue guide lines for straight driving
6Symbol for “reverse parking”
7Yellow and red guide lines for cornering
When you turn the steering wheel out of
the straight-ahead position, the positions
of the yellow and red guide lines7
change depending on the steering wheel’s
position. The space required by the vehicle
for reverse cornering is indicated by yellow
and red guide lines7.Backing in straight

Switch on the ignition (
page 315).

Switch on COMAND (
page 79).

Move gear selector lever to position R
(reverse gear).

Use the COMAND controller
(page 82) to select “reverse parking”
function 6.
You will see the guide lines for reverse
parking on the COMAND display.
The desired parking space is wide
enough if nothing is inside the yellow
and blue guide lines1 of your intend-
ed driving path or protrudes into this
area.

Back in straight carefully.
Warning!
G
Please note that objects which do not touch
the ground, such as the bumper of a vehicle
parked behind you, a trailer hitch, or the
back of a truck, may appear to be further
away than they actually are. In this case, you
should not use the guide lines to judge dis-
tance as the use of the guide lines to judge
distance increases the risk of impacting the
objects.
Even when the object you approach is di-
rectly on the ground (and nothing on the ob-
ject extends above the ground beyond the
object's contours directly touching the
ground) and no objects that do not touch
the ground, such as the bumper of a vehicle
parked behind you, a trailer hitch, or the
back of a truck are in the path, do not ap-
proach the object on the ground any closer
than red guide line4.
i
The Dynamic Rear View Monitor must be ac-
tivated in the instrument cluster control system
in order for it to be switched on (
page 253).
!
While parking, do not approach any obsta-
cles closer than indicated by red guide line4.

418 Controls in detailDriving systems
Use the COMAND controller
(page 82) to select “parallel parking”
function2.
You will see the guide lines for parallel
parking on the COMAND display.

Back up carefully parallel to parked car
until the respective vertical blue guide
line1 is at the end of the parked vehi-
cle next to you.

Stop the vehicle.1Vertical blue guide line
3Extended blue guide line
4Blue guide lines for vehicle contour

With the vehicle at a standstill, turn
steering wheel in parking direction until
blue guide lines3 and 4 appear and
the rectangle formed by guide lines 4
shows the desired parking position. If
another vehicle is located next to you,
the extended blue guide line4 must
just touch the corresponding vertical
blue guide line1.
Warning!
G
If the respective vertical guide line1 is not
yet located at the end of the parked vehicle
and you are already turning into the parking
space, you could collide with the parked ve-
hicle. Stop the parking procedure immedi-
ately. Pull out of the parking space and start
the parking procedure over again.
i
If an obstacle is inside of or protrudes into
the area marked by blue guide lines4 for the
vehicle, the parking space is too small for the ve-
hicle.
i
If you turn the steering wheel too far, the
message “Steering wheel turned too far. Please
adjust steering wheel” appears on the COMAND
display. Turn the steering wheel back until the
message disappears and the extended blue
guide line4 intersects with vertical blue guide
line1.
If you back up using the wrong wheel angle, the
following appears in the COMAND display:
“Steering wheel turned too far. Park Assist dis-
abled.”. Pull out of the parking space and start
the parking procedure over again.


419 Controls in detail
Driving systems
5Bent blue guide line
Back up with the set wheel angle.
The guide lines in the COMAND display
disappear. After a short distance, the
bent blue guide line5 appears.

Back up until bent guide line5 inter-
sects the edge of the parking space,
e.g. the curb.

Stop the vehicle.
6Yellow and red guide lines for cornering
7Blue guide line for straight driving

With the vehicle at a standstill, turn
steering wheel as far as it will go in the
opposite direction.
The guide lines for straight driving7
and cornering6 appear in the
COMAND display.

Back up using the set wheel angle until
blue guide line7 for straight driving is
parallel to the edge of the parking
space, e.g. the curb.

Now straighten out steering wheel and
back up until you still have just enough
room behind the vehicle.
While doing so, observe
Parktronic* (
page 405) or Park As-
sist* (
page 409) warning indicators.
i
If you turn the steering wheel while backing
up, the following appears in the COMAND dis-
play: “The steering wheel position has been
changed. Park Assist disabled.”. Pull out of the
parking space and start the parking procedure
over again.

420 Controls in detailDriving systemsNight View Assist*
Night View Assist illuminates the road with
infrared light in addition to the normal
headlamps.
A camera at the top of the windshield mea-
sures the infrared light and shows a
black-and-white image on the multifunc-
tion display. The image on the multifunction display cor-
responds to a road lit up by high-beam
headlamps.The Night View Assist image on the multi-
function display is not impaired


by the headlamps of approaching vehi-
cles


if you cannot switch on the high beams
due to oncoming traffic
As a result, you can better follow the
course of the road and detect obstacles
earlier on.
The camera is at the top of the windshield.
1Night View Assist camera
Warning!
G
Night View Assist is only an aid to support
you while driving and cannot substitute your
careful attention. Do not rely on the display
of the Night View Assist; instead, continue
to look through the windshield. You are al-
ways responsible for safety and must drive
in accordance with traffic conditions. Other-
wise, you could endanger yourself and oth-
ers.
If it is foggy, raining or snowing, the clarity of
the Night View Assist image on the multi-
function display may be diminished.
Warning!
G
Night View Assist cannot record objects im-
mediately in front of or next to the vehicle.
When maneuvering, continue to look
through the windshield. Make sure that no
persons or animals are in or near the area in
which you are maneuvering.
i
Infrared light is invisible to the human eye
and can therefore remain permanently switched
on without blinding oncoming traffic.

422 Controls in detailDriving systemsDirty or fogged-up windshield
If the windshield in front of the camera is
fogged up on the inside or outside or if it is
dirty, the Night View Assist image is dimin-
ished.Removing condensation
1Recessed handles on camera cover

Fold camera cover downward using re-
cessed handles1.

Check settings of automatic climate
control and change them, if necessary
(page 424).
Once the image is no longer impaired:

Fold camera cover back up using re-
cessed handles1.Cleaning inside of windshield

Clean inside of windshield in front of
camera (
page 539).
Warning!
G
Please do not forget that your primary re-
sponsibility is to drive the vehicle. A driver’s
attention to the road must always be
his/her primary focus when driving. For
your safety and the safety of others, stop be-
fore trying to remove window fogging or
cleaning the window in front of the Night
View Assist camera.
Bear in mind that at a speed of just 30 mph
(approximately 50 km/h), your vehicle is
covering a distance of 44 feet (approximate-
ly 14 m) every second.