vehicle MERCEDES-BENZ S-Class 2008 W221 Comand Manual

17 Introduction
Where to find it
Where to find it
This Operator’s Manual is designed to pro-
vide comprehensive support information
for you, the vehicle operator. Each section
has its own reference color.At a glance
Here you will find an overview of your vehi-
cle’s interior and exterior main features.Safety and Security
Here you will find descriptions of the safety
and security features of your vehicle.Control systems
Here you will find detailed information
about the operation of the COMAND sys-
tem, instrument cluster control system
and Voice Control.
Controls in detail
Here you will find detailed information
about the equipment installed in your vehi-
cle. This section also describes technical
innovations.Operation
Here you will find all the information you
need for the proper operation of your vehi-
cle.Practical hints
This section provides fast assistance for
dealing with problems you may encounter.
Technical data
All important technical data for your vehi-
cle can be found in this section.Indexes
The table of contents and the index are de-
signed to help you find information quickly
and easily.
The following publications are part of your
vehicle documentation:

this Operator’s Manual


the Maintenance Booklet
Separate operating instructions will be
provided as required depending on the
equipment options installed in your vehi-
cle.

18 IntroductionSymbolsTrademarks:

Bluetooth
® is a registered trademark of
of Bluetooth SIG Inc.


ESP
® and PRE-SAFE
® are registered
trademark of DaimlerChrysler.


HomeLink
® is a registered trademark
of Prince, a Johnson Controls
Company.


LOGIC7
® is a registered trademark of
Harman International Industries, Incor-
porated.


SIRIUS and related marks are trade-
marks of SIRIUS Satellite Radio Inc.The following symbols are found in this
Operator’s Manual:
* Optional equipment is identified
with an asterisk. Since standard
equipment varies between models,
the descriptions and illustrations in
this manual may differ slightly from
the actual equipment of your vehi-
cle.

This symbol points to instructions for
you to follow.

A number of these symbols appearing
in succession indicates a multiple-step
procedure.
 page This symbol tells you where to
look for further information on a
topic.
This continuation symbol marks
a warning which is continued on
the next page.

This continuation symbol marks
a procedure which is continued
on the next page.
-> This symbol is used to indicate
cross-references to term defini-
tions.
DisplayWords appearing in the multi-
function display and COMAND
display are printed in the type
shown here.
Warning!
G
Warning notices draw your attention to haz-
ards that may endanger your health or life,
or the health or life of others.!
Highlights hazards that may result in dam-
age to your vehicle.
i
Helpful hints or further information you may
find useful.

19 Introduction
Operating safety
Operating safety
Proper use of the vehicle
Proper use of the vehicle requires that you
are familiar with the following information
and rules:

the safety precautions in this manual


the “Technical data” section in this
manual


traffic rules and regulations


motor vehicle laws and safety stan-
dards
Warning!
G
Work improperly carried out on electronic
components and associated software could
cause them to cease functioning. Because
the vehicle’s electronic components are in-
terconnected, any modifications made may
produce an undesired effect on other sys-
tems. Electronic malfunctions could seri-
ously impair the operating safety of your
vehicle.
Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Cen-
ter for repairs or modifications to electronic
components.
Other improper work or modifications on the
vehicle could also have a negative impact on
the operating safety of the vehicle.
Some safety systems only function while the
engine is running. You should therefore nev-
er turn off the engine while driving.
Warning!
G
Heavy blows against the vehicle underbody
or tires/wheels, for example when running
over an obstacle, road debris or a pothole,
may cause serious damage and impair the
o per at i ng s a fet y of yo ur veh ic l e. I f y ou f ee l a
sudden significant vibration or ride distur-
bance, or you suspect that damage to your
vehicle has occurred, you should turn on
your hazard warning flashers, carefully slow
down, and drive with caution to an area
which is a safe distance from the road.
Inspect the vehicle underbody and
tires/wheels for possible damage. If the ve-
hicle appears unsafe, have it towed to the
nearest authorized Mercedes-Benz Center
or other qualified maintenance or repair fa-
cility for further inspection or repairs.
Warning!
G
Various warning labels are attached to your
vehicle. These warning labels are intended
to make you and others aware of various
risks. You should not remove any of these
warning labels unless explicitly instructed to
do so by information on the label itself. Re-
moval of any of these labels may cause you
and others to be unaware of certain risks
which may result in an accident and/or per-
sonal injury.

20 IntroductionProblems with your vehicleIf you should experience a problem with your vehicle, particularly one that you believe may affect its safe operation, we urge you to
immediately contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center to have the problem diagnosed and corrected if required. If the matter is
not handled to your satisfaction, please discuss the problem with the Mercedes-Benz Center management, or if necessary contact us
at one of the following addresses:
In the USA:
Customer Assistance Center
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC
One Mercedes Drive
Montvale, NJ 07645-0350
In Canada:
Customer Relations Department
Mercedes-Benz Canada, Inc.
98 Vanderhoof Avenue
Toronto, Ontario, M4G 4C9

21 Introduction
Reporting safety defects
Reporting safety defects
For the USA only:
The following text is published as required of manufacturers under Title 49, Code of U.S. Federal Regulations, Part 575 pursuant to the
“National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1966.”Reporting safety defects
If you believe that your vehicle has a defect which could cause a crash or could cause injury or death, you should immediately inform
the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in addition to notifying Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC.
If NHTSA receives similar complaints, it may open an investigation, and if it finds that a safety defect exists in a group of vehicles, it
may order a recall and remedy campaign. However, NHTSA cannot become involved in individual problems between you, your dealer,
or Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC.
To contact NHTSA, you may call the Vehicle Safety Hotline toll-free at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY: 1-800-424-9153);
go to http://www.safercar.gov; or write to: Administrator, NHTSA Headquarters, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE, West Building,
Washington, DC 20590. You can also obtain other information about motor vehicle safety from http://www.safercar.gov.

22 IntroductionVehicle data recordingInformation regarding electronic recording devices
(Including notice pursuant to California Code § 9951)
Please note that your vehicle is equipped with devices that can record vehicle systems data and, if equipped with the Tele Aid system,
may transmit some data in certain accidents.
This information helps, for example, to diagnose vehicle systems after a collision and to continuously improve vehicle safety.
DaimlerChrysler may access the information and share it with others

for safety research or vehicle diagnosis purposes


with the consent of the vehicle owner or lessee


in response to an official request by law enforcement or other government agency


for use in dispute resolution involving DaimlerChrysler, its affiliates or sales/service organization and/or


as otherwise required or permitted by law.
Please check the Tele Aid subscription service agreement for details regarding the information that may be recorded or transmitted
via that system.

25 At a glance
Exterior view
Item
Page
1
Trunk

Unlocking


Opening and closing


Minispare wheel


Vehicle tool kit
511
511
723
705
2
Rear lamps
715
3
Rear window, defrosting
506
4
Fuel filler flap
Gasoline
570
770
5
Doors

Locking and unlocking


Opening and closing
358
358
Item
Page
6
Exterior rear view mirror
Parking position
388
391
7
Towing the vehicle
737
8
Rims and tires

Checking tire inflation
pressure


Minispare wheel


Flat tire
754
592
707
723
9
Hood, opening
Engine oil
Coolant
573
575
579
Item
Page
a
Headlamp cleaning system
403
b
Front lamps
715
c
Windshield wipers
Wiper blades, replacing
Wiper blades, cleaning
408
721
622
d
Window, cleaning
622
e
Roofs

Power tilt/sliding sunroof


Panorama roof with power
tilt/sliding panel*
518
521

27 At a glance
Cockpit
Item
Page
1
Combination switch

High beam


Corner-illuminating lamps


Windshield wipers


Turn signals
403
404
408
420
2
Lever for

Cruise control


DISTRONIC Plus*
447
451
3
Horn
4
Multifunction steering wheel
288
5
Instrument cluster
28
6
Steering wheel gearshift con-
trol
438
7
Gear selector lever for
automatic transmission
416
Item
Page
8
Control 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
51
469,
471
74
475,
480
89
444
9
COMAND display
87
a
Overhead control panel
33
b
Automatic climate control
Center console, upper part
501
32
Item
Page
c
Glove box lock
526
d
Cover of compartment with

CD/DVD changer


PCMCIA card slot
120
121
e
Center console, lower part
30
f
Starter switch
KEYLESS-GO* start/stop
button
370
371
g
Steering wheel adjustment
Heated steering wheel*
386
387
h
Electronic parking brake
422
j
Door control panel
34
k
Hood lock release
573
l
Night View Assist*
491
m
Exterior lamp switch
399

29 At a glance
Instrument cluster
Item
Page
1
Coolant temperature gauge
444
2
Fuel gauge with:
Fuel tank reserve warning
lamp
AHigh beam headlamp
indicator lamp
-ABS indicator lamp
=SRS indicator lamp
683
403
628
637
3
Parktronic*/Park Assist*
warning indicator for left
front area
474,
479
4
Multifunction display with:Speedometer0
USA only
!
Canada only
Electronic
parking brake
warning or indi-
cator lamps
630
Item
Page
;
USA only
3
Canada only
Brake warning
lamp
629
635
HCombination low tire
pressure/TPMS mal-
function telltale, USA
only
Low tire pressure*
telltale, Canada only
638
LLeft turn signal
indicator lamp
420
KRight turn signal
indicator lamp
420
vESP
® warning lamp
634
lDistance warning
lamp*
1
79,
454,
634
1Vehicles without DISTRONIC Plus*: Warning lamp
without function. It illuminates when the ignition is
on. It should go out when the engine is running.
Item
Page
5
Parktronic*/Park Assist*
warning indicator for right
front area
474,
479
6
Gear position/range
indicator
435
7
Tachometer with:±Engine malfunction
indicator lamp
632
8
Selected program mode indi-
cator
437
9
Main menu for control sys-
tem, multifunction display
287
a
Outside temperature
445
b
Display with:Additional speedometer
306
:PRE-SAFE
® Brake*
indicator
303

40 Safety and SecurityOccupant safetyIn this section you will learn the most im-
portant facts about the restraint systems
of the vehicle.
The restraint systems are

Seat belts (
page 52)


Child restraints (
page 58)


Lower Anchors and Tethers for
CHildren (LATCH) (
page 63)
Additional protection potential provide


Supplemental Restraint System (SRS)
with

Air bags (
page 42)


Air bag control unit (with crash
sensors)


Emergency Tensioning Device
(ETD) for seat belts (
page 55)


Seat belt force limiter (
page 55)


Preventive occupant safety
(PRE-SAFE
®) (page 57)


Active head restraints (
page 56)Air bag system components with


The front passenger front air bag off in-
dicator lamp (
page 51)


Front passenger seat with Occupant
Classification System (OCS)
(page 47)
Although independent systems, their pro-
tective functions work in conjunction with
each other.The SRS system conducts a self-test when
the ignition is switched on and in regular
intervals while the engine is running. This
facilitates early detection of malfunctions.
The =indicator lamp in the instrument
cluster (
page 28) comes on when the
ignition is switched on and goes out no lat-
er than a few seconds after the engine has
been started.
The SRS components are in operational
readiness when the =indicator lamp is
not lit when the engine is running.
A malfunction in the system has been
detected if the =indicator lamp:


fails to go out after approximately
4 seconds after the engine was started


does not come on at all


comes on after the engine was started
or while driving
i
For information on infants and children trav-
eling with you in the vehicle and restraint sys-
tems for infants and children, see “Children in
the vehicle” (
page 58).