air condition MERCEDES-BENZ S-Class 2008 W221 Comand Manual

Contents
Flat tire .............................................. 723
Preparing the vehicle ................... 723
Mounting the spare wheel............ 723
Batteries ............................................ 729
Disconnecting starter battery ...... 731
Removing starter battery ............. 732
Charging battery .......................... 732
Reinstalling starter battery........... 733
Reconnecting starter battery ....... 733
Jump starting ..................................... 734
Towing the vehicle ............................. 737
Towing with front wheels raised ... 738
Towing with all wheels
on the ground............................... 739
Installing towing eye bolt ............. 740
Fuses ................................................. 741
Fuse boxes in
engine compartment .................... 742
Fuse boxes in
passenger compartment .............. 743
Emergency engine shut-down ...... 744
Technical data.................................. 745
Parts service....................................... 746
Warranty coverage ............................. 747
Loss of Service and Warranty
Information Booklet ...................... 747
Identification labels ............................ 748
Layout of poly-V-belt drive .................. 750
S 450 4MATIC, S 550 and
S 550 4MATIC............................... 750
S 63 AMG ..................................... 750
S 600 and S 65 AMG .................... 750
Engine ................................................ 751
Rims and tires .................................... 754
Same size tires ............................. 755
Mixed size tires ............................. 757
Spare wheel .................................. 759
Electrical system ................................ 760
Main dimensions and weights ............ 762
Main dimensions........................... 762
Weights ......................................... 763Fuels, coolants, lubricants, etc. .......... 764
Capacities ..................................... 764
Engine oils .................................... 769
Engine oil additives ....................... 769
Air conditioning refrigerant ........... 769
Brake fluid .................................... 769
Premium unleaded gasoline.......... 770
Fuel requirements......................... 770
Gasoline additives......................... 771
Coolants ....................................... 771
Windshield washer system and
headlamp cleaning system ........... 774
Index................................................. 775

15 Introduction
Operator’s Manual
Important notice for California retail
buyers and lessees of Mercedes-Benz automobiles
Under California law you may be entitled to
a replacement of your vehicle or a refund
of the purchase price or lease price, if
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC and/or its au-
thorized repair or service facilities fail to fix
one or more substantial defects or mal-
functions in the vehicle that are covered by
its express warranty after a reasonable
number of repair attempts. During the pe-
riod of 18 months from original delivery of
the vehicle or the accumulation of
18 000 miles (approximately 29 000 km)
on the odometer of the vehicle, whichever
occurs first, a reasonable number of repair
attempts is presumed for a retail buyer or
lessee if one or more of the following oc-
curs: (1) the same substantial defect or mal-
function results in a condition that is
likely to cause death or serious bodily
injury if the vehicle is driven, that de-
fect or malfunction has been subject to
repair two or more times, and you have
directly notified Mercedes-Benz USA,
LLC in writing of the need for its repair,
(2) the same substantial defect or mal-
function of a less serious nature than
category (1) has been subject to repair
four or more times and you have direct-
ly notified us in writing of the need for
its repair, or
(3) the vehicle is out of service by reason
of repair of the same or different sub-
stantial defects or malfunctions for a
cumulative total of more than
30 calendar days.
Written notification should not be sent to a
dealer, it should be addressed to:
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC
Customer Assistance Center
One Mercedes Drive
Montvale, NJ 07645-0350
Maintenance
The Maintenance Booklet describes all the
necessary maintenance work which should
be performed at regular intervals.
Always have the Maintenance Booklet with
you when you take the vehicle to an autho-
rized Mercedes-Benz Center for service.
The service advisor will record each ser-
vice in the booklet for you.Roadside Assistance
The Mercedes-Benz Roadside Assistance
Program provides factory trained technical
help in the event of a breakdown. Calls to
the toll-free Roadside Assistance number
1-800-FOR-MERCedes (in the USA)
1-800-387-0100 (in Canada)
will be answered by Mercedes-Benz
Customer Assistance Representatives
24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

86 Control systemsCOMAND operating safetyWarning!
G
Any alteration of electronic components or
software can cause malfunctions.
Radio, satellite radio, amplifier, CD/DVD
changer, navigation module, telephone and
Voice Control Systems* are interconnected.
Therefore, if one of the components is not
operational, or has not been removed/ re-
placed properly, the function of other com-
ponents could be impaired.
Such conditions might seriously impair the
operating safety of your vehicle.
We recommend to have any service work on
electronic components carried out by an au-
thorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Warning!
G
In order to avoid distraction which could
lead to an accident, the driver should enter
system settings while the vehicle is at a
standstill, and operate the system only
when permitted by road, weather and traffic
conditions.
Bear in mind that at a speed of just 30 mph
(approximately 50 km/ h), your car covers a
distance of 44 feet (approximately 14 m) ev-
ery second.
COMAND supplies you with information to
help you select your route more easily and
guide you conveniently and safely to your
destination. For safety reasons, we encour-
age the driver to stop the vehicle in a safe
place before answering or placing a call, or
consulting the COMAND screen to read nav-
igational maps, instructions, or downloaded
information.
Warning!
G
While the navigation system provides direc-
tional assistance, the driver must remain fo-
cused on safe driving behavior, especially
attention to traffic and street signs, and
should utilize the system’s audio cues while
driving.
The navigation system does not supply any
information on stop signs, yield signs, traffic
regulations or traffic safety rules. Their ob-
servance always remains in the driver’s per-
sonal responsibility. DVD maps do not cover
all areas nor all routes within an area.

145 Control systems
COMAND telephone*
“911” emergency call
The following conditions must be fulfilled
in order to make a “911” emergency call:

The phone is switched on.


A mobile network is available.


There is a valid SIM card in the phone
(not necessary in all mobile networks).
If you cannot make an emergency call, you
must initiate rescue measures yourself.
The “911” emergency call is a public ser-
vice. Any misuse is punishable by law.Placing a “911” emergency call before
entering PIN/PIN2, PUK/PUK2 or un-
lock code
Entering the number using the COMAND
controller

Select “Telephone”
“Dial 911”.
Entering the number using the tele-
phone keypad

Enter digits 9-1-1 (
page 144).

Press s.Placing a “911” emergency call after
entering PIN/PIN2, PUK/PUK2 or un-
lock code
Entering the number using the COMAND
controller

Select “Telephone”.

Select all the digits in sequence.

Select “S”.
Entering the number using the tele-
phone keypad

Enter digits 9-1-1 (
page 144).

Press s.
i
The “911” emergency call system is a public
service. Using it without due cause is a criminal
offense.
i
This function places a call to the local 911
provider. It does not initiate a Tele Aid call.
i
If no SIM card is inserted in the mobile
phone, you can only initiate a “911” emergency
call by using COMAND and the mobile phone.
i
The roof cargo container* may impair mo-
bile phone reception. In an emergency, remove
the mobile phone from the mobile phone cradle
(
page 539) to make a call.

188 Control systemsCOMAND navigation (introduction)Map software
The digital maps generated by the map
software become outdated in the same
way as conventional road maps. Optimum
route guidance can only be provided by the
navigation system in conjunction with the
most up-to-date map software.
Information about new map software ver-
sions can be obtained from an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
Updating the map software
You can update the map software yourself
using a DVD.
Notes about handling DVDs

Only hold discs by the edge.


Handle discs carefully to prevent read
problems.


Avoid getting scratches, fingerprints
and dust on discs.


Use a commercially-available cleaning
cloth to clean discs. Do not wipe them
with a circular motion, but only in
straight lines from the center out-
wards.


Place discs back in their boxes after
use.


Protect discs from heat and direct sun-
light.
Updating process
The updating process has the following
phases:

Loading a DVD into the DVD changer
(page 189)


Updating process (
page 190)
i
The updating process can take between
10 and 60 minutes, depending on the size of the
map software. If the radio was switched on be-
fore you started the updating process, you can
still adjust the volume. You can also use
COMAND to operate the automatic air condition-
ing and to cancel the process. Other functions
are not operational.
If possible, carry out the update when the vehicle
is stationary.

277 Control systems
COMAND automatic climate control
The “AC
OFF” function is used to permanent-
ly switch off the cooling function of the au-
tomatic climate control system.

Select climate control settings
Cen-
tral climate control menu.

Selecting “AC
OFF”: Slide qmr or
rotateymz.

Confirming selection: Press n.
A checkmark appears when the cooling
is switched off.
“AC
OFF” appears in the central menu of
the climate control settings.Selecting “Mono” mode
“Mono” is used to adjust the climate zones
for the entire vehicle at the same time.
When the “Mono” function is switched on
and you change the climate on the driver’s
side, these changes will be carried out in
the same manner for all climate zones.

Select climate control settings
Cen-
tral climate control menu.

Selecting “Mono”: Slide qmr or
rotateymz.

Confirming selection: Press n.
A checkmark appears when the func-
tion has been selected.

Exiting menu: Press back button L
in the center console (
page 88) or
slideomp.
i
Condensation may drip out from underneath
the vehicle. This is normal and not an indication
of a malfunction.Warning!
G
If you turn off the cooling function, the
vehicle will not be cooled when weather
conditions are warm. The windows can fog
up more quickly. Window fogging may
impair visibility and endanger you and
others.
!
If the air conditioning cannot be turned on
again, this indicates that the air conditioning is
losing refrigerant. The compressor has turned it-
self off.
Have the air conditioning checked at the nearest
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.

300 Control systemsInstrument cluster control system
Logging-on to a network
Switch on the telephone and COMAND
(page 87).

Press ( or & to select the “Tele-
phone” menu.
Which messages appear in the multifunc-
tion display depends on whether your tele-
phone is switched on or off.


If the telephone is off, the message in
the multifunction display is: “Telephone
OFF”.


If the telephone is not inserted in the
cradle, the message in the multifunc-
tion display is: “No telephone insert-
ed.”.


If the PIN or unlock code is not yet en-
tered, the message in the multifunction
display is “Please enter PIN” or “Enter
unlock code”.


If the telephone is switched on, the
telephone will then search for a net-
work. During this time, the multifunc-
tion display is blank. If no network
available, the multifunction display
reads “No Service”.


If the telephone is on, as soon as the
telephone has found a network,
“Ready” or “Ready (Roaming)” appears
in the multifunction display.
Otherwise, you may not be able to observe
traffic conditions and could endanger your-
self and others.
Bear in mind that at a speed of just 30 mph
(approximately 50 km/h), your vehicle is
covering a distance of 44 feet (approxima-
tely 14 m) every second.Warning!
G
Never operate radio transmitters equipped
with a built-in or attached antenna (i.e. with-
out being connected to an external antenna)
from inside the vehicle while the engine is
running. Doing so could lead to a malfunc-
tion of the vehicle’s electronic system, pos-
sibly resulting in an accident and/or
personal injury.
i
Various mobile phone cradles can be in-
stalled in the front center armrest, see separate
installation instructions for the mobile phone
cradle. These mobile phone cradles can be ob-
tained from an authorized Mercedes-Benz Cen-
ter. For more information about telephone
(
page 539).
i
The roof cargo container* may impair mo-
bile phone reception. In an emergency, remove
the mobile phone from the mobile phone cradle
(
page 539) to make a call.


313 Control systems
Voice Control telephone
Voice Control telephone
Telephone operation
The Voice Control System gives you the
following capabilities:

Enter a telephone unlock code


Dial a phone number by speaking the
telephone number


Store names and numbers in the
COMAND address book


Dial a phone number by speaking the
name of an COMAND address book en-
try


Delete an address book entry from the
address book


Have the system read out the phone
book of the address book entry by en-
try


Manage and access an automated an-
swering system/voice mail box


Redial names and numbers
Warning!
G
Some jurisdictions prohibit the driver from
using a cellular telephone while driving.
Whether or not prohibited by law, for safety
reasons, the driver should not use the cellu-
lar telephone while the vehicle is in motion.
Stop the vehicle in a safe location before
placing or answering a call.
If you nonetheless choose to use the mobile
phone while driving, please use the hands-
free feature and be sure to pay attention to
the traffic situation at all times. Use the mo-
bile phone only when road, weather and traf-
fic conditions permit. Otherwise, you may
not be able to observe traffic conditions and
could endanger yourself and others.
Bear in mind that at a speed of just 30 mph
(approximately 50 km/h), your vehicle is
covering a distance of 44 feet (approxima-
tely 14 m) every second.
Warning!
G
Never operate radio transmitters equipped
with a built-in or attached antenna (i.e. with-
out being connected to an external antenna)
from inside the vehicle while the engine is
running. Doing so could lead to a malfunc-
tion of the vehicle’s electronic system, pos-
sibly resulting in an accident and/or
personal injury.i
Various mobile phone cradles can be in-
stalled in the front center armrest, see separate
installation instructions for the mobile phone
cradle. These mobile phone cradles can be ob-
tained from an authorized Mercedes-Benz Cen-
ter. For more information about telephone
(
page 539).
i
The roof cargo container* may impair mo-
bile phone reception. In an emergency, remove
the mobile phone from the mobile phone cradle
(
page 539) to make a call.

436 Controls in detailAutomatic transmission
Automatic shift program
The program mode selector switch is used
to adjust

shift program


suspension tuning of Airmatic
(page 468) or ABC* (
page 470)


engine control
Program mode selector switchC Comfort For comfort driving
S Sport For standard driving
Program mode selector switch (S 63 AMG
and S 65 AMG only)M Manual For manual gear shifting
(
page 440)
C Comfort For standard driving
S Sport For sporty driving
Effect
è
The transmission shifts through
third gear only.
With this selection you can use
the braking effect of the engine.
ç
The transmission shifts through
second gear only.
Allows the use of engine’s
braking power when driving:

on steep downgrades


in mountainous regions


under extreme operating
conditions
æ
The transmission operates in
first gear only.
For maximum use of engine’s
braking effect on very steep or
lengthy downgrades.

444 Controls in detailInstrument clusterA full view illustration of the instrument
cluster can be found in the “At a glance”
section of this manual (
page 28).
The instrument cluster is activated when
you:


open a door


switch on the ignition (
page 370)


switch on the exterior lamps
The language setting for the multifunction
display can be changed via COMAND
(
page 262).Adjusting instrument cluster display
illumination
1Knob

Brightening illumination: Turn
knob1 clockwise.

Dimming illumination: Turn knob1
counterclockwise.
Coolant temperature gauge
The coolant temperature gauge is on the
left side in the instrument cluster
(page 28).
Warning!
G
No messages will be displayed if either the
instrument cluster or the multifunction dis-
play is inoperative.
As a result, you will not be able to see infor-
mation about your driving conditions, such
as speed or outside temperature, warning/
indicator lamps, malfunction/warning mes-
sages or the failure of any systems. Driving
characteristics may be impaired.
If you must continue to drive, please do so
with added caution. Contact an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center as soon as possible.i
The instrument cluster illumination is
dimmed or brightened automatically to suit am-
bient light conditions.
The instrument cluster illumination will also be
adjusted automatically when you switch on the
vehicle’s exterior lamps.
Warning!
G


Driving when your engine is overheated
can cause some fluids which may have
leaked into the engine compartment to
catch fire. You could be seriously
burned.


Steam from an overheated engine can
cause serious burns and can occur just
by opening the hood. Stay away from
the engine if you see or hear steam com-
ing from it.
Stop the vehicle in a safe location away from
other traffic. Turn off the engine, get out