Start MERCEDES-BENZ S-Class 2011 W221 Owner's Guide

In order to maintain an appropriate distance
from the vehicle in front and thus prevent a
collision, you must apply the brakes yourself.
At speeds up to approximately
40 mph (70 km/h), PRE-SAFE ®
Brake may
also detect stationary obstacles, for example
stopped or parked vehicles.GWarning!
If you do not receive visual or acoustic
warning signals, the PRE-SAFE ®
Brake may
R not have recognized the collision risk
R have been deactivated
R be malfunctioning
Apply the brakes yourself to avoid a collision.
XTo activate/deactivate: activate or
deactivate PRE-SAFE ®
Brake in the on-
board computer ( Y page 376).
After activation, the Ä symbol is
displayed on the left in the instrument
cluster.
For PRE-SAFE ®
Brake to assist you when
driving, the radar sensor system must be
switched on and operational.
PRE-SAFE ®
Brake does not always detect
complex traffic situations properly. You can
terminate the braking action of PRE-SAFE ®
Brake in a non-critical driving situation at any
time if:
R an acoustic and visual warning occurs.
R the vehicle brakes.
To stop the braking action, you can either
depress the accelerator pedal further,
activate kickdown or release the brake pedal.
The braking action of PRE-SAFE ®
Brake is
ended automatically if:
R you maneuver to avoid the obstacle.
R your speed drops below approximately
9 mph (15 km/h).
R there is no longer an obstacle detected in
front of your vehicle.
R there is no longer any danger of a collision.
Following a collision or collision-related
damage to the front end of the vehicle, have
the configuration and operation of the radar
sensors checked. Choose a qualified
specialist workshop which has the necessary
specialist knowledge and tools for the work
required. Mercedes-Benz recommends that
you use an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center
for this purpose.
Anti-theft systems
Immobilizer
The immobilizer prevents your vehicle from
being started without the correct key.
When leaving the vehicle, always take the
SmartKey with you and lock the vehicle. The
engine can be started by anyone with a valid
key that is left inside the vehicle.
XTo activate with the SmartKey: remove
the SmartKey from the ignition lock.XTo activate with KEYLESS-GO: switch the
ignition off and open the driver's door.XTo deactivate: switch on the ignition.
i
The immobilizer is always deactivated
when you start the engine.
ATA (Anti-Theft Alarm system)
A visual and audible alarm is triggered if the
alarm system is armed and you open:
R a door
R the vehicle with the mechanical key
R the trunk lid
R the hood
The alarm is not switched off, even if you
close the open door that has triggered it, for
example.
Anti-theft systems73SafetyZ

iIf the alarm stays on for more than 30
seconds, the emergency call system
mbrace (USA only) or TELEAID (Canada
only) initiates a call to the Customer
Assistance Center automatically. The
emergency call system initiates the call
provided that:
Ryou have subscribed to the mbrace/
TELEAID service.
Rthe mbrace/TELEAID service has been
activated properly.
Rthe required mobile phone, power supply
and GPS are available.
XTo arm: lock the vehicle with the SmartKey
or KEYLESS-GO.
Indicator lamp : flashes. The alarm
system is armed after approximately 30
seconds.
XTo deactivate: unlock the vehicle using the
SmartKey or KEYLESS-GO.
XTo stop the alarm using the SmartKey:
insert the SmartKey into the ignition lock.
The alarm is switched off.
or
XPress the % or & button on the
SmartKey.
The alarm is switched off.
XTo stop the alarm using KEYLESS-GO:
grasp the outside door handle. The key
must be outside the vehicle.
The alarm is switched off.
or
XPress the Start/Stop button on the
dashboard. The key must be inside the
vehicle.
The alarm is switched off.
74Anti-theft systemsSafety

Vehicle equipment
i This manual describes all the standard
and optional equipment of your vehicle
which was available at the time of
purchase. Country-specific differences are
possible. Bear in mind that your vehicle
may not feature all functions described
here. This also refers to safety-related
systems and functions.
SmartKey
Important safety notes
GWarning!
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the
SmartKey from the starter switch. Always
take the SmartKey with you and lock the
vehicle. Do not leave children unattended in
the vehicle, even if they are secured in a child
restraint system, or with access to an
unlocked vehicle. A child's unsupervised
access to a vehicle could result in an accident
and/or serious personal injury. The children
could
R injure themselves on parts of the vehicle
R be seriously or fatally injured through
excessive exposure to extreme heat or cold
R injure themselves or cause an accident with
vehicle equipment that can be operated
even if the SmartKey is removed from the
starter switch or removed from the vehicle,
such as seat adjustment, steering wheel
adjustment, or the memory function
If children open a door, they could injure other
persons or get out of the vehicle and injure
themselves or be injured by following traffic.
Do not expose the child restraint system to
direct sunlight. The child restraint system's
metal parts, for example, could become very
hot, and the child could be burned by these
parts.
GWarning
Do not carry heavy or hard objects in the
passenger compartment unless they are
firmly secured in place.
Unsecured or improperly positioned cargo
increases a child's risk of injury in the event
of:
R strong braking maneuvers
R sudden changes of direction
R an accident
General information
If you cannot open or lock the vehicle with the
SmartKey, either the battery in the SmartKey
is empty, the SmartKey is faulty, or the starter
battery is discharged.
XCheck the battery in the SmartKey and
replace it if necessary ( Y page 80).XUnlock the driver's door with the
mechanical key ( Y page 84).XLock the vehicle ( Y page 84).XHave the starter battery and battery
contacts checked by an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
If the SmartKey is faulty, contact Roadside
Assistance or an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.
SmartKey functions
General notes
i USA only:
This device complies with Part 15 of the
FCC regulations. Operation is subject to
the following conditions:
1. This device must not cause any harmful
interference, and
2. This device must be able to
accommodate interference that is
received, including interference which
could cause unwanted functions.
76SmartKeyOpening and closing

Important information about using
KEYLESS-GO
RYou can use the KEYLESS-GO key as a
conventional SmartKey.
RYou can combine KEYLESS-GO functions
with those of a conventional SmartKey, e.g.
you can open the vehicle with KEYLESS-GO
and close it with the & button.
RAlways carry your KEYLESS-GO key on your
person.
RNever store the KEYLESS-GO key together
with:
-electronic devices, such as a mobile
phone or other SmartKey
-metal objects, such as coins or metal foil
Doing so may impair the function of
KEYLESS-GO.
RTo open or close the vehicle, the KEYLESS-
GO key should not be more than 3 ft (1 m)
from the door or trunk.
RIf the vehicle is parked for more than
72 hours, the KEYLESS-GO function is
deactivated. Pull an outer door handle and
switch on the ignition to reactivate the
KEYLESS-GO function.
RIf the KEYLESS-GO key is removed from the
vehicle, the system may not be able to
recognize the SmartKey anymore. The
vehicle can then no longer be locked or
started with KEYLESS-GO.
RIf the KEYLESS-GO key has been removed
from the vehicle, e.g. when another vehicle
occupant with a KEYLESS-GO key leaves
the vehicle:
-when the Start/Stop button is pressed,
or when trying to lock the vehicle using
the locking button on the outside door
handle, the Key Not Detected message
appears in the multifunction display.
-when the engine is running, the red Key
Not Detected message appears in the
multifunction display as you pull away.
Look for the KEYLESS-GO key and place
it somewhere else in the vehicle. Place
the KEYLESS-GO key on the front-
passenger seat, for example, or in your
shirt pocket.
RIf you have switched on the engine with the
Start/Stop button, you can switch it off
again by:
-pressing the Start/Stop button
-inserting the KEYLESS-GO key into the
ignition lock while the vehicle is at a
standstill and the automatic
transmission is in park position P.
RYou may inadvertently unlock the vehicle if
the KEYLESS-GO key is less than 3 ft (1 m)
from the vehicle and:
-an exterior door handle is hit by a jet of
water, or
-you clean an exterior door handle
RPlease note that any vehicle occupant can
start the engine when there is a KEYLESS-
GO key in the vehicle.
Scenario 1: There is a KEYLESS-GO key in
the vehicle and a second one outside the
vehicle. If you leave the KEYLESS-GO key
in the vehicle when you leave and lock the
vehicle, no message appears in the
multifunction display.
Scenario 2: There is a KEYLESS-GO key in
the vehicle, but none outside the vehicle. If
you get out of the vehicle and attempt to
lock it, the Key Detected In Vehicle
message appears in the multifunction
display. The vehicle is not then locked.
When starting the engine and whilst driving,
KEYLESS-GO also checks whether a valid
SmartKey is in the vehicle by periodically
establishing radio contact.
78SmartKeyOpening and closing

X To unlock the vehicle: pull the door
handle.XTo lock the vehicle: touch sensor
surface :.
If you pull on the handle of the trunk lid, only
the trunk of the vehicle is unlocked.
Changing the settings of the locking
system
You can change the setting of the locking
system in such a way that only the driver's
door and the fuel filler flap are unlocked. This
is useful if you frequently travel on your own.
XTo change the setting: press and hold
down the % and & buttons
simultaneously for approximately six
seconds until the battery check lamp
( Y page 80) flashes twice.
The SmartKey now functions as follows:
XTo unlock the driver's door: press the
% button once.XTo unlock centrally: press the %
button twice.XTo lock centrally: press the & button.
The KEYLESS-GO function is changed as
follows:
XTo unlock the driver's door : pull the door
handle on the driver's door.XTo unlock centrally: pull the door handle
on the front-passenger door or on the rear
doors.XTo lock centrally: touch sensor
surface : on one of the door handles.
Restoring the factory settings
XPress the % and & buttons
simultaneously for approximately six
seconds until the battery check lamp
flashes twice.Mechanical key
General notes
If you use the mechanical key to unlock and
open the driver's door or the trunk lid, the
anti-theft alarm system will be triggered
( Y page 73).
There are several ways to turn off the alarm:
XPress the % or & button on the
SmartKey.
or
XInsert the SmartKey into the ignition lock.
or
XPress the Start/Stop button in the ignition
lock. The SmartKey must be in the vehicle.
or
XLock or unlock the vehicle using KEYLESS-
GO. The SmartKey must be outside the
vehicle.
Removing the mechanical key
XPush release catch : in the direction of
the arrow and at the same time, remove
mechanical key ; from the SmartKey.
SmartKey battery
Important safety notes
It is advisable to have batteries replaced at a
qualified specialist workshop, e.g. at an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
SmartKey79Opening and closingZ

ProblemPossible causes/consequences and M SolutionsThe engine cannot be
started using the
SmartKey.The on-board voltage is too low.XRemove the SmartKey and reinsert it into the ignition lock.XStart the engine within 30 seconds of inserting the SmartKey
into the ignition lock.XRepeat if necessary.
If the engine does not start after several attempts:
XCheck the starter battery and charge it if necessary
( Y page 468).
or
XJump-start the vehicle ( Y page 471).
or
XConsult a qualified specialist workshop.The engine cannot be
started using KEYLESS-
GO. The SmartKey is in
the vehicle.A door is open. Therefore, the SmartKey cannot be detected as
easily.XClose the door and try to start the vehicle again.There is interference from a powerful source of radio waves.XStart your vehicle with the SmartKey in the ignition lock.Doors
Important safety notes
GWarning!
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the
SmartKey from the starter switch. Always
take the SmartKey with you and lock the
vehicle. Do not leave children unattended in
the vehicle, even if they are secured in a child
restraint system, or with access to an
unlocked vehicle. A child's unsupervised
access to a vehicle could result in an accident
and/or serious personal injury. The children
could
R injure themselves on parts of the vehicle
R be seriously or fatally injured through
excessive exposure to extreme heat or cold
R injure themselves or cause an accident with
vehicle equipment that can be operated
even if the SmartKey is removed from the
starter switch or removed from the vehicle,
such as seat adjustment, steering wheel
adjustment, or the memory function
If children open a door, they could injure other
persons or get out of the vehicle and injure
themselves or be injured by following traffic.
Do not expose the child restraint system to
direct sunlight. The child restraint system's
metal parts, for example, could become very
hot, and the child could be burned by these
parts.GWarning
Do not carry heavy or hard objects in the
passenger compartment unless they are
firmly secured in place.
Unsecured or improperly positioned cargo
increases a child's risk of injury in the event
of:
R strong braking maneuvers
R sudden changes of direction
R an accident
82DoorsOpening and closing

Opening and closing manually
Opening
You can only open the trunk lid after
unlocking it first.
XPress the % button on the SmartKey.XPull handle :.
Closing
GWarning
To prevent possible personal injury, always
keep hands and fingers away from the trunk
opening when closing the trunk lid. Be
especially careful when small children are
around.
XPull the trunk lid down using recess :.XLock the vehicle if necessary with
the & button on the SmartKey or with
KEYLESS-GO (Y page 77).
Automatic opening and closing from
the outside
Important safety guidelines
GWarning
Make sure the trunk lid is closed when the
engine is running and while driving. Among
other dangers, deadly carbon monoxide (CO)
gases may enter the vehicle interior resulting
in unconsciousness and death.
! The trunk lid swings upwards when
opened. Therefore, make sure that there is
sufficient clearance above the trunk lid.
For the trunk lid to be opened fully, there must
be a minimum clearance from floor to ceiling
of 5.90 ft (1.80 m).
Opening
You can open the trunk lid with the SmartKey.
XPress and hold the F button on the
SmartKey until the trunk lid opens.
Closing
GWarning!
Monitor the closing procedure carefully to
make sure no one is in danger of being
injured. To prevent possible personal injury,
always keep hands and fingers away from the
trunk opening when closing the trunk lid. Be
especially careful when small children are
around. To stop the closing procedure, do one
of the following:
RPress button F on the SmartKey.
RPress the remote trunk opening/closing
switch (on the driver's door).
RPress the trunk closing switch.
RPress the KEYLESS-GO locking/closing
switch.
RPull the trunk lid handle.
Even with the SmartKey removed from the
starter switch or the SmartKey with KEYLESS-
GO removed from the vehicle, the remote
86TrunkOpening and closing

trunk opening/closing switch can be
operated. Therefore, do not leave children
unattended in the vehicle, or with access to
an unlocked vehicle. A child's unsupervised
access to a vehicle could result in an accident
and/or serious personal injury.
You can close the trunk lid automatically by
using the closing button5 or locking button6.
XTo close: press closing button : in the
trunk lid.
XTo close and lock simultaneously:
Press locking button ; in the trunk lid.
iThe trunk lid can only be locked if there is
a KEYLESS-GO key outside the vehicle.
Automatic opening and closing from
the inside
GWarning!
Maintain sight of the area around the rear of
the vehicle while operating the trunk lid with
the door mounted switch. Monitor the closing
procedure carefully to make sure no one is in
danger of being injured.
To interrupt the closing procedure, release
the door mounted remote trunk opening/
closing switch again.
Even with the SmartKey removed from the
starter switch or the SmartKey with KEYLESS-
GO removed from the vehicle, the remote
trunk opening/closing switch can be
operated. Therefore, do not leave children
unattended in the vehicle, or with access to
an unlocked vehicle. A child’s unsupervised
access to a vehicle could result in an accident
and/or serious personal injury.
GWarning
Make sure the trunk lid is closed when the
engine is running and while driving. Among
other dangers, deadly carbon monoxide (CO)
gases may enter the vehicle interior resulting
in unconsciousness and death.
You can open/close the trunk lid from the
driver's seat when the vehicle is stationary.
XTo open: press remote operating switch for
trunk lid : until the trunk lid opens.
XTo close: press remote operating switch
for trunk lid : until the trunk lid is closed.
Locking the trunk separately
You can lock the trunk separately. If you then
unlock the vehicle centrally, the trunk
remains locked and cannot be opened.
XClose the trunk lid.XTake the mechanical key out of the
SmartKey (Y page 79).5For vehicles with the trunk lid remote closing feature only.6For vehicles with the trunk lid remote closing feature and KEYLESS-GO only.
Trunk87Opening and closingZ

Opening and closing the side
windows
:Front left;Front right=Rear right?Rear left
The switches for all side windows are located
on the driver's door. There is also a switch on
each door for the corresponding side window.
iIt is not possible to operate the door
windows from the rear compartment when
the override feature is activated for the
door windows.
XTurn the SmartKey to position 1 in the
ignition lock.
iThe switches on the driver's door take
precedence over the switches on the other
doors.
XTo open: press the corresponding switch.XTo close: pull the corresponding switch.
iIf you press the switch beyond the point
of resistance, an automatic opening/
closing process is started in the
corresponding direction. You can stop
automatic operation by pressing again.
iYou can continue to operate the side
windows after you switch off the engine.
This function remains active for five
minutes or until one of the front doors is
opened.
Sunblinds on the rear side windowsXTo close fully: pull the corresponding
switch when the side window is closed.
iThe roller sunblinds on the rear door
windows are always closed fully.
XTo open fully: press the corresponding
switch.
iYou can use the switches on the rear
doors to close the roller sunblind on the
rear door window on the opposite side of
the vehicle.
Convenience opening
You can ventilate the vehicle before you start
driving. To do this, you can use the SmartKey
to simultaneously:
Ropen the side windows
Ropen the roller sunblinds on the rear side
windows
Ropen the sliding sunroof or the panorama
roof with power tilt/sliding panel and the
roller sunblinds
Rswitch on the seat ventilation of the driver's
seat
iThe convenience opening feature can
only be operated using the SmartKey. The
SmartKey must be close to the driver's
door handle.
XPoint the tip of the SmartKey at the driver's
door handle.
XUnlock the vehicle by pressing the %
button.
XPress and hold the % button until the
side windows and the sliding sunroof or the
panorama roof with power tilt/sliding
panel are in the desired position.
If one of the sunblinds is closed, the sunblind
will open first.
iThe roller sunblinds of the panorama roof
with power tilt/sliding panel and the roller
sunblinds on the rear side windows are
opened at the same time.
90Side windowsOpening and closing

to close without the anti-entrapment feature
for as long as you hold the switch.
Sliding sunroof
Important safety notes
Your vehicle may be installed with a sliding
sunroof or a panorama roof with power tilt/
sliding panel. In the following section, the
term "sliding sunroof" refers to both types of
sliding sunroof.
GWarning!
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the
SmartKey from the starter switch. Always
take the SmartKey with you and lock the
vehicle. Do not leave children unattended in
the vehicle, even if they are secured in a child
restraint system, or with access to an
unlocked vehicle. A child's unsupervised
access to a vehicle could result in an accident
and/or serious personal injury. The children
could
R injure themselves on parts of the vehicle
R be seriously or fatally injured through
excessive exposure to extreme heat or cold
R injure themselves or cause an accident with
vehicle equipment that can be operated
even if the SmartKey is removed from the
starter switch or removed from the vehicle,
such as seat adjustment, steering wheel
adjustment, or the memory function
If children open a door, they could injure other
persons or get out of the vehicle and injure
themselves or be injured by following traffic.
Do not expose the child restraint system to
direct sunlight. The child restraint system's
metal parts, for example, could become very
hot, and the child could be burned by these
parts.
GWarning
Do not carry heavy or hard objects in the
passenger compartment unless they are
firmly secured in place.
Unsecured or improperly positioned cargo
increases a child's risk of injury in the event
of:
R strong braking maneuvers
R sudden changes of direction
R an accidentGWarning
When opening or closing the sliding sunroof,
make sure that there is no danger of anyone
being harmed by the opening/closing
procedure.
The sliding sunroof is equipped with
automatic operation and the anti-entrapment
feature. If the movement of the sliding sunroof
is blocked during the closing procedure, the
sliding sunroof will stop and open slightly.
The sliding sunroof operates differently when
the sliding sunroof switch is pressed and held.
See the "Problems with the sliding sunroof/
panorama roof with power tilt/sliding panel"
section for more details.
The opening/closing procedure of the sliding
sunroof can be immediately halted by
releasing the sliding sunroof switch or, if the
sliding sunroof switch was moved past the
resistance point and released, by moving the
sliding sunroof switch in any direction.
GWarning
The sliding sunroof is made out of glass. In the
event of an accident, the glass may shatter.
This may result in an opening in the roof.
In a vehicle rollover, occupants not wearing
their seat belts or not wearing them properly
may be thrown out of the opening. Such an
opening also presents a potential for injury for
occupants wearing their seat belts properly,
as entire body parts or portions of them may
protrude from the passenger compartment.
! Only open the sliding sunroof if it is free
of snow and ice. Otherwise, malfunctions
may occur.
Sliding sunroof93Opening and closingZ