four wheel drive MERCEDES-BENZ S-Class 2011 W221 Owner's Manual

1, 2, 3 ...
12 V socket ........................................ 431
4ETS see ETS/4ETS
4MATIC (permanent four-wheel
drive) .................................................. 339
A
ABC see Active Body Control
ABC (Active Body Control)
Display message ............................ 403
ABS (Anti-lock Braking System)
Display message ............................ 388
Function/notes ................................ 67
Warning lamp ................................. 415
Active Blind Spot Assist
Activating/deactivating (on-
board computer) ............................ 376
Display message ............................ 404
Function/information ....................356
Active Body Control (ABC) ................ 338
Active Driving Assistance package . 355
Active Lane Keeping Assist Activating/deactivating (on-
board computer) ............................ 376
Display message ............................ 404
Function/information ....................359
Active light function (display
message) ............................................ 397
Active multicontour seat .......... 106, 268
Active partition (USB devices only) Selecting ........................................ 234
Active service system
see Service interval display
ADAPTIVE BRAKE ................................. 71
Adaptive brake lamps ......................... 69
Adaptive Damping System (ADS) ..... 337
Adaptive Highbeam Assist Display message ............................ 397
Switching on/off ........................... 275
Switching on/off (on-board
computer) ...................................... 377
Additional speedometer ................... 377
Address book
Calling up ....................................... 201
Connecting a call ........................... 204
Creating an entry ........................... 203
Deleting an entry ........................... 204
Importing contacts ........................200
Introduction ................................... 200
Starting route guidance .................204
Voice tag ....................................... 205
Address book entry
Adopting as a home address .........175
Address entry menu .......................... 151
Air bags Display message ............................ 386
Front air bag (driver, front
passenger) ....................................... 46
Important safety notes ....................44
Safety guidelines ............................. 43
Side impact air bag ..........................46
Window curtain air bag ....................47
Air-conditioning system
see Climate control
Air dehumidification
Activating/deactivating with
cooling ........................................... 289
Air distribution
Setting ........................................... 291
Setting (COMAND) .........................262
Airflow
Setting ........................................... 292
AIRMATIC ........................................... 336
AIRMATIC (display message) ............ 402
Air nozzles see Air vents .................................. 295
Air pressure
see Tire pressure
Air-recirculation mode
Activating/deactivating .................293
Air vents ............................................. 295
Glove box ....................................... 295
Important safety information .........294
Rear ............................................... 295
Setting the center air vents ...........295
Setting the side air vents ...............295
Alarm system
see ATA 4Index

O
Occupant Classification System
(OCS) Faults ............................................... 52
Operation ......................................... 48
System self-test ............................... 51
Occupant safety
Children in the vehicle .....................60
System overview .............................. 42
Octane number (fuel) ........................ 512
Odometer ........................................... 368
Off-map .............................................. 171
Off-road .............................................. 171
4MATIC .......................................... 339
Oil
see Engine oil
On-board computer
AMG menu ..................................... 371
Assistance menu ........................... 375
Audio menu ................................... 370
Display messages ..........................380
Important safety notes ..................364
Instrument cluster submenu ..........377
Lighting submenu .......................... 377
Message memory .......................... 380
Navigation menu ............................ 369
Operating video DVD .....................371
Operation ....................................... 365
Overview of menus ........................367
Service menu ................................. 377
Settings menu ............................... 377
Standard display submenu ............368
Telephone menu ............................ 374
Trip menu ...................................... 368
Opening height restriction for
trunk lid .............................................. 261
Operating system see On-board computer
Orientation in direction of travel ..... 181
Outside lighting Delayed switch-off (COMAND) .......259
Outside temperature
Display ........................................... 365
Overhead control panel
Overview .......................................... 36
Override feature
Rear side windows ...........................65P
Paint code number ............................ 509
Paintwork (cleaning instructions) ... 454
Panic alarm .......................................... 66
Panorama roof with power tilt/
sliding panel Opening/closing .............................. 95
Resetting ......................................... 97
Parking ............................................... 316
Parking aid Parking Guidance ........................... 342
PARKTRONIC ................................. 339
Rear view camera .......................... 346
Parking brake
Display message ............................ 389
Electric parking brake ....................317
Parking Guidance .............................. 342
Display message ............................ 405
Parking lamp (display message) ...... 396
Parking position Exterior mirror on the front-
passenger side ............................... 111
Exterior mirrors (COMAND) ...........258
PARKTRONIC
Activating/deactivating .................341
Function/notes ............................. 339
Malfunction .................................... 342
Problem ......................................... 342
Range of the sensors .....................340
Warning display ............................. 341
Passcode
Entering ................................. 147, 194
Pause function ................................... 220
Pedals ................................................. 319
Permanent four-wheel drive see 4MATIC
Phone book
Calling up ....................................... 201
Creating an entry ........................... 203
Deleting an entry ........................... 204
Introduction ................................... 200
Plastic trim (cleaning instructions) . 458
Playback options .............. 224, 229, 234
Point of interest Category ........................................ 161
Entering ......................................... 160
Entering a name ............................. 160Index15

Ryour individual selection, i.e. sports or
comfort
Rthe vehicle load
Your selection remains stored even if you
remove the SmartKey from the ignition lock.
Sports tuning
The firmer suspension tuning in Sport mode
ensures even better contact with the road.
Select this mode if you prefer a firmer
suspension tuning.
XIf indicator lamp ; is not lit: press
button :.
Indicator lamp ; lights up. You have
selected the suspension for a sporty driving
style.
The ABC Active Body Control SPORT
message appears in the multifunction
display.
Comfort tuning
In comfort mode, the driving characteristics
of your vehicle are more comfortable. Select
this mode if you prefer a more comfortable
driving style.
XIf indicator lamp ; is lit: press
button :.
Indicator lamp ; goes out. You have
selected the suspension for a comfortable
driving style.
The ABC Active Body Control
COMFORT message appears in the
multifunction display.
4MATIC (permanent four-wheel drive)
4MATIC ensures that all four wheels are
permanently driven. Together with ESP®, it
improves the traction of your vehicle
whenever a drive wheel spins due to
insufficient grip.
GWarning!
If a drive wheel is spinning due to insufficient
traction:
RWhile driving off, apply as little throttle as
possible.
RWhile driving, ease up on the accelerator
pedal.
RAdapt your speed and driving style to the
prevailing road conditions.
Failure to observe these guidelines could
cause the vehicle to skid.
The 4MATIC cannot prevent accidents
resulting from excessive speed.
! Never tow the vehicle with one axle
raised. This may damage the transfer case.
Damage of this sort is not covered by the
Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty. All
wheels must remain either on the ground
or be fully raised. Observe the instructions
for towing the vehicle with all wheels in full
contact with the ground.
iIn wintry driving conditions, the maximum
effect of 4MATIC can only be achieved if
you use winter tires (M+S tires), with snow
chains if necessary.
PARKTRONIC
Important safety notes
GWarning!
The PARKTRONIC is a supplemental system.
It is not intended to, nor does it replace, the
need for extreme care. The responsibility
during parking and other critical maneuvers
always remains with the driver.
Driving systems339Driving and parkingZ

Check the tire pressure at least once a month.
Only check and correct tire pressures when
the tires are cold ( Y page 483).
Checking the tire pressures manually
In order to determine and adjust the tire
pressures, proceed as follows:
XRemove the valve cap of the tire you wish
to check.XPress the tire pressure gauge securely onto
the valve.XRead the tire pressure and compare it with
the recommended value on the Tire and
Loading Information placard on the
B-pillar on the driver's side of your vehicle.XIf necessary, increase the tire pressure to
the recommended value ( Y page 483).XIf the tire pressure is too high, release air
by pressing down the metal pin in the valve
using the tip of a pen, for example. Then,
check the tire pressure again using the tire
pressure gauge.XScrew the valve cap onto the valve.XRepeat the steps for the other tires.
Tire pressure monitor
Important safety notes
If a tire pressure monitor is installed, the
vehicle's wheels have sensors installed that
monitor the tire pressures in all four tires. The
tire pressure monitor warns you when the
pressure drops in one or more of the tires. The
tire pressure monitor only functions if the
correct wheel electronics units are installed
in all wheels.
The tire pressure monitor has a yellow
warning lamp in the instrument cluster for
indicating pressure loss/malfunctions (USA)
or pressure loss (Canada). Depending on how
the warning lamp flashes or lights up, a tire
pressure that is too low or a malfunction in
the tire pressure monitor is displayed:
R if the warning lamp is lit continuously, the
tire pressure on one or more tires is
significantly too low. The tire pressure
monitor is not malfunctioning.
R USA only: if the warning lamp flashes for
60 seconds and then remains lit constantly,
the tire pressure monitor is malfunctioning.GWarning
Each tire, including the spare (if provided),
should be checked at least once a month
when cold and inflated to the inflation
pressure recommended by the vehicle
manufacturer on the Tire and Loading
Information placard on the driver’s door B-
pillar or the tire inflation pressure label on the
inside of the fuel filler flap. If your vehicle has
tires of a different size than the size indicated
on the Tire and Loading Information placard
or the tire inflation pressure label, you should
determine the proper tire inflation pressure
for those tires.
As an added safety feature, your vehicle has
been equipped with a tire pressure monitoring
system (TPMS) that illuminates a low tire
pressure telltale when one or more of your
tires are significantly underinflated.
Accordingly, when the low tire pressure
telltale illuminates, you should stop and check
your tires as soon as possible, and inflate
them to the proper pressure. Driving on a
significantly underinflated tire causes the tire
to overheat and can lead to tire failure.
Underinflation also reduces fuel efficiency
and tire tread life, and may affect the vehicle's
handling and stopping ability. Please note that
the TPMS is not a substitute for proper tire
maintenance, and it is the driver's
responsibility to maintain correct tire
pressure, even if underinflation has not
Tire pressure487Tires and wheelsZ

XPress the 9 or : button to select
Tire Pressure .XPress the a button.
The current tire pressure for each wheel will
be displayed in the multifunction display.
If the vehicle has been parked for longer than
20 minutes, the Tire Pressures
Displayed After Driving A Few
Minutes message appears in the display.
After a teach-in period, the tire pressure
monitor automatically recognizes new wheels
or new sensors. As long as a clear allocation
of the tire pressure values to the individual
wheels is not possible, the Tire Pressure
Monitor Active message is shown instead
of the tire pressure display. The tire pressures
are already being monitored.
i If a spare wheel/emergency spare wheel
is mounted, the system may continue to
show the tire pressure of the wheel that has
been removed for a few minutes. If this
occurs, note that the value displayed for
the position where the spare wheel is
mounted is not the same as the spare
wheel/emergency spare wheel's current
tire pressure.
TPMS warning messages
If the tire pressure monitor detects a
significant pressure loss on one or more tires,
a warning message is shown in the
multifunction display. A warning tone also
sounds and the tire pressure warning lamp
lights up in the instrument cluster.
For each tire that is affected by a significant
loss of pressure, the tire pressure is shown in
yellow.
If the Correct Tire Pressure message
appears in the multifunction display:
XCheck the tire pressure on all four wheels
and correct it if necessary.
i If the wheel positions on the vehicle are
interchanged, the tire pressures may be
displayed for the wrong positions for a
short time. This is rectified after a few
minutes of driving, and the tire pressures
are displayed for the correct positions.
Restarting the tire pressure monitorGWarning
It is the driver's responsibility to set the tire
inflation pressure to the recommended cold
tire inflation pressure. Underinflated tires
affect the ability to steer or brake the vehicle.
You might lose control over the vehicle.
When you restart the tire pressure monitor,
all existing warning messages are deleted and
the warning lamps go out. The monitor uses
the currently set tire pressures as the
reference values for monitoring.
The TPMS must be restarted when you set the
tire pressure to a new value (as a result of
changed handling or load characteristics, for
example). The TPMS then monitors the new
tire pressure values.
i Canada only: in most cases, the tire
pressure monitor recognizes the new
reference values automatically. However,
you can also define reference values
manually as described here.
Restart the tire pressure monitor after you
have set the tire pressure to the value
recommended for the desired driving
situation ( Y page 483). Only correct tire
pressures on cold tires. Comply with the
recommended tire pressures on the Tire and
Loading Information placard on the B-pillar on
the driver's side Additional tire pressure
values for driving at high speeds or with heavy
loads can be found in the Tire Pressure table
on the inside of the fuel filler flap.
XMake sure that the tire pressure is correct
on all four wheels.XMake sure that the SmartKey is in position
2 in the ignition lock.XPress the = or ; button to select the
Service menu.Tire pressure489Tires and wheelsZ

Tread wear
The tread wear grade is a comparative rating
based on the wear rate of the tire when tested
under controlled conditions on a specified
U.S. government test track. For example, a
tire graded 150 would wear one and one-half
times as well on the government test track as
a tire graded 100.
The relative performance of tires depends
upon the actual conditions of their use,
however, and may depart significantly from
the norm due to variations in driving habits,
service practices and differences in road
characteristics and climate conditions.
Traction
GWarning
The traction grade assigned to this tire is
based on straight-ahead braking traction
tests, and does not include acceleration,
cornering, hydroplaning, or peak traction
characteristics.
The traction grades, from highest to lowest,
are AA, A, B, and C. These grades represent
the tire's ability to stop on a wet surface as
measured under controlled conditions on
specified government test surfaces of asphalt
and concrete. A tire marked C may have poor
traction performance.
GWarning
If ice has formed on the road, tire traction will
be substantially reduced. Under such weather
conditions, drive, steer and brake with
extreme caution.
The safe speed on a wet, snow covered or icy
road is always lower than on dry road
surfaces.
You should pay special attention to road
conditions when temperatures are around
the freezing point.
Mercedes-Benz recommends a minimum tire
tread depth of 1/6 in (4 mm) for all four winter
tires ( Y page 482) to maintain normal driving
characteristics in winter. Winter tires can
reduce the braking distance on snow covered
surfaces in comparison to summer tires. The
braking distance is still much further than on
surfaces that are not icy or snowy. Take
appropriate care when driving.
! Avoid wheelspin. This can lead to damage
to the drive train.
Temperature
GWarning
The temperature grade for this tire is
established for a tire that is properly inflated
and not overloaded. Excessive speed,
underinflation, or excessive loading, either
separately or in combination, can cause
excessive heat build-up and possible tire
failure.
The temperature grades are A (the highest),
B, and C, representing the tire's resistance to
the build up of heat and its ability to dissipate
heat when tested under controlled conditions
on a specified indoor laboratory test wheel.
Sustained high temperature can cause the
material of the tire to degenerate and reduce
tire life. Furthermore, excessive temperature
can lead to sudden tire failure. Grade C
corresponds to a level of performance which
all passenger car tires must meet under the
Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No.
109. Grades B and A represent higher levels
of performance on the laboratory test wheel
than the minimum required by law.
Tire labeling
Tire labeling overview
The following markings are on the tire in
addition to the tire name (sales designation)
and the manufacturer's name:
Tire labeling495Tires and wheelsZ