open hood MERCEDES-BENZ S-Class 2011 W221 Owner's Manual

Head restraintsAdjusting (electrically) ...................104
Adjusting (rear) .............................. 105
see NECK-PRO head restraints/
NECK-PRO luxury head restraints
Heating
see Climate control
High beam flasher ............................. 276
Hill start assist .................................. 302
HOLD function ................................... 335
HOLD function (display message) ... 403
Home address ................................... 175
Entering and saving .......................154
Selecting from the destination
memory ......................................... 156
Hood
Closing ........................................... 447
Display message ............................ 410
Opening ......................................... 446
Hydroplaning ..................................... 322
I
Immobilizer .......................................... 73
Incident (traffic report) ..................... 172
Indicator and warning lamps DISTRONIC PLUS ........................... 419
Insect protection on the radiator .... 447
Instrument cluster Overview .......................................... 32
Submenu (on-board computer) ......377
Warning and indicator lamps ...........33
Interior lighting
Ambient light (COMAND) ...............260
Automatic control ..........................278
Interior lighting .............................. 259
Manual control ............................... 278
Reading lamp ................................. 277
Intermediate stop
Deleting ......................................... 160
Intermediate top
Entering ......................................... 158
iPod ®
Alphabetic track selection .............233
Connecting to the Media
Interface ........................................ 229
Device version ............................... 229
Selecting a category/playlist .........232
iTunes®
............................................... 233
J
Jack Storage location ............................ 462
Using ............................................. 464
Jump-starting ..................................... 471
K
KEYLESS-GO Button ............................................ 299
Convenience closing feature ............91
Display message ............................ 411
Locking ............................................ 77
Starting the engine ........................301
Unlocking ......................................... 77
Key positions
KEYLESS-GO .................................. 299
SmartKey ....................................... 299
Kickdown ................................... 309, 312
L
Lane-change assistant see Active Blind Spot Assist
see Blind Spot Assist
Lane Keeping Assist
Activating/deactivating (on-
board computer) ............................ 376
Display message ............................ 404
Function/information ....................354
Lane recommendations .................... 165
Explanation .................................... 167
Presentation .................................. 167
LATCH-type (ISOFIX) child seat
anchors ................................................ 63
License plate lamp (display
message) ............................................ 395
Lights Automatic headlamp mode ............273
Cornering light function .................277
Daytime running lamps ..................273
Driving abroad ............................... 272
Fog lamps ...................................... 274
Hazard warning lamps ...................276
High-beam headlamps ...................275
Light switch ................................... 272
12Index

Exterior viewFunctionPage:Trunk lid85Vehicle tool kit462;Lights278=Rear window defroster293?Fuel filler flap313AExterior mirrors109BSliding sunroof93CDefrosting the windshield292Cleaning the windows455FunctionPageDWindshield wipers281EOpens the hood446Engine oil447Coolant450FTowing473GTires and wheels480Flat tire46330Exterior viewAt a glance

CockpitFunctionPage:Combination switch274;Cruise control lever324=Horn?Instrument cluster32ASteering wheel paddle
shifters310
BDIRECT SELECT lever306CControl panel for:Vehicle level336Suspension tuning337PARKTRONIC341Swivelling the COMAND
display122
COMAND display
brightness122
Instrument lighting122FunctionPageDOverhead control panel36EAutomatic climate control286FIgnition lock299Start/Stop button299GAdjusts the steering wheel107Steering wheel heating108HElectric parking brake317IOn-board diagnostics
connection
JOpens the hood446KNight View Assist Plus348LLight switch272Cockpit31At a glance

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

Changing the front bulbs
High-beam spot lamp (vehicles with
halogen daytime running lamps)
XSwitch off the lights.XOpen the hood.XTurn housing cover : counter-clockwise
and pull it out.
XTurn bulb holder ; counter-clockwise and
pull it out.
XTake the bulb out of bulb holder ;.XInsert the new bulb into bulb holder ;.XInsert bulb holder ;.
Left-hand headlamp: cable outlet = must
be pointing up and to the right.
Right-hand headlamp: cable outlet = must
be pointing down and to the left.
XTurn bulb holder ; clockwise.
Handle ? of bulb holder ; is horizontal.
XAlign housing cover : and turn it
clockwise until it engages.
High-beam spot lamp (vehicles with
LED daytime running lamps)/infrared
light (Night View Assist Plus)
Due to their location, have the bulbs in the
left-hand headlamp changed at a qualified
specialist workshop, e.g. an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
XSwitch off the lights.XOpen the hood.XTurn housing cover : counter-clockwise
and pull it out.
XTurn bulb holder ; counter-clockwise and
pull it out.
XPush the two detents on the right and left
of bulb holder ; and pull the bulb from
bulb holder ;.
XInsert the new bulb into bulb holder ; until
it engages.
XInsert bulb holder ; into the guide in the
headlamp.
Cable outlet = must be pointing down and
to the right.
XTurn bulb holder ; clockwise.
Cable outlet = must be pointing down and
to the left.
XAlign housing cover : and turn it
clockwise until it engages.
280Changing bulbsLights and windshield wipers

Windshield wipers
Switching the windshield wipers on/
off
GWarning!
Wiper blades are components that are subject
to wear and tear. Replace the wiper blades
twice a year, preferably in the spring and fall.
Otherwise the windshield will not be wiped
properly. As a result, you may not be able to
observe surrounding traffic conditions and
could cause an accident.
! Do not operate the windshield wipers
when the windshield is dry, as this could
damage the wiper blades. Moreover, dust
that has collected on the windshield can
scratch the glass if wiping takes place when
the windshield is dry.
! If the windshield wipers leave smears on
the windscreen after the vehicle has been
washed in an automatic car wash, wax or
other residues may be the reason for this.
Clean the windshield using washer fluid
after washing the vehicle in an automatic
car wash.
Combination switch
1$ Windshield wipers off2Ä Intermittent wipe, low173Å Intermittent wipe, high184° Continuous wipe, slow5¯ Continuous wipe, fastBí Single wipe/ î to wipe the
windshield using washer fluid
XSwitch the ignition on.XTurn the combination switch to the
corresponding position.
! Intermittent wiping with rain sensor: due
to optical influences and the windshield
becoming dirty in dry weather conditions,
the windshield wipers may be activated
inadvertently. This could then damage the
windshield wiper blades or scratch the
windshield.
For this reason, you should always switch
off the windshield wipers in dry weather.
In the Ä or Å position, the appropriate
wiping frequency is automatically set
according to the intensity of the rain. In
the Å position, the rain sensor is more
sensitive than in the Ä position, causing
the windshield wipers to wipe more
frequently.
Replacing the wiper blades
Important safety notes
GWarning
For safety reasons, switch off the windshield
wipers and remove the key from the ignition
lock before changing the wiper blades
(vehicles with KEYLESS-GO: make sure that
the on-board electronics are in state 0).
Otherwise, the wiper motor could be switched
on suddenly and cause injury.
! To avoid damaging the wiper blades,
make sure that you touch only the wiper
arm of the wiper.
! Never open the hood if a windshield wiper
arm has been folded away from the
windshield.
17Rain sensor set to low sensitivity.18Rain sensor set to high sensitivity.
Windshield wipers281Lights and windshield wipersZ

Never fold a windshield wiper arm without
a wiper blade back onto the windshield.
Hold the windshield wiper arm firmly when
you change the wiper blade. If you release
the windshield wiper arm without a wiper
blade and it falls onto the windshield, the
windshield can be damaged by the force of
the impact.
Mercedes-Benz recommends that you have
the wiper blades replaced by a qualified
specialist workshop, e.g. at an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
! Always position the windshield wiper
arms vertically before folding them away
from the windshield. By doing so, you will
avoid damage to the hood.
Replacing the windshield wiper blades
Moving the wiper arms to a vertical
position
Vehicles without KEYLESS-GO
XTurn the key to position 1 or 2 in the ignition
lock.
XSet the windshield wipers to
position ° on the combination switch.
XWhen the wiper arms have reached a
vertical position, turn the key to position
0 and remove it from the ignition lock.
Vehicles with KEYLESS-GO
XSwitch off the engine.XTake your foot off the brake pedal.XSet the windshield wipers to
position ° on the combination switch.
XPress the Start/Stop button repeatedly
until the windshield wipers start.
XWhen the wiper arms have reached a
vertical position, press the Start/Stop
button.
Removing the wiper bladesXFold the wiper arm away from the
windshield until it engages.
XSet the wiper blade at right angles to the
wiper arm.
XRemove the wiper blade from the retainer
on the wiper arm in the direction of the
arrow.
Installing the wiper blade
XSlide the new wiper blade into the retainer
on the wiper arm in the opposite direction
to the arrow.
Make sure that the wiper blade slides fully
into the retainer on the wiper arm.
XTurn the wiper blade parallel to the wiper
arm.
XFold the wiper arm back onto the
windshield.
Problems with the windshield wipers
The windshield wipers are obstructed
Leaves or snow, for example, may be
obstructing the windshield wiper movement.
The wiper motor has been deactivated.
XFor safety reasons, you should remove the
key from the ignition lock.
or
XSwitch off the engine using the Start/Stop
button and open the driver's door.
XRemove the cause of the obstruction.XSwitch the windshield wipers back on.282Windshield wipersLights and windshield wipers

your seat belt or remove your foot from the
brake pedal, the engine will automatically
start. The vehicle may begin moving. You
could suffer serious or even fatal injury or
cause an accident resulting in injury or death.
Never leave the vehicle while the ECO symbol
in the multifunction display is shown in green
or yellow. Always secure the vehicle against
rolling away before leaving it.
! Always switch the ignition off and take the
key with you when leaving the vehicle.
Automatic engine switch-off
The ECO start/stop function switches the
engine off automatically if the vehicle is
braked to a standstill and the brake remains
depressed with the transmission in position
D or N.
i You can still activate HOLD when the
vehicle is stationary, even if the engine has
been switched off automatically. It is then
not necessary to continue applying the
brakes during the automatic stop phase.
When you depress the accelerator pedal,
the engine starts automatically and the
braking effect of the HOLD function is
deactivated. Depress the accelerator pedal
carefully, as the engine must be started
first.
The engine is only switched off if:
R the outside temperature is within the range
which is suitable for the system.
R the engine is at normal operating
temperature.
R the set temperature for the vehicle interior
has been reached.
R the battery is sufficiently charged.
R the system detects that the windshield is
not fogged up when the air-conditioning
system is switched on.
R the hood is closed.
Rno engine relevant diagnostics are active.
R the driver's door is closed and the seat belt
is fastened.
Automatic engine start
The engine is started automatically if you:
R release the brake pedal when HOLD is not
activated and the transmission is in
position D or N
R shift the transmission to position R
R depress the accelerator pedal
R switch off the ECO start/stop function or
switch to drive program S or M
R unfasten your seat belt or open the driver's
door
The engine is also started automatically if:
R the vehicle starts to roll.
R the brake system requires this.
R the system detects moisture on the
windshield when the air-conditioning
system is switched on.
R the temperature in the vehicle interior
deviates from the set range.
R the battery's condition of charge is too low.
Deactivating/activating the ECO start/
stop function
General notes
You can activate and deactivate the ECO
start/stop function using COMAND
( Y page 257).
i You can also use the programmable
button ( Y page 118) to activate and
deactivate the ECO start/stop function if
you have assigned this function to the
button.
Deactivating
XDeactivate the ECO start/stop function
using COMAND ( Y page 257):
The ECO symbol goes out and the Stop/
Start deactivated display message is
shown in the multifunction display.Driving303Driving and parkingZ

lock is in position 1 or if the ignition is
switched on using the Start/Stop button.
Releasing the electric parking brake
automatically
The electric parking brake is released
automatically when the following conditions
are simultaneously fulfilled:
R the engine is running.
R the automatic transmission is in position
D or R.
R the hood is closed.
R your seat belt is fastened.
R you depress the accelerator pedal.
If the automatic transmission is in position
R , the trunk lid must be closed.
For the parking brake to be released
automatically if your seat belt is not fastened,
the following conditions must be fulfilled:
R the driver's door is closed.
R you shift out of P or you have previously
driven faster than 2 mph (3 km/h).
Engaging the electric parking brake
manually
XPush handle :.
The red F indicator lamp (USA only) or
the red ! indicator lamp (Canada only)
in the instrument cluster lights up.
i The electric parking brake can also be
applied even if the SmartKey has been
removed.
Engaging the electric parking brake
automatically
The electric parking brake is automatically
applied if HOLD or DISTRONIC PLUS brakes
the vehicle until it is stationary and at least
one of the following conditions is fulfilled:
R the engine is switched off.
R the driver's door is open and the seat belt
is not fastened.
R the hood is released.
R the trunk lid is opened while the automatic
transmission is in position R.
R the vehicle is stationary for a lengthy
period.
The red F indicator lamp (USA only) or the
red ! indicator lamp (Canada only) in the
instrument cluster lights up.
i In addition to the electric parking brake,
P may also be engaged automatically.
Emergency braking with the electric
parking brake
The vehicle can also be braked during an
emergency using the electric parking brake.
XWhile driving, push handle : of the electric
parking brake ( Y page 317).
i
The vehicle is braked as long as you keep
the handle of the electric parking brake
pressed. The longer the electric parking
brake handle is depressed, the greater the
braking force.
During braking:
R a warning tone sounds.
R the Release parking brake message
appears.
R red F indicator lamp (USA only) or
red ! indicator lamp (Canada only)
appears in the instrument cluster
When the vehicle has been braked to a
standstill, the electric parking brake is
engaged.
Parking up the vehicle
If you leave the vehicle parked up for longer
than four weeks, the battery may be damaged
by exhaustive discharge.
XDisconnect the battery or connect it to a
trickle charger.
i You can obtain information about trickle
chargers from a qualified specialist
318ParkingDriving and parking

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.
Important safety notes
You will find an illustration of the instrument
cluster in the "At a glance" section
( Y page 32).
GWarning
A driver's attention to the road and traffic
conditions must always be his/her primary
focus when driving.
For your safety and the safety of others,
selecting features through the multifunction
steering wheel should only be done by the
driver when traffic and road conditions permit
it to be done safely.
Bear in mind that at a speed of just 30 mph
(approximately 50 km/h ), your vehicle is
covering a distance of 44 feet (approximately
14 m) every second.
GWarning!
No messages will be displayed if either the
instrument cluster or the multifunction
display is inoperative.
As a result, you will not be able to see
information about your driving conditions,
such as
R speed
R outside temperature
R warning/indicator lamps
R malfunction/warning messages
R failure of any systems
Driving characteristics may be impaired.
If you must continue to drive, do so with added
caution. Contact an authorized Mercedes-
Benz Center as soon as possible.GWarning!
HYBRID vehicles: It is imperative that you read
the HYBRID Supplemental Operating
Instructions included in your vehicle literature
portfolio. You may otherwise not receive all
necessary safety information and warning for
the operation of your vehicle.
GWarning
Malfunction and warning messages are only
indicated for certain systems and are
intentionally not very detailed. The
malfunction and warning messages are
simply a reminder with respect to the
operation of certain systems. They do not
replace the owner's and/or driver's
responsibility to maintain the vehicle's
operating safety. Have all required
maintenance and safety checks performed on
the vehicle. Bring the vehicle to an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center to address the
malfunction and warning messages.
Displays and operation
Coolant temperature gauge
GWarning
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 which can occur just by opening
the engine hood. Stay away from the engine
if you see or hear steam coming from it.
Stop the vehicle in a safe location away from
other traffic. Turn off the engine, get out of the
vehicle and do not stand near the vehicle until
the engine has cooled down.
364Displays and operationOn-board computer and displays