tail MERCEDES-BENZ S-Class 2012 W221 Owner's Guide

800 mA (it may be necessary to connect a
separate power supply)
R certain MP3 players
i The Media Interface supports USB
storage media of "USB Device Subclass 6".
Information concerning USB Device
Subclass 6 is available from the equipment
manufacturer.
For details and a list of supported devices,
visit http://www.mbusa-mobile.com . Or
call the Mercedes-Benz Customer Assistance
Center at
1-800-FOR-MERCedes(1-800-367-6372) (for
the USA) or Customer Relations at
1-800-387-0100 (for Canada).
Connecting an external device
i Do not leave external devices in the
vehicle as extreme temperatures (e.g.
direct sunlight or extremely low outside
temperatures) could cause them to
malfunction (see the operating instructions
for the respective device). Mercedes-Benz
USA, LLC accepts no liability for damage to
external devices.
Never connect more than one device at a
time. You will otherwise not be able to
operate the external device.
:4-pin jack for 1/8 inch jack plug, e.g. for
MP3 player (audio and video);iPod ®
plug=USB socket?Example of device, iPod ®XConnect the external device with suitable
socket :, ; or =.
COMAND activates the device
automatically for sockets ; and =.
COMAND does not activate the device
automatically for socket :.
If you remove a device from sockets ; and
= , the No device connected message
appears.
i A connected iPod ®
or MP3 player should
not be simultaneously operated via the
Media Interface and the remote control
(e.g. Bluetooth ®
remote control), as this
may produce unpredictable results.
i Connecting a fully discharged iPod ®
or
MP3 player can result in an extended
initialization period.
Error messages appear while the device is
being activated if:
R COMAND does not support the device
connected.
R two devices are connected.
R the connected device consumes too much
power.
R the Media Interface connection is faulty.
i Consult an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center if required.
234AudioCOMAND

Notes on USB devices
R In order to keep the initialization time to a
minimum, store only music data on a USB
device.
R Approximately 10,000 tracks are
supported. Multiple partitions should be
used for larger numbers of tracks.
R Do not use USB extension leads or
adapters. They can impair functionality.
R A background search of the USB device is
performed and any playlists found are
shown in a separate category in addition to
the folders. Initialization of larger USB mass
storage devices containing a large number
of files may take several minutes.
i DRM (Digital Rights Management)
protected files are not supported by the
Media Interface.
Audio AUX mode
Notes on audio AUX mode
You can connect an external audio source
(AUX) to COMAND. The socket for this is
located in the glove box.
If COMAND is equipped with a Media
Interface, external audio sources are
connected using the corresponding cable set.
An AUX socket is not provided.
i You can find more information on the
Internet at http://www.mercedes-
benz.com/connect and in the "Media
Interface mode" section ( Y page 233).
Activating audio AUX mode
When you connect an external audio source,
audio AUX is not selected automatically.
XSelect Audio in the main function bar by
sliding ZV and turning cVd the COMAND
controller and press W to confirm.XSelect AUX using cVd and press W to
confirm.
The audio AUX menu appears. The medium
in the external audio source is played, if the
source is connected and playback
selected.
Please see the respective operating
instructions for how to operate the external
audio source.
You will find details on volume ( Y page 134)
and sound ( Y page 135) settings in the "At a
glance" section.
GWARNING
External audio sources may have different
volumes, which can mean that system
messages such as traffic announcements and
navigation system announcements are much
louder. If necessary, please deactivate the
system messages or adjust their volume
manually.
Increasing the volume
In some cases, the volume of the AUX device
may be quieter or louder, or the usual
maximum possible volume cannot be
reached. On some devices, it is possible to
adjust the volume separately. In this case,
start at a medium volume and increase it
gradually. This enables you to determine
whether the system is able to play tones at
high volume without distorting them.
Audio239COMANDZ

! Do not affix stickers or labels to the discs,
as they could peel off and damage
COMAND. Stickers can cause the disc to
bend, which can result in read errors and
disc recognition problems.
! COMAND is designed to accommodate
discs which comply with the EN 60908
standard. You can therefore only use discs
with a maximum thickness of 1.3 mm.
If you insert thicker discs, e.g. those that
contain data on both sides (DVD on one
side and audio data on the other), they
cannot be ejected and can damage
COMAND.
Use round discs with a diameter of 12 cm.
Do not use discs with a diameter of 8 cm,
even with an adapter.
DVD playback conditions
If video DVDs do not conform to the NTSC or
PAL TV standards, they may create picture,
sound or other problems during playback.
COMAND can play back video DVDs
produced according to the following
standards:
R region code 1 or region code 0 (no region
code)
i If you insert a video DVD with a different
region code, you will see a message to this
effect.
R PAL or NTSC standard
You will generally find the relevant details
either on the DVD itself or on the DVD case.
i COMAND is set to region code 1 at the
factory. This setting can be changed at an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center. This will
allow you to play video DVDs with a
different region code, provided that they
are produced in accordance with the PAL
or NTSC standard. The region code can be
changed up to five times.
Function restrictions
Depending on the DVD, it is possible that
certain functions or actions will be
temporarily blocked or may not function at all.
As soon as you try to activate these functions
or actions, you will see the K symbol in the
display.
Inserting and removing DVDs
XProceed as described in the "Inserting and
ejecting CDs and DVDs" section
( Y page 220).
Activating video DVD mode
Option 1
XInsert a video DVD.
COMAND loads the medium inserted and
starts to play it.
Option 2
XSelect Video in the main function bar by
sliding ZV and turning cVd the COMAND
controller and press W to confirm.
Video DVD mode is switched on.
Hiding/showing the navigation menu
XTo show: turn cVd or slide ZVÆ the
COMAND controller.
i This function is not available while the
DVD's own menu ( Y page 244) is being
displayed.
XTo hide: slide ZVÆ the COMAND
controller.
or
XWait for approximately eight seconds.Video241COMANDZ

Switching to video AUX modeXSelect Video in the main function bar by
sliding ZV and turning cVd the COMAND
controller and press W to confirm.
If video AUX mode was the last mode
selected, it will now be active.
If another video source is switched on, you
can now switch to video AUX mode in the
video menu.XSelect Video and press W to confirm.XSelect AUX and press W to confirm.
The video AUX menu appears. You will hear
and see the content of the external video
source if it is connected and switched to
playback.
For details on how to operate the external
video source, see the respective device's
operating instructions.
Showing/hiding the menu
XTo show: press W the COMAND
controller.XTo hide: slide ZV the COMAND controller
and confirm Full screen by pressing W.
Volume and sound settings
You will find details on volume ( Y page 134)
and sound ( Y page 135) settings in the "At a
glance" section.
GWARNING
External video sources may have different
volumes, which can mean that system
messages such as traffic announcements and
navigation system announcements are much
louder. If necessary, please deactivate the
system messages or adjust their volume
manually.
i In some cases, the volume of the AUX
device may be quieter or louder, or the
usual maximum possible volume cannot be
reached. On some devices, it is possible to
adjust the volume separately. In this case,
start at a medium volume and increase it
gradually. This enables you to determine
whether the system is able to play the
music at high volume without distorting it.
Rear Seat Entertainment System
General information
Important safety notes
GWARNING
The RSE CD/DVD player is a Class 1 laser
product. There is a danger of invisible laser
radiation when you open or damage the cover.
Do not remove the cover. The RSE CD/DVD
player does not contain any parts which can
be serviced by the user. For safety reasons,
have any necessary service work performed
by qualified personnel.
GWARNING
The driver should not wear a Rear Seat
Entertainment headset while operating the
vehicle under any circumstances. The use of
a headset while driving the vehicle could
drastically impair the ability to react to audible
traffic conditions (e.g. emergency sirens from
police/fire/ambulance, another car's horn,
etc.).
GWARNING
When not in use, headsets or external video
sources should be stored in a safe location
(e.g. one of the vehicle's storage
compartments) so that they are not loose
within the passenger compartment during
braking, vehicle maneuvers or a traffic
accident. Objects moving within the
passenger compartment could cause serious
personal injury to vehicle occupants.
GWARNING
Due to a potential choking hazard, wired
headset usage by children should only occur
with adult supervision.
246Rear Seat Entertainment SystemCOMAND

Rcalling up the DVD menu and navigating
within it
R setting the language, subtitles and camera
angle
R calling up interactive DVD content
The following functions affect only one
screen:
R audio and video functions as well as picture
settings
R switching between full screen and the
menu
Switching between operating modes
When you exit an operating mode (e.g. audio
CD mode), the current setting is saved. If you
call up this operating mode again later, there
are two possibilities:
R the operating mode has been changed on
the other screen.
R the operating mode has not been changed.
In the first case, the operating mode appears
as it is on the other screen.
In the second case, the setting appears on the
screen as it was when you last exited the
operating mode.
Picture settings
Overview
You can select these settings in video DVD
and AUX mode. Instructions for AUX mode
are detailed later ( Y page 258).
Adjusting the brightness, contrast and
color
XSwitch on video DVD mode ( Y page 241).XTo show the menu: press the 9 button
on the remote control.
or
XSelect Menu while the navigation menu
( Y page 241) is shown and press the 9
button to confirm.XIn both cases, select Video DVD using
the :=; buttons and press the
9 button to confirm.XSelect Brightness , Contrast , Color or
Auto using the 9: buttons and
press 9 to confirm.
An adjustment scale appears.XSelect a setting using the 9:
buttons and press the 9 button to confirm.
Changing the picture format
XTo show the menu: press the 9 button
on the remote control.
or
XSelect Menu while the navigation menu
( Y page 241) is shown and press the 9
button to confirm.XSelect Video DVD using
the :=; buttons and press the
9 button to confirm.
The ä symbol in front of the Auto, 16:9
Optimized , 4:3 or Widescreen menu item
indicates the format currently set.XSelect a format using the 9:
buttons and press the 9 button to confirm.
System settings
Note
You can adjust almost all system settings
individually for each screen without affecting
the other screen. You make these settings
using the remote control.
Selecting the display language
XSelect System using the 9=;
buttons on the remote control and press
the 9 button to confirm.
You see the system menu on the selected
rear screen.Rear Seat Entertainment System249COMANDZ

Please see the corresponding operating
instructions for information on how to
operate the external video source.
For further details about external video
sources, please consult an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
Connecting AUX equipment
AUX drive
The AUX drive jacks are located on the CD/
DVD drive on the right next to the CD/DVD
eject button ( Y page 258).
Displaying AUX
The AUX display jacks are on the side of the
screen ( Y page 139).
Audio and video connection
XInsert the audio plugs for the left and right
signals into the corresponding L and R
jacks.XInsert the video plug into the V jack.
Activating AUX mode
AUX drive
XSelect AUX in the menu using the
9=; buttons on the remote
control and press the 9 button to confirm.
The AUX menu appears.XSelect Source from the AUX menu and
press the 9 button to confirm.XSelect Disk Drive Aux and press the 9
button to confirm.
You will hear and see the content of the
external video source if it is connected to
the CD/DVD drive and switched to
playback. If no video image is available
from the AUX source connected, you will
see an audio menu.Displaying AUXXSelect the screen to which the external
video source is connected using the remote
control ( Y page 125).XSelect AUX in the menu using the
9=; buttons on the remote
control and press the 9 button to confirm.XSelect Source from the AUX menu and
press the 9 button to confirm.XSelect Display Aux and press the 9
button to confirm.
You will see and hear the content of the
video source if it is switched to playback. If
no video image is available from the AUX
source connected, you will see an audio
menu.
Selecting the active COMAND source
XSelect AUX in the menu using the
9=; buttons on the remote
control and press the 9 button to confirm.XSelect Source from the AUX menu and
press the 9 button to confirm.XSelect COMAND and press the 9 button to
confirm.
The audio or video mode selected in
COMAND is transmitted to the Rear Seat
Entertainment System.
Operation with an active COMAND
source
You can transfer an audio or video mode
selected in COMAND to the Rear Seat
Entertainment System.
i If you subsequently switch modes in
COMAND, the new source will not be
transmitted to the Rear Seat Entertainment
System.
XTo switch on the function in COMAND:
switch on the desired audio mode in
COMAND or show the menu in video DVD
mode.XSelect the menu item at the bottom left,
e.g. CD in audio CD mode, by sliding VÆRear Seat Entertainment System259COMANDZ

XTo set the ambient lighting: select
Vehicle in the main function bar by sliding
XVY and turning cVd the COMAND
controller and press W to confirm.
The main area is active.XSelect the Ambient Lighting menu by
sliding XVY or turning cVd the COMAND
controller.
The ambient lighting menu appears. The
current setting is indicated by a # dot.XSelect Setting by sliding ZVÆ or turning
cVd the COMAND controller.
The selected setting is indicated by a #
dot.
Switching locator lighting on/off
If you switch on the locator lighting, the
following come on in the dark after you have
unlocked the vehicle using the remote
control:
R the parking lamps
R the tail lamps
R the license plate lamp
R the front fog lamps
R the entry lamps in the exterior mirror
The locator lighting switches off again when
you open the driver’s door. If you do not open
the driver’s door, the locator lighting switches
off automatically after 40 seconds.
XTo switch locator lighting on/off: select
Vehicle in the main function bar by sliding
XVY and turning cVd the COMAND
controller and press W to confirm.
The main area is active.XSelect the Locator Lighting function by
sliding XVY or turning cVd the COMAND
controller and press W to confirm.
Switching the automatic locking
feature on/off
You can use this function to activate or
deactivate the automatic central locking
feature. If the automatic locking feature is
activated, your vehicle will lock centrally from
a speed of approximately 15 km/h.
You will find further information about the
automatic locking feature in the "Automatic
locking feature" section ( Y page 86).
XTo switch the automatic locking
feature on/off: select Vehicle in the
main function bar by sliding XVY and264VehicleCOMAND

Steering and braking requires significantly
more effort and you could lose control of the
vehicle and cause an accident as a result.
Do not turn off the engine while the vehicle is
in motion.
Exhaust checkGWARNING
Inhalation of exhaust gas is hazardous to your
health. All exhaust gas contains carbon
monoxide (CO), and inhaling it can cause
unconsciousness and possible death.
Do not run the engine in confined areas (such
as a garage) which are not properly ventilated.
If you think that exhaust gas fumes are
entering the vehicle while driving, have the
cause determined and corrected
immediately. If you must drive under these
conditions, drive only with at least one
window fully open at all times.
Certain engine systems are designed to keep
the level of poisonous components in exhaust
fumes within legal limits.
These systems only work at peak efficiency
when they are maintained exactly in
accordance with the manufacturer's
specifications. For this reason, all work on the
engine must be carried out only by qualified
and authorized Mercedes-Benz technicians.
The engine settings must not be changed in
any circumstances. Furthermore, all specific
service work must be carried out at regular
intervals and in accordance with the
Mercedes-Benz service requirements. Details
can be found in the Service Booklet.
Brakes
Important safety notes
GWARNING
On slippery road surfaces, never downshift in
order to obtain braking action. This could
result in drive wheel slip and reduced vehicle
control. Your vehicle's ABS will not prevent
this type of loss of control.GWARNING
Make sure that you do not endanger other
road users when you apply the brakes.
Downhill gradients
! On long and steep gradients, you must
reduce the load on the brakes by shifting
early to a lower gear. This allows you to take
advantage of the engine braking effect and
helps avoid overheating and excessive
wear of the brakes.
When you take advantage of the engine
braking effect, a drive wheel may not turn
for some time, e.g. on a slippery road
surface. This could cause damage to the
drive train. This type of damage is not
covered by the Mercedes-Benz warranty.
Heavy and light loads
GWARNING
Depressing the brake pedal constantly results
in excessive and premature wear to the brake
pads.
It may also cause the brakes to overheat,
seriously impairing their effectiveness. It may
then not be possible to stop the vehicle in
sufficient time to avoid an accident.
If the brakes have been subjected to a heavy
load, do not stop the vehicle immediately, but
drive on for a short while. This allows the
airflow to cool the brakes more quickly.
Wet roads
GWARNING
After driving in heavy rain for some time
without applying the brakes or through water
deep enough to wet brake components, the
first braking action may be somewhat
reduced. You have to depress the brake pedal
Driving tips327Driving and parkingZ

Immediately brake the vehicle to increase
your distance to the preceding vehicle. The
warning sound is intended as a final caution
in which you should intercede with your own
braking inputs to avoid a potentially
dangerous situation. Do not wait for the
operation of the warning signal to intercede
with your own braking. This will result in
potentially dangerous emergency braking
which will not always result in an impact being
avoided.
Tailgating increases the risk of an accident.GWARNING
DISTRONIC PLUS brakes your vehicle with a
maximum deceleration of 13 ft/s 2
(4 m/s 2
).
This is equivalent to approximately 40 % of
your vehicle's maximum possible
deceleration.
You need to brake yourself to prevent a
collision. DISTRONIC PLUS brakes the vehicle
to restore the set distance from the vehicle
ahead or the set speed.
GWARNING
If you do not receive visual or acoustic
warning signals during a critical traffic
situation, DISTRONIC PLUS has either not
recognized the collision risk, has been
deactivated or is malfunctioning.
Remember, whether or not DISTRONIC PLUS
is operating, it is ultimately always the drivers
responsibility to apply the brakes in order to
control the vehicle and avoid a collision.
Cruise control lever:To store the current speed or a higher
speed;To store the current speed or a lower
speed=To deactivate DISTRONIC PLUS?To store the current speed or to call up
the last stored speedATo set the specified minimum distance
Switching on DISTRONIC PLUS, storing
the current speed and maintaining it
Important safety notes
GWARNING
The vehicle can be braked when DISTRONIC
PLUS is activated. For this reason, deactivate
DISTRONIC PLUS if the vehicle is to be set in
motion by other means (e.g. in a car wash or
by towing).
In order to activate DISTRONIC PLUS, the
following conditions must be fulfilled:
R the engine must be started. It may take up
to two minutes after pulling away before
DISTRONIC PLUS is operational.
R the electric parking brake must be
released.
R ESP ®
must be activated but not
intervening.
R the transmission must be in position D.
R the hood must be closed.
Driving systems335Driving and parkingZ

GWARNING
Objects located above the height range of
Parking Guidance will not be detected when
the parking space is measured. These objects
are not taken into account when the parking
procedure is calculated, e.g. overhanging
loads, tail sections or loading ramps of goods
vehicles. Under some circumstances, Parking
Guidance might therefore issue steering
instructions too soon. This may lead to a
collision. For this reason, you should avoid
using Parking Guidance in such situations.
GWARNING
Make sure that no persons or animals are in
the maneuvering range. Otherwise, they
could be injured.
! Pay particular attention to low objects or
objects with flat surfaces, such as trailer
drawbars, posts, cross beams and curbs.
These types of objects cannot be detected
by Parking Guidance and may damage the
vehicle.
When PARKTRONIC is deactivated, Parking
Guidance is also unavailable.
Use Parking Guidance for parking spaces:
R that are parallel to the direction of travel
R that are on straight roads, not bends
R that are on the same level as the road, i.e.
not on the pavement, for example. Parking
Guidance may not detect flat curbs
Parking tips:
R on narrow roads, drive past the parking
space as close as possible.
R parking spaces that are littered, overgrown
or partially occupied by trailer drawbars
might be identified incorrectly or not at all.
R snowfall or heavy rain may lead to a parking
space being measured inaccurately.
R pay attention to the PARKTRONIC
( Y page 348) warning messages during the
parking procedure.
R when transporting a load which protrudes
from your vehicle, you must not use Parking
Guidance.
R never use Parking Guidance with snow
chains or an emergency spare wheel
installed.
R make sure that the tire pressures are
always correct. This has a direct effect on
the steering instructions.
R the way your vehicle is positioned in the
parking space after parking is dependent
on various factors. These include the
position and shape of the vehicles parked
in front and behind it and the conditions of
the location. In some cases, Parking
Guidance may guide you too far or not far
enough into a parking space. In some
cases, it may also lead you across or onto
the curb. If necessary, cancel the parking
procedure with Parking Guidance.
! If unavoidable, you should drive over
obstacles such as curbs slowly and not at
a sharp angle. Otherwise, you may damage
the wheels or tires.
Detecting a parking space:Detected parking space on the left;Parking symbol=Detected parking space on the right
Parking Guidance is automatically activated
when you drive forwards. The system is
operational at speeds of up to approximately
22 mph (35 km/h). While in operation, the
system independently locates and measures
parking spaces on both sides of the vehicle.
At speeds below 19 mph (30 km/h), you see
white parking symbol ; in the instrument
cluster as a status indicator. Parking
Driving systems351Driving and parkingZ