ignition MERCEDES-BENZ S-Class 2012 W221 Owner's Manual

Gracenote Media Database .............. 226
H
Handbrake see Parking brake
Harman/kardon ®
Logic 7 ®
surround sound system see Surround sound (harman/
kardon ®
surround sound system)
Hazard warning lamps ...................... 279
HD Radio™ ......................................... 215
Heading up (navigation) ................... 184
Headlamp cleaning system Notes ............................................. 529
Headlamps
Adding fluid to cleaning system .....461
Cleaning system (function) ............278
Fogging up ..................................... 281
see Automatic headlamp mode
Headphones
Changing batteries ........................247
Function overview ..........................142
Indicator lamp ................................ 143
Selecting a screen .........................142
Switching on/off ........................... 142
Head restraints
Adjusting ....................................... 106
Adjusting (electrically) ...................106
Adjusting (rear) .............................. 107
NECK-PRO ..................................... 106
NECK-PRO luxury ........................... 106
see NECK-PRO head restraints/
NECK-PRO luxury head restraints
Heating
see Climate control
High-beam headlamps
Changing bulbs (vehicles with
halogen daytime running lamps) ....284
Changing bulbs (vehicles with LED
daylight lamps) .............................. 284
Display message ............................ 402
Switching Adaptive Highbeam
Assist on/off ................................. 280
Switching on/off ........................... 279
Hill start assist .................................. 306
HOLD function
Display message ............................ 411
Function/notes ............................. 342
Home
see Home address
Home address
Entering and saving .......................156
Selecting from the destination
memory ......................................... 159
Hood
Closing ........................................... 457
Display message ............................ 418
Opening ......................................... 456
Hydroplaning ..................................... 329
I
Ignition lock see Key positions
Immobilizer .......................................... 75
Incident (traffic report) ..................... 174
Indicator lamps see Warning and indicator lamps
Indicators
see Turn signals
Insect protection on the radiator .... 457
Instrument cluster Overview .......................................... 35
Warning and indicator lamps ...........36
Instrument lighting
see Instrument cluster lighting
Interface (USB, iPod ®
)
see Media Interface
Interior lighting
Ambient light (COMAND) ...............263
Automatic control ..........................282
Interior lighting .............................. 263
Manual control ............................... 282
Overview ........................................ 281
Reading lamp ................................. 281
see Interior lighting
Intermediate stop
Deleting ......................................... 162
Entering ......................................... 161
iPod ®
Alphabetical track selection ..........237
Connecting to the Media
Interface ........................................ 234
Index13

Servicesee ASSYST PLUS service interval
display
Service interval display
Displaying service messages .........462
Hiding service messages ...............462
Notes ............................................. 462
Service messages ..........................462
Service menu (on-board computer) . 385
Service products Brake fluid ..................................... 528
Capacities ...................................... 524
Coolant (engine) ............................ 529
DEF special additives .....................527
Engine oil ....................................... 527
Fuel ................................................ 525
Important safety notes ..................522
Refrigerant (air-conditioning
system) .......................................... 528
Washer fluid ................................... 529
Setting a station (radio)
Via manual frequency entry ...........212
Settings
Display ........................................... 143
Menu overview .............................. 121
On-board computer .......................385
Picture (COMAND) .........................240
Picture (Rear Seat Entertainment
System) ......................................... 249
Sound settings ............................... 135
System settings ............................. 143
Setting the language
COMAND ....................................... 149
Rear Seat Entertainment System ...258
Setting the night design ................... 143
Setting the text reader speed .......... 145
Setting the vehicle level ................... 345
Setting the volume Telephone calls .............................. 134
Video AUX ..................................... 246
Side impact air bag ............................. 48
Side marker lamp (display
message) ............................................ 403
Side windows Convenience closing feature ............94
Convenience opening feature ..........93
Important safety information ...........92
Opening/closing .............................. 93Problem (malfunction) .....................95
Resetting ......................................... 95
Sliding sunroof
Important safety notes ....................95
Opening/closing .............................. 96
Problem (malfunction) ...................100
Resetting ......................................... 97
see Panorama roof with power
tilt/sliding panel
SmartKey
Changing the battery .......................82
Changing the programming .............81
Checking the battery .......................82
Convenience closing feature ............94
Convenience opening feature ..........93
Display message ............................ 419
Door central locking/unlocking .......78
Important safety notes ....................78
Loss ................................................. 84
Mechanical key ................................ 81
Positions (ignition lock) .................303
Problem (malfunction) .....................84
Starting the engine ........................305
SMS message
see Text message
Snow chains ...................................... 493
Socket Glove box ....................................... 442
Sockets
Points to observe before use .........441
Rear compartment .........................442
Trunk ............................................. 442
Sound menu ....................................... 135
Sounds see Sound settings
Sound settings
Balance and fader ..........................135
Calling up the sound menu ............135
Rear Seat Entertainment System ...248
Surround sound ............................. 136
Treble and bass ............................. 135
Spare wheel
Storage location ............................ 472
see Emergency spare wheel
Specialist workshop ............................ 31
Speech control see Voice Control System Index21

CockpitFunctionPage:Steering wheel paddle
shifters
314
;Combination switch279=Cruise control lever331?HornAInstrument cluster35BDIRECT SELECT lever310CControl panel for:Vehicle level343Suspension tuning344PARKTRONIC347Swiveling the COMAND
display
124
COMAND display
brightness
124
Instrument lighting124FunctionPageDOverhead control panel39EAutomatic climate control290FIgnition lock303Start/Stop button303GAdjusts the steering wheel109Steering wheel heating110HElectric parking brake324IOn-board diagnostics
socketJOpens the hood456KNight View Assist Plus357LLight switch27634CockpitAt a glance

Useful information
i This Operator's Manual describes all
models and all standard and optional
equipment of your vehicle available at the
time of publication of the Operator's
Manual. Country-specific differences are
possible. Please note that your vehicle may
not be equipped with all features
described. This also applies to safety-
related systems and functions.
i Please read the information on qualified
specialist workshops ( Y page 31).
Occupant safety
Overview of occupant safety
In this section, you will learn the most
important facts about the restraint system
components of the vehicle.
The restraint system consists of:
R seat belts
R child restraint systems
R LATCH-type (ISOFIX) child seat anchors
Additional protection is provided by:
R SRS (Supplemental Restraint System)
R NECK-PRO head restraints/NECK-PRO
luxury head restraints
R PRE-SAFE ®
R Air bag system components with:
- PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF indicator lamp
- front-passenger seat with Occupant
Classification System (OCS)
The different air bag systems work
independently of each other. The protective
functions of the system work in conjunction
with each other. Not all air bags are deployed
in an accident.
GWARNING
Modifications to or work improperly
conducted on restraint system components
or their wiring, as well as tampering with
interconnected electronic systems, can lead
to the restraint systems no longer functioning
as intended.
Air bags or Emergency Tensioning Devices
(ETDs), for example, could deploy
inadvertently or fail to deploy in accidents
although the deceleration threshold for air
bag deployment is exceeded. Therefore,
never modify the restraint systems. Do not
tamper with electronic components or their
software.
i See "Children in the vehicle"
( Y page 62) for more information on
infants and children traveling with you in
the vehicle and restraints for infants and
children.
SRS (Supplemental Restraint System)
Introduction
SRS consists of:
R the 6 SRS warning lamp
R air bags
R air bag control unit (with crash sensors)
R Emergency Tensioning Devices
R belt force limiters
SRS reduces the risk of occupants coming
into contact with the vehicle's interior in the
event of an accident. It can also reduce the
effect of the forces to which occupants are
subjected during an accident.
SRS warning lamp
SRS functions are checked regularly when
you switch on the ignition and when the
engine is running. Therefore, malfunctions
can be detected in good time.
The 6 SRS warning lamp in the instrument
cluster lights up when the ignition is switched
on. It goes out no later than a few seconds
after the engine is started.
44Occupant safetySafety

42 indicator lamp is
illuminated, indicating that the front-
passenger front air bag is deactivated.
Should the 42 indicator lamp
not illuminate or go out while the restraint
is installed, please check installation.
Periodically check the 42
indicator lamp while driving to make sure
the 42 indicator lamp is
illuminated. If the 42 indicator
lamp goes out or remains out, do not
transport a child on the front-passenger
seat until the system has been repaired.
A child in a rear-facing child restraint on the
front-passenger seat will be seriously
injured or even killed if the front-passenger
front air bag inflates.
R If you place a child in a forward-facing child
restraint on the front-passenger seat:
- move the seat as far back as possible
- use the proper child restraint
recommended for the age, size and
weight of the child
- secure child restraint with the vehicle's
seat belt according to the child seat
manufacturer's instructions
R For children larger than a typical 12-month-
old child, the front-passenger front air bag
can be activated or deactivated.
If the driver's air bag deploys, this does not
mean that the front-passenger front air bag
also has to deploy.
The OCS may have detected that the seat:
R was empty or occupied by a person with a
weight of up to or less than that of a typical
12-month-old child seated in a standard
child restraint
R was occupied by a small individual, such as
a young teenager or a small adult
R was occupied by a child in a child restraint
system, whose weight is greater than that
of a typical 12-month-old child.
These are examples of when the OCS
deactivates the front-passenger front air bag.Deactivation takes place although the
collision fulfills the criteria for deploying the
driver's air bag.
If the SmartKey has been removed from the
ignition lock or is in position 0, indicator lamp
42 : does not light up.
GWARNING
If the red SRS 6 indicator lamp in the
instrument cluster and the 42
indicator lamp are lit at the same time, there
is a malfunction in the OCS. The front
passenger front air bag will be deactivated in
this case. Have the system checked by
qualified technicians as soon as possible.
Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.
Only have the seat repaired or replaced at an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
In order to ensure proper operation of the air
bag system and OCS:
R Sit with the seat belt properly fastened in a
position that is as upright as possible with
your back against the seat backrest.
R When seated, a passenger should not
position him/herself in such a way as to
cause the passenger's weight to be lifted
from the seat cushion as this may result in
the OCS being unable to correctly
approximate the passenger's weight
category.
R Read and observe all warnings in this
chapter.
52Occupant safetySafety

System self-test
The 42 indicator lamp
illuminates when you:
R turn the SmartKey to position 1 or 2 in the
ignition lock
R press the KEYLESS-GO Start/Stop button
once or twice
If an adult occupant is properly sitting on the
passenger seat and the OCS classifies the
occupant as an adult, the 42
indicator lamp illuminates and goes out again
after approximately 6 seconds.
If the seat is not occupied and the OCS
classifies the front passenger seat as being
unoccupied, the 42 indicator
lamp will illuminate and not go out.
GWARNING
If the 4 2 indicator lamp does
not illuminate, the system is not functioning.
You must contact an authorized Mercedes-
Benz Center before seating any child on the
front passenger seat.
For more information, see "Problems with the
Occupant Classification System"
( Y page 54).
GWARNING
Never place anything between seat cushion
and child seat (e.g. a pillow), since it reduces
the effectiveness of the OCS. The underside
and rear side child restraint system must be
placed entirely on the seat cushion and the
backrest of the front-passenger seat
backrest.
If necessary, adjust the tilt of the passenger
seat backrest.
An incorrectly mounted child seat could cause
injuries to the child in case of an accident,
instead of increasing protection for the child.
Follow the manufacturer's instructions for
installation of child restraint systems.
Occupant safety53SafetyZ

XEngage belt tongue ; in buckle =.
Seat-belt adjustment: if necessary, the
driver's and front-passenger seat belts
automatically adjust to the upper body
( Y page 60).XIf necessary, adjust the seat belt to the
appropriate height ( Y page 60).XIf necessary, pull upwards on the shoulder
section of the seat belt to tighten the belt
across your body.
All seat belts except the driver's seat belt are
equipped with a special seat belt retractor to
securely fasten child restraint systems in the
vehicle. For further information on special
seat belt retractors, see ( Y page 64).
For more information about releasing the seat
belt with release button ?, see "Releasing
seat belts" ( Y page 60).
Seat belt adjustment
The seat-belt adjustment function adjusts the
driver's and front-passenger seat belt to the
upper body of the occupants.
The belt strap is tightened slightly when:
R you engage the belt tongue in the belt
buckle and you then turn the SmartKey to
position 2 in the ignition lock.
R the SmartKey is in position 2 in the ignition
lock and you then engage the belt tongue
in the buckle.
The seat-belt adjustment will apply a
retraction force if any slack is detected
between the occupant and the seat belt. Do
not hold on to the seat belt tightly while it is
adjusting. You can switch the seat-belt
adjustment on and off in the on-board
computer ( Y page 386).
The seat-belt adjustment is an integral part of
the PRE-SAFE ®
convenience function. More
information about PRE-SAFE ®
can be found
in the "PRE-SAFE ®
(preventative occupant
protection)" section ( Y page 55).
Belt height adjustment
You can adjust the seat belt height on the
driver's seat and the front-passenger seat.
Adjust the height so that the upper part of the
seat belt is routed across the center of your
shoulder.
XTo raise: slide the belt sash guide upwards.
The belt sash guide engages in various
positions.XTo lower: press and hold belt sash guide
release :.XSlide the belt sash guide downwards.XRelease belt sash guide release : and
make sure that the belt sash guide has
engaged.
The seat belts for the outer seats in the rear
are adjusted automatically.
Releasing seat belts
XPress release button ?(Y page 59) and
guide belt tongue ; back towards belt
sash guide :.
!
Make sure that the seat belt is fully rolled
up. Otherwise, the seat belt or belt tongue
will be trapped in the door or in the seat
mechanism. This could damage the door,
the door trim panel and the seat belt.
Damaged seat belts can no longer fulfill
their protective function and must be
replaced. Consult an authorized Mercedes-
Benz Center.
60Occupant safetySafety

Belt warning for the driver and front
passenger
Regardless of whether the driver and front
passenger have fastened their seat belts
already, the 7 seat belt warning lamp
lights up for 6 seconds after every engine
start. It then goes out if the driver and the
front passenger have fastened their seat
belts.
If the driver's seat belt is not fastened after
the engine is started, an additional warning
tone will sound. The warning tone goes out
after approximately six seconds or once the
driver's seat belt is fastened.
If the driver or front passenger have not
fastened their seat belt after 6 seconds and
the doors are closed, the 7 seat belt
warning lamp lights up.
R until the driver or the front passenger have
fastened their seat belts
R if a vehicle speed of 15 mph(25 km/h) is
exceeded once, a warning tone with
increasing intensity sounds additionally for
a maximum of 60 seconds or until the driver
or front passenger have fastened their seat
belts.
If the driver or front passenger undo their seat
belts during the journey, the 7 seat belt
warning lamp lights up and the warning tone
sounds again.
The warning tone ceases even if the driver or
front passenger have still not fastened their
seat belt after 60 seconds. The 7 seat belt
warning lamp stops flashing but continues to
be lit.
Once the vehicle is stationary, the warning
tone is reactivated and the 7 seat belt
warning lamp starts to flash again if the
vehicle speed exceeds 15 mph(25 km/h)
once.
The 7 seat belt warning lamp only goes
out if:
R both the driver and the front passenger
have fastened their seat belts.
or
R the vehicle is stationary and a door is open.
i For more information on the 7 seat
belt warning lamp, see "Warning and
indicator lamps in the instrument cluster,
seat belt" ( Y page 420).
Emergency Tensioning Devices, belt
force limiters
The front seat belts and the outer seat belts
in the rear are equipped with ETDs and seat
belt force limiters.
The ETDs tighten the seat belts in an accident,
pulling them close against the body.
The ETDs do not correct incorrect seat
positions or incorrectly fastened seat belts.
The ETDs do not pull vehicle occupants back
towards the backrest.
Seat belt force limiters, when triggered, help
to reduce the peak force exerted by the seat
belt on the vehicle occupant.
The seat belt force limiters for the front seats
are synchronized with the front air bags.
These take on a part of the deceleration force.
Thus, the force exerted on the occupant is
distributed over a greater area.
The ETDs can only be activated when:
R the ignition is switched on.
R the restraint systems are operational; see
"SRS warning lamp" ( Y page 44).
R the belt tongue is engaged in the buckle on
each of the lap-shoulder belts in the front.
R the front-passenger seat is occupied and
the belt tongue is engaged in the buckle on
the front-passenger side.
The ETDs on the outside seats in the rear
compartment are triggered independently of
the lock status of the seat belts.
The ETDs are triggered depending on the type
and severity of an accident:
R if, in the event of a head-on or rear-end
collision, the vehicle decelerates or
accelerates rapidly in a longitudinal
Occupant safety61SafetyZ

becoming a projectile in the event of an
accident.
If an infant or child is traveling in the vehicle:XSecure the infant or child with an
appropriate infant or child restraint
recommended for the child's age and
weight.XMake sure that the infant or child is
properly secured at all times while the
vehicle is in motion.GWARNING
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the
SmartKey from the ignition lock. 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
ignition lock 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 on these
parts.
GWARNING
Do not carry heavy or hard objects in the
passenger compartment or trunk 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
Special seat belt retractor
All seat belts except the driver's seat belt are
equipped with a special seat belt retractor.
When activated, the special seat belt
retractor ensures the seat belt will not
slacken once the child restraint system has
been secured.
Installing a child restraint system:
XAlways comply with the manufacturer's
installation instructions.XPull the seat belt smoothly from the inertia
reel.XEngage the seat belt tongue in the belt
buckle.
Activating the special seat belt retractor:
XPull the seat belt out fully and let the inertia
reel retract it again.
While the seat belt is retracting, you should
hear a ratcheting sound. The special seat
belt retractor is enabled.XPush down on the child restraint system to
take up any slack.
Removing a child restraint system/
deactivating the special seat belt retractor:
XAlways comply with the manufacturer's
installation instructions.XPress the seat belt release button and
guide the belt tongue to the belt outlet.
The special seat belt retractor is
deactivated.GWARNING
Never release the seat belt buckle while the
vehicle is in motion, since the special seat belt
retractor will be deactivated.
64Children in the vehicleSafety

Children could injure themselves or others
while the vehicle is in motion if, for example,
they:
R open the doors
R open the side windows
R adjust the seats
R operate the cigarette lighterGWARNING
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the
SmartKey from the ignition lock. 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
ignition lock 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 on these
parts.
Child-proof locks for the rear doors
GWARNING
Children could open a rear door from inside
the vehicle. This could result in serious
injuries or an accident. Therefore, when
children ride in the rear always secure the rear
doors with the child-proof locks.
You secure each door individually with the
child-proof locks on the rear doors. A door
secured with a child-proof lock cannot be
opened from inside the vehicle. When the
vehicle is unlocked, the door can be opened
from the outside.XTo activate: press the child-proof lock
lever up in the direction of arrow :.XMake sure that the child-proof locks are
working properly.XTo deactivate: press the child-proof lock
lever down in the direction of arrow ;.
Override feature for the rear side
windows
GWARNING
When children ride on the vehicle's rear seats,
activate the override switch. Otherwise, the
children could be injured, e.g. by trapping
themselves in the rear side window.
For the rear compartment, you can deactivate
operation of:
R the rear side windows
R the cigarette lighter in the rear
R adjustment of the front-passenger seat
from the rear compartment
R the sunblinds:
- in the roof
- of the rear window
- of the rear side windows
Children in the vehicle67SafetyZ