heating MERCEDES-BENZ S-CLASS SEDAN 2013 User Guide

You can adjust side bolsters
: of the luxury
head restraint individually.
X To adjust the side bolsters of the head
restraint:
push or pull side bolsters : into
the desired position.
X To adjust the head restraint angle: hold
the head restraint by the upper edge and
slide

it forwards or back in the direction of
arrow ;. Adjusting the multicontour seat
You can adjust the multicontour seat using
COMAND (Y page 270). Adjusting the multicontour seat in the
rear compartment
You can use the buttons on the center
console to adjust the multicontour seats for
the outer seats in the rear compartment. X
To select a rear-compartment seat:
push
or pull rocker switch : or C forwards or
backwards.
The indicator lamp in the selected button
lights up briefly.
X To adjust the side bolsters of the seat
backrest: push or pull rocker switch B
forwards or backwards.
X To adjust the backrest contour: push or
pull rocker switch A forwards or
backwards.
X To adjust the position of the backrest
contour: push or pull rocker switch ?
forwards or backwards.
X To activate/deactivate the gentle
massage function: push or pull rocker
switch = forwards or backwards.
X To activate/deactivate the strong
massage function: push or pull rocker
switch ; forwards or backwards. Adjusting the active multicontour
seat
You can adjust the active multicontour seat
using COMAND (Y page 272).
i If PRE-SAFE ®
has been activated, the air
pressure in the air chambers (the side
bolsters of the seat cushion and backrest)
of the multicontour seat or active
multicontour seat is increased. Adjusting the lumbar support
You can adjust the lumbar support using
COMAND (Y page 269). Switching the seat heating on/off
Switching on/off The three red indicator lamps in the button
indicate the heating level you have selected.108
Seats
Seats, steering wheel and mirrors

i
If the battery voltage is too low, the seat
heating may switch off. The system automatically switches down
from level 3 to level 2 after approximately
eight minutes.
The system automatically switches down
from
level 2 to level 1 after approximately ten
minutes.
The system automatically switches off
approximately 20 minutes after it is set to
level 1.
X Make sure that the SmartKey is in position
2 in the ignition lock.
X To switch on: press button : repeatedly
until the desired heating level is set.
X To switch off: press button : repeatedly
until all the indicator lamps go out.
Problems with the seat heating The seat heating has switched itself off
prematurely. The vehicle's electrical system
voltage

is too low because too many electrical
consumers are switched on.
X Switch off electrical consumers which you
do not need, such as the rear window
defroster or interior lighting. Switching the seat ventilation on/off
Switching on/off The three blue indicator lamps in the buttons
indicate the ventilation level you have
selected. i
If the battery voltage is too low, the seat
ventilation may switch off. X
Make sure that the SmartKey is in position
2 in the ignition lock.
X To switch on: press button : repeatedly
until the desired ventilation level is set.
i You can open the side windows and the
sliding sunroof using the "Convenience
opening" feature ( Y page 93). The seat
ventilation of the driver's seat
automatically

switches to the highest level.
X To switch off: press button : repeatedly
until all the indicator lamps go out.
Problems with the seat ventilation The seat ventilation has switched off
prematurely. The vehicle's electrical system
voltage

is too low because too many electrical
consumers are switched on.
X Switch off electrical consumers which you
do not need, such as the rear window
defroster or interior lighting. Steering wheel
Important safety notes
G
WARNING
Do not adjust the steering wheel while driving.
Adjusting the steering wheel while driving
could cause the driver to lose control of the
vehicle. Steering wheel
109
Seats, steering wheel and mirrors
Z

The electrical steering wheel adjustment
feature can be operated at any time.
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.
Adjusting the steering wheel
:
To adjust the steering wheel position
(fore-and-aft adjustment)
; To adjust the steering wheel height
i Other topics:
R EASY-ENTRY/EXIT feature
(Y page 110)
R storing settings
(Y page 113)
R operating the on-board computer
(Y page 373) Steering wheel heating
Switching on/off The steering-wheel heating heats the leather
areas of the steering wheel. X
Make sure that the SmartKey is in position
2 in the ignition lock.
X To switch on/off: turn the lever in the
direction of arrow : or ;.
Indicator lamp = lights up or goes out.
Vehicles without KEYLESS-GO: when you
remove the SmartKey from the ignition lock,
the steering wheel heating is deactivated.
Vehicles

with KEYLESS-GO: when you switch
off the ignition and open the driver's door, the
steering wheel heating is deactivated.
i The steering wheel heating is deactivated
when the temperature in the vehicle
interior is higher than 86 ‡ (30 †).
i The steering wheel heating is switched off
automatically after about 24 minutes. EASY-ENTRY/EXIT system
Important safety notes The EASY-ENTRY/EXIT feature makes getting
in and out of your vehicle easier.
You can activate and deactivate the EASY-
ENTRY/EXIT feature using COMAND
(Y page 262).
G
WARNING
You must make sure no one can become
trapped or injured by the moving steering
wheel and driver's seat when the EASY-
ENTRY/EXIT feature is activated. 110
Steering wheel
Seats, steering wheel and mirrors

Problem Possible causes/consequences and
M SolutionsYou see a message
informing you that the
DVD containing the
digital map is
incompatible with the
system software. The DVD containing the digital map cannot be used for the update.
X
To confirm the message: press W the COMAND controller.
X Eject the DVD.
X Have the system software updated at an authorized Mercedes-
Benz Center. The installation of the
map software has
failed. The DVD is dirty or scratched.
X
Clean the DVD.
X Restart installation. There is overheating due to excessive temperatures in the vehicle
interior.
X
Wait until the vehicle interior has cooled down.
X Restart installation. COMAND's integral hard drive is faulty.
X
Consult an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center. Telephone
General notes
Introduction COMAND, in conjunction with a Bluetooth
®
-
capable mobile phone, enables you to make
calls via the Bluetooth ®
interface.
Using
the Bluetooth ®
interface and a suitable
mobile phone, you can use the hands-free
system, import contacts from the mobile
phone and receive vCards.
More detailed information on suitable mobile
phones and on connecting Bluetooth ®
-
capable mobile phones to COMAND can be
found on the Internet at
http://www.mbusa-mobile.com. Or call
the Mercedes-Benz Customer Assistance
Center on
1-800-FOR-MERCedes(1-800-367-6372) for
the USA or on 1-800-387-0100 for Canada. Safety notes G
WARNING
A driver's attention to the road must always
be his/her primary focus when driving. For
your safety and the safety of others, we
recommend that you pull over to a safe
location and stop before placing or taking a
telephone

call. If you choose to use the mobile
phone while driving, please use the handsfree
device and only use the mobile phone when
weather, road, and traffic conditions permit.
Some jurisdictions prohibit the driver from
using a cellular mobile phone while driving a
vehicle.
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. Telephone
193
COMAND Z

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). Overview of climate control systems
Important safety notes
G
WARNING
Severe conditions (e.g. strong air pollution)
may require replacement of the filter before
its

scheduled replacement interval. A clogged
filter will reduce the air volume to the interior
and the windows could fog up, impairing
visibility and endangering you and others.
Have a blocked filter replaced at a Mercedes-
Benz Center as soon as possible. G
WARNING
Follow the recommended settings for heating
and cooling given on the following pages.
Otherwise, the windows could fog up,
impairing visibility and endangering you and
others.
The automatic climate control controls the
temperature and the humidity in the vehicle
interior and filters undesirable substances
from the air.
The automatic climate control is only
operational when the engine is running 16
.
Optimum operation is only achieved if you
drive with the side windows and sliding
sunroof/panorama roof with power tilt/
sliding panel closed. You can also set some automatic climate
control

functions via COMAND (Y page 265).
i Ventilate the vehicle for a brief period
during warm weather, e.g. using the
convenience opening feature ( Y page 93).
This will speed up the cooling process and
the desired vehicle interior temperature
will be reached more quickly.
i The integrated filter can filter out most
particles of dust and completely filters out
pollen. A clogged filter reduces the amount
of air supplied to the vehicle interior. For
this reason, you should always observe the
interval for replacing the filter, which is
specified in the Service Booklet. As it
depends on environmental conditions, e.g.
heavy air pollution, the interval may be
shorter than stated in the Service Booklet.
i It is possible that the blower may be
activated automatically 40 minutes after
the SmartKey is removed. The vehicle is
then ventilated for 30 minutes to dry the
air-conditioning system.
16 The residual heat function can only be activated/deactivated if the ignition is switched off.290
Overview of climate control systems
Climate control

Activating/deactivating the residual
heat function
It
is possible to make use of the residual heat
of the engine to continue heating the
stationary vehicle for up to 30 minutes after
the engine has been switched off. The heating
time depends on the temperature that has
been set.
i The blower will run at a low speed
regardless of the airflow setting.
i If you activate the residual heat function
at high temperatures, only the ventilation
will be activated. The blower runs at
medium speed.
X Turn the SmartKey to position 0 in the
ignition lock or remove it.
X To activate: press the Ì rocker switch
up or down.
The indicator lamp in the Ì rocker
switch lights up.
X To deactivate: press the Ì rocker
switch up or down.
The indicator lamp in the Ì rocker
switch goes out.
i Residual heat is deactivated
automatically:
R after about 30 minutes
R when the ignition is switched on
R if the battery voltage drops
R if the coolant temperature is too low Setting the air vents
Important safety notes
G
WARNING
When operating the climate control, the air
that enters the passenger compartment
through the air vents can be very hot or very
cold

(depending on the set temperature). This
could cause burns or frostbite to unprotected
skin in the immediate area of the air vents. Always keep sufficient distance between
unprotected parts of the body and the air
vents. If necessary, use the air distribution
adjustment

to direct the air to air vents in the
vehicle interior that are not in the immediate
area of unprotected skin.
In order to ensure the direct flow of fresh air
through the air vents into the vehicle interior,
please observe the following notes:
R keep the air intake grille on the hood free
of blockages, such as ice, snow or leaves
R never cover the air vents or air intake grille
in the vehicle interior.
i For virtually draft-free ventilation, adjust
the sliders of the air vents to the center
position. Setting the center air vents
:
Fixed center air vent
; Center air vent, right
= Center vent thumbwheel, right
? Center vent thumbwheel, left
A Center air vent, left
X To open/close: turn thumbwheels =
and ? up or down. 298
Setting the air vents
Climate control

Setting the side air vents
X
To open/close: turn thumbwheel = up or
down.
i Side window defroster vent : is never
completely shut, even if side air vent ; is
shut. Setting the glove box air vent
When automatic climate control is activated,
the glove box can be ventilated, for instance
to cool its contents. The level of airflow
depends on the airflow and air distribution
settings.
! Close the air vent when heating the
vehicle.
At high outside temperatures, open the air
vent and activate the "cooling with air
dehumidification" function. Otherwise,
temperature-sensitive items stored in the
glove box could be damaged. X
To open: turn thumbwheel : counter-
clockwise
from position 3 to position 2.
X To close: turn thumbwheel : clockwise
from position 2 to position 3. Setting the rear-compartment air
vents
Setting the center vents in the rear
compartment :
Rear-compartment air vent, left
; Rear-compartment air vent, right
= Rear-compartment air vent thumbwheel,
right
? Rear control panel for automatic climate
control
A Rear-compartment air vent thumbwheel,
left
X To open/close: turn thumbwheel = or
A to the right or left.
i In
vehicles without rear-compartment air-
conditioning system: close the rear-
compartment air vents when heating mode
is activated, as no warm air flows through
the rear vents in the basic heating setting. Setting the air vents
299
Climate control Z

G
WARNING
Overfilling of the fuel tank may create
pressure in the system which could cause a
gas discharge. This could cause the gasoline
to spray back out when removing the fuel
pump nozzle, which could cause personal
injury. G
WARNING
Hybrid vehicles: be sure to read the "HYBRID"
supplement. Otherwise, you could fail to
recognize dangers. G
WARNING
Do not fill diesel tanks with gasoline. Do not
mix diesel fuel with gasoline. Otherwise the
fuel
system and engine could be damaged. In
addition, the vehicle could catch fire.
! Do not use gasoline to refuel vehicles with
a diesel engine. Do not use diesel to refuel
vehicles with a gasoline engine. Even a
small quantity of the wrong fuel will
damage the fuel system and engine.
! Do not switch on the ignition if you
accidentally refuel with the wrong fuel.
Otherwise, the fuel will enter the fuel lines.
Notify a qualified specialist workshop and
have the fuel tank and fuel lines drained
completely. Gasoline
Fuel grade !
You should only refuel with unleaded
premium-grade gasoline as this avoids
damaging the catalytic converter.
If engine running problems are apparent,
have the cause checked immediately and
repaired. Excess unburned fuel can
otherwise enter the catalytic converter,
leading to overheating and possibly
causing a fire.
! Use

a filter when refueling from a fuel can.
Otherwise, the fuel lines and/or injection system could be blocked by particles from
the fuel can.
i Only

refuel with premium-grade unleaded
gasoline with a specified minimum octane
number of 91 (average value of 96 RON/
86 MON).
You will usually find information about the
fuel grade on the pump. If you cannot find
the label on the pump, ask the staff for
assistance.
You can find more information under "Fuel"
(Y page 525), or by contacting an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Service Center
or visiting http://www.mbusa.com (USA
only). Diesel
Fuel grade !
Only refuel with ULTRA-LOW SULFUR
DIESEL FUEL (ULSD, 15 ppm SULFUR
MAXIMUM). Using other diesel fuels could
result

in increased wear and damage to the
engine and/or exhaust system.
Never refuel with marine diesel or heating
oil.
Do not mix these fuels with diesel fuels and
do not use any special additives, as this
may result in damage.
! Use a filter when adding fuel from a fuel
can. Otherwise, the fuel lines and/or the
fuel injection system could be blocked by
particles from the fuel can.
i Usually, you will find information about
the fuel grade on the pump. If you cannot
find the label on the gasoline pump, ask the
gas station staff.
You can find more information under “Fuel”
(Y page 525), or by contacting an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Service Center
or visiting http://www.mbusa.com (USA
only). 318
Refueling
Driving and parking

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 check G
WARNING
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 G
WARNING
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.
G
WARNING
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 G
WARNING
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 G
WARNING
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 tips
327
Driving and parking
Z

by the engine's air suction nozzles and this
can cause engine damage.
Winter driving
General notes G
WARNING
If the vehicle becomes trapped in snow,
ensure that snow is kept away from the
exhaust pipe and from around the vehicle as
long as the engine is running. Otherwise,
poisonous carbon monoxide (CO) may enter
the
vehicle, resulting in loss of consciousness
and even death.
To assure sufficient fresh air ventilation, open
a window slightly on the side of the vehicle
not facing the wind.
At the onset of winter, have your vehicle
winterproofed at a qualified specialist
workshop, e.g. at an authorized Mercedes-
Benz Center.
Observe the notes in the "Winter operation"
section ( Y page 492).
Driving with summer tires Observe the notes in the "Winter operation"
section (
Y page 492).
Slippery road surfaces G
WARNING
The outside temperature indicator is not
designed to serve as an ice-warning device
and is therefore unsuitable for that purpose.
Indicated temperatures just above the
freezing

point do not guarantee that the road
surface is free of ice. The road may still be icy,
especially in wooded areas or on bridges. G
WARNING
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.
Drive particularly carefully on slippery road
surfaces.

Avoid sudden acceleration, steering
and braking maneuvers. Do not use cruise
control or DISTRONIC PLUS.
If the vehicle threatens to skid or cannot be
stopped when moving at low speed:
X Shift the transmission to position N.
i For more information on driving with
snow chains, see ( Y page 493). G
WARNING
Make sure that you do not endanger other
road users when you apply the brakes. Driving systems
Cruise control
Important safety notes Cruise control maintains a constant road
speed

for you. It brakes automatically in order
to avoid exceeding the set speed. On long and
steep downhill gradients, especially if the
vehicle is laden, you must select shift range
1, 2 or 3 in good time. By doing so, you will
make use of the braking effect of the engine,
which relieves the load on the brake system
and prevents the brakes from overheating
and wearing too quickly.
Use cruise control only if road and traffic
conditions make it appropriate to maintain a
steady speed for a prolonged period. You can
set any road speed above 20 mph
(30 km/h). G
WARNING
The cruise control is a convenience system
designed to assist the driver during vehicle
operation. The driver is and must always
remain responsible for the vehicle's speed
and for safe brake operation. 330
Driving systems
Driving and parking