MERCEDES-BENZ S350 2006 W221 Owner's Manual

170 Controls in detailControl systemActivating easy-entry/exit feature
Use this function to activate and deacti-
vate the easy-entry/exit feature
(page 114).

Move the selection marker with
theæ orç button to
the
CONVENIENCE
submenu.

Press buttonj ork repeatedly
until you see this message in the multi-
function display:
EASY-ENTRY FEATURE
ACTIVATE
.
The selection marker is on the current
setting.

Pressæ orç to change the
easy-entry/exit setting.
The following settings are available for the
easy-entry/exit feature:
Setting parking position for exterior rear
view mirror
Use the
MIRROR SETTING WHEN PARKING

function to select whether the passen-
ger-side exterior rear view mirror should be
turned downward during parking maneu-
vers when reverse gearR is engaged. For
additional information, see “Activating ex-
terior rear view mirror parking position”
(
page 187).
Warning!
G
You must make sure no one can become
trapped or injured by the moving steering
wheel and driver’s seat when the easy-en-
try/exit feature is activated.
To cancel seat/steering wheel movement,
do one of the following:

Press seat adjustment switch
(page 38).


Move steering column stalk
(page 40).


Press the one of the memory position
buttons or the memory button M
(page 129).
Do not leave children unattended in the ve-
hicle, or with access to an unlocked vehicle.
Children could open the driver’s door and
unintentionally activate the easy-entry/exit
feature, which could result in an accident
and/or serious personal injury.
OFF
The easy-entry/exit fea-
ture is deactivated.
STEER. COL
Only the steering column
is moved.
ST.COL+SEAT
Both the steering column
and the driver’s seat are
moved.

171 Controls in detail
Control system

Move the selection marker to the CONVENIENCE
submenu using theæ
orç button.

Press buttonj ork repeatedly
until you see this message in the multi-
function display:
MIRROR SETTING WHEN
PARKING
.
The selection marker is on the current
setting.

Pressæ orç to switch function ON or
OFF
.
Depending on vehicle production date, this
feature has been deactivated at the facto-
ry. If deactivated, the screen shown above
does not appear in the multifunction dis-
play. To have this feature activated and ap-
pear in the multifunction display, contact
an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.Without this screen appearing and set to
ON, the rear view mirror parking position
feature (
page 187) is not available.
Adjusting drive-dynamic seats*
Use this function to adjust the settings for
the drive-dynamic seat (
page 124).

Move the selection marker with
theæ orç button to
the
CONVENIENCE
submenu.

To adjust the drive-dynamic seat press
buttonj ork repeatedly until
you see this message in the multifunc-
tion display:
The selection marker is on the current
setting.
Message for the driver’s seat
Message for the front passenger seat:DRIV. DYN. SEAT ADJ.
FRONT PASSENGER
LEVEL 1
LEVEL 2
Press buttonæ orç to select
the desired setting.
The following settings are available:
LEVEL 1
(Sporty) Strong lateral sup-
port and fast air pressure
build-up in the air chambers
of the backrest side bolsters
LEVEL 2
(Comfort) Less lateral sup-
port and slow air pressure
build-up in the air chambers
of the backrest side bolsters

172 Controls in detailControl systemSetting fold-in function for exterior rear
view mirrors
Using this function, you can set the exteri-
or rear view mirrors to be automatically
folded in when you lock your vehicle
(page 188).

Move the selection marker to the CONVENIENCE
submenu with the æ
or ç button.

Press buttonj or k repeatedly
until the message:
FOLD IN MIRRORS
WHEN LOCKING
appears in the multi-
function display.
The selection marker is on the current
setting.

Press buttonæ or ç to switch
the automatic fold-in setting for the
mirrors
ON or
OFF
.

173 Controls in detail
Automatic transmission
Automatic transmission
For more information on driving with an
automatic transmission see “Automatic
transmission” (
page 46).
Your vehicle’s transmission adapts its gear
shifting process to your individual driving
style by continually adjusting the shift
points up or down. These shift point adjust-
ments are performed based on current
operating and driving conditions.
If the operating conditions change, the
automatic transmission reacts by
adjusting its shift program.
Gearshift pattern for automatic
transmission
The automatic transmission selects indi-
vidual gears automatically, depending on:

the gear selector lever
positionD(
page 175) with
gear ranges (page 178)


the selected program mode:
(C/S) (
page 179)
or
(M/C/S) (S 55 AMG and S 65 AMG
only) (
page 183)


the position of the accelerator pedal
(page 177)


the vehicle speed
iDuring the brief warm-up, transmission
upshifting is delayed. This allows the
catalytic converter to heat up more
quickly to operating temperature.

174 Controls in detailAutomatic transmission1Current gear range/gear selector lever
position
2Current program mode
The current gear range/gear selector lever
position and program mode (
C/S)
or (
M/C/S) appear in the tachometer
display.When the gear selector lever is in
positionD, you can influence transmission
shifting by:


limiting the gear range


changing gears manually
Warning!
G
It is dangerous to shift the gear selector
lever out ofP orN if the engine speed is
higher than idle speed. If your foot is not
firmly on the brake pedal, the vehicle could
accelerate quickly forward or reverse. You
could lose control of the vehicle and hit
someone or something. Only shift into gear
when the engine is idling normally and when
your right foot is firmly on the brake pedal.
!Allow engine to warm up under low
load use. Do not place full load on the
engine until the operating temperature
has been reached.
Shift into reverse gearR or parking
positionP only when the vehicle is
stopped.
Avoid spinning of a drive wheel for an
extended period when driving off on
slippery road surfaces. This may cause
serious damage to the drivetrain which
is not covered by the Mercedes-Benz
Limited Warranty.

175 Controls in detail
Automatic transmission
Gear selector lever position
Effect
ì
Park position
Gear selector lever position
when the vehicle is parked. Place
gear selector lever in positionP
only when vehicle is stopped.
The park position is not intended
to serve as a brake when the
vehicle is parked. Rather, the
driver should always set the
parking brake in addition to
placing the gear selector lever in
positionP to secure the vehicle.
EffectThe SmartKey can only be
removed from the starter switch
with the gear selector lever in
positionP. With the SmartKey
removed, the gear selector lever
is locked in positionP.
í
Reverse gear
Place gear selector lever in
positionR only when vehicle is
stopped.
Effect
ë
Neutral
No power is transmitted from the
engine to the drive axle. When
the brakes are released, the
vehicle can be moved freely
(pushed or towed).
To avoid damage to the trans-
mission, never engageN while
driving.
If the ESP
® is deactivated or
malfunctioning:
Move gear selector lever toN
only if the vehicle is in danger of
skidding, e.g. on icy roads.
ê
Drive
The transmission shifts
automatically. All forward gears
are available.

176 Controls in detailAutomatic transmission
!
Coasting the vehicle, or driving for any
other reason with gear selector lever
inN can result in transmission damage
that is not covered by the
Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.
Warning!
G
Getting out of your vehicle with the gear
selector lever not fully engaged in positionP
is dangerous. Also, positionP alone is not
intended to or capable of preventing your
vehicle from moving, possibly hitting people
or objects.
Always set the parking brake in addition to
shifting to positionP (
page 48).
When parked on an incline, turn the front
wheels towards the road curb.
Do not park this vehicle in areas where
combustible materials such as grass, hay or
leaves can come into contact with the hot
exhaust system, as these materials could be
ignited and cause a vehicle fire.
Warning!
G
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the
SmartKey or SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO*
from the starter switch, take it with you, and
lock the vehicle. Do not leave children unat-
tended in the vehicle, or with access to an
unlocked vehicle. Children could move the
gear selector lever from positionP, which
could result in an accident and/or serious
personal injury.

177 Controls in detail
Automatic transmission
Driving tips
Accelerator position
Your driving style influences the
transmission’s shifting behavior:
Less throttle Earlier upshifting
More throttle Later upshifting
Kickdown
Use kickdown when you want maximum
acceleration.
Press the accelerator past the point of
resistance.
The transmission shifts into a lower
gear.

Ease on the accelerator when you have
reached the desired speed.
The transmission shifts up again.Stopping
When you stop briefly, e.g. at traffic lights:

Leave the transmission in gear.

Hold the vehicle with the brake.
When you stop longer with the engine
idling and/or on a hill:

Set the parking brake.

Move the gear selector lever to
positionP.Maneuvering
When you maneuver in tight areas,
e.g. when pulling into a parking space:

Control the vehicle speed by gradually
releasing the brakes.

Accelerate gently.

Never abruptly step on the accelerator.
Working on the vehicleWarning!
G
When working on the vehicle, set the
parking brake and move gear selector lever
to positionP. Otherwise the vehicle could
roll away.

178 Controls in detailAutomatic transmissionGear ranges
With the gear selector lever in positionD
and driving in the automatic shift
programC orS (
page 179), you can
select a gear range for the automatic
transmission to operate within:
Gear selector lever (page 180):
You can limit the gear range by pressing
the gear selector lever to the left (D-), and
reverse the gear range limit by pressing
the gear selector lever to the right (D+).
Steering wheel gearshift control
(S 55 AMG and S 65 AMG only)
(
page 181):
You can limit the gear range by pressing
the downshift button on the steering wheel
gearshift control, and reverse the gear
range limit by pressing the upshift button
on the steering wheel gearshift control.The selected gear range appears in the
tachometer display (
page 174). If you
press on the accelerator when the engine
has reached its rpm limit, the transmission
will upshift beyond any gear range limit
selected.
Effect
ï
The transmission shifts through
sixth gear only (applies to
vehicles with 7-speed automatic
transmission only).
î
The transmission shifts through
fifth gear only (applies to
vehicles with 7-speed automatic
transmission only).
é
The transmission shifts through
fourth gear only.
Effect
è
The transmission shifts through
third gear only.
With this selection you can use
the braking effect of the engine.
ç
The transmission shifts through
second gear only.
Allows the use of engine’s
braking power when driving:

on steep downgrades


in mountainous regions


under extreme operating
conditions
æ
The transmission operates in
first gear only.
For maximum use of engine’s
braking effect on very steep or
lengthy downgrades.

179 Controls in detail
Automatic transmission
Automatic shift program
The program mode selector switch is
located on the lower part of the center
console.
1Program mode selector switch
C Comfort For comfort driving
S Sport For standard driving
The current gear selector lever position
and the selected program mode (
C/S) are
indicated in the tachometer display
(
page 174).

Press program mode selector
switch1 repeatedly until the letter of
the desired program mode appears in
the tachometer display.
SelectCfor comfort driving:

The vehicle starts out in second
gear (both forward and reverse) for
gentler starts. This does not apply if
full throttle is applied or gear
range1 is selected.


Traction and driving stability are
improved on icy roads.


Upshifts occur earlier even when
you give more gas. The engine then
operates at lower rpms and the
wheels are less likely to spin.
!Never change the program mode when
the gear selector lever is out of
positionP. This could result in a
change of driving characteristics for
which you may not be prepared.iThe last selected program
mode (CorS) is switched on when the
engine is restarted.