sport mode MERCEDES-BENZ S350 2006 W221 Owner's Manual

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.

183 Controls in detail
Automatic transmission
Manual shift program S 55 AMG and S65AMG
In addition to the automatic shift
programC orS, your vehicle is equipped
with the manual shift programM.
In the manual program modeM,
system-controlled automatic gearshifting
is switched off and you need to change the
gears by manually upshifting or downshift-
ing using the steering wheel gearshift but-
tons to the left and right of the steering
wheel (
page 181) or the gear selector
lever.The program mode selector switch is
located on the lower part of the center
console.
1Program mode selector switch
M Manual For manual gear shifting
C Comfort For comfort driving
S Sport For standard driving
The current gear selector lever position
and the selected program mode (
M/C/S)
are indicated in the tachometer display
(
page 174).
!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.

230 Controls in detailDriving systems1Indicator lamps
2Damping button
Start the engine.

Press the damping button2 until the
desired suspension style is set.

If both indicator lamps are out, you
have chosen the automatic mode
for soft damping. The message:AIRMATIC
CONVENIENCEfor Comfort suspension tuning ap-
pears in the multifunction display.


If one indicator lamp is on, the con-
trol system supports a primarily dy-
namic style of driving. The
message:AIRMATIC
SPORTS 1for Sporty 1 suspension tuning ap-
pears in the multifunction display.


If both indicator lamps are on, the
system is set for a dynamic style of
driving. The message:AIRMATIC
SPORTS 2for Sporty 2 suspension tuning ap-
pears in the multifunction display.Vehicle level control with Airmatic
Your vehicle automatically adjusts its ride
height to:


reduce fuel consumption


increase vehicle safety
The vehicle chassis ride height is raised or
lowered according to the selected level
setting and to the vehicle speed:


With increasing speed, ride height is re-
duced by up to approximately 0.8 in
(20 mm).


With decreasing speed, the ride height
is again raised to the selected vehicle
level.
iThe selected suspension style is stored
in memory, even after the SmartKey is
removed from the starter switch.
iThese height adjustments are so small
that you may not notice any change.

427 Technical data
Rims and tires
iThe following pages also list the ap-
proved wheel rim and tire sizes for
equipping your vehicles with winter
tires. Winter tires are not available as
standard or optional factory equip-
ment, but can be purchased from an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Depending on vehicle model and the
standard or optional factory-equipped
wheel rim/tire configuration on your
vehicle (Appearance Package, Sport
Package etc.), equipping your vehicle
with winter tires approved for your ve-
hicle model may also require the pur-
chase of two or four wheel rims of the
recommended size for use with these
winter tires. See an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center for more infor-
mation.

456 IndexConvenience submenu 169
Activating easy-entry/exit
feature 170
Adjusting drive-dynamic seat* 171
Setting key-dependency 169
Setting parking position for exterior
rear view mirror 170, 172
Coolant 294
Adding 294
Checking level 294
Messages in display 362, 363
Temperature 283
Temperature gauge 141
Warning lamp 363
Coolant level
Checking 294
Coolant temperature gauge 25
Courtesy lighting 139
Cruise control 215, 444
Canceling 216
Driving downhill 216
Driving uphill 216
Fine adjustment 217
Lever 222
Setting current speed 216Setting to last stored speed (“Resume”
function) 217
Cruise control lever 215
Cup holder
Cleaning 337
Closing 249
In front seat armrest 248
In rear seat armrest 249
Opening 249
Curb weight 323, 444
Customer Assistance Center (CAC) 444
D
Daytime running lamp mode 133
Setting 165
Deactivating
Air conditioner (cooling) 202
Air recirculation mode 199
Alarm 87
Anti-theft alarm system 87
Automatic climate control 195, 206
Central locking (control system) 168
Charcoal filter 200
Defrost 197
Distance warning function* 227Distronic* 225
Engine with the SmartKey 57
ESP
®
82
Exterior lamps 132
Hazard warning flasher 136
Headlamps 57
Immobilizer 85
Interior illumination delayed
switch-off 167
Limiting opening height of trunk
lid* 169
Manual shift program S 55 AMG and
S 65 AMG 185
Rear window defroster 201
Residual heat 203, 207
Seat heater 125, 126
Seat ventilation* 127
Tow-away alarm 88
Deceleration
With Distronic* 221
Deep water see Standing water 280
Defrosting 197
Delayed switch-off
Interior illumination 167
Department of Transportation see DOT

472 IndexSpeed
Setting current 216
Setting to last stored speed in Distron-
ic* (“Resume” function) 224
Speed settings
Cruise control 217
Distronic* 223, 224
To last stored speed (“Resume” func-
tion) in Cruise control 217
Speedometer
Displays 220
Settings units 163
Speedometer display mode
Selecting 163
Sporty driving style 232
SRS 68, 448
Indicator lamp 347
SRS indicator lamp 60
Standing lamps 131
Replacing bulbs 395, 399
Standing water
Driving instructions 280
Starting difficulties 48
Starting the engine 46Steering column
Height adjustment 40
Length adjustment 40
Steering wheel
Adjusting 40
Adjustment 40
Cleaning 337
Heated steering wheel* 252
Steering wheel adjustment 40
Steering wheel gearshift control S 55 AMG
and S 65 AMG
Automatic transmission 181
Stolen vehicle
Recovery services 262
Stopping
Tilt/sliding sunroof 214
Windows 210
Storage compartments 242
Armrest 243, 244, 245, 246
Cup holder 248, 249
Glove box 242
In front of armrest 246
Parcel net 247Storage compartment in front of
armrest 243, 244
Storage tray 243, 244, 245
Under the front seats 247
Storing (Memory function*)
Positions into memory 129
Storing tires 299
Submenus
Convenience 169
For settings 145
In control system 147
Instrument cluster 163
Lighting 164
Resetting functions in Control
system 161
Selecting 161
Settings menu 161
Vehicle 168
Sun visors 190
Supplemental Restraint System
(SRS) 448

474 IndexTemperature
Display mode 163
Setting units in display 163
Tires 307
Tie-down hooks (Trunk) 240
Tightening torque 449
Tightening torque (Wheel bolts) 407
Tilt/sliding sunroof
Stopping 214
Synchronizing 214
TIN 325
Tire
Vehicle maximum load on 325
Tire and Loading Information 301
Tire and loading terminology 323
Tire care and maintenance 298
Tire Identification Number see TIN
Tire inflation pressure
Checking 286, 306, 308
Setting units 164
Tire inflation pressure see the placard on
the fuel filler flapTire inspection 298
Tire load rating 325
Tire ply composition and material
used 325
Tire speed rating 278, 315, 325
Tire terminology 323
Tire traction 278
Tires 297
Direction of rotation 300
Driving instructions 277
Messages in display 376–383
Retreads 297
Rotating 326
Service life 298
Temperature 307, 322
Tire inflation pressure monitor warning
lamp 346
Tread depth 299, 327
Wear pattern 326
Winter 327
Tools 384Tow-away alarm 88
Arming 88
Canceling alarm 89
Disarming 88
Disarming for transport 88
Towing eye bolt (vehicle tool kit) 385
Installing 415
Towing the vehicle 413
Traction 179, 325
Transmission see Automatic
transmission 293
Tread 325
Tread depth 299
Tread depth (tires) 327
Treadwear indicators 325
Trip computer 157
Trip odometer
Resetting 141