windshield wipers MERCEDES-BENZ S550 2007 W221 User Guide

536 OperationVehicle careEngine cleaning
Prior to cleaning the engine compartment,
make sure to protect electrical compo-
nents and connectors from contact with
water and cleaning agents.
Corrosion protection, such as
MB Anticorrosion Wax, should be applied
to the engine compartment after every en-
gine cleaning. Before applying, all control
linkage bushings and joints should be lu-
bricated. The poly-V-belt and all pulleys
should be protected from any wax.
Vehicle washing
In the winter, thoroughly remove all traces
of road salt as soon as possible.
When washing the vehicle underbody, do
not forget to clean the inner sides of the
wheels.Hand-wash
Do not use hot water or wash your vehicle
in direct sunlight.

Only use a mild car wash detergent,
such as Mercedes-Benz approved Car
Shampoo.

Thoroughly spray the vehicle with a dif-
fused jet of water.
Direct only a very weak spray towards
the ventilation intake.

Use plenty of water and rinse the
sponge and chamois frequently.

Rinse with clean water and thoroughly
dry with a chamois.
Do not allow cleaning agents to dry on
the finish.
Automatic car wash
You can have your vehicle washed in an au-
tomatic car wash from the start. Automatic
car washes without brushes are prefera-
ble.If the vehicle is very dirty, prewash it be-
fore running it through the automatic car
wash.
i
Vehicles with KEYLESS-GO*:
If a door handle is hit by a strong jet of water, and
a SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO* is in close prox-
imity, i.e. within approximately 3 ft (approxi-
mately 1 m), the vehicle could be inadvertently
locked or unlocked.
!
Do not clean your vehicle in an automatic
touchless car wash which uses caustic spray.
Otherwise the caustic spray will damage the
paint or ornamental moldings.
!
Due to the width of the vehicle, fold in
exterior rear view mirrors prior to running the ve-
hicle through an automatic car wash to prevent
damage to the mirrors.
Make sure that the windshield wiper switch is set
to0 (page 351). Otherwise, the rain sensor
could activate and cause the wipers to move un-
intentionally. This may lead to vehicle damage.
i
After running the vehicle through an auto-
matic car wash, wipe any wax off of the wind-
shield (
page 540). This will prevent smears
and reduce wiping noise which can be caused by
residual wax on the windshield.
When leaving the car wash, make sure that the
mirrors are folded out. Otherwise they may vi-
brate.

540 OperationVehicle careCleaning the windows and the wiper
blades
Make sure the hood is fully closed.

Place wiper arms in vertical position
(page 627).

Make sure the vehicle’s on-board elec-
tronics have status 0 (
page 315).

Fold the wiper arms forward until they
snap into place.

Clean the wiper blade inserts with a
clean cloth and detergent solution.

Use a soft, clean cloth and a mild win-
dow cleaning solution on all outside
and inside glass surfaces.
An automotive glass cleaner is recom-
mended.
!
If the windshield wipers leave smears on the
windshield after the vehicle has been driven
through an automatic car wash, wax or other res-
idue is on the windshield. Clean the windshield
with washer fluid shortly after cleaning the car in
an automatic car wash (
page 352).
!
The windshield wipers must be in a vertical
position before folding them away from the wind-
shield. They could otherwise damage the hood.
Never open the hood when the wiper arms are
folded forward.
Warning!
G
For safety reasons, switch off wipers and re-
move SmartKey from starter switch (vehi-
cles with KEYLESS-GO*: Make sure the
vehicle’s on-board electronics have
status0) before cleaning the windshield
and/or the wiper blades. Otherwise, the
wiper motor could suddenly turn on and
cause injury.!
While doing so, only touch the wiper arm so
as not to damage the wiper blade inserts.
!
Fold the windshield wiper arms back onto
the windshield before turning the SmartKey in
the starter switch or pressing the KEYLESS-GO*
start/stop button (vehicles with KEYLESS-GO*).
Hold on to the wiper when folding the wiper arm
back. If released, the force of the impact from
the tensioning spring could crack the windshield.
!
To clean the window interior, do not use a
dry cloth, abrasives, solvents or cleaners con-
taining solvents. Do not touch the inside of the
front, rear or side windows with hard objects
such as an ice scraper or ring. Doing so may
damage the windows.

627 Practical hints
Replacing wiper blades
Replacing wiper blades
Placing wiper arms in vertical positionWiper blades in vertical positionVehicles with SmartKey
Turn SmartKey in starter switch
position1.

Turn combination switch to wiper
settingu (
page 351).

With wiper arm in vertical position, turn
the SmartKey in starter switch to
position0.
Warning!
G
For safety reasons, switch off wipers and re-
move SmartKey from starter switch (vehi-
cles with KEYLESS-GO*: Make sure the
vehicle’s on-board electronics have
status0) before replacing a wiper blade.
Otherwise, the wiper motor could suddenly
turn on and cause injury. Warning!
G
Wiper blades are components that are sub-
ject to wear and tear. Change the wiper
blades twice a year, preferably in the spring
and fall. Otherwise the windows will not be
properly wiped. As a result, you may not be
able to observe surrounding traffic condi-
tions and could cause an accident.
!
To avoid damage to the hood:


The wiper arms should only be folded for-
ward when in the vertical position.


Never open the hood when the wiper arm is
folded forward.
!
Hold on to the wiper when folding the wiper
arm back. If released, the force of the impact
from the tensioning spring could crack the wind-
shield.
Do not allow the wiper arms to contact the wind-
shield glass without a wiper blade inserted.
Make certain that the wiper blades are properly
installed. Improperly installed wiper blades may
cause windshield damage.
For your convenience, we recommend that you
have this work carried out by an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.

628 Practical hintsReplacing wiper bladesVehicles with KEYLESS-GO*
Turn off the engine (
page 366).

Take foot off brake pedal.

Turn combination switch to wiper
settingu (
page 351).

Press KEYLESS-GO start/stop button
(page 317) repeatedly until wind-
shield wipers start.

Press KEYLESS-GO start/stop button
(page 317) when the wiper arms are
in a vertical position.
Removing wiper blades
Fold the wiper arm forward until it
snaps into place.

Turn the wiper blade at a right angle to
wiper arm (arrow 1).

Slide the wiper blade sideways out of
the retainer in the direction of
arrow2.
Installing wiper blades
Slide the wiper blade onto wiper arm
until it locks in place.

Rotate the wiper blade into position
parallel to wiper arm.

Fold the wiper arm backward to rest on
the windshield. Make sure you hold
onto the wiper when folding the wiper
arm back.
!
To do so, only touch the wiper arm so as not
to damage the wiper blade inserts.

682 IndexChildren in the vehicle 61
Air bags 61
Indicator lamp front passenger front air
bag off 53, 555
Indicator lamp, front passenger front
air bag off 53
Infant and child restraint systems 62
LATCH-type child seat anchors 65
Override switch for rear passenger
compartment 67
Tether attachment points 64
Cigarette lighter 457
Cloth upholstery, Cleaning and care
of 542
Cockpit 26, 671
Cockpit management and data system see
COMAND
COMAND 671
Adjusting volume 89
Components 79
Controller 82
Display 80
Function buttons 80
Main menus 89
Menu overview 84
Navigation system 140Operating 84
Operating safety 78
Operating seats 236
Phone book* 129
Radio, FM/AM 93
Selecting sound settings 90
SMS messages 137
Surround sound 91
Switching off/on the audio
source 92
Switching on or off 79
Swiveling display 81
system settings 213
Telephone keypad* 82
Telephone menu* 115
Vehicle menu 220
Voice Control* settings 215
Combination switch 346
Corner-illuminating lamps 347
High beam 346
High beam flasher 347
Turn signals 362
Windshield wipers 351
Command list (Voice Control*) 288
Address book commands 293
Audio commands 295General commands 288
Navigation commands 290
Telephone* commands 289
Control system instrument cluster 241
Multifunction display 241
Multifunction steering wheel 242
Control system instrument cluster menus
Assistance* 252
Audio 248
Navi 246
Service 253
Settings 254
Telephone* 249
Trip 245
Vehicle status message memory 253
Controller Area Network see CAN system
Coolant 497
Adding 498
Anticorrosion/antifreeze mixing ratio
and quantity 665
Checking level 497
Messages in display 587
Temperature 488
Temperature gauge 29, 378
Coolant level
Checking 497

700 IndexVehicle loading 447, 503
Cargo tie-down hooks 453
Instructions 447
Load limit 504
Roof rack* 447
Terminology 526
Vehicle maximum load on the tire 528
Vehicle Recovery services, Stolen (Tele
Aid) 469
Vehicle tool kit 611
VIN 652, 678
Voice control system* 678
Voice Control*
Address book 279
Command list 288
DVD changer 286
Individualization 302
Individualization (COMAND) 215
Introduction 258
Navigation 269
Operating safety 257
Operation via the multifunction steer-
ing wheel 260
Radio 282
Switching help window on or off
(COMAND) 215Telephone 262
Troubleshooting 299
W
Warning indicators
Park Assist* 411
Parktronic* 407
Warning lamps see Lamps, indicator and
warning
Warning sounds
Distance warning function* 397
DISTRONIC Plus* 388
Drivers seat belts 55
Parking brake 365
Warranty coverage 651
Washing the vehicle 534
Wear pattern, Tires 529
Weights, Vehicle 660
Wheels
Change 629
Collapsible wheel chock 613
Minispare wheel 613, 658
Removing 631
Rims and Tires 655
Sizes 655
Tightening torque 633, 678
Tires and wheels 500Window curtain air bags 49, 50
Windows see Power windows
Windshield
Cleaning 540
Cleaning wiper blades 540
Infrared reflecting 475
Windshield washer fluid 662, 668
Mixing ratio 668
Refilling 498
Wiping with 352
Windshield wipers 351
Cleaning wiper blades 540
Replacing wiper blades 627
Single wipe 352
Winter driving 530
Snow chains 531
Tires 530
Winter driving instructions 484
Winter tires 530
Wood trims, Cleaning 542
Wrench, wheel (vehicle tool kit) 611
X
Xenon headlamp see Headlamps