MERCEDES-BENZ S550 2007 W221 Owner's Manual

670 Technical termsBAS Plus*
(B
rake A
ssist S
ystem Plus)
A system based on radar sensors for
providing brake support in situations
where there is a risk of collision.
BAS Plus is activated in hazardous situ-
ations by stepping quickly on the brake
pedal. During the process, the brake
force is adapted depending on the
proximity to the vehicle in front.
Bead
(
page 526)
Bit
(Binary digit)
The smallest unit of digital information.
Bit rate (MP3)
Measurement of transmission speed.
Indicates the number of ->bits trans-
mitted per time unit.Bi-xenon headlamps
Headlamps which use an electric arc as
the light source and produce a more in-
tense light than filament headlamps.
Bi-xenon headlamps produce low beam
and high beam.
B-pillar
Center connecting pillar between roof
and vehicle body (->A-pillar, ->C-pillar).
Bluetooth
Standard for short-range wireless tech-
nologies, suitable for transmitting
voice and data. It is possible to connect
Bluetooth devices wirelessly.
Bluetooth technology uses the freely
available ISM (Industrial Scientific
Medical) wireless network that works
at 2.45 GHz. Ranges of up to ten
meters are possible with Bluetooth.CAC
(C
ustomer A
ssistance C
enter)
Mercedes-Benz customer service cen-
ter, which can help you with any ques-
tions about your vehicle and provide
assistance in the event of a break-
down.
CAN system
(C
ontroller A
rea N
etwork)
Data bus network serving to control ve-
hicle functions such as door locking or
windshield wiping.
CD
(C
ompact D
isc)
Digital storage medium in disc form.
CD-R
(C
ompact D
isc R
ecordable)
->CD which can be written to once and
read many times.
CD-RW
(C
ompact D
isc R
ew
ritable)
->CD which be read and written to
many times.

671 Technical terms
Cockpit
All instruments, switches, buttons and
indicator/warning lamps in the passen-
ger compartment needed for vehicle
operation and monitoring.
Cold tire inflation pressure
(
page 526)
COMAND
(Cockpit M
anagement and D
ata Sys-
tem)
Information and operating center for
vehicle sound and communications
systems, including the radio and navi-
gation system, as well as other optional
equipment (CD changer, telephone*,
etc.).
C-pillar
The C-pillar is the rear connecting pillar
between the roof and the vehicle body
(->B-pillar, ->C-pillar).Cruise control
Driving convenience system that auto-
matically maintains the vehicle speed
set by the driver.
Curb weight
(
page 526)
DISTRONIC Plus*
A driving convenience cruise control
system which helps the driver maintain
a pre-selected speed:


If there is no vehicle directly ahead,
the system operates in the same
way as conventional ->cruise con-
trol.


If a slower moving vehicle is ahead,
DISTRONIC Plus will reduce your
vehicle speed to the extent permit-
ted by reduced throttle and up to
20% braking power to maintain the
preset minimum following distance.DOT
(D
epartment o
f T
ransportation)
(
page 526)
DVD
(Digital V
ersatile D
isc)
Digital storage medium for storing
large amounts of data, e.g. movies.
DVD-R
(D
igital V
ersatile D
isc R
ecordable)
->DVD which can be written to once
and read many times.
DVD+R
(D
igital V
ersatile D
isc R
ecordable)
->DVD which can be written to once
and read many times.
DVD-RW
(D
igital V
ersatile D
isc R
ew
ritable)
->DVD which can be read and written
to many times.

672 Technical termsDVD+RW
(D
igital V
ersatile D
isc R
ew
ritable)
->DVD which can be read and written
to many times.
Dynamic Rear View Monitor*
The Dynamic Rear View Monitor is an
optical parking aid. It shows you the
area behind the vehicle on the
->COMAND display. In addition, the Dy-
namic Rear View Monitor contains
guide lines to help you with reverse
parking and parallel parking. The Dy-
namic Rear View Monitor is also called
“Park Assist” in ->COMAND display.
EBP
(E
lectronic B
rake P
roportioning)
The EBP enhances braking effective-
ness by allowing the rear brakes to sup-
ply a greater proportion of the braking
effort without a loss of vehicle stability.ELCODE
(E
lectronic Code
System)
System that electronically checks
whether a person entering or driving
the vehicle is authorized to do so. It is
part of the Mercedes-Benz anti-theft
protection program.
Electric parking brake
Protects the vehicle from rolling away
when parked. The electric parking
brake is also called “Parking brake” in
->multifunction display messages.
Emergency call
This function places a call to a local
911 provider. It does not initiate a
->Tele Aid call. Please note that the
911 emergency call system is a public
service. Using it without due cause is a
criminal offense.
Engine number
The number set by the manufacturer
and stamped on the cylinder block to
uniquely identify each engine pro-
duced.Engine oil viscosity
Measurement for the inner friction (vis-
cosity) of the oil at different tempera-
tures. The higher the temperature an
oil can tolerate without becoming thin,
or the lower the temperature it can tol-
erate without becoming viscous, the
better the viscosity.
ESP
®(Electronic S
tability P
rogram)
Improves vehicle handling and direc-
tional stability.
ETD
(E
mergency T
ensioning D
evice)
Device which deploys in certain frontal
and rear collisions exceeding the sys-
tem’s threshold to tighten the seat
belts.
->SRS

673 Technical terms
ETS
(E
lectronic T
raction S
ystem)
Automatically brakes spinning wheels,
thus ensuring
optimal ->traction at all times.
FAT
(F
ile A
llocation T
able)
A table used to locate files on a disk or
memory device.
FSS PLUS (Canada vehicles)
(F
lexible S
ervice S
ystem PLUS)
Maintenance service indicator in the
->multifunction display that informs the
driver when the next vehicle mainte-
nance service is due. FSS evaluates en-
gine temperature, oil level, vehicle
speed, engine speed, distance driven
and the time elapsed since your last
service, and calls for the next mainte-
nance service accordingly.GAWR
(G
ross A
xle W
eight R
ating)
(
page 526)
Gear range
Number of gears which are available to
the automatic transmission for shifting.
The automatic gear shifting process
can be adapted to specific operating
conditions using the selector lever.
GPS
(Global P
ositioning S
ystem)
Satellite-based system for relaying
geographic location information to and
from vehicles equipped with special re-
ceivers. Employs DVD digital maps for
navigation.
GSM
(G
lobal S
ystem for M
obile Communica-
tion)
A standard network protocol used
throughout the world for digital cellular
communication.GVW
(G
ross V
ehicle W
eight)
(
page 526)
GVWR
(Gross V
ehicle W
eight R
ating)
(
page 527)
HiP
(High P
erformance light bulbs)
Light bulbs filled with xenon which are
used in rear lamps.
ID3 tag
Additional information which may be
included in MP3 files (e.g. title, artist,
album).
Instrument cluster control system
The Instrument cluster control system
is used to call up vehicle information
and to change component settings. In-
formation and messages appear in the
->multifunction display. The driver uses
the buttons on the ->multifunction
steering wheel to navigate through the
system and to adjust settings.

674 Technical termsInstrument cluster
The displays and indicator/warning
lamps in the driver’s field of vision, in-
cluding the tachometer, speedometer,
engine temperature and fuel gauge.
ISO9660
A standard file system for recording
data on CDs.
Joliet
Standard for recording data on CDs; an
extension of ISO 9660.
KEYLESS-GO*
System for entering and operating the
vehicle without the use of a SmartKey.
Kickdown
Depressing the accelerator past the
point of resistance shifts the transmis-
sion down to the lowest possible gear.
This very quickly accelerates the vehi-
cle and should not be used for normal
acceleration needs.Kilopascal (kPa)
(
page 527)
LED
(Light E
mitting D
iode)
Semiconductor element that converts
electricity directly into light.
Line of fall
The direct line that an object moves
downhill when influenced by the force
of gravity alone.
LOGIC7
® surround
Multichannel surround technology
from the professional audio industry
that plays back 5.1 and stereo record-
ings in surround sound. LOGIC7
® cre-
ates a natural 360° sound experience
on all seats.
Locking knob
Knob on the door which indicates
whether the door is locked or un-
locked. Pushing the locking knob down
on an individual door from inside will
lock that door.Maintenance System (U.S. vehicles)
Maintenance service indicator in the
->multifunction display that informs the
driver when the next vehicle mainte-
nance service is due. The Maintenance
System in your vehicle tracks distance
driven and the time elapsed since your
last maintenance service, and calls for
the next maintenance service accord-
ingly.
Maximum load rating
(
page 527)
Maximum loaded vehicle weight
(page 527)
Maximum tire inflation pressure
(page 527)
Memory function
Used to store three individual seat,
steering wheel and exterior mirror posi-
tions.

675 Technical terms
MON
(M
otor O
ctane N
umber)
The Motor Octane Number for gasoline
as determined by a standardized meth-
od. It is an indication of a gasoline’s
ability to resist undesired detonation
(knocking). The average of both the
MON (Motor Octane Number) and
->RON (Research Octane Number) is
posted at the pump, also known as
ANTI-KNOCK INDEX.
MP3
The term used in everyday speech for
->MPEG1 Audio Layer 3.
MPEG1 Audio Layer 3
A means of compressing digital audio
data.
Multifunction display
Display field in the speedometer used
to present information provided by the
control system.Multifunction steering wheel
Steering wheel with buttons for operat-
ing the control system.
Night View Assist*
Driving system that illuminates roads
with infrared light in addition to the nor-
mal headlamps and shows a
black-and-white image of the road in
the multifunction display.
Normal occupant weight
(
page 527)
Occupant distribution
(page 527)
OCS
(Occupant C
lassification S
ystem)
The Occupant Classification System
automatically turns the front passenger
front air bag on or off based on the
classified occupant weight category
determined by weight sensor readings
from the front passenger seat.Overspeed range
Engine speeds within the red marking
of the tachometer dial. Avoid this en-
gine speed range, as it may result in se-
rious engine damage that is not
covered by the Mercedes-Benz Limited
Warranty.
Parktronic system*
System which uses visual and acoustic
signals to assist the driver during park-
ing maneuvers.
Park Assist*
System which uses visual and acoustic
signals to assist the driver during park-
ing maneuvers.

676 Technical termsPCMCIA
(P
ersonal C
omputer M
emory C
ard
I
nternational A
ssociation)
Portable memory cards designed to be
inserted into laptop computers to en-
able additional functions.
PIN code
(P
ersonal I
dentification N
umber code)
Your PIN code prevents unauthorized
persons from using your ->GSM mobile
phone. The PIN code is a number
string, which you have to enter when
switching on the telephone.
Poly-V-belt drive
Drives engine components (alternator,
AC compressor, etc.) from the engine.Power train
Collective term designating all compo-
nents used to generate and transmit
motive power to the drive axles, includ-
ing:


Engine


Clutch/torque converter


Transmission


Transfer case


Drive shaft


Differential


Axle shafts/axles
PRE-SAFE
®
(Pre
ventive Occupant Safe
ty System)
Vehicles equipped with PRE-SAFE
®
take preventive measures when the
system senses certain driving dynam-
ics suggesting a possible accident.
Production options weight
(
page 527)Program mode selector switch
Used to switch the automatic transmis-
sion between standard operationS and
comfort operationC.
PSI
(P
ounds per s
quare i
nch)
(
page 527)
PUK
(Personal U
nblocking K
ey)
Must be entered if the wrong ->PIN was
entered three consecutive times.
Recommended tire inflation pressure
(
page 527)
REST
(Residual engine heat utilization)
Feature that uses the engine heat
stored in the coolant to heat the vehi-
cle interior for a short time after the en-
gine has been turned off.

677 Technical terms
Restraint systems
Seat belts, belt tensioners, air bags
and child restraint systems. As inde-
pendent systems, their protective func-
tions complement one another.
Rim
(
page 527)
Root directory
The uppermost directory on a storage
medium.
Run Flat Indicator
The Run Flat Indicator monitors the set
tire inflation pressures by evaluating
each wheel’s rotational speed. If a
wheel’s rotational speed changes due
to falling tire inflation pressure, a corre-
sponding warning message appears in
the ->Instrument cluster control sys-
tem.RON
(R
esearch O
ctane N
umber)
The Research Octane Number for gaso-
line as determined by a standardized
method. It is an indication of a gaso-
line’s ability to resist undesired detona-
tion (knocking). The average of both
the ->MON (Motor Octane Number)
and RON (Research Octane Number) is
posted at the pump, also known as AN-
TI-KNOCK INDEX.
Sidewall
(
page 527)
SIM
(Subscriber I
dentity M
odule)
Card provided by the ->GSM telephone
service provider. Necessary for access-
ing a mobile communication network.
SMS
(S
hort M
essage S
ervice)
With this function you can receive, read
and delete short text messages (if SMS
service is provided by your carrier).SRS
(S
upplemental R
estraint S
ystem)
Seat belts, emergency tensioning de-
vice and air bags. Though independent
systems, they are closely interfaced to
provide effective occupant protection.
Tele Aid
(T
elematic A
larm I
dentification on
D
emand)
The Tele Aid system consists of three
types of response: automatic and man-
ual emergency, Roadside Assistance
and information. Tele Aid is initially ac-
tivated by completing a subscriber
agreement and placing an acquain-
tance call. The Tele Aid system is oper-
ational provided that the vehicle’s
battery is charged, properly connected,
not damaged and mobile phone and
->GPS coverage is available.
Telematics
A combination of the terms “telecom-
munications” and “informatics.”

678 Technical termsTightening torque
Force times lever arm (e.g. a lug
wrench) with which threaded fasteners
such as wheel bolts are tightened.
TIN
(T
ire I
dentification N
umber)
(
page 527)
Tire load rating
(page 528)
Tire ply composition and material used
(page 528)
Tire speed rating
(page 528)
Traction
(page 528)
Tread
(page 528)
Treadwear indicators
(page 528)UDF
(U
niversal D
isc F
ormat)
A universal file system for optical me-
dia allowing an operating system to
read, write and modify data stored on
optical media that was created by an-
other operating system.
Uniform Tire Quality Grading Standards
(
page 528)
Uphill driving assistant
While you are driving up a hill, this sys-
tem holds the vehicle in place for ap-
prox. one second after you have taken
your foot off the brake pedal.
Vehicle capacity weight
(page 528)
Vehicle level control
The ground clearance of the vehicle is
automatically controlled according to a
selected setting and speed. The driver
can choose manually within a range of
ground clearance, for example on very
rough roads. Vehicle maximum load on the tire
(
page 528)
VIN
(Vehicle I
dentification N
umber)
The number set by the manufacturer
and stamped on the body to uniquely
identify each vehicle produced.
Voice Control*
Voice control system for car phones,
portable cell phones and audio sys-
tems (radio, CD, etc.).

679 Index
A
ABC* 403
Messages in display 570
Setting vehicle level 403
ABS 69
Indicator lamp 29, 69, 544
Messages in display 572
Accelerator position, automatic
transmission 373
Accessory weight 526
Accident 363
Active headlamps 342
Adaptive Brake Lights (S 600 and USA
only) 70
Adaptive Damping System
(Airmatic) 401
Additional turn signals 622
Address book (COMAND) 202
Calling up 202
Changing an entry 207
Creating an entry 203
Deleting an entry 204
Details about an entry 206
Displaying details about an entry in the
phone book on the mobile
phone 207Importing data 212
Making a call 209
Menu overview 202
Searching for an entry 204
Starting route guidance 209
Voice entry 210
Address book (Voice Control*) 279
Adjustable air vents, rear passenger
compartment 434
ADS (Airmatic) 401
Air bags 45
Children 61
Front 49
Front passenger front air bag indicator
lamp 53
OCS 50
Safety guidelines 47
Side impact 49
Window curtain 49, 50
Air conditioning, Refrigerant 662, 663
Air distribution
Adjusting 435
Adjusting (COMAND) 230
Air pressure 526
Air pressure see Tire inflation pressure
Air recirculation mode 431Air vents 433
Air vents, rear passenger compartment
Adjustable 434
Air volume
Adjusting 429, 435
Adjusting (COMAND) 230
Airmatic 401
Messages in display 585
Setting vehicle level 401
Alarm
Audible alarm and flashing exterior
lamps (Panic alarm) 68
Alarm system see Anti-theft alarm system
Alignment bolt (vehicle tool kit) 611,
631, 669
Ambient lighting
COMAND menu 225
Antiglare
Rear view mirrors 334
Anti-theft systems 75
Alarm, visual and audible 75
Anti-theft alarm system 75
Immobilizer 75
Tow-away alarm 76
Tow-away alarm (COMAND) 228