light MERCEDES-BENZ S550 2007 W221 Owner's Manual

Contents
Introduction....................................... 13
Product information ............................. 13
Operator’s Manual ............................... 14
Service and warranty information .. 14
Important notice for California
retail buyers and lessees of
Mercedes-Benz automobiles .......... 15
Maintenance .................................. 15
Roadside Assistance ...................... 16
Change of address or ownership.... 16
Operating your vehicle outside
the USA or Canada......................... 16
Where to find it .................................... 17
Symbols ............................................... 18
Operating safety .................................. 19
Proper use of the vehicle ............... 19
Problems with your vehicle .................. 20
Reporting safety defects...................... 21
Reporting safety defects ................ 21
Vehicle data recording ......................... 22
Information regarding electronic
recording devices ........................... 22
At a glance.......................................... 23
Exterior view ......................................... 24
Cockpit ................................................. 26
Instrument cluster ................................ 28
Control systems ................................... 30
Center console ..................................... 32
Upper part ...................................... 32
Lower part ...................................... 33
Automatic climate control .................... 34
Overview ......................................... 34
Automatic climate control panel,
front ................................................ 36
Overhead control panel ........................ 37
Driver’s door control panel ................... 38
Rear door control panel ........................ 39
Storage compartments ......................... 40
Rear passenger compartment .............. 42
Safety and Security........................... 43
Occupant safety ................................... 44
Air bags .......................................... 45
Occupant Classification System ..... 50
Seat belts ....................................... 55
Luxury active head restraints
(S 600 only) .................................... 59
Preventive occupant safety
(PRE-SAFE
®) ................................... 60
Children in the vehicle .................... 61
Override switch for rear
passenger compartment................. 67
Panic alarm .......................................... 68
Activating........................................ 68
Deactivating.................................... 68
Driving safety systems ......................... 69
ABS ................................................. 69
Adaptive Brake ............................... 70
Adaptive Brake Lights
(S 600 and USA only) ..................... 70
BAS ................................................. 71
BAS Plus* ....................................... 71
EBP ................................................. 71
ESP
®............................................... 72

ContentsCOMAND navigation system
(last destinations) .............................. 201
Saving a destination permanently
in the destination memory ........... 201
Saving the vehicle position in
the list of last destinations ........... 201
Saving the crosshair position in
the list of last destinations ........... 201
Deleting one of the last
destinations ................................. 201
COMAND address book ..................... 202
General notes ............................... 202
Address book menu overview ...... 202
Calling up the address book ......... 202
Selecting an entry in the main
address book display.................... 202
Creating a new address book
entry ............................................. 203
Deleting an entry .......................... 204
Searching for an address book
entry ............................................. 204
Displaying a complete address
book entry .................................... 206
Displaying of a complete phone
book entry in the mobile phone.... 207
Changing an entry ........................ 207Calling a number saved in
an entry ........................................ 209
Starting route guidance to
an entry ........................................ 209
Voice entries ................................ 210
Saving a phone book entry from
mobile phone in the COMAND
address book ............................... 211
Importing data from external
Bluetooth devices ........................ 212
COMAND system settings................. 213
Systems settings menu overview . 213
Display settings............................ 213
Time settings................................ 213
Voice Control* settings ................ 215
Setting the system language ........ 216
Assigning the favorite button ....... 216
Bluetooth settings ........................ 217
Reset............................................ 219
COMAND vehicle menu ..................... 220
Setting night security illumination 220
Locator lighting on/off ................. 221
Exterior mirror convenience
settings ........................................ 222
Automatic locking on/off ............. 223Activating easy-entry/exit feature 224
Setting interior ambient lighting .. 225
Setting interior lighting delayed
switch-off ..................................... 226
Extending or retracting rear
window sunshade ........................ 227
Trunk opening-height restriction
on/off .......................................... 227
Switching on/of the tow-away
alarm............................................ 228
COMAND automatic climate control . 229
Setting temperature..................... 230
Adjusting air distribution.............. 230
Adjusting air volume .................... 230
Central climate control menu via
COMAND ..................................... 231
Operating rear climate control*
from the front .............................. 234
COMAND seats ................................. 236
Operating seats via COMAND ...... 236
Lumbar support ........................... 237
Multicontour seats*, front ........... 237
Drive-dynamic multicontour
seats, front*................................. 240

ContentsStarter switch positions ..................... 315
SmartKey ..................................... 315
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO*....... 316
Seats.................................................. 318
Seat adjustment ........................... 318
Seat heating* ............................... 322
Seat ventilation* .......................... 323
Head restraints............................. 324
Multicontour seats*, rear ............. 327
Easy-entry/exit feature ................ 328
Steering wheel ................................... 330
Steering wheel adjustment........... 330
Heated steering wheel* ............... 331
Mirrors ............................................... 332
Interior rear view mirror ............... 332
Exterior rear view mirrors ............. 332
Power folding exterior rear view
mirrors ......................................... 333
Auto-dimming rear view mirrors ... 334
Activating exterior rear view
mirror parking position ................. 335
Memory function................................ 336
Storing positions into memory ..... 337
Recalling positions from memory . 337
Storing exterior rear view mirror
parking position ........................... 338Fastening the seat belts .................... 339
Proper use of seat belts ............... 341
Seat belt height adjustment ......... 341
Lighting.............................................. 342
Exterior lamp switch..................... 342
Combination switch ..................... 346
Corner-illuminating lamps ............ 347
Hazard warning flasher ................ 348
Interior lighting............................. 348
Courtesy lighting .......................... 350
Door entry lamps ......................... 350
Trunk lamp ................................... 350
Windshield wipers.............................. 351
Switching on/off windshield
wipers .......................................... 351
Intermittent wiping....................... 352
Single wipe................................... 352
Wiping with windshield washer
fluid .............................................. 352
Power windows.................................. 353
Opening and closing power
windows ....................................... 353
Rear side window sunshades* ..... 355
Summer opening feature.............. 355
Convenience closing feature ........ 356Driving and parking ........................... 359
Starting the engine ...................... 359
Driving off .................................... 361
Turn signals.................................. 362
Problems while driving ................. 362
Parking......................................... 363
Turning off the engine .................. 365
Releasing seat belts ..................... 366
Automatic transmission..................... 367
Gear selector lever....................... 367
Shifting procedure ....................... 369
Automatic transmission positions 370
Gear ranges ................................. 372
Driving tips................................... 373
Automatic shift program .............. 374
Steering wheel gearshift control .. 375
Emergency operation
(Limp-Home Mode) ...................... 377
Instrument cluster ............................. 378
Adjusting instrument cluster and
COMAND display illumination ...... 378
Coolant temperature gauge ......... 378
Tachometer.................................. 379
Outside temperature indicator ..... 379
Fuel gauge ................................... 379

Contents
Driving systems ................................. 380
Cruise control .............................. 380
DISTRONIC Plus* ......................... 385
Airmatic (S 550 only) ................... 401
Active Body Control (ABC)*.......... 403
Parktronic system* ...................... 405
Park Assist* ................................. 409
Dynamic Rear View Monitor* ....... 413
Night View Assist* ....................... 420
Automatic climate control ................. 424
Deactivating climate control
system ......................................... 428
Operating climate control system
in automatic mode ....................... 428
Setting temperature ..................... 429
Adjusting air volume .................... 429
Front defroster ............................. 429
Rear window defroster ................. 430
Maximum cooling MAXCOOL
(USA only) .................................... 430
Air recirculation mode .................. 431
Residual engine heat and
ventilation .................................... 433Front passenger compartment
adjustable air vents....................... 433
Rear passenger compartment
adjustable air vents....................... 434
Rear passenger compartment
climate control* ............................ 434
Trunk .................................................. 436
Opening trunk ............................... 436
Closing trunk ................................ 437
Trunk emergency release.............. 440
Power tilt/sliding sunroof................... 441
Opening and closing power
tilt/sliding sunroof ........................ 441
Synchronizing ............................... 442
Panorama roof with power
tilt/sliding panel* ............................... 443
Roller sunblinds ............................ 443
Opening and closing panorama
roof with power tilt/sliding panel.. 444
Synchronizing ............................... 446Loading and storing............................ 447
Roof rack* .................................... 447
Loading instructions ..................... 447
Storage compartments ................. 448
Cup holders .................................. 452
Trunk ............................................ 453
Useful features ................................... 455
Sun visors ..................................... 455
Vanity mirror in rear...................... 455
Rear window sunshade ................. 456
Ashtrays........................................ 456
Cigarette lighters .......................... 457
Power outlet ................................. 458
Telephone* ................................... 459
Tele Aid......................................... 462
Garage door opener ...................... 470
Infrared reflecting windshield ....... 475

14 IntroductionOperator’s ManualThis Operator’s Manual contains a great
deal of useful information. We urge you to
read it carefully and familiarize yourself
with the vehicle before driving.
For your own safety and longer service life
of the vehicle, we urge you to follow the in-
structions and warnings contained in this
manual. Ignoring them could result in dam-
age to the vehicle or personal injury to you
or others. Vehicle damage caused by fail-
ure to follow instructions is not covered by
the Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.
Your vehicle may have some or all of the
equipment described in this manual.
Therefore, you may find explanations for
optional equipment not installed in your
vehicle. If you have any questions about
the operation of any equipment, your au-
thorized Mercedes-Benz Center will be
glad to demonstrate the proper proce-
dures.We continuously strive to improve our
product, and ask for your understanding
that we reserve the right to make changes
in design and equipment. Therefore, infor-
mation, illustrations and descriptions in
this Operator’s Manual might differ from
your vehicle.
Optional equipment is also described in
this manual, including operating instruc-
tions wherever necessary. Since they are
special-order items, the descriptions and
illustrations herein may vary slightly from
the actual equipment of your vehicle.
If there are any equipment details that are
not shown or described in this Operator’s
Manual, your authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center will be glad to inform you of correct
care and operating procedures. The Oper-
ator’s Manual and Maintenance Booklet
are important documents and should be
kept with the vehicle.
Service and warranty information
The Service and Warranty Information
Booklet contains detailed information
about the warranties covering your
Mercedes-Benz, including:

New Vehicle Limited Warranty


Emission System Warranty


Emission Performance Warranty


California, Maine, Massachusetts, and
Vermont Emission Control System
Warranty
(California, Maine, Massachusetts, and
Vermont only)


State Warranty Enforcement Laws
(Lemon Laws)

18 IntroductionSymbolsTrademarks:

ESP
® and PRE-SAFE
® are registered
trademark of DaimlerChrysler.


HomeLink
® is a registered trademark
of Prince, a Johnson Controls
Company.


SIRIUS and related marks are trade-
marks of Sirius Satellite Radio Inc.


LOGIC7
® is a registered trademark of
Harman International Industries, Incor-
porated.
The following symbols are found in this
Operator’s Manual:
* Optional equipment is identified
with an asterisk. Since standard
equipment varies between models,
the descriptions and illustrations in
this manual may differ slightly from
the actual equipment of your vehi-
cle.

This symbol points to instructions for
you to follow.

A number of these symbols appearing
in succession indicates a multiple-step
procedure.
 Page This symbol tells you where to
look for further information on a
topic.
This continuation symbol marks
an interrupted warning which
will be continued on the next
page.

This continuation symbol marks
an interrupted procedure which
will be continued on the next
page.
-> In the glossary of technical
terms, this symbol is used to in-
dicate cross-references to term
definitions.
DisplayWords appearing in the multi-
function display and COMAND
display are printed in the type
shown here.
Warning!
G
Warning notices draw your attention to haz-
ards that may endanger your health or life,
or the health or life of others.!
Highlights hazards that may result in dam-
age to your vehicle.
i
Helpful hints or further information you may
find useful.

32 At a glanceCenter consoleUpper part
Item
Page
1
Automatic climate control
panel, front
36
2
Alarm system indicator lamp
75
3
Cover of compartment with

CD changer


PCMCIA card slot
107
108
4
Cover of compartment with:

Ashtray


Lighter
456
457
5
Cup holder
452

37 At a glance
Overhead control panel
Overhead control panel
Item
Page
1
Eyeglasses compartment
449
2
Left reading lamp on/off
348
3
Rear interior lighting on/off
348
4
Front interior lighting on/off
348
5
Power tilt/sliding sunroof or
tilt/sliding panel*
441
441
6
Tele Aid (emergency call sys-
tem) button
462
7
Interior lighting control
348
Item
Page
8
Opening/closing rear roller
sunblinds
443
9
Right reading lamp on/off
348
a
Rear view mirror
332
b
Garage door opener
470
c
Hands-free microphone for

Tele Aid (emergency call
system)


Telephone*


Voice Control*
462
459
255

41 At a glance
Storage compartments
Item
Page
1
Glove box
448
2
Document holder in sun visor
455
3
Door pocket
4
Ruffled storage pocket
451
5
Door pocket
Ashtray
456
6
Side storage pocket in trunk
Holder for Operator’s Manual
pouch
7
Additional storage spaces un-
der the trunk floor
453
8
Side storage pocket in trunk
9
Door pocket
Ashtray
456
Item
Page
a
Ruffled storage pocket
451
b
Door pocket
c
Document holder in sun visor
455
d
Ashtray
Cigarette lighter
456
457
e
Eyeglasses compartment in
overhead control panel
449
f
Parcel net in front passenger
footwell
449
g
Front passenger seat storage
compartment with first aid kit
611
Item
Page
h
Front center armrest with
storage compartments
448
j
Cup holder in the rear center
armrest
Cup holder under the rear
center storage compartment*
452
452
k
Rear center armrest with stor-
age compartment
450
l
Rear storage box
451
m
Cup holder in the front center
console
452
n
Driver’s seat storage com-
partment
449

49 Safety and Security
Occupant safety
Front air bags
1Driver air bag
2Front passenger front air bag
Driver and front passenger front air bags
are deployed:

in the event of certain frontal impacts


if impact exceeds a preset deployment
threshold


independently of the side impact air
bagsThe air bags will not deploy in impacts
which do not exceed the system’s deploy-
ment thresholds. You will then be protec-
ted by the fastened seat belts.
The passenger front air bag will only be
deployed if:


the system, based on OCS weight sen-
sor readings, senses that the front
passenger seat is occupied


the 59indicator lamp in
the center console is not lit
(page 53)


the impact exceeds a preset deploy-
ment thresholdSide impact air bags
1Front side impact air bag
2Rear side impact air bag
The side impact air bags are deployed:


in impacts exceeding a preset deploy-
ment threshold


on the impacted side of the vehicle


independently of the front air bags
The front passenger side impact air bag1
will not deploy if the OCS senses that the
front passenger seat is empty and the front
passenger seat belt is not fastened (latch
plate is not inserted into the buckle). With
an empty front passenger seat and the
i
The front air bags in this vehicle have been
designed to inflate in two stages. This allows the
air bag to have different rates of inflation that are
based on the rate of relevant vehicle decelera-
tion as assessed by the air bag control unit
On the front passenger-side, the front air bag de-
ployment is additionally influenced by the pas-
senger’s weight category as identified by the
Occupant Classification System (OCS)
(page 50).
The lighter the front passenger-side occupant,
the higher the vehicle deceleration rate required
for the second stage inflation of the air bag.