sport mode MERCEDES-BENZ S550 2007 W221 Owner's Manual

374 Controls in detailAutomatic transmissionHill start assist system
On uphill grades with a gradient angle of
more than 5°, the hill start assist system
maintains the pressure in the brake sys-
tem for approximately 1 second after you
have released the brake pedal. Therefore,
you can start off smoothly without the
vehicle moving immediately after releasing
the brake pedal.The hill start assist system is inactive


when starting off on a level road or
downhill grades


with the automatic transmission in
neutral position N


with the electric parking brake set


if the ESP
® has switched off due to a
malfunction
Automatic shift program
The program mode selector switch is used
to adjust

shift program


suspension tuning of Airmatic*
(page 402) or ABC* (
page 404)


engine control
Program mode selector switchC Comfort For comfort driving
S Sport For standard driving
The selected program mode CorS ap-
pears in the tachometer display.
Warning!
G
The hill start assist system is not designed
to function as a parking brake and does not
prevent the vehicle from moving when
parked on an incline.
Always set the electric parking brake in
addition to shifting to park positionP.

447 Controls in detail
Loading and storing
Loading and storing
Roof rack*

Flip the covers upward.

Only attach the roof-rack system to the
anchorage points under the covers.
Observe manufacturer’s instructions
for installation.
Loading instructions
The total load weight including vehicle oc-
cupants and luggage/cargo should not ex-
ceed the load limit or vehicle capacity
weight as indicated on the corresponding
placard located on the driver’s door B-pillar
(page 503).
Warning!
G
Only use roof racks approved by
Mercedes-Benz for your vehicle model to
avoid damage to the vehicle.
Follow the manufacturer’s installation
instructions. Otherwise, an improperly
attached roof rack system or its load could
become detached from the vehicle.
Do not exceed the maximum roof load of
220 lb (100 kg).
Take into consideration that when the roof
rack is loaded, the handling characteristics
are different from those when operating the
vehicles without the roof rack loaded.
!
Load the roof rack in such a way that the ve-
hicle cannot be damaged while driving.
Make sure


you can fully raise tilt/sliding sunroof or the
panorama roof with tilt/sliding panel*


you can fully open the trunk
Warning!
G
Always fasten items being carried as secure-
ly as possible using cargo tie-down hooks
and fastening materials appropriate for the
weight and size of the load.
In an accident, during hard braking or sud-
den maneuvers, loose items will be thrown
around inside the vehicle and can cause in-
jury to vehicle occupants unless the items
are securely fastened in the vehicle.
To help avoid personal injury during a colli-
sion or sudden maneuver, exercise care
when transporting cargo. Put luggage or car-
go in the trunk if possible.


655 Technical data
Rims and tires
Rims and tires
!
Only use tires which have been tested and
approved for your vehicle by Mercedes-Benz.
Tires approved by Mercedes-Benz are developed
to provide best possible performance in conjunc-
tion with the driving safety systems on your vehi-
cle such as ABS or ESP
®. Tires specially
developed for your vehicle and tested and ap-
proved by Mercedes-Benz can be identified by
finding the following on the tire’s sidewall:


MO = M
ercedes-Benz O
riginal equipment
tires
Using tires other than those approved by
Mercedes-Benz may result in damage that is not
covered by the Mercedes-Benz Limited
Warranty.
!
Using tires other than those approved by
Mercedes-Benz can have detrimental effects,
such as


poor handling characteristics


increased noise


increased fuel consumption
Moreover, tires and rims not approved by
Mercedes-Benz may, under load, exhibit dimen-
sional variations and different tire deformation
characteristics that could cause them to come
into contact with the vehicle body or axle parts. Damage to the tires or the vehicle may be the re-
sult.
i
Further information on tires and rims is
available at any authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center. A placard with the recommended tire in-
flation pressures is located on the driver’s door
B-pillar (
page 503). Some vehicles may have
supplemental tire inflation pressure information
for driving at high speeds (
page 510) or for ve-
hicle loads less than the maximum loaded
vehicle condition (
page 518). If such informa-
tion is provided, it can be found on the placard lo-
cated on the inside of the fuel filler flap.
The tire inflation pressure should be checked
regularly and should only be adjusted on cold
tires. Follow tire manufacturer’s maintenance
recommendation included with vehicle.
i
The following pages also list the approved
wheel rim and tire sizes for equipping your vehi-
cles with winter tires. Winter tires are not avail-
able as standard or optional factory equipment,
but can be purchased from an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
Depending on vehicle model and the standard or
optional factory-equipped wheel rim/tire config-
uration on your vehicle (Appearance Package,
Sport Package etc.), equipping your vehicle with
winter tires approved for your vehicle model may
also require the purchase of two or four wheel
rims of the recommended size for use with these
winter tires. See an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center for more information.

683 Index
Corner-illuminating lamps 347
Courtesy lighting 350
Cruise control 380, 671
Activating 381
Canceling 382
Driving downhill 382
Driving uphill 382
Message in display 559
Setting current speed 381
Setting to last stored speed (“Resume”
function) 384
Cup holder
Cleaning 541
In front seat armrest 452
In rear seat armrest 452
Curb weight 526, 671
Customer Assistance Center see CAC
D
Date
Setting (COMAND) 214
Daytime running lamp mode 344
Deceleration
With DISTRONIC Plus* 388
Deep water see Standing water
Defrosting 429Delayed switch-off
Exterior lighting (COMAND) 220
Interior lighting (COMAND) 226
Department of Transportation see DOT
Destination entry (COMAND) 153
Destination memory (COMAND) 195
Difficulties
While driving 362
While starting 360
Digital speedometer 246
Additional speedometer 255
Dimensions, Vehicle 660
Direction of rotation, Tires 503
Displays
Additional speedometer 255
Digital speedometer 246
DISTRONIC Plus* 387
Maintenance service indicator 532
Multifunction display 241
Vehicle status message see Multifunc-
tion display messages
Distance
Decreasing in DISTRONIC Plus* 397
Increasing in DISTRONIC Plus* 396
Setting in DISTRONIC Plus* 396
Distance to Empty (Range) 246Distance warning function*
Activating 397
Deactivating 397
Distance warning lamp 397
Intermittent warning sound 397
DISTRONIC Plus* 385
Activated 389
Activating 390
Calling up settings 389
Cleaning system sensor 537
Deactivated 389
Deactivating 395
Deceleration 388
Decreasing distance 397
Decreasing time interval 396
Displays in the speedometer dial 387
Distance warning function 397
Driving hints 397
Increasing distance 396
Increasing time interval 396
Intermittent signal tone 388
Lever 390
Menu 389
Messages in display 560
Sensor cover 537
Setting a higher speed 393