warning light MERCEDES-BENZ S550 2007 W221 Owner's Manual

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

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.

60 Safety and SecurityOccupant safetyPreventive occupant safety (PRE-SAFE
®)
Your vehicle automatically takes preven-
tive measures to better protect the occu-
pants in the following hazardous
situations.PRE-SAFE
® takes action in the following in-
stances:


Emergency braking situations, e.g.
when BAS (
page 71) is activated or
when
BAS Plus* (page 71) is strongly inter-
vening.


Critical dynamic driving situations, e.g.
when the vehicle is understeering or
oversteering because it has exceeded
its physical limitations.


Evasive steering maneuvers at speeds
above 19 mph (30 km/h).
When you are driving faster than 19 mph
(30 km/h), PRE-SAFE
® takes the following
measures in such situations:


The front seat belts are pre-tensioned
electrically.


If the OCS senses that the front pas-
senger seat is occupied and the seat is
in an unfavorable position, it will be
adjusted to a better position.


If the vehicle is equipped with power
adjustable rear seats* and the passen-
ger outer seats are in an unfavorable
position, they will be adjusted to a bet-
ter position.


It increases the air pressure in the air
pockets (on the sides of the seat cush-
ion and backrest) of the multicontour*
and/or drive-dynamic front seats*.


If the vehicle is understeering or over-
steering, the tilt/sliding sunroof and
the side windows also close until only a
small gap remains.
Once the hazardous situation is over with-
out an accident occurring, PRE-SAFE
®
loosens the belt pre-tension and decreas-
es the air pressure in the air pockets of the
multicontour and drive-dynamic seats*.
You can readjust all of the settings made
by PRE-SAFE
®.
Warning!
G
The PRE-SAFE
® system is intended to re-
duce the effects of an accident on properly
seat-belted vehicle occupants. Despite
having the PRE-SAFE
® system in your vehi-
cle, the possibility of injuries occurring as a
result of an accident cannot be eliminated.
Therefore, you should always drive carefully
and adjust your driving to the prevailing
road, weather, and traffic conditions.
i
If the closing procedure of the tilt/sliding
sunroof or door windows is blocked, the tilt/slid-
ing sunroof or door windows will stop and open
slightly.

61 Safety and Security
Occupant safety
If the seat belts do not release:
Adjust the backrest or seat slightly to
the rear until the seat belt tension is di-
minished.
The locking mechanism releases.
Children in the vehicle
If an infant or child is traveling with you in
the vehicle:

Secure the child using an infant or child
restraint appropriate to the age and
size of the child.


Make sure the infant or child is
properly secured at all times while the
vehicle is in motion.
!
When moving the seat, make sure there are
no items in the footwell or behind the seats. Oth-
erwise you could damage the seats.
Warning!
G
Do not leave children unattended in the ve-
hicle, even if they are secured in a child re-
straint system. The children could

injure themselves on parts of the vehicle


be seriously or fatally injured through
excessive exposure to extreme heat or
cold
Do not expose the child restraint system to
direct sunlight. The child restraint system’s
metal parts, for example, could become very
hot, and the child could be burned on these
parts.
If children open a door, they could

injure other persons


get out of the car and injure themselves
or be injured by following traffic
Do not carry heavy or hard objects in the
passenger compartment or trunk unless
they are firmly secured in place. For more in-
formation, see “Loading and storing”
(
page 447) section of the “Controls in de-
tail” chapter.
Unsecured or improperly positioned cargo
increases a child’s risk of injury in the event
of


strong braking maneuvers


sudden changes of direction


an accident

67 Safety and Security
Occupant safety
Override switch for rear passenger compartment
You can disable select functions in the rear
passenger compartment for added safety
(for instance when you have children riding
in the rear passenger compartment).
You can disable the following functions in
the rear passenger compartment:

rear door window operation
(page 353)


adjustment of front passenger seat
from the rear* (
page 320)


rear center console lighter
(page 458)


sunblinds for panorama roof*
(page 443)


rear window sunshade (
page 456)
and rear side window sunshades
(
page 355)The override switch is located on the driv-
er’s door.
1Override switch
2Indicator lamp

Activating: Press switch 1.
Indicator lamp2 comes on. The func-
tions in the rear are disabled.

Deactivating: Press switch 1 again.
Indicator lamp2 goes out. The func-
tions in the rear are enabled again.Warning!
G
Activate the override switch when children
are riding in the back seats of the vehicle.
The children may otherwise injure them-
selves, e.g. by becoming trapped in the win-
dow opening.
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the
SmartKey or SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO*
from the starter switch, take it with you, and
lock your vehicle. Do not leave children un-
attended in the vehicle, or with access to an
unlocked vehicle. Unsupervised use of vehi-
cle equipment may cause an accident
and/or serious personal injury.i
Operation of the rear door windows with the
switches located in the driver’s door is still pos-
sible.

69 Safety and Security
Driving safety systems
Driving safety systems
This section contains information about
Adaptive Brake Lights as well as the follow-
ing driving safety systems:

ABS (A
ntilock B
rake S
ystem)


Adaptive Brake


BAS (B
rake A
ssist S
ystem)


BAS Plus* (B
rake A
ssist S
ystem Plus*)


EBP (E
lectronic B
rake P
roportioning)


ESP
® (E
lectronic S
tability P
rogram)


ETS (E
lectronic T
raction S
ystem)
ABS
The Antilock Brake System (ABS) regulates
the brake pressure so that the wheels do
not lock during braking. This allows you to
maintain the ability to steer your vehicle.The ABS is functional above a speed of ap-
proximately 5 mph (8 km/h) independent
of road surface conditions.
On slippery road surfaces, the ABS will re-
spond even to light brake pressure.
The - indicator lamp in the instrument
cluster (
page 28) comes on when you
switch on the ignition (
page 315). It goes
out when the engine is running.
Braking
At the instant one of the wheels is about to
lock up, a slight pulsation can be felt in the
brake pedal, indicating that the ABS is in
the regulating mode.

Keep firm and steady pressure on the
brake pedal while experiencing the pul-
sation.
Continuous, steady brake pedal pressure
yields the advantages provided by the ABS,
namely braking power and the ability to
steer the vehicle.
Warning!
G
The following factors increase the risk of ac-
cidents:

Excessive speed, especially in turns


Wet and slippery road surfaces


Following another vehicle too closely
The ABS, BAS, BAS Plus*, EBP, ESP
® and
ETS cannot reduce this risk.
Always adjust your driving style to the pre-
vailing road and weather conditions.i
In winter operation, the maximum effective-
ness of the ABS, Adaptive Brake, BAS,
BAS Plus*, EBP, ESP
® and ETS is only achieved
with winter tires (
page 530), or snow chains
as required.
Warning!
G
Do not pump the brake pedal. Use firm,
steady brake pedal pressure instead. Pump-
ing the brake pedal defeats the purpose of
the ABS and significantly reduces braking
effectiveness.

70 Safety and SecurityDriving safety systemsThe pulsating brake pedal can be an indica-
tion of hazardous road conditions and
functions as a reminder to take extra care
while driving.
Emergency brake maneuver
Keep continuous full pressure on the
brake pedal.
For more information, see “Practical hints”
(
page 544).
Adaptive Brake
Adaptive Brake provides a high level of
braking safety as well as increased braking
comfort.Adaptive Brake Lights (S 600 and
USA only)
Depending on vehicle production date the
brake lamps flash in quick intervals while
you are braking in order to signal to cars
behind you that

you are braking strongly at a speed of
more than 30 mph (50 km/h)


you are braking with the aid of BAS or
BAS Plus*
If you bring the car to a complete stop by
hard braking at a speed of more than
40 mph (70 km/h), the hazard warning
flasher automatically comes on as soon as
the vehicle is at a standstill. While the vehi-
cle is stationary, the brake lamps are con-
tinuously lit up. Once you drive faster than
6 mph (10 km/h) afterward, the hazard
warning flasher goes out.
Warning!
G
When the ABS is malfunctioning, the BAS,
BAS Plus*, ESP
® and ETS are also switched
off.
When the ABS is malfunctioning, the wheels
may lock during hard braking, reducing
steering capability and extending the brak-
ing distance.
Warning!
G
The ABS cannot prevent the natural laws of
physics from acting on the vehicle, nor can
it increase braking or steering efficiency
beyond that afforded by the condition of the
vehicle brakes and tires or the traction af-
forded. The ABS cannot prevent accidents,
including those resulting from excessive
speed in turns, following another vehicle too
closely, or hydroplaning. Only a safe, atten-
tive, and skillful driver can prevent acci-
dents.
The capabilities of an ABS equipped vehicle
must never be exploited in a reckless or dan-
gerous manner which could jeopardize the
user’s safety or the safety of others.

107 Control systems
COMAND audio CD/audio DVD/MP3
Notes about handling CDs / DVDs

Only hold discs by the edge.


Handle discs carefully to prevent play-
back problems.


Avoid getting scratches, fingerprints
and dust on discs.


Clean discs from time to time with a
commercially-available cleaning cloth.
Do not wipe them with a circular mo-
tion, but only in straight lines from the
center outwards.


Only use a pen designed for such a pur-
pose to label discs.


Place discs back in their boxes after
use.


Protect discs from heat and direct sun-
light.
Inserting CDs and DVDs Loading the CD/DVD changer
The CD/DVD changer can hold up to a to-
tal of 6 audio CDs or DVDs.
1Disc slot
2Load button (all magazine trays)
3Magazine tray buttons 1 – 6Warning!
G
Only insert a CD or DVD when the vehicle is
stationary. There is a risk of accident by be-
ing distracted from road and traffic condi-
tions if you load a CD/DVD while the vehicle
is in motion.
Bear in mind that at a speed of just 30 mph
(approximately 50 km/h), your vehicle is
covering a distance of 44 feet (approximate-
ly 14 m) every second.i
If the CD / DVD has a printed side, this must
face upwards when the CD / DVD is inserted. If
neither side is printed, the side to be played
should face downwards.
i
Each magazine tray button3 indicates the
status of the corresponding magazine tray by
means of an LED.


LED off = magazine tray is empty


LED constantly lit = magazine tray is loaded


LED flashes = CD/DVD changer requesting
disc to be loaded

140 Control systemsCOMAND navigation (introduction)Safety precautions
Map software
The digital maps generated by the map
software become outdated in the same
way as conventional road maps. Optimum
route guidance can only be provided by the
navigation system in conjunction with the
most up-to-date map software.
Information about new map software ver-
sions can be obtained from an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
Warning!
G
For safety reasons, only enter a destination
when the vehicle is stationary. When the ve-
hicle is in motion, a passenger should enter
the destination. Study manual and select
route before driving.
Bear in mind that at a speed of just 30 mph
(approximately 50 km/h), your vehicle is
covering a distance of 44 feet (approximate-
ly 14 m) every second.
COMAND calculates the route to the desti-
nation without taking account of the follow-
ing, for example:

Traffic lights


Stop and right-of-way signs


Parking or stopping prohibited areas


Lane merging


Other road and traffic rules and regula-
tions


Narrow bridges
COMAND may give incorrect navigation
commands if the data in the digital map
does not correspond with the actual
road/traffic situation. DVD maps do not
cover all areas nor all routes within an area.
For example, if the traffic routing has been
changed or the direction of a one-way road
has been reversed.
For this reason, you must always observe
applicable road and traffic rules and regula-
tions during your journey. Road and traffic
rules and regulations always have priority
over the navigation commands generated by
the system.
Warning!
G
Navigation announcements are intended to
direct you while driving without diverting
your attention from the road and driving.
Please always use this feature instead of
consulting the map display for directions.
Consulting the symbols or map display for
directions may cause you to divert your at-
tention from driving and increase your risk
of an accident.