air suspension MERCEDES-BENZ S550 4MATIC 2008 W221 Owner's Manual

31 At a glance
Control systems
ItemPage
1Lto cancel Voice
Control*
back287
265
2$to scroll up
%to scroll down
&to scroll to the right
(to scroll to the left
#to confirm selection
3Multifunction display 264
4sto take a call
to dial
to redial
tto end a call
to reject an incoming
call
æto increase volume
çto decrease volume
Fto mute276
276
ItemPage
5!to activate Voice
Control*
to accept a call287
142
6Instrument cluster illumina-
tion417
7Swivel COMAND display 87
8COMAND display illumination87
9COMAND display86
aCD/DVD changer115
bPCMCIA card slot117
cFavorite button238
dRear head restraints retract
button354
eProgram mode selector
switch for:

automatic transmission
shift program

suspension tuning of
Airmatic (only S 550) or
ABC*
409
440
442
ItemPage
fShortcut button for:

CD/DVD

radio
120
101
gBack button94
hHazard warning flasher377
jSeat menu259
kShortcut button for:

telephone*

navigation
132
166
lCOMAND on/off button86
mVolume control96
nMute button96
oTelephone keypad134
pCOMAND controller88

409 Controls in detail
Automatic transmission
Automatic shift program
The program mode selector switch is used
to adjust

shift program

suspension tuning of Airmatic
(
page 440) or ABC* (page 442)

engine control
Program mode selector switch
C Comfort For comfort driving
S Sport For standard driving
Program mode selector switch (S 63 AMG
and S 65 AMG only)
M Manual For manual gear shifting
(
page 413)
C Comfort For standard driving
S Sport For sporty driving
Effect
èThe transmission shifts through
third gear only.
With this selection you can use
the braking effect of the engine.
çThe transmission shifts through
second gear only.
Allows the use of engine’s
braking power when driving:

on steep downgrades

in mountainous regions

under extreme operating
conditions
æThe transmission operates in
first gear only.
For maximum use of engine’s
braking effect on very steep or
lengthy downgrades.

419 Controls in detail
Driving systems
Driving systems
The driving systems of your vehicle are de-
scribed on the following pages:

Cruise control (page 419) and
DISTRONIC Plus*(
page 424), with
which the vehicle can maintain a preset
speed.

Airmatic (page 440) (S 550 only) and
ABC* (
page 442) adjust the vehicle
suspension characteristics automati-
cally and control the vehicle level.

Parktronic* (page 444) and Park As-
sist* (
page 448), which serve as a
parking assistant.

Dynamic Rear View Monitor*
(
page 453) is an electronic and visu-
al parking aid.

Night View Assist* (page 461) illumi-
nates the road with infrared light in ad-
dition to the normal headlamps.
For information on the ABS, Adaptive
Brake, BAS, BAS Plus*, EBP, ESP
® and
PRE-SAFE® Brake*, see “Driving safety
systems” (
page 66).
Cruise control
The cruise control automatically maintains
the speed you set for your vehicle.
The use of the cruise control is recom-
mended for driving at a constant speed for
extended periods of time.
You can set or resume the cruise control at
any speed over 20 mph (30 km/h).
The cruise control function is operated by
means of the cruise control lever.
Warning!G
The cruise control is a convenience system
designed to assist the driver during vehicle
operation. The driver is and must always re-
main responsible for the vehicle’s speed and
for safe brake operation.
Only use the cruise control if the road,
traffic, and weather conditions make it ad-
visable to travel at a steady speed.

The use of the cruise control can be dan-
gerous on winding roads or in heavy traf-
fic because conditions do not allow safe
driving at a steady speed.

The use of the cruise control can be dan-
gerous on slippery roads. Rapid changes
in tire traction can result in wheel spin
and loss of control.

Deactivate the cruise control when driv-
ing in fog.
The “Resume” function should only be oper-
ated if the driver is fully aware of the previ-
ously set speed and wishes to resume this
particular preset speed.

440 Controls in detail
Driving systems
Obstacles and stationary vehicles
DISTRONIC Plus does not brake for obsta-
cles or stationary vehicles. If, for example,
the vehicle detected in front of you chang-
es lanes to bypass an obstacle or station-
ary vehicle in front of it, DISTRONIC Plus
will not brake for the obstacle or stationary
vehicle.Cross-traffic
DISTRONIC Plus may inadvertently detect
crossing vehicles. If you switch on DIS-
TRONIC Plus, for example, at a traffic light
with cross-traffic, the vehicle may sudden-
ly start to drive off.Airmatic (S 550 only)
Airmatic automatically selects the opti-
mum suspension tuning and ride height for
your vehicle.
Airmatic consists of two components:

Level control system

Adaptive Damping System (ADS)
The ADS automatically selects the opti-
mum damping for the respective driv-
ing conditions. At the same time the
suspension is set to either sporty or
comfort.

753 Index
Setting
Cruise control 420
DISTRONIC Plus* time interval 436
Following distance in DISTRONIC
Plus* 436
Higher speed in cruise control 422
Higher speed in DISTRONIC
Plus* 433
Lower speed in cruise control 423
Lower speed in DISTRONIC
Plus* 434
Slower speed in cruise control 423
Slower speed in DISTRONIC
Plus* 434
Speed in DISTRONIC Plus* 433
Suspension tuning (ABC*) 442
Temperature (interior) 472
Temperature (rear passenger
compartment) 478
To last stored speed (“Resume” func-
tion) in cruise control 423
To last stored speed in DISTRONIC
Plus* (“Resume” function) 435
Vehicle level control (ABC*) 443
Setting current speed 420Settings
Calling up DISTRONIC Plus* 428
Control system instrument cluster
menus 281
Daytime running lamp mode 281
Resetting trip odometer 269
Shelf below rear window,
Cleaning and care of 594
Shift program mode,
Automatic transmission 409
Shifting, Automatic transmission 399
Side impact air bags 46
Side marker lamps
Cleaning lenses 589
Messages in display 657
Side windows see Power windows
Sidewall 577
SIRIUS satellite radio* see Satellite radio*
SmartKey see Key, SmartKey
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO* see Key,
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO*
SMS messages 155
Snow chains 581
Spare wheel 686, 721
Mounting 686Speed
Setting current 420
Setting to last stored speed in
DISTRONIC Plus*
(“Resume” function) 435
Speed settings
Cruise control 422, 423
DISTRONIC Plus* 433, 434
To last stored speed (“Resume” func-
tion) in Cruise control 423
SRS 53
Indicator lamp 29, 607
Messages in display 662
Standing water, Driving through 534
Starter battery 694
Starter switch 344
Positions 344
Starting difficulties, Engine 391
Starting, Engine 389
Steering column 359
Steering wheel
Adjustment 359
Cleaning 594
Easy entry/exit feature 357
Heated steering wheel* 360
Power steering fluid 725

754 Index
Steering wheel gearshift control
Automatic transmission 411
Stolen Vehicle Recovery services 518
Storage compartments 494
Cup holder 498
Front armrest 495
Parcel net 496
Rear armrest 496
Ruffled storage pockets 498
Storage compartment in front
armrest 495
Storage tray/telephone* compartment
in front armrest 495
Under the front seats 495
Storing tires 552
Summer opening feature 385
Sun visors 502
Sunroof see Power tilt/sliding sunroof
Sunshades
Extending or retracting rear window
sunshade (COMAND) 249
Extending/retracting rear window
sunshade 503
Opening or closing rear side window
sunshades 385Suspension tuning
Setting (ABC*) 442
Setting (Airmatic) 440
Symbols used in this operator’s
manual 18
System settings (COMAND)
Bluetooth
® settings 239
Display 235
Favorite button 238
Menu overview 235
Reset 241
Setting the system language 238
Time settings 235
Voice Control* settings
(COMAND) 237T
Tachometer 418
Overspeed range 418
Tail lamps
Cleaning lenses 589
Messages in display 657
Tar stains 586
Tele Aid 510
Automatic Maintenance Call 518
Call priority 516
Emergency calls 511
Hands-free microphone 33
Information 515
Information button 513
Initiating an emergency call
manually 513
Messages in display 664
Remote door lock 517
Remote door unlock 517
Roadside Assistance 514
Roadside Assistance button 513
SOS button 513
Stolen Vehicle Recovery
services 518
System self-check 511