rear window shield MERCEDES-BENZ S550 4MATIC 2008 W221 Owner's Manual

Contents
Controls in detail............................. 331
Locking and unlocking ....................... 332
SmartKey ..................................... 332
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO*....... 335
Checking batteries in the
SmartKey or SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO*............................... 340
Loss of the SmartKey or
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO*....... 340
Opening doors from the inside ..... 341
Power closing assist for doors
and trunk lid ................................. 342
Automatic central locking ............ 342
Locking and unlocking from
the inside ..................................... 343
Starter switch positions ..................... 344
SmartKey ..................................... 344
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO*....... 345
Seats.................................................. 347
Seat adjustment ........................... 347
Seat heating* ............................... 351
Seat ventilation* .......................... 352
Head restraints............................. 353
Multicontour seats*, rear ............. 356
Easy-entry/exit feature ................ 357Steering wheel ................................... 359
Steering wheel adjustment .......... 359
Heated steering wheel* ............... 360
Mirrors ............................................... 361
Interior rear view mirror ............... 361
Exterior rear view mirrors............. 361
Power folding exterior
rear view mirrors .......................... 362
Auto-dimming rear view mirrors ... 363
Activating exterior rear view
mirror parking position................. 364
Memory function ............................... 365
Storing positions into memory ..... 366
Recalling positions from memory . 366
Storing exterior rear view mirror
parking position ........................... 367
Fastening the seat belts .................... 368
Proper use of seat belts ............... 370
Seat belt height adjustment ......... 370
Lighting.............................................. 371
Exterior lamp switch..................... 371
Switching on high beams ............. 375
Headlamp cleaning system .......... 375
Corner-illuminating lamps ............ 376
Hazard warning flasher ................ 377
Interior lighting............................. 378Door entry lamps ......................... 379
Courtesy lighting .......................... 380
Trunk lamp ................................... 380
Windshield wipers ............................. 381
Switching on/off
windshield wipers ........................ 381
Intermittent wiping ...................... 382
Single wipe .................................. 382
Wiping with windshield washer
fluid.............................................. 382
Power windows ................................. 383
Opening and closing
power windows ............................ 383
Rear side window sunshades* ..... 385
Summer opening feature ............. 385
Convenience closing feature ........ 386
Driving and parking ........................... 389
Starting the engine ...................... 389
Driving off .................................... 392
Turn signals.................................. 393
Problems while driving ................. 393
Parking......................................... 394
Turning off the engine .................. 397
Releasing seat belts ..................... 398
Automatic transmission..................... 399
Gear selector lever....................... 399

25 At a glance
Exterior view
ItemPage
1Trunk

Unlocking

Opening and closing

Minispare wheel

Vehicle tool kit
479
479
686
668
2Rear lamps679
3Rear window, defrosting473
4Fuel filler flap
Gasoline538
729
5Doors

Locking and unlocking

Opening and closing
332
332
ItemPage
6Exterior rear view mirror
Parking position361
364
7Towing the vehicle700
8Rims and tires

Checking tire inflation
pressure

Minispare wheel

Flat tire
718
560
670
686
9Hood, opening
Engine oil
Coolant541
543
547
ItemPage
aHeadlamp cleaning system375
bFront lamps679
cWindshield wipers
Wiper blades, replacing
Wiper blades, cleaning381
684
592
dWindow, cleaning592
eRoofs

Power tilt/sliding sunroof

Panorama roof with power
tilt/sliding panel*
486
489

470 Controls in detail
Automatic climate control
The automatic climate control is operation-
al whenever the engine is running. You can
operate the climate control system in ei-
ther the automatic or manual mode. The
system cools or heats the interior depend-
ing on the selected interior temperature
and the current outside temperature.
It can only function optimally when you are
driving with the windows and the tilt/slid-
ing sunroof/panorama sunroof* closed.
It is possible to completely deactivate the
climate control system (
page 471). Nearly all dust particles, pollutants and
odors are filtered out before outside air en-
ters the passenger compartment through
the air distribution system.The following automatic climate control
functions can be operated via COMAND:
iIf you have the air distribution and air vol-
ume automatically controlled, you can adjust the
temperature, footwell temperature and air flow.
The following basic settings are recommended:

Automatic air distribution control
(
page 469)

Temperature: 72°F (22°C) (page 472)

Footwell temperature: 0 (page 255)

Air flow: focused (page 256)
Warning!G
Follow the recommended settings for heat-
ing and cooling given on the following pages
and in the “COMAND automatic climate
control” section (
page 251). Otherwise
the windows could fog up, impairing visibili-
ty and endangering you and others.
iSevere conditions (e.g. strong air pollution)
may require replacement of the filter before its
scheduled interval. A clogged filter will reduce
the air volume to the interior.
If the vehicle interior is hot, ventilate the interior
before driving off, see “Summer opening fea-
ture” (
page 385). The automatic climate con-
trol will then adjust the interior temperature to
the set value much faster.
Keep the air intake grille in front of the wind-
shield free of snow, leaves, sticks, and any other
debris.
Do not obstruct air volume by placing objects on
the air volume-through exhaust slots below the
rear window.
FunctionPage
Temperature252
Air distribution253
Air volume253
Switching off cooling (“ACOFF”)254
Central climate control (“Mono”)255
Footwell temperature255
Air flow from air vents256
Rear climate control*257

473 Controls in detail
Automatic climate control
Adjustments
Depending on vehicle production date, you
can adjust the air volume and the temper-
ature when the front defroster is switched
on. The air flow will remain on the wind-
shield and door windows.
Press buttonQ up or down to in-
crease or decrease air volume to the
desired level.
The air volume increases/decreases to
the next higher/lower blower speed
and heating switches to the tempera-
ture that was set before the front de-
froster was switched on.
The indicator lamp on button;
goes out.
or
Press temperature control %$
2and/ora (
page 469) upward or
downward.
Heating switches to the temperature
that was set before the front defroster
was switched on.The indicator lamp on button; goes
out.
Deactivating
Press button; (page 469) up or
down.
The indicator lamp on the button goes
out.
The previous settings are once again in
effect, except air recirculation mode
stays off.
Windshield fogged on the outside
Switch the windshield wipers on
(
page 381).
Press buttonU (page 469) up or
down.
The indicator lamp on the button
comes on.
Rear window defroster
Activating
Switch on the ignition (page 344).
Press button< (page 469) up or
down.
The indicator lamp on the button
comes on.
Deactivating
Press button< (page 469) up or
down.
The indicator lamp on the button goes
out.
iThe air conditioning compressor remains on
even with the indicator lamp on button;
goes out. This helps to prevent windshield from
fogging.
!The rear window defroster uses a large
amount of power. To keep battery drain to a min-
imum, switch off the defroster as soon as the
rear window is clear.
iThe defroster is automatically deactivated
after some time of operation depending on the
outside temperature.

593 Operation
Vehicle care
Cleaning the panorama roof with
tilt/sliding panel*
The rear part of the tilt/sliding panel has a
protective layer on the inside.
Use a soft, clean cloth and a mild
window cleaning solution.
An automotive glass cleaner is recom-
mended.Light alloy wheels
If possible, clean wheels once a week.
Use Mercedes-Benz approved Wheel
Care, a soft bristle brush and a strong
spray of water for cleaning the light al-
loy wheels.Plastic and rubber parts
Use a gentle dishwashing detergent or
mild detergent for delicate fabrics as a
washing solution.
Wipe with a cloth moistened in a luke-
warm solution.
The surface may temporarily change
color. If this is the case, wait for it to
dry.
!Fold the windshield wiper arms back onto
the windshield before turning the SmartKey in
the starter switch or pressing the KEYLESS-GO*
start/stop button (vehicles with KEYLESS-GO*).
Hold on to the wiper when folding the wiper arm
back. If released, the force of the impact from
the tensioning spring could crack the windshield.
!To clean the window interior, do not use a
dry cloth, abrasives, solvents or cleaners con-
taining solvents. Do not touch the inside of the
front, rear or door windows with hard objects
such as an ice scraper or ring. Doing so may
damage the windows.
!Do not use a dry cloth, abrasives, solvents
or cleaners containing solvents. Do not touch
the protective layer with hard objects such as an
ice scraper or ring. Never apply strong force and
only use a soft, non-scratching cloth when clean-
ing the rear part of the tilt/sliding panel.
Otherwise you may scratch or damage the pro-
tective layer.
!Only use acid-free cleaning materials. Acid
may cause corrosion or damage the clear coat.
!The vehicle should not be parked for an
extended period of time immediately after it has
been cleaned, especially not after the wheel rims
have been cleaned with wheel rim cleaner.
Wheel rim cleaners can lead to increased
corrosion of the brake disks and brake pads.
Non-approved wheel cleaners may also damage
the wheel paint if the car is not driven after
cleaning. Therefore, the vehicle’s brake system should al-
ways be warmed-up before it is parked after
cleaning. To do so, please drive your vehicle for
several minutes to allow the brakes to dry. When
applying Mercedes-Benz approved Tire Care and
Mercedes-Benz approved Wheel Care products,
take care not to spray them on the brake disks.Warning!G
Do not use cleaners or cockpit care sprays
containing solvents to clean the cockpit or
the steering wheel. Cleaners containing sol-
vents will make the surface porous and vehi-
cle occupants could suffer serious injuries


744 Index
Headlamp cleaning system 375, 548
Washer fluid 727, 733
Headlamps
Automatic control 372
Automatic headlamp mode 282
Cleaning lenses 589
Cleaning system 548
Manual headlamp mode 282
Messages in display 653
Refilling washer fluid 549
Headliner and shelf below rear window,
Cleaning and care of 594
Heated steering wheel* 360
Height adjustments
Vehicle level (ABC*) 443
High beam
Replacing bulbs 679
High beam flasher 375
High beam headlamp
Indicator lamp 29High mounted brake lamp 679
High-performance brake system
(AMG vehicles only) 529
Hood 541
Message in display 649
Opening 541
Horn 27
Hydroplaning 531
I
Identification labels 712
Identification Number, Vehicle (VIN) 713
Ignition 344, 346
Switching on 344
Switching on, KEYLESS-GO* 346
Immobilizer 81
Indicator lamps see Lamps, indicator and
warning
Individualization
Voice Control* 330
Infant and child restraint systems see Chil-
dren in the vehicle
Inflation pressure see Tires
Infrared reflecting windshield 524
Inside door handle 341Instrument cluster 28, 417
Coolant temperature gauge 29, 417
Fuel gauge 29
Illumination 417, 463
Lamps 598
Multifunction display 264
Outside temperature indicator 418
Selecting the language
(COMAND) 238
Interior lighting 378
Activating automatic control 378
Ambient lighting (COMAND) 247
Deactivating automatic control 378
Delayed switch-off (COMAND) 248
In the rear 379
Reading lamps in the front 379
Reading lamps in the rear 379
Interior rear view mirror
Adjusting 361
Auto-dimming 363
Interior storage spaces see Storage com-
partments