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

Contents
Control systems................................ 83
COMAND operating safety ................... 84
COMAND introduction ......................... 85
Availability of functions while the
vehicle is in motion ........................ 85
Switching COMAND on or off ......... 85
COMAND components ................... 85
Operating COMAND ....................... 90
Main menus of COMAND ............... 96
COMAND FM/AM radio ..................... 100
Submenu overview ....................... 100
Switching to radio mode .............. 101
Switching wavebands ................... 101
Selecting stations/channels ........ 101
Saving stations ............................. 103
Station name display .................... 104
COMAND satellite radio* (USA only) . 105
Submenu overview ....................... 105
Introduction to Satellite radio....... 106
Switching to satellite radio ........... 106
Main satellite radio menu ............. 107
Selecting program category ......... 108
Tuning in channels ....................... 108
Saving channels ........................... 110
Show program info ....................... 111Channel update ............................ 111
Calling SIRIUS Service Center ...... 111
COMAND audio CD/audio DVD/MP3 112
Safety precautions ....................... 112
Notes about MP3 mode ............... 112
Notes about audio DVD operation 114
Notes about CDs/DVDs ............... 114
Notes about handling CDs/DVDs 115
Inserting CDs and DVDs............... 115
Inserting a PCMCIA card .............. 117
Ejecting CDs and DVDs ................ 117
Ejecting a PCMCIA card ............... 118
Submenu overview ....................... 119
Switching to audio CD, audio DVD
or MP3 mode ............................... 120
Stop function ............................... 121
Pause function ............................. 121
Selecting CD/DVD/MP3 media ... 121
Selecting a track .......................... 122
Fast forward/rewind .................... 122
Selecting a folder ......................... 122
Setting the audio format .............. 123
Playback options .......................... 123
COMAND video DVD (USA only) ........ 124
Automatic picture fade-out .......... 124
Notes about video DVD operation 124Notes about handling DVDs ......... 125
Functional limitations................... 125
Inserting or ejecting DVDs ........... 125
Submenu overview of
video DVD .................................... 126
Switching to video DVD mode...... 126
Hiding/showing the
DVD control menu ....................... 127
Hiding/showing the menu system 127
Fast forward/rewind .................... 127
Selecting the DVD medium .......... 127
Stop playback .............................. 128
Pause playback ............................ 128
Selecting scene/chapter ............. 128
Selecting film/track..................... 128
Screen settings ............................ 128
DVD menu.................................... 129
Stopping the film or skipping to
the beginning/end of a scene...... 130
Switching to the next highest DVD
menu level ................................... 130
Back to the film............................ 130
Setting the language and
audio format ................................ 131
Subtitles and camera angles ........ 131
Interactive content....................... 131

18 Introduction
Symbols
Trademarks:

Bluetooth® is a registered trademark of
of Bluetooth SIG Inc.

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

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

LOGIC7® is a registered trademark of
Harman International Industries, Incor-
porated.

SIRIUS and related marks are trade-
marks of SIRIUS Satellite Radio Inc.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
a warning which is continued on
the next page.
This continuation symbol marks
a procedure which is continued
on the next page.
-> This symbol is used to indicate
cross-references to term defini-
tions.
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.
iHelpful hints or further information you may
find useful.

20 Introduction
Problems with your vehicle
If you should experience a problem with your vehicle, particularly one that you believe may affect its safe operation, we urge you to
immediately contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center to have the problem diagnosed and corrected if required. If the matter is
not handled to your satisfaction, please discuss the problem with the Mercedes-Benz Center management, or if necessary contact us
at one of the following addresses:
In the USA:
Customer Assistance Center
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC
One Mercedes Drive
Montvale, NJ 07645-0350
In Canada:
Customer Relations Department
Mercedes-Benz Canada, Inc.
98 Vanderhoof Avenue
Toronto, Ontario, M4G 4C9

67 Safety and Security
Driving safety systems
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.
The 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 598).
Adaptive Brake
Adaptive Brake provides a high level of
braking safety as well as increased braking
comfort. It is coupled with ABS, ESP
® and
BAS. Adaptive Brake takes driver and vehi-
cle characteristics into consideration, thus
achieving an optimal braking effect.
Warning!G
When the ABS is malfunctioning, the BAS,
BAS Plus* and ESP® 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
afforded. The ABS cannot prevent acci-
dents, including those resulting from exces-
sive speed in turns, following another
vehicle too closely, or hydroplaning.
Only a safe, attentive, and skillful driver can
prevent accidents.
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.

83 Control systems
COMAND operating safety
COMAND introduction
COMAND FM/AM radio
COMAND satellite radio* (USA only)
COMAND
audio CD/audio DVD/MP3
COMAND video DVD (USA only)
COMAND telephone*
COMAND navigation
COMAND address book
COMAND system settings
COMAND vehicle menu
COMAND automatic climate control
COMAND seats
Instrument cluster control system
Voice Control*

84 Control systems
COMAND operating safety
Warning!G
Any alteration of electronic components or
software can cause malfunctions.
Radio, satellite radio* (USA only), amplifier,
CD/DVD changer, navigation module, tele-
phone and Voice Control Systems* are in-
terconnected. Therefore, if one of the
components is not operational, or has not
been removed/ replaced properly, the func-
tion of other components could be impaired.
Such conditions might seriously impair the
operating safety of your vehicle.
We recommend to have any service work on
electronic components carried out by an au-
thorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Warning!G
In order to avoid distraction which could
lead to an accident, the driver should enter
system settings while the vehicle is at a
standstill, and operate the system only
when permitted by road, weather and traffic
conditions.
Bear in mind that at a speed of just 30 mph
(approximately 50 km/ h), your car covers a
distance of 44 feet (approximately 14 m) ev-
ery second.
COMAND supplies you with information to
help you select your route more easily and
guide you conveniently and safely to your
destination. For safety reasons, we encour-
age the driver to stop the vehicle in a safe
place before answering or placing a call, or
consulting the COMAND screen to read nav-
igational maps, instructions, or downloaded
information.
Warning!G
While the navigation system provides direc-
tional assistance, the driver must remain fo-
cused on safe driving behavior, especially
attention to traffic and street signs, and
should utilize the system’s audio cues while
driving.
The navigation system does not supply any
information on stop signs, yield signs, traffic
regulations or traffic safety rules. Their ob-
servance always remains in the driver’s per-
sonal responsibility. DVD maps do not cover
all areas nor all routes within an area.

85 Control systems
COMAND introduction
COMAND introduction
COMAND (Cockpit Management and Data
System) is an information and operating
center for vehicle sound and communica-
tions systems, including the radio and nav-
igation system, as well as other optional
equipment (satellite radio*, telephone*,
etc.).
Availability of functions while the vehi-
cle is in motion
For safety reasons, certain COMAND func-
tions are not available while the vehicle is
in motion or they are only available to a
limited extent. You will notice this, for ex-
ample, by the fact that certain menu items
cannot be selected or that the COMAND
display shows a corresponding message.
Switching COMAND on or off
Press the o shortcut button in the
center console (
page 86).
COMAND calls up the menu last select-
ed.
COMAND components
In your vehicle, COMAND can be used to
operate:

audio functions

the navigation system

the telephone* and communication
functions (SMS*)

Video DVD (USA only)

various vehicle settings
COMAND consists of the following:

COMAND shortcut buttons

COMAND display

telephone* keypad

COMAND controller
iWhen you switch off COMAND, you also
switch off the currently playing audio source.
During a telephone call, you cannot switch off
COMAND.

90 Control systems
COMAND introduction
Operating COMAND
Menu overview
The illustration below shows the structure
of the main functions and their main
menus.Each main function has a main menu. Each
menu item in the main menu in turn has
several submenu items.
NaviPageAudioPageTelephone*Page
Commands/menus
Map Display168FM/AM Radio100Telephone*132
Mode171Sat Radio* (USA only)105Address Book*224
CD112Telephone OFF*134
DVD-Audio112
MP3112
Audio OFF99

98 Control systems
COMAND introduction
Adjusting balance or fader
Balance is used to determine whether the
sound focus should be shifted toward the
driver’s side or the passenger’s side.
Fader is used to determine whether the
sound focus should be shifted toward the
front or rear of the vehicle
Select “Sound”
“Balance/Fader”.
The setting last selected is indicated by
an outlined bar.
Adjusting balance and fader
1Current setting indicated by orange
cross-hair symbol
Changing setting: Slide rmq or omp
until desired balance/fader setting is
reached.
Exiting menu: Press n or L.
The setting is saved.
Surround sound
With surround sound, you can choose be-
tween “LOGIC7
® ON” and “LOGIC7® OFF”.
Harman/kardon LOGIC7
® surround sound
is available for the following operating
modes:

Audio DVD (MLP, DTS, PCM, and Dolby
Digital audio formats)

Video DVD (DTS, PCM, and Dolby Digi-
tal audio formats) (USA only)

Audio CD

MP3

Radio (FM, AM, WB,
Satellite* (USA only))

PCMCIA
iSince some DVDs contain both stereo as
well as multi-channel audio formats, it may be
necessary to adapt the audio format
(
page 123).
iThe “LOGIC7® ON” function of the har-
man/kardon LOGIC7® surround sound system
makes it possible to play discrete 5.1 and stereo
recordings with optimal surround sound for ev-
ery passenger. Music on CDs or audio DVDs with
high-resolution surround formats such as MLP,
DTS or Dolby Digital is played back optimally.
For an ideal sound experience on all seats,
LOGIC7
® distributes 5.1 surround information
via the 13-channel system architecture. The re-
sult is a sound as intended by the sound engi-
neers during the original recording.
harman/kardon LOGIC7
® converts all two-chan-
nel stereo sound material into multi-channel sur-
round sound. With the help of LOGIC7
®,
surround information stored during the original
recording are read out and distributed through
the 13 channels. No effects are created during
this process; only that which was already there
becomes audible.
In addition, harman/kardon LOGIC7
® moves the
perceived sound source away from the individual
loudspeakers, thus generating a natural 360°
sound experience for every passenger.

105 Control systems
COMAND satellite radio* (USA only)
COMAND satellite radio* (USA only)
Submenu overview
Warning!G
Please devote your attention first and fore-
most to the traffic situation you are in.
Before your journey, please familiarize your-
self with the radio functions.
Only use the COMAND when road and traffic
conditions permit you to do so. Otherwise
you could be involved in an accident in
which you or others could be injured.
iThe components and operating principles of
COMAND can be found on (
page 85).
Sat Radio Presets Info Category Sound
Channel ListStation presets Show program infoSelect categoryTreble
Save ChannelBass
Channel Entry Balance/Fader
Service3D Sound