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

Our company and staff congratulate you
on the purchase of your new
Mercedes-Benz.
Your selection of our product is a demon-
stration of your trust in our company
name. Furthermore, it exemplifies your de-
sire to own an automobile that will be as
easy as possible to operate and provide
years of service.
Your Mercedes-Benz represents the ef-
forts of many skilled engineers and crafts-
men. To help assure your driving pleasure,
and also the safety of you and your passen-
gers, we ask you to make a small invest-
ment of time:
Please read this manual carefully, then
return it to your vehicle where it will be
handy for your reference.

Please follow the recommendations
contained in this manual. They are de-
signed to acquaint you with the opera-
tion of your Mercedes-Benz.

Please pay attention to the warnings
and cautions contained in this manual.
They are designed to help improve the
safety of the vehicle operator and oc-
cupants.
We extend our best wishes for many miles
of safe, pleasurable driving.
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC
A DaimlerChrysler Company

Contents
Introduction....................................... 13
Product information ............................. 13
Operator’s Manual ............................... 14
Service and warranty information .. 14
Important notice for California
retail buyers and lessees of
Mercedes-Benz automobiles .......... 15
Maintenance .................................. 15
Roadside Assistance ...................... 16
Change of address or ownership.... 16
Operating your vehicle outside the
USA or Canada............................... 16
Where to find it .................................... 17
Symbols ............................................... 18
Operating safety .................................. 19
Proper use of the vehicle ............... 19
Problems with your vehicle .................. 20
Reporting safety defects...................... 21
Reporting safety defects ................ 21
Vehicle data recording ......................... 22
Information regarding electronic
recording devices ........................... 22At a glance.......................................... 23
Exterior view ......................................... 24
Cockpit ................................................. 26
Instrument cluster ................................ 28
Control systems ................................... 30
Center console ..................................... 32
Upper part ...................................... 32
Overhead control panel ........................ 33
Driver’s door control panel ................... 34
Rear door control panel ........................ 35
Storage compartments ......................... 36
Rear passenger compartment .............. 38
Safety and Security............................ 39
Occupant safety ................................... 40
Air bags........................................... 42
Occupant Classification System ..... 47
Seat belts........................................ 52
Active head restraints ..................... 55
Preventive occupant safety
(PRE-SAFE
®).................................... 56
Children in the vehicle .................... 57Override switch for rear passenger
compartment .................................. 63
Panic alarm .......................................... 65
Activating........................................ 65
Deactivating.................................... 65
Driving safety systems ......................... 66
ABS ................................................. 66
Adaptive Brake ............................... 67
Adaptive Brake Lights
(S 600/S 65 AMG and USA only) ... 68
BAS ................................................. 68
BAS Plus* ....................................... 69
EBP ................................................. 71
ESP
®............................................... 71
Four wheel electronic traction
system (4MATIC) with the ESP
®..... 75
PRE-SAFE® Brake* (vehicles with
DISTRONIC Plus* only) ................... 76
Anti-theft systems ................................ 81
Immobilizer ..................................... 81
Anti-theft alarm system .................. 81
Canceling the alarm ........................ 82

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

Contents
COMAND telephone* ........................ 132
Safety precautions ....................... 132
General notes............................... 132
Switching telephone on or off ...... 134
Activating telephone mode .......... 134
Telephone keypad ........................ 134
“911” emergency call................... 135
Entering the PIN ........................... 136
Entering the PIN2 ......................... 137
Entering the PUK/PUK2 ............... 137
Entering the unlock code ............. 137
Telephone submenu overview ...... 138
Main telephone menu .................. 139
Mailbox ........................................ 139
Call lists ....................................... 140
Incoming call ................................ 142
Making an outgoing call ............... 143
Functions during a single-call
connection ................................... 145
Transferring a call ........................ 146
COMAND phone book .................. 147
SMS messages
(Short Message Service) .............. 155
COMAND navigation .......................... 158
Safety precautions ....................... 158COMAND navigation (introduction) .... 159
Map software ................................ 159
Updating the map software........... 159
Updating process .......................... 159
Loading a DVD into the
DVD changer................................. 160
Updating ....................................... 160
General notes ............................... 163
Input restrictions .......................... 164
Navigation system
menu overview .............................. 165
Calling up the map display and
switching to navigation mode ....... 166
Basic settings ............................... 168
COMAND navigation system
(entering a destination) ...................... 172
Entering a destination by the
address ......................................... 172
Entering a destination from the
destination memory ...................... 191
Entering a destination from the
list of last destinations .................. 193
Entering a destination
from the map ................................ 193
Entering a stopover ....................... 194COMAND navigation system
(Point of interest entry) ...................... 196
Entering a POI in the
surrounding area .......................... 196
Entering a POI in the surroundings
of a given town ............................. 196
Entering a POI in a
different region ............................. 196
Designating a POI category........... 197
Entering a POI from the map ........ 203
COMAND navigation system
(real-time traffic) (USA only) ............... 204
Real-time traffic notifications
in the map .................................... 204
Displaying real-time traffic reports 205
Example message ......................... 206
COMAND navigation system
(route guidance) ................................. 207
Route guidance ............................. 207
Examples of displays and
announcements for a
driving maneuver .......................... 207
Example of a display without
driving maneuvers ........................ 209
Destination or destination area
reached ........................................ 209

Contents
COMAND automatic climate control.. 251
Setting temperature ..................... 252
Adjusting air distribution .............. 253
Adjusting air volume .................... 253
Central climate control menu via
COMAND ..................................... 254
Operating rear climate control*
from the front............................... 257
COMAND seats.................................. 259
Operating seats via COMAND ...... 259
Lumbar support............................ 260
Multicontour seats*, front............ 260
Drive-dynamic
multicontour seats*, front............ 262
Instrument cluster control system ..... 264
Multifunction display .................... 264
Multifunction steering wheel ........ 265
Menus .......................................... 266
Trip menu ..................................... 268
Navi menu .................................... 269
Audio menu .................................. 271
AMG menu ................................... 273
Telephone* menu......................... 276
Assistance* menu ........................ 279
Service menu ............................... 280
Settings menu .............................. 281Voice Control*.................................... 284
Operating safety ........................... 284
Voice Control* introduction ............... 285
Spelling ......................................... 286
Command types ............................ 286
Active System ............................... 286
Controls ........................................ 287
Symbols ........................................ 288
Voice Control* telephone ................... 289
Telephone operation ..................... 289
Telephone commands ................... 290
Voice Control* navigation .................. 296
Important notes ............................ 296
Navigation operation..................... 297
Navigation commands .................. 297
Dialog for entering a
complete address ......................... 298
Commands for entering parts of
an address .................................... 303
Voice Control* address book ............. 306
COMAND address book
overview ....................................... 306
Operation with address book not
open (global) ................................. 306Operation with address book
open (local) ................................... 306
Operating and using address book 306
Available commands with the
address book not open ................. 307
Available commands with the
address book open ....................... 308
Voice Control* radio .......................... 309
Radio operation ............................ 309
Radio commands .......................... 309
Voice Control* CD/
DVD changer/MP3............................. 313
Operation...................................... 313
Commands ................................... 313
Voice Control* command list ............. 315
Command list ............................... 315
Voice Control* troubleshooting.......... 327
Help function ................................ 327
Help commands............................ 327
Help window ................................. 327
Entering digits and spelling........... 327
What to do if ... ............................. 328
Voice Control* individualization ......... 330

Contents
Infrared reflecting windshield ....... 524
Operation......................................... 525
The first 1000 miles (1500 km) ......... 526
Driving instructions ............................ 527
Drive sensibly – save fuel ............. 527
Drinking and driving ..................... 527
Pedals .......................................... 527
Power assistance ......................... 527
Brakes .......................................... 528
Driving off..................................... 530
Parking ......................................... 530
Tires ............................................. 531
Hydroplaning ................................ 531
Tire traction .................................. 532
Tire speed rating .......................... 532
Winter driving instructions ........... 533
Standing water ............................. 534
Passenger compartment .............. 535
Driving abroad .............................. 535
Control and operation of radio
transmitters.................................. 535
Catalytic converter ....................... 536
Emission control........................... 536
Coolant temperature .................... 537At the gas station .............................. 538
Refueling ...................................... 538
Check regularly and before
a long trip ..................................... 540
Engine compartment ......................... 541
Hood ............................................ 541
Engine oil ..................................... 543
Transmission fluid level ................ 546
Active Body Control* (ABC*)
fluid level...................................... 547
Coolant level ................................ 547
Windshield washer system and
headlamp cleaning system ........... 548
Tires and wheels ................................ 550
Important guidelines .................... 550
Tire care and maintenance ........... 551
Direction of rotation ..................... 553
Loading the vehicle ...................... 553
Recommended tire
inflation pressure ......................... 558
Checking tire inflation pressure ... 560
Tire labeling.................................. 567
Load identification ....................... 571
DOT, Tire Identification Number
(TIN) ............................................. 572
Maximum tire load ....................... 573Maximum tire inflation pressure .. 573
Uniform Tire Quality Grading
Standards (U.S. vehicles) ............. 574
Tire ply material ........................... 575
Tire and loading terminology........ 576
Rotating tires ............................... 578
Winter driving .................................... 580
Winter tires .................................. 580
Snow chains................................. 581
Maintenance...................................... 582
Maintenance service indicator
message ...................................... 582
Calling up the maintenance
service indicator display .............. 583
Resetting the maintenance
service indicator .......................... 584
Vehicle care....................................... 585
Cleaning and care of vehicle ........ 585
Practical hints................................. 597
What to do if …? ................................ 598
Lamps in instrument cluster ........ 598
Air bag off indicator lamp............. 610
Vehicle status messages in the
multifunction display.................... 612

Contents
Where will I find ...? ........................... 668
First aid kit ................................... 668
Vehicle jack, vehicle tool kit,
luggage bowl, Minispare wheel .... 668
Unlocking/locking in an emergency .. 671
Unlocking the vehicle ................... 671
Locking the vehicle ...................... 672
Mechanically releasing the
electronic parking brake .............. 673
Opening/closing in an emergency..... 674
Power tilt/sliding sunroof or
panorama roof with
power tilt/sliding panel*.............. 674
Resetting activated head restraints ... 675
Replacing SmartKey batteries ........... 676
Replacing bulbs ................................. 678
Bulbs ............................................ 679
Replacing bulbs for front lamps ... 680
Replacing wiper blades ...................... 684
Placing wiper arms in vertical
position ........................................ 684
Removing wiper blades ................ 685
Installing wiper blades................. 685
Flat tire .............................................. 686
Preparing the vehicle ................... 686
Mounting the spare wheel............ 686Batteries ............................................. 692
Disconnecting starter battery ....... 694
Removing starter battery .............. 695
Charging battery ........................... 695
Reinstalling starter battery ........... 696
Reconnecting starter battery ........ 696
Jump starting ...................................... 697
Towing the vehicle .............................. 700
Installing towing eye bolt .............. 703
Fuses .................................................. 704
Fuse boxes in engine
compartment ................................ 705
Fuse boxes in passenger
compartment ................................ 706
Emergency engine shut-down ....... 707
Technical data.................................. 709
Parts service....................................... 710
Warranty coverage ............................. 711
Loss of Service and Warranty
Information Booklet ...................... 711
Identification labels ............................ 712
Layout of poly-V-belt drive .................. 714
S 550 ............................................ 714
S 63 AMG ..................................... 714S 600 and S 65 AMG .................... 714
Engine ................................................ 715
Rims and tires .................................... 718
Same size tires ............................. 719
Mixed size tires ............................. 720
Spare wheel .................................. 721
Electrical system ................................ 722
Main dimensions and weights ............ 723
Main dimensions........................... 723
Weights......................................... 723
Fuels, coolants, lubricants, etc. .......... 724
Capacities ..................................... 724
Engine oils .................................... 728
Engine oil additives ....................... 728
Air conditioning refrigerant ........... 728
Brake fluid .................................... 728
Premium unleaded gasoline.......... 729
Fuel requirements......................... 729
Gasoline additives......................... 730
Coolants ....................................... 730
Windshield washer system and
headlamp cleaning system ........... 733
Index................................................. 735

14 Introduction
Operator’s Manual
This 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, any autho-
rized Mercedes-Benz Center will be glad to
demonstrate the proper procedures.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, any 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)

15 Introduction
Operator’s Manual
Important notice for California retail
buyers and lessees of Mercedes-Benz
automobiles
Under California law you may be entitled to
a replacement of your vehicle or a refund
of the purchase price or lease price, if
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC and/or its au-
thorized repair or service facilities fail to fix
one or more substantial defects or mal-
functions in the vehicle that are covered by
its express warranty after a reasonable
number of repair attempts. During the pe-
riod of 18 months from original delivery of
the vehicle or the accumulation of
18 000 miles (approximately 29 000 km)
on the odometer of the vehicle, whichever
occurs first, a reasonable number of repair
attempts is presumed for a retail buyer or
lessee if one or more of the following oc-
curs: (1) the same substantial defect or mal-
function results in a condition that is
likely to cause death or serious bodily
injury if the vehicle is driven, that de-
fect or malfunction has been subject to
repair two or more times, and you have
directly notified Mercedes-Benz USA,
LLC in writing of the need for its repair,
(2) the same substantial defect or mal-
function of a less serious nature than
category (1) has been subject to repair
four or more times and you have direct-
ly notified us in writing of the need for
its repair, or
(3) the vehicle is out of service by reason
of repair of the same or different sub-
stantial defects or malfunctions for a
cumulative total of more than
30 calendar days.
Written notification should not be sent to a
dealer, it should be addressed to:
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC
Customer Assistance Center
One Mercedes Drive
Montvale, NJ 07645-0350
Maintenance
The Maintenance Booklet describes all the
necessary maintenance work which should
be performed at regular intervals.
Always have the Maintenance Booklet with
you when you take the vehicle to an autho-
rized Mercedes-Benz Center for service.
The service advisor will record each ser-
vice in the booklet for you.

16 Introduction
Operator’s Manual
Roadside Assistance
The Mercedes-Benz Roadside Assistance
Program provides factory trained technical
help in the event of a breakdown. Calls to
the toll-free Roadside Assistance number
1-800-FOR-MERCedes (in the USA)
1-800-387-0100 (in Canada)
will be answered by Mercedes-Benz
Customer Assistance Representatives
24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
For additional information refer to the
Mercedes-Benz Roadside Assistance Pro-
gram brochure in your vehicle literature
portfolio.
Change of address or ownership
If you change your address, be sure to
send in the “Change of Address Notice”
found in the Service and Warranty Informa-
tion Booklet, or simply call the
Mercedes-Benz Customer Assistance
Center (in the USA) at
1-800-FOR-MERCedes, or Customer Service (in Canada) at 1-800-387-0100. It
is in your own interest that we can contact
you should the need arise.
If you sell your Mercedes, please leave all
literature with the vehicle to make it avail-
able to the next operator.
If you bought this vehicle used, be sure to
send in the “Notice of Purchase of Used
Car” found in the Service and Warranty In-
formation Booklet, or call the
Mercedes-Benz Customer Assistance Cen-
ter (in the USA) at 1-800-FOR-MERCedes,
or Customer Service (in Canada) at
1-800-387-0100.
Operating your vehicle outside the USA or Canada
If you plan to operate your vehicle in for-
eign countries, please be aware that:

service facilities or replacement parts
may not be readily available,

unleaded gasoline for vehicles with cat-
alytic converters may not be available;
the use of leaded fuels will damage the
catalysts,

gasoline may have a considerably low-
er octane rating, and improper fuel can
cause engine damage.
Certain Mercedes-Benz models are avail-
able for delivery in Europe under our Euro-
pean Delivery Program. For details, consult
an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center or
write to:
In the USA:
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC
European Delivery Department
One Mercedes Drive
Montvale, NJ 07645-0350
In Canada:
Mercedes-Benz Canada, Inc.
European Delivery Department
98 Vanderhoof Avenue
Toronto, Ontario M4G 4C9