2008 Mercedes-Benz S-Class S550 Owners Manual

Sommer\ Corporate\ Media\ AG Operator’s Manual S-Class Order No. 6515 2244 13 Part No. 221 584 22 82 USA Edition A 2008 S-Class 2 2 1 5 8 4 2 2 8 2

S 550 S 550 4MATIC S 600 S 63 AMG S 65 AMG

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 designed to acquaint you with the operation 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 ........................... 22 At 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 .................... 57 Override 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 ....................... 111 Channel 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 124 Notes 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 ....................... 158 COMAND 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 ....................... 194 COMAND 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 Partially digitized areas ................ 210 Off-road and off-map .................... 211 Navigation announcements .......... 213 COMAND navigation system (during route guidance) ...................... 214 Cancel route guidance ................. 214 Continuing cancelled route guidance ............................. 214 Route browser .............................. 214 Displaying route information ........ 215 Detour function ............................ 216 COMAND navigation system (destination memory) ......................... 217 Saving a destination in the destination memory ..................... 217 Deleting a destination from the destination memory ..................... 218 Own address ................................ 219 COMAND navigation system (last destinations) .............................. 223 Saving a destination permanently in the destination memory ........... 223 Saving the vehicle position in the list of last destinations ................. 223 Saving the crosshair position in the list of last destinations ........... 223 Deleting one of the last destinations........................... 223 COMAND address book ..................... 224 General notes............................... 224 Address book menu overview ...... 224 Calling up the address book......... 224 Selecting an entry in the main address book display ................... 225 Creating a new address book entry ...................... 225 Deleting an entry.......................... 226 Searching for an address book entry ...................... 226 Displaying a complete address book entry ...................... 228 Displaying of a complete phone book entry in the mobile phone ... 229 Changing an entry ........................ 229 Calling a number saved in an entry ........................................ 231 Starting route guidance to an entry ........................................ 231 Voice entries ................................ 232 Saving a phone book entry from mobile phone in the COMAND address book ............................... 233 Importing data from external Bluetooth ® devices ...................... 234 COMAND system settings ................. 235 System settings menu overview... 235 Display settings ........................... 235 Time settings ............................... 235 Voice Control* settings................ 237 Setting the system language........ 238 Assigning the favorite button ....... 238 Bluetooth ® settings ...................... 239 Reset ........................................... 241 COMAND vehicle menu ..................... 242 Setting night security illumination 242 Locator lighting on/off................. 243 Exterior mirror convenience settings ........................................ 244 Automatic locking on/off ............. 245 Activating easy-entry/exit feature 246 Setting interior ambient lighting .. 247 Setting interior lighting delayed switch-off ..................................... 248 Extending or retracting rear window sunshade ................. 249 Trunk opening-height restriction* on/off .......................................... 249

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 .............................. 281 Voice 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) ................................. 306 Operation 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 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 ................ 357 Steering 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............................. 378 Door 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

Contents Shifting procedure ....................... 402 Transmission positions................. 403 Driving tips ................................... 406 Gear ranges ................................. 408 Automatic shift program .............. 409 Steering wheel gearshift control .. 411 Manual shift program (S 63 AMG and S 65 AMG only) ... 413 Emergency operation (Limp-Home Mode) ...................... 416 Instrument cluster ............................. 417 Adjusting instrument cluster display illumination ...................... 417 Coolant temperature gauge ......... 417 Tachometer .................................. 418 Outside temperature indicator ..... 418 Fuel gauge ................................... 418 Driving systems ................................. 419 Cruise control .............................. 419 DISTRONIC Plus* ......................... 424 Airmatic (S 550 only) ................... 440 Active Body Control (ABC)*.......... 442 Parktronic system* ...................... 444 Park Assist* ................................. 448 Dynamic Rear View Monitor* ....... 453 Night View Assist* ....................... 461 Air vents ............................................. 466 Opening and closing air vents ....... 468 Ventilated storage compartment .. 468 Automatic climate control .................. 469 Deactivating climate control system .......................................... 471 Operating climate control system in automatic mode ........................ 471 Setting temperature...................... 472 Adjusting air volume ..................... 472 Front defroster .............................. 472 Rear window defroster .................. 473 Maximum cooling MAXCOOL (USA only) ..................................... 474 Air recirculation mode .................. 474 Residual engine heat and ventilation ..................................... 476 Rear passenger compartment climate control* ............................ 477 Trunk .................................................. 479 Opening trunk ............................... 479 Closing trunk ................................ 480 Trunk emergency release.............. 484 Valet locking ................................. 484 Power tilt/sliding sunroof................... 486 Opening and closing power tilt/sliding sunroof ............. 486 Synchronizing ............................... 488 Panorama roof with power tilt/sliding panel*............................... 489 Roller sunblinds ............................ 489 Opening and closing panorama roof with power tilt/sliding panel . 490 Synchronizing ............................... 492 Loading and storing............................ 493 Roof rack* .................................... 493 Loading instructions ..................... 493 Storage compartments ................. 494 Cup holders .................................. 498 Trunk ............................................ 500 Useful features ................................... 502 Sun visors ..................................... 502 Vanity mirror in rear...................... 502 Rear window sunshade ................. 503 Ashtrays........................................ 503 Cigarette lighters .......................... 504 Power outlet ................................. 506 Floormats* ................................... 506 Telephone* ................................... 507 Tele Aid......................................... 510 Garage door opener ...................... 518

2008 Mercedes-Benz S-Class S550 Owners Manual

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