Page 6 of 435

Contents
Control system ..................................  134
Multifunction display ....................  134
Multifunction steering wheel ........  135
Menus ..........................................  137
Standard display menu ................  139
AUDIO menu ................................  139
CD changer* operating mode ......  142
TEL menu* ...................................  144
NAVI menu ...................................  147
Distronic* menu...........................  147
Trip computer menu.....................  148
Malfunction memory menu ..........  150
Settings menu ..............................  151
Automatic transmission .....................  164
One-touch gearshifting.................  165
Gear ranges .................................  166
Gear selector lever position .........  167
Steering wheel gearshift control 
(Speedshift) S 55 AMG.................  168
Program mode selector switch.....  170
Accelerator position .....................  170
Manual shift program S 55 AMG ..  171
Emergency operation 
(Limp home mode) .......................  173Good visibility ..................................... 174
Rear view mirror ........................... 174
Electrically folding exterior rear 
view mirrors .................................. 176
Windshield wipers ......................... 177
Headlamp cleaning system* 
(Standard on S 500, S 600, 
S 55 AMG) .................................... 177
Sun visors ..................................... 178
Rear window sunshade* ............... 179
Rear door window sunshade* ....... 179
Automatic climate control .................. 180
Setting the temperature................ 183
Adjusting air distribution............... 184
Adjusting air volume ..................... 186
Maximum cooling MAXCOOL ........ 186
Defrosting ..................................... 187
Air recirculation mode .................. 187
Charcoal filter ............................... 188
Rear window defroster .................. 189
Deactivating the climate control 
system .......................................... 190
Air conditioning............................. 190
Residual heat and ventilation ........ 191Ventilated storage compartment 
(except S 55 AMG) .......................  192
Rear passenger compartment 
adjustable air vents ......................  192
Rear passenger compartment 
climate control*............................  193
Power windows ..................................  195
Opening and closing the windows  195
Synchronizing the power windows  198
Sliding/pop-up roof............................  199
Opening and closing the 
sliding/pop-up roof.......................  199
Synchronizing the sliding /
pop-up roof ...................................  202
Driving systems ..................................  203
Cruise control ...............................  203
Distronic* .....................................  206
AIRMATIC .....................................  218
Active Body Control (ABC)* ..........  220
Parktronic* (Parking assist) ..........  224
Loading ..............................................  229
Roof rack* ....................................  229
Loading instructions .....................  229
Cargo tie-down hooks ...................  230 
     
        
        Page 25 of 435
24 At a glanceMultifunction steering wheel
Multifunction steering wheel
Item
Page
1
Multifunction display
134
Operating control 
system
134
2
Selecting the submenu or 
setting the volume
æup / to increase
çdown / to decrease
135
3
Telephone*: Press button
sto take a call
to dial a call
tto end a call
to reject an in-
coming call
144
Item
Page
4
Menu systems: Press 
button
èfor next system
ÿfor previous system
135
5
Moving within a menu: 
Press button
jfor next display
kfor previous display
135 
     
        
        Page 109 of 435

108 Controls in detailSeats
SeatsFor more information on seat adjustment,  
see “Seat adjustment” (
page 35).
Easy-entry/exit feature
With the easy-entry/exit feature activated, 
the steering wheel tilts upwards and the 
driver’s seat moves to the rear.
This allows easier entry into and exit from 
the vehicle when the driver’s door is 
opened. However, the engine must be 
turned off.
When the SmartKey is inserted in the start-
er switch or you have pressed the 
KEYLESS-GO* start/stop button once and 
the driver’s door is closed, the steering 
wheel and the driver’s seat return to their 
last set positions.You can activate the following functions:
Steering column
Only the steering column is adjusted. 
Steering column and seat
The steering column and the seat are 
adjusted.
The easy-entry/exit feature can be 
switched on or off in the convenience sub-
menu of the control system (
page 160).
Warning!
G
You must ensure that no one can become 
trapped or injured by the moving steering 
wheel and driver’s seat when the 
easy-entry / exit feature is activated, the 
driver’s door is being opened, and the en-
gine is turned off or the SmartKey is re-
moved from the starter switch. 
Do not leave children unattended in the ve-
hicle, or with access to an unlocked vehicle. 
Children could open the driver’s door and 
unintentionally activate the easy-entry/exit 
feature*, which could result in an accident 
and/or serious personal injury.
iTo cancel seat/steering wheel move-
ment, do one of the following:
Press the seat adjustment switch 
(page 35)
Move the steering column stalk 
(page 37)
Press the memory button 
(page 121) 
     
        
        Page 132 of 435

131 Controls in detail
Instrument cluster
Instrument cluster
A full view illustration of the instrument 
cluster can be found in the “At a glance” 
section of this manual (
page 22).
The instrument cluster is activated when 
you:
open a door
turn on the ignition
press the reset button (
page 22)
switch on the exterior lamps
You can change the instrument cluster set-
tings in the instrument cluster submenu of 
the control system (
page 154).
Instrument cluster illumination
1Knob for adjusting instrument cluster 
illumination
Use knob1 to adjust the illumination 
brightness for the instrument cluster.
Press knob1. 
The knob will pop out.
To brighten illumination
Turn knob1 in the instrument cluster 
clockwise.
The instrument cluster illumination will 
brighten.
To dim illumination
Turn knob1 in the instrument cluster 
counterclockwise.
The instrument cluster illumination will 
dim.
iThe instrument cluster illumination is 
dimmed or brightened automatically to 
suit ambient light conditions.
The instrument cluster illumination will 
also be adjusted automatically when 
you switch on the vehicle’s exterior 
lamps. 
     
        
        Page 136 of 435
135 Controls in detail
Control system
Multifunction steering wheel
The displays in the multifunction display 
and the settings in the control system are 
controlled using the buttons on the multi-
function steering wheel.
1
Multifunction display in the speed-
ometerOperating the control system
2
Selecting the submenu or setting 
the volumeæ
up / to increase
ç
down / to decrease
3
Telephone*s
to take a call
t
to end a call
4
Menu systemsè
for next menu
ÿ
for previous menu
5
Moving within a menuj
for next display
k
for previous display 
     
        
        Page 137 of 435

136 Controls in detailControl systemPressing any of the buttons on the multi-
function steering wheel will alter what is 
shown in the multifunction display.
The information available in the multifunc-
tion display is arranged in menus, each 
containing a number of functions or sub-
menus.
The individual functions are then found 
within the relevant menu (radio or CD op-
erations under 
AUDIO
, for example). These 
functions serve to call up relevant informa-
tion or to customize the settings for your 
vehicle.It is helpful to think of the menus, and the 
functions within each menu, as being ar-
ranged in a circular pattern.
If you press buttonè orÿ 
repeatedly, you will pass through each 
menu one after the other.
If you press buttonk orj 
repeatedly, you will pass through each 
function display, one after the other, in 
the current menu.In the 
SETTINGS
 menu, instead of functions 
you will find a number of submenus for 
calling up and changing settings. For in-
structions on using these submenus, see 
“Settings menu” (page 151).
The number of menus available in the sys-
tem depends on which optional equipment 
is installed in your vehicle.
The menus are described on the following 
pages. 
     
        
        Page 138 of 435
137 Controls in detail
Control system
MenusThis is what you will see when you scroll 
through the menus.The table on the next page provides an 
overview of the individual menus. 
     
        
        Page 139 of 435
138 Controls in detailControl systemMenus, submenus and functions
Menu1
Standard dis-
play
Menu2
AUDIO
Menu3
Telephone*
Menu4
NAVI
Menu5
Distronic*
Menu6
Trip computer
Menu7
Malfunction 
memory
Menu8
Settings
Commands/submenusCall up FSS
Select radio 
station 
Load phone 
book
Activate 
route guid-
ance
Call up set-
tings
Fuel consump-
tion statistics af-
ter start
Call up malfunc-
tion messages
Reset to factory 
settings
Check tire 
pressure*
Select satellite 
radio station* 
(USA only)
Search for 
name in 
phone book
Fuel consump-
tion statistics 
since the last re-
set
Instrument clus-
ter submenu
Check engine 
oil level
Operate CD 
player
Select 
number last 
dialed
Call up range
Lighting sub-
menu
Digital speed-
ometer
Operate 
cassette player
Vehicle sub-
menuConvenience 
submenu