2005 MERCEDES-BENZ S CLASS service

19 Introduction
Vehicle data recording
Vehicle data recording
Information regarding electronic recording devices
(Including notice pursuant to California Code § 9951)
Please note that your vehicle is equipped with devices that can record vehicle systems data and, if equipped with the Tele Aid system,
may transmit some data in certain accidents.
This information helps, for example, to diagnose vehicle systems after a collision and to continuously improve vehicle safety.
DaimlerChrysler may access the information and share it with others

for safety research or vehicle diagnosis purposes


with the consent of the vehicle owner or lessee


in response to an official request by law enforcement or other government agency


for use in dispute resolution involving DaimlerChrysler, its affiliates or sales/service organization and/or


as otherwise required or permitted by law.
Please check the Tele Aid subscription service agreement for details regarding the information that may be recorded or transmitted
via that system.

49 Getting started
Driving

Release the brake pedal.

Carefully depress the accelerator
pedal.Once the vehicle is in motion, the automat-
ic central locking system engages and the
locking knobs drop down.
After a cold start, the automatic transmis-
sion shifts at a higher engine revolution.
This allows the catalytic converter to reach
its operating temperature earlier.
For more information, see “Driving instruc-
tions” (
page 273).
Warning!
G
On slippery road surfaces, never downshift
in order to obtain braking action. This could
result in drive wheel slip and reduced vehi-
cle control. Your vehicle’s ABS will not pre-
vent this type of loss of control.!In order to avoid damaging the trans-
mission,

wait for the gear selection process
to complete before setting the vehi-
cle in motion.


place the gear selector lever in
positionR only when the vehicle is
stopped.
!If you hear a warning signal and a mes-
sage appears in the multifunction dis-
play when driving off, you have
forgotten to release the parking brake.
Release the parking brake.!Do not run cold engine at high engine
speeds. Running a cold engine at high
engine speeds may shorten the service
life of the engine.
!Simultaneously depressing the acceler-
ator pedal and applying the brake re-
duces engine performance and causes
premature brake and drivetrain wear.iYou can open a locked door from the
inside. Open doors only when condi-
tions are safe to do so.
You can deactivate the automatic lock-
ing using the control system
(page 168).

87 Safety and Security
Anti-theft systems
Anti-theft alarm system
Once the alarm system has been armed, a
visual and audible alarm is triggered when
someone opens:

a door


the trunk


the hood
The alarm will stay on even if the activating
element (a door, for example) is immedi-
ately closed.The alarm system will also be triggered
when


someone attempts to raise the vehicle


the vehicle is opened with the
mechanical key


someone opens a door from the inside
if the vehicle was locked from the out-
side with the SmartKey


someone opens the trunk lid with the
emergency release buttonArming the alarm system
The indicator lamp located in the central
locking switch in on the upper part of the
front center console.
1Indicator lamp

Lock your vehicle.
The turn signal lamps flash three times
to indicate that the alarm system is ac-
tivated. The indicator lamp1 flashes
to indicate that the alarm system is
armed.
iIf the alarm stays on for more than
30 seconds, a call to the Response
Center is initiated automatically by the
by the Tele Aid system (
page 255)
provided Tele Aid service was sub-
scribed to and properly activated, and
that necessary cellular service and GPS
coverage are available.

89 Safety and Security
Anti-theft systems
Tow-away alarm
Once the tow-away alarm is armed, a visual
and audible alarm will be triggered when
someone attempts to raise the vehicle.Arming tow-away alarm

Lock your vehicle.
The tow-away alarm is automatically
armed after about 30 seconds.Disarming tow-away alarm
To prevent triggering the tow-away alarm,
switch off the tow-away alarm feature be-
fore towing the vehicle, or when parking on
a surface subject to movement, such as a
ferry or auto train.
iThe tow-away protection alarm is trig-
gered, for example, if the vehicle is lift-
ed on one side.
If the alarm stays on for more than
30 seconds, a call to the Response
Center is initiated automatically by the
by the Tele Aid system (
page 255)
provided Tele Aid service was sub-
scribed to and properly activated and
that necessary cellular service and GPS
coverage are available.

143 Controls in detail
Control system
Control system
The control system is activated as soon as
the SmartKey in the starter switch is
turned to position1 or as soon as the
KEYLESS-GO* start/stop button
(page 35) is in position1. The control
system enables you to:


call up information about your vehicle


change vehicle settings
For example, you can use the control sys-
tem to find out when your vehicle is next
due for service, to set the language for
messages in the instrument cluster dis-
play, and much more.
The control system relays information to
the multifunction display.
Multifunction display
1Trip odometer
2Main odometer
iThe displays for the audio systems (ra-
dio, CD player) will appear in English,
regardless of the language selected.
Warning!
G
A driver’s attention to the road and traffic
conditions must always be his/her primary
focus when driving.
For your safety and the safety of others, se-
lecting features through the multifunction
steering wheel should only be done by the
driver when traffic and road conditions per-
mit it to be done safely.
Bear in mind that at a speed of just 30 mph
(approximately 50 km/h), your vehicle is
covering a distance of 44 feet (approximate-
ly 14 m) every second.

147 Controls in detail
Control system
Menus, submenus and functions
Menu1
Standard dis-
play
Menu2
AUDIO
Menu3
Telephone*
Menu4
NAVI
Menu5
Distronic*
Menu6
Trip computer
Menu7
Vehicle status
message memory
Menu8
Settings
(page 148)
(page 148)
(page 153)
(page 155)
(page 156)
(page 157)
(page 159)
(page 160)
Commands/submenusCall up mainte-
nance service
display
Select radio
station
Load phone
book
Activate
route guid-
ance
Call up set-
tings
Fuel consump-
tion statistics
after start
Call up vehicle mal-
function, warning
and system status
messages stored in
memory
Reset to fac-
tory settings
Check tire in-
flation pres-
sure*
Select satellite
radio station*
(USA only)
Search for
name in
phone book
Fuel consump-
tion statistics
since the last
reset
Instrument
cluster
submenu
Check engine
oil level
Select CD
track
Select
number last
dialed
Call up range
Lighting
submenu
Digital speed-
ometer
Select MP3-CD
track
Vehicle
submenuConvenience
submenu

148 Controls in detailControl system
Standard display menu
You can select the functions in the stan-
dard display menu with buttonk
orj.
The following functions are available:
Display digital speedometer
Press the j or k button repeat-
edly until you see the digital speedom-
eter appear in the multifunction
display.
The current vehicle speed is shown in
the multifunction display.
AUDIO menu
The functions in the
AUDIO
menu operate
the audio equipment which you currently
have turned on.
If no audio equipment is currently turned
on, the message
AUDIO OFF
is shown in the
multifunction display.
The following functions are available:
iThe headings used in the menus table
are designed to facilitate navigation
within the system and are not neces-
sarily identical to those shown in the
control system displays.
The first function displayed in each
menu will automatically show you
which part of the system you are in.
Function
Page
Call up maintenance service
display
329
Check tire inflation pres-
sure*
307
Check engine oil level
288
Call up digital speedometer
148
Function
Page
Select radio station
149
Select satellite radio* station
(USA only)
149
Select CD track
150
Select MP3-CD track
150

149 Controls in detail
Control system
Select radio station
Turn on the radio. Refer to separate
COMAND operating instructions.

Press buttonè orÿ repeatedly
until you see the currently tuned sta-
tion in the multifunction display.
1Waveband
2Station frequency

Press buttonk orj repeatedly
until the desired station is found.Select satellite radio* station
(USA only)
The satellite radio is treated as a radio ap-
plication.

Select satellite radio with the corre-
sponding key on the COMAND control
panel (SAT).

Press buttonè orÿ repeatedly
until you see the currently tuned sta-
tion in the multifunction display.
1SAT mode and preset number
2Channel name or number

Press buttonk orj repeatedly
until the desired channel is found.
iYou can only store new stations using
the corresponding feature on the radio.
Refer to separate COMAND operating
instructions.
You can also operate the radio in the
usual manner.
iAdditional optional satellite radio
equipment and a subscription to satel-
lite radio service provider are required
for satellite radio operation. Contact an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center for
details and availability for your vehicle.
For more information, refer to separate
COMAND operating instructions.