Page 146 of 474
144 Controls in detailControl systemMultifunction 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 147 of 474

145 Controls in detail
Control system
Pressing 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 160).
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 156 of 474

154 Controls in detailControl systemThe following functions are available:
Answering a call
When your telephone is ready to receive 
calls, you can answer a call at any time. In 
the display you will then see the message:
Press buttons.
You have answered the call. In the dis-
play you see the duration of the call po-
sitioned above the number.Ending a call
Press buttont.
You have ended the call. In the display 
you will again see the standby mes-
sage.
Dialing a number from the phone book
If your telephone is ready to receive calls, 
you may select and dial a number from the 
phone book at any time.
Press buttonÿ orè repeatedly 
until you see the 
TEL
 menu in the dis-
play.
Press buttonj ork.
The control system reads the phone 
book which is stored in the telephone. 
The call transmission depends on the 
number of entries in the phone book and can take up to 60 seconds. In the 
display you will see the message 
PLEASE WAIT!
.
When the message 
PLEASE WAIT!
 dis-
appears, the phone book has been 
loaded.
Press buttonj ork repeatedly 
until the desired name appears in the 
display.
The stored names are displayed in as-
cending or descending alphabetical or-
der.
Function
Page
Answering a call
154
Ending a call
154
Dialing a number from the 
phone book
154
Redialing 
155
iIf you do not wish to accept a call, 
press buttont.
iIf you press and holdj ork for 
longer than one second, the system 
scrolls rapidly through the list of names 
until you release the button again.
Cancel the quick search mode by 
pressingt. 
     
        
        Page 157 of 474

155 Controls in detail
Control system
Press buttons.
The system dials the selected phone 
number.
If the connection is successful, the 
name of the party you called and 
the duration of the call will appear 
in the display.
If no connection is made, the con-
trol system stores the dialed num-
ber in the redial memory.Redialing
The control system stores the most recent-
ly dialed phone numbers. This eliminates 
the need to search through your entire 
phone book.
Press buttonÿ orè repeatedly 
until you see the 
TEL
 menu in the dis-
play.
Press buttons.
In the display you see the first number 
in the redial memory.
Press buttonj ork repeatedly 
until the desired name appears in the 
display.
Press buttons.
The control system dials the selected 
phone number.
NAVI menu
In the 
NAVI
 menu, you will see which status 
the navigation system has.
Press buttonè orÿ repeatedly 
until you see the message 
NAVI
 in the 
display.
If the navigation system is switched off, 
the message 
NAVI OFF
 is shown in the 
display. 
If the navigation system is on and no 
destination has been entered, you will 
see the current direction in which the 
vehicle is moving and the names of 
streets in the display.
Please refer to separate COMAND operat-
ing instructions on how to activate the 
route guidance system.
iIf you do not want to use the telephone, 
press buttont. 
     
        
        Page 172 of 474

170 Controls in detailControl systemActivating easy-entry/exit feature
Use this function to activate and deacti-
vate the easy-entry/exit feature 
(page 114).
Move the selection marker with 
theæ orç button to 
the
CONVENIENCE
 submenu.
Press buttonj ork repeatedly 
until you see this message in the multi-
function display: 
EASY-ENTRY FEATURE 
ACTIVATE
.
The selection marker is on the current 
setting.
Pressæ orç to change the 
easy-entry/exit setting.
The following settings are available for the 
easy-entry/exit feature:
Warning!
G
You must make sure no one can become 
trapped or injured by the moving steering 
wheel and driver’s seat when the easy-en-
try/exit feature is activated. 
To cancel seat/steering wheel movement, 
do one of the following:
Press seat adjustment switch 
(page 38).
Move steering column stalk 
(page 40).
Press the one of the memory position 
buttons or the memory button M 
(page 129).
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.
OFF
The easy-entry/exit fea-
ture is deactivated.
STEER. COL
Only the steering column 
is moved.
ST.COL+SEAT
Both the steering column 
and the driver’s seat are 
moved. 
     
        
        Page 183 of 474

181 Controls in detail
Automatic transmission
Steering wheel gearshift control (Speedshift) S 55 AMG
When driving in the automatic program 
modesC orS, or in the manual program 
modeM, you can change the gears 
manually on the steering wheel or by using 
the gear selector lever (
page 175).The steering wheel gearshift buttons are 
located to the left and right of the steering 
wheel.
1Left button: downshift
2Right button: upshift
iTo avoid overrevving the engine when 
downshifting with steering wheel 
gearshift buttons, the transmission will 
not shift to a lower gear if the engine’s 
max. speed would be exceeded.
!Allow engine to warm up under low 
load use. Do not place full load on the 
engine until the operating temperature 
has been reached.
Shift into reverse gearR or parking 
positionP only when the vehicle is 
stopped.
Avoid spinning of a drive wheel for an 
extended period when driving off on 
slippery road surfaces. This may cause 
serious damage to the drivetrain which 
is not covered by the Mercedes-Benz 
Limited Warranty. 
     
        
        Page 184 of 474

182 Controls in detailAutomatic transmission
Downshifting
Press button1 on the left side of the 
steering wheel.
The transmission will shift to the next 
lower gear as permitted by the shift 
program. This action simultaneously limits 
the gear range of the transmission 
(
page 176) when you are driving in the 
automatic program mode (CorS). Upshifting
Press button2 on the right side of the 
steering wheel.
The transmission will shift to the next 
higher gear as permitted by the shift 
program. This action simultaneously 
extends the gear range of the transmission 
when you are driving in the automatic 
program mode (CorS).
iYou cannot shift with the steering 
wheel gearshift buttons when the gear 
selector lever is in positionP,N orR.
The manual program modeM will not 
be stored. When the engine is turned 
off with the manual program modeM 
selected, the transmission will go to 
the automatic program mode (CorS) 
when the engine is restarted.
The last selected program 
mode (CorS) is switched on when the 
engine is restarted in the automatic 
program mode.
Warning!
G
On slippery road surfaces, never downshift 
in order to obtain braking action. This could 
result in drive wheel slip and reduced 
vehicle control. Your vehicle’s ABS will not 
prevent this type of loss of control. 
     
        
        Page 191 of 474

189 Controls in detail
Good visibility
Folding exterior rear view mirrors in 
and out manually
The exterior rear view mirrors can vibrate if 
they are not folded out completely.
The buttons are located on the driver’s 
door.
1Folds the exterior mirrors out
2Folds the exterior mirrors in
Switch on ignition (
page 34).Folding in
Press button2 briefly.
Both mirrors fold in.
Folding out
Press button1 briefly.
Both mirrors fold out.
Windshield wipers
For more information on the windshield 
wipers, see “Windshield wipers” 
(page 52).
A rain sensor automatically controls the 
windshield wipers depending on how wet 
the windshield is.
Switch on ignition (
page 34).
Set wiper switch to position I 
(page 52).
After the initial wipe, pauses between 
wipes are automatically controlled by the 
rain sensor.
!If an exterior rear view mirror housing 
is forcibly pushed forward (hit from the 
rear), reposition it manually by applying 
firm pressure until it snaps back into 
place.
If an exterior rear view mirror housing 
is forcibly pushed rearward (hit from 
the front), press button2 to fold mir-
rors in, then press button1 to fold 
mirrors out. Do not force mirrors by 
hand as this may damage the adjust-
ment mechanism.
iIntermittent wiping is interrupted when 
the vehicle is at a standstill and a front 
door is opened.