Contents
CD changer* operating mode ...... 151
TEL menu* ................................... 153
NAVI menu ................................... 155
Distronic* menu........................... 156
Trip computer menu..................... 157
Vehicle status message
memory menu .............................. 159
Settings menu .............................. 160
Automatic transmission ..................... 173
Gear selector lever position ......... 175
Driving tips ................................... 177
Gear ranges ................................. 178
Automatic shift program .............. 179
Gear selector lever one-touch
gearshifting .................................. 180
Steering wheel gearshift control
one-touch gearshifting S 55 AMG
and S 65 AMG .............................. 181
Manual shift program S 55 AMG
and S 65 AMG .............................. 183
Emergency operation
(Limp Home Mode) ...................... 185Good visibility ..................................... 186
Headlamp cleaning system*
(Standard on S 500, S 600,
S 55 AMG and S 65 AMG)............. 186
Rear view mirrors.......................... 186
Power folding exterior rear
view mirrors .................................. 188
Sun visors ..................................... 190
Rear window sunshade ................. 191
Rear side window sunshade*........ 191
Automatic climate control .................. 192
Deactivating the climate
control system .............................. 195
Setting the temperature................ 195
Adjusting air distribution............... 196
Adjusting air volume ..................... 197
Maximum cooling MAXCOOL ........ 197
Defrosting ..................................... 197
Air recirculation mode .................. 198
Charcoal filter ............................... 200
Rear window defroster .................. 201
Air conditioning............................. 202
Residual heat and ventilation ........ 202Ventilated storage compartment .. 203
Rear passenger compartment
adjustable air vents ...................... 204
Rear passenger compartment
climate control*............................ 205
Power windows .................................. 208
Opening and closing the power
windows........................................ 208
Synchronizing the power
windows........................................ 210
Summer opening feature .............. 210
Convenience closing feature......... 211
Power tilt/sliding sunroof .................. 212
Opening and closing the power
tilt/sliding sunroof........................ 212
Synchronizing the power
tilt/sliding sunroof........................ 214
Driving systems .................................. 215
Cruise control ............................... 215
Distronic* ..................................... 218
Airmatic ........................................ 229
Active Body Control (ABC)* .......... 232
Parktronic system*
(Parking assist) ............................. 235
193 Controls in detail
Automatic climate control
Automatic climate control panel
Item
1
Left center air vent, adjustable
2
Left air vent, fixed
3
Thumbwheel for air volume control
for left center air vent
4
Thumbwheel for air temperature
control for center air vents
5
Thumbwheel for air volume control
for right center air vent
6
Right air vent, fixed
7
Right center air vent, adjustable
8
Side defroster vent, fixed
9
Side air vent, adjustable
a
Thumbwheel for air volume control
for side air vents
b
Door air vent
c
Automatic climate control panel
iFor draft-free ventilation, move the slid-
ers for the center air vents 1, 7, 9
to the middle position.
Item
1
Windshield defroster
2
Rear window defroster
3
Display
4
Residual engine heat utilization
(REST)
5
Automatic climate control on/off
6
Air distribution, right (automatic,
manual)
7
AC cooling on/off
8
Right side temperature control
9
Air volume (automatic, manual)
a
Left side temperature control
b
Air recirculation
c
Air distribution, left (automatic, man-
ual)
d
Activated charcoal filter
197 Controls in detail
Automatic climate control
Adjusting air volume
Use air volume control9 (
page 193) for
both automatic and manual air volume ad-
justment.
Adjusting automatically
PressA on air volume switch9
(page 193).
The display shows
AUTO
. The air volume
is adjusted automatically.
Adjusting manually
Reducing air volume
Press switch9 down until the desired
air volume is reached.
The display shows the current level.
Increasing air volume
Press switch9 up until the desired air
volume is reached.
The display shows the current level.
Maximum cooling MAXCOOL
If the left and right air distribution controls
as well as the air volume control are set
toU and there is a high need for cool-
ing, the display
AUTO MAXCOOL
appears.
This provides the fastest possible cooling
of the vehicle interior (when windows and
tilt/sliding sunroof are closed).
Defrosting
Activating
Press buttonP (
page 193).
The indicator lamp on the button
comes on.
Switch off air recirculation, if selected.
Press button, (
page 193).
The indicator lamp on the button goes
out.
Close center air vents.
Adjust side air vents upwards.
Deactivating
Press buttonP (
page 193).
The indicator lamp on the button goes
out. Defrosting is turned off.
iThese settings should only be selected
for a short time.
201 Controls in detail
Automatic climate control
The system automatically switches to the
air recirculation mode if the carbon
monoxide (CO) or nitrogen oxide (NO
X)
concentration of the outside air increases
beyond a predetermined level, for example
in a tunnel.
The automatic air recirculation mode does
not function if ± is selected or if the
outside temperature has fallen below
41°F (5°C).
The activated charcoal filter should be
switched off when windows fog up on the
inside, or if the passenger compartment
needs to be quickly heated or cooled
down.
Rear window defroster
The rear window defroster uses a large
amount of power. To keep battery drain to
a minimum, switch off the defroster as
soon as the rear window is clear. The de-
froster is automatically deactivated after approximately 6 to 17 minutes of opera-
tion depending on the outside tempera-
ture.
Activating
Press buttonF (
page 193).
The indicator lamp on the button
comes on.
Deactivating
Press buttonF (
page 193) again.
The indicator lamp on the button goes
out.
Warning!
G
Any accumulation of snow and ice should be
removed from the rear window before driv-
ing. Visibility could otherwise be impaired,
endangering you and others.
!If the rear window defroster switches
off too soon and the indicator lamp
starts flashing, this means that too
many electrical consumers are operat-
ing simultaneously and there is insuffi-
cient voltage in the battery. The system
responds automatically by deactivating
the rear window defroster.
As soon as the battery has sufficient
voltage, the rear window defroster au-
tomatically turns itself back on.
451 Index
A
ABC 232, 443
Messages in display 351
Setting vehicle level 230, 233
ABS 25, 79, 443
Malfunction indicator lamp 340
Messages in display 353
Warning lamp 340
Accelerator position, automatic
transmission 177
Accessory weight 323
Accident
In case of 54
Activating
Air conditioner (cooling) 202
Air conditioning 202
Air recirculation mode 198
Anti-theft alarm system 86
Central locking (control system) 168
Charcoal filter 200
Distance warning function* 227
Distronic* 223
Easy-entry/exit feature 170
ESP
®
83
Exterior lamps 132
Exterior rear view mirror parking position 187
Front and rear fog lamp 132, 134
Hazard warning flasher 136
Headlamps 50
High beams 135
Ignition 34
Ignition with KEYLESS-GO* start/stop
button 36
Immobilizer 57, 85
Limiting opening height of trunk
lid* 169
Manual shift program S 55 AMG and
S 65 AMG 184
Rear window defroster 201
Residual heat 202, 207
Seat heater 125, 126
Seat ventilation* 127
Tow-away alarm 88
Windshield wipers 52
Adaptive Damping System (ADS) 229,
443
Adding
Coolant 294
Engine oil 292
Additional turn signals 395
Adjustable air vents, rear passenger compartment 204
Adjusting 37
Air distribution 196, 206
Air volume 197
Backrest tilt 38
Drive-dynamic seat* 171
Exterior rear view mirrors 41
Head restraint height 39
Head restraint tilt 39
Instrument cluster illumination 140
Interior rear view mirror 41
Lumbar support 122
Mirrors 41
Multicontour backrest* 122
Power seat bench* 117
Seat cushion depth 38, 123
Seat cushion tilt 38
Seat fore and aft adjustment 38
Seat height 38
Seat in the lumbar region 123
Seat in the shoulder region 123
Seats 37
Steering column height 40
Steering column in or out 40
Steering column up or down 40
Steering wheel 40
452 IndexADS 229, 443
Air bag off indicator lamp 348
Air bags 61
BabySmart
TM air bag deactivation
system 73, 443
Children 62
Front 65
Passenger 65
Safety guidelines 64
Side impact 66
Window curtain 66
Air conditioning
Turning off 202
Turning on 202
Air pressure 323
Air pressure see Tire inflation pressure
Air recirculation mode 198
Activating 198
Deactivating 199
Air vents, rear passenger compartment
Adjustable 204
Air volume
Adjusting 197
AIRMATIC 229
Airmatic 229, 443
Messages in display 358Alarm
Audible 78, 87, 89
Canceling 87, 89
Visual 86
Alarm system
Anti-theft 86
Anti-theft alarm system indicator
lamp 27
Alignment bolt (vehicle tool kit) 385,
406, 443
Antiglare
Automatic 186
Antilock brake system (ABS) 443
Antilock Brake System see ABS 25
Anti-theft alarm system
Arming 86
Canceling alarm 87
Disarming 87
Anti-theft systems 85
Anti-theft alarm system 86
Anti-theft alarm system indicator
lamp 27
Immobilizer 85
Tow-away alarm 88
Aquaplaning see Hydroplaning 277Armrest
Storage compartment in front of 243,
244, 245, 246
Ashtray 249
Aspect ratio 323
At the gas station 284
ATF (Automatic Transmission Fluid) 293
AUDIO menu 148
Selecting CD track 150
Selecting MP3-CD track 150
Selecting radio station 149
Selecting satellite radio* station (USA
only) 149
Audio system
CD mode 151
Auto-dimming for rear view mirror 186
Automatic central locking
Activating/deactivating (control
system) 168
Automatic climate control 192
Air recirculation mode 198
Defrosting 197
Rear window defroster 201
Setting the temperature 195
Setting the temperature in the rear
passenger compartment 206
456 IndexConvenience submenu 169
Activating easy-entry/exit
feature 170
Adjusting drive-dynamic seat* 171
Setting key-dependency 169
Setting parking position for exterior
rear view mirror 170, 172
Coolant 294
Adding 294
Checking level 294
Messages in display 362, 363
Temperature 283
Temperature gauge 141
Warning lamp 363
Coolant level
Checking 294
Coolant temperature gauge 25
Courtesy lighting 139
Cruise control 215, 444
Canceling 216
Driving downhill 216
Driving uphill 216
Fine adjustment 217
Lever 222
Setting current speed 216Setting to last stored speed (“Resume”
function) 217
Cruise control lever 215
Cup holder
Cleaning 337
Closing 249
In front seat armrest 248
In rear seat armrest 249
Opening 249
Curb weight 323, 444
Customer Assistance Center (CAC) 444
D
Daytime running lamp mode 133
Setting 165
Deactivating
Air conditioner (cooling) 202
Air recirculation mode 199
Alarm 87
Anti-theft alarm system 87
Automatic climate control 195, 206
Central locking (control system) 168
Charcoal filter 200
Defrost 197
Distance warning function* 227Distronic* 225
Engine with the SmartKey 57
ESP
®
82
Exterior lamps 132
Hazard warning flasher 136
Headlamps 57
Immobilizer 85
Interior illumination delayed
switch-off 167
Limiting opening height of trunk
lid* 169
Manual shift program S 55 AMG and
S 65 AMG 185
Rear window defroster 201
Residual heat 203, 207
Seat heater 125, 126
Seat ventilation* 127
Tow-away alarm 88
Deceleration
With Distronic* 221
Deep water see Standing water 280
Defrosting 197
Delayed switch-off
Interior illumination 167
Department of Transportation see DOT
468 IndexPRE-SAFE
®
447
PRE-SAFE
® see Preventive occupant
safety 70
Preventive occupant safety
(PRE-SAFE®)70
Problems
While driving 54
With vehicle 17
Product information 9
Production options weight 324
Program mode selector switch 448
Proper use of the vehicle 16
PSI 324
PULSE function (Massage function) 123
Q
Quick search
Phone book* 154
R
Radio
Selecting satellite radio*
stations 149
Selecting stations 149
Radio transmitters, control and
operation 281Range (distance to empty)
Calling up 158
Reading lamps in the front 138
Reading lamps in the rear 138
Rear fog lamp 395
Bulb 395
Switching on 134
Rear lamp bulbs
Replacing 399
Rear lamps see Tail lamps
Rear passenger compartment
Adjustable air vents 204
Rear seat head restraints
Folding back with switch 120
Placing upright 121
Rear seats 120
Rear seats 117
Fore and aft adjustment 118
Head restraint folding down or placing
upright, vehicles with power seat
bench* 117
Head restraint height* 118
Individual seats* 117
Passenger seat fore and aft
adjustment 119Passenger seat head restraint
height 119
Passenger seat height 119
Rear seat head restraints 120
Seat height 118
Setting front passenger seat position
from rear* 118
Rear side window sunshade* 191
Rear view mirror 29
Rear view mirror auto-dimming 186
Rear view mirrors see Mirrors
Rear window
Blocking operation 77
Rear window defroster 201
Activating 201
Deactivating 201
Rear window sunshade 191
Recommended inflation pressure 324,
448
Reconnecting
Vehicle battery 410
Recovery services
For stolen vehicle 262
Refueling 284
Regular checks 285
Regular driving style 232