2007 MERCEDES-BENZ S CLASS engine

404 Controls in detailDriving systemsThe ABC level control switch with the indi-
cator lamp is located on the control panel
on the right-hand side of the instrument
cluster.
1Vehicle level control switch
2Indicator lampSelecting a higher level

Start the engine.
If indicator lamp2 is off:

Press switch1.
Indicator lamp2 comes on. The vehi-
cle is raised to a higher level.
Selecting a normal level

Start the engine.
If indicator lamp2 is on:

Press switch1.
Indicator lamp2 goes out. The vehicle
is adjusted to a normal level.Suspension tuning
The program mode selector switch (C/S)
(
page 374) is used to adjust the suspen-
sion tuning:
In addition, suspension characteristics in
both driving programs (S/C) depend on:


your driving style


road surface conditions


the vehicle loading
Driving program
Suspension tuning
CComfort
Comfortable
(default setting)
SStandard
Standard
for dynamic driving

405 Controls in detail
Driving systems
Parktronic system*
Parktronic is an electronic parking aid with
ultrasonic sensors that helps you while
parking.
It visually and audibly indicates the relative
distance between the vehicle and an ob-
stacle.
Parktronic is automatically activated when
you switch on the ignition, release the
electric parking brake or start the engine
and engage gear D, R or N.The Parktronic system deactivates at
speeds over approximately 11 mph
(18 km/h). At lower speeds the Parktronic
system turns on again.
Parktronic is also switched off when you
engage gear P or secure the vehicle in
place with the electric parking brake and
switch off the engine.
The Parktronic system monitors the sur-
roundings of your vehicle with six sensors
in the front bumper and four sensors in the
rear bumper.
1Sensors in the front bumper (Only visi-
ble without DISTRONIC Plus*)Warning!
G
Parktronic is a supplemental system. It is
not intended to, nor does it replace, the
need for extreme care. The responsibility
during parking and other critical maneuvers
always rests with the driver.
Special attention must be paid to objects
with smooth surfaces or low silhouettes
(e.g. trailer couplings, painted posts, or road
curbs). Such objects may not be detected by
the system and can damage the vehicle.
The operational function of the Parktronic
system can be affected by dirty sensors, es-
pecially at times of snow and ice, see
“Cleaning the Parktronic* system sensors”
(page 538).
Warning!
G
Make sure no persons or animals are in the
area in which you are maneuvering. You
could otherwise injure them.i
Interference caused by other ultrasonic sig-
nals (e.g. working jackhammers, car wash, or the
air brakes of trucks) can cause the system to
send erratic indications, and should be taken
into consideration.

409 Controls in detail
Driving systems
Park Assist*
Park Assist is an electronic parking aid
with radar sensors that helps you while
parking.
It visually and audibly indicates the relative
distance between the vehicle and an ob-
stacle.Park Assist is automatically activated
when the engine is running and the trans-
mission is in position D, R or N.
The Park Assist system deactivates at
speeds over approximately 11 mph
(18 km/h). At lower speeds the Parktronic
system turns on again.
Park Assist is also switched off when the
transmission is in position P or switch off
the engine.
While the transmission is in position N,
Park Assist is switched off if you secure the
vehicle in place with the electric parking
brake.
The Park Assist system monitors the sur-
roundings of your vehicle with four sensors
in the front bumper and two sensors in the
rear bumper.Warning!
G
Park Assist is a supplemental system. It is
not intended to, nor does it replace, the
need for extreme care. The responsibility
during parking and other critical maneuvers
always rests with the driver.Warning!
G
Make sure no persons or animals are in the
area in which you are maneuvering. You
could otherwise injure them.!
Special attention must be paid to objects
with smooth surfaces or low silhouettes (e.g.
trailer couplings, painted posts, elevated cross-
bars or road curbs). Such objects may not be de-
tected by the system and can damage the
vehicle.
!
The operational function of the Park Assist
system can be affected by dirty sensors, espe-
cially at times of snow and ice.
Make sure that the area on the bumpers around
the sensors is free of dirt, ice and/or slush,
otherwise Park Assist may not function properly,
see “Cleaning the Park Assist* system sensors”
(
page 538).
!
High-frequency sources such as toll sta-
tions, speed measuring systems, etc. can cause
the Park Assist system to malfunction. You can
switch off the Park Assist using the Park Assist
button (
page 412) or switch off the radar sen-
sors (
page 256) to prevent possible malfunc-
tion.
i
In certain countries and near radio-astrolog-
ical facilities, you must switch off the radar sen-
sors (page 256).

426 Controls in detailAutomatic climate controlAutomatic climate control panel, front
Item
1
AUTO mode for air distribution and
volume, left
2
Temperature control, left
3
Manual fan speed adjustment, left
4
Front defroster
Item
5
Air recirculation
6
Automatic climate control on/off
7
Residual engine heat and ventilation
(REST)
8
Rear window defroster
Item
9
Manual fan speed adjustment, right
a
Temperature control, right
b
AUTO mode for air distribution and
volume, right

427 Controls in detail
Automatic climate control
The automatic climate control is operation-
al whenever the engine is running. You can
operate the climate control system in ei-
ther the automatic or manual mode. The
system cools or heats the interior depend-
ing on the selected interior temperature
and the current outside temperature.
It can only function optimally when you are
driving with the windows and the tilt/slid-
ing sunroof/panorama sunroof* closed.
It is possible to completely deactivate the
climate control system (
page 428). Nearly all dust particles, pollutants and
odors are filtered out before outside air en-
ters the passenger compartment through
the air distribution system.The following automatic climate control
functions can be operated via COMAND:
i
If you have the air distribution and air vol-
ume automatically controlled, you can adjust the
temperature, footwell temperature and air flow.
The following basic settings are recommended:


Automatic air distribution control
(page 428)


Temperature: 72°F (22°C) (
page 429)


Footwell temperature: 0 (
page 232)


Air flow: focused (
page 233)
Warning!
G
Follow the recommended settings for heat-
ing and cooling given on the following pages
and in the “COMAND automatic climate
control” section (
page 229). Otherwise
the windows could fog up, impairing visibili-
ty and endangering you and others.
i
Severe conditions (e.g. strong air pollution)
may require replacement of the filter before its
scheduled interval. A clogged filter will reduce
the air volume to the interior.
If the vehicle interior is hot, ventilate the interior
before driving off, see “Summer opening fea-
ture” (page 355). The automatic climate con-
trol will then adjust the interior temperature to
the set value much faster.
Keep the air intake grille in front of the wind-
shield free of snow, leaves, sticks, and any other
debris.
Do not obstruct air volume by placing objects on
the air volume-through exhaust slots below the
rear window.Function
Page
Temperature
230
Air distribution
230
Air volume
230
Switching off cooling (“AC
OFF”)
231
Central climate control (“Mono”)
232
Footwell temperature
232
Air flow from air vents
233
Rear climate control*
234

430 Controls in detailAutomatic climate controlDeactivating
Press button; (
page 426) up or
down.
The indicator lamp on the button goes
out.
The previous settings are once again in
effect, except air recirculation mode
stays off.
Windshield fogged on the outside

Switch the windshield wipers on
(page 351).

Press buttonU (
page 426) up or
down.
The indicator lamp on the button
comes on.
Rear window defroster
Activating
Switch on the ignition (
page 315).

Press button< (
page 426) up or
down.
The indicator lamp on the button
comes on.
Deactivating

Press button< (
page 426) up or
down.
The indicator lamp on the button goes
out.
Maximum cooling MAXCOOL (USA only)
If U is selected on both the left and
right side and there is a high demand for
cooling, the display “MAXCOOL” appears
in the COMAND display.
This provides the fastest possible cooling
of the vehicle interior (when windows and
tilt/sliding sunroof or tilt/sliding panel*
are closed).
!
The rear window defroster uses a large
amount of power. To keep battery drain to a min-
imum, switch off the defroster as soon as the
rear window is clear.
i
The defroster is automatically deactivated
after some time of operation depending on the
outside temperature.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.
i
If the rear window defroster switches off too
soon and the indicator lamp goes out, this indi-
cates that too many electrical consumers are op-
erating simultaneously and the load on the
battery is reducing available voltage. The system
responds automatically by deactivating the rear
window defroster.
i
Maximum cooling MAXCOOL is only avail-
able when the engine is running.

433 Controls in detail
Automatic climate control
Residual engine heat and ventilation
With the engine switched off, it is possible
to continue to heat or ventilate the interior.
This feature makes use of the residual heat
produced by the engine.Activating

Switch off the ignition (
page 315).

Press buttonT (
page 426) up or
down.
The indicator lamp on the button
comes on.
Deactivating

Press buttonT (
page 426) up or
down.
The indicator lamp on the button goes
out.Front passenger compartment adjust-
able air vents
Opening/closing the air vents:
Turn thumbwheels 3, 5, 6 and 8
(page 425).
i
If you switch on the residual heat function
when outside temperatures are high, only the
ventilation will be switched on.
i
Regardless of the selected air volume, the
blower operates at low speed when heating. In
case of ventilation the blower operates at higher
speed.
i
How long the system will provide heating de-
pends on


the coolant temperature


the temperature set by the operator
i
The residual heat is automatically turned off:


when the ignition is switched on


after approximately 30 minutes


if the battery voltage drops


if the coolant temperature is too low

456 Controls in detailUseful featuresRear window sunshade
The switches are on the rear doors.
1Opening
2Closing
You can also operate the rear window sun-
shade via COMAND (
page 227) or via
the favorite button (
page 216).

Switch on the ignition (
page 315).

Press upper part 1 of the rocker
switch briefly to extend the sunshade.

Press lower part 2 of the rocker
switch briefly to retract the sunshade.
Ashtrays
Center console ashtray
1Button for disengaging ashtray
2Cover plate
i
Operating the rear window sunshade from
the rear is not possible if you activate the over-
ride switch (
page 67).
i
If you operate the rear window sunshade via
COMAND or via the favorite button, this takes
precedence over the rear window sunshade but-
tons on the rear doors.
i
The rear window sunshade is switched off at
temperatures below -4°F (-20°C).
Warning!
G
Remove ashtray only with vehicle standing
still. Set the parking brake to secure vehicle
from movement. Set automatic transmis-
sion toP. With the automatic transmission
set toP, turn off the engine.