2007 MERCEDES-BENZ S550 malfunction

71 Safety and Security
Driving safety systems
BAS
The Brake Assist System (BAS) operates in
emergency situations. If you apply the
brakes very quickly, the BAS automatically
provides full brake boost, thereby poten-
tially reducing the braking distance.
Apply continuous full braking pressure
until the emergency braking situation is
over.
The ABS will prevent the wheels from
locking.
When you release the brake pedal, the
brakes function again as normal. The BAS
is then deactivated.
For more information, see “Practical hints”
section (
page 544).
BAS Plus*
BAS Plus operates in emergency braking
situations and uses radar sensors to as-
sess the traffic situation.When you step quickly on the brake pedal
in an emergency braking situation,
BAS Plus automatically regulates the
brake pressure to a level that is suitable for
the traffic situation.
If BAS Plus requires a particularly high
brake pressure, PRE-SAFE
® is activated at
the same time.

Step on the brake pedal until the emer-
gency braking situation is over.
During this process, ABS prevents the
wheels from locking up.
Once you take your foot off the brake ped-
al or when there is no longer a risk of colli-
sion, the brake pedal functions again as
usual. BAS Plus is deactivated.
EBP
The Electronic Brake Proportioning (EBP)
enhances braking effectiveness by allow-
ing the rear brakes to supply a greater pro-
portion of the braking effort in straight line
breaking without a loss of vehicle stability.
Warning!
G
When the BAS is malfunctioning, the brake
system is still functioning normally, but with-
out the additional brake boost available that
BAS would normally provide in an emergen-
cy braking maneuver. Therefore, the braking
distance may increase.
Warning!
G
The BAS cannot prevent the natural laws of
physics from acting on the vehicle, nor can
it increase braking efficiency beyond that af-
forded by the condition of the vehicle brakes
and tires or the traction afforded. The BAS
cannot prevent accidents, including those
resulting from excessive speed in turns, fol-
lowing another vehicle too closely, or hydro-
planing. Only a safe, attentive, and skillful
driver can prevent accidents.
The capabilities of a BAS equipped vehicle
must never be exploited in a reckless or dan-
gerous manner which could jeopardize the
user’s safety or the safety of others.

72 Safety and SecurityDriving safety systemsESP
®
The Electronic Stability Program (ESP
®) is
operational as soon as the engine is run-
ning and monitors the vehicle’s traction
(force of adhesive friction between the
tires and the road surface) and handling.
The ESP
® recognizes when a wheel is spin-
ning or if the vehicle starts to skid. By ap-
plying brakes to the appropriate wheel and
by limiting the engine output, the ESP
® works to stabilize the vehicle. The ESP
® is
especially useful while driving off and on
wet or slippery road surfaces. The ESP®
also stabilizes the vehicle during braking
maneuvers.
The ESP
® warning lamp v in the instru-
ment cluster flashes when the ESP
® is en-
gaged.
The ESP
® warning lamp v in the instru-
ment cluster comes on when you switch on
the ignition (
page 315). It goes out when
the engine is running.
Warning!
G
When the EBP is malfunctioning, the ABS,
BAS, BAS Plus*, ESP
® and ETS are also
switched off.
If the EBP is malfunctioning, the brake sys-
tem will still function with full brake boost.
However, the rear wheels could lock up dur-
ing emergency braking situations, for exam-
ple. You could lose control of the vehicle and
cause an accident. Adapt your driving style
to the changed driving characteristics.
Warning!
G
Never switch off the ESP
® when you see the
ESP
® warning lamp v flashing in the in-
strument cluster. In this case proceed as fol-
lows:


While driving off, apply as little throttle
as possible.


While driving ease up on the accelera-
tor.


Adapt your speed and driving style to
the prevailing road conditions.
Failure to observe these guidelines could
cause the vehicle to skid.
The ESP
® cannot prevent accidents result-
ing from excessive speed.
Warning!
G
The ESP
® cannot prevent the natural laws of
physics from acting on the vehicle, nor can
it increase the traction afforded. The ESP
®
cannot prevent accidents, including those
resulting from excessive speed in turns, or
hydroplaning. Only a safe, attentive, and
skillful driver can prevent accidents. The ca-
pabilities of an ESP
® equipped vehicle must
never be exploited in a reckless or danger-
ous manner which could jeopardize the us-
er’s safety or the safety of others.
i
DISTRONIC Plus* is switched off when the
ESP® engages.

78 Control systemsCOMAND operating safetyWarning!
G
Any alteration of electronic components or
software can cause malfunctions.
Radio, satellite radio* (USA only), amplifier,
CD changer, navigation module, telephone
and voice control systems* are intercon-
nected. Therefore, if one of the components
is not operational, or has not been re-
moved/ replaced properly, the function of
other components could be impaired.
Such conditions might seriously impair the
operating safety of your vehicle.
We recommend to have any service work on
electronic components carried out by an au-
thorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Warning!
G
In order to avoid distraction which could
lead to an accident, the driver should enter
system settings while the vehicle is at a
standstill, and operate the system only
when permitted by road, weather and traffic
conditions.
Bear in mind that at a speed of just 30 mph
(approximately 50 km/ h), your car covers a
distance of 44 feet (approximately 14 m) ev-
ery second.
COMAND supplies you with information to
help you select your route more easily and
guide you conveniently and safely to your-
destination. For safety reasons, we encour-
age the driver to stop the vehicle in a safe
place before answering or placing a call, or
consulting the COMAND screen to read nav-
igational maps, instructions, or downloaded
information.
Warning!
G
While the navigation system provides direc-
tional assistance, the driver must remain fo-
cused on safe driving behavior, especially
attention to traffic and street signs, and
should utilize the system’s audio cues while
driving.
The navigation system does not supply any
information on stop signs, yield signs, traffic
regulations or traffic safety rules. Their ob-
servance always remains in the driver’s per-
sonal responsibility. DVD maps do not cover
all areas nor all routes within an area.

231 Control systems
COMAND automatic climate control

Changing air volume: Slide qmr or
rotate ymz.

Exiting menu: Press n, back
buttonL in the center console
(page 80) or slideomp.
The setting is saved.
Central climate control menu via
COMAND
The central climate control menu is in the
center of the climate control settings.
When the automatic climate control is
switched on, you will see “on” in the cen-tral menu. The following functions can only
be operated in the central climate control
menu via COMAND:

Select climate control settings
Cen-
tral menu.Switching cooling on or off
The cooling function, only operational
when the engine is running, cools the vehi-
cle interior down to the selected tempera-
ture. The cooling function also
dehumidifies the air in the vehicle interior,
thus preventing the windows from fogging
up.
The “AC
OFF” function is used to permanent-
ly switch off the cooling function of the au-
tomatic climate control system.
Function
Page
Switching off cooling (“AC
OFF”)
231
Central climate control (“Mono”)
232
Footwell temperature
232
Air flow from air vents
233
Rear climate control
234
i
Condensation may drip out from underneath
the vehicle. This is normal and not an indication
of a malfunction.Warning!
G
If you turn off the cooling function, the
vehicle will not be cooled when weather
conditions are warm. The windows can fog
up more quickly. Window fogging may
impair visibility and endanger you and
others.

241 Control systems
Instrument cluster control system
Instrument cluster control system
The control system is activated as soon as
the SmartKey in the starter switch is
turned to position2 or as soon as the
KEYLESS-GO* start/stop button
(page 317) is in position2. 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 call up statistical data
on your vehicle, and much more.
The control system relays information to
the multifunction display.
Multifunction display
1Line for main menus
2Text field in multifunction display
Settings, functions, submenus as well as
any malfunctions are shown to you in the
text field.
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.

244 Control systemsInstrument cluster control system
Assistance* (
page 252)
Service (
page 253)
Settings (
page 254)
Commands/submenusDisplaying the distance graphic*
(DISTRONIC Plus*)
Call up vehicle malfunction, warning
and system status messages stored in
memory
Set daytime running lamp mode (USA only)
Distance warning function*
activating/deactivating
Check tire inflation pressure
Switch additional speedometer on or off
Switch on the Dynamic Rear View Moni-
tor* automatically
Call up maintenance service display
Switch radar sensors* on or off
Check engine oil level*
i
The headings used in the menus table are
designed to facilitate navigation within the sys-
tem and are not necessarily identical to those
shown in the control system displays. The first function displayed in each menu will au-
tomatically show you which part of the system
you are in.

253 Control systems
Instrument cluster control system
Switching on the Dynamic Rear View
Monitor* automatically
Press ( or & to select the
“Assistance” menu.

Press % or $ to select the
“Rearview camera” function.

Press #.

Press # again if you would like to
change the current status.The following settings are available:
Service menu
The “Service” menu is used for

calling up messages


checking tire inflation pressure elec-
tronically with the Advanced TPMS*
(standard on U.S. vehicles)


activating Run Flat Indicator
(Canada only)


calling up the maintenance service in-
dicator display


check engine oil level*Calling up vehicle malfunction, warning
and system status messages stored in
memory
Use the vehicle status message memory
menu to scan malfunction and warning
messages that may be stored in the sys-
tem. Such messages appear in the multi-
function display and are based on
conditions or system status the vehicle’s
system has recorded.
The vehicle status message memory menu
only appears if there are any messages
stored.
i
The image from the Dynamic Rear View
Monitor is shown on the COMAND display.
“On when in
Reverse”
The Dynamic Rear View
Monitor automatically
switches on when reverse
gear is engaged.
“OFF”
The Dynamic Rear View
Monitor is not switched on.
i
The menu overview can be found on
(
page 243).
Warning!
G
Malfunction and warning messages are only
indicated for certain systems and are inten-
tionally not very detailed. The malfunction
and warning messages are simply a remind-
er with respect to the operation of certain
systems and do not replace the owner’s
and/or driver’s responsibility to maintain
the vehicle’s operating safety by having all
required maintenance and safety checks


254 Control systemsInstrument cluster control system
Press ( or & to select the
“Service” menu.
If conditions have occurred causing
status messages to be recorded, the
number of messages appears in the
multifunction display: “2 Messages”.

Press % or $ to select the mes-
sage.

Press # to confirm.Checking tire inflation pressure
For information about checking tire infla-
tion pressure (
page 511).
Activating Run Flat Indicator*
For information about activating Run Flat
Indicator (
page 515).
Calling up the maintenance service in-
dicator display
For information about maintenance
(
page 532).
Checking engine oil level (S 600)*
For information about checking engine oil
level (
page 494).
Settings menu
In the “Settings” menu, you can:

switch the daytime driving lamps on or
off


switch the additional speedometer on
or off


switch the radar sensors* on or off.
performed on the vehicle and by bringing
the vehicle to an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center to address the malfunction and
warning messages (
page 557).
i
See the “Practical hints” section for mal-
function and warning messages (
page 557).
i
If you turn the SmartKey in the starter
switch to position0 and then back to position2,
all messages will be deleted from the message
memory.
i
The menu overview can be found on
(
page 243).