2007 MERCEDES-BENZ S550 page

339 Controls in detail
Fastening the seat belts
Fastening the seat belts
Warning!
G
Always fasten your seat belt before driving
off. Always make sure all of your passengers
are properly restrained, even those sitting in
the rear and pregnant women.
Failure to wear and properly fasten and
position your seat belt greatly increases
your risk of injuries and their likely severity
in an accident. You and your passengers
should always wear seat belts.
If you are ever in an accident, your injuries
can be considerably more severe without
your seat belt properly buckled. Without
your seat belt buckled, you are much more
likely to hit the interior of the vehicle or be
ejected from it. You can be seriously injured
or killed.
In the same crash, the possibility of injury or
death is lessened if you are wearing your
seat belt. The air bags can only provide the
protection they were designed to afford if
the occupants are using their seat belts
(page 45).
Warning!
G
According to accident statistics, children
are safer when properly restrained in the
rear seating positions than in the front seat-
ing position. Thus, we strongly recommend
that children be placed in the rear seats
whenever possible. Regardless of seating
position, children 12 years old and under
must be seated and properly secured in an
appropriate infant, or toddler restraint, or
booster seat recommended for the size and
weight of the child. For additional informa-
tion, see “Children in the vehicle”
(page 61).
A child’s risk of serious or fatal injuries is
significantly increased if the child restraints
are not properly secured in the vehicle and
the child is not properly secured in the child
restraint.Warning!
G
Never let more people ride in the vehicle
than there are seat belts available. Be sure
everyone riding in the vehicle is correctly re-
strained with a separate seat belt. Never use
a seat belt for more than one person at a
time.

340 Controls in detailFastening the seat belts
1Belt outlet
2Latch plate
3Buckle
4Release button
Pull the seat belt smoothly from the
seat belt outlet 1.

Place the shoulder portion of the belt
across the top of your shoulder and the
lap portion across your hips.

Push latch plate2 into buckle3 until
it clicks.

If necessary, tighten the lap portion to
a snug fit by pulling shoulder portion
up.

To release the seat belt, press release
button4 and guide latch plate back to
belt outlet.
Warning!
G
Never ride in a moving vehicle with the seat
backrest in an excessively reclined position
as this can be dangerous. You could slide
under the seat belt in a collision. If you slide
under it, the belt would apply force at the ab-
domen or neck. That could cause serious or
even fatal injuries. The seat backrest and
seat belt provide the best restraint when the
wearer is in a nearly upright position and the
belt is properly positioned on the body.Warning!
G
Read and observe the additional warning no-
tices printed in the “Safety and Security”
section (
page 44).

341 Controls in detail
Fastening the seat belts
Proper use of seat belts

Do not twist the belt when fastening.


Adjust seat belt so that the shoulder
portion is located as close as possible
to the middle of the shoulder (it should
not touch the neck). Never pass the
shoulder portion of the belt under your
arm.


Position the lap belt as low as possible
on your hips (over hip joint) and not
across the abdomen.


Place the seat backrest in a nearly up-
right position.


Never use a seat belt for more than one
person at a time.


Do not fasten a seat belt around a per-
son and another object at the same
time. When using a seat belt to secure
infant or toddler restraints or children
in booster seats, always follow the
child seat manufacturer’s instructions.


Check your seat belt during travel to
make sure that it is properly posi-
tioned.


Make sure the seat belt is always fitted
snugly. Take special care of this when
wearing loose clothing.For more information, see “Seat belts”
(
page 55).
Seat belt height adjustment
The vehicle automatically adjusts the seat
belt height for the driver’s and front pas-
senger’s seats as well as for the rear outer
seats. Comply with the instructions on how
to properly fasten a seat belt
(page 339).
Warning!
G
Do not pass belts over sharp edges. They
could tear.
Do not allow the belt to get caught in the
door or in the seat adjustment mechanism.
This could damage the belt.
Never attempt to make modifications to
seat belts. This could impair the effective-
ness of the belts.
Do not bleach or dye seat belts as this may
severely weaken them. In a crash, they may
not be able to provide adequate protection.
Damaged seat belts or belts that were highly
stressed in an accident must be replaced.
Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Cen-
ter.

342 Controls in detailLighting
Exterior lamp switch
The exterior lamp switch is located on the
dashboard to the left of the steering wheel.
M
Off
Daytime running lamp mode
(page 344)
*
Automatic headlamp mode
Daytime running lamp mode
(page 344)
C
Parking lamps (also side marker
lamps, tail lamps, license plate
lamps, instrument panel lamps)
B
Low beam headlamps (or high
beam headlamps when the combi-
nation switch is pushed forward)
and parking lamps
ˆ
Standing lamps, right (turn left one
stop)
‚
Standing lamps, left (turn left two
stops)
C
Indicator lamp for parking lamps
‡
Indicator lamp for front fog lamps
†
Indicator lamp for rear fog lamp
i
If you drive in countries where vehicles drive
on the other side of the road than the country in
which the vehicle is registered, you must have
the headlamps modified for symmetrical low
beams. Relevant information can be obtained at
your authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
i
The active Bi-Xenon headlamps monitor the
vehicles steering angle, then automatically shift
their beams to either side to better follow the
curvature of the road ahead, increasing usable
illumination over conventional headlamps.

343 Controls in detail
Lighting
Low beam headlamps
The exterior lamp switch is located on the
dashboard to the left of the steering wheel.
Turn the switch toB.
The green indicator lampC in the
exterior lamp switch comes on.Manual headlamp mode
The low beam headlamps and parking
lamps can be switched on and off with the
exterior lamp switch. For exterior lamp
switch (
page 342).
Automatic headlamp mode
The following lamps switch on and off au-
tomatically depending on the brightness of
the ambient light:


Low beam headlamps


Tail and parking lamps


License plate lamps


Side marker lamps
i
With the SmartKey removed from the starter
switch or the engine turned off with
KEYLESS-GO* and the driver’s door open, a
warning sounds if the parking lamps or low beam
headlamps are switched on.
The message: “Please switch off lights” appears
in the multifunction display.
i
With the daytime running lamp mode activat-
ed and the engine running, the low beam head-
lamps cannot be switched off manually.
For information on how to activate the daytime
running lamp mode, see “Daytime running lamp
mode” (
page 344).
Warning!
G
If the exterior lamp switch is set to*,

the headlamps may switch off unexpect-
edly when the system senses bright am-
bient light, for example light from
oncoming traffic.
If the exterior lamp switch is set to*,

the headlamps may switch off unexpect-
edly when the system senses bright am-
bient light, for example light from
oncoming traffic.


the headlamps will not be automatically
switched on under foggy conditions.
To minimize risk to you and to others, acti-
vate headlamps by turning exterior lamp
switch to B when driving or when traffic
and/or ambient lighting conditions require
you to do so.
In low ambient lighting conditions, only
switch from position * to B with the
vehicle at a standstill in a safe location.
Switching from * to B will briefly
switch off the headlamps. Doing so while
driving in low ambient lighting conditions
may result in an accident.
The automatic headlamp feature is only an
aid to the driver. The driver is responsible for
the operation of the vehicle’s lights at all
times.

344 Controls in detailLighting
Turn the exterior lamp switch to *.
With the SmartKey in starter switch po-
sition 1 or the KEYLESS-GO*
start/stop button pressed once, only
the parking lamps will switch on and off
automatically.
When the engine is running, the low
beam headlamps, the tail and parking
lamps, the license plate lamps, and the
side marker lamps will switch on and
off automatically.Daytime running lamp mode

Turn exterior lamp switch to
positionM or*.
When the engine is running, the low
beam headlamps are switched on. In
low ambient light conditions, the fol-
lowing lamps will switch on additional-
ly:

tail and parking lamps


license plate lamps


side marker lamps
For nighttime driving you should turn the
exterior lamp switch to positionB to
permit activation of the high beam head-
lamps.
Canada only
The daytime running lamp mode is manda-
tory and therefore in a constant mode.
When the engine is running, and you shift
from a driving position to positionN orP,
the low beam headlamps will switch off
with a 3-minute delay.When the engine is running, and you


turn the exterior lamp switch to
positionC, the parking lamps
switch on additionally.


turn the exterior lamp switch to
positionB, the manual headlamp
mode has priority over the daytime run-
ning lamp mode.
The corresponding exterior lamps
switch on (
page 622).
USA only
By default, the daytime running lamp mode
is deactivated. Activate the daytime run-
ning lamp mode using the control system,
see “Daytime driving lamps mode on/off
(USA only)” (
page 255).
When the engine is running, and you turn
the exterior lamp switch to position C
orB, the manual headlamp mode has
priority over the daytime running lamp
mode.
The corresponding exterior lamps switch
on (
page 622).
i
The front fog lamps and rear fog lamp can-
not be switched on manually with exterior lamp
switch in position*. To activate the fog
lamps, turn exterior lamp switch to
positionB and pull the exterior lamp switch
to first or second stop (
page 345).

345 Controls in detail
Lighting
Fog lampsFront fog lamps

Switch on the low beam headlamps
(page 343).

Pull out exterior lamp switch to first
stop.
The front fog lamps are switched on.
The green indicator lamp‡ in the
lamp switch comes on (
page 342).

Push in the exterior lamp switch.
The front fog lamps are switched off.
The green indicator lamp‡ in the
lamp switch goes out (
page 342).
Rear fog lamp (driver’s side only)

Switch on the front fog lamps
(page 345).

Pull out exterior lamp switch to second
stop.
The rear fog lamp is switched on.
The yellow indicator lamp† in the
lamp switch comes on (
page 342).

Push in the exterior lamp switch to first
stop.
The rear fog lamp is switched off.
The green indicator lamp‡ in the
lamp switch goes out (
page 342).
The front fog lamps remain lit.
Warning!
G
In low ambient lighting or foggy conditions,
only switch from position * to B with
the vehicle at a standstill in a safe location.
Switching from * to B will briefly
switch off the headlamps. Doing so while
driving in low ambient lighting conditions
may result in an accident.i
Fog lamps will operate with the parking
lamps and/or the low beam headlamps on. Fog
lamps should only be used in conjunction with
low beam headlamps. Consult your State or
Province Motor Vehicle Regulations regarding
permissible lamp operation.
i
Fog lamps cannot be switched on with exte-
rior lamp switch in position *. For switching
on the fog lamps, turn exterior lamp switch to po-
sition B.
i
If so equipped, the front fog lamps will also
switch on.

346 Controls in detailLightingLocator lighting and night security illu-
mination
Locator lighting and night security illumi-
nation are described in the COMAND vehi-
cle section under “Setting locator lighting”
(page 221) and “Setting night security il-
lumination” (
page 220).
Headlamp cleaning system
1Headlamp washer button

Switch on the ignition (
page 315).

Press button1.
The headlamps are cleaned with a
high-pressure water jet.For information on filling up the washer
reservoir, see “Windshield washer system
and headlamp cleaning system”
(
page 498).
Combination switch
1High beam
2High beam flasher
Switching on high beams
Turn exterior lamp switch to
positionB or to*
(page 342).

Push the combination switch in the
direction1.
The high beam indicatorA on the
instrument cluster comes on.
i
The headlamps are automatically cleaned if,
at the same time,


the engine is running


the lights are switched on


the windshield wipers have wiped the wind-
shield with washer fluid 15 times
When you switch off the ignition or press
button1, the automatic function is reset and
will start counting the next time from the begin-
ning.