2007 MERCEDES-BENZ S550 rear seat

451 Controls in detail
Loading and storing
Rear storage box
Opening: Fold down rear center arm-
rest and swing down cover1.Ruffled storage pockets
Ruffled storage pockets 1 are located on
the back of the front seats.
!
Do not sit on or lean your body weight
against the armrest when it is folded down, as
you could otherwise damage it.
i
When the rear seats are in their basic posi-
tion, you can open the cover more easily.
Warning!
G
Do not place objects with a combined
weight of more than 4.4 lbs (2 kg) into the
ruffled storage pocket. Otherwise, the Occu-
pant Classification System OCS (
page 50)
may not be able to properly approximate the
occupant weight category.
The ruffled storage pocket is intended for
storing light-weight items only.
Heavy objects, objects with sharp edges or
fragile objects may not be transported in the
ruffled storage pocket. In an accident, dur-
i n g h a r d b r a k i n g , o r s u d d e n m a n e u v e r s , t h e y
could be thrown around inside the vehicle
and cause injury to vehicle occupants.
The ruffled storage pocket cannot protect
transported goods in the event of an acci-
dent.

457 Controls in detail
Useful features
Opening ashtray
Press mark on cover plate2 forward.
Removing ashtray insert

Push sliding button1 to the left.
The ashtray is disengaged and slides
out a short way.

Remove the insert from the ashtray
frame.
Reinstalling ashtray insert

Install the insert by pushing it back into
the frame until it engages.
Closing ashtray

Briefly press mark on cover plate2
forward.
Rear door ashtray
Opening ashtray

Lift up the cover.Removing ashtray insert
1Insert

Press the open cover outwards beyond
the stop.
Ashtray insert1 pops out of the hold-
er.

Remove insert by pulling it upward.
Reinstalling ashtray insert

Install the insert by pushing it back into
the frame until it engages.
Cigarette lightersWarning!
G
Never touch the heating element or sides of
the lighter; they are extremely hot. Hold the
knob only.
Make sure that any children traveling with
you do not injure themselves or start a fire
with the hot cigarette lighter.
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the
SmartKey or SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO*
from the starter switch, take it with you, and
lock the vehicle. Do not leave children unat-
tended in the vehicle, or with access to an
unlocked vehicle. Unsupervised use of vehi-
cle equipment may cause an accident
and/or serious personal injury.
To avoid possible injury to children sitting in
the rear seat, activate the override switch
(page 67). Activation of the override
switch deactivates the rear center console
lighter.

505 Operation
Tires and wheels
Seating capacity
The seating capacity gives you important
information on the number of occupants
that can be in the vehicle. Observe front
and rear seating capacity. Your vehicle is
equipped with either placard Example A or
placard Example B located on the driver’s
door B-pillar (
page 503).
Placard (Example A)1Seating capacity
Placard (Example B)1Seating capacitySteps for determining correct load limit
The following steps have been developed
as required of all manufacturers under
Title 49, Code of U.S. Federal Regulations,
Part 575 pursuant to the “National Traffic
and Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1966”.
Step 1 (Vehicles equipped with placard
Example A)

Locate the statement “The combined
weight of occupants and cargo should
never exceed XXX kg or XXX lbs.” on
your vehicle’s placard.
Step 1 (Vehicles equipped with placard
Example B)

Locate the heading “Vehicle Capacity
Weight” on your vehicle’s placard.
Step 2

Determine the combined weight of the
driver and passengers that will be
riding in your vehicle.
i
Data shown on placard examples are for il-
lustration purposes only. Seating data are specif-
ic to each vehicle and may vary from data shown
in the illustrations below. Refer to placard on ve-
hicle for actual data specific to your vehicle.


507 Operation
Tires and wheels
The higher the weight of all occupants, the
less cargo and luggage load capacity is
available.
For more information, see “Trailer tongue
load” (
page 508).
Example
Combined
weight limit
of occu-
pants and
cargo from
placard
Number of
occupants
(driver and
passengers)
Seating
configura-
tion
Occupants weight
Combined
weight of all
occupants
Available cargo/luggage and trailer
tongue weight (total load limit or
vehicle capacity weight from plac-
ard minus combined weight of all
occupants)
1
1500 lbs
5
front: 2
rear: 3
Occupant 1: 150 lbs
Occupant 2: 180 lbs
Occupant 3: 160 lbs
Occupant 4: 140 lbs
Occupant 5: 120 lbs
750 lbs
1500 lbs – 750 lbs = 750 lbs
2
1500 lbs
3
front: 1
rear: 2
Occupant 1: 200 lbs
Occupant 2: 190 lbs
Occupant 3: 150 lbs
540 lbs
1500 lbs – 540 lbs = 960 lbs
3
1500 lbs
1
front: 1
Occupant 1: 150 lbs
150 lbs
1500 lbs – 150 lbs = 1350 lbs

526 OperationTires and wheelsTire and loading terminology
Accessory weight
The combined weight (in excess of those
standard items which may be replaced) of
automatic transmission, power steering,
power brakes, power windows, power
seats, radio, and heater, to the extent that
these items are available as
factory-installed equipment (whether
installed or not).
Air pressure
The amount of air inside the tire pressing
outward on each square inch of the tire.
Air pressure is expressed in pounds per
square inch (psi), or kilopascal (kPa) or
bars.
Aspect ratio
Dimensional relationship between tire
section height and section width
expressed in percentage.Bar
Another metric unit for air pressure. There
are 14.5038 pounds per square inch (psi)
to 1 bar; there are 100 kilopascals (kPa)
to 1 bar.
Bead
The tire bead contains steel wires wrapped
by steel cords that hold the tire onto the
rim.
Cold tire inflation pressure
Tire inflation pressure when your vehicle
has been sitting for at least 3 hours or driv-
en no more than 1 mile (1.6 km).
Curb weight
The weight of a motor vehicle with stan-
dard equipment including the maximum
capacity of fuel, oil, and coolant, and, if so
equipped, air conditioning and additional
optional equipment, but without passen-
gers and cargo.DOT (D
epartment o
f T
ransportation)
A tire branding symbol which denotes the
tire meets requirements of the
U.S. Department of Transportation.
GAWR (G
ross A
xle W
eight R
ating)
The GAWR is the maximum permissible
axle weight. The gross vehicle weight on
each axle must never exceed the GAWR for
the front and rear axle indicated on the
Certification label located on the driver’s
door B-pillar.
GVW (G
ross V
ehicle W
eight)
The GVW comprises the weight of the
vehicle including fuel, tools, spare wheel,
installed accessories, passengers and
cargo and, if applicable, trailer tongue
load. The GVW must never exceed the
GVWR indicated on the Certification label
located on the driver’s door B-pillar.

542 OperationVehicle careHard plastic trim items
Use Mercedes-Benz approved Interior
Care, a soft, lint-free cloth and apply
with light pressure.
Steering wheel

Wipe with a damp cloth and dry thor-
oughly or clean with Mercedes-Benz
approved Leather Care.
Carpets

Use Mercedes-Benz approved Carpet
and Fabric Care for cleaning the car-
pets.
Headliner and shelf below rear window

Use a soft bristle brush or a dry-sham-
poo cleaner in case of excessive dirt. Seat belts

Only use clear, lukewarm water and
soap.
Upholstery
Using aftermarket seat covers or wearing
clothing that have the tendency to give off
coloring (e.g. when wet, etc.) may cause
the upholstery to become permanently dis-
colored. By lining the seats with a proper
intermediate cover, contact-discoloration
will be prevented.Leather upholstery

Wipe leather upholstery with a damp
cloth and dry thoroughly or clean with
Mercedes-Benz approved Leather
Care.
Exercise particular care when cleaning per-
forated leather as its underside should not
become wet.
Wood trims

Dampen cloth using water and use
damp cloth to clean wood trims in your
vehicle.
!
To prevent scratches, do not use scouring
agents.
!
The webbing must not be treated with
chemical cleaning agents. Do not dry the web-
bing at temperatures above 176°F (80°C) or in
direct sunlight.
Warning!
G
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.
!
Do not use solvents like tar remover or
wheel cleaner nor polishes or waxes as these
may be abrasive.
!
S 600 only: Do not cover the luxury active
head restraints*.

564 Practical hintsWhat to do if …?Display
Possible cause/consequence
Possible solution
Front passenger
airbag enabled
See Oper. Manual
Front passenger front air bag is
activated while driving even
though a child, small individual,
or object below the system’s
weight threshold is on the front
passenger seat, or the front pas-
senger seat is empty. Objects
on the seat or forces acting on
the seat may make the system
sense supplemental weight.
Stop the vehicle in a safe location as soon as possible and check the front
passenger seat for the following:
Switch off the ignition (
page 315).

Remove child and child restraint from front passenger seat and properly
secure the child in rear seat employing the child restraint if necessary.

Remove any other items from on and around the front passenger seat and
make sure the storage bag on the back of the front passenger seat is emp-
ty.

Make sure that no objects which apply forces to the seat are present (e.g.
objects such as books, briefcases etc. lodged behind or around the seat,
head restraints pushing against roof etc.). The system may recognize such
forces as supplemental weight and sense that an occupant on the front
passenger seat is of a greater weight than actually present.

Keep the seat unoccupied, close the front passenger door and switch on
the ignition (
page 315).
Monitor the 59indicator lamp right of the instrument cluster
(
page 53) and the multifunction display in the instrument cluster
(page 241) for the following:
(Continued on next page)

616 Practical hintsUnlocking/locking in an emergencyMechanically releasing the electric parking brake
The mechanical release device for the
electric parking brake is underneath the
fuel filler flap next to the fuel cap.
1Fuel filler flap
2Release tool
3Protective cap

Shift the automatic transmission to P
(page 367).

Place chock from vehicle tool kit
(page 611) under a rear wheel.

Open fuel filler flap1.

Remove protective cap3.

Screw release tool2 from vehicle tool
kit clockwise 2 to 3 rotations onto re-
lease lever.

Pull release tool2 in direction of ar-
row.
The electric parking brake is released.
The red indicator lamp 0 (USA only)
or ! (Canada only) in the instru-
ment cluster for the electric parking
brake flashes. The message “Parking
brake See Oper. Manual” appears on
the driver’s display.
After it has been unlocked, you can engage
the electric parking brake again from the
driver’s seat.

Press the electric parking brake handle
(page 364).
Warning!
G
If you mechanically release the electric
parking brake, the vehicle may start to move
on its own. Make sure that no one is in front
of or behind the vehicle. Otherwise, an acci-
dent could occur resulting in injury or fatali-
ty. Shift the automatic transmission to P and
secure your vehicle in place using the chock
from the vehicle tool kit.
i
You must pull the release tool with more
force if the electric parking brake cannot be re-
leased.
!
Reattach protective cap
3
after you have
mechanically released the electric parking
brake.