2008 MERCEDES-BENZ S-Class warning

484 Controls in detailDriving systemsA parking space is shown in the display
when driving by until you have reached a
distance of 50 ft (15 m) from the space.
Advanced Parking Guidance only shows
parking spaces on the front-passenger
side of the vehicle unless you activate the
driver's side (left) turn signal. If you would
like to park on the driver's side, the left
turn signal must remain on until reverse
gear is engaged.Parking
The following describes how you can park
on the front-passenger side. Parking on
the driver's side is performed reversed left
to right.
If Advanced Parking Guidance detects an
obstacle behind the vehicle during the
parking procedure, you will hear an audible
warning. Stop the vehicle immediately. The
parking space and the lane blink in the in-
strument cluster. Only continue driv-
ing/parking after you have made sure that
this is possible to do in a safe manner. If
Advanced Parking Guidance no longer de-
tects any obstacles, the display in the in-
strument cluster stops blinking. You may
continue the parking procedure.

Bring the vehicle to a standstill as long
as the desired parking space is dis-
played by the blue parking space sym-
bol in the instrument cluster.

Shift the automatic transmission to
positionR.
The message “Check Surroundings
Press 'OK' to Confirm” appears in the
multifunction display.Warning!
G
Advanced Parking Guidance is only an aid
and may not detect all obstacles. At corners
or near smooth surfaces, Advanced Parking
Guidance may not detect an object correct-
ly. Advanced Parking Guidance does not re-
lieve you of the responsibility to pay
attention. You are always responsible for
safety and must continue to pay attention to
your immediate surroundings when parking
and maneuvering. Otherwise, you could en-
danger yourself and others.

485 Controls in detail
Driving systems

Press# on the multifunction steer-
ing wheel to confirm.
The display in the instrument cluster
changes to the Advanced Parking Guid-
ance.
1Green lane
2White bracket indicates the stopping
position

Where necessary, depending on the
distance to the parking space, back up
in a straight line a short distance.
This is indicated by a green lane1.

Back up until you hear an audible warn-
ing, then stop.
The stopping position has been
reached, indicated by a white
bracket2.
3Red lane indicates the current steering
wheel position
4Yellow lane indicates the required
steering wheel position

When the vehicle is stationary, turn the
steering wheel until the red lane3
matches up with the yellow lane4.The lane4 then turns green. If the
parking space is located within the dis-
play range, a white bracket with an ar-
row for the target position is shown at
the end of the green lane.
Driving into the parking space
1Green lane indicates the correct steer-
ing wheel position

Maintain the steering wheel position
and carefully back up.

Stop as soon as you hear the audible
warning.
The vehicle has reached the position
for countersteering.

486 Controls in detailDriving systemsCountersteering
1Red lane indicates the current steering
wheel position
2Yellow lane indicates the required
steering wheel position
When the vehicle is stationary, turn the
steering wheel until the red lane1
matches up with the yellow lane2.
The lane2 then turns green and a
white arrow and a white bracket are
shown to indicate the target position.Reaching end position
1Green lane indicates the correct steer-
ing wheel position

Maintain the steering wheel position
and carefully back up until the end po-
sition has been reached.
The message appears “Parking Guid-
ance Finished” in the multifunction dis-
play and you will hear an audible
warning.
If the distance to the rear is too short,
you will also be audibly warned by the
Park Assist* system (
page 476).
End positionDepending on the size of the parking
space, the vehicle may be positioned at an
angle in the parking space. Advanced Park-
ing Guidance guides you close to the rear
limit of the parking space where possible.
Adjust the end position by maneuver-
ing as needed.

Observe the Park Assist* display
(page 476).

488 Controls in detailDriving systemsView through the camerai
The image from the Rear View Camera is
shown mirror-inverted on the COMAND display
(
page 31).Warning!
G
Please note that objects which do not touch
the ground, such as the bumper of a vehicle
parked behind you, a trailer hitch, or the
back of a truck, may appear to be further
away than they actually are. In this case, you
should not use the guide lines to judge dis-
tance. The use of the guide lines to judge
distance increases the risk of impacting the
objects.
Warning!
G
The Rear View Camera is a supplement sys-
tem. It is not intended to, nor does it re-
place, the need for extreme care. The
responsibility during parking and other driv-
ing maneuvers always remains with the driv-
er.
The Rear View Camera may show obstacles
with a distorted perspective, incorrectly or
not at all.
Special attention must be paid to objects
outside of the camera’s field of view such as
those located very close to or below the rear
bumper, or above the recessed grip of the
luggage compartment lid. Such objects may
not be detected by the system and can dam-
age the vehicle.
The Rear View Camera does not warn you
about impending collisions with objects. The
driver is always responsible for safety and
must continue to pay attention to the imme-
diate surroundings while parking or maneu-
vering the vehicle. This applies not only to
the area behind the vehicle, but also to the
area in front of and to the sides of the vehi-
cle. Failure to do so could result in injury to
persons and/or damage to the vehicle or
other property. We also recommend that the
driver uses the Parktronic system* or Park
Assist* when parking or maneuvering the
vehicle.

489 Controls in detail
Driving systems
Switching on Rear View Camera
Switch on the ignition (
page 370).

Switch on COMAND (
page 87).

Move gear selector lever to reverse
gearR.
The COMAND display will show the
area behind the vehicle with guide
lines.
Warning!
G
Make sure no persons or animals are in the
area in which you are maneuvering. You
could otherwise injure them.Warning!
G
The Rear View Camera may not function if:

the trunk lid is not completely closed


it is raining or snowing heavily, or if
there is thick fog


in a very dark area


the camera is exposed to very strong
white light (white stripes may appear on
the COMAND display)


the surrounding area is lit with fluores-
cent light (the COMAND display can
flicker)


outside temperatures are very high (lens
condensation)


there is a sudden change in tempera-
ture, for example when you drive out of
the cold into a heated garage in winter
(lens condensation)


the camera lens is dirty or covered, see
“Cleaning the Rear View Camera* lens”
(page 621)


the rear of your vehicle is damaged. In
this case, have the position and setting
of the camera checked by a qualified
technician. Contact an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
Do not use the Rear View Camera if the
roads are icy, slippery or covered with snow.
The vehicle could slip causing the actual ve-
hicle position to deviate from the one shown
on the COMAND display.
This may cause injury to you or others, or
damage the vehicle or objects.
Mounting tires/rims of other specification
than the original equipment tires/rims may
impair the function of the Rear View Cam-
era. Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.
Warning!
G
Use of Rear View Camera can be dangerous
if you are color-blind or have impaired color
vision.
Only use Rear View Camera if you can see
and distinguish all colored guide lines shown
by Rear View Camera on the COMAND dis-
play.i
The Rear View Camera must be activated in
the instrument cluster control system in order
for it to be switched on (
page 303).


490 Controls in detailDriving systems
1Blue guide lines for vehicle width
2Yellow 39 in (1 m) guide line
3Red 10 in (0.25 m) guide line
The red 10 in (0.25 m) guide line3, the
yellow 39 in (1 m) guide line2 corre-
spond to the relevant distance from the
rear of the vehicle. The blue guide line for
vehicle width1 show the required width
for the vehicle.
Warning!
G
Please note that objects which do not touch
the ground, such as the bumper of a vehicle
parked behind you, a trailer hitch, or the
back of a truck, may appear to be further
away than they actually are. In this case, you
should not use the guide lines to judge dis-
tance as the use of the guide lines to judge
distance increases the risk of impacting the
objects.
Even when the object you approach is di-
rectly on the ground (and nothing on the ob-
ject extends above the ground beyond the
object’s contours directly touching the
ground) and no objects that do not touch
the ground, such as the bumper of a vehicle
parked behind you, a trailer hitch, or the
back of a truck are in the path, do not ap-
proach the object on the ground any closer
than red guide line4.
i
If you activate a different function on the
driver’s COMAND controls while reverse parking
or parallel parking, the image from the Rear View
Camera is interrupted.
To reactivate the camera, take the vehicle out of
reverse gear and then re-engage reverse gear
again.


491 Controls in detail
Driving systems
Night View Assist*
Night View Assist illuminates the road with
infrared light in addition to the normal
headlamps.
A camera at the top of the windshield mea-
sures the infrared light and shows a
black-and-white image on the multifunc-
tion display. The image on the multifunction display cor-
responds to a road lit up by high-beam
headlamps.
The Night View Assist image on the multi-
function display is not impaired


by the headlamps of approaching vehi-
cles


if you cannot switch on the high beams
due to oncoming traffic
As a result, you can better follow the
course of the road and detect obstacles
earlier on.The camera is at the top of the windshield.
1Night View Assist camera
Switching on or off
You can only switch on the Night View As-
sist if


the SmartKey in the starter switch is
set to position2


it is dark
Warning!
G
Night View Assist is only an aid to support
you while driving and cannot substitute your
careful attention. Do not rely on the display
of the Night View Assist; instead, continue
to look through the windshield. You are al-
ways responsible for safety and must drive
in accordance with traffic conditions. Other-
wise, you could endanger yourself and oth-
ers.
If it is foggy, raining or snowing, the clarity of
the Night View Assist image on the multi-
function display may be diminished.
Warning!
G
Night View Assist cannot record objects im-
mediately in front of or next to the vehicle.
When maneuvering, continue to look
through the windshield. Make sure no per-
sons or animals are in the area in which you
are maneuvering. You could otherwise in-
jure them.
i
Infrared light is invisible to the human eye
and can therefore remain permanently switched
on without blinding oncoming traffic.

493 Controls in detail
Driving systems
Dirty or fogged-up windshield
If the windshield in front of the camera is
fogged up on the inside or outside or if it is
dirty, the Night View Assist image is dimin-
ished.Removing condensation

Check settings of automatic climate
control and change them, if necessary
(page 501).

Swing the camera cover downward
(page 621).
Cleaning inside of windshield

Clean inside of windshield in front of
camera with a soft, non-scratching
cloth (
page 621).
Warning!
G
Please do not forget that your primary re-
sponsibility is to drive the vehicle. A driver’s
attention to the road must always be
his/her primary focus when driving. For
your safety and the safety of others, stop be-
fore trying to remove window fogging or
cleaning the window in front of the Night
View Assist camera.
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.