2008 MERCEDES-BENZ S-Class ignition

390 Controls in detailMirrorsAuto-dimming rear view mirrors
The reflection brightness of the exterior
rear view mirror on the driver’s side and
the interior rear view mirror will respond
automatically to glare when

the ignition is switched on
(page 370)
and


incoming light from headlamps falls on
the sensor in the interior rear view
mirror
The interior rear view mirror will not react if


reverse gearR is engaged


the interior lighting is turned on
Warning!
G
The auto-dimming function does not react if
incoming light is not aimed directly at the
sensors in the interior rear view mirror.
The interior rear view mirror and the exterior
rear view mirror on the driver’s side do not
react, for example, if the rear window sun-
shade is in raised position.
Light hitting the mirror(s) at certain angles
(incident light) could blind you. As a result,
you may not be able to observe traffic con-
ditions and could cause an accident.
Warning!
G
Exercise care when using the passen-
ger-side exterior rear view mirror. The mirror
surface is convex (outwardly curved surface
for a wider field of view). Objects in mirror
are closer than they appear. Check your in-
side rear view mirror or glance over your
shoulder before changing lanes.

391 Controls in detail
Mirrors
Activating exterior rear view mirror parking position
Follow these steps to activate the mirror
parking position so that the passen-
ger-side exterior rear view mirror will be
turned downward to the stored position.
Make sure you have stored a parking
position for the passenger-side exterior
rear view mirror (
page 394).

Make sure the “Lower mirror when re-
versing” function in the “Exterior Mirror
Convenience Settings” submenu of the
COMAND system is selected
(page 266).

Switch on the ignition (
page 370).1Selector switch for right or left exterior
mirror

Press switch1 repeatedly until the
exterior mirror on the front passenger
side is selected.

Shift the automatic transmission in re-
verse gearR.
The passenger-side exterior rear view
mirror will be turned downward to the
stored position.
The exterior rear view mirror returns to its
previously stored driving position:


when you switch off the ignition


10 seconds after you have put the au-
tomatic transmission out of reverse
gearR


immediately once your vehicle exceeds
a speed of approximately 6 mph
(10 km/h)


immediately when you press button1
for driver’s side exterior rear view mir-
ror.
i
With the automatic transmission in reverse
gearR, the previously selected exterior rear
view mirror is activated.
i
If you adjust the exterior mirrors while they
are in the parking position, the new mirror posi-
tion is stored as a new parking position.

394 Controls in detailMemory functionStoring exterior rear view mirror park-ing position
For easier parking, you can adjust the pas-
senger-side exterior rear view mirror so
that you can see the right rear wheel as
soon as you engage reverse gearR.
For information on activating the parking
position, see “Activating exterior rear view
mirror parking position” (
page 391).
1Memory button M
2Adjustment button
3Selector switch for right or left exterior
mirror

Stop the vehicle.

Make sure the ignition is switched on
(page 370).

Press switch3 until the exterior mir-
ror on the front passenger side is se-
lected.

Adjust the passenger-side exterior rear
view mirror with button2 so that you
see the rear wheel and the road curb.

Press memory button M.

Within 3 seconds, press one of the
adjustment buttons2.
The parking position is stored if the
mirror does not move.
i
If the mirror does move, repeat the above
steps. After the setting is stored, you can move
the mirror again.

403 Controls in detail
Lighting
Rear fog lamp (driver’s side only)
Turn the exterior lamp switch to
positionB (
page 399).

Pull out exterior lamp switch to second
stop.
The front fog lamps and the rear fog
lamp switch on.
The yellow indicator lamp† in the
exterior lamp switch comes on
(page 399).

Push in the exterior lamp switch to first
stop.
The rear fog lamp switches off.
The yellow indicator lamp† in the
exterior lamp switch goes out.
The front fog lamps remain lit.
High beamCombination switch1High beam
2High beam flasher
High beam headlamps: Turn the exte-
rior lamp switch to positionB
(page 399).

Push the combination switch in the di-
rection of arrow1.
The high beam indicatorA in the in-
strument cluster comes on
(page 28).

High beam flasher: Pull the combina-
tion switch briefly in the direction of
arrow2.
Headlamp cleaning system
With the engine running the headlamps will
automatically be cleaned with a high-pres-
sure water jet when you have

switched on the headlamps
and


the windshield wipers have wiped the
windshield with washer fluid five times
When you switch off the ignition the
counter resets.
For information on filling up the washer
reservoir, see “Windshield washer system
and headlamp cleaning system”
(
page 580).

408 Controls in detailWindshield wipersCombination switch1Switching on windshield wipers
2Single wipe
Wiping with windshield washer fluid

Switch on the ignition (
page 370).
Switching on/off windshield wipers
Turn the combination switch to the
desired position depending on the
intensity of the rain.
MWindshield wipers off
USlow intermittent wiping
(rain sensor operation with low
sensitivity)
VFast intermittent wiping
(rain sensor operation with high
sensitivity)
uSlow continuous wiping
tFast continuous wiping
!
If the windshield wipers leave smears on the
windshield after the car has been driven through
an automatic car wash, then wax or other resi-
due is on the windshield. Shortly after washing
the car in an automatic car wash, clean the wind-
shield with windshield washer fluid
(
page 409).
!
Do not operate the windshield wipers when
the windshield is dry. Dust that accumulates on
a windshield might scratch the glass and/or
damage the wiper blades when wiping occurs on
a dry windshield. If it is necessary to operate the
windshield wipers in dry weather conditions, al-
ways operate the windshield wipers with wind-
shield washer fluid (
page 409).
!
If anything blocks the windshield wipers
(leaves, snow, etc.), switch them off immediate-
ly.


For safety reasons, stop the vehicle in a safe
location and,

remove SmartKey from starter switch
or


turn off the engine by pressing the
KEYLESS-GO* start/stop button
(page 372) and open the driver’s door
(with the driver’s door open, starter
switch is in position0, same as with
SmartKey removed from starter switch)
before attempting to remove any blockage.


Remove blockage.


Turn the windshield wipers on again.If the windshield wipers fail to function at all in
the combination switch position U or V,


set the combination switch to the next
higher wiper speed


have the windshield wipers checked at the
nearest authorized Mercedes-Benz Center

411 Controls in detail
Power windows

Switch on the ignition (
page 370).

Opening: Press the lower part of
switch1 to 4 (
page 410) to the re-
sistance point.
The corresponding window will move
downwards until you release the
switch.

Closing: Press the upper part of
switch1 to 4 (
page 410) to the re-
sistance point.
The corresponding window will move
upwards until you release the switch.
If the window encounters an obstruction
that blocks its path in a circumstance where
you are closing the window by pressing and
holding the switch, by pressing and holding
button ‹ on the SmartKey or SmartKey
with KEYLESS-GO*, by pressing and holding
the sensor surface (vehicles with
KEYLESS-GO*) on an outside door handle,
or by pressing and holding button, on
the climate control panel, the automatic re-
versal function will not operate.
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. A child’s unsupervised ac-
cess to a vehicle could result in an accident
and/or serious personal injury.
i
You can also open or close the windows us-
ing the SmartKey, see “Summer opening fea-
ture” (page 412) and “Convenience closing
feature” (page 413).
Depending on current position, the windows may
also open or close when the air recirculation
button, (page 501) is pressed and held
for 2 seconds.
i
Operating the windows from the rear is not
possible if you activate the override switch
(
page 64).
i
If PRE-SAFE
® has been activated, the door
windows close automatically until only a small
gap remains.
i
With the SmartKey in starter switch
position0 or removed from the starter switch,
the power windows can be operated:


until you open the driver’s or front passenger
door


for at least 5 minutes if no door was opened
Warning!
G
If you press and hold the switch up when
closing the window, and upward movement
of the window is blocked by some obstruc-
tion including but not limited to arms, hands,
fingers, etc., the automatic reversal will not
operate.


420 Controls in detailDriving and parkingFor more information, see “Driving instruc-
tions” (
page 559).
Turn signalsCombination switch1Turn signals, right
2Turn signals, left
Press the combination switch in the
direction of arrow1 or2.
The corresponding turn signal indicator
lampL orK in the instrument
cluster flashes (
page 28).
The combination switch resets automati-
cally after major steering wheel move-
ments.
Problems while driving
The engine runs erratically and misfires

An ignition cable may be damaged.


The engine electronics may not be op-
erating properly.


Unburned gasoline may have entered
the catalytic converter and damaged it.

Give very little gas.

Have the problem repaired by an au-
thorized Mercedes-Benz Center as
soon as possible.
!
Shift the automatic transmission to park
positionP or reverse gearR only when the vehi-
cle is stopped in order to avoid damaging the
transmission.
!
Do not run cold engine at high engine
speeds. Running a cold engine at high engine
speeds may shorten the service life of the en-
gine. This is not covered by the Mercedes-Benz
Limited Warranty.
S63AMG and S65AMG only:
At engine temperatures below 68°F (20° C), the
maximum speed is restricted in order to protect
the engine. Avoid driving the vehicle at full speed
while the engine is cold in order to prevent pre-
mature engine wear as well as diminished com-
fort.
!
Simultaneously depressing the accelerator
pedal and applying the brakes reduces engine
performance and causes premature brake and
drivetrain wear which is not covered by the
Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.
i
To signal minor directional changes such as
changing lanes, press combination switch only
to point of resistance and release. The corre-
sponding turn signals will flash three times.

423 Controls in detail
Driving and parking
1Handle for electronic parking brake
Manually releasing electronic parking
brake
Pull handle1.
The red indicator lamp 0 (USA only)
or ! (Canada only) in the instru-
ment cluster goes out.
You cannot release the electronic parking
brake until the ignition is switched on.Automatically releasing electronic park-
ing brake
Your vehicle’s electronic parking brake is
automatically released when:


The engine is running.


Transmission is in drive positionD or
reverse gearR.


The hood is closed.


You have fastened your seat belt.


You step on the accelerator pedal.
If reverse gearR is engaged, the trunk
must be closed. Manually engaging electronic parking
brake

Press handle1.
The red indicator lamp 0 (USA only)
or ! (Canada only) in the instru-
ment cluster comes on.
i
If you have not fastened your seat belt, the
following conditions must be met in order for the
electronic parking brake to be automatically re-
leased:


The driver’s door is closed.


You must move the gear selector out of park
positionP position or drive faster than 2 mph
(3 km/h).
i
You can also engage the electronic parking
brake when the SmartKey is removed from the
starter switch.