2008 MERCEDES-BENZ S-Class steering wheel

452 Controls in detailDriving systemsWarning!
G
DISTRONIC Plus is a convenience system.
Its speed adjustment reduction capability is
intended to make the cruise control more ef-
fective and usable when traffic speeds vary.
It is not however, intended to, nor does it, re-
place the need for extreme care. The re-
sponsibility for the vehicle speed and the
distance to the vehicle ahead, including
most importantly brake operation to assure
safe stopping distance, always remains with
the driver.
DISTRONIC Plus cannot take street and traf-
fic conditions into account.
Complex driving situations are not always
fully recognized by DISTRONIC Plus. This
could result in wrong or missing distance
warnings.
Warning!
G
DISTRONIC Plus adaptive cruise control is
no substitute for active driving involvement.
It does not react to pedestrians or stationary
objects, nor does it recognize or predict the
curvature and lane layout or the movement
of vehicles ahead. DISTRONIC Plus can only
apply a maximum of 40% of the vehicle’s
braking power.
DISTRONIC Plus may not detect narrow ve-
hicles possibly driving in front of you, such
as motorcycles and vehicles driving in an
offset formation.
It is the driver’s responsibility at all times to
be attentive to road, weather and traffic con-
ditions and to provide the steering, braking
and other driving inputs necessary to retain
control of the vehicle.
High-frequency sources such as toll sta-
tions, speed measuring systems etc. can
cause the DISTRONIC Plus system to tem-
porarily cease functioning.
Warning!
G
DISTRONIC Plus requires familiarity with its
operational characteristics. We strongly rec-
ommend that you review the following infor-
mation carefully before operating the
system.Warning!
G
DISTRONIC Plus cannot take street and traf-
fic conditions into account. Only use
DISTRONIC Plus if the road, weather and
traffic conditions make it advisable to travel
at a steady speed.Warning!
G
Use of DISTRONIC Plus can be dangerous
on slippery roads. Rapid changes in tire trac-
tion can result in wheel spin and loss of
control.

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).

492 Controls in detailDriving systems

the light switch is set to * or B
or if the daytime driving lamps are
switched on


the automatic transmission is not in re-
verse gearR
1Night View Assist on or off

Press button1 up or down.
The Night View Assist image appears
on the multifunction display.Image on multifunction display
When you switch on Night View Assist, the
image for the speed gauge changes on the
multifunction display. The speed gauge is
shown as a bar on the lower edge of the
multifunction display. The line for main
menus is no longer available. If you would
like to change a setting using the steering
wheel buttons, you must first switch off
Night View Assist.
1Night View Assist image
2Speedometer displayAdjusting instrument cluster
illumination
1Knob

Make sure the Night View Assist is
switched on.

Brightening illumination: Turn
knob1 clockwise.

Dimming illumination: Turn knob1
counterclockwise.
i
The infrared headlamps only come on above
a speed of approximately 9 mph (15 km/h).
Therefore, when you are at a standstill, you do
not have a complete view and cannot check the
function of the Night View Assist.
i
If you change the brightness of the instru-
ment cluster while Night View Assist is switched
on, only the brightness of the multifunction dis-
play is changed.

540 Controls in detailUseful features
When the mobile phone is inserted in the
cradle, you can operate the telephone us-
ing the following devices:

mobile phone keypad


COMAND telephone keypad
(page 144)


buttonss andt on the multi-
function steering wheel (
page 288)


Voice Control (
page 313)


Bluetooth
® headset (
page 157)
Please note that these functions are only
available with Mercedes-Benz approved
mobile phones. Please contact an autho-
rized Mercedes-Benz Center for informa-
tion on features available for your mobile
phone of choice.

Open telephone compartment
(page 527).Inserting mobile phone in mobile phone
cradle
Once the mobile phone has been inserted
in the mobile phone cradle, you have to
use the hands-free device or Bluetooth
headset to respond during phone calls.

If applicable, remove the cover for the
external antenna connection from the
back of the mobile phone and store it in
a s a f e p l a c e . B e s u r e t o c o m p l y w i t h t h e
mobile phone’s operating instructions,
as well.
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.i
Various mobile phone cradles can be in-
stalled in the front center armrest, see separate
installation instructions for the mobile phone
cradle. These mobile phone cradles can be ob-
tained from an authorized Mercedes-Benz Cen-
ter.
The functions and services available to you while
using the mobile phone depend on your service
provider and the type of mobile phone you are
using. See also separate operating manual for in-
structions on how to use your mobile phone.
i
The roof cargo container* may impair mo-
bile phone reception. In an emergency, remove
the mobile phone from the mobile phone cradle
to make a call.
!
Do not try to remove the mobile phone along
with the cradle. You could otherwise damage the
mobile phone cradle.


541 Controls in detail
Useful features
Example illustration1Insert the mobile phone
2Connector contact
3Mobile phone cradle
Slide the lower end of the mobile phone
into connector contact 2 on
cradle3.

Push the top of the mobile phone in di-
rection of arrow 1, until the lug on the
mobile phone release button engages.
The mobile phone is connected to the
network via the external antenna. The mobile phone is linked to the
hands-free device and the multifunc-
tion steering wheel.
The battery is charged depending on its
charge status and the position of the
SmartKey in the starter switch. The
charge procedure will be indicated in
the mobile phone’s display.
You can place or receive phone calls. You
can control other functions of the mobile
phone via the COMAND (
page 141),
instrument cluster control system
(
page 299) or Voice Control
(page 313). Removing mobile phone from mobile
phone cradle
Example illustration1Release catch for mobile phone
2Mobile phone cradle
Press release catch in direction of
arrow1 and take mobile phone out of
mobile phone cradle2.
i
When you take the SmartKey or SmartKey
with KEYLESS-GO* out of the starter switch, the
mobile phone remains switched on for approxi-
mately 10 minutes. If you place or receive a call
during this time, the mobile phone switches off
10 minutes after the call has been completed.
i
When using a flip-style mobile phone, open
flip top before removing from the cradle while a
call is connected. Otherwise, the call will be dis-
connected.

543 Controls in detail
Useful features
The Tele Aid system is operational provid-
ing that the vehicle’s battery is charged,
properly connected, not damaged and mo-
bile phone and GPS coverage are available.
The speaker volume of a Tele Aid call can
be adjusted when using the volume control
on the multifunction steering wheel. To
raise, press buttonæ and to lower,
press buttonç or use the COMAND
volume thumbwheel , on the lower
part of the front center console
(page 98).

To activate, press the SOS button, the
Roadside Assistance button• or
the Information button¡, depend-
ing on the type of response required.Shortly after the completion of your
Tele Aid acquaintance call, you will receive
a user ID and password. By visiting
www.mbusa.com and selecting “Tele Aid”
(USA only), you will have access to account
information, remote door unlock and
more.
System self-check
Initially, after switching on the ignition,
malfunctions are detected and indicated.
If a malfunction is detected, the indicator
lamps in the SOS button, the Roadside As-
sistance button• and the Information
button¡ stay on longer than
10 seconds or do not come on. The mes-
sage “Tele Aid Not Activated” or “Tele Aid
Inoperative” appears in the multifunction
display.
i
The Tele Aid system utilizes the mobile
phone network for communication and the GPS
(Global Positioning System) satellites for vehicle
location. If either of these signals are unavail-
able, the Tele Aid system may not function and if
this occurs, assistance must be summoned by
other means.
i
The SOS button is located above the interior
rear view mirror (
page 545).
The Roadside Assistance button• and the
Information button¡ are located below the
center armrest cover (page 546).
Warning!
G
If the indicator lamps in the SOS button, in
the Roadside Assistance button•
and/or in the Information button¡ do
not come on during the system self-check,
or if any of these indicators remain illuminat-
ed continuously in red and/or the message
“Tele Aid Not Activated” or “Tele Aid Inoper-
ative” is displayed in the multifunction dis-
play after the system self-check, a
malfunction in the system has been detect-
ed.
If a malfunction is indicated as outlined
above, the system may not operate as ex-
pected. Have the system checked at the
nearest Mercedes-Benz Center as soon as
possible.

547 Controls in detail
Useful features
Information button¡
Press and hold Information button
¡ (for longer than 2 seconds).
A call to the Customer Assistance Cen-
ter will be initiated. The button will
flash while the call is in progress. The
message:

“Connecting Call” appears in the
multifunction display


“Information Call Activated” ap-
pears in the COMAND display
and the audio system is muted.
When the connection is established, the
message:


“Call Connected” appears in the multi-
function display


“Information Call Activated” appears in
the COMAND display
The Tele Aid system will transmit data gen-
erating the vehicle identification number,
model, color and location (subject to avail-
ability of cellular and GPS signals).A voice connection between the Customer
Assistance Center representative and the
occupants of the vehicle will be estab-
lished. Information regarding the operation
of your vehicle, the nearest authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center or Mercedes-Benz
USA products and services is available to
you.
For more details concerning the Tele Aid
system, please visit www.mbusa.com and
use your ID and password (sent to you sep-
arately) to learn more (USA only).
i
The indicator lamp in the Roadside Assis-
tance button• remains illuminated in red for
approximately 10 seconds during the system
self-check after switching on the ignition (togeth-
er with the SOS button and the Information
button¡).
See system self-check (
page 543) if the indi-
cator lamp does not come on in red or stays on
longer than approximately 10 seconds.
If the indicator lamp in the Roadside Assistance
button• is flashing continuously and no
voice connection to the Response Center was
established, the Tele Aid system could not ini-
tiate a Roadside Assistance call (e.g. the relevant
mobile phone network is not available). The mes-
sage:


“Call Failed” appears in the multifunction
display for approximately 10 seconds


“Call could not be connected!” appears in
the COMAND display. Confirm the message
pressing
n
(page 90).
Roadside Assistance calls can be terminated us-
ing button t on the multifunction steering
wheel or COMAND (page 141).
i
The indicator lamp on the Information
button¡ remains illuminated in red for ap-
proximately 10 seconds during the system
self-check after switching on the ignition (togeth-
er with the SOS button and the Roadside Assis-
tance button•).
See system self-check (
page 543) if the indi-
cator lamp does not come on in red or stays on
longer than approximately 10 seconds.
If the indicator lamp in the Information
button¡ is flashing continuously and no
voice connection to the Response Center was
established, then the Tele Aid system could not
initiate an Information call (e.g. the relevant