2008 MERCEDES-BENZ S-Class Comand Manual

496 Controls in detailDriving systemsSensor monitoring range
Blind Spot Assist is able to monitor a range
up to three meters to the rear and both
sides of the vehicle.
The Blind Spot Assist sensors are built into
t h e f r o n t a n d r e a r b u m p e r s . M a k e s u r e t h a t
the area of the bumpers around the sen-
sors is free of dirt, ice and snow. The radar
sensors must not be obstructed, for exam-
ple, by bicycle carriers or overhanging lug-
gage.
Warning!
G
Blind Spot Assist monitors certain areas in
the immediate vicinity of your vehicle. Vehi-
cles approaching and passing at increased
speeds will not be detected. There will be no
warning display and no audible warning.
When driving in a very wide lane, the sensors
may not be able to cover the entire width of
the neighboring lane. Vehicles driving on the
outside of the neighboring lane may not be
detected.
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. Failure to do so could
result in recognizing dangers too late, possi-
bly resulting in an accident and serious inju-
ry to yourself and others.
When driving in a very narrow lane, the sen-
sors may detect and display vehicles in the
second lane over. This will be the case if
there are vehicles driving on the inside edge
of their lane.!
In the event of a significant impact or dam-
age affecting the bumpers, have the radar sen-
sors checked by a qualified specialist workshop
such as a Mercedes-Benz Center. Failure to do
this can result in Blind Spot Assist not function-
ing correctly.

497 Controls in detail
Driving systems
Indicator and warning lamps
1Yellow indicator lamp/red warning
lamp
Switching on: Make sure that the ra-
dar sensors (
page 307) and Blind
Spot Assist (
page 304) are switched
on.
With the ignition switched on, the warn-
ing lamp1 in the exterior mirror lights
up red.
With the engine running, the indicator
lamp1 in the exterior mirror lights up
yellow up to a speed of 20 mph
(30 km/h).Once a speed above 20 mph (30 km/h)
has been reached and


Blind Spot Assist detects no vehicle in
its range, the indicator lamp1 goes
out


Blind Spot Assist detects another vehi-
cle in its range, the warning lamp1 on
the corresponding side of the vehicle
turns red.Collision warning
If a vehicle is detected in the Blind Spot As-
sist range and you activate the turn signal,
a two-tone warning will sound and the red
warning lamp1 will flash.

Remain on the lane that you are cur-
rently on until traffic conditions permit
to change.
If the turn signal remains on, the red warn-
ing lamp1 will flash to indicate that vehi-
cles have been detected. No further
audible warnings will sound.
Warning!
G
Blind Spot Assist is not active at speeds be-
low approximately 20 mph (30 km/h). You
will not be alerted to the presence of vehi-
cles in the monitored area at these speeds.
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. Failure to do so could
result in recognizing dangers too late, possi-
bly resulting in an accident and serious inju-
ry to yourself and others.
Warning!
G
Do not change lanes or make turns, while
the red warning lamp
1
is flashing. Doing
so could result in an accident and seroius in-
jury to yourself and others.

498 Controls in detailAir vents

499 Controls in detail
Air vents
Please comply with the following instruc-
tions in order for the automatic climate
control to function optimally:

Keep the air intake grille in front of the
windshield free of snow, leaves, sticks,
and any other debris.


Always keep all air vents and grilles in
the passenger compartment free from
obstruction.
Item
1
Left side defroster vent, fixed
2
Left side air vent, adjustable
3
Left center air vent, adjustable
4
Thumbwheel for air volume control
for left center air vent
5
Thumbwheel for air volume control
for right center air vent
6
Right center air vent, adjustable
7
Right side defroster vent, fixed
8
Right side air vent, adjustable
9
Front climate control panel
a
Thumbwheel for left rear center air
vents
b
Left rear center air vent, adjustable
c
Right rear center air vent, adjustable
d
Thumbwheel for right rear center air
vents
e
Rear climate control panel*
Warning!
G
When operating the automatic climate con-
trol, the air that enters the passenger com-
partment through the air vents can be very
hot or very cold (depending on the set tem-
perature). This may cause burns or frostbite
to unprotected skin in the immediate area of
the air vents.
Always keep sufficient distance between un-
protected parts of the body and the air
vents. If necessary, use the air distribution
adjustment (
page 275) to direct the air to
air vents in the vehicle interior that are not
in the immediate area of unprotected skin.

500 Controls in detailAir ventsOpening and closing air vents
Center air vents
Opening: Turn thumbwheels 4
and5 upward (
page 498).

Closing: Turn thumbwheels 4 and 5
downward.
Side air vents

Opening: Turn thumbwheels next to
side air vents2 and8 upward
(page 498).

Closing: Turn thumbwheels down-
ward.
Rear center console air vents

Increasing/decreasing air volume:
Turn thumbwheelsa or d to the left
or right (
page 498).Ventilated storage compartment
(Canada only)
In vehicles without rear passenger com-
partment climate control*: the storage
compartment under the front armrest can
be ventilated when the automatic climate
control is switched on.1Switching ventilation off
2Switching ventilation on
The air volume is dependent on the setting
of:


air distribution control


air volume control


air vents in the dashboard
The air temperature is about the same as
that of the dashboard air vents. It cannot
be regulated separately.
i
For draft-free ventilation, move the sliders
for the center air vents 3 and 6 (
page 498)
to the middle position.
i
Vehicles without rear passenger compart-
ment climate control*:
The temperature at the air ventsb andc
(
page 498) for rear passenger compartment
will be approximately the same as at the dash-
board center air vents.
!
Extreme temperatures can occur in the stor-
age compartment. Switch off the air vents in the
storage compartment while the heating is
switched on if you are transporting heat-sensi-
tive items in the compartment.
Keep the air vents free of obstruction.

501 Controls in detail
Automatic climate control
Automatic climate control
Automatic climate control panel, front
Item
1
AUTO mode for air distribution and
volume, left
2
Temperature control, left
3
Manual fan speed adjustment, left
4
Front defroster
Item
5
Air recirculation
6
Automatic climate control on/off
7
Residual engine heat and ventilation
(REST)
8
Rear window defroster
Item
9
Manual fan speed adjustment, right
a
Temperature control, right
b
AUTO mode for air distribution and
volume, right

502 Controls in detailAutomatic climate controlThe automatic climate control is operation-
al whenever the engine is running. You can
operate the climate control system in ei-
ther the automatic or manual mode. The
system cools or heats the interior depend-
ing on the selected interior temperature
and the current outside temperature.
It can only function optimally when you are
driving with the windows and the tilt/slid-
ing sunroof/panorama sunroof* closed.
It is possible to completely deactivate the
climate control system (
page 503). Nearly all dust particles, pollutants and
odors are filtered out before outside air en-
ters the passenger compartment through
the air distribution system.
i
If you have the air distribution and air vol-
ume automatically controlled, you can adjust the
temperature, footwell temperature and air flow.
The following basic settings are recommended:


Automatic air distribution control
(page 501)


Temperature: 72°F (22°C) (
page 504)


Footwell temperature: 0 (
page 278)


Air flow: focused (
page 279)
Warning!
G
Follow the recommended settings for heat-
ing and cooling given on the following pages
and in the “COMAND automatic climate
control” section (
page 273). Otherwise
the windows could fog up, impairing visibili-
ty and endangering you and others.
Warning!
G
Severe conditions (e.g. strong air pollution)
may require replacement of the filter before
its scheduled replacement interval. A
clogged filter will reduce the air volume to
the interior and the windows could fog up,
impairing visibility and endangering you and
others. Have a clogged filter replaced as
soon as possible at an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.i
If the vehicle interior is hot, ventilate the in-
terior before driving off, see “Summer opening
feature” (
page 412). The automatic climate
control will then adjust the interior temperature
to the set value much faster.
Keep the air intake grille in front of the wind-
shield free of snow, leaves, sticks, and any other
debris.

503 Controls in detail
Automatic climate control
The following automatic climate control
functions can be operated via COMAND:
Deactivating climate control system
Deactivating: Press button´
(page 501) up or down.
The indicator lamp on the button
comes on. You will see “Climate Con-
trol OFF” in the COMAND display.

Reactivating: Press button´
(page 501) up or down.
The indicator lamp on the button goes
out. You will see the previous settings
in the COMAND display.Operating climate control system in
automatic mode
Air distribution and air volume is adjusted
automatically by the automatic climate
control system. You can also adjust the
settings for air distribution and air volume
manually.
Activating
Press buttonU (
page 501) up or
down.
The indicator lamp on the button
comes on.
Do not obstruct air volume by placing objects on
the air volume-through exhaust slots below the
rear window.Function
Page
Temperature
274
Air distribution
275
Air volume
275
Switching off cooling (“AC
OFF”)
276
Central climate control (“Mono”)
277
Footwell temperature
278
Air flow from air vents
279
Rear climate control*
279
Warning!
G
When the automatic climate control is
switched off, the outside air supply and cir-
culation are also switched off. Only choose
this setting for a short time. Otherwise the
windows could fog up, impairing visibility
and endangering you and others.
i
In automatic mode, cooling with dehumidify
is switched on. This function can be switched off
if necessary (
page 276).