2008 MERCEDES-BENZ S-Class fold seats

Contents
Multicontour seats*, rear ............. 383
Easy-entry/exit feature ................ 384
Steering wheel ................................... 386
Steering wheel adjustment........... 386
Heated steering wheel* ............... 387
Mirrors ............................................... 388
Interior rear view mirror ............... 388
Exterior rear view mirrors ............. 388
Power folding exterior rear
view mirrors ................................. 389
Auto-dimming rear view mirrors ... 390
Activating exterior rear
view mirror parking position ......... 391
Memory function................................ 392
Storing positions into memory ..... 393
Recalling positions from memory . 393
Storing exterior rear view
mirror parking position ................. 394
Fastening the seat belts..................... 395
Proper use of seat belts ............... 397
Seat belt height adjustment
automatically ................................ 397
Seat belt height adjustment
manually ....................................... 398
Lighting .............................................. 399
Exterior lamp switch ..................... 399High beam .................................... 403
Headlamp cleaning system .......... 403
Corner-illuminating lamps ............ 404
Hazard warning flasher ................ 405
Interior lighting............................. 406
Door entry lamps ......................... 407
Trunk lamp ................................... 407
Windshield wipers .............................. 408
Switching on/off
windshield wipers......................... 408
Intermittent wiping....................... 409
Single wipe................................... 409
Wiping with windshield
washer fluid.................................. 409
Power windows .................................. 410
Opening and closing
power windows ............................ 410
Rear side window sunshades* ..... 412
Summer opening feature.............. 412
Convenience closing feature ........ 413
Driving and parking............................ 416
Starting the engine....................... 416
Driving off .................................... 419
Turn signals .................................. 420
Problems while driving ................. 420
Parking ......................................... 421Turning off the engine .................. 424
Releasing seat belts ..................... 425
Automatic transmission ..................... 426
Gear selector lever....................... 426
Shifting procedure ....................... 429
Transmission positions ................ 430
Driving tips................................... 433
Gear ranges ................................. 435
Automatic shift program .............. 436
Steering wheel gearshift control .. 438
Manual shift program
(S 63 AMG and S 65 AMG only) ... 440
Emergency operation
(Limp-Home Mode) ...................... 443
Instrument cluster ............................. 444
Adjusting instrument cluster
display illumination ...................... 444
Coolant temperature gauge ......... 444
Tachometer .................................. 445
Outside temperature indicator ..... 445
Fuel gauge ................................... 445
Driving systems ................................. 446
Cruise control .............................. 446
DISTRONIC Plus* ......................... 451
Airmatic ....................................... 468
Active Body Control (ABC)* ......... 470

64 Safety and SecurityOccupant safety
Bring the rear power seat backrest* to
its fully upright position (
page 375).

Fold upholstery cover3 upward.

Turn installation device4 to a vertical
position so that upholstery cover3
does not fold down.

Install child seat according to the man-
ufacturer’s instructions.
A rigid connection is established be-
tween the child seat and the body of
the vehicle.Override switch for rear passenger
compartment
You can disable select functions in the rear
passenger compartment for added safety
(for instance when you have children riding
in the rear passenger compartment).
You can disable the following functions in
the rear passenger compartment:

rear door window operation
(page 410)


adjustment of front passenger seat
from the rear* (
page 376)


rear center console lighter
(page 537)


sunblinds for panorama roof*
(page 521)


rear window sunshade (
page 535)
and rear side window sunshades
(
page 412)
Warning!
G
Vehicles with rear power seats*: Never ad-
just the rear seat position after installing the
child restraint. Adjusting the rear seat posi-
tion after installing the child restraint could
damage the child restraint and/or introduce
undesirable slack or tension into the seat
belt and loosen or misposition the child re-
straint, lessening the effectiveness of the
child restraint and thus increasing the
chance or severity of injury in an accident.i
T h e c h i l d s e a t m u s t b e f i r m l y a t t a c h e d t o t h e
right and left side anchor fittings.
Make sure the seat belt for the center seat can
operate freely with a child seat installed.
Non-LATCH type child seats may also be used
and can be installed using the vehicle’s seat belt
system. Install child seat according to the manu-
facturer’s instructions.


375 Controls in detailSeats

Seat fore and aft: Press the switch for-
ward or backward in the direction of
arrow5.

Seat backrest tilt: Press the switch
forward or backward in the direction of
arrow6.Rear power seat* adjustment
(rear outer seats)
Example rear right door1Seat cushion tilt
2Seat backrest tilt
3Folding down and placing upright head
restraint (
page 382)
4Head restraint tilt (
page 382)
5Seat fore and aft

Adjust desired seat using seat
switches1,2 and5.
i
Depending on the set height of the head re-
straint, the seat fore and aft position is automat-
ically pre-set.
i
Depending on vehicle production date you
have to switch on the ignition or open the re-
spective door before adjusting the rear power
seats.

380 Controls in detailSeatsHead restraint adjusting
1Adjusting head restraint
Push or pull on the upper edge of the
head restraint cushion to the desired
position.Luxury head restraint* adjusting
1Head restraint side cushions
2Adjusting head restraint forward and
backward
You can individually adjust side
cushions1 of the luxury head restraints.

Adjusting side cushions: Pul l or pu sh
side cushions1 into desired position.

Adjusting forward or backward: Pull
or push head restraint in direction of
arrow2.
Rear head restraints
i
Depending on the seat’s set fore and aft po-
sition, the head restraint height is automatically
pre-set.
Warning!
G
When folding back the side cushions, never
reach between the side cushion and the
mounting post. You could otherwise be
trapped.
Warning!
G
For safety reasons, always drive with the
rear head restraints in the upright position
when the rear seats are occupied.
Otherwise, the back of the head will not be
supported in the event of a collision. As a re-
sult, rear seat occupants could be injured.Warning!
G
Keep the area around head restraints clear
of articles (e.g. clothing) to not obstruct the
folding operation of the head restraints.


381 Controls in detailSeats
Folding head restraints back
The rear seat head restraints and the rear
seat power head restraints* can be folded
backward for increased visibility.
1Switch in the front center console
Switch on the ignition (
page 370).

Press switch1 in the front center con-
sole briefly.
The rear head restraints will fold back-
ward.Placing head restraints upright

Pull the rear head restraint upright until
it locks into position.Placing power head restraints* upright
(rear outer seats)

Switch on the ignition (
page 370).

Press and hold switch1 in the front
center console (
page 381).
The rear outer seats head restraints
will place upright.

Pull the rear center seat head restraint
upright manually until it locks into posi-
tion.
!
M ake s ure t he h ead re str ain ts e ng ag e w he n
placing them upright manually. Otherwise their
protective function cannot be ensured.
i
When you fasten your seat belt in the rear,
the respective rear outer seat head restraint
places upright automatically.

382 Controls in detailSeatsRear power head restraints*
(rear outer seats)
1Placing upright head restraint
2Head restraint tilt
3Folding down head restraint
4Head restraint tilt
Press switch up in the direction of
arrow1.
The rear outer seats power head re-
straint will place upright.

Press switch down in the direction of
arrow3.
The rear power head restraint will fold
down.

Press the switch forward or backward
in the direction of arrow2 or4.
The power head restraint will be tilted.
Luxury head restraints*
(rear outer seats)1Head restraint side cushions
2Head restraint height
You can individually adjust side
cushions1 of the luxury head restraints:

Adjusting side cushions: Pul l or pu sh
side cushions1 into desired position.

Adjusting head restraint angle: Push
or pull on the lower edge of the head re-
straint cushion in the direction of
arrow2.
i
Depending on vehicle production date you
have to switch on the ignition or open the re-
spective door before adjusting the rear power
head restraints.
Warning!
G
When folding back the side cushions, never
reach between the side cushion and the
mounting post. You could otherwise be
trapped.
i
Depending on vehicle production date you
have to switch on the ignition or open the re-
spective door before adjusting the rear luxury
head restraints.

527 Controls in detail
Loading and storing

Locking: Insert the mechanical key
into the glove box lock and turn it
clockwise to position3.

Unlocking: Insert the mechanical key
into the glove box lock and turn it coun-
terclockwise to position2.
Storage compartments in the front
armrest
1Storage tray/telephone* compartment
2Storage compartment (not with rear
climate control system*)

Opening storage tray/telephone*
compartment: Press button1 and
swing armrest to left or right side.

Opening storage compartment:
Press button2 and swing center arm-
rest upward.
Storage compartments below the front
seats

Opening: Pull tab1 upward and fold
cover2 forward.Eyeglasses compartment

Opening: Press mark1.

Closing: Swing eyeglasses compart-
ment upward until it engages.

529 Controls in detail
Loading and storing
Vehicles with control panel* in rear armrest
Opening: Press button1 and swing
the cover upward.Storage compartment between rear
seats
Vehicles without rear center seat*
Opening: Pull handle1 backward in
the direction of arrow. Rear storage box

Fold down rear center armrest.

Pull handle1 upward in the direction
of arrow.

Swing down cover2.
!
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.