2008 MERCEDES-BENZ S-Class parking brake

Contents
Parktronic system* ...................... 472
Park Assist* ................................. 476
Advanced Parking Guidance*....... 481
Rear View Camera*...................... 487
Night View Assist* ....................... 491
Blind Spot Assist* ........................ 495
Air vents ............................................ 498
Opening and closing air vents ...... 500
Ventilated storage compartment
(Canada only) ............................... 500
Automatic climate control ................. 501
Deactivating climate
control system ............................. 503
Operating climate control system
in automatic mode ....................... 503
Setting temperature ..................... 504
Adjusting air volume .................... 504
Front defroster ............................. 504
Rear window defroster ................. 506
Maximum cooling MAXCOOL
(USA only) .................................... 506
Air recirculation mode.................. 506
Residual engine heat and
ventilation .................................... 509
Rear passenger compartment
climate control* ........................... 509Trunk .................................................. 511
Opening trunk ............................... 511
Closing trunk ................................ 512
Trunk emergency release.............. 516
Valet locking ................................. 517
Power tilt/sliding sunroof................... 518
Opening and closing
power tilt/sliding sunroof ............. 518
Synchronizing ............................... 520
Panorama roof with power
tilt/sliding panel* ............................... 521
Roller sunblinds ............................ 521
Opening and closing panorama
roof with power tilt/sliding panel.. 522
Synchronizing ............................... 524
Loading and storing ............................ 525
Roof rack* .................................... 525
Loading instructions ..................... 525
Storage compartments ................. 526
Cupholders ................................... 530
Trunk ............................................ 532
Useful features ................................... 534
Sun visors ..................................... 534
Vanity mirror in rear...................... 534
Rear window sunshade ................. 535
Ashtrays........................................ 536Cigarette lighters .......................... 537
Power outlet ................................. 538
Floormats* ................................... 538
Telephone* ................................... 539
Tele Aid ......................................... 542
Garage door opener ...................... 551
Infrared reflecting windshield ....... 556
Operation.......................................... 557
The first 1000 miles (1500 km) .......... 558
Driving instructions ............................ 559
Drive sensibly – save fuel ............. 559
Drinking and driving...................... 559
Pedals ........................................... 559
Power assistance .......................... 559
Brakes .......................................... 560
Driving off ..................................... 562
Parking ......................................... 562
Tires.............................................. 563
Hydroplaning ................................ 563
Tire traction .................................. 564
Tire speed rating ........................... 564
Winter driving instructions ............ 565
Standing water ............................. 566
Passenger compartment............... 567

27 At a glance
Cockpit
Item
Page
1
Combination switch

High beam


Corner-illuminating lamps


Windshield wipers


Turn signals
403
404
408
420
2
Lever for

Cruise control


DISTRONIC Plus*
447
451
3
Horn
4
Multifunction steering wheel
288
5
Instrument cluster
28
6
Steering wheel gearshift con-
trol
438
7
Gear selector lever for
automatic transmission
416
Item
Page
8
Control panel with

Front passenger front
air bag indicator lamp


Vehicle level control
switch


Electronic Stability Pro-
gram (ESP
®) switch


Parktronic*/Park Assist*
deactivation switch


Swivel COMAND display


COMAND/instrument
cluster display
illumination
51
469,
471
74
475,
480
89
444
9
COMAND display
87
a
Overhead control panel
33
b
Automatic climate control
Center console, upper part
501
32
Item
Page
c
Glove box lock
526
d
Cover of compartment with

CD/DVD changer


PCMCIA card slot
120
121
e
Center console, lower part
30
f
Starter switch
KEYLESS-GO* start/stop
button
370
371
g
Steering wheel adjustment
Heated steering wheel*
386
387
h
Electronic parking brake
422
j
Door control panel
34
k
Hood lock release
573
l
Night View Assist*
491
m
Exterior lamp switch
399

29 At a glance
Instrument cluster
Item
Page
1
Coolant temperature gauge
444
2
Fuel gauge with:
Fuel tank reserve warning
lamp
AHigh beam headlamp
indicator lamp
-ABS indicator lamp
=SRS indicator lamp
683
403
628
637
3
Parktronic*/Park Assist*
warning indicator for left
front area
474,
479
4
Multifunction display with:Speedometer0
USA only
!
Canada only
Electronic
parking brake
warning or indi-
cator lamps
630
Item
Page
;
USA only
3
Canada only
Brake warning
lamp
629
635
HCombination low tire
pressure/TPMS mal-
function telltale, USA
only
Low tire pressure*
telltale, Canada only
638
LLeft turn signal
indicator lamp
420
KRight turn signal
indicator lamp
420
vESP
® warning lamp
634
lDistance warning
lamp*
1
79,
454,
634
1Vehicles without DISTRONIC Plus*: Warning lamp
without function. It illuminates when the ignition is
on. It should go out when the engine is running.
Item
Page
5
Parktronic*/Park Assist*
warning indicator for right
front area
474,
479
6
Gear position/range
indicator
435
7
Tachometer with:±Engine malfunction
indicator lamp
632
8
Selected program mode indi-
cator
437
9
Main menu for control sys-
tem, multifunction display
287
a
Outside temperature
445
b
Display with:Additional speedometer
306
:PRE-SAFE
® Brake*
indicator
303

73 Safety and Security
Driving safety systems
For more information, see “Practical hints”
section (
page 634) and (
page 642).Electronic traction system
The electronic traction system is a compo-
nent of ESP
®.
The electronic traction system improves
the vehicle’s ability to utilize available trac-
tion, especially under slippery road condi-
tions by applying the brakes to a spinning
wheel.
When you switch off the ESP
®, the elec-
tronic traction system is still enabled.
Warning!
G
The ESP
® cannot prevent the natural laws of
physics from acting on the vehicle, nor can
it increase the traction afforded. The ESP
®
cannot prevent accidents, including those
resulting from excessive speed in turns, or
hydroplaning. Only a safe, attentive, and
skillful driver can prevent accidents. The ca-
pabilities of an ESP
® equipped vehicle must
never be exploited in a reckless or danger-
ous manner which could jeopardize the us-
er’s safety or the safety of others.
i
DISTRONIC Plus* and cruise control are
switched off when the ESP
® engages.
i
The ESP
® will only function properly if you
use wheels of the recommended tire size
(
page 754).
!
Vehicles without 4MATIC:
Because the ESP
® operates automatically, the
engine and ignition must be shut off (SmartKey
in starter switch position0 or1 or KEYLESS-GO
start/stop button* in position0 or1) when


the electronic parking brake is being tested
on a brake test dynamometer


the vehicle is being towed with the
front/rear axle raised
Active braking action through the ESP
® may oth-
erwise seriously damage the brake system.
For information on vehicles with 4MATIC, see
“Four wheel electronic traction system (4MATIC)
with the ESP
®” (page 76).
Warning!
G
If you are driving too fast, the electronic
traction system cannot reduce the risk of an
accident.
The electronic traction system cannot pre-
vent the natural laws of physics from acting
on the vehicle.

77 Safety and Security
Driving safety systems
PRE-SAFE
® Brake* (vehicles with
DISTRONIC Plus* only)
PRE-SAFE
® Brake* can assist you in mini-
mizing the risk of a rear-end collision with
a vehicle in front of you and in reducing the
severity of an accident. At speeds over ap-
prox 20 mph (30 km/h), it will


warn you of a possible collision


automatically begin to brake the vehi-
cle lightly in a speed range of up to
112 mph (180 km/h)


activate preventative occupant safety
measures (PRE-SAFE
®) (page 57)
Warning!
G
If you see the ESP
® warning lampv
flashing in the speedometer, proceed as fol-
lows:


While driving off, apply as little throttle
as possible


While driving, ease up on the accelera-
tor


Adapt your speed and driving style to
the prevailing road conditions
Failure to observe these guidelines could
cause the vehicle to skid.
The ESP
® cannot prevent accidents result-
ing from excessive speed.
!
Do not tow with one axle raised.
Otherwise the transfer case can be damaged,
which is not covered by the Mercedes-Benz Lim-
ited Warranty.
!
Performance testing must only be conduct-
ed on a two-axle dynamometer.
Otherwise the transfer case can be damaged,
which is not covered by the Mercedes-Benz Lim-
ited Warranty.
!
Because the ESP
® operates automatically,
the engine and the ignition must be shut off
(SmartKey in starter switch position0 or1 or
KEYLESS-GO start/stop button* in position0
or1) when the parking brake is being tested on a
brake test dynamometer.
Active braking action through ESP
® may other-
wise seriously damage the front or rear axle
brake system.
Operational tests with the engine running can
only be conducted on a two-axle dynamometer.
Warning!
G
PRE-SAFE
® Brake is a convenience system
designed to assist the driver during vehicle
operation. The responsibility for the vehicle
speed and the distance to the vehicle ahead,
including most importantly brake operation
to assure safe stopping distance, always re-
mains with the driver.


307 Control systems
Instrument cluster control system
Switching radar sensors* on/off
If your vehicle is equipped with DISTRONIC
Plus*, BAS Plus*, or Park Assist* it is
equipped with a radar sensor system
which you can switch on and off.
When travelling in Canada in a vehicle not
registered in Canada, you must switch off
the radar sensor system. Canadian law
does not permit the use of the radar sensor
system for vehicles from outside of Cana-
da. When you switch off the radar sensor
system, the following functions are deacti-
vated:

BAS Plus* (
page 70)


PRE-SAFE
® Brake* (
page 77)


DISTRONIC Plus* (
page 451)


Park Assist* (
page 476)


Advanced Parking Guidance*
(page 481)


Blind Spot Assist* (
page 495)

Press ( or & to select the “Set-
tings” menu.

Press % or $ to select the “Ra-
dar Sensors” function.

Press #.

Press # again if you would like to
change the current status.
Depending on the previous status, the
radar sensors will be switched on or
off.
i
USA only:
This device has been approved by the FCC as a
“Vehicular Radar System”. The radar sensor is
intended for use in an automotive radar system
only. Removal, tampering, or altering of the de-
vice will void any warranties, and is not permitted
by the FCC. Do not tamper with, alter, or use in
any non-approved way.
Any unauthorized modification to this device
could void the user’s authority to operate the
equipment.
i
Canada only:
This device complies with RSS-210 of Industry
Canada. Operation is subject to the following
two conditions:
(1) This device may not cause interference, and
(2) this device must accept any interference re-
ceived, including interference that may
cause undesired operation of the device.
Removal, tampering, or altering of the device will
void any warranties, and is not permitted. Do not
tamper with, alter, or use in any non-approved
way.
Any unauthorized modification to this device
could void the user’s authority to operate the
equipment.
i
The selected status of the radar sensors re-
mains stored in memory even if the engine is
turned off and restarted.
i
The following message appears in the multi-
function display if the radar sensors are
switched off and you attempt to activate DIS-
TRONIC Plus*, Park Assist* or PRE-SAFE
®
Brake*:
“Radar Sensors
(See Oper. Manual)
Disabled”

361 Controls in detail
Locking and unlocking

Restoring to factory setting: Press
and hold buttonsŒ and‹ si-
multaneously for about 5 seconds until
battery check lamp5 (
page 358)
flashes twice.
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO*
Vehicles equipped with KEYLESS-GO come
with two SmartKeys with KEYLESS-GO,
each with remote control and a removable
mechanical key.
The KEYLESS-GO function is integrated
into the SmartKey. On these vehicles, the
validity of the SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO
is checked every time you grasp an outside
door handle.
With the KEYLESS-GO function, you can
lock and unlock the vehicle without using
the remote control buttons on the
SmartKey and start the engine without in-
serting the SmartKey in the starter switch.The SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO centrally
locks and unlocks, when set to factory set-
tings (
page 364):


the doors


the trunk


the fuel filler flap
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO1‹ Lock button
2ŠOpening button for trunk
(
page 511)
3Locking tab for mechanical key
4ΠUnlock button
5Battery check lamp
6ÂPanic button (
page 66)
i
When any outside door handle other than
the driver’s outside door handle is grasped, the
vehicle is centrally unlocked.
!
To prevent possible malfunction, avoid ex-
posing the SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO to high
levels of electromagnetic radiation.
Warning!
G
When leaving the vehicle, always take the
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO* 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.
Children could start the vehicle with a valid
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO left in the vehi-
cle or with the KEYLESS-GO button on the
starter switch, or could release the electron-
ic parking brake, thereby putting them-
selves and others in danger. Switch off the
engine and take the SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO with you even if you are only
leaving the vehicle for a short while.

416 Controls in detailDriving and parking
Starting the engine
Automatic transmission
Gearshift pattern for automatic
transmissionPPark position
RReverse gear
NNeutral
DDrive position
Warning!
G
Make sure that absolutely no objects are ob-
structing the pedals’ range of movement.
Keep the driver’s footwell clear of all obsta-
cles. If there are any floormats or carpets in
the footwell, make sure that the pedals still
have sufficient clearance.
During sudden driving or braking maneuvers
the objects could get caught between the
pedals. You could then no longer brake or
accelerate. This could lead to accidents and
injury.
Warning!
G
Inhalation of exhaust gas is hazardous to
your health. All exhaust gas contains carbon
monoxide (CO), and inhaling it can cause un-
consciousness and possible death.
Do not run the engine in confined areas
(such as a garage) which are not properly
ventilated. If you think that exhaust gas
fumes are entering the vehicle while driving,
have the cause determined and corrected
immediately. If you must drive under these
conditions, drive with at least one window
fully open.