2008 MERCEDES-BENZ S550 4MATIC sensor

235 Control systems
COMAND system settings
COMAND system settings
System settings menu overview
Display settings
Switching the display on or off
Switching off: Select “Vehicle”

“Display OFF”.
Switching back on: Rotate ymz or
slideqmr.
Setting the display design
Select “Vehicle”
“System Settings”

“Display”.
Select “Day Mode”, “Night Mode” or
“Automatic”.
Time settings
Setting the time
Select “Vehicle”
“System Settings”

“Time”
“Time”.
Selecting hour or minute(s):
Slideomp.
Setting value: Rotate ymz or
slideqmr.
Saving setting: Press n.
iThe components and operating principles of
COMAND can be found on (
page 85).
Display
(
page 235)
Time
(
page 235)
Voice Control*
(
page 237)
Language
(
page 238)
Favorite
(
page 238)
Services
(
page 239)
Reset
(
page 235)
Display settingsTime settingsVoice Control*
settingsLanguage
settingsAssign favorite
buttonBluetooth®
settingsReset COMAND to
factory settings
iIn the “Automatic” setting, COMAND ana-
lyzes the automatic vehicle light sensor and
switches between the display design automati-
cally.
iThe correct time must be set for the follow-
ing navigation system functions to operate cor-
rectly:

Route guidance on routes with time-depen-
dent traffic guidance

Calculation of estimated arrival time
iThe increment value for setting the minutes
depends on the situation. If GPS reception is
available, it is 30 minutes. If GPS reception is not
available, it is one minute.

267 Control systems
Instrument cluster control system
Telephone* (page 276)Assistance* (page 279)Service (page 280)Settings (page 281)
Commands/submenus
Dialing a number from the
phone bookDisplaying the distance graph-
ic*, DISTRONIC Plus*
(USA only)Calling up vehicle malfunction,
warning and system status
messages stored in memorySetting daytime running lamp
mode (USA only)
RedialingActivating/deactivating
PRE-SAFE® Brake* (USA only)
Checking tire inflation pres-
sureSwitching additional speedome-
ter on or off
Answering a callSwitching on the Dynamic
Rear View Monitor*
automaticallyCalling up maintenance ser-
vice displaySwitching radar sensors* on or
off (USA only)
Ending a call or rejecting an in-
coming callChecking engine oil level*

281 Control systems
Instrument cluster control system
If conditions have occurred causing
status messages to be recorded, the
number of messages appears in the
multifunction display: “2 Messages”.
Press % or $ to select the mes-
sage.
Press # to confirm.
Checking tire inflation pressure
For information about checking tire infla-
tion pressure (
page 561).
Activating Run Flat Indicator
(Canada only)
For information about activating Run Flat
Indicator (
page 565).Calling up the maintenance service in-
dicator display
For information about calling up the main-
tenance service indicator display
(
page 582).
Checking engine oil level (S 600 and
S65AMG)
For information about checking engine oil
level (
page 543).
Settings menu
In the “Settings” menu, you can:

switch the daytime running lamps on or
off (USA only)

switch the additional speedometer on
or off

switch the radar sensors* on or off
(USA only)Setting daytime running lamp mode
(USA only)
Press ( or & to select the “Set-
tings” menu.
Press % or $ to select the “Day-
time driving lamps” function.
Press #.
Press # again if you would like to
change the current status.
Depending on the previous status, the
daytime running lamps will be switched
on or off.
iSee the “Practical hints” section for mal-
function and warning messages (
page 612).
iIf you turn the SmartKey in the starter
switch to position0 and then back to position2,
all messages will be deleted from the message
memory.
iThe menu overview can be found on
(
page 266).
iThis function is not available in countries
where the daytime running lamp mode is manda-
tory and therefore in a constant mode.

282 Control systems
Instrument cluster control system
With “Daytime driving lamps” mode select-
ed and the exterior lamp switch at position
M or *, the low beam headlamps
are switched on when the engine is run-
ning.
In low ambient light conditions the follow-
ing lamps will switch on additionally:

Parking lamps

Tail lamps

License plate lamps

Side marker lamps
For more information on the daytime run-
ning lamp mode (
page 373).Showing or hiding additional
speedometer
You can have an additional digital speed-
ometer shown on the multifunction dis-
play. The speed is shown in the unit of
kilometers/hour (USA) or miles/hour
(Canada).
Press ( or & to select the “Set-
tings” menu.
Press % or $ to select the “Add.
speedometer” function.
Press #.
Press # again if you would like to
change the current status.
Depending on the previous status, the
additional speedometer will be
switched on or off.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 69)

DISTRONIC Plus* (page 424)

Park Assist* (page 448)

PRE-SAFE® Brake* (page 76)
iIf you turn the exterior lamp switch to anoth-
er position, the corresponding lamp(s) will
switch on.
iMake sure that the light switch is set
toB or * when you switch off the day-
time running lamps while driving at night.

283 Control systems
Instrument cluster control system
Press ( or & to select the “Set-
tings” menu.
Press % or $ to select the “Ra-
dar sensor” 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.
iUSA 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.
iCanada 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.
iThe selected status of the radar sensors re-
mains stored in memory even if the engine is
turned off and restarted.
iThe 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 sensor
deactivated
See Oper. Manual”

363 Controls in detail
Mirrors
Auto-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 344)
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.

381 Controls in detail
Windshield wipers
Windshield wipers
Combination switch
1Switching on windshield wipers
2Single wipe
Wiping with windshield washer fluid
Switch on the ignition (page 344).
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 382).
!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 382).
!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 346) 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

382 Controls in detail
Windshield wipers
Intermittent wiping
Only switch on intermittent wiping under
wet weather conditions or in the presence
of precipitation.
Turn the combination switch to posi-
tion U or V.
The wipers move across the wind-
shield. Afterward, the wiping intervals
are determined by the wetness of the
windshield.
After the initial wipe, pauses between
wipes are automatically controlled by the
rain sensor.Single wipe
Press the combination switch briefly in
the direction of arrow2 (
page 381)
to the resistance point.
The windshield wipers wipe one time
without washer fluid.
Wiping with windshield washer fluid
Press the combination switch in the di-
rection of arrow2 (
page 381) past
the resistance point.
The windshield wiper operates with
washer fluid.
For information on filling up the washer
reservoir, see “Windshield washer system
and headlamp cleaning system”
(
page 548).
iWhen the windshield wipers are switched on
and you brake the vehicle to a stop, the wipers
operate more slowly.
!Do not leave windshield wipers on an inter-
mittent setting when the vehicle is taken to an
automatic car wash or during windshield clean-
ing. Wipers will operate in the presence of water
sprayed on the windshield, and windshield wip-
ers may be damaged as a result.
!If you have set intermittent wiping, dirt on
the surface of the rain sensor or optical effects
may cause the windshield wipers to wipe in an
undesired fashion. This could then damage the
windshield wiper blades or scratch the windows.
You should therefore switch off the windshield
wipers when weather conditions are dry.
iIntermittent wiping is interrupted when the
vehicle is at a standstill and a front door is
opened. This protects persons getting into or out
of the vehicle from being sprayed.
Intermittent wiping will be continued when

all doors are closed
and

the automatic transmission is set to
positionD orR
or

the wiper setting is changed using the com-
bination switch
iTo prevent smears on the windshield or
noisy/chattering wiper blades, wipe with wind-
shield washer fluid every now and then even
when it is raining.