2008 MERCEDES-BENZ S550 4MATIC steering wheel adjustment

359 Controls in detail
Steering wheel
Steering wheel
Make sure that

you can reach the steering wheel with
your arms slightly bent at the elbows

you can move your legs freely

all displays (including malfunction and
indicator lamps) on the instrument
cluster are clearly visible
Steering wheel adjustment
1Adjusting steering wheel, in or out
2Adjusting steering column, up or down
Switch on the ignition (page 344).
or
Open the driver’s door.
Adjusting steering wheel in or out:
Move stalk forward or back in the direc-
tion of arrow1 until a comfortable
steering wheel position is reached with
your arms slightly bent at the elbow.
Warning!G
Do not adjust the steering wheel while driv-
ing. Adjusting the steering wheel while driv-
ing could cause the driver to lose control of
the vehicle.
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the
SmartKey or SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO*
from the starter switch, take it with you, and
lock the vehicle.
Even with the SmartKey or SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO* removed from the starter
switch or the SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO*
removed from the vehicle, the steering
wheel adjustment feature can be operated
when the driver’s door is open. Therefore,
do not leave children unattended in the ve-
hicle, or with access to an unlocked vehicle.
A child’s unsupervised access to a vehicle
could result in an accident and/or serious
personal injury.
iThe memory function (page 365) lets you
store settings for the steering wheel together
with the settings for the seat position and the ex-
terior rear view mirrors.


361 Controls in detail
Mirrors
Mirrors
Adjust the interior and exterior rear view
mirrors before driving so that you have a
good view of the road and traffic condi-
tions.
Interior rear view mirror
Manually adjust the interior rear view
mirror.
For more information, see “Auto-dimming
rear view mirrors” (
page 363).
Exterior rear view mirrors1 Selector switch for right or left exterior
mirror
2Adjustment button
Switch on the ignition (page 344).
Press button1 repeatedly until de-
sired exterior mirror is selected.
The left or right indicator lamp in
button1 comes on.
Push adjustment button2 up, down,
left, or right according to the desired
setting.
Warning!G
Exercise care when using the passenger
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-
terior rear view mirror or glance over your
shoulder before changing lanes.
iWhen you press button1 for the first time,
the exterior mirror on the driver’s side is always
selected.
If you do not make adjustments to the selected
exterior rear view mirror within 15 seconds, the
indicator lamp goes out. You will then have to se-
lect the desired exterior rear view mirror again
before any adjustments can be made. Adjust-
ments can only be made with the indicator lamp
for the respective exterior rear view mirror but-
ton illuminated.
iAt low ambient temperatures, the exterior
rear view mirrors will be heated automatically.
iThe memory function (page 365) lets you
store the setting for the exterior rear view mir-
rors together with the setting for the steering
wheel and the seat positions.

425 Controls in detail
Driving systems
Warning!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 con-
trol.


744 Index
Headlamp cleaning system 375, 548
Washer fluid 727, 733
Headlamps
Automatic control 372
Automatic headlamp mode 282
Cleaning lenses 589
Cleaning system 548
Manual headlamp mode 282
Messages in display 653
Refilling washer fluid 549
Headliner and shelf below rear window,
Cleaning and care of 594
Heated steering wheel* 360
Height adjustments
Vehicle level (ABC*) 443
High beam
Replacing bulbs 679
High beam flasher 375
High beam headlamp
Indicator lamp 29High mounted brake lamp 679
High-performance brake system
(AMG vehicles only) 529
Hood 541
Message in display 649
Opening 541
Horn 27
Hydroplaning 531
I
Identification labels 712
Identification Number, Vehicle (VIN) 713
Ignition 344, 346
Switching on 344
Switching on, KEYLESS-GO* 346
Immobilizer 81
Indicator lamps see Lamps, indicator and
warning
Individualization
Voice Control* 330
Infant and child restraint systems see Chil-
dren in the vehicle
Inflation pressure see Tires
Infrared reflecting windshield 524
Inside door handle 341Instrument cluster 28, 417
Coolant temperature gauge 29, 417
Fuel gauge 29
Illumination 417, 463
Lamps 598
Multifunction display 264
Outside temperature indicator 418
Selecting the language
(COMAND) 238
Interior lighting 378
Activating automatic control 378
Ambient lighting (COMAND) 247
Deactivating automatic control 378
Delayed switch-off (COMAND) 248
In the rear 379
Reading lamps in the front 379
Reading lamps in the rear 379
Interior rear view mirror
Adjusting 361
Auto-dimming 363
Interior storage spaces see Storage com-
partments

753 Index
Setting
Cruise control 420
DISTRONIC Plus* time interval 436
Following distance in DISTRONIC
Plus* 436
Higher speed in cruise control 422
Higher speed in DISTRONIC
Plus* 433
Lower speed in cruise control 423
Lower speed in DISTRONIC
Plus* 434
Slower speed in cruise control 423
Slower speed in DISTRONIC
Plus* 434
Speed in DISTRONIC Plus* 433
Suspension tuning (ABC*) 442
Temperature (interior) 472
Temperature (rear passenger
compartment) 478
To last stored speed (“Resume” func-
tion) in cruise control 423
To last stored speed in DISTRONIC
Plus* (“Resume” function) 435
Vehicle level control (ABC*) 443
Setting current speed 420Settings
Calling up DISTRONIC Plus* 428
Control system instrument cluster
menus 281
Daytime running lamp mode 281
Resetting trip odometer 269
Shelf below rear window,
Cleaning and care of 594
Shift program mode,
Automatic transmission 409
Shifting, Automatic transmission 399
Side impact air bags 46
Side marker lamps
Cleaning lenses 589
Messages in display 657
Side windows see Power windows
Sidewall 577
SIRIUS satellite radio* see Satellite radio*
SmartKey see Key, SmartKey
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO* see Key,
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO*
SMS messages 155
Snow chains 581
Spare wheel 686, 721
Mounting 686Speed
Setting current 420
Setting to last stored speed in
DISTRONIC Plus*
(“Resume” function) 435
Speed settings
Cruise control 422, 423
DISTRONIC Plus* 433, 434
To last stored speed (“Resume” func-
tion) in Cruise control 423
SRS 53
Indicator lamp 29, 607
Messages in display 662
Standing water, Driving through 534
Starter battery 694
Starter switch 344
Positions 344
Starting difficulties, Engine 391
Starting, Engine 389
Steering column 359
Steering wheel
Adjustment 359
Cleaning 594
Easy entry/exit feature 357
Heated steering wheel* 360
Power steering fluid 725