2008 MERCEDES-BENZ S550 4MATIC warning

467 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
1Left side defroster vent, fixed
2Left side air vent, adjustable
3Left center air vent, adjustable
4Thumbwheel for air volume control
for left center air vent
5Thumbwheel for air volume control
for right center air vent
6Right center air vent, adjustable
7Right side defroster vent, fixed
8Right side air vent, adjustable
9Front climate control panel
aThumbwheel for left rear center air
vents
bLeft rear center air vent, adjustable
cRight rear center air vent, adjustable
dThumbwheel for right rear center air
vents
eRear 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 253) to direct the air to
air vents in the vehicle interior that are not
in the immediate area of unprotected skin.

470 Controls in detail
Automatic climate control
The 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 471). Nearly all dust particles, pollutants and
odors are filtered out before outside air en-
ters the passenger compartment through
the air distribution system.The following automatic climate control
functions can be operated via COMAND:
iIf 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 469)

Temperature: 72°F (22°C) (page 472)

Footwell temperature: 0 (page 255)

Air flow: focused (page 256)
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 251). Otherwise
the windows could fog up, impairing visibili-
ty and endangering you and others.
iSevere conditions (e.g. strong air pollution)
may require replacement of the filter before its
scheduled interval. A clogged filter will reduce
the air volume to the interior.
If the vehicle interior is hot, ventilate the interior
before driving off, see “Summer opening fea-
ture” (
page 385). The automatic climate con-
trol 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.
Do not obstruct air volume by placing objects on
the air volume-through exhaust slots below the
rear window.
FunctionPage
Temperature252
Air distribution253
Air volume253
Switching off cooling (“ACOFF”)254
Central climate control (“Mono”)255
Footwell temperature255
Air flow from air vents256
Rear climate control*257

471 Controls in detail
Automatic climate control
Deactivating climate control system
Deactivating: Press button´
(
page 469) 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 469) 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 469) up or
down.
The indicator lamp on the button
comes on.Deactivating
Press buttonU (page 469) up or
down.
or
Adjust air distribution (page 253).
or
Adjust air volume (page 472).
The indicator lamp on buttonU
goes out. The automatic function is
switched off.
You can adjust the air distribution
(
page 253) or air volume
(
page 472) manually.
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.
iIn automatic mode, cooling with dehumidify
is switched on. This function can be switched off
if necessary (
page 254).

474 Controls in detail
Automatic climate control
Maximum cooling MAXCOOL (USA only)
If U is selected on both the left and
right side and there is a high demand for
cooling, the display “MAXCOOL” appears
in the COMAND display.
This provides the fastest possible cooling
of the vehicle interior (when windows and
tilt/sliding sunroof or tilt/sliding panel*
are closed).
Air recirculation mode
Switch to air recirculation mode to prevent
unpleasant odors from entering the vehicle
from the outside (e.g. before driving in a
tunnel). This setting cuts off the intake of
outside air and recirculates the air in the
passenger compartment.
Activating: Press button,
(
page 469) up or down.
The indicator lamp on the button
comes on.
Deactivating: Press button,
(
page 469) up or down.
The indicator lamp on the button goes
out.
Warning!G
Any accumulation of snow and ice should be
removed from the rear window before driv-
ing. Visibility could otherwise be impaired,
endangering you and others.
iIf the rear window defroster switches off too
soon and the indicator lamp goes out, this indi-
cates that too many electrical consumers are op-
erating simultaneously and the load on the
battery is reducing available voltage. The system
responds automatically by deactivating the rear
window defroster.
iMaximum cooling MAXCOOL is only avail-
able when the engine is running.
Warning!G
Fogged windows impair visibility, endanger-
ing you and others. If the windows begin to
fog on the inside, switching off the air
recirculation mode immediately should clear
interior window fogging. If interior window
fogging persists, make sure the air
conditioning (
page 254) is activated, or
press button;.
iThe air recirculation mode is activated auto-
matically at high outside temperatures.
The indicator lamp on button, is not lit when
the air recirculation mode is automatically acti-
vated.
A quantity of outside air is added when the cool-
ing demand is not at maximum.
If the air conditioning has been turned off
(
page 254) or the outside temperature is be-
low 41°F (5°C), the air recirculation mode will
not switch on automatically.

475 Controls in detail
Automatic climate control
Air recirculation mode with conve-
nience closing or opening feature
Vehicles with tilt/sliding sunroof
Convenience closing: Press
button
, for approximately
2 seconds.
The door windows and/or tilt/sliding
sunroof will close. You can release
button
, once the closing proce-
iThe manually selected air recirculation
mode is deactivated automatically:

after 5 minutes if the outside temperature is
below approximately 41°F (5°C)

after 5 minutes if the air conditioning is
turned off

after 30 minutes if the outside temperature
is above approximately 41°F (5°C)
Warning!G
Never operate the door windows and the
tilt/sliding sunroof or tilt/sliding panel* if
there is the possibility of anyone being
harmed by the closing procedure.
Vehicles with tilt/sliding sunroof:
In the event that the procedure causes po-
tential danger, the closing of the door win-
dows can be immediately halted by pressing
the respective window switch. The closing of
the tilt/sliding sunroof can be immediately
halted by moving the tilt/sliding sunroof
switch in the overhead control panel in any
direction.
Vehicles with panorama roof*:
When using the air recirculation mode with
convenience closing feature, should the up-
ward movement of a window be blocked by
some obstruction including, but not limited
to arms, hands, fingers, etc., the automatic
reversal feature will not operate.
In the event that the procedure causes po-
tential danger, the closing of the door win-
dows or the tilt/sliding panel can be
immediately halted by releasing
button,.
The closing of the door windows and the
tilt/sliding sunroof or tilt/sliding panel* can
be reversed by again pressing and holding
button,.


477 Controls in detail
Automatic climate control
Activating
Switch off the ignition (page 344).
Press buttonT (page 469) up or
down.
The indicator lamp on the button
comes on.
Deactivating
Press buttonT (page 469) up or
down.
The indicator lamp on the button goes
out.Rear passenger compartment climate
control*
Automatic climate control panel, rear
iRegardless of the selected air volume, the
blower operates at low speed when heating. In
case of ventilation the blower operates at higher
speed.
iHow long the system will provide heating de-
pends on

the coolant temperature

the temperature set by the operator
iThe residual heat is automatically turned off:

when the ignition is switched on

after approximately 30 minutes

if the battery voltage drops

if the coolant temperature is too low
Warning!G
Follow the recommended settings for heat-
ing and cooling as given in the instructions
for the front climate control (
page 469).
Otherwise the windows could fog up, impair-
ing visibility for the driver and endangering
you and others.
Item
1Temperature control, left
2Air distribution, left
(automatic, manual)
3Air volume (automatic, manual)
4Mode selector
5Air distribution, right
(automatic, manual)
6Temperature control, right

479 Controls in detail
Trunk
Trunk
Opening trunk
You can open the trunk if the vehicle is sta-
tionary.
A minimum height clearance of 6.0 ft
(1.8 m) is required to open the trunk lid.Opening trunk from outside
1Trunk lid handle
Press and hold button Š on the
SmartKey or SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO* until trunk unlocks and
begins to open.
or
Pull on handle1.
In vehicles without KEYLESS-GO*: The
vehicle must be unlocked.Opening trunk from inside
Vehicles without trunk opening/closing
system*
1Remote trunk opening switch
Press switch1 until the trunk begins
to open.
The trunk opens. The indicator lamp in
switch1 comes on and remains lit un-
til the trunk closed.
Warning!G
Make sure the trunk is closed when the en-
gine is running and while driving. Among
other dangers exhaust fumes may enter the
vehicle interior. These fumes are damaging
to your health.
!The trunk lid swings open upwards automat-
ically. Always make sure that there is sufficient
overhead clearance.
iIf the trunk does not open, it is still locked
separately (
page 484).
!Vehicles with trunk opening/closing sys-
tem*: To stop the opening procedure, press
buttonŠ on the SmartKey or SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO*.

481 Controls in detail
Trunk
Closing trunk from outside
automatically*
In vehicles with trunk opening/closing sys-
tem* you can close the trunk separately
from the outside using the trunk closing
switch.
Warning!G
To prevent possible personal injury, always
keep hands and fingers away from the trunk
lid opening when closing the trunk. Be espe-
cially careful when small children are
around.
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. 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.Warning!G
Monitor the closing procedure carefully to
make sure no one is in danger of being in-
jured. To prevent possible personal injury,
always keep hands and fingers away from
the trunk lid opening when closing the trunk.
Be especially careful when small children
are around. To stop the closing procedure,
do one of the following:

press button Š on the SmartKey or
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO*

press the trunk opening/closing*
switch (on the driver’s door)

press the trunk closing switch

press the KEYLESS-GO* locking/clos-
ing switch

pull the trunk lid handle
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 remote trunk
opening/closing* switch can be operated.
Therefore, do not leave children unattended
in the vehicle, 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.