2008 MERCEDES-BENZ S550 4MATIC warning

125 Control systems
COMAND video DVD (USA only)
Notes about handling DVDs

Only hold discs by the edge.

Handle discs carefully to prevent play-
back problems.

Avoid getting scratches, fingerprints
and dust on discs.

Clean discs from time to time with a
commercially-available cleaning cloth.
Do not wipe them with a circular mo-
tion, but only in straight lines from the
center outwards.

Only use a pen designed for such a pur-
pose to label discs.

Place discs back in their boxes after
use.

Protect discs from heat and direct sun-
light.
Functional limitations
Depending on the DVD, it is possible that
certain functions or actions may be tempo-
rarily or permanently unavailable. If you try
to utilize such functions or carry out such
actions, you will see the 7 symbol in the
display.
Inserting or ejecting DVDs
Inserting a DVD (page 115).
or
Ejecting a DVD (page 117).
!Do not affix stickers or labels to the discs.
These could peel away and damage COMAND.
COMAND is designed to hold discs which com-
ply with the IEC 60908 standard. You can there-
fore only use discs with a maximum thickness of
1.3 mm.
If you insert thicker discs, e.g. those that contain
data on both sides (DVD on one side and audio
data on the other), they cannot be ejected and
can damage COMAND.
Do not use discs with an 8 cm diameter, even if
they have an adapter.
Only use round discs with a 12 cm diameter.
Warning!G
Only insert or eject a DVD when the vehicle
is stationary. There is a risk of accident by
being distracted from road and traffic condi-
tions if you load a DVD while the vehicle is in
motion.
Bear in mind that at a speed of just 30 mph
(approximately 50 km/h), your vehicle is
covering a distance of 44 feet (approximate-
ly 14 m) every second.

132 Control systems
COMAND telephone*
Safety precautions
General notes
Calls disconnected while the vehicle is
in motion
A call may be disconnected if:

there is insufficient network coverage

you move from one transmitter/receiv-
er area (cell) into another and no chan-
nels are free or the cell is fullOperating options
When the mobile phone is inserted in the
cradle, you can operate the telephone us-
ing the following devices:

mobile phone keypad

COMAND telephone keypad

buttonss andt on the multi-
function steering wheel (
page 265)

Voice Control* (page 289)

Bluetooth® headset (page 146)
Warning!G
Some jurisdictions prohibit the driver from
using a cellular telephone while driving.
Whether or not prohibited by law, for safety
reasons, the driver should not use the cellu-
lar telephone while the vehicle is in motion.
Stop the vehicle in a safe location before
placing or answering a call.
If you nonetheless choose to use the mobile
phone
1 while driving, please use the hands-
free feature and be sure to pay attention to
the traffic situation at all times. Use the mo-
bile phone only when road, weather and traf-
fic conditions permit. Otherwise, you may
not be able to observe traffic conditions and
could endanger yourself and others.
Bear in mind that at a speed of just 30 mph
(approximately 50 km/h), your vehicle is
covering a distance of 44 feet (approxima-
tely 14 m) every second.
1Observe all legal requirements.
Warning!G
Never operate radio transmitters equipped
with a built-in or attached antenna (i.e. with-
out being connected to an external antenna)
from inside the vehicle while the engine is
running. Doing so could lead to a malfunc-
tion of the vehicle’s electronic system, pos-
sibly resulting in an accident and/or
personal injury.
iThe components and operating principles of
COMAND can be found on (
page 85) and
(
page 94).
iVarious mobile phone cradles can be in-
stalled in the front center armrest, see separate
installation instructions for the mobile phone
cradle. These mobile phone cradles can be ob-
tained from an authorized Mercedes-Benz Cen-
ter. For more information about telephone
(
page 507).

158 Control systems
COMAND navigation
Safety precautions
Warning!G
For safety reasons, only enter a destination
when the vehicle is stationary. When the ve-
hicle is in motion, a passenger should enter
the destination. Study manual and select
route before driving.
Bear in mind that at a speed of just 30 mph
(approximately 50 km/h), your vehicle is
covering a distance of 44 feet (approximate-
ly 14 m) every second.
COMAND calculates the route to the desti-
nation without taking account of the follow-
ing, for example:

Traffic lights

Stop and right-of-way signs

Parking or stopping prohibited areas

Lane merging

Other road and traffic rules and regula-
tions

Narrow bridges
COMAND may give incorrect navigation
commands if the data in the digital map
does not correspond with the actual
road/traffic situation. DVD maps do not
cover all areas nor all routes within an area.
For example, if the traffic routing has been
changed or the direction of a one-way road
has been reversed.
For this reason, you must always observe
applicable road and traffic rules and regula-
tions during your journey. Road and traffic
rules and regulations always have priority
over the navigation commands generated by
the system.Warning!G
Navigation announcements are intended to
direct you while driving without diverting
your attention from the road and driving.
Please always use this feature instead of
consulting the map display for directions.
Consulting the symbols or map display for
directions may cause you to divert your at-
tention from driving and increase your risk
of an accident.

159 Control systems
COMAND navigation (introduction)
COMAND navigation (introduction)
Map software
The digital maps generated by the map
software become outdated in the same
way as conventional road maps. Optimum
route guidance can only be provided by the
navigation system in conjunction with the
most up-to-date map software.
Information about new map software ver-
sions can be obtained from an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
Updating the map software
You can update the map software yourself
using a DVD.
Notes about handling DVDs

Only hold discs by the edge.

Handle discs carefully to prevent read
problems.

Avoid getting scratches, fingerprints
and dust on discs.

Use a commercially-available cleaning
cloth to clean discs. Do not wipe them
with a circular motion, but only in
straight lines from the center out-
wards.

Place discs back in their boxes after
use.

Protect discs from heat and direct sun-
light.
Updating process
The updating process has the following
phases:

Loading a DVD into the DVD changer
(
page 160)

Updating process (page 160)
iThe updating process can take between
10 and 60 minutes, depending on the size of the
map software. If the radio was switched on be-
fore you started the updating process, you can
still adjust the volume. You can also use
COMAND to operate the automatic air condition-
ing and to cancel the process. Other functions
are not operational.
If possible, carry out the update when the vehicle
is stationary.
iIf you carry out the update with the engine
switched off and the vehicle battery has insuffi-
cient power, COMAND may automatically switch
off during the process in order to protect the bat-
tery. If this occurs, restart the update with the
engine running period. Similarly, if the SmartKey
position is unintentionally switched to 0, restart
the update.
Warning!G
Never leave the engine running in an en-
closed space. The exhaust gases contain
carbon monoxide. Inhaling exhaust gases
constitutes a health hazard and could lead
to loss of consciousness or even death.

172 Control systems
COMAND navigation system (entering a destination)
The following destination entry options are
available:

Entering a destination by address

Entering a destination from the desti-
nation memory

Entering a destination from the list of
last destinations

Entering a destination from the map

Entering a stopover

Entering a POI
Entering a destination by the address
To enter an address you may proceed as
follows:

Enter state (USA) or province (CDN),
street and town/city

Enter state (USA) or province (CDN),
town/city and street

Enter state (USA) or province (CDN),
town/city and center

Enter state (USA) or province (CDN),
zip code and center

Enter state (USA) or province (CDN),
zip code and streetCalling up the address input menu
Select “Navi”
“Destination”
“Ad-
dress Entry”.
The address input menu appears. It
shows a state (USA) or a province
(CDN). Which state or province is
shown depends on the vehicle’s loca-
tion.
1State (USA) or province (CDN)
Warning!G
For safety reasons, only enter a new desti-
nation when the vehicle is stationary.
iIt is possible to enter a destination regard-
less of whether route guidance is active or inac-
tive.
iIt is not possible to enter an address when
the vehicle has exceeded a certain speed. As
soon as the vehicle speed drops below a certain
value, the function is available again.
iIf Russian or Chinese is set as the system
language, the address must be entered using
Latin letters. Setting the system language
(
page 238).
iAs additional information to the street entry,
you can enter either a house number or an inter-
section.
A zip code entry replaces the town/city entry.

206 Control systems
COMAND navigation system (real-time traffic) (USA only)
List for active route guidance
When route guidance is active, the list dis-
plays only the streets which are part of the
route and for which messages are present.
1Show all messages (including those
which do not affect the route)
2Affected streets (only shown when
messages which affect the route are
present)
Display all messages: Select “Display
All Messages”.
All streets are shown for which mes-
sages are present, as well as for those
which are not on the route.
Read a message: Select a street.
You can find an example message on
(
page 206).
Close the list: Slide omp once or re-
peatedly.
Example message
1Selection display (“Messages On
Route” or “All messages”)
2Symbol for message event (e.g. traffic
jam)
3Street affected by the message
4Message 1 of 5 for the affected street
5Message textThe symbols for the possible message
events are shown in the following.
1Traffic jam symbol
2Stop and go traffic symbol
3Warning message symbol
4Blocked section symbol
Scroll through the contents or to the
next message: Turn ymz or slide
qmr.

207 Control systems
COMAND navigation system (route guidance)
COMAND navigation system (route guidance)
Route guidance
COMAND guides you to the destination us-
ing navigation commands in the form of
audible navigation announcements and
route guidance displays.
If, for any reason, you do not follow the
navigation commands or if you leave the
calculated route, COMAND automatically
calculates a new route to the destination.
If the map data contains the relevant infor-
mation, COMAND tries to avoid roads that
only have limited access, e.g. roads closed
to through-traffic and non-residents.Roads that have time restrictions (e.g.
closed on Sundays and public holidays) are
not considered for route guidance, if the
digital map contains the relevant informa-
tion.
Examples of displays and announce-
ments for a driving maneuver
Driving maneuvers have three phases:

Preparation phase

Announcement phase

Maneuver phase
Warning!G
COMAND calculates the route to the desti-
nation without taking account of the follow-
ing, for example:

Traffic lights

Stop and right-of-way signs

Parking or stopping prohibited areas

Lane merges

Other road and traffic rules and regula-
tions

Narrow bridges
COMAND may give incorrect navigation
commands if the data in the digital map
does not correspond with the actual
road/traffic situation. For example, if the
traffic routing has been changed or the di-
rection of a one-way road has been re-
versed.
For this reason, you must always observe
applicable road and traffic rules and regula-
tions during your journey. Road and traffic
rules and regulations always have priority
over the navigation commands generated by
the system.
iThe route guidance displays can only be
seen if the display is switched to navigation
mode.

210 Control systems
COMAND navigation system (route guidance)
Partially digitized areas If the destination is within a partially
digitized area
COMAND guides you through fully digitized
areas for as long as possible. Route guid-
ance is conducted in the usual manner, i.e.
with navigation announcements and route
guidance displays.
Before the vehicle reaches a partially digi-
tized area, COMAND notifies you of this
with the following announcements:

“Be prepared to enter an area where
turn by turn guidance cannot be provid-
ed.”

“In 700 feet you will enter an area
where turn by turn guidance cannot be
provided.”

“You are about to enter an area where
turn by turn guidance cannot be provid-
ed.”Route guidance within a partially digi-
tized area
If you start route guidance in this type of
area, you will hear the following announce-
ment: “You are currently in an area where
turn by turn guidance cannot be provided.”
Route guidance is provided by means of a
direction arrow showing the compass
heading to the destination. COMAND will
not generate automatic navigation an-
nouncements.
If you try to call up an announcement man-
ually, (page 213) you will hear the an-
nouncement “You are currently in an area
where turn by turn guidance cannot be pro-
vided.”.
iThe digital map may contain areas that are
only partially digitized although they are within a
digitized region.
Warning!G
Due to incomplete digitization, the route
shown on the map may differ from the actual
road/traffic situation.
If you follow the route shown on the map, for
example, it is possible that you could drive
the wrong way down a one-way street or
that a street cannot be driven on.
When using route guidance in a partially dig-
itized area, you must therefore be sure to
observe all relevant traffic regulations and
the course of the road.
All relevant traffic regulations and the
course of the road always take priority over
the route shown on the map.
iThe indicated distance can be seen here by
way of example. In reality, it may be different.
iWhen you call up the route info to this type
of destination, (
page 215) the following data
shown there may differ from the actual situation:

Distance to the destination

Estimated driving time to the destination

Estimated arrival time