2008 MERCEDES-BENZ S600 light

76 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 56)
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.

78 Safety and Security
Driving safety systems
When the distance to the forward vehicle is
too small, the distance warning lampl
lights up in the instrument cluster. If you
approach the forward vehicle very quickly,
you will hear a warning tone.
If you do not apply the brakes yourself or
maneuver around a sensed obstacle, the
vehicle will automatically initiate light
braking. PRE-SAFE
® (page 56) is activat-
ed when the distance to the vehicle ahead
at your current speed is so close that
PRE-SAFE
® Brake will not be capable of
slowing the vehicle sufficiently.
Warning!G
PRE-SAFE® Brake will only respond with
brake assistance if it has clearly detected an
object. Detection can be impeded by

dirty or covered sensors

snowfall or heavy rain

disturbance from other radar sources

strong radar reflection such as in park-
ing garages
PRE-SAFE
® Brake uses radar signals that
are not reflected well by narrow objects and
absorptive materials. For this reason BAS
Plus will not react to

persons and animals

approaching traffic or cross-traffic
PRE-SAFE
® Brake may not detect narrow ve-
hicles driving in front of you, such as motor-
cycles and vehicles driving offset from your
vehicle center.
Warning!G
PRE-SAFE® Brake brakes your vehicle with a
maximum of 13 ft/s2 (4 m/s2). This corre-
sponds to about 40% of the maximum decel-
eration ability of your vehicle. This
automatic braking is intended only to ini-
tiate the braking if the driver has not already
done so. The driver must apply the brakes in
order to prevent a collision.
PRE-SAFE
® Brake applies the brake pedal
automatically which results in the brake
pedal moving. Therefore keep driver’s foot
area clear at all times, including the area un-
der the brake pedal. Objects stored in this
area may impair pedal movement which
could interfere with the braking ability of the
PRE-SAFE
® Brake.
Do not place your foot under the brake pedal
– your foot could become caught.

80 Safety and Security
Driving safety systems
PRE-SAFE® Brake does not always clearly
interpret complex traffic situations. If a vi-
sual and/or acoustic warning is issued in
an uncritical driving situation, or if the ve-
hicle brakes lightly, you can interrupt the
PRE-SAFE
® Brake maneuver by

pressing down all the way on the accel-
erator or using kickdown

releasing the brake pedalThe PRE-SAFE
® Brake maneuver is termi-
nated immediately when

you avoid the obstacle by evasive
steering

you drive less than 9 mph (15 km/h)

an obstacle can no longer be identified
ahead of you

the system no longer senses the risk of
a collisionAfter a hard collision or damage to the
front of the vehicle from an accident, have
the settings and operation of the radar
sensors checked by an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
iPRE-SAFE® Brake will remain passive while
DISTRONIC Plus* is switched on (
page 424).

91 Control systems
COMAND introduction
Video DVD (USA only)1
1Depending on your vehicle’s production date the video DVD function may be not available.
PageVehiclePage
Commands/menus
Video DVD124Exterior Lighting Delayed Switch-off242
Submenu overview126Locator Lighting243
Switching to video DVD mode126Exterior Mirror Convenience Settings244
Pause playback128Automatic Locking245
DVD menu129Easy Entry/Exit Feature246
Interior Lighting Delayed Switch-off248
Interior Ambient Light247
Rear Window Sunshade*249
Trunk Opening-height Restriction*249

115 Control systems
COMAND audio CD/audio DVD/MP3
Notes about handling CDs/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.
Inserting CDs and DVDs !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 a CD or DVD when the vehicle is
stationary. There is a risk of accident by be-
ing distracted from road and traffic condi-
tions if you load a CD/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.
iIf the CD/DVD has a printed side, this must
face upwards when the CD/DVD is inserted. If
neither side is printed, the side to be played
should face downwards.

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.

131 Control systems
COMAND video DVD (USA only)
Setting the language and audio format
Select “Video”
“Video”
“Video
DVD”.
Show the menu system, if necessary
(
page 127).
Select “DVD-V”
“DVD Functions”.
Select “Menu Language” or “Audio Lan-
guage”.
In both cases a selection list will ap-
pear. The dotRin front of an entry
indicates the current language.
Changing the setting: Slide qmr or
turn ymz, until you reach the desired
setting.
Saving a setting: Press n.
Exiting the menu: Slide omp.
Subtitles and camera angles
Select “Video”
“Video”
“Video
DVD”.
Show the menu system, if necessary
(
page 127).
Select “DVD-V”
“DVD Functions”.
Select “Subtitles” or “Camera angle”.
In both cases a selection list will ap-
pear. The dotRin front of an entry
indicates the current language.
Changing the setting: Slide qmr or
turn ymz, until you reach the desired
setting.
Saving a setting: Press n.
Exiting the menu: Slide omp.
Interactive content
Selecting an action: Slide qmr or
omp, or turn ymz, until you reach the
desired setting.
Initiating an action: Press n.
A menu appears, the first entry “Se-
lect” is highlighted.
Press n.
iThis function is not available for all DVDs. If
it is available, you can set the language for the
DVD menu and the audio language and/or the
audio format. The number of settings you can
make is determined by the content of the DVD. It
may also be possible to make the settings in the
DVD menu (
page 129).
iThis function is not available for all DVDs.
The number of settings you can make is deter-
mined by the content of the DVD. It may also be
possible to make the settings in the DVD menu
(
page 129).
iDVDs may include interactive content (e.g. a
video game). In a video game you can control the
play by selecting and initiating actions. The type
and number of actions depends on the DVD.

150 Control systems
COMAND telephone*
Changing smart speller character
set: Select #.
Depending on the previous setting, you
will change to letters with special char-
acters or to numbers with special char-
acters.
Entering characters: Select the char-
acters of the entry you are searching
for one by one.
Deleting individual characters: Se-
lect ) and briefly press n.
Each time you enter or delete a charac-
ter, the closest match will be displayed
at the top of the list.
Deleting an entire entry: Select )
and press and hold n until the entry is
deleted.
Canceling search: Switch from the
smart speller to the list.
The entry at the top of the list is auto-
matically highlighted.Selecting using the list
If necessary, switch from the smart
speller to the list.
Rotate ymz or slide qmr until the de-
sired entry is highlighted.
Selecting subentries
S e l e c t a n e n t r y w i t h t h e + symbol and
press n.
The + symbol changes to / and the
subentries are displayed.
Rotate ymz or slide qmr until the de-
sired subentry is highlighted.
Displaying details of an entry
COMAND can also show a shortened entry
in its entirety. For entries featuring suben-
tries, the detailed view is only available for
the subentries and not for the main entry.
Select entry (page 149).
Select “Options”
“Details”.
The detailed view appears.
Closing detailed view: Slide qmr or
omp or press n or back button L
in the center console (
page 86).
Starting to dial the number of an entry
Select entry (page 149).
Press n.
or
Press s on the telephone keypad.
A list appears if the entry contains sub-
entries.
Select desired subentry.
Press n again.
or
Press s on the telephone key-
pad.