2008 MERCEDES-BENZ S63AMG Outside air temperature

Contents
Shifting procedure ....................... 402
Transmission positions................. 403
Driving tips ................................... 406
Gear ranges ................................. 408
Automatic shift program .............. 409
Steering wheel gearshift control .. 411
Manual shift program
(S 63 AMG and S 65 AMG only) ... 413
Emergency operation
(Limp-Home Mode) ...................... 416
Instrument cluster ............................. 417
Adjusting instrument cluster
display illumination ...................... 417
Coolant temperature gauge ......... 417
Tachometer .................................. 418
Outside temperature indicator ..... 418
Fuel gauge ................................... 418
Driving systems ................................. 419
Cruise control .............................. 419
DISTRONIC Plus* ......................... 424
Airmatic (S 550 only) ................... 440
Active Body Control (ABC)*.......... 442
Parktronic system* ...................... 444
Park Assist* ................................. 448
Dynamic Rear View Monitor* ....... 453
Night View Assist* ....................... 461Air vents ............................................. 466
Opening and closing air vents ....... 468
Ventilated storage compartment .. 468
Automatic climate control .................. 469
Deactivating climate control
system .......................................... 471
Operating climate control system
in automatic mode ........................ 471
Setting temperature...................... 472
Adjusting air volume ..................... 472
Front defroster.............................. 472
Rear window defroster .................. 473
Maximum cooling MAXCOOL
(USA only) ..................................... 474
Air recirculation mode .................. 474
Residual engine heat and
ventilation ..................................... 476
Rear passenger compartment
climate control* ............................ 477
Trunk .................................................. 479
Opening trunk ............................... 479
Closing trunk ................................ 480
Trunk emergency release.............. 484
Valet locking ................................. 484
Power tilt/sliding sunroof................... 486Opening and closing
power tilt/sliding sunroof ............. 486
Synchronizing ............................... 488
Panorama roof with power
tilt/sliding panel*............................... 489
Roller sunblinds ............................ 489
Opening and closing panorama
roof with power tilt/sliding panel . 490
Synchronizing ............................... 492
Loading and storing............................ 493
Roof rack* .................................... 493
Loading instructions ..................... 493
Storage compartments ................. 494
Cup holders .................................. 498
Trunk ............................................ 500
Useful features ................................... 502
Sun visors ..................................... 502
Vanity mirror in rear...................... 502
Rear window sunshade ................. 503
Ashtrays........................................ 503
Cigarette lighters .......................... 504
Power outlet ................................. 506
Floormats* ................................... 506
Telephone* ................................... 507
Tele Aid......................................... 510
Garage door opener ...................... 518

255 Control systems
COMAND automatic climate control
Selecting “ACOFF”: Slide qmr or
rotateymz.
Confirming selection: Press n.
A checkmark appears when the cooling
is switched off.
“AC
OFF” appears in the central menu of
the climate control settings.Selecting “Mono” mode
“Mono” is used to adjust the climate zones
for the entire vehicle at the same time.
When the “Mono” function is switched on
and you change the climate on the driver’s
side, these changes will be carried out in
the same manner for all climate zones.
Select climate control settings
Cen-
tral climate control menu.
Selecting “Mono”: Slide qmr or
rotateymz.
Confirming selection: Press n.
A checkmark appears when the func-
tion has been selected.
Exiting menu: Press back button L
in the center console (
page 86) or
slideomp.The “Mono” function is automatically
switched off when you:

change an automatic climate control
setting for the front passenger’s side
using COMAND

operate a button from the automatic
climate control for the front passen-
ger’s side

operate one of the buttons for the rear
climate control system
Adjusting footwell temperature
The “Footwell Temperature” function is
used to adjust the temperature difference
between the footwell and the rest of the
passenger compartment.
The higher the selected value, the higher
the temperature in the footwell will be.
Select climate control settings
Cen-
tral climate control menu.
!If the air conditioning cannot be turned on
again, this indicates that the air conditioning is
losing refrigerant. The compressor has turned it-
self off.
Have the air conditioning checked at the nearest
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
iIn automatic mode, this setting optimizes
the footwell temperature when outside tempera-
tures are low.


256 Control systems
COMAND automatic climate control
Selecting “Footwell Temperature”:
Slide qmr or rotate ymz and then
pressn.
Changing temperature difference:
Slide qmr or rotate ymz.
Exiting menu: Press n, back
buttonL in the center console
(
page 86) or slideomp.
The setting is saved.Adjusting air flow from air vents
The “Airflow” setting defines air distribu-
tion and air volume in automatic mode:

“Focused” (default setting, increased
air flow)

“Medium” (reduced air flow)

“Diffuse” (minimal air flow)
Select climate control settings
Cen-
tral climate control menu
“Airflow”.
A selection list appears.
The current setting is indicated by a
dotR.
Changing air flow: Slide qmr or
rotateymz.
Confirming selection: Press n.
iIn automatic mode, this setting optimizes
the air flow when outside temperatures are high.
iWhen the interior ambient temperature of
the vehicle is very hot and the automatic climate
control is cooling the interior, the setting for air
flow is temporarily overridden.


417 Controls in detail
Instrument cluster
Instrument cluster
A full view illustration of the instrument
cluster can be found in the “At a glance”
section of this manual (
page 28).
The instrument cluster is activated when
you:

open a door

switch on the ignition (page 344)

switch on the exterior lamps
The language setting for the multifunction
display can be changed via COMAND
(
page 238).Adjusting instrument cluster display
illumination
1Knob
Brightening illumination: Turn
knob1 clockwise.
Dimming illumination: Turn knob1
counterclockwise.
Coolant temperature gauge
The coolant temperature gauge is on the
left side in the instrument cluster
(
page 28).
Warning!G
No messages will be displayed if either the
instrument cluster or the multifunction dis-
play is inoperative.
As a result, you will not be able to see infor-
mation about your driving conditions, such
as speed or outside temperature, warning/
indicator lamps, malfunction/warning mes-
sages or the failure of any systems. Driving
characteristics may be impaired.
If you must continue to drive, please do so
with added caution. Contact an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center as soon as possible.
iThe instrument cluster illumination is
dimmed or brightened automatically to suit am-
bient light conditions.
The instrument cluster illumination will also be
adjusted automatically when you switch on the
vehicle’s exterior lamps.
Warning!G

Driving when your engine is overheated
can cause some fluids which may have
leaked into the engine compartment to
catch fire. You could be seriously
burned.

Steam from an overheated engine can
cause serious burns and can occur just
by opening the hood. Stay away from
the engine if you see or hear steam com-
ing from it.
Stop the vehicle in a safe location away from
other traffic. Turn off the engine, get out


455 Controls in detail
Driving systems
Warning!G
Make sure no persons or animals are in the
area in which you are maneuvering. You
could otherwise injure them.
Warning!G
The Dynamic Rear View Monitor may not
function if:

the trunk lid is not completely closed

it is raining or snowing heavily, or if
there is thick fog

in a very dark area

the camera is exposed to very strong
white light (white stripes may appear on
the COMAND display)

the surrounding area is lit with fluores-
cent light (the COMAND display can
flicker)

there is a sudden change in tempera-
ture, for example when you drive out of
the cold into a heated garage in winter
(lens condensation)

outside temperatures are very high (lens
condensation)

the camera lens is dirty or covered, see
“Cleaning the Dynamic Rear View
Monitor lens*” (
page 590)

the rear of your vehicle is damaged. In
this case, have the position and setting
of the camera checked by a qualified
technician. Contact an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
Do not use the Dynamic Rear View Monitor
if the roads are icy, slippery or covered with
snow. The vehicle could slip causing the ac-
tual vehicle position to deviate from the one
shown on the COMAND display.
This may cause injury to you or others, or
damage the vehicle or objects.
Mounting tires/rims of other specification
than the original equipment tires/rims may
impair the function of the Dynamic Rear
View Monitor. Contact an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.

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

472 Controls in detail
Automatic climate control
Setting temperature
Use temperature controls %$
2anda (
page 469) in the center con-
sole or COMAND (
page 252) to sepa-
rately adjust the air temperature on each
side of the passenger compartment. You
should raise or lower the temperature set-
ting in small increments, preferably start-
ing at 72°F (22°C). The automatic climate
control will adjust to the set temperature
as fast as possible.
Press temperature control %$
2and/ora (
page 469) upward or
downward.
The climate control system will corre-
spondingly adjust the interior air tem-
perature.
Adjusting air volume
Use buttonsQ (
page 469) in the cen-
ter console or COMAND to separately ad-
just the air volume on each side of the
passenger compartment.
Press buttonQ up to increase or
down to decrease air volume.
The indicator lamps on buttonsU
(
page 469) goes out.
The automatic function is switched off.
The air volume is adjusted correspond-
ing to the set blower speed.
Front defroster
You can use this setting to defrost the
windshield, for example if it is iced up. You
can also defog the windshield and the door
windows.Activating
Press button; (page 469) up or
down.
The indicator lamp on the button
comes on.
The air conditioning switches to the follow-
ing functions automatically:

most efficient blower speed and heat-
ing power, depending on outside tem-
perature

air flows onto the windshield and the
front door windows

the air conditioning compressor
switches on at outside temperatures
above approximately 41°F (5°C) for
air-drying

the air recirculation mode is switched
off
iKeep this setting selected only until the
windshield is clear again.

473 Controls in detail
Automatic climate control
Adjustments
Depending on vehicle production date, you
can adjust the air volume and the temper-
ature when the front defroster is switched
on. The air flow will remain on the wind-
shield and door windows.
Press buttonQ up or down to in-
crease or decrease air volume to the
desired level.
The air volume increases/decreases to
the next higher/lower blower speed
and heating switches to the tempera-
ture that was set before the front de-
froster was switched on.
The indicator lamp on button;
goes out.
or
Press temperature control %$
2and/ora (
page 469) upward or
downward.
Heating switches to the temperature
that was set before the front defroster
was switched on.The indicator lamp on button; goes
out.
Deactivating
Press button; (page 469) up or
down.
The indicator lamp on the button goes
out.
The previous settings are once again in
effect, except air recirculation mode
stays off.
Windshield fogged on the outside
Switch the windshield wipers on
(
page 381).
Press buttonU (page 469) up or
down.
The indicator lamp on the button
comes on.
Rear window defroster
Activating
Switch on the ignition (page 344).
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.
iThe air conditioning compressor remains on
even with the indicator lamp on button;
goes out. This helps to prevent windshield from
fogging.
!The rear window defroster uses a large
amount of power. To keep battery drain to a min-
imum, switch off the defroster as soon as the
rear window is clear.
iThe defroster is automatically deactivated
after some time of operation depending on the
outside temperature.