http://www.worldcarfans.com/classics...oner-revisited
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/m...15twodead.html
2002 mercedes......saturn = 0 mercedes = 1...saturn occupants =rip... mercedes occupants = live to drive a benz again.... and it was accidental.. the 17 yr old lost control after someone swerved in front of him..
"Authorities said alcohol might have been a factor. The 21-year-old driver of a 1995 Saturn station wagon was driving at an estimated 80 mph"




AND the reason why mercedes are so unreliable is beacause they crammed so much stuff to keep alive and comfortable inside....
The W221 S-Class continues its tradition of leadership in automotive safety. It contains a large number of features designed to improve safety for the driver and passengers. Many of the features are evolutions of previous Mercedes developments, such as Brake Assist and Pre-Safe. A short list is presented below.
- Brake Assist Plus - an optional system designed to apportion brake pressure based on pedal speed and distance between the car and objects. This is an evolution of the Brake Assist system found on earlier models, and uses the vehicle's radar, in addition to the usual Brake Assist's monitoring of pedal depression speed, to apply power brake boost as required. This requires the optional adaptive cruise control's radar, so in vehicles not equipped with the latter, standard Brake Assist is substituted.
- Pre-Safe - a development of the previous Pre-Safe system fitted to the W220 S-Class, which uses vehicle-dynamic sensors to predict collisions, the W221's system also takes into account closing speed, as measured by the vehicle's radar. If a collision appears likely, Pre-Safe closes all windows and the sunroof, moves all passenger's seats and their head restraints to a safer position, and tightens the seatbelts.
- Electronic Stability Program (ESP) - similar to the systems fitted to other Mercedes vehicles, this system measures driver inputs and compares these to the vehicle's path. If these diverge, ESP brakes single wheels selectively to eliminate oversteer (fishtailing) and understeer (plowing), and reduces engine power, if necessary.
- Night View Assist - optional, uses two near-infrared (NIR) illuminators mounted in the headlamp clusters and a sensor in the windshield. The infrared beams are picked up by the sensor and an image is displayed in the instrument cluster. Mercedes-Benz claims that this system provides the same viewable distance as high-beam headlights, without blinding oncoming motorists.
The W221 also contains many standard Mercedes-pioneered safety features, including front and rear crumple zones, eight dual-stage
air bags, seatbelt pre-tensioning devices, anti-lock brakes (ABS), collapsible steering column, and traction control.
Comfort and convenience
The W221 S-Class features a variety of technologies intended to reduce the driver's workload and make the ride smoother and more comfortable for passengers. Like the safety features, many of these items are evolutions of those fitted to earlier models. Some notable features include:
- Airmatic DC - air suspension, similar to the system fittted to the W211 E-Class, uses air springs and adaptive electronic control to sense road and driving conditions and produce a firm or soft ride. The air suspension is only available for the smaller engines up to S 500. The S 600 and S 65 AMG are equipped with an active suspension system called Active Body Control, which is based on steel springs.
- Distronic Plus - optional, a development of the Distronic system fitted to earlier models. Uses more radar systems (long- and short-wave) and improved control logic to detect vehicles ahead and adjust the vehicle's speed to maintain a driver-set distance behind the car in front. The system has more authority over the vehicle than previous Distronic iterations, and can bring the vehicle to a complete stop if necessary, unlike the previous versions.
- Drive-Dynamic seats with massage - optional, an evolution of the system fitted to many other Mercedes models, uses air bladders in the seat bolsters to support the driver during cornering. Also, other air bladders provide a four-mode massage function to front-seat passengers.
- Heated and Active-Ventilated seats, with heating elements for warming the seats and small fans to keep the seats cool and draw perspiration away from occupants.
Entertainment and other features
- harmon/kardon Logic7 stereo sound system with 14 speakers, in-dash CD changer and PC card slot
- Hard-drive based GPS satellite navigation system
- Revised COMAND navigation and radio control system, uses the dash-top display and a central knob to navigate menu choices and options. Most frequently-used functions (such as volume) can be controlled by dedicated switches. Some have complained that the system is difficult to use and a blatant copy of BMW's iDrive system, but the general consensus is that the system is much easier to use and better thought out than iDrive. A Mercedes Benz insider is rumoured to have jokingly said that since Mercedes Benz invented the car, other manufacturers are copying them each time they release a car, and as such they can also take the liberty of using a few good ideas from other car makers.
- Fiber-optic ambient lighting for the dashboard, footwells, and other areas.
- Tele Aid, uses GPS tracking and cell phone service to provide assistance. Can be used for information, to call for roadside assistance, or to call for help in emergencies. Automatically calls for help if an air bag or seatbelt tensioner deploys.
- Cup holders
Drivetrain technologies
- Optional 4MATIC all-wheel-drive with four-wheel electronic traction control.
- 7G-Tronic, Mercedes' 7-speed automatic transmission with two reverse gears, adaptive electronic control, switchable comfort and sport modes, and Touch Shift partial manual control. The transmission is controlled by a small stalk mounted on the steering column, rather than by the usual console-mounted lever. 7G-TRONIC is standard on all S-Class models except the S600 and S65 AMG, where a 5-speed automatic is used instead, as the 7G-TRONIC transmission cannot handle the torque these models produce.