2000 MERCEDES-BENZ S CLASS snow chains

3 ContentsParcel net in trunk ........................204
Telephone, general ........................205
Garage door opener .......................206
Infrared reflecting
windshield ................................. 210
DrivingControl and operation of
radio transmitters ..................... 212
The first 1 000 miles
(1 500 km) ................................. 213
Maintenance ................................... 213
Tele Aid ........................................... 214
Catalytic converter ........................224
Emission control ............................225
Starter switch .................................226
Starter switch –
KEYLESS-GO ..............................228
Starting and turning off
the engine .................................. 231Automatic transmission ............... 233
Parking brake ................................ 242
Driving instructions ...................... 243
Drive sensibly – Save Fuel ....... 243
Drinking and driving ................ 243
Pedals .......................................... 243
Power assistance ........................ 244
Brakes .......................................... 244
Driving off ................................... 245
Parking ........................................ 246
Tires ............................................. 247
Snow chains ............................... 249
Winter driving instructions ..... 250
Block heater ................................ 251
Deep water .................................. 252
Passenger compartment ........... 252
Traveling abroad ........................ 252
Cruise control ................................ 253
Distronic (DTR) .............................. 256Brake assist system
(BAS) ........................................... 271
Antilock brake system
(ABS) ...........................................272
Electronic stability program
(ESP) ........................................... 274
Active body control (ABC) ............278
Level control system
for vehicles
with Airmatic system ...............279
Level control system
for vehicles
with Active Body Control
(ABC) ..........................................280
Ad aptive da mping system
(ADS) ...........................................283
Parking assist (Parktronic) ..........285
What you should know
at the gas station .......................290
Check regularly and
before a long trip ......................293

211 Contents - Driving
Te ch n ica l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
DrivingControl and operation of
radio transmitters ..................... 212
The first 1 000 miles
(1 500 km) ................................. 213
Maintenance ................................... 213
Tele Aid ........................................... 214
Catalytic converter ........................224
Emission control ............................225
Starter switch .................................226
Starter switch –
KEYLESS-GO ..............................228
Starting and turning off
the engine .................................. 231
Automatic transmission ...............233
Parking brake .................................242Driving instructions ...................... 243
Drive sensibly – Save Fuel ....... 243
Drinking and driving ................ 243
Pedals .......................................... 243
Power assistance ........................ 244
Brakes .......................................... 244
Driving off ................................... 245
Parking ........................................ 246
Tires ............................................. 247
Snow chains ............................... 249
Winter driving instructions ..... 250
Block heater ................................ 251
Deep water .................................. 252
Passenger compartment ........... 252
Traveling abroad ........................ 252
Cruise control ................................ 253
Distronic (DTR) .............................. 256
Brake assist system
(BAS) ...........................................271Antilock brake system
(ABS) ...........................................272
Electronic stability program
(ESP) ........................................... 274
Active body control (ABC) ............278
Level control system
for vehicles
with Airmatic system ...............279
Level control system
for vehicles
with Active Body Control
(ABC) ..........................................280
Ad aptive da mping system
(ADS) ...........................................283
Parking assist (Parktronic) ..........285
What you should know
at the gas station .......................290
Check regularly and
before a long trip ......................293

249 Driving instructions
Te ch n ica l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Tire speed rating
S 430, S 500 and S 600 (except Sport Package):
Your vehicle is factory equipped with “H”-rated tires,
which have a speed rating of 130 mph (210 km / h).
Vehicles with Sport Package:
Your vehicle is factory equipped with “Y”-rated tires,
which have a speed rating of 188 mph (300 km / h).
An electronic speed limiter prevents your vehicle from
exceeding a speed of 130 mph (210 km/h).
S55AMG:
Your vehicle is factory equipped with “Y”-rated tires,
which have a speed rating of 188 mph (300 km / h).
An electronic speed limiter prevents your vehicle from
exceeding a speed of 155 mph (250 km/h).
Despite the tire rating, local speed limits should be
obeyed. Use prudent driving speeds appropriate to
prevailing conditions.Snow chains
Use only snow chains that are tested and recommended
by Mercedes-Benz. Your authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center will be glad to advise you on this subject.
Chains should only be used on the rear wheels. Follow
the manufacturer’s mounting instructions.
Vehicles with Active body control (ABC):
Always select option I or II of the level control system
when driving with snow chains, see page 280.
Snow chains should only be driven on snow covered
roads at speeds not to exceed 30 mph (50 km / h).
Remove chains as soon as possible when driving on
roads without snow.
When driving with snow chains, press the ESP control
switch to OFF, refer to page 276.
Wa r n i n g !
Even when permitted by law, never operate a
vehicle at speeds greater than the maximum speed
rating of the tires.
Exceeding the maximum speed for which tires are
rated can lead to sudden tire failure causing loss of
vehicle control and resulting in personal injury
and possible death.

250 Driving instructions
Te ch n ica l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Important!
Use of snow chains is not permissible with tire sizes
245 / 45 R18 or 275 / 40 R18.
Winter driving instructions
The most important rule for slippery or icy roads is to
drive sensibly and to avoid abrupt acceleration, braking
and steering maneuvers. Do not use the cruise control
system under such conditions.
When the vehicle is in danger of skidding, move
selector lever to position “N”. Try to keep the vehicle
under control by corrective steering action.
Road salts and chemicals can adversely affect braking
efficiency. Increased pedal force may become necessary
to produce the normal brake effect. We therefore
recommend depressing the brake pedal periodically
when traveling at length on salt-strewn roads. This can
bring road salt impaired braking efficiency back to
normal. A prerequisite is, however, that this be done
without endangering other drivers on the road.If the vehicle is parked after being driven on salt treated
roads, the braking efficiency should be tested as soon as
possible after driving is resumed while observing the
safety rules in the previous paragraph.
Wa r n i n g !
If the vehicle becomes stuck in snow, make sure
that snow is kept clear of the exhaust pipe and
from around the vehicle with engine running.
Otherwise, deadly carbon monoxide (CO) gases may
enter vehicle interior resulting in unconsciousness
and death.To assure sufficient fresh air ventilation, open a
window slightly on the side of the vehicle not
facing the wind.

251 Driving instructions
Te ch n ica l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Winter driving
Have your vehicle winterized at your authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center before the onset of winter.
•Change the engine oil if the engine contains an oil
which is not approved for winter operation. For
viscosity (SAE / CCMC class) and filling quantity,
see page 396.
•Check engine coolant anticorrosion / antifreeze
concentration.
•Additive for the windshield washer and headlamp
cleaning system: Add MB Concentrate “S” to a
premixed windshield washer solvent / antifreeze
which is formulated for below freezing
temperatures, see page 337.
•Test battery: Battery capacity drops with decreasing
ambient temperature. A well charged battery helps
to ensure that the engine can be started, even at low
ambient temperatures.•Tires: We recommend M+S rated radial-ply tires on
all four wheels for the winter season. Observe
permissible maximum speed for M+S rated
radial-ply tires and the legal speed limit.
Note:
In winter operation, the maximum effectiveness of the
ABS and ESP can only be achieved with M+S rated
radial-ply tires and / or snow chains recommended by
Mercedes-Benz. Snow chains maximize performance.
Block heater (for Canada only)
The engine is equipped with a block heater.
The electrical cable may be installed at your authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.

275 Driving systems
Te ch n ica l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Notes:
The yellow ESP warning lampv in the speedometer
dial comes on with the electronic key in starter switch
position 2. It should go out with the engine running.
If the ESP warning message is displayed, a malfunction
has been detected in the system. Only partial engine
output will be available.
Have the ESP checked at your authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center as soon as possible.
For ESP warning message, see page 301.
With the ABS malfunctioning, the ESP is also switched
off.
Driving the vehicle with varied size tires will cause the
wheels to rotate at different speeds, therefore the ESP
may activate (yellow ESP warning lamp in speedometer
dial comes on). For this reason, all wheels, including the
spare wheel, must have the same tire size. When testing the parking brake on a brake test
dynamometer, the engine must be shut off. Otherwise,
the ESP will immediately be engaged and will apply the
rear wheel brakes.
In winter operation, the maximum effectiveness of the
ESP is only achieved with Mercedes-Benz recommended
M+S rated radial-ply tires and / or snow chains.
Synchronizing ESP
If the power supply was interrupted (battery
disconnected or empty), the ESP warning message may
be displayed with the engine running.
Turn steering wheel completely to the left and then to
the right. The ESP warning message should go out.

276 Driving systems
Te ch n ica l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
ESP control switch
ESP control switch located on center console.
1Press to switch ESP off
ESP warning lampv, located in speedometer
dial, comes on.
2Press to switch ESP on
ESP warning lampv, located in speedometer
dial, goes out.To improve the vehicle’s traction when driving with
snow chains, or starting off in deep snow, sand or gravel,
switch off ESP by pressing the upper half (1) of the ESP
switch. The ESP warning lampv, located in the
speedometer dial, is continuously illuminated.
With the ESP system switched off, the engine torque
reduction feature is cancelled. Therefore, the enhanced
vehicle stability offered by ESP is unavailable.
Adapt your speed and driving to the prevailing road
conditions.
A portion of the ESP system remains active, even with
the switch in the OFF position.
If one drive wheel loses traction and begins to spin, the
brake is applied until the wheel regains sufficient
traction. The traction control engages at vehicle speeds
up to approximately 24 mph (40 km / h), and switches
off at 50 mph (80 km / h).
Wa r n i n g !
When the ESP warning lamp is illuminated
continuously, the ESP is switched off. Adapt your speed and driving to the prevailing road
conditions.

282 Driving systems
Te ch n ica l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Raised level, option I
This setting should be used when road surface
conditions are rough and must be used when driving
with snow chains mounted.
Important!
Driving with snow chains requires increased space
between tire and wheel housing. Refer to page 249 for
driving with snow chains.
Speed dependent lowering of vehicle chassis
(approximate values):
•at standstill – raised by approximately
3/4 inch
(20 mm)
•between 35 mph (60 km / h) and 120 mph
(190 km / h) – lowered progressively by
approximately one inch (25 mm)Raised level, option II
This setting should be used when road surface
conditions are very rough for increased ground
clearance.
Speed dependent lowering of vehicle chassis
(approximate values):
•at standstill - raised by approximately one and one
eight inch (30 mm)
•between 0 mph (0 km / h) and 35 mph (6o km / h) -
lowered progressively by approximately
3/8 inch
(10 mm)
•between 35 mph (60 km / h) and 120 mph
(190 km / h) – lowered progressively by
approximately one inch (25 mm)