2000 MERCEDES-BENZ S500 air

26 Contents - Operation
Te ch n ica l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
OperationVehicle keys ...................................... 28
Start lock-out .................................... 32
General notes on the
central locking system ............... 33
Central locking system ................... 34
Radio frequency and
infrared remote control ............... 34
KEYLESS-GO ................................. 38
Opening and
closing windows and
sliding / pop-up roof
from outside .................................. 45
Panic button .................................. 47
Mechanical keys ........................... 47
Doors .................................................. 48
Power closing assist for
doors and trunk lid ..................... 50
Central locking switch .................... 50
Automatic central locking .............. 52
Emergency unlocking
in case of accident ...................... 52
Trunk ................................................. 53
Trunk lid release switch ................. 57Trunk lid release/close switch ...... 58
Trunk lid emergency release .........61
Antitheft alarm system ................... 62
Tow-away alarm ............................... 64
Easy-entry/exit feature .................. 66
Front seat adjustment ..................... 67
Removal and installation
of front seat head restraints ..... 72
Lumbar support ............................... 73
Multicontour backrest .................... 73
Seat heater ........................................ 75
Seat ventilation system .................. 78
Rear seat head restraints ............... 80
Power head restraints, rear ............ 81
Power seats, rear ............................. 82
Seat belts and integrated
restraint system .......................... 84
Seat belts .......................................... 84
Seat belt nonusage
warning system .......................... 85
BabySmart
TM airbag
deactivation system ....................91Self-test BabySmart
TM
without special child
seat installed ................................. 91
Supplemental Restraint
System (SRS) ............................... 92
Emergency tensioning
retractor (ETR) ............................. 93
Airbags .............................................. 94
Safety guidelines for the
seat belt, emergency
tensioning retractor
and airbag .................................. 100
Infant and child restraint
systems ....................................... 102
Steering wheel adjustment .......... 105
Rear view mirrors .......................... 106
Memory function ............................ 111
Instrument cluster ..........................114
Multifunction steering wheel,
multifunction display ............... 120
Trip and main odometer,
FSS, tire inf lation pressure
monitor and engine oil level
indicator ..................................... 124
Audio systems ............................. 125

52 Central locking system
Te ch n ica l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Automatic central locking
With the automatic central locking system activated, the
doors and trunk are locked at vehicle speeds of
approximately 9 mph (15 km / h) or more. The fuel filler
flap remains unlocked.
The automatic central locking function can be switched
on or off. See page 138 for “Individual settings”.
Notes:
If doors are unlocked with the central locking switch
after activating the automatic central locking, and
neither door is opened, then the doors remain unlocked
even at vehicle speeds of approximately 9 mph (15 km /
h) or more.
If a door is opened from the inside at speeds of
approximately 9mph (15km/h) or less with the
automatic central locking activated, the door will again
be automatically locked at speeds of approximately
9 mph (15 km / h) or more.Important!
When towing the vehicle, or with the vehicle on a
dynamometer test stand, please, note the following:
With the automatic central locking activated and the
electronic key in starter switch position 2 (vehicles with
KEYLESS-GO: operation position, see page 228), the
vehicle doors will lock if the left front wheel as well as
the right rear wheel spin at vehicle speeds of
approximately 9 mph (15 km / h) or more.
To prevent the vehicle door locks from locking,
deactivate the automatic central locking. See page 138
for “Individual settings”.
Emergency unlocking in case of accident
The doors unlock automatically a short time after an
accident in which an airbag or emergency tensioning
retractor deploys (this is intended to aid rescue and
exit).

70 Seats
Te ch n ica l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Important!
Prior to operating the vehicle, the driver should adjust
the seat height for proper vision as well as fore/aft
placement and backrest angle to insure adequate
control, reach, operation, and comfort. The head
restraint should also be adjusted for proper height. See
also airbag section on page 94 for proper seat
positioning.
In addition, also adjust the steering wheel to ensure
adequate control, reach, operation, and comfort.
Both the inside and outside rear view mirrors should be
adjusted for adequate rearward vision.Fasten seat belts. Infants and small children should be
seated in a properly secured restraint system that
complies with U.S. Federal Motor Vehicle Safety
Standard 213 and Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety
Stand ard 213.
All seat, head restraint, steering wheel, and rear view
mirror adjustments as well as fastening of seat belts
should be done before the vehicle is put into motion.

71 Seats
Te ch n ica l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Wa r n i n g !
Children 12 years old and under must never ride in
the front seat, except in a Mercedes-Benz
authorized BabySmart
TM compatible child seat,
which operates with the BabySmart
TM system
installed in the vehicle to deactivate the passenger-
side front airbag when it is properly installed.
Otherwise they will be struck by the airbag when it
inflates in a crash. If this happens, serious or fatal
injury will result.
According to accident statistics, children are safer
when properly restrained in the rear seating
positions than in the front seating positions.
Infants and small children must ride in back seats
and be seated in an appropriate infant or child
restraint system, which is properly secured with
the vehicle’s seat belt, fully in accordance with the
child seat manufacturer’s instructions.A child’s risk of serious or fatal injuries is
significantly increased if the child restraints are
not properly secured in the vehicle and the child is
not properly secured in the child restraint.

73 Seats
Te ch n ica l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Lumbar support (optional)
The thumbwheels are located on the sides of the front
seats and rear seats.
The seats have an inf latable air cushion built into the
backrest to provide additional lumbar support.
Turn the electronic key in starter switch to position 2.
The inflation pressure of the air cushion can be
continuously varied between position “0” (no pressure)
and position “5” (maximum pressure) by changing the
pressure regulator (1) setting.Multicontour backrest (optional)
Front seats:
The switch clusters are located on the side and near the
front of the front seats.
1Lumbar region
2Center section
3Backrest side cushions
4Massage function (PULSE)
P91.25-0335-26
1
P91.25-0336-26
3
3
4
1
3
2

74 Seats
Te ch n ica l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Rear seats:
The switch clusters are located on the sides of the seat.
Some models may be equipped with multicontour seats.
These seats have inflatable air cushions built into the
backrests to provide additional lumbar and side support.
Turn the electronic key in starter switch to position 2 to
operate.We recommend that you make the basic settings in the
follow ing orde r:
1Lu mb a r region
2Center section
(front seats only)
Switches 1 and 2:
Press top of switch and hold; the individual air
cushions will be inflated one after the other. Release
the switch in the desired position.
Press bottom of switch and hold; the individual air
cushions will be deflated one after the other.
Release the switch in the desired position.
3Backrest side cushions
The lateral support increases or decreases as you
press the button to the right or left. Adjust the side
cushions to provide good lateral support.
P91.25-2009-26
31
4
3

75 Seats
Te ch n ica l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index 4Massage function(PULSE)
The multicontour backrest is equipped with a
massage function to help prevent fatigue during
longer journeys.
The PULSE function inflates and deflates the air
cushions in the backrest rhythmically.
An indicator lamp on the switch lights up when the
PULSE function is switched on. The PULSE function
switches off automatically after approximately
5minutes.
Note:
If the top cushion is inflated, only the middle air
cushion is inflated and deflated.Seat heater
The seat heaters can be switched on with the electronic
key in starter switch positions 1 or 2.
The buttons are located on each door.
Note:
When in operation, the seat heater consumes a large
amount of electrical power. It is not advisable to use the
seat heater longer than necessary.
The seat heaters may automatically switch off if too
many power consumers are switched on at the same
time or if the battery charge is low. In this case, one or
both indicator lamps will blink.
The seat heaters switch back on again automatically as
soon as sufficient voltage is available.
If the blinking of the indicator lamps is distracting to
you, the seat heaters can be switched off.

84 Restraint systems
Te ch n ica l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Seat belts and integrated restraint system
Your vehicle is equipped with seat belts for all seats,
emergency tensioning retractors for all outboard seat
belts, dual front airbags, side impact airbags for driver,
front and outer rear passengers, and head protective
window curtain airbags. Their protective functions are
designed to complement one another.
Seat belts
Important!
Laws in most states and all Canadian provinces require
seat belt use.
All states and provinces require use of child restraints
that comply with U.S. Federal Motor Vehicle Safety
Standard 213 and Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety
Standard 213.
All child restraints systems are designed to be secured
in vehicle seats by lap belts or the lap belt portion of a
lap-shoulder belt.
For your safety and that of your passengers we strongly
recommend their use.
Wa r n i n g !
Children 12 years old and under must never ride in
the front seat, except in a Mercedes-Benz
authorized BabySmart
TM compatible child seat,
which operates with the BabySmart
TM system
installed in the vehicle to deactivate the passenger-
side front airbag when it is properly installed.
Otherwise they will be struck by the airbag when it
inflates in a crash. If this happens, serious or fatal
injury will result.
According to accident statistics, children are safer
when properly restrained in the rear seating
positions than in the front seating positions.
Infants and small children must ride in back seats
and be seated in an appropriate infant or child
restraint system, which is properly secured with
the vehicle’s seat belt, fully in accordance with the
child seat manufacturer’s instructions.A child’s risk of serious or fatal injuries is
significantly increased if the child restraints are
not properly secured in the vehicle and the child is
not properly secured in the child restraint.