2000 MERCEDES-BENZ S500 air

1 Contents
IntroductionProduct information .......................... 7
Operator’s manual ............................. 8
Where to find it ................................ 13
Reporting Safety Defects ................ 15Instruments and controlsInstruments and controls ............... 18
Door control panel ....................... 20
Overhead control panel ............... 21
Dashboard ..................................... 22
Center console .............................. 24OperationVehicle 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 ................................. 38Opening 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 ................ 57
Trunk 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 ............................... 73Multicontour 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 .................... 91
Self-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

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

4 Contents
Instrument cluster displayMalfunction and indicator
lamps in the
instrument cluster ....................296
On-board diagnostic system .....296
Check engine malfunction
indicator lamp .............................296
Brake warning lamp ..................298
Supplemental restraint
system (SRS)
indicator lamp .............................299
Fuel reserve warning .................299
ABS malfunction
indicator lamp .............................300
Electronic stability
program (ESP) —
warning lamp ..............................301
Distronic (DTR) –
warning lamp ..............................301
Seat belt nonusage
warning lamp ..............................302Malfunction and
indicator lamp in the
center console ........................... 302
AIRBAG OFF indicator lamp .... 302
Malfunction and
warning messages in the
multifunction display .............. 303
DISPLAY DEFECTIVE ................ 304
BATTERY/ALTERNATOR .......... 305
ENTRANCE POSITION .............. 306
BRAKE ASSIST ........................... 306
BRAKE LINING WEAR .............. 307
BRAKE FLUID ............................ 307
PARKING BRAKE ....................... 308
TRUNK OPEN ............................. 308
ELEC. STABIL. PROG.
(Electronic stability
program) ..................................... 309
COOLANT (coolant level) .......... 310
COOLANT
(coolant temperature) ................ 311LIGHTING SYSTEM .................... 312
LIGHT SENSOR ........................... 314
ACTIV E BO DY CO NTROL
(ABC) ............................................ 314
TIRE PRESSURE ......................... 316
ENGINE OIL LEVEL ................... 318
CRUISE CONTROL ..................... 319
KEY ............................................... 319
DOOR ...........................................320
HOOD ...........................................320
TELE AID .....................................321
OIL TEMP.
(engine oil temperature) ...........321
CHIP-CARD (KEYLESS-GO) ......322
SELECTOR LEVER ......................323
TELEPHONE – FUNCTION .......323
WASHER FLUID .........................324
AIR SPRING (AirMatic) .............325
DISTRONIC (DTR) ......................326

6 Contents
Headliner and shelf below
rear window ................................ 381
Leather upholstery ..................... 381
Hard plastic trim items ............. 381
Plastic and rubber parts ............ 381
Technical dataSpare parts service ....................... 384
Warranty coverage ........................ 384
Identification labels ...................... 385
Layout of poly-V-belt drive ........... 387
Technical data ................................ 388
Fuels, coolants, lubricants etc. -
capacities ................................... 394
Engine oils ...................................... 396
Engine oil additives ...................... 396Air conditioner refrigerant ...........396
Brake fluid ......................................396
Premium unleaded gasoline ........397
Fuel requirements .........................397
Gasoline additives .........................398
Coolants ...........................................398
Consumer information ..................400
IndexIndex ................................................402

9 IntroductionImportant notice for California retail buyers of Mercedes-Benz automobiles
Under California law you may be entitled to a replacement of your vehicle or a refund of the purchase price, if
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC or its authorized Mercedes-Benz Center fails to conform the vehicle to its express warranties
after a reasonable number of repair attempts during the period of one year or 12 000 miles from original delivery of
the vehicle. A reasonable number of repair attempts is presumed for a retail buyer (1) if the vehicle is out of service by
reason of repair of substantial nonconformities for a cumulative total of more than 30 calendar days or (2) the same
substantial non-conformity has been subject to repair four or more times and you have at least once directly
notified us in writing of the need to repair the non-conformity and have given us an opportunity to perform the
repair ourselves. Notifications should be sent to the nearest Mercedes-Benz Regional Office listed in the
Service and Warranty Information Booklet.
Maintenance
The Service Booklet describes all the necessary maintenance work which should be performed at regular intervals.
Always have the Service Booklet with you when you take the vehicle to your authorized Mercedes-Benz Center for
service. The service advisor will record each service in the booklet for you.

23 Instruments and controls
Te ch n ica l
data Instruments
and controlsOperation DrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index 1Parking brake pedal, see page 242
2Hood lock release, see page 331
3Parking brake release, see page 242
4Exterior lamp switch, see page 156
5Easy-entry / exit feature, see page 66
Steering wheel adjustment, see page 105
6Headlamp washer button, see page 159
7Combination switch, see page 160
8Cruise control switch, see page 253, or
Distronic (DTR) switch, see page 2569Multifunction steering wheel, see page 120
Horn (with electronic key in starter switch
position 1 or 2)
Airbag, see page 94
10Instrument cluster, see page 114
11Voice recognition system switch, see separate
operating instructions
12Starter switch, see page 226
13Glove box lock, see page 194
14Glove box lid release, see page 194

24 Instruments and controls
Te ch n ica l
data Instruments
and controlsOperation DrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Center console1ESP (Electronic Stability Program) control switch,
see page 274
2ADS (Adaptive Damping System), see page 283
Level control for vehicles with ABC (Active Body
Control), see page 278
3Level control for vehicles with Airmatic,
seepage279
ABC (Active Body Control), see page 278
4Rear seat head restraints, see page 80
Rear seat head restraints, automatic, see page 81
5Hazard warning flasher switch, see page 163
6Central locking switch, see page 50
7Antitheft Alarm System, see page 62
Switch for Tow-Away Protection, see page 64
8Parking assist (Parktronic system) deactivation
(optional), see page 285
9Rear window sunshade, see page 190
10COMAND system, see separate operating
instructions
11Automatic climate control, see page 164
Rear window defroster, see page 180
P68.20-2314-27

25 Instruments and controls
Te ch n ica l
data Instruments
and controlsOperation DrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index 12Ashtray, see page 201
Lighter, see page 203
13Start-/Stop button
Starter switch for KEYLESS-GO only, see page 228
14Lower storage space, see page 195
15Automatic transmission, see page 23316AIRBAG OFF indicator lamp, see page 302
17Distronic (DTR) – switch for distance notification
function, see page 268.
18Distronic (DTR) – thumbwheel for setting distance,
see page 268.