2001 MERCEDES-BENZ E-Class Owner's Manual

S-class
Operator’s Manual

S 430
S 500
S55AMG
S 600

Our company and staff congratulate you on the purchase of your new Mercedes-Benz.
Your selection of our product is a demonstration of your trust in our company name. Further, it exemplifies your desire
to own an automobile that will be as easy as possible to operate and provide years of service.
Your Mercedes-Benz represents the efforts of many skilled engineers and craftsmen. To ensure your pleasure of
ownership, and for your safety and that of your passengers, we ask you to make a small investment of your time:
•Please read this manual carefully before putting it aside. Then return it to your vehicle where it will be handy for
your reference.
•Please abide by the recommendations contained in this manual. They are designed to acquaint you with the
operation of your Mercedes-Benz.
•Please abide by the warnings and cautions contained in this manual. They are designed to help improve the safety
of the vehicle operator and occupants.
We extend our best wishes for many miles of safe, pleasurable driving.
DaimlerChrysler AG

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

2 Contents
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 inflation pressure
monitor and engine oil level
indicator ..................................... 124
Audio systems ............................. 125
Radio ............................................ 125
CD player ..................................... 126
Cassette player ........................... 127
Telephone ........................................ 128
Telephone book .......................... 128
Redialing ..................................... 130
Incoming call .............................. 132
Navigation system .......................... 133
Distronic (DTR) ............................... 134
Trip computer ................................. 135Malfunction / warning
message memory ......................136
Individual settings .........................138
Setting the audio volume ............. 146
Flexible service system
(FSS) ........................................... 147
Tire inflation
pressure monitor .......................150
Engine oil level indicator ..............154
Engine oil consumption ................155
Exterior lamp switch ......................156
Night security illumination ..........158
Headlamp cleaning system ...........159
Combination switch .......................160
Hazard warning flasher
switch ..........................................163
Automatic climate control .............164
Display and controls ..................166
Basic setting ................................168
Special Settings ..........................169
Activated charcoal filter ........... 172
Economy mode ........................... 173
Residual engine heat
utilization .....................................174Switching the automatic
climate control on and off ......... 175
Front center console storage
compartment ventilation .......... 175
Front center console storage
compartment ventilation .......... 175
Rear passenger compartment
climate control .......................... 177
Power windows ............................... 181
Sliding/pop-up roof ....................... 184
Interior lighting ............................. 187
Rear window sunshade ................. 190
Rear door window sunshade ........ 191
Sun visors ....................................... 191
Vanity mirrors ................................ 192
Interior ............................................ 193
Storage compartments and
armrests ..................................... 193
Glove box ..................................... 194
Cup holder ...................................... 199
Ashtrays .......................................... 201
Lighter .............................................203
Parcel net in front
passenger footwell ....................204

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

5 Contents
Practical hintsFirst aid kit .....................................328
Stowing things in the vehicle ......328
Fuses ................................................329
Hood ................................................. 331
Checking engine oil level .............334
Automatic transmission
fluid level ...................................335
Active body control
(ABC) fluid level ........................335
Coolant level ...................................336
Adding coolant ...........................336
Windshield and
headlamp washer system ........337
Windshield and
headlamp washer fluid
mixing ratio ................................337
Spare wheel, vehicle tools,
storage compartment ................338
Vehicle jack .....................................339
Wheels .............................................340
Tire Replacement .......................340
Rotating wheels .......................... 341
Spare wheel .................................... 341Changing wheels ........................... 343
Tire inflation pressure ................. 348
Battery ............................................. 349
Jump starting ................................. 351
Towing the vehicle ........................ 353
Exterior lamps ............................... 356
Headlamp assembly .................. 357
Taillamp assemblies .................. 360
Trunk lamp ..................................... 362
Changing batteries in the
electronic main key .................. 363
Synchronizing
remote control ............................ 365
Changing batteries in the
KEYLESS-GO-card .................... 366
Emergency engine
shut-down .................................. 368
Fuel filler flap,
manual release ......................... 368
Emergency operation of
sliding/pop-up roof .................. 369
Replacing wiper blades ................ 370
Roof rack ..........................................371
Vehicle careCleaning and care
of the vehicle ............................. 374
Power washer ..............................375
Tar stains ..................................... 376
Paintwork, painted body
components ................................. 376
Engine cleaning .......................... 376
Vehicle washing ......................... 376
Ornamental moldings ................377
Headlamps, taillamps,
turn signal lenses ......................377
Cleaning the Distronic
system sensor .............................378
Cleaning the parktronic
system sensors ...........................378
Wiper blades ...............................379
Light alloy wheels ......................380
Instrument cluster .....................380
Steering wheel and
gear selector lever ......................380
Cup holder ...................................380
Seat belts ..................................... 381