2002 MERCEDES-BENZ S500 Car low

5 ContentsCoolant level ...................................344
Adding coolant ...........................344
Windshield and headlamp
washer system ...........................345
Windshield and headlamp
washer fluid mixing ratio .........345
Spare wheel, vehicle tools,
storage compartment ................346
Vehicle jack .....................................347
Wheels .............................................348
Tire Replacement .......................348
Rotating wheels ..........................349
Spare wheel ....................................349
Changing wheels ........................... 351
Tire inflation pressure ..................356
Battery .............................................357
Jump starting ..................................359
Towing the vehicle ......................... 361
Exterior lamps ................................364
Headlamp assembly ...................365
Taillamp assemblies ..................368Changing batteries in
the electronic key ......................371
Synchronizing
remote control ............................ 373
Changing batteries in the
KEYLESS-GO-card .....................374
Emergency engine
shut-down ...................................376
Fuel filler flap,
manual release ..........................376
Emergency operation of
sliding/pop-up roof .................. 377
Replacing wiper blades ................ 378
Roof rack ......................................... 380
Vehicle careCleaning and care
of the vehicle ............................. 382
Power washer ............................. 383
Tar stains .................................... 384
Paintwork, painted body
components ................................ 384Engine cleaning ..........................384
Vehicle washing .........................384
Ornamental moldings ................385
Headlamps, taillamps,
turn signal lenses ......................385
Cleaning the Distronic
system sensor .............................386
Cleaning the parktronic
system sensors ...........................386
Wiper blades ...............................387
Light alloy wheels ......................388
Instrument cluster .....................388
Steering wheel and
gear selector lever ......................388
Cup holder ...................................388
Seat belts .....................................389
Headliner and shelf
below rear window .....................389
Leather upholstery .....................389
Hard plastic trim items .............389
Plastic and rubber parts ............389

8 Introduction
Operator’s manual
This Operator’s Manual contains a great deal of useful information. We urge you to read it carefully and familiarize
yourself with the vehicle before driving.
For your own safety and longer service life of the vehicle, we urge you to follow the instructions and warnings
contained in this manual. Ignoring them could result in damage to the vehicle or personal injury to you or others.
Vehicle damage caused by failure to follow instructions is not covered by the Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.
Your vehicle may have some or all of the equipment described in this manual. Therefore, you may find explanations
for optional equipment not installed in your vehicle. If you have any questions about the operation of any equipment,
your authorized Mercedes-Benz Center will be glad to demonstrate the proper procedures.
Service and warranty information
The Service and Warranty Information Booklet contains detailed information about the warranties covering your
Mercedes-Benz, including:
•New Car Limited Warranty,
•Emission System Warranty,
•Emission Performance Warranty,
•California, Maine, Massachusetts, and Vermont Emission Control System Warranty
(California, Maine, Massachusetts, and Vermont only),
•State Warranty Enforcement Laws (Lemon Laws).

25 Instruments and controls
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments
and controlsOperation DrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index 10COMAND system, see separate operating
instructions
11Automatic climate control, see page 166
Rear window defroster switch, see page 183
12Ashtray, see page 204
Lighter, see page 206
13Start-/Stop button
Starter switch for KEYLESS-GO only, see page 23214Lower storage space, see page 198
15Automatic transmission, see page 237
16AIRBAG OFF indicator lamp, see page 308
17Distronic (DTR) – switch for distance warning
function, see page 273.
18Distronic (DTR) – thumbwheel for setting distance,
see page 273.

35 Central locking system
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Locking and unlocking with remote control
Unlocking:
Press transmit button Œ. All turn signal lamps blink
once to indicate that the vehicle is unlocked.
The remote control can be programmed for two kinds of
unlocking modes (see below):
Selective unlocking mode –
Press transmit button Œ o nce to un lock dr iver’s d oor
and fuel filler flap.
Press transmit button Πtwice to unlock all doors,
fuel filler flap, and trunk.
Global unlocking mode –
Press transmit button Πonce to unlock all doors,
fuel filler flap, and trunk.
Notes:
If the trunk was previously locked separately, it will
remain locked, see page 51.
The presently active unlocking mode (selective or
global) can only be determined by unlocking the vehicle
with the remote control (see below for changing mode).If within 40 seconds of unlocking with the remote
control, neither door nor trunk is opened, the electronic
key is not inserted in the starter switch, or the central
locking switch is not activated, the vehicle will
automatically lock.
Locking:
Press transmit button ‹ once. All turn signal lamps
blink three times to indicate that the vehicle is locked. If
they do not blink three times, a door or trunk is not
properly closed.
Note:
If the vehicle cannot be locked or unlocked by pressing
the transmit button, then it may be necessary to change
the batteries in the electronic key (if ok, battery check
lamp in electronic key will light briefly when pressing
transmit button) or to synchronize the remote control,
see pages 371 and 373.
Choosing global or selective mode on remote control
Press and hold transmit buttons‹ andŒ
simultaneously for five seconds to reprogram the
remote control. Battery check lamp will blink two times
indicating the completed mode change.

36 Central locking system
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Opening the trunk
The trunk lid will swing open automatically. You should
always make sure there is sufficient clearance.
A minimum height clearance of 6 ft. (1.85 m) is
required to open the trunk lid.
Press transmit buttonŠ until trunk lid is open.
Important!
Do not place remote control in trunk since trunk is
locked when the lid is closed if the vehicle is centrally
locked.
Notes:
If the trunk was previously locked separately, it will
remain locked, see page 51.
Vehicles with optional remote trunk lid
opening / closing system, see page 56:
The switch operated opening/closing procedure can be
immediately halted by pressing buttonŠ on the
electronic key.KEYLESS-GO
Important!
For the KEYLESS-GO-system to function properly, the
operator should observe the following:
•The driver should carry the KEYLESS-GO-card with
him / her.
•To avoid radio transmission interference, never store
the KEYLESS-GO-card together with other electronic
items (e.g. cellular telephones, other KEYLESS-GO-
cards) or metallic objects (e.g. coins, metal foil).
•To lock or unlock the vehicle, the card must be
recognized by the system as being located outside
the vehicle. The card must be in close proximity to a
door or the trunk lid (approx. 3 ft. [1 m]). To activate
the start / stop button function, the KEYLESS-GO-
card must be recognized by the system as being
located inside the vehicle.
•If the KEYLESS-GO-card is positioned farther away
from the vehicle (e.g. inside clothing or a briefcase)
and can no longer be recognized by the system, the
vehicle cannot be locked or the engine started via
the KEYLESS-GO-system.

38 Central locking system
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Locking and unlocking with KEYLESS-GO-card
Unlocking:
Grasp any door handle. All turn signal lamps blink once
to indicate that the vehicle is unlocked.
The KEYLESS-GO-card can be programmed for two
kinds of unlocking modes (see below):
Selective unlocking mode –
Grasp driver’s door handle to unlock driver’s door and
fuel filler flap.
Grasping the passenger door or a rear door, centrally
unlocks the vehicle.
Global unlocking mode –
Grasp any door handle to unlock both doors, fuel filler
flap, and trunk.
For choosing global or selective mode on KEYLESS-GO-
card, see page 41.Notes:
The door which was unlocked, can be opened
immediately after the audible click. The other door can
be opened after its lock button rises up.
If the trunk was previously locked separately, it will
remain locked, see page 51.
The presently active unlocking mode (selective or
global) can be determined by pressing the button on the
KEYLESS-GO-card (see page 41 for changing mode).
If within 40 seconds of unlocking with the
KEYLESS-GO-card, neither door nor trunk is opened,
the electronic key is not inserted in the starter switch,
or the central locking switch is not activated, the vehicle
will automatically lock.

45 Central locking system
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Panic button
To activate press and hold button (1) for at least one
second. An audible alarm and blinking exterior lamps
will operate for approximately 2
1/2minutes.
To deactivate press button (1) again, or insert electronic
key in starter switch.Note:
For operation in the USA only: This device complies
with Part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to
the following two conditions:
(1) This device may not cause harmful interference, and
(2) this device must accept any interference received,
including interference that may cause undesired
operation.
Any unauthorized modification to this device could void
to the user’s authority to operate the equipment.
Mechanical keys
The mechanical keys work only in driver’s door, trunk,
and storage compartment locks.
Notes:
The mechanical key does not operate the central locking
system or antitheft alarm system.
The fuel filler flap cannot be locked or unlocked with
the mechanical key.
If the fuel filler flap cannot be opened, see page 376.
P80.35-2035-26
1

48 Central locking system
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Power closing assist for doors and trunk lid
(optional on model S 430 for Canada)
The doors and the trunk lid close automatically if:
•the doors are positioned against the lock,
•the trunk lid is lowered against the lock.
It is not necessary to slam the door or trunk lid closed, a
pneumatic power-assisted mechanism draws doors and
trunk lid closed quietly and automatically once the lid
or door has been latched. When the pneumatic power-
assisted mechanism has stopped, doors and / or trunk
can be reopened.Central locking switch
1Locking
2Unlocking
The central locking switch is located in the center
console.
The doors and trunk can only be locked with the central
locking switch, if all doors are closed except the driver’s
door.
Wa r n i n g !
To prevent possible personal injury, always keep
hands and fingers away from the door or trunk
opening when closing a door or the trunk lid. Be
especially careful when small children are around.The pneumatic power closing assist mechanism
cannot be interrupted once it has been engaged.To prevent personal injury, never actuate the
closing assist mechanism by tampering with the
door or trunk lid latch.