2002 MERCEDES-BENZ S500 engine heater

3 ContentsStorage compartments
and armrests .............................. 196
Glove box ..................................... 197
Cup holder ......................................202
Ashtrays ..........................................204
Lighter .............................................206
Parcel net in front
passenger footwell ....................208
Parcel net in trunk ........................208
Telephone, general ........................209
Garage door opener ....................... 210
Infrared reflecting
windshield ................................. 214
DrivingControl and operation of
radio transmitters ..................... 216
The first 1 000 miles
(1 500 km) ................................. 217
Maintenance ................................... 217
Tele Aid ........................................... 218
Catalytic converter ........................228Emission control ............................ 229
Starter switch ................................. 230
Starter switch –
KEYLESS-GO ............................. 232
Starting and turning off
the engine .................................. 235
Automatic transmission ............... 237
Parking brake ................................ 246
Driving instructions ...................... 247
Drive sensibly –
Save Fuel ..................................... 247
Drinking and driving ................ 247
Pedals .......................................... 247
Power assistance ........................ 248
Brakes .......................................... 248
Driving off ................................... 249
Parking ........................................ 250
Tires ............................................. 251
Snow chains ............................... 253
Winter driving instructions ..... 254
Block heater ................................ 255
Deep water .................................. 256Passenger compartment ...........256
Traveling abroad ........................257
Cruise control .................................258
Distronic (DTR) .............................. 261
Brake assist system
(BAS) ...........................................277
Antilock brake system
(ABS) ...........................................278
Electronic stability program
(ESP) ...........................................280
Active body control
(ABC) ..........................................284
Level control system for vehicles
with Airmatic system ...............285
Level control system for vehicles
with Active Body Control
(ABC) ..........................................286
Adaptive damping system
(ADS) ...........................................289
Parking assist (Parktronic) .......... 291
What you should know
at the gas station .......................296
Check regularly and
before a long trip ......................299

215 Contents – Driving
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
DrivingControl and operation of
radio transmitters ..................... 216
The first 1 000 miles
(1 500 km) ................................. 217
Maintenance ................................... 217
Tele Aid ........................................... 218
Catalytic converter ........................228
Emission control ............................229
Starter switch .................................230
Starter switch –
KEYLESS-GO ..............................232
Starting and turning off
the engine ..................................235
Automatic transmission ...............237
Parking brake .................................246
Driving instructions ......................247
Drive sensibly –
Save Fuel .....................................247
Drinking and driving .................247Pedals .......................................... 247
Power assistance ........................ 248
Brakes .......................................... 248
Driving off ................................... 249
Parking ........................................ 250
Tires ............................................. 251
Snow chains ............................... 253
Winter driving instructions ..... 254
Block heater ................................ 255
Deep water .................................. 256
Passenger compartment ........... 256
Traveling abroad ........................ 257
Cruise control ................................ 258
Distronic (DTR) .............................. 261
Brake assist system
(BAS) .......................................... 277
Antilock brake system
(ABS) .......................................... 278
Electronic stability program
(ESP) ........................................... 280Active body control
(ABC) ..........................................284
Level control system for vehicles
with Airmatic system ...............285
Level control system for vehicles
with Active Body Control
(ABC) ..........................................286
Adaptive damping system
(ADS) ...........................................289
Parking assist (Parktronic) .......... 291
What you should know
at the gas station .......................296
Check regularly and
before a long trip ......................299

235 Starting and turning off the engine
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Starting and turning off the engine
Before starting
Ensure that parking brake is engaged and that selector
lever is in position “P” or “N”.
Important!
In areas where temperatures frequently drop below -4
°F
(-20
°C) we recommend that an engine block heater be
installed. Your authorized Mercedes-Benz Center will
advise you on this subject, see page 255.
Starting with the electronic key
Do not depress accelerator.
Turn electronic key in starter switch to position 2.
Briefly turn electronic key in starter switch clockwise to
the stop and release. The starter will engage until the
engine is running.
If engine will not run, and the starting procedure stops,
turn electronic key completely to the left and repeat
starting the engine.After several unsuccessful attempts, have the system
checked at the nearest authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.
Important!
Due to the installed starter non-repeat feature, the
electronic key must be turned completely to the left
before attempting to start the engine again.
Note:
Too many unsuccessful starting attempts may discharge
the battery.
Turning off with the electronic key
Put the selector lever in position “P” and turn the
electronic key in the starter switch to position 0 to stop
the engine.
The electronic key can only be removed with the
selector lever in position “P”.

255 Driving instructions
Te ch n i c a 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,
seepage404.
•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 345.
•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.

411 Index
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments
and controlsOperation DrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car careIndex Economy mode ...........................................................176
Front center console
storage compartment ventilation ...................... 178
MAXCOOL .......................................................... 170, 181
Rear window defroster ............................................. 183
Residual engine heat utilization (REST) ................176
Special settings ......................................................... 172
Switching on and off ................................................ 177
Automatic climate control, rear
Air volume, manual .................................................. 181
Basic setting .............................................................. 181
Automatic maximum cooling ....................................... 170
Rear passenger compartment climate control ..... 181
Automatic transmission ...............................................237
Emergency operation ...............................................245
Fluid level ...................................................................343
Program mode selector switch ............................... 244
Selector lever position ..............................................240
BBabySmart
TM airbag deactivation system ..................... 88
Self-test ......................................................................... 88
BAS (Brake assist system) ............................................ 277
Battery .............................................................................357Battery recycling ...................................................... 358
BATTERY / ALTERNATOR -
malfunction and warning messages ...................... 311
Block heater ................................................................... 255
BRAKE ASSIST -
malfunction and warning messages ...................... 312
Brake assist system (BAS) ........................................... 277
Brake fluid .................................. 248, 299, 304, 402, 404
BRAKE FLUID -
malfunction and warning messages ...................... 313
Brake pad wear ............................................................... 313
BRAKE PAD WEAR -
malfunction and warning messages ...................... 313
Brake warning lamp ..................................................... 304
Brake fluid low ......................................................... 304
Brakes .......................................... 246, 248, 277, 278, 280
Bulbs
See Replacing bulbs ................................................. 364
CCapacities
Fuels, coolants, lubricants etc. .............................. 402
Card, KEYLESS-GO ..........................................................28
Catalytic converter ........................................................ 228
Center console .................................................................. 24

420 Index
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments
and controlsOperation DrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car careIndex
RRadio
See Audio systems .................................................... 124
Radio transmitters ......................................................... 216
Rain sensor
See Intermittent wiping ........................................... 163
Rear door window sunshade ........................................ 194
Rear passenger compartment
adjustable air outlets ................................................ 179
Rear passenger compartment climate control .......... 180
Rear view mirror, exterior
Adjusting .................................................................... 104
Rear view mirrors .......................................................... 103
Automatic antiglare .................................................. 103
Exterior ....................................................................... 104
Interior ........................................................................ 103
Parking position ........................................................ 105
Storing mirror positions ................................. 103, 104
Rear window defroster .................................................. 183
Rear window sunshade ................................................. 193Remote control .......................................................... 28, 33
Battery replacement ................................................. 371
Removal and installation of front
seat head restraints .................................................... 68
Replacing bulbs ............................................................. 364
Replacing wiper blades ................................................ 378
Reporting Safety Defects ................................................. 15
Residual engine heat utilization (REST) .................... 176
Roadside assistance ......................................................... 10
Roadside assistance call
See Tele Aid .............................................................. 222
Roof rack ......................................................................... 380
SSeat belts ........................................................................... 81
Fastening ......................................................................84
Operation ......................................................................85
Seat belt nonusage warning system .........................82
Unfastening .................................................................. 85
Warning lamp ........................................................... 308
Seat belts and integrated restraint system .................. 81
Seat heater ........................................................................ 71
Seat ventilation system ................................................... 74

421 Index
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments
and controlsOperation DrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car careIndex Seats
Front seat adjustment ................................................ 64
Lumbar support .......................................................... 69
Memory ...................................................................... 108
Multicontour backrest ................................................ 69
Seat heater ................................................................... 71
Setting passenger seat position from rear .............. 80
Ventilation system ...................................................... 74
SELECTOR LEVER -
malfunction and warning messages ......................329
Service indicator
See Flexible service system (FSS) .......................... 149
Setting the audio volume .............................................. 148
Side impact airbags ......................................................... 93
Simultaneous .................................................................... 42
Simultaneous use of electronic key
and KEYLESS-GO-card ............................................... 42
Sliding/pop-up roof ....................................................... 187
Emergency operation ...............................................377
Express opening ....................................................... 188
Opening and closing .................................................. 43
Synchronizing ........................................................... 189
Snow chains .................................................................... 253
SOS-call
See Tele Aid ............................................................... 218
Spare parts service ........................................................ 392Spare wheel ................................................................... 349
Special Settings (Automatic climate control) ............ 172
SRS (Supplemental Restraint System) ..........................89
Indicator lamp .......................................................... 305
SRS malfunction .......................................................... 91
Standby bulb function .................................................. 370
Start lock-out ..................................................................... 31
Starter switch .........................................................230, 232
Starting and turning off the engine ........................... 235
Starting the engine
Electronic key ........................................................... 235
KEYLESS-GO ............................................................. 236
Steering lock
See Starter switch ............................................230, 232
Steering wheel
Adjustment ................................................................. 102
Easy-entry/exit feature .............................................. 63
Storage compartment in the rear passenger
compartment ..............................................................201
Storage compartments and armrests .......................... 196
Storing mirror positions ............................................... 104
Stowing things in the vehicle ..................................... 336
Sun visors ........................................................................ 194
Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) ..........................89
Indicator lamp .......................................................... 305
SRS malfunction .......................................................... 91