
4 Contents
Instrument cluster displayMalfunction and indicator 
lamps in the 
instrument cluster  ....................302
On-board diagnostic 
system ..........................................302
Check engine malfunction 
indicator lamp .............................302
Brake warning lamp  ..................304
Supplemental restraint system 
(SRS) indicator lamp ..................305
Fuel reserve warning .................305
ABS malfunction 
indicator lamp .............................306
Electronic stability program 
(ESP) — warning lamp  ...............307
Distronic (DTR) – 
warning lamp  ..............................307
Seat belt nonusage 
warning lamp  ..............................308
Malfunction and indicator 
lamp in the 
center console  ...........................308
AIRBAG OFF indicator lamp .....308Malfunction and warning 
messages in the 
multifunction display  .............. 309
DISPLAY DEFECTIVE ................. 310
BATTERY/ALTERNATOR ........... 311
ENTRANCE POSITION  ...............312
BRAKE ASSIST ............................312
BRAKE LINING WEAR ............... 313
BRAKE FLUID  ............................. 313
PARKING BRAKE ........................ 314
TRUNK OPEN  .............................. 314
ELEC. STABIL. PROG. 
(Electronic stability 
program) ...................................... 315
COOLANT 
(coolant level)  .............................. 316
COOLANT 
(coolant temperature)  ................ 317
LIGHTING SYSTEM  .................... 318
LIGHT SENSOR  .......................... 320
ACTIVE BODY CONTROL 
(ABC) ........................................... 320
TIRE PRESSURE  ........................ 322
ENGINE OIL LEVEL  ................... 324CRUISE CONTROL  .....................325
KEY ...............................................325
DOOR ...........................................326
HOOD ...........................................326
TELE AID  .....................................327
CHIP-CARD 
(KEYLESS-GO) ............................328
SELECTOR LEVER ......................329
TELEPHONE – FUNCTION  .......329
WASHER FLUID  .........................330
AIR SPRING (AirMatic)  ............. 331
DISTRONIC (DTR)  ......................332
AIR CLEANER .............................333
Practical hintsFirst aid kit  .....................................336
Stowing things in the vehicle  ......336
Fuses ................................................337
Hood .................................................339
Checking engine oil level  .............342
Automatic transmission 
fluid level  ...................................343
Active body control (ABC) 
fluid level  ...................................343 

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 

6 Contents
Technical dataSpare parts service  ........................392
Warranty coverage .........................392
Identification labels .......................393
Layout of poly-V-belt drive ............395
Technical data  ................................396
Fuels, coolants, lubricants etc. - 
capacities ...................................402Engine oils ...................................... 404
Engine oil additives  ...................... 404
Air conditioner refrigerant  .......... 404
Brake fluid ...................................... 404
Premium unleaded gasoline  ........ 405
Fuel requirements  ........................ 405
Gasoline additives  ......................... 406
Coolants .......................................... 406
Consumer information  ................. 408
IndexIndex ................................................ 410 

113 Instrument cluster
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments 
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index 1Knob for instrument cluster illumination, 
seepage114
2Engine malfunction indicator lamp, see page 302
3Brake fluid low, parking brake engaged, 
seepage313
4Supplemental restraint system (SRS) malfunction 
indicator lamp, see page 305
5Coolant temperature gauge, see page 115
6Outside temperature indicator, see page 115
7Fuel gauge with reserve warning lamp, see page 305
8Left turn signal indicator lamp, see combination 
switch, see page 162
9Speedometer, see page 116
10Electronic stability program (ESP) warning lamp, 
system is adjusting to road conditions, see page 307
11Distance warning lamp – vehicles with Distronic 
(DTR), distance to the vehicle ahead is insufficient, 
see page 272 and 307
Vehicles without Distronic: It illuminates with the 
electronic key in starter switch position 2. It should 
go out when the engine is running.12Multifunction display, see page 118
Malfunction and warning messages in the 
multifunction display, see page 309
13Trip odometer, see page 117 and 122
14Main odometer, see page 122
15Right turn signal indicator lamp, see combination 
switch, page 162
16Tachometer, see page 117
17Gear range indicator display, see selector lever 
positions, page 240
18Digital clock
To set the time, see COMAND operator’s manual
19Antilock brake system (ABS) malfunction indicator 
lamp, see page 306
20High beam headlamp indicator, 
see exterior lamp switch on page 158, and 
combination switch on page 162
21Fasten seat belts, see page  308
22Reset button  J, see page 114 and 117  

115 Instrument cluster
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments 
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Coolant temperature gauge (5)
During severe operating conditions and stop-and-go city 
traffic, the coolant temperature may rise close to the red 
marking.
The engine should not be operated with the coolant 
temperature in the red zone. Doing so may cause 
serious engine damage which is not covered by the 
Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.Outside temperature indicator (6)
The temperature sensor is located in the front bumper 
area. Due to its location, the sensor can be affected by 
road or engine heat during idling or slow driving. This 
means that the accuracy of the displayed temperature 
can only be verified by comparison to a thermometer 
placed next to the sensor, not by comparison to external 
displays (e.g. bank signs etc.). 
Adaption to ambient temperature takes place in steps 
and depends on the prevailing driving conditions (stop-
and-go or moderate, constant driving) and amount of 
temperature change.
Note:
The unit for the temperature indicator display can be set 
in the individual setting menu “INST. CLUSTER” – 
“TEMP. INDICATOR” on page 140.
Wa r n i n g !
• Driving when your engine is badly overheated 
can cause some fluids which may have leaked 
into the engine compartment to catch fire. You 
could be seriously burned.• Steam from an overheated engine can cause 
serious burns and can occur just by opening 
the engine hood. Stay away from the engine if 
you see or hear steam coming from it. Turn off 
the engine, get out of the vehicle and do not 
stand near the vehicle until it cools down.
Wa r n i n g !
The outside temperature indicator is not designed 
to serve as an Ice-Warning Device and is therefore 
unsuitable for that purpose. Indicated 
temperatures just above the freezing point do not 
guarantee that the road surface is free of ice. 

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. 

297 What you should know at the gas station
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments 
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Fuel tank capacity approximately 23.2 US gal (88.0 l).
This includes approximately 2.9 US gal (11.0 l) reserve. 
Use premium unleaded gasoline: 
S430, S500, S55AMG
Posted Octane Index 91 (Average of 96 RON / 86 MON).
S600:
Posted Octane Index 93 (Average of 98 RON/88 MON).Engine oil
Checking oil level, see instructions on pages 156 
and 342.
S 430, S 500 and S 55 AMG only:
Fill quantity between upper and lower dipstick marking 
level: 2.1 US qt (2.0 l).
Recommended engine oils, see Approved Service 
Products sheet.
Coolant
For normal replenishing, use water (potable water 
quality). For further information refer to page 344. 

299 Check regularly and before a long trip
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments 
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Check regularly and before a long trip 1Windshield washer and 
headlamp cleaning system
For refilling reservoir see page 345.
2Coolant level, 
see “Adding coolant” on page 344
3Engine oil level, 
see “Engine oil level checking” on page  156 and 342
4Brake fluid, 
see “Brake fluid” on page 404
Opening hood, see page 339.
Ve h i c l e  l i g h t i n g : Check function and cleanliness. For 
replacement of light bulbs, see “Exterior lamps” on 
page 364.
Exterior lamp switch, see page 158.