2003 MERCEDES-BENZ S CLASS fuel

376 Technical dataFuels, coolants, lubricants etc.Anticorrosion / antifreeze
Your vehicle contains a number of alumi-
num parts. The use of aluminum compo-
nents in motor vehicle engines
necessitates that anticorrosion/ antifreeze
coolant used in such engines be specifical-
ly formulated to protect the aluminum parts. (Failure to use such anticorro-
sion/antifreeze coolant will result in a sig-
nificantly shortened service life.)
Therefore, the following product is strongly
recommended for use in your vehicle:
Mercedes-Benz 325.0
Anticorrosion / Antifreeze Agent.Before the start of the winter season (or
once a year in hot southern regions), you
should have the anticorrosion / antifreeze
concentration checked. The coolant is also
regularly checked each time you bring your
vehicle to your authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center for service.
Anticorrosion / antifreeze quantityModel
Approx. freeze protection– 35°F (– 37°C)
– 49°F (– 45°C)
S 430
S 500
6.1 US qt. (5.75 l)
6.7 US qt. (6.3 l)
S 55 AMG
7.1 US qt. (7.75 l)
7.8 US qt. (7.4 l)
S 600
6.3 US qt. (6.0 l)
7.0 US qt. (6.6 l)

377 Technical data
Fuels, coolants, lubricants etc.
Windshield and headlamp washer system
Both the windshield and headlamp washer
systems are supplied from the windshield
washer fluid reservoir.
The washer fluid reservoir has a capacity of
approximately:

7.1 US qt. (6.7 l) in vehicles with head-
lamp cleaning system* or heated reser-
voir


3.2 US qt. (3.0 l) in vehicles without
headlamp cleaning system

Refill the reservoir with MB Windshield
Washer Concentrate and water (or con-
centrate and commercially available
premixed windshield washer
solvent / antifreeze, depending on am-
bient temperatures).Windshield and headlamp washer fluid
mixing ratio
For temperatures above freezing, use
MB Windshield Washer Concentrate “S”
and water:


1 part “S” to 100 parts water
[40 ml “S” to 1 gallon (4 liters) water].
For temperatures below freezing, use
MB Windshield Washer Concentrate “S”
and commercially available premixed
windshield washer solvent / antifreeze:


1 part “S” to 100 parts solvent
[40 ml “S” to 1 gallon (4 liters) solvent].
Warning
G
Washer solvent / antifreeze is highly flam-
mable. Do not spill washer solvent/anti-
freeze on hot engine parts, because it may
burn. You can be seriously burned.

383 Technical terms
FSS
(F
lexible S
ervice S
ystem)
Service indicator in the multifunction
display that informs the driver when
the next vehicle maintenance service is
due.
Gear range
Number of gears which are available to
the automatic transmission for shifting.
The automatic gear shifting process
can be adapted to specific operating
conditions using the selector lever.
GPS
(G
lobal P
ositioning S
ystem)
Satellite-based system for relaying
geographic location information to and
from vehicles equipped with special re-
ceivers. Employs CD digital maps for
navigation.
Instrument cluster
The displays and indicator/warning
lamps in the driver’s field of vision, in-
cluding the tachometer, speedometer,
engine temperature and fuel gauge.KEYLESS-GO*
System for entering and operating the
vehicle without the use of a SmartKey.
Kickdown
Depressing the accelerator past the
point of resistance shifts the transmis-
sion down to the lowest possible gear.
This very quickly accelerates the vehi-
cle and should not be used for normal
acceleration needs.
Lock button
Button on the door which indicates
whether the door is locked or un-
locked. Pushing the lock button down
on an individual door from inside will
lock that door.
Memory function*
Used to store three individual seat,
steering wheel and mirror positions for
each SmartKey or, if so equipped, KEY-
LESS-GO* card.Menu
The control system displays are ar-
ranged in menus. Each menu contains
a number of commands for particular
systems. In the Audio menu, for exam-
ple, you will find the commands
Select
radio station
or Operate CD player
.
Using commands, you can directly
change the settings for your vehicle.
MON
(M
otor O
ctane N
umber)
The Motor Octane Number for gasoline
as determined by a standardized meth-
od. It is an indication of a gasoline's
ability to resist undesired detonation
(knocking). The average of both the
MON (Motor Octane Number) and
->RON (Research Octane Number) is
posted at the pump, also known as AN-
TI-KNOCK INDEX.
Multifunction display
Display field in the speedometer used
to present information provided by the
control system.

395 Index
Fog lamps, front
Messages in display 314
Replacing bulbs 332
Switching on 122
Folding electrically
Exterior rear view mirrors
170
Four wheel electronic traction system
(4MATIC)
with ESP 81
4MATIC 81
Front airbags 61
Front lamps
Messages in display 313–315
Replacing bulbs 331, 333
Switching on 120
Front seat head restraints
Installing 106
Power seat 105
Removing 105
FSS (Flexible Service System) 280, 383
Fuel 261
Fuel reserve warning lamp 294
Premium unleaded gasoline 261
Fuel consumption statistics
After start 143Since last reset 144
Fuel filler flap 261
Locking 261
Opening 329
Unlocking 261
Fuel reserve tank
Message in display 311
Fuel tank
Filler flap 261
Fuels, coolants, lubricants etc. 371
Functions (control system) 131, 134
Resetting 147
Fuse box 353, 354
Fuse chart 323
Fuses 353
Auxiliary fuse box in trunk 353
Fuse box in engine compartment 354
Fuse box in passenger compartment
353
Fuse boxes in the engine compartment
355
Fuse chart 323
Fuse extractor 323
Spare fuses 323G
Garage door opener 245
Erasing in remote control 247
Integrated remote control 246
Rolling code programming 246
Gasoline see Fuel 261
Gear range 383
Automatic transmission 162
Limiting 162
Shifting into optimal 161
Gear range limit
Canceling 161
Gear selector lever
Cleaning 287
Position 163
Global
Locking 87
Unlocking 87
Global Positioning System (GPS) 383
Glove box 224
Closing 224
Opening 224
Good visibility 168
GPS 383
GPS see COMAND* 243

397 Index
Rolling code programming 246
Interior lighting 124
Activating automatic control 125
Deactivating automatic control 125
Delayed shut-off 153
Manual operation 125
Interior storage spaces 224
Cup holder 229
Glove box 224
Parcel net 232
Storage compartment in front of arm-
rest 225, 226, 227, 228
J
Jump starting 347
K
Key dependency memory
Settings 156
Key see SmartKey 30, 52
Key, mechanical 326
Key, SmartKey
Positions in starter switch 31
KEYLESS-GO* 383
Activating ignition with 33
Closing side windows 93
Closing sliding/pop-up roof 93Closing sliding/pop-up roof with 190,
194
Closing windows with 190, 194
Locking the vehicle 93
Loss of KEYLESS-GO card 94
Messages in display 303
Starting the engine 43
Turning off engine 53
Unlocking with 32
KEYLESS-GO* card 89
Checking the batteries 92
Checking vehicle lock status 93
Factory setting 91
Global locking 91
Global unlocking 92
Loss of 94
Messages in display 303
Reprogramming 91
Unlocking 89
Keys 86
Kickdown 165, 383
Kilometers/miles in speedometer 149
Km/h or mph in speedometer 149L
Lamp bulbs, exterior 331
Lamps, exterior
Front 331
Light sensor 312
Messages in display 314
Rear 332
Lamps, indicator and warning
ABS 291
Airbag Off 61
Battery (SmartKey) 87
Brakes 293
CHECK ENGINE 294
Coolant 304
DTR* 201
Engine diagnostics 294
ESP 290
Fuel reserve 294
Instrument cluster 290–294
Seat belts 294
Service indicator 280
SRS 57
Language
Multifunction display 150
Setting 150
LATCH child seat anchors 72

398 IndexLayout of poly-V-belt drive 361
Leather upholstery
Cleaning 287
Lever
For cruise control 203
License plate lamps
Replacing bulbs 332, 336
Light alloy wheels
Cleaning 286
Light sensor 312
Lighter see Cigarette lighter 233
Lighting 120
Automatic headlamp mode 121
Combination switch 123
Daytime running lamp mode 122
Exterior lamp switch 120
Front fog lamps 122
High beam flasher 123
High beams 123
Instrument cluster illumination 127
Interior 124
Locator lighting 122
Low beam 120
Manual headlamp mode 121
Night security illumination 122
Parking lamps 120Rear fog lamp 123
Settings (control system) 150
Limiting the gear range 162
Limp Home Mode 165
Loading 222
Cargo tie-down hooks 223
Instructions 222
Roof rack 222
Locator lighting 122
Setting 151
Lock button 383
Lock buttons 383
Door handle (KEYLESS-GO*) 53
Locking 50, 86
Fuel filler flap 261
Global (KEYLESS-GO* card) 91, 92
Global, SmartKey 87
The vehicle with KEYLESS-GO* 93
Trunk lid, separately 98
Vehicle in an emergency 327
Loss of keys 89, 94
Low beam headlamps
Messages in display 313, 314
Replacing bulbs 331
Lowering
Vehicle 342Lumbar support adjustment 104
M
Main Dimensions 369
Maintenance 12, 280
Malfunction
Displaying 145
Malfunction memory 145
Calling up 145
Manual headlamp mode 121
Manual operations
Fuel filler flap 329
Interior lighting control 125
Locking the vehicle 327
Sliding/pop-up roof 330
Unlocking the driver’s door 326
Unlocking the trunk lid 327
Manual shift program S 55 AMG 166
Massage function 109
MAXCOOL
Maximum cooling 179
Mechanical key 326
Memory function 117, 383
Recalling positions from memory 118
Storing exterior rear view mirror park-
ing positions 118
Storing key dependent settings 118

399 Index
Menus 131
AUDIO 135
Control system 383
Distronic* 142, 202
In control system 133, 134
Malfunction memory 145
NAVI 142
Settings menu 146
Standard display 135
Submenus 132
TEL* 139
Trip computer 143
Microphone
Hands-free microphone 27
Miles/kilometers in speedometer
Setting 149
Spare wheel
Mounting 339
Mirrors
Activating exterior rear view mirror
parking position 169
Adjusting 38
Automatic antiglare for rear view mirror
168
Exterior rear view mirror 39Exterior rear view mirror parking
position 158
Inside rear view mirror 38
Storing exterior rear view mirror park-
ing position 118
MON 261
MON (Motor Octane Number) 383
Mph or km/h in speedometer 149
Multicontour seat* 107
Multifunction display 130, 383
Selecting language 150
Standard display 134
Multifunction display messages
ABC 297, 299
ABS 298
BAS 300, 310
Brake fluid 302
Brake pads 302
Check engine 294
Coolant 305
Coolant level 304
Distronic* 307
Doors 307
Engine 294
Engine oil level 309
Entry position 321Fuel reserve tank 311
Hood 311
Key 311
KEYLESS-GO* card 303
Lamps 314
Parking brake 315
Selector lever 307
TeleAid 320
Telephone* 321
Tires 318
Trunk 321
Washer fluid 321
Multifunction steering wheel 24, 131, 384
Buttons 131
N
Navigation system
Operating 142
See separate COMAND* operating in-
structions
Night security illumination 122
O
Occupant safety 56
Airbags 57
Children and airbags 58
Children in the vehicle 67

400 Index
Fastening the seat belt 40
Infant and child restraint systems 67
LATCH child seat anchors 72
Seat belts 40, 60
Oil
Adding 266, 267
Checking level 264
Consumption 264
Filler neck 267
Viscosity 382
Oil level
Checking 262
One-touch gearshifting 161
Canceling gear range limit 161
Downshifting 161
Upshifting 161
Opening
Ashtray 232
Cup holder 230
Doors from the inside 94
Fuel filler flap 261
Fuel filler flap manually 329
Glove box 224
Hood 263
Side windows 188, 189
Sliding/pop-up roof 192, 330Sliding/pop-up roof in an emergency
330
Sliding/pop-up roof with SmartKey
194
Storage space in the armrest 226
Storage space in the center console
225, 226, 227
Trunk 95
Trunk from the inside 96
Windows 188
Windows with SmartKey 190
Opening from the inside
Trunk 99
Operating
CD player 136
COMAND* see separate operating in-
structions
Garage door opener 247
Integrated remote control 247
Navigation system 142
Radio 136
Radio transmitters 258
Safety 16
Telephone* 139
Vehicle outside the USA and Canada
13Operating safety 16
Operator’s Manual 10
Ornamental moldings 284
Outside temperature indicator 129
Overdue service 280
Overhead control panel 27
Garage door opener 27
Reading lamp 27
Rear view mirror 27
Tele Aid button 27
Override switch see Blocking of rear win-
dow operation 74
Overspeed range 384
P
Paintwork 283
Panic alarm 75
Panic button on SmartKey 75
Parcel net in front passenger footwell 232
Parcel net in trunk 232
Parking 50, 253
Parking and standing lamps
Replacing bulbs 331
Parking assist see Parktronic 218
Parking brake 44, 50
Engaging 50
Message in display 315