2003 MERCEDES-BENZ S500 4MATIC ABS

310 Practical hintsWhat to do if …?Display
Possible cause
Suggested solution
ESP
MALFUNCTION!
VISIT WORKSHOP!
The ESP has detected a malfunction and
switched off.
The ABS may still be operational.

Continue driving with added caution.

Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center as soon as possible.
Failure to follow these instructions in-
creases the risk of an accident.
DISPLAY MALFUNCTION
VISIT WORKSHOP!
The ESP or the ESP display is malfunction-
ing.

Continue driving with added caution.

Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center as soon as possible.
Failure to follow these instructions in-
creases the risk of an accident.
NOT AVAILABLE!
SEE OPER. MANUAL
The ESP was deactivated because the pow-
er supply has been interrupted. The ABS is
still operational.

With the vehicle stationary and the
engine running, turn the steering
wheel completely to the left and then
to the right to synchronize the ESP.
If the ESP message does not go out:

Continue driving with added caution.

Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center as soon as possible.
Failure to follow these instructions in-
creases the risk of an accident.

340 Practical hintsFlat tire

Take the two-piece wheel wrench out
of the vehicle tool kit tray. Assemble
wheel wrench.

On wheel to be changed, loosen but do
not yet remove the wheel bolts (ap-
proximately one full turn with wrench).
The tube openings are located directly be-
hind the front wheel housings and in front
of the rear wheel housings.1Jack support tube cover

Move cover1 toward rear by pressing
at point indicated by arrow.

Remove cover1 carefully to avoid
damage to the locking tabs.
Warning!
G
The jack is designed exclusively for jacking
up the vehicle at the jack tubes built both
sides of the vehicle. To help avoid personal
injury, use the jack only to lift the vehicle
during a wheel change. Never get beneath
the vehicle while it is supported by the jack.
Keep hands and feet away from the area un-
der the lifted vehicle. Always firmly set park-
ing brake and block wheels before raising
vehicle with jack.
Do not disengage parking brake while the
vehicle is raised. Be certain that the jack is
always vertical (plumb line) when in use, es-
pecially on hills. Always try to use the jack
on level surface. Make sure that the jack
arm is fully inserted in the jack tube. Always
lower the vehicle onto sufficient capacity
jackstands before working under the vehi-
cle.


343 Practical hints
Flat tire

Before storing the jack in the trunk, it
should be fully collapsed, with handle
folded in.

Place the wheel bolt wrench, alignment
bolt and jack back in the vehicle tool kit
in the trunk and close the covering lid.
Replacing jack support tube cover

Slide tongue of cover under the upper
edge of the tube opening.

Applying even pressure, press cover
until it snaps into place. Be careful not
to damage the locking tabs or clamp
the plastic retaining strap.!You can also screw the faulty wheel
down into the spare wheel well in the
trunk.
Do not activate the tire inflation pres-
sure monitor until the depressurized
tire is no longer in the vehicle.


373 Technical data
Fuels, coolants, lubricants etc.
Engine oils
Engine oils are specifically tested for their
suitability in our engines. Therefore, only
use engine oils recommended by
Mercedes-Benz. Information on recom-
mended brands is available in the Factory
Approved Service Products pamphlet, or at
your authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Please follow FSS recommendations for
scheduled oil changes. Failure to do so
could result in engine damage not covered
by the Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.
Engine oil additives
Do not blend oil additives with engine oil.
They may be harmful to the engine opera-
tion.
Damage or malfunctions resulting from
blending oil additives are not covered by
the Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.Air conditioning refrigerant
R-134a (HFC) refrigerant and special PAG
lubricating oil is used in the air condition-
ing system.
Never use R-12 (CFC) or mineral-based lu-
bricating oil, as otherwise damage to the
system will occur.
Brake fluid
During vehicle operation, the boiling point
of the brake fluid is continuously reduced
through the absorption of moisture from
the atmosphere. Under extremely strenu-
ous operating conditions, this moisture
content can lead to the formation of bub-
bles in the system, thus reducing the sys-
tem’s efficiency.
Therefore, the brake fluid must be re-
placed every two years, preferably in the
spring.
Only brake fluid approved by
Mercedes-Benz is recommended. Your au-
thorized Mercedes-Benz Center will pro-
vide you with additional information.

381 Technical terms
ABS
(A
ntilock B
rake S
ystem)
Prevents the wheels from locking up
during braking so that the vehicle can
continue to be steered.
Alignment bolt
Metal pin with thread. The centering
pin is an aid used when changing a tire
to align the wheel with the wheel hub.
BabySmart
TM
airbag deactivation
system
This system detects if a special system
compatible child restraint seat is in-
stalled on the front passenger seat. The
system will automatically deactivate
the front passenger-side airbag when
such a seat is properly installed (indica-
tor lamp PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF in
the center console lights up). See your
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center for
availability.BabySmart
TM
compatible child seats
Special restraint system for children.
The sensor system for the passenger
seat prevents deployment of the front
passenger-side airbag if a
BabySmartTM compatible child seat is
installed.
BAS
(B
rake A
ssist S
ystem)
System for potentially reducing braking
distances in emergency braking situa-
tions. The system is activated when it
senses an emergency based on how
fast the brake is applied.
Bi-xenon headlamps*
Headlamps which use an electric arc as
the light source and produce a more in-
tense light than filament headlamps.
Bi-xenon headlamps produce low beam
and high beam.CAC
(C
ustomer A
ssistance C
enter)
Mercedes-Benz customer service cen-
ter, which can help you with any ques-
tions about your vehicle and provide
assistance in the event of a break-
down.
CAN system
(C
ontroller A
rea N
etwork)
Data bus network serving to control ve-
hicle functions such as door locking or
windshield wiping.
Cockpit
All instruments, switches, buttons and
indicator/warning lamps in the passen-
ger compartment needed for vehicle
operation and monitoring.

387 Index
A
ABC 213
Messages in display 297, 299
Setting vehicle level 212, 215
ABS 76, 381
Malfunction indicator lamp 291
Messages in display 298
Warning lamp 291
Accelerator position, automatic transmis-
sion 165
Accident
In case of 49
Activating
Air conditioner (cooling) 184
Air conditioning 184
Air recirculation mode 180
Anti-theft alarm system 83
Central locking (control system) 155
Charcoal filter 182
Distance warning function* 208
Distronic* 204
Easy-entry/exit feature 156
ESP 80
Exterior lamps 121Exterior rear view mirror parking posi-
tion 169
Front and rear fog lamp 121
Hazard warning flasher 124
Headlamps 46
High beams 123
Ignition 31
Ignition with KEYLESS-GO* start/stop
button 33
Immobilizer 52, 82
Rear window defroster 183
Residual heat 185
Seat heater 111, 112
Seat ventilation* 110
Tow-away alarm 84
Windshield wipers 47
Activating steering wheel gearshift control
166
Downshifting 167
Upshifting 166
Adding
Coolant 269
Engine oil 266, 267
Additional turn signals 331Adjustable air vents, rear passenger com-
partment 186
Adjusting 34
Air distribution 178
Air volume 179
Backrest tilt 36
Drive-dynamic seats 159
Exterior rear view mirror 39
Head restraint height 37
Head restraint tilt 37
Inside rear view mirror 38
Instrument cluster illumination 127
Lumbar support 104
Mirrors 38
Multicontour seat* 107
Power seat bench* 113
Seat cushion depth 36, 108
Seat cushion tilt 36
Seat fore and aft adjustment 36
Seat height 36
Seat in the lumbar region 108
Seat in the shoulder region 108
Seats 34
Steering column height 38
Steering column length 38
Steering wheel 37

388 IndexAir conditioning
Turning off 184
Turning on 184
Air pressure see Tire inflation pressure 273
Air recirculation mode 180
Activating 180
Deactivating 181
Air vents, rear passenger compartment
Adjustable 186
Air volume
Adjusting 179
AIRBAG OFF indicator lamp 295
Airbags 57
BabySmart
TM airbag deactivation sys-
tem 69, 381
Children 58
Front 61
Passenger 61
Safety guidelines 60
Side impact 61
Window curtain 61
AIRMATIC 211
Alarm
Audible 75, 83
Canceling 83
Visual 82Alarm system
Anti-theft 82
Alignment bolt 341
Alignment bolt (vehicle tool kit) 323, 381
Antiglare
Automatic 168
Antilock brake system (ABS) 381
Anti-theft alarm system
Arming 83
Canceling alarm 83
Disarming 83
Anti-theft systems 82
Anti-theft alarm system 82
Immobilizer 82
Tow-away alarm 84
Aquaplaning see Hydroplaning 255
Armrest
Storage compartment in front of 225,
226, 227, 228
Ashtray 232
At the gas station 261
ATF (Automatic Transmission Fluid) 268
AUDIO menu 135
Selecting radio station 136
Audio system
CD mode 137Automatic antiglare for rear view mirror
168
Automatic central locking
Activating/deactivating (control sys-
tem) 155
Automatic climate control 174
Air recirculation mode 180
Defrosting 180
Rear window defroster 183
Setting the temperature 177
Automatic headlamp mode 121
Automatic lighting control
Activating 125
Deactivating 125
Automatic locking when driving 102
Automatic transmission 160
Accelerator position 165
Activating steering wheel gearshift
control 166
Comfortable program mode 164
Deactivating steering wheel gearshift
control 167
Emergency operation (Limp Home
Mode) 165
Fluid level 268
Gear ranges 162

393 Index
Distronic* 199, 382
Activated 203
Activating 204
Calling up settings 142, 202
Cleaning system sensor 285
Cruise control lever 203
Deactivated 203
Deactivating 206
Deceleration 202
Decreasing distance 207
Decreasing time interval 206
Displays in the speedometer dial 201
Distance warning function 207
Driving hints 208
Fine adjustment 205
Increasing distance 207
Increasing time interval 206
Intermittent signal tone 201
Menu 202
Messages in display 307
Sensor cover 285
Setting a higher speed 204
Setting a slower speed 205
Setting following distance 206
Setting the current speed 204
Setting to last stored speed ("Resume" function) 205
Warning and indicator lamps 201
Door control panel 19, 28
Door unlock
With Tele Aid* 244
Doors
Message in display 307
Opening from inside vehicle 94
Opening from outside 87
Downhill driving
Cruise control 197
Downshifting 161, 167
Drink holder see Cup holder 229
Drinking and driving 251
Drive-dynamic seat* 109
Drive-dynamic seats
Adjusting 159
Driving
Abroad 258
General instructions 40, 251
Hydroplaning 255
In winter 256
Problems 48
Safety systems 76
Through standing water 257
With Distronic* 208Driving abroad 258
Driving instructions 251
Driving off 253
Driving safety systems
4MATIC 81
ABS 76
BAS 78
ESP 78
Driving systems 196
ABC 213
AIRMATIC 211
Cruise control 196
Distronic* 199
Driving safety systems 76
Parktronic 218
Vehicle level control 212, 215
E
Easy-entry/exit feature 104
Activating 156
Interrupting movement 157
Electrical fuses 353
Electrical system 368
Electrically folding exterior rear view
mirrors 170
Electronic Stability Program see ESP 78,
382