2003 MERCEDES-BENZ S500 4MATIC emergency towing

ContentsAt the gas station............................... 261
Check regularly and before a
long trip ........................................ 262
Engine compartment.......................... 263
Hood ............................................ 263
Engine oil...................................... 264
Transmission fluid level ................ 268
Active Body Control* (ABC*)
fluid level ...................................... 268
Coolant......................................... 268
Battery ......................................... 270
Windshield washer system and
headlamp cleaning system* ......... 271
Tires and wheels ................................ 272
Important guidelines .................... 272
Life of tires ................................... 273
Direction of rotation ..................... 273
Checking tire inflation pressure ... 273
Rotating wheels............................ 277
Winter driving..................................... 278
Winter tires................................... 278
Block heater* ............................... 279
Snow chains ................................. 279Maintenance ...................................... 280
Clearing the service indicator....... 280
Service term exceeded ................ 280
Calling up the service indicator .... 281
Resetting the service indicator..... 281
Vehicle care ....................................... 282
Cleaning and care of vehicle ........ 282
Practical hints.................................. 289
What to do if …? ................................. 290
Lamps in instrument cluster......... 290
Lamp in center console ................ 295
Messages in the display ............... 296
Where will I find ...? ........................... 322
First aid kit ................................... 322
Vehicle jack, vehicle tool kit,
luggage bowl, spare wheel ........... 322
Unlocking/locking in an emergency .. 326
Unlocking the vehicle ................... 326
Locking the vehicle ...................... 327
Changing batteries ....................... 328
Fuel filler flap ............................... 329
Opening/closing in an emergency ..... 330
Sliding/pop-up roof ..................... 330Replacing bulbs ................................. 331
Bulbs ............................................ 331
Replacing bulbs for front lamps ... 333
Replacing bulbs for rear lamps .... 336
Replacing wiper blades ...................... 337
Removing ..................................... 337
Installing ...................................... 338
Flat tire .............................................. 339
Preparing the vehicle ................... 339
Mounting the spare wheel............ 339
Battery............................................... 344
Disconnecting the battery ............ 345
Removing the battery................... 345
Charging and reinstalling
battery ......................................... 345
Reconnecting the battery............. 345
Jump starting ..................................... 347
Towing the vehicle ............................. 349
Installing towing eye bolt ............. 351
Fuses ................................................. 353
Fuse boxes in passenger
compartment ............................... 353
Fuse boxes in engine
compartment ............................... 354
Emergency engine shut-down ...... 355

84 Safety and SecurityAnti-theft systemsTow-away alarm
Once the tow-away alarm is armed, a visual
and audible alarm will be triggered when
someone attempts to raise the vehicle.
Arming tow-away alarm
When you lock your vehicle, the tow-away
alarm is automatically armed after about
30 seconds.
When you unlock your vehicle, the
tow-away protection disarms automatical-
ly.Disarming tow-away alarm
To prevent triggering the tow-away alarm
feature, switch off the tow-away alarm be-
fore towing the vehicle, or when parking on
a surface subject to movement, such as a
ferry or auto train.
The switch is located on the center con-
sole.
1Tow-away alarm off switch
2Indicator lamp

Turn off the ignition and remove the
SmartKey.

Press switch1.
Indicator lamp2 in the switch lights up
briefly.

Exit vehicle and lock your vehicle with
the SmartKey or (vehicles with
KEYLESS-GO*) the lock button at each
door handle.
The tow-away alarm remains disarmed un-
til you lock your vehicle again.
iThe tow-away protection alarm is trig-
gered, for example, if the vehicle is lift-
ed on one side.
If the alarm stays on for more than
20 seconds, an emergency call is initi-
ated automatically by the Tele Aid sys-
tem, provided Tele Aid service was
subscribed to and properly activated
and that necessary cellular service and
GPS coverage are available.
iYou cannot disarm the tow-away alarm
if the ignition is turned on.

289 Practical hints
What to do if …?
Where will I find ...?
Unlocking/locking in an emergency
Opening/closing in an emergency
Replacing bulbs
Replacing wiper blades
Flat tire
Battery
Jump starting
Towing the vehicle
Fuses

407 Index
Upgrade signals 243
TeleAid
Messages in display 320
Telematics* 385
Telephone* 236
Answering a call 140
Dialing a number from the phone book
140
Ending a call 140
Hands-free microphone 27
Loading phone book* 140
Messages in display 321
Operating 139
Redialing 141
Temperature
Display mode 149
Setting interior temperature 177
Setting units in display 149
Tires 274
Tie-down hooks (Trunk) 223
Tightening torque 385
Tightening torque (Wheel bolts) 342
Time
Setting digital clock 23
Tire inflation pressure
Checking 262, 273Tire speed rating 255, 385
Tire traction 255
Tires 272, 378
Direction of rotation 273
Driving instructions 254
Messages in display 318
Retreads 272
Service life 273
Temperature 274
Tread depth 278
Wear pattern 277
Winter 278
Tools 322
Tow-away alarm 84
Arming 84
Disarming 84
Disarming for transport 84
Towing eye bolt (vehicle tool kit) 323
Installing 351
Towing the vehicle 349
Tracking services
For stolen vehicle 244
Traction 164, 385
Transmission see Automatic transmission
268
Tread depth (tires) 278Trip computer 143
Trip odometer
Resetting 128
Trunk
Auxiliary fuse box 353
Closing 97
Closing from the inside 99
Lock button, KEYLESS-GO* 93
Locking separately 98
Message in display 321
Opening 95
Opening from inside vehicle 96
Opening from the inside 99
Parcel net 232
Tie-down hooks 223
Trunk lid 95, 99
Trunk lock 327
Unlocking in an emergency 327
Unlocking separately 98, 102
Unlocking with SmartKey 89, 94
Trunk lid emergency release 96
Trunk lid opening/closing system* 99
Turn signal lamps
Replacing bulbs 331, 332

408 IndexTurn signals 46
Additional in mirrors 331
Cleaning lenses 284
Front bulbs 331, 334
Rear bulbs 332, 336
Turning off
Engine 52
Turning off the engine 53
U
Units
Setting speedometer units 149
Setting temperature units 149
Unlocking 30, 86
Driver’s door in an emergency 326
Fuel filler flap 261
Global 87
Global (KEYLESS-GO* card) 91
In an emergency 326
Selective settings 87
Trunk in an emergency 327
Trunk lid with SmartKey 89, 94
Trunk lid, separately 98, 102
Vehicle in an emergency 244
With KEYLESS-GO* 32
With the KEYLESS-GO* card 89
With the SmartKey 30Upgrade signals
Tele Aid* 243
Uphill driving
Cruise control 197
Upshifting 161, 166
Useful features 224
Ashtrays 232
Cigarette lighter 233
Garage door opener 245
Heated steering wheel* 235
Interior storage spaces 224
Tele Aid* 237
Telephone* 236
V
Vehicle
Individual settings 146, 148
Locking in an emergency 327
Lowering 342
Proper use of 16
Service battery 344
Towing 349
Unlocking in an emergency 326
Vehicle battery 344
Vehicle care 282
Cup holder 287
Distronic* system sensor cover 285Engine cleaning 284
Gear selector lever 287
Hard plastic trim items 287
Headlamps 284
Instrument cluster 287
Leather upholstery 287
Light alloy wheels 286
Ornamental moldings 284
Paintwork 283
Parktronic* system sensor 285
Plastic and rubber parts 287
Power washer 283
Seat belts 287
Steering wheel 287
Tail lamps 284
Tar stains 283
Turn signals 284
Vehicle washing 284
Window cleaning 286
Wiper blades 286
Vehicle level 212, 215
Changing 213, 216
Setting 213, 216
Automatic 213, 216
Manual 213, 216
Vehicle lighting