2003 MERCEDES-BENZ S500 4MATIC headlamp

Contents
Introduction.......................................... 9
Product information ................................ 9
Operator’s Manual ............................... 10
Service and warranty information .. 10
Important notice for California
retail buyers and lessees of
Mercedes-Benz automobiles .......... 11
Maintenance .................................. 12
Roadside Assistance ...................... 12
Change of address or ownership.... 12
Operating your vehicle outside the
USA or Canada............................... 13
Where to find it .................................... 14
Symbols ............................................... 15
Operating safety .................................. 16
Proper use of the vehicle ............... 16
Problems with your vehicle .................. 17
Reporting safety defects...................... 18
Reporting safety defects ................ 18At a glance......................................... 19
Cockpit ................................................ 20
Instrument cluster ............................... 22
Multifunction steering wheel ............... 24Center console ..................................... 25
Upper part ...................................... 25
Lower part ...................................... 26
Overhead control panel ........................ 27
Door control panel................................ 28
Getting started................................... 29
Unlocking ............................................. 30
Unlocking with the SmartKey.......... 30
Unlocking with KEYLESS-GO* ......... 32
Adjusting .............................................. 34
Seats............................................... 34
Steering wheel ................................ 37
Mirrors ............................................ 38
Driving .................................................. 40
Fastening the seat belts.................. 40
Starting the engine ......................... 42
Switching on headlamps ................. 46
Turn signals and high beam ............ 46
Windshield wipers ........................... 47
Problems while driving .................... 48
Parking and locking .............................. 50
Parking brake.................................. 50
Switching off headlamps................. 51
Turning off engine ........................... 52
Safety and Security........................... 55
Occupant safety ................................... 56
Airbags ........................................... 57
Seat belts ....................................... 62
Preventive occupant safety
(PRE-SAFE) ..................................... 66
Children in the vehicle .................... 67
Override switch for rear passenger
compartment .................................. 74
Panic alarm .......................................... 75
Activating........................................ 75
Deactivating.................................... 75
Driving safety systems ......................... 76
ABS ................................................. 76
BAS ................................................. 78
ESP ................................................. 78
Four wheel electronic traction system
(4MATIC) with the ESP .................... 81
Anti-theft systems ................................ 82
Immobilizer ..................................... 82
Anti-theft alarm system .................. 82
Tow-away alarm .............................. 84

ContentsControls in detail............................... 85
Locking and unlocking ......................... 86
SmartKey ....................................... 86
KEYLESS-GO card*......................... 89
Opening the doors from the
inside ............................................. 94
Opening the trunk lid...................... 95
Opening the trunk from the
inside ............................................. 96
Trunk lid emergency release .......... 96
Closing the trunk lid ....................... 97
Separately locking the trunk .......... 98
Separately unlocking the trunk ...... 98
Trunk lid opening/closing
ystem* ........................................... 99
Power closing assist for doors
and trunk lid ................................. 102
Automatic central locking ............ 102
Locking and unlocking from
the inside ..................................... 103
Seats.................................................. 104
Lumbar support ............................ 104
Easy-entry/exit feature ................ 104
Head restraints............................. 105
Multicontour seat* ....................... 107Drive-dynamic seat* .................... 109
Seat ventilation* .......................... 110
Seat heating* ............................... 111
Rear seats .................................... 113
Memory function ............................... 117
Storing positions into memory ..... 118
Recalling positions from
memory ........................................ 118
Storing exterior rear view mirror
parking position ........................... 118
Lighting.............................................. 120
Exterior lamp switch..................... 120
Combination switch ..................... 123
Hazard warning flasher ................ 124
Interior lighting............................. 124
Courtesy lighting .......................... 126
Instrument cluster ............................. 127
Instrument cluster illumination .... 127
Coolant temperature gauge ......... 128
Trip odometer .............................. 128
Tachometer .................................. 129
Outside temperature indicator ..... 129
Control system .................................. 130
Multifunction display .................... 130
Multifunction steering wheel ........ 131
Menus .......................................... 133Standard display menu ................ 135
AUDIO menu ................................ 135
CD changer* operating mode ...... 137
TEL menu* ................................... 139
NAVI menu ................................... 142
Distronic* menu .......................... 142
Trip computer menu..................... 143
Malfunction memory menu .......... 145
Settings menu .............................. 146
Automatic transmission ..................... 160
One-touch gearshifting ................ 161
Gear ranges ................................. 162
Gear selector lever position ......... 163
Program mode selector switch .... 164
Accelerator position ..................... 165
Emergency operation (Limp home
mode) .......................................... 165
Steering wheel gearshift control
(Speedshift) and manual shift
program S 55 AMG ...................... 166
Good visibility .................................... 168
Rear view mirror .......................... 168
Electrically folding exterior rear
view mirrors ................................. 170
Windshield wipers ........................ 171
Headlamp cleaning system .......... 171

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

Contents
Technical data................................. 357
Spare parts service ............................ 358
Warranty coverage............................. 359
Loss of Service and Warranty
Information Booklet ..................... 359
Identification labels ........................... 360
Layout of poly-V-belt drive ................. 361
S 430 / S 500.............................. 361
S 55 AMG..................................... 361
S 600 ........................................... 361
Engine................................................ 362
Rims and tires.................................... 364
Same size tires............................. 365
Mixed size tires ............................ 366
Spare wheel ................................. 367
Electrical system ............................... 368
Main dimensions ............................... 369
Weights.............................................. 370
Fuels, coolants, lubricants etc. .......... 371
Capacities .................................... 371
Engine oils.................................... 373
Engine oil additives ...................... 373
Air conditioning refrigerant .......... 373
Brake fluid .................................... 373
Premium unleaded gasoline ......... 374Fuel requirements ......................... 374
Gasoline additives......................... 374
Coolants ....................................... 375
Windshield and headlamp washer
system .......................................... 377
Consumer information ........................ 378
Uniform tire quality grading .......... 378
Technical terms................................ 381Index.................................................. 387

21 At a glance
Cockpit
Item
Page
1
Combination switch

Turn signals


Windshield wipers


High beam
46
47
123
2
Cruise control lever

Cruise control


Distronic*
203
196
199
3
Instrument cluster
22
4
Multifunction steering
wheel
24
Item
Page
5
Gear range indicator, clock
22
6
Lever for voice control sys-
tem*, see separate operat-
ing instructions
7
Front Parktronic* warning
indicator
220
8
Overhead control panel
27
9
Glove box lock
224
10
Glove box lid release
224
11
Glove box
224
12
Center console
25
13
Starter switch
31
Item
Page
14
Horn
15
Steering wheel adjustment
stalk
Heated steering wheel*
38
235
16
Parking brake pedal
44
17
Hood lock release
263
18
Parking brake release
44
19
Door control panel
28
20
Exterior lamp switch
120
21
Headlamp washer button
171
22
Front Parktronic* warning
indicator
220

46 Getting startedDrivingSwitching on headlampsExterior lamp switch1Off
2Low beam headlamps on
Turn the switch to
B
.
For more information, see “Lighting”
(
page 120).
Turn signals and high beam
The combination switch is located on the
left of the steering column.Combination switch1Turn signals, right
2Turn signals, left
Press the combination switch up1 or
down2.High beam

Push the combination switch forward.
The high beam headlights are switched
on.
The high beam symbol
A
in the
tachometer lights up.
For more information, see “High beam
flasher” (
page 123).
iTo signal minor directional changes,
move combination switch to point of
resistance only and release. The turn
signal blinks three times.

51 Getting started
Parking and locking
Switching off headlamps
Turn the exterior lamp switch to
M
.
For more information, see “Lighting”
(
page 120).
Warning!
G
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the
SmartKey from the starter switch, take the
KEYLESS-GO* card (if so equipped) with you
and lock the vehicle. Do not leave children
unattended in the vehicle, or with access to
an unlocked vehicle. Children could release
the parking brake and/or move the gear se-
lector lever from positionP, either of which
could result in an accident and/or serious
injury.
Warning!
G
Getting out of your vehicle with the selector
lever not fully engaged in positionP is dan-
gerous. Also, when parked on an incline,
positionP alone may not prevent your vehi-
cle from moving, possibly hitting people or
objects.
Always set the parking brake in addition to
shifting to positionP (
page 162).
When parked on an incline, turn front wheels
towards the road curb.

120 Controls in detailLighting
LightingFor notes on how to switch on the head-
lamps and use the turn signals, see the
“Getting started” section (
page 46).
Exterior lamp switch
The exterior lamp switch is located on the
dashboard to the left of the steering wheel.
M
Off
U
Automatic headlamp mode
C
Parking lamps (also side marker
lamps, tail lamps, license plate
lamps, instrument panel lamps)
Canada only: When engine is run-
ning, the low beam is also switched
on.
B
Parking lamps plus low beam or
high beam headlamps (combination
switch pushed forward).
ˆ
Standing lamps, right (turn left one
stop)
‚
Standing lamps, left (turn left two
stops)
iIf you remove the SmartKey and open
the driver’s door while the parking
lamps or low beam headlamps are
switched on, then:

A warning sounds.


$
appears in the multifunction
display.


The message
TURN OFF LIGHTS!
ap-
pears in the multifunction display.
iWith the daytime running lamp mode
activated and the engine running, the
low beam headlamps cannot be
switched off manually.