2004 MERCEDES-BENZ E500 electrical

361 Practical hints
Replacing bulbs
Replacing bulbs for front lamps
1Bulb socket for turn signal lamp
2High beam halogen bulb
3Bulb socket for parking and standing
lamp
4Cover for Bi-Xenon* (low beam and
high beam) or halogen (low beam)
headlampBi-Xenon* headlamps Low beam halogen bulb

Switch off the lights.

Open the hood (
page 281).

Turn the locking mechanism counter-
clockwise and remove headlamp
cover4.

Pull electrical connector off.

Release the retaining springs and take
out the bulb.

Insert the new bulb in the socket so
that the base is in the recess on the
lower left.

Attach the retaining springs.

Insert connector into the bulb.

Align headlamp cover and click into
place.
Warning!
G
Do not remove the cover4 for the Bi-Xe-
non headlamp. Because of high voltage in
Xenon lamps, it is dangerous to replace the
bulb or repair the lamp and its components.
We recommend that you have such work
done by a qualified technician.

362 Practical hintsReplacing bulbsHigh beam halogen bulb 
Switch off the lights.

Open the hood (
page 281).

Press the clamp and remove headlamp
cover.

Pull electrical connector off.

Turn the locking mechanism counter-
clockwise and take out the high beam
bulb2.

Insert the new bulb in the socket so
that the base is in the recess on the
lower left.

Attach the retaining springs.

Insert connector into the bulb.

Align headlamp cover and click into
place.Front turn signal lamp bulb

Switch off the lights.

Open the hood (
page 281).

Twist bulb socket 1 counterclockwise
and pull out.

Push bulb into socket, turn counter-
clockwise and remove.

Insert new bulb in socket, push in and
twist clockwise.

Reinsert bulb socket in lamp and twist
clockwise.Parking and standing lamp bulb

Switch off the lights.

Open the hood (
page 281).

Press the clamp and remove headlamp
cover.

Pull out the bulb socket3 with the
bulb.

Pull the bulb out of the bulb socket.

Insert a new bulb in the socket.

Reinstall the bulb socket.

Align headlamp cover and click into
place.

367 Practical hints
Flat tire

Take the TIREFIT kit out of the trunk
(page 350).

Foreign objects (e.g. screws or nails)
should not be removed from the tire.

Attach the sticker where it will be easily
seen by the driver on the instrument
cluster.Preparing TIREFIT
1TIREFIT container
2Flap
3Notch
4Electrical plug
5Air hose
6Flange

Open flap2 on the electric air pump.

Pull plug4 and air hose5 out of the
pump housing.

Screw the air pump’s air hose5 onto
flange6 of the TIREFIT container.

Stick TIREFIT container1 upside
down into notch3 of the electric air
pump.
7Tire valve
8Electric air pump switch
9Air hose with pressure gauge and vent
screw
aFiller hose
Warning!
G
TIREFIT is a limited repair device. TIREFIT
cannot be used for:

cuts or punctures larger than approxi-
mately 0.16 in (4 mm)


on a flat tire, or a damaged wheel


tire damage caused by driving with ex-
tremely low tire pressure
Do not drive the vehicle under such circum-
stances.
Contact your nearest Mercedes-Benz
Center for assistance or call Roadside Assis-
tance.
Warning!
G
Observe safety instructions on air pump la-
bel.

368 Practical hintsFlat tire
Unscrew the valve cap from tire
valve7.

Screw filler hosea onto tire valve7.

Insert electrical plug4 into vehicle
cigarette lighter socket.

Turn SmartKey in starter switch to
position1 (
page 31).
or

Press the KEYLESS-GO* start / stop
button (
page 33) on the selector le-
ver once. Do not depress brake pedal.

Press I on electric air pump switch8.
The electric air pump should now
switch on and inflate the tire.After five minutes, the pressure gauge
must display at least 26 psi (1.8 bar). The
air hose can become hot during inflation.
Please exercise appropriate caution.

If this tire pressure is not attained, turn
off the electric air pump, detach the fill-
er hose from the tire valve, and drive
vehicle back and forth very slowly ap-
proximately 30 ft (10 m).
This serves to better distribute the
TIREFIT sealant material inside the tire.

Unscrew the air pump’s air hose5
from flange6 of the TIREFIT contain-
er.

Screw air hose5 onto tire valve7.
Inflate the tire again.

After attaining a tire pressure of 26 psi
(1.8 bar), press 0 on electric air pump
switch8.
The electric air pump should now be
switched off.
iIf sealant has leaked out, let it dry. You
can then peel it off.
!Do not operate the electric air pump
longer than eight minutes without in-
terruption. Otherwise it may overheat.
You may operate the air pump again af-
ter it has cooled off.
Warning!
G
If a tire pressure of 26 psi (1.8 bar) is not at-
tained, tire is too severely damaged for
TIREFIT to provide a reliable tire repair.
In this case, TIREFIT cannot properly seal
the tire.
Do not drive the vehicle.
Contact the nearest Mercedes-Benz Center
or call Roadside Assistance.

369 Practical hints
Flat tire

Turn SmartKey in starter switch to
position0 (
page 31).
or

Press the KEYLESS-GO* start / stop
button (
page 33) on the selector le-
ver twice. Do not depress brake pedal.

Detach the electric air pump.
The air hose may still be hot. Please ex-
ercise appropriate caution.

Store the electrical plug and the air
hose behind the flap and place the air
pump back in the trunk.

Close the trunk lid.

Drive away immediately.
The TIREFIT sealant will distribute itself
evenly inside the tire.

After driving vehicle for an initial
10 minutes, check tire pressure using
the pressure gauge on the air pump.Warning!
G
Do not exceed vehicle speed of 50 mph
(80 km / h). A TIREFIT repair is not designed
to operate at higher speeds.
The sticker must be attached on the instru-
ment cluster where it will be easily seen by
the driver.
Vehicle handling characteristics may
change. Adapt your driving accordingly.
Warning!
G
If tire pressure has fallen below
20 psi (1.3 bar) do not continue to drive the
vehicle.
Park your vehicle safely away from the road-
way and contact the nearest authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center or Roadside Assis-
tance.
If ti re pre ss ur e i s at l ea st 2 0 psi (1 .3 ba r ), in -
flate tire to correct pressure (see label on
fuel filler flap), and drive vehicle to nearest
tire repair facility to have tire repaired or re-
placed.
Recommended maximum duration of use:
300 miles (500 km) at 50 mph (80 km / h)
with the recommended tire pressure.


375 Practical hints
Batteries
Batteries
Your vehicle is equipped with two batter-
ies:

Main battery (battery for starter and
electrical consumers; located in the
trunk).


Auxiliary battery (back-up battery; sta-
bilizes the electrical system if the main
battery is discharged; located in the en-
gine compartment)
The main battery is in the trunk under the
luggage box. Remove the luggage box
(
page 351).
Vehicles with spare wheel1Negative terminal
2Positive terminal
iE55 AMG:
The main battery is located inside the
trunk area at the top instead of to the
right. Warning!
G
Jump starting must only be done using the
main battery in the trunk.
Warning!
G
Failure to follow these instructions can re-
sult in severe injury or death.
Observe all safety instructions and precau-
tions when handling automotive batteries
(page 287).
Never lean over batteries while connecting,
you might get injured.
Battery fluid contains sulfuric acid. Do not
allow this fluid to come in contact with eyes,
skin or clothing. In case it does, immediately
flush affected area with water and seek
medical help if necessary.
A battery will also produce hydrogen gas,
which is flammable and explosive. Keep
flames or sparks away from battery, avoid
improper connection of jumper cables,
smoking etc.

376 Practical hintsBatteries
Disconnecting the battery
Depress parking brake firmly or move
gear selector lever to positionP.

Turn off all electrical consumers.

Remove SmartKey from starter switch.
Vehicles with KEYLESS-GO*:
Press the start / stop button until
the engine shuts off.

Open the driver’s door.

Open the trunk.
!Never loosen or detach battery termi-
nal clamps while the engine is running
or the SmartKey is in the starter switch.
Otherwise the alternator and other
electronic components could be se-
verely damaged.
Have the battery checked regularly by
an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Refer to Service Booklet for mainte-
nance intervals or contact your autho-
rized Mercedes-Benz Center for further
information.Warning!
G
Do not place metal objects on the battery as
this could result in a short circuit.
Use leak-proof battery only to avoid the risk
of acid burns in the event of an accident.
Warning!
G
The SBC brake system requires electrical
power to operate.
A malfunction in the vehicle’s power supply
or electrical system may impair brake sys-
tem operation and switch it into its emer-
gency operation mode. The same applies if
battery is disconnected. To brake, the driver
must then apply significantly greater brake
pedal pressure and depress the pedal much
further to obtain the expected braking ef-
fect. If necessary, apply full pressure to the
brake pedal. Brakes may only be applied to
the front wheels. Stopping distance is in-
creased! Adjust your driving style according-
ly. For more information, refer to “SBC brake
system” (
page 79).
Warning!
G
With a disconnected battery

you will no longer be able to turn the
SmartKey in the starter switch and
pressing the KEYLESS-GO* start/stop
button on the gear selector lever will
have no effect


the gear selector lever will remain
locked in positionP

377 Practical hints
Batteries

Remove the luggage box (
page 351).

Disconnect battery negative lead1.

Remove cover2 from the positive ter-
minal.

Disconnect the battery positive lead.
Removing the battery
Remove the screw-nuts securing the
battery.

Remove the battery bracket.

Take out the battery.
Charging and reinstalling the battery

Charge battery in accordance with the
instructions of the battery charger
manufacturer.

Reinstall the charged battery. Follow
the previously described steps in re-
verse order.
Reconnecting the battery
Turn off all electrical consumers.

Connect the positive lead and fasten its
cover.

Connect the negative lead.

Install the luggage box (
page 351).Batteries contain materials that can harm
the environment if disposed of improperly.
Large 12 volt storage batteries contain
lead. Recycling of batteries is the preferred
method of disposal. Many states require
sellers of batteries to accept old batteries
for recycling.
Warning!
G
Never charge a battery while still installed in
the vehicle. Gases may escape during charg-
ing and cause explosions that may result in
paint damage, corrosion or personal injury.
!Never invert the terminal connections!!The battery, its filler caps and the vent
tube must always be securely installed
when the vehicle is in operation.
iThe following procedures must be car-
ried out following any interruption of
battery power (e.g. due to reconnec-
tion):

Set the clock (
page 143)
(see COMAND operator’s manual).


Resynchronize the side windows
(page 200).


Resynchronize the sliding / pop-up
roof* (
page 204) or the panora-
ma sliding / pop-up roof*
(
page 209).