2004 MERCEDES-BENZ S430 brake

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 ................ 18
At a glance.......................................... 19
Cockpit ................................................. 20
Instrument cluster ................................ 22
Multifunction steering wheel ................ 24
Center 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 ......................... 43
Switching on headlamps ................. 47
Turn signals and high beam ............ 47
Windshield wipers........................... 48
Problems while driving .................... 50
Parking and locking .............................. 51
Parking brake ................................. 52
Switching off headlamps................. 53
Turning off the engine..................... 53

ContentsUseful features .................................. 231
Storage compartments................. 231
Ashtrays ....................................... 238
Cigarette lighters.......................... 239
Heated steering wheel* ............... 240
Telephone*................................... 241
Tele Aid ........................................ 242
Garage door opener ..................... 250
Infrared reflecting windshield ....... 256
Operation......................................... 257
The first 1000 miles (1500 km) ......... 258
Driving instructions............................ 259
Drive sensibly – save fuel ............. 259
Drinking and driving ..................... 259
Pedals .......................................... 259
Power assistance ......................... 259
Brakes .......................................... 260
Driving off .................................... 261
Parking ......................................... 261
Tires ............................................. 262
Hydroplaning ................................ 263
Tire traction.................................. 263
Tire speed rating .......................... 263
Winter driving instructions ........... 264
Standing water ............................. 265
Passenger compartment .............. 266
Driving abroad.............................. 266
Control and operation of radio
transmitters ................................. 266
Catalytic converter ....................... 267
Emission control .......................... 267
Coolant temperature .................... 268At the gas station .............................. 269
Refueling ...................................... 269
Check regularly and before a
long trip ....................................... 270
Engine compartment ......................... 272
Hood ............................................ 272
Engine oil ..................................... 273
Transmission fluid level................ 278
Active Body Control* (ABC*)
fluid level ..................................... 278
Coolant ........................................ 278
Battery ......................................... 280
Windshield washer system and
headlamp cleaning system*......... 281
Tires and wheels................................ 282
Important guidelines .................... 282
Life of tires................................... 283
Direction of rotation..................... 283
Checking tire inflation pressure ... 283
Rotating wheels ........................... 291
Winter driving .................................... 292
Winter tires .................................. 292
Block heater (Canada only) .......... 293
Snow chains................................. 293

ContentsTechnical data.................................. 377
Spare parts service ............................ 378
Warranty coverage ............................. 379
Loss of Service and Warranty
Information Booklet...................... 379
Identification labels............................ 380
Layout of poly-V-belt drive ................. 381
S 430 / S 500 (all models)........... 381
S 55 AMG ..................................... 381
S 600 ........................................... 381
Engine ................................................ 382
Rims and tires .................................... 384
Same size tires ............................. 385
Mixed size tires ............................ 387
Spare wheel ................................. 388
Electrical system................................ 389
Main dimensions and weights............ 390
Main dimensions .......................... 390
Weights ........................................ 390Fuels, coolants, lubricants, etc. ......... 391
Capacities .................................... 391
Engine oils.................................... 393
Engine oil additives ...................... 393
Air conditioning refrigerant .......... 393
Brake fluid .................................... 394
Premium unleaded gasoline ......... 394
Fuel requirements ........................ 394
Gasoline additives ........................ 395
Coolants....................................... 395
Windshield and headlamp washer
system ......................................... 398
Consumer information ....................... 399
Uniform tire quality grading ......... 399
Technical terms............................... 401Index................................................. 407

21 At a glance
Cockpit
Item
Page
1
Combination switch

Turn signals


Windshield wipers


High beam
47
48
128
2
Cruise control lever

Cruise control


Distronic*
210
203
206
3
Instrument cluster
22
4
Multifunction steering
wheel
24
5
Gear range indicator, clock
22
6
Lever for voice control sys-
tem*, see separate operat-
ing instructions
Item
Page
7
Front Parktronic* (Parking
assist) warning indicator
for right front area
226
8
Overhead control panel
27
9
Glove box lock
231
a
Glove box lid release
231
b
Glove box
231
c
Center console
25
d
Starter switch
31
e
Horn
f
Steering wheel adjustment
stalk
Heated steering wheel*
37
240
Item
Page
g
Parking brake pedal
45
h
Hood lock release
272
j
Parking brake release
45
k
Door control panel
28
l
Exterior lamp switch
124
m
Headlamp washer button*
177
n
Front Parktronic* (Parking
assist) warning indicator
for left front area
226

23 At a glance
Instrument cluster
Item
Page
1
Coolant temperature gauge
132
2
Fuel gauge with:Fuel reserve warning lamp
308
3
LLeft turn signal
indicator lamp
47
KRight turn signal
indicator lamp
4
Speedometer with:vESP warning lamp
308
lDistance warning
lamp
Vehicles without Distronic*:
Warning lamp without func-
tion. It illuminates when the
ignition is on. It should go
out when the engine is run-
ning.
307
5
Tachometer
133
6
Right display with: 308
Item
Page
AHigh beam headlamp
indicator
48
-Antilock Brake Sys-
tem (ABS) warning
lamp
304
7
Reset button
131
8
Display with:

Program mode
170


Gear range indicator
166


Digital clock (see
COMAND operating in-
structions)
9
Multifunction display
with:

Trip odometer
132


Main odometer
132
Stored speed for:

Cruise control
203


Distronic*
206
Item
Page
a
Outside temperature indica-
tor
133
b
Left display with:1Supplemental
restraint system
indicator lamp
310
;Brake warning lamp,
USA only
305
3Brake warning lamp,
Canada only?Engine malfunction
indicator lamp, USA
only
306
±Engine malfunction
indicator lamp,
Canada onlyHTire pressure warning
lamp
287,
309
c
Knob for instrument cluster
illumination
131

33 Getting started
Unlocking
1KEYLESS-GO start/stop button
Before you press the KEYLESS-GO
start/stop button1, the vehicle’s
on-board electronics have status 0 (as with
SmartKey removed).The SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO must be
located in the vehicle.

Make sure the gear selector lever is set
toP.

Do not depress the brake pedal.
Position 1

Press the KEYLESS-GO start/stop
button1 once.
This supplies power to some electrical
consumers, such as seat adjustment.Ignition (or position 2)

Press the KEYLESS-GO start/stop
button1 twice.
This supplies power to all electrical
consumers. All the lamps in the instru-
ment cluster come on.
For more information, see “SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO*” (
page 91).
For information on starting the engine us-
ing the KEYLESS-GO start/stop button,
see “Starting with KEYLESS-GO*”
(
page 44).
iIf you now press the KEYLESS-GO
start/stop button

once again, the ignition (position2)
is switched on


twice, the power supply is again
switched off
iIf you now press the KEYLESS-GO
start/stop button once, the power sup-
ply is again switched off.

35 Getting started
Adjusting
Seat adjustment
The seat adjustment switches are located
on the front doors.
1Head restraint height
2Seat height
3Seat cushion tilt
4Seat cushion depth
5Seat fore and aft adjustment
6Seat backrest tilt

Switch on ignition.
or

Open the respective door.
Seat fore and aft adjustment

Press the switch forward or backward
in the direction of arrow5.
Adjust seat to a comfortable seating
position that still allows you to reach
the accelerator / brake pedal safely.
The position should be as far to the rear
as possible, consistent with ability to
properly operate controls.Seat cushion tilt

Press the switch up or down in the di-
rection of arrow3until your upper
legs are lightly supported.
Seat cushion depth

Press the switch forward or backward
in the direction of arrow4 until your
legs are supported comfortably.
Seat backrest tilt

Press the switch forward or backward
in the direction of arrow6 until your
arms are slightly angled when holding
the steering wheel.
Seat height

Press the switch up or down in the di-
rection of arrow2.
A child’s risk of serious or fatal injuries is
significantly increased if the child restraints
are not properly secured in the vehicle and
the child is not properly secured in the child
restraint.
iWhen moving the seat, make sure
there are no items in the footwell or be-
hind the seats. Otherwise you could
damage the seats.
The memory function (
page 121) lets
you store the setting for the seat posi-
tion together with the settings for the
steering wheel and the exterior rear
view mirrors.

40 Getting startedDriving
Driving
Fastening the seat belts
Warning!
G
Do not lay any objects in the driver’s foot-
well. Be careful that floor mats or carpets in
the driver’s footwell have sufficient clear-
ance for the pedals.
During sudden driving or braking maneuvers
the objects could get caught between the
pedals. You could then no longer brake or
accelerate.
Warning!
G
Always fasten your seat belt before driving
off. Always make sure your passengers are
properly restrained, even those sitting in the
rear and pregnant women.
Failure to wear and properly fasten and po-
sition your seat belt greatly increases your
risk of injuries and their likely severity in an
accident. You and your passengers should
always wear seat belts.
If you are ever in an accident, your injuries
can be considerably more severe without
your seat belt properly buckled. Without
your seat belt buckled, you are much more
likely to hit the interior of the vehicle or be
ejected from it. You can be seriously injured
or killed.
In the same crash, the possibility of injury or
death is lessened if you are wearing your
seat belt. The airbags can only provide the
protection they were designed to afford if
the occupants are using their seat belts
(page 58).
Warning!
G
Children 12 years old and under must never
ride in the front seat, except in a
Mercedes-Benz authorized BabySmart
TM1

compatible child seat, which operates with
the BabySmart
TM system installed in the ve-
hicle to deactivate the passenger front air-
bag when it is properly installed. Otherwise
they will be struck by the airbag when it in-
flates in a crash. If this happens, serious or
fatal injury will result.
1BabySmart TM
is a trademark of Siemens Automo-
tive Corp.