2004 MERCEDES-BENZ S500 display

274 OperationEngine compartmentChecking the engine oil level with the
control system
When checking the oil level the vehicle
must

be parked on level ground


be at normal operating temperature


have been stationary for at least five
minutes with the engine turned off
To check the engine oil level via the multi-
function display, do the following:

Turn the SmartKey in the starter switch
to position2 or press the KEYLESS-GO
start/stop button* twice.
The standard display (
page 139) should
appear in the multifunction display.

Press buttonk or j on the
steering wheel until the following mes-
sage is seen in the multifunction dis-
play:CORRECT MEASUREMENT
ONLY IF VEH. LEVEL
After about three seconds this mes-
sage is displayed:ENGINE OIL LEVEL
MEASURING NOW
!
One of the following messages will sub-
sequently appear in the indicator:


ENGINE OIL LEVEL
OK


ADD 1.0 QT. TO
REACH MAX. OIL LEVEL!(Canada:
1.0 LITER
)


ADD 1.5 QTS. TO
REACH MAX. OIL LEVEL!(Canada:
1.5 LITERS
)


A D D 2 . 0 Q T S .
TO REACH MAX. OIL LEVEL!(Canada:
2.0 LITERS
)

If necessary, add engine oil.
For adding engine oil see (
page 277).
For more information on engine oil, see
the “Technical data” section (page 391)
and (
page 393).
iIf you want to interrupt the checking
procedure, press thek or j
button on the multifunction steering
wheel.

275 Operation
Engine compartment
Other display messages
If the SmartKey or KEYLESS-GO start/stop
button* is not in position 2, the following
message will appear:FOR ENGINE OIL LEVEL
IGNITION ON!
Switch on ignition.
If you see the message:
PERF. SERV. ON TIME
If engine is at normal operating
temperature, wait five minutes before
repeating check procedure.

If engine is not yet at normal operating
temperature, wait 30 minutes before
repeating check procedure.If you see the message:
ENGINE OIL LEVEL
NOT WHEN ENGINE ON!
Turn off the engine.

If the engine is at normal operating
temperature, wait five minutes before
checking oil.

If the engine is not yet at normal oper-
ating temperature, you must wait
30 minutes before checking oil.
If there is excess engine oil with the engine
at normal operating temperature, the fol-
lowing message will appear:
ENGINE OIL LEVEL
REDUCE OIL LEVEL
Have excess oil siphoned or drained
off. Contact an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.For more information on messages in the
display concerning engine oil , see the
“Practical hints” section (
page 326).
!Excess oil must be siphoned or drained
off. It could cause damage to the en-
gine and catalytic converter not cov-
ered by the Mercedes-Benz Limited
Warranty.iPerform the engine oil level check with
the dipstick (S 430, S 500, and
S 55 AMG only) if it cannot be complet-
ed with the control system .
In this case we recommend that you
have the system checked at a
Mercedes-Benz Center.

276 OperationEngine compartmentChecking the engine oil level with the
oil dipstick (S 430, S 500, and
S55AMG only)
When checking the oil level the vehicle
must

be parked on level ground


be at normal operating temperature


have been stationary for at least five
minutes with the engine turned off
To check the engine oil level with the oil
dipstick, do the following:

Open the hood (
page 272).

Pull out oil dipstick1 (
page 277).

Wipe oil dipstick1 clean.

Fully insert oil dipstick1 into the dip-
stick guide tube.

Pull out oil dipstick1 again after ap-
proximately three seconds to obtain
accurate reading.
Oil dipstickThe oil level is correct when it is between
the lower (min) and upper (max) mark of
the oil dipstick.

If necessary, add engine oil.
For adding engine oil see (
page 277).
For more information on engine, see the
“Technical data” section (
page 391) and
(
page 393).
For more information on messages in the
display concerning engine oil, see the
“Practical hints” section (
page 326).
iThe engine oil level can be checked by
either the oil dipstick or via the multi-
function display in the instrument clus-
ter (
page 274). The amount of engine
oil needed is shown more precisely in
the multifunction display.
iThe filling quantity between the upper
and lower marks on the oil dipstick is
approximately 2.1 US qt. (2.0 l).

278 OperationEngine compartmentBe careful not to spill any oil when adding.
Avoid environmental damage caused by oil
entering the ground or water.
Screw filler cap1 back on filler neck.
For more information on engine, see the
“Technical data” section (
page 391) and
(
page 393).
Transmission fluid level
The transmission fluid level does not need
to be checked. If you notice transmission
fluid loss or gear shifting malfunctions,
have an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center
check the automatic transmission.Active Body Control* (ABC*) fluid level
Regular fluid level check is not required. If
you notice fluid leaks or malfunction mes-
sages in the multifunction display, have an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center check
the ABC-system.
Coolant
The engine coolant is a mixture of water
and anticorrosion/antifreeze.
When checking the coolant level,

the vehicle must be parked on level
ground, and


the engine must be cool.
!Excess oil must be siphoned or drained
off. It could cause damage to the en-
gine and catalytic converter not cov-
ered by the Mercedes-Benz Limited
Warranty.


285 Operation
Tires and wheels
Checking tire pressure electronically*
(vehicles produced up to approximate-
ly October 2003)
The tire inflation pressure monitor only
functions on wheels that are equipped with
the proper electronic sensors. It monitors
the tire inflation pressure, as selected by
the driver, in all four tires. A warning is is-
sued to alert you to a decrease in pressure
in one or more of the tires.
Tire pressure inquiries are made using the
multifunction display (
page 134). The in-
flation pressures are displayed only after a
few minutes travel time.
You can select the unit of measure used for
the tire inflation pressure by changing the
setting in the control system (
page 134).

Switch on ignition.

Press buttonè orÿ on the mul-
tifunction steering wheel repeatedly
until the standard display menu ap-
pears in the multifunction display
(page 134).

Press button k orj repeatedly
until you see the current inflation pres-
sures for each tire appear in the dis-
play.
iCheck with an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center to determine
the equipment installed in your vehicle.
iPossible differences between the read-
ings of a tire pressure gauge of an air
hose, e.g. gas station equipment, and
the vehicle’s control system can occur.
The readings issued by the control sys-
tem are more precise.
Warning!
G
The tire inflation pressure monitor does not
indicate a warning for wrongly selected in-
flation pressures. Always adjust tire inflation
pressure according to the label on the fuel
filler flap.
The tire inflation pressure monitor is not
able to issue a warning due to a sudden dra-
matic loss of pressure (e.g. tire blowout
caused by a foreign object). In this case
bring the vehicle to a halt by carefully apply-
ing the brakes and avoiding abrupt steering
maneuvers.iOperating radio transmission equip-
ment (e.g. wireless headsets, two-way
radios) in or near the vehicle could
cause the tire inflation pressure moni-
tor to malfunction.

286 OperationTires and wheels
Activating the tire inflation pressure
monitor
You must activate the tire inflation pres-
sure monitor in the following cases:

If you have changed the tire pressure


If you have replaced the wheels or tires


If you have installed new wheels or
tires

Make sure the tire pressure is correctly
set.

Press buttonè orÿ on the mul-
tifunction steering wheel repeatedly
until the standard display menu ap-
pears in the multifunction display
(page 134).

Press button j or k repeatedly
until you see the current inflation pres-
sures for each tire appear in the display
or the following message appears in
the displayTIRE PRES.
DISPLAY AFTER DRIVING
A FEW MINS.
REACTIVATE USING
R-BUTTON
Warning!
G
Follow recommended tire inflation pres-
sures.
Do not overinflate tires. Overinflating tires
can result in sudden deflation (blowout) be-
cause they are more likely to become punc-
tured or damaged by road debris, potholes,
etc.
Do not underinflate tires. Underinflated tires
wear unevenly, adversely affect handling
and fuel economy, and are more likely to fail
from being overheated.
Do not overload the tires by exceeding the
specified vehicle capacity weight (as indicat-
ed by the label on the pillar in the driver’s
door opening). Overloading the tires can
overheat them, possibly causing a blowout.
iIf transporting a deflated road wheel or
additional wheel sensors in the vehicle,
the tire inflation pressure monitor
should not be reactivated until the de-
flated wheel or additional wheel sen-
sors have been removed from the
vehicle. Otherwise, the deflated wheel
or additional sensors could cause the
tire inflation pressure monitor system
to malfunction.

287 Operation
Tires and wheels

Press the reset button on the instru-
ment cluster (
page 22).
The following message will appear in
the multifunction display:
MONITOR CURRENT TIRE PRESSURE


Press æ button.
The following message will appear in
the multifunction display:TIRE PRESS. CONTROL ACTIVATED!The tire inflation pressure monitor will
now monitor the tire inflation pressure
values of all four tires.
The following message will appear in
the multifunction display:TIRE PRES.
DISPLAY AFTER DRIVING
A FEW MINS.
REACTIVATE USING
R-BUTTONThis display appears until the individual
inflation pressure values are matched
with the tires. The individual values are
then displayed (
page 285).If you wish to cancel activation:

Press ç button.
If the following message appears in the
multifunction display:REACTIVATE TIRE

PRES. MONITOR

or
TIRE PRES.

CHECK TIRES!


Check the tire inflation pressures and
correct them if necessary.

Reactivate the tire inflation pressure
monitor.Checking tire pressure electronically*
(vehicles produced as of approximately
October 2003)
The tire inflation pressure monitor only
functions on wheels that are equipped with
the proper electronic sensors. It monitors
the tire inflation pressure, as selected by
the driver, in all four tires. A warning is is-
sued to alert you to a decrease in pressure
in one or more of the tires.
You can call up the tire pressure using the
control system (
page 134).
iCheck with an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center to determine
the equipment installed in your vehicle.

288 OperationTires and wheels

Switch on ignition.

Press buttonè orÿ on the mul-
tifunction steering wheel repeatedly
until the standard display menu ap-
pears in the multifunction display
(page 134).

Press button k orj repeatedly
until you see the current inflation pres-
sures for each tire appear in the dis-
play.
iAfter you have reactivated the tire
pressure monitor, the current tire pres-
sures will only be shown after a few
minutes’ driving time.
During this time, you will see the follow-
ing message in the display:TIRE PRES. DISPLAY
APPEARS AFTER
DRIVING A FEW MINUTESiPossible differences between the read-
ings of a tire pressure gauge of an air
hose, e.g. gas station equipment, and
the vehicle’s control system can occur.
The readings issued by the control sys-
tem are more precise.
Warning!
G
When the tire pressure monitoring system
warning lamp is lit, one or more of your tires
is significantly under-inflated. You should
stop and check your tires as soon as possi-
ble, and inflate them to the proper pressure
as indicated on the vehicle’s tire information
placard. Driving on a significantly under-in-
flated tire causes the tire to overheat and
can lead to tire failure. Under-inflation also
reduces fuel efficiency and tire tread life,
and may affect the vehicle’s handling and
stopping ability. Each tire, including the
spare, should be checked monthly when
cold and set to the recommended inflation
pressure as specified in the vehicle placard
and owner’s manual.iThe recommended tire inflation pres-
sures for your vehicle can be found on
the inside of the fuel filler flap, not in
the owner’s manual.