2004 MERCEDES-BENZ S55AMG 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 ................ 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

Contents
Control system .................................. 134
Multifunction display .................... 134
Multifunction steering wheel ........ 135
Menus .......................................... 137
Standard display menu ................ 139
AUDIO menu ................................ 139
CD changer* operating mode ...... 142
TEL menu* ................................... 144
NAVI menu ................................... 147
Distronic* menu........................... 147
Trip computer menu..................... 148
Malfunction memory menu .......... 150
Settings menu .............................. 151
Automatic transmission ..................... 164
One-touch gearshifting................. 165
Gear ranges ................................. 166
Gear selector lever position ......... 167
Steering wheel gearshift control
(Speedshift) S 55 AMG................. 168
Program mode selector switch..... 170
Accelerator position ..................... 170
Manual shift program S 55 AMG .. 171
Emergency operation
(Limp home mode) ....................... 173Good visibility ..................................... 174
Rear view mirror ........................... 174
Electrically folding exterior rear
view mirrors .................................. 176
Windshield wipers ......................... 177
Headlamp cleaning system*
(Standard on S 500, S 600,
S 55 AMG) .................................... 177
Sun visors ..................................... 178
Rear window sunshade* ............... 179
Rear door window sunshade* ....... 179
Automatic climate control .................. 180
Setting the temperature................ 183
Adjusting air distribution............... 184
Adjusting air volume ..................... 186
Maximum cooling MAXCOOL ........ 186
Defrosting ..................................... 187
Air recirculation mode .................. 187
Charcoal filter ............................... 188
Rear window defroster .................. 189
Deactivating the climate control
system .......................................... 190
Air conditioning............................. 190
Residual heat and ventilation ........ 191Ventilated storage compartment
(except S 55 AMG) ....................... 192
Rear passenger compartment
adjustable air vents ...................... 192
Rear passenger compartment
climate control*............................ 193
Power windows .................................. 195
Opening and closing the windows 195
Synchronizing the power windows 198
Sliding/pop-up roof............................ 199
Opening and closing the
sliding/pop-up roof....................... 199
Synchronizing the sliding /
pop-up roof ................................... 202
Driving systems .................................. 203
Cruise control ............................... 203
Distronic* ..................................... 206
AIRMATIC ..................................... 218
Active Body Control (ABC)* .......... 220
Parktronic* (Parking assist) .......... 224
Loading .............................................. 229
Roof rack* .................................... 229
Loading instructions ..................... 229
Cargo tie-down hooks ................... 230

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

47 Getting started
Driving
For more information, see “Driving instruc-
tions” (
page 259).
Switching on headlampsExterior lamp switch1Off
2Low beam headlamps on
Turn the switch toB.
For more information, see “Exterior lamp
switch” (
page 124).
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.
!Simultaneously depressing the acceler-
ator pedal and applying the brake re-
duces engine performance and causes
premature brake and drivetrain wear.iYou can open a locked door from the
inside. Open doors only when condi-
tions are safe to do so.
You can deactivate the automatic lock-
ing using the control system
(page 159).
iTo signal minor directional changes,
move combination switch to point of
resistance only and release. The turn
signal flashes three times.

48 Getting startedDrivingHigh beam
Push the combination switch forward.
The high beam headlamps are switched
on.
The high beam headlamp
indicatorA in the tachometer
comes on.
For more information, see “High beam
flasher” (
page 128).
Windshield wipers
The combination switch is located on the
left of the steering column.Combination switch1Single wipe
2Switching on windshield wipers
Make sure the ignition is switched on.
All the lamps in the instrument cluster
come on.Switching on windshield wipers

Turn the combination switch to the de-
sired position depending on the inten-
sity of the rain.
0Windshield wipers off
IIntermittent wiping (interval depen-
dent on wetness of windshield)
IINormal wiper speed
IIIFast wiper speediThe intermittent wiping interval is de-
pendent on wetness of windshield.
Wiping will not occur with a door open.