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
Vehicle data recording......................... 19
Information regarding electronic
recording devices........................... 19
At a glance.......................................... 21
Cockpit ................................................. 22
Instrument cluster ................................ 24
Multifunction steering wheel ................ 26
Center console ..................................... 27
Upper part ...................................... 27
Lower part ...................................... 28
Overhead control panel ........................ 29
Door control panel................................ 30Getting started................................... 31
Unlocking ............................................. 32
Unlocking with the SmartKey.......... 32
Unlocking with KEYLESS-GO* ......... 33
Starter switch positions .................. 34
Adjusting .............................................. 37
Seats............................................... 37
Steering wheel ................................ 40
Mirrors ............................................ 41Driving .................................................. 43
Fastening the seat belts ................. 43
Starting the engine ......................... 46
Switching on headlamps ................. 50
Turn signals .................................... 51
Windshield wipers ........................... 52
Problems while driving.................... 54
Parking and locking .............................. 55
Parking brake ................................. 56
Switching off headlamps................. 57
Turning off the engine ..................... 57
Locking ........................................... 58
Safety and Security........................... 59
Occupant safety ................................... 60
Air bags .......................................... 61
Seat belts ....................................... 66
Preventive occupant safety
(PRE-SAFE) ..................................... 70
Children in the vehicle .................... 71
Override switch for rear
passenger compartment ................. 78
Panic alarm .......................................... 79
Activating........................................ 79
Deactivating.................................... 79
ContentsDriving safety systems ......................... 80
ABS ................................................ 80
BAS ................................................ 81
ESP ................................................. 82
Four wheel electronic traction
system (4MATIC) with the ESP ....... 85
Anti-theft systems................................ 86
Immobilizer..................................... 86
Anti-theft alarm system .................. 87
Tow-away alarm ............................. 89Controls in detail............................... 91
Locking and unlocking ......................... 92
SmartKey ....................................... 92
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO*......... 96
Opening the doors from
the inside ..................................... 102
Opening the trunk ........................ 103
Closing the trunk .......................... 105
Trunk lid emergency release ........ 111
Power closing assist
for doors and trunk lid .................. 112
Automatic central locking ............ 112
Locking and unlocking
from the inside ............................. 113Seats ................................................. 114
Easy-entry/exit feature ................ 114
Removing and installing
front seat head restraints............. 116
Rear seats .................................... 117
Rear seat head restraints ............. 120
Lumbar support............................ 122
Multicontour backrest* ................ 122
Drive-dynamic seat* .................... 124
Seat heating* ............................... 125
Seat ventilation* .......................... 127
Memory function ............................... 128
Storing positions into memory ..... 129
Recalling positions from memory . 129
Storing exterior rear view
mirror parking position................. 130
Lighting.............................................. 131
Exterior lamp switch..................... 131
Combination switch ..................... 135
Hazard warning flasher ................ 136
Interior lighting............................. 137
Courtesy lighting .......................... 139
Door entry lamps ......................... 139
Trunk lighting ............................... 139Instrument cluster ............................. 140
Instrument cluster illumination .... 140
Coolant temperature gauge ......... 141
Trip odometer .............................. 141
Tachometer .................................. 142
Outside temperature indicator ..... 142
Clock............................................ 142
Control system .................................. 143
Multifunction display.................... 143
Multifunction steering wheel........ 144
Menus .......................................... 146
Standard display menu ................ 148
AUDIO menu ................................ 148
CD changer* operating mode ...... 151
TEL menu* ................................... 153
NAVI menu ................................... 155
Distronic* menu .......................... 156
Trip computer menu..................... 157
Vehicle status message
memory menu .............................. 159
Settings menu .............................. 160
ContentsOperation......................................... 271
The first 1000 miles (1500 km) ......... 272
Driving instructions ............................ 273
Drive sensibly – save fuel ............. 273
Drinking and driving ..................... 273
Pedals .......................................... 273
Power assistance ......................... 273
Brakes .......................................... 274
Driving off..................................... 275
Parking ......................................... 275
Tires ............................................. 276
Hydroplaning ................................ 277
Tire traction .................................. 277
Tire speed rating .......................... 278
Winter driving instructions ........... 279
Standing water ............................. 280
Passenger compartment .............. 280
Driving abroad .............................. 280
Control and operation of radio
transmitters.................................. 280
Catalytic converter ....................... 281
Emission control........................... 282
Coolant temperature .................... 282At the gas station .............................. 283
Refueling ...................................... 283
Check regularly and before
a long trip ..................................... 284
Engine compartment ......................... 286
Hood ............................................ 286
Engine oil ..................................... 287
Transmission fluid level ................ 292
Active Body Control* (ABC*)
fluid level...................................... 292
Coolant level ................................ 292
Battery ......................................... 294
Windshield washer system and
headlamp cleaning system* ......... 295
Tires and wheels ................................ 296
Important guidelines .................... 296
Tire care and maintenance ........... 297
Direction of rotation ..................... 299
Loading the vehicle ...................... 299
Recommended tire inflation
pressure ....................................... 305
Checking tire inflation pressure ... 307
Tire labeling.................................. 312
Load identification ....................... 316DOT, Tire Identification
Number (TIN) ............................... 317
Maximum tire load ....................... 318
Maximum tire inflation pressure .. 319
Uniform Tire Quality Grading
Standards (U.S. vehicles) ............. 319
Tire ply material ........................... 321
Tire and loading terminology ........ 322
Rotating tires ............................... 325
Winter driving .................................... 326
Winter tires .................................. 326
Block heater (Canada only) .......... 327
Snow chains................................. 327
Maintenance...................................... 328
Clearing the maintenance
service indicator .......................... 328
Maintenance service term
exceeded ..................................... 329
Calling up the maintenance
service indicator .......................... 329
Resetting the maintenance
service indicator .......................... 329
Vehicle care....................................... 330
Cleaning and care of vehicle ........ 330
Contents
Practical hints................................. 337
What to do if …?................................. 338
Lamps in instrument cluster ........ 338
Lamp in center console................ 346
Vehicle status messages
in the multifunction display .......... 347
Where will I find ...? ........................... 379
First aid kit ................................... 379
Vehicle jack, vehicle tool kit,
luggage bowl, spare wheel ........... 379
Unlocking/locking in an emergency .. 383
Unlocking the vehicle ................... 383
Locking the vehicle ...................... 384
Fuel filler flap ............................... 385
Opening/closing in an emergency..... 386
Tilt/sliding sunroof ...................... 386
Replacing SmartKey batteries ........... 387
SmartKey ..................................... 387
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO* ...... 388
Replacing bulbs ................................. 389
Bulbs ............................................ 390
Replacing bulbs for front lamps ... 392
Replacing bulbs for rear lamps..... 394Replacing wiper blades....................... 396
Removing wiper blades ................. 396
Installing wiper blades .................. 397
Flat tire ............................................... 398
Preparing the vehicle .................... 398
Mounting the spare wheel ............ 398
Battery................................................ 403
Disconnecting the battery............. 404
Removing the battery.................... 404
Charging and reinstalling the battery ...
404
Reconnecting the battery.............. 405
Jump starting ...................................... 406
Towing the vehicle .............................. 408
Installing towing eye bolt .............. 410
Fuses .................................................. 411
Aids for replacing fuses ................ 411
Fuse boxes in passenger
compartment ................................ 412
Fuse boxes in engine
compartment ................................ 413
Technical data.................................. 415
Parts service ...................................... 416
Warranty coverage ............................. 417
Loss of Service and Warranty
Information Booklet ...................... 417
Identification labels ............................ 418
Layout of poly-V-belt drive.................. 419
S 430/S 500 (all models) ............. 419
S 55 AMG ..................................... 419
S 600 ............................................ 419
Engine ................................................ 420
Rims and tires .................................... 422
Same size tires ............................. 423
Mixed size tires ............................. 425
Spare wheel .................................. 426
Electrical system ................................ 427
Main dimensions and weights ............ 428
Main dimensions........................... 428
Weights......................................... 428
23 At a glance
Cockpit
Item
Page
1
Combination switch
Turn signals
Windshield wipers
High beam
51
52
135
2
Cruise control lever
Cruise control
Distronic*
221
214
217
3
Instrument cluster
24
4
Multifunction steering
wheel
26
5
Steering wheel gearshift
control (S 55 AMG only)
181
Item
Page
6
Lever for voice control sys-
tem*, see separate operat-
ing instructions
7
Front Parktronic* warning
indicator for right
front area
237
8
Overhead control panel
29
9
Glove box lock
244
a
Glove box lid release
244
b
Glove box
244
c
Center console
27, 28
d
Starter switch
34
e
Horn
Item
Page
f
Steering wheel adjustment
stalk
Heated steering wheel*
40
253
g
Parking brake pedal
48
h
Hood lock release
286
j
Parking brake release
48
k
Door control panel
30
l
Exterior lamp switch
131
m
Headlamp washer button*
186
n
Front Parktronic* warning
indicator for left front area
237
25 At a glance
Instrument cluster
Item
Page
1
Coolant temperature gauge
141
2
Fuel gauge with fuel tank
reserve warning lamp
341
3
LLeft turn signal
indicator lamp
51
KRight turn signal
indicator lamp
51
4
Speedometer with:vElectronic Stability
Program (ESP)
warning lamp
343
lDistance warning
lamp
Vehicles without Distronic*:
Distance warning lamp with-
out function. It illuminates
when the ignition is on. It
should go out when the en-
gine is running.
342
5
Tachometer
142
Item
Page
6
Right display with:
AHigh beam headlamp
indicator lamp
50
-Antilock Brake
System (ABS)
indicator lamp
338
7
JReset button
140
8
Display with:
Gear selector lever
position
174
Program mode
174
Digital clock
(see COMAND operating
instructions)
9
Multifunction display
with:
Trip odometer
141
Main odometer
141
Item
Page
a
Outside temperature
indicator
142
b
Left display with:1Supplemental
restraint system
indicator lamp
345
;Brake warning lamp,
USA only
339
3Brake warning lamp,
Canada only?Engine malfunction
indicator lamp,
USA only
340
±Engine malfunction
indicator lamp,
Canada onlyHTire inflation pres-
sure warning lamp
307
c
Knob for instrument cluster
illumination
140
27 At a glance
Center console
Center console
Upper part
Item
Page
1
Switch for rear window
sunshade
191
2
Parktronic* deactivation
button
238
3
Airmatic or Active Body
Control (ABC)* button
231
4
Level control button
233
5
Central locking switch
113
87
Anti-theft alarm system in-
dicator lamp
87
6
Hazard warning flasher
on/off switch
136
7
Central unlocking switch
113
8
Electronic Stability Pro-
gram (ESP) control switch
83
Item
Page
9
Rear seat head restraints,
switch for folding down
120
a
Tow-away alarm switch
90
b
COMAND system (see
separate operating instruc-
tions)
c
Automatic climate control
206
d
Cover of:
Ashtray
Lighter
251
252
31 Getting started
Unlocking
Adjusting
Driving
Parking and locking