2006 MERCEDES-BENZ S500 Door

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................................ 30
Getting 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 ............................................ 41
Driving .................................................. 43
Fastening the seat belts ................. 43
Starting the engine ......................... 46
Parking brake ................................. 48
Driving ............................................ 49
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

ContentsSafety and Security........................... 59
Occupant safety................................... 60
Air bags .......................................... 61
Seat belts ....................................... 67
Preventive occupant safety
(PRE-SAFE
®)................................... 70
Children in the vehicle .................... 71
Override switch for rear
passenger compartment ................ 77
Panic alarm .......................................... 78
Activating ....................................... 78
Deactivating ................................... 78
Driving safety systems ......................... 79
ABS ................................................ 79
BAS ................................................ 80
ESP
®.............................................. 81
Four wheel electronic traction
system (4MATIC) with the ESP
®..... 84
Anti-theft systems................................ 85
Immobilizer..................................... 85
Anti-theft alarm system .................. 86
Tow-away alarm ............................. 88
Controls 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 ............................. 113
Seats ................................................. 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* .......................... 127Memory 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 ............................... 139
Instrument 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

ContentsLoading .............................................. 239
Roof rack* .................................... 239
Loading instructions ..................... 240
Cargo tie-down hooks .................. 240
Useful features .................................. 241
Vanity mirrors............................... 241
Storage compartments................. 242
Cup holders .................................. 248
Ashtrays ....................................... 249
Cigarette lighters.......................... 250
Heated steering wheel*
(except S 55 AMG and
S 65 AMG) .................................... 252
Telephone*................................... 253
Tele Aid ........................................ 254
Garage door opener ..................... 263
Infrared reflecting windshield ....... 269
Operation......................................... 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 .................................... 276
Parking ......................................... 276
Tires ............................................. 277
Hydroplaning ................................ 277
Tire traction.................................. 278
Tire speed rating .......................... 278
Winter driving instructions ........... 279
Standing water ............................. 280
Passenger compartment .............. 281
Driving abroad.............................. 281
Control and operation of
radio transmitters ........................ 281
Catalytic converter ....................... 282
Emission control .......................... 282
Coolant temperature .................... 283At the gas station .............................. 284
Refueling ...................................... 284
Check regularly and before
a long trip..................................... 285
Engine compartment ......................... 287
Hood ............................................ 287
Engine oil ..................................... 288
Transmission fluid level ................ 293
Active Body Control* (ABC*)
fluid level ..................................... 293
Coolant level ................................ 294
Battery ......................................... 295
Windshield washer system and
headlamp cleaning system*......... 296
Tires and wheels................................ 297
Important guidelines .................... 297
Tire care and maintenance........... 298
Direction of rotation..................... 300
Loading the vehicle ...................... 300
Recommended tire
inflation pressure ......................... 306
Checking tire inflation pressure ... 308
Tire labeling ................................. 313
Load identification ....................... 317

21 At a glance
Cockpit
Instrument cluster
Multifunction steering wheel
Center console
Overhead control panel
Door control panel

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*
222
215
218
3
Instrument cluster
24
4
Multifunction steering
wheel
26
5
Steering wheel gearshift
control (S 55 AMG and
S 65 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
235
8
Overhead control panel
29
9
Glove box lock
242
a
Glove box lid release
242
b
Glove box
242
c
Center console
27, 28
d
Starter switch
34
e
Horn
Item
Page
f
Steering wheel adjustment
stalk
Heated steering wheel*
40
252
g
Parking brake pedal
48
h
Hood lock release
287
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
235

29 At a glance
Overhead control panel
Overhead control panel
Item
Page
1
Left reading lamp on/off
138
2
Rear interior lighting on/off
138
3
Right reading lamp on/off
138
4
Interior lighting control
137
5
Tilt/sliding sunroof
212
6
Hands-free microphone for
Tele Aid (emergency call
system), telephone*, and
voice control system* (see
separate operating instruc-
tions)
254
7
Garage door opener
263
8
Rear view mirror
41
9
Tele Aid (emergency call
system) button
256

30 At a glanceDoor control panel
Item
Page
1
Door handle
102
2
Memory function (for stor-
ing seat, exterior mirror, and
steering wheel settings)
128
3
Seat heating*
Seat ventilation*
125
127
4
Seat adjustment
38
Item
Page
5
Exterior mirror adjustment
Mirror folding function
41,
186
189
6
Switches for opening/clos-
ing front door windows
208
7
Override switch for rear pas-
senger compartment
77
8
Switches for opening/clos-
ing rear windows
208
9
Remote trunk lid switch
104

32 Getting startedThe “Getting started” section provides an
overview of the vehicle’s most basic func-
tions. First-time Mercedes-Benz owners
should pay special attention to the infor-
mation given here.
If you are already familiar with the basic
functions described here, the “Controls in
detail” section will provide you with further
information. The corresponding page refer-
ences are located at the end of each seg-
ment.Unlocking
Unlocking with the SmartKeySmartKey with remote control 1‹Lock button
2ŠOpening button for trunk
3ŒUnlock button
4ÂPanic button (
page 78)

Press unlock buttonΠon the
SmartKey.
All turn signal lamps flash once. The ve-
hicle unlocks. The locking knobs in the
doors move up. The anti-theft alarm
system is disarmed.

Get in the vehicle and insert the
SmartKey in the starter switch.
For more information, see “SmartKey”
(
page 92).Warning!
G
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the
SmartKey from the starter switch, take it
with you, and lock the vehicle. Do not leave
children unattended in the vehicle, or with
access to an unlocked vehicle. Unsuper-
vised use of vehicle equipment may cause
an accident and/or serious personal injury.