
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

52 Getting startedDrivingWindshield wipers
The combination switch is located on the
left of the steering column.Combination switch1Single wipe
Wiping with windshield washer fluid
2Switching on windshield wipers
Switch on the ignition (
page 34).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 speed!Do not operate the wipers when the
windshield is dry. Dust that accumu-
lates on a windshield might scratch the
glass and/or damage the wiper blades
when wiping occurs on a dry wind-
shield. If it is necessary to operate the
wipers in dry weather conditions, al-
ways operate the wipers with wind-
shield washer fluid (
page 53).
iIntermittent wiping interval is depen-
dent on wetness of windshield. Pauses
between wipes are automatically con-
trolled by the rain sensor.!Do not leave windshield wipers in inter-
mittent setting when vehicle is taken to
an automatic car wash or during wind-
shield cleaning. Wipers will operate in
the presence of water sprayed on the
windshield, and wipers may be dam-
aged as a result.

141 Controls in detail
Instrument cluster
Coolant temperature gauge
During severe operating conditions,
e.g. stop-and-go traffic, the coolant tem-
perature may rise close to 248°F (120°C),
i.e. close to the red zone of the tempera-
ture gauge.
The engine should not be operated with
the coolant temperature above 248°F
(120°C), i.e. in the red zone of the coolant
temperature gauge. Doing so may cause
serious engine damage which is not cov-
ered by the Mercedes-Benz Limited War-
ranty.
Trip odometer
Make sure you are viewing the trip
odometer display.
If it is not displayed, press the è or
ÿ button on the multifunction
steering wheel repeatedly until the trip
odometer appears (
page 143).
Press and hold reset buttonJ
(page 140) until the trip odometer is
reset.
Warning!
G
Driving when your engine is badly over-
heated can cause some fluids which
may have leaked into the engine com-
partment to catch fire. You could be se-
riously burned.
Steam from an overheated engine can
cause serious burns and can occur just
by opening the hood. Stay away from
the engine if you see or hear steam com-
ing from it.
Turn off the engine, get out of the vehicle
and do not stand near the vehicle until the
engine has cooled down.
iExcessive coolant temperature triggers
a warning in the multifunction display
(page 363).

435 Technical data
Fuels, coolants, lubricants, etc.
Model
Capacity
Fuels, coolants, lubricants, etc.
Transfer case
S 430 4MATIC
S 500 4MATIC
0.62 US qt. (0.585 l)
MB Transfer Case Oil
Hydraulic system for ADS or ABC
All models
4.2 US qt. (4.0 l)
MB Hydraulic Fluid
Power steering
All models
approx. 1.1 US qt. (1.0 l)
MB Power Steering Fluid
(Pentosin CHF 11S)
Front wheel hubs
All models
approx. 3.5 oz. (100 g) each
High-temperature roller bearing
grease
Brake system
All models
0.7 US qt. (0.7 l)
MB Brake Fluid (DOT 4+)
Cooling system
S 350
S 430, S 430 4MATIC
S 500, S 500 4MATIC
S 55 AMG
S 600
S 65 AMG
approx. 11.1 US qt. (10.5 l)
approx. 12.1 US qt. (11.5 l)
approx. 12.1 US qt. (11.5 l)
approx. 14.3 US qt. (13.5 l)
approx. 15.85 US qt. (15.0 l)
approx. 15.96 US qt. (15.1 l)
MB 325.0 Anticorrosion/Antifreeze
Low temperature cooling system
S 600
S 65 AMG
2.3 US qt. (2.2 l)
3.06 US qt (2.9 l)
MB 325.0 Anticorrosion/Antifreeze

453 Index
Automatic headlamp mode 132
Automatic lighting control
Activating 137
Deactivating 137
Automatic locking when driving 112
Automatic shift program
Automatic transmission 179
Automatic transmission 173
Accelerator position 177
Automatic shift program 179
Emergency operation (Limp Home
Mode) 185
Fluid level 293
Gear ranges 178
Gear selector lever position 173, 175
Gear shifting malfunctions 185
Kickdown 177
Kickdown, manual shift program
S 55 AMG and S 65 AMG 185
Manual shift program S 55 AMG and
S 65 AMG 183
Manual shifting 180
One-touch gearshifting 180
Selector lever position 173
Starting the engine 46Steering wheel gearshift control
S 55 AMG and S 65 AMG 181
Transmission fluid 293
Auxiliary fuse box 417
B
BabySmart
TM
Air bag deactivation system 73
Compatible child seats 73, 443
Self-test 73
BabySmart
TM air bag deactivation
system 443
Backrest supports
Lumbar region 123
Shoulder region 123
Backup lamps 395, 400
Bulbs 395
Bar 323
BAS 80, 444
Batteries, SmartKey
Check lamp 95
Checking 95
Replacing 392
Batteries, SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO*
Checking 101
Battery discharged
Jump starting 411Battery, SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO*
Check lamp 101
Replacing 393
Battery, vehicle 295, 408
Charging 409
Disconnecting 409
Reconnecting 410
Reinstalling 409
Removing 409
Bead 323
Bi-Xenon headlamps 444
Block heater (Canada only) 328
Blocking
Rear window operation 77
Brake assist system (BAS) 444
Brake fluid 285, 437
Brake lamp bulbs 395
Brake lamp, high mounted 395
Brake pads
Message in display 361
Brakes 274
High-performance brake system
(S 65 AMG only) 275
Warning lamp 341
Break-in period 272

460 IndexFuel tank
Filler flap 284
Fuels, coolants, lubricants etc. 434
Functions (control system) 145, 147
Resetting 161
Fuse box 417, 418
Fuse chart 385
Fuses 416
Auxiliary fuse box in trunk 417
F us e box i n engi ne c om p art me nt 4 18
Fuse box in passenger
compartment 417
Fuse chart 385
Fuse extractor 385
Spare fuses 385
G
Garage door opener 263
Erasing in remote control 268
Integrated remote control 265
Rolling code programming 266
Gasoline see Fuel 285
GAWR 323
Gear range 445
Automatic transmission 178
Limiting 178
Shifting into optimal 180Gear range limit
Canceling 180
Gear selector lever
Cleaning 337
Position (Automatic
transmission) 175
Glasses
Storage compartment in front of
armrest 245
Global
Locking 94
Unlocking 94
Global Positioning System (GPS) 446
Glove box 242
Closing 243
Locking 242
Opening 243
Unlocking 243
Gloves (vehicle tool kit) 385
Good visibility 186
GPS 254, 446
Gross Axle Weight Rating see GAWR
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating see GVWR
Gross Vehicle Weight see GVW
GVW 323
GVWR 324H
Hand-held transmitter
Programming integrated remote
control 265
Hands-free microphone 29
Hard plastic trim items
Cleaning 337
Hazard warning flasher 136
Switching off 136
Switching on 136
Head restraints 116
Headlamp cleaning system* 296
Headlamps
Automatic control 132
Bi-Xenon 444
Cleaning 334
Cleaning system* 186, 296
Refilling washer fluid 296
Switching off 57
Switching on 50
Headliner
Cleaning 337
Heated steering wheel* 252
Height adjustment
Head restraints 39
Steering wheel 40

465 Index
Mph or km/h in speedometer 163
Multicontour backrest* 122
Multifunction display 143, 447
Selecting language 164
Standard display 147
Multifunction display messages
ABC 351
ABS 353
Airmatic 358
Brake fluid 361
Brake pads 361
Check engine 342, 343
Coolant 363
Coolant level 362
Distronic* 354
Doors 365
Engine 342, 343
Engine oil level 366
Entry position 368
Hood 368Lamps 371
Parking brake 360
Selector lever 357
SmartKey 368
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO* 368
TeleAid 374
Telephone* 374
Tires 376–383
Trunk 375
Washer fluid 375
Multifunction steering wheel 26, 144,
447
Buttons 144
N
Navigation system
Operating 155
See separate COMAND* operating in-
structions
Night security illumination 133
Normal occupant weight 324O
Occupant distribution 324
Occupant safety 60
Air bags 61
Children and air bags 62
Children in the vehicle 71
Fastening the seat belt 43
Infant and child restraint systems 71
LATCH child seat anchors 75
Seat belts 43, 64
Oil
Adding 292
Consumption 288
Dipstick 288
Filler neck 291, 292, 293
Viscosity 445
Oil level
Checking 286
Oil level via control system
Checking 289