Page 499 of 705

498 OperationEngine compartmentThe coolant expansion tank is located on
the passenger side of the engine compart-
ment.Example illustration from S 5501Cap
2Coolant expansion tank
Using a rag, turn cap1 slowly approx-
imately one half turn counterclockwise
to release any excess pressure.
Continue turning the cap counterclock-
wise and remove it.
The coolant level is correct if the level
for cold coolant: reaches the white
marking (plastic bridge) inside the cool-
ant expansion tank
for warm coolant: is approximately
0.6 in (1.5 cm) higher
Add coolant as required.
Replace and tighten cap1.
For more information on coolant, see the
“Technical data” section (
page 665). Windshield washer system and
headlamp cleaning system
The washer fluid reservoir is located on the
left-hand side of the engine compartment
when looking in the direction of travel. It
supplies the windshield washer system
and headlamp cleaning system* with
washer fluid.S 550 with Airmatic1Cap
Using a rag, slowly open the cap approx-
imately
1/2 turn to relieve excess pres-
sure. If opened immediately, scalding
hot fluid and steam will be blown out un-
der pressure.
Do not spill antifreeze on hot engine
parts. Antifreeze contains ethylene gly-
col which may burn if it comes into con-
tact with hot engine parts.
Page 500 of 705

499 Operation
Engine compartment
Vehicles with ABC*1Cap
Fluid for the windshield washer system and
the headlamp cleaning system is supplied
from the windshield washer reservoir. It
has a capacity of approximately:
6.93 US qt (6.56 l) in vehicles
with Airmatic*
6.76 US qt (6.4 l) in vehicles with ABC*
During all seasons, add MB Windshield
Washer Concentrate “MB SummerFit” to
water. Premix the windshield washer fluid
in a suitable container.
To open washer fluid reservoir: pull
tab of cap1 upward.
Refill the reservoir with MB Windshield
Washer Concentrate and water (or
commercially available premixed wind-
shield washer solvent/antifreeze, de-
pending on ambient temperatures).
Always use washer solvent/antifreeze
where temperatures may fall below
freezing point. Failure to do so could re-
sult in damage to the washer sys-
tem/reservoir.
To close washer fluid reservoir:
press cap1 onto filler hole until it en-
gages.For more information, see “Windshield and
headlamp washer system” (
page 668).
Warning!
G
Washer solvent/antifreeze is highly flamma-
ble. Do not spill washer solvent/antifreeze
on hot engine parts, because it may ignite
and burn. You could be seriously burned.
!
Only use washer fluid which is suitable for
plastic lenses. Improper washer fluid can dam-
age the plastic lenses of the headlamps.
Page 541 of 705

540 OperationVehicle careCleaning the windows and the wiper
blades
Make sure the hood is fully closed.
Place wiper arms in vertical position
(page 627).
Make sure the vehicle’s on-board elec-
tronics have status 0 (
page 315).
Fold the wiper arms forward until they
snap into place.
Clean the wiper blade inserts with a
clean cloth and detergent solution.
Use a soft, clean cloth and a mild win-
dow cleaning solution on all outside
and inside glass surfaces.
An automotive glass cleaner is recom-
mended.
!
If the windshield wipers leave smears on the
windshield after the vehicle has been driven
through an automatic car wash, wax or other res-
idue is on the windshield. Clean the windshield
with washer fluid shortly after cleaning the car in
an automatic car wash (
page 352).
!
The windshield wipers must be in a vertical
position before folding them away from the wind-
shield. They could otherwise damage the hood.
Never open the hood when the wiper arms are
folded forward.
Warning!
G
For safety reasons, switch off wipers and re-
move SmartKey from starter switch (vehi-
cles with KEYLESS-GO*: Make sure the
vehicle’s on-board electronics have
status0) before cleaning the windshield
and/or the wiper blades. Otherwise, the
wiper motor could suddenly turn on and
cause injury.!
While doing so, only touch the wiper arm so
as not to damage the wiper blade inserts.
!
Fold the windshield wiper arms back onto
the windshield before turning the SmartKey in
the starter switch or pressing the KEYLESS-GO*
start/stop button (vehicles with KEYLESS-GO*).
Hold on to the wiper when folding the wiper arm
back. If released, the force of the impact from
the tensioning spring could crack the windshield.
!
To clean the window interior, do not use a
dry cloth, abrasives, solvents or cleaners con-
taining solvents. Do not touch the inside of the
front, rear or side windows with hard objects
such as an ice scraper or ring. Doing so may
damage the windows.
Page 611 of 705
610 Practical hintsWhat to do if …?Display
Possible cause/consequence
Possible solution
Shift to 'P'
You have attempted to turn off the engine
with the KEYLESS-GO* start/stop button
and opened the driver’s door with the auto-
matic transmission not shift to positionP.
Shift the automatic transmission toP
(page 367).
or
Close the driver’s door.
You are driving with the trunk open.
Close the trunk (
page 437).
Washer fluid,
please refill
The water level has dropped to approx.
1.1 US qts (1.0 l).
Add washer fluid (
page 498).
Page 625 of 705

624 Practical hintsReplacing bulbs1Cover 1
2Cover 2
3Cover 3
Removing and installing washer fluid
reservoir on left-hand side
Vehicles with Airmatic*
You must remove the washer fluid reser-
voir in order to change the bulbs of the
front headlamp on the left-hand side. The
washer fluid reservoir is on the front
left-hand side of the engine compartment.
Washer fluid reservoir (example illustration
from S 550)1Retaining screw
Removing
Turn retaining screw1 counterclock-
wise.
Take washer fluid reservoir out of
mounting.
Place washer fluid reservoir to the side
and do not disconnect any wires or ca-
bles.Installing
Guide washer fluid reservoir into
mounting so that the bottom retaining
lug slides into the rubber sleeve on the
longitudinal member.
Turn retaining screw1 clockwise.
Bi-Xenon headlampsWarning!
G
Do not remove the cover for the Bi-Xenon
headlamp. Because of high voltage in Xenon
lamps, it is dangerous to replace the bulb or
repair the lamp and its components. We rec-
om me n d tha t yo u hav e su ch work don e by a
qualified technician.
Page 663 of 705

662 Technical dataFuels, coolants, lubricants, etc.
Model
Capacity
Fuels, coolants, lubricants, etc.
Front wheel hubs
All models
approx. 2.1 oz. (60 g) each
High-temperature roller bearing
grease
Brake system
All models
approx. 0.53 US qt. (0.5 l)
MB Brake Fluid (DOT 4+)
Cooling
system
Vehicles without rear passenger
compartment climate control*
S 550
12.15 US qt. (11.5 l)
MB 325.0 Anticorrosion/Antifreeze
Vehicles with rear passenger
compartment climate control*
S 550
13.9 US qt. (13.15 l)
S 600
14.69 US qt. (13.9 l)
Low temperature cooling system
S 600
2.75 US qt. (2.6 l)
Fuel tank
All models
23.78 US gal (90.0 l)
Premium unleaded gasoline:
Minimum Posted Octane 91
(Avg.of96RON/86MON)
including a reserve of
All models
2.9 US gal (11.0 l)
Air conditioning system
All models
R-134a refrigerant and special PAG
lubricant oil (never R-12)
Windshield
washer
Vehicles with ABC*
All models
6.93 US qt (6.56 l)
MB Windshield Washer Concentrate
1
1Use MB Windshield Washer Concentrate “MB SummerFit” and water for temperatures above freezing or MB Windshield Washer Concentrate “MB SummerFit” and
commercially available premixed windshield washer solvent/antifreeze for temperatures below freezing point. Follow suggested mixing ratios (page 668).
Vehicles with Airmatic*
All models
6.76 US qt (6.4 l)
Page 669 of 705

668 Technical dataFuels, coolants, lubricants, etc.Windshield and headlamp washer system
Both the windshield and headlamp washer
systems are supplied from the windshield
washer fluid reservoir.
The washer fluid reservoir has a capacity of
approximately:
6.93 US qt (6.56 l) in vehicles
with Airmatic*
6.76 US qt (6.4 l) in vehicles with ABC*
Refill the reservoir with MB Windshield
Washer Concentrate and water (or con-
centrate and commercially available
premixed windshield washer solvent/
antifreeze, depending on ambient tem-
peratures).Windshield and headlamp washer fluid
mixing ratio
For temperatures above freezing point, use
MB Windshield Washer Concentrate
“MB SummerFit” and water:
1 part “MB SummerFit” to 100 parts
water
[1.34 fl oz (40 ml) “MB SummerFit” to
1 gal (4.0 l) water].
For temperatures below freezing point, use
MB Windshield Washer Concentrate
“MB SummerFit” and commercially avail-
able premixed windshield washer sol-
vent/antifreeze:
1 part “MB SummerFit” to 100 parts
solvent
[1.34 fl oz (40 ml) “MB SummerFit” to
1 gal (4.0 l) solvent].
Warning!
G
Washer solvent/antifreeze is highly flamma-
ble. Do not spill washer solvent/antifreeze
on hot engine parts, because it may ignite
and burn. You could be seriously burned.
Page 687 of 705

686 IndexETD 58, 672
Safety guidelines 47
Exterior lighting
Delayed switch-off (COMAND) 220
Locator lighting (COMAND) 221
Exterior rear view mirrors
Adjusting 332
Auto-dimming on the driver’s
side 334
Fold in automatically when locking
(COMAND) 222
Lower mirror when reversing
(COMAND) 222
Power folding 333
F
Favorite button 216
First aid kit 611
Flat tire 629
Jacking up the vehicle 630
Lowering the vehicle 633
Mounting the Minispare wheel 629
Preparing the vehicle 629
Flexible Service System see FSS
Fluids
Automatic transmission fluid 661
Brake fluid 662, 663Capacities 661
Engine coolant 497, 662, 665
Engine oil 496, 661, 663
Power steering fluid 661
Windshield washer and headlamp
cleaning system 662, 668
Fog lamps
Messages in display 598
Replacing bulbs 622
Front air bags 49
Front lamps
Replacing bulbs 622, 623
Front lamps see headlamps
Front passenger front air bag 49
Front passenger front air bag off indicator
lamp 53, 555
FSS (Canada vehicles) 532
Fuel 490, 662, 664
Additives 665
Capacity, Fuel tank 662
Filling the tank 489
Fuel filler flap and cap 489
Fuel reserve warning lamp 29, 550
Premium unleaded gasoline 490,
662, 664
Requirements, Octane rating 664Fuel cap
Message in display 591
Fuel consumption statistics
After start 245
Since last reset 245
Fuel filler flap 489
Locking/Unlocking 489
Fuel tank
Capacity 662
Filler flap 489
Fuels, coolants, lubricants etc.
Capacities 661
Fuses 645
Aids for replacing fuses 646
Fuse box in engine compartment 646
Fuse box in passenger
compartment 647
Fuse boxes in dashboard 647
Fuse chart (vehicle tool kit) 611
Fuse extractor (vehicle tool kit) 611
Replacing 645
Spare fuses (vehicle tool kit) 611