2008 MERCEDES-BENZ S-Class brake light

694 Practical hintsWhat to do if …?Display
Possible cause/consequence
Possible solution
Night View Assist
Lights ON or AUTO,
Not in R Gear
You have tried to switch on Night View As-
sist* but the light switch is not set to *
or B.
In addition, the automatic transmission is in
reverse gearR.

Turn the exterior lamp switch to * or
B (
page 399).

Shift the automatic transmission to park
positionP, neutral positionN or drive
positionD (
page 426).
Night View Assist
Only When
It Is Dark
You have tried to switch on Night View As-
sist* by daylight.
You can only switch on Night View Assist* when
it is dark.
Engine Oil Level Low
Stop Vehicle
Turn Engine Off
S 600 and S 65 AMG only:
There is no oil in the engine. There is a dan-
ger of engine damage.

Carefully bring the vehicle to a halt as soon
as it is safe to do so in a safe location.

Engage the electronic parking brake
(page 422).

Turn off the engine.

Add engine oil (
page 578) and check the
engine oil level (page 575).

714 Practical hintsReplacing bulbsSafe vehicle operation depends on proper
exterior lighting and signaling. It is there-
fore essential that all bulbs and lamp as-
semblies are in good working order at all
times.
Correct headlamp adjustment is extremely
important. Have headlamps checked and
readjusted at regular intervals and when a
bulb has been replaced. Contact an autho-
rized Mercedes-Benz Center for headlamp
adjustment.
i
If the headlamps or front fog lamps are
fogged up on the inside as a result of high humid-
ity, driving the vehicle a distance with the lights
on should clear up the fogging.
i
Substitute bulbs will be brought into use
when the following lamps malfunction:


Brake lamps


Rear fog lamps


Front parking lamps


Tail lamps


Turn signal lamps
Read and observe messages in the multifunction
display (
page 642).

716 Practical hintsReplacing bulbsNotes on bulb replacement


Only use 12-volt-bulbs of the same
type and with the specified watt rating.


Switch lights off before changing a bulb
to prevent short circuits.


Always use a clean lint-free cloth when
handling bulbs.


Your hands should be dry and free of oil
and grease.


If the newly installed bulb does not
come on, contact an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
Have the LEDs and bulbs for the following
lamps replaced by an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center:


the Bi-Xenon lamps


the front turn signal lamps


the front fog lamps


the additional turn signal lamps in the
exterior rear view mirrors


the parking and standing lamps


the front side marker lamps


the high mounted brake lamps


the brake, tail and rear standing lamps


the rear side marker lamps


the rear fog lamp


the rear turn signal lamps


the rear side marker lamps


the license plate lamps
Warning!
G
Bulbs and bulb sockets can be very hot. Al-
low the lamp to cool down before changing
a bulb.
Keep bulbs out of reach of children.
Halogen lamps contain pressurized gas. A
bulb can explode if you:

touch or move it when hot


drop the bulb


scratch the bulb
Wear eye and hand protection.
Because of high voltage in Xenon lamps, it is
dangerous to replace the bulb or repair the
lamp and its components. We recommend
that you have such work done by a qualified
technician.
!
Do not replace the LEDs yourself. You could
otherwise damage the LEDs or parts of the vehi-
cle. Only have the LEDs replaced by an autho-
rized Mercedes-Benz Center.
i
Have the headlamp adjustment checked
regularly.

727 Practical hints
Flat tire

Clean contact surfaces of wheel and
wheel hub.

Guide the spare wheel onto the align-
ment bolt and push it on.

Insert wheel bolts and tighten them
slightly.

Unscrew the alignment bolt, install the
last wheel bolt and tighten slightly.Lowering the vehicle

Lower vehicle by turning crank coun-
terclockwise until vehicle is resting ful-
ly on its own weight.

Remove the jack.
1 - 5 Wheel bolts
!
Wheel bolts2 must be used when mount-
ing a Minispare wheel with steel rim. The use of
any wheel bolts other than wheel bolts2 for a
Minispare wheel with steel rim will physically
damage the vehicle’s brakes.
Wheel bolts1 must be used when mounting a
Minispare wheel with light alloy rim. The use of
any wheel bolts other than wheel bolts1 for
a Minispare wheel with light alloy rim will physi-
cally damage the vehicle’s brakes.
Warning!
G
Make sure to use the original length wheel
bolts when remounting the original wheel
after it has been repaired.
!
To avoid paint damage, place wheel flat
against hub and hold it there while installing first
wheel bolt.

735 Practical hints
Jump starting
Jump starting should only be performed on
the starter battery. The starter battery is
located in the engine compartment on the
passenger side (
page 731).

Make sure the two vehicles do not
touch.

Secure vehicle in place with electronic
parking brake (
page 422).

Shift the automatic transmission to
park positionP (
page 426).

Turn off all electrical consumers, ex-
cept hazard warning flashers or work
lights.

Open the hood (
page 573).

Start the engine of the vehicle with the
charged battery and run at idle speed.1Positive terminal of your vehicle’s
battery
2Positive terminal of other vehicle’s
battery
3Negative terminal of other vehicle’s
battery
4Negative clamp
Warning!
G
Keep flames or sparks away from battery.
Do not smoke.
Observe all safety instructions and precau-
tions when handling automotive batteries
(page 729).
i
Vehicles with KEYLESS-GO*: remove the
KEYLESS-GO button (
page 371) and use the
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO like a normal
SmartKey.


775 Index
A
ABC* 470
Messages in display 660
Setting vehicle level 471
ABS 67
Indicator lamp 29, 67, 628
Messages in display 662
Accelerator position, automatic
transmission 433
Accessory weight 606
Accident 421
Active headlamps 399
Adaptive Brake Lights
(S 600, USA only) 69
Adaptive Damping System
(Airmatic) 468
Additional turn signals 715
Address book (COMAND) 167
Calling up 168
Changing an entry 174
Creating an entry 168
Deleting an entry 175
Details about an entry 172
Displaying details about an entry in
the phone book on the mobile
phone 173Importing data 179
Making a call 176
Menu overview 167
Searching for an entry 170
Starting route guidance 176
Voice entry 177
Address book (Voice Control) 330
ADS (Airmatic) 468
Advanced Parking Guidance* 481
Air bags 42
Children 58
Front 46
Front passenger front air bag
indicator lamp 51
OCS 47
Safety guidelines 44
Side impact 46
Window curtain 46, 47
Air conditioning, Refrigerant 768, 769
Air distribution
Adjusting 510
Adjusting (COMAND) 275
Air pressure 606
Air pressure see Tire inflation pressure
Air recirculation mode 506
Air vents 500Air volume
Adjusting 504, 510
Adjusting (COMAND) 275
Airmatic 468
Messages in display 676
Setting vehicle level 469
Alarm
Audible alarm and flashing exterior
lamps (Panic alarm) 66
Alarm system see Anti-theft alarm system
Alignment bolt (vehicle tool kit) 705, 726
Ambient lighting
COMAND menu 269
AMG menu (Control system
instrument cluster) 296
AMG vehicles
Manual shift program mode 440
Antiglare
Rear view mirrors 390
Anti-theft systems 82
Alarm, visual and audible 82
Anti-theft alarm system 82
Immobilizer 82
Aquaplaning see Hydroplaning
Armrest 527, 528
Ashtrays 536

780 Index
Intermittent signal tone 454
Lever 457
Menu 455
Messages in display 646
Sensor cover 619
Setting a higher speed 461
Setting a slower speed 462
Setting following distance 464
Setting the current speed 460
Setting to last stored speed
(“Resume” function) 463
Warning and indicator lamps 454
Document holder 534
Door
Control panel 34, 35, 38
Entry lamps 407
Inside door handle 367
Locking 360, 365
Locking with Tele Aid 550
Messages in display 648, 682
Opening from inside vehicle 367
Opening from outside 360, 364
Power closing assist 368
Unlocking 359, 364
Unlocking with Tele Aid 549DOT 607
Downhill driving
Cruise control 448
Drink holder see Cupholder
Drinking and driving 559
Drive-dynamic multicontour seats*, front
Adjusting (COMAND) 285
Driving 416
Abroad 567
Hydroplaning 563
In winter 565
Instructions 416, 559
Problems 420
Safety systems 67
Through standing water 566
With DISTRONIC Plus* 465
Driving maneuver (COMAND) 237
Driving off 562
Driving safety systems
4MATIC 76
ABS 67
Adaptive Brake Lights
(S 600, USA only) 69
BAS 69
BAS Plus 70EBP 72
Electronic traction system 73
ESP
®
72
Driving systems 446
ABC* 470
Advanced Parking Guidance* 481
Airmatic 468
Cruise control 446
DISTRONIC Plus* 451
Driving safety systems 67
Park Assist* 476
Parktronic system* 472
Rear View Camera* 487
Vehicle level control (ABC*) 471
Vehicle level control (Airmatic) 469
Driving tips 433
Kickdown 433
DVD 116
Audio (COMAND) 116
Changer (COMAND) 120
Changer (Voice Control) 338
Ejecting (COMAND) 122
Loading (COMAND) 120
Playback options (COMAND) 128
Selecting a medium (COMAND) 126
Selecting a track (COMAND) 126

782 IndexExterior lighting
Delayed switch-off (COMAND) 264
Locator lighting (COMAND) 265
Exterior rear view mirrors
Adjusting 388
Auto-dimming on the
driver’s side 390
Fold in automatically when locking
(COMAND) 266
Lower mirror when reversing
(COMAND) 266
Power folding 389F
Favorite button 263
First aid kit 705
Flat tire 723
Jacking up the vehicle 724
Lowering the vehicle 727
Mounting the spare wheel 723
Preparing the vehicle 723
Floormats* 538
Fluids
Automatic transmission fluid 765
Brake fluid 766, 769
Capacities 764
Engine coolant 579, 767, 771
Engine oil 578, 765, 769
Power steering fluid 766
Windshield washer system and head-
lamp cleaning system 768, 774
Fog lamps
Messages in display 690
Replacing bulbs 715
Four wheel electronic traction system with
ESP
® see 4MATIC
4MATIC 76
Front air bags 46Front lamps
Replacing bulbs 715, 717
Front lamps see headlamps
Front passenger front air bag 46
Messages in display 649
Front passenger front air bag off
indicator lamp 51, 640
Fuel 571, 767, 770
Additives 771
Capacity, Fuel tank 767
Filling the tank 570
Fuel filler flap and cap 570
Fuel reserve warning lamp 29
Gauge 29
Premium unleaded gasoline 571,
767, 770
Requirements, Octane rating 770
Fuel cap
Message in display 683
Fuel consumption statistics
Since last reset 291
Since start 291
Fuel filler flap 570
Locking/Unlocking 570