2008 MERCEDES-BENZ S-Class Battery

Contents
Flat tire .............................................. 723
Preparing the vehicle ................... 723
Mounting the spare wheel............ 723
Batteries ............................................ 729
Disconnecting starter battery ...... 731
Removing starter battery ............. 732
Charging battery .......................... 732
Reinstalling starter battery........... 733
Reconnecting starter battery ....... 733
Jump starting ..................................... 734
Towing the vehicle ............................. 737
Towing with front wheels raised ... 738
Towing with all wheels
on the ground............................... 739
Installing towing eye bolt ............. 740
Fuses ................................................. 741
Fuse boxes in
engine compartment .................... 742
Fuse boxes in
passenger compartment .............. 743
Emergency engine shut-down ...... 744
Technical data.................................. 745
Parts service....................................... 746
Warranty coverage ............................. 747
Loss of Service and Warranty
Information Booklet ...................... 747
Identification labels ............................ 748
Layout of poly-V-belt drive .................. 750
S 450 4MATIC, S 550 and
S 550 4MATIC............................... 750
S 63 AMG ..................................... 750
S 600 and S 65 AMG .................... 750
Engine ................................................ 751
Rims and tires .................................... 754
Same size tires ............................. 755
Mixed size tires ............................. 757
Spare wheel .................................. 759
Electrical system ................................ 760
Main dimensions and weights ............ 762
Main dimensions........................... 762
Weights ......................................... 763Fuels, coolants, lubricants, etc. .......... 764
Capacities ..................................... 764
Engine oils .................................... 769
Engine oil additives ....................... 769
Air conditioning refrigerant ........... 769
Brake fluid .................................... 769
Premium unleaded gasoline.......... 770
Fuel requirements......................... 770
Gasoline additives......................... 771
Coolants ....................................... 771
Windshield washer system and
headlamp cleaning system ........... 774
Index................................................. 775

82 Safety and SecurityAnti-theft systemsImmobilizer
The immobilizer prevents unauthorized
persons from starting your vehicle.
When leaving the vehicle, always take the
SmartKey or SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO*
with you, and lock the vehicle. The engine
can be started by anyone with a valid
SmartKey or SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO*
that is left inside the vehicle.
Activating
With the SmartKey: Remove the
SmartKey from the starter switch.

With the KEYLESS-GO*: Turn off the
engine (
page 372) and open the driv-
er’s door.
Deactivating

Switch on the ignition (
page 370).
Anti-theft alarm system
Once the alarm system has been armed, a
visual and audible alarm is triggered when
someone opens:

a door


the trunk


the hood
The alarm will stay on even if the activating
element (a door, for example) is immedi-
ately closed.
The alarm system will also be triggered
when


the vehicle is opened with the
mechanical key


a door is opened from the inside
To cancel the alarm after it has been trig-
gered, see “Canceling the alarm”
(
page 83).
i
Starting the engine will also deactivate the
immobilizer.
In case the engine cannot be started (yet the ve-
hicle’s battery is charged), the system is not op-
erational. Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center or call 1-800-FOR-MERCedes (in the
USA), or 1-800-387-0100 (in Canada).

189 Control systems
COMAND navigation (introduction)
Loading a DVD into the DVD changer
1Disc slot
2Magazine tray buttons 1 – 6

Switch on COMAND (
page 87).

Press one of the magazine tray
buttons2.
If a disc is loaded, it will be ejected.

Take disc out of slot 1.

Wait until LED for magazine button 2
which you pressed flashes quickly.

Slide DVD into slot 1 with printed side
facing upwards.
COMAND loads the DVD.
i
If you carry out the update with the engine
switched off and the vehicle battery has insuffi-
cient power, COMAND may automatically switch
off during the process in order to protect the bat-
tery. If this occurs, restart the update with the
engine running period. Similarly, if the SmartKey
position is unintentionally switched to 0, restart
the update.Warning!
G
Never leave the engine running in an en-
closed space. The exhaust gases contain
carbon monoxide. Inhaling exhaust gases
constitutes a health hazard and could lead
to loss of consciousness or even death.
i
Each magazine tray button 2 indicates the
status of the corresponding magazine tray by
means of an LED.


LED off = magazine tray is empty


LED constantly lit = magazine tray is loaded


LED flashes = CD/DVD changer requesting
disc to be loaded

358 Controls in detailLocking and unlockingSmartKey
Your vehicle comes supplied with two
SmartKeys, each with remote control and
a removable mechanical key.
The SmartKey provides an extended oper-
ating range. To prevent theft, however, it is
advisable to only unlock the vehicle when
you are in close proximity to it.
The SmartKey centrally locks and unlocks,
when set to factory settings (
page 359):


the doors


the trunk


the fuel filler flap
SmartKey with remote control1‹ Lock button
2ŠOpening button for trunk
(
page 511)
3Mechanical key locking tab
4ŒUnlock button
5Battery check lamp
6ÂPanic button (
page 66)
!
To prevent possible malfunction, avoid ex-
posing the SmartKey to high levels of electro-
magnetic radiation.
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. A child’s un-
supervised access to a vehicle could result
in an accident and/or serious personal inju-
ry.Warning!
G
To prevent possible personal injury, always
keep hands and fingers away from the door
or trunk lid opening when closing a door or
the trunk. Be especially careful when small
children are around.
Before closing doors, make sure there is no
possibility of someone getting caught in a
door during closing.

360 Controls in detailLocking and unlockingThe vehicle will lock again automatically
and rearm the anti-theft alarm system
within approximately 40 seconds of un-
locking if:

neither a door nor the trunk is opened


the SmartKey is not inserted in the
starter switch


the central locking/unlocking switch is
not activated

Global locking: Press button‹.
With the trunk and both doors closed:

All turn signal lamps flash three
times.


An acoustic signal sounds three
times (if equipped and feature acti-
vated).


The locking knobs in the doors
move down.


The anti-theft alarm system is
armed.Selective setting
If you frequently travel alone, you may wish
to reprogram the SmartKey so that press-
ing buttonŒ only unlocks the driver’s
door and the fuel filler flap.

Press and hold buttonsŒ and‹
simultaneously for about 5 seconds un-
til battery check lamp5 (
page 358)
flashes twice.
The SmartKey will then function as fol-
lows:

Unlocking driver’s door and fuel fill-
er flap: Press buttonΠonce.

All turn signal lamps flash once.


An acoustic signal sounds once
(if equipped and feature activated).
For more information, see “Factory
setting” (
page 359).


The locking knob in the driver’s
door moves up.


The anti-theft alarm system is dis-
armed.

Global unlocking: Press buttonŒ
twice.

All turn signal lamps flash once.


An acoustic signal sounds once
(if equipped and feature activated).


The locking knobs in the doors
move up.


The anti-theft alarm system is dis-
armed.

Global locking: Press button‹.
With the trunk and both doors closed:

All turn signal lamps flash three
times.


An acoustic signal sounds three
times (if equipped and feature acti-
vated).


The locking knobs in the doors
move down.


The anti-theft alarm system is
armed.

361 Controls in detail
Locking and unlocking

Restoring to factory setting: Press
and hold buttonsŒ and‹ si-
multaneously for about 5 seconds until
battery check lamp5 (
page 358)
flashes twice.
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO*
Vehicles equipped with KEYLESS-GO come
with two SmartKeys with KEYLESS-GO,
each with remote control and a removable
mechanical key.
The KEYLESS-GO function is integrated
into the SmartKey. On these vehicles, the
validity of the SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO
is checked every time you grasp an outside
door handle.
With the KEYLESS-GO function, you can
lock and unlock the vehicle without using
the remote control buttons on the
SmartKey and start the engine without in-
serting the SmartKey in the starter switch.The SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO centrally
locks and unlocks, when set to factory set-
tings (
page 364):


the doors


the trunk


the fuel filler flap
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO1‹ Lock button
2ŠOpening button for trunk
(
page 511)
3Locking tab for mechanical key
4ΠUnlock button
5Battery check lamp
6ÂPanic button (
page 66)
i
When any outside door handle other than
the driver’s outside door handle is grasped, the
vehicle is centrally unlocked.
!
To prevent possible malfunction, avoid ex-
posing the SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO to high
levels of electromagnetic radiation.
Warning!
G
When leaving the vehicle, always take the
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO* with you and
lock the vehicle. Do not leave children unat-
tended in the vehicle, or with access to an
unlocked vehicle. A child’s unsupervised ac-
cess to a vehicle could result in an accident
and/or serious personal injury.
Children could start the vehicle with a valid
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO left in the vehi-
cle or with the KEYLESS-GO button on the
starter switch, or could release the electron-
ic parking brake, thereby putting them-
selves and others in danger. Switch off the
engine and take the SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO with you even if you are only
leaving the vehicle for a short while.

365 Controls in detail
Locking and unlocking

Global locking: Close all doors and
touch outside of door handle1. Do
not keep your hand in the door handle
recess.
With the trunk and both doors closed:

All turn signal lamps flash three
times.


An acoustic signal sounds three
times (if equipped and feature acti-
vated).


The locking knobs in the doors
move down.


The anti-theft alarm system is
armed.Selective setting
If you frequently travel alone, you may wish
to reprogram the SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO so when you, grasp the driv-
er’s outside door handle only the driver’s
door and the fuel filler flap unlocks.

Press and hold buttonsŒ and‹
simultaneously for about 5 seconds un-
til battery check lamp5 (
page 361)
flashes twice.
The SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO will
then function as follows:

Unlocking driver’s door and fuel fill-
er flap: Grasp the driver’s outside door
handle.


All turn signal lamps flash once.


An acoustic signal sounds once
(if equipped and feature activated).
For more information, see “Factory
setting” (
page 364).


The locking knob in the driver’s
door moves up.


The anti-theft alarm system is dis-
armed.

Global unlocking: Grasp any outside
door handle other than the driver’s out-
side door handle.

All turn signal lamps flash once.


An acoustic signal sounds once
(if equipped and feature activated).


The locking knobs in the doors
move up.


The anti-theft alarm system is dis-
armed.
i
Vehicles with trunk opening/closing
system*:
You can also lock the vehicle using the
KEYLESS-GO locking/closing switch
(
page 514).


366 Controls in detailLocking and unlocking
Global locking: Close all doors and
touch outside of door handle1
(page 364). Do not keep your hand in
the door handle recess.
With the trunk and both doors closed:


All turn signal lamps flash three
times.


An acoustic signal sounds three
times (if equipped and feature acti-
vated).


The locking knobs in the doors
move down.


The anti-theft alarm system is
armed.

Restoring to factory setting: Press
and hold buttonsŒ and‹ si-
multaneously for about 5 seconds until
battery check lamp5 (
page 361)
flashes twice.
Checking batteries in the SmartKey or
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO*
Press button‹ orŒ.
The battery check lamp (
page 358)
or (
page 361) comes on briefly to in-
dicate that the SmartKey or SmartKey
with KEYLESS-GO batteries are in or-
der.Loss of the SmartKey or SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO*
If you lose your SmartKey, SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO or mechanical key, you
should do the following:
Have the SmartKey or SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO deactivated by an autho-
rized Mercedes-Benz Center.

Report the loss of the SmartKey,
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO or the me-
chanical key immediately to your car
insurance company.

Have the mechanical lock replaced if
necessary.
Any authorized Mercedes-Benz Center will
be glad to supply you with a replacement.
i
Vehicles with trunk opening/closing
system*:
You can also lock the vehicle using the
KEYLESS-GO locking/closing switch
(
page 514).
!
If the battery check lamp does not come on
briefly during check, the SmartKey or SmartKey
with KEYLESS-GO batteries are discharged.
Replace the batteries (
page 712).
You can obtain the required batteries at any au-
thorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
i
If the batteries are checked within signal
range of the vehicle, pressing button‹ or
Πwill lock or unlock the vehicle accordingly.