2008 MERCEDES-BENZ S-Class bulb

Contents
Driving abroad .............................. 567
Control and operation of
radio transmitters......................... 567
Catalytic converter ....................... 568
Emission control........................... 568
Coolant temperature .................... 569
At the gas station............................... 570
Refueling ...................................... 570
Check regularly and
before a long trip .......................... 572
Engine compartment.......................... 573
Hood ............................................ 573
Engine oil...................................... 575
Transmission fluid level ................ 578
Active Body Control* (ABC*)
fluid level ...................................... 579
Coolant level ................................ 579
Windshield washer system and
headlamp cleaning system ........... 580
Tires and wheels ................................ 582
Important guidelines .................... 582
Tire care and maintenance ........... 583
Direction of rotation ..................... 585
Loading the vehicle ...................... 585
Recommended tire
inflation pressure ......................... 590Checking tire inflation pressure ... 592
Tire labeling.................................. 598
Load identification ....................... 601
DOT, Tire Identification Number (TIN) ..
602
Maximum tire load ....................... 603
Maximum tire inflation pressure .. 603
Uniform Tire Quality Grading
Standards (U.S. vehicles) ............. 604
Tire ply material ........................... 606
Tire and loading terminology ........ 606
Rotating tires ............................... 609
Winter driving .................................... 610
Winter tires .................................. 610
Snow chains ................................. 611
Maintenance ...................................... 612
Maintenance service
indicator message ........................ 612
Calling up the maintenance
service indicator display............... 613
Resetting the maintenance
service indicator........................... 614
Vehicle care ....................................... 615
Cleaning and care of vehicle ........ 615
Practical hints................................. 627
What to do if …? ................................ 628
Lamps in instrument cluster ........ 628
Air bag off indicator lamp............. 640
Vehicle status messages in the
multifunction display.................... 642
Where will I find ...? ........................... 705
First aid kit ................................... 705
Vehicle jack, vehicle tool kit,
luggage bowl, Minispare wheel .... 705
Unlocking/locking in an emergency .. 708
Unlocking the vehicle................... 708
Locking the vehicle ...................... 709
Resetting activated head restraints ... 710
Head restraints (standard) ........... 710
Luxury head restraints* ............... 711
Replacing SmartKey batteries ........... 712
Replacing bulbs ................................. 714
Bulbs ............................................ 715
Replacing bulbs for front lamps ... 717
Replacing wiper blades ...................... 721
Placing wiper arms in
vertical position ........................... 721
Removing wiper blades ................ 722
Installing wiper blades ................. 722

572 OperationAt the gas stationCheck regularly and before a long tripExample illustration from S 5501Coolant level
2Brake fluid
3Windshield washer and headlamp
cleaning systemWindshield washer system and head-
lamp cleaning system
For more information on refilling the wash-
er reservoir, see “Windshield washer sys-
tem and headlamp cleaning system”
(
page 580).
Coolant
For more information on coolant, see
“Coolant level” (
page 579) and see “Fu-
els, coolants, lubricants, etc.”
(
page 764).
Brake fluid
For information on brake fluid, see “Brake
fluid” (
page 769).Engine oil level
For more information on engine oil, see
“Engine oil” (
page 575).
Vehicle lighting
Check function and cleanliness. For more
information on replacing light bulbs, see
“Replacing bulbs” (
page 714).
For more information, see “Lighting”
(
page 399).
Tire inflation pressure
For information on tire inflation pressure,
see “Checking tire inflation pressure”
(page 592).
i
Opening the hood (
page 573).
!
If you find that the brake fluid in the brake
fluid reservoir has fallen to the minimum mark or
below, have the brake system checked for brake
pad thickness and leaks immediately. Notify an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center immediately.
Do not add brake fluid as this will not solve the
problem. For more information, see “Practical
hints” (page 631) and (
page 664).

627 Practical hints
What to do if …?
Where will I find ...?
Unlocking/locking in an emergency
Resetting activated head restraints
Replacing SmartKey batteries
Replacing bulbs
Replacing wiper blades
Flat tire
Batteries
Jump starting
Towing the vehicle
Fuses

628 Practical hintsWhat to do if …?Lamps in instrument cluster
General information:
If any of the following lamps in the instru-
ment cluster fails to come on during the
bulb self-check when switching on the igni-
tion, have the respective bulb checked and
replaced if necessary.Problem
Possible cause/consequence
Suggested solution
-
The yellow Antilock
Brake System (ABS)
indicator lamp comes on
while the engine is run-
ning.
The ABS has detected a malfunction and
has switched off. The BAS, ESP
®, EBP and
PRE-SAFE
® are also switched off (see mes-
sages in multifunction display).
The brake system is still functioning nor-
mally but without the ABS available.
If the ABS control unit is malfunctioning,
other systems such as Parktronic*,
DISTRONIC Plus*, navigation system, Park
Assist* and the automatic transmission
may also be malfunctioning.

Continue driving with added caution.
Wheels may lock during hard braking,
reducing steering capability.

Read and observe messages in the mul-
tifunction display (
page 642).

Have the system checked at an autho-
rized Mercedes-Benz Center as soon as
possible.
Failure to follow these instructions increas-
es the risk of an accident.

687 Practical hints
What to do if …?
Display
Possible cause/consequence
Possible solution
Check
Center Brake Lamp
The high mounted brake lamp is malfunc-
tioning. This message will only appear if a
critical number of light emitting diodes have
stopped working.

Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Cen-
ter as soon as possible.
Check Left
Cornering Light
The left-hand corner-illuminating lamp is
malfunctioning.

Replace the bulb as soon as possible
(page 714).
Check Right
Cornering Light
The right-hand corner-illuminating lamp is
malfunctioning.

Replace the bulb as soon as possible
(page 714).
Check
Left Low Beam
The left low beam lamp is malfunctioning.

Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Cen-
ter as soon as possible.
Check
Right Low Beam
The right low beam lamp is malfunctioning.

Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Cen-
ter as soon as possible.
Active Headlamps
Inoperative
The active headlamps are malfunctioning.

Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Cen-
ter as soon as possible.

688 Practical hintsWhat to do if …?Display
Possible cause/consequence
Possible solution
Auto Lamp Function
Inoperative
The light sensor is malfunctioning. Daytime
driving lamps are switched on.

Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Cen-
ter as soon as possible.
To switch off the headlamps (U.S. vehicles only):

Switch off daytime running lamps in the in-
strument cluster control system
(page 306).

Turn the exterior lamp switch to position0.
Check
Rear Left
Turn Signal
T h e l e f t r e a r t u r n s i g n a l l a m p i s m a l f u n c t i o n -
ing. A substitute bulb is being used.

Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Cen-
ter as soon as possible.
Check
Rear Right
Turn Signal
The right rear turn signal lamp is malfunc-
tioning. A substitute bulb is being used.

Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Cen-
ter as soon as possible.
Check
Left Mirror
Turn Signal
The turn signal in the left exterior rear view
mirror is malfunctioning. This message will
only appear if a critical number of light emit-
ting diodes have stopped working.

Have the LEDs replaced as soon as possible.

689 Practical hints
What to do if …?
Display
Possible cause/consequence
Possible solution
Check
Right Mirror
Turn Signal
The turn signal in the right exterior rear view
mirror is malfunctioning. This message will
only appear if a critical number of light emit-
ting diodes have stopped working.

Have the LEDs replaced as soon as possible.
Check
Front Left
Turn Signal
The left front turn signal lamp is malfunc-
tioning.

Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Cen-
ter as soon as possible.
Check
Front Right
Turn Signal
The right front turn signal lamp is malfunc-
tioning.

Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Cen-
ter as soon as possible.
Check
Left High Beam
The left high beam lamp is malfunctioning.

Replace the bulb as soon as possible
(page 714).
Check
Right High Beam
The right high beam lamp is malfunctioning.

Replace the bulb as soon as possible
(page 714).
Check Left
License Plate Lamp
The left license plate lamp is malfunction-
ing.

Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Cen-
ter as soon as possible.
Check Right
License Plate Lamp
The right license plate lamp is malfunction-
ing.

Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Cen-
ter as soon as possible.
Please
Switch Off Lights
You are getting out of the vehicle and the
lights are still switched on.

Switch off the headlamps (
page 399).

690 Practical hintsWhat to do if …?Display
Possible cause/consequence
Possible solution
Turn Lights Off
or
Remove Key
The exterior lamp switch is set to * and
you have forgotten to take out the
SmartKey. The parking lamps remain
switched on.

Switch off the headlamps (
page 399).
or

Remove the SmartKey from the starter
switch.
Check
Left Fog Lamp
The left front fog lamp is malfunctioning.

Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Cen-
ter as soon as possible.
Check
Right Fog Lamp
The right front fog lamp is malfunctioning.

Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Cen-
ter as soon as possible.
Check
Rear Left
Fog Lamp
The left rear fog lamp is malfunctioning.
A substitute bulb is being used.

Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Cen-
ter as soon as possible.
Check
Front Left
Parking Lamp
The left front parking lamp is malfunction-
ing. A substitute bulb is being used.

Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Cen-
ter as soon as possible.
Check
Front Right
Parking Lamp
The right front parking lamp is malfunction-
ing. A substitute bulb is being used.

Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Cen-
ter as soon as possible.
Check
Left Reverse Lamp
The left backup lamp is malfunctioning.

Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Cen-
ter as soon as possible.
Check
Right Reverse Lamp
The right backup lamp is malfunctioning.

Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Cen-
ter as soon as possible.