2008 MERCEDES-BENZ S-Class fuel consumption

289 Control systems
Instrument cluster control system
Menus
Trip (
page 291)
Navi (
page 292)
Audio (
page 294)
AMG
1 (page 296)
1S63AMG and S65AMG only.Commands/submenusStandard display
Showing route guidance in-
structions, current direction
traveled
Selecting radio station
Gear currently engaged
Engine oil temperature
Vehicle supply voltage
Fuel consumption statistics since start
Selecting satellite radio
channel
RACETIMER
Fuel consumption statistics since last
reset
Operating DVD changer/
audio CD/ audio DVD/MP3
Overall analysis
Resetting fuel consumption statistics
Operating video DVD
Lap analysis
Distance to emptyDigital speedometer

291 Control systems
Instrument cluster control system
Trip menu
In the “Trip” menu, you can show an addi-
tional display for the speedometer and call
up or reset your vehicle’s statistical data.
Standard display
In the standard display, the trip odometer
and main odometer are shown in the mul-
tifunction display.
Press ( or & to select the “Trip”
menu.
1Main odometer
2Trip odometerFuel consumption statistics since start

Press ( or & to select the “Trip”
menu.

Press % to select “From Start”.
1Distance driven since start
2Time elapsed since start
3Average speed since start
4Average fuel consumption since startFuel consumption statistics since last
reset

Press ( or & to select the “Trip”
menu.

Press % or $ to select “Since
Reset”.
1Distance driven since last reset
2Time elapsed since last reset
3Average fuel consumption since last re-
set
4Average speed since last reset
i
The menu overview can be found on
(
page 289).
i
All values that are based on the last start are
reset when you turn off the vehicle’s engine for
more than four hours (
page 424).
i
If you turn the SmartKey to position1 or2
again during this time, the values will not be re-
set. After 9 999 hours or 99 999 miles (kilome-
ters), the fuel consumption statistics since start
are automatically reset.
i
After 9 999 hours or 99 999 miles (kilome-
ters), the fuel consumption statistics since last
reset are automatically reset.

292 Control systemsInstrument cluster control systemResetting fuel consumption statistics
Press ( or & to select the “Trip”
menu.

Press % or $ to select the func-
tion you wish to reset.

Press #.
Illustration: Reset trip odometer
Press % t o s e l e c t “Yes” and confirm
with #.Distance to empty

Press ( or & to select the “Trip”
menu.

Press % or $ to select “Range”.
The calculated remaining driving range
based on the current fuel tank level ap-
pears in the multifunction display.
Digital speedometer

Press ( or & to select the “Trip”
menu.

Press % or $ to select the digital
speedometer.
1Digital speedometer
Navi menu
The display in the “Navi” menu depends on
whether route guidance is active or not.
Press ( or & t o s e l e c t t h e “Navi”
menu.
Route guidance not active
The multifunction display shows the direc-
tion of travel and the name of the street
you are currently driving on, if known by
the navigation system.
1Direction of travel
2Street you are currently driving on
i
You can reset the trip odometer by pressing
and holding the
L
button. The trip odometer
is then reset without confirmation.
i
If only very little fuel is left in the tank, a fuel
pump is shown instead of the range.
i
The menu overview can be found on
(
page 289).

469 Controls in detail
Driving systems
Vehicle level control with Airmatic
Your vehicle automatically adjusts its ride
height to:

increase vehicle safety


reduce fuel consumption
The vehicle chassis ride height is raised or
lowered according to the selected level
setting and to the vehicle speed:


W it h inc re a sing s pe ed, ri de hei ght is re -
duced by up to approximately 0.8 in
(20 mm).


With decreasing speed, the ride height
is again raised to the selected vehicle
level.The following vehicle level settings can be
selected when the vehicle is stationary:
Select the “Raised” level setting only when
required by current driving conditions.
Otherwise:


Fuel consumption may increase.


Handling may be impaired.1Vehicle level control switch
2Indicator lamp

Start the engine.

Briefly press switch1 to change from
one level setting to the other.
The message:
“Vehicle Rising”
appears in the multifunction display
when changing from normal level to
raised level.
The indicator lamp2 is then lit. The
display switches off when the vehicle is
raised.
Warning!
G
To help avoid personal injury, keep hands
and feet away from wheel housing area, and
stay away from under the vehicle when low-
ering the vehicle chassis.
i
These height adjustments are so small that
you may not notice any change.
LevelNormal
For driving on normal roads.
The indicator lamp is off.
Raised
For driving on rough roads or
with snow chains. The indica-
tor lamp is on.


471 Controls in detail
Driving systems
Vehicle level control with ABC
Your vehicle automatically adjusts its ride
height to:

increase vehicle safety


reduce fuel consumption
The vehicle chassis ride height is raised or
lowered according to the selected level
setting and to the vehicle speed:


W it h inc re a sing s pe ed, ri de hei ght is re -
duced by up to approximately 0.6 in
(15 mm).


With decreasing speed, the ride height
is again raised to the selected vehicle
level.
The following vehicle level settings can be
selected when the vehicle is stationary:
Select the “Raised” level setting only when
required by current driving conditions.
Otherwise:


Fuel consumption may increase.


Handling may be impaired.1Vehicle level control switch
2Indicator lamp
Selecting a higher level

Start the engine.
If indicator lamp2 is off:

Press switch1.
Indicator lamp2 comes on. The vehi-
cle is raised to a higher level.
i
S63AMG and S65AMG only:
When you switch off the engine, the entire vehi-
cle is lowered by 0.2 in (5 mm).
Warning!
G
To help avoid personal injury, keep hands
and feet away from wheel housing area, and
stay away from under the vehicle when low-
ering the vehicle chassis.
i
These height adjustments are so small that
you may not notice any change.
LevelNormal
For driving on normal roads.
The indicator lamp is off.
Raised
For driving on rough roads or
with snow chains. The indica-
tor lamp is on.
i
The selected vehicle level setting remains
stored in memory even if the engine is turned off
and restarted.

559 Operation
Driving instructions
Driving instructions
Drive sensibly – save fuel
Fuel consumption, to a great extent,
depends on driving habits and operating
conditions.
To save fuel you should:

Keep tires at the recommended tire
inflation pressures.


Remove unnecessary loads.


Remove roof rack when not in use.


Allow engine to warm up under low
load use.


Avoid frequent acceleration and decel-
eration.


Have all maintenance work performed
at the intervals specified in the Mainte-
nance Booklet and as required by the
Maintenance System. Contact an au-
thorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Fuel consumption is also increased by driv-
ing in cold weather, in stop-and-go traffic,
on short trips, and in hilly area.
Drinking and driving
PedalsPower assistance
Warning!
G
Drinking and driving and/or taking drugs
and driving are very dangerous combina-
tions. Even a small amount of alcohol or
drugs can affect your reflexes, perceptions
and judgment.
The possibility of a serious or even fatal ac-
cident are greatly increased when you drink
or take drugs and drive.
Do not drink or take drugs and drive or allow
anyone to drive who has been drinking or
taking drugs.
Warning!
G
Make sure that absolutely no objects are ob-
structing the pedals’ range of movement.
Keep the driver’s footwell clear of all obsta-
cles. If there are any floormats or carpets in
the footwell, make sure the pedals still have
sufficient clearance. Otherwise this could
lead to accidents or injury.Warning!
G
With the engine not running, there is no
power assistance for the brake and steering
systems. In this case, it is important to keep
in mind that a considerably higher degree of
effort is necessary to brake and steer the ve-
hicle.

754 Technical dataRims and tires!
Only use tires which have been tested and
approved by Mercedes-Benz. Tires approved by
Mercedes-Benz are developed to provide best
possible performance in conjunction with the
driving safety systems on your vehicle such as
ABS or ESP
®. Tires specially developed for your
vehicle and tested and approved by
Mercedes-Benz can be identified by finding the
following on the tire’s sidewall:


MO = M
ercedes-Benz O
riginal equipment
tires
AMG vehicles:
Does not apply to all approved tires on AMG
vehicles. For information on tested and
approved tires for AMG vehicles, contact an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Using tires other than those approved by
Mercedes-Benz may result in damage that is not
covered by the Mercedes-Benz Limited
Warranty.
!
Using tires other than those approved by
Mercedes-Benz can have detrimental effects,
such as


poor handling characteristics


increased noise


increased fuel consumption
Moreover, tires and rims not approved by
Mercedes-Benz may, under load, exhibit dimen-
sional variations and different tire deformation
characteristics that could cause them to come
into contact with the vehicle body or axle parts.
Damage to the tires or the vehicle may be the
result.
i
Further information on tires and rims is
available at any authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center. A placard with the recommended tire in-
flation pressures is located on the driver’s door
B-pillar (
page 585). Some vehicles may have
supplemental tire inflation pressure information
for driving at high speeds (
page 591) or for ve-
hicle loads less than the maximum loaded
vehicle condition (
page 598). If such informa-
tion is provided, it can be found on the placard lo-
cated on the inside of the fuel filler flap. The tire inflation pressure should be checked
regularly and should only be adjusted on cold
tires. Follow tire manufacturer’s maintenance
recommendation included with vehicle.
i
The following pages also list the approved
wheel rim and tire sizes for equipping your vehi-
cles with winter tires. Winter tires are not avail-
able as standard or optional factory equipment,
but can be purchased from an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
Depending on vehicle model and the standard or
optional factory-equipped wheel rim/tire config-
uration on your vehicle (Appearance Package,
Sport Package etc.), equipping your vehicle with
winter tires approved for your vehicle model may
also require the purchase of two or four wheel
rims of the recommended size for use with these
winter tires. Contact an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center for more information.

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