2008 MERCEDES-BENZ S-Class run flat

25 At a glance
Exterior view
Item
Page
1
Trunk

Unlocking


Opening and closing


Minispare wheel


Vehicle tool kit
511
511
723
705
2
Rear lamps
715
3
Rear window, defrosting
506
4
Fuel filler flap
Gasoline
570
770
5
Doors

Locking and unlocking


Opening and closing
358
358
Item
Page
6
Exterior rear view mirror
Parking position
388
391
7
Towing the vehicle
737
8
Rims and tires

Checking tire inflation
pressure


Minispare wheel


Flat tire
754
592
707
723
9
Hood, opening
Engine oil
Coolant
573
575
579
Item
Page
a
Headlamp cleaning system
403
b
Front lamps
715
c
Windshield wipers
Wiper blades, replacing
Wiper blades, cleaning
408
721
622
d
Window, cleaning
622
e
Roofs

Power tilt/sliding sunroof


Panorama roof with power
tilt/sliding panel*
518
521

290 Control systemsInstrument cluster control system
Telephone* (
page 299)
Assistance* (
page 303)
Service (
page 304)
Settings (
page 305)
Commands/submenusDialing a number from the
phone book
Displaying the distance graph-
ic*, DISTRONIC Plus*
Calling up vehicle malfunction,
warning and system status
messages stored in memory
Setting daytime running lamp
mode (USA only)
Redialing
Activating/deactivating
PRE-SAFE
® Brake*
(vehicles with
DISTRONIC Plus* only)
Checking tire inflation pres-
sure
Switching additional speedome-
ter on or off
Answering a call
Switching on or off Rear View
Camera* automatically
Calling up maintenance ser-
vice display
Switching on or off radar
sensors*
Ending a call or rejecting an in-
coming call
Switching on or off Blind Spot
Assist*
Checking engine oil level*

305 Control systems
Instrument cluster control system
The vehicle status message memory menu
only appears if there are any messages
stored.
Press ( or & to select the
“Service” menu.If conditions have occurred causing
status messages to be recorded, the
number of messages appears in the
multifunction display: “2 messages”.

Press % or $ to select the mes-
sage.

Press # to confirm.
Checking tire inflation pressure
For information about checking tire infla-
tion pressure (
page 593).Calling up the maintenance service in-
dicator display
For information about calling up the main-
tenance service indicator display
(
page 612).
Checking engine oil level (S 600 and
S65AMG)
For information about checking engine oil
level (
page 575).
Settings menu
In the “Settings” menu, you can:

switch the daytime running lamps on or
off (USA only)


switch the additional speedometer on
or off


switch the radar sensors* on or off
(USA only)
Warning!
G
Malfunction and warning messages are only
indicated for certain systems and are inten-
tionally not very detailed. The malfunction
and warning messages are simply a remind-
er with respect to the operation of certain
systems and do not replace the owner’s
and/or driver’s responsibility to maintain
the vehicle’s operating safety by having all
required maintenance and safety checks
performed on the vehicle and by bringing
the vehicle to an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center to address the malfunction and
warning messages (
page 642).
i
See the “Practical hints” section for mal-
function and warning messages (
page 642).
i
If you turn the SmartKey in the starter
switch to position0 and then back to position2,
all messages will be deleted from the message
memory.
i
The menu overview can be found on
(
page 289).

513 Controls in detailTrunk
Closing trunk from outside manually
1Handles
Lower trunk lid by pulling firmly on
handles1.

Close the trunk with hands placed flat
on the trunk lid.
The power closing assist automatically en-
sures that the trunk lid is pulled closed
completely (
page 368).Closing trunk from outside
automatically*
The vehicle is only locked when the turn signals
flash three times. If you are carrying a second
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO* with you, you can
still lock the vehicle.
Warning!
G
To prevent possible personal injury, always
keep hands and fingers away from the trunk
lid opening when closing the trunk. Be espe-
cially careful when small children are
around.
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the
SmartKey or SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO*
from the starter switch, take it 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.
Warning!
G
Monitor the closing procedure carefully to
make sure no one is in danger of being in-
jured. To prevent possible personal injury,
always keep hands and fingers away from
the trunk lid opening when closing the trunk.
Be especially careful when small children
are around. To stop the closing procedure,
do one of the following:

press button Š on the SmartKey or
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO*


press the trunk opening/closing*
switch (on the driver’s door)


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.

709 Practical hints
Unlocking/locking in an emergency
Unlocking the trunk
A minimum height clearance of 6.0 ft
(1.8 m) is required to open the trunk lid.
Insert the mechanical key2 into the
trunk lid lock until it stops.

Turn mechanical key2 all the way
counterclockwise to position 1.
The trunk opens.

Turn the mechanical key2 back and
remove it from the trunk lid lock.
Locking the vehicle
If you cannot lock the vehicle with the
SmartKey or KEYLESS-GO*, do the follow-
ing:
Close the front passenger door, the
rear right door and the trunk.

Open the driver’s door and the rear left
door.

Press the central locking switch on the
driver’s door (
page 369).
The locking knobs of the front passen-
ger door and the rear doors move
down.
If the vehicle battery is disconnected or
drained:

Press down the locking knobs of
the front passenger door and the
rear doors manually.

Exit the vehicle.

Check whether the trunk is locked.

If necessary, lock the trunk with the
mechanical key (
page 517).

Close the driver’s door.

Enter the vehicle through the rear left
door.

Press down the locking knob of the
driver’s door.

Exit the vehicle.

Close the rear left door.
The vehicle is locked.
1
Unlocking in an emergency
2
Mechanical key
!
The trunk lid swings open upwards automat-
ically. Always make sure that there is sufficient
overhead clearance.
i
If you cannot close the trunk with the re-
mote trunk opening/closing* switch, lower the
trunk lid manually and close it with hands placed
flat on the trunk lid until it is engaged in its lock.
!
To prevent inadvertent lockout, make sure
to have the SmartKey or SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO* with you before proceeding with
the next step. The next step will lock the vehicle.
i
This procedure does not arm the anti-theft
alarm system nor does it lock the fuel filler flap.

724 Practical hintsFlat tirePreparing the vehicle
Prepare the vehicle as described
(page 723).

Take vehicle tool kit tray and vehicle
jack out of trunk (
page 705).

Take the spare wheel from the wheel
well under the trunk floor
(page 707).
Lifting the vehicle

Prevent the vehicle from rolling away
by blocking wheels with wheel chocks
or other sizeable objects.
One wheel chock is included with the
vehicle tool kit (
page 707).
When changing wheel on a level surface:

Place the wheel chock in front of and
another sizeable object behind the
wheel that is diagonally opposite to the
wheel being changed.Always try lifting the vehicle using the jack
on a level surface. However, should cir-
cumstances require you to do so on a hill,
place the wheel chock and another size-
able object as follows:

Place the wheel chock and another
sizeable object on the downhill side
blocking both wheels on the side of the
vehicle not being worked on.

Wheel wrench

On wheel to be changed, loosen but
do not yet remove the wheel bolts
(approximately one full turn with
wrench 1).
Warning!
G
The jack is designed exclusively for jacking
up the vehicle at the jack take-up brackets
built into both sides of the vehicle. To help
avoid personal injury, use the jack only to lift
the vehicle during a wheel change. Never
get beneath the vehicle while it is supported
by the jack. Keep hands and feet away from
the area under the lifted vehicle. Always en-
gage the electronic parking brake and block
wheels before raising vehicle with jack.
Do not disengage electronic parking brake
while the vehicle is raised. Be certain that
the jack is always vertical (plumb line) when
in use, especially on hills. Always try to use
the jack on level surface.
Make sure the jack arm is fully seated in the
jack take-up bracket. Always lower the vehi-
cle onto sufficient capacity jackstands be-
fore working under the vehicle.

726 Practical hintsFlat tireRemoving the wheel
1Alignment bolt
Unscrew upper-most wheel bolt and
remove.

Replace this wheel bolt with alignment
bolt1 supplied in the tool kit.

Remove the remaining bolts.

Remove the wheel.Attaching the spare wheel
1Wheel bolt for light alloy rims and
Minispare wheel with light alloy rim
2Wheel bolt for Minispare wheel with
steel rim (located in trunk with spare
wheel)
!
Do not place wheel bolts in sand or dirt. This
could result in damage to the bolt and wheel hub
threads.
Warning!
G
Always replace wheel bolts that are dam-
aged or rusted.
Never apply oil or grease to wheel bolts.
Damaged wheel hub threads should be re-
paired immediately. Do not continue to drive
under these circumstances! Contact an au-
thorized Mercedes-Benz Center or call
Roadside Assistance.
Incorrect wheel bolts or improperly tight-
ened wheel bolts can cause the wheel to
come off. This could cause an accident.
Make sure you are using the correct wheel
bolts.
Warning!
G
Only use Genuine Mercedes-Benz wheel
bolts. Other wheel bolts may come loose.
Do not tighten the wheel bolts when the ve-
hicle is raised. Otherwise the vehicle could
fall off the jack.