2008 MERCEDES-BENZ S550 4MATIC warning

669 Practical hints
Where will I find ...?
Vehicle jack
Storage position
Remove vehicle jack from its
compartment.
Turn crank handle in direction of arrow
as far as it will go.
Operational position
Turn crank handle clockwise.
Before storing the vehicle jack in its
compartment:

It should be fully collapsed.

The handle must be folded in (storage
position).
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
firmly engage 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 brack-
et. Always lower the vehicle onto sufficient
capacity jackstands before working under
the vehicle.

673 Practical hints
Unlocking/locking in an emergency
Mechanically releasing the electronic
parking brake
Depending on vehicle production date your
vehicle may be equipped with a mechani-
cal release device for releasing the elec-
tronic parking brake. It is located behind
the fuel filler flap next to the fuel cap.
1Protective cap
2Release tool
3Pulling
Shift the automatic transmission to P
(
page 399).
Prevent the vehicle from rolling away
by blocking a rear wheel with the wheel
chock. A wheel chock is included with
the vehicle tool kit (
page 668).
Open fuel filler flap.
Remove protective cap1.
Screw release tool2 from vehicle tool
kit clockwise 2 to 3 rotations onto re-
lease cable.
Pull release tool2 in direction of
arrow3.
The electronic parking brake is re-
leased. The red indicator lamp0
(USA only) or! (Canada only) flash-
es. The message “Parking brake See
Oper. Manual” appears on the multi-
function display.
Unscrew release tool2 from release
cable.
Reattach protective cap1.
Store release tool2 in vehicle tool kit.
After it has been unlocked, you can engage
the electronic parking brake again from
the driver’s seat.
Press the electronic parking brake han-
dle (
page 395).
iIf your vehicle is not equipped a mechanical
release device for releasing the electronic park-
ing brake contact Roadside Assistance or an au-
thorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Warning!G
If you mechanically release the electronic
parking brake, the vehicle may start to move
on its own. Make sure that no one is in front
of or behind the vehicle. Otherwise, an acci-
dent could occur resulting in injury or fatali-
ty. Before releasing the electronic parking
brake, shift the automatic transmission to P
(
page 399) and secure your vehicle in
place using the chock from the vehicle tool
kit.
iIf the electronic parking brake is not re-
leased, pull the release tool again with more
force.

675 Practical hints
Resetting activated head restraints
Resetting activated head restraints
If the active head restraints (front seats)
have been triggered in an accident, the ac-
tive head restraints must be reset. Other-
wise, the active head restraints cannot
offer any additional protection in the event
of another rear-end collision.
You can tell that the head restraints have
been triggered when they have been
moved forward and cannot be adjusted.
Take reset tool1 out of the
Mercedes-Benz vehicle literature
pouch.
Guide reset tool1 into center of head
restraint between head restraint cush-
ion and rear head restraint cover.
Press reset tool1 forward in direction
of arrow.
Press reset tool downward until you
hear the head restraint release
mechanism audibly engage.
Pull out reset tool1.
Firmly press head restraint cushion
backward towards the rear of the vehi-
cle until it engages.
Repeat this procedure on the active
head restraints for second head re-
straint.
For information on active head restraints,
see “Active head restraints” (
page 55).
For information on head restraint adjust-
ment, see “Head restraints” (
page 353).
iFor your convenience, we recommend that
you have this work carried out by an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
You will find the reset tool for manually operating
the head restraints in the Mercedes-Benz vehicle
literature pouch.
Warning!G
For safety reasons, have the active head
restraints checked by an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center after a rear-end
collision.
Warning!G
When pushing back the head restraint cush-
ion, take care that your fingers do not be-
come caught between the head restraint
cushion and the cover. Failing to do so may
lead to injury.
!Be careful not to damage upholstery.

676 Practical hints
Replacing SmartKey batteries
If the batteries in the SmartKey/SmartKey
with KEYLESS-GO* are discharged, the ve-
hicle can no longer be locked or unlocked.
It is recommended to have the batteries re-
placed at an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.Batteries contain materials that can harm
the environment if disposed of improperly.
Recycling of batteries is the preferred
method of disposal. Many states require
sellers of batteries to accept old batteries
for recycling.
Replacement batteries: Lithium, type
CR 2025 or equivalent.
Remove the mechanical key out of the
SmartKey/SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO* (
page 671).1Mechanical key
2Battery compartment
Insert mechanical key 1 into opening.
Press mechanical key 1 in direction of
arrow.
The battery compartment is unlatched.
Pull battery compartment 2 out of the
housing.
Warning!G
Batteries contain poisonous and corrosive
substances. Therefore keep the batteries
out of reach of children.
If a battery is swallowed, seek medical help
immediately.
iWhen inserting the batteries, make sure
they are clean and free of lint.
iWhen changing batteries, always replace
both batteries.
The required replacement batteries are available
at any authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.

680 Practical hints
Replacing bulbs
Notes 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
Replacing bulbs for front lamps
Before you start to replace a bulb for a
front lamp, do the following first:
Turn the exterior lamp switch to M
(
page 371).
Open the hood (page 541).
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.
iHave the headlamp adjustment checked
regularly.

681 Practical hints
Replacing bulbs
1Cover 1
2Cover 2
3Cover 3
Removing and installing washer fluid
reservoir on left-hand side
Vehicles with Airmatic*
You must remove the washer fluid reser-
voir in order to change the bulbs of the
front headlamp on the left-hand side. The
washer fluid reservoir is on the front
left-hand side of the engine compartment.Washer fluid reservoir (example illustration
from S 550)
1Retaining screw
Removing
Turn retaining screw1 counterclock-
wise.
Take washer fluid reservoir out of
mounting.
Place washer fluid reservoir to the side
and do not disconnect any wires or ca-
bles.Installing
Guide washer fluid reservoir into
mounting so that the bottom retaining
lug slides into the rubber sleeve on the
longitudinal member.
Turn retaining screw1 clockwise.
Bi-Xenon headlamps
Warning!G
Do not remove the cover for the Bi-Xenon
headlamp. Because of high voltage in Xenon
lamps, it is dangerous to replace the bulb or
repair the lamp and its components. We rec-
o mm e nd that y ou ha ve s uc h wo rk do ne b y a
qualified technician.

684 Practical hints
Replacing wiper blades
Placing wiper arms in vertical position
Wiper blades in vertical position
Make sure the hood is fully closed.
Vehicles with SmartKey
Turn SmartKey in starter switch
position1.
Turn combination switch to wiper
settingu (
page 381).
With wiper arm in vertical position, turn
the SmartKey in starter switch to
position0.
Warning!G
For safety reasons, switch off wipers and re-
move SmartKey from starter switch (vehi-
cles with KEYLESS-GO*: Make sure the
vehicle’s on-board electronics have
status0) before replacing a wiper blade.
Otherwise, the wiper motor could suddenly
turn on and cause injury.
Warning!G
Wiper blades are components that are sub-
ject to wear and tear. Replace the wiper
blades twice a year, preferably in the spring
and fall. Otherwise the front window will not
be properly wiped. As a result, you may not
be able to observe surrounding traffic condi-
tions and could cause an accident.
!To avoid damage to the hood:

The wiper arms should only be folded for-
ward when in the vertical position.

Never open the hood when the wiper arm is
folded forward.
!Hold on to the wiper when folding the wiper
arm back. If released, the force of the impact
from the tensioning spring could crack the wind-
shield.
Do not allow the wiper arms to contact the wind-
shield glass without a wiper blade inserted.
For your convenience, we recommend that you
have this work carried out by an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.

686 Practical hints
Flat tire
Preparing the vehicle
Park the vehicle in a safe distance from
moving traffic on a hard, flat surface
when possible.
Turn on the hazard warning flasher
(
page 377).
Turn the steering wheel so that the
front wheels are in a straight ahead
position.
Shift the automatic transmission to
park positionP.
Engage the electronic parking brake.
Turn off the engine.
Have any passenger exit the vehicle at
a safe distance from the roadway.
Vehicles with SmartKey: Remove the
SmartKey from the starter switch.
Vehicles with KEYLESS-GO*: Open the
driver’s door (this puts the starter
switch in position0, same as with the
SmartKey removed from the starter
switch). The driver’s door then can be
closed again.
Remove the KEYLESS-GO*
start/stop button from the starter
switch.
Mounting the spare wheel
iOpen the door only when conditions are safe
to do so.
Warning!G
The dimensions of the spare wheel are dif-
ferent from those of the road wheels. As a
result, the vehicle handling characteristics
change when driving with a spare wheel
mounted. Adapt your driving style accord-
ingly.
The spare wheel is for temporary use only.
When driving with spare wheel mounted,
ensure proper tire inflation pressure and
do not exceed a vehicle speed
of 50 mph (80 km/h).
Contact the nearest Mercedes-Benz Center
as soon as possible to have the spare wheel
replaced with a regular road wheel.
Never operate the vehicle with more than
one spare wheel mounted.
Do not switch off the ESP
® when a spare
wheel is mounted.