2008 MERCEDES-BENZ S550 4MATIC sat

640 Practical hints
What to do if …?
Display Possible cause/consequencePossible solution
Inoperative
See Oper. ManualS 600 and S 65 AMG only:
ESP
® as well as PRE-SAFE® are switched off
due to a malfunction. In addition, the v
and ; (USA only) or 3(Canada only)
warning lamps come on in the instrument
cluster.
Brake force assistance is impaired and is
sustained through an electric substitute
function as long as the engine is running.
The brake system continues to function
normally. You will feel a pulsating effect at
the brake pedal while braking.
BAS Plus* and PRE-SAFE
® Brake* are also
not available.
Continue driving with added caution.
Have the system checked at an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center as soon as possible.
Failure to follow these instructions increases the
risk of an accident.

731 Technical data
Fuels, coolants, lubricants, etc.
The coolant solution must be used year
round to provide the necessary corrosion
protection and increase boil-over protec-
tion. Refer to Maintenance Booklet for re-
placement interval.
Coolant system design and coolant used
determine the replacement interval. The
replacement interval published in the
Maintenance Booklet is only applicable if
MB 325.0 Anticorrosion/Antifreeze solu-
tion or other Mercedes-Benz approved
products of equal specification are used to
renew the coolant concentration or bring it
back up to the proper level.
For information on other Mercedes-Benz
approved products of equal specification,
refer to the Factory Approved Service
Products pamphlet (USA only) or contact
an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
To provide important corrosion protection,
the solution must be at least 50% anticor-
rosion/antifreeze (equivalent to freeze
protection to approximately –35°F
[–37°C]).If you use a solution that is more than 55%
anticorrosion/antifreeze (freeze protec-
tion to approximately –49°F [–45°C]), the
engine temperature will increase due to
the lower heat transfer capability of the so-
lution. Therefore, do not use more than
this amount of anticorrosion/ antifreeze.
If the coolant level is low, water and
MB 325.0 Anticorrosion/Antifreeze
should be used to bring it up to the proper
level (have cooling system checked for
signs of leakage).
The water in the cooling system must meet
minimum requirements, which are usually
satisfied by normal drinking water. If you
are not sure about the water quality, con-
sult an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.Anticorrosion/antifreeze
Your vehicle contains a number of alumi-
num parts. The use of aluminum compo-
nents in motor vehicle engines
necessitates that anticorrosion/antifreeze
coolant used in such engines be specifical-
ly formulated to protect the aluminum
parts. Failure to use such anticorrosion/
antifreeze coolant will result in a signifi-
cantly shortened service life.
Therefore, the following product is strongly
recommended for use in your vehicle:
Mercedes-Benz 325.0 Anticorrosion/
Antifreeze agent.
Before the start of the winter season (or
once a year in hot southern regions), you
should have the anticorrosion/antifreeze
concentration checked. The coolant is also
regularly checked each time you bring your
vehicle to an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center for service.

748 Index
KEYLESS-GO* 650
Lamps, exterior 653
License plate lamps 655
Light sensor 654
Night View Assist* 658
Park Assist* 622
Parking lamps 656
PRE-SAFE
®623, 629
Restraint systems 662
Side marker lamps 657
SRS 662
Tail lamps 657
Tele Aid 664
Trunk 667
Windshield washer fluid 667
Multifunction steering wheel 265N
Navigation system
Menu overview (COMAND) 165
Navigation system (COMAND) 159
Basic settings 168
Destination entry 172
Destination memory 217
Detour function (COMAND) 216
Driving maneuver 207
Hiding/showing the menu
system 166
Last destinations 223
Map display 166
Operation 166
POI entry 196
Real-time traffic 204
Route guidance 207
Navigation system (Instrument cluster
control system) 269
Driving maneuver 270
Navigation system (Voice Control*) 296
Neutral gear position, Automatic
transmission 399, 403
New vehicle break-in 526Night View Assist* 461
Cleaning the windshield in front of the
camera 591
Dirty or fogged-up windshield 463
Image on multifunction display 462
Malfunction 465
Messages in display 658
Removing condensation 464
Switching on or off 462
Normal occupant weight 577
Number, Vehicle Identification (VIN) 713
O
Occupant Classification System see OCS
Occupant distribution 577
Occupant safety 40
Air bags 42
Children and air bags 57
Children in the vehicle 57
Fastening the seat belt 368
Front passenger front air bag off indica-
tor lamp 50
Infant and child restraint systems 58
LATCH-type child seat anchors 62
Seat belts 44, 368

750 Index
Power assistance 527
Power closing assist for doors and trunk
lid 342
Power folding exterior rear view
mirrors 362
Power outlet 506
Power tilt/sliding sunroof 486
Emergency operations 674
Opening/closing 486
Opening/closing in an
emergency 674
Synchronizing 488
Power washer 586
Power windows 383
Blocking of rear window operation 63
Cleaning 592
Opening/closing 383Practical hints 612, 668
Premium unleaded gasoline 539, 726,
729
PRE-SAFE
®56
Message in display 623
Messages in display 629
PRE-SAFE
® Brake*
Intermittent signal tone 79
Preventive occupant safety see PRE-SAFE
®
Problems
While driving 393
With vehicle 20
Product information 13
Production options weight 577
Program mode see Automatic transmis-
sion, Automatic shift program
Program mode selector switch
Automatic shift program 409
Proper use of the vehicle 19
PSI 577
Push-start see Tow-startR
RACETIMER see Control system instru-
ment cluster menus, AMG
Radio
FM/AM operation (COMAND) 100
Saving stations, FM/AM
(COMAND) 103
Selecting satellite radio* channel
(Instrument cluster control
system) 271
Selecting stations 271
Submenu overview, FM/AM
(COMAND) 100
Switching wavebands, FM/AM
(COMAND) 101
Tuning in stations/channels 101
Voice Control* 309
Radio transmitters, control and
operation 535
Range (distance to empty) 269
Reading lamps in the front 379
Reading lamps in the rear 379
Real-time traffic (COMAND) 204
Rear door window
Blocking operation 63

752 Index
S
S63AMG
Manual shift program mode 413
S65AMG
Manual shift program mode 413
Safety
Driving safety systems 66
Occupant 40
Reporting defects 21
Safety belts see Seat belts
Satellite radio*
Calling SIRIUS Service Center
(COMAND) 111
Channel update (COMAND) 111
Operation (COMAND) 105
Selecting channel (Instrument cluster
control system) 271
Selecting program category
(COMAND) 108
Showing program info
(COMAND) 111
Submenu overview (COMAND) 105
Tuning in channels
(COMAND) 108, 110
Voice Control* 310Seat belts 52
Children in the vehicle 57
Cleaning 594
Fastening 52, 368
Force limiter 55
Messages in display 662
Proper use of 53, 370
Safety guidelines 44
Telltale 29, 54, 605
Seating capacity 554
Seats 347
adjusting front passenger seat from
driver’s seat 350
Adjustment 347
Drive-dynamic multicontour* in the
front, Adjusting (COMAND) 262
Easy entry/exit feature 357
Folding back and placing upright rear
head restraints 354
Head restraints 353
Heating* 351
Lumbar support (COMAND) 260
Memory function 365
Multicontour* in the front, Adjusting
(COMAND) 260Operating via COMAND 259
Setting front passenger seat position
from rear 350
Ventilation* 352
Securing cargo
Cargo tie-down hooks 500
Selector lever
Lock 389
Selector lever see Gear selector lever
Self-test
OCS 51
Tele Aid 511
Service and warranty information 14
Service intervals see Maintenance service
indicator
Service life, Tires 551
Service see Maintenance
Service system see Maintenance System
Service, Parts 710

753 Index
Setting
Cruise control 420
DISTRONIC Plus* time interval 436
Following distance in DISTRONIC
Plus* 436
Higher speed in cruise control 422
Higher speed in DISTRONIC
Plus* 433
Lower speed in cruise control 423
Lower speed in DISTRONIC
Plus* 434
Slower speed in cruise control 423
Slower speed in DISTRONIC
Plus* 434
Speed in DISTRONIC Plus* 433
Suspension tuning (ABC*) 442
Temperature (interior) 472
Temperature (rear passenger
compartment) 478
To last stored speed (“Resume” func-
tion) in cruise control 423
To last stored speed in DISTRONIC
Plus* (“Resume” function) 435
Vehicle level control (ABC*) 443
Setting current speed 420Settings
Calling up DISTRONIC Plus* 428
Control system instrument cluster
menus 281
Daytime running lamp mode 281
Resetting trip odometer 269
Shelf below rear window,
Cleaning and care of 594
Shift program mode,
Automatic transmission 409
Shifting, Automatic transmission 399
Side impact air bags 46
Side marker lamps
Cleaning lenses 589
Messages in display 657
Side windows see Power windows
Sidewall 577
SIRIUS satellite radio* see Satellite radio*
SmartKey see Key, SmartKey
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO* see Key,
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO*
SMS messages 155
Snow chains 581
Spare wheel 686, 721
Mounting 686Speed
Setting current 420
Setting to last stored speed in
DISTRONIC Plus*
(“Resume” function) 435
Speed settings
Cruise control 422, 423
DISTRONIC Plus* 433, 434
To last stored speed (“Resume” func-
tion) in Cruise control 423
SRS 53
Indicator lamp 29, 607
Messages in display 662
Standing water, Driving through 534
Starter battery 694
Starter switch 344
Positions 344
Starting difficulties, Engine 391
Starting, Engine 389
Steering column 359
Steering wheel
Adjustment 359
Cleaning 594
Easy entry/exit feature 357
Heated steering wheel* 360
Power steering fluid 725