Page 583 of 761

582 Operation
Maintenance
We strongly recommend that you have
your vehicle serviced by an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center, in accordance with
the Maintenance Booklet at the times
called for by the maintenance service indi-
cator.Maintenance service indicator
message
The maintenance service indicator mes-
sage will notify you when the next mainte-
nance service is due.
Starting approximately 1 month before the
next maintenance service is due, one of
the following messages will appear in the
multifunction display while you are driving
or when you switch on the ignition (exam-
ple service A):
“Next Service A due in XXX miles (km)
Next Service A due in XX days
Service A due”The maintenance services will be indicated
by showing a service type A through type H
in the multifunction display. Types A
through H are classified based on estimat-
ed time needed to perform the mainte-
nance service, ranging
from “Service A”
(approximately 1 hour)
to “Service H”
(approximately 8 hours)
Refer to Maintenance Booklet for a listing
of maintenance services and intervals they
need to be performed at.
!Failure to have the vehicle maintained in ac-
cordance with the Maintenance Booklet and
maintenance service indicator at the designated
times/mileage will result in vehicle damage not
covered by the Mercedes-Benz Limited
Warranty.
iThe Maintenance System in your vehicle
tracks distance driven and the time elapsed
since the last maintenance service and calcu-
lates other maintenance service work required.
Page 584 of 761

583 Operation
Maintenance
To clear the maintenance service
indicator message: Press L
(
page 265).
The maintenance service indicator
message is cleared and the standard
display appears in the multifunction
display (
page 268).Maintenance service term exceeded
If you have exceeded the suggested main-
tenance service term, you will see the fol-
lowing message in the multifunction
display:
“Service A exceeded by XXX miles (km)
Service A exceeded by XX days”
In addition, a signal sounds when the mes-
sage appears.
Any authorized Mercedes-Benz Center will
reset the maintenance service indicator
following a completed maintenance
service.Calling up the maintenance service
indicator display
You can call up the maintenance service in-
dicator display at any time to check when
the next maintenance service is due.
Switch on the ignition (page 344).
The standard display of the control sys-
tem appears (
page 268).
Press ( or & on multifunction
steering wheel to select “Service”
menu.
Press % or $ to select the main-
tenance service indicator display.
Press #.
The service deadline appears in the
multifunction display.
iThe maintenance service indicator message
is automatically cleared
after approximately 10 seconds when you
switch on the ignition or when reaching the
service threshold while driving
after approximately 30 seconds, once the
suggested maintenance service term has
passed
You can also clear it yourself.
iThe menu overview can be found on
(
page 266).
Page 585 of 761

584 Operation
Maintenance
Resetting the maintenance service
indicator
In the event that the maintenance service
on your vehicle is not carried out by an au-
thorized Mercedes-Benz Center, you can
have the maintenance service indicator re-
set. The automotive maintenance facility
carrying out the maintenance service will
find the information for resetting the main-
tenance service indicator in the mainte-
nance-relevant information for your
vehicle. Such information is available from
any authorized Mercedes-Benz Center or
directly from Mercedes-Benz.iIf the battery is disconnected, the days of
disconnection will not be included in the count
shown by the maintenance service indicator.
To arrive at the true maintenance service dead-
line, you will need to subtract these days from
the days shown in the maintenance service indi-
cator message or maintenance service indicator
display.iIf the maintenance service indicator was in-
advertently reset, have an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center correct it.
Only reset if the proper maintenance service has
been performed. Resetting the system without
performing the proper service as called for by
the maintenance service indicator will result in
engine damage and/or other vehicle damage not
covered by the Mercedes-Benz Limited
Warranty.
Page 603 of 761
602 Practical hints
What to do if …?
ProblemPossible cause/consequenceSuggested solution
±The yellow engine malfunc-
tion indicator lamp comes
on while driving.There is a malfunction in:
The fuel management system
The ignition system
The emission control system
Systems which affect emissions
Such malfunctions may result in excessive
emissions values and may switch the en-
gine to its limp-home (emergency opera-
tion) mode.
Have the vehicle checked as soon as
possible by an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
An on-board diagnostic connector is
used by the service station to link the
vehicle to the shop diagnostics system.
It allows the accurate identification of
system malfunctions through the read-
out of diagnostic trouble codes. It is lo-
cated in the front left area of the
footwell.
iSome states may by law require you to visit
a workshop as soon as the engine malfunction
indicator lamp comes on. Check local require-
ments.
Page 623 of 761

622 Practical hints
What to do if …?
Display Possible cause/consequencePossible solution
Next Service X
due in ... days
due in ... mls (km)Service X must be carried out in ... days or
after ... miles (kilometers) (
page 582).
Have the maintenance service carried out by an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
Only shift to
position 'P' when
vehicle is stationaryYou have tried to shift the automatic trans-
mission to P using the gear selector lever al-
though the vehicle is still in motion.Stop your vehicle as soon as it is safe to do so.
Shift the automatic transmission to park positionP.
Engage the electronic parking brake (page 395).
Park Assist
currently unavailable
See Oper. ManualPark Assist* is deactivated because the
area around the sensors* in the front or the
rear bumper (
page 590) is dirty.
Clean the front and rear bumper (page 590).
Park Assist* is deactivated because the
battery voltage is insufficient.Have the battery checked by an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.
Park Assist* is switched off because the ra-
dar sensor system* is temporarily inopera-
tive due to electromagnetic interference
near television and radio transmitter sta-
tions, toll stations, speed measuring sys-
tems, etc.Wait until the message in the multifunction display disappears.
Park Assist
inoperativePark Assist* is unavailable due to a mal-
function.Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center as soon as pos-
sible.
Page 624 of 761

623 Practical hints
What to do if …?
Display Possible cause/consequencePossible solution
PRE-SAFE
inoperative
See Oper. ManualPRE-SAFE® itself has failed. All other occu-
pant safety systems, such as the air bags,
are still available.Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center as soon as pos-
sible.
Radar sensor
deactivated
See Oper. ManualYou attempt to activate DISTRONIC Plus*,
Park Assist* or PRE-SAFE® Brake* even
though you have switched off the radar sen-
sors* on the vehicle.
Check if the radar sensors* may be switched on (page 282).
Switch on the radar sensors* using the instrument cluster
control system.
Check tire pressures
and then restart
Run Flat Indicator
(Canada only)There was a warning message about a loss
in tire inflation pressure and the Run Flat In-
dicator has not been reactivated yet.Check and adjust tire inflation pressure as required
(
page 560).
Then reactivate the Run Flat Indicator (page 566).
Run Flat Indicator
inoperative
(Canada only)The Run Flat Indicator is malfunctioning.Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz dealer as soon as pos-
sible.
Service X
dueService X must be carried out (page 582).Have the maintenance service carried out by an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
Service X exceeded
by X days
by XXX mls (km)Service X must be carried within the next ...
or before you have driven ... miles (kilome-
ters) (
page 582).
Have the maintenance service carried out by an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center as soon as possible.
Page 633 of 761
632 Practical hints
What to do if …?
Display Possible cause/consequencePossible solution
Service
See Oper. ManualS 600 and S 65 AMG only:
The brake system sensors are malfunction-
ing. The brake system continues to function
normally with full brake force boost.Continue driving with added caution.
Have the system checked at an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center as soon as possible.
(USA only)
(Canada only)
Brake wearThe brake pads have reached their wear
limit.Have the brake pads replaced as soon as
possible.
!Brake pad thickness must be visually
checked by a qualified technician at the intervals
specified in the Maintenance Booklet.
Page 661 of 761

660 Practical hints
What to do if …?
When the message “Check engine oil level
at next refueling” (S 550) or “Add 1.0 qts.
(Canada:1.0 l) engine oil at next refueling”
(S 600 and S 65 AMG) appears while the
engine is running and at operating temper-
ature, the engine oil level has dropped to
approximately the minimum level.When this occurs, the warning will first
come on intermittently and then stay on if
the oil level drops further.
Visually check for oil leaks. If no obvious oil
leaks are noted, continue to drive to the
nearest service station where the engine
oil should be topped to the required level
with an approved oil specified in the Facto-
ry Approved Service Products pamphlet.For information on approved engine oils,
refer to the Factory Approved Service
Products pamphlet (USA only) or contact
an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Display Possible cause/consequencePossible solution
Add 1.0 qts. engine oil
at next refueling
(USA only)
Add 1.0 l engine oil
at next refueling
(Canada only)S600 and S65AMG only:
The engine oil level is too low.Check the engine oil level (page 543) and
add engine oil as required (
page 546).
If you must add engine oil frequently, have
the engine checked for possible leaks.
Check engine oil level
at next refuelingS550 and S63 AMG only:
The engine oil level has dropped to approx-
imately the minimum level.Check the engine oil level (page 543) and
add engine oil as required (
page 546).
If you must add engine oil frequently, have
the engine checked for possible leaks.
!The engine oil level warnings should not be
ignored. Extended driving with the symbol dis-
played could result in serious engine damage
that is not covered by the Mercedes-Benz Limit-
ed Warranty.