2008 MERCEDES-BENZ S550 4MATIC Transmission service

Contents
Infrared reflecting windshield ....... 524
Operation......................................... 525
The first 1000 miles (1500 km) ......... 526
Driving instructions ............................ 527
Drive sensibly – save fuel ............. 527
Drinking and driving ..................... 527
Pedals .......................................... 527
Power assistance ......................... 527
Brakes .......................................... 528
Driving off..................................... 530
Parking ......................................... 530
Tires ............................................. 531
Hydroplaning ................................ 531
Tire traction .................................. 532
Tire speed rating .......................... 532
Winter driving instructions ........... 533
Standing water ............................. 534
Passenger compartment .............. 535
Driving abroad .............................. 535
Control and operation of radio
transmitters.................................. 535
Catalytic converter ....................... 536
Emission control........................... 536
Coolant temperature .................... 537At the gas station .............................. 538
Refueling ...................................... 538
Check regularly and before
a long trip ..................................... 540
Engine compartment ......................... 541
Hood ............................................ 541
Engine oil ..................................... 543
Transmission fluid level ................ 546
Active Body Control* (ABC*)
fluid level...................................... 547
Coolant level ................................ 547
Windshield washer system and
headlamp cleaning system ........... 548
Tires and wheels ................................ 550
Important guidelines .................... 550
Tire care and maintenance ........... 551
Direction of rotation ..................... 553
Loading the vehicle ...................... 553
Recommended tire
inflation pressure ......................... 558
Checking tire inflation pressure ... 560
Tire labeling.................................. 567
Load identification ....................... 571
DOT, Tire Identification Number
(TIN) ............................................. 572
Maximum tire load ....................... 573Maximum tire inflation pressure .. 573
Uniform Tire Quality Grading
Standards (U.S. vehicles) ............. 574
Tire ply material ........................... 575
Tire and loading terminology........ 576
Rotating tires ............................... 578
Winter driving .................................... 580
Winter tires .................................. 580
Snow chains................................. 581
Maintenance...................................... 582
Maintenance service indicator
message ...................................... 582
Calling up the maintenance
service indicator display .............. 583
Resetting the maintenance
service indicator .......................... 584
Vehicle care....................................... 585
Cleaning and care of vehicle ........ 585
Practical hints................................. 597
What to do if …? ................................ 598
Lamps in instrument cluster ........ 598
Air bag off indicator lamp............. 610
Vehicle status messages in the
multifunction display.................... 612

546 Operation
Engine compartment
Adding engine oil
Example illustration from S 550
S63 AMG
1Filler cap
Unscrew filler cap1 from filler neck.
Add engine oil as required. Be careful
not to overfill with oil.
Be careful not to spill any oil when adding.
Avoid environmental damage caused by oil
entering the ground or water.
Screw filler cap1 back on filler neck.
For more information on engine oil, see the
“Technical data” section (
page 724) and
(
page 728).
Transmission fluid level
The transmission fluid level does not need
to be checked. If you notice transmission
fluid loss or gear shifting malfunctions,
have an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center
check the automatic transmission.
!Only use approved engine oils and oil filters
required for vehicles with Maintenance System.
For a listing of approved engine oils and oil fil-
ters, refer to the Factory Approved Service Prod-
ucts pamphlet (USA only) in your vehicle
literature portfolio, or contact an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
Using engine oils and oil filters of specification
other than those expressly required for the Main-
tenance System, or changing of oil and oil filter
at change intervals longer than those called for
by the Maintenance System will result in engine
or emission control system damage not covered
by the Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.
!Excess oil must be siphoned or drained off.
It will cause damage to the engine and emission
control system not covered by the
Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.

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.

724 Technical data
Fuels, coolants, lubricants, etc.
Capacities
Vehicle components and their respective
lubricants must match. Therefore use only
products tested and approved by
Mercedes-Benz.
Please refer to the Factory Approved
Service Products pamphlet (USA only), or
inquire at an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.
Warning!G
Comply with all valid regulations with re-
spect to handling, storing and disposing of
service fluids. Otherwise you could endan-
ger persons or the environment.
Keep service fluids out of the reach of chil-
dren.
For health reasons, you should prevent ser-
vice fluids from coming into direct contact
with your skin or clothing.
If a service fluid is swallowed, contact a phy-
sician immediately.
ModelCapacityFuels, coolants, lubricants, etc.
Engine with oil filterS 550
S 550 4MATIC8.98 US qt. (8.5 l)Approved engine oils
S6009.51 US qt. (9.0 l)
S63 AMG9.25 US qt. (8.75 l)
S65 AMG9.51 US qt. (9.0 l)
Automatic transmissionS 550
S 550 4MATIC10.36 US qt. (9.8 l)MB Automatic Transmission Fluid
S6008.14 US qt. (7.7 l)
S63 AMG9.25 US qt. (8.75 l)
S65 AMG9.2 US qt. (8.7 l)

746 Index
ESP®29, 599, 604
Front passenger front air bag off 50,
610
Fuel reserve 605
High beam headlamp 29
Maintenance service indicator 582
Park Assist* 29
Parktronic* 29
Seat belt telltale 29, 605
SRS 29, 607
TPMS* malfunction telltale 29, 608
Turn signals 29
Language (COMAND) 238
LATCH-type child seat anchors see
Children in the vehicle
Lever
For automatic transmission
(gear selector lever) 399
For cruise control 420
For DISTRONIC Plus* 430
License plate lamps
Messages in display 655
Replacing bulbs 679
Light alloy wheels, Cleaning 593Light sensor
Message in display 654
Lighter see Cigarette lighter
Lighting 371
Automatic headlamp mode 372
COMAND display illumination 87
Corner-illuminating lamps 376
Courtesy lighting 380
Daytime running lamp mode 373
Door entry lamps 379
High beam flasher 375
Instrument cluster illumination 417,
463
Interior 378
Manual headlamp mode 372
Trunk 380
Limp-home mode 416
Loading see Vehicle loading
Locator lighting (COMAND) 243
Lock button
Door handle (KEYLESS-GO*) 338,
388
Key, SmartKey 332
Key, SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO* 335Locking 394
Automatic central locking
(COMAND) 245
Vehicle in an emergency 672
Locking knob 341
Loss of
Key, Mechanical 340
Key, SmartKey 340
Key, SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO* 340
Service and Warranty Information
Booklet 711
Low beam headlamps
Replacing bulbs 679
Lowering
Vehicle 690
Lubricants 724
Lumbar support (COMAND) 260

751 Index
Rear fog lamp
Replacing bulbs 679
Rear lamps see Tail lamps
Rear seats
Adjustment 347
Folding back and placing upright rear
head restraints 354
Head restraints 353
Heating* 351
Multicontour* 356
Setting front passenger seat position
from rear 350
Ventilation* 352
Rear view mirrors see Mirrors
Rear window defroster 473
Activating 473
Deactivating 473
Recommended inflation pressure 577
Recovery services, Stolen vehicle
(Tele Aid) 518
Refrigerant, Air conditioning 727, 728
Refueling 538
Regular checks 540Remote
Door lock with Tele Aid 517
Door unlock with Tele Aid 517
Trunk opening/closing* switch 479
Remote control, SmartKey 332
Remote control, SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO* 335
Replacing
Bulbs 678
Front lamp bulbs 680
Rear lamp bulbs 679
Reporting safety defects 21
Reset (COMAND) 241
Residual engine heat and ventilation 476
Rest tool
Depository 675
Restraint systems
Messages in display 662
See Children in the vehicle
See SRS
Reverse gear position, Automatic
transmission 399, 403
Rims 577
And Tires 718
Tires and wheels 550Roadside Assistance 16
Tele Aid 514
RON 539, 726
Roof rack* 493
Route guidance (COMAND) 207
Route guidance (Instrument cluster control
system) 269
Rubber parts, cleaning 593
Run Flat Indicator (Canada only) 565

754 Index
Steering wheel gearshift control
Automatic transmission 411
Stolen Vehicle Recovery services 518
Storage compartments 494
Cup holder 498
Front armrest 495
Parcel net 496
Rear armrest 496
Ruffled storage pockets 498
Storage compartment in front
armrest 495
Storage tray/telephone* compartment
in front armrest 495
Under the front seats 495
Storing tires 552
Summer opening feature 385
Sun visors 502
Sunroof see Power tilt/sliding sunroof
Sunshades
Extending or retracting rear window
sunshade (COMAND) 249
Extending/retracting rear window
sunshade 503
Opening or closing rear side window
sunshades 385Suspension tuning
Setting (ABC*) 442
Setting (Airmatic) 440
Symbols used in this operator’s
manual 18
System settings (COMAND)
Bluetooth
® settings 239
Display 235
Favorite button 238
Menu overview 235
Reset 241
Setting the system language 238
Time settings 235
Voice Control* settings
(COMAND) 237T
Tachometer 418
Overspeed range 418
Tail lamps
Cleaning lenses 589
Messages in display 657
Tar stains 586
Tele Aid 510
Automatic Maintenance Call 518
Call priority 516
Emergency calls 511
Hands-free microphone 33
Information 515
Information button 513
Initiating an emergency call
manually 513
Messages in display 664
Remote door lock 517
Remote door unlock 517
Roadside Assistance 514
Roadside Assistance button 513
SOS button 513
Stolen Vehicle Recovery
services 518
System self-check 511

756 Index
Information placard 554
Inspection 551
Load rating 569, 578
Load rating, Maximum 573, 577
Minispare wheel 670
Ply composition and material
used 578
Problems under-/overinflation 558
Retreads 550
Rotating 578
Run Flat Indicator (Canada only) 565
Service life 551
Sizes 718
Snow 580
Spare wheel 721
Speed rating 532, 570, 578
Storing 552
Temperature 559, 575
Terminology 576
Total load limit 578
TPMS* malfunction telltale 29, 608
Traction 532, 578
Tread depth 552
Tread depth, Winter 580
Treadwear indicators 578
Vehicle maximum load on 578Wear pattern 579
Winter 580
Tools 668
Top tether
Children in the vehicle 61
Towing eye bolt (vehicle tool kit) 668,
703
Towing the vehicle 700
Tow-start 697, 700
Traction 532, 574, 578
Transmission see Automatic transmission
Traveling abroad 535
Tread 578
Tread depth, Tires 552
Tread depth, Winter tires 580
Treadwear indicators 578
Trip odometer 268
Resetting 269
Troubleshooting
Voice Control* 327
Trunk
Closing 479, 671
Closing trunk from inside 479
Closing trunk from outside 479
Emergency release 484
Lighting 380Message in display 667
Opening from inside 479
Opening from outside 479
Opening-height restriction
(COMAND) 249
Power closing assist for trunk lid 342
Tie-down hooks 500
Unlocking in an emergency 671
Valet locking 484
Tumbler holder see Cup holder
Turn signal lamps
Cleaning lenses 589
Replacing bulbs 679
Turn signals 393
Additional in mirrors 679
Front bulbs 679
Indicator lamp 29
Rear bulbs 679