2008 MERCEDES-BENZ S600 steering

642 Practical hints
What to do if …?
Display Possible cause/consequencePossible solution
STOP,
car too lowYou have started driving although the vehi-
cle level was too low.
The vehicle will be raised. The Airmatic
warning lamp goes out after several sec-
onds.Stop your vehicle as soon as it is safe to do
so.
Engage the electronic parking brake
(
page 395).
Wait until the message disappears from the
multifunction display.
You may then drive off.
STOP,
car too lowThe Airmatic is malfunctioning.
The Airmatic warning lamp lights up contin-
uously.Stop and press the vehicle level control but-
ton to select a higher vehicle level
(
page 440).
Do not turn steering wheel too far to avoid
damaging the front fenders.
Listen for scraping noises.
Do not exceed a speed of 50 mph (80 km/h).
Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center as soon as possible.
There is otherwise danger of an accident.

664 Practical hints
What to do if …?
Display Possible cause/consequencePossible solution
Tele Aid
inoperativeOne or more main functions of the Tele Aid
system are malfunctioning.Have the Tele Aid system checked by an au-
thorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Tire pressure
Caution, tire defectVehicles with Advanced TPMS*:
One or more tires are deflating.Carefully bring the vehicle to a halt, avoiding
abrupt steering and braking maneuvers.
Engage the electronic parking brake
(
page 395).
If necessary, change the wheel (page 686).
Caution
Tire defectVehicles with Advanced TPMS*:
One or more tires are deflating. The respec-
tive tire is shown in the multifunction dis-
play.Carefully bring the vehicle to a halt, avoiding
abrupt steering and braking maneuvers.
Engage the electronic parking brake
(
page 395).
If necessary, change the wheel (page 686).
Warning!G
Do not drive with a flat tire. A flat tire affects
the ability to steer or brake the vehicle. You
may lose control of the vehicle. Continued
driving with a flat tire will cause excessive
heat build-up and possibly a fire.

665 Practical hints
What to do if …?
Display Possible cause/consequencePossible solution
Tire pressure
Check tiresVehicles with Advanced TPMS*:
The pressure is too low in one or more tires.Carefully bring the vehicle to a halt, avoiding
abrupt steering and braking maneuvers.
Engage the electronic parking brake
(
page 395).
Check and adjust tire inflation pressure as
required (
page 561).
If necessary, change the wheel (page 686).
Check tiresVehicles with Advanced TPMS*:
The pressure is too low in one or more tires.
The respective tire is shown in the multi-
function display.Carefully bring the vehicle to a halt, avoiding
abrupt steering and braking maneuvers.
Engage the electronic parking brake
(
page 395).
Check and adjust tire inflation pressure as
required (
page 561).
If necessary, change the wheel (page 686).
Warning!G
Do not drive with a flat tire. A flat tire affects
the ability to steer or brake the vehicle. You
may lose control of the vehicle. Continued
driving with a flat tire will cause excessive
heat build-up and possibly a fire.

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.

701 Practical hints
Towing the vehicle
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
vehicle. Adapt your driving accordingly.
!When towing the vehicle with all wheels on
the ground or with the front axle raised, the start-
er battery must be connected and charged. Oth-
erwise:

you will not be able to switch on the ignition

you will not be able to engage the automatic
transmission in neutral positionN
(
page 402)

you cannot release the electronic parking
brake
For information on charging the starter battery
see “Batteries” (
page 692) or see “Jump start-
ing” (
page 697).
!Make sure that the electronic parking brake
is released. If the electronic parking brake is
malfunctioning, release it mechanically
(
page 673).
!If the vehicle is towed with the front axle
raised (not permissible for vehicles with
4MATIC), the automatic transmission must be in
positionN and the engine must be shut off
(SmartKey or SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO* in
starter switch position0 or1). Active braking
action through the ESP
® may otherwise seriously
damage the brake system.
When towing the vehicle with all wheels on the
ground, the automatic transmission must be
shifted to neutral positionN and the SmartKey
or SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO* must be in start-
er switch position2.
!When towing the vehicle with all wheels on
the ground or the front axle raised, the vehicle
may be towed only for distances up to 30 miles
(50 km) and at a speed not to exceed 30 mph
(50 km/h).
!If the vehicle is towed, the transmission
must be in neutral positionN.
If you turn off the engine using

the SmartKey and

remove the SmartKey from the starter
switch
or

open a front door

the KEYLESS-GO* start/stop button and
open a front door
the transmission will shift to park positionP
automatically.

714 Technical data
Layout of poly-V-belt drive
S 550
1Idler pulley
2Idler pulley
3Automatic belt tensioner
4ABC* tandem pump (pump for
power-steering assistance and ABC*
chassis)
5Air conditioning compressor
6Crankshaft
7Coolant pump
8Generator (alternator)S 63 AMG
1Idler pulley
2Idler pulley
3Idler pulley
4Automatic belt tensioner
5Power steering pump
6Air conditioning compressor
7Crankshaft
8Coolant pump
9Generator (alternator)S 600 and S 65 AMG
1Automatic belt tensioner
2ABC tandem pump (pump for
power-steering assistance and ABC
chassis)
3Air conditioning compressor
4Crankshaft
5Coolant pump
6Generator (alternator)
7Idler pulley
8Idler pulley
9Idler pulley

725 Technical data
Fuels, coolants, lubricants, etc.
ModelCapacityFuels, coolants, lubricants, etc.
Rear axleS 550
S 550 4MATIC1.27 US qt. (1.2 l)Hypoid gear oil SAE 85 W 90
S 6002.11 US qt. (2.0 l)
S 63 AMG1.27 US qt. (1.2 l)Fuchs Titan EG 5010 D
S 65 AMG1.69 US qt. (1.6 l)
Hydraulic system ABC*All models4.2 US qt. (4.0 l)MB ABC Fluid
Power steeringS 550
S 550 4MATICapprox. 1.06 US qt. (1.0 l)MB Power Steering Fluid
(Chevron Texaco PSF 9109)1
1For detailed information, please refer to the Factory Approved Service Products pamphlet (USA only) or contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
S 600approx. 1.27 US qt. (1.2 l)
S 63 AMGapprox. 1.06 US qt. (1.0 l)
S 65 AMGapprox. 1.27 US qt. (1.2 l)
Front wheel hubsAll modelsapprox. 3.6 oz. (95 g) eachHigh-temperature roller bearing
grease
Brake systemAll modelsapprox. 0.53 US qt. (0.5 l)MB Brake Fluid (DOT 4+)

736 Index
Ashtrays 503
Aspect ratio 576
Audio (COMAND) 112
CD mode 120
DVD mode 120
MP3 mode 120
Audio (Control system
instrument cluster) 271
CD changer 272
CD/DVD changer 272
DVD changer 272
Audio DVD
Fast forward/rewind (COMAND) 122
Menu overview (COMAND) 119
Pause function (COMAND) 121
Stop function (COMAND) 121
Auto-dimming, Rear view mirrors 363
Automatic climate control 469
Adjusting air distribution
(COMAND) 253
Adjusting air flow from air vents
(COMAND) 256
Adjusting air volume (COMAND) 253
Adjusting the footwell temperature
(COMAND) 255
Air recirculation mode 474Central climate control menu
(COMAND) 254
Central menu for rear climate control*
(COMAND) 257
Defrosting 472
Operating the rear climate control*
from the front 257
Operating via COMAND 251
Rear window defroster 473
Selecting Mono mode
(COMAND) 255
Setting temperature (COMAND) 252
Setting the temperature 472
Setting the temperature in the rear
passenger compartment 478
Switching cooling on or off
(COMAND) 254
Automatic headlamp mode 282, 372
Automatic lighting control, Interior
lighting 378
Automatic locking when driving 342
Automatic shift program 409Automatic transmission
Accelerator position 406
Automatic shift program 409
Emergency operation
(limp-home mode) 416
Fluid 724
Fluid level 546
Gear ranges 408
Gear selector lever 399
Gear shifting malfunctions 416
Hill start assist system 407
Kickdown 406
Kickdown, manual shift program
(AMG vehicles) 415
Manual shift program mode
(AMG vehicles) 413
Program mode selector switch 409
Shifting procedure 402
Starting the engine 389
Steering wheel gearshift control 411
Transmission fluid 546
Transmission positions 403