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
266 Control systems
Instrument cluster control system
Menus
Trip (page 268)Navi (page 269)Audio (page 271)AMG1 (page 273)
1S63AMG and S65AMG only.
Commands/submenus
Standard displayShowing route guidance in-
structions, current direction
traveledSelecting radio stationGear currently engaged
Engine oil temperature
Vehicle supply voltage
Fuel consumption statistics since startSelecting satellite radio
channel* (USA only)RACETIMER
Fuel consumption statistics since last
resetOperating DVD changer/
audio CD/ audio DVD/MP3Overall analysis
Resetting fuel consumption statisticsOperating Video DVDLap analysis
Distance to empty
Digital speedometer
273 Control systems
Instrument cluster control system
AMG menu
The main screen of the AMG menu shows
you
the gear currently engaged
the engine oil temperature
the vehicle supply voltage
Press ( or & to select the
“AMG” menu.
1Gear indicator
2Upshift indicator
3Engine oil temperature
4Vehicle supply voltageIf the engine reaches the overspeed range
in the manual shift program, you will see
“up” 2 next to gear indicator 1 as a re-
minder to upshift.
Use buttons % or $ to select the fol-
lowing functions in the AMG menu:RACETIMER
The RACETIMER allows you to time and
save driving stretches in hours, minutes
and seconds.
Press ( or & to select the
“AMG” menu.
Press % to select the RACETIMER.
iThis function is only available in S 63 AMG
and S 65 AMG.
iThe engine oil temperature symbol will be
shown in blue if the engine oil temperature has
not yet reached 176°F (80°C). During this time,
avoid driving at full engine speed.
FunctionPage
RACETIMER273
Overall analysis275
Lap analysis275
Warning!G
The RACETIMER feature is for use only on
roads and in conditions where high speed
driving is permitted. Racing on public roads
is prohibited under all circumstances and
the driver is and must always remain re-
sponsible for following posted speed limits.
415 Controls in detail
Automatic transmission
If you have selected the AMG menu in the
control system and you are driving in the
manual program modeM, upshift
indicator2 in the multifunction display
advises you to upshift before the engine
reaches the overspeed range. Thus you
can drive at the maximum engine speed for
each gear without overrevving the engine.
1Gear indicator
2Upshift indicator
3Engine oil temperature
4Vehicle supply voltage
Shift to the next higher gear.
The fuel supply will otherwise be inter-
rupted to prevent the engine from over-
revving.Downshifting
Briefly pull left shift paddle1
(
page 411).
The transmission shifts to the next
lower gear.Kickdown
Using the kickdown when driving in the
manual program modeM is not possible.
Deactivating manual shift program
Press the program mode selector
switch (
page 413) repeatedly until
“C”or“S” appears in the multifunction
display.
or
Restart the engine.
The transmission will go to the
automatic program mode (C orS).
The manual program modeM is not
stored.
Warning!G
On slippery road surfaces, never downshift
in order to obtain braking action. This could
result in drive wheel slip and reduced
vehicle control. Your vehicle’s ABS will not
prevent this type of loss of control.
iWhen you brake or stop, the transmission
shifts down to a gear from which you can easily
accelerate or drive off.
544 Operation
Engine compartment
One of the following messages will
subsequently appear in the multifunction
display:
“Engine oil level
OK”
“Add 1.0 qts. engine oil
at next refueling”
(Canada: “1.0 l”)
“Add 1.5 qts. engine oil
at next refueling”
(Canada: “1.5 l”)
“Add 2.0 qts. engine oil
at next refueling”
(Canada: “2.0 l”)
If necessary, add engine oil
(
page 546).
For more information on engine oil, see the
“Technical data” section (
page 724) and
(
page 728).Other display messages
If the SmartKey or KEYLESS-GO* start/
stop button is not in position 2, the follow-
ing message will appear:
“For engine oil level,
turn on ignition”
Switch on the ignition (page 344).
If you see the message
“Waiting period for,
engine oil level
not complete”
If engine is at operating temperature,
wait 5 minutes before repeating check
procedure.
If engine is not at operating tempera-
ture yet, wait 30 minutes before
repeating check procedure.
If you see the message
“Engine oil level
Not when engine on”
Turn off the engine.
If the engine is at operating tempera-
ture, wait 5 minutes before checking
oil.
If the engine is not at operating temper-
ature yet, you must wait 30 minutes
before checking oil.
If there is excess engine oil with the engine
at operating temperature, the following
message will appear:
“Engine oil level
Reduce oil level”
Have excess oil siphoned or drained
off. Contact an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
For more information on messages in the
multifunction display concerning engine
oil, see the “Practical hints” section
(
page 659).
iIf you want to interrupt the checking proce-
dure, press buttonL on the multifunction
steering wheel.
!Excess oil must be siphoned or drained off.
It could cause damage to the engine and catalyt-
ic converter not covered by the Mercedes-Benz
Limited Warranty.
594 Operation
Vehicle care
Hard plastic trim items
Use Mercedes-Benz approved Interior
Care, a soft, lint-free cloth and apply
with light pressure.Steering wheel
Wipe with a damp cloth and dry thor-
oughly or clean with Mercedes-Benz
approved Leather Care.
Carpets
Use Mercedes-Benz approved Carpet
and Fabric Care for cleaning the car-
pets.Headliner and shelf below rear window
Use a soft bristle brush or a dry-sham-
poo cleaner in case of excessive dirt.
Seat belts
Only use clear, lukewarm water and
soap.
from plastic parts coming loose in the event
of air bag deployment.
!Do not use oil, wax or scouring agents on
these parts.
Never apply strong force and only use a soft,
non-scratching cloth when cleaning the surface.
Do not attempt to wipe the surface with a dry
cloth or sponge.
Otherwise you may scratch or damage the sur-
face.
!Never apply strong force and only use a soft,
non-scratching cloth when cleaning the surface.
Do not attempt to wipe the surface with a dry
cloth or sponge.
Otherwise you may scratch or damage the sur-
face.
!The webbing must not be treated with
chemical cleaning agents. Do not dry the web-
bing at temperatures above 176°F (80°C) or in
direct sunlight.
Warning!G
Do not bleach or dye seat belts as this may
severely weaken them. In a crash they may
not be able to provide adequate protection.
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+)
727 Technical data
Fuels, coolants, lubricants, etc.
ModelCapacityFuels, coolants, lubricants, etc.
Air conditioning systemAll modelsR-134a refrigerant and special PAG
lubricant oil (never R-12)
Windshield washerAll modelsapprox. 6.87 US qt (6.5 l)MB Windshield Washer Concentrate1
1Use MB Windshield Washer Concentrate “MB SummerFit” and water for temperatures above freezing or MB Windshield Washer Concentrate “MB SummerFit” and
commercially available premixed windshield washer solvent/antifreeze for temperatures below freezing point. Follow suggested mixing ratios (page 733).