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
Contents
Where will I find ...? ........................... 668
First aid kit ................................... 668
Vehicle jack, vehicle tool kit,
luggage bowl, Minispare wheel .... 668
Unlocking/locking in an emergency .. 671
Unlocking the vehicle ................... 671
Locking the vehicle ...................... 672
Mechanically releasing the
electronic parking brake .............. 673
Opening/closing in an emergency..... 674
Power tilt/sliding sunroof or
panorama roof with
power tilt/sliding panel*.............. 674
Resetting activated head restraints ... 675
Replacing SmartKey batteries ........... 676
Replacing bulbs ................................. 678
Bulbs ............................................ 679
Replacing bulbs for front lamps ... 680
Replacing wiper blades ...................... 684
Placing wiper arms in vertical
position ........................................ 684
Removing wiper blades ................ 685
Installing wiper blades................. 685
Flat tire .............................................. 686
Preparing the vehicle ................... 686
Mounting the spare wheel............ 686Batteries ............................................. 692
Disconnecting starter battery ....... 694
Removing starter battery .............. 695
Charging battery ........................... 695
Reinstalling starter battery ........... 696
Reconnecting starter battery ........ 696
Jump starting ...................................... 697
Towing the vehicle .............................. 700
Installing towing eye bolt .............. 703
Fuses .................................................. 704
Fuse boxes in engine
compartment ................................ 705
Fuse boxes in passenger
compartment ................................ 706
Emergency engine shut-down ....... 707
Technical data.................................. 709
Parts service....................................... 710
Warranty coverage ............................. 711
Loss of Service and Warranty
Information Booklet ...................... 711
Identification labels ............................ 712
Layout of poly-V-belt drive .................. 714
S 550 ............................................ 714
S 63 AMG ..................................... 714S 600 and S 65 AMG .................... 714
Engine ................................................ 715
Rims and tires .................................... 718
Same size tires ............................. 719
Mixed size tires ............................. 720
Spare wheel .................................. 721
Electrical system ................................ 722
Main dimensions and weights ............ 723
Main dimensions........................... 723
Weights......................................... 723
Fuels, coolants, lubricants, etc. .......... 724
Capacities ..................................... 724
Engine oils .................................... 728
Engine oil additives ....................... 728
Air conditioning refrigerant ........... 728
Brake fluid .................................... 728
Premium unleaded gasoline.......... 729
Fuel requirements......................... 729
Gasoline additives......................... 730
Coolants ....................................... 730
Windshield washer system and
headlamp cleaning system ........... 733
Index................................................. 735
25 At a glance
Exterior view
ItemPage
1Trunk
Unlocking
Opening and closing
Minispare wheel
Vehicle tool kit
479
479
686
668
2Rear lamps679
3Rear window, defrosting473
4Fuel filler flap
Gasoline538
729
5Doors
Locking and unlocking
Opening and closing
332
332
ItemPage
6Exterior rear view mirror
Parking position361
364
7Towing the vehicle700
8Rims and tires
Checking tire inflation
pressure
Minispare wheel
Flat tire
718
560
670
686
9Hood, opening
Engine oil
Coolant541
543
547
ItemPage
aHeadlamp cleaning system375
bFront lamps679
cWindshield wipers
Wiper blades, replacing
Wiper blades, cleaning381
684
592
dWindow, cleaning592
eRoofs
Power tilt/sliding sunroof
Panorama roof with power
tilt/sliding panel*
486
489
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
267 Control systems
Instrument cluster control system
Telephone* (page 276)Assistance* (page 279)Service (page 280)Settings (page 281)
Commands/submenus
Dialing a number from the
phone bookDisplaying the distance graph-
ic*, DISTRONIC Plus*
(USA only)Calling up vehicle malfunction,
warning and system status
messages stored in memorySetting daytime running lamp
mode (USA only)
RedialingActivating/deactivating
PRE-SAFE® Brake* (USA only)
Checking tire inflation pres-
sureSwitching additional speedome-
ter on or off
Answering a callSwitching on the Dynamic
Rear View Monitor*
automaticallyCalling up maintenance ser-
vice displaySwitching radar sensors* on or
off (USA only)
Ending a call or rejecting an in-
coming callChecking engine oil level*
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.
280 Control systems
Instrument cluster control system
Press % or $ to select the
“Rearview camera” function.
Press #.
Press # again if you would like to
change the current status.
The following settings are available:
Service menu
The “Service” menu is used for
calling up messages
checking tire inflation pressure elec-
tronically with the Advanced TPMS*
(standard on U.S. vehicles)
activating Run Flat Indicator
(Canada only)
calling up the maintenance service in-
dicator display
check engine oil level*
Calling up vehicle malfunction, warning
and system status messages stored in
memory
Use the vehicle status message memory
menu to scan malfunction and warning
messages that may be stored in the sys-
tem. Such messages appear in the multi-function display and are based on
conditions or system status the vehicle’s
system has recorded.
The vehicle status message memory menu
only appears if there are any messages
stored.
Press ( or & to select the
“Service” menu.
“On when in
Reverse”The Dynamic Rear View
Monitor automatically
switches on when reverse
gear is engaged.
“OFF”The Dynamic Rear View
Monitor is not switched on.
iThe menu overview can be found on
(
page 266).
Warning!G
Malfunction and warning messages are only
indicated for certain systems and are inten-
tionally not very detailed. The malfunction
and warning messages are simply a remind-
er with respect to the operation of certain
systems and do not replace the owner’s
and/or driver’s responsibility to maintain
the vehicle’s operating safety by having all
required maintenance and safety checks
performed on the vehicle and by bringing
the vehicle to an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center to address the malfunction and
warning messages (
page 612).
281 Control systems
Instrument cluster control system
If conditions have occurred causing
status messages to be recorded, the
number of messages appears in the
multifunction display: “2 Messages”.
Press % or $ to select the mes-
sage.
Press # to confirm.
Checking tire inflation pressure
For information about checking tire infla-
tion pressure (
page 561).
Activating Run Flat Indicator
(Canada only)
For information about activating Run Flat
Indicator (
page 565).Calling up the maintenance service in-
dicator display
For information about calling up the main-
tenance service indicator display
(
page 582).
Checking engine oil level (S 600 and
S65AMG)
For information about checking engine oil
level (
page 543).
Settings menu
In the “Settings” menu, you can:
switch the daytime running lamps on or
off (USA only)
switch the additional speedometer on
or off
switch the radar sensors* on or off
(USA only)Setting daytime running lamp mode
(USA only)
Press ( or & to select the “Set-
tings” menu.
Press % or $ to select the “Day-
time driving lamps” function.
Press #.
Press # again if you would like to
change the current status.
Depending on the previous status, the
daytime running lamps will be switched
on or off.
iSee the “Practical hints” section for mal-
function and warning messages (
page 612).
iIf you turn the SmartKey in the starter
switch to position0 and then back to position2,
all messages will be deleted from the message
memory.
iThe menu overview can be found on
(
page 266).
iThis function is not available in countries
where the daytime running lamp mode is manda-
tory and therefore in a constant mode.