Contents
Shifting procedure ....................... 402
Transmission positions................. 403
Driving tips ................................... 406
Gear ranges ................................. 408
Automatic shift program .............. 409
Steering wheel gearshift control .. 411
Manual shift program
(S 63 AMG and S 65 AMG only) ... 413
Emergency operation
(Limp-Home Mode) ...................... 416
Instrument cluster ............................. 417
Adjusting instrument cluster
display illumination ...................... 417
Coolant temperature gauge ......... 417
Tachometer .................................. 418
Outside temperature indicator ..... 418
Fuel gauge ................................... 418
Driving systems ................................. 419
Cruise control .............................. 419
DISTRONIC Plus* ......................... 424
Airmatic (S 550 only) ................... 440
Active Body Control (ABC)*.......... 442
Parktronic system* ...................... 444
Park Assist* ................................. 448
Dynamic Rear View Monitor* ....... 453
Night View Assist* ....................... 461Air vents ............................................. 466
Opening and closing air vents ....... 468
Ventilated storage compartment .. 468
Automatic climate control .................. 469
Deactivating climate control
system .......................................... 471
Operating climate control system
in automatic mode ........................ 471
Setting temperature...................... 472
Adjusting air volume ..................... 472
Front defroster.............................. 472
Rear window defroster .................. 473
Maximum cooling MAXCOOL
(USA only) ..................................... 474
Air recirculation mode .................. 474
Residual engine heat and
ventilation ..................................... 476
Rear passenger compartment
climate control* ............................ 477
Trunk .................................................. 479
Opening trunk ............................... 479
Closing trunk ................................ 480
Trunk emergency release.............. 484
Valet locking ................................. 484
Power tilt/sliding sunroof................... 486Opening and closing
power tilt/sliding sunroof ............. 486
Synchronizing ............................... 488
Panorama roof with power
tilt/sliding panel*............................... 489
Roller sunblinds ............................ 489
Opening and closing panorama
roof with power tilt/sliding panel . 490
Synchronizing ............................... 492
Loading and storing............................ 493
Roof rack* .................................... 493
Loading instructions ..................... 493
Storage compartments ................. 494
Cup holders .................................. 498
Trunk ............................................ 500
Useful features ................................... 502
Sun visors ..................................... 502
Vanity mirror in rear...................... 502
Rear window sunshade ................. 503
Ashtrays........................................ 503
Cigarette lighters .......................... 504
Power outlet ................................. 506
Floormats* ................................... 506
Telephone* ................................... 507
Tele Aid......................................... 510
Garage door opener ...................... 518
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
33 At a glance
Overhead control panel
Overhead control panel
ItemPage
1Eyeglasses compartment495
2Left reading lamp on/off378
3Rear interior lighting on/off378
4Front interior lighting on/off378
5Power tilt/sliding sunroof
switch or panorama roof with
power tilt/sliding panel*
switch486
489
6Tele Aid (emergency call sys-
tem) button510
7Interior lighting control378
ItemPage
8Opening/closing rear roller
sunblinds489
9Right reading lamp on/off378
aRear view mirror 361
bGarage door opener518
cHands-free microphone for
Tele Aid (emergency call
system)
Telephone*
Voice Control*
510
507
284
57 Safety and Security
Occupant safety
PRE-SAFE® takes action in the following in-
stances:
Emergency braking situations, e.g.
when BAS (
page 68) is activated or
when
BAS Plus* (
page 69) is strongly inter-
vening.
Critical dynamic driving situations, e.g.
when the vehicle is understeering or
oversteering because it has exceeded
its physical limitations.
Evasive steering maneuvers at speeds
above 20 mph (30 km/h).
When you are driving faster than 20 mph
(30 km/h), PRE-SAFE
® takes the following
measures in such situations:
The front seat belts are pre-tensioned
electrically.
If the OCS senses that the front pas-
senger seat is occupied and the seat is
in an unfavorable position, it will be
adjusted to a better position.
If the vehicle is equipped with power
adjustable rear seats* and the passen-
ger outer seats are in an unfavorable
position, they will be adjusted to a bet-
ter position.
The system increases the air pressure
in the air pockets (on the sides of the
seat cushion and backrest) of the mul-
ticontour* and/or drive-dynamic front
seats*.
If the vehicle is understeering or over-
steering, the tilt/sliding sunroof and
the door windows also close until only
a small gap remains.
Once the hazardous situation is over with-
out an accident occurring, PRE-SAFE
®
loosens the seat belt pre-tension and de-
creases the air pressure in the air pockets
of the multicontour and drive-dynamic
seats*. You can readjust all of the settings
made by PRE-SAFE
®.If the seat belts do not release:
Adjust the backrest or seat slightly to
the rear until the seat belt tension is di-
minished.
The locking mechanism releases.
Children in the vehicle
If an infant or child is traveling with you in
the vehicle:
Secure the child using an infant or child
restraint appropriate to the age and
size of the child.
Make sure the infant or child is
properly secured at all times while the
vehicle is in motion.
iIf the closing procedure of the tilt/sliding
sunroof or power windows is blocked, the
tilt/sliding sunroof or power windows will stop
and open slightly.
!When moving the seat, make sure there are
no items in the footwell or behind the seats. Oth-
erwise you could damage the seats.
331 Controls in detail
Locking and unlocking
Starter switch positions
Seats
Steering wheel
Mirrors
Memory function
Fastening the seat belts
Lighting
Windshield wipers
Power windows
Driving and parkingAutomatic transmission
Instrument cluster
Driving systems
Air vents
Automatic climate control
Trunk
Power tilt/sliding sunroof
Panorama roof with power
tilt/sliding panel*
Loading and storing
Useful features
333 Controls in detail
Locking and unlocking
Factory setting
Global unlocking: Press buttonŒ.
All turn signal lamps flash once.
An acoustic signal sounds once
(if equipped and feature activated).
The locking knobs in the doors
move up.
The anti-theft alarm system is dis-
armed.
The vehicle will lock again automatically
and rearm the anti-theft alarm system
within approximately 40 seconds of un-
locking if:
neither a door nor the trunk is opened
the SmartKey is not inserted in the
starter switch
the central locking/unlocking switch is
not activated
iUSA only:
This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC
Rules. Operation is subject to the following two
conditions:
(1) This device may not cause harmful interfer-
ence, and
(2) this device must accept any interference re-
ceived, including interference that may
cause undesired operation.
Any unauthorized modification to this device
could void the user’s authority to operate the
equipment.
iCanada only:
This device complies with RSS-210 of Industry
Canada. Operation is subject to the following
two conditions:
(1) This device may not cause interference, and
(2) this device must accept any interference re-
ceived, including interference that may
cause undesired operation of the device.
Any unauthorized modification to this device
could void the user’s authority to operate the
equipment.
iYou can also open and close the door win-
dows and tilt/sliding sunroof, or the tilt/ sliding
panel* using the SmartKey (
page 385).
!If you cannot lock or unlock the vehicle with
the SmartKey, then either the batteries in the
SmartKey are discharged, the SmartKey is mal-
functioning or the vehicle batteries are drained.
Check the batteries in the SmartKey and re-
place them if necessary (
page 676).
Use the mechanical key to unlock the driv-
er’s door (
page 671) and the trunk
(
page 672).
Use the mechanical key to lock the driver’s
door (
page 672) and the trunk
(
page 484).
Have the vehicle batteries and their connec-
tions checked (
page 692).
If the SmartKey is malfunctioning, contact Road-
side Assistance or an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.
iYour vehicle may be equipped with an
acoustic lock and unlock confirmation signal fea-
ture. If your vehicle is equipped with this feature
and the feature is activated, an acoustic signal
will sound when the vehicle is locked or unlocked
using the SmartKey. To determine whether or not your vehicle is
equipped with this feature, contact an autho-
rized Mercedes-Benz Center. If equipped and
you wish to activate or deactivate the feature, or
adjust its signal volume, also contact an autho-
rized Mercedes-Benz Center.
336 Controls in detail
Locking and unlocking
Important notes on using KEYLESS-GO
You can also use the SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO like a normal SmartKey
(
page 332).
The starter switch is located under the
KEYLESS-GO button. Pull the
KEYLESS-GO button out in order to ac-
cess the starter switch.
You can combine KEYLESS-GO func-
tions with normal SmartKey functions
(e.g. unlocking with KEYLESS-GO and
locking with button ‹).
Warning!G
To prevent possible personal injury, always
keep hands and fingers away from the door
or trunk lid opening when closing a door or
the trunk. Be especially careful when small
children are around.
Before closing doors, make sure there is no
possibility of someone getting caught in a
door during closing.
iUSA only:
This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC
Rules. Operation is subject to the following two
conditions:
(1) This device may not cause harmful interfer-
ence, and
(2) this device must accept any interference re-
ceived, including interference that may
cause undesired operation.
Any unauthorized modification to this device
could void the user’s authority to operate the
equipment.
iCanada only:
This device complies with RSS-210 of Industry
Canada. Operation is subject to the following
two conditions:
(1) This device may not cause interference, and
(2) this device must accept any interference re-
ceived, including interference that may
cause undesired operation of the device.
Any unauthorized modification to this device
could void the user’s authority to operate the
equipment.
iYou can also open and close the door win-
dows and tilt/sliding sunroof, or the tilt/ sliding
panel* using the SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO
(
page 385).
!If you cannot lock or unlock the vehicle with
the SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO, then either the
batteries in the SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO are
discharged, the SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO is
malfunctioning or the vehicle batteries are
drained.
Check the batteries in the SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO and replace them if necessary
(
page 676).
Use the mechanical key to unlock the driv-
er’s door (
page 671) and trunk
(
page 672).
Use the mechanical key to lock the driver’s
door (
page 672) and the trunk
(
page 484).
Have the vehicle batteries and their connec-
tions checked (
page 692).
If the SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO is malfunc-
tioning, contact Roadside Assistance or an au-
thorized Mercedes-Benz Center.