2012 MERCEDES-BENZ S-Class fuel consumption

Exterior lightingsee Exterior lighting
Exterior mirror parking position
Adjusting (COMAND) .....................262
Exterior mirrors
Adjusting ....................................... 111
Dipping (automatic) .......................112
Folding in/out (automatically) .......112
Folding in/out (electrically) ...........112
Out of position (troubleshooting) ...112
Storing settings (memory
function) ........................................ 113
Storing the parking position ..........113
Eyeglasses compartment ................. 433
F
Factory setting (reset function) ....... 150
Fader, setting .................................... 135
Fast forward Audio mode (CD, DVD, MP3) .........225
Rear Seat Entertainment System ...255
Video DVD ..................................... 242
Fast rewind
Audio mode (CD, DVD, MP3) .........225
Rear Seat Entertainment System ...255
Video DVD ..................................... 242
Favorites (COMAND) ......................... 120
Filler cap see Fuel filler flap
First-aid kit ......................................... 472
Flat tire Changing a wheel/mounting the
spare wheel ................................... 473
MOExtended run-flat system .........477
Preparing the vehicle .....................473
Raising the vehicle .........................474
Floormat ............................................. 453
Freeway information ......................... 187
Front fog lamps ................................. 278
Display message ............................ 402
Switching on/off ........................... 278
Front-passenger seat
Adjusting from the driver's seat ..... 105
Adjusting from the rear
compartment ................................. 105
Front windshield
see Windshield
Fuel
Additives ........................................ 526
Displaying the current
consumption .................................. 376
Displaying the range ......................376
Driving tips .................................... 326
Fuel gauge ....................................... 35
Important safety notes ..................525
Premium-grade unleaded gasoline . 525
Problem (malfunction) ...................320
Refueling ........................................ 317
Specifications ................................ 525
Tank content/reserve fuel .............524
Fuel filler flap, opening/closing ....... 319
Fuel filter (display message) ............ 408
Fuel level Calling up the range (on-board
computer) ...................................... 376
Fuel tank
Capacity ........................................ 524
Problem (malfunction) ...................320
Function buttons (COMAND) ............ 119
Fuses Allocation chart ............................. 486
Before changing ............................. 486
Dashboard fuse box .......................486
Engine emergency stop .................487
Fuse box in the engine
compartment ................................. 487
Fuse box in the rear compartment . 486
Important safety notes ..................485
G
Garage door opener Clearing the memory .....................453
Notes ............................................. 450
Opening/closing the garage door ..453
Programming (button in the rear-
view mirror) ................................... 451
Gasoline ............................................. 318
Gear indicator (on-board
computer) .......................................... 379
Gear or selector lever (cleaning
guidelines) ......................................... 468
Genuine Mercedes-Benz parts ......... 520
Glove box ........................................... 432
GPS reception .................................... 151
12Index

XRelease the brake pedal.XCarefully depress the accelerator pedal.
The electric parking brake ( Y page 324) is
automatically released.
The red F (USA only) or ! (Canada
only) indicator lamp in the instrument
cluster goes out.
i The vehicle locks centrally once you have
pulled away. The locking knobs in the doors
drop down.
You can open the doors from the inside at
any time.
You can also deactivate the automatic
locking feature ( Y page 264).
i Upshifts take place at higher engine
speeds after a cold start. This helps the
catalytic converter to reach its operating
temperature more quickly.
Hill start assist
Hill start assist helps you when pulling away
forwards or in reverse on an uphill gradient.
It holds the vehicle for a short time after you
have removed your foot from the brake pedal.
This gives you enough time to move your foot
from the brake pedal to the accelerator pedal
and depress it before the vehicle begins to
roll.
GWARNING
Never leave the vehicle when it is held by hill
start assist. After approximately one second,
hill start assist will no longer brake your
vehicle and it could roll away.
XTake your foot off the brake pedal.
i Once you have taken your foot off the
brake pedal, the vehicle is held for around
one second.
XPull away.
Hill start assist will not function if:
R you are pulling away on a level road or a
downhill gradient.
R the transmission is in position N.
R
the electric parking brake is applied.
R ESP ®
is malfunctioning.
ECO start/stop function
General information
The ECO start/stop function is only available
for the S 63 AMG.
The ECO start/stop function is only available
in drive program C.
The ECO start/stop function switches the
engine off automatically when the vehicle
stops moving.
The engine starts automatically when the
driver wants to pull away again. The ECO
start/stop function thereby helps you to
reduce the fuel consumption and emissions
of your vehicle.
The ECO start/stop function is activated each
time the engine is switched on. If all the
requirements are fulfilled for automatic
engine switch-off ( Y page 307), the green
¤ ECO symbol is shown in the
multifunction display and Stop/Start
active appears. If not all of the requirements
are fulfilled, the ¤ ECO symbol is shown
in yellow and Stop/Start inactive
appears.
If the ECO start/stop function is deactivated
( Y page 307), the ¤ symbol is not shown.
GWARNING
If the engine is switched off and the ECO
symbol is shown in green in the multifunction
display, the engine has been switched off
automatically. All of the vehicle's systems
remain active. If you open the door, unfasten
your seat belt or remove your foot from the
brake pedal, the engine will automatically
start. The vehicle may begin moving. You
could suffer serious or even fatal injury or
cause an accident resulting in injury or death.
Never leave the vehicle while the ECO symbol
in the multifunction display is shown in green
306DrivingDriving and parking

driven at lower engine speeds and the
wheels being less likely to spin
Drive program S is characterized by the
following:
R sporty engine settings
R the vehicle pulling away in first gear
R the automatic transmission shifting up
later
R the fuel consumption possibly being higher
as a result of the later automatic
transmission shift points
Shift ranges
Introduction
When the automatic transmission is in
position D, it is possible to restrict or
derestrict the shift range ( Y page 315).
The shift range selected is shown in the
multifunction display. The automatic
transmission shifts only as far as the selected
gear.
Shift range=You can use the engine's braking
effect.5To use the braking effect of the
engine on downhill gradients and
for driving:
R on steep mountain roads
R in mountainous terrain
R in arduous conditions4To use the braking effect of the
engine on extremely steep downhill
gradients and on long downhill
stretchesRestricting the shift rangeXPull the left-hand steering wheel paddle
shifter.
The automatic transmission shifts down
one gear and restricts the shift range to the
relevant gear.
i If the engine exceeds the maximum
engine speed when shifting down, the
automatic transmission protects against
engine damage by not shifting down.
i If the maximum engine speed for the shift
range is reached and you continue to
accelerate, the automatic transmission
shifts up in order to prevent the engine
from overrevving, even if the shift range is
restricted.
Derestricting the shift range
XPull the right-hand steering wheel paddle
shifter.
The shift range is derestricted.
Clearing the shift range restriction
XPull and hold the right-hand steering wheel
paddle shifter until D is shown again in the
multifunction display.
The automatic transmission shifts from the
current shift range directly to D.
Selecting the ideal shift range
XPull the left-hand steering wheel paddle
shifter and hold it in position.
The automatic transmission shifts to the
gear which allows optimum acceleration
and deceleration. To do this, the automatic
transmission shifts down one or more
gears.Automatic transmission315Driving and parkingZ

If you leave the vehicle parked for longer than
six weeks, the vehicle may suffer damage as
a result of lack of use.XVisit a qualified specialist workshop and
seek advice.
Driving tips
General driving tips
Important safety notes
GWARNING
Always remember that you must concentrate
primarily on driving the vehicle. The driver's
concentration must always be directed
primarily at road traffic. For your own safety
and that of others, we recommend that you
stop the vehicle at a safe place and in
accordance with the traffic conditions before
making or accepting a phone call.
Comply with all legal requirements if you use
the telephone while driving. Use the hands-
free system and only use the telephone when
road, weather and traffic conditions permit. In
some jurisdictions, it is forbidden for drivers
to use mobile phones while driving.
Only operate COMAND (Cockpit Management
and Data System) in compliance with all legal
requirements and when the road, weather and
traffic conditions permit. You may otherwise
not be able to observe the traffic conditions,
endangering yourself and others.
Remember that your vehicle covers a distance
of 44 feet (approximately 14 m) a second
when it is traveling at only 30 mph
(approximately 50 km/h).
Drive sensibly – save fuel
Observe the following tips to save fuel:
XThe tires should always be inflated to the
recommended tire pressure.XRemove unnecessary loads.XRemove roof racks when they are not
needed.XWarm up the engine at low engine speeds.XAvoid frequent acceleration or braking.XHave all maintenance work carried out as
indicated by the service intervals in the
Service Booklet or by the service interval
display.
Fuel consumption also increases when
driving in cold weather, in stop-and-go traffic
and in mountainous terrain.
Drinking and driving
GWARNING
Drinking and driving and/or taking drugs and
driving are very dangerous combinations.
Even a small amount of alcohol or drugs can
affect your reflexes, perceptions and
judgment.
The possibility of a serious or even fatal
accident are greatly increased when you drink
or take drugs and drive.
Do not drink or take drugs and drive or allow
anyone to drive who has been drinking or
taking drugs.
Pedals
GWARNING
Make sure absolutely no objects are
obstructing the pedals' range of movement.
Keep the driver's footwell clear of all
obstacles. If there are any floormats or
carpets in the footwell, make sure that the
pedals still have sufficient clearance.
During sudden driving or braking maneuvers,
the objects could get caught between the
pedals. You could then no longer brake or
accelerate. This could lead to accidents and
injury.
Rolling with the engine switched off
GWARNING
There is no power assistance for the steering
and the brake when the engine is not running.
326Driving tipsDriving and parking

iIf depressing the brake pedal the first
time does not activate the HOLD function,
wait briefly and then try again.GWARNING
The vehicle's brakes are applied when the
HOLD function is activated. For this reason,
deactivate the HOLD function if the vehicle is
to be set in motion by other means (e.g. in a
car wash or by towing).
Deactivating the HOLD function
The HOLD function is deactivated
automatically if:
R you accelerate and the transmission is in
position D or R.
R you shift the transmission to position P.
R you apply the brakes again with a certain
amount of pressure until HOLD disappears
from the instrument cluster.
R you secure the vehicle using the electric
parking brake.
R you activate DISTRONIC PLUS.
i After a time, the electric parking brake
secures the vehicle and relieves the service
brake.
GWARNING
Never get out of the vehicle when the HOLD
function is activated.
The HOLD function must never be operated
or deactivated by a passenger or from outside
the vehicle.
The HOLD function does not replace the
electric parking brake and must not be used
for parking.
The braking effect of the HOLD function is
canceled and the vehicle could roll away if:
R the HOLD function is deactivated by
depressing the accelerator pedal or the
brake pedal.
R there is a malfunction in the system or an
interruption in the power supply, e.g.
battery failure.
R the electrical system in the engine
compartment, the battery or the fuses are
tampered with.
R the battery is disconnected.
AIRMATIC
Vehicle level
Important safety notes
Your vehicle regulates its height
automatically. All-round self-leveling ensures
the best possible suspension and constant
ground clearance, even with a laden vehicle.
When you drive fast, the vehicle is lowered
automatically to improve driving safety and to
reduce fuel consumption.
The following vehicle levels are possible on
vehicles without 4MATIC:
R normal
R raised: the vehicle is raised by about 1.00
in (25 mm) when compared with the normal
level
R lowered: the vehicle is lowered by about
0.60 in (15 mm) when compared with the
normal level
The following vehicle levels are possible on
vehicles with 4MATIC:
R normal: in Comfort mode, the vehicle is
raised by about 0.40 in (10 mm) when
compared with Sport mode
R raised: in Comfort mode, the vehicle is
raised by about 0.60 in (15 mm) and in
Sport mode by about 1.00 in (25 mm) when
compared with normal level
R lowered: the vehicle is lowered by about
0.40 in (10 mm) when compared with the
normal level
The "Normal" and "Raised" vehicle levels can
be set manually.
Driving systems343Driving and parkingZ

The AIRMATIC SPORT message appears in
the multifunction display.
Comfort tuning
In Comfort mode, the driving characteristics
of your vehicle are more comfortable. Select
this mode if you prefer a more comfortable
driving style, but also when driving fast on
straight roads, e.g. highways.
XIf indicator lamp ; is lit: press
button :.
Indicator lamp ; goes out. Comfort tuning
is selected.
The AIRMATIC COMFORT message appears
in the multifunction display.
Active Body Control (ABC)
Vehicle level
Your vehicle automatically adjusts its ride
height to improve driving safety and reduce
fuel consumption.
Depending on the vehicle height that has
been set, the vehicle automatically adjusts its
height dependent on the current speed. As
speed increases, the vehicle is lowered by up
to 0.6 in (15 mm). As the speed is reduced,
the vehicle is raised up to the set vehicle
height.
GWARNING
The vehicle is lowered when the engine is
switched off. Therefore, make sure that
nobody is in the vicinity of the wheel housing
or under the vehicle when you switch off the
engine. Otherwise, limbs could become
trapped.
! The vehicle is lowered when the engine is
switched off. Make sure when parking that
you position your vehicle so that it does not
make contact with the curb as the vehicle
is lowered. Your vehicle could otherwise be
damaged.
i For AMG vehicles: when the engine is
switched off, the vehicle is lowered by
approx. 0.4 in (10 mm).
Setting the vehicle level
Select the "Normal" setting for normal road
surfaces and "Raised" for driving with snow
chains or on particularly poor road surfaces.GWARNING
To help avoid personal injury, keep hands and
feet away from wheel housing area, and stay
away from under the vehicle when lowering
the vehicle chassis.
Your selection remains stored even if you
remove the SmartKey from the ignition lock.
Setting raised level
XStart the engine.
If indicator lamp ; is not lit:
XPress button :.
Indicator lamp ; lights up. The vehicle
height is adjusted to raised level.
Setting the normal level
XStart the engine.
If indicator lamp ; is lit:
XPress button :.
Indicator lamp ; goes out. The vehicle is
adjusted to normal level.Driving systems345Driving and parkingZ

Trip menu
Standard displayXPress and hold the % button on the
steering wheel until the Trip menu with
odometer : and trip odometer ; is
shown.
Trip computer "From start" or "From
reset"
The values in the From Start submenu are
calculated from the start of a journey, while
the values in the From Reset submenu are
calculated from the last time the submenu
was reset ( Y page 377).
XPress the = or ; button on the
steering wheel to select the Trip menu.XPress the 9 or : button to select
From Start or From Reset .
Trip computer "From start" (example)
:Distance;Time=Average speed?Average fuel consumption
The From Start trip computer is reset
automatically if:
R the ignition has been switched off for more
than four hours.
R 999 hours have been exceeded.
R 9,999 miles have been exceeded.
When 9,999 hours or 99,999 miles have been
exceeded, the trip computer is automatically
reset From Reset .
Displaying the range and current fuel
consumptionXPress the = or ; button on the
steering wheel to select the Trip menu.XPress the 9 or : button to select
Range .
The current fuel consumption 18
and the
approximate range are displayed.
The approximate range that can be covered
depends on the fuel level and your current
driving style. If there is only a small amount
of fuel left in the fuel tank, the display shows
a vehicle being refueled C instead of the
range.
Digital speedometer
XPress the = or ; button on the
steering wheel to select the Trip menu.XPress 9 or : to select the digital
speedometer.18 Not AMG vehicles.376Menus and submenusOn-board computer and displays

consumption may be higher than this when
the vehicle is new or if you frequently drive at
high engine speeds.
Checking the oil level using the oil
dipstick
On vehicles with a 12-cylinder engine, the oil
level can be checked using the on-board
computer. On all other models, the dipstick
must be used to check the engine oil level.
Example: vehicles with a gasoline engine
Example: vehicles with 4MATIC
XPark the vehicle on a level surface.
To check the oil level with the engine at
operating temperature, switch the engine
off and wait for approximately five minutes.XPull oil dipstick : out of the dipstick guide
tube.XWipe off oil dipstick :.XSlowly slide oil dipstick : into the guide
tube to the stop, and take it out again.
If the level is between MIN mark = and
MAX mark ;, the oil level is correct.XIf the fuel level has sunk to MIN mark = or
below, add 0.55 to 1.1 US qt (0.5 to 1.0 l)
engine oil.
Checking the oil level using the on-
board computer
On vehicles with a 12-cylinder engine, the oil
level can be checked using the on-board
computer. On all other models, the dipstick
must be used to check the engine oil level.
XPark the vehicle on a level surface.
To check the oil level with the engine at
normal operating temperature, switch the
engine off and wait for approximately five
minutes.XMake sure that the SmartKey is in position
2 in the ignition lock.XPress the ; or = button to select the
Service menu.XPress the : or 9 button to select
Engine Oil Level .XPress the a button.
The multifunction display shows the
following message: Engine Oil Level
Measuring Now Measurement correct
only if vehicle level.
The measurement takes a few seconds. You
will see one of the following messages in the
multifunction display:
R Engine Oil Level OK
R Add 1.0 l Engine Oil At Next
Refueling
R Add 1.5 l Engine Oil At Next
Refueling
R Add 2.0 l Engine Oil At Next
Refueling
XAdd oil if necessary.
If the engine is at normal operating
temperature and the Engine Oil Level
458Engine compartmentMaintenance and care