2012 MERCEDES-BENZ S-CLASS SEDAN display

XPark the vehicle on a level surface.
Only check the coolant level when the
vehicle is on a level surface and the engine
has cooled down.XTurn the SmartKey to position 2 in the
ignition lock ( Y page 307).
On vehicles with KEYLESS-GO, press the
Start/Stop button twice ( Y page 307).XCheck the coolant temperature display in
the instrument cluster.
The coolant temperature must be below
158 ‡ (70 †).XTurn the SmartKey to position
0 (Y page 307) in the ignition lock.XSlowly turn cap : half a turn
counterclockwise to allow excess pressure
to escape.XTurn cap : further counterclockwise and
remove it.
If the coolant is at the level of marker bar
= in the filler neck when cold, there is
enough coolant in coolant expansion
tank ;.
If the coolant level is approximately 0.6 in
(1.5 cm) above marker bar = in the filler
neck when warm, there is enough coolant
in coolant expansion tank ;.XIf necessary, add coolant that has been
tested and approved by Mercedes-Benz.XReplace cap : and turn it clockwise as far
as it will go.
For further information on coolant, see
( Y page 530).
Adding washer fluid to the windshield
washer system/headlamp cleaning
systemGWARNING
Washer solvent/antifreeze is highly
flammable. Do not spill washer solvent/
antifreeze on hot engine parts, because it may
ignite and burn. You could be seriously
burned.
Example: washer fluid reservoir
Depending on the engine, the washer fluid
reservoir may be installed in different
locations.
XTo open: pull cap : upwards by the tab.XAdd the premixed washer fluid.XTo close: press cap : onto the filler neck
until it engages.
The washer fluid reservoir is used for both the
windshield washer system and the headlamp
cleaning system.
Further information on windshield washer
fluid/antifreeze ( Y page 531).
Brake fluid level
! If the brake fluid level in the brake fluid
reservoir has fallen to the MIN mark or
below, check the brake system
immediately for leaks. Also check the
thickness of the brake linings. Visit a
qualified specialist workshop immediately.
Do not add brake fluid. This does not
correct the malfunction.
464Engine compartmentMaintenance and care

Only check the brake fluid level when the
vehicle is stationary and on a level surface.
If the brake fluid level is between MIN
marking ; and MAX marking : on the brake
fluid reservoir, it is correct.
Maintenance
Service interval display
Service messages
Information on the type of service and service
intervals (see separate Maintenance
Booklet).
You can obtain further information from an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center or at
http://www.mbusa.com (USA only).
The service interval display informs you of the
next service due date.
If a service due date has been exceeded, you
also hear an acoustic signal.
The multifunction display shows a service
message for a few seconds, e.g.
Next service A due in .. days
Service A due
Service A overdue by .. days
The letter indicates how much time the
workshop will require to carry out the service
work. The letters displayed range from A for
a short service duration to H for a long service
duration.
The service interval display does not take into
account any periods of time during which the
battery is disconnected.
Maintaining the time-dependent service
schedule:XNote down the service due date displayed
in the multifunction display before
disconnecting the battery.
or
XSubtract the battery disconnection periods
from the service date shown on the display
after reconnecting the battery.
i The service interval display does not
provide any information regarding the
engine's oil level. Observe the notes on the
engine oil level ( Y page 459).
Hiding a service message
XPress the % or a button on the
steering wheel.
Displaying service messages
XSwitch on the ignition.XPress = or ; on the steering wheel
to select the Service menu.XPress 9 or : to select the ASSYST
PLUS submenu and press a to confirm.
The service due date appears in the
multifunction display.
Please bear the following in mind
Resetting service interval display
If the qualified specialist workshop, e.g. a
Mercedes-Benz Center, carried out the
maintenance work, the service interval
display will be reset.
Further information, on maintenance for
example, can be obtained at an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center or directly from
Mercedes-Benz.
! If the service interval display has been
reset unintentionally, have the setting
corrected at a Mercedes-Benz Center.
Have service work carried out as described
in the Maintenance Booklet. This may
Maintenance465Maintenance and careZ

Cleaning the mirror turn signals
! Only use cleaning agents or cleaning
cloths that are suitable for plastic lenses.
Unsuitable cleaning agents or cleaning
cloths could scratch or damage the plastic
lenses of the mirror turn signals.
XClean the plastic lenses of the mirror turn
signals using a wet sponge and a mild
cleaning agent, e.g. Mercedes-Benz car
shampoo. Cleaning cloths may be used as
well.
Cleaning the sensors
XClean sensors : of the driving systems
with water, car shampoo and a soft cloth.
! If you clean the sensors with a power
washer, make sure that you keep a
distance of at least 11.8 in (30 cm) between
the vehicle and the power washer nozzle.
Information about the correct distance is
available from the equipment
manufacturer.
Cleaning the rear view cameraXUse clear water and a soft cloth to clean
camera lens :.
!
Do not clean the camera lens and the area
around the rear view camera with a power
washer.
Cleaning the exhaust pipes
Impurities combined with the effects of road
grit and corrosive environmental factors may
cause flash rust to form on the surface. You
can restore the original shine of the exhaust
tail pipe by cleaning it regularly, especially in
winter and after washing.
! Do not clean the exhaust tail pipes with
alkaline-based cleaning agents, such as
wheel cleaner.
XClean the exhaust tail pipes with a chrome
care product tested and approved by
Mercedes-Benz.
Interior care
Cleaning the display
XBefore cleaning the display, make sure that
it is switched off and has cooled down.XClean the display surface using a
commercially-available microfiber cloth
and TFT/LCD display cleaner.XDry the display surface using a dry
microfiber cloth.470CareMaintenance and care

! For cleaning, do not use any of the
following:
R alcohol-based thinner or gasoline
R abrasive cleaning agents
R commercially-available household
cleaning agents
These may damage the display surface. Do
not put pressure on the display surface
when cleaning. This could lead to
irreparable damage to the display.
Cleaning Night View Assist Plus
! Never clean the camera lens. When
cleaning the field of vision of the driving
systems, make sure that you do not spray
glass cleaner on the camera lens. If the
camera lens is dirty, visit a qualified
specialist workshop.
GWARNING
Always remember that your primary
responsibility is to drive the vehicle. The driver
must always concentrate on the road. For
your safety and the safety of others, stop the
vehicle before trying to clean fogged-up
windows or to clean the window in front of the
Night View Assist Plus camera.
Bear in mind that at a speed of only 30 mph
(approximately 50 km/h), the vehicle covers
a distance of 44 feet (approximately 14 m) per
second.
XFold down the camera cover by recess :.XUse a soft cloth to clean the windshield in
front of camera ;.
Cleaning the plastic trim
GWARNING
When cleaning the steering wheel boss and
dashboard, do not use cockpit sprays or
cleaning agents containing solvents. Cleaning
agents containing solvents cause the surface
to become porous, and as a result, plastic
parts may break away and be thrown around
the interior when an air bag is deployed, which
may result in severe injuries.
! Do not affix the following to plastic
surfaces:
R stickers
R films
R scented oil bottles or similar items
You can otherwise damage the plastic.
! Do not allow cosmetics, insect repellent
or sunscreen to come into contact with the
plastic trim. This maintains the high-quality
look of the surfaces.
XWipe the plastic trim with a damp, lint-free
cloth, e.g. a microfiber cloth.XHeavy soiling: use car care and cleaning
products recommended and approved by
Mercedes-Benz.
The surface may change color temporarily.
Wait until the surface is dry again.Care471Maintenance and careZ

XTighten the wheel bolts evenly in a
crosswise pattern in the sequence
indicated ( : to A). The tightening torque
must be 110 lb-ft (150 Nm) .XTurn the jack back to its initial position and
store it together with the rest of the tire-
change tool kit in the stowage well under
the trunk floor.
i When you are driving with the emergency
spare wheel mounted, the tire pressure
monitoring system cannot function
reliably. Only restart the tire pressure
monitoring system when the defective
wheel has been replaced with a new wheel.
All wheels mounted must be equipped with
functioning sensors. The defective wheel
should no longer be in the vehicle.
MOExtended tires (tires with run-flat
properties)
With MOExtended tires (tires with run flat
characteristics), you can continue to drive
your vehicle even if there is a total loss of
pressure in one or more tires.
MOExtended tires may only be used in
conjunction with the activated tire pressure
loss warning system or with the activated tire
pressure monitoring system.
The driving distance in partially laden
condition is approximately 50 miles (80 km),
and approximately 18 miles (30 km) when
fully loaded.
In addition to the vehicle load, the driving
distance possible depends upon:
R speed
R road condition
R outside temperature
The driving distance possible in run-flat mode
may be reduced by extreme driving
conditions/maneuvers, or it can be increased
through a moderate style of driving.
The maximum permissible distance which
can be driven in run-flat mode is counted from
the moment the tire pressure loss warning
appears in the multifunction display.
Do not exceed a vehicle speed of 50 mph
(80 km/h).GWARNING
When driving in emergency mode, the driving
characteristics deteriorate, e.g. when
cornering, accelerating quickly and when
braking. There is a risk of an accident.
Do not exceed the stated maximum speed.
Avoid abrupt steering and driving maneuvers,
and driving over obstacles (curbs, potholes,
off-road). This applies in particular to a laden
vehicle.
Stop driving in emergency mode if:
R you hear banging noises.
R the vehicle starts to shake.
R you see smoke and smell rubber.
R ESP ®
is intervening constantly.
R there are tears in the sidewalls of the tire.
After driving in emergency mode, have the
wheel rims checked at a qualified specialist
workshop with regard to their further use. The
defective tire must be replaced in every case.
i When replacing one or all tires, make sure
that you only use tires marked
MOExtended. Also ensure that they are of
the specified size for the vehicle.
Battery
Important safety notes
In order for the battery to achieve the
maximum possible service life, it must always
be sufficiently charged.
! Have the battery checked regularly at a
qualified specialist workshop.
Observe the service intervals in the
Maintenance Booklet or contact a qualified
specialist workshop for more information.
Have the battery charge level checked more
frequently if you use the vehicle mainly for
480BatteryBreakdown assistance

recommended by the vehicle manufacturer
on the Tire and Loading Information placard
on the driver's door B-pillar or the tire
pressure label on the inside of the fuel filler
flap. If your vehicle has tires of a different size
than the size indicated on the Tire and Loading
Information placard or the tire pressure label,
you should determine the proper tire pressure
for those tires.
As an added safety feature, your vehicle has
been equipped with a tire pressure monitoring
system (TPMS) that illuminates a low tire
pressure telltale when one or more of your
tires are significantly underinflated.
Accordingly, when the low tire pressure
telltale illuminates, you should stop and check
your tires as soon as possible, and inflate
them to the proper pressure. Driving on a
significantly underinflated tire causes the tire
to overheat and can lead to tire failure.
Underinflation also reduces fuel efficiency
and tire tread life, and may affect the vehicle's
handling and stopping ability.
Please note that the TPMS is not a substitute
for proper tire maintenance, and it is the
driver's responsibility to maintain correct tire
pressure, even if underinflation has not
reached the level to trigger illumination of the
TPMS low tire pressure telltale.
USA only:
Your vehicle has also been equipped with a
TPMS malfunction indicator to indicate if the
system is not operating properly. The TPMS
malfunction indicator is combined with the
low tire pressure telltale. When the system
detects a malfunction, the warning lamp will
flash for approximately a minute and then
remain continuously illuminated. This
sequence will be repeated every time the
vehicle is started as long as the malfunction
exists.
When the malfunction indicator is illuminated,
the system may not be able to detect or signal
low tire pressure as intended. TPMS
malfunctions may occur for a variety of
reasons, including the installation ofincompatible replacement or alternate tires
or wheels on the vehicle that prevent the
TPMS from functioning properly. Always
check the TPMS malfunction telltale after
replacing one or more tires or wheels on your
vehicle to ensure that the replacement or
alternate tires and wheels allow the TPMS to
continue to function properly.
i USA only:
If the tire pressure monitor is
malfunctioning, it may take more than ten
minutes for the tire pressure warning lamp
to inform you of the malfunction by flashing
for approximately one minute and then
remaining lit.
When the malfunction has been rectified,
the tire pressure warning lamp goes out
after a few minutes of driving.
Information on tire pressures is displayed in
the multifunction display. After a few minutes
of driving, the current tire pressure of each
tire is shown in the multifunction display.
i The tire pressure values indicated by the
on-board computer may differ from those
measured at a gas station with a pressure
gauge. The tire pressures shown by the on-
board computer refer to those measured at
sea level. At high altitudes, the tire pressure
values indicated by a pressure gauge are
higher than those shown by the on-board
computer. In this case, do not reduce the
tire pressures.
i The operation of the tire pressure monitor
can be affected by interference from radio
transmitting equipment (e.g. radio
headphones, two-way radios) that may be
being operated in or near the vehicle.
i USA 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
interference, and500Tire pressureWheels and tires

2. this device must accept any interference
received, 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.
i Canada only:
This device complies with RSS-210 of
Industry Canada. Operation is subject to
the following two conditions:
1. This device may not cause harmful
interference, and
2. this device must accept any interference
received, 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.
Checking tire pressure electronicallyXMake sure that the SmartKey is in
position 2(Y page 307) in the ignition lock.XPress the = or ; button on the
steering wheel to select the Service
menu.XPress the 9 or : button to select
Tire Pressure .XPress the a button.
The current tire pressure for each wheel will
be displayed in the multifunction display.
If the vehicle has been parked for longer than
20minutes, the Tire pressures will be
displayed after driving for a few
minutes message appears.
After a teach-in period, the tire pressure
monitor automatically recognizes new wheels
or new sensors. As long as a clear allocation
of the tire pressure values to the individual
wheels is not possible, the Tire Pressure
Monitor Active display message is shown
instead of the tire pressure display. The tire
pressures are already being monitored.
i If a spare wheel/emergency spare wheel
is mounted, the system may continue to
show the tire pressure of the wheel that has
been removed for a few minutes. If this
occurs, note that the value displayed for
the position where the spare tire is
mounted is not the same as the spare
wheel/emergency spare wheel's current
tire pressure.
Tire pressure monitor warning
messages
If the tire pressure monitor detects a
significant pressure loss on one or more tires,
a warning message is shown in the
multifunction display. A warning tone also
sounds and the tire pressure warning lamp
lights up in the instrument cluster.
Each tire that is affected by a significant loss
of pressure is highlighted with a color.
If the Correct Tire Pressure message
appears in the multifunction display:
XCheck the tire pressure on all four wheels
and correct it if necessary.
i If the wheel positions on the vehicle are
interchanged, the tire pressures may be
displayed for the wrong positions for a
short time. This is rectified after a few
minutes of driving, and the tire pressures
are displayed for the correct positions.
Restarting the tire pressure monitor
When you restart the tire pressure monitor,
all existing warning messages are deleted and
the warning lamps go out. The monitor uses
the currently set tire pressures as the
reference values for monitoring.
The tire pressure monitor must be restarted
when you set the tire pressure to a new value
(as a result of changed drive or load
characteristics, for example). The tire
pressure monitor then monitors the new tire
pressure values.
i Canada only: in most cases, the tire
pressure monitor recognizes the new
reference values automatically. However,
Tire pressure501Wheels and tiresZ

you can also define reference values
manually as described here.
Restart the tire pressure monitor after you
have set the tire pressure to the value
recommended for the desired driving
situation ( Y page 495). Only correct tire
pressures on cold tires. Comply with the
recommended tire pressures on the Tire and
Loading Information placard the B-pillar on
the driver's side. Additional tire pressure
values for driving at high speeds or with heavy
loads can be found in the tire pressure table
on the inside of the fuel filler flap.XMake sure that the tire pressure is correct
on all four wheels.XMake sure that the SmartKey is in position
2 in the ignition lock.XPress the = or ; button on the
steering wheel to select the Service
menu.XPress the 9 or : button to select
Tire Pressure .XPress the a button.
The multifunction display shows the
current tire pressure of the individual tires
or the Tire Pressures Displayed
After Driving A Few Minutes
message.XPress the : button.
The Use Current Pressures as New
Reference Values message appears in
the multifunction display.
If you wish to confirm the restart:
XPress the a button.
The Tire Pressure Monitor
Restarted message appears in the
multifunction display.
After driving for a few minutes, the system
checks whether the current tire pressures
are within the specified range. The new tire
pressures are then accepted as reference
values and monitored.If you wish to cancel the restart:XPress the % button.
The tire pressure values stored at the last
restart will continue to be monitored.
Loading the vehicle
Instruction labels for tires and loads
GWARNING
Overloaded tires can overheat, causing a
blowout. Overloaded tires can also impair the
steering and driving characteristics and lead
to brake failure. There is a risk of accident.
Observe the load rating of the tires. The load
rating must be at least half of the GAWR of
your vehicle. Never overload the tires by
exceeding the maximum load.
Two instruction labels on your vehicle show
the maximum possible load.
(1)The Tire and Loading Information placard
is on the B-pillar on the driver's side. The
Tire and Loading Information placard
shows the maximum permissible number
of occupants and the maximum
permissible vehicle load. It also contains
details of the tire sizes and
corresponding pressures for tires
installed at the factory.(2)The vehicle identification plate is on the
B-pillar on the driver's side. The vehicle
identification plate informs you of the
gross vehicle weight rating. It is made up
of the vehicle weight, all vehicle
occupants, the fuel and the cargo. You
can also find information about the
maximum gross axle weight rating on the
front and rear axle.
The maximum gross axle weight rating is
the maximum weight that can be carried
by one axle (front or rear axle). Never
exceed the maximum load or the
maximum gross axle weight rating for the
front or rear axle.502Loading the vehicleWheels and tires