2012 MERCEDES-BENZ S-CLASS SEDAN tire type

Uniform Tire Quality Grading
Standards (definition) ....................512
Unladen weight (definition) ............513
Wear indicator (definition) .............514
Wheel rim (definition) ....................512
see Flat tire
Tonal properties
see Sound settings
Top Tether ............................................ 69
Towing Important safety guidelines ...........485
Installing the towing eye ................485
Removing the towing eye ...............486
With the rear axle raised ................486
Towing away
With both axles on the ground .......486
Tow-starting
Emergency engine starting ............487
Important safety notes ..................485
Track
Selecting (CD, DVD, MP3) .............. 229
Traffic Announcements (TA)
Switching off .................................. 138
Traffic jam function ........................... 175
Traffic jam message see Dynamic route guidance/TMC
Traffic reports
Real-time traffic report ..................181
Switching on/off ........................... 178
Transfer case ..................................... 321
Transmission see Automatic transmission
Transporting the vehicle .................. 487
Treble, adjusting (sound) .................. 139
Trim pieces (cleaning instructions) . 472
Trip computer (on-board
computer) .......................................... 378
Trip meter see Trip odometer
Trip odometer
Calling up ....................................... 378
Resetting (on-board computer) ......379
Trunk
Emergency release ....................94, 95
Important safety notes ....................91
Limiting the opening angle ............. 269
Locking separately ...........................94Opening/closing (automatically
from inside) ...................................... 93
Opening/closing (automatically
from outside) ................................... 93
Trunk lid
Display message ............................ 420
Opening/closing .............................. 91
Power closing feature ......................90
Trunk lid opening height
restriction .......................................... 269
Turn signals Display message ............................ 403
Switching on/off ........................... 283
TV
Automatic picture shutoff ..............244
Picture settings .............................. 244
Type identification plate
see Vehicle identification plate
U
Unlocking Emergency unlocking .......................90
From inside the vehicle (central
unlocking button) ............................. 89
USB
see Media Interface
V
Vanity mirror (in the sun visor) ........ 440
Vehicle Correct use ...................................... 31
Data acquisition ............................... 32
Display message ............................ 419
Emergency unlocking ................. 90, 91
Equipment ....................................... 28
Individual settings ..........................387
Limited Warranty ............................. 32
Loading .......................................... 502
Locking (in an emergency) ...............91
Locking (SmartKey) .......................... 82
Lowering ........................................ 479
Maintenance .................................... 29
Parking for a long period ................ 329
Pulling away ................................... 309
Raising ........................................... 476
Reporting problems .........................32
Index25

term "sliding sunroof" refers to both types of
sliding sunroof.GWARNING
When opening or closing the sliding sunroof,
make sure that there is no danger of anyone
being harmed by the opening/closing
procedure.
The sliding sunroof is equipped with
automatic operation and the anti-entrapment
feature. If the movement of the sliding sunroof
is blocked during the closing procedure, the
sliding sunroof will stop and open slightly.
The sliding sunroof operates differently when
the sliding sunroof switch is pressed and held.
See the "Problems with the sliding sunroof"
section for more details.
The opening/closing procedure of the sliding
sunroof can be immediately halted by
releasing the sliding sunroof switch or, if the
sliding sunroof switch was moved past the
resistance point and released, by moving the
sliding sunroof switch in any direction.
GWARNING
The sliding sunroof is made out of glass. In the
event of an accident, the glass may shatter.
This may result in an opening in the roof.
In a vehicle rollover, occupants not wearing
their seat belts or not wearing them properly
may be thrown out of the opening. Such an
opening also presents a potential for injury for
occupants wearing their seat belts properly,
as entire body parts or portions of them may
protrude from the passenger compartment.
! Only open the sliding sunroof if it is free
of snow and ice. Otherwise, malfunctions
may occur.
Do not allow anything to protrude from the
sliding sunroof. Otherwise, the seals could
be damaged.
! The weather can change abruptly. It could
start to rain or snow. Make sure that the
sliding sunroof is closed when you leave the
vehicle. The vehicle electronics can be
damaged if water enters the vehicle
interior.
i Resonance noises can occur in addition
to the usual airflow noises when the sliding
sunroof is open. They are caused by minor
pressure fluctuations in the vehicle interior.
Change the position of the sliding sunroof
or open a side window slightly to reduce or
eliminate these noises.
Operating the sliding sunroof
Opening and closing
i You can continue to operate the sliding
sunroof after switching off the engine or
removing the SmartKey from the ignition
lock. This function remains active for five
minutes or until you open a front door.
Overhead control panel
:To raise;To open=To close/lowerXTurn the SmartKey to position 1 or 2 in the
ignition lock.XPress or pull the 3 switch in the
corresponding direction.
i If you press the 3 switch beyond the
point of resistance, an automatic opening/
closing process is started in the
corresponding direction. You can stop
automatic operation by operating the
switch again.
Sliding sunroof99Opening/closingZ

pump nozzle, which could cause personal
injury.GWARNING
Hybrid vehicles: be sure to read the "HYBRID"
supplement. Otherwise, you could fail to
recognize dangers.
GWARNING
Do not fill diesel tanks with gasoline. Do not
mix diesel fuel with gasoline. Otherwise the
fuel system and engine could be damaged. In
addition, the vehicle could catch fire.
! Do not use gasoline to refuel vehicles with
a diesel engine. Do not use diesel to refuel
vehicles with a gasoline engine. Even a
small quantity of the wrong fuel will
damage the fuel system and engine.
! Do not switch on the ignition if you
accidentally refuel with the wrong fuel.
Otherwise, the fuel will enter the fuel lines.
Notify a qualified specialist workshop and
have the fuel tank and fuel lines drained
completely.
! Overfilling the fuel tank could damage the
fuel system.
! Take care not to spill any fuel on painted
surfaces. You could otherwise damage the
paintwork.
! Use a filter when refueling from a fuel can.
Otherwise, the fuel lines and/or injection
system could be blocked by particles from
the fuel can.
Further information on fuel and on fuel grades
can be found in the "Fuel" section
( Y page 525).
Refueling
Fuel filler flap:To open the fuel filler flap;To insert the fuel filler cap=Tire pressure table?Fuel type
The fuel filler flap is unlocked or locked
automatically when you open or close the
vehicle with the SmartKey or with KEYLESS-
GO.
The position of the fuel filler cap 8 is
displayed in the instrument cluster. The arrow
next to the filling pump indicates the side of
the vehicle.
Opening
XSwitch off the engine.XRemove the SmartKey from the ignition
lock.XKEYLESS-GO: open the driver’s door.
This corresponds to SmartKey position 0:
"SmartKey removed".
The driver’s door can be closed again.XPress the fuel filler flap in the direction of
arrow :.
The fuel filler flap opens slightly.XOpen the fuel filler flap fully.XTurn the fuel filler flap counter-clockwise
and remove it.XInsert the fuel filler cap into the holder
bracket on the inside of filler flap ;.322RefuelingDriving and parking

Have your vehicle winterproofed at a qualified
specialist workshop at the onset of winter.
Observe the notes in the "Winter operation"
section ( Y page 494).
Driving with summer tires
Observe the notes in the "Winter operation"
section ( Y page 494).
Slippery road surfaces
GWARNING
The outside temperature indicator is not
designed to serve as an ice-warning device
and is therefore unsuitable for that purpose.
Indicated temperatures just above the
freezing point do not guarantee that the road
surface is free of ice. The road may still be icy,
especially in wooded areas or on bridges.
GWARNING
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.
Drive particularly carefully on slippery road
surfaces. Avoid sudden acceleration, steering
and braking maneuvers. Do not use the cruise
control or DISTRONIC PLUS.
If the vehicle threatens to skid or cannot be
stopped when moving at low speed:
XShift the transmission to position N.
i
For more information on driving with
snow chains, see ( Y page 495).
GWARNING
Make sure that you do not endanger other
road users when you apply the brakes.
Driving systems
Cruise control
Important safety notes
Cruise control maintains a constant road
speed for you. It brakes automatically in order
to avoid exceeding the set speed. On long and
steep downhill gradients, especially if the
vehicle is laden, you must select shift range
1 , 2 or 3 in good time. By doing so, you will
make use of the braking effect of the engine,
which relieves the load on the brake system
and prevents the brakes from overheating
and wearing too quickly.
Use cruise control only if road and traffic
conditions make it appropriate to maintain a
steady speed for a prolonged period. You can
store any road speed above 20 mph
(30 km/h).
GWARNING
The cruise control is a convenience system
designed to assist the driver during vehicle
operation. The driver is and must always
remain responsible for the vehicle's speed
and for safe brake operation.
Only use the cruise control if the road, traffic,
and weather conditions make it advisable to
travel at a constant speed.
R The use of the cruise control can be
dangerous on winding roads or in heavy
traffic because conditions do not allow safe
driving at a constant speed.
R The use of the cruise control can be
dangerous on slippery roads. Rapid
changes in tire traction can result in wheel
spin and loss of control.
R Deactivate the cruise control when driving
in fog.
The "Resume" function should only be
operated if the driver is fully aware of the
previously set speed and wishes to resume
this particular preset speed.
334Driving systemsDriving and parking

GWARNING
Objects located above the height range of
Parking Guidance will not be detected when
the parking space is measured. These objects
are not taken into account when the parking
procedure is calculated, e.g. overhanging
loads, tail sections or loading ramps of goods
vehicles. Under some circumstances, Parking
Guidance might therefore issue steering
instructions too soon. This may lead to a
collision. For this reason, you should avoid
using Parking Guidance in such situations.
GWARNING
Make sure that no persons or animals are in
the maneuvering range. Otherwise, they
could be injured.
! Pay particular attention to low objects or
objects with flat surfaces, such as trailer
drawbars, posts, cross beams and curbs.
These types of objects cannot be detected
by Parking Guidance and may damage the
vehicle.
When PARKTRONIC is deactivated, Parking
Guidance is also unavailable.
Use Parking Guidance for parking spaces:
R that are parallel to the direction of travel
R that are on straight roads, not bends
R that are on the same level as the road, i.e.
not on the pavement, for example. Parking
Guidance may not detect flat curbs
Parking tips:
R on narrow roads, drive past the parking
space as close as possible.
R parking spaces that are littered, overgrown
or partially occupied by trailer drawbars
might be identified incorrectly or not at all.
R snowfall or heavy rain may lead to a parking
space being measured inaccurately.
R pay attention to the PARKTRONIC
( Y page 351) warning messages during the
parking procedure.
R when transporting a load which protrudes
from your vehicle, you must not use Parking
Guidance.
R never use Parking Guidance with snow
chains or an emergency spare wheel
mounted.
R make sure that the tire pressures are
always correct. This has a direct effect on
the steering instructions.
R the way your vehicle is positioned in the
parking space after parking is dependent
on various factors. These include the
position and shape of the vehicles parked
in front and behind it and the conditions of
the location. In some cases, Parking
Guidance may guide you too far or not far
enough into a parking space. In some
cases, it may also lead you across or onto
the curb. If necessary, cancel the parking
procedure with Parking Guidance.
! If unavoidable, you should drive over
obstacles such as curbs slowly and not at
a sharp angle. Otherwise, you may damage
the wheels or tires.
Detecting a parking space:Detected parking space on the left;Parking symbol=Detected parking space on the right
Parking Guidance is automatically activated
when you drive forwards. The system is
operational at speeds of up to approximately
22 mph (35 km/h). While in operation, the
system independently locates and measures
parking spaces on both sides of the vehicle.
At speeds below 19 mph (30km/h), you see
white parking symbol ; in the instrument
cluster as a status indicator. Parking
354Driving systemsDriving and parking

Cleaning the steering wheel and gear or
selector leverXThoroughly wipe with a damp cloth or use
leather care agents that have been
recommended and approved by Mercedes-
Benz.
Cleaning genuine wood and trim
elements
XWipe the wooden trim and trim pieces 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.
! Do not use solvent-based cleaning agents
such as tar remover, wheel cleaners,
polishes or waxes. There is otherwise a risk
of damaging the surface.
! Do not use chrome polish on trim pieces.
The trim pieces have a chrome look but are
mostly made of anodized aluminum and
can lose their shine if chrome polish is
used. Use a damp, lint-free cloth instead
when cleaning the trim pieces.
If the chrome-plated trim pieces are very
dirty, you can use a chrome polish. If you
are unsure as to whether the trim pieces
are chrome-plated or not, consult an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Cleaning the seat covers
! Do not use microfiber cloths to clean
genuine leather, artificial leather or
Alcantara® covers. If used often, these can
damage the cover.
! Observe the following when cleaning:
R clean genuine leather covers carefully
with a damp cloth and then wipe the
covers down with a dry cloth. Make sure
that the leather does not become
soaked. It may otherwise become rough
and cracked. Only use leather care
agents that have been tested and
approved by Mercedes-Benz. You can
obtain these from a qualified specialist
workshop.
R clean artificial leather covers with a cloth
moistened with a solution containing 1%
detergent (e.g. dish washing liquid).
R clean cloth covers with a microfiber cloth
moistened with a solution containing 1%
detergent (e.g. dish washing liquid). Rub
carefully and always wipe entire seat
sections to avoid leaving visible lines.
Leave the seat to dry afterwards.
Cleaning results depend on the type of
dirt and how long it has been there.
R clean Alcantara® covers with a damp
cloth. Make sure that you wipe entire
seat sections to avoid leaving visible
lines.
i Note that regular care is essential to
ensure that the appearance and comfort of
the covers is retained over time.
Cleaning the seat beltsXUse clean, lukewarm water and soap
solution.
! Do not clean the seat belts using chemical
cleaning agents. Do not dry the seat belts
by heating at temperatures above 176 ‡
(80 †) or in direct sunlight.
GWARNING
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.
Cleaning the headliner and carpets
XHeadliner: use a soft brush or a cleaning
agent recommended and approved by
Mercedes-Benz to remove heavy soiling.XCarpets: use the carpet and textile
cleaning agents recommended and
approved by Mercedes-Benz.472CareMaintenance and care

Flat tire
Preparing the vehicle
Your vehicle may be equipped with a
"Minispare" emergency spare wheel or
MOExtended tires (tires with run-flat
properties) ( Y page 480).
i Vehicle preparation is not necessary on
vehicles with MOExtended tires.
XStop the vehicle on solid, non-slippery and
level ground, as far away as possible from
traffic.XSwitch on the hazard warning lamps.XApply the electric parking brake manually
( Y page 328).XBring the front wheels into the straight-
ahead position.XMove the DIRECT SELECT lever to position
P .XSwitch off the engine.XVehicles without KEYLESS-GO: remove
the SmartKey from the ignition lock.XVehicles with KEYLESS-GO: open the
driver's door.
The on-board electronics have status 0,
which is the same as the SmartKey having
been removed.XVehicles with KEYLESS-GO: remove the
Start/Stop button from the ignition lock
( Y page 307).XAll occupants must get out of the vehicle.
Make sure that they are not endangered as
they do so.XMake sure that no one is near the danger
area while a wheel is being changed.
Anyone who is not directly assisting in the
wheel change should, for example, stand
behind the barrier.XGet out of the vehicle. Pay attention to
traffic conditions when doing so.XClose the driver's door.Changing a wheel and mounting the
spare wheel
Preparing the vehicle
When using an emergency spare wheel or a
spare wheel of a different size, you must not
exceed the maximum speed of 50 mph
(80 km/h).
GWARNING
The wheel or tire size as well as the tire type
of the spare wheel or emergency spare wheel
and the wheel to be replaced may differ.
Mounting an emergency spare wheel may
severely impair the driving characteristics.
There is a risk of an accident.
To avoid hazardous situations:
R adapt your driving style accordingly and
drive carefully.
R never install more than one spare wheel or
emergency spare wheel that differs in size.
R only use a spare wheel or emergency spare
wheel of a different size briefly.
R do not switch ESP ®
off.
R have a spare wheel or emergency spare
wheel of a different size replaced at the
nearest qualified specialist workshop.
Observe that the wheel and tire dimensions
as well as the tire type must be correct.
i Vehicles without a spare wheel/
emergency spare wheel are not equipped
with a tire-change tool kit at the factory. For
more information on which tools are
required to perform a wheel change on your
vehicle, e.g. wheel chock, lug wrench or
alignment bolt, consult an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
XPrepare the vehicle as described
( Y page 475).XRemove the following items (depending on
the vehicle's equipment) from the stowage
well under the trunk floor:Flat tire475Breakdown assistanceZ

Towing and tow-starting
Important safety notes
GWARNING
Hybrid vehicles: be sure to read the "HYBRID"
supplement. Otherwise, you could fail to
recognize dangers.
GWARNING
If you tow the vehicle, you must use a rigid
towing bar if:
R the engine is not running.
R there is a brake system malfunction.
R there is a malfunction in the power supply
or the vehicle's electrical system.
The power assistance for the steering and the
brake force booster do not work when the
engine is not running. You will need more
force to steer and brake, you may have to
depress the brake pedal with maximum force.
Before towing away, make sure that the
steering can be moved and is not locked.
If you tow or tow-start another vehicle, its
weight must not exceed the maximum
permissible gross vehicle weight of your
vehicle.
GWARNING
The vehicle is braked when the HOLD function
or DISTRONIC PLUS is activated. Therefore,
deactivate HOLD and DISTRONIC PLUS if the
vehicle is to be towed.
It is better to have the vehicle transported
than to have it towed.
! The vehicle can be towed a maximum of
30 miles (50km). The towing speed of
30 mph (50 km/h) must not be exceeded.
If the vehicle has to be towed more than
30 miles ( 50km), the entire vehicle must be
raised and transported.
! Make sure that the electric parking brake
is released. If the electric parking brake is
faulty, visit a qualified specialist workshop.
! Only secure the tow rope or tow bar at the
towing eyes. Otherwise, the vehicle could
be damaged.
! Do not use the towing eye for recovery,
as this could damage the vehicle. If in
doubt, recover the vehicle with a crane.
! When towing, pull away slowly and
smoothly. If the tractive power is too high,
the vehicles could be damaged.
! Do not tow with sling-type equipment.
This could damage the vehicle.
! When towing vehicles with KEYLESS-GO,
use the key instead of the Start/Stop
button. Otherwise, the automatic
transmission may shift to position P when
the driver's or front-passenger door are
opened, which could lead to damage to the
transmission.
The automatic transmission must be in
position N when the vehicle is being towed.
The battery must be connected and charged.
Otherwise, you:
R cannot turn the SmartKey to position 2 in
the ignition lock
R cannot shift the automatic transmission to
position N
i Before the vehicle is towed, switch off the
automatic locking feature ( Y page 269).
You could otherwise be locked out when
pushing or towing the vehicle.
Installing/removing the towing eye
Installing the towing eye
XRemove the towing eye from the vehicle
tool kit ( Y page 474).GWARNING
The exhaust tail pipe may be hot. You could
burn yourself if you touch the tail pipe. Be
particularly careful when removing the rear
cover.
Towing and tow-starting485Breakdown assistanceZ