Useful information
i This Operator's Manual describes all
models and all standard and optional equip- ment of your vehicle available at the time of
publication of the Operator's Manual.
Country-specific differences are possible.
Please note that your vehicle may not be
equipped with all features described. This
also applies to safety-related systems and
functions.
i Read the information on qualified special-
ist workshops (Y page 25). Overview of climate control systems
General notes
Observe the settings recommended on the
following pages. The windows could other-
wise fog up.
To prevent the windows from fogging up:
R switch off climate control only briefly
R switch on air-recirculation mode only
briefly
R switch on the cooling with air dehumidifi-
cation function
R switch on the defrost windshield function
briefly, if required
Climate control regulates the temperature
and air humidity in the vehicle interior. The air filter cleans the air, thus improving the inte-
rior climate.
The "Cooling with air dehumidification" func-
tion is only available when the engine is run-
ning. Optimum climate control is only ach-
ieved with the side windows and roof closed.
The residual heat function can only be acti-
vated or deactivated with the ignition
switched off (Y page 139).
i Ventilate the vehicle for a brief period
during warm weather, e.g. using the con-
venience opening feature (Y page 95). This
will speed up the cooling process and the desired interior temperature will be
reached more quickly.
i The integrated filter filters out most par-
ticles of dust and soot and completely fil-
ters out pollen. It also reduces gaseous pol-
lutants and odors. A clogged filter reduces the amount of air supplied to the vehicle
interior. For this reason, you should alwaysobserve the interval for replacing the filter,which is specified in the Maintenance
Booklet. As it depends on environmental
conditions, e.g. heavy air pollution, the
interval may be shorter than stated in the
Maintenance Booklet.
i It is possible that the blower may be acti-
vated automatically 60 minutes after the
SmartKey has been removed depending on various factors, e.g. the outside tempera-
ture. The vehicle is then ventilated for
30 minutes to dry the climate control sys-
tem. 132
Overview of climate control systemsClimate control
!
If DISTRONIC PLUS or the HOLD function
is activated, the vehicle brakes automati-
cally in certain situations. To prevent dam-
age to the vehicle, deactivate DISTRONIC
PLUS and the HOLD function in the follow-
ing or other similar situations:
R when towing the vehicle
R in the car wash
If you fail to adapt your driving style,
DISTRONIC PLUS can neither reduce the risk
of accident nor override the laws of physics.
DISTRONIC PLUS cannot take into account
the road, traffic and weather conditions.
DISTRONIC PLUS is only an aid. You are
responsible for the distance to the vehicle in
front, for vehicle speed, for braking in good
time and for staying in your lane.
Do not use DISTRONIC PLUS:
R in road and traffic conditions which do not
allow you to maintain a constant speed e.g.
in heavy traffic or on winding roads
R on slippery road surfaces. Braking or accel-
erating could cause the drive wheels to lose traction and the vehicle could then skid
R when there is poor visibility, e.g. due to fog,
heavy rain or snow
DISTRONIC PLUS may not detect narrow
vehicles driving in front, e.g. motorcycles, or
vehicles driving on a different line.
In particular, the detection of obstacles can
be impaired if:
R there is dirt on the sensors or anything else
covering the sensors
R there is snow or heavy rain
R there is interference by other radar sources
R there are strong radar reflections, for
example, in parking garages
If DISTRONIC PLUS no longer detects a vehi- cle in front, DISTRONIC PLUS may unexpect-
edly accelerate the vehicle to the stored
speed. This speed may:
R be too high if you are driving in a filter lane
or an exit lane
R be so high in the right lane that you pass
vehicles driving on the left (left-hand drive
countries)
R be so high in the left lane that you pass
vehicles driving on the right (right-hand
drive countries)
If there is a change of drivers, advise the new driver of the speed stored.
Cruise control lever 0043
To activate or increase speed
0044 To activate or reduce speed
0087 To deactivate DISTRONIC PLUS
0085 To activate at the current speed/last
stored speed
0083 To set the specified minimum distance
Activating DISTRONIC PLUS Activation conditions
In order to activate DISTRONIC PLUS, the fol-
lowing conditions must be fulfilled:
R the engine must be started. It may take up
to two minutes after pulling away before
DISTRONIC PLUS is operational.
R the electric parking brake must be
released.
R ESP ®
must be active, but not intervening.
R Active Parking Assist must not be activa-
ted.
R the transmission must be in position D. Driving systems
179Driving and parking Z
Head-up display
General notes The head-up display projects information
from the navigation system and the driver
assistance system above the dashboard into
the driver's field of vision.
A requirement for the display of the contents
is that the following functions are available in the vehicle and are switched on:
R Cruise control
R DISTRONIC PLUS
R Navigation
The head-up display allows the driver to see
all of the information without having to take
his eyes off the road.
Important safety notes The head-up display is only an aid and is not a
substitute for attentive driving.
The visibility of the head-up display is influ-
enced by the following conditions:
R the driver's seat position
R the positioning of the display image
R the general ambient light
R sunglasses with polarization filters
R Wet roads
R blocking of sunlight by objects on the dis-
play cover
In the event of extreme sunlight, sections of
the display may fade. This can be reversed by
switching the head-up display off and on
again.
i Vehicles with the head-up display are
equipped with a special windshield. Should repairs be necessary, have the windshield
replaced at a qualified specialist workshop. Displays and operation Switching the head-up display on or off
X
Press button 0043.
When the head-up display is switched on,
the display appears in the driver's field of
vision.
AMG vehicles: press button 0043to change
from Standard on the AMG display and then press button 0043to turn off the head-up dis-
play. Displays and operation
229On-board computer and displays Z
the ASSYST PLUS service interval display
after the service work has been carried out.
You can also obtain further information on
maintenance work, for example.
Special service requirements The specified maintenance interval takes only
the normal operation of the vehicle into
account. Under arduous operating conditions
or increased load on the vehicle, mainte-
nance work must be carried out more fre-
quently, for example:
R regular city driving with frequent intermedi-
ate stops
R if the vehicle is primarily used to travel
short distances
R use in mountainous terrain or on poor road
surfaces
R if the engine is often left idling for long peri-
ods
Under these or similar conditions, have, for
example, the air filter, engine oil and oil filter
replaced or changed more frequently. Under
arduous operating conditions, the tires must
be checked more often. Further information
can be obtained at a qualified specialist work- shop, e.g. an authorized Mercedes-Benz Cen-ter.
Driving abroad An extensive Mercedes-Benz Service network
is also available in other countries. You can
obtain further information from any author-
ized Mercedes-Benz Center. Care
General notes
H
Environmental note
Dispose of empty packaging and cleaning
cloths in an environmentally responsible man-
ner. !
For cleaning your vehicle, do not use any
of the following:
R dry, rough or hard cloths
R abrasive cleaning agents
R solvents
R cleaning agents containing solvents
Do not scrub.
Do not touch the surfaces or protective
films with hard objects, e.g. a ring or ice
scraper. You could otherwise scratch or
damage the surfaces and protective film.
! Do not park the vehicle for an extended
period straight after cleaning it, particularly after having cleaned the wheels with wheel
cleaner. Wheel cleaners could cause
increased corrosion of the brake discs and
brake pads/linings. For this reason, you
should drive for a few minutes after clean-
ing. Braking heats the brake discs and the
brake pads/linings, thus drying them. The
vehicle can then be parked.
Regular care of your vehicle is a condition for
retaining the quality in the long term.
Use care products and cleaning agents rec-
ommended and approved by Mercedes-Benz. Washing the vehicle and cleaning the
paintwork
Automatic car wash G
WARNING
Braking efficiency is reduced after washing
the vehicle. There is a risk of an accident.
After the vehicle has been washed, brake
carefully while paying attention to the traffic
conditions until full braking power is restored. Care
325Maintenance and care Z
engine oils and oil filters that are approved for
vehicles with maintenance systems.
For a list of approved engine oils and oil filters,
consult an authorized Mercedes-Benz Cen-
ter. Or visit the website
http://bevo.mercedes-benz.com.
The table shows which engine oils have been
approved for your vehicle. Model Engine
model MB
Approval S 550 4MATIC
278 229.5
S 63 AMG
4MATIC
157 229.5
S 65 AMG
279 229.5
i
MB approval is indicated on the oil con-
tainers.
Filling capacities The following values refer to an oil change
including the oil filter.
Model Capacity
S 63 AMG 4MATIC
9.0 US qt (8.5
l) S 65 AMG
11.1 US qt (10.5
l) All ot
her models 8.5 US qt (8.0
l) Ad
ditives !
Do not use any additives in the engine oil.
This could damage the engine. Engine oil viscosity Viscosity describes the flow characteristics
of a fluid. If an engine oil has a high viscosity, this means that it is thick; a low viscosity
means that it is thin.
Select an engine oil with an SAE classification
(viscosity) suitable for the prevailing outside
temperatures. The table shows you which
SAE classifications are to be used. The low-
temperature characteristics of engine oils
can deteriorate significantly, e.g. as a result
of aging, soot and fuel deposits. It is therefore strongly recommended that you carry out reg-
ular oil changes using an approved engine oil with the appropriate SAE classification. Brake fluid
G
WARNING
The brake fluid constantly absorbs moisture
from the air. This lowers the boiling point of
the brake fluid. If the boiling point of the brake fluid is too low, vapor pockets may form in the brake system when the brakes are applied
hard. This would impair braking efficiency.
There is a risk of an accident.
You should have the brake fluid renewed at
the specified intervals.
Comply with the important safety notes for
service products when handling brake fluid
(Y page 391).
The brake fluid change intervals can be found
in the Maintenance Booklet. 394
Service products and filling capacitiesTechnical data