2016 MERCEDES-BENZ S CLASS Owners Manual

All vehicles (except Mercedes-AMG vehi-
cles: )M and the selected gear appear in the
multifunction display.
Further information on activating manual drive
program M on PLUG-IN HYBRID vehicles
( Y
page 250).
Shifting gears If you pull on the left or right steering wheel
paddle shifter, the automatic transmission
switches to manual drive program M for a limi-
ted amount of time. Depending on which paddle
shifter is pulled, the automatic transmission
immediately shifts into the next gear down or
up, if permitted. X
To shift up: pull the right-hand steering wheel
paddle shifter ( Y
page 174).
The automatic transmission shifts up to the
next gear.
If the maximum engine speed on the currently
engaged gear is reached and you continue to
accelerate, the automatic transmission auto-
matically shifts up in order to prevent engine
damage.
Mercedes-AMG vehicles: the automatic
transmission will not shift up to the next gear
when the engine speed is very low. X
To shift down: pull on the left-hand steering
wheel paddle shifter ( Y
page 174).
The automatic transmission shifts down to
the next gear.
If the engine exceeds the maximum engine
speed when shifting down, the automatic
transmission protects against engine damage
by not shifting down.
Automatic down shifting occurs when coast-
ing.
Shift recommendation The gearshift recommendations assist you in
adopting an economical driving style. The rec-
ommended gear is shown in the multifunction
display. X
Shift to recommended gear D according to
gearshift recommendation C when shown in
the multifunction display of the instrument
cluster.
Deactivating If you have activated manual drive program M , it
will remain active for a certain amount of time.
Under certain conditions the minimum amount
of time is extended, e.g. in the case of lateral
acceleration, during an overrun phase or when
driving on steep terrain.
If manual drive program M has been deactiva-
ted, the automatic transmission shifts into the
automatic drive program that was last selected.
You can also deactivate manual drive program
M yourself: X
Pull on the right-hand steering wheel paddle
shifter and hold it in place ( Y
page 174).
or X
Use the DIRECT SELECT lever to switch the
transmission position.
or X
Use the program selector button to change
the drive program ( Y
page 173).
Manual drive program M is deactivated. The
automatic transmission switches to the pre-
viously activated drive program E (drive pro-
gram C on Mercedes-AMG vehicles) or S .
Manual drive program (Mercedes-
AMG vehicles)
General information In this drive program, you can permanently
change gear yourself by using the steering
wheel paddle shifters. The transmission must be
in position D .
Manual drive program M is different from drive
program S with regard to spontaneity, respon-
siveness and smoothness of gear changes.
As well as this permanent drive program M , you
can also activate temporary drive program
M ( Y
page 174).Automatic transmission 175
Driving and parking Z

Switching on the manual drive program In manual drive program M , you can change gear
using the steering wheel paddle shifters if the
transmission is in position D . You can see the
currently selected drive program and which gear
is engaged in the multifunction display. X
Press the program selector button
( Y
page 173) repeatedly until M appears in
the multifunction display.
Upshifting
! In manual drive program M , the automatic
transmission does not shift up automatically
even when the engine limiting speed for the
current gear is reached. When the engine lim-
iting speed is reached, the fuel supply is cut to
prevent the engine from overrevving. Always
make sure that the engine speed does not
reach the red area of the tachometer. There is
otherwise a risk of engine damage.
C
Gear indicatorD
Upshift indicator
Before the engine speed reaches the red area,
an upshift indicator will be shown in the multi-
function display. X
When message D appears in the multifunc-
tion display, pull on the right-hand steering
wheel paddle shifter.
Downshifting X
Pull the left-hand steering wheel paddle
shifter ( Y
page 174).
The automatic transmission shifts down to
the next gear if this is permissible. Maximum acceleration X
Pull the left-hand steering wheel paddle
shifter until the transmission selects the opti-
mum gear according to the speed.
If you slow down or stop without shifting down,
the automatic transmission automatically shifts
down.
Switching off the manual drive program X
Press the program selector button
( Y
page 173) repeatedly until C or S appears
in the multifunction display.176
Automatic transmission
Driving and parking

Problems with the transmission Problem
Possible causes/consequences and P Solutions
The transmission has
problems shifting gear. The transmission is losing oil. X
Have the transmission checked at a qualified specialist workshop
immediately.
The acceleration ability
is deteriorating.
The transmission no lon-
ger changes gear. The transmission is in emergency mode.
7G-TRONIC: it is only possible to shift into second gear and reverse
gear.
9G-TRONIC: it is only partly possible to engage the gears or the trans-
mission is in position N .X
Stop the vehicle. X
Shift the transmission to position P .X
Switch off the engine. X
Wait at least ten seconds before restarting the engine. X
Shift the transmission to position D or R .
7G-TRONIC: If D is selected, the transmission shifts into second
gear, if R is selected, the transmission shifts into reverse gear. X
Have the transmission checked at a qualified specialist workshop
immediately.
Problems with PLUG-IN HYBRID operation ( Y
page 254).
Transfer case This section is only valid for vehicles with 4-
wheel drive (4MATIC). Power is always trans-
mitted to both axles.
! Performance tests may only be carried out
on a 2-axle dynamometer. The brake system
or transfer case could otherwise be damaged.
Contact a qualified specialist workshop for a
performance test.
! Since ESP ®
engages automatically, the igni-
tion must be switched off (the SmartKey or
Start/Stop button must be in position 0 or 1 )
if: R
the electric parking brake is being tested
on a brake dynamometer R
the vehicle is being towed with only one
axle raised (not permitted for vehicles with
4MATIC).
The brake system could otherwise be dam-
aged. ! Vehicles with 4MATIC must not be towed
with either the front or the rear axle raised, as
doing so will damage the transmission.
Refueling
Important safety notes
G WARNING
Fuel is highly flammable. If you handle fuel
incorrectly, there is a risk of fire and explo-
sion.
You must avoid fire, open flames, creating
sparks and smoking. Switch off the engine
and, if applicable, the auxiliary heating before
refueling.
G WARNING
Fuel is poisonous and hazardous to health.
There is a risk of injury.
You must make sure that fuel does not come
into contact with your skin, eyes or clothing Refueling 177
Driving and parking Z

and that it is not swallowed. Do not inhale fuel
vapors. Keep fuel away from children.
If you or others come into contact with fuel,
observe the following: R
Wash away fuel from skin immediately
using soap and water. R
If fuel comes into contact with your eyes,
immediately rinse them thoroughly with
clean water. Seek medical assistance with-
out delay. R
If fuel is swallowed, seek medical assis-
tance without delay. Do not induce vomit-
ing. R
Immediately change out of clothing which
has come into contact with fuel.
G WARNING
Electrostatic buildup can create sparks and
ignite fuel vapors. There is a risk of fire and
explosion.
Always touch the vehicle body before opening
the fuel filler flap or touching the fuel pump
nozzle. Any existing electrostatic buildup is
thereby discharged.
Do not get into the vehicle again during the refu-
eling process. Otherwise, electrostatic charge
could build up again.
! Do not use diesel to refuel vehicles with a
gasoline engine. Do not switch on the ignition
if you accidentally refuel with the wrong fuel.
Otherwise, the fuel will enter the fuel system.
Even small amounts of the wrong fuel could
result in damage to the fuel system and the
engine. 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 sys-
tem could be blocked by particles from the
fuel can. If you overfill the fuel tank, fuel could spray out
when the fuel pump nozzle is removed.
For further information on fuel and fuel quality
( Y
page 428).
Refueling
General information Pay attention to the important safety notes
( Y
page 177).
PLUG-IN HYBRID vehicles: pressure in the fuel
tank must be released before refueling.
Except PLUG-IN HYBRID vehicles: if you
unlock/lock the vehicle from the outside, the
fuel filler flap also unlocks/locks.
The position of the fuel filler cap is displayed in
the instrument cluster

X
Press the fuel filler flap in the direction of
arrow C .
The fuel filler flap swings up. X
Turn the fuel filler cap counterclockwise and
remove it. X
Insert the fuel filler cap into the holder on the
inside of the fuel filler flap. X
Completely insert the filler neck of the fuel
pump nozzle into the tank, hook in place and
refuel. X
Only fill the tank until the pump nozzle
switches off.
Do not add any more fuel after the pump stops
filling for the first time. Otherwise, fuel may
leak out.
Opening the fuel filler flap (PLUG-IN
HYBRID vehicles)
X
Pull switch C .
Indicator lamp D flashes and the Please
Wait Depressurizing Tank message
appears in the multifunction display.
If the fuel filler cap is open, indicator lamp D
lights up.
The Tank is Depressurized Ready for
Refueling message appears in the multi-
function display.
Please be sure to observe the information on
refueling on the fuel filler flap.
There is a malfunction if: R
indicator lamp D first flashes and then goes
out R
the yellow engine diagnostics warning lamp
lights up
i From a speed of 2 km/h, the fuel filler cap
can no longer be opened. i The opening process for the fuel filler cap
may take up to 15 minutes.
C
To insert the fuel filler cap D
Tire pressure table

Problems with fuel and the fuel tank Problem
Possible causes/consequences and P Solutions
Fuel is leaking from the
vehicle.
G WARNING
The fuel line or the fuel tank is faulty.
Risk of explosion or fire. X
Apply the electric parking brake. X
Switch off the engine. X
Make sure that the ignition is switched off ( Y
page 162).
or X
When using the SmartKey, turn the SmartKey to position 0 in the
ignition lock and remove it ( Y
page 162).X
Do not restart the engine under any circumstances. X
Consult a qualified specialist workshop.
The fuel filler flap cannot
be opened. The fuel filler flap is not unlocked. X
Unlock the vehicle ( Y
page 79).X
PLUG-IN HYBRID Vehicles: depressurize the fuel tank
( Y
page 178).
The SmartKey battery is discharged or nearly discharged. X
Unlock the vehicle using the mechanical key ( Y
page 81).
The fuel filler flap is unlocked, but the opening mechanism is jammed. X
Consult a qualified specialist workshop.
Charging the high-voltage battery
(PLUG-IN HYBRID vehicles)
Important safety notes
G DANGER
The vehicle's high-voltage electrical system is
under high voltage. If you modify components
in the vehicle's high-voltage electrical system
or touch damaged components, you may be
electrocuted. The components in the vehi-
cle's high-voltage electrical system may be
damaged in an accident, although the damage
is not visible. There is a risk of fatal injury.
Following an accident, do not touch any high-
voltage components and never modify the
vehicle's high-voltage electrical system. Have
the vehicle towed away after an accident and
the vehicle's high-voltage electrical system
checked by a qualified specialist workshop. G WARNING
In the event of a vehicle fire, the internal pres-
sure of the high-voltage battery can exceed a
critical value. In this case flammable gas
escapes through a ventilation valve on the
underbody. The gas can ignite. There is a risk
of injury.
Leave the danger zone immediately. Secure
the danger area at a suitable distance, whilst
observing legal requirements.
G DANGER
If you use incorrectly installed mains sockets
or adapters, extension cables or similar to
connect the charging cable to a mains socket,
this could lead to fires or an electric shock.
There is a risk of fatal injury.180
Charging the high-voltage battery (PLUG-IN HYBRID vehicles)
Driving and parking

To avoid hazardous situations, observe the
following: R
Only connect the charging cable to mains
sockets that: -
are installed correctly and -
have been approved by an electrical spe-
cialist. R
For safety reasons, only use the charging
cables supplied with the vehicle, or charg-
ing cables which have been approved for
use with this vehicle. R
Never use a damaged charging cable. R
Do not use:-
Extension cables -
Cable drums -
Multiple sockets R
Do not use a socket adapter to connect the
charging cable to the mains socket. The
only exception is if the adapter has been
tested and approved by the manufacturer
for charging the high-voltage battery in an
electric vehicle. R
Always observe the safety notes in the
socket adapter's operating instructions.
G DANGER
Connecting the charging cable to the vehicle
via an incorrectly installed wallbox or by
means of adapters, extension cables or simi-
lar could cause a fire or an electric shock.
There is a risk of fatal injury.
To avoid hazardous situations, observe the
following: R
Only connect the charging cable to a wall-
box if: -
the wallbox is installed correctly -
the wallbox has been inspected by a
qualified electrician and -
the charging cable is undamaged R
Do not extend the charging cable R
Do not use an adapter R
Always observe the safety notes in the wall-
box's operating instructions The vehicle's high voltage electrical system is
under high voltage. R
Do not tamper with the high-voltage compo-
nents or the orange cables of the high-voltage
electrical system. R
Do not touch high-voltage components or the
orange cables of the high-voltage electrical
system when a vehicle has been involved in a
crash. R
Never touch damaged components or the
damaged orange cables of the high-voltage
electrical system. R
Do not remove the covers of the high-voltage
electrical system components that are
marked with a warning sticker.
General notes
Method of operation The vehicle is equipped with a high-voltage bat-
tery for driving. The high-voltage battery stores
the energy needed to operate the electric motor
and releases it again.
The electric motor uses energy that has been
stored in the high-voltage battery when pulling
away, accelerating and during the journey.
In overrun mode, kinetic energy is converted by
means of energy recuperation into electrical
energy and stored in the high-voltage battery.
Information on overrun mode ( Y
page 253).
The high-voltage battery can be charged as fol-
lows: R
through energy recuperation while the vehicle
is in motion R
through the combustion engine while driving
in CHARGE operating mode ( Y
page 243)R
with the relevant charging cable at an electri-
cal outlet while the vehicle is stationary R
at a wallbox while the vehicle is stationary R
at a charging station while the vehicle is sta-
tionary
The high-voltage battery can be charged in a
nominal voltage range from 100 V to 240 V.
You can view the condition of charge of the high-
voltage battery in the multifunction display. You
can find information in "PLUG-IN HYBRID oper-
ation", section "Menus and submenus" under
"Energy flow display" ( Y
page 245).Charging the high-voltage battery (PLUG-IN HYBRID vehicles) 181
Driving and parking Z

High and low outside temperatures Low outside temperatures
At very low outside temperatures the maximum
power output of the high-voltage battery may be
reduced. The high-voltage battery is then no
longer able to provide the normal electrical
power output.
High outside temperatures
To prevent damage to the high-voltage battery
due to very high outside temperatures, the max-
imum power output of the high-voltage battery
is reduced by the vehicle.
Energy consumption and electrical
range The maximum electrical range is generally
reduced by: R
high and low outside temperatures R
operating the climate control system R
switching on consumers
The battery's physical characteristics are such
that leaving the vehicle parked for long periods
at low outdoor temperatures without charging it
can lead to: R
a reduction in battery performance R
longer charge times
Notes on battery care Avoid storing or transporting the vehicle at
excessively high or low temperatures over a long
period.
If you park the vehicle and leave it stationary for
long periods: R
check the condition of charge of the high-
voltage battery more often R
connect the vehicle to a power supply
This prevents self-discharge and damage to the
high-voltage battery.
Terms of use
Please note the information on exceptions and
limitations in warranty documentation and in
the Maintenance Booklet. Handling the charging cable and charg-
ing cable controls Do not leave the charging cable controls
( Y
page 183) hanging loose from an electrical
outlet. Otherwise, this could result in a poor
contact with the electrical outlet and malfunc-
tions when charging the vehicle.
To ensure that the brackets within the charging
cable controls are not subjected to incorrect
loads, observe the following: R
Never lift or carry the controls by the charging
cable connector or the mains plug. R
To transport the charging cable, the charging
cable can be: -
wrapped around the controls or -
secured to the housing of the controls
Heat generated by the charging cable
and charging cable connector Pay attention to the "Important safety notes"
( Y
page 180).
During the charging process, the charging cable
and charging cable connector may heat up.
The charging cable and the charging cable con-
nector will only heat up within the permissible
limiting values, provided that: R
the power supply and the charging cable are
not damaged R
the instructions for handling the charging
cable and controls on the charging cable are
observed
If the charging cable or charging cable connec-
tor become too hot, have the mains power sup-
ply checked.
Protection device against overvoltage
! Overvoltage in the mains supply may dam-
age the vehicle. For this reason, the vehicle is
equipped with a protection device against
overvoltage in the mains supply. This device
may be triggered during severe thunder-
storms, for example, and may lead to the buil-
ding's fuse being tripped and an interruption
in the power supply. These functions protect
the vehicle. After the building fuse is switched
on again, the charging process resumes auto-
matically. Following an interruption in the
power supply or tripping of the building's fuse,
it may take up to 10 minutes for charging to
resume automatically.182
Charging the high-voltage battery (PLUG-IN HYBRID vehicles)
Driving and parking