2016 MERCEDES-BENZ S-Class SEDAN maintenance

Useful information
i
This Operator's Manual describes all models
and all standard and optional equipment of
your vehicle available at the time of publica-
tion of the Operator's Manual. Country-spe-
cific 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.
iRead the information on qualified specialist
workshops (Ypage 28).
Overview of climate control systems
General notes
Observe the settings recommended on the fol-
lowing pages. The windows could otherwise fog
up.
To prevent the windows from fogging up:
Rswitch off climate control only briefly
Rswitch on air-recirculation mode only briefly
Rswitch on the cooling with air dehumidifica-
tion function
Rswitch 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 interior cli-
mate.
For vehicles with a combustion engine, the
"Cooling with air dehumidification" function is
only available when the engine is running. For
hybrid vehicles, the "Cooling with air dehumidi-
fication" function is also available via the elec-
tric refrigerant compressor when the engine is
not running. Optimum climate control is only
achieved with the side windows and roof closed.
If you start the engine using your smartphone,
the last selected climate control setting is reac-
tivated (
Ypage 164).
The residual heat function can only be activated
or deactivated with the ignition switched off
(
Ypage 152).
iVentilate the vehicle for a brief period during
warm weather, e.g. using the convenience
opening feature (
Ypage 95). This will speed
up the cooling process and the desired inte- rior temperature will be reached more
quickly.
iThe integrated filter filters out most parti-
cles of dust and soot and completely filters
out pollen. It also reduces gaseous pollutants
and odors. A clogged filter reduces the
amount of air supplied to the vehicle interior.
For this reason, you should always observe
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 Book- let.
iIt is possible that the blower may be activa-
ted automatically 60 minutes after the Smart-
Key has been removed depending on various
factors, e.g. the outside temperature. The
vehicle is then ventilated for 30 minutes to dry
the climate control system.
140Overview of climate control systems
Climate control

previously selected climate control setting is
activated. In this way you can cool or heat the
interior of the vehicle before starting the jour-
ney.
Only start the engine via your smartphone if it is
safe to start and run the engine where your vehi-
cle is parked.
Observe the legal stipulations in the area where
your vehicle is parked. Engine start via smart-
phone may be limited to certain countries or
regions.
You can execute a maximum of two consecutive
starting attempts via your smartphone. If you
insert the SmartKey into the ignition lock, you
can carry out two more starting attempts.
Once you have started the engine, you can
switch the engine off via your smartphone at any
time.
You can only start the engine via your smart-
phone if:
Rthe SmartKey is in the ignition lock
Rpark positionPis selected
Rthe accelerator pedal is not depressed
Rthe anti-theft alarm system is not activated
Rthe panic alarm is not activated
Rthe hazard warning lamps are switched off
Rthe hood is closed.
Rthe doors are closed and locked
Rthe windows and sliding sunroof are closed
Also make sure that:
Rthe fuel tank is sufficiently filled
Rthe starter battery is sufficiently charged
GWARNING
Limbs could be crushed or trapped if the
engine is started unintentionally during ser-
vice or maintenance work. There is a risk of
injury.
Always secure the engine against uninten-
tional starting before carrying out mainte-
nance or repair work.
Make sure that the engine cannot be started via
your smartphone before carrying out mainte-
nance or repairs. You can prevent an engine
start via your smartphone, for example, if you:
Rswitch on the hazard warning lamps
Rdo not lock the doors
Ropen the hood
Pulling away
General notes
GWARNING
If the engine speed is above the idling speed
and you engage transmission position Dor R,
the vehicle could pull away suddenly. There is
a risk of an accident.
When engaging transmission position Dor R,
always firmly depress the brake pedal and do not simultaneously accelerate.
Depress the accelerator carefully when pulling
away.
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 (
Ypage 87).
It is only possible to shift the transmission from
position Pto the desired position if you depress
the brake pedal. Only then is the parking lock
released.
If you do not depress the brake pedal, the
DIRECT SELECT lever can still be moved but the
parking lock remains engaged.
iUpshifts take place at higher engine speeds
after a cold start. This helps the catalytic con-
verter to reach its operating temperature
more quickly.
Information on the automatic release of the
electric parking brake (
Ypage 191).
Hill start assist
Hill start assist helps you when pulling away for-
wards 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 to
depress it before the vehicle begins to roll.
GWARNING
After a short time, hill start assist will no lon-
ger brake your vehicle and it could roll away.
There is a risk of an accident and injury.
Driving165
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:
Rhigh and low outside temperatures
Roperating the climate control system
Rswitching 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:
Ra reduction in battery performance
Rlonger 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:
Rcheck the condition of charge of the high-
voltage battery more often
Rconnect 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
(Ypage 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:
RNever lift or carry the controls by the charging
cable connector or the mains plug.
RTo 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"
(Ypage 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:
Rthe power supply and the charging cable are
not damaged
Rthe 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.
182Charging the high-voltage battery (PLUG-IN HYBRID vehicles)
Driving and parking

Rthe seat belt has been fastened
Ryou depress the accelerator pedal
If the automatic transmission is in position R,
the trunk lid must be closed.
If your seat belt is not fastened, the following
conditions must be fulfilled to automatically
release the electric parking brake:
Rthe driver's door is closed.
Ryou have shifted out of transmission position
P or you have previously driven faster than
2 mph (3 km/h).
Ensure that you do not depress the accelerator
pedal unintentionally. Otherwise the parking
brake will be released and the vehicle will start
to move.
Emergency braking
The vehicle can also be braked during an emer-
gency by using the electric parking brake.
XWhile driving, push handle :of the electric
parking brake (Ypage 190).
The vehicle is braked as long as you keep
handle :of the electric parking brake
pressed. The longer electric parking brake
handle :is depressed, the greater the brak-
ing force.
During braking:
Ra warning tone sounds
Rthe Please Release Parking Brakemes-
sage appears
Rthe red F(USA only) or !(Canada
only) indicator lamp in the instrument cluster flashes
When the vehicle has been braked to a stand-
still, the electric parking brake is engaged.
Parking the vehicle for a long period
If you leave the vehicle parked for longer than
four weeks, the battery may be damaged by
exhaustive discharging.
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.
PLUG-IN HYBRID vehicles: observe the impor-
tant safety notes for the high-voltage battery
(
Ypage 374).
Driving tips
General driving tips
Important safety notes
GWARNING
If you switch off the ignition while driving,
safety-relevant functions are only available
with limitations, or not at all. This could affect, for example, the power steering and the brake
boosting effect. You will require considerably
more effort to steer and brake. There is a risk
of an accident.
Do not switch off the ignition while driving.
GWARNING
If you operate mobile communication equip-
ment while driving, you will be distracted from traffic conditions. You could also lose control
of the vehicle. There is a risk of an accident.
Only operate this equipment when the vehicle
is stationary.
Observe the legal requirements for the country
in which you are driving. Some jurisdictions pro-
hibit the driver from using a mobile phone while
driving a vehicle.
If you make a call while driving, always use
hands-free mode. Only operate the telephone
when the traffic situation permits. If you are
unsure, pull over to a safe location and stop
before operating the telephone.
Bear in mind that at a speed of only 30 mph
(approximately 50 km/h), the vehicle covers a
distance of 44 ft (approximately 14 m)per sec-
ond.
Drive sensibly – save fuel
Observe the following tips to save fuel:
XThe tires should always be inflated to the rec-
ommended 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 Main-
192Driving tips
Driving and parking

tenance Booklet or by the service interval dis-
play.
Fuel consumption also increases when driving in cold weather, in stop-start traffic and in hilly ter-
rain.
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 judg-
ment.
The possibility of a serious or even fatal acci-
dent is 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 tak-
ing drugs.
Emission control
GWARNING
Combustion engines emit poisonous exhaust
gases such as carbon monoxide. Inhaling
these exhaust gases leads to poisoning. There
is a risk of fatal injury. Therefore never leave
the engine running in enclosed spaces with-
out sufficient ventilation.
Certain engine systems are designed to keep
the level of poisonous components in exhaust
fumes within legal limits.
These systems only work at peak efficiency if
they are serviced exactly in accordance with the
manufacturer's specifications. Always have
work on the engine carried out at a qualified
specialist workshop . Mercedes-Benz recom-
mends that you use an authorized Mercedes-
Benz Center for this purpose. In particular, work
relevant to safety or on safety-related systems
must be carried out at a qualified specialist
workshop.
The engine settings must not be changed under any circumstances. Furthermore, all specific
service work must be carried out at regular
intervals and in accordance with the Mercedes-
Benz service requirements. Details can be found in the Maintenance Booklet.
ECO display
The ECO display provides feedback on how eco-
nomical your driving characteristics are. The
ECO display assists you in achieving the most
economical driving style for the selected set-
tings and prevailing conditions. Your driving
style can significantly influence the vehicle's
consumption.
The ECO display consists of three bars:
RAccel.
RConstant
RCoasting
The percent value is the average value of the
three bars. The three bars and the mean value
begin at the value of 50%. A higher percentage
indicates a more economical driving style.
The ECO display does not indicate the actual fuelconsumption. A fixed percentage count in the
ECO display does not indicate a fixed consump-
tion.
Apart from driving style, consumption is
dependent on many factors such as, e.g.:
Rload
Rtire pressure
Rcold start
Rchoice of route
Relectrical consumers switched on
These factors are not included in the ECO dis-
play.
The evaluation of your driving style is carried out
using the following three categories:
Driving tips193
Driving an d parking
Z

Limited braking performance on salt-
treated roads
If you drive on salted roads, a layer of salt resi-
due may form on the brake discs and brake
pads. This can result in a significantly longer
braking distance.
RIn order to prevent any salt build-up, apply the
brakes occasionally while paying attention to the traffic conditions.
RCarefully depress the brake pedal and the
beginning and end of a journey.
RMaintain a greater distance to the vehicle
ahead.
Servicing the brakes
!The brake fluid level may be too low, if:
Rif the red brake warning lamp lights up in
the instrument cluster and
Ryou hear a warning tone while the engine is
running
Observe additional warning messages in the
multifunction display.
The brake fluid level may be too low due to
brake pad wear or leaking brake lines.
Have the brake system checked immediately.
Consult a qualified specialist workshop to
arrange this.
!Vehicles with 4MATIC: function or per-
formance tests may only be carried out on a 2-
axle dynamometer. If you wish to operate the
vehicle on such a dynamometer, please con-
sult a qualified specialist workshop in
advance. You could otherwise damage the
drive train or the brake system.
!Vehicles with 4MATIC: the ESP®system
operates automatically. The engine and the
ignition must therefore be switched off (the
SmartKey must be in position 0or 1in the
ignition lock or the Start/Stop button must be
in position 0or 1) if the electric parking brake
is tested on a brake dynamometer.
Braking triggered automatically by ESP
®may
cause severe damage to the brake system.
!Vehicles without 4MATIC: the ESP®sys-
tem operates automatically. The engine and
the ignition must therefore be switched off
(the SmartKey must be in position 0or 1in the
ignition lock or the Start/Stop button must be
in position 0or 1) if:
Rthe electric parking brake is tested using a
brake dynamometer.
Rthe vehicle is towed with one axle raised.
Braking triggered automatically by ESP®may
cause severe damage to the brake system.
All checks and maintenance work on the brake
system must be carried out at a qualified spe-
cialist workshop.
Have brake pads installed and brake fluid
replaced at a qualified specialist workshop.
If the brake system has only been subject to
moderate loads, you should test the functional-
ity of your brakes at regular intervals.
Information on BAS (Brake Assist) (
Ypage 69)
and BAS PLUS (Brake Assist PLUS) (Ypage 69).
For safety reasons, Mercedes-Benz recom-
mends only installing the following brake disks
and brake pads/linings:
Rbrake disks that have been approved by
Mercedes-Benz
Rbrake pads/linings that have been approved
by Mercedes-Benz or that are of an equivalent
standard of quality
Other brake disks or brake pads/linings can
compromise the safety of your vehicle.
Always replace all brake disks and brake pads/
linings on an axle at the same time. Always
install new brake pads/linings when replacing
brake disks.
The vehicle is equipped with lightweight brake
disks to which the wheel assembly with rim and
threaded connection is matched.
The use of brake disks other than those
approved by Mercedes-Benz can change the
track width and is subject to approval, if appli-
cable.
Shoc
k-type loads when handling the brake
discs, such as when changing wheels, can lead
to a reduction in comfort when driving with light-
weight brake discs. Avoid shock-type loads on
the lightweight brake disks, particularly on the
brake plate.
Mercedes-Benz recommends that you only use
brake fluid that has been specially approved for
your vehicle by Mercedes-Benz, or which corre-
Driving tips195
Driving and parking
Z

XTo open:pull handle :on the cover.
XFold the cover out to the front.
XTo switch cooling level to low: press but-
ton ;once.
An indicator lamp in the button lights up.
XTo switch cooling level to high: press but-
ton ;twice.
Both indicator lamps in the button light up.
XTo switch off cooling: press button;
repeatedly until the indicator lamps go out.
The cooling output of the coolbox depends on
the ambient temperature and the selected cool-
ing level.
The coolbox reduces its cooling output or
switches off, if:
Rmany electrical consumers are turned on
Rthe starter battery is not sufficiently charged
This is indicated by the flashing indicator lamps
in the button. The cooling function will automat- ically switch back on as soon as there is suffi-
cient voltage.
Caring for the coolbox
If you do not need to use the coolbox for an
extended period you should switch it off, defrost
it and clean it. After doing so, leave the lid open
for a time.
Removing and installing the coolbox
You can remove the coolbox for maintenance
purposes.
XTo remove: switch off the coolbox.
XPull plug;down and out.
XUnscrew both screws =.
XPull out the coolbox.
XClose flap:.
XTo install: swing flap:to the side until it is
locked in place by the magnets.
XInsert the coolbox.
XTighten both screws =.
XConnect plug;.
mbrace
General notes
The mbrace system is only available in the USA.
You must have a license agreement to activate
the mbrace service. Make sure that your system
is activated and operational. To log in, press the
ï MB Info call button. If any of the steps
mentioned are not carried out, the system may
not be activated.
If you have questions about the activation, con-
tact one of the following telephone hotlines:
Mercedes-Benz Customer Assistance Center at
1-800-FOR-MERCedes (1-800-367-6372) or
1-866-990-9007
Shortly after successfully registering with the
mbrace service, a user ID and password will be
sent to you by mail. You can use this password
to log onto the mbrace area under "Owners
Online" at http://www.mbusa.com .
340Features
Stowagean d features

Useful information
i
This Operator's Manual describes all models
and all standard and optional equipment of
your vehicle available at the time of publica-
tion of the Operator's Manual. Country-spe-
cific 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.
iRead the information on qualified specialist
workshops (Ypage 28).
Engine compartment
Hood
Important safety notes
GWARNING
If the hood is unlatched, it may open up when the vehicle is in motion and block your view.
There is a risk of an accident.
Never unlatch the hood while driving. Before
every trip, ensure that the hood is locked.
GWARNING
When opening and closing the hood, it may
suddenly fall into the closed position. There is a risk of injury to persons within range of
movement of the hood.
Open and close the hood only when no one is
within its range of movement.
GWARNING
Opening the hood when the engine is over-
heated or when there is a fire in the engine
compartment could expose you to hot gases
or other service products. There is a risk of
injury.
Let an overheated engine cool down before
opening the hood. If there is a fire in the
engine compartment, keep the hood closed
and contact the fire department.
GWARNING
The engine compartment contains moving
components. Certain components, such as
the radiator fan, may continue to run or start
again suddenly when the ignition is off. There is a risk of injury.
If you need to do any work inside the engine
compartment:
Rswitch off the ignition
Rnever reach into the area where there is a
risk of danger from moving components,
such as the fan rotation area
Rremove jewelry and watches
Rkeep items of clothing and hair, for exam-
ple, away from moving parts
GWARNING
The ignition system and the fuel injection sys-
tem work under high voltage. If you touch
components which are under voltage, you
could get an electric shock. There is a risk of
injury.
Never touch components of the ignition sys-
tem or fuel injection system when the ignition
is switched on.
Opening the hood
GWARNING
Certain components in the engine compart-
ment, such as the engine, radiator and parts
of the exhaust system, can become very hot.
Working in the engine compartment poses a
risk of injury.
Where possible, let the engine cool down and touch only the components described in the
following.
GWARNING
When the hood is open and the windshield
wipers are set in motion, you can be injured by
the wiper linkage. There is a risk of injury.
Always switch off the windshield wipers and
the ignition before opening the hood.
352Engine compartment
Maintenance and care