S-class Operator's Manual - Mercedes Benz USA

421 Pages·2004·20.52 MB·English

S-class
Operator’s Manual
S 430
S 500
S 55 AMG
S 600
Our company and staff congratulate you on the purchase of your new Mercedes-Benz.
Your selection of our product is a demonstration of your trust in our company name. Further, it exemplifies your desire
to own an automobile that will be as easy as possible to operate and provide years of service.
Your Mercedes-Benz represents the efforts of many skilled engineers and craftsmen. To ensure your pleasure of
ownership, and for your safety and that of your passengers, we ask you to make a small investment of your time:
• Please read this manual carefully before putting it aside. Then return it to your vehicle where it will be handy for
your reference.
• Please abide by the recommendations contained in this manual. They are designed to acquaint you with the
operation of your Mercedes-Benz.
• Please abide by the warnings and cautions contained in this manual. They are designed to help improve the safety
of the vehicle operator and occupants.
We extend our best wishes for many miles of safe, pleasurable driving.
DaimlerChrysler AG
Introduction Opening and Multicontour backrest .....................73
closing windows and Seat heater ........................................75
Product information ..........................7 sliding / pop-up roof Seat ventilation system ...................78
Operator’s manual .............................8 from outside .................................45
Rear seat head restraints ................80
Where to find it ................................13 Panic button .................................47
Power head restraints, rear ............81
Reporting Safety Defects ................15 Mechanical keys ..........................47
Power seats, rear ..............................82
Doors .................................................48
Seat belts and integrated
Instruments and controls
Power closing assist for
restraint system ..........................84
doors and trunk lid ....................50
Instruments and controls ...............18 Seat belts ...........................................84
Central locking switch ....................50
Door control panel .......................20 Seat belt nonusage
Automatic central locking ..............52
warning system ...........................85
Overhead control panel ...............21
Emergency unlocking BabySmartTM airbag
Dashboard .....................................22
in case of accident ......................52 deactivation system ....................91
Center console ..............................24
Trunk .................................................53 Self-test BabySmartTM
Operation Trunk lid release switch ................57 without special child
Trunk lid release/close switch ......58 seat installed .................................91
Vehicle keys ......................................28 Trunk lid emergency release .........61 Supplemental Restraint
Start lock-out ....................................32 Antitheft alarm system ...................62 System (SRS) ...............................92
General notes on the Tow-away alarm ...............................64 Emergency tensioning
central locking system ...............33 Easy-entry/exit feature ..................66 retractor (ETR) .............................93
Central locking system ...................34 Front seat adjustment .....................67 Airbags ..............................................94
Radio frequency and Removal and installation Safety guidelines for the
infrared remote control ...............34 of front seat head restraints .....72 seat belt, emergency
KEYLESS-GO .................................38 Lumbar support ...............................73 tensioning retractor
and airbag ..................................100
Contents 1
Contents 2
Infant and child restraint Malfunction / warning Switching the automatic
systems .......................................102 message memory ......................136 climate control on and off .........175
Steering wheel adjustment ..........105 Individual settings .........................138 Front center console storage
Rear view mirrors ..........................106 Setting the audio volume .............146 compartment ventilation ..........175
Memory function ............................111 Flexible service system Front center console storage
Instrument cluster ..........................114 (FSS) ...........................................147 compartment ventilation ..........175
Multifunction steering wheel, Tire inflation Rear passenger compartment
multifunction display ...............120 pressure monitor .......................150 climate control ..........................177
Trip and main odometer, Engine oil level indicator ..............154 Power windows ...............................181
FSS, tire inflation pressure Engine oil consumption ................155 Sliding/pop-up roof .......................184
monitor and engine oil level Exterior lamp switch ......................156 Interior lighting .............................187
indicator .....................................124 Night security illumination ..........158 Rear window sunshade .................190
Audio systems .............................125 Headlamp cleaning system ...........159 Rear door window sunshade ........191
Radio ............................................125 Combination switch .......................160 Sun visors .......................................191
CD player .....................................126 Hazard warning flasher Vanity mirrors ................................192
Cassette player ...........................127 switch ..........................................163 Interior ............................................193
Telephone ........................................128 Automatic climate control .............164 Storage compartments and
Telephone book ..........................128 Display and controls ..................166 armrests .....................................193
Redialing .....................................130 Basic setting ................................168 Glove box .....................................194
Incoming call ..............................132 Special Settings ..........................169 Cup holder ......................................199
Navigation system ..........................133 Activated charcoal filter ...........172 Ashtrays ..........................................201
Distronic (DTR) ...............................134 Economy mode ...........................173 Lighter .............................................203
Trip computer .................................135 Residual engine heat Parcel net in front
utilization .....................................174 passenger footwell ....................204
Parcel net in trunk ........................204 Automatic transmission ...............233 Brake assist system
Telephone, general ........................205 Parking brake ................................242 (BAS) ...........................................271
Garage door opener .......................206 Driving instructions ......................243 Antilock brake system
Infrared reflecting Drive sensibly – Save Fuel .......243 (ABS) ...........................................272
windshield .................................210 Drinking and driving ................243 Electronic stability program
(ESP) ...........................................274
Pedals ..........................................243
Driving Active body control (ABC) ............278
Power assistance ........................244
Level control system
Control and operation of Brakes ..........................................244
for vehicles
radio transmitters .....................212 Driving off ...................................245
with Airmatic system ...............279
The first 1 000 miles Parking ........................................246
Level control system
(1 500 km) .................................213 Tires .............................................247
for vehicles
Maintenance ...................................213 Snow chains ...............................249 with Active Body Control
Tele Aid ...........................................214 Winter driving instructions .....250 (ABC) ..........................................280
Catalytic converter ........................224 Block heater ................................251 Adaptive damping system
Emission control ............................225 Deep water ..................................252 (ADS) ...........................................283
Starter switch .................................226 Passenger compartment ...........252 Parking assist (Parktronic) ..........285
Starter switch – Traveling abroad ........................252 What you should know
KEYLESS-GO ..............................228 Cruise control ................................253 at the gas station .......................290
Starting and turning off Distronic (DTR) ..............................256 Check regularly and
the engine ..................................231 before a long trip ......................293
Contents 3
Contents 4
Instrument cluster display Malfunction and LIGHTING SYSTEM ....................312
indicator lamp in the LIGHT SENSOR ...........................314
Malfunction and indicator center console ...........................302 ACTIVE BODY CONTROL
lamps in the AIRBAG OFF indicator lamp ....302 (ABC) ............................................314
instrument cluster ....................296
Malfunction and TIRE PRESSURE .........................316
On-board diagnostic system .....296
warning messages in the ENGINE OIL LEVEL ...................318
Check engine malfunction multifunction display ..............303 CRUISE CONTROL .....................319
indicator lamp .............................296
DISPLAY DEFECTIVE ................304
KEY ...............................................319
Brake warning lamp ..................298
BATTERY/ALTERNATOR ..........305
DOOR ...........................................320
Supplemental restraint
ENTRANCE POSITION ..............306
HOOD ...........................................320
system (SRS)
BRAKE ASSIST ...........................306
indicator lamp .............................299 TELE AID .....................................321
BRAKE LINING WEAR ..............307
Fuel reserve warning .................299 OIL TEMP.
BRAKE FLUID ............................307 (engine oil temperature) ...........321
ABS malfunction
indicator lamp .............................300 PARKING BRAKE .......................308 CHIP-CARD (KEYLESS-GO) ......322
Electronic stability TRUNK OPEN .............................308 SELECTOR LEVER ......................323
program (ESP) — ELEC. STABIL. PROG. TELEPHONE – FUNCTION .......323
warning lamp ..............................301 (Electronic stability WASHER FLUID .........................324
program) .....................................309
Distronic (DTR) – AIR SPRING (AirMatic) .............325
warning lamp ..............................301 COOLANT (coolant level) ..........310 DISTRONIC (DTR) ......................326
Seat belt nonusage COOLANT
warning lamp ..............................302 (coolant temperature) ................311
Practical hints Changing wheels ...........................343 Vehicle care
Tire inflation pressure .................348
First aid kit .....................................328 Cleaning and care
Battery .............................................349
Stowing things in the vehicle ......328 of the vehicle .............................374
Jump starting .................................351
Fuses ................................................329 Power washer ..............................375
Towing the vehicle ........................353
Hood .................................................331 Tar stains .....................................376
Exterior lamps ...............................356
Checking engine oil level .............334 Paintwork, painted body
Headlamp assembly ..................357
Automatic transmission components .................................376
Taillamp assemblies ..................360
fluid level ...................................335 Engine cleaning ..........................376
Trunk lamp .....................................362
Active body control Vehicle washing .........................376
Changing batteries in the
(ABC) fluid level ........................335 Ornamental moldings ................377
electronic main key ..................363
Coolant level ...................................336 Headlamps, taillamps,
Synchronizing
Adding coolant ...........................336 turn signal lenses ......................377
remote control ............................365
Windshield and Cleaning the Distronic
Changing batteries in the
headlamp washer system ........337 system sensor .............................378
KEYLESS-GO-card ....................366
Windshield and Cleaning the parktronic
Emergency engine
headlamp washer fluid system sensors ...........................378
shut-down ..................................368
mixing ratio ................................337 Wiper blades ...............................379
Fuel filler flap,
Spare wheel, vehicle tools, Light alloy wheels ......................380
manual release .........................368
storage compartment ................338 Instrument cluster .....................380
Emergency operation of
Vehicle jack .....................................339 sliding/pop-up roof ..................369 Steering wheel and
Wheels .............................................340 gear selector lever ......................380
Replacing wiper blades ................370
Tire Replacement .......................340 Cup holder ...................................380
Roof rack ..........................................371
Rotating wheels ..........................341 Seat belts .....................................381
Spare wheel ....................................341
Contents 5
Contents 6
Headliner and shelf below Technical data Air conditioner refrigerant ...........396
rear window ................................381 Brake fluid ......................................396
Leather upholstery .....................381 Spare parts service .......................384 Premium unleaded gasoline ........397
Hard plastic trim items .............381 Warranty coverage ........................384 Fuel requirements .........................397
Plastic and rubber parts ............381 Identification labels ......................385 Gasoline additives .........................398
Layout of poly-V-belt drive ...........387
Coolants ...........................................398
Technical data ................................388
Consumer information ..................400
Fuels, coolants, lubricants etc. -
capacities ...................................394 Index
Engine oils ......................................396
Engine oil additives ......................396 Index ................................................402
Product information
Kindly observe the following in your own best interest:
We recommend using Mercedes-Benz original parts as well as conversion parts and accessories
explicitly approved by us for your vehicle model.
We have tested these parts to determine their reliability, safety and their special
suitability for Mercedes-Benz vehicles.
We are unable to make an assessment for other products and therefore cannot be held responsible
for them, even if in individual cases an official approval or authorization by governmental or other
agencies should exist. Use of such parts and accessories could adversely affect the safety, performance
or reliability of your vehicle. Please do not use them.
Mercedes-Benz original parts as well as conversion parts and accessories approved by us are available
at your authorized Mercedes-Benz Center where you will receive comprehensive information, also on
permissible technical modifications, and where proper installation will be performed.
Introduction 7