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