MERCEDES-BENZ S550 4MATIC 2008 W221 Owner's Manual

660 Practical hints
What to do if …?
When the message “Check engine oil level
at next refueling” (S 550) or “Add 1.0 qts.
(Canada:1.0 l) engine oil at next refueling”
(S 600 and S 65 AMG) appears while the
engine is running and at operating temper-
ature, the engine oil level has dropped to
approximately the minimum level.When this occurs, the warning will first
come on intermittently and then stay on if
the oil level drops further.
Visually check for oil leaks. If no obvious oil
leaks are noted, continue to drive to the
nearest service station where the engine
oil should be topped to the required level
with an approved oil specified in the Facto-
ry Approved Service Products pamphlet.For information on approved engine oils,
refer to the Factory Approved Service
Products pamphlet (USA only) or contact
an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Display Possible cause/consequencePossible solution
Add 1.0 qts. engine oil
at next refueling
(USA only)
Add 1.0 l engine oil
at next refueling
(Canada only)S600 and S65AMG only:
The engine oil level is too low.Check the engine oil level (page 543) and
add engine oil as required (
page 546).
If you must add engine oil frequently, have
the engine checked for possible leaks.
Check engine oil level
at next refuelingS550 and S63 AMG only:
The engine oil level has dropped to approx-
imately the minimum level.Check the engine oil level (page 543) and
add engine oil as required (
page 546).
If you must add engine oil frequently, have
the engine checked for possible leaks.
!The engine oil level warnings should not be
ignored. Extended driving with the symbol dis-
played could result in serious engine damage
that is not covered by the Mercedes-Benz Limit-
ed Warranty.

661 Practical hints
What to do if …?
Display Possible cause/consequencePossible solution
Engine oil level
cannot be
measuredS 600 and S 65 AMG only:
The measuring system is malfunctioning.Have the measuring system checked by an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Engine oil level
Reduce oil levelS 600 and S 65 AMG only:
You have added too much engine oil.
There is a risk of damaging:

the engine

the catalytic converter
Have excess oil siphoned or drained off. Con-
tact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.

662 Practical hints
What to do if …?
Display Possible cause/consequencePossible solution
Restraint system
malfunction
Visit workshopThere is a malfunction in the supplemental
restraint systems. The air bags or emergen-
cy tensioning devices (ETDs) could deploy
unexpectedly or fail to activate in an acci-
dent.Drive with added caution to the nearest au-
thorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Malfunction
on front left side
Visit workshopComponents of the driver’s supplemental
restraint system may not work properly.Drive with added caution to the nearest au-
thorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Malfunction
on Front Right side
Visit workshopComponents of the front passenger’s sup-
plemental restraint system may not work
properly.Drive with added caution to the nearest au-
thorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Malfunction
on Rear Left side
Visit workshopComponents of the left rear passenger’s
supplemental restraint system may not
work properly.Drive with added caution to the nearest au-
thorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Warning!G
In the event that a malfunction of the SRS is
indicated as outlined above, the SRS may
not be operational. For your safety, we
strongly recommend that you contact an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center
immediately to have the system checked;
otherwise the SRS may not be deployed
when needed in an accident, which could re-
sult in serious or fatal injury, or it might de-
ploy unexpectedly and unnecessarily which
could result in an accident and/or injury to
you or to others.

663 Practical hints
What to do if …?
Display Possible cause/consequencePossible solution
Malfunction
in Rear Center
Visit workshopComponents of the center rear passenger’s
supplemental restraint system may not
work properly.Drive with added caution to the nearest au-
thorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Malfunction
on Rear Right side
Visit workshopComponents of the right rear passenger’s
supplemental restraint system may not
work properly.Drive with added caution to the nearest au-
thorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Left window curtain
airbag malfunction
Visit workshopThe left side window curtain air bag may not
work properly.Drive with added caution to the nearest au-
thorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Right window curtain
airbag malfunction
Visit workshopThe right side window curtain air bag may
not work properly.Drive with added caution to the nearest au-
thorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Warning!G
In the event that a malfunction of the SRS is
indicated as outlined above, the SRS may
not be operational. For your safety, we
strongly recommend that you contact an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center
immediately to have the system checked;
otherwise the SRS may not be deployed
when needed in an accident, which could re-
sult in serious or fatal injury, or it might de-
ploy unexpectedly and unnecessarily which
could result in an accident and/or injury to
you or to others.

664 Practical hints
What to do if …?
Display Possible cause/consequencePossible solution
Tele Aid
inoperativeOne or more main functions of the Tele Aid
system are malfunctioning.Have the Tele Aid system checked by an au-
thorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Tire pressure
Caution, tire defectVehicles with Advanced TPMS*:
One or more tires are deflating.Carefully bring the vehicle to a halt, avoiding
abrupt steering and braking maneuvers.
Engage the electronic parking brake
(
page 395).
If necessary, change the wheel (page 686).
Caution
Tire defectVehicles with Advanced TPMS*:
One or more tires are deflating. The respec-
tive tire is shown in the multifunction dis-
play.Carefully bring the vehicle to a halt, avoiding
abrupt steering and braking maneuvers.
Engage the electronic parking brake
(
page 395).
If necessary, change the wheel (page 686).
Warning!G
Do not drive with a flat tire. A flat tire affects
the ability to steer or brake the vehicle. You
may lose control of the vehicle. Continued
driving with a flat tire will cause excessive
heat build-up and possibly a fire.

665 Practical hints
What to do if …?
Display Possible cause/consequencePossible solution
Tire pressure
Check tiresVehicles with Advanced TPMS*:
The pressure is too low in one or more tires.Carefully bring the vehicle to a halt, avoiding
abrupt steering and braking maneuvers.
Engage the electronic parking brake
(
page 395).
Check and adjust tire inflation pressure as
required (
page 561).
If necessary, change the wheel (page 686).
Check tiresVehicles with Advanced TPMS*:
The pressure is too low in one or more tires.
The respective tire is shown in the multi-
function display.Carefully bring the vehicle to a halt, avoiding
abrupt steering and braking maneuvers.
Engage the electronic parking brake
(
page 395).
Check and adjust tire inflation pressure as
required (
page 561).
If necessary, change the wheel (page 686).
Warning!G
Do not drive with a flat tire. A flat tire affects
the ability to steer or brake the vehicle. You
may lose control of the vehicle. Continued
driving with a flat tire will cause excessive
heat build-up and possibly a fire.

666 Practical hints
What to do if …?
Display Possible cause/consequencePossible solution
Wheel sensor(s)
missingOne or more sensors malfunction (e.g. bat-
tery in one or more wheel sensor is empty).
One or more wheels without wheel sensors
mounted (e.g. spare tire).
No pressure value is shown on the multi-
function display for the tire in question.Have the Advanced TPMS* checked by an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Have the wheel sensors installed by an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
The tire pressure for the respective tire is
shown in the multifunction display after a few
minutes driving.
Tire pressure
Please rectifyVehicles with Advanced TPMS*:
The pressure is too low in one or more tires.
Or the tire pressures of the individual
wheels differ too radically from one anoth-
er.Check and adjust tire inflation pressure as
required (
page 561).

667 Practical hints
What to do if …?
Display Possible cause/consequencePossible solution
Shift to 'P'You have attempted to turn off the engine
with the KEYLESS-GO* start/stop button
and opened the driver’s door with the auto-
matic transmission not shift to park
positionP.Shift the automatic transmission to park
positionP (
page 399).
or
Close the driver’s door.
You are driving with the trunk open.Close the trunk (page 480).
Washer fluid,
please refillThe water level has dropped to approx.
1.1 US qts (1.0 l).Add washer fluid (page 548).

668 Practical hints
Where will I find ...?
First aid kit
The first aid kit is located in the storage
compartment under the front passenger
seat.
1Tab
2Cover
Pull tab1 upward.
Fold the covering forward in the direc-
tion of arrow.
Remove the first aid kit.
Vehicle jack, vehicle tool kit, luggage
bowl, Minispare wheel
The vehicle jack, Minispare wheel, the ve-
hicle tools, and the luggage bowl are
stored in the compartment underneath the
trunk floor.
Lift up trunk floor cover and engage
trunk floor handle in upper edge of
trunk.
You can now remove the tools and ac-
cessories.The vehicle tool kit includes:

Towing eye bolt

Wheel wrench with socket wrench

Alignment bolt

Pair of gloves

Fuse extractor1


Fuse chart for the main fuse box

Spare fuses1


Collapsible wheel chock

Release tool for mechanically releasing
the electronic parking brake
The spare wheel bolts are fixed at the
Minispare wheel.
!Always keep the storage compartment un-
der the front passenger seat closed while the ve-
hicle is in motion.
iCheck expiration dates and contents for
completeness at least once a year and replace
missing/expired items.
!To prevent damage, always disengage trunk
floor handle from trunk lid and lower trunk floor
before closing the trunk.
1Depending on vehicle production date.

669 Practical hints
Where will I find ...?
Vehicle jack
Storage position
Remove vehicle jack from its
compartment.
Turn crank handle in direction of arrow
as far as it will go.
Operational position
Turn crank handle clockwise.
Before storing the vehicle jack in its
compartment:

It should be fully collapsed.

The handle must be folded in (storage
position).
Warning!G
The jack is designed exclusively for jacking
up the vehicle at the jack take-up brackets
built into both sides of the vehicle. To help
avoid personal injury, use the jack only to lift
the vehicle during a wheel change. Never
get beneath the vehicle while it is supported
by the jack. Keep hands and feet away from
the area under the lifted vehicle. Always
firmly engage the electronic parking brake
and block wheels before raising vehicle with
jack.
Do not disengage electronic parking brake
while the vehicle is raised. Be certain that
the jack is always vertical (plumb line) when
in use, especially on hills. Always try to use
the jack on level surface. Make sure the jack
arm is fully seated in the jack take-up brack-
et. Always lower the vehicle onto sufficient
capacity jackstands before working under
the vehicle.