MERCEDES-BENZ S-Class 2011 W221 Owner's Manual

Risk of explosionFire, naked flames and
smoking are prohibited
when handling the battery.
Avoid creating sparks.
Battery acid is caustic.
Avoid contact with the skin,
eyes or clothing.
Wear suitable protective
clothing, in particular
gloves, an apron and a face
mask.
Immediately rinse acid
splashes off with clean
water. Consult a doctor if
necessary.
Wear eye protection.Keep children away.Observe this Operator's
Manual.
HEnvironmental note
Do not dispose of batteries in the household
rubbish. Dispose of defective batteries in an
environmentally responsible manner. Take
them to an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center
or to a special collection point for old
batteries.
GWarning
Failure to follow these instructions can result
in severe injury or death.
Never lean over batteries while connecting.
You might get injured.
Battery fluid contains sulfuric acid. Do not
allow this fluid to come in contact with eyes,
skin or clothing. In case it does, immediately
flush affected area with water and seek
medical help if necessary.
A battery will also produce hydrogen gas,
which is flammable and explosive. Keep
flames or sparks away from battery, avoid
improper connection of jumper cables,
smoking etc.
GWarning
Do not place any metal objects on the battery
as this could result in a short circuit.
Use leak-proof batteries only to avoid the risk
of acid burns in the event of an accident.
Take care that you do not become statically
charged, e.g. by wearing synthetic clothing or
rubbing against textiles. For this reason, you
also should not pull or push the battery over
carpets or other synthetic materials.
Never touch the battery first. First, touch the
outside body of the vehicle in order to release
any possible electrostatic charges.
Do not rub the battery with rags or cloths. The
battery could explode if touched due to
electrostatic charge or due to spark
formation.
! Switch off the engine and remove the key
before disconnecting the terminal clamps
from the battery. On vehicles with
KEYLESS-GO, make sure that the ignition is
switched off. Check that all the indicator
lamps in the instrument cluster are off. You
may otherwise destroy electronic
components, such as the alternator.
! Like other batteries, the vehicle battery
may discharge over time if you do not use
the vehicle. In this case, have the battery
disconnected at a qualified specialist
workshop, e.g. an authorized Mercedes-
Benz Center. You can also charge the
battery with a charger recommended by
Mercedes-Benz. Contact an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center for further
information.
Battery469Roadside assistanceZ

The battery, breather hose and cover of the
positive terminal clamp must be installed
securely during operation.
i Remove the key if you park the vehicle
and do not require any electrical
consumers. The vehicle will then use very
little energy, thus conserving battery
power.
Mercedes-Benz recommends that you do not
carry out work on batteries yourself, e.g.
removing, charging or replacing. Always have
this work performed at a qualified specialist
workshop, e.g. an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.
Charging the battery
GWarning
Never charge a battery while still installed in
the vehicle unless the accessory battery
charge unit approved by Mercedes-Benz is
being used. Gases may escape during
charging and cause explosions that may
result in paint damage, corrosion or personal
injury.
An accessory battery charge unit specially
adapted for Mercedes-Benz vehicles and
tested and approved by Mercedes-Benz is
available. It permits the charging of the
battery in its installed position. Contact an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center for
information and availability.
Charge the battery in accordance with the
separate instructions for the accessory
battery charger.
GWarning
There is a risk of acid burns during the
charging process due to the gases which
escape from the battery. Do not lean over the
battery during the charging process.
GWarning
Battery acid is caustic. Avoid contact with the
skin, eyes or clothing.
! Only charge the installed battery with a
battery charger which has been tested and
approved by Mercedes-Benz. These battery
chargers allow the battery to be charged
while still installed.
! Only use battery chargers with a
maximum charging voltage of 14.8 V.
! Only charge the battery using the jump-
starting connection point.
The jump-starting connection point is in the
engine compartment ( Y page 471).XOpen the hood ( Y page 446).XConnect the battery charger to the positive
terminal and earth point in the same order
as when connecting the donor battery in
the jump-starting procedure
( Y page 471).XRead the battery charger's operating
instructions before charging the battery.470BatteryRoadside assistance

Jump-startingGWarning
Failure to follow these directions will cause damage to the electronic components, and can lead
to a battery explosion and severe injury or death.
Never lean over batteries while connecting or jump starting. You might get injured.
Battery fluid contains sulfuric acid. Do not allow this fluid to come in contact with eyes, skin or
clothing. In case it does, immediately flush affected area with water, and seek medical help if
necessary.
A battery will also produce hydrogen gas, which is flammable and explosive. Keep flames or
sparks away from battery, avoid improper connection of jumper cables, smoking, etc.
Attempting to jump start a frozen battery can result in it exploding, causing personal injury.
Read all instructions before proceeding.
GWarning
Hybrid vehicles: ensure that you read the "HYBRID" supplement. You may otherwise fail to
recognize dangers.
! Avoid repeated and lengthy starting attempts. Otherwise, non-combusted fuel may
damage the catalytic converter 33
and create a risk of fire.
Do not use a rapid-charging device to start the engine.
Make sure the jumper cables are not damaged.
Make sure the jumper cables are not touching any other metal objects when they are
connected to the battery.
If your vehicle's battery is discharged, the engine can be jump-started from another vehicle
or from a second battery using jumper cables.
Observe the following points:
XThe battery is not accessible in all vehicles. If the other vehicle's battery is not accessible,
jump-start the vehicle using a second battery or a jump-starting device.XOnly jump-start the vehicle when the engine and catalytic converter are cold. 34XDo not start the engine if the battery is frozen. Let the battery thaw first.XJump-starting may only be performed from batteries with a nominal voltage of 12 V.
If you jump-start using a battery with higher voltage, it may damage the electrical systems
of the vehicle.XOnly use jumper cables that have a sufficient cross-section and insulated terminal clamps.XMake sure that the jumper cables cannot come into contact with parts, such as the pulley
or the fan. These parts move when the engine is started and while it is running.XIf the battery is fully discharged, leave the battery that is being used to jump-start connected
for a few minutes before attempting to start. This charges the empty battery a little.
i Jumper cables and further information about jump-starting can be obtained from any
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
33 Only vehicles with a gasoline engine.
34 Only vehicles with a gasoline engine.Jump-starting471Roadside assistanceZ

XMake sure that the two vehicles do not touch.XSecure the vehicle by applying the electric parking brake.XShift the transmission to position P.XSwitch off all electrical consumers (e.g. radio, blower, etc.).XOpen the hood (Y page 446).
Position number A identifies the charged battery of the other vehicle or an equivalent jump-
starting device.
! Never swap the terminal connections.
XRemove the cover from positive terminal :.XConnect positive terminal : on your vehicle to positive terminal ; of donor battery A
using the jumper cable, beginning with your own battery.
XStart the engine of the donor vehicle and run it at idling speed.XConnect negative terminal = of donor battery A to earth point ? of your vehicle using
the jumper cable, connecting the jumper cable to donor battery A first.
XStart the engine.XFirst, remove the jumper cable from earth point ? and negative terminal =, then from
positive terminal : and positive terminal ;, each time disconnecting from the battery on
your own vehicle first.
XHave the battery checked at a qualified specialist workshop, e.g. an authorized Mercedes-
Benz Center.
472Jump-startingRoadside assistance

Towing and tow-starting
Important safety notes
GWarning
Hybrid vehicles: ensure that you read the
"HYBRID" supplement. You may otherwise fail
to recognize dangers.
GWarning
If you tow the vehicle, you must use a rigid
towing bar if:
R the engine will not run.
R there is a malfunction in the brake system.
R there is a malfunction in the power supply
or the vehicle's electrical system.
With the engine not running, there is no power
assistance for the brake and steering
systems. You will then need considerably
more force to steer and to brake and the
brake pedal travel will be longer. If necessary,
depress the brake pedal with maximum force.
Before towing away, make sure that the
steering can be moved and is not locked.
If you tow or tow-start another vehicle, its
weight must not exceed the maximum
permissible gross vehicle weight of your
vehicle.
GWarning
The vehicle is braked when the HOLD function
or DISTRONIC PLUS is activated. Therefore,
deactivate HOLD and DISTRONIC PLUS if the
vehicle is to be towed.
It is better to have the vehicle transported
than to have it towed.
! You may only tow the vehicle a maximum
distance of 30 miles (50 km). A towing
speed of 30 mph (50 km/h) must not be
exceeded.
For towing distances over 30 miles
(50 km), the vehicle must loaded onto a
transporter.
! Make sure that the electric parking brake
is released. If the electric parking brake is
faulty, visit a qualified specialist workshop.
Mercedes-Benz recommends that you use
an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center for
this purpose.
! Only secure the tow rope or tow bar at the
towing eyes. Otherwise, the vehicle could
be damaged.
! Do not use the towing eye for recovery,
as this could damage the vehicle. If in
doubt, recover the vehicle with a crane.
! Drive slowly and smoothly when towing.
Excessive tractive power could otherwise
damage the vehicles.
! Do not tow with sling-type equipment.
This could damage the vehicle.
! When towing vehicles with KEYLESS-GO,
use the key instead of the Start/Stop
button. Otherwise, the automatic
transmission may shift to position P when
the driver's or front-passenger door are
opened, which could lead to damage to the
transmission.
! Vehicles with automatic transmission
must not be started by tow-starting. This
could otherwise damage the transmission.
! Vehicles with 4MATIC must not be towed
with the front or rear axle raised. This could
otherwise damage the transmission.
The automatic transmission must be in
position N when the vehicle is being towed.
Make sure that the battery is connected and
charged. You will otherwise not be able to:
R turn the SmartKey to position 2 in the
ignition lock.
R shift the automatic transmission to
position N.
i Switch off the automatic locking feature
before the vehicle is towed ( Y page 261).
Otherwise, you could lock yourself out of
the vehicle when pushing or towing the
vehicle.Towing and tow-starting473Roadside assistanceZ

Installing/removing the towing eye
Installing the towing eye
XRemove the towing eye from the vehicle
tool kit (Y page 462).
GWarning
The exhaust tail pipe may be hot. You could
burn yourself if you touch the tail pipe. Be
particularly careful when removing the rear
cover.
The mountings for the removable towing eyes
are located in the bumpers. They are at the
front and at the rear, under the covers.
XPress the mark on cover : inwards, in the
direction of the arrow.
XTake cover : off the opening.XScrew the towing eye in clockwise to the
stop and tighten it.
Removing the towing eye
XLoosen the towing eye and unscrew it.XAttach cover : to the bumper and press
until it engages.
XPlace the towing eye in the vehicle tool kit.Towing the vehicle with the rear axle
raised
Only possible for vehicles without
4MATIC.
When having your vehicle towed with the rear
axle raised, observe the important safety
notes (Y page 473).
! The ignition must be switched off if you
are towing the vehicle with the rear axle
raised. Intervention by ESP® could
otherwise damage the brake system.
XSwitch on the hazard warning flashers
(Y page 276).
XTurn the SmartKey to position 0 in the
ignition lock and remove the SmartKey.
XWhen leaving the vehicle, take the
SmartKey or the KEYLESS-GO key with you.
Towing vehicles with both axles on
the ground
When having your vehicle towed, observe the
important safety notes (Y page 473).
GWarning
With the engine not running, there is no power
assistance for the brake and steering
systems. In this case, it is important to keep
in mind that a considerably higher degree of
effort is necessary to brake and steer the
vehicle. Adapt your driving accordingly.
The automatic transmission automatically
shifts to position P when you open the driver's
or front-passenger door or when you remove
the SmartKey from the ignition lock. In order
to ensure that the automatic transmission
stays in position N when towing, do the
following:
XMake sure that the vehicle is stationary and
that the SmartKey is in position 0 in the
ignition lock.
XTurn the SmartKey to position 2 in the
ignition lock.
474Towing and tow-startingRoadside assistance

On vehicles with KEYLESS-GO, use the
SmartKey instead of the Start/Stop button
( Y page 299).XDepress and hold the brake pedal.XShift the automatic transmission to
position N.XRelease the brake pedal.XRelease the electric parking brake.XSwitch on the hazard warning flashers
( Y page 276).XLeave the SmartKey inserted in the ignition
lock in position 2.
i
When towing with the hazard warning
flashers switched on, use the combination
switch as usual to signal in which direction
you are changing. In this case, only the
indicator lamps for the direction of travel
flash. When you reset the combination
switch, the hazard warning flashers start
flashing again.
Transporting the vehicle
The towing eye can be used to pull the vehicle
onto a trailer or transporter for transporting
purposes.
XTurn the SmartKey to position 2 in the
ignition lock.XShift the automatic transmission to
position N.
As soon as the vehicle has been loaded:
XPrevent the vehicle from rolling away by
applying the electric parking brake.XShift the automatic transmission to
position P.XTurn the SmartKey to position 0 in the
ignition lock and remove the SmartKey.XSecure the vehicle.
! Only lash the vehicle down by the wheels
or wheel rims, not by parts of the vehicle
such as axle or steering components.
Otherwise, the vehicle could be damaged.
Fuses
Important safety notes
The fuses in your vehicle serve to close down
faulty circuits. If a fuse blows, all the
components on the circuit and their functions
will fail.
GWarning
Only use fuses approved by Mercedes-Benz
with the specified amperage for the system in
question and do not attempt to repair or
bridge a blown fuse. Using other than
approved fuses or using repaired or bridged
fuses may cause an overload leading to a fire,
and/or cause damage to electrical
components and/or systems. Have the cause
determined and remedied by an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
Blown fuses must be replaced with fuses of
the same rating, which you can recognize by
the color and value. The fuse ratings are listed
in the fuse allocation chart. An authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center will be happy to
advise you.
i If a fuse has blown, visit a breakdown
service or an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.
If the newly inserted fuse also blows, have the
cause traced and rectified at a qualified
specialist workshop, e.g. an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
! Only use fuses that have been approved
for Mercedes-Benz vehicles and which
have the correct fuse rating for the system
concerned. Otherwise, components or
systems could be damaged.
Before changing a fuse
XPark the vehicle and apply the electric
parking brake.XSwitch off all electrical consumers.XRemove the key from the ignition lock.Fuses475Roadside assistanceZ

The fuses are located in various fuse boxes:
Rfuse box on the right and left-hand sides of
the dashboard
Rfuse box in the rear
Rfuse box in the engine compartment on the
left-hand side of the vehicle, when viewed
in the direction of travel
Rfuse box in the engine compartment on the
right-hand side of the vehicle, when viewed
in the direction of travel
The fuse allocation chart is in the vehicle
document wallet.
Dashboard fuse box
There is a fuse box located on both the
driver's side and the front-passenger side.
! Do not use a pointed object such as a
screwdriver to open the cover in the
dashboard. You could damage the
dashboard or the cover.
Driver's side illustrated
XTo open: pull cover : outwards in the
direction of the arrow and remove it.
XTo close: clip in cover : on the front of
the dashboard.
XFold cover : inwards until it engages.
Fuse box in the rear compartment
The fuse box is behind the armrest in the rear.
XTo open: fold down the armrest.XPull handle : on the trim behind the rear
seat armrest up in the direction of the
arrow.
XFold down trim ;.XLoosen cover ? with a suitable object =.XRemove cover ? upwards in the direction
of the arrow.
! The cover must be seated properly,
otherwise moisture or dirt could impair the
function of the fuses.
Fuse box in the engine compartment
Fuse box on the left-hand side of the
vehicle
XOpen the hood (Y page 446).476FusesRoadside assistance

XRemove any existing moisture from the
fuse box using a dry cloth.
XAMG vehicles: remove the control unit
above the fuse box.
X To open: loosen screws : with an Allen
key.
XRemove bracket =.XRemove cover ;.XTo close: check whether the rubber seal is
lying correctly in cover ;.
XReplace cover ;.XReplace bracket =.XTighten screws : with an Allen key.
! The cover must be seated properly,
otherwise moisture or dirt could impair the
function of the fuses.
XClose the hood (Y page 447).
Fuse box on the right-hand side of the
vehicle
XOpen the hood (Y page 446).XRemove any existing moisture from the
fuse box using a dry cloth.
XTo open: open clamps ;.XRemove cover ; upwards.XTo close: check whether the rubber seal is
lying correctly in cover ;.
XReplace cover ;.XFold down cover : and close clamps ;.
! The cover must be seated properly,
otherwise moisture or dirt could impair the
function of the fuses.
XClose the hood (Y page 447).
Engine emergency off
If the engine cannot be switched off as
described, observe the following procedure:
XTake the fuse allocation chart out of the
vehicle document wallet.
XSearch for “Emergency engine shutdown”
in the fuse allocation chart.
XRemove the fuses listed under "Emergency
engine shutdown".
Fuses477Roadside assistanceZ

478