engine MERCEDES-BENZ S-Class 2012 W221 Owner's Manual

Towing and tow-starting
Important safety notes
GWARNING
Hybrid vehicles: be sure to read the "HYBRID"
supplement. Otherwise, you could fail to
recognize dangers.
GWARNING
If you tow the vehicle, you must use a rigid
towing bar if:
R the engine is not running.
R there is a brake system malfunction.
R there is a malfunction in the power supply
or the vehicle's electrical system.
The power assistance for the steering and the
brake force booster do not work when the
engine is not running. You will need more
force to steer and brake, you may have to
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.
! 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.
! When towing, pull away slowly and
smoothly. If the tractive power is too high,
the vehicles could be damaged.
! 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.
The automatic transmission must be in
position N when the vehicle is being towed.
The battery must be connected and charged.
Otherwise, you:
R cannot turn the SmartKey to position 2 in
the ignition lock
R cannot shift the automatic transmission to
position N
i Before the vehicle is towed, switch off the
automatic locking feature ( Y page 264).
You could otherwise be locked out when
pushing or towing the vehicle.
Installing/removing the towing eye
Installing the towing eye
XRemove the towing eye from the vehicle
tool kit ( Y page 472).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.
Towing and tow-starting483Breakdown assistanceZ

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 on vehicles without
4MATIC.
When towing your vehicle with the rear axle
raised, it is important that you observe the
safety instructions ( Y page 483).
! 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 lamps
( Y page 279).XTurn the SmartKey to position 0 in the
ignition lock and remove the SmartKey
from the ignition lock.XWhen leaving the vehicle, take the
SmartKey or the KEYLESS-GO key with you.
Towing a vehicle with both axles on
the ground
When having your vehicle towed, observe the
important safety notes ( Y page 483).
GWARNING
The power assistance for the steering and the
brake force booster do not work when the
engine is not running. You will then need
much more effort to brake and steer the
vehicle. Adapt your style of 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 the vehicle,
you must observe the following points:
XMake sure that the vehicle is stationary and
the SmartKey in the ignition lock is in
position 0.XTurn the SmartKey to position 2 in the
ignition lock.
On vehicles with KEYLESS-GO, use the key
instead of the Start/Stop button
( Y page 303).XDepress and hold the brake pedal.XShift the automatic transmission to
position N.XRelease the brake pedal.XRelease the electric parking brake.XLeave the SmartKey in position 2 in the
ignition lock.484Towing and tow-startingBreakdown assistance

Before changing a fuseXPark the vehicle and apply the electric
parking brake.XSwitch off all electrical consumers.XRemove the SmartKey from the ignition
lock.
The fuses are located in various fuse boxes:
R fuse box on the right and left-hand sides of
the dashboard
R fuse box in the rear
R fuse box in the engine compartment on the
left-hand side of the vehicle, when viewed
in the direction of travel
R fuse 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
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.
486FusesBreakdown assistance

Fuse box in the engine compartment
Fuse box on the left in the direction of
travelXOpen the hood ( Y page 456).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: undo screws : with an Allen
key.XRemove bracket =.XRemove cover ;.XTo close: check whether the rubber seal is
lying correctly in cover ;.XPut cover ; back in position.XReplace bracket =.XTighten screws : using 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 457).
Fuse box on the right in the direction of
travel
XOpen the hood ( Y page 456).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 ;.XPut cover ; back in position.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 457).
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".Fuses487Breakdown assistanceZ

Useful information
i This Operator's Manual describes all
models and all standard and optional
equipment of your vehicle available at the
time of publication of the Operator's
Manual. Country-specific 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.
i Please read the information on qualified
specialist workshops ( Y page 31).
Notes on technical data
i The data stated here specifically refers to
a vehicle with standard equipment. Consult
an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center for
the data for all vehicle variants and trim
levels.
Genuine Mercedes-Benz parts
All Mercedes-Benz Centers maintain a supply
of genuine Mercedes-Benz parts for
necessary service and repair work. In
addition, strategically located parts delivery
centers provide for quick and reliable parts
service.
There are more than 300,000 different
genuine Mercedes-Benz parts available for
Mercedes-Benz models.
Genuine Mercedes-Benz parts are subject to
strict quality control. Each part has been
specially developed, manufactured or
selected for Mercedes-Benz vehicles and
fine-tuned for them.
Therefore, only genuine Mercedes-Benz parts
should be used.
GWARNING
Driving safety may be impaired if non-
approved parts, tires and wheels or safety-
relevant accessories are used.
This could lead to malfunctions in safety-
relevant systems, e.g. the brake system. This
could cause you to lose control of your vehicle
and cause an accident.
For this reason, Mercedes-Benz recommends
that you use genuine Mercedes-Benz parts or
parts of equal quality. Only use tires, wheels
and accessories that have been specifically
approved for your vehicle.
! Air bags and Emergency Tensioning
Devices, as well as control units and
sensors for these restraint systems may be
installed in the following areas of your
vehicle:
R doors
R door pillars
R door sills
R seats
R dashboard
R instrument cluster
R center console
Do not install accessories such as audio
systems in these areas. Do not carry out
repairs or welding. You could impair the
operating efficiency of the restraint
systems.
Have aftermarket accessories installed at
a qualified specialist workshop. Mercedes-
Benz recommends that you use an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center for this
purpose.
HEnvironmental note
Daimler AG also supplies reconditioned major
assemblies and parts which are of the same
quality as new parts. They are covered by the
same Limited Warranty entitlements as new
parts.
Always specify the vehicle identification
number (VIN) ( Y page 521) and the engine
520Genuine Mercedes-Benz partsTechnical data

iThe data shown on the identification plate
is example data. This data is different for
every vehicle and can deviate from the data
shown here. You can find the data
applicable to your vehicle on the vehicle's
identification plate.
Vehicle identification number (VIN)
The vehicle identification number (VIN) can
be found in the following locations:
R on the vehicle identification plate
( Y page 521)
R at the lower edge of the windshield
( Y page 522)
In addition to being stamped on the vehicle
identification plate, the vehicle identification
number (VIN) is also stamped onto the vehicle
body. It is under the trim behind the rear seat
armrest.
XFold down the rear seat armrest.XOpen the trim.
You will see vehicle identification number
(VIN) :.Engine number:Emission control information plate,
including the certification of both federal
and Californian emissions standards;Engine number (stamped into the
crankcase)=VIN (on the lower edge of the windshield)
Service products and capacities
Important safety notes
Service products include the following:
R fuels (e.g. gasoline, diesel)
R additives for exhaust gas aftertreatment
(DEF)
R lubricants (e.g. engine oil, transmission oil)
R coolant
R brake fluid
R windshield washer fluid
Vehicle components and their respective
lubricants must match. You should therefore
only use products that have been tested and
approved by Mercedes-Benz.
Information on tested and approved products
can be obtained at a Mercedes-Benz Center
or on the Internet at http://
www.mbusa.com (USA only).
GWARNING
Comply with all valid regulations with respect
to handling, storing and disposing of service
fluids. Otherwise, you could endanger
persons or the environment.
522Service products and capacitiesTechnical data

CapacitiesModelCapacityFuel, coolant,
lubricants, etc.Engine oil and
filterS 550 34
S 550 4MATIC 34
S 63 AMG9.0 US qt (8.5 l)Approved engine
oilsS 600
S 65 AMG9.5 US qt (9.0 l)S 350 BlueTEC
4MATIC8.5 US qt (8.0 l)Cooling systemS 550 34
S 550 4MATIC 34Approximately 14.5 US qt
(13.7 l)MB 325.0 or
MB 326.0
anticorrosion/
antifreezeS 600Approximately 15.3 US qt
(14.5 l)S 63 AMGApproximately 12.2 US qt
(11.5 l)S 65 AMGApproximately 14.7 US qt
(13.9 l)S 350 BlueTEC
4MATICApproximately 12.0 US qt
(11.4 l)Tank capacityS 550 34
S 550 4MATIC 34
S 350 BlueTEC
4MATIC21.9 US gal (83.0 l)Gasoline engines:
premium-grade
unleaded gasoline
(at least 91 octane,
average value
between 96 RON/
86 MON)
Diesel engines:
ULTRA-LOW
SULFUR HIGHWAY
DIESEL FUEL (ULSD,
maximum sulfur
content 15 ppm)S 600
S 63 AMG
S 65 AMG23.8 US gal (90.0 l)ReserveAll models except
AMG vehicles2.9 US gal (11.0 l)AMG vehicles3.7 US gal (14.0 l)34 BlueEFFICIENCY.524Service products and capacitiesTechnical data

ModelCapacityFuel, coolant,
lubricants, etc.DEF tankS 350 BlueTEC
4MATIC6.6 US gal (25.0 l)DEF in accordance
with ISO 22241Windshield/
headlamp
cleaning
systemAll models6.9 US qt (6.5 l)MB windshield
washer
concentrate 35
( Y page 529)
Mixing ratio for
washer fluid
( Y page 529)Fuel
Important safety notesGWARNING
Gasoline and diesel fuels are highly flammable
and poisonous. They burn violently and can
cause serious injury.
Never allow sparks, flames or smoking
materials near gasoline or diesel fuel!
Turn off the engine before refueling.
Whenever you are around gasoline or diesel
fuel, avoid inhaling fumes and any skin or
clothing contact. Extinguish all smoking
materials.
Direct skin contact with fuels and the
inhalation of fuel vapors are damaging your
health.
Premium-grade unleaded gasoline
! To ensure the longevity and full
performance of the engine, only premium-
grade unleaded gasoline may be used.
If there is no premium-grade unleaded
gasoline available and regular-grade
unleaded gasoline may be used; please
observe the following precautions:
R only fill the fuel tank to half full with
regular-grade unleaded gasoline and fill
the rest with premium-grade unleaded
gasoline as soon as possible.
R do not drive at the maximum speed.
R avoid sudden acceleration.
R if the vehicle is carrying a light load, e.g.
two passengers without luggage, do not
allow the engine to rev above
3,000 rpm.
R if the vehicle is fully loaded or is being
operated in mountainous terrain, do not
depress the accelerator pedal further
than Ô of the pedal travel.
Fuel requirements
Gasoline engines
Use only premium-grade unleaded gasoline.
The octane number should be at least 91.
Details can be found on the gas pump. The
octane number is the average value of the
Research Octane Number (RON) and the
Motor Octane Number (MON): (RON +
MON) / 2, also known as knock resistance.
Reformulated Gasoline (RFG) and/or
unleaded gasoline with additives can be used
if the concentration of the additives in the fuel
does not exceed 10%, e.g.:
R Ethanol
R TAME
R ETBE
35Mixed with water or premixed washer fluid with antifreeze protection.Service products and capacities525Technical dataZ

RIPA
R TBA
For MTBE, the concentration should not
exceed 15%.
The concentration of methanol in gasoline
including other additives must not exceed 3%.
Using mixtures of methanol and ethanol is not
permitted. Gasohol, a mixture of 10% ethanol
and 90% unleaded gasoline, can be used.
All of these mix fuels must fulfill the fuel
requirements, e.g.:
R knock resistance
R boiling point
R vapor pressure
Diesel engines – important safety notes
! Only use commercially available ULTRA-
LOW SULFUR DIESEL FUEL (ULSD, 15 ppm
MAXIMUM SULFUR) that meets the
ASTM D975 standard. Failure to use
ULTRA-LOW SULFUR DIESEL FUEL (ULSD)
can severely damage the vehicle's exhaust
gas aftertreatment system.
! Do not fill the tank with gasoline. Do not
blend diesel fuel with gasoline or kerosene.
Otherwise, the fuel system and the engine
could be damaged.
To prevent malfunctions, diesel fuel with
improved flow characteristics is available in
the winter months. Check with your gas
station.
Information on the fuel grade can usually be
found on the gas pump. If the information
cannot be found on the gas pump, ask the gas
station personnel. For further information,
consult an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center
or go to the Internet site
http://www.mbusa.com (USA only).
Diesel engines – fuels containing
biodiesel (FAME [fatty acid methyl ester])
Mercedes-Benz USA approves the use of B5
(ULSD with a maximum of up to five percent
by volume biodiesel) for all diesel engineswith common rail direct injection (CDI) and
BlueTEC.
Pure biodiesel and diesel fuels that have a
higher percentage of biodiesel, e.g. B20, can
damage the fuel system and the engine and
are therefore not approved.
For further information, please ask the gas
station personnel. The label on the gas pump
must indicate clearly that the B5 biodiesel
blend fulfills the ULSD standard. If the label
is not clear, do not refuel the vehicle.
Do not refuel your vehicle with fuels unless
they have been approved by Mercedes-Benz.
Additives in gasoline
One of the main problems of poor fuel quality
is the forming of deposits that are caused
during the gasoline combustion process.
Mercedes-Benz recommends that you use
fuel brands that have the additives.
If you use fuels without these additives for an
extended period of time, there may be a
buildup of carbon deposits, especially on the
inlet valves and in the combustion chamber.
This could lead to engine problems, e.g.:
R longer engine warm-up phase
R uneven idle
R engine noise
R misfiring
R loss of power
Carbon deposits may form if the availability
of gasoline with relevant additives is
insufficient (in certain regions). In this case,
Mercedes-Benz recommends the use of
additives that have been approved for
Mercedes-Benz vehicles.
Consult an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center
or go to the Internet site
http://www.mbusa.com (USA only) for a list
of approved products. Observe the
instructions for use on the product label.
Do not mix other fuel additives with fuel. This
causes unnecessary costs and could damage
the engine.
526Service products and capacitiesTechnical data

! Do not refuel with low-grade fuel and do
not use fuel additives that are not tested
and approved for Mercedes-Benz vehicles.
Damage to or malfunctions of the fuel
system may otherwise occur.
DEF
Important safety notes
i For BlueTEC vehicles only.
DEF is a non-flammable, non-toxic, colorless,
odorless and water-soluble fluid.
! Rinse surfaces that have come into
contact with DEF immediately with water or
remove DEF using a damp cloth and cold
water. If the DEF has already crystallized,
use a sponge and cold water to clean it. DEF
residues crystallize after time and
contaminate the affected surfaces.
High outside temperatures
If DEF heats up to over 122 ‡ (50 †) for
extended periods, e.g. as a result of direct
sunlight on the DEF reservoir, DEF can
decompose. Ammonia vapors develop as a
result.
GWARNING
When opening the filler cap of the DEF tank
ammonia gas vapors may escape. Refill DEF
in a well ventilated area only. Ammonia gas
vapors have a pungent odor and are
particularly irritating for your skin, mucous
membranes, and eyes. Inhaling ammonia gas
vapors will cause burning eyes, nose, and
throat, as well as coughing and watering eyes.
Low outside temperatures
DEF freezes at a temperature of
approximately 12 ‡ (–11 †). The vehicle is
equipped with a DEF preheating system when
it leaves the factory. Winter operation is
therefore also guaranteed at temperatures
below 12 ‡ (–11 †).
Additives
! Only use DEF in accordance with ISO
22241. Do not use additives with DEF and
do not dilute DEF with water. This may
destroy the BlueTEC exhaust gas
aftertreatment system.
Purity
Assuring the purity of DEF is particularly
important with respect to avoiding
malfunctions in the exhaust gas
aftertreatment system.
If DEF is pumped out of the DEF tank, e.g.
during repair work, it must not be returned to
the tank. The purity of the fluid can no longer
be guaranteed.
! Impurities in DEF (e.g. due to other
service products, cleaning agents or dust)
lead to:
R increased emission values
R damage to the catalytic converter
R engine damage
R malfunctions in the BlueTEC exhaust gas
aftertreatment system
Engine oil
Please bear the following in mind
The engine oils are matched to the
performance of Mercedes-Benz engines and
service intervals. You should therefore only
use engine oils and oil filters that are
approved for vehicles with maintenance
systems.
For a list of approved engine oils and oil filters,
consult an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center
or go to the Internet site
http://www.mbusa.com (USA only).
! Never use engine oil or an oil filter of a
specification other than is necessary to
fulfill the prescribed service intervals. Do
not change the engine oil or oil filter in
order to achieve longer replacement
Service products and capacities527Technical dataZ