fuel MERCEDES-BENZ S-CLASS SEDAN 2012 Owner's Manual

XCompletely insert the filler neck of the fuel
pump nozzle into the tank and refuel.XOnly fill the tank until the pump nozzle
switches off.
i Do not add any more fuel after the pump
stops filling for the first time. Otherwise,
fuel may leak out.
Closing
XReplace the cap on the filler neck and turn
clockwise until it engages audibly.XClose the fuel filler flap.
i If you drive with the fuel filler cap open,
the reserve fuel warning lamp flashes. In
addition, the ; Check Engine warning
lamp may light up. A message appears in
the multifunction display ( Y page 409).
For further information on warning and
indicator lamps in the instrument cluster,
see ( Y page 429).
i Close the fuel filler flap before locking the
vehicle. Otherwise, the locking pin of the
central locking prevents the fuel filler flap
from closing.
Refueling323Driving and parkingZ

Problems with fuel and the fuel tankProblemPossible causes/consequences and M SolutionsFuel is leaking from the
vehicle.GRisk of explosion or fire
The fuel line or the fuel tank is defective.
XTurn the SmartKey to position 0 in the ignition lock immediately
and remove it ( Y page 307).XDo not restart the engine under any circumstances.XConsult a qualified specialist workshop.The engine will not
start.The fuel tank of a vehicle with a diesel engine has been run
completely dry.XRefuel the vehicle with at least 5.3 US qt (5 liters) of diesel.XTurn the ignition on for about 10 seconds( Y page 307).XStart the engine continuously for up to 10 seconds until it runs
smoothly.
or
If the engine does not start:
XTurn the ignition on again for approximately
10 seconds( Y page 307).XStart the engine again continuously for up to 10 seconds until
it runs smoothly.
orXStart the engine again via the touch-start function.
If the engine does not start after three attempts:
XConsult a qualified specialist workshop.The fuel filler flap
cannot be opened.The fuel filler flap is not unlocked.
or
The SmartKey battery is discharged.XUnlock the vehicle ( Y page 82).
or
XUnlock the vehicle using the mechanical key ( Y page 84).The fuel filler flap is unlocked, but the opening mechanism is
jammed.XConsult a qualified specialist workshop.324RefuelingDriving and parking

DEF (BlueTEC vehicles only)
Important notes on use
To function properly, BlueTEC exhaust gas
aftertreatment must be operated with the
reducing agent DEF. Adding DEF is one of the
tasks performed during maintenance. Under
normal operating conditions, a tank of DEF
lasts until the next service due date.
When the DEF level is too low, the Check
Additive See Operator's Manual
message is shown in the multifunction
display.
When the DEF supply sinks to a minimum
level, the Remaining Starts: 16 message
is shown in the multifunction display.
When the Remaining Starts: 16 message
is shown in the multifunction display, you can
start the engine 16 more times. If DEF is not
added, it will then not be possible to restart
the engine. Fill the DEF tank with about 1 gal
(3.8l) of DEF or have the DEF tank refilled at
a qualified specialist workshop.
Use the special DEF refill bottle when filling
between maintenance intervals. Contact an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center with any
questions or, if necessary, contact Roadside
Assistance ( Y page 29).
If the outside temperature is lower than 12 ‡
( Ò 11†) , damage may occur when adding DEF.
If DEF is frozen and there is an active warning
indicator, adding may not be possible. Park
the vehicle in a warmer place, e.g. in a garage,
until DEF has become fluid again. It will then
be possible to add DEF again. Alternatively,
have the DEF tank refilled at a qualified
specialist workshop.
Further information about BlueTEC exhaust
gas aftertreatment and DEF is available at any
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Adding DEFGWARNING
Make sure
R DEF does not come into contact with skin,
eyes, or clothing
R to keep DEF out of the reach of children
If you and/or others have come into contact
with DEF:
R If DEF has gotten into contact with eyes,
flush with plenty of water immediately and
seek medical help.
R Clean affected skin immediately with plenty
of water.
R If DEF was swallowed, rinse mouth
immediately with plenty of water and drink
plenty of water. Consult a physician.
GWARNING
If you open the DEF tank cap, small amounts
of ammonia vapor may be released. This
depends in particular upon the age of the DEF.
Ammonia vapors have a pungent odor and are
particularly irritating to:
R skin
R mucous membranes
R eyes
You may experience a burning sensation in
your eyes, nose and throat, as well as
coughing and watering of the eyes.
Do not inhale any ammonia vapors that may
be released. Fill the DEF tank only in well-
ventilated areas.
! Only use DEF in accordance with
ISO 22241. Do not mix any additives with
DEF, and do not dilute DEF with water. This
may destroy the BlueTEC exhaust gas
aftertreatment system.
! 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
Refueling325Driving and parkingZ

residues crystallize after time and
contaminate the affected surfaces.
! DEF is not a fuel additive and must not be
added to the fuel tank. If DEF is added to
the fuel tank, this can lead to engine
damage.
! Only screw on the DEF refill bottle hand-
tight. It could otherwise be damaged.
The filler neck for DEF is located under the
"Minispare" emergency spare wheel in the
trunk floor.XSwitch off the ignition.XOpen the trunk.XLift the trunk floor up ( Y page 438).XTurn the "Minispare" emergency spare
wheel fastening in the direction of the
arrow and remove it.XRemove the "Minispare" emergency spare
wheel.XTurn DEF cap : counter-clockwise and
remove it.XTurn DEF filler cap ; counter-clockwise
and open it.
Filler cap ; is secured with a plastic strap.XUnscrew the covering cap from DEF refill
bottle =.XPlace DEF refill bottle = on the filler neck
as shown and screw on clockwise hand-
tight.XPress DEF refill bottle = down.
The DEF tank is filled. This may take up to
one minute.
i To add between service intervals, fill the
DEF tank with approximately 1 gal (3.8 l) of
DEF. 1 gal (3.8 l) of DEF is equivalent to
approximately 2 DEF refill bottles. Then
have the DEF supply checked at a qualified
specialist workshop and completely refilled
if necessary.
XRelease DEF refill bottle =.
Refilling stops when the DEF refill bottle is
no longer pressed down. The DEF refill
bottle can be removed when it has been
only partially emptied.326RefuelingDriving and parking

Driving tips
General driving tips
Important safety notes
GWARNING
Always remember that you must concentrate
primarily on driving the vehicle. The driver's
concentration must always be directed
primarily at road traffic. For your own safety
and that of others, we recommend that you
stop the vehicle at a safe place and in
accordance with the traffic conditions before
making or accepting a phone call.
Comply with all legal requirements if you use
the telephone while driving. Use the hands-
free system and only use the telephone when
road, weather and traffic conditions permit. In
some jurisdictions, it is forbidden for drivers
to use mobile phones while driving.
Only operate COMAND (Cockpit Management
and Data System) in compliance with all legal
requirements and when the road, weather and
traffic conditions permit. You may otherwise
not be able to observe the traffic conditions,
endangering yourself and others.
Remember that your vehicle covers a distance
of 44 ft (approximately 14 m) a second when
it is traveling at only 30 mph (approximately
50 km/h).
Drive sensibly – save fuel
Observe the following tips to save fuel:
XThe tires should always be inflated to the
recommended tire pressure.XRemove unnecessary loads.XRemove roof racks when they are not
needed.XWarm up the engine at low engine speeds.XAvoid frequent acceleration or braking.XHave all maintenance work carried out as
indicated by the service intervals in the
Maintenance Booklet or by the service
interval display.Fuel consumption also increases when
driving in cold weather, in stop-and-go traffic
and in mountainous terrain.
Drinking and drivingGWARNING
Drinking and driving and/or taking drugs and
driving are very dangerous combinations.
Even a small amount of alcohol or drugs can
affect your reflexes, perceptions and
judgment.
The possibility of a serious or even fatal
accident are greatly increased when you drink
or take drugs and drive.
Do not drink or take drugs and drive or allow
anyone to drive who has been drinking or
taking drugs.
Pedals
GWARNING
Make sure absolutely no objects are
obstructing the pedals' range of movement.
Keep the driver's footwell clear of all
obstacles. If there are any floormats or
carpets in the footwell, make sure that the
pedals still have sufficient clearance.
During sudden driving or braking maneuvers,
the objects could get caught between the
pedals. You could then no longer brake or
accelerate. This could lead to accidents and
injury.
Rolling with the engine switched off
GWARNING
There is no power assistance for the steering
and the brake when the engine is not running.
Steering and braking requires significantly
more effort and you could lose control of the
vehicle and cause an accident as a result.
Do not turn off the engine while the vehicle is
in motion.
330Driving tipsDriving and parking

Rthe electrical system in the engine
compartment, the battery or the fuses are
tampered with.
R the battery is disconnected.
If you leave the vehicle or park it, deactivate
the HOLD function and secure the vehicle
against rolling away.
AIRMATIC
Vehicle level
Important safety notes
Your vehicle regulates its height
automatically. All-round level control ensures
the best possible suspension and constant
ground clearance, even with a laden vehicle.
When you drive fast, the vehicle is lowered
automatically to improve driving safety and to
reduce fuel consumption.
The following vehicle levels are possible on
vehicles without 4MATIC:
R Normal
R raised: the vehicle is raised by about 1 in
(25 mm) when compared with the normal
level
R lowered: the vehicle is lowered by about
0.60 in (15 mm) when compared with the
normal level
The following vehicle levels are possible on
vehicles with 4MATIC:
R normal: in Comfort mode, the vehicle is
raised by about 0.40 in (10 mm) when
compared with Sport mode
R raised: in Comfort mode, the vehicle is
raised by about 0.60 in (15 mm) and in
Sport mode by about 1 in (25 mm) when
compared with normal level
R lowered: the vehicle is lowered by about
0.40 in (10mm) when compared with the
normal level
The "Normal" and "Raised" vehicle levels can
be set manually.
The "Lowered” vehicle level is set
automatically:
R in vehicles without 4MATIC at speeds
above 60 mph (100 km/h)
R in vehicles with 4MATIC at speeds above
50 mph (80 km/h).
Setting the vehicle level
Select the "Normal" setting for normal road
surfaces and "Raised" for driving with snow
chains or on particularly poor road surfaces.
Your selection remains stored even if you
remove the SmartKey from the ignition lock.GWARNING
To help avoid personal injury, keep hands and
feet away from wheel housing area, and stay
away from under the vehicle when lowering
the vehicle chassis.
Setting raised level
XStart the engine.
If indicator lamp ; is not lit:
XPress button :.
Indicator lamp ; lights up. The vehicle
height is adjusted to raised level.
The Vehicle Rising message appears in
the display.
The "Raised level" setting is canceled if you:
R drive at speeds above 75 mph (120 km/h)
R drive for about three minutes at speeds
above 50 mph (80 km/h).
The "Raised level" remains active when you
are not driving within these speed ranges.
Driving systems347Driving and parkingZ

Setting the normal levelXStart the engine.
If indicator lamp ; is lit:
XPress button :.
Indicator lamp ; goes out. The vehicle is
adjusted to normal level.
Suspension tuning
General notes
The Adaptive Damping System (ADS)
automatically controls the calibration of the
dampers and springs.
The damping is tuned individually to each
wheel and depends on:
R your driving style, e.g. sporty
R the road surface condition, e.g. bumps
R your individual selection, i.e. sports or
comfort
Your selection remains stored even if you
remove the SmartKey from the ignition lock.
Sports tuning
The firmer suspension tuning in Sport mode
ensures even better contact with the road.
Select this mode when employing a sporty
driving style, e.g. on winding country roads.
XIf indicator lamp ; is not lit: press
button :.
Indicator lamp ; lights up. Sports
suspension tuning is selected.
The AIRMATIC SPORT message appears in
the multifunction display.Comfort tuning
In Comfort mode, the driving characteristics
of your vehicle are more comfortable.
Therefore, select this mode if you favor a
more comfortable driving style. Select
comfort mode also when driving fast on
straight roads, e.g. on straight stretches of
freeway.XIf indicator lamp ; is lit: press
button :.
Indicator lamp ; goes out. Comfort tuning
is selected.
The AIRMATIC COMFORT message appears
in the multifunction display.
Active Body Control (ABC)
Vehicle level
Your vehicle automatically adjusts its ride
height to improve driving safety and reduce
fuel consumption.
Depending on the vehicle height that has
been set, the vehicle automatically adjusts its
height dependent on the current speed. As
speed increases, the vehicle is lowered by up
to 0.6 in (15 mm). As the speed is reduced,
the vehicle is raised up to the set vehicle
height.
GWARNING
The vehicle is lowered when the engine is
switched off. Therefore, make sure that
nobody is in the vicinity of the wheel housing
or under the vehicle when you switch off the
engine. Otherwise, limbs could become
trapped.
! The vehicle is lowered when the engine is
switched off. When parking, position your
vehicle so that it does not make contact
with the curb as the vehicle is lowered. Your
vehicle could otherwise be damaged.
i For AMG vehicles: when the engine is
switched off, the vehicle is lowered by
approx. 0.4 in (10 mm).
348Driving systemsDriving and parking

vehicle and do not stand near the vehicle until
the engine has cooled down.
The coolant temperature gauge is in the
instrument cluster on the left-hand side.
Under normal operating conditions and with
the specified coolant level, the coolant
temperature may rise to 248 ‡ (120 †).
! A display message is shown if the coolant
temperature is too high.
If the coolant temperature is over
248 ‡(120 †), do not continue driving. The
engine will otherwise be damaged.
Tachometer
The red band in the tachometer indicates the
engine's overrevving range.
! Do not drive in the overrevving range, as
this could damage the engine.
The fuel supply is interrupted to protect the
engine when the red band is reached.
Outside temperature display
The outside temperature display is in the
multifunction display ( Y page 376).
GWARNING
The outside temperature indicator is not
designed to serve as an ice-warning device
and is therefore unsuitable for that purpose.
Indicated temperatures just above the
freezing point do not guarantee that the road
surface is free of ice. The road may still be icy,
especially in wooded areas or on bridges.
Changes in the outside temperature are
displayed after a short delay.
Operating the on-board computer
The on-board computer is activated as soon
as you turn the SmartKey to position 2 in the
ignition lock.
You can control the multifunction display and
the settings in the on-board computer using
the buttons on the multifunction steering
wheel.:Multifunction display;~
Rejects or ends a call
Exits phone book/redial memory
6
Makes or accepts a call
Switches to the redial memory
WX
Adjusts the volume or operates the
RACETIMER in AMG vehicles
8
Mute=?
Switches on the Voice Control
System; see the separate operating
instructionsDisplays and operation375On-board computer and displaysZ

Trip menu
Standard displayXPress and hold the % button on the
steering wheel until the Trip menu with
odometer : and trip odometer ; is
shown.
Trip computer "From start" or "From
reset"
The values in the From Start submenu are
calculated from the start of a journey, while
the values in the From Reset submenu are
calculated from the last time the submenu
was reset ( Y page 379).
XPress the = or ; button on the
steering wheel to select the Trip menu.XPress the 9 or : button to select
After start or After reset .
Example: trip computer "From start"
:Distance;Time=Average speed?Average fuel consumption
The From Start trip computer is reset
automatically when:
R the ignition has been switched off for more
than four hours.
R 999 hours have been exceeded.
R 9999 miles have been exceeded.
When 9,999 hours or 99,999 miles have been
exceeded, the trip computer is automatically
reset From Reset .
Displaying the range and current fuel
consumptionXPress the = or ; button on the
steering wheel to select the Trip menu.XPress the 9 or : button to select
Range .
You can see the current fuel consumption
(except for AMG vehicles) and the
approximate range.
The approximate range that can be covered
depends on the fuel level and your current
driving style. If there is only a small amount
of fuel left in the fuel tank, the display shows
a vehicle being refueled C instead of the
range.
Digital speedometer
XPress the = or ; button on the
steering wheel to select the Trip menu.XPress 9 or : to select the digital
speedometer.378Menus and submenusOn-board computer and displays

Display messagesPossible causes/consequences and M Solutions4
Check Engine Oil
At Next RefuelingVehicles with an oil dipstick: the oil level has dropped to the
minimum level.XCheck the oil level when next refueling, at the latest
( Y page 459).XIf necessary, add engine oil ( Y page 462).XHave the engine checked at a qualified specialist workshop if
engine oil needs to be added more often than usual.4
Check Engine Oil
Level (Add 1 quart)
(USA only) Check
Engine Oil Level
(Add 1 Liter)
(Canada only)Vehicles without an oil dipstick: the engine oil level is too low.XCheck the oil level ( Y page 459).XIf necessary, add engine oil ( Y page 459).XHave the engine checked at a qualified specialist workshop if
engine oil needs to be added more often than usual.
Information on approved engine oils can be obtained from any qualified specialist workshop
or on the Internet at http://www.mbusa.com (USA only).
! The oil level is too low. Avoid long journeys with too little engine oil. There is a risk of
engine damage.
The display messages and the corresponding symbol that indicate that the oil level is too
low must not be ignored.
Display messagesPossible causes/consequences and M Solutions4
Engine Oil Level
Low Stop Vehicle
Turn Engine OffVehicles without an oil dipstick: the engine oil level is too low.
There is a risk of engine damage.XPull over and stop the vehicle safely and switch off the engine,
paying attention to road and traffic conditions.XApply the parking brake.XAdd engine oil ( Y page 462) and check the oil level
( Y page 459).4
Engine Oil Level
Too HighVehicles without an oil dipstick: you have added too much engine
oil. There is a risk of damage to the engine or to the catalytic
converter.XHave the excess oil siphoned off at a qualified specialist
workshop. Observe the legal requirements.4
Engine Oil Level
Cannot Be MeasuredVehicles without an oil dipstick: the measuring system is
defective.XVisit a qualified specialist workshop.408Display messagesOn-board computer and displays