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

Contents
Where will I find ...? ........................... 668
First aid kit ................................... 668
Vehicle jack, vehicle tool kit,
luggage bowl, Minispare wheel .... 668
Unlocking/locking in an emergency .. 671
Unlocking the vehicle ................... 671
Locking the vehicle ...................... 672
Mechanically releasing the
electronic parking brake .............. 673
Opening/closing in an emergency..... 674
Power tilt/sliding sunroof or
panorama roof with
power tilt/sliding panel*.............. 674
Resetting activated head restraints ... 675
Replacing SmartKey batteries ........... 676
Replacing bulbs ................................. 678
Bulbs ............................................ 679
Replacing bulbs for front lamps ... 680
Replacing wiper blades ...................... 684
Placing wiper arms in vertical
position ........................................ 684
Removing wiper blades ................ 685
Installing wiper blades................. 685
Flat tire .............................................. 686
Preparing the vehicle ................... 686
Mounting the spare wheel............ 686Batteries ............................................. 692
Disconnecting starter battery ....... 694
Removing starter battery .............. 695
Charging battery ........................... 695
Reinstalling starter battery ........... 696
Reconnecting starter battery ........ 696
Jump starting ...................................... 697
Towing the vehicle .............................. 700
Installing towing eye bolt .............. 703
Fuses .................................................. 704
Fuse boxes in engine
compartment ................................ 705
Fuse boxes in passenger
compartment ................................ 706
Emergency engine shut-down ....... 707
Technical data.................................. 709
Parts service....................................... 710
Warranty coverage ............................. 711
Loss of Service and Warranty
Information Booklet ...................... 711
Identification labels ............................ 712
Layout of poly-V-belt drive .................. 714
S 550 ............................................ 714
S 63 AMG ..................................... 714S 600 and S 65 AMG .................... 714
Engine ................................................ 715
Rims and tires .................................... 718
Same size tires ............................. 719
Mixed size tires ............................. 720
Spare wheel .................................. 721
Electrical system ................................ 722
Main dimensions and weights ............ 723
Main dimensions........................... 723
Weights......................................... 723
Fuels, coolants, lubricants, etc. .......... 724
Capacities ..................................... 724
Engine oils .................................... 728
Engine oil additives ....................... 728
Air conditioning refrigerant ........... 728
Brake fluid .................................... 728
Premium unleaded gasoline.......... 729
Fuel requirements......................... 729
Gasoline additives......................... 730
Coolants ....................................... 730
Windshield washer system and
headlamp cleaning system ........... 733
Index................................................. 735

540 Operation
At the gas station
Check regularly and before a long trip
Example illustration from S 550
1Coolant level
2Brake fluid
3Windshield washer and headlamp
cleaning systemWindshield washer system and head-
lamp cleaning system
For more information on refilling the wash-
er reservoir, see “Windshield washer sys-
tem and headlamp cleaning system”
(
page 548).
Coolant
For more information on coolant, see
“Coolant level” (
page 547) and see “Fu-
els, coolants, lubricants, etc.”
(
page 724).
Brake fluid
For information on brake fluid, see “Brake
fluid” (
page 728).Engine oil level
For more information on engine oil, see
“Engine oil” (
page 543).
Vehicle lighting
Check function and cleanliness. For more
information on replacing light bulbs, see
“Replacing bulbs” (
page 678).
For more information, see “Lighting”
(
page 371).
Tire inflation pressure
For information on tire inflation pressure,
see “Checking tire inflation pressure”
(
page 560).
iOpening the hood (page 541).
!If you find that the brake fluid in the brake
fluid reservoir has fallen to the minimum mark or
below, have the brake system checked for brake
pad thickness and leaks immediately. Notify an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center immediately.
Do not add brake fluid as this will not solve the
problem. For more information, see “Practical
hints” (
page 601) and (page 630).

597 Practical hints
What to do if …?
Where will I find ...?
Unlocking/locking in an emergency
Opening/closing in an emergency
Resetting activated head restraints
Replacing SmartKey batteries
Replacing bulbs
Replacing wiper blades
Flat tire
Batteries
Jump starting
Towing the vehicle
Fuses

598 Practical hints
What to do if …?
Lamps in instrument cluster
General information:
If any of the following lamps in the instru-
ment cluster fails to come on during the
bulb self-check when switching on the igni-
tion, have the respective bulb checked and
replaced if necessary.
ProblemPossible cause/consequenceSuggested solution
-The yellow Antilock
Brake System (ABS)
indicator lamp comes on
while the engine is run-
ning.The ABS has detected a malfunction and
has switched off. The BAS, ESP®, EBP and
PRE-SAFE® are also switched off (see mes-
sages in multifunction display).
The brake system is still functioning nor-
mally but without the ABS available.
If the ABS control unit is malfunctioning,
other systems such as Parktronic*,
DISTRONIC Plus*, navigation system, Park
Assist* and the automatic transmission
may also be malfunctioning.
Continue driving with added caution.
Wheels may lock during hard braking,
reducing steering capability.
Read and observe messages in the mul-
tifunction display (
page 612).
Have the system checked at an autho-
rized Mercedes-Benz Center as soon as
possible.
Failure to follow these instructions increas-
es the risk of an accident.

653 Practical hints
What to do if …?
Display Possible cause/consequencePossible solution
Third brake lampThe high mounted brake lamp is malfunc-
tioning. This message will only appear if a
critical number of light emitting diodes have
stopped working.Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Cen-
ter as soon as possible.
Corner. lamp,
LeftThe left-hand corner-illuminating lamp is
malfunctioning.Replace the bulb as soon as possible
(
page 678).
Corner. lamp,
RightThe right-hand corner-illuminating lamp is
malfunctioning.Replace the bulb as soon as possible
(
page 678).
Low beam,
LeftThe left low beam lamp is malfunctioning.Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Cen-
ter as soon as possible.
Low beam,
RightThe right low beam lamp is malfunctioning.Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Cen-
ter as soon as possible.
Active headlamps
inoperativeThe active headlamps are malfunctioning.Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Cen-
ter as soon as possible.

654 Practical hints
What to do if …?
Display Possible cause/consequencePossible solution
AUTO lamps
inoperativeThe light sensor is malfunctioning. Daytime
driving lamps are switched on.Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Cen-
ter as soon as possible.
To switch off the headlamps (U.S. vehicles only):
Switch off daytime running lamps in the in-
strument cluster control system
(
page 281).
Turn the exterior lamp switch to position0.
Turn signal,
Rear LeftThe left rear turn signal lamp is malfunction-
ing. A substitute bulb is being used.Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Cen-
ter as soon as possible.
Turn signal,
Rear RightThe right rear turn signal lamp is malfunc-
tioning. A substitute bulb is being used.Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Cen-
ter as soon as possible.
Turn signal,
Left mirrorThe turn signal in the left exterior rear view
mirror is malfunctioning. This message will
only appear if a critical number of light emit-
ting diodes have stopped working.Have the LEDs replaced as soon as possible.

655 Practical hints
What to do if …?
Display Possible cause/consequencePossible solution
Turn signal,
Right mirrorThe turn signal in the right exterior rear view
mirror is malfunctioning. This message will
only appear if a critical number of light emit-
ting diodes have stopped working.Have the LEDs replaced as soon as possible.
Turn signal,
Front LeftThe left front turn signal lamp is malfunc-
tioning.Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Cen-
ter as soon as possible.
Turn signal,
Front RightThe right front turn signal lamp is malfunc-
tioning.Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Cen-
ter as soon as possible.
High beam, LeftThe left high beam lamp is malfunctioning.Replace the bulb as soon as possible
(
page 678).
High beam, RightThe right high beam lamp is malfunctioning.Replace the bulb as soon as possible
(
page 678).
License plate lamp,
LeftThe left license plate lamp is malfunction-
ing.Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Cen-
ter as soon as possible.
License plate lamp,
RightThe right license plate lamp is malfunction-
ing.Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Cen-
ter as soon as possible.
Please
switch off lightsYou are getting out of the vehicle and the
lights are still switched on.Switch off the headlamps (page 371).

656 Practical hints
What to do if …?
Display Possible cause/consequencePossible solution
Switch off lights
or
remove keyThe exterior lamp switch is set to * and
you have forgotten to take out the
SmartKey. The parking lamps remain
switched on.Switch off the headlamps (page 371).
or
Remove the SmartKey from the starter
switch.
Front foglamp,
LeftThe left front fog lamp is malfunctioning.Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Cen-
ter as soon as possible.
Front foglamp,
RightThe right front fog lamp is malfunctioning.Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Cen-
ter as soon as possible.
Rear foglamp,
LeftThe left rear fog lamp is malfunctioning.
A substitute bulb is being used.Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Cen-
ter as soon as possible.
Rear foglamp,
RightThe right rear fog lamp is malfunctioning.
A substitute bulb is being used.Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Cen-
ter as soon as possible.
Parking lamp,
Front LeftThe left front parking lamp is malfunction-
ing. A substitute bulb is being used.Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Cen-
ter as soon as possible.
Parking lamp,
Right frontThe right front parking lamp is malfunction-
ing. A substitute bulb is being used.Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Cen-
ter as soon as possible.
Reverse lamp,
LeftThe left reverse lamp is malfunctioning.Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Cen-
ter as soon as possible.
Reverse lamp,
RightThe right reverse lamp is malfunctioning.Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Cen-
ter as soon as possible.

657 Practical hints
What to do if …?
Display Possible cause/consequencePossible solution
Side marker lamp,
Left FrontThe front left side marker lamp is malfunc-
tioning.Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Cen-
ter as soon as possible.
Side marker lamp,
Right FrontThe front right side marker lamp is malfunc-
tioning.Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Cen-
ter as soon as possible.
Side marker lamp,
Rear LeftThe rear left side marker lamp is malfunc-
tioning.Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Cen-
ter as soon as possible.
Side marker lamp,
Rear RightThe rear right side marker lamp is malfunc-
tioning.Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Cen-
ter as soon as possible.
Tail lamp/
brake lamp, LeftThe left tail lamp/brake lamp is malfunc-
tioning.
This message will only appear if a critical
number of light emitting diodes have
stopped working. A substitute bulb is being
used.Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Cen-
ter as soon as possible.
Tail lamp/
brake lamp, RightThe right tail lamp/brake lamp is malfunc-
tioning.
This message will only appear if a critical
number of light emitting diodes have
stopped working. A substitute bulb is being
used.Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Cen-
ter as soon as possible.

678 Practical hints
Replacing bulbs
Safe vehicle operation depends on proper
exterior lighting and signaling. It is there-
fore essential that all bulbs and lamp as-
semblies are in good working order at all
times.
Correct headlamp adjustment is extremely
important. Have headlamps checked and
readjusted at regular intervals and when a
bulb has been replaced. Contact an autho-
rized Mercedes-Benz Center for headlamp
adjustment.iIf the headlamps or front fog lamps are
fogged up on the inside as a result of high humid-
ity, driving the vehicle a distance with the lights
on should clear up the fogging.iSubstitute bulbs will be brought into use
when the following lamps malfunction:

Brake lamps

Rear fog lamps

Front parking lamps

Tail lamps

Turn signal lamps
Read and observe messages in the multifunction
display (
page 612).