emergency towing 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

397 Controls in detail
Driving and parking
Emergency braking with electronic
parking brake
In an emergency situation, you can also
brake your vehicle while driving by using
the electronic parking brake.
While driving, press handle for elec-
tronic parking brake (
page 395).
During the braking procedure, the red indi-
cator lamp 0 (USA only) or !
(Canada only) flashes in the instrument
cluster, the message “Please release park-
ing brake” appears on the multifunction
display and you will hear a warning tone.
Once the vehicle comes to a complete stop
the electronic parking brake will engage.
Turning off the engine
Shift the automatic transmission toP
(
page 403).Turning off with SmartKey
Turn the SmartKey in the starter switch
to position0 (
page 344) and remove
it.
The immobilizer is activated.
iYour vehicle will be braked for as long as you
press and hold the switch for the electronic park-
ing brake. The longer you keep the electronic
parking brake pressed, the more strongly your
vehicle will be braked. This method occurs on all
4 wheels, not just the rear wheels.
iIf the engine cannot be turned off as de-
scribed, see “Emergency engine shut-down”
(
page 707).
Warning!G
Do not turn off the engine before the vehicle
has come to a complete stop. With the en-
gine not running, there is no power assis-
tance for the brake and steering systems. In
this case, it is important to keep in mind that
a considerably higher degree of effort is nec-
essary to brake and steer the vehicle.
!Observe instructions

when taking the vehicle through an
automatic conveyor type car wash
(
page 588)

when towing the vehicle (page 702)
!If you turn off the engine using the
SmartKey and

remove the SmartKey from the starter
switch
or

open a front door
the transmission will shift to park positionP
automatically.
Keep in mind that turning off the engine with the
SmartKey alone only will automatically shift the
transmission to neutral positionN.

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

741 Index
Dynamic Rear View Monitor* 453
Camera lens 590
Cleaning camera lens 590
Parallel parking 458
Reverse parking
(back-in parking) 456
Switching on 456
View through the camera 454
E
Easy-entry/exit feature 357
COMAND menu 246
EBP 71
Electrical fuses see Fuses
Electrical outlet see Power outlet
Electrical system, Technical Data 722
Electronic Brake Proportioning see EBP
Electronic parking brake 395
Indicator lamp 29, 600
Mechanically releasing 673
Messages in display 633
Warning lamp 29, 600
Electronic Stability Program see ESP
®
Electronic traction system 72
Emergency call system 510
Emergency calls, Tele Aid 511
Emergency engine shut-down 707
Emergency operation
(limp-home mode) 416
Emergency operations
Locking the vehicle 671
Mechanically releasing the electronic
parking brake 673
Releasing from inside 484
Remote door lock 517
Remote door unlock 517
Tilt/sliding sunroof or tilt/sliding
panel* 674
Unlocking the trunk 672
Unlocking the vehicle 671
Emergency tensioning device see ETDEmergency, In case of
Battery, Jump starting 697
First aid kit 668
Flat tire 686
Fuses 704
Roadside Assistance 16
Roadside Assistance (Tele Aid) 513
Towing the vehicle 700
Emission control 536
Emission control information label 713
Emission control system warranties 14
Engine
Belt layout 714
Cleaning 587
Compartment 541
Coolant 547, 726, 730
Malfunction indicator lamp 29, 602
Number 712, 713
Oil 546, 724, 728
Oils 543
Residual heat and ventilation 476
Starting 389
Technical data 715
Turning off 397

756 Index
Information placard 554
Inspection 551
Load rating 569, 578
Load rating, Maximum 573, 577
Minispare wheel 670
Ply composition and material
used 578
Problems under-/overinflation 558
Retreads 550
Rotating 578
Run Flat Indicator (Canada only) 565
Service life 551
Sizes 718
Snow 580
Spare wheel 721
Speed rating 532, 570, 578
Storing 552
Temperature 559, 575
Terminology 576
Total load limit 578
TPMS* malfunction telltale 29, 608
Traction 532, 578
Tread depth 552
Tread depth, Winter 580
Treadwear indicators 578
Vehicle maximum load on 578Wear pattern 579
Winter 580
Tools 668
Top tether
Children in the vehicle 61
Towing eye bolt (vehicle tool kit) 668,
703
Towing the vehicle 700
Tow-start 697, 700
Traction 532, 574, 578
Transmission see Automatic transmission
Traveling abroad 535
Tread 578
Tread depth, Tires 552
Tread depth, Winter tires 580
Treadwear indicators 578
Trip odometer 268
Resetting 269
Troubleshooting
Voice Control* 327
Trunk
Closing 479, 671
Closing trunk from inside 479
Closing trunk from outside 479
Emergency release 484
Lighting 380Message in display 667
Opening from inside 479
Opening from outside 479
Opening-height restriction
(COMAND) 249
Power closing assist for trunk lid 342
Tie-down hooks 500
Unlocking in an emergency 671
Valet locking 484
Tumbler holder see Cup holder
Turn signal lamps
Cleaning lenses 589
Replacing bulbs 679
Turn signals 393
Additional in mirrors 679
Front bulbs 679
Indicator lamp 29
Rear bulbs 679

757 Index
U
Uniform Tire Quality Grading
Standards 578
Uphill driving
Cruise control 421
Upholstery
Cleaning 595
Useful features 502
V
Valet locking 484
Vanity mirrors
In the sun visor 502
Vehicle
Batteries 692
Breaking-in period 526
Care 585
Dimensions 723
Individual settings, control system in
instrument cluster 281
Locking/unlocking 332, 335
Locking/unlocking in an
emergency 671
Lowering 690
Menu (COMAND) 242Service battery 692
Towing 700
Washing 585, 587
Weights 723
Vehicle data recording 22
Vehicle jack 669, 687
Vehicle level
Changing (ABC*) 443
Changing (Airmatic) 441
Setting (ABC*) 443
Setting (Airmatic) 441
Setting, Automatic (ABC*) 443
Setting, Automatic (Airmatic) 441
Setting, Manual (ABC*) 443
Setting, Manual (Airmatic) 441
Vehicle level control (Airmatic) 441
Vehicle loading 493, 553
Cargo tie-down hooks 500
Instructions 493
Load limit 554
Roof rack* 493
Terminology 576
Vehicle maximum load on the tire 578
Vehicle Recovery services, Stolen (Tele
Aid) 518
Vehicle tool kit 668Video (COMAND) 124
Video DVD
Menu 129
Operating (COMAND) 124
operating (Control system) 272
Pause/Play 128
Screen settings 128
Selecting scene/chapter 128
Setting language 131
Subemu overview 126
Submenu overview 126
Switching to mode 126
Video game 131
VIN 713
Voice Control*
Address book 306
Command list 315
DVD changer 313
Individualization 330
Individualization (COMAND) 237
Introduction 285
Navigation 296
Operating safety 284
Operation via the multifunction steer-
ing wheel 287
Radio 309