2003 Mercedes-Benz S430 4Matic (S-Class) Owners Manual

S 430 S 430 4MATIC S 500 S 500 4MATIC S 55 AMG S 600

Our company and staff congratulate you on the purchase of your new Mercedes-Benz. Your selection of our product is a demon- stration of your trust in our company name. Further, it exemplifies your desire to own an automobile that will be as easy as possible to operate and provide years of service. Your Mercedes-Benz represents the ef- forts of many skilled engineers and crafts- men. To help assure your driving pleasure, and also the safety of you and your passen- gers, we ask you to make a small invest- ment of time:  Please read this manual carefully before putting it aside. Then return it to your vehicle where it will be handy for your reference.  Please follow the recommendations contained in this manual. They are designed to acquaint you with the operation of your Mercedes-Benz.  Please pay attention to the warnings and cautions contained in this manual. They are designed to help improve the safety of the vehicle operator and oc- cupants. We extend our best wishes for many miles of safe, pleasurable driving. Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC A DaimlerChrysler Company

Contents Introduction .......................................... 9 Product information ................................ 9 Operator’s Manual ............................... 10 Service and warranty information .. 10 Important notice for California retail buyers and lessees of Mercedes-Benz automobiles .......... 11 Maintenance .................................. 12 Roadside Assistance ...................... 12 Change of address or ownership.... 12 Operating your vehicle outside the USA or Canada............................... 13 Where to find it .................................... 14 Symbols ............................................... 15 Operating safety .................................. 16 Proper use of the vehicle ............... 16 Problems with your vehicle .................. 17 Reporting safety defects...................... 18 Reporting safety defects ................ 18 At a glance ......................................... 19 Cockpit ................................................ 20 Instrument cluster ............................... 22 Multifunction steering wheel ............... 24 Center console ..................................... 25 Upper part ...................................... 25 Lower part ...................................... 26 Overhead control panel ........................ 27 Door control panel................................ 28 Getting started ................................... 29 Unlocking ............................................. 30 Unlocking with the SmartKey .......... 30 Unlocking with KEYLESS-GO* ......... 32 Adjusting .............................................. 34 Seats............................................... 34 Steering wheel ................................ 37 Mirrors ............................................ 38 Driving .................................................. 40 Fastening the seat belts.................. 40 Starting the engine ......................... 42 Switching on headlamps ................. 46 Turn signals and high beam ............ 46 Windshield wipers ........................... 47 Problems while driving .................... 48 Parking and locking .............................. 50 Parking brake.................................. 50 Switching off headlamps................. 51 Turning off engine ........................... 52 Safety and Security ........................... 55 Occupant safety ................................... 56 Airbags ........................................... 57 Seat belts ....................................... 62 Preventive occupant safety (PRE-SAFE) ..................................... 66 Children in the vehicle .................... 67 Override switch for rear passenger compartment .................................. 74 Panic alarm .......................................... 75 Activating........................................ 75 Deactivating.................................... 75 Driving safety systems ......................... 76 ABS ................................................. 76 BAS ................................................. 78 ESP ................................................. 78 Four wheel electronic traction system (4MATIC) with the ESP.................... 81 Anti-theft systems ................................ 82 Immobilizer ..................................... 82 Anti-theft alarm system .................. 82 Tow-away alarm .............................. 84

Contents Controls in detail ............................... 85 Locking and unlocking ......................... 86 SmartKey ....................................... 86 KEYLESS-GO card*......................... 89 Opening the doors from the inside ............................................. 94 Opening the trunk lid...................... 95 Opening the trunk from the inside ............................................. 96 Trunk lid emergency release .......... 96 Closing the trunk lid ....................... 97 Separately locking the trunk .......... 98 Separately unlocking the trunk ...... 98 Trunk lid opening/closing ystem* ........................................... 99 Power closing assist for doors and trunk lid ................................. 102 Automatic central locking ............ 102 Locking and unlocking from the inside ..................................... 103 Seats.................................................. 104 Lumbar support ............................ 104 Easy-entry/exit feature ................ 104 Head restraints............................. 105 Multicontour seat* ....................... 107 Drive-dynamic seat* .................... 109 Seat ventilation* .......................... 110 Seat heating* ............................... 111 Rear seats .................................... 113 Memory function ............................... 117 Storing positions into memory ..... 118 Recalling positions from memory ........................................ 118 Storing exterior rear view mirror parking position ........................... 118 Lighting.............................................. 120 Exterior lamp switch..................... 120 Combination switch ..................... 123 Hazard warning flasher ................ 124 Interior lighting............................. 124 Courtesy lighting .......................... 126 Instrument cluster ............................. 127 Instrument cluster illumination .... 127 Coolant temperature gauge ......... 128 Trip odometer .............................. 128 Tachometer .................................. 129 Outside temperature indicator ..... 129 Control system .................................. 130 Multifunction display .................... 130 Multifunction steering wheel ........ 131 Menus .......................................... 133 Standard display menu ................ 135 AUDIO menu ................................ 135 CD changer* operating mode ...... 137 TEL menu* ................................... 139 NAVI menu ................................... 142 Distronic* menu .......................... 142 Trip computer menu..................... 143 Malfunction memory menu .......... 145 Settings menu .............................. 146 Automatic transmission ..................... 160 One-touch gearshifting ................ 161 Gear ranges ................................. 162 Gear selector lever position ......... 163 Program mode selector switch .... 164 Accelerator position ..................... 165 Emergency operation (Limp home mode) .......................................... 165 Steering wheel gearshift control (Speedshift) and manual shift program S 55 AMG ...................... 166 Good visibility .................................... 168 Rear view mirror .......................... 168 Electrically folding exterior rear view mirrors ................................. 170 Windshield wipers ........................ 171 Headlamp cleaning system .......... 171

Contents Sun visors .................................... 172 Rear window sunshade* .............. 173 Rear door window sunshade* ...... 173 Automatic climate control ................. 174 Setting the temperature ............... 177 Adjusting air distribution .............. 178 Adjusting air volume .................... 179 Maximum cooling MAXCOOL ....... 179 Defrosting .................................... 180 Air recirculation mode.................. 180 Charcoal filter .............................. 182 Rear window defroster ................. 183 Deactivating the climate control system ......................................... 183 Air conditioning ............................ 184 Storage compartment ventilation. 184 Residual heat and ventilation ....... 185 Rear passenger compartment adjustable air vents ...................... 186 Rear passenger compartment climate control* ........................... 187 Power windows.................................. 188 Opening and closing the windows 188 Synchronizing power windows ..... 191 Sliding/pop-up roof ............................ 192 Opening and closing the sliding/pop-up roof ............................ 192 Synchronizing the sliding/pop-up roof .............................................. 195 Driving systems .................................. 196 Cruise control ............................... 196 Distronic* ..................................... 199 AIRMATIC...................................... 211 Active Body Control (ABC)* .......... 213 Parktronic system* (Parking assist) ........................................... 218 Loading............................................... 222 Roof rack* .................................... 222 Loading instructions ..................... 222 Cargo tie-down hooks ................... 223 Useful features ................................... 224 Interior storage spaces ................. 224 Ashtrays........................................ 232 Cigarette lighters .......................... 233 Heated steering wheel* ................ 235 Telephone* ................................... 236 Tele Aid ......................................... 237 Garage door opener ...................... 245 Infrared reflecting windshield ....... 248 Operation .......................................... 249 The first 1000 miles (1500 km) .......... 250 Driving instructions ............................ 251 Drive sensibly – save fuel ............. 251 Drinking and driving...................... 251 Pedals ........................................... 251 Power assistance .......................... 251 Brakes .......................................... 252 Driving off ..................................... 253 Parking ......................................... 253 Tires.............................................. 254 Hydroplaning ................................ 255 Tire traction .................................. 255 Tire speed rating ........................... 255 Winter driving instructions ............ 256 Standing water ............................. 257 Passenger compartment ............... 258 Driving abroad .............................. 258 Control and operation of radio transmitters .................................. 258 Catalytic converter ....................... 259 Emission control ........................... 259 Coolant temperature .................... 260

Contents At the gas station............................... 261 Check regularly and before a long trip ........................................ 262 Engine compartment.......................... 263 Hood ............................................ 263 Engine oil...................................... 264 Transmission fluid level ................ 268 Active Body Control* (ABC*) fluid level ...................................... 268 Coolant......................................... 268 Battery ......................................... 270 Windshield washer system and headlamp cleaning system* ......... 271 Tires and wheels ................................ 272 Important guidelines .................... 272 Life of tires ................................... 273 Direction of rotation ..................... 273 Checking tire inflation pressure ... 273 Rotating wheels............................ 277 Winter driving..................................... 278 Winter tires................................... 278 Block heater* ............................... 279 Snow chains ................................. 279 Maintenance ...................................... 280 Clearing the service indicator....... 280 Service term exceeded ................ 280 Calling up the service indicator .... 281 Resetting the service indicator ..... 281 Vehicle care ....................................... 282 Cleaning and care of vehicle ........ 282 Practical hints.................................. 289 What to do if …? ................................. 290 Lamps in instrument cluster......... 290 Lamp in center console ................ 295 Messages in the display ............... 296 Where will I find ...? ........................... 322 First aid kit ................................... 322 Vehicle jack, vehicle tool kit, luggage bowl, spare wheel ........... 322 Unlocking/locking in an emergency .. 326 Unlocking the vehicle ................... 326 Locking the vehicle ...................... 327 Changing batteries ....................... 328 Fuel filler flap ............................... 329 Opening/closing in an emergency ..... 330 Sliding/pop-up roof ..................... 330 Replacing bulbs ................................. 331 Bulbs ............................................ 331 Replacing bulbs for front lamps ... 333 Replacing bulbs for rear lamps .... 336 Replacing wiper blades ...................... 337 Removing ..................................... 337 Installing ...................................... 338 Flat tire .............................................. 339 Preparing the vehicle ................... 339 Mounting the spare wheel............ 339 Battery ............................................... 344 Disconnecting the battery ............ 345 Removing the battery ................... 345 Charging and reinstalling battery ......................................... 345 Reconnecting the battery ............. 345 Jump starting ..................................... 347 Towing the vehicle ............................. 349 Installing towing eye bolt ............. 351 Fuses ................................................. 353 Fuse boxes in passenger compartment ............................... 353 Fuse boxes in engine compartment ............................... 354 Emergency engine shut-down ...... 355

Contents Technical data ................................. 357 Spare parts service ............................ 358 Warranty coverage............................. 359 Loss of Service and Warranty Information Booklet ..................... 359 Identification labels ........................... 360 Layout of poly-V-belt drive ................. 361 S 430 / S 500.............................. 361 S 55 AMG..................................... 361 S 600 ........................................... 361 Engine................................................ 362 Rims and tires.................................... 364 Same size tires............................. 365 Mixed size tires ............................ 366 Spare wheel ................................. 367 Electrical system ............................... 368 Main dimensions ............................... 369 Weights.............................................. 370 Fuels, coolants, lubricants etc. .......... 371 Capacities .................................... 371 Engine oils.................................... 373 Engine oil additives ...................... 373 Air conditioning refrigerant .......... 373 Brake fluid .................................... 373 Premium unleaded gasoline ......... 374 Fuel requirements ......................... 374 Gasoline additives......................... 374 Coolants ....................................... 375 Windshield and headlamp washer system .......................................... 377 Consumer information ........................ 378 Uniform tire quality grading .......... 378 Technical terms................................ 381 Index.................................................. 387

Contents

9 Product information Introduction Product information Please observe the following in your own best interest: We recommend using Mercedes-Benz original parts as well as conversion parts and accessories explicitly approved by us for your vehicle model. We have tested these parts to determine their reliability, safety and their special suitability for Mercedes-Benz vehicles. We are unable to make an assessment for other products and therefore cannot be held responsible for them, even if in indi- vidual cases an official approval or authori- zation by governmental or other agencies should exist. Use of such parts and accessories could adversely affect the safety, performance or reliability of your vehicle. Please do not use them. Mercedes-Benz original parts as well as conversion parts and accessories approved by us are available at your authorized Mercedes-Benz Center where you will receive comprehensive information, also on permissible technical modifications, and where proper installation will be per- formed.

10 Introduction Operator’s Manual Operator’s Manual This Operator’s Manual contains a great deal of useful information. We urge you to read it carefully and familiarize yourself with the vehicle before driving. For your own safety and longer service life of the vehicle, we urge you to follow the instructions and warnings contained in this manual. Ignoring them could result in damage to the vehicle or personal injury to you or others. Vehicle damage caused by fail- ure to follow instructions is not covered by the Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty. Your vehicle may have some or all of the equipment described in this manual. Therefore, you may find explanations for optional equipment not installed in your vehicle. If you have any questions about the operation of any equipment, your authorized Mercedes-Benz Center will be glad to demonstrate the proper procedures. We continuously strive to improve our product, and ask for your understanding that we reserve the right to make changes in design and equipment. Therefore, information, illustrations and descriptions in this Operator’s Manual might differ from your vehicle. Optional equipment is also described in this manual, including operating instructions wherever necessary. Since they are special-order items, the descriptions and illustrations herein may vary slightly from the actual equipment of your vehicle. If there are any equipment details that are not shown or described in this Operator’s Manual, your authorized Mercedes-Benz Center will be glad to inform you of correct care and operating procedures. The Operator’s Manual and Service Book- let are important documents and should be kept with the vehicle. Service and warranty information The Service and Warranty Information Booklet contains detailed information about the warranties covering your Mercedes-Benz, including:  New Car Limited Warranty  Emission System Warranty  Emission Performance Warranty  California, Maine, Massachusetts, and Vermont Emission Control System Warranty (California, Maine, Massachusetts, and Vermont only)  State Warranty Enforcement Laws (Lemon Laws)

2003 Mercedes-Benz S430 4Matic (S-Class) Owners Manual

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