The Strong, Silent Type
The S-Class is available with a range of V-8 and V-12 engines that produce from 382 horsepower in the V-8 S550 up to 604 hp in the ultimate-bragging-rights sedan: the S65 AMG with a twin-turbo V-12. In between are the S600 with its 510-hp, twin-turbo V-12 and the S63 AMG, which has a 518-hp V-8 under its hood. These are pretty heady power figures for a full-size luxury sedan, but not counting the AMG versions they're relatively similar to what competitors from Audi, BMW and Jaguar offer; big horsepower is a prerequisite in this class.
Even if you choose the "base" S550 with its 5.5-liter V-8, you're still going to be in for a performance treat. This V-8 engine is what you might call a strong, silent type; it's powerful and makes this big sedan lunge forward when you mash the gas pedal to the floor. Mercedes-Benz cites a zero-to-60-mph time of 5.4 seconds for the S550, which is stunning considering the sedan's 4,465-pound curb weight. The more powerful versions are quicker still, with times in the mid- to low-4-second range. That's Chevrolet Corvette territory.
The S550's V-8 drives a seven-speed automatic transmission that, like the engine, performs in a purposeful, quiet way. In many cars you feel when a shift occurs, but in the S550 the only hint that it's happened is when the V-8 gets even quieter with the drop in engine speed. The transmission includes Mercedes' Touch Shift clutchless-manual mode, which lets you select gears by pressing buttons on the back of the steering wheel.
Gas mileage for the S550 is more like what you might expect for a full-size SUV; the rear-wheel-drive S550 gets an EPA-estimated 14/21 mpg city/highway, but with the optional 4Matic all-wheel-drive system it drops slightly to 14/20 mpg. Not surprisingly, it's even lower — 11/17 mpg — if you choose the S600 or one of the AMG models. Most typical car buyers would see this as a significant negative, but here the frequent visits to the gas station are likely to be nothing more than a slight inconvenience for the owner of one of these six-figure cars.
See also:
Windshield washer system and headlamp cleaning system
The washer fluid reservoir is used for both the
windshield washer system and the headlamp
cleaning system.
Vehicle components and their
service
products must match. You should,
therefore, ...
Transmission positions
Park position
Do not shift the transmission into
position P unless the vehicle is
stationary. The parking lock should
not be used as a brake when
parking. In addition to engaging the
parki ...
Opening and closing the side trimpanels
You must open the side trim panel in the
cargo compartment before you can change
the bulbs in the tail lamps.
Left-hand side trim panel
► To open: turn release knob 1 90° in the
direction ...