2008 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Operator's Manual (P/N 211 584 29 97)

• Factory Mercedes-Benz Operator's Manual: a 458-page PDF, Part No. 211 584 29 97, Order No. 6515 3400 13, Edition USA, Edition A 2008, with a press time of May 8, 2007.
• Model and body coverage: E 320 BLUETEC sedan; E 350 and E 550 sedans; E 350 4MATIC and E 63 AMG sedans and wagons; and E 550 4MATIC sedan. The technical tables also include the E 280 4MATIC, identified as unavailable in the U.S.
• Explains SmartKey and KEYLESS-GO, power trunk and tailgate functions, seat and mirror memory, lighting and wiper controls, transmission programs, dual-zone and 4-zone climate control, sedan panorama-roof operation, and wagon cargo arrangements.
• Covers ABS/BAS braking support, ESP and ETS/4-ETS traction control, 4MATIC operation, PRE-SAFE and occupant restraints, plus the Airmatic DC, Distronic, Parktronic, and TPMS functions fitted to specific models.
• Provides factory procedures for interpreting multifunction-display messages, emergency locking and unlocking, resetting active head restraints, replacing bulbs and wiper blades, handling a flat tire with TIREFIT or the fitted spare, bleeding the diesel fuel system, battery service, jump starting, towing, and locating fuses.
• Includes labeled Exterior View, Cockpit, Instrument Cluster, Center Console, and Door Control Panel illustrations, plus model-specific poly-V-belt drive layouts and tables for engines, wheels, tires, electrical equipment, dimensions, weights, and approved fluids.

Vehicle and System Coverage

This owner-focused manual is suited to E-Class drivers and experienced owners who can follow factory operating, inspection, and roadside procedures. It supports pre-repair checks and limited owner service, but it is not a substitute for workshop training or model-specific repair literature.

The engine tables tie each version to its chassis and engine identification: E 320 BLUETEC 211.022 with OM 642; E 350 211.056 and E 350 4MATIC 211.087/211.287 with engine 272; E 550 211.072 and E 550 4MATIC 211.090 with engine 273; and E 63 AMG 211.077/211.277 with engine 156. The E 280 4MATIC 211.092 is marked as not offered in the United States. Sedan and wagon distinctions continue through the locking, cargo, rear-seat, wiper, spare-wheel, and towing sections.

Distronic and the manual shift program are identified as E 63 AMG features, while Airmatic DC applies to the E 550, E 550 4MATIC, and E 63 AMG. The text separates U.S. TPMS operation from Canadian Advanced TPMS and Run Flat Indicator information. Transmission coverage includes selector positions, C/S programs, one-touch gear-range selection, steering-wheel controls where fitted, and limp-home behavior.

Warning Messages, Roadside Procedures, and Specifications

The Practical Hints section pairs text and symbol messages with possible causes, consequences, and operator responses for braking, restraint, charging, cooling, lighting, tire-pressure, fuel, transmission, and engine-management faults. Indicator-lamp charts help distinguish a normal self-check from a condition that requires the vehicle to be stopped or professionally inspected.

The manual locates the sedan and wagon tool kits, jack, towing eye, spare wheel, collapsible wheel chock, electric pump, and TIREFIT kit, then covers the applicable owner-level procedures and final checks. Tire sections distinguish same-size and staggered fitments, Sport and AMG packages, winter combinations, temporary spares, and the E 63 AMG wagon with folding third-row seat that uses TIREFIT instead of a spare.

The technical-data chapter supplies engine output and torque tables, firing orders, belt sizes and routing, approved rim and tire combinations, electrical-system data, dimensions, roof-load information, and model-specific capacities. Fluid tables cover the engine, transmission, axles, 4MATIC transfer case, steering, brakes, cooling system, fuel, and washer equipment.

The battery section warns that loosening terminal clamps while the engine is running can severely damage the alternator and electronics. The air-conditioning section prohibits R-12 refrigerant and mineral oil in the R-134a system, while battery disconnection requires follow-up synchronization of the windows and roof systems.

Scope of This Publication

This is an operator's manual, not a factory repair manual. It does not contain wiring diagrams, component teardown or overhaul instructions, internal engine or transmission repair procedures, or a complete scheduled-maintenance task list. COMAND, the audio system, and Voice Control use separate operating instructions; service intervals and task details belong to the separate Maintenance Booklet, while exact approved products are referenced through the Factory Approved Service Products pamphlet. Use the safety warnings in the manual for battery, tire, towing, brake, restraint, coolant, and refrigerant work, and use the correct workshop literature for repairs beyond the owner-level procedures described here.