2001 MERCEDES-BENZ E-Class WAGON four wheel drive

3 Contents
DrivingControl and operation of radio
transmitters ............................... 184
The first 1 000 miles
(1 500 km) ................................. 185
Maintenance ................................... 185
Tele Aid............................................ 186
Catalytic converter......................... 196
Emission control ............................ 197
Steering lock ................................... 198
Starting and turning off
the engine .................................. 200
Automatic transmission................ 201
Parking brake ................................. 210
Driving instructions ...................... 211
Drive sensibly -
Save Fuel ..................................... 211
Drinking and Driving ................ 211
Pedals ........................................... 211
Power assistance ........................ 212
Brakes .......................................... 212
Driving off ................................... 213
Parking ........................................ 213Tires ..............................................214
Snow chains ................................ 216
Winter driving instructions ......217
Block heater .................................218
Deep water ...................................219
Passenger compartment ............219
Traveling abroad ......................... 219
Cruise control ................................ 220
Brake assist system
(BAS)........................................... 223
Antilock brake system
(ABS) .......................................... 225
Four wheel electronic
traction system (4MATIC) ....... 227
Electronic stability program
(ESP) ........................................... 228
Parking assist (Parktronic) .......... 232
What you should know
at the gas station ...................... 237
Check regularly and before
a long trip .................................. 239
Instrument cluster displayMalfunction and indicator
lamps in the
instrument cluster .................... 242
On-board
diagnostic system .......................242
Check engine malfunction
indicator lamp .............................242
Brake warning lamp ..................243
Supplemental restraint
system (SRS)
indicator lamp .............................244
Fuel reserve and fuel cap
placement warning ....................244
Electronic stability program
(ESP) — warning lamp ...............245
BAS / ESP malfunction
indicator lamp .............................245
ABS malfunction
indicator lamp .............................245
Seat belt warning lamp .............246
Malfunction and indicator
lamp in the center console ...... 246

183 Contents - Driving
Te ch n ica l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
DrivingControl and operation of radio
transmitters ............................... 184
The first 1 000 miles
(1 500 km) ................................. 185
Maintenance ................................... 185
Tele Aid............................................ 186
Catalytic converter......................... 196
Emission control ............................ 197
Steering lock ................................... 198
Starting and turning off
the engine .................................. 200
Automatic transmission................ 201
Parking brake ................................. 210Driving instructions....................... 211
Drive sensibly -
Save Fuel ...................................... 211
Drinking and Driving ................ 211
Pedals ........................................... 211
Power assistance .........................212
Brakes ...........................................212
Driving off ....................................213
Parking .........................................213
Tires ..............................................214
Snow chains ................................ 216
Winter driving instructions ......217
Block heater .................................218
Deep water ...................................219
Passenger compartment ............219
Traveling abroad ......................... 219Cruise control ................................. 220
Brake assist system
(BAS) ........................................... 223
Antilock brake system
(ABS) ........................................... 225
Four wheel electronic
traction system
(4MATIC) .................................... 227
Electronic stability
program
(ESP) ........................................... 228
Parking assist (Parktronic) .......... 232
What you should know
at the gas station ....................... 237
Check regularly and
before a long trip....................... 239

215 Driving instructions
Te ch n ica l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Specified tire pressures must be maintained. This
applies particularly if the tires are subjected to high
loads (e.g. high speeds, heavy loads, high ambient
temperatures).
Aquaplaning
Depending on the depth of the water layer on the road,
aquaplaning may occur, even at low speeds and with
new tires. Reduce vehicle speed, avoid track grooves in
the road and apply brakes cautiously in the rain.Tire traction
The safe speed on a wet, snow covered or icy road is
always lower than on a dry road.
You should pay particular attention to the condition of
the road whenever the outside temperatures are close to
the freezing point.
We recommend M+S rated radial-ply tires for the winter
season for all four wheels to insure normal balanced
handling characteristics. On packed snow, they can
reduce your stopping distance as compared with
summer tires. Stopping distance, however, is still
considerably greater than when the road is not snow or
ice covered.
Wa r n i n g !
Do not drive with a flat tire. A flat tire affects the
ability to steer or brake the vehicle. You may lose
control of the vehicle. Continued driving with a flat
tire or driving at high speed with a flat tire will
cause excessive heat build-up and possibly a fire.
Wa r n i n g !
If ice has formed on the road, tire traction will be
substantially reduced. Under such weather
conditions, drive, steer and brake with extreme
caution.

227 Driving systems
Te ch n ica l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Four wheel electronic traction system (4MATIC)
with electronic stability program (ESP)
(Model with All Wheel Drive [AWD])
The 4MATIC improves vehicle’s ability to use available
traction, e.g. during winter operation in mountains
under snowy conditions, by applying power to all four
wheels.
Important!
If the ESP warning lamp flashes:
•during take-off, apply as little throttle as possible,
•while driving, ease up on the accelerator.
Adapt your speed and driving to the prevailing road
conditions.Caution!
Operational tests with the engine running can only be
conducted on a 2-axle dynamometer.Otherwise the ESP
will immediately be engaged and will apply the brakes
to the spinning wheels.
If the vehicle is towed with one axle raised (see
page 288), or when testing the parking brake on a brake
test dynamometer, the engine must be shut off
(electronic key in steering lock position 0 or 1).
If one or more wheels tend to spin, ESP will apply the
brakes to them. The traction control for the front axle
wheels deactivate at approximately 50 mph (80 km/h),
and for the rear axle wheels at approximately 80 mph
(130 km/h).
The warning lamp in the speedometer blinks at any
speed as soon as one tire loses traction.
Note:
In winter operation, the maximum effectiveness of the
4MATIC is only achieved with Mercedes-Benz
recommended M+S rated radial-ply tires and / or snow
chains.