Page 261 of 399

258 Driving instructions
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments 
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Power assistance
BrakesExcessive use of road salt and other snow melting 
chemicals spread on roads during the winter months 
may cause a build up of moisture or residue to form on 
the braking components. This build up or residue could 
cause light corrosion of the braking components if the 
vehicle is parked with the brakes cold. Apply steady and 
even braking pressure when stopping the vehicle to 
warm up and dry the brake components.
Important!
Please pay attention to the function of the brake assist 
system (BAS), see page 271.
The condition of the parking brake system is checked 
each time the vehicle is in the shop for the required 
maintenance service.
If the parking brake is released and the brake warning 
lamp in the instrument cluster stays on, the brake fluid 
level in the reservoir is too low.
Brake pad wear or a leak in the system may be the 
reason for low brake fluid in the reservoir.
Have the brake system inspected at an authorized 
Mercedes-Benz Center immediately.
Wa r n i n g !
When the engine is not running, the brake and 
steering systems are without power assistance. 
Under these circumstances, a much greater effort is 
necessary to stop or steer the vehicle.Wa r n i n g !
After driving in heavy rain for some time without 
applying the brakes or through water deep enough 
to wet brake components or salty road conditions, 
the first braking action may be somewhat reduced 
and increased pedal pressure may be necessary to 
obtain expected braking effect. Be sure to maintain 
a safe distance from vehicles in front.Resting your foot on the brake pedal will cause 
excessive and premature wear of the brake pads.It can also result in the brakes overheating thereby 
significantly reducing their effectiveness. It may 
not be possible to stop the vehicle in sufficient time 
to avoid an accident. 
     
        
        Page 262 of 399

259 Driving instructions
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments 
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index All checks and service work on the brake system should 
be carried out by an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Install only brake pads and brake fluid recommended by 
Mercedes-Benz.Caution!
When driving down long and steep grades, relieve the 
load on the brakes by shifting into a lower gear to use 
the engine’s braking power. This helps prevent 
overheating of the brakes and reduces brake pad wear.
After hard braking, it is advisable to drive on for some 
time, rather than immediately parking, so the air stream 
will cool down the brakes faster.
Driving off
Apply the service brakes to test them briefly after 
driving off. Perform this procedure only when the road 
is clear of other traffic.
Warm up the engine smoothly. Do not place full load on 
the engine until the operating temperature has been 
reached.
When starting off on a slippery surface, do not allow one 
drive wheel to spin for an extended period with the ESP 
switched off. Doing so may cause serious damage to the 
drive train which is not covered by the Mercedes-Benz 
Limited Warranty.
Wa r n i n g !
If other than recommended brake pads are 
installed, or other than recommended brake fluid 
is used, the braking properties of the vehicle can be 
degraded to an extent that safe braking is 
substantially impaired. This could result in an 
accident. 
     
        
        Page 297 of 399
294 Malfunction and warning messages
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments 
and controlsOperation DrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
BRAKE PAD WEAR
* C = Category, see page 290When this message appears during braking, it indicates 
that the brake pads are worn down.
Have the brake system checked at your authorized 
Mercedes-Benz Center as soon as possible.BRAKE FLUID
* C = Category, see page 290 Line 1 Line 2 C*
BRAKE PAD WEAR VISIT WORKSHOP! 2Line 1 Line 2 C*
BRAKE FLUID VISIT WORKSHOP! 2Wa r n i n g !
Driving with this message displayed can result in 
an accident. Have your brake system checked 
immediately. Don’t add brake fluid before checking 
the brake system. Overfilling the brake fluid 
reservoir can result in spilling brake fluid on hot 
engine parts and the brake fluid catching fire. You 
can be seriously burned.