
4 Contents
ENGINE FAN  ...............................239
COOLANT (coolant level)  ..........240
COOLANT TEMP. 
(coolant temperature)  ................ 241
LIGHTING SYSTEM  ....................242
LIGHT SENSOR ...........................243
STEER. WHEEL ADJUST.  ...........243
ENGINE OIL LEVEL  ...................244
ELEC. STABIL. PROG. 
(Electronic stability 
program)  ......................................245
REMOVE KEY  .............................245
WASHER FLUID ..........................246
TELE AID  .....................................247
Practical hintsFirst aid kit  .....................................250
Shelf below rear window  ..............250
Stowing things in 
the vehicle  ..................................250
Luggage cover .................................250
Fuses  ................................................252
Hood  .................................................254
Checking engine oil level  .............256Automatic transmission 
fluid level  ................................... 257
Coolant level ................................... 257
Adding coolant  ........................... 258
Windshield washer / headlamp 
cleaning system  ........................ 259
Windshield and headlamp 
washer fluid mixing ratio  ........ 259
Spare wheel, vehicle tools, 
storage compartment  ............... 260
Vehicle jack  .................................... 261
Wheels  ............................................ 262
Tire replacement  ....................... 262
Rotating wheels  ......................... 263
Spare wheel .................................... 264
Changing wheels  ........................... 266
Tire inflation pressure  ..................271
Battery ............................................. 272
Jump starting  ..................................274
Towing the vehicle  .........................276
Exterior lamps  ............................... 280
Headlamp assembly  .................. 281
Taillamp assemblies  .................. 283
Adjusting headlamp aim  .............. 285Changing batteries in 
the electronic key  .....................288
Synchronizing remote 
control  .........................................290
Raising soft top manually ............. 291
Antenna  ...........................................298
Manual release for 
fuel filler flap .............................299
Replacing wiper blade insert  .......299
Vehicle careCleaning and care 
of the vehicle  .............................302
Power washer ..............................303
Paintwork, painted body 
components  .................................303
Engine cleaning ..........................304
Tar stains  .....................................304
Vehicle washing  .........................304
Ornamental moldings ................304
Headlamps, taillamps, 
turn signal lenses  ......................305
Window cleaning  .......................305
Plastic and rubber parts ............305
J_A208.book Seite 4 Donnerstag, 31. Mai 2001 9:35 09 

225 What you should know at the gas station
Technical
data Instruments 
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index •Engine oil
Engine oil level check, see page 112 and page 256.
Fill quantity between upper and lower dipstick 
marking level: 2.1 US qt (2.0 l).
Recommended engine oils, see Approved Service 
Products sheet.
• Coolant
For normal replenishing, use water (potable water 
quality).
For further information (e.g. anticorrosion/
antifreeze), see page 318.
• Spark plugs
Approved spark plugs, see page 316.
• Tire pressure
For tire pressure, refer to tire pressure label inside 
the fuel filler flap. See page 271 for further details.•Air conditioner
R-134a refrigerant and special PAG lubricant, see 
page 318.
•Bulbs
High and low beams: H7 (55 W),
low beam: Xenon (optional)
fog lamps: H1 (55 W),
turn signal lamps,
front 1156 NA (26.9/5 W/32/4 cp),
parking and standing lamps, front: H 6W (6 W),
side marker lamps, front: 5 W/4 cp,
turn signal lamps, rear: 21 W/24 cp,
stop, tail, parking and side marker lamps: 21/4 W,
tail and parking lamp: 5 W/4 cp,
rear fog lamp, driver’s side: 21 W/32 cp,
backup lamps: 21 W/32 cp,
license plate lamps: 5 W/4 cp.
J_A208.book Seite 225 Donnerstag, 31. Mai 2001 9:35 09 

249 Contents – Practical hints
Technical
data Instruments 
and controlsOperation DrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hintsCar care Index
Practical hintsFirst aid kit  .....................................250
Shelf below rear window  ..............250
Stowing things in 
the vehicle  ..................................250
Luggage cover .................................250
Fuses  ................................................252
Hood  .................................................254
Checking engine oil level  .............256
Automatic transmission 
fluid level  ...................................257
Coolant level  ...................................257
Adding coolant  ...........................258Windshield washer / headlamp 
cleaning system  ........................ 259
Windshield and headlamp 
washer fluid mixing ratio  ........ 259
Spare wheel, vehicle tools, 
storage compartment  ............... 260
Vehicle jack  .................................... 261
Wheels  ............................................ 262
Tire replacement  ....................... 262
Rotating wheels  ......................... 263
Spare wheel .................................... 264
Changing wheels  ........................... 266
Tire inflation pressure  ..................271
Battery ............................................. 272Jump starting  .................................. 274
Towing the vehicle ......................... 276
Exterior lamps  ................................280
Headlamp assembly ................... 281
Taillamp assemblies  ..................283
Adjusting headlamp aim ...............285
Changing batteries in 
the electronic key  .....................288
Synchronizing remote 
control  .........................................290
Raising soft top manually ............. 291
Antenna  ...........................................298
Manual release for 
fuel filler flap .............................299
Replacing wiper blade insert  .......299
J_A208.book Seite 249 Donnerstag, 31. Mai 2001 9:35 09 

307 Cleaning and care of the vehicle
Technical
data Instruments 
and controlsOperation DrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hintsCar careIndex Upholstery
Using aftermarket seat covers or wearing clothing that 
have the tendency to give off coloring (e.g. when wet 
etc.) may cause the upholstery to become permanently 
discolored. By lining the seats with a proper 
intermediate cover, contact-discoloration will be 
prevented.
Leather Upholstery
Wipe leather upholstery with a damp cloth and dry 
thoroughly or clean with Mercedes-Benz approved 
Leather Care. Exercise particular care when cleaning 
perforated leather as its underside should not become 
wet.
MB Tex Upholstery
Pour Mercedes-Benz approved Interior Care onto soft 
lint-free cloth and apply with light pressure.Hard plastic trim items
Pour Mercedes-Benz approved Interior Care onto soft 
lint-free cloth and apply with light pressure.
Plastic and rubber parts
Do not use oil or wax on these parts.
Wind screen 
Use only water or mild detergent to clean the wind 
screen. 
Rubber weatherstrip 
The door and windshield header rubber weatherstrip 
material should be cared for at regular intervals with a 
silicon-based car care product. 
J_A208.book Seite 307 Donnerstag, 31. Mai 2001 9:35 09 

321 Fuels, coolants, lubricants etc.
Technical
data Instruments 
and controlsOperation DrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Premium unleaded gasoline
Caution!
To maintain the engine’s durability and performance, 
premium unleaded gasoline must be used. If premium 
unleaded is not available and low octane fuel is used, 
follow these precautions:
•have the fuel tank filled only partially with unleaded 
regular and fill up with premium unleaded as soon 
as possible,
•avoid full throttle driving and abrupt acceleration,
•do not exceed an engine speed of 3000 rpm, if the 
vehicle is loaded with a light load such as two 
persons and no luggage,
•do not exceed 2/3 of maximum accelerator pedal 
position, if the vehicle is fully loaded or operating in 
mountainous terrain.Fuel requirements
Use only Premium unleaded meeting ASTM 
standard D 439:
The octane number (posted at the pump) must be 
91 min. It is an average of both the Research (R) octane 
number and the Motor (M) octane number: [(R+M)/2]. 
This is also known as ANTI-KNOCK INDEX.
Unleaded gasoline containing oxygenates such as 
Ethanol, IPA, IBA and TBA can be used provided the 
ratio of any one of these oxygenates to gasoline does not 
exceed 10%, MTBE not to exceed 15%.
The ratio of Methanol to gasoline must not exceed 3% 
plus additional cosolvents.
Using mixtures of Ethanol and Methanol is not allowed. 
Gasohol, which contains 10% Ethanol and 90% unleaded 
gasoline, can be used.
These blends must also meet all other fuel requirements 
such as resistance to spark knock, boiling range, vapor 
pressure etc..
J_A208.book Seite 321 Donnerstag, 31. Mai 2001 9:35 09