3 Contents
DrivingControl and operation
of radio transmitters ................ 176
The first 1 000 miles
(1 500 km) ................................. 177
Maintenance ................................... 177
Tele Aid ........................................... 178
Catalytic converter ........................ 188
Emission control ............................ 189
Steering lock ................................... 190
Starting and turning
off the engine ............................ 192
Automatic transmission ............... 193
Parking brake .................................202
Driving instructions ......................203
Drive sensibly - Save Fuel .........203
Drinking and driving .................203
Pedals ...........................................203
Power assistance ........................204
Brakes ..........................................204Driving off ................................... 205
Parking ........................................ 206
Tires ............................................. 206
Snow chains ............................... 209
Winter driving instructions ..... 209
Block heater ................................. 211
Deep water ................................... 211
Passenger compartment ............ 211
Traveling abroad ......................... 211
Cruise control .................................212
Brake assist system
(BAS) ...........................................215
Antilock brake system
(ABS) ...........................................217
Four Wheel Electronic Traction
System (4MATIC) ....................... 219
Electronic stability program
(ESP) ........................................... 220
Parking assist
(Parktronic) ............................... 224
What you should know
at the gas station ...................... 229
Check regularly and
before a long trip ...................... 231
Instrument cluster displayMalfunction and indicator lamps
in the instrument cluster .........234
On-board diagnostic system .....234
Check engine malfunction
indicator lamp .............................234
Brake warning lamp ..................235
Supplemental restraint system
(SRS) indicator lamp ..................236
Fuel reserve and fuel cap
placement warning ....................236
Electronic stability program
(ESP) — warning lamp ...............237
BAS / ESP malfunction
indicator lamp .............................237
ABS malfunction
indicator lamp .............................238
Seat belt warning lamp .............238
Malfunction and indicator lamp
in the center console ................239
W210.book Seite 3 Mittwoch, 30. Mai 2001 11:45 11
175 Contents – Driving
Technical
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
DrivingControl and operation
of radio transmitters ................ 176
The first 1 000 miles
(1 500 km) ................................. 177
Maintenance ................................... 177
Tele Aid ........................................... 178
Catalytic converter ........................ 188
Emission control ............................ 189
Steering lock ................................... 190
Starting and turning
off the engine ............................ 192
Automatic transmission ............... 193
Parking brake .................................202Driving instructions ...................... 203
Drive sensibly - Save Fuel ........ 203
Drinking and driving ................ 203
Pedals .......................................... 203
Power assistance ........................ 204
Brakes .......................................... 204
Driving off ................................... 205
Parking ........................................ 206
Tires ............................................. 206
Snow chains ............................... 209
Winter driving instructions ..... 209
Block heater ................................. 211
Deep water ................................... 211
Passenger compartment ............ 211
Traveling abroad ......................... 211Cruise control ................................. 212
Brake assist system
(BAS) ........................................... 215
Antilock brake system
(ABS) ........................................... 217
Four Wheel Electronic Traction
System (4MATIC) ...................... 219
Electronic stability program
(ESP) ...........................................220
Parking assist
(Parktronic) ................................224
What you should know
at the gas station .......................229
Check regularly and
before a long trip ...................... 231
W210.book Seite 175 Mittwoch, 30. Mai 2001 11:45 11
208 Driving instructions
Technical
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
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.Tire speed rating
E 320:
Your vehicle is factory equipped with “H”-rated tires,
which have a speed rating of 130 mph (210 km / h).
E 430:
Your vehicle is factory equipped with “W”-rated tires,
which have a speed rating of 168 mph (268 km / h).
An electronic speed limiter for models E 320 and E 430
prevents your vehicle from exceeding the speed rating.
Model E 55 AMG:
Your vehicle is factory equipped with “Z”-rated tires.
An electronic speed limiter prevents your vehicle from
exceeding a speed of 155 mph (250 km / h).
Despite the tire rating, local speed limits should be
obeyed. Use prudent driving speeds appropriate to
prevailing conditions.
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.
Wa r n i n g !
Even when permitted by law, never operate a
vehicle at speeds greater than the maximum speed
rating of the tires.
W210.book Seite 208 Mittwoch, 30. Mai 2001 11:45 11
219 Driving systems
Technical
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 285), 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.
W210.book Seite 219 Mittwoch, 30. Mai 2001 11:45 11