
5 Contents 
Practical hintsFirst aid kit, vehicle tools 
and jack  ......................................296
CD-changer  .....................................296
Fuses  ................................................297
Electrical outlet  .............................. 301
Stowing items in the vehicle  ........ 301
Hood  .................................................302
Checking engine oil level  .............304
Automatic transmission 
fluid level  ...................................305
Engine oil consumption  ................305
Coolant level  ...................................306
Adding coolant  ...........................306
Windshield washer/headlamp 
cleaning system .........................307
Windshield and headlamp 
washer fluid mixing ratio  .........307Vehicle jack  .................................... 308
Wheels  ............................................. 310
Tire replacement  ........................ 310
Rotating wheels  .......................... 311
Spare wheel cover  ..........................312
Spare wheel ..................................... 313
Changing wheels  ............................ 314
Tire inflation pressure  .................. 318
Battery .............................................. 319
Jump starting  ................................. 321
Towing the vehicle  ........................ 324
Transmission selector lever, 
manually unlocking  .................. 327
Stranded vehicle  ............................ 327
Exterior lamps  ............................... 328
Headlamp assembly  .................. 329
Fog lamp, front  ........................... 332
Turn signal lamp, front  ............ 334Turn signal lamp, side ...............335
Front and rear 
side marker lamps  .....................337
Taillamp assemblies  ..................339
License plate lamp  .....................340
Rear fog lamp / Backup lamp ... 341
Changing batteries in 
the electronic key  .....................343
Synchronizing 
remote control  ............................345
Emergency operation of 
sliding/pop-up roof  ...................346
Manual release for 
fuel filler flap .............................347
Replacing wiper blades .................348
J_G463.book Seite 5 Mittwoch, 19. September 2001 8:06 08 

227 Driving instructions
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments 
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Be especially careful when driving in unknown 
territory. It is good practice to get out of the vehicle and 
scout the path you intend to take.
Continuous and speedy driving in sandy soil overcomes 
the vehicle rolling resistance, and helps to prevent the 
vehicle from sinking into the ground. Switch on the 
differential locks, see page 253.
Do not initiate jumps with the vehicle. It interrupts the 
forward momentum of the vehicle.
Always drive on slopes with the engine running and the 
vehicle in gear.
Sand, dirt, mud and other material having friction 
property, can cause exceptional wear and tear as well as 
failure of the brakes.
In this case the brakes may be less effective or even fail 
when you most need them. Always clean and check the 
brakes following each off-road trip.Checklist before off-road driving
• Engine oil level: Check the engine oil level, see 
page 127 and page 304. The display “ENGINE OIL 
LEVEL – O.K.” must appear in the multifunction 
display. 
Only then is a trouble free oil supply obtained even 
on steep gradients with the vehicle.
•Tires: Check  t he tr ead de pt h an d main tain  s pec if ied  
tire pressure (see tire pressure label inside the fuel 
filler flap). Check tires for possible damage and 
remove foreign objects. The valve caps must be 
mounted.
•Rims: Dented or bent rims can cause tire pressure 
loss and damage the tire beads. For this reason, 
check and, if necessary, change rims before driving 
off-road.
• Vehicle tool kit: Check if the vehicle jack is 
functional. In all cases take the vehicle tool kit, a 
strong tow rope, a shovel and a small plank (to put 
under the vehicle jack on sandy soil) with you.
J_G463.book Seite 227 Mittwoch, 19. September 2001 8:06 08 

259 What you should know at the gas station
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments 
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Leaving the engine running and the fuel cap open can 
cause the “CHECK ENGINE” lamp to illuminate.
Fuel tank capacity approximately 25.4 US gal (96.0 l).
This includes approximately 5.3 US gal (20.0 l) reserve.
Use premium unleaded gasoline: Posted Octane 
Index 91 (Average of 96 RON / 86 MON).
•Engine oil
Engine oil level check, see page 127 and page 304.
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 306 and 365.
• Spark plugs
Approved spark plugs, see page 360.
•Tire pressure
For tire pressure, refer to tire pressure label inside 
the fuel filler flap. See page 318 for further details.
•Air conditioner
R-134a refrigerant and special PAG lubricant, see 
page 363.
Wa r n i n g !
Overfilling of fuel tank may result in creating 
pressure in the system which could cause a gas 
discharge such as the gas spraying back out upon 
removing the filler nozzle which could cause 
personal injury.
J_G463.book Seite 259 Mittwoch, 19. September 2001 8:06 08 

295 Contents - Practical hints
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments 
and controlsOperation DrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hintsCar care Index
Practical hintsFirst aid kit, vehicle tools 
and jack  ......................................296
CD-changer  .....................................296
Fuses  ................................................297
Electrical outlet  .............................. 301
Stowing items in the vehicle  ........ 301
Hood  .................................................302
Checking engine oil level  .............304
Automatic transmission 
fluid level  ...................................305
Engine oil consumption  ................305
Coolant level  ...................................306
Adding coolant  ...........................306
Windshield washer/headlamp 
cleaning system .........................307
Windshield and headlamp 
washer fluid mixing ratio  .........307Vehicle jack  .................................... 308
Wheels  ............................................. 310
Tire replacement  ........................ 310
Rotating wheels  .......................... 311
Spare wheel cover  ..........................312
Spare wheel ..................................... 313
Changing wheels  ............................ 314
Tire inflation pressure  .................. 318
Battery .............................................. 319
Jump starting  ................................. 321
Towing the vehicle  ........................ 324
Transmission selector lever, 
manually unlocking  .................. 327
Stranded vehicle  ............................ 327
Exterior lamps  ............................... 328
Headlamp assembly  .................. 329
Fog lamp, front  ........................... 332
Turn signal lamp, front  ............ 334Turn signal lamp, side ...............335
Front and rear 
side marker lamps  .....................337
Taillamp assemblies  ..................339
License plate lamp  .....................340
Rear fog lamp / Backup lamp ... 341
Changing batteries in 
the electronic key  .....................343
Synchronizing 
remote control  ............................345
Emergency operation of 
sliding/pop-up roof  ...................346
Manual release for 
fuel filler flap .............................347
Replacing wiper blades .................348
J_G463.book Seite 295 Mittwoch, 19. September 2001 8:06 08 

317 Tires, Wheels
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments 
and controlsOperation DrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hintsCar care Index With the vehicle lowered to ground, tighten the five 
bolts evenly using the wrench. When tigthening follow 
the sequence illustrated, until all bolts are tight. 
Observe a tightening torque of 97 ft.lb. (130 Nm).
Ensure proper tire pressure, see page 318.
Wa r n i n g !
Always replace wheel bolts that are damaged or 
rusted.Never apply oil or grease to wheel bolts.Damaged wheel hub threads should be repaired 
immediately.Incorrect mounting bolts or improperly tightened 
mounting bolts can cause the wheel to come off. 
This could cause an accident. Be sure to use the 
correct mounting bolts.
J_G463.book Seite 317 Mittwoch, 19. September 2001 8:06 08 

354 Cleaning and care of the vehicle
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments 
and controlsOperation DrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hintsCar careIndex
Cup holder
Use a gentle dishwashing detergent or mild detergent 
for delicate fabrics as a washing solution. Wipe with a 
cloth moistened in lukewarm solution. Do not use 
scouring agents.
Seat belts
The webbing must not be treated with chemical 
cleaning agents. Use only clear, lukewarm water and 
soap. Do not dry the webbing at temperatures above 
176
°F (80
°C) or in direct sunlight.
Headliner
Clean with soft bristle brush, or use a dry-shampoo 
cleaner in case of excessive dirt.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.
Cloth Upholstery
Clean with soft bristle brush, or use a dry-shampoo 
cleaner in case of excessive dirt.
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.
Wa r n i n g !
Do not bleach or dye seat belts as this may severely 
weaken them. In a crash they may not be able to 
provide adequate protection.
J_G463.book Seite 354 Mittwoch, 19. September 2001 8:06 08 

364 Fuels, coolants, lubricants etc.
Te ch n i c a l
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_G463.book Seite 364 Mittwoch, 19. September 2001 8:06 08 

375 Index
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments 
and controlsOperation DrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car careIndex Locator lighting  .............................................................. 133
Locking and unlocking 
driver’s door manually  ............................................... 36
Locking and unlocking 
the tailgate manually  ................................................. 38
Locking the tailgate separately ...................................... 39
Locking the vehicle with remote control  ..................... 31
Low and high beam, bulb  ............................................. 331
Low beams
See Exterior lamp switch  ......................................... 129
LOW RANGE – ABS  ....................................................... 240
MMaintenance  ................................................................... 191
Malfunction and indicator lamps 
in the instrument cluster  .........................................264
Malfunction/warning message memory .................... 106
Manual operation of sliding/pop-up roof ................... 346
Memory  ............................................................................. 48
Mirror, exterior, parking position, 
front passenger side  ................................................... 82
Mirror, inside, rear view  ................................................. 79
Mirrors, vanity  ............................................................... 161Multifunction display  ...................................................... 90
Coolant temperature  ...................................................94
Engine oil level indicator  ...........................................94
FSS .................................................................................94
Individual settings  .................................................... 108
Tire inflation pressure monitor  ................................94
Trip and main odometer  ............................................94
Vehicle speed  ...............................................................94
Multifunction steering wheel ......................................... 90
NNavigation system  .......................................................... 103
Night security illumination  .......................................... 132OOff-Road driving  ............................................................ 226
On-board diagnostic system  ........................................ 265
Operator’s manual  ............................................................. 8
Overhead control panel  ...................................................23
J_G463.book Seite 375 Mittwoch, 19. September 2001 8:06 08