
335 Consumer information
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments 
and controlsOperation DrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Traction
The traction grades, from highest to lowest are “AA”, 
“A”, “B”, and “C”. Those grades represent the tire’s 
ability to stop on wet pavement as measured under 
controlled conditions on specified government test 
surfaces of asphalt and concrete. A tire marked “C” may 
have poor traction performance.Te mp e r a t u r e
The temperature grades are “A” (the highest), “B”, and 
“C”, representing the tire’s resistance to the generation 
of heat and its ability to dissipate heat when tested 
under controlled conditions on a specified indoor 
laboratory test wheel. Sustained high temperature can 
cause the material of the tire to degenerate and reduce 
tire life, and excessive temperature can lead to sudden 
tire failure. The grade “C” corresponds to a level of 
performance which all passenger car tires must meet 
under the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 
No. 109. Grades B and A represent higher levels of 
performance on the laboratory test wheel than the 
minimum required by law.
Wa r n i n g !
The traction grade assigned to this tire is based on 
straightahead braking traction tests, and does not 
include acceleration, cornering, hydroplaning, or 
peak traction characteristics.
Wa r n i n g !
The temperature grade for this tire is established 
for a tire that is properly inflated and not 
overloaded. Excessive speed, underinflation, or 
excessive loading, either separately or in 
combination, can cause excessive heat build up 
and possible tire failure. 

336 Index
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments 
and controlsOperation DrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car careIndex
Index
AABS (Antilock brake system)  .......................................227
Malfunction indicator lamp ..................................... 248
ABS-SYSTEM - malfunction and warning
messages .................................................................... 253
Adjusting steering wheel  ................................................ 81
Air conditioner refrigerant ........................................... 330
Air distribution  .............................................................. 130
Air volume  ...................................................................... 130
Airbag deactivation system  ............................................ 65
AIRBAG OFF indicator lamp  ........................................249
Airbags .............................................................................. 68
Alarm system ..............................................................39, 41
Anticorrosion/antifreeze  ................... 220, 275, 328, 332
Antilock brake system (ABS)  .......................................227
Malfunction indicator lamp ..................................... 248
Antitheft alarm system  ................................................... 39
Aquaplaning ................................................................... 217
Armrest, rear bench  ...................................................... 162
Ashtrays .......................................................................... 166
Center console, front  ................................................ 166
Rear doors  .................................................................. 167Audio system  .................................................................. 135
Anti-theft system ....................................................... 137
Button and soft key operation  ................................. 138
Cassette mode ............................................................ 143
CD changer ................................................................. 148
CD mode  ..................................................................... 147
Operating and display elements  ............................. 136
Operating safety  ........................................................ 135
Operation – audio and telephone  ........................... 135
Radio mode  ................................................................ 141
Telephone operation  ................................................. 151
Audio systems ................................................................... 97
Cassette player  ............................................................ 99
CD player  ......................................................................98
Radio .............................................................................97
Automatic central locking  .............................................. 35
Automatic climate control  ............................................ 126
Activated charcoal filter  ........................................... 132
Air distribution  .......................................................... 130
Air recirculation  ........................................................ 131
Air volume .................................................................. 130
Basic setting ............................................................... 129
Defogging windows ................................................... 129
Defrosting ...................................................................129
Display and controls  .................................................128
Dust filter  ................................................................... 131 

340 Index
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments 
and controlsOperation DrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car careIndex
Exterior lamps  ................................................................ 297
Additional turn signals on the exterior mirror  .... 303
Headlamp assembly  ................................................. 298
High mounted stop lamp  .........................................303
License plate lamps  .................................................. 302
Low and high beam  .................................................. 299
Parking lamps  .................................................. 300, 301
Replacing bulbs ......................................................... 297
Side marker lamp, front ........................................... 303
Standing lamps ................................................. 300, 301
Taillamp assemblies  ................................................. 301
Turn signal lamps  ............................................ 300, 301
FFirst aid kit  ..................................................................... 266
Flat tire
Changing wheels  ......................................................282
Flexible service system (FSS)  .......................................114
Four wheel electronic traction system (4MATIC) with 
electronic stability program (ESP)  ......................... 229
Fuel .................................................................................. 239
Gasoline additives  ....................................................332
Premium unleaded gasoline  ................. 239, 329, 331Fuel cap placement warning  ....................................... 246
Fuel requirements  ......................................................... 331
Fuel reserve warning .................................................... 246
Fuels, coolants, lubricants etc. - capacities  .............. 328
Fuse box
Fuses .......................................................................... 267
Fuses, electrical ............................................................. 267
GGarage door opener  ....................................................... 180
Gasoline
Additives .................................................................... 332
Fuel requirements  .................................................... 331
Premium unleaded  ................................................... 331
General notes on the central locking system  .............. 26
Global locking
Central locking  ............................................................ 27
Glove box  ......................................................................... 163 

343 Index
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments 
and controlsOperation DrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car careIndex Multifunction display ...................................................... 92
Audio systems  ............................................................. 97
Engine oil level indicator  ........................................... 96
FSS (Flexible service system)  ................................... 96
Individual settings .....................................................110
Malfunction message memory  ............................... 108
Navigation system  ..................................................... 105
Telephone ................................................................... 100
Trip and main odometer  ............................................ 96
Trip computer  ............................................................ 106
Vehicle speed ............................................................... 96
Multifunction steering wheel  ........................................ 92
Setting the audio volume ..........................................113
NNavigation system - Multifunction display  ................ 105
Night security Illumination  ......................................... 120OOn-board diagnostic system  .........................................244
Operator’s manual  ............................................................. 8
Outside temperature indicator  ...................................... 90
Overhead control panel ................................................... 21
PPanic button  ...................................................................... 31
Parcel net in front passenger footwell  ........................ 178
Parking ............................................................................ 216
Parking assist (Parktronic) .......................................... 234
Malfunction ............................................................... 238
Parktronic switch  ..................................................... 238
Sensors ...................................................................... 235
Warning indicators  .................................................. 236
Parking brake  ............................... 212, 214, 216, 231, 245
PA R K I N G  B R A K E  -  m a l f u n c t i o n  a n d  
warning messages  ................................................... 255
Power assistance  ............................................................ 214
Power seats, front ............................................................. 42
Power windows  ............................................................... 154
Blocking of rear door window operation  ............... 155
Opening and closing  ...................................................30
Synchronizing ........................................................... 156
Problems with your vehicle ............................................ 14
Product information  .......................................................... 7 

345 Index
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments 
and controlsOperation DrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car careIndex Selective locking
Central locking system  .............................................. 27
Service indicator
See Flexible service system (FSS)  ...........................114
Setting the audio volume ...............................................113
Side marker lamp  ..........................................................303
Sliding/pop-up roof  ....................................................... 157
Emergency operation  ...............................................307
Express opening  ....................................................... 158
Opening and closing  .................................................. 30
Synchronizing ........................................................... 158
Snow chains .................................................................... 219
SOS-call
See Tele Aid  ............................................................... 188
Spare parts service  ........................................................ 322
Spare wheel  .................................................................... 277
Special settings (Automatic climate control)  ............ 129
Split rear bench seat  ..................................................... 169
SRS (Supplemental restraint system) ........................... 66
Indicator lamp  ...........................................................246
SRS malfunction  ......................................................... 68
Start lock-out  .................................................................... 26
Starting and turning off the engine  ............................202
STEERING GEAR OIL - malfunction and warning 
messages .................................................................... 260
Steering lock  ...................................................................200Steering wheel adjustment  ............................................. 81
Storage compartments
Above ashtray in center console  ............................. 164
Glove box  .................................................................... 163
In center console  ....................................................... 164
Stowing things in the vehicle  ...................................... 177
Sun visors ........................................................................ 161
Supplemental restraint system (SRS)  ........................... 66
Indicator lamp  .......................................................... 246
SRS malfunction ..........................................................68
TTachometer ........................................................................ 91
Tailgate .............................................................................. 36
Technical data ................................................................ 325
Electrical system  ...................................................... 326
Main dimensions  ..................................................... 327
Rims and Tires  ......................................................... 326
Weights ...................................................................... 326
Tele Aid  ............................................................................ 188
Emergency calls  ........................................................ 189
Information ................................................................ 193
Initiating an emergency call manually .................. 191
Roadside Assistance  ................................................. 192 

346 Index
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments 
and controlsOperation DrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car careIndex
TELE AID - malfunction and warning messages  ...... 263
Telephone ........................................................................ 100
General notes ............................................................. 186
Incoming call  ............................................................. 104
Redialing .................................................................... 102
Telephone book  ......................................................... 100
Telephones and two-way radios ................................... 186
The first 1 000 miles (1 500 km)  ................................ 187
Tires ................................................................................. 216
Driving instructions  ................................................. 216
Rims and tires  ...........................................................326
Rotating wheels ......................................................... 280
Tire inflation pressure  ............................................. 287
Tire replacement ....................................................... 279
Tire speed rating  ....................................................... 218
Tire traction  ............................................................... 218
Winter driving instructions  .................................... 219
Tool kit
Vehicle tools ............................................................... 277
Tow-away alarm ................................................................ 41
Towing the vehicle ......................................................... 294
Transmission selector lever, manually unlocking .... 296
Traveling abroad  ............................................................ 221
Trip computer  ................................................................. 106
Trip odometer  ................................................................... 91
Turn signal failure  ......................................................... 122Turn signals  ....................................................................122
VVanity mirrors  ................................................................ 161
Vehicle jack  .................................................................... 278
Vehicle tools  ................................................................... 277
Ventilated seats  ................................................................54WWa r n i n g  l a m p s
Indicator lamps in the instrument cluster  .............. 88
Warranty Coverage  ....................................................... 322
WASHER FLUID - malfunction and warning
messages ................................................................... 262
What you should know at the gas station  ................. 239
Wheels ............................................................................ 279
Changing ................................................................... 282
Light alloy wheels  ..................................................... 318
Rims and tires  .......................................................... 326
Rotating ..................................................................... 280
Spare wheel ................................................................ 281
Where to find it  ................................................................ 13