Contents
At the gas station .............................. 278
Check regularly and before
a long trip..................................... 279
Engine compartment ......................... 281
Hood ............................................ 281
Engine oil ..................................... 282
Transmission fluid level ................ 285
Coolant level ................................ 285
Battery ......................................... 287
Windshield washer system and
headlamp cleaning system* ......... 288
Tires and wheels ................................ 289
Important guidelines .................... 289
Life of tire..................................... 290
Direction of rotation ..................... 290
Checking tire inflation pressure ... 290
Rotating wheels ........................... 293Winter driving ..................................... 295
Winter tires ................................... 295
Block heater* (Canada only) ......... 296
Snow chains.................................. 296
Maintenance....................................... 297
Flexible Service System PLUS
(FSS PLUS).................................... 297
Clearing the service indicator ....... 298
Service term exceeded ................. 298
Calling up the service indicator..... 298
Resetting the service indicator ..... 298
Setting the date for special
works ............................................ 300
Calling up the service data
information ................................... 301
Vehicle care........................................ 302
Cleaning and care of vehicle ......... 302
Practical hints.................................. 309
What to do if … ................................... 310
Lamps in instrument cluster ......... 310
Lamp in center console ................ 317
Messages in the display................ 318
Where will I find ...? ............................ 350
First aid kit.................................... 350
Vehicles with TIREFIT kit
(E 55 AMG) ................................... 350
Spare wheel .................................. 350
Luggage box ................................. 351
Vehicle tool kit.............................. 352
Unlocking / locking in an emergency .. 353
Unlocking the vehicle ................... 353
Locking the vehicle ....................... 354
Changing batteries in the
SmartKey/ SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO* ............................... 355
Fuel filler flap emergency release . 357
Manually unlocking the
transmission selector lever ........... 357
Opening / closing in an emergency..... 358
Sliding / pop-up roof* or panorama
sliding / pop-up roof* .................... 358
25 At a glance
Center console
Center console
Upper part
Item
Page
1
Automatic climate control*
184
2
COMAND system, see sep-
arate operating instruc-
tions
3
Seat heater*, front passen-
ger side
113
4
Electronic Stability Pro-
gram (ESP) control switch
78
5
Central locking switch
107
6
Opening/closing button
for storage tray or CD
changer*, see separate op-
erating instructions
243
7
Rear seat head restraints
switch, folding down
110
Item
Page
8
Rear window sunshade*
78
9
Seat heater*, driver’s side
113
a
Hazard warning flasher
switch
123
b
PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF
indicator lamp
67
113 Controls in detailSeats
Massage function (PULSE)
The massage function can help prevent
muscle tension during long drives.
Press button6.
The indicator lamp in button2 comes
on. The air cushions in the lumbar area
pulsate.
Heated seats*
Both switches for the front seats are locat-
ed in the center console. The red indicator
lamps in the switch come on to show
which heating level you have selected.
1Seat heating switch
Make sure the ignition is switched on.
All lights in the instrument cluster
come on.
Switching seat heating on
Press button1 repeatedly until the
desired heating level is set.
One or more red indicator lamps on the
switch show the selected heater level
iThe massage function turns off auto-
matically after approximately five min-
utes.
Leveloff
No indicator lamps on
1
One indicator lamp on
2
Two indicator lamps onThe seat heater automatically
switches to level 1 after approxi-
mately ten minutes.
3
Three indicator lamps onThe seat heater automatically
switches to level 2 after approxi-
mately five minutes.
114 Controls in detailSeatsSwitching seat heating off
Press button1 repeatedly until all in-
dicator lamps go out.
Seat ventilation*
The switch is located on the center con-
sole. Seat ventilation can be activated
manually with the ignition on, or by the
summer opening feature (
page 199).
The blue indicator lamps on the switch
show the ventilation level selected:
1Seat ventilation switch
Make sure the ignition has been
switched on.
All lights in the instrument cluster
come on.
iThe seat heating will be automatically
switched off after approximately
20 minutes.!If one or more of the lamps on the seat
heater switch are flashing, there is in-
sufficient voltage available since too
many electrical consumers are turned
on. The seat heater switches off auto-
matically.
The seat heater will switch back on
again automatically as soon as suffi-
cient voltage is available.
Level3
Three indicator lamps lit
2
Two indicator lamps lit
1
One indicator lamp lit
off
No indicator lamp lit
296 OperationWinter drivingBlock heater* (Canada only)
The engine is equipped with a block heat-
er.
The electrical cable may be installed at
your authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.Snow chains
Snow chains should only be driven on
snow-covered roads at speeds not to ex-
ceed 30 mph (50 km/h). Remove chains
as soon as possible when driving on roads
without snow.Please observe the following guidelines
when using snow chains:
Use of snow chains is not permissible
with all wheel/tire combinations.
Snow chains should only be used on
the rear wheels. Follow the manufac-
turer's mounting instructions.
Only use snow chains that are ap-
proved by Mercedes-Benz. Your autho-
rized Mercedes-Benz Center will be
glad to advise you on this subject.
Use of snow chains may be prohibited
depending on location. Always check
local and state laws before installing
snow chains.
!When driving with snow chains, always
select the raised level of the level con-
trol system Airmatic* (
page 227).
Other settings may result in damage to
your vehicle.
iWhen driving with snow chains, you
may wish to deactivate the ESP
(page 78) before setting the vehicle
in motion. This will improve the vehi-
cle’s traction.
!Even on vehicles with all-wheel-drive,
use snow chains on rear tires only.
Use of snow chains is not permissible
with the Minispare wheel and with tires
of size 245/40 ZR 18 or 265/35 ZR18
(page 394).
417 Index
A
ABS 74, 411
ABS control 75
Malfunction indicator lamp 310
Messages in display 319
Warning lamp 310
Accelerator position, automatic
transmission 164
Accident
In case of 50
Activating
Air conditioning (cooling) 182, 194
Air recirculation mode 180, 191
Anti-theft alarm system 84
Automatic climate control 186
Central locking (control system) 149
Charcoal filter 192
Climate control 176
Defrosting 179
Distance warning function* 223
Distronic* 219
Easy-entry/exit feature* 150
ESP 79
Exterior headlamps 47
Exterior lamps 120Front fog lamps 122
Hazard warning flasher 124
Headlamps 47
High beams 123
Ignition 31
Ignition with KEYLESS-GO* 33
Immobilizer 53, 83
Rear fog lamp 121, 122
Rear window defroster 173
Residual heat 182, 194
Seat heater* 113
Tow-away alarm 85
Windshield wipers 48
Adding
Engine oil 284
Additional turn signal 359
Adjustable air vents, rear passenger
compartment 195
Adjusting 34
Air distribution 178, 189
Air volume 178, 179, 190
Backrest tilt 36
Exterior rear view mirror 38
Head restraint height 36
Head restraint tilt 36Instrument cluster illumination 126
Interior rear view mirror 38
Mirrors 38
Multicontour seat* 111
Seat cushion depth 111
Seat cushion tilt 36
Seat fore and aft adjustment 35
Seat height 36
Seats 34
Steering column height 37
Steering wheel 37
Adjusting steering column in or out 37
Adjusting steering column up or down 37
Adjusting the dynamic seat 153
Air conditioning (cooling)
Turning off 182, 194
Turning on 182, 194
Air distribution
Adjusting 178, 189
Air pressure see Tire inflation
pressure 290
Air recirculation mode 180, 191
Activating 180, 191
Deactivating 181, 192
419 Index
Manual shift program mode
(SL 55 AMG Kompressor) 165
Manual shifting 159
One-touch gearshifting 159
Program mode selector switch 164
Selector lever position 158
Starting the engine 43
Winter program mode 164
B
BabySmartTM
Airbag deactivation system 67
Compatible child seats 411
Self-test 68
BabySmartTM airbag deactivation
system 411
Backrest
Folding forward 236
Folding rearward 238
BAS 76, 411
Batteries, SmartKey
Changing 355, 356
Check lamp 90, 94
Checking 91, 96Batteries, SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO*
Changing 355, 356
Checking 91, 96
Batteries, vehicle
Charging 377
Disconnecting 376
Messages in display 320, 324, 325
Reconnecting 377
Removing 377
Service 375
Battery discharged
Jump starting 378
Bi-Xenon headlamps* 411
Block heater* 296
Blocking
Rear window operation 72
Brake assist system (BAS) 411
Brake fluid 279, 328
Brake pads
Message in display 326
Brakes
Warning lamp 312
Break-in period 266Bulbs, replacing
Additional turn signals 359
Fog lamps 359
Front lamps 359, 361
High beam 359
High beam bulb (Bi-Xenon* headlamps
only) 362
High beam bulb (Halogen headlamps
only) 362
High mounted brake lamp 360
License plate lamps 360, 363
Low beam 359
Parking lamps 360, 362
Side marker lamps 359, 363
Standing lamps 360, 362
Tail lamp 360
Tail lamp assemblies 363
Turn signal lamp 359
422 IndexD
Daytime running lamp mode 121
Setting 146
Deactivating
Air conditioning 182
Air recirculation mode 181, 192
Alarm 84
Anti-theft alarm system 84
Automatic climate control 181, 186
Central locking (control system) 149
Climate control 176
Cruise control 212
Defrost 180, 190
Distance warning function* 223
Distronic* 221
Engine with KEYLESS-GO* 53
ESP 78
Exterior lamps 120
Hazard warning flasher 124
Headlamps 52
Immobilizer 83
Interior lighting delayed
switch-off 149
Rear window defroster 173Residual heat 183
Seat heater* 113
Seat ventilation* 114
SmartKey
Turning off the engine 53
Tow-away alarm 85
Deceleration
With Distronic* 217
Defogging
Windshield 179, 189
Defrosting 179, 190
Delayed switch-off
Interior lighting 149
Dialing
A number (telephone) 156
Difficulties
While driving see Problems while
driving 50
With starting 45
Digital speedometer 134
Direction of rotation 290
Discharged battery
Jump starting 378Disconnecting
Vehicle battery 376
Display
Selecting 142, 143
Displays
Digital speedometer 134
Distronic* 216
Messages 283
Selecting 142
Service indicator 297
Showing malfunctions 137
Distance
Decreasing in Distronic* 222
Increasing in Distronic* 222
Warning function 222
Distance to empty (range)
Calling up 153
Distance warning function* 222
Activating 223
Deactivating 223
DTR* warning lamp 222
Intermittent warning sound 222
Symbol in multifunction display 136