Page 353 of 506

352 OperationVehicle careUpholstery
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 dis-
colored. 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 per-
forated leather as its underside should not 
become wet.Nubuck leather upholstery 
(CLK 55 AMG)
The nubuck leather upholstery is treated 
with a protective coating. Wipe nubuck 
leather upholstery with damp microfiber 
cloth to remove dust and other light stains. 
Carefully dab nubuck leather upholstery 
with a dry microfiber cloth to remove oil 
stains.Plastic and rubber parts
Do not use oil or wax on these parts.
Wood trims
Dampen cloth using water and use damp 
cloth to clean wood trims in your vehicle. 
Do not use solvents like tar remover or 
wheel cleaner nor polishes or waxes as 
these may be abrasive.
!Do not use Mercedes-Benz approved 
Leather Care or any solvents to clean 
nubuck leather upholstery.
Avoid hard scrubbing on nubuck leath-
er upholstery. 
     
        
        Page 381 of 506
380 Practical hintsWhat to do if …?Display symbol
Display message
Possible cause
Possible solution
:
USA only:Add 1 qt. engine oil
at next refuelingCanada only:Add 1 liter engine oil
at next refueling
The engine oil level is too low.
Add engine oil (
page 309) and check 
the engine oil level (
page 307).
Engine oil level
Reduce oil level!
You have added too much engine oil. 
There is a risk of damaging the engine or 
the catalytic converter.
Have oil siphoned or drained off. Ob-
serve all legal requirements with re-
spect to its disposal.
Engine oil level
Stop, engine off!
There is no oil in the engine. There is a 
danger of engine damage.
Carefully bring the vehicle to a halt as 
soon as possible.
Turn off the engine.
Add engine oil (
page 309) and check 
the engine oil level (
page 307). 
     
        
        Page 382 of 506

381 Practical hints
What to do if …?
When the message 
Add 1 qt. engine oil 
at next refueling (Canada: 
1 liter
) ap-
pears while the engine is running and at 
operating temperature, the engine oil level 
has dropped to approximately the 
minimum level.When this occurs, the warning will first 
come on intermittently and then stay on if 
the oil level drops further.
Visually check for oil leaks. If no obvious oil 
leaks are noted, drive to the nearest ser-
vice station where the engine oil should be 
topped to the required level with an 
approved oil specified in the Factory 
Approved Service Products pamphlet.
Display symbol
Display message
Possible cause
Possible solution
:
Engine oil
Visit workshop!
It may be that there is water in the engine 
oil.
Have the engine oil checked.
Engine oil level
Visit workshop!
The engine oil has dropped to a critical 
level.
Check the engine oil level 
(page 307) and add oil as required 
(page 309).
If you must add engine oil frequently, 
have the engine checked for possible 
leaks.
The measuring system is malfunctioning.
Have the measuring system checked 
by an authorized Mercedes-Benz 
Center.!The engine oil level warnings should 
not be ignored. Extended driving with 
the symbol displayed could result in 
serious engine damage that is not 
covered by the Mercedes-Benz Limited 
Warranty. 
     
        
        Page 390 of 506

389 Practical hints
What to do if …?
Display symbol
Display message
Possible cause
Possible solution
K
Lock top
The soft top is not properly locked.
Lock the soft top again (
page 250). 
Top being opened
The soft top is not completely open or 
closed. The hydraulics are losing pres-
sure. 
Open or close the soft top all the way.
Top
Visit workshop!
The soft top is malfunctioning.
Have the system checked at an autho-
rized Mercedes-Benz Center as soon 
as possible.
Start engine to 
operate top
The on-board voltage is too low.
Start the engine.
Top locked 
as vehicle is moving
You have attempted to open or close the 
soft top while driving.
Pull over to the side of the road and re-
peat soft top operation while the vehi-
cle is stationary.
_ 
Steering oil
Visit workshop!
The steering gear oil level is too low. There 
is a danger of steering gear damage.
Have the system checked by an autho-
rized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Warning!
G
If the level of steering gear oil in reservoir is 
too low, the steering power assistance could 
fail. Much greater effort will then be needed 
to turn the steering wheel.
Do not add steering oil without checking the 
steering system.
Do not drive the vehicle. Have the system 
checked at an authorized Mercedes-Benz 
Center as soon as possible. 
     
        
        Page 416 of 506

415 Practical hints
Replacing bulbs
Rear lamps Notes on bulb replacement
Only use 12 volt bulbs of the same type 
and with the specified watt rating. 
Switch lights off before changing a bulb 
to prevent short circuits. 
Always use a clean lint-free cloth when 
handling bulbs. 
Your hands should be dry and free of oil 
and grease.
If the newly installed bulb does not 
come on, visit an authorized 
Mercedes-Benz Center.
Have the LEDs and bulbs for the follow-
ing lamps replaced by an authorized 
Mercedes-Benz Center.
Additional turn signal lamps in the 
exterior rear view mirrors
High mounted brake lamp
Bi-Xenon* lamps
Front fog lamps
Lamp
Type
7
High mounted brake 
lamp
LED
8
Brake lamp
P 21 W
9
Turn signal lamp
P 21 W
a
Tail, parking and stand-
ing lamp, side marker
P 21/4 W
W 5 W
b
Backup lamp
P 21 W
c
License plate lamps
C 5 W
d
Rear fog lamp, driver’s 
side
P 21/4 W 
Warning!
G
Keep bulbs out of reach of children.
Bulbs and bulb sockets can be very hot. Al-
low the lamp to cool down before changing 
a bulb.
Halogen lamps contain pressurized gas. A 
bulb can explode if you:
touch or move it when hot
drop the bulb
scratch the bulb
Wear eye and hand protection.
Because of high voltage in Xenon lamps, it is 
dangerous to replace the bulb or repair the 
lamp and its components. We recommend 
that you have such work done by a qualified 
technician.iHave the headlamp adjustment 
checked regularly. 
     
        
        Page 426 of 506

425 Practical hints
Flat tire
Mounting the new wheel
1Wheel bolt for light alloy rims
2Wheel bolt for Minispare wheel or other 
steel rims (located in trunk with spare 
wheel)
Clean contact surfaces of wheel and 
wheel hub.
Guide the spare wheel onto the align-
ment bolt and push it on.
Insert wheel bolts and tighten them 
slightly.
!Wheel bolts2 must be used when 
mounting the Minispare wheel. The use 
of any wheel bolts other than wheel 
bolts 2 for the Minispare will physical-
ly damage the vehicle's brakes.
!To avoid paint damage, place wheel flat 
against hub and hold it there while in-
stalling first wheel bolt.Warning!
G
Always replace wheel bolts that are dam-
aged or rusted.
Never apply oil or grease to wheel bolts.
Damaged wheel hub threads should be re-
paired immediately. Do not continue to drive 
under these circumstances! Contact an au-
thorized Mercedes-Benz Center or call 
Roadside Assistance.
Incorrect wheel bolts or improperly tight-
ened wheel bolts can cause the wheel to 
come off. This could cause an accident. 
Make sure to use the correct wheel bolts. 
     
        
        Page 454 of 506
453 Technical data
Fuels, coolants, lubricants, etc.
Fuels, coolants, lubricants, etc.
CapacitiesVehicle components and their respective 
lubricants must match. Therefore only use 
products tested and approved by 
Mercedes-Benz.Please refer to the Factory Approved Ser-
vice Products pamphlet, or inquire at your 
Mercedes-Benz Center.
Model
Capacity
Fuels, coolants, lubricants, etc.
Engine with oil filter
CLK 320
CLK 500
CLK 55 AMG
8.5 US qt (8.0 l)
7.5 US qt (7.0 l)
9.0 US qt (8.5 l)
Approved engine oils
Automatic transmission
CLK 320
CLK 500
CLK 55 AMG
8.0 US qt (7.5 l)
9.3 US qt (8.7 l)
9.3 US qt (8.7 l)
MB Automatic Transmission Fluid
Rear axle
CLK 320
CLK 500
CLK 55 AMG
1.28 US qt (1.2 l)
1.5 US qt (1.4 l)
1.5 US qt (1.4 l)
Hypoid gear oil SAE 85 W 90
Power steering
approx. 1.1 US qt (1.0 l)
MB Power Steering Fluid (Pentosin 
CHF 11S)
Front wheel hubs
approx. 3.0 oz (85 g) each
High temperature roller bearing grease
Brake system
0.64 US qt (0.6 l)
MB Brake Fluid (DOT 4+)  
     
        
        Page 455 of 506
454 Technical dataFuels, coolants, lubricants, etc.
Model
Capacity
Fuels, coolants, lubricants, etc.
Cooling system
CLK 320
CLK 500
CLK 55 AMG
approx. 10.7 US qt (10.0 l)
approx. 12.8 US qt (12.0 l)
approx. 12.8 US qt (12.0 l)
MB 325.0 Anticorrosion/Antifreeze 
Agent
Fuel tank 
including a reserve of
CLK 320
CLK 500
CLK 55 AMG
16.35 US gal (62.0 l)
2.11 US gal (8.0 l)
2.11 US gal (8.0 l)
2.64 US gal (10.0 l)
Premium unleaded gasoline:
Minimum Posted Octane 91 
(Avg. of 96 RON / 86 MON)
Air conditioning system
R-134a refrigerant and special PAG lu-
bricant oil (never R-12)
Windshield washer and
headlamp cleaning system*
6.4 US qt (6.0 l)
MB Windshield Washer Concentrate
1
1Use MB Windshield Washer Concentrate “S” and water for temperatures above freezing point or MB Windshield Washer Concentrate “S” and commercially available
premixed windshield washer solvent / antifreeze for temperatures below freezing point. Follow suggested mixing ratios (page 460).