411 Practical hints
Opening/closing in an emergency
hLocking
Insert hex wrench into soft top locking
mechanism screw.
Turn the soft top locking mechanism
screw with hex wrench counterclock-
wise in direction of arrowh as far as it
will go.
The soft top is locked onto the wind-
shield frame.
Have the soft top operation checked at
an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center
as soon as possible.
Warning!
G
Position hands as indicated by arrows so
that when you press soft top compartment
coverf forward and lower material ten-
sioning framee, your hands cannot be-
come trapped.
!Make sure you turn the hex wrench
counterclockwise as far as it will go.
Otherwise the soft top may not lock
properly.!If, after completing the soft top emer-
gency operation, the trunk cannot be
opened using the remote trunk lid re-
lease switch in the driver’s door,
theŠ button on the SmartKey, or
the trunk lid release handle in the li-
cense plate recess, press the soft top
compartment cover down again as de-
scribed above.
Do not open the trunk with the emer-
gency key, as this could otherwise
damage the trunk lid and the soft top
compartment cover.
428 Practical hintsBattery2Negative terminal
3Positive terminal cover
Disconnecting the battery
Turn off the engine (
page 56).
Turn off all electrical consumers.
Remove SmartKey from starter switch.
Vehicles with KEYLESS-GO*:
Press the start / stop button until
the engine shuts off.
Open the driver’s door.
Open the hood (
page 305).
Remove the filter box (
page 427).
Read and observe safety instructions
and precautions (
page 427).
Disconnect the battery negative lead
from negative terminal2.
Remove cover3 from the positive ter-
minal.
Disconnect the battery positive lead.
Removing the battery
Remove the screw securing the
battery.
Remove the battery support and
bracket.
Take out the battery.
Charging and reinstalling battery
Charge battery in accordance with the
instructions of the battery charger
manufacturer.
Reinstall the charged battery. Follow
the previously described steps in
reverse order.
Warning!
G
With a disconnected battery
you will no longer be able to turn the
SmartKey in the starter switch and
pressing the KEYLESS-GO* start/stop
button on the gear selector lever will
have no effect
the gear selector lever will remain
locked in position
P
429 Practical hints
Battery
Reconnecting the battery
Turn off all electrical consumers.
Remove SmartKey from starter switch.
Vehicles with KEYLESS-GO*:
Press the start / stop button until
the engine shuts off.
Open the driver’s door.
Connect the battery positive lead and
fasten its cover3.
Connect the battery negative lead2.
Reinstall the filter box (
page 427).Batteries contain materials that can harm
the environment if disposed of improperly.
Large 12-volt storage batteries contain
lead. Recycling of batteries is the preferred
method of disposal. Many states require
sellers of batteries to accept old batteries
for recycling.
Warning!
G
Never charge a battery while still installed in
the vehicle unless the accessory battery
charge unit* approved by Mercedes-Benz is
being used. Gases may escape during charg-
ing and cause explosions that may result in
paint damage, corrosion or personal injury.
An accessory battery charge unit* specially
adapted for Mercedes-Benz vehicles and
tested and approved by Mercedes-Benz is
available, permitting the charging of the bat-
tery in its installed position. Contact an au-
thorized Mercedes-Benz Center for
information and availability. Charge battery
in accordance with the separate instruc-
tions for the accessory battery charger*.
!NEVER invert the terminal connections!!The battery, its filler caps and the vent
tube must always be securely installed
when the vehicle is in operation.
iThe following procedures must be car-
ried out following any interruption of
battery power (e.g. due to reconnect-
ing):
Set the clock (
page 147) (vehi-
cles with COMAND*: see COMAND
operator’s manual).
Resynchronize the side windows
(page 243).
433 Practical hints
Towing the vehicle
Warning!
G
Prior to towing the vehicle with all wheels on
the ground, make certain that the SmartKey
is in starter switch position
2.
If the SmartKey is left in starter switch posi-
tion
0 for an extended period of time, it can
no longer be turned in the switch. In this
case, the steering is locked. To unlock, re-
move SmartKey from starter switch and re-
insert.
If circumstances require towing the vehicle
with all wheels on the ground, always tow
with a tow bar if:
the engine will not run
there is a malfunction in the power sup-
ply or in the vehicle’s electrical system
as that will be necessary to adequately con-
trol the towed vehicle.
Warning!
G
With the engine not running, there is no
power assistance for the brake and steering
systems. In this case, it is important to keep
in mind that a considerably higher degree of
effort is necessary to brake and steer the ve-
hicle. Adapt your driving accordingly.iTo signal turns while being towed with
the hazard warning flasher in use,
switch on the ignition and activate the
combination switch for the left or right
turn signal in the usual manner – only
the selected turn signal will operate.
Upon canceling the turn signal, the haz-
ard warning flasher will operate again.
!When towing the vehicle with all wheels
on the ground, please note the follow-
ing:
With the automatic central locking acti-
vated and the SmartKey in starter
switch position2, or KEYLESS-GO*
start/stop button in position2, the ve-
hicle doors lock if the left front wheel
as well as the right rear wheel are turn-
ing at vehicle speeds of approx. 9 mph
(15 km / h) or more.
Switch off the tow-away alarm
(page 91).
To prevent the vehicle door locks from
locking, deactivate the automatic cen-
tral locking (
page 155).
Towing of the vehicle should only be
done using the properly installed tow-
ing eye bolt. Never attach tow cable,
tow rope or tow rod to the vehicle chas-
sis, frame or suspension parts.
437 Practical hintsFuses
Mainfuse box in passenger compartment
The main fuse box is located in the passen-
ger compartment on the driver’s side of
the cockpit.
1Main fuse box coverOpening
Open the driver’s door.
Insert flat, blunt object as a lever into
the edge of the fuse box cover1 at
the position indicated by the arrow.
Loosen fuse box cover1 from cockpit
using lever.
Using your hands, remove fuse box
cover1 rearward.
Closing
Attach fuse box cover1 in the front.
Fold fuse box cover1 in until it
engages.
Fuse box in engine compartment
The fuse box is located in the engine com-
partment on the driver’s side.
1Cover
2Screw
3Retainer
Removing cover
Twist screws2 90° counterclock-
wise.
Lift the rear of cover1.
Slide out retainer3 and remove
cover1 by pulling towards front.
!Do not use sharp objects such as a
screw driver to open the fuse box
cover1 in the cockpit, as this could
damage it.
461 Technical terms
ABS
(A
ntilock B
rake S
ystem)
Prevents the wheels from locking up
during braking so that the vehicle can
continue to be steered.
Accessory weight
(
page 335)
Air pressure
(page 335)
Alignment bolt
Metal pin with thread. The centering
pin is an aid used when changing a tire
to align the wheel with the wheel hub.
Aspect ratio
(page 335)
Bar
(page 336)
BAS
(Brake A
ssist S
ystem)
System for potentially reducing braking
distances in emergency braking situa-
tions. The system is activated when it
senses an emergency based on how
fast the brake is applied.Bead
(
page 336)
Bi-Xenon headlamps*
Headlamps which use an electric arc as
the light source and produce a more in-
tense light than filament headlamps.
Bi-Xenon headlamps produce low
beam and high beam.
CAC
(Customer A
ssistance C
enter)
Mercedes-Benz customer service cen-
ter, which can help you with any ques-
tions about your vehicle and provide
assistance in the event of a break-
down.
CAN system
(C
ontroller A
rea N
etwork)
Data bus network serving to control ve-
hicle functions such as door locking or
windshield wiping.Cockpit
All instruments, switches, buttons and
indicator/warning lamps in the passen-
ger compartment needed for vehicle
operation and monitoring.
Cold tire inflation pressure
(
page 336)
COMAND
(Cockpit M
anagement and D
ata Sys-
tem)
Information and operating center for
vehicle sound and communications
systems, including the radio and the
navigation system, as well as other op-
tional equipment (CD changer*, tele-
phone, etc.).
Control system
The control system is used to call up
vehicle information and to change
component settings. Information and
messages appear in the multifunction
display. The driver uses the buttons on
the multifunction steering wheel to
navigate through the system and to ad-
just settings.
463 Technical terms
Head-thorax air bag
Installed in the driver and the front pas-
senger seat, these air bags protect oc-
cupants during side impact collisions
exceeding a preset threshold. Unlike
normal side impact air bags,
head-thorax air bags are also designed
to provide protection for the head area.
Instrument cluster
The displays and indicator/warning
lamps in the driver’s field of vision, in-
cluding the tachometer, speedometer,
coolant temperature indicator and fuel
display.
KEYLESS-GO*
System for entering and operating the
vehicle without the use of a SmartKey.
Kickdown
Depressing the accelerator past the
point of resistance shifts the transmis-
sion down to the lowest possible gear.
This very quickly accelerates the vehi-
cle and should not be used for normal
acceleration needs.Kilopascal (kPa)
(
page 336)
Lock button
Button on the door which indicates
whether the door is locked or un-
locked. Pushing the lock button down
on an individual door from inside will
lock that door.
Maintenance System (U.S. vehicles)
Maintenance service indicator in the
multifunction display that informs the
driver when the next vehicle mainte-
nance service is due. The Maintenance
System in your vehicle tracks distance
driven and the time elapsed since your
last maintenance service, and calls for
the next maintenance service
accordingly.
Maximum load rating
(page 337)
Maximum loaded vehicle weight
(page 337)
Maximum tire inflation pressure
(page 337)Memory function*
Used to store three individual seat,
steering wheel and mirror positions for
each SmartKey or, if so equipped,
KEYLESS-GO* feature.
Menu
The control system displays are ar-
ranged in menus. Each menu contains
a number of commands for particular
systems.
MON
(M
otor O
ctane N
umber)
The Motor Octane Number for gasoline
as determined by a standardized meth-
od. It is an indication of a gasoline's
ability to resist undesired detonation
(knocking). The average of both the
MON (Motor Octane Number) and
->RON (Research Octane Number) is
posted at the pump, also known as
ANTI-KNOCK INDEX.
Multifunction display
Display field in the speedometer used
to present information provided by the
control system.
474 Index
Headlamps 56
Immobilizer 89
Interior lighting
delayed switch-off 154
Rear window defroster 179
Residual heat 199
Seat ventilation* 118
Tow-away alarm 92
Deep water see Standing water
Defogging
Windshield 185, 194
Defrosting 185, 195
Delayed switch-off
Interior lighting 154
Department of Transportation see DOT
Dialing
A number (telephone) 161
Difficulties
While driving see
Problems while driving
With starting 48
Digital speedometer 138
Direction of rotation (tires) 316
Discharged battery
Jump starting 430Disconnecting
Vehicle battery 428
Display
Selecting 146, 147
Display elements
Audio system 202
Displays
Digital speedometer 139
Maintenance service indicator 342
Messages 308, 363
Selecting 146
Showing vehicle
status message memory 141
Distance to empty (range)
Calling up 158
Door control panel 30
Door entry lamps 129
Door handle 30
Door unlock
With Tele Aid 283
Doors
Message in display 379
Opening from inside vehicle 105
Opening from outside 96, 101
DOT 336Downhill driving
Cruise control 257
Downshifting
Automatic transmission 165
Drinking and driving 291
Driving
General instructions 43, 291
Hydroplaning 295
In winter 297
Problems 54
Safety systems 84
Through standing water 298
Traveling abroad 299
Driving instructions 291
Driving off 294
Driving safety systems
ABS 84
BAS 85
ESP 86
Driving systems 255
Cruise control
CLK 320 / CLK 55 AMG 255
Driving safety systems 84
Parktronic system* 260