ContentsOperation......................................... 213
The first 1000 miles (1500 km) ......... 214
Driving instructions ............................ 216
Drive sensibly – save fuel ............. 216
Drinking and driving ..................... 216
Pedals .......................................... 216
Power assistance ......................... 217
Brakes .......................................... 217
Driving off..................................... 218
Parking ......................................... 218
Tires ............................................. 219
Hydroplaning ................................ 220
Tire traction .................................. 220
Tire speed rating .......................... 221
Winter driving instructions ........... 221
Standing water ............................. 222
Passenger compartment .............. 223
Off-road driving ............................ 223
Control and operation of radio
transmitters.................................. 231
Driving abroad .............................. 232
Catalytic converter ....................... 232
Emission control........................... 233
Coolant temperature .................... 233At the gas station .............................. 235
Refueling ...................................... 235
Check regularly and before
a long trip ..................................... 236
Engine compartment ......................... 238
Hood ............................................ 238
Engine oil ..................................... 239
Transmission fluid level ................ 244
Coolant level ................................ 244
Windshield/rear window
washer system and headlamp
cleaning
system ......................................... 245
Battery ............................................... 247
Tires and wheels ................................ 248
Important guidelines .................... 248
Tire care and maintenance ........... 249
Direction of rotation ..................... 251
Loading the vehicle ...................... 251
Recommended tire inflation
pressure ....................................... 257
Checking tire inflation pressure ... 259
Tire labeling.................................. 261
Load identification ....................... 265DOT, Tire Identification Number
(TIN) ............................................. 266
Maximum tire load ....................... 267
Maximum tire inflation pressure .. 268
Uniform Tire Quality Grading
Standards (U.S. vehicles) ............. 268
Tire ply material ........................... 270
Tire and loading terminology........ 271
Rotating tires ............................... 274
Winter driving .................................... 275
Winter tires .................................. 275
Block heater (Canada only) .......... 276
Snow chains................................. 276
Maintenance...................................... 277
Clearing the maintenance
service indicator .......................... 278
Maintenance service term
exceeded ..................................... 278
Calling up the maintenance
service indicator .......................... 278
Resetting the maintenance
service indicator .......................... 279
Vehicle care....................................... 280
Cleaning and care of the vehicle .. 280
28 At a glanceCenter consoleUpper part
Item
Page
1
Left front seat heater
switch
104
2
Switch for rear window
wiper/washer
54
3
ESP control switch
86
4
Differential lock switches
158
5
Central locking switch
99
6
Anti-theft alarm system
indicator lamp
88
Tow-away alarm switch
89
7
Right front seat heater
switch
104
Item
Page
8
Hazard warning flasher
switch
115
9
COMAND system, see
separate operating
instructions
a
Ashtray with lighter
194,
195
b
Climate control
164
c
7
indicator lamp
74,
295
105 Controls in detailSeats
Switching on seat heating
Press upper switch position1.
A red indicator lamp on the switch
comes on.
Switching off seat heating
Press upper switch position1 again.Switching on rapid seat heating
Press lower switch position2.
Both red indicator lamps on the switch
come on.Switching off rapid seat heating
Press lower switch position2 again.
iThe seat heater will automatically
switch off after approximately
30 minutes.
iThe system switches over to normal
heating mode after approximately
five minutes. Only one indicator lamp
remains lit.
iIf one or both of the lamps on the seat
heater switch are blinking, there is in-
sufficient voltage available as too many
electrical consumers are turned on.
The seat heater switches off automati-
cally.
The seat heater will switch back on
again automatically as soon as suffi-
cient voltage is available.
106 Controls in detailSeatsRear seats
The switch is located on the B (center) pil-
lar.
1Normal heating
2Rapid heating
Switch on the ignition (
page 35).Switching on seat heating
Press upper switch position1.
A red indicator lamp on the switch
comes on.
Switching off seat heating
Press upper switch position1 again.Switching on rapid seat heating
Press lower switch position2.
Both red indicator lamps on the switch
come on.
Switching off rapid seat heating
Press lower switch position2 again.
iThe seat heater will automatically
switch off after approximately
30 minutes.
iThe system switches over to normal
heating mode after approximately five
minutes. Only one indicator lamp re-
mains lit. iIf one or both of the lamps on the seat
heater switch are blinking, there is in-
sufficient voltage available as too many
electrical consumers are turned on.
The seat heater switches off automati-
cally.
The seat heater will switch back on
again automatically as soon as suffi-
cient voltage is available.
211 Controls in detail
Useful features
Heated steering wheel
The steering wheel heater warms up the
leather area of the steering wheel.
The lever with the heated steering wheel
switch is on the lower left-hand side of the
steering wheel.
1Switching on
2Switching off
3Indicator lampSwitching on
Switch on the ignition (
page 35).
All lamps in the instrument cluster
come on.
Turn switch at the tip of lever in direc-
tion of arrow1.
The steering wheel is heated. Indicator
lamp3 comes on.Switching off
Turn switch at the tip of lever in direc-
tion of arrow2.
The steering wheel heater is turned off.
Indicator lamp3 goes out.iThe steering wheel heating switches off
automatically while indicator lamp3
remains on when the temperature of
the vehicle interior is above 86°F
(30°C)
the steering wheel is above
82°F (28°C)
Indicator lamp3 flashes or switches
off in case of
power surge or undervoltage
a steering wheel heating
malfunction
271 Operation
Tires and wheels
Tire and loading terminology
Accessory weight
The combined weight (in excess of those
standard items which may be replaced) of
automatic transmission, power steering,
power brakes, power windows, power
seats, radio, and heater, to the extent that
these items are available as
factory-installed equipment (whether
installed or not).
Air pressure
The amount of air inside the tire pressing
outward on each square inch of the tire.
Air pressure is expressed in pounds per
square inch (psi), or kilopascal (kPa) or
bars.
Aspect ratio
Dimensional relationship between tire
section height and section width
expressed in percentage.Bar
Another metric unit for air pressure. There
are 14.5038 pounds per square inch (psi)
to 1 bar; there are 100 kilopascals (kPa)
to 1 bar.
Bead
The tire bead contains steel wires wrapped
by steel cords that hold the tire onto the
rim.
Cold tire inflation pressure
Tire inflation pressure when your vehicle
has been sitting for at least three hours or
driven no more than one mile (1.6 km).
Curb weight
The weight of a motor vehicle with stan-
dard equipment including the maximum
capacity of fuel, oil, and coolant, and, if so
equipped, air conditioning and additional
optional equipment, but without passen-
gers and cargo.DOT (D
epartment o
f T
ransportation)
A tire branding symbol which denotes the
tire meets requirements of the
U.S. Department of Transportation.
GAWR (G
ross A
xle W
eight R
ating)
The GAWR is the maximum permissible
axle weight. The gross vehicle weight on
each axle must never exceed the GAWR for
the front and rear axle indicated on the
Certification label located on the driver’s
door B-pillar.
GTW (G
ross T
railer W
eight)
The GTW is the weight of the trailer plus
the weight of all cargo, equipment, luggage
etc. loaded on the trailer.
276 OperationWinter drivingBlock heater (Canada only)
The engine is equipped with a block
heater.
The electrical cable may be installed at an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Light Truck
Center.
Snow chains
Snow chains should only be driven on
snow-covered roads at speeds not to
exceed 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
approved by Mercedes-Benz. Your
authorized Mercedes-Benz Light Truck
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.
iWhen driving with snow chains, you
may wish to deactivate the ESP
(page 84) before setting the vehicle
in motion. This will improve the
vehicle’s traction.
389 Index
Bead 271
Block heater (Canada only) 276
Blocking rear door window operation 78
B-pillar 366
Brake assist system (BAS) 381
Brake fluid 237, 376
Brake lamp bulbs, left and right 334
Brake lamp, high mounted 334
Brake pads
Message in display 303
Brakes 217
Warning lamp 290, 291
Break-in period 214
Brush guard* 329
Lowering 330
Raising and securing 330
Bulbs, replacing
Additional turn signals 334
Backup lamps 334, 342
Brake lamps 334, 341
Front fog lamps 334, 338
Front lamps 333, 334
Front turn signal lamps 334, 339
High and low beam 336High beam lamps 334
High mounted brake lamp 334
License plate lamps 334, 342
Low beam lamps 334
Parking lamps 334, 336
Rear fog lamp 334, 342
Rear turn signal lamps 334
Side marker lamps 334, 340
Standing lamps 334, 336
Tail lamp unit 334, 341C
CAC (Customer Assistance Center) 381
Calling up
Maintenance service indicator 278
Range (distance to empty) 145
CAN system 381
Capacities
Fuels, coolants, lubricants, etc. 374
Cargo area see Cargo compartment
Cargo compartment
Tailgate 97, 98
Tie-down rings 189
Cargo compartment cover 182
Installing 183
Removing 183
Cargo tie-down rings 189
Catalytic converter 232
CD changer 322
CD player
Operating 130
Center console 28
AIRBAG OFF indicator lamp 295
Lower part 29
Upper part 28