Page 283 of 474

281 Operation
Tires and wheels
Tread depth
Do not allow your tires to wear down too
far. Adhesion properties on wet roads are
sharply reduced at tread depths under 1⁄8in (3 mm).
Tread wear indicators (TWI) are required by
law. These indicators are located in six
places on the tread circumference and
become visible at a tread depth of approx-
imately
1/16
in (1.6 mm), at which point
the tire is considered worn and should be
replaced.
Recommended minimum tire tread depth:
Summer tires
1/8in (3 mm)
Winter tires
1/6in (4 mm)
1TWI (T
read W
ear I
ndicator)
The tread wear indicator appears as a solid
band across the tread.Storing tires
Cleaning tires
Warning!
G
Although the applicable federal motor safety
laws consider a tire to be worn when the
tread wear indicators (TWI) become visible
at approximately
1/16in (1.6 mm), we rec-
ommend that you do not allow your tires
to wear down to that level. As tread depth
approaches
1/8in (3 mm), the adhesion
properties on a wet road are sharply re-
duced.
Depending upon the weather and/or road
surface (conditions), the tire traction varies
widely.
!Keep unmounted tires in a cool, dry
place with as little exposure to light as
possible. Protect tires from contact
with oil, grease and gasoline.!Never use a round nozzle to power
wash tires. The intense jet of water can
result in damage to the tire.
Always replace a damaged tire.
Page 316 of 474

314 OperationMaintenance
Resetting the maintenance service indicator
In the event that the maintenance service
on your vehicle is not carried out by an au-
thorized Mercedes-Benz Center, you can
have the maintenance service indicator re-
set. The automotive maintenance facility
carrying out the maintenance service will
find the information for resetting the main-
tenance service indicator in the mainte-
nance-relevant information for your
vehicle. Such information is available ei-
ther from an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center or directly from Mercedes-Benz.
iIf the battery supplying the vehicle’s
electrical consumers is disconnected,
the days of disconnection will not be in-
cluded in the count shown by the ser-
vice indicator. To arrive at the true
service deadline, you will need to sub-
tract these days from the days shown
in the service indicator.
Do not confuse the service indicator
with the engine oil level indicator :.
!If the maintenance service indicator
was inadvertently reset, have an autho-
rized Mercedes-Benz Center correct it.
Only reset if the proper service has
been performed. Resetting the system
without performing proper service as
called for by the maintenance service
indicator will result in engine damage
not covered by the Mercedes-Benz
Limited Warranty.
Page 339 of 474
337 Practical hints
What to do if …
Text messagesLeft display
Right display
Possible cause
Possible solution
ABC
Drive carefully!
The capability of the ABC system is re-
stricted. This can impair handling.
Do not exceed a speed of 50 mph
(80 km/h).
Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center
as soon as possible.
The vehicle is losing oil.
Stop your vehicle as soon as it is safe to
do so.
Stop,
car too low
The car is parked on an extremely un-
even surface.
Press the vehicle level control button to
select level 2 (
page 222).
ABC is malfunctioning.
Stop and press the ABC button to select a
higher vehicle level (
page 222).
Do not turn steering wheel too far to avoid
damaging the front fenders.
Listen for scraping noises.
Do not exceed a speed of 50 mph
(80 km/h).
Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center
as soon as possible.
Page 357 of 474
355 Practical hints
What to do if …
Left display
Right display
Possible cause
Suggested 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 274) and check the
engine oil level (page 272).
Engine oil level
Stop, put 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 274) and check the
engine oil level (page 272).
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 excess oil siphoned or drained off. Ob-
serve all legal requirements with respect to its
disposal.
Page 358 of 474

356 Practical hintsWhat to do if …When the message
Add 1 qt engine oil
at next refueling (Canada:
1l
) appears
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.
If no oil leaks are noted, continue to drive
to the nearest service station where the
engine oil should be topped to the required
level with an approved oil specified in the
Factory Approved Service Products pam-
phlet.
Left display
Right display
Possible cause
Suggested 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 crit-
ical level.
Check the engine oil level (
page 272) and
add oil as required (
page 274).
If you must add engine oil frequently, have the
engine checked for possible leaks.
The measuring system is malfunc-
tioning.
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 447 of 474

445 Index
A
ABC 220, 439
Messages in display 337
Oil level 275
Setting vehicle level 221
ABC switch 30
ABS 79, 80, 439
ABS control 80
Messages in display 338
Warning lamp 27, 325
ABS/ESP
Warning lamp 25, 324
Accelerator position, automatic
transmission 171
Accessory weight 305
Activating
Air circulation mode 187
Air conditioning (cooling) 192
Anti-theft alarm system 89
Central locking (control system) 156
Distance warning function* 217Distronic* 213
Easy-entry/exit feature 157
Electric air pump 398
ESP 84
Exterior lamps 123
Exterior rear view mirror parking
position 179
Hazard warning flasher 129
High beams 128
Ignition 36
Immobilizer 58
Parktronic* 226
Rear window defroster 189
Residual heat 190
Seat heating 117, 118
Seat ventilation* 119
Tow-away alarm 90
Windshield wipers 53
Active Body Control (ABC) switch 30
Active Body Control see ABC
Adding
Engine oil 274Adjusting
Air distribution 186
Air volume 185
Backrest tilt 40, 41
Exterior rear view mirrors 43
Head restraint height 41
Head restraint tilt 41
Interior rear view mirror 43
Lumbar support 115
Mirrors 43
Multicontour backrest* 116
Seat cushion depth 41
Seat cushion tilt 41
Seat height 41
Seat in the lumbar region 116
Seat in the shoulder region 116
Seats 39
Steering column in/out 42
Steering column up/down 42
Steering wheel 42
Page 450 of 474

448 IndexCenter air vents 29
Center console
Lower part 30
Upper part 29
Centigrade
Setting temperature units 148
Central locking
Automatic 110
Central locking switch 111
Switching on/off (control
system) 156
Unlocking from inside 111
Central locking switch 29
Central unlocking switch 29
Changing
Batteries (SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO*) 378
Batteries (SmartKey) 377
SmartKey setting 96
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO*
settings 103
Vehicle level 222Charging
Vehicle batteries 404
CHECK ENGINE
Messages in display 351
CHECK ENGINE malfunction indicator
lamp 27, 327, 328
Checking
Coolant level 276
Oil level 269, 272
Tire inflate pressure 269
Vehicle lighting 269
Child safety
Airbags 64
Automatic child seat recognition 76
Infant and child restraint systems 62
Cigarette lighter 29, 233
Cleaning
Cup holder 320
Gear selector lever 320
Hard plastic trim items 320
Headlamps 178Headliner 320
Leather upholstery 321
Plastic and rubber parts 321
Seat belts 320
Steering wheel 320
Upholstery 321
Windshield 53
Wood trims 321
Cleaning tires 281
Clock 23
Closing
Hood 271
Power window with
KEYLESS-GO* 195
Retractable hardtop (SmartKey) 201
Retractable hardtop (switch) 198
Side windows 194, 195
Sunshade 204
Trunk lid 109
Windows 193
Windows with KEYLESS-GO* 195
Page 454 of 474

452 IndexEmission control 265
Emission control label 418
Engine
Compartment 270
Starting with KEYLESS-GO* 49
Starting with the SmartKey 48
Turning off 58
Turning off with KEYLESS-GO* 59
Turning off with the SmartKey 58
Engine number 440
Engine oil 272, 433
Adding 274
Additives 433
Checking level 272
Consumption 272
Display messages 355
Filler neck 274
Messages in display 273
Engine oil level see Oil levelESP 79, 82, 440
Control switch 30
Switching off 83
Switching on 84
Synchronizing 341
Warning lamp 82
ESP/ABS warning lamp 25
ETD see Emergency Tensioning Device
Express-close front side windows 195
Express-open front side windows 194
F
Fahrenheit
Setting temperature units 148
Fastening the seat belts 45
Fine adjustment
Cruise control 208
First aid kit 372
Flat tire 388
Spare wheel 393
TIREFIT kit 388Flexible Service System (FSS), Canada
only 312, 441
Fluid level 275
Fog lamp, rear 127, 381
Replacing bulb 385
Fog lamps 127
Fog lamps, front 127
Replacing bulbs 381
Front airbags 68
Front lamps 381
Replacing bulbs 383
FSS (Flexible Service System, Canada
only) 312, 441
Fuel 267
Additives 435
Fuel reserve warning lamp 27, 330
Gasoline additives 435
Premium unleaded gasoline 268,
432, 434
Requirements 434
Fuel consumption statistics
After start 159
Since reset 160