Page 221 of 474

220 Controls in detailAudio systemOperating the single CD player in the 
audio system unit
Loading a CD
The single CD player in the audio system 
unit has capacity for one CD. The CD slot 
for loading the drive is located underneath 
the soft keys.
Make sure the system is switched on.
Insert CD into CD slot. The label side of 
the CD must face upwards.
The system automatically pulls the CD 
into the CD slot. The audio CD begins 
to play.Ejecting a CD
Make sure the system is switched on.
Press EJECTbutton.
The system ejects the CD. 
NO CD
 will 
appear in the display.
Remove CD from slot.Operational readiness of CD changer*
If a CD changer* has been installed in the 
vehicle, it can be operated from the front 
control panel of the audio system. 
A loaded magazine must be installed to 
play CDs.
The CD changer* is located in the glove 
box.
Loading/unloading the CD magazine
Slide changer door to the right and 
press gbutton.
Magazine will be ejected.
!If a CD is already loaded, it must be 
ejected before inserting a new CD. 
Inserting a second CD in the slot with 
another CD still loaded will cause dam-
age to the CD drive not covered by the 
Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty. 
iIf a CD has been inserted incorrectly or 
cannot be read, 
WRONG CD0
 will appear 
in the display.
iIf you do not take the CD out of the CD 
slot within approx. 15 seconds, the 
system automatically pulls the CD back 
in and plays it.
If a CD is pulled back in, press 
EJECTbutton for 5 seconds; the CD 
will then be ejected.
iThe CD changer* may not be able to 
play audio CDs with copy protection. 
         
        
        
     
        
        Page 256 of 474

255 Controls in detail
Loading
If the backrest is not locked into position, 
a red indicator3 will be visible.
Check for secure locking by pushing 
and pulling on the backrest.
Loading instructions
The total load weight including vehicle 
occupants and luggage/cargo should not 
exceed the load limit or vehicle capacity 
weight indicated on the corresponding 
placard located on the driver’s door 
B-pillar.
The handling characteristics of a fully load-
ed vehicle depend greatly on the load dis-
tribution. It is therefore recommended to 
load the vehicle according to the illustra-
tions shown, with the heaviest items being 
placed towards the front of the vehicle.
Warning!
G
If a red indicator is visible with the backrest 
up, then the backrest is not properly locked 
into position.
Always lock backrest in its upright position 
when rear seat bench is occupied, cargo is 
being carried in the trunk, or the extended 
cargo compartment is not in use. Check for 
secure locking by pushing and pulling on the 
backrest.
In an accident, during hard braking or sud-
den maneuvers, loose items will be thrown 
around inside the vehicle, and cause injury 
to vehicle occupants unless the items are 
securely fastened in the vehicle.
To help avoid personal injury during a 
collision or sudden maneuver, exercise care 
when transporting cargo.iTo prevent unauthorized persons from 
access to the trunk, always lock 
backrest in its upright position. 
         
        
        
     
        
        Page 308 of 474

307 Operation
Tires and wheels
Direction of rotation
Unidirectional tires offer added advan-
tages, such as better hydroplaning perfor-
mance. To benefit, however, you must 
make sure the tires rotate in the direction 
specified.
An arrow on the sidewall indicates the 
intended direction of rotation (spinning) of 
the tire.
Loading the vehicle
Two labels on your vehicle show how much 
weight it may properly carry. 
The Tire and Loading Information 
placard (Example A) or the Vehicle Tire 
Information placard (Example B) can be 
found on the driver’s door B-pillar. This 
placard tells you important information 
about the number of people that can be 
in the vehicle and the total weight that 
can be carried in the vehicle. It also 
contains information on the proper size 
and recommended tire inflation pres-
sures for the original equipment tires 
on your vehicle.
The Certification label, also found on 
the driver’s door B-pillar tells you about 
the gross weight capacity of your vehi-
cle, called the Gross Vehicle Weight 
Rating (GVWR). The GVWR includes the 
weight of the vehicle, all occupants, 
fuel and cargo. The Certification label 
also tells you about the front and rear 
axle weight capacity, called the Gross 
Axle Weight Rating (GAWR). The GAWR 
is the total allowable weight that can be 
carried by a single axle (front or rear). 
Never exceed the GVWR or GAWR for 
either the front axle or rear axle.
iSpare wheels may be mounted against 
the direction of rotation (spinning) even 
with a unidirectional tire for temporary 
use only until the regular drive wheel 
has been repaired or replaced. Always 
observe and follow applicable tempo-
rary use restrictions and speed limita-
tions indicated on the spare wheel. 
         
        
        
     
        
        Page 309 of 474

308 OperationTires and wheels1Driver’s door B-pillar
Following is a discussion on how to work 
with the information contained on the two 
placards with regards to loading your 
vehicle.Tire and Loading Information
Your vehicle is equipped with either the 
Tire and Loading Information placard 
(Example A) or the Vehicle Tire Information 
placard (Example B). Placard (Example A)
1Load limit information on the Tire and 
Loading Information placard
Warning!
G
Do not overload the tires by exceeding the 
specified load limit or vehicle capacity 
weight as indicated on the placard on the 
driver’s door B-pillar. Overloading the tires 
can overheat them, possibly causing a 
blowout. Overloading the tires can also 
result in handling or steering problems, or 
brake failure.
iData shown on placard examples are 
for illustration purposes only. Load lim-
it data are specific to each vehicle and 
may vary from data shown in the illus-
trations below. Refer to placard on ve-
hicle for actual data specific to your 
vehicle.  
         
        
        
     
        
        Page 310 of 474

309 Operation
Tires and wheels
The placard showing the load limit informa-
tion is located on the driver’s door B-pillar. 
If your vehicle is equipped with the Tire and 
Loading Information placard (Example A), 
locate the statement “The combined 
weight of occupants and cargo should 
never exceed XXX kilograms or XXX lbs.” 
on this placard. The combined weight of all 
occupants, cargo / luggage and trailer 
tongue load (if applicable) should never 
exceed the weight referenced in that 
statement.
Placard (Example B)
1Load limit information on the Vehicle 
Tire Information placardThe placard showing the load limit informa-
tion is located on the driver’s door B-pillar. 
If your vehicle is equipped with the Vehicle 
Tire Information placard (Example B), 
locate the heading “Vehicle Capacity 
Weight” on this placard. The combined 
weight of all occupants, cargo/luggage 
and trailer tongue (if applicable) should 
never exceed the weight listed next to 
vehicle capacity weight.Seating capacity
The seating capacity gives you important 
information on the number of occupants 
that can be in the vehicle. Observe front 
and rear seating capacity. Your vehicle is 
equipped with either placard Example A or 
placard Example B located on the driver’s 
door B-pillar (
page 308).
iData shown on placard examples are 
for illustration purposes only. Load lim-
it data are specific to each vehicle and 
may vary from data shown in the illus-
trations below. Refer to placard on ve-
hicle for actual data specific to your 
vehicle.  
         
        
        
     
        
        Page 311 of 474

310 OperationTires and wheelsPlacard (Example A)1Seating capacityPlacard (Example B)1Seating capacitySteps for determining correct load limit
The following steps have been developed 
as required of all manufacturers under Title 
49, Code of U.S. Federal Regulations, Part 
575 pursuant to the “National Traffic and 
Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1966”.
Step 1 (Vehicles equipped with placard 
Example A)
Locate the statement “The combined 
weight of occupants and cargo should 
never exceed XXX kg or XXX lbs.” on 
your vehicle’s placard.
Step 1 (Vehicles equipped with placard 
Example B)
Locate the heading “Vehicle Capacity 
Weight” on your vehicle’s placard.
Step 2
Determine the combined weight of the 
driver and passengers that will be 
riding in your vehicle.Step 3
Subtract the combined weight of the 
driver and passengers from XXX kilo-
grams or XXX lbs.
Step 4
The resulting figure equals the avail-
able amount of cargo and luggage load 
capacity. For example, if the “XXX” 
amount equals 1400 lbs and there will 
be five 150 lbs passengers in your 
vehicle, the amount of available cargo 
and luggage load capacity is 650 lbs 
(1400-750 (5 x150) = 650 lbs).
Step 5
Determine the combined weight of 
luggage and cargo being loaded on the 
vehicle. That weight may not safely 
exceed the available cargo and luggage 
load capacity calculated in step 4. 
         
        
        
     
        
        Page 312 of 474
311 Operation
Tires and wheels
Step 6 (if applicable)
If your vehicle will be towing a trailer, 
load from your trailer will be trans-
ferred to your vehicle. Consult this 
manual to determine how this reduces 
the available cargo and luggage load 
capacity of your vehicle (
page 313).
The following table shows examples on 
how to calculate total and cargo load 
capacities with varying seating configura-
tions and number and size of occupants. 
The following examples use a load limit 
of 1500 lbs. This is for illustration 
purposes only. Make sure you are using 
the actual load limit for your vehicle stated 
on the vehicle’s placard (
page 308). 
         
        
        
     
        
        Page 313 of 474
312 OperationTires and wheelsThe higher the weight of all occupants, the 
less cargo and luggage load capacity is 
available.
For more information, see “Trailer tongue 
load” (
page 313).
Example
Combined 
weight limit 
of occu-
pants and 
cargo from 
placard
Number of 
occupants 
(driver and 
passengers)
Seating 
configura-
tion
Occupants weight 
Combined 
weight of all 
occupants
Available cargo/luggage and trailer 
tongue weight (total load limit or 
vehicle capacity weight from plac-
ard minus combined weight of all 
occupants)
1
1500 lbs
5
front: 2
rear: 3
Occupant 1: 150 lbs
Occupant 2: 180 lbs
Occupant 3: 160 lbs
Occupant 4: 140 lbs
Occupant 5: 120 lbs
750 lbs
1500 lbs - 750 lbs = 750 lbs 
2
1500 lbs
3
front: 1
rear: 2
Occupant 1: 200 lbs
Occupant 2: 190 lbs
Occupant 3: 150 lbs
540 lbs
1500 lbs - 540 lbs = 960 lbs 
3
1500 lbs
1
front:1
Occupant 1: 150 lbs
150 lbs
1500 lbs - 150 lbs = 1350 lbs