2006 MERCEDES-BENZ C55AMG flat tire

Contents
Loading .............................................. 248
Roof rack* .................................... 248
Ski sack (Canada only) ................. 249
Split rear bench seat .................... 252
Loading instructions ..................... 254
Cargo tie-down rings* .................. 255
Useful features .................................. 256
Storage compartments................. 256
Cup holders .................................. 258
Ashtrays ....................................... 260
Cigarette lighter ........................... 262
Power outlet ................................. 263
Telephone*................................... 263
Tele Aid* ...................................... 264
Garage door opener ..................... 273
Operation......................................... 281
The first 1 000 miles (1 500 km)......... 282
Driving instructions............................ 283
Drive sensibly – save fuel ............. 283
Drinking and driving ..................... 283
Pedals .......................................... 283
Power assistance ......................... 283
Brakes .......................................... 284
Driving off .................................... 285
Parking ......................................... 285
Tires ............................................. 286
Hydroplaning ................................ 287
Tire traction.................................. 287
Tire speed rating .......................... 288
Winter driving instructions ........... 288
Standing water ............................. 289
Passenger compartment .............. 290
Driving abroad.............................. 290
Control and operation of radio
transmitters ................................. 290
Catalytic converter ....................... 291
Emission control .......................... 291
Coolant temperature .................... 292At the gas station .............................. 293
Refueling ...................................... 293
Check regularly and before a
long trip ....................................... 294
Engine compartment ......................... 297
Hood ............................................ 297
Engine oil ..................................... 298
Transmission fluid level ................ 301
Coolant level ................................ 301
Battery ......................................... 303
Windshield washer system and
headlamp cleaning system*......... 304
Tires and wheels................................ 305
Important guidelines .................... 305
Tire care and maintenance........... 306
Direction of rotation..................... 308
Loading the vehicle ...................... 308
Recommended tire inflation
pressure ....................................... 315
Checking tire inflation pressure ... 317
Tire labeling ................................. 321
Load identification ....................... 325
DOT, Tire Identification Number
(TIN) ............................................. 326
Maximum tire load ....................... 327
Maximum tire inflation pressure .. 328

Contents
Uniform Tire Quality Grading
Standards (U.S. vehicles) ............. 329
Tire ply material ........................... 331
Tire and loading terminology ........ 331
Rotating tires ............................... 335
Winter driving .................................... 336
Winter tires .................................. 336
Block heater (Canada only) .......... 337
Snow chains................................. 337
Maintenance...................................... 338
Maintenance service indicator
message....................................... 338
Calling up the maintenance
service indicator display............... 339
Resetting the maintenance
service indicator........................... 340
Vehicle care ....................................... 341
Cleaning and care of the vehicle .. 341
Practical hints.................................. 349
What to do if … ................................... 350
Lamps in instrument cluster ......... 350
Lamp in center console................. 357
Vehicle status messages in the
multifunction display..................... 358
Where will I find ...? ............................ 380
First aid kit.................................... 380
Vehicle tool kit .............................. 380
Spare wheel .................................. 383
Spare wheel bolts ......................... 385
Unlocking/locking in an emergency... 386
Unlocking the vehicle.................... 386
Locking the vehicle ....................... 387
Manually unlocking the
transmission gear selector lever ... 388
Opening/closing in an emergency ..... 389
Power tilt/sliding sunroof ............. 389
Resetting activated head restraints .... 391
Resetting activated head
restraints ...................................... 391
Replacing SmartKey batteries ............ 392
SmartKey ...................................... 393Replacing bulbs .................................. 394
Bulbs............................................. 395
Replacing bulbs for front lamps .... 397
Replacing bulbs for rear lamps ..... 400
Replacing wiper blades ...................... 402
Removing and installing wiper
blades ........................................... 402
Flat tire............................................... 404
Preparing the vehicle .................... 404
Mounting the spare wheel ............ 404
Battery ............................................... 411
Disconnecting the battery ............ 412
Removing the battery ................... 412
Charging and reinstalling the
battery .......................................... 413
Reconnecting the battery ............. 413
Jump starting...................................... 415
Towing the vehicle.............................. 417
Installing towing eye bolt .............. 419
Fuses.................................................. 420
Aids for replacing fuses ................ 420
Main fuse box in passenger
compartment ................................ 421
Fuse box in engine compartment . 421
Fuse box in trunk .......................... 422

269 Controls in detail
Useful features
The Mercedes-Benz Roadside Assistance
dispatcher will either dispatch a qualified
Mercedes-Benz technician or arrange to
tow your vehicle to the nearest
Mercedes-Benz Center. For services such
as labor and/or towing, charges may ap-
ply. Refer to the Roadside Assistance Man-
ual for more information.
These programs are only available in the
USA:

Sign and Drive services: Services such
as jump start, a few gallons of fuel or
the replacement of a flat tire with the
vehicle spare tire are obtainable.
i
The indicator lamp on the Roadside
Assistance button• remains illumi-
nated in red for approximately
10 seconds during the system
self-check after switching on the igni-
tion (together with the SOS button and
the Information button¡).
See system self-check (
page 266) if
the indicator lamp does not come on in
red or stays on longer than
approximately 10 seconds.
If the indicator lamp on the Roadside
Assistance button• is flashing
continuously and there was no voice
connection to the Response Center
established, then the Tele Aid system
could not initiate a Roadside Assis-
tance call (e.g. the relevant cellular
phone network was not available). The
message
Call failed appears in the
multifunction display.
Roadside Assistance calls can be
terminated using thet button on
the multifunction steering wheel or the
END Button on the audio system or
COMAND* System.

283 Operation
Driving instructions
Driving instructions
Drive sensibly – save fuel
Fuel consumption, to a great extent,
depends on driving habits and operating
conditions.
To save fuel you should:

Keep tires at the recommended tire
inflation pressures.

Remove unnecessary loads.

Remove roof rack when not in use.

Allow engine to warm up under low
load use.

Avoid frequent acceleration and decel-
eration.

Have all maintenance work performed
at the intervals specified in the
Maintenance Booklet and as required
by the maintenance service display.
Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.
Fuel consumption is also increased by
driving in cold weather, in stop-and-go
traffic, on short trips and in hilly area.
Drinking and drivingPedals
Power assistance
Warning!G
Drinking and driving and/or taking drugs
and driving are very dangerous combina-
tions. Even a small amount of alcohol or
drugs can affect your reflexes, perceptions
and judgment.
The possibility of a serious or even fatal
accident are greatly increased when you
drink or take drugs and drive.
Do not drink or take drugs and drive or allow
anyone to drive who has been drinking or
taking drugs.
Warning!G
Make sure that absolutely no objects are ob-
structing the pedals’ range of movement.
Keep the driver’s footwell clear of all obsta-
cles. If there are any floormats or carpets in
the footwell, make sure that the pedals still
have sufficient clearance.
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
vehicle.

286 Operation
Driving instructions
Tires
Treadwear 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
approximately
1/16in (1.6 mm), at which
point the tire is considered worn and
should be replaced.The treadwear indicator appears as a solid
band across the tread.
Specified tire inflation pressures must be
maintained. This applies particularly if the
tires are subjected to high loads (e.g. high
speeds, heavy loads, high ambient temper-
atures).

Move the gear selector lever to
positionP.

Slowly release brake pedal.

When parked on an incline, turn front
wheels towards the road curb.

Turn the SmartKey in the starter switch
to position0 and remove the SmartKey
from the starter switch.

Take the SmartKey with you and lock
the vehicle when leaving.
Warning!G
If you feel a sudden significant vibration or
ride disturbance, or you suspect that possi-
ble damage to your vehicle has occurred,
you should turn on the hazard warning flash-
ers, carefully slow down, and drive with cau-
tion to an area which is a safe distance from
the road.
Inspect the tires and the vehicle underbody
for possible damage. If the vehicle or tires
appear unsafe, have the vehicle towed to
the nearest Mercedes-Benz Center or tire
dealer for repairs.
Warning!G
Although the applicable federal motor
vehicle safety laws consider a tire to be
worn when the treadwear indicators (TWI)
become visible at approximately
1/16in
(1.6 mm), we recommend 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 reduced.
Depending upon the weather and/or road
surface (conditions), the tire traction varies
widely.


287 Operation
Driving instructions
Hydroplaning
Depending on the depth of the water layer
on the road, hydroplaning may occur, even
at low speeds and with new tires. Reduce
vehicle speed, avoid track grooves in the
road and apply brakes cautiously in the
rain.
Tire traction
The safe speed on a wet, snow covered or
icy road is always lower than on a dry road.
You should pay particular attention to the
condition of the road whenever the outside
temperatures are close to the freezing
point.Mercedes-Benz recommends winter tires
(
page 336) with a minimum tread depth
of approximately 1/6in (4 mm) on all four
wheels for the winter season to ensure
normal balanced handling characteristics.
On packed snow, they can reduce your
stopping distance compared to summer
tires. Stopping distance, however, is still
considerably greater than when the road is
not covered with snow or ice. Exercise ap-
propriate caution.
Warning!G
Do not drive with a flat tire. A flat tire affects
the ability to steer or brake the vehicle. You
may lose control of the vehicle. Continued
driving with a flat tire or driving at high
speed with a flat tire will cause excessive
heat build-up and possibly a fire.
Warning!G
If ice has formed on the road, tire traction
will be substantially reduced. Under such
weather conditions, drive, steer and brake
with extreme caution.!
Avoid spinning of a drive wheel. This
may cause serious damage to the
drivetrain which is not covered by the
Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.

293 Operation
At the gas station
At the gas station
Refueling
The fuel filler flap is located on the
right-hand side of the vehicle towards the
rear. Locking/unlocking the vehicle with
the SmartKey automatically locks/unlocks
the fuel filler flap.1To open the fuel filler flap
2To insert the fuel filler cap
3Supplemental tire inflation pressure
informationTurn the engine off by turning the
SmartKey to position0.
Remove the SmartKey from the starter
switch.
Open the fuel filler flap by pushing at
the point indicated by arrow1.
The fuel filler flap springs open.
Turn fuel cap counterclockwise and
hold on to it until possible pressure is
released.
Take off cap and set it in direction of
arrow2 in the recess on the fuel filler
flap.
To prevent fuel vapors from escaping
into open air, fully insert filler nozzle
unit.
Only fill your tank until the filler nozzle
unit cuts out – do not top up or
overfill.
Warning!G
Gasoline is highly flammable and poisonous.
It burns violently and can cause serious
injury. Whenever you are around gasoline,
avoid inhaling fumes and skin contact,
extinguish all smoking materials. Never
allow sparks, flame or smoking materials
near gasoline!
i
In case that the central locking system
does not release the fuel filler flap, or
the opening mechanism is clamping,
notify Roadside Assistance or an au-
thorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
i
Only use premium unleaded gasoline
with a minimum Posted Octane Rating
of 91 (average of 96 RON / 86 MON).
Information on gasoline quality can
normally be found on the fuel pump.
For more information on gasoline, see
“Premium unleaded gasoline”
(
page 438) or the Factory Approved
Service Products pamphlet.


296 Operation
At the gas station
Tire inflation pressure
For more information on tire inflation pres-
sure, see “Checking tire inflation pressure”
(
page 317).