Contents
Maximum tire inflation pressure .. 352
Uniform Tire Quality Grading
Standards (U.S. vehicles) ............. 353
Tire ply material ........................... 354
Tire and loading terminology ........ 355
Rotating tires ............................... 358
Winter driving .................................... 359
Winter tires .................................. 359
Block heater (Canada only) .......... 360
Snow chains................................. 360
Maintenance ...................................... 361
Maintenance
service indicator message............ 361
Clearing the maintenance
service indicator message............ 362
Maintenance
service term exceeded ................. 362
Calling up the maintenance
service indicator display............... 362
Resetting the maintenance
service indicator........................... 363
Vehicle care ....................................... 364
Cleaning and care of vehicle ........ 364
Practical hints.................................. 373
What to do if …? ................................. 374
Lamps in instrument cluster ......... 374
Lamp in center console................. 381
Vehicle status messages in the
multifunction display..................... 383
Where will I find...? ............................. 413
First aid kit .................................... 413
Vehicle tool kit .............................. 413
Minispare wheel............................ 416
Spare wheel bolts ......................... 418
Unlocking/locking in an emergency... 419
Unlocking the vehicle.................... 419
Locking the vehicle ....................... 420
Fuel filler flap ................................ 421
Manually unlocking
the gear selector lever .................. 422
Opening/closing in an emergency ..... 423
Operating roll bars manually ......... 423
Soft top emergency operation ...... 425
Resetting activated head restraints .... 434
Resetting
activated head restraints .............. 434Replacing SmartKey batteries ............ 435
SmartKey ...................................... 436
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO* ....... 437
Replacing bulbs .................................. 438
Bulbs............................................. 438
Replacing bulbs for front lamps .... 440
Replacing bulbs for rear lamps ..... 443
Replacing wiper blades ...................... 444
Removing and installing
wiper blades ................................. 444
Flat tire............................................... 446
Preparing the vehicle .................... 446
Mounting the Minispare wheel...... 447
MOExtended system* ................... 452
Battery ............................................... 453
Disconnecting the battery ............ 454
Removing the battery ................... 454
Charging and
reinstalling the battery.................. 455
Reconnecting the battery ............. 455
Jump starting...................................... 456
87 Safety and Security
Driving safety systems
Driving safety systems
In this section you will find information on
the following driving safety systems:
ABS (A
ntilock B
rake S
ystem)
BAS (B
rake A
ssist S
ystem)
ESP
® (E
lectronic S
tability P
rogram)
ABS
The Antilock Brake System (ABS) regulates
the brake pressure so that the wheels do
not lock during braking. This allows you to
maintain the ability to steer your vehicle.
The ABS is functional above a speed of ap-
proximately 5 mph (8 km/h) independent
of road surface conditions.
On slippery road surfaces, the ABS will
respond even to light brake pressure.
The - indicator lamp in the instrument
cluster (
page 24) comes on when you
switch on the ignition. It goes out when the
engine is running.
iIn winter operation, the maximum ef-
fectiveness of the ABS, the BAS, and
the ESP
® is only achieved with winter
tires (
page 359) or snow chains as
required.
Warning!
G
The following factors increase the risk of
accidents:
Excessive speed, especially in turns
Wet and slippery road surfaces
Following another vehicle too closely
The ABS, BAS, and ESP
® cannot reduce this
risk.
Always adjust your driving style to the
prevailing road and weather conditions.
Warning!
G
Do not pump the brake pedal. Use firm,
steady brake pedal pressure instead. Pump-
ing the brake pedal defeats the purpose of
the ABS and significantly reduces braking
effectiveness.
90 Safety and SecurityDriving safety systems
For more information, see “Practical hints”
(page 373).Switching off the ESP
®
To improve the vehicle's traction, turn off
the ESP
® in driving situations where it
would be advantageous to have the drive
wheels spin and thus cut into surfaces for
better grip such as:
when driving with snow chains
in deep snow
in sand or gravel
Warning!
G
The ESP
® cannot prevent the natural laws of
physics from acting on the vehicle, nor can
it increase the traction afforded. The ESP
®
cannot prevent accidents, including those
resulting from excessive speed in turns or
hydroplaning. Only a safe, attentive, and
skillful driver can prevent accidents. The
capabilities of an ESP
® equipped vehicle
must never be exploited in a reckless or dan-
gerous manner which could jeopardize the
user’s safety or the safety of others.
!Because of the ESP
®’s automatic
operation, the engine must be shut off
when
the parking brake is being tested on
a brake test dynamometer
the vehicle is being towed with the
front axle raised
Active braking action through the ESP
®
may otherwise seriously damage the
brake system.
iThe ESP
® will only function properly if
you use wheels of the recommended
tire size.
Warning!
G
The ESP
® should not be switched off during
normal driving other than in the circum-
stances described below. Disabling of the
system will reduce vehicle stability in stan-
dard driving maneuvers.
Do not switch off the ESP
® when a Minis-
pare or collapsible tire is mounted.
313 Operation
Driving instructions
CLK 350, CLK 500
Your vehicle is factory equipped with
“W”-rated tires, which have a speed rating
of 168 mph (270 km/h).
An electronic speed limiter prevents your
vehicle from exceeding a speed of
130 mph (210 km/h).
CLK 55 AMG
Your vehicle is factory equipped with
“Y”-rated tires, which have a speed rating
of 186 mph (300 km/h).
An electronic speed limiter prevents your
vehicle from exceeding a speed of
155 mph (250 km/h).
Winter driving instructions
The most important rule for slippery or icy
roads is to drive sensibly and to avoid
abrupt acceleration, braking and steering
maneuvers. Do not use the cruise control
system under such conditions.
When the vehicle is in danger of skidding,
move gear selector lever to position N. Try
to keep the vehicle under control by cor-
rective steering action.Road salts and chemicals can adversely af-
fect braking efficiency. Increased pedal
force may become necessary to produce
the normal braking effect.
Depressing the brake pedal periodically
when traveling at length on salt-strewn
roads can bring road-salt-impaired braking
efficiency back to normal.
If the vehicle is parked after being driven
on salt-treated roads, the braking efficien-
cy should be tested as soon as possible af-
ter driving is resumed.
iFor information on tire speed rating for
winter tires, see “Winter tires”
(page 359).
For additional general information on
tire speed markings on the sidewall,
see “Tire speed rating” (
page 346).
iFor information on driving with snow
chains, see “Snow chains”
(page 360).
Warning!
G
On slippery road surfaces, never downshift
in order to obtain braking action. This could
result in drive wheel slip and reduced vehi-
cle control. Your vehicle’s ABS will not pre-
vent this type of control loss.
Warning!
G
Make sure not to endanger any other road
users when carrying out these braking ma-
neuvers.
342 OperationTires and wheels
Install the valve cap.
Repeat this procedure for each tire.
Run Flat Indicator*
While the vehicle is being driven, the Run
Flat Indicator monitors the set tire inflation
pressures by evaluating each wheel’s rota-
tional speed. This allows the system to de-
tect a significant loss of pressure in a tire.
If a wheel’s rotational speed changes due
to falling tire inflation pressure, you will
see a corresponding warning message in
the multifunction display.
The Run Flat Indicator may function in a re-
stricted manner or with a delay if:
snow chains are mounted to the
vehicle
winter road conditions prevail
you are driving on a loose surface (e.g.
sand or gravel)
you are driving in a very sporty manner
(involving rapid acceleration or high
speeds in curves)
Warning!
G
When the multifunction display shows the
message
Low pres. mode Check tire
Max. speed 50 mph
, one or more of your
tires is significantly under-inflated. You
should stop and check your tires as soon as
possible, and inflate them to the proper tire
inflation pressure as indicated on the vehi-
cle’s tire information placard. Driving on a
significantly under-inflated tire causes the
tire to overheat and can lead to tire failure.
Under-inflation also reduces fuel efficiency
and tire tread life, and may affect the vehi-
cle’s handling and stopping ability. Each tire,
including the spare, should be checked
monthly when cold and set to the recom-
mended tire inflation pressure as specified
in the vehicle placard and owner’s manual.
iThe recommended tire inflation pres-
sures for your vehicle can be found on
the tire placard located on the driver’s
door B-pillar (
page 333). The tire in-
flation pressures are not listed in the
owner’s manual.
360 OperationWinter drivingBlock heater (Canada only)
The engine is equipped with a block
heater.
The electrical cable may be installed at an
authorized Mercedes-Benz 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:
Using 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. Any
authorized Mercedes-Benz 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.
Warning!
G
If you use your spare tire when winter tires
are fitted on the other wheels, be aware that
the difference in tire characteristics may
very well impair turning stability and that
overall driving stability may be reduced.
Adapt your driving style accordingly.
Have the spare tire replaced with a winter
tire at the nearest authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
iWhen driving with snow chains, you
may wish to deactivate the ESP
®
(
page 90) before setting the vehicle
in motion. This will improve the
vehicle‘s traction.
!Some tire sizes do not leave adequate
clearance for snow chains. To help
avoid serious damage to your vehicle or
tires, use of snow chains is not permit-
ted with the following tire sizes:
245/40 R17 91W
245/40 R17 91W MOExtended
T 125/80 R17 99M
474 Technical dataRims and tires
CLK 55 AMG
CLK 55 AMG
Rims (light alloy)
7.5 J x 17 H2
7.5 J x 18 H2
Wheel offset
1.45 in (37 mm)
1.45 in (37 mm)
Winter tires
1,2,3
225/45 R17 91 H M+S.
225/40 R18 92 H XL (Extra Load) M+S.
1Radial-ply tires2Not available as factory equipment.3For use with snow chains contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
475 Technical data
Rims and tires
Mixed size tires
CLK 350
CLK 500
CLK 55 AMG
Front axle:
Rims (light alloy)
7.5 J x 17 H2
7.5 J x 17 H2
7.5 J x 18 H2
Wheel offset
1.42 in (36 mm)
1.46 in (37 mm)
1.46 in (37 mm)
Summer tires
1
1Radial-ply tires
225/45 R17 91W
225/45 R17 91W
225/40 ZR18 92Y XL (Extra Load)
Summer tires
*1,2
2Must be used in conjunction with Run Flat Indicator* only.
225/45 R17 91W MOExtended
225/45 R17 91W MOExtended
-
Rear axle:
Rims (light alloy)
8.5 J x17 H2
8.5 J x17 H2
8.5 J x18 H2
Wheel offset
1.18 in (30 mm)
1.18 in (30 mm)
1.18 in (30 mm)
Summer tires
1,3
3Must not be used with snow chains.
245/40 R17 91W
245/40 ZR17 91W
255/35 ZR18 94Y XL (Extra Load)
Summer tires
*1,2,3
245/40 R17 91W MOExtended
245/40 R17 91W MOExtended
-