326 OperationEngine compartmentCLK 3501Filler capCLK 500, CLK 55 AMG1Filler cap
Unscrew filler cap1 from filler neck.
Add engine oil as required. Be careful
not to overfill with oil.
Be careful not to spill any oil when adding.
Avoid environmental damage caused by oil
entering the ground or water.
Screw filler cap1 back on filler neck.
More information on engine oil can be
found in the “Technical data” section
(
page 479) and (
page 481).
Transmission fluid level
The transmission fluid level does not need
to be checked. If you notice transmission
fluid loss or gear shifting malfunctions,
have an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center
check the automatic transmission.
!Excess oil must be siphoned or drained
off. It could cause damage to the
engine and catalytic converter not
covered by the Mercedes-Benz Limited
Warranty.
364 OperationVehicle careCleaning and care of vehicle
While in operation, even while parked, your
vehicle is subject to varying external
influences which, if gone unchecked, can
attack the paintwork as well as the
underbody and cause lasting damage.Such damage is caused not only by
extreme and varying climatic conditions,
but also by:
Air pollution
Road salt
Tar
Gravel and stone chipping
To avoid paint damage, you should
immediately remove:
Grease and oil
Fuel
Coolant
Brake fluid
Bird droppings
Insects
Tree resins, etc.
Frequent washing reduces and / or elimi-
nates the aggressiveness and potency of
the above adverse influences.More frequent washings are necessary to
deal with unfavorable conditions:
near the ocean
in industrial areas (smoke, exhaust
emissions)
during winter operation
You should check your vehicle from time to
time for stone chipping or other damage.
Any damage should be repaired as soon as
possible to prevent corrosion.
In doing so, do not neglect the underbody
of the vehicle. A prerequisite for a thor-
ough check is a washing of the underbody
followed by a thorough inspection. Dam-
aged areas need to be re-undercoated.
Your vehicle has been treated at the facto-
ry with a wax-base rustproofing in the body
cavities which will last for the lifetime of
the vehicle. Post-production treatment is
neither necessary nor recommended by
Mercedes-Benz because of the possibility
of incompatibility between materials used
in the production process and others
applied later.
Warning!
G
Many cleaning products can be hazardous.
Some are poisonous, others are flammable.
Always follow the instructions on the partic-
ular container. Always open your vehicle’s
doors or windows when cleaning the inside.
Never use fluids or solvents that are not
designed for cleaning your vehicle.
Always lock away cleaning products and
keep them out of reach of children.
401 Practical hints
What to do if …?
Display symbol
Display message
Possible cause/consequence
Possible 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 325) and check
the engine oil level (
page 323).
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 oil siphoned or drained off. Ob-
serve all legal requirements with re-
spect to its disposal.
Engine oil level
Stop, 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 325) and check
the engine oil level (
page 323).
402 Practical hintsWhat to do if …?When the message
Add 1 qt. engine oil
at next refueling (Canada:
1 liter
) ap-
pears 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.
Visually check for oil leaks. If no obvious oil
leaks are noted, drive to the nearest ser-
vice station where the engine oil should be
topped to the required level with an
approved oil specified in the Factory
Approved Service Products pamphlet.
Display symbol
Display message
Possible cause/consequence
Possible solution
:
Engine oil level
Visit workshop
The engine oil has dropped to a critical
level.
Check the engine oil level
(page 323) and add oil as required
(page 325).
If you must add engine oil frequently,
have the engine checked for possible
leaks.
The measuring system is malfunctioning.
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.
410 Practical hintsWhat to do if …?Display symbol
Display message
Possible cause/consequence
Possible solution
K
Lock top
The soft top is not properly locked.
Lock the soft top again (
page 259).
Top being opened
The soft top is not completely open or
closed. The hydraulics are losing pres-
sure.
Open or close the soft top all the way.
Top
Visit workshop
The soft top is malfunctioning.
Have the system checked at an autho-
rized Mercedes-Benz Center as soon
as possible.
Start engine to
operate top
The on-board voltage is too low.
Start the engine.
Top locked
as vehicle is moving
You have attempted to open or close the
soft top while driving.
Pull over to the side of the road and re-
peat soft top operation while the vehi-
cle is stationary.
_
Steering oil
Visit workshop
The steering gear oil level is too low. There
is a danger of steering gear damage.
Have the system checked by an autho-
rized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Warning!
G
If the level of steering gear oil in reservoir is
too low, the steering power assistance could
fail. Much greater effort will then be needed
to turn the steering wheel.
Do not add steering oil without checking the
steering system.
Do not drive the vehicle. Have the system
checked at an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center as soon as possible.
439 Practical hints
Replacing bulbs
Rear lamps Notes on bulb replacement
Only use 12 volt bulbs of the same type
and with the specified watt rating.
Switch lights off before changing a bulb
to prevent short circuits.
Always use a clean lint-free cloth when
handling bulbs.
Your hands should be dry and free of oil
and grease.
If the newly installed bulb does not
come on, visit an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
Have the LEDs and bulbs for the following
lamps replaced by an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
Additional turn signal lamps in the exte-
rior rear view mirrors
High mounted brake lamp
Bi-Xenon* lamps
Front fog lamps
Front side marker lamps
Lamp
Type
7
High mounted brake
lamp
LED
8
Brake lamp
P 21 W
9
Turn signal lamp
P 21 W
a
Tail, parking and stand-
ing lamp, side marker
P 21/4 W
W 5 W
b
Backup lamp
P 21 W
c
License plate lamps
C 5 W
d
Rear fog lamp, driver’s
side
P 21/4 W
Warning!
G
Keep bulbs out of reach of children.
Bulbs and bulb sockets can be very hot. Al-
low the lamp to cool down before changing
a bulb.
Halogen lamps contain pressurized gas. A
bulb can explode if you:
touch or move it when hot
drop the bulb
scratch the bulb
Wear eye and hand protection.
Because of high voltage in Xenon lamps, it is
dangerous to replace the bulb or repair the
lamp and its components. We recommend
that you have such work done by a qualified
technician.iHave the headlamp adjustment
checked regularly.
484 Technical dataFuels, coolants, lubricants, etc.Coolants
The engine coolant is a mixture of water
and anticorrosion / antifreeze, which
provides:
Corrosion protection
Freeze protection
Boiling protection (by increasing the
boiling point)
The cooling system was filled at the factory
with a coolant providing freeze protection
to approximately -22°F (-30°C) and
corrosion protection.
If the antifreeze mixture is effective
to -22°F (-30°C), the boiling point of the
coolant in the pressurized cooling system
is reached at approx. 266°F (130°C).The coolant solution must be used
year-round to provide the necessary corro-
sion protection and increase boil-over pro-
tection. Refer to Maintenance Booklet for
replacement interval.
Coolant system design and coolant used
determine the replacement interval. The
replacement interval published in the
Maintenance Booklet is only applicable if
MB 325.0 Anticorrosion/Antifreeze solu-
tion or other Mercedes-Benz approved
products of equal specification (see Facto-
ry Approved Service Products pamphlet)
are used to renew the coolant concentra-
tion or bring it back up to the proper level.To provide important corrosion protection,
the solution must be at least 45% anticor-
rosion/antifreeze (equivalent to freeze
protection to approx. -22°F [-30°C]). If you
use a solution that is more than 55% anti-
corrosion/antifreeze (freeze protection to
approx. -49°F [-45°C]), the engine temper-
ature will increase due to the lower heat
transfer capability of the solution. There-
fore, do not use more than this amount of
anticorrosion/antifreeze.
If the coolant level is low, water and MB
Anticorrosion /Antifreeze should be used
to bring it up to the proper level (have cool-
ing system checked for signs of leakage).
Please make sure the mixture is in accor-
dance with label instructions.
The water in the cooling system must meet
minimum requirements, which are usually
satisfied by normal drinking water. If you
are not sure about the water quality,
consult an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.
498 IndexEngine coolant see Coolant
Engine oil 322, 481
Adding 325, 481
Additives 481
Changing 325, 481
Checking level 320
Checking level (Dipstick) 324
Consumption 322
Filler cap 326
Filler neck 326
Messages in display 323, 401
Viscosity 488
Engine oil level 320, 323
ESP
®
25, 89, 488
Messages in display 387–388
Warning lamp 378
ETD 72, 488
Safety guidelines 66
Exterior rear view mirrors 43, 181
Parking position 161, 183F
Filler cap, Engine oil 326
Filler neck, Engine oil 326
First aid kit 413
Flat tire 446
Jacking up the vehicle 447
Lowering the vehicle 451
Minispare wheel 416
Mounting the spare wheel 447
Preparing the vehicle 446
Flexible Service System see FSS
(Canada vehicles)
Floormats* 287
Fluids
Brake fluid 320, 481
Engine coolant 327, 484
Engine oil 322, 481
Transmission fluid 326
Windshield washer and headlamp
cleaning* system 329, 486
Fog lamps 131, 439
Messages in display 405
Replacing bulbs 438, 439, 443
Front air bags 67
Front lamps see HeadlampsFront passenger front air bag 63, 67
Messages in display 389–392
Front passenger front
air bag off indicator lamp 27, 81, 381
FSS (Canada vehicles) 361, 488
Fuel 319, 479
Additives 483
Automatic transmission fluid 479
Brake fluid 479
Capacities 479
Capacities, Fuel tank 480
Engine coolant 480
Engine oil 479
Filling the tank 318
Fuel display 25
Fuel filler flap and cap 318, 421
Fuel filler flap and cap, Multifunction
display messages 400
Fuel reserve warning lamp 379
Power steering fluid 479
Premium
unleaded gasoline 319, 480, 482
Requirements, Octane rating 482
Technical data 479
Fuel cap
Message in display 376