2006 MERCEDES-BENZ CLK350 windshield wipers

367 Operation
Vehicle care
Automatic car wash
You can have your car washed in an auto-
matic car wash from the start. Automatic
car washes without brushes are prefera-
ble.
If the vehicle is very dirty, prewash it be-
fore running it through the automatic car
wash.
Soft top
Clean soft top with soft top raised and
locked. Lower the soft top into the storage
compartment only if the soft top is com-
pletely dry. If the soft top is kept in the
storage compartment for a lengthy period,
raise it and air out with the windows open
about every 4 months.
Light colored soft tops should be cleaned
frequently to prevent spots and dirt from
setting in, which could stain and discolor
the soft top material permanently.
!Due to the width of the vehicle, fold in
exterior rear view mirrors prior to run-
ning the vehicle through an automatic
car wash to prevent damage to the
mirrors.
Make sure that the combination switch
is set to0 (
page 53). Otherwise, the
rain sensor could activate and cause
the wipers to move unintentionally.
This may lead to vehicle damage.
iAfter running the vehicle through an au-
tomatic car wash, wipe any wax off of
the windshield (
page 370). This will
prevent smears and reduce wiping
noise which can be caused by residual
wax on the windshield.
When leaving the car wash, make sure
that the mirrors are folded out. Other-
wise they may vibrate.
!Remove bird droppings immediately.
The organic acid damages the material
and causes the soft top to leak.
Never use a power washer to clean the
soft top, as you may damage the soft
top material.
Do not use sharp-edged instruments
for the removal of ice and snow.
Never use hot-wax when you run the
vehicle through an automatic car wash,
as you may damage the soft top
material.iDepending on the operation mode of
the car wash, there is the possibility of
water drops entering the vehicle’s inte-
rior. This is not an indication of a defect
or malfunction in the soft top.

370 OperationVehicle careCleaning the windows and the wiper
blades
Fold the wiper arms forward until they
snapes into place.

Clean the wiper blade inserts with a
clean cloth and detergent solution.

Use a soft, clean cloth and a mild win-
dow cleaning solution on all outside
and inside glass surfaces.
An automotive glass cleaner is
recommended.Light alloy wheels
If possible, clean wheels once a week.

Use Mercedes-Benz approved Wheel
Care, a soft bristle brush and a strong
spray of water for cleaning the light al-
loy wheels.
Warning!
G
For safety reasons, switch off wipers and
remove SmartKey from starter switch
(vehicles with KEYLESS-GO*: Make sure the
vehicle's on-board electronics have status 0) before cleaning the windshield and/or
the wiper blades. Otherwise, the wiper mo-
tor could suddenly turn on and cause injury.
!Fold the windshield wiper arms back
onto the windshield before turning the
SmartKey in the starter switch or
pressing the KEYLESS-GO start/stop
button (vehicles with KEYLESS-GO*).
Hold on to the wiper when folding the
wiper arm back. If released, the force
of the impact from the tensioning
spring could crack the windshield.!To clean the window interior, do not
use a dry cloth, abrasives, solvents or
cleaners containing solvents. Do not
touch the inside of the front, rear or
side windows with hard objects such as
an ice scraper or ring. Doing so may
damage the windows.
!Only use acid-free cleaning materials.
Acid may cause corrosion or damage
the clear coat.!The vehicle should not be parked for an
extended period of time immediately
after it has been cleaned, especially not
after the wheel rims have been cleaned
with wheel rim cleaner. Wheel rim
cleaners can lead to increased corro-
sion of the brake disks and brake pads.
Therefore, the vehicle’s brake system
should always be warmed-up before it
is parked after cleaning. To do so,
please drive your vehicle for several
minutes to allow the brakes to dry.

444 Practical hintsReplacing wiper bladesRemoving and installing wiper blades

Remove SmartKey from starter switch
(vehicles with KEYLESS-GO*: make
sure the vehicle's on board electronics
have status 0).
Removing wiper blades
1Unlocking
2Tab

Pull the tab2 in the direction of
arrow1.
The wiper blade is unlocked.

Lift up the wiper arm as far as you need
to remove the wiper blade.

Carefully fold the wiper arm back to
rest on the windshield.
Warning!
G
For safety reasons, switch off wipers and
remove SmartKey from starter switch
(vehicles with KEYLESS-GO*: make sure the
vehicle’s on-board electronics have
status
0) before replacing a wiper blade.
Otherwise, the wiper motor could suddenly
turn on and cause injury.
!Never open the hood when the wiper
arms are folded forward.
For your convenience, we recommend
that you have this work carried out by
an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
!Hold on to the wiper arm when folding
the wiper arm back. If released, the
force of the impact from the tensioning
spring could crack the windshield.

511 Index
Vehicle loading
Instructions 277, 333
Load limit 333
Terminology 355
Vehicle maximum load on the tire 357
Vehicle recovery services,
Stolen (Tele Aid) 296
Vehicle status message memory 146
Vehicle status messages 383
Vehicle system settings,
Control system 139
Vehicle tool kit 413
Vehicle washing 366
VIN 468, 492W
Warning indicators
Parktronic system*
(Canada only) 271
Warning sounds
Parking brake 51
Parktronic system*
(Canada only) 271, 272
Seat belt telltale 71
Warranty coverage 10, 467
Washer fluid see Windshield washer fluid
Washer reservoir level 480
Washing the vehicle 366
Wear pattern, Tires 358
Weights, Vehicle 478
Wheel
Bolts 418
Change 447
Collapsible wheel chock 416
Removing 449
Spare 416
Tightening torque 451
Wrench 448
Wheels, Sizes 473
Wheels, Tires and 330
Wind screen 263, 492Windows see Power windows
Windshield
Cleaning 55, 370
Defogging 192, 202
Windshield washer fluid 329, 486
Message in display 412
Mixing ratio 486
Refilling 329
Reservoir level 480
Wiping 55
Windshield washer system 480, 486
Windshield wipers 53
Cleaning wiper blades 370
Replacing wiper blades 444
Winter driving 359
Block heater (Canada only) 360
Snow chains 360
Tires 359
Winter driving instructions 313
Winter tires 359
Wood trims, cleaning 372
X
Xenon headlamps* see Headlamps