ContentsUseful features .................................. 251
Storage compartments................. 251
Cup holders .................................. 255
Ashtrays ....................................... 257
Cigarette lighter ........................... 258
Power outlet ................................. 259
Floormats ..................................... 260
Telephone*................................... 260
Tele Aid ........................................ 261
Garage door opener* ................... 270
Operation......................................... 277
The first 1000 miles (1500 km) ......... 278
Driving instructions............................ 279
Drive sensibly – save fuel ............. 279
Drinking and driving ..................... 279
Pedals .......................................... 279
Power assistance ......................... 280
Brakes .......................................... 280
Driving off .................................... 282
Parking ......................................... 282
Tires ............................................. 282
Hydroplaning ................................ 283
Tire traction.................................. 284
Tire speed rating .......................... 284
Winter driving instructions ........... 285
Standing water ............................. 287
Passenger compartment .............. 287
Driving abroad.............................. 287
Control and operation of radio
transmitter ................................... 287
Catalytic converter ....................... 288
Emission control .......................... 289
Coolant temperature .................... 289At the gas station .............................. 290
Refueling ...................................... 290
Check regularly and before a
long trip ....................................... 291
Engine compartment ......................... 293
Hood ............................................ 293
Engine oil ..................................... 294
Transmission fluid level................ 297
Coolant level ................................ 297
Battery ......................................... 299
Windshield washer system and
headlamp cleaning system*......... 300
Tires and wheels................................ 301
Important guidelines .................... 301
Tire care and maintenance........... 302
Direction of rotation..................... 304
Loading the vehicle ...................... 304
Recommended tire inflation
pressure ....................................... 311
Checking tire inflation pressure ... 313
MOExtended system*................... 321
Tire labeling ................................. 322
Load identification ....................... 326
Contents
DOT, Tire Identification Number
(TIN) ............................................. 327
Maximum tire load ....................... 328
Maximum tire inflation pressure .. 329
Uniform Tire Quality Grading
Standards (U.S. vehicles) ............. 329
Tire ply material ........................... 331
Tire and loading terminology ........ 332
Rotating tires ............................... 335
Winter driving .................................... 336
Winter tires .................................. 336
Block heater* (Canada only) ........ 337
Snow chains................................. 337
Maintenance ...................................... 339
Maintenance service indicator
message....................................... 339
Calling up the maintenance
service indicator........................... 340
Resetting the maintenance
service indicator........................... 341
Vehicle care ....................................... 342
Cleaning and care of vehicle ........ 342
Practical hints.................................. 351
What to do if … ................................... 352
Lamps in instrument cluster ......... 352
Lamp in center console................. 362
Vehicle status messages in the
multifunction display..................... 363
Where will I find ...? ............................ 398
First aid kit .................................... 398
TIREFIT* ........................................ 398
Spare wheel .................................. 398
Vehicle tool kit .............................. 399
Luggage box ................................. 401
Unlocking/locking in an emergency... 402
Unlocking the vehicle.................... 402
Locking the vehicle ....................... 403
Fuel filler flap emergency release . 404
Manually unlocking the gear
selector lever ................................ 404
Opening/closing in an emergency ..... 406
Power tilt/sliding sunroof ............. 406
Resetting activated head restraints .... 407
Replacing SmartKey batteries ............ 408
SmartKey ...................................... 408
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO* ....... 409Replacing bulbs .................................. 411
Bulbs............................................. 411
Replacing bulbs for front lamps .... 414
Replacing bulbs for rear lamps ..... 416
Replacing wiper blades ...................... 417
Removing wiper blades ................. 417
Installing wiper blades .................. 418
Flat tire............................................... 419
Preparing the vehicle .................... 419
Sealing tires with TIREFIT ............. 419
Mounting the spare wheel ............ 423
MOExtended system* ................... 429
Battery ............................................... 431
Disconnecting the battery ............ 432
Removing the battery ................... 433
Charging and reinstalling the
battery .......................................... 433
Reconnecting the battery ............. 434
Jump starting...................................... 435
Towing the vehicle.............................. 437
Installing towing eye bolt .............. 439
Fuses.................................................. 441
Aids for replacing fuses ................ 441
Main fuse box in passenger
compartment ................................ 442
Fuse box in trunk .......................... 442
Contents
Technical data................................. 443
Parts service ...................................... 444
Warranty coverage............................. 445
Loss of Service and Warranty
Information Booklet ..................... 445
Identification labels ........................... 446
Layout of poly-V-belt drive ................. 447
CLS 500 ....................................... 447
CLS 55 AMG ................................ 447
Engine................................................ 448
Rims and tires.................................... 449
Same size tires............................. 451
Mixed size tires ............................ 453
MOExtended tires*....................... 456
Spare wheel ................................. 457Electrical system ................................ 458
Main dimensions ................................ 459
Weights .............................................. 460
Fuels, coolants, lubricants etc. ........... 461
Capacities ..................................... 461
Engine oils .................................... 464
Engine oil additives ....................... 464
Air conditioning refrigerant ........... 464
Brake fluid..................................... 464
Premium unleaded gasoline .......... 465
Gasoline additives ......................... 465
Fuel requirements ......................... 466
Coolants ....................................... 466
Windshield and headlamp
washer system .............................. 470
Technical terms............................... 471Index................................................. 479
13 Introduction
Operator’s Manual
Operating your vehicle outside the USA or Canada
If you plan to operate your vehicle in for-
eign countries, please be aware that:
service facilities or replacement parts
may not be readily available,
unleaded gasoline for vehicles with cat-
alytic converters may not be available;
the use of leaded fuels will damage the
catalysts,
gasoline may have a considerably low-
er octane rating, and improper fuel can
cause engine damage.Certain Mercedes-Benz models are avail-
able for delivery in Europe under our Euro-
pean Delivery Program. For details, consult
your authorized Mercedes-Benz Center or
write to:
In the USA:
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC
European Delivery Department
One Mercedes Drive
Montvale, NJ 07645-0350
In Canada:
Mercedes-Benz Canada, Inc.
European Delivery Department
98 Vanderhoof Avenue
Toronto, Ontario M4G 4C9
25 At a glance
Instrument cluster
Item
Page
1
LLeft turn signal
indicator lamp
2
vABS/ESP
® warning
lamp
353
3
Speedometer
4
Multifunction display
147
5
lDistance warning
lamp
Vehicles without Distronic*:
Warning lamp without func-
tion. It illuminates with the
ignition on. It should go out
when the engine is running.
357
6
KRight turn signal
indicator lamp
7
Coolant temperature indi-
cator with:•Coolant temperature
warning lamp
357
Item
Page
8
Tachometer with:1Supplemental
Restraint System
(SRS) indicator lamp
359
-Antilock Brake Sys-
tem (ABS) indicator
lamp
352
AHigh beam headlamp
indicator lamp
138
9
Main odometer with:
Selector lever position
49
Program mode
182
a
Clock with:
162
;Brake warning lamp,
USA only
354
3Brake warning lamp,
Canada only
354
Item
Page
úEngine malfunction
indicator lamp, USA
only
355
±Engine malfunction
indicator lamp, Cana-
da only
355
HCombination low tire
pressure/TPMS mal-
function telltale*,
Canada only
360
b
Fuel display with:AFuel reserve warning
lamp
358
c
Button for:
Resetting trip odometer
146
Adjusting instrument
cluster illumination
144
Confirming new time
settings
162
51 Getting started
Driving
Starting difficulties
If the engine does not start as described,
carry out the following steps:
If you are starting the engine with the
SmartKey, turn SmartKey in starter
switch to position0 and repeat starting
procedure.
If you are starting the engine with
KEYLESS-GO: Close any doors that
may be open to allow for better detec-
tion of the SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO.
Or:
Start the engine with the SmartKey as
radio signals from another source may
be interfering with the SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO.
Repeat the starting procedure
(page 49). Remember that extended
starting attempts can drain the battery.
Get a jump start (
page 435).If the engine does not start after several
starting attempts, there could be a mal-
function in the engine electronics or in the
fuel supply system.
Notify an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.
Parking brake
1Release handle
2Parking brake pedal
Release the parking brake pedal by
pulling on handle1.
The warning lamp; (USA only) or
3(Canada only) in the instrument
cluster goes out.Warning!
G
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the
SmartKey or the SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO* from the starter switch, take
it with you and lock the vehicle. Do not leave
children unattended in the vehicle, or with
access to an unlocked vehicle. Children
could release the parking brake, which
could result in an accident and/or serious
injury.
57 Getting started
Driving
The coolant temperature is above
248°F (120°C)
The coolant is too hot and is no longer
cooling the engine.
Stop the vehicle in a safe location as
soon as possible and turn off the en-
gine. Allow engine and coolant to cool.
Check the coolant level and add cool-
ant if necessary (
page 297).
In case of accident
If the vehicle is leaking fuel:
Do not start the engine under any
circumstances.
Notify local fire and/or police authori-
ties.If the extent of the damage cannot be
determined:
Notify an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.
If no damage can be determined on the
major assemblies
fuel system
engine mount:
Start the engine in the usual manner.
98 Controls in detailIn the “Controls in detail” section you will
find detailed information on how to oper-
ate the equipment installed on your vehi-
cle. If you are already familiar with the
basic functions of your vehicle, this section
will be of particular interest to you.
To quickly familiarize yourself with the ba-
sic functions of the vehicle, refer to the
“Getting started” section of this manual.
The corresponding page numbers are giv-
en at the beginning of each segment.Locking and unlocking
For more information on locking and un-
locking, see “Getting started” (
page 34)
and (
page 60).
SmartKey
Your vehicle comes supplied with two
SmartKeys, each with remote control and
a removable mechanical key. The locking
tabs for the mechanical key portion of the
two SmartKeys are a different color to help
distinguish each key unit.
The SmartKey provides an extended oper-
ating range. To prevent theft, however, it is
advisable to only unlock the vehicle when
you are in close proximity to it.
The SmartKey centrally locks and unlocks
the doors
the trunk
the fuel filler flap
SmartKey with remote control1‹ Lock button
2Š Unlock button for the trunk
3Mechanical key locking tab
4Œ Unlock button
5Battery check lamp
6Â Panic button (
page 83)