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
151 Controls in detail
Control system
Menus, submenus and functions
Menu1
Menu2
Menu3
Menu4
Menu5
Standard display
AUDIO
NAV*
Distronic*
Vehicle status mes-
sage memory
1
1The vehicle status message memory menu is only displayed if there is a message stored.(page 153)
(page 153)
(page 155)
(page 155)
(page 156)
Commands/submenusDigital speedometer
Select radio station
Show route guidance
instructions, current
direction traveled
Call up settings
Call up vehicle malfunc-
tion, warning and system
status messages stored
in memory
Call up maintenance
system display
Select satellite radio
station*
Checking tire inflation
pressure
Operate CD player
Check engine oil level
153 Controls in detail
Control system
Standard display menu
Press buttonk orj repeatedly
to select the functions in the standard
display menu.
The following functions are available:
Display digital speedometer
Press buttonk orj repeatedly
until the digital speedometer appears
in the multifunction display.
AUDIO menu
The functions in the
Audio
menu operate
the audio equipment which you currently
have turned on.
If no audio equipment is currently turned
on, the message
AUDIO off
is shown in the
multifunction display.
The following functions are available:Select radio station
Turn on COMAND and select radio.
Refer to separate COMAND operating
instructions.
Press buttonè orÿ repeatedly
until you see the currently tuned sta-
tion in the multifunction display.
1Waveband setting
2Station frequency
Press buttonk orj repeatedly
until the desired station is found.
Function
Page
Call up digital speedometer
153
Call up maintenance display
339
Checking tire inflation pressure
313
Check engine oil level
295
Function
Page
Select radio station
153
Select satellite radio station*
154
Operate CD player
154
292 OperationAt the gas station
Engine oil level
For more information on engine oil level,
see “Engine oil” (
page 294).
Vehicle lighting
Check function and cleanliness. For more
information on replacing light bulbs, see
the “Practical hints” section (
page 411).
For more information, see “Exterior lamp
switch” (
page 134).Tire inflation pressure
For more information, see “Checking tire
inflation pressure” (
page 313).
!If you find that the brake fluid in the
brake fluid reservoir has fallen to the
minimum mark or below, have the
brake system checked for brake pad
thickness and leaks immediately.
Notify an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center immediately. Do not add brake
fluid as this will not solve the problem.
For more information, see “Practical
hints” (
page 354).
294 OperationEngine compartment
Closing
Let the hood drop from a height of
approximately 1 ft (30 cm).
The hood will lock audibly.
Check to make sure the hood is fully
closed.
If you can raise the hood at a point
above the headlamps, then it is not
properly closed. Open it again and let it
drop with somewhat greater force.
Engine oil
The amount of oil your engine needs will
depend on a number of factors, including
driving style. Higher oil consumption can
occur when
the vehicle is new
the vehicle is driven frequently at
higher engine speeds
Engine oil consumption checks should only
be made after the vehicle break-in period.
Warning!
G
If you see flames or smoke coming from the
engine compartment, or if the coolant tem-
perature gauge indicates that the engine is
overheated, do not open the hood. Move
away from vehicle and do not open the hood
until the engine has cooled. If necessary,
call the fire department.Warning!
G
The engine is equipped with a transistorized
ignition system. Because of the high voltage
it is dangerous to touch any components (ig-
nition coils, spark plug sockets, diagnostic
socket) of the ignition system
with the engine running
while starting the engine
if ignition is “on” and the engine is
turned manually
Warning!
G
Be careful that you do not close the hood on
anyone.
iDo not use any special lubricant addi-
tives, as these may damage the drive
assemblies. Using special additives not
approved by Mercedes-Benz may
cause damage not covered by the
Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.
More information on this subject is
available at any Mercedes-Benz
Center.
295 Operation
Engine compartment
Checking engine oil level with the
control system
When checking the oil level
the vehicle must be parked on level
ground
with the engine at operating tempera-
ture, the vehicle must have been
stationary for at least 5 minutes with
the engine turned off
with the engine not at operating tem-
perature yet, the vehicle must have
been stationary for at least 30 minutes
with the engine turned off
To check the engine oil level via the multi-
function display, do the following:
Switch on the ignition (
page 36).
The standard display (
page 147) should
appear in the multifunction display.
Press buttonk or j, on the
multifunction steering wheel until the
following message is seen in the multi-
function display:One of the following messages will
subsequently appear in the multifunc-
tion display:
Engine oil level ok
Add 1.0 Qt.to reach max. oil level
(Canada:
1.0 Liter
)
Add 1.5 Qts.
to reach max. oil level
to reach
max. oil level
(Canada:
1.5 Liters
)
Add 2.0 Qts.
to reach max. oil level
to reach
max. oil level
(Canada:
2.0 Liters
)
If necessary, add engine oil.
For adding engine oil, see (
page 296).
For more information on engine oil, see the
“Technical data” section (
page 461) and
(
page 464).
Other display messages
If the SmartKey or KEYLESS-GO start/stop
button* is not in position2, the following
message will appear:
Switch on ignition
to check engine oil level
Switch on the ignition (
page 36).
If you see the message:
Observe waiting period
iIf you want to interrupt the checking
procedure, press thek orj
button on the multifunction steering
wheel.
296 OperationEngine compartment
If engine is at operating temperature,
wait 5 minutes before repeating check
procedure.
If engine is not at operating tempera-
ture yet, wait 30 minutes before
repeating check procedure.
If you see the message:
Engine oil level
Not when engine on
Turn off the engine.
If the engine is at normal operating
temperature, wait 5 minutes before
checking oil.
If the engine is not yet at normal
operating temperature, you must wait
30 minutes before checking oil.If there is excess engine oil with the engine
at normal operating temperature, the
following message will appear:
Engine oil level
Reduce oil level
Have excess oil siphoned or drained
off. Contact an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
For more information on messages in the
multifunction display concerning engine
oil, see the “Practical hints” section
(
page 382). Adding engine oil!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.
!Only use approved engine oils and oil
filters required for vehicles with Main-
tenance System (U.S. vehicles) or
FSS PLUS (Canada vehicles). For a list-
ing of approved engine oils and oil fil-
ters, refer to the Factory Approved
Service Products pamphlet in your
vehicle literature portfolio, or contact
an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Using engine oils and oil filters of spec-
ification other than those expressly
required for the Maintenance System
(U.S. vehicles) or FSS PLUS (Canada
vehicles), or changing of oil and oil filter
at change intervals longer than those
called for by the Maintenance System
(U.S. vehicles) or FSS PLUS (Canada
vehicles) will result in engine damage
not covered by the Mercedes-Benz
Limited Warranty.
297 Operation
Engine compartment
CLS 500, CLS 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.
For more information on engine oil, see the
“Technical data” section (
page 461) and
(
page 464).
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 transmission.Coolant level
The engine coolant is a mixture of water
and anticorrosion/antifreeze. To check
the coolant level, the vehicle must be
parked on level ground and the engine
must be cool.
!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.