Our company and staff congratulate you
on the purchase of your new
Mercedes-Benz.
Your selection of our product is a demon-
stration of your trust in our company
name. Furthermore, it exemplifies your
desire to own an automobile that will be as
easy as possible to operate and provide
years of service.
Your Mercedes-Benz represents the ef-
forts of many skilled engineers and crafts-
men. To help assure your driving pleasure,
as well as your and your passengers' safe-
ty, we ask you to make a small investment
of time:
Please read this manual carefully, then
return it to your vehicle where it will be
handy for your reference.
Please follow the recommendations
contained in this manual. They are de-
signed to assist you with the operation
of your Mercedes-Benz.
Please pay attention to the warnings
and cautions contained in this manual.
They are designed to help improve the
safety of the vehicle operator and oc-
cupants.
We extend our best wishes for many miles
of safe, pleasurable driving.
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC
A DaimlerChrysler Company
Contents
Introduction.......................................... 9
Product information ................................ 9
Operator’s Manual ............................... 10
Service and warranty information .. 10
Important notice for California
retail buyers and lessees of
Mercedes-Benz automobiles .......... 11
Maintenance .................................. 12
Roadside Assistance ...................... 12
Change of address or ownership.... 12
Operating your vehicle outside
the USA or Canada......................... 13
Where to find it .................................... 14
Symbols ............................................... 15
Operating safety .................................. 16
Proper use of the vehicle ............... 16
Problems with your vehicle .................. 17
Reporting safety defects...................... 18
Reporting safety defects ................ 18
Vehicle data recording ......................... 19
Information regarding electronic
recording devices ........................... 19
At a glance.......................................... 21
Cockpit ................................................. 22
Instrument cluster ................................ 24
Multifunction steering wheel ................ 26
Center console ..................................... 27
Upper part ...................................... 27
Lower part ...................................... 28
Overhead control panel ........................ 29
Storage compartments ......................... 30
Door control panel................................ 32Getting started................................... 33
Unlocking ............................................. 34
Unlocking with the SmartKey.......... 34
Unlocking with KEYLESS-GO* ......... 35
Starter switch positions .................. 36
Adjusting .............................................. 39
Seats............................................... 39
Steering wheel ................................ 41
Mirrors ............................................ 44Driving .................................................. 46
Fastening the seat belts ................. 46
Starting the engine ......................... 49
Parking brake ................................. 51
Driving ............................................ 52
Switching on headlamps ................. 53
Turn signals .................................... 53
Windshield wipers ........................... 54
Problems while driving.................... 56
Parking and locking .............................. 58
Parking brake ................................. 59
Switching off headlamps................. 59
Turning off engine ........................... 60
Releasing seat belts........................ 60
Locking ........................................... 61
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
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
16 IntroductionOperating safety
Proper use of the vehicle
Proper use of the vehicle requires that you
are familiar with the following information
and rules:
the safety precautions in this manual
the “Technical data” section in this
manual
traffic rules and regulations
motor vehicle laws and safety stan-
dards
Warning!
G
Work improperly carried out on electronic
components and associated software could
cause them to cease functioning. Because
the vehicle’s electronic components are
interconnected, any modifications made
may produce an undesired effect on other
systems. Electronic malfunctions could seri-
ously impair the operating safety of your ve-
hicle.
See your authorized Mercedes-Benz Center
for repairs or modifications to electronic
components.
Other improper work or modifications on the
vehicle could also have a negative impact on
the operating safety of the vehicle.
Some safety systems only function while the
engine is running. You should therefore nev-
er turn off the engine while driving.
Warning!
G
Heavy blows against the vehicle underbody
or tires / wheels, for example when running
over an obstacle, road debris or a pothole,
may cause serious damage to and impair the
operating safety of your vehicle. If you feel a
sudden strong vibration or ride disturbance,
or you suspect that damage to your vehicle
has occurred, you should turn on your haz-
ard warning flashers, carefully slow down,
and drive with caution to an area which is a
safe distance from the road.
Inspect the vehicle underbody and
tires / wheels for possible damage. If the
vehicle appears unsafe, have it towed to the
nearest authorized Mercedes-Benz Center
or other qualified maintenance or repair fa-
cility for further inspection or repairs.
Warning!
G
Various warning labels are attached to your
vehicle. These warning labels are intended
to make you and others aware of various
risks. You should not remove any of these
warning labels unless explicitly instructed to
do so by information on the label itself.
Removal of any of these labels may cause
you and others to be unaware of certain
risks which may result in an accident and/or
personal injury.
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
35 Getting started
Unlocking
Get in the vehicle and insert the
SmartKey in the starter switch.
For more information, see “Locking and
unlocking” (
page 98).
Unlocking with KEYLESS-GO*
With the KEYLESS-GO function, you can
lock and unlock the vehicle without using
the remote control buttons on the
SmartKey and start the engine without in-
serting the SmartKey in the starter switch.
Pull an outside door handle.
All turn signal lamps flash once.
An acoustic signal sounds once.
For more information, see “Factory
setting” (
page 107).
The locking knobs in the doors
move up.
The anti-theft alarm system is dis-
armed.
Get in the vehicle.
For more information, see “SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO*” (
page 103).
iThe electro-hydraulic brake system is
activated (
page 89).
iOpening a door causes the window on
that door to open slightly. They will re-
turn to the up position when the door is
closed.
iTo unlock the vehicle, the SmartKey
with KEYLESS-GO must be outside the
vehicle, no further than approximately
3 feet (1 meter) away from the door. Warning!
G
When leaving the vehicle, always take the
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO with you, and
lock the vehicle. Do not leave children unat-
tended in the vehicle, or with access to an
unlocked vehicle. Unsupervised use of vehi-
cle equipment may cause an accident
and/or serious personal injury.
iThe electro-hydraulic brake system is
activated (
page 89).
iOpening a door causes the window on
that door to open slightly. They will re-
turn to the up position when the door is
closed.