2006 MERCEDES-BENZ E500 spare wheel

Contents
At the gas station .............................. 315
Refueling ...................................... 315
Check regularly and before a
long trip........................................ 317
Engine compartment ......................... 319
Hood ............................................ 319
Engine oil ..................................... 320
Transmission fluid level ................ 324
Coolant level ................................ 325
Batteries ...................................... 326
Windshield washer system and
headlamp cleaning system* ......... 327
Tires and wheels ................................ 328
Important guidelines .................... 328
Tire care and maintenance........... 329
Direction of rotation ..................... 331
Loading the vehicle ...................... 331
Recommended tire inflation
pressure ....................................... 337
Checking tire inflation pressure ... 339
MOExtended system* .................. 343
Tire labeling.................................. 344
Load identification ....................... 348
DOT, Tire Identification Number
(TIN) ............................................. 349
Maximum tire load ....................... 350Maximum tire inflation pressure ... 351
Uniform Tire Quality Grading
Standards (U.S. vehicles) .............. 351
Tire ply material ............................ 353
Tire and loading terminology......... 353
Rotating tires ................................ 356
Winter driving ..................................... 358
Winter tires ................................... 358
Block heater* (Canada only) ......... 359
Snow chains.................................. 359
Maintenance....................................... 360
Maintenance service indicator
message ....................................... 360
Calling up the maintenance
service indicator display ............... 362
Resetting the maintenance
service indicator ........................... 362
Vehicle care........................................ 364
Cleaning and care of vehicle ......... 364
Practical hints.................................. 373
What to do if … ................................... 374
Lamps in instrument cluster ......... 374
Lamp in center console ................ 384
Vehicle status messages in the
multifunction display .................... 386
Where will I find ...? ............................ 422
First aid kit.................................... 422
Spare wheel .................................. 422
Luggage box ................................. 423
Vehicle tool kit.............................. 424
Vehicle jack .................................. 424
Unlocking/locking in an emergency .. 426
Unlocking the vehicle ................... 426
Locking the vehicle ....................... 427
Fuel filler flap emergency release . 428
Manually unlocking the gear
selector lever ................................ 428
Opening/closing in an emergency ..... 429
Power tilt/sliding sunroof* or
panorama roof with power
tilt/sliding panel* ......................... 429
Resetting activated head restraints.... 430

ContentsReplacing SmartKey batteries ............ 431
SmartKey ..................................... 431
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO*....... 432
Replacing bulbs ................................. 433
Bulbs ............................................ 433
Replacing bulbs for front lamps.... 436
Replacing bulbs for rear lamps ..... 438
Replacing wiper blades ...................... 439
Removing wiper blades ................ 439
Installing wiper blades.................. 440
Flat tire .............................................. 441
Preparing the vehicle.................... 441
Mounting the spare wheel ............ 441
MOExtended system*................... 448
Bleeding the fuel system
(Diesel engine only) ........................... 449
Batteries ............................................ 450
Disconnecting the battery ............ 451
Removing the battery ................... 452
Charging and reinstalling the
battery.......................................... 452
Reconnecting the battery ............. 453
Jump starting ..................................... 454
Towing the vehicle ............................. 457
Installing towing eye bolt.............. 460Fuses ................................................. 461
Aids for replacing fuses................ 461
Main fuse box in passenger
compartment ............................... 462
Fuse box in trunk ......................... 462
Technical data................................. 465
Parts service ...................................... 466
Warranty coverage............................. 467
Loss of Service and Warranty
Information Booklet ..................... 467
Identification labels ........................... 468
Layout of poly-V-belt drive ................. 469
E 350 / E 350 4MATIC .................. 469
E 500 / E 500 4MATIC .................. 469
E 55 AMG ..................................... 470
E 320 CDI..................................... 470
Engine................................................ 471
Rims and tires.................................... 473
Same size tires ............................. 475
Mixed size tires ............................ 478
MOExtended tires* ....................... 479
Spare wheel ................................. 480
Electrical system ............................... 481Main dimensions and weights ........... 482
Main dimensions .......................... 482
Weights ........................................ 483
Fuels, coolants, lubricants etc. .......... 484
Capacities .................................... 484
Engine oils ................................... 487
Engine oil additives ...................... 487
Air conditioning refrigerant .......... 487
Brake fluid.................................... 487
Premium unleaded gasoline
(Gasoline engine) ......................... 488
Gasoline additives
(Gasoline engine) ......................... 488
Fuel requirements ........................ 489
Coolants ...................................... 490
Windshield and headlamp
washer system ............................. 492
Technical terms............................... 493Index................................................. 501

96 Safety and SecurityDriving safety systemsSwitching off the ESP
®
To improve the vehicle’s traction, turn off
the ESP
® in driving situations where it
would be advantageous to have drive
wheels spin and thus cut into surfaces for
better grip such as:


when driving with snow chains


in deep snow


in sand or gravelWhen you switch off the ESP
®


the ESP
® does not stabilize the vehicle


the engine output is not limited, which
allows the drive wheels to spin and
thus cut into surfaces for better grip


the traction control will still brake a
spinning wheel


the ESP
® continues to operate when
you are braking


you cannot activate Distronic*The switch is located on the center con-
sole.
1ESP
® switch (off/on)

Press ESP
® switch 1 until the
ABS/ESP®warning lamp v in the
instrument cluster comes on.
The ESP
® is deactivated.
Warning!
G
The ESP
® should not be switched off during
normal driving other than in the circum-
stances described below. Disabling of the
system will reduce vehicle stability in driving
maneuvers.
Do not switch off the ESP
® when a
Minispare or collapsible tire is mounted.
!Turn on the ESP
® immediately if the
aforementioned circumstances do not
apply anymore.
iWhen the ESP
® is switched off and one
or more drive wheels are spinning, the
ABS/ESP
® warning lamp v in the
speedometer flashes. However, the
ESP
® will then not stabilize the vehicle.

329 Operation
Tires and wheels
Tire care and maintenance
Regularly check your tire inflation pressure
at least once a month. For more informa-
tion on checking tire inflation pressure,
see “Recommended tire inflation pres-
sure” (
page 337).Tire inspection
Every time you check your tire inflation
pressure, you should also inspect your
tires for the following:


excessive treadwear (
page 330)


cord or fabric showing through the
tire’s rubber


bumps, bulges, cuts, cracks or splits in
the tread or side of the tire
Replace the tire if you find any of the above
conditions.
Make sure you also inspect the spare tire
periodically for condition and inflation.
Spare tires will age and become worn over
time even if never used, and thus should be
inspected and replaced when necessary.Life of tire
The service life of a tire is dependent upon
varying factors including but not limited to:


Driving style


Tire inflation pressure


Distance driven
Warning!
G
Regularly check the tires for damage. Dam-
aged tires can cause tire inflation pressure
loss. As a result, you could lose control of
your vehicle.
Worn, old tires can cause accidents. If the
tire tread is badly worn, or if the tires have
sustained damage, replace them.
Warning!
G
Tires and spare tire should be replaced after
6 years, regardless of the remaining tread.

331 Operation
Tires and wheels
Direction of rotation
Unidirectional tires offer added advan-
tages, such as better hydroplaning perfor-
mance. To benefit, however, you must
make sure the tires rotate in the direction
specified.
An arrow on the sidewall indicates the
intended direction of rotation (spinning) of
the tire.
Loading the vehicle
Two labels on your vehicle show how much
weight it may properly carry.

The Tire and Loading Information
placard (Example A) or the Vehicle Tire
Information placard (Example B) can be
found on the driver’s door B-pillar. This
placard tells you important information
about the number of people that can be
in the vehicle and the total weight that
can be carried in the vehicle. It also
contains information on the proper size
and recommended tire inflation
pressures for the original equipment
tires on your vehicle.


The Certification label, also found on
the driver’s door B-pillar tells you about
the gross weight capacity of your vehi-
cle, called the Gross Vehicle Weight
Rating (GVWR). The GVWR includes the
weight of the vehicle, all occupants,
fuel and cargo. The Certification label
also tells you about the front and rear
axle weight capacity, called the Gross
Axle Weight Rating (GAWR). The GAWR
is the total allowable weight that can be
carried by a single axle (front or rear).
Never exceed the GVWR or GAWR for
either the front axle or rear axle.
iSpare wheels may be mounted against
the direction of rotation (spinning) even
with a unidirectional tire for temporary
use only until the regular drive wheel
has been repaired or replaced. Always
observe and follow applicable tempo-
rary use restrictions and speed limita-
tions indicated on the spare wheel.

340 OperationTires and wheelsThe TPMS only functions on wheels that
are equipped with the proper electronic
sensors. It monitors the tire inflation pres-
sure, as selected by the driver, in all four
tires. A warning is issued to alert you to a
decrease in pressure in one or more of the
tires.Warning!
G
The TPMS does not indicate a warning for
wrongly selected inflation pressures. Always
adjust tire inflation pressure according to
the placard on the driver’s door B-pillar or, if
available, the supplemental tire pressure in-
formation on the inside of the fuel filler flap.
The TPMS is not able to issue a warning due
to a sudden dramatic loss of pressure (e.g.
tire blowout caused by a foreign object). In
this case bring the vehicle to a halt by care-
fully applying the brakes and avoiding
abrupt steering maneuvers.
Warning!
G
Each tire, including the spare (if provided),
should be checked monthly when cold and
inflated to the inflation pressure recom-
mended by the vehicle manufacturer on the
vehicle placard or the tire inflation pressure
label. (If your vehicle has tires of a different
size than the size indicated on the vehicle
placard or the tire inflation pressure label,
you should determine the proper tire infla-
tion pressure for those tires).
As an added safety feature, your vehicle has
been equipped with a tire pressure monitor-
ing system (TPMS) that illuminates a low tire
pressure telltale when one or more of your
tires is significantly under-inflated. Accord-
ingly, when the low tire pressure telltale illu-
minates, you should stop and check your
tires as soon as possible, and inflate them to
the proper pressure. Driving on a significant-
ly under-inflated tire causes the tire to over-
heat and can lead to tire failure.
Under-inflation also reduces fuel efficiency
and tire tread life, and may affect the vehi-
cle’s handling and stopping ability. Please
note that the TPMS is not a substitute for
proper tire maintenance, and it is the driv-
er’s responsibility to maintain correct tire
pressure, even if under-inflation has not
reached the level to trigger illumination of
the TPMS low tire pressure telltale.
Your vehicle has also been equipped with a
TPMS malfunction indicator to indicate
when the system is not operating properly.
The TPMS malfunction indicator is com-
bined with the low tire pressure telltale.
When the system detects a malfunction, the
telltale will flash for approximately
one minute and then remain continuously
illuminated. This sequence will continue
upon subsequent vehicle start-ups as long
as the malfunction exists. When the mal-
function indicator is illuminated, the system
may not be able to detect or signal low tire
pressure as intended.

345 Operation
Tires and wheels
General:
Depending on the design standards used,
the tire size molded into the sidewall may
have no letter or a letter preceding the tire
size designation.
No letter preceding the size designation
(as illustrated above): Passenger car tire
based on European design standards.
Letter “P” preceding the size designation:
Passenger car tire based on U.S. design
standards.
Letter “LT” preceding the size designation:
Light Truck tire based on U.S. design
standards.
Letter “T” preceding the size designation:
Temporary spare tires which are high
pressure compact spares designed for
temporary emergency use only. Tire width
The tire width1 (
page 344) indicates
the nominal tire width in mm.
Aspect ratio
The aspect ratio2 (page 344) is the
dimensional relationship between tire
section height and section width and is
expressed in percentage. The aspect ratio
is arrived at by dividing section height by
section width.
Tire code
The tire code3 (
page 344) indicates
the tire construction type. The “R” stands
for radial tire type. Letter “D” means
diagonal or bias ply construction; letter “B”
means belted-bias ply construction.
At the tire manufacturer’s option, any tire
with a speed capability above 149 mph
(240 km/h) can include a “ZR” in the size
designation (for example: 245/40 ZR 18).
For additional information, see “Tire speed
rating” (
page 346).Rim diameter
The rim diameter4 (
page 344) is the
diameter of the bead seat, not the
diameter of the rim edge. Rim diameter is
indicated in inches (in).
Tire load rating
The tire load rating5 (page 344) is a
numerical code associated with the
maximum load a tire can support.
For example, a load rating of 91 corre-
sponds to a maximum load of 1 356 lbs
(615 kg) the tire is designed to support.
See also “Maximum tire load”
(
page 350) where the maximum load as-
sociated with the load index is indicated in
kilograms and lbs.

354 OperationTires and wheelsBar
Another metric unit for air pressure. There
are 14.5038 pounds per square inch (psi)
to 1 bar; there are 100 kilopascals (kPa)
to 1 bar.
Bead
The tire bead contains steel wires wrapped
by steel cords that hold the tire onto the
rim.
Cold tire inflation pressure
Tire inflation pressure when your vehicle
has been sitting for at least 3 hours or driv-
en no more than 1 mile (1.6 km).
Curb weight
The weight of a motor vehicle with stan-
dard equipment including the maximum
capacity of fuel, oil, and coolant, and, if so
equipped, air conditioning and additional
optional equipment, but without passen-
gers and cargo.DOT (D
epartment o
f T
ransportation)
A tire branding symbol which denotes the
tire meets requirements of the
U.S. Department of Transportation.
GAWR (G
ross A
xle W
eight R
ating)
The GAWR is the maximum permissible
axle weight. The gross vehicle weight on
each axle must never exceed the GAWR for
the front and rear axle indicated on the
certification label located on the driver’s
door B-pillar.
GVW (G
ross V
ehicle W
eight)
The GVW comprises the weight of the
vehicle including fuel, tools, spare wheel,
installed accessories, passengers and
cargo and, if applicable, trailer tongue
load. The GWV must never exceed the
GWVR indicated on the certification label
located on the driver’s door B-pillar.GVWR (G
ross V
ehicle W
eight R
ating)
This is the maximum permissible vehicle
weight of the fully loaded vehicle (weight of
the vehicle including all options, passen-
gers, fuel, and cargo and, if applicable,
trailer tongue load). It is indicated on
certification label located on the driver’s
door B-pillar.
Kilopascal (kPa)
The metric unit for air pressure. There are
6.9 kPa to 1 psi; another metric unit for air
pressure is bar. There are 100 kilopascals
(kPa) to 1 bar.
Maximum load rating
The maximum load in kilograms and
pounds that can be carried by the tire.
Maximum loaded vehicle weight
The sum of curb weight, accessory weight,
vehicle capacity weight and production
options weight.