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
25 At a glance
Instrument cluster
Item
Page
1
LLeft turn signal
indicator lamp
2
vABS/ESP
® warning
lamp
375
3
Speedometer
4
Multifunction display
153
5
lDistance warning lamp
Vehicles without Distronic*:
Warning lamp without func-
tion. It illuminates when the
ignition is on. It should go out
when the engine is running.
380
6
KRight turn signal
indicator lamp
7
Coolant temperature
indicator with:
151
•Coolant temperature
warning lamp
379
Item
Page
8
Tachometer with:1Supplemental
Restraint System (SRS)
indicator lamp
383
-Antilock Brake System
(ABS) indicator lamp
374
BLow beam headlamp
indicator lamp
54
AHigh beam headlamp
indicator lamp
145
9
Main odometer with:
Gear selector lever
position
50
Program mode
189
a
Clock with:
168
;Brake warning lamp,
USA only
376
3Brake warning lamp,
Canada only
376
Item
Page
úEngine malfunction
indicator lamp,
USA only
377
±Engine malfunction
indicator lamp,
Canada only
377
HCombination low tire
pressure/TPMS mal-
function telltale*
381
qPreglow indicator
lamp, Diesel engine
only
51
b
Fuel display with:AFuel reserve warning
lamp
380
c
Reset button for:
Resetting trip odometer
151
Adjusting instrument
cluster illumination
150
Confirming new time
settings
168
92 Safety and SecurityDriving safety systemsIn this section you will find information on
the following driving safety systems:
ABS (A
ntilock B
rake S
ystem)
BAS (B
rake A
ssist S
ystem)
ESP
® (E
lectronic S
tability P
rogram)
Electrohydraulic brake system
4MATIC (Four Wheel Electronic
Traction System)
ABS
The Antilock Brake System (ABS) regulates
the brake pressure so that the wheels do
not lock during braking. This allows you to
maintain the ability to steer your vehicle.
The ABS is functional above a speed of ap-
proximately 5 mph (8 km/h) independent
of road surface conditions.
On slippery road surfaces, the ABS will re-
spond even to light brake pressure.
The - indicator lamp in the instrument
cluster comes on when you switch on the
ignition. It goes out when the engine is run-
ning.
iIn winter operation, the maximum ef-
fectiveness of the ABS, the BAS, the
ESP
®, electrohydraulic brake system
and 4MATIC is only achieved with win-
ter tires (
page 358), or snow chains
as required.
Warning!
G
The following factors increase the risk of ac-
cidents:
Excessive speed, especially in turns
Wet and slippery road surfaces
Following another vehicle too closely
The ABS, BAS, ESP
®, electrohydraulic brake
system and 4MATIC cannot reduce this risk.
Always adjust your driving style to the pre-
vailing road and weather conditions.
Warning!
G
Do not pump the brake pedal. Use firm,
steady brake pedal pressure instead. Pump-
ing the brake pedal defeats the purpose of
the ABS and significantly reduces braking
effectiveness.
93 Safety and Security
Driving safety systems
Braking
If the ABS activates during braking, the
ABS/ESP
® warning lamp v in the in-
strument cluster dial flashes. Because of
the electrohydraulic brake system, you will
not feel any pulsation in the brake pedal.
Keep firm and steady pressure on the
brake pedal.
Continuous, steady brake pedal pressure
yields the advantages provided by the ABS,
namely braking power and the ability to
steer the vehicle.
The ABS/ESP
® warning lamp v flashes
whenever the ABS is activated which can
be an indication of hazardous road condi-
tions and functions as a reminder to take
extra care while driving.Emergency brake maneuver
Keep continuous full pressure on the
brake pedal.
For more information, see the “Practical
hints” section (
page 375).
Warning!
G
When the ABS is malfunctioning, the BAS
and the ESP
® are also switched off.
When the ABS is malfunctioning, the wheels
may lock during hard braking, reducing
steering capability and extending the brak-
ing distance.
Warning!
G
The ABS cannot prevent the natural laws of
physics from acting on the vehicle, nor can
it increase braking or steering efficiency be-
yond that afforded by the condition of the
vehicle brakes and tires or the traction af-
forded. The ABS cannot prevent accidents,
including those resulting from excessive
speed in turns, following another vehicle too
closely, or hydroplaning. Only a safe, atten-
tive, and skillful driver can prevent acci-
dents. The capabilities of an ABS equipped
vehicle must never be exploited in a reck-
less or dangerous manner which could jeop-
ardize the user’s safety or the safety of
others.
94 Safety and SecurityDriving safety systemsBAS
The Brake Assist System (BAS) operates in
emergency situations. If you apply the
brakes very quickly, the BAS automatically
provides full brake boost, thereby poten-
tially reducing the braking distance.
Apply continuous full braking pressure
until the emergency braking situation is
over.
The ABS will prevent the wheels from
locking.
When you release the brake pedal, the
brakes function again as normal. The BAS
is then deactivated.
ESP
®
The Electronic Stability Program (ESP
®) is
operational as soon as the engine is run-
ning and monitors the vehicle’s traction
(force of adhesive friction between the
tires and the road surface) and handling.
The ESP
® recognizes when a wheel is spin-
ning or if the vehicle starts to skid. By ap-
plying brakes to the appropriate wheel and
by limiting engine output, the ESP
® works
to stabilize the vehicle. The ESP
® is espe-
cially useful while driving off and on wet or
slippery road surfaces. The ESP® also sta-
bilizes the vehicle during braking maneu-
vers.
The ABS/ESP
® warning lamp v in the
instrument cluster flashes when the ESP
®
is engaged.
The ABS/ESP
® warning lamp v in the
instrument cluster comes on when you
switch on the ignition. It goes out when the
engine is running.
Warning!
G
If the BAS is malfunctioning, the brake sys-
tem is still functioning normally, but without
the additional brake boost available that
BAS would normally provide in an emergen-
cy braking maneuver. Therefore, the braking
distance may increase.
Warning!
G
The BAS cannot prevent the natural laws of
physics from acting on the vehicle, nor can
it increase braking efficiency beyond that
afforded by the condition of the vehicle
brakes and tires or the traction afforded.
The BAS cannot prevent accidents, includ-
ing those resulting from excessive speed in
turns, following another vehicle too closely,
or hydroplaning. Only a safe, attentive, and
skillful driver can prevent accidents. The ca-
pabilities of a BAS equipped vehicle must
never be exploited in a reckless or danger-
ous manner which could jeopardize the us-
er’s safety or the safety of others.
157 Controls in detail
Control system
Menus, submenus and functions
Menu1
Menu2
Menu3
Menu4
Standard display
AUDIO
NAV*
Distronic*
(page 159)
(page 159)
(page 161)
(page 161)
Commands/submenusDigital speedometer
Select radio station
Show route guidance instruc-
tions, current direction trav-
eled
Call up settings
Call up maintenance system
display
Operate CD player
Check tire inflation pressure*Check engine oil level
159 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 button k 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
appears in the
multifunction display.
The following functions are available:Select radio station
Turn on COMAND and select radio. Re-
fer to separate COMAND operating in-
structions.
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
Calling up digital speedometer
159
Calling up maintenance service
indicator
360
Checking tire inflation pressure*
339
Checking engine oil level
321
Function
Page
Select radio station
159
Select satellite radio station*
160
Operate CD player
160
303 Operation
Driving instructions
Driving instructions
Drive sensibly – save fuel
Fuel consumption, to a great extent, de-
pends on driving habits and operating con-
ditions.
To save fuel you should:
Keep tires at the recommended infla-
tion pressures.
Remove unnecessary loads.
Remove roof rack when not in use.
Allow engine to warm up under low
load use.
Avoid frequent acceleration and decel-
eration.
Have all maintenance work performed
at the intervals specified in the
Maintenance Booklet and as required
by the Maintenance System. Contact
an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Fuel consumption is also increased by
driving in cold weather, in stop-and-go
traffic, on short trips and in hilly area.
Drinking and driving
Pedals
Warning!
G
Drinking and driving and/or taking drugs
and driving are very dangerous combina-
tions. Even a small amount of alcohol or
drugs can affect your reflexes, perceptions
and judgment.
The possibility of a serious or even fatal ac-
cident are greatly increased when you drink
or take drugs and drive.
Do not drink or take drugs and drive or allow
anyone to drive who has been drinking or
taking drugs.
Warning!
G
Keep driver’s foot area clear at all times. Ob-
jects stored in this area may impair pedal
movement.