453 Technical data
Fuels, coolants, lubricants, etc.
Gasoline additives
A major concern among engine manufac-
turers is carbon build-up caused by gaso-
line. Mercedes-Benz only recommends the
use of quality gasoline containing additives
that prevent the build-up of carbon depos-
its.
After an extended period of using fuels
without such additives, carbon deposits
can build up especially on the intake valves
and in the combustion area, leading to
engine performance problems such as:
Warm-up hesitation
Unstable idle
Knocking/pinging
Misfire
Power lossIn areas where carbon deposits may be
encountered due to lack of availability of
gasolines which contain these additives,
Mercedes-Benz recommends the use of
additives approved by us for use on
Mercedes-Benz vehicles. Refer to the
Factory Approved Service Products pam-
phlet for a listing of approved product(s).
Follow directions on product label.
Do not blend other fuel additives with fuel.
This only results in unnecessary costs and
may be harmful to engine operation.
Damage or malfunction resulting from
poor fuel quality or from blending addition-
al fuel additives other than those tested
and approved by us for use on
Mercedes-Benz vehicles listed in the
Factory Approved Service Products
pamphlet are not covered by the
Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.
Coolants
The engine coolant is a mixture of water
and anticorrosion/antifreeze, which pro-
vides:
Corrosion protection
Freeze protection
Boiling protection (by increasing the
boiling point)
The cooling system was filled at the factory
with a coolant providing freeze protection
to approximately -22°F (-30°C) and corro-
sion protection.
If the antifreeze mixture is effective to
-22°F (-30°C), the boiling point of the cool-
ant in the pressurized cooling system is
reached at approximately 266°F (130°C).
The coolant solution must be used year
round to provide the necessary corrosion
protection and increase boil-over protec-
tion. Refer to Maintenance Booklet for in-
formation on replacement intervals.
458 Technical termsCAN system
(C
ontroller A
rea N
etwork)
Data bus network serving to control ve-
hicle functions such as door locking or
windshield wiping.
Cockpit
All instruments, switches, buttons and
indicator/warning lamps in the passen-
ger compartment needed for vehicle
operation and monitoring.
Cold tire inflation pressure
(
page 344)
Collapsible tire
An especially compact spare tire that
must be inflated with a provided air
pump before using. It should only be
used to bring the vehicle to the nearest
service station.COMAND*
(Co
ckpit Man
agement and
D
ata System)
Information and operating center for
vehicle sound and communications
systems, including the radio,
CD changer and navigation system, as
well as other optional equipment (e.g.
telephone).
Control system
The control system is used to call up
vehicle information and to change
component settings. Information and
messages appear in the multifunction
display. The driver uses the buttons on
the multifunction steering wheel to
navigate through the system and to ad-
just settings.
Cruise control
Driving convenience system for auto-
matically maintaining the vehicle speed
set by the driver.Curb weight
(
page 344)
DOT
(Department o
f Transportation)
(
page 344)
Engine number
The number set by the manufacturer
and placed on the cylinder block to
uniquely identify each engine pro-
duced.
Engine oil viscosity
Measurement for the inner friction (vis-
cosity) of the oil at different tempera-
tures. The higher the temperature an
oil can tolerate without becoming thin,
or the lower the temperature it can tol-
erate without becoming viscous, the
better the viscosity.
ESP®(Electronic S
tability Pr
ogram)
Improves vehicle handling and direc-
tional stability.
459 Technical terms
ETD
(E
mergency T
ensioning D
evice)
Device which deploys in certain frontal
and rear collisions exceeding the sys-
tem’s threshold to tighten the seat
belts. ->SRS
FSS PLUS (Canada vehicles)
(F
lexible S
ervice S
ystem PLUS)
Maintenance service indicator in the
multifunction display that informs the
driver when the next vehicle mainte-
nance service is due. FSS PLUS evalu-
ates engine temperature, oil level,
vehicle speed, engine speed, distance
driven and the time elapsed since your
last maintenance service, and calls for
the next maintenance service accord-
ingly.
GAWR
(G
ross A
xle W
eight R
ating)
(
page 344)Gear range*
Number of gears which are available to
the automatic transmission for shifting.
The automatic gear shifting process
can be adapted to specific operating
conditions using the selector lever.
GPS
(G
lobal P
ositioning S
ystem)
Satellite-based system for relaying
geographic location information to and
from vehicles equipped with special re-
ceivers.
GVW
(G
ross V
ehicle W
eight)
(
page 344)
GVWR
(Gross V
ehicle W
eight R
ating)
(
page 345)Head-thorax air bag
Installed in the doors, these air bags
protect occupants during side impact
collisions exceeding a preset thresh-
old. Unlike normal side air bags,
head-thorax air bags are also designed
to provide protection for the head area.
Instrument cluster
The displays and indicator/warning
lamps in the driver’s field of vision, in-
cluding the tachometer, speedometer,
coolant temperature and fuel gauge.
Kickdown*
Depressing the accelerator past the
point of resistance shifts the automatic
transmission down to the lowest possi-
ble gear. This very quickly accelerates
the vehicle and should not be used for
normal acceleration needs.
Kilopascal (kPa)
(
page 345)
468 IndexDriver’s door
Locking in an emergency 395
Unlocking in an emergency 394
Driving 53
Automatic transmission* 53
Driving off 296
Fuel saving 293
Hydroplaning 297
In winter 299
Instructions 47, 293
Manual transmission 53
Standing water 300
Tires 297
Traveling abroad 301
Driving safety systems 82
ABS 82
BAS 83
ESP
®
84E
Easy-entry/exit feature* 43, 148
Electric air pump 391
Electric air pump (Vehicle tool kit) 388
Electrical system (Technical data) 446
Electronic Stability Program see ESP
®
Emergency call (911) 243
Emergency call system 273
Tele Aid 275
Emergency operations
Automatic transmission* 172
Releasing trunk lid from inside 100
Remote door unlock (Tele Aid) 280
Retractable hardtop 397
Selector lever*, unlocking
manually 396
Unlocking/locking the vehicle 394
Emergency tensioning device see ETD
Emission control 302, 436
Engine
Cleaning see Vehicle care
Compartment 307
Driving after replacement 292
Number 436, 458
Technical data 438
Turning off 61Engine oil 308, 451
Adding 312
Additives 451
Checking level (Control system) 309
Checking level (Dipstick) 311
Consumption 308
Display message 310
Viscosity 458
ESP
®
84, 458
Display message 371
Warning lamp 365
ETD 73, 74, 459
Safety guidelines 68
Seat belt force limiter 74
Exterior lamp switch 110
Exterior lighting
Lamps 401
Replacing bulbs 401
Exterior rear view mirrors see Mirrors
472 IndexM
Main dimensions 447
Maintenance service indicator (Control
system) 350
Maintenance System (U.S. vehicles) 460
Service indicator, calling up 351
Manual seat see Seats
Manual shift program SLK 55 AMG 169
Manual transmission 155
Driving 53
Gearshift pattern 51
Starting with SmartKey 51
Maximum inflation pressure 345
Maximum load rating 345
Maximum loaded vehicle weight 345
Mechanical key see SmartKey
Memory function* 107, 460
Menus
AUDIO 129
Convenience* submenu 147
Instrument cluster submenu 137
Lighting submenu 143
NAV* 132
Overview (Control system) 126, 127,
136Settings 134
Settings submenus 135
Standard display 128
TEL* 151
Time/Date submenu 139
Trip computer 149
Vehicle status message memory 132
Vehicle submenu 147
Messages in display 368
Cruise control 370
ESP
®
371
Maintenance service indicator 350
SRS 372
Symbols 374
Transmission 372
Vehicle status message memory 132
Mirror lamp* see Sun visors
Mirrors 173
Additional turn signals 401
Adjusting 45
Antiglare position 173
Auto-dimming* 174
Exterior rear view mirrors 45
Interior rear view mirror 45
Parking position* 108, 148, 175MOExtended system* 333
MON 304, 460
Motor Octane Number see MON
MP3 220
Multifunction display 123, 460
Engine oil messages 309
Messages 132
Messages with symbols 374
Messages with text 368
Operation see Control system
Multifunction steering wheel 26, 124,
460
Heating* 288
473 Index
N
NAV* menu 132
Navigation system see NAV*
Neck-level heating see AIRSCARF* (Seats)
Night security illumination (Control
system) 145
Normal occupant weight 345
O
Occupant distribution 345
Occupant safety 64
Children 66, 75
Infant and child restraint systems 72,
75
Seat belts 47, 68, 71
Oil see Engine oil
One-touch gearshifting* 164
Operating safety 16, 203
Operating vehicle outside the USA and
Canada 13
Operator’s Manual 10
Ornamental moldings see Vehicle care
Outside temperature indicator 121, 129
Outside temperature/speed 138
Overhead control panel 30
Overspeed range 121, 460P
Paintwork see Vehicle care
Panic alarm 80
Parcel net (Storage compartment) 267
Parking 296
And locking 59
Parking aid see Parking position*
Parking brake 52, 59
Parking lamps 110, 401
Parking position* 108
Activation (Control system) 148
Exterior rear view mirrors 175
Parts service 434
Passenger air bag see Air bags
Passenger compartment 301
Passenger front air bag off indicator
lamp 367
Passenger safety see Occupant safety
Phone book see Telephone*
Plastic parts, cleaning 359
Poly-V-belt drive 437, 460
Potential problems associated with under-
inflated and overinflated tires 332
Power outlet 271
Power seat* see Seats
Power train 461Power washer see Vehicle care
Power windows 246
Operating rear side windows 248
Operating with retractable hardtop
switch 248
Summer opening/convenience
closing* 249
Synchronizing 251
Practical hints
Fuses 430
Lamps in instrument cluster 362
Spare wheel bolts 392
Towing vehicle 426
Vehicle jack 389
What to do if... 362
Premium unleaded gasoline 452
Problems
While driving 58
With vehicle 17
Product information 9
Production options weight 345
Program mode selector switch* 461
Automatic transmission* 163
PSI 345
476 IndexT
Tachometer 121
Tail lamps 401
Tar stains see Vehicle care
TDMA or CDMA network phones
(Telephone*) 236
Technical data
Air conditioning refrigerant 451
Brake fluid 451
Coolants 453
Electrical system 446
Engine 438
Engine oil 451
Fuel additives 453
Fuel requirements 452
Fuels, coolants, lubricants, etc. 449
Headlamp cleaning system* 456
Main dimensions 447
Parts service 434
Premium unleaded gasoline 452
Rims and tires 439
Weights 448
Windshield washer system 456Tele Aid system 273, 462
Call priority 279
Initiating an emergency call 276
Remote door unlock 280
Requirements 273
Roadside Assistance 277
Stolen Vehicle Recovery
services 280
System self-check 274
Telephone* 272
Compartment 266
GSM network phones 229
Operation 151, 203
Tightening torque 462
Wheel bolts 419
Time and date synchronization with head
unit* (Control system) 139
TIN 346
Tire and Loading Information 321
Tire and loading terminology 344
Tire care and maintenance 318
Tire Identification Number see TINTire inflation pressure 410
Air pressure 344
Checking 327, 329
Tire inflation pressure see the placard on
the fuel filler flap
Tire inspection 318
Tire load rating 346
Tire ply composition and material
used 346
Tire speed rating 336, 346
Tire terminology 344
TIREFIT kit* (Vehicle tool kit) 388, 389
TIREFIT*
Instructions for use 408
Tires 317, 439
Cleaning 319
Collapsible (Spare wheel) 458
Direction of rotation 320
Driving instructions 297
Flat tire 408
Important guidelines 317
Inflating with air pump 417
MOExtended system* 333
Mounting wheel 415