ContentsAt the gas station............................... 241
Refueling ...................................... 241
Check regularly and before
a long trip ..................................... 242
Engine compartment.......................... 244
Hood ............................................ 244
Engine oil...................................... 247
Transmission fluid level ................ 249
Coolant......................................... 250
Trunk ................................................. 251
Batteries....................................... 251
Windshield washer system and
headlamp cleaning system ........... 252
Tires and wheels ................................ 254
Important guidelines .................... 254
Tire care and maintenance ........... 255
Direction of rotation ..................... 257
Loading the vehicle ...................... 257
Recommended tire inflation
pressure ....................................... 264
Checking tire inflation pressure ... 266
Tire labeling .................................. 271
Load identification........................ 275
DOT, Tire Identification Number
(TIN) ............................................. 276
Maximum tire load ....................... 277Maximum tire inflation pressure .. 278
Uniform Tire Quality Grading
Standards (U.S. vehicles) ............. 279
Tire ply material ........................... 281
Tire and loading terminology ........ 281
Rotating tires ............................... 284
Anti-theft wheel nuts .................... 285
Winter driving .................................... 287
Winter tires* ................................ 287
Snow chains ................................. 288
Maintenance ...................................... 289
Clearing the maintenance
service indicator message............ 289
Maintenance service term
exceeded ..................................... 290
Calling up the service due date .... 290
Resetting the maintenance
service indicator........................... 291
Vehicle care ....................................... 292
Cleaning and care of the vehicle .. 292
Vehicle washing ........................... 293
Practical hints................................. 296
What to do if ... .................................. 298
Lamps in instrument cluster ........ 298
Lamp in center console................ 306
Vehicle status messages in the
multifunction display.................... 307
Symbol messages ........................ 315
Where will I find ...? ........................... 342
First aid kit ................................... 342
TIREFIT kit, electric air pump,
towing eye bolt and
vehicle literature portfolio ............ 342
Compact guide (Canada only) ...... 343
Unlocking in an emergency ............... 344
Unlocking the vehicle................... 344
Replacing SmartKey batteries ........... 346
Replacing bulbs ................................. 348
Front lamps.................................. 349
Rear lamps ................................... 349
Replacing the wiper blades................ 350
Removing wiper blades ................ 350
Installing wiper blades ................. 350
29 At a glance
Instrument cluster
Item
Page
1
Coolant temperature gauge
with
114
DCoolant temperature
warning lamp
302
2
Speedometer with;Brake warning lamp,
USA only
300
3Brake warning lamp,
Canada only
300
vABS/ESP
® warning
lamp
298
>Gearshift indicator
lamp
303
LLeft turn signal
indicator lampKRight turn signal
indicator lamp
Item
Page
3
Left multifunction display
with
Outside temperature
115
Main odometer
117
4
Reset button
113
5
Tachometer with
115
AHigh beam headlamp
indicator
109
?Engine malfunction in-
dicator lamp, USA only
301
±Engine malfunction in-
dicator lamp, Canada
only
301
-Antilock Brake System
(ABS) indicator lamp
299
XTire pressure warning
lamp
305
Item
Page
1Supplemental
Restraint System (SRS)
indicator lamp
304
6
Right multifunction display
with
Current gear selector lever
position/gear range
117,
170,
171
Trip odometer
117
Automatic transmission
shift program mode
117,
173
Clock
131
=Engine oil temperature
indicator
303
7
Fuel gauge withAFuel reserve warning
lamp
303
79 Safety and Security
Driving safety systems
Driving safety systems
In 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
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.
iIn winter operation, the maximum ef-
fectiveness of the ABS, the BAS, the
ESP
®, and the electrohydraulic brake
system is only achieved with winter
tires (page 287) 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
®, and electrohydraulic
brake system 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.
80 Safety and SecurityDriving safety systemsThe - indicator lamp in the instrument
cluster comes on (
page 29) when you
switch on the ignition. It goes out when the
engine is running.
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 299).
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. The
ABS cannot prevent accidents, including
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 an ABS 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.
81 Safety and Security
Driving safety systems
BAS
The Brake Assist System (BAS) operates in
emergency situations. If you apply the
brakes very quickly, the BAS automatically
provides full brake boost thereby potential-
ly 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
spinning or if the vehicle starts to skid. By
applying brakes to the appropriate wheel
and by limiting the engine output, the ESP
®
works to stabilize the vehicle. The ESP
® is
especially useful while driving off and on
wet or slippery road surfaces. The ESP®
also stabilizes the vehicle during braking
maneuvers.
The ABS/ESP
® warning lamp v in the
instrument cluster (
page 29) flashes
when the ESP
® is engaged.
The ABS/ESP® warning lamp v in the
instrument (
page 28) cluster comes on
when you switch on the ignition. It goes out
when the engine is running.
Warning!
G
BAS cannot prevent the natural laws of
physics from acting on the vehicle, nor can
it increase braking efficiency beyond that af-
forded by the condition of the vehicle brakes
and tires or the traction. The BAS cannot
prevent accidents, including those resulting
from excessive speed in turns, following an-
other vehicle too closely, or hydroplaning.
Only a safe, attentive, and skillful driver can
prevent accidents. The capabilities of a BAS
equipped vehicle must never be exploited in
a reckless or dangerous manner which
could jeopardize the user’s safety or the
safety of others.
121 Controls in detail
Control system
Menus, submenus and functions
Menu1
Menu2
Menu3
Menu4
Menu5
Menu6
Standard display
AUDIO
Vehicle status
message memory
1
1The Vehicle status message memory menu is only displayed if there is a message stored.
Settings
Trip computer
Telephone
(page 122)
(page 123)
(page 124)
(page 126)
(page 137)
(page 139)
Commands/submenusDigital speedometer
Selecting radio
station
Calling up vehicle
malfunction, warn-
ing and system sta-
tus messages
stored in memory
Resetting to factory
settings
Fuel consumption
statistics after start
Loading phone book
Calling up mainte-
nance service dis-
play
Operating the
CD player
Instrument cluster
submenu
Fuel consumption
statistics since the
last reset
Searching for name
in phone book
Checking tire infla-
tion pressure
Time submenu
Calling up range
Lighting submenuVehicle submenu
123 Controls in detail
Control system
The following functions are available:
Display digital speedometer
Press button j once.
The current vehicle speed is shown 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:Selecting radio station
Turn on the radio (
page 146).
Press button è or ÿ repeatedly
until you see the currently tuned sta-
tion in the right display.
1Station frequency
2Wave band setting
3Setting for station selection using
memory
Function
Page
Calling up digital speedometer
123
Calling up maintenance service
display
289
Checking tire inflation pressure
266
Function
Page
Selecting radio station
123
Operating CD player
124
128 Controls in detailControl systemThe table below shows what settings can
be changed within the various menus.
Detailed instructions on making individual
settings can be found on the following
pages.Instrument cluster
Time
Lighting
Vehicle
Selecting temperature display
mode
Setting time (hours)
Setting daytime running lamp
mode (USA only)
Setting station selection mode
(radio)
Selecting speedometer display
mode
Setting time (minutes)
Setting locator lighting
Setting automatic locking
Selecting standard display
Selecting time display mode
Exterior lamps delayed
switch-off
Tire inflation pressure display
Selecting language
Interior lighting delayed
switch-off