Contents
Operation......................................... 497
The first 1000 miles (1500 km) ......... 498
Driving instructions ............................ 499
Drive sensibly – save fuel ............. 499
Drinking and driving ..................... 499
Pedals .......................................... 499
Power assistance ......................... 499
Brakes .......................................... 500
Driving off..................................... 501
Parking ......................................... 502
Tires ............................................. 502
Hydroplaning ................................ 503
Tire traction .................................. 503
Tire speed rating .......................... 504
Winter driving instructions ........... 504
Standing water ............................. 505
Passenger compartment .............. 506
Driving abroad .............................. 506
Control and operation
of radio transmitters .................... 506
Catalytic converter ....................... 507
Emission control........................... 507
Coolant temperature .................... 508At the gas station .............................. 509
Refueling ...................................... 509
Check regularly
and before a long trip ................... 511
Engine compartment ......................... 512
Hood ............................................ 512
Engine oil ..................................... 513
Transmission fluid level ................ 517
Active Body Control
(ABC) fluid level ............................ 517
Coolant level ................................ 518
Windshield washer system and
headlamp cleaning system ........... 519
Tires and wheels ................................ 520
Important guidelines .................... 520
Tire care and maintenance ........... 521
Direction of rotation ..................... 523
Loading the vehicle ...................... 523
Recommended
tire inflation pressure ................... 528
Checking tire inflation pressure ... 530
Tire labeling.................................. 536
Load identification ....................... 540
DOT,
Tire Identification Number (TIN) ... 540
Maximum tire load ....................... 541Maximum tire inflation pressure .. 542
Uniform Tire Quality
Grading Standards (U.S. vehicles) 542
Tire ply material ........................... 544
Tire and loading terminology ........ 544
Rotating tires ............................... 548
Winter driving .................................... 549
Winter tires .................................. 549
Snow chains................................. 550
Maintenance...................................... 551
Maintenance
service indicator message ........... 551
Calling up the maintenance
service indicator display .............. 553
Resetting the maintenance
service indicator .......................... 553
Vehicle care....................................... 554
Cleaning and care of vehicle ........ 554
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27 At a glance
Exterior view
ItemPage
1Trunk
Unlocking
Opening and closing
Minispare wheel
Vehicle tool kit
461
461
649
632
2Rear lamps642
3Rear window, defrosting457
4Fuel filler flap
Gasoline509
687
5Doors
Locking and unlocking
Opening and closing
322
333
ItemPage
6Exterior rear view mirror
Parking position355
356
7Towing the vehicle663
8Rims and tires
Checking tire inflation
pressure
Minispare wheel
Flat tire
678
530
634
649
9Hood, opening
Engine oil
Coolant512
513
518
ItemPage
aHeadlamp cleaning system367
bFront lamps642
cWindshield wipers
Wiper blades, replacing
Wiper blades, cleaning372
647
562
dWindow, cleaning562
ePower tilt/sliding sunroof466
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259 Control systems
Instrument cluster control system
Assistance* (page 268)Service (page 269)Settings (page 271)
Commands/submenus
Displaying the distance graphic*,
DISTRONIC Plus*Calling up vehicle malfunction, warning
and system status messages stored in
memorySetting daytime running lamp mode
(USA only)
Activating/deactivating PRE-SAFE®
Brake*
(vehicles with DISTRONIC Plus* only)Checking tire inflation pressureSwitching additional speedometer on or
off
Switching on the Dynamic Rear View
Monitor* automaticallyCalling up maintenance service displaySwitching radar sensors* on or off
(USA only)
Checking engine oil level (CL 600)
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269 Control systems
Instrument cluster control system
Switching on the Dynamic Rear View
Monitor* automatically
Press ( or & to select the
“Assistance” menu.
Press % or $ to select the
“Rearview camera” function.
Press #.
Press # again if you would like to
change the current status.The following settings are available:
Service menu
The “Service” menu is used for
calling up messages
checking tire inflation pressure elec-
tronically with the Advanced TPMS
calling up the maintenance service in-
dicator display
check engine oil level*
iThe image from the Dynamic Rear View
Monitor is shown on the COMAND display.“On when in
Reverse”The Dynamic Rear View
Monitor automatically
switches on when reverse
gear is engaged.
“OFF”The Dynamic Rear View
Monitor is not switched on.
iThe menu overview can be found on
(
page 258).
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270 Control systems
Instrument cluster control system
Calling up vehicle malfunction, warning
and system status messages stored in
memory
Use the vehicle status message memory
menu to scan malfunction and warning
messages that may be stored in the sys-
tem. Such messages appear in the multi-
function display and are based on
conditions or system status the vehicle’s
system has recorded.
The vehicle status message memory menu
only appears if there are any messages
stored.
Press ( or & to select the
“Service” menu.
If conditions have occurred causing
status messages to be recorded, the
number of messages appears in the
multifunction display: “2 Messages”.
Press % or $ to select the mes-
sage.
Press # to confirm.Checking tire inflation pressure
For information about checking tire infla-
tion pressure (
page 531).
Calling up the maintenance service in-
dicator display
For information about calling up the main-
tenance service indicator display
(
page 551).
Checking engine oil level (CL 600)
For information about checking engine oil
level (
page 514).
Warning!G
Malfunction and warning messages are only
indicated for certain systems and are inten-
tionally not very detailed. The malfunction
and warning messages are simply a remind-
er with respect to the operation of certain
systems and do not replace the owner’s
and/or driver’s responsibility to maintain
the vehicle’s operating safety by having all
required maintenance and safety checks
performed on the vehicle and by bringing
the vehicle to an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center to address the malfunction and
warning messages (
page 580).
iSee the “Practical hints” section for mal-
function and warning messages (
page 580).
iIf you turn the SmartKey in the starter
switch to position0 and then back to position2,
all messages will be deleted from the message
memory.
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499 Operation
Driving instructions
Driving instructions
Drive sensibly – save fuel
Fuel consumption, to a great extent,
depends on driving habits and operating
conditions.
To save fuel you should:
Keep tires at the recommended tire
inflation 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 Mainte-
nance Booklet and as required by the
Maintenance System (U.S. vehicles.
Canada vehicles, depending on vehicle
production date) or FSS PLUS (Canada
vehicles, depending on vehicle produc-
tion date). Contact an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.Fuel consumption is also increased by driv-
ing in cold weather, in stop-and-go traffic,
on short trips, and in hilly area.
Drinking and driving
Pedals
Power assistance
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
Make sure that absolutely no objects are ob-
structing the pedals’ range of movement.
Keep the driver’s footwell clear of all obsta-
cles. If there are any floormats or carpets in
the footwell, make sure the pedals still have
sufficient clearance. Otherwise this could
lead to accidents or injury.
Warning!G
With the engine not running, there is no
power assistance for the brake and steering
systems. In this case, it is important to keep
in mind that a considerably higher degree of
effort is necessary to brake and steer the ve-
hicle.
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503 Operation
Driving instructions
Specified tire inflation pressures must be
maintained. This applies particularly if the
tires are subject to extreme operating con-
ditions (e.g. high speeds, heavy loads, high
ambient temperatures).
For more information, see “Tires and
wheels” (
page 520).
Hydroplaning
Depending on the depth of the water layer
on the road, hydroplaning may occur, even
at low speeds and with new tires. Reduce
vehicle speed, avoid track grooves in the
road and apply brakes cautiously in the
rain.
Tire traction
The safe speed on a wet, snow covered or
icy road is always lower than on a dry road.
You should pay particular attention to the
condition of the road whenever the outside
temperatures are close to the freezing
point.Mercedes-Benz recommends winter tires
(
page 549) with a minimum tread depth
of approximately 1/6in (4 mm) on all four
wheels for the winter season to ensure
normal balanced handling characteristics.
On packed snow, they can reduce your
stopping distance compared to summer
tires.
Stopping distance, however, is still consid-
erably greater than when the road is not
covered with snow or ice. Exercise appro-
priate caution.
Warning!G
Do not drive with a flat tire. A flat tire affects
the ability to steer or brake the vehicle. You
may lose control of the vehicle. Continued
driving with a flat tire or driving at high
speed with a flat tire will cause excessive
heat build-up and possibly a fire.
Warning!G
If ice has formed on the road, tire traction
will be substantially reduced. Under such
weather conditions, drive, steer and brake
with extreme caution.
!Avoid spinning of a drive wheel. This may
cause serious damage to the drivetrain which is
not covered by the Mercedes-Benz Limited War-
ranty.
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511 Operation
At the gas station
Check regularly and before a long trip
Example illustration from CL 550
1Coolant level
2Brake fluid
3Windshield washer and headlamp
cleaning systemWindshield washer system and head-
lamp cleaning system
For more information on refilling the wash-
er reservoir, see “Windshield washer sys-
tem and headlamp cleaning system”
(
page 519).
Coolant
For more information on coolant, see
“Coolant level” (
page 518) and see “Fu-
els, coolants, lubricants, etc.”
(
page 684).
Brake fluid
For information on brake fluid, see “Brake
fluid” (
page 687)Engine oil level
For more information on engine oil, see
“Engine oil” (
page 513).
Vehicle lighting
Check function and cleanliness. For more
information on replacing light bulbs, see
“Replacing bulbs” (
page 641).
For more information, see “Lighting”
(
page 363).
Tire inflation pressure
For information on tire inflation pressure,
see “Checking tire inflation pressure”
(
page 530).
iOpening the hood (page 512).
!If you find that the brake fluid in the brake
fluid reservoir has fallen to the minimum mark or
below, have the brake system checked for brake
pad thickness and leaks immediately. Notify an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center immediately.
Do not add brake fluid as this will not solve the
problem. For more information, see “Practical
hints” (
page 569) and (page 596).
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