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
ProCarManuals.com
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
ProCarManuals.com
31 At a glance
Instrument cluster
ItemPage
1Coolant temperature gauge403
2Fuel gauge with:
Fuel tank reserve warning
lamp
AHigh beam headlamp
indicator lamp
-ABS indicator lamp
=SRS indicator lamp
573
367
566
575
3Parktronic*/Park Assist*
warning indicator for left
front area 433,
437
4Multifunction display with:
Speedometer
0
USA only
!
Canada onlyElectronic
parking brake
warning or indi-
cator lamps568
ItemPage
;
USA only
3
Canada onlyBrake warning
lamp567
pressure*/TPMS mal-
function telltale*576
LLeft turn signal
indicator lamp382
KRight turn signal
indicator lamp382
vESP® warning lamp572
lDistance warning
lamp*174,
414,
572
1Vehicles without DISTRONIC Plus*: Warning lamp
without function. It illuminates when the ignition is
on. It should go out when the engine is running.
ItemPage
5Parktronic*/Park Assist*
warning indicator for right
front area 433,
437
6Gear position/range indica-
tor 398
7Tachometer with:
±Engine malfunction
indicator lamp570
8Selected program mode indi-
cator 399
9Main menu for control sys-
tem, multifunction display256
aOutside temperature 404
bDisplay with:
Additional speedometer271
:PRE-SAFE® Brake*
indicator268
ProCarManuals.com
64 Safety and Security
Driving safety systems
This section contains information about
Adaptive Brake Lights as well as the follow-
ing driving safety systems:
ABS (Antilock Brake System)
Adaptive Brake
BAS (Brake Assist System)
BAS Plus* (Brake Assist System Plus)
EBP (Electronic Brake Proportioning)
ESP® (Electronic Stability Program)
PRE-SAFE® Brake* (Preventive Occu-
pant Safe
ty Brake)
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 (
page 30) comes on when you
switch on the ignition (
page 336). It goes
out when the engine is running.
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 driving safety systems described in this
section cannot reduce these risks or pre-
vent the natural laws of physics from acting
on the vehicle.
Always adapt your driving style to the pre-
vailing road and weather conditions and
keep a safe distance to other road users and
objects on the street.
iIn winter operation, the maximum effective-
ness of the ABS, Adaptive Brake, BAS,
BAS Plus*, EBP and ESP
® only achieved with
winter tires (
page 549), or snow chains as re-
quired.
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.
ProCarManuals.com
65 Safety and Security
Driving safety systems
Braking
At the instant one of the wheels is about to
lock up, a slight pulsation can be felt in the
brake pedal, indicating that the ABS is in
the regulating mode.
Keep firm and steady pressure on the
brake pedal while experiencing the pul-
sation.
Continuous, steady brake pedal pressure
yields the advantages provided by the ABS,
namely braking power and the ability to
steer the vehicle.
The pulsating brake pedal can be an indica-
tion of hazardous road conditions 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 “Practical hints”
(
page 566).
Adaptive Brake
Adaptive Brake provides a high level of
braking safety as well as increased braking
comfort. It is coupled with ABS, ESP
® and
BAS. Adaptive Brake takes driver and vehi-
cle characteristics into consideration, thus
achieving an optimal braking effect.
Warning!G
When the ABS is malfunctioning, the BAS,
BAS Plus* and 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
beyond that afforded by the condition of the
vehicle brakes and tires or the traction
afforded. The ABS cannot prevent acci-
dents, including those resulting from exces-
sive speed in turns, following another
vehicle too closely, or hydroplaning.
Only a safe, attentive, and skillful driver can
prevent accidents.
The capabilities of an ABS equipped vehicle
must never be exploited in a reckless or dan-
gerous manner which could jeopardize the
user’s safety or the safety of others.
ProCarManuals.com
66 Safety and Security
Driving safety systems
Adaptive Brake Lights (CL 600 and
USA only)
The brake lamps flash in quick intervals
while you are braking in order to signal to
cars behind you that
you are braking strongly at a speed of
more than 30 mph (50 km/h)
you are braking with the aid of BAS or
BAS Plus*
If you bring the car to a complete stop by
hard braking at a speed of more than
40 mph (70 km/h), the hazard warning
flasher automatically comes on as soon as
the vehicle is at a standstill. While the vehi-
cle is stationary, the brake lamps are con-
tinuously lit up.
Once you drive faster than 6 mph
(10 km/h) afterward, the hazard warning
flasher goes out.
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 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.
For more information, see “Practical hints”
section (
page 566).
Warning!G
When the BAS is malfunctioning, the brake
system is still functioning normally, but with-
out 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 af-
forded by the condition of the vehicle brakes
and tires or the traction afforded. The BAS
cannot prevent accidents, including those
resulting from excessive speed in turns, fol-
lowing another vehicle too closely, or hydro-
planing. 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 dan-
gerous manner which could jeopardize the
user’s safety or the safety of others.
ProCarManuals.com
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)
ProCarManuals.com
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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