Contents
At the gas station .............................. 312
Refueling ...................................... 312
Check regularly
and before a long trip ................... 314
Engine compartment ......................... 315
Hood ............................................ 315
Engine oil ..................................... 317
Transmission fluid level ................ 319
Coolant ........................................ 320
Battery ......................................... 321
Windshield washer system and
headlamp cleaning system* ......... 322
Tires and wheels ................................ 323
Important guidelines .................... 323
Tire care and maintenance........... 324
Direction of rotation ..................... 326
Loading the vehicle ...................... 326
Recommended
tire inflation pressure ................... 331
Checking tire inflation pressure ... 333
MOExtended system* .................. 336
Tire labeling.................................. 337
Load identification ....................... 341
DOT,
Tire Identification Number (TIN) ... 342
Maximum tire load ....................... 343Maximum tire inflation pressure ... 344
Uniform Tire Quality Grading
Standards (U.S. vehicles) .............. 344
Tire ply material ............................ 346
Tire and loading terminology......... 347
Rotating tires ................................ 350
Winter driving ..................................... 351
Winter tires ................................... 351
Block heater (Canada only) ........... 352
Snow chains.................................. 352
Maintenance....................................... 353
Maintenance
service indicator message ............ 353
Clearing the maintenance
service indicator message ............ 354
Maintenance
service term exceeded.................. 354
Calling up the maintenance
service indicator display ............... 355
Resetting the maintenance
service indicator ........................... 355
Vehicle care........................................ 356
Cleaning and care of vehicle ......... 356
Practical hints.................................. 365
What to do if …? ................................. 366
Lamps in instrument cluster ......... 366
Lamp in center console ................ 376
Vehicle status messages
in the multifunction display .......... 378
Where will I find...? ............................. 404
First aid kit.................................... 404
TIREFIT (CLK 63 AMG only)........... 404
Vehicle tool kit.............................. 404
Minispare wheel............................ 407
Spare wheel bolts ......................... 409
Unlocking/locking in an emergency .. 410
Unlocking the vehicle ................... 410
Locking the vehicle ....................... 411
Manually unlocking
the gear selector lever .................. 412
Opening/closing in an emergency ..... 413
Operating roll bars manually ......... 413
Soft top emergency operation ...... 415
Resetting activated head restraints.... 424
Resetting activated
head restraints ............................. 424
301 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 tire
inflation pressures.
Remove unnecessary loads.
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 (U.S. vehi-
cles) or FSS (Canada vehicles). 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 drivingPedals
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 that the pedals still
have sufficient clearance.
During sudden driving or braking maneu-
vers, the objects could get caught between
or beneath the pedals. You could then no
longer brake or accelerate. This could lead
to accidents and injury.
305 Operation
Driving instructions
Tires
Treadwear indicators (TWI) are required by
law. These indicators are located in six
places on the tread circumference and be-
come visible at a tread depth of approxi-
mately
1/16 in (1.6 mm), at which point the
tire is considered worn and should be re-
placed.The treadwear indicator appears as a solid
band across the tread.
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).
Turn the SmartKey or the SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO* to starter switch
position0 and remove, or press
KEYLESS-GO* start/stop button.
Take the SmartKey or the SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO* with you and lock the
vehicle when leaving.
Warning!G
If you feel a sudden significant vibration or
ride disturbance, or you suspect that possi-
ble damage to your vehicle has occurred,
you should turn on the hazard warning flash-
ers, carefully slow down, and drive with cau-
tion to an area which is a safe distance from
the road.
Inspect the tires and the vehicle underbody
for possible damage. If the vehicle or tires
appear unsafe, have the vehicle towed to
the nearest Mercedes-Benz Center or tire
dealer for repairs.
Warning!G
Although the applicable federal motor
vehicle safety laws consider a tire to be
worn when the treadwear indicators (TWI)
become visible at approximately
1/16in
(1.6 mm), we recommend that you do not al-
low your tires to wear down to that level. As
tread depth approaches
1/8in (3 mm), the
adhesion properties on a wet road are
sharply reduced.
Depending upon the weather and/or road
surface (conditions), the tire traction varies
widely.
314 Operation
At the gas station
Check regularly and before a long trip
Engine compartment (CLK 550, example)
1Coolant level
2Brake fluid (fuse box cover removed)
3Windshield washer and headlamp
cleaning system*Coolant
For normal replenishing, use water (pota-
ble water quality). For more information,
see “Coolant” (
page 320) and see “Fu-
els, coolants, lubricants, etc.”
(
page 472).
Brake fluid
Removing fuse box cover (
page 457).Windshield washer and headlamp
cleaning system*
For more information on filling up the
washer reservoir, see “Windshield washer
system and headlamp cleaning system*”
(
page 322).
Engine oil level
For more information on engine oil, see
“Engine oil” (
page 317).
Vehicle lighting
Check function and cleanliness. For more
information on replacing light bulbs, see
“Replacing bulbs” (
page 427).
For more information, see “Exterior lamp
switch” (
page 54).
Tire inflation pressure
For more information, see “Recommended
tire inflation pressure” (
page 331).
iOpening the hood, see (page 315).
!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 also “Practi-
cal hints” (
page 368).
323 Operation
Tires and wheels
Tires and wheels
See an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center
for information on tested and
recommended rims and tires for summer
and winter operation. They can also offer
advice concerning tire service and
purchase.Important guidelines
Only use sets of tires and rims of the
same type and make.
Tires must be of the correct size for the
rim.
Break in new tires for approximately
60 miles (100 km) at moderate
speeds.
Regularly check the tires and rims for
damage. Dented or bent rims can
cause tire inflation pressure loss and
damage to the tire beads.
If vehicle is heavily loaded, check tire
inflation pressure and correct as
required.
Do not allow your tires to wear down
too far. Adhesion properties on wet
roads are sharply reduced at tread
depths under
1/8in (3 mm).
When replacing individual tires, you
should mount new tires on the front
wheels first (on vehicles with
same-sized wheels all around).
Warning!G
Replace rims or tires with the same designa-
tion, manufacturer and type as shown on the
original part. See an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center for further informa-
tion. If incorrectly sized rims and tires are
mounted:
The wheel brakes or suspension
components can be damaged.
The operating clearance of the wheels
and the tires may no longer be correct.
Warning!G
Worn, old tires can cause accidents. If the
tire tread is badly worn, or if the tires have
sustained damage, replace them.
When replacing rims, only use Genuine
Mercedes-Benz wheel bolts specified for the
particular rim type. Failure to do so can
result in the bolts loosening and possibly an
accident.
Retreaded tires are not tested or recom-
mended by Mercedes-Benz, since previous
damage cannot always be recognized on re-
treads. The operating safety of the vehicle
cannot be assured when such tires are used.
324 Operation
Tires and wheels
Tire care and maintenance
Regularly check your tire inflation pressure
at least once a month. For more informa-
tion on checking tire inflation pressure see
“Recommended tire inflation pressure”
(
page 331).Tire inspection
Every time you check your tire inflation
pressure, you should also inspect your
tires for the following:
excessive treadwear (page 325)
cord or fabric showing through the
tire’s rubber
bumps, bulges, cuts, cracks or splits in
the tread or side of the tire
Replace the tire if you find any of the above
conditions.
Make sure you also inspect the spare tire
periodically for condition and inflation.
Spare tires will age and become worn over
time even if never used, and thus should be
inspected and replaced when necessary.Life of tire
The service life of a tire is dependent upon
varying factors including but not limited to:
Driving style
Tire inflation pressure
Distance driven
Warning!G
Regularly check the tires for damage. Dam-
aged tires can cause tire inflation pressure
loss. As a result, you could lose control of
your vehicle.
Worn, old tires can cause accidents. If the
tire tread is badly worn, or if the tires have
sustained damage, replace them.
Warning!G
Tires and spare tire should be replaced after
six years, regardless of the remaining tread.
326 Operation
Tires and wheels
Direction of rotation
Unidirectional tires offer added advan-
tages, such as better hydroplaning perfor-
mance. To benefit, however, you must
make sure the tires rotate in the direction
specified.
An arrow on the sidewall indicates the
intended direction of rotation (spinning) of
the tire.Loading the vehicle
A label on your vehicle shows how much
weight it may properly carry.
The Tire and Loading Information
placard can be found on the driver’s
door B-pillar. This placard tells you im-
portant information about the number
of people that can be in the vehicle and
the total weight that can be carried in
the vehicle. It also contains information
on the proper size and recommended
tire inflation pressures for the original
equipment tires on your vehicle.
The certification label found on the
driver’s door B-pillar tells you about the
gross weight capacity of your vehicle,
called the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating
(GVWR). The GVWR includes the weight
of the vehicle, all occupants, fuel and
cargo. The certification label also tells
you about the front and rear axle weight capacity,
called the Gross Axle Weight Rating
(GAWR). The GAWR is the total allow-
able weight that can be carried by a sin-
gle axle (front or rear). Never exceed
the GVWR or GAWR for either the front
axle or rear axle.
1Driver’s door B-pillar
Following is a discussion on how to work
with the information contained on the plac-
ard with regards to loading your vehicle.
iSpare wheels may be mounted against the
direction of rotation (spinning) even with a unidi-
rectional tire for temporary use only until the reg-
ular drive wheel has been repaired or replaced.
Always observe and follow applicable temporary
use restrictions and speed limitations indicated
on the spare wheel.
331 Operation
Tires and wheels
Recommended tire inflation pressure
Your vehicle is equipped with a Tire and
Loading Information placard located on
the driver’s door B-pillar (
page 326).The tire inflation pressure should be
checked regularly and should only be ad-
justed on cold tires. The tires can be con-
sidered cold if the vehicle has been parked
for at least three hours or driven less than
one mile (1.6 km).
Follow recommended cold tire inflation
pressures listed on placard.
Keeping the tires properly inflated
provides the best handling, tread life and
riding comfort.
In addition to the tire placard on the
driver’s door B-pillar, also consult the fuel
filler flap for any additional information
pertaining to special driving situations. For
more information, see “Important notes on
tire inflation pressure” (
page 332).Placard
1Tire and Loading Information placard
with recommended cold tire inflation
pressures
The placard lists the recommended cold
tire inflation pressures for maximum load-
ed vehicle weight. The tire inflation pres-
sures listed apply to the tires installed as
original equipment.
Warning!G
Follow recommended tire inflation
pressures.
Do not underinflate tires. Underinflated tires
wear excessively and / or unevenly,
adversely affect handling and fuel economy,
and are more likely to fail from being over-
heated.
Do not overinflate tires. Overinflated tires
can adversely affect handling and ride
comfort, wear unevenly, increase stopping
distance, and result in sudden deflation
(blowout) because they are more likely to
become punctured or damaged by road
debris, potholes etc.
iData shown on placard example are for
illustration purposes only. Tire data is specific to
each vehicle and may vary from data shown in
the illustration below. Refer to placard on vehicle
for actual data specific to your vehicle.