Contents
At the gas station .............................. 303
Refueling ...................................... 303
Check regularly
and before a long trip ................... 305
Engine compartment ......................... 306
Hood ............................................ 306
Engine oil ..................................... 308
Transmission fluid level ................ 309
Coolant ........................................ 310
Battery ......................................... 311
Windshield washer system and
headlamp cleaning system* ......... 312
Tires and wheels ................................ 313
Important guidelines .................... 313
Tire care and maintenance........... 314
Direction of rotation ..................... 316
Loading the vehicle ...................... 316
Recommended
tire inflation pressure ................... 321
Checking tire inflation pressure ... 323
MOExtended system* .................. 326
Tire labeling.................................. 327
Load identification ....................... 331
DOT,
Tire Identification Number (TIN) ... 332
Maximum tire load ....................... 333Maximum tire inflation pressure ... 334
Uniform Tire Quality Grading
Standards (U.S. vehicles) .............. 335
Tire ply material ............................ 336
Tire and loading terminology......... 337
Rotating tires ................................ 340
Winter driving ..................................... 341
Winter tires ................................... 341
Block heater (Canada only) ........... 342
Snow chains.................................. 342
Maintenance....................................... 343
Maintenance
service indicator message ............ 343
Clearing the maintenance
service indicator message ............ 344
Maintenance
service term exceeded.................. 344
Calling up the maintenance
service indicator display ............... 345
Resetting the maintenance
service indicator ........................... 345
Vehicle care........................................ 346
Cleaning and care of vehicle ......... 346
Practical hints.................................. 355
What to do if …? ................................. 356
Lamps in instrument cluster ......... 356
Lamp in center console ................ 366
Vehicle status messages
in the multifunction display .......... 368
Where will I find...? ............................. 394
First aid kit.................................... 394
Vehicle tool kit.............................. 394
Minispare wheel............................ 397
Spare wheel bolts ......................... 398
Unlocking/locking in an emergency .. 399
Unlocking the vehicle ................... 399
Locking the vehicle ....................... 400
Manually unlocking
the gear selector lever .................. 401
Opening/closing in an emergency ..... 402
Power tilt/sliding sunroof* ........... 402
Resetting activated head restraints.... 403
Resetting
activated head restraints .............. 403
Replacing SmartKey batteries ............ 404
SmartKey / SmartKey
with KEYLESS-GO* ....................... 404
305 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 310) and see “Fu-
els, coolants, lubricants, etc.”
(
page 448).
Brake fluid
Removing fuse box cover,
see (
page 433).Windshield washer and headlamp
cleaning system*
For more information on filling up the
washer reservoir, see “Windshield washer
system and headlamp cleaning system*”
(
page 312).
Engine oil level
For more information on engine oil, see
“Engine oil” (
page 308).
Vehicle lighting
Check function and cleanliness. For more
information on replacing light bulbs, see
“Replacing bulbs” (
page 406).
For more information, see “Exterior lamp
switch” (
page 55).
Tire inflation pressure
For more information, see “Checking tire
inflation pressure” (
page 323).
iOpening the hood, see (page 306).
!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 358).
308 Operation
Engine compartment
Engine oil
The amount of oil your engine needs will
depend on a number of factors, including
driving style. Higher oil consumption can
occur when
the vehicle is new
the vehicle is driven frequently at
higher engine speeds
Engine oil consumption checks should only
be made after the vehicle break-in period.
Checking engine oil level
When checking the oil level
the vehicle must be parked on level
ground.
with the engine at operating tempera-
ture yet, the vehicle must have been
stationary for at least 5 minutes with
the engine turned off.
with the engine not at operating tem-
perature, the vehicle must have been
stationary for at least 30 minutes with
the engine turned off.
1Oil dipstick
2Upper (max) mark
3Lower (min) mark
To check the engine oil level with the oil
dipstick, do the following:
Open the hood (page 306).
Pull out oil dipstick1.
Wipe oil dipstick1 clean.
Fully insert oil dipstick1 into the
dipstick guide tube.
Pull out oil dipstick1 again after
approximately 3 seconds to obtain ac-
curate reading.
The oil level is correct when it is be-
tween the lower (min) mark3 and
upper (max) mark2 of oil dipstick1.
If necessary, add engine oil.
For adding engine oil, see “Adding en-
gine oil” (
page 309).
iDo not use any special lubricant additives,
as these may damage the drive assemblies. Us-
ing special additives not approved by
Mercedes-Benz may cause damage not covered
by the Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty. More
information on this subject is available at any
Mercedes-Benz Center.iCLK 350:
The filling quantity between the upper and lower
marks on the oil dipstick is approximately
2.1 US qt. (2.0 l).
CLK 550:
The filling quantity between the upper and lower
marks on the oil dipstick is approximately
1.6 US qt. (1.5 l).
309 Operation
Engine compartment
For more information on engine oil, see
“Fuels, coolants, lubricants, etc.”
(
page 448).
For more information on messages in the
multifunction display concerning engine
oil, see the “Practical hints” section
(
page 384).
Adding engine oil
1Filler cap
Unscrew filler cap1 from filler neck.
Add engine oil as required.
Be careful not to overfill with oil.
Be careful not to spill any oil when adding.
Avoid environmental damage caused by oil
entering the ground or water.
Screw filler cap1 back on filler neck.
More information on engine oil can be
found in the “Technical data” section
(
page 448) and (page 450).
Transmission fluid level
The transmission fluid level does not need
to be checked. If you notice transmission
fluid loss or gear shifting malfunctions,
have an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center
check the automatic transmission.
!Only use approved engine oils and oil filters
required for vehicles with Maintenance System
(U.S. vehicles) or FSS (Canada vehicles). For a
listing of approved engine oils and oil filters,
refer to the Factory Approved Service Products
pamphlet in your vehicle literature portfolio, or
contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Using engine oils and oil filters of specification
other than those expressly required for the
Maintenance System (U.S. vehicles) or FSS
(Canada vehicles), or changing of oil and oil filter
at change intervals longer than those called for
by the Maintenance System (U.S. vehicles) or
FSS (Canada vehicles) will result in engine or
emission control system damage not covered by
the Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.
!Excess oil must be siphoned or drained off.
It could cause damage to the engine and emis-
sion control system not covered by the
Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.
315 Operation
Tires and wheels
Tread depth
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).
Treadwear indicators (TWI) are required by
law. These indicators are located in six
places on the tread circumference and
become visible at a tread depth of approx-
imately
1/16in (1.6 mm), at which point the
tire is considered worn and should be re-
placed.
Recommended minimum tire tread depth:
Summer tires 1/8in (3 mm)
Winter tires 1/6in (4 mm)
1TWI (T
readWear Indicator)
The treadwear indicator appears as a solid
band across the tread.Storing tires
Cleaning tiresWarning!G
Although the applicable federal motor safety
laws consider a tire to be worn when the
treadwear indicators (TWI) become visible at
approximately
1/16in (1.6 mm), we recom-
mend that you do not allow 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 re-
duced.
Depending upon the weather and/or road
surface (conditions), the tire traction varies
widely.!Keep unmounted tires in a cool, dry place
with as little exposure to light as possible. Pro-
tect tires from contact with oil, grease and gaso-
line.
!Never use a round nozzle to power wash
tires. The intense jet of water can result in dam-
age to the tire.
Always replace a damaged tire.
344 Operation
Maintenance
Clearing the maintenance service
indicator message
The maintenance service indicator mes-
sage is automatically cleared after approx-
imately 30 seconds when you switch on
the ignition or when reaching the mainte-
nance service threshold while driving.
You can also clear it yourself.
1Reset button
Press reset button 1 on the
instrument cluster.The maintenance service indicator
message is cleared and the standard
display appears in the multifunction
display (
page 146).
Maintenance service term exceeded
If you have exceeded the suggested
maintenance service term, you will see the
following message in the multifunction
display:
Service A exceeded by XXXXX miles (km)
Service A exceeded by XXX days
In addition, a signal sounds when the
message appears.
Any authorized Mercedes-Benz Center will
reset the maintenance service indicator
following a completed maintenance
service.
iVehicles equipped with FSS (Flexible Ser-
vice S
ystem) only (Canada vehicles, depending
on vehicle production date):
FSS evaluates engine temperature, oil level,
vehicle speed, engine speed, distance driven
and the time elapsed since your last service
and calculates other maintenance service
work required.
The interval between maintenance services
depends on your driving habits. A gentle
driving style, moderate engine speeds and
the avoidance of short-distance trips will
lengthen the interval between services.
345 Operation
Maintenance
Calling up the maintenance service
indicator display
You can call up the maintenance service in-
dicator display at any time to check when
the next maintenance service is due.
Switch on the ignition (page 38).
Press buttonè orÿ on the mul-
tifunction steering wheel repeatedly
until the standard display appears in
the multifunction display (
page 146).
Press buttonkorjuntil the
maintenance service indicator display
with the service symbol9or½
and the service deadline appears in the
multifunction display.Resetting the maintenance service
indicator
In the event that the maintenance service
on your vehicle is not carried out by an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center, you can
have the maintenance service indicator
reset. The automotive maintenance facility
carrying out the maintenance service will
find the information for resetting the
maintenance service indicator in the
maintenance-relevant information for your
vehicle. Such information is available from
either your authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center or directly from Mercedes-Benz.iIf the battery is disconnected, the days of
disconnection will not be included in the count
shown by the maintenance service indicator. To
arrive at the true maintenance service deadline,
you will need to subtract these days from the
days shown in the maintenance service indicator
message or maintenance service indicator dis-
play.
Do not confuse the maintenance service indica-
tor with the engine oil level indicator:.
iIf the maintenance service indicator was in-
advertently reset, have an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center correct it.
Only reset if the proper maintenance service has
been performed. Resetting the system without
performing the proper service as called for by
the maintenance service indicator will result in
engine damage and/or other vehicle damage not
covered by the Mercedes-Benz Limited Warran-
ty.
384 Practical hints
What to do if …?
When the message Check oil level at
next refueling
appears while the engine
is running and at operating temperature,
the engine oil level has dropped to
approximately the minimum level.When this occurs, the warning will first
come on intermittently and then stay on if
the oil level drops further.
Visually check for oil leaks. If no obvious oil
leaks are noted, drive to the nearest ser-
vice station where the engine oil should be
topped to the required level with an
approved oil specified in the Factory
Approved Service Products pamphlet.
Display symbolDisplay messagePossible cause/consequencePossible solution
:Check oil level
at next refuelingThe engine oil level has dropped to a
critical level.Check the engine oil level
(
page 308) and add oil as required
(
page 309).
If you must add engine oil frequently,
have the engine checked for possible
leaks.
!The engine oil level warnings should not be
ignored. Extended driving with the symbol dis-
played could result in serious engine damage
that is not covered by the Mercedes-Benz Limit-
ed Warranty.