2007 MERCEDES-BENZ CLK550 COUPE snow chains

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

88 Safety and Security
Driving safety systems
In this section you will find information on
the following driving safety systems:

ABS (Antilock Brake System)

BAS (Brake Assist System)

ESP® (Electronic Stability Program)
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
approximately 5 mph (8 km/h) indepen-
dent of road surface conditions.
On slippery road surfaces, the ABS will
respond even to light brake pressure.
The - indicator lamp in the instrument
cluster (
page 26) comes on when you
switch on the ignition. It goes out when the
engine is running.
Warning!G
The following factors increase the risk of
accidents:

Excessive speed, especially in turns

Wet and slippery road surfaces

Following another vehicle too closely
The ABS, BAS, and ESP
® cannot reduce this
risk.
Always adjust your driving style to the
prevailing road and weather conditions.
iIn winter operation, the maximum effective-
ness of the ABS, the BAS, and the ESP® is only
achieved with winter tires (
page 341) or snow
chains as required.
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.

92 Safety and Security
Driving safety systems
For more information, see the "Practical
hints" section (
page 362) and
(
page 370).Electronic traction system
The electronic traction system is a
component of ESP
®.
The electronic traction system improves
the vehicle’s ability to utilize available
traction, especially under slippery road
conditions by applying the brakes to a
spinning wheel.
When you switch off the ESP
®, the
electronic traction system is still enabled.Switching off the ESP
®
To improve the vehicle’s traction, turn off
the ESP® in driving situations where it
would be advantageous to have the drive
wheels spin and thus cut into surfaces for
better grip such as:

when driving with snow chains

in deep snow

in sand or gravel
!Because the ESP® operates automatically,
the engine must be turned off (SmartKey in
starter switch position0 or1 or KEYLESS-GO*
start/stop button in position0 or1) when

the parking brake is being tested on a brake
test dynamometer

the vehicle is being towed with the front axle
raised
Active braking action through the ESP
® may
otherwise seriously damage the brake system.
iThe ESP® will only function properly if
you use wheels of the recommended tire
size (
page 442).Warning!G
If you are driving too fast, the electronic
traction system cannot reduce the risk of an
accident.
The electronic traction system cannot pre-
vent the natural laws of physics from acting
on the vehicle.
Warning!G
The ESP® should not be switched off during
normal driving other than in the circum-
stances described below. Disabling of the
system will reduce vehicle stability in stan-
dard driving maneuvers.
Do not switch off the ESP
® when a
Minispare wheel is mounted.
!Switch on the ESP® immediately if the
aforementioned circumstances do not apply
anymore.

299 Operation
Driving instructions
Winter driving instructions
The most important rule for slippery or icy
roads is to drive sensibly and to avoid
abrupt acceleration, braking and steering
maneuvers. Do not use the cruise control
system under such conditions.
When the vehicle is in danger of skidding,
move gear selector lever to position N. Try
to keep the vehicle under control by cor-
rective steering action.Road salts and chemicals can adversely af-
fect braking efficiency. Increased pedal
force may become necessary to produce
the normal braking effect.
Depressing the brake pedal periodically
when traveling at length on salt-strewn
roads can bring road-salt-impaired braking
efficiency back to normal.
If the vehicle is parked after being driven
on salt-treated roads, the braking efficien-
cy should be tested as soon as possible af-
ter driving is resumed.
For more information, see “Winter driving”
(
page 341).
iFor information on driving with snow chains,
see “Snow chains” (
page 342).
Warning!G
On slippery road surfaces, never downshift
in order to obtain braking action. This could
result in drive wheel slip and reduced vehi-
cle control. Your vehicle’s ABS will not pre-
vent this type of control loss.
Warning!G
Make sure not to endanger any other road
users when carrying out these braking ma-
neuvers.
Warning!G
If the vehicle becomes stuck in snow, make
sure snow is kept clear of the exhaust pipe
and from around the vehicle with the engine
running. Otherwise, deadly carbon monox-
ide (CO) gases may enter vehicle interior re-
sulting in unconsciousness and death.
To assure sufficient fresh air ventilation,
open a window slightly on the side of the ve-
hicle not facing the wind.
Warning!G
The outside temperature indicator is not de-
signed to serve as an ice-warning device and
is therefore unsuitable for that purpose. In-
dicated temperatures just above the freez-
ing point do not guarantee that the road
surface is free of ice.

324 Operation
Tires and wheels
Run Flat Indicator*
U.S. vehicles: Run Flat Indicator only avail-
able in conjunction with the MOExtended
system* (
page 326).
While the vehicle is being driven, the Run
Flat Indicator monitors the set tire inflation
pressures by evaluating each wheel’s rota-
tional speed. This allows the system to de-
tect a significant loss of pressure in a tire.
If a wheel’s rotational speed changes due
to falling tire inflation pressure, you will
see a corresponding warning message in
the multifunction display.
The Run Flat Indicator may function in a re-
stricted manner or with a delay

if snow chains are mounted to the
vehicle

in presence of ice and snow

if you are driving on a loose surface
(e.g. sand or gravel)

if you are driving in a very sporty man-
ner (involving rapid acceleration or high
speeds in curves)

you are driving with the roof loaded or
very heavy cargo
Warning!G
When the multifunction display shows the
message
Tire pressure Check tires,
one or more of your tires is significantly un-
der-inflated. You should stop and check
your tires as soon as possible, and inflate
them to the proper tire inflation pressure as
indicated on the vehicle’s tire information
placard. Driving on a significantly under-in-
flated tire causes the tire to overheat and
can lead to tire failure. Under-inflation also
reduces fuel efficiency and tire tread life,
and may affect the vehicle’s handling and
stopping ability. Each tire, including the
spare, should be checked monthly when
cold and set to the recommended tire infla-
tion pressure as specified in the vehicle
placard.
iThe recommended tire inflation pressures
for your vehicle can be found on the tire placard
located on the driver’s door B-pillar
(
page 316). The tire inflation pressures are
not listed in the operator’s manual.
Warning!G
The Run Flat Indicator does not provide a
warning for wrongly selected tire inflation
pressures. Always adjust tire inflation pres-
sure according to the placard on the driver’s
door B-pillar or fuel filler flap.
The Run Flat Indicator does not replace reg-
ular checks of the tire inflation pressures
since a gradual pressure loss in more than
one tires cannot be detected by the Run Flat
Indicator.
The Run Flat Indicator is not able to issue a
warning due to a sudden dramatic loss of
tire inflation pressure (e.g. tire blowout
caused by a foreign object). In this case
bring the vehicle to a halt by carefully apply-
ing the brakes and avoiding abrupt steering
maneuvers.

342 Operation
Winter driving
Block heater (Canada only)
The engine is equipped with a block
heater.
The electrical cable may be installed at an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Snow chains
Snow chains should only be driven on
snow-covered roads at speeds not higher
than 30 mph (50 km/h). Remove chains
as soon as possible when driving on roads
without snow.
Please observe the following guidelines
when using snow chains:

Using snow chains is not permissible
with all wheel/tire combinations
(
page 442).

Use snow chains in pairs and on rear
wheels only. Follow the manufacturer's
mounting instructions.

Only use snow chains that are
approved by Mercedes-Benz. Any
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center will
be glad to advise you on this subject.

Use of snow chains may be prohibited
depending on location. Always check
local and state laws before installing
snow chains.

Do not use snow chains on the
Minispare wheel (
page 445).
Warning!G
If you use your spare tire when winter tires
are fitted on the other wheels, be aware that
the difference in tire characteristics may
very well impair turning stability and that
overall driving stability may be reduced.
Adapt your driving style accordingly.
Have the spare tire replaced with a winter
tire at the nearest authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.!Some tire sizes do not leave adequate clear-
ance for snow chains. To help avoid serious dam-
age to your vehicle or tires, make sure that the
use of snow chains is permissible as specified in
the "Technical data" section of this Operator’s
Manual, see “Rims and tires” (
page 442).
!If snow chains are mounted to the front
wheels, they may scrape against the body or axle
components. The tires or the vehicle could be
damaged as a result.
iWhen driving with snow chains, you may
wish to deactivate the ESP® (page 92) before
setting the vehicle in motion. This will improve
the vehicle‘s traction.

444 Technical data
Rims and tires
Mixed size tires
ModelCLK 350CLK 550
Front axle:
Rims (light alloy)7.5 J x 17 H27.5 J x 17 H2
Wheel offset1.42 in (36 mm)1.46 in (37 mm)
Summer tires1
1Radial-ply tires.
225/45 R17 91W225/45 ZR17 91W
Summer tires*1,2
2Must be used in conjunction with Run Flat Indicator* only.
225/45 R17 91W MOExtended225/45 R17 91W MOExtended
Rear axle:
Rims (light alloy)8.5 J x17 H28.5 J x17 H2
Wheel offset1.18 in (30 mm)1.18 in (30 mm)
Summer tires1,3
3Must not be used with snow chains.
245/40 R17 91W245/40 ZR17 91W
Summer tires*1,2,3245/40 R17 91W MOExtended245/40 R17 91W MOExtended

445 Technical data
Rims and tires
Minispare wheel
ModelAll Models
Rim3.5 B x 17 H2
Wheel offset0.67 in (17 mm)
Tire1
1Must not be used with snow chains.
T 125/80 R 17 99M
!Please compare the recommended tire in-
flation pressure for your vehicle with the tire in-
flation pressure on the yellow label located on
the spare wheel rim.
If the tire inflation pressure on the yellow label
on the spare wheel rim differs from the values
given in this Operator’s Manual, inflate the spare
wheel tire to the recommended tire inflation
pressure given on the yellow label on the spare
wheel rim.
iPlease note that the tire inflation pressure of
the Minispare tire differs from the tire inflation
pressure of the road tires.
Make sure the Minispare tire is inflated to ap-
proximately 61 psi (4.2 bar).