Our company and staff congratulate you
on the purchase of your new
Mercedes-Benz.
Your selection of our product is a demon-
stration of your trust in our company
name. Furthermore, it exemplifies your
desire to own an automobile that will be as
easy as possible to operate and provide
years of service.
Your Mercedes-Benz represents the ef-
forts of many skilled engineers and crafts-
men. To help assure your driving pleasure,
and also the safety of you and your passen-
gers, we ask you to make a small invest-
ment of time:
Please read this manual carefully, then
return it to your vehicle where it will be
handy for your reference.
Please follow the recommendations
contained in this manual. They are de-
signed to acquaint you with the opera-
tion of your Mercedes-Benz.
Please pay attention to the warnings
and cautions contained in this manual.
They are designed to help improve the
safety of the vehicle operator and oc-
cupants.
We extend our best wishes for many miles
of safe, pleasurable driving.
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC
A DaimlerChrysler Company
Contents
Introduction.......................................... 9
Product information ................................ 9
Operator’s Manual ............................... 10
Service and warranty information .. 10
Important notice for California
retail buyers and lessees of
Mercedes-Benz automobiles .......... 11
Maintenance .................................. 12
Roadside Assistance ...................... 12
Change of address or ownership.... 12
Operating your vehicle outside
the USA or Canada......................... 13
Where to find it .................................... 14
Symbols ............................................... 15
Operating safety .................................. 16
Proper use of the vehicle ............... 16
Problems with your vehicle .................. 17
Reporting safety defects...................... 18
Reporting safety defects ................ 18
Vehicle data recording ......................... 19
Information regarding electronic
recording devices ........................... 19
At a glance.......................................... 21
Exterior view ......................................... 22
Cockpit ................................................. 24
Instrument cluster ................................ 26
Multifunction steering wheel ................ 28
Center console ..................................... 29
Upper part ...................................... 29
Lower part ...................................... 30
Overhead control panel ........................ 31
Storage compartments ......................... 32
Door control panel................................ 34
Getting started................................... 35
Unlocking ............................................. 36
Unlocking with the SmartKey ......... 36
Unlocking with KEYLESS-GO*......... 37
Starter switch positions .................. 38
Adjusting .............................................. 41
Seats .............................................. 41
Steering wheel ................................ 44
Mirrors ............................................ 46
Driving .................................................. 48
Fastening the seat belts ................. 48
Starting the engine ......................... 51
Parking brake ................................. 53
Driving off ....................................... 53
Switching on headlamps ................. 55
Turn signals .................................... 55
Windshield wipers ........................... 56
Problems while driving.................... 58
Parking and locking .............................. 59
Parking brake ................................. 59
Switching off headlamps................. 60
Turning off engine ........................... 60
Releasing seat belts........................ 61
Locking ........................................... 61
Contents
At the gas station .............................. 283
Refueling ...................................... 283
Check regularly and
before a long trip.......................... 285
Engine compartment ......................... 286
Hood ............................................ 286
Engine oil ..................................... 287
Transmission fluid level ................ 289
Coolant level ................................ 290
Battery ......................................... 291
Windshield washer system and
headlamp cleaning system* ......... 292
Tires and wheels ................................ 293
Important guidelines .................... 293
Tire care and maintenance........... 294
Direction of rotation ..................... 295
Loading the vehicle ...................... 296
Recommended tire inflation
pressure ....................................... 301
Checking tire inflation pressure ... 302
MOExtended system* .................. 313
Tire labeling.................................. 313
Load identification ....................... 317DOT, Tire Identification Number
(TIN) .............................................. 318
Maximum tire load ........................ 319
Maximum tire inflation pressure ... 320
Uniform Tire Quality
Grading Standards (U.S. vehicles). 320
Tire ply material ............................ 322
Tire and loading terminology......... 323
Rotating tires ................................ 326
Winter driving ..................................... 327
Winter tires ................................... 327
Block heater* (Canada only) ......... 328
Snow chains.................................. 328
Maintenance....................................... 329
Maintenance service indicator
message ....................................... 329
Calling up the maintenance
service indicator ........................... 331
Resetting the maintenance
service indicator ........................... 331
Vehicle care........................................ 332
Cleaning and care of vehicle ......... 332
Practical hints.................................. 341
What to do if … ................................... 342
Lamps in instrument cluster ......... 342
Lamp in center console ................ 353
Vehicle status messages in the
multifunction display .................... 356
Where will I find...? ............................. 391
First aid kit.................................... 391
Spare wheel .................................. 391
Vehicle tool kit.............................. 393
Luggage box ................................. 395
Unlocking/locking in an emergency .. 396
Unlocking the vehicle ................... 396
Locking the vehicle ....................... 397
Fuel filler flap emergency release . 398
Manually unlocking
the gear selector lever .................. 398
Opening/closing in an emergency ..... 400
Power tilt/sliding sunroof ............. 400
Resetting activated head restraints.... 401
Replacing SmartKey batteries ............ 402
SmartKey/SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO* ............................... 402
ContentsReplacing bulbs ................................. 404
Bulbs ............................................ 404
Replacing bulbs for front lamps.... 407
Replacing bulbs for rear lamps ..... 409
Replacing wiper blades ...................... 410
Wiper blades ................................ 410
Flat tire .............................................. 412
Preparing the vehicle.................... 412
Mounting the spare wheel ............ 412
MOExtended system*................... 419
Battery ............................................... 420
Disconnecting the battery ............ 421
Removing the battery ................... 421
Charging and reinstalling
the battery.................................... 422
Reconnecting the battery ............. 422
Jump starting ..................................... 423
Towing the vehicle ............................. 425
Installing towing eye bolt.............. 426
Fuses ................................................. 428
Main fuse box in passenger
compartment................................ 429
Fuse box in trunk.......................... 429
Technical data................................. 431
Parts service ...................................... 432
Warranty coverage............................. 433
Loss of Service and Warranty
Information Booklet ..................... 433
Identification labels ........................... 434
Layout of poly-V-belt drive ................. 436
CLS 550 ....................................... 436
CLS 63 AMG ................................ 436
Engine................................................ 437
Rims and tires.................................... 438
Same size tires ............................. 439
Mixed size tires ............................ 441
MOExtended tires* ....................... 444
Spare wheel ................................. 445
Electrical system ............................... 447
Main dimensions and weights............ 448
Main dimensions .......................... 448
Weights ........................................ 448Fuels, coolants, lubricants etc. .......... 449
Capacities .................................... 449
Engine oils ................................... 451
Engine oil additives ...................... 451
Air conditioning refrigerant .......... 451
Brake fluid.................................... 451
Premium unleaded gasoline ......... 452
Fuel requirements ........................ 452
Gasoline additives ........................ 453
Coolants ...................................... 453
Windshield washer system and
headlamp cleaning system*......... 456
Index................................................. 457
10 IntroductionOperator’s ManualThis Operator’s Manual contains a great
deal of useful information. We urge you to
read it carefully and familiarize yourself
with the vehicle before driving.
For your own safety and longer service life
of the vehicle, we urge you to follow the in-
structions and warnings contained in this
manual. Ignoring them could result in dam-
age to the vehicle or personal injury to you
or others. Vehicle damage caused by fail-
ure to follow instructions is not covered by
the Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.
Your vehicle may have some or all of the
equipment described in this manual.
Therefore, you may find explanations for
optional equipment not installed in your
vehicle. If you have any questions about
the operation of any equipment, your
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center will be
glad to demonstrate the proper proce-
dures.We continuously strive to improve our
product, and ask for your understanding
that we reserve the right to make changes
in design and equipment. Therefore, infor-
mation, illustrations and descriptions in
this Operator’s Manual might differ from
your vehicle.
Optional equipment is also described in
this manual, including operating instruc-
tions wherever necessary. Since they are
special-order items, the descriptions and
illustrations herein may vary slightly from
the actual equipment of your vehicle.
If there are any equipment details that are
not shown or described in this Operator’s
Manual, your authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center will be glad to inform you of correct
care and operating procedures.The Opera-
tor’s Manual and Maintenance Booklet are
important documents and should be kept
with the vehicle.
Service and warranty information
The Service and Warranty Information
Booklet contains detailed information
about the warranties covering your
Mercedes-Benz, including:
New Car Limited Warranty
Emission System Warranty
Emission Performance Warranty
California, Maine, Massachusetts, and
Vermont Emission Control System
Warranty
(California, Maine, Massachusetts, and
Vermont only)
State Warranty Enforcement Laws
(Lemon Laws)
11 Introduction
Operator’s Manual
Important notice for California retail
buyers and lessees of Mercedes-Benz automobiles
Under California law you may be entitled to
a replacement of your vehicle or a refund
of the purchase price or lease price, if
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC and/or its au-
thorized repair or service facilities fail to fix
one or more substantial defects or mal-
functions in the vehicle that are covered by
its express warranty after a reasonable
number of repair attempts. During the
period of 18 months from original delivery
of the vehicle or the accumulation of
18 000 miles (approximately 29 000 km)
on the odometer of the vehicle, whichever
occurs first, a reasonable number of repair
attempts is presumed for a retail buyer or
lessee if one or more of the following
occurs:(1) the same substantial defect or mal-
function results in a condition that is
likely to cause death or serious bodily
injury if the vehicle is driven, that de-
fect or malfunction has been subject to
repair two or more times, and you have
directly notified Mercedes-Benz USA,
LLC in writing of the need for its repair,
(2) the same substantial defect or mal-
function of a less serious nature than
category (1) has been subject to repair
four or more times and you have direct-
ly notified us in writing of the need for
its repair, or(3) the vehicle is out of service by reason
of repair of the same or different sub-
stantial defects or malfunctions for a
cumulative total of more than
30 calendar days.
Written notification should not be sent to a
dealer, it should be addressed to
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC
Customer Assistance Center
One Mercedes Drive
Montvale, NJ07645-0350
12 IntroductionOperator’s ManualMaintenance
The Maintenance Booklet describes all the
necessary maintenance work which should
be performed at regular intervals.
Always have the Maintenance Booklet with
you when you take the vehicle to your
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center for
service. The service advisor will record
each service in the booklet for you.
Roadside Assistance
The Mercedes-Benz Roadside Assistance
Program provides factory trained technical
help in the event of a breakdown. Calls to
the toll-free Roadside Assistance number
1-800-FOR-MERCedes (in the USA)
1-800-387-0100 (in Canada)
will be answered by Mercedes-Benz
Customer Assistance Representatives
24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
For additional information refer to the
Mercedes-Benz Roadside Assistance Pro-
gram brochure in your vehicle literature
portfolio.
Change of address or ownership
If you change your address, be sure to
send in the “Change of Address Notice”
found in the Service and Warranty
Information Booklet, or simply call the
Mercedes-Benz Customer Assistance
Center (in the USA) at
1-800-FOR-MERCedes, or Customer Ser-
vice (in Canada) at 1-800-387-0100. It is in
your own interest that we can contact you
should the need arise.
If you sell your Mercedes, please leave all
literature with the vehicle to make it avail-
able to the next operator.
If you bought this vehicle used, be sure to
send in the “Notice of Purchase of Used
Car” found in the Service and Warranty
Information Booklet, or call the
Mercedes-Benz Customer Assistance Cen-
ter (in the USA) at 1-800-FOR-MERCedes,
or Customer Service (in Canada) at
1-800-387-0100.
13 Introduction
Operator’s Manual
Operating your vehicle outside the USA or Canada
If you plan to operate your vehicle in for-
eign countries, please be aware that:
service facilities or replacement parts
may not be readily available,
unleaded gasoline for vehicles with cat-
alytic converters may not be available;
the use of leaded fuels will damage the
catalysts,
gasoline may have a considerably low-
er octane rating, and improper fuel can
cause engine damage.Certain Mercedes-Benz models are avail-
able for delivery in Europe under our Euro-
pean Delivery Program. For details, consult
your authorized Mercedes-Benz Center or
write to:
In the USA:
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC
European Delivery Department
One Mercedes Drive
Montvale, NJ 07645-0350
In Canada:
Mercedes-Benz Canada, Inc.
European Delivery Department
98 Vanderhoof Avenue
Toronto, Ontario M4G 4C9