2007 MERCEDES-BENZ CLS63AMG snow chains

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

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

ABS (A
ntilock B
rake S
ystem)


Adaptive Brake


BAS (B
rake A
ssist S
ystem)


EBP (E
lectronic B
rake P
roportioning)


ESP
® (E
lectronic S
tability P
rogram)
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 with light brake pressure.The -indicator lamp in the instrument
cluster comes on when you switch on the
ignition. It goes out when the engine is run-
ning.
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.
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, ESP
® and Adaptive Brake
cannot reduce this risk.
Always adjust your driving style to the pre-
vailing road and weather conditions.
i
In winter operation, the maximum
effectiveness of the ABS, BAS, ESP
® and Adap-
tive Brake is only achieved with winter tires
(
page 327) 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.

95 Safety and Security
Driving safety systems
For more information, see the “Practical
hints” section (
page 343) and
(
page 361).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.
Except CLS 63 AMG:
When you switch off the ESP
®, the
electronic traction system is still enabled.Switching off the ESP
®
Switching off the ESP
®
(except CLS 63 AMG)
To improve the vehicle’s traction, switch
off the ESP
® in driving situations where it
would be advantageous to have 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 and the ignition must be shut 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 oth-
erwise seriously damage the brake system.
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 driving
maneuvers.
Do not switch off the ESP
® when a spare
wheel is mounted.

233 Controls in detail
Driving systems
The following vehicle level settings can be
selected when the vehicle is stationary and
the engine is running:Vehicle level
when stationary
Indicator lamp
(page 234)
Suspension
tuning
Use for
Ride height increase
over normal
Automatic lowering
Normal
Lamp off
Comfort
For driving on normal
roads
None
Max. approx. 0.4 in (10 mm)
Normal
Lamp off
Sport 1 or 2
For driving on normal
roads
None
Max. approx. 0.6 in (15 mm)
Raised
Lamp on
Comfort
For driving on rough
roads or with snow
chains
Approx. 0.8 in (20 mm)
Max. approx. 1.2 in (30 mm)
Raised
Lamp on
Sport 1 or 2
For driving on rough
roads or with snow
chains
Approx. 0.8 in (20 mm)
Max. approx. 1.4 in (35 mm)

278 OperationDriving instructionsFor information on how to identify the tire
speed rating on a tire’s sidewall, see “Tire
size designation, load and speed rating”
(page 314).
If you are uncertain about the correct read-
ing of the information given on a tire’s side-
wall, any authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center will be glad to assist you.
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 positionN. Try
to keep the vehicle under control by cor-
rective steering action.Road salts and chemicals can adversely
affect 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
after driving is resumed.
i
For information on speed rating for winter
tires, see “Winter driving” (
page 327).
For additional general information on tire speed
markings on tire sidewall, see “Tire speed rating”
(
page 316).
i
For more information on driving with snow
chains, see “Snow chains” (
page 328).
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.

304 OperationTires and wheelsRun Flat Indicator (Canada only)
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
restricted manner or with a delay

if snow chains are mounted to the
vehicle


in winter road conditions prevail 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)
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 Tire and Load-
ing Information placard. Driving on a signifi-
cantly under-inflated tire causes the tire to
overheat and can lead to tire failure. Un-
der-inflation also reduces fuel efficiency and
tire tread life, and may affect the vehicle’s
handling and stopping ability. Each tire, in-
cluding the spare, should be checked
monthly when cold and set to the recom-
mended tire inflation pressure as specified
in the vehicle placard and owner’s manual.
i
The recommended tire inflation pressures
for your vehicle can be found on the tire placard
located on the driver’s door B-pillar
(
page 296). The tire inflation pressures are
not listed in the owner’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 tire 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.

328 OperationWinter drivingBlock 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 to
exceed 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:

Use of snow chains is not permissible
with all wheel/tire combinations
(page 438).


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


Only use snow chains that are ap-
proved 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 spare
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.
!
When driving with snow chains, always se-
lect the raised level of the level control system
Airmatic (
page 231). Other settings may result
in damage to your vehicle.
!
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 438).
!
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.
i
When driving with snow chains, you may
wish to deactivate the ESP
® (page 95) before
setting the vehicle in motion. This will improve
the vehicle’s traction.
i
CLS 63 AMG:
Do not switch off the ESP
® when driving in snow
or with snow chains mounted.

441 Technical data
Rims and tires
Mixed size tiresModel
CLS 550
CLS 550 (AMG Sport Package*)
Front axle:Rims (light alloy)
8.5Jx18H2
8.5Jx18H2
Wheel offset
1.10 in (28 mm)
0.98 in (25 mm)
Summer tires
1
1Radial-ply tires
245/40 R18 93Y
255/40 ZR18 95Y
or
255/40 ZR18 99Y XL (Extra Load)
All-season tires
1
245/40 R18 93V M+S
–
Rear axle:Rims (light alloy)
9.5Jx18H2
9.5Jx18H2
Wheel offset
1.30 in (33 mm)
1.10 in (28 mm)
Summer tires
1,2
2Must not be used with snow chains.
275/35 R18 95Y
285/35 ZR18 97Y
or
285/35 ZR18 101Y XL (Extra Load)
All-season tires
1,2
275/35 R18 95V M+S
–