Page 328 of 481

327 Operation
Winter driving
Winter driving
Before the onset of winter, have your
vehicle winterized at an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center. This service
includes:
Check of anticorrosion and antifreeze
concentration
Addition of cleaning concentrate to the
water of the windshield and headlamp
cleaning system
Add MB Concentrate “S” to a premixed
windshield washer solvent/antifreeze
which is formulated for temperatures
below freezing point (
page 456).
Battery test
Battery capacity drops with decreasing
ambient temperature. A well charged
battery helps to make sure that the
engine can be started, even at low am-
bient temperatures.
Tire change
Winter tires
Always use winter tires at temperatures
below 45°F (7°C) and whenever wintry
road conditions prevail. Not all M+S rated
tires provide special winter performance.
Make sure the tires you use show the
mountain/snowflake.marking on the
tire sidewall. These tires meet specific
snow traction performance requirements
of the Rubber Manufacturers Association
(RMA) and The Rubber Association of
Canada (RAC) and have been designed
specifically for use in snow conditions. Use
of winter tires is the only way to achieve
the maximum effectiveness of the ABS and
ESP
® in winter operation.
For safe handling, make sure that all
mounted winter tires are of the same make
and have the same tread design.Always observe the speed rating of the
winter tires installed on your vehicle. If the
maximum speed for which your tires are
rated is below the speed rating of your ve-
hicle, you must place a notice to this effect
where it will be seen by the driver. Such
notices are available at your tire dealer or
any authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Warning!
G
Winter tires with a tread depth of less than 1/6in (4 mm) must be replaced. They are no
longer suitable for winter operation.
Page 332 of 481

331 Operation
Maintenance
Calling up the maintenance service indicator
You can call up the maintenance service in-
dicator display, in the multifunction dis-
play, every time, to check when the next
maintenance service is due.
Switch on the ignition (
page 38).
The standard display of the control sys-
tem appears (
page 147).
Press buttonè orÿ on the mul-
tifunction steering wheel repeatedly
until the standard display appears in
the multifunction display (
page 141).
Press buttonk or j until the
maintenance service indicator display
with the service symbol9 and the
service deadline appears in the multi-
function display.Resetting the maintenance service
indicator
In the event that the maintenance service
on your vehicle is not carried out by an au-
thorized Mercedes-Benz Center, you can
have the maintenance service indicator re-
set. The automotive maintenance facility
carrying out the maintenance service will
find the information for resetting the main-
tenance service indicator in the mainte-
nance-relevant literature for your vehicle.
Such literature is available from either your
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center or
directly from Mercedes-Benz.
i
The menu overview can be found on
(
page 145).
i
If 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 the maintenance service indicator
display.
Do not confuse the maintenance service indica-
tor with the engine oil level indicator:.
i
If 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
Warranty.
Page 342 of 481
341 Practical hints
What to do if …
Where will I find...?
Unlocking/locking in an emergency
Opening/closing in an emergency
Resetting activated head restraints
Replacing SmartKey batteries
Replacing bulbs
Replacing wiper blades
Flat tire
Battery
Jump starting
Towing the vehicle
Fuses
Page 343 of 481

342 Practical hintsWhat to do if …Lamps in instrument clusterGeneral information:
If any of the following lamps in the instru-
ment cluster fails to come on during thebulb self-check when switching on the igni-
tion, have the respective bulb checked and
replaced if necessary.Problem
Possible cause/consequence
Suggested solution
-
The yellow ABS indicator lamp
comes on while the engine is
running.
The ABS has detected a malfunction and has
switched off. The BAS, EBP, ESP
® and
PRE-SAFE
® are also switched off (see messages
in multifunction display).
The brake system is still functioning normally
but without the ABS available.
If the ABS control unit is malfunctioning, other
systems such as the Parktronic system*, Dis-
tronic*, navigation system*, or the automatic
transmission may also be malfunctioning.
Continue driving with added caution.
Wheels may lock during hard braking,
reducing steering capability.
Read and observe messages in the
multifunction display (
page 356).
Have the system checked at an autho-
rized Mercedes-Benz Center as soon
as possible.
Failure to follow these instructions in-
creases the risk of an accident.
The charging voltage has fallen below 10 volts.
The ABS has switched off.
The battery may not be sufficiently charged.
When the voltage is above this value
again, the ABS is operational again and
the ABS indicator lamp should go out.
If the ABS indicator lamp does not go out:
Have the generator (alternator) and
battery checked.
Page 360 of 481

359 Practical hints
What to do if …
Display message
Possible cause/consequence
Possible solution
ABS
ABS, ESP
unavailable
See Operator’s Man.
The ABS, ESP
® as well as PRE-SAFE
® were
deactivated because of insufficient power
supply. The charging voltage has fallen be-
low 10 volts.
The brake system still functions normally
but without the ABS, ESP
® and PRE-SAFE
®
available.When the voltage is above this value again, the
ABS, ESP
® and PRE-SAFE
® are operational again
and the message in the multifunction display
should disappear.
If the message in the multifunction display does
not disappear:
Have the generator (alternator) and the battery
checked.
Cruise
control
--- mph(USA only)--- km/h(Canada only)
You have tried to switch on cruise control
below a speed of 20 mph (30 km/h).
Drive faster than 20 mph (30 km/h) and save
the speed.
Distronic
--- mph(USA only)--- km/h(Canada only)
You have tried to switch on Distronic be-
low a speed of 20 mph (30 km/h).
Drive faster than 20 mph (30 km/h) and save
the speed.
inoperative
The Distronic* is malfunctioning or the
display is malfunctioning.
Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center
as soon as possible.
Page 370 of 481
369 Practical hints
What to do if …
Display message
Possible cause/consequence
Possible solution
Tire pres. monitor
inoperative
No wheel sensors
There are wheels without appropri-
ate wheel sensors mounted (e.g.
winter tires).
Have the TPMS or Advanced TPMS* checked
by an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Have the wheel sensors installed by an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Tire pres. monitor
Wheel sensor missing
One or more sensors malfunc-
tion (e.g. battery is empty).
One or more wheels without ap-
propriate wheel sensors mount-
ed (e.g. spare tire).
The tire inflation pressure for the re-
spective tire is not shown in the mul-
tifunction display.
Have the TPMS or Advanced TPMS* checked
by an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Have the wheel sensors installed by an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Vehicles with Advanced TPMS*:
The tire pressure for the respective tire is
shown in the multifunction display.
Page 371 of 481

370 Practical hintsWhat to do if …Symbol messagesDisplay symbol
Display messages
Possible cause/consequence
Possible solution
V
You are driving with one or more doors
open.
Close the doors.
Y
You are driving with the hood open.
Close the hood (
page 286).
Ê
This message will appear whenever the
trunk is open.
Close the trunk.
#
The battery is no longer charging.
Possible causes:
alternator malfunctioning
broken poly-V-belt
Do not forget that the brake system
requires electrical energy and may be
operating with restricted capability.
Considerably greater brake pedal force is
required and the stopping distance is
increased.
Stop immediately in a safe location or
as soon as it is safe to do so and
check the poly-V-belt.
If it is broken:
Do not continue to drive. Otherwise
the engine will overheat due to an
inoperative water pump which may re-
sult in damage to the engine. Notify
an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
If it is intact:
Drive immediately to the nearest
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Adjust driving to be consistent with
reduced braking responsiveness.
Page 372 of 481

371 Practical hints
What to do if …
Display symbol
Display messages
Possible cause/consequence
Possible solution
#
There is a malfunction in the electronic
system.
Have the system checked at an autho-
rized Mercedes-Benz Center as soon
as possible.
#
Battery/Alternator
Stop vehicle
The battery is malfunctioning.
The brake system requires electrical en-
ergy and therefore has only limited oper-
ation. Considerably greater brake pedal
force is required and the stopping dis-
tance is increased.
Stop the vehicle as soon as it is safe
to do so. Adjust driving to be consis-
tent with reduced braking responsive-
ness.
Call Roadside Assistance.
Notify an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.
#
Low voltage
Start engine
The battery has insufficient voltage.
Start the engine (
page 51).
2
Brakepad wear
The brake pads have reached their wear
limit.
Have the brake pads replaced as soon
as possible.
!
Brake pad thickness must be visually in-
spected by a qualified technician at the intervals
specified in the Maintenance Booklet.