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 330 of 481

329 Operation
Maintenance
Maintenance
We strongly recommend that you have
your vehicle serviced by an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center, in accordance with
the Maintenance Booklet at the times
called for by the maintenance service
indicator.
Failure to have the vehicle maintained in
accordance with the Maintenance Booklet
and maintenance service indicator at the
designated times/mileage will result in
vehicle damage not covered by the
Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.Maintenance service indicator
message
The maintenance service indicator will
notify you when the next maintenance ser-
vice is due.
Starting approximately 1 month before the
next maintenance service is due, one of
the following messages will appear in the
multifunction display while you are driving
or when you switch on the ignition (exam-
ple service A):Service A in XXXX Miles (km)
Service A in XX Days
Service A in X Day
Service A due now
The maintenance services will be indicated
by showing a service type A through type H
in the multifunction display. Types A
through H are classified based on estimat-
ed time needed to perform the mainte-
nance service, ranging:
from
Service A(approx. 1 hour)
toService H(approx. 8 hours)
Refer to Maintenance Booklet for a listing
of maintenance services and intervals they
need to be performed at.
Page 331 of 481

330 OperationMaintenance
Clearing the maintenance service
indicator
The maintenance service indicator mes-
sage is automatically cleared
after approximately 10 seconds, when
you switch on the ignition or when
reaching the service threshold while
driving
after approximately 30 seconds, once
the suggested maintenance service
term has passed
You can also clear it yourself.
1Reset button
Press the reset button1 on the
instrument cluster.
The maintenance service indicator
message is cleared and the standard
display appears in the multifunction
display (
page 147).
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
Service A exceeded by X DayIn addition, a signal sounds when the
message appears.
Any authorized Mercedes-Benz Center will
reset the maintenance service indicator
following a completed maintenance
service.
i
Vehicles equipped with Maintenance Sys-
tem only (U.S. vehicles. Canada vehicles, de-
pending on production date):
The Maintenance System in your vehicle tracks
distance driven and the time elapsed since the
last maintenance service and calculates other
maintenance service work required.
i
Vehicles equipped with FSS PLUS (F
lexible
S
ervice S
ystem PLUS) only (Canada vehicles, de-
pending on production date):
FSS PLUS evaluates engine temperature, oil
level, vehicle speed, engine speed, distance
driven and the time elapsed since the last
service and calculates other maintenance
service work required.
The interval between maintenance services
depends on your driving habits. A gentle driv-
ing style, moderate engine speeds and the
avoidance of short-distance trips will length-
en the interval between services.
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 345 of 481

344 Practical hintsWhat to do if …Problem
Possible cause/consequence
Suggested solution
;
(USA only)
3
(Canada only)
The red brake warning lamp
comes on while driving and you
hear a warning sound.
You are driving with the parking brake set.
Release the parking brake.
;
(USA only)
3
(Canada only)
The red brake warning lamp
comes on when the engine is
running and you hear a warning
sound.
There is insufficient brake fluid in the
reservoir.
Risk of accident! Do not drive any
further. Consult a Mercedes-Benz
Service Center. Under no circum-
stances should you top up the brake
fluid. This will not solve the problem.
Warning!
G
Driving with the brake warning lamp illumi-
nated can result in an accident. Have your
brake system checked immediately if the
brake warning lamp stays on. Do not add
brake fluid before checking the brake
system.
Overfilling the brake fluid reservoir can
result in spilling brake fluid on hot engine
parts and the brake fluid catching fire. You
can be seriously burned.
!
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.
Page 346 of 481

345 Practical hints
What to do if …
Problem
Possible cause/consequence
Suggested solution
ú
(USA only)
±
(Canada only)
The yellow engine malfunction
indicator lamp comes on while
driving.
There is a malfunction in:
The fuel management system
The ignition system
The emission control system
Systems which affect emissions
Such malfunctions may result in excessive
emissions values and may switch the engine
to its limp-home (emergency operation)
mode.
Have the vehicle checked as soon as
possible by an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
An on-board diagnostic connector is
used by the service station to link the
vehicle to the shop diagnostics system.
It allows the accurate identification of
system malfunctions through the read-
out of diagnostic trouble codes. It is
located in the front left area of the foot-
well next to the parking brake.
i
Some states may by law require you to con-
tact a workshop immediately as soon as the en-
gine malfunction indicator lamp comes on.
Check local requirements.
Page 377 of 481
376 Practical hintsWhat to do if …Display symbol
Display messages
Possible cause/consequence
Possible solution
Z
The cooling fan for the coolant is
malfunctioning.
Observe the coolant temperature indicator in the
instrument cluster (
page 26).
If the coolant temperature is under 120°C, you may
continue driving to an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.
Avoid placing heavy loads on the engine (e.g. by
driving uphill) as well as stop-and-go traffic.
Have the fan replaced as soon as possible.
±
Display malfunction
Visit workshop
Certain electronic systems are
unable to relay information to
the control system. The follow-
ing systems may have failed:
Coolant temperature display
Tachometer
Cruise control display
Have the electronic systems checked by an autho-
rized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Engine
Service
There may be a malfunction in:
the fuel injection system
the ignition system
the exhaust system
Have the engine checked as soon as possible by an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Page 378 of 481

377 Practical hints
What to do if …
When the
Check oil level - at next re-
fueling message appears while the en-
gine 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.If no oil leaks are noted, continue to drive
to the nearest service station where the
engine oil should be topped to the required
level with an approved engine oil.
For information on approved engine oils,
refer to the Factory Approved Service
Products pamphlet (USA only) or contact
an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Display symbol
Display messages
Possible cause/consequence
Possible solution
:
Check oil level
at next refueling
There is no oil in the engine. There is
a danger of engine damage.
Check the engine oil level (
page 288) and
add engine oil as required (page 289).
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.