
Contents
At the gas station .............................. 321
Refueling ...................................... 321
Check regularly and before a
long trip........................................ 322
Engine compartment ......................... 324
Hood ............................................ 324
Engine oil ..................................... 326
Transmission fluid level ................ 328
Coolant level ................................ 329
Battery ......................................... 330
Windshield/rear window washer
system and headlamp cleaning
system* ....................................... 331
Tires and wheels ................................ 332
Important guidelines .................... 332
Tire care and maintenance........... 333
Direction of rotation ..................... 335
Loading the vehicle ...................... 335
Recommended tire inflation
pressure ....................................... 340
Checking tire inflation pressure ... 341
Tire labeling.................................. 349
Load identification ....................... 353
DOT, Tire Identification Number
(TIN) ............................................. 353
Maximum tire load ....................... 355Maximum tire inflation pressure ... 355
Uniform Tire Quality Grading
Standards (U.S. vehicles) .............. 356
Tire ply material ............................ 358
Tire and loading terminology......... 358
Rotating tires ................................ 361
Winter driving ..................................... 363
Winter tires ................................... 363
Block heater* (Canada only) ......... 364
Snow chains.................................. 364
Maintenance....................................... 365
Maintenance service indicator
message ....................................... 365
Calling up the maintenance
service indicator display ............... 367
Resetting the maintenance
service indicator ........................... 367
Vehicle care........................................ 368
Cleaning and care of vehicle ......... 368
Practical hints.................................. 377
What to do if … ................................... 378
Lamps in instrument cluster ......... 378
Lamp in center console ................ 391
Vehicle status messages in the
multifunction display .................... 394
Where will I find ...? ............................ 430
First aid kit.................................... 430
Vehicle tool kit, jack and spare
wheel ............................................ 430
Unlocking/locking in an emergency .. 435
Unlocking the vehicle ................... 435
Locking the vehicle ....................... 436
Manually unlocking the gear
selector lever ................................ 437
Opening/closing in an emergency ..... 438
Power tilt/sliding sunroof ............. 438
Resetting activated head restraints.... 439
Replacing SmartKey batteries ............ 440
SmartKey/SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO* ............................... 440
Replacing bulbs .................................. 442
Bulbs............................................. 442
Replacing bulbs for front lamps .... 444
Replacing bulbs for rear lamps ..... 447

334 OperationTires and wheelsTread depth
Do not allow your tires to wear down too
far. Adhesion properties on wet roads are
sharply reduced at tread depths of less
than
1/8in (3 mm).
Treadwear indicators (TWI) are required by
law. These indicators are located in six
places on the tread circumference and
become visible at a tread depth of approx-
imately 1/16in (1.6 mm), at which point the
tire is considered worn and should be re-
placed.
Recommended minimum tire tread depth:
Summer tires
1/8in (3 mm)
Winter tires
1/6in (4 mm)
1TWI (T
read W
ear I
ndicator)
The treadwear indicator appears as a solid
band across the tread.Storing tires
Cleaning tires
Warning!
G
Although the applicable federal motor safety
laws consider a tire to be worn when the
treadwear indicators (TWI) become visible at
approximately
1/16in (1.6 mm), we recom-
mend that you do not allow your tires
to wear down to that level. As tread depth
approaches
1/8in (3 mm), the adhesion
properties on a wet road are sharply re-
duced.
Depending upon the weather and/or road
surface (conditions), the tire traction varies
widely.
!
Keep unmounted tires in a cool, dry place
with as little exposure to light as possible. Pro-
tect tires from contact with oil, grease and gaso-
line.
!
Never use a round nozzle to power wash
tires. The intense jet of water can result in dam-
age to the tire.
Always replace a damaged tire.

368 OperationVehicle careCleaning and care of vehicle
While in operation, even while parked, your
vehicle is subjected to varying external in-
fluences which, if gone unchecked, can at-
tack the paintwork as well as the vehicle
underbody and cause lasting damage.Such damage is caused not only by ex-
treme and varying climatic conditions, but
also by:
Air pollution
Road salt
Tar
Gravel and stone chipping
To avoid paint damage, you should imme-
diately remove:
Grease and oil
Fuel
Coolant
Brake fluid
Bird droppings
Insects
Tree resins etc.
Frequent washing reduces and/or elimi-
nates the aggressiveness and potency of
the above adverse influences.More frequent washings are necessary to
deal with unfavorable conditions:
near the ocean
in industrial areas (smoke, exhaust
emissions)
during winter operation
You should check your vehicle from time to
time for stone chipping or other damage.
Any damage should be repaired as soon as
possible to prevent corrosion.
In doing so, do not neglect the underbody
of the vehicle. A prerequisite for a thor-
ough check is a washing of the underbody
followed by a thorough inspection. Dam-
aged areas need to be re-undercoated.
Your vehicle has been treated at the facto-
ry with a wax-base rustproofing in the body
cavities which will last for the lifetime of
the vehicle. Post-production treatment is
neither necessary nor recommended by
Mercedes-Benz because of the possibility
of incompatibility between materials used
in the production process and others ap-
plied later.
Warning!
G
Many cleaning products can be hazardous.
Some are poisonous, others are flammable.
Always follow the instructions on the partic-
ular container. Always open your vehicle’s
doors or windows when cleaning the inside.
Never use fluids or solvents that are not de-
signed for cleaning your vehicle.
Always lock away cleaning products and
keep them out of reach of children.

489 Technical data
Fuels, coolants, lubricants etc.
Engine oils
Engine oils are specifically tested for their
suitability in our engines and durability for
our service intervals. Therefore, only use
approved engine oils and oil filters
required for vehicles with Maintenance
System (U.S. vehicles) or FSS PLUS
(Canada vehicles). For a listing of approved
engine oils and oil filters, refer to the
Factory Approved Service Products
pamphlet (USA only), or contact an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Engine oil additives
Do not blend oil additives with engine oil.
They may damage the engine.
Damage or malfunctions resulting from
blending oil additives are not covered by
the Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.Air conditioning refrigerant
R-134a (HFC) refrigerant and special PAG
lubricating oil are used in the air
conditioning system.
Never use R-12 (CFC) or mineral-based
lubricating oil. Otherwise damage to the
system will occur.
Brake fluid
Only brake fluid approved by
Mercedes-Benz is recommended. Your au-
thorized Mercedes-Benz Center will pro-
vide you with additional information.
!
Using engine oils and oil filters of specifica-
tion other than those expressly required for the
Maintenance System (U.S. vehicles) or
FSS PLUS (Canada vehicles), or changing of oil
and oil filter at change intervals longer than
those called for by the Maintenance System
(U.S. vehicles) or FSS PLUS (Canada vehicles)
will result in engine or emission control system
damage not covered by the Mercedes-Benz
Limited Warranty.Please follow Maintenance System
(U.S. vehicles) or FSS PLUS (Canada vehicles)
recommendations for scheduled oil changes.
Failure to do so will result in engine or emission
control system damage not covered by the
Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.
Warning!
G
During vehicle operation, the boiling point of
the brake fluid is continuously reduced
through the absorption of moisture from the
atmosphere. Under extremely strenuous
operating conditions, this moisture content
can lead to the formation of bubbles in the
system, thus reducing the system’s
efficiency.
Therefore, the brake fluid must be replaced
regularly. Refer to your vehicle’s
Maintenance Booklet for replacement
interval.

500 IndexEmergency, In case of
Battery, Jump starting 466
First aid kit 430
Flat tire, changing 451
Fuses 471
Hazard warning flasher 148
Instrument cluster, Indicator
lamps 378, 379, 380, 381, 382,
383, 384, 385, 388, 389
Roadside Assistance 12
Towing the vehicle 468
Emission control 319
Information label 477
Vacuum line routing diagram
label 477
Emission control system warranties 10
Engine
Belt layout 478
Block heater* (Canada only) 364
Cleaning 370
Compartment 324
Malfunction indicator lamp 382, 383,
412
Message in the display 382, 383,
412
Number 476Starting 52
Starting with KEYLESS-GO* 53
Starting with the SmartKey 52
Tachometer 27
Technical data 479
Turning off with KEYLESS-GO* 64
Turning off with the SmartKey 63
Engine compartment
Hood 324
Engine coolant see Coolant
Engine malfunction indicator lamp 382,
383, 412
Engine oil
Adding 327
Additives 489
Changing 327
Checking level 326
Consumption 326
Filler neck 328
Messages in display 416
Oil dipstick 327
Recommended engine oils and oil
filter 489
Engine oil level 323ESP
®
100
Four wheel electronic traction system
with ESP
®
104
Messages in display 396, 411
Warning lamp 379, 380
ETD
Safety guidelines 72
Exterior lamp switch 141
Exterior rear view mirrors 47
Exterior view 22
F
Filler neck, Engine oil 328
First aid kit 430
Flat tire 451
Lowering the vehicle 461
Mounting the spare wheel 456, 458
Preparing the vehicle 451
Sealing tires with TIREFIT 451
Spare wheel 456
TIREFIT kit 451
Flexible Service System see FSS
Floormats 289