
Contents
Oxidation catalyst
(diesel engine)..............................  358
Emission control ..........................  358
Coolant temperature ....................  359
At the gas station ..............................  360
Refueling ......................................  360
Check regularly and before
a long trip.....................................  362
Engine compartment .........................  364
Hood ............................................  364
Engine oil .....................................  366
Transmission fluid level ................  370
Coolant level ................................  370
Windshield/rear window
washer system and headlamp
cleaning* system .........................  372
Tires and wheels ................................  373
Important guidelines ....................  373
Tire care and maintenance...........  374
Direction of rotation .....................  375
Loading the vehicle ......................  376
Recommended tire inflation
pressure .......................................  380
Checking tire inflation pressure ...  382
Tire labeling..................................  391
Load identification .......................  395DOT, Tire Identification
Number (TIN) ................................ 396
Maximum tire load ........................ 397
Maximum tire inflation pressure ... 398
Uniform Tire Quality Grading
Standards (U.S. vehicles) .............. 398
Tire ply material ............................ 400
Tire and loading terminology......... 401
Rotating tires ................................ 404
Winter driving ..................................... 405
Winter tires ................................... 405
Snow chains.................................. 406
Maintenance....................................... 407
Maintenance service indicator 
message ....................................... 407
Calling up the maintenance
service indicator display ............... 409
Resetting the maintenance
service indicator ........................... 409
Vehicle care........................................ 410
Cleaning and care of the vehicle ... 410
Practical hints..................................  419
What to do if … ...................................  420
Lamps in instrument cluster .........  420
Lamp in center console ................ 431
Vehicle status messages in the 
multifunction display .................... 433
Where will I find ...? ............................ 472
First aid kit....................................  472
Vehicle tool kit..............................  472
Spare wheel ..................................  475
Unlocking / locking in an emergency ..  478
Unlocking the vehicle ...................  478
Locking the vehicle .......................  479
Fuel filler flap ................................  479
Opening / closing in an emergency.....  481
Power tilt/sliding sunroof* ...........  481
Resetting activated head restraints.... 482
Replacing SmartKey batteries ............ 483
Replacing bulbs ..................................  484
Bulbs............................................. 484
Replacing bulbs for front lamps .... 487
Replacing bulbs for rear lamps .....  491
Replacing wiper blades ......................  494
Front wiper blades ........................ 494
Rear wiper blade ...........................  495 

375 Operation
Tires and wheels
Tread depth 
Do not allow your tires to wear down too 
far. Adhesion properties on wet roads are 
sharply reduced at tread depths under 
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 Wear Indicator)
The treadwear indicator appears as a solid 
band across the tread.Storing tires
Cleaning tires
Direction of rotation
Unidirectional tires offer added advan-
tages, such as better hydroplaning perfor-
mance. To benefit, however, you must 
make sure the tires rotate in the direction 
specified.
An arrow on the sidewall indicates the 
intended direction of rotation (spinning) of 
the tire.
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 ap-
proaches 1/8in (3 mm), the adhesion prop-
erties on a wet road are sharply reduced.
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. 
Protect tires from contact with oil, grease and 
fuels.
!Never use a round nozzle to power wash 
tires. The intense jet of water can result in 
damage to the tire.
Always replace a damaged tire. 

410 Operation
Vehicle care
Cleaning and care of the vehicle
Regular and proper care will help to main-
tain the value of your vehicle. The best way 
to protect your vehicle from harmful envi-
ronmental influences is to wash it and use 
protective treatments regularly.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 
extreme 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 
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. 

541 Technical data
Fuels, coolants, lubricants, etc.
Brake fluid
Only brake fluid approved by 
Mercedes-Benz is recommended. Your 
authorized Mercedes-Benz Light Truck 
Center will provide you with additional 
information.Premium unleaded gasoline 
(gasoline engine)
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.
Warning!G
Gasoline is highly flammable and poisonous. 
It burns violently and can cause serious 
injury.
Never allow sparks, flame or smoking mate-
rials near gasoline!
Turn off the engine before refueling.
Whenever you are around gasoline, avoid in-
haling fumes and skin or clothing contact, 
extinguish all smoking materials.
Direct skin contact with gasoline and the in-
halation of gasoline vapors are damaging to 
your health.
!To maintain the engine’s durability and per-
formance, premium unleaded gasoline must be 
used. If premium unleaded is not available and 
low octane fuel is used, follow these precau-
tions:
Have the fuel tank only partially filled with 
unleaded regular and fill up with premium 
unleaded as soon as possible.
Avoid full throttle driving and abrupt acceler-
ation.
Do not exceed an engine speed of 3000 rpm 
if the vehicle is loaded with a light load such 
as two persons and no luggage.
Do not exceed2/3of maximum accelerator 
pedal position if the vehicle is fully loaded or 
operating in mountainous terrain. 

553 Index
Emission control 358
Information label 527
System warranties 10
Vacuum routing diagram label 527
Engine
Belt layout 528
Break-in recommendations 346
Cleaning 412
Compartment 364
Malfunction indicator lamp 29, 423
Maximum engine speed 157, 530
Number 527
Starting 54
Tachometer 29, 157
Technical data 530
Turning off 67
Engine coolant see CoolantEngine oil 366, 540
Adding 369, 540
Additives 540
Changing 369, 540
Checking level 366
Checking level, Control system 366
Checking level, Dipstick 368
Consumption 366
Filler neck 369
Messages in the multifunction 
display 366, 367, 458
Recommended engine oils and 
filters 540
ESP
®102
Messages in the multifunction 
display 441–442
Warning lamp 27, 425
ETD 82
Safety guidelines 76
Extending cargo compartment 301
Exterior rear view mirrors 48, 212
Power folding* 214
Synchronizing 214F
Fastening the seat belts 51
Filler neck, Engine oil 369
First aid kit 472
Flat tire 497
Collapsible tire 475, 500, 534
Jacking up the vehicle 498
Lowering the vehicle 503
Mounting the spare wheel 500
Preparing the vehicle 498
Spare wheel 475, 500, 534
Floormats 343
Fluids
Automatic transmission fluid 370, 
538
Brake fluid 362, 538, 541
Capacities 538
Engine coolant 362, 370, 539, 543
Engine oil 366, 538, 540
Power steering fluid 538
Windshield washer and headlamp 
cleaning* system 372, 539