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
23 At a glance
Exterior view
ItemPage
1Tailgate
Opening123
Closing125
Power tailgate*123,
125
Cargo compartment
Vehicle tool kit472
Spare wheel475
2Rear window defroster217
3Rear lamps485
4Fuel filler flap360
Refueling360
Fuel361,
542
5Exterior rear view mirrors
Adjusting49
Auto-dimming rear view
mirrors*213
Power folding*214
ItemPage
6Towing eye bolt
Vehicle tool kit472
Installing517
7Tires and wheels373,
532
Checking tire inflation
pressure382
Run Flat Indicator
(Canada vehicles)383
Tire Pressure Monitoring
System (U.S. vehicles)385
Advanced Tire Pressure
Monitoring System*
(Canada vehicles)388
Flat tire497
Spare wheel475
8Hood364
Engine oil366
Coolant370
ItemPage
9Windshield wipers60
Wiper blades, replacing494
Wiper blades, cleaning415
aWindshield
Cleaning with wiper fluid62
Cleaning415
bPower tilt/sliding sunroof*258
Panorama roof with power
tilt/sliding panel*261
cDoors
Locking and unlocking112
Opening and closing122
Locking/unlocking in an
emergency478
dFront lamps484
eHeadlamp cleaning system*212
27 At a glance
Instrument cluster
ItemPage
1LLeft turn signal
indicator lamp
2To dim instrument cluster
illumination157
3Reset button156
4To brighten instrument clus-
ter illumination157
5KRight turn signal
indicator lamp
6Clock
ItemPage
7Speedometer with:
-Antilock Brake
System (ABS)
indicator lamp420
’Variable speed limiter
indicator lamp1
lDistance warning
lamp2
1Lamp without function. It illuminates when the
ignition is on. It should go out when the engine is
running.
2Vehicles without Distronic*: Warning lamp without
function. It illuminates when the ignition is on.
It should go out when the engine is running.
ItemPage
;Brake warning lamp,
USA only421
3Brake warning lamp,
Canada only421
vElectronic Stability
Program (ESP®)
warning lamp
425
HCombination low tire
pressure/TPMS
malfunction telltale,
USA only
Low tire pressure
telltale*, Canada only428
428
100 Safety and Security
Driving safety systems
In this section you will find information on
the following driving safety systems:
ABS (Antilock Brake System)
BAS (Brake Assist System)
ESP® (Electronic Stability Program)
EBP (Electronic Brake Proportioning)
4-ETS (Electronic Traction System)
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 ap-
proximately 5 mph (8 km/h) independent
of road surface conditions.
On slippery road surfaces, the ABS will re-
spond even to light brake pressure.
The -indicator lamp in the instrument
cluster (
page 26) comes on when you
switch on the ignition. It goes out when the
engine is running.
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 4-ETS cannot re-
duce this risk.
Always adjust your driving style to the pre-
vailing road and weather conditions.
iIn winter operation, the maximum effective-
ness of the ABS, the BAS, the ESP®, the EBP, and
the 4-ETS is only achieved with winter tires
(
page 405) 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.
101 Safety and Security
Driving safety systems
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 ability to steer
the vehicle.
The pulsating brake pedal can be an
indication of hazardous road conditions
and functions as a reminder to take extra
care while driving.Emergency brake maneuver
Keep continuous full pressure on the
brake pedal.
For more information, see the “Practical
Hints” section (
page 420).
Warning!G
When the ABS is malfunctioning, the BAS,
the ESP®, and the 4-ETS are also switched
off. The basic driving and braking functions
are still available.
When the ABS is malfunctioning, the wheels
may lock during hard braking, reducing
steering capability and extending the brak-
ing distance.
Warning!G
The ABS cannot prevent the natural laws of
physics from acting on the vehicle, nor can
it increase braking or steering efficiency be-
yond that afforded by the condition of the
vehicle brakes and tires or the traction
afforded. The ABS cannot prevent acci-
dents, including those resulting from exces-
sive speed in turns, following another
vehicle too closely, or hydroplaning. Only a
safe, attentive, and skillful driver can pre-
vent accidents. The capabilities of an ABS
equipped vehicle must never be exploited in
a reckless or dangerous manner which
could jeopardize the user’s safety or the
safety of others.
102 Safety and Security
Driving safety systems
BAS
The Brake Assist System (BAS) operates in
emergency situations. If you apply the
brakes very quickly, the BAS automatically
provides full brake boost, thereby poten-
tially reducing braking distance.
Apply continuous full braking pressure
until the emergency braking situation is
over.
The ABS will prevent the wheels from
locking.
When you release the brake pedal, the
brakes function again as normal. The BAS
is then deactivated.
ESP®
The Electronic Stability Program (ESP®) is
operational as soon as the engine is run-
ning and monitors the vehicle’s traction
(force of adhesive friction between the
tires and the road surface) and handling.
The ESP
® recognizes when a wheel is
spinning or if the vehicle starts to skid. By
applying brakes to the appropriate wheel
and by limiting engine output, the ESP
®
helps stabilize the vehicle. The ESP® is
especially useful while driving off and on
wet or slippery road surfaces. The ESP
®
also stabilizes the vehicle during braking
maneuvers.
The ESP
® warning lampv in the instru-
ment cluster (
page 26) flashes when the
ESP® is engaged.
The ESP
® warning lampv in the instru-
ment cluster comes on when you switch on
the ignition. It goes out when the engine is
running.
Warning!G
If the BAS is malfunctioning, the brake sys-
tem is still functioning, but without the addi-
tional brake boost available that BAS would
normally provide in an emergency braking
maneuver. Therefore, the braking distance
may increase.
Warning!G
The BAS cannot prevent the natural laws of
physics from acting on the vehicle, nor can
it increase braking efficiency beyond that
afforded by the condition of the vehicle
brakes and tires or the traction afforded.
The BAS cannot prevent accidents, includ-
ing those resulting from excessive speed in
turns, following another vehicle too closely,
or hydroplaning. Only a safe, attentive, and
skillful driver can prevent accidents. The
capabilities of a BAS equipped vehicle must
never be exploited in a reckless or danger-
ous manner which could jeopardize the
user’s safety or the safety of others.
163 Controls in detail
Control system
Menus, submenus and functions
Menu1Menu2Menu3Menu4Menu5
Standard displayAMG1
1AMG vehicles only.
AudioNavi*Airmatic*/Compass
(page 166)(page 168)(page 171)(page 173)(page 174)
Commands/submenus
Trip- and main odometerEngine oil temperatureSelecting radio stationRoute guidance
instructions, current
direction traveledAIRMATIC*
Checking tire inflation
pressureVehicle supply voltageSelecting satellite radio
station* (USA only)Compass
Checking coolant
temperatureRACETIMEROperating CD player
Calling up digital
speedometer or outside
temperatureOverall analysis
Calling up maintenance
service indicatorLap analysis
Checking engine oil level
iThe headings used in the menus table are
designed to facilitate navigation within thesystem and are not necessarily identical to those
shown in the control system displays.The first function displayed in each menu will
show you which part of the system you are in.
166 Controls in detail
Control system
Standard display menu
In the standard display, the main odometer
and the trip odometer appear in the multi-
function display.
1Trip odometer
2Main odometer
If you see another display, press
buttonè orÿ repeatedly until
the standard display appears.
Press buttonkorj to select
the functions in the standard display
menu.The following functions are available:Checking coolant temperature
FunctionPage
Checking tire inflation pressure382
Checking coolant temperature166
Calling up digital speedometer or
outside temperature167
Calling up maintenance service
indicator409
Checking engine oil level
(R 500 only)366
Warning!G
Driving when your engine is overheated
can cause some fluids which may have
leaked into the engine compartment to
catch fire. You could be seriously
burned.
Steam from an overheated engine can
cause serious burns which can occur
just by opening the hood. Stay away
from the engine if you see or hear steam
coming from it.
Stop the vehicle in a safe location away from
other traffic. Turn off the engine, get out of
the vehicle and do not stand near the vehicle
until the engine has cooled down.