Page 526 of 705

525 Operation
Tires and wheels
Traction
The traction grades, from highest to low-
est, are AA, A, B, and C. Those grades rep-
resent the tire’s ability to stop on wet
pavement as measured under controlled
conditions on specified government test
surfaces of asphalt and concrete. A tire
marked C may have poor traction perfor-
mance.
Temperature
The temperature grades are A (the high-
est), B, and C, representing the tire’s resis-
tance to the generation of heat and its
ability to dissipate heat when tested under
controlled conditions on a specified indoor
laboratory test wheel. Sustained high tem-perature can cause the material of the tire
to degenerate and reduce tire life, and ex-
cessive temperature can lead to sudden
tire failure. The grade C corresponds to the
minimum level of performance which all
passenger car tires must meet under the
Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard
No. 109. Grades B and A represent higher
levels of performance on the laboratory
test wheel than the minimum required by
law.
Tire ply material
1Plies in sidewall
2Plies under tread
This marking tells you about the type of
cord and number of plies in the sidewall
and under the tread.
Warning!
G
The traction grade assigned to this tire is
based on straight-ahead braking traction
tests, and does not include acceleration,
cornering, hydroplaning, or peak traction
characteristics.
Warning!
G
The temperature grade for this tire is estab-
lished for a tire that is properly inflated and
not overloaded. Excessive speed, underin-
flation, or excessive loading, either sepa-
rately or in combination, can cause
excessive heat build-up and possible tire
failure.
i
For illustration purposes only. Actual data
on tires are specific to each vehicle and may vary
from data shown in above illustration.
Page 529 of 705

528 OperationTires and wheelsconcerning tires and gives purchases the
means to easily identify such tires. The TIN
is comprised of “Manufacturer’s identifica-
tion mark”, “Tire size”, “Tire type code”
and “Date of manufacture”.
Tire load rating
Numerical code associated with the
maximum load a tire can support.
Tire ply composition and material used
This indicates the number of plies or the
number of layers of rubber-coated fabric in
the tire tread and sidewall. Tire manufac-
turers also must indicate the ply materials
in the tire and sidewall, which include
steel, nylon, polyester, and others.
Tire speed rating
Part of tire designation; indicates the
speed range for which a tire is approved.Traction
Force exerted by the vehicle on the road
via the tires. The amount of grip provided.
Tread
The portion of a tire that comes into
contact with the road.
Treadwear indicators
Narrow bands, sometimes called
“wear bars” that show across the tread of
a tire when only
1/16
in (1.6 mm) of tread
remains.
Uniform Tire Quality Grading Standards
A tire information system that provides
consumers with ratings for a tire’s traction,
temperature and treadwear. Ratings are
determined by tire manufacturers using
government testing procedures. The
ratings are molded into the sidewall of the
tire.Vehicle capacity weight
Rated cargo and luggage load plus
68 kilograms (150 lbs) times the vehicle’s
designated seating capacity.
Vehicle maximum load on the tire
Load on an individual tire that is
determined by distributing to each axle its
share of the maximum loaded vehicle
weight and dividing it by two.
Page 678 of 705

677 Technical terms
Restraint systems
Seat belts, belt tensioners, air bags
and child restraint systems. As inde-
pendent systems, their protective func-
tions complement one another.
Rim
(
page 527)
Root directory
The uppermost directory on a storage
medium.
Run Flat Indicator
The Run Flat Indicator monitors the set
tire inflation pressures by evaluating
each wheel’s rotational speed. If a
wheel’s rotational speed changes due
to falling tire inflation pressure, a corre-
sponding warning message appears in
the ->Instrument cluster control sys-
tem.RON
(R
esearch O
ctane N
umber)
The Research Octane Number for gaso-
line as determined by a standardized
method. It is an indication of a gaso-
line’s ability to resist undesired detona-
tion (knocking). The average of both
the ->MON (Motor Octane Number)
and RON (Research Octane Number) is
posted at the pump, also known as AN-
TI-KNOCK INDEX.
Sidewall
(
page 527)
SIM
(Subscriber I
dentity M
odule)
Card provided by the ->GSM telephone
service provider. Necessary for access-
ing a mobile communication network.
SMS
(S
hort M
essage S
ervice)
With this function you can receive, read
and delete short text messages (if SMS
service is provided by your carrier).SRS
(S
upplemental R
estraint S
ystem)
Seat belts, emergency tensioning de-
vice and air bags. Though independent
systems, they are closely interfaced to
provide effective occupant protection.
Tele Aid
(T
elematic A
larm I
dentification on
D
emand)
The Tele Aid system consists of three
types of response: automatic and man-
ual emergency, Roadside Assistance
and information. Tele Aid is initially ac-
tivated by completing a subscriber
agreement and placing an acquain-
tance call. The Tele Aid system is oper-
ational provided that the vehicle’s
battery is charged, properly connected,
not damaged and mobile phone and
->GPS coverage is available.
Telematics
A combination of the terms “telecom-
munications” and “informatics.”
Page 690 of 705

689 Index
L
Labels 652
Certification 652
Emission control information 652
Supplemental tire inflation pressure
information 489
Tire and Loading Information 504
Vacuum line routing diagram 652
Lamp bulbs, exterior 621
Lamps, exterior
Front 622
Light sensor 596
Rear 622
Lamps, indicator and warning
ABS 29, 69, 544
Air bag Off 49
Battery (SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO*) 310
Battery check lamp (SmartKey) 305
Brakes 545
DISTRONIC Plus* 29, 388, 397, 549
Engine diagnostics 547
Engine malfunction 547
ESP
®
549
Front passenger front air bag off 53,
555Fuel reserve 550
Instrument cluster 544
Maintenance service indicator 532
Seat belts telltale 550
SRS 552
Language (COMAND) 216
LATCH-type child seat anchors see Chil-
dren in the vehicle
Leather upholstery, Cleaning and care
of 542
Lever
For automatic transmission (gear se-
lector lever) 367
For cruise control 381
For DISTRONIC Plus* 390
License plate lamps
Messages in display 597
Replacing bulbs 622
Light alloy wheels, Cleaning 541
Light sensor
Message in display 596
Lighter see Cigarette lighter
Lighting 342
Automatic headlamp mode 343
Combination switch 346
Corner-illuminating lamps 347Courtesy lighting 350
Daytime running lamp mode 344
Door entry lamps 350
High beam flasher 347
High beams 346
Instrument cluster illumination 81,
378
Interior 348
Manual headlamp mode 343
Trunk 350
Limp-home mode 377
Line of fall 674
Loading see Vehicle loading
Locator lighting (COMAND) 221
Lock button
Door handle (KEYLESS-GO*) 309,
358
Key, SmartKey 304
Key, SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO* 306
Trunk lid (KEYLESS-GO*) 310
Locking 363
Automatic central locking
(COMAND) 223
Vehicle in an emergency 615
Locking knob 312, 674
Page 693 of 705

692 IndexOccupant safety 44
Air bags 45
Children and air bags 61
Children in the vehicle 61
Fastening the seat belt 339
Front passenger front air bag off indica-
tor lamp 53
Infant and child restraint systems 62
LATCH-type child seat anchors 65
Seat belts 47, 339
OCS 50
Self-test 54
Odometer 245
Oil
Filler neck 497
Oil level see Engine oil
One-touch gearshifting 375
Operating safety 19
Voice Control* 257
Ornamental moldings, Cleaning 537
Outside temperature indicator 29, 379
Overdue maintenance service 533
Overhead control panel 37
Override switch 67
Overspeed range, Engine 675P
Paintwork, Cleaning 535
Panic alarm
Audible alarm and flashing exterior
lamps 68
Panic button 68
Panorama roof with power tilt/sliding
panel* 443
Opening/closing 444
Opening/closing in an
emergency 617
Synchronizing 446
Panorama roof with tilt/sliding panel*
Cleaning 541
Parcel net in front passenger
footwell 449
Park Assist* 409
Messages in display 566
Warning indicators 411
Parking 363, 481
Parking and standing lamps
Replacing bulbs 622
Parking brake
mechanically releasing 616
Messages in display 576Parking lamps
Messages in display 599
Parking position
Exterior rear view mirrors 335
Parktronic system* 405
Parktronic*
Cleaning system sensors 538
Malfunctioning 408
System sensors 538
Warning indicators 407
Parts service 650
Passenger compartment 486
Passenger safety see Occupant safety
PCMCIA card
Ejecting (COMAND) 109
Loading (COMAND) 108
Pedals 479
Plastic and rubber parts, Cleaning 541
POIs 177
Poly-V-belt drive 653, 676
Layout 653
Potential problems associated with under-
inflated and overinflated tires 517
Power assistance 479
Power closing assist for doors and trunk
lid 313