Contents
At the gas station............................... 247
Refueling ...................................... 247
Check regularly and before
a long trip .................................... 248
Engine compartment.......................... 250
Hood ............................................ 250
Engine oil...................................... 253
Transmission fluid level ................ 254
Coolant......................................... 255
Trunk ................................................. 256
Batteries....................................... 256
Windshield washer system and
headlamp cleaning system ........... 257
Tires and wheels ................................ 258
Important guidelines .................... 258
Tire care and maintenance ........... 259
Direction of rotation ..................... 261
Loading the vehicle ...................... 261
Recommended tire inflation
pressure ....................................... 267
Checking tire inflation pressure ... 268
Tire labeling .................................. 274
Load identification........................ 278
DOT, Tire Identification Number
(TIN) ............................................. 279
Maximum tire load ....................... 280Maximum tire inflation pressure .. 281
Uniform Tire Quality Grading
Standards (U.S. vehicles) ............. 281
Tire ply material ........................... 283
Tire and loading terminology ........ 284
Rotating tires ............................... 287
Anti-theft wheel nuts .................... 288
Winter driving .................................... 290
Winter tires* ................................ 290
Snow chains ................................. 291
Maintenance ...................................... 292
Clearing the maintenance
service indicator message............ 292
Maintenance service term
exceeded ..................................... 293
Calling up the maintenance
service due date........................... 293
Resetting the maintenance
service indicator........................... 294
Vehicle care ....................................... 295
Cleaning and care of the vehicle .. 295
Vehicle washing ........................... 296
Practical hints................................. 298
What to do if ... .................................. 300
Lamps in instrument cluster ........ 300
Lamp in center console................ 312
Vehicle status messages in the
multifunction display.................... 314
Symbol messages ........................ 327
Where will I find ...? ........................... 353
First aid kit ................................... 353
TIREFIT kit, electric air pump,
towing eye bolt and vehicle
literature portfolio ........................ 353
Compact guide (Canada only) ...... 354
Unlocking in an emergency ............... 355
Unlocking the vehicle................... 355
Replacing SmartKey batteries ........... 357
Replacing bulbs ................................. 359
Front lamps.................................. 360
Rear lamps ................................... 360
Replacing wiper blades ...................... 361
Removing wiper blades ................ 361
Installing wiper blades ................. 361
29 At a glance
Instrument cluster
ItemPage
1Coolant temperature gauge
with115
DCoolant temperature
warning lamp306
2Speedometer with
;Brake warning lamp,
USA only303
3Brake warning lamp,
Canada only303
vABS/ESP® warning
lamp300
>Gearshift indicator
lamp307
indicator lamp
KRight turn signal
indicator lamp
ItemPage
3Left multifunction display
with
Outside temperature116
Main odometer 117
4Reset button114
5Tachometer with116
AHigh beam headlamp
indicator110
?Engine malfunction in-
dicator lamp, USA only304
±Engine malfunction in-
dicator lamp, Canada
only304
-Antilock Brake System
(ABS) indicator lamp302
XLow tire pressure
telltale311
ItemPage
1Supplemental
Restraint System (SRS)
indicator lamp310
with
Current gear selector lever
position/gear range117,
171,
174
Trip odometer117
Automatic transmission
shift program mode117,
175
Clock133
=Engine oil temperature
indicator307
7Fuel gauge with
AFuel reserve warning
lamp 307
81 Safety and Security
Driving safety systems
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)
Electro-hydraulic brake 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
respond even to light brake pressure.
The -indicator lamp in the instrument
cluster comes on (
page 29) 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 the electro-hy-
draulic brake system cannot reduce 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®, and the
electro-hydraulic brake system is only achieved
with winter tires (
page 290) 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.
82 Safety and Security
Driving safety systems
Braking
If the ABS activates during braking, the
ABS/ESP
® warning lamp v in the in-
strument cluster dial flashes. Because of
the electro-hydraulic brake system, you
will not feel any pulsation in the brake
pedal.
Keep firm and steady pressure on the
brake pedal.
Continuous, steady brake pedal pressure
yields the advantages provided by the ABS,
namely braking power and the ability to
steer the vehicle.The ABS/ESP
® warning lamp v flashes
whenever the ABS is activated which can
be an indication of hazardous road condi-
tions 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 302).
Warning!G
When the ABS is malfunctioning, the BAS
and the ESP® are also switched off. The ba-
sic 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
braking 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. The
ABS cannot prevent accidents, including
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 ca-
pabilities of an ABS 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.
83 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 the 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 the engine output, the ESP
®
works to 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
and steering maneuvers.
The ABS/ESP
® warning lamp v in the
instrument cluster (
page 29) flashes
when the ESP® is engaged.
The ABS/ESP
® warning lamp v in the
instrument (
page 28) 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 normally, but without
the additional brake boost available that
BAS would normally provide in an emergen-
cy braking maneuver. Therefore, the braking
distance may increase.
Warning!G
BAS cannot prevent the natural laws of
physics from acting on the vehicle, nor can
it increase braking efficiency beyond that af-
forded by the condition of the vehicle brakes
and tires or the traction. The BAS cannot
prevent accidents, including those resulting
from excessive speed in turns, following an-
other 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 dangerous manner which
could jeopardize the user’s safety or the
safety of others.
121 Controls in detail
Control system
Menus, submenus and functions
Menu1Menu2Menu3Menu4Menu5Menu6Menu7
Standard display722 Edition1
1Only Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren 722 Edition.
AUDIOVehicle status
message memory2
2The Vehicle status message memory menu is only displayed if there is a message stored.
SettingsTrip computerTelephone
(page 122)(page 123)(page 126)(page 128)(page 129)(page 139)(page 141)
Commands/submenus
Digital speedome-
ter/Outside tem-
peratureEngine oil tem-
peratureSelecting
radio stationCalling up vehicle
malfunction, warn-
ing and system sta-
tus messages
stored in memoryResetting to fac-
tory settingsFuel consumption
statistics since startLoading
phone book
Calling up mainte-
nance service
displayVehicle supply
voltageOperating the
CD playerInstrument clus-
ter submenuFuel consumption
statistics since the
last resetSearching for
name in
phone book
Checking tire
inflation pressureRACETIMERTime submenuResetting fuel con-
sumption statistics
Overall analysisLighting submenuDistance to empty
Lap analysisVehicle submenu
iThe headings used in the menus table are
designed to facilitate navigation within the sys-
tem and are not necessarily identical to thoseshown in the control system displays. The first
function displayed in each menu will automati-
cally show you which part of the system you are in.
122 Controls in detail
Control system
Standard display menu
The left multifunction display shows the
outside temperature and main odometer,
while the trip odometer and the clock ap-
pears in the right multifunction display.
This is the standard display.
Standard display
1Main odometer
2Outside temperature
3Current gear selector lever
position/gear range
4Trip odometer
5Automatic transmission shift program
mode
6Clock
Press buttonè orÿ repeatedly
until you see the standard display in
the multifunction display.
You can modify the standard display menu.
Instead of outside temperature 2, you
can choose the digital speedometer to be
displayed in the left multifunction display
by changing the setting in the
Select dis-
play
function of the Inst. cluster sub-
menu (
page 132).
Press buttonk orj to select
the functions in the standard display
menu.
The following functions are available:Display digital speedometer or outside
temperature
Press button k or j until the
digital speedometer or the outside
temperature appears in the right multi-
function display.
FunctionPage
Calling up digital speedometer or
outside temperature122
Calling up maintenance service
display 292
Checking tire inflation pressure 268
iIf you have selected the digital speedometer
for the standard display (
page 132), select the
outside temperature display here.
235 Operation
Driving instructions
Driving instructions
Drive sensibly – save fuel
Fuel consumption, to a great extent,
depends on driving habits and operating
conditions.
To save fuel you should:
Keep tires at the recommended tire
inflation pressures.
Remove unnecessary loads.
Allow engine to warm up under low
load use.
Avoid frequent acceleration and
deceleration.
Have all maintenance work performed
at the intervals specified in the
Maintenance Booklet and as required
by the maintenance service display.
Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.
Fuel consumption is also increased by
driving in cold weather, in stop-and-go
traffic, on short trips and in hilly area.
Drinking and drivingPedals
Warning!G
Drinking and driving and/or taking drugs
and driving are very dangerous combina-
tions. Even a small amount of alcohol or
drugs can affect your reflexes, perceptions
and judgment.
The possibility of a serious or even fatal
accident are greatly increased when you
drink or take drugs and drive.
Do not drink or take drugs and drive or allow
anyone to drive who has been drinking or
taking drugs.
Warning!G
Make sure that absolutely no objects are ob-
structing the pedals’ range of movement.
Keep the driver’s footwell clear of all obsta-
cles. If there are any floormats or carpets in
the footwell, make sure that the pedals still
have sufficient clearance.
During sudden driving or braking maneuvers
the objects could get caught between the
pedals. You could then no longer brake or
accelerate. This could lead to accidents
and/or injury.