Page 598 of 769

597 Operation
Vehicle care
Paintwork, painted body components
Mercedes-Benz approved Paint Care
should be applied when water drops on the
paint surface do not “bead up”. This should
normally be done every 3 to 5 months, de-
pending on the climate and washing deter-
gent used.
Mercedes-Benz approved Paint Cleaner
should be applied if the paint surface
shows signs of embedded dirt (i.e. loss of
gloss).
Do not apply any of these products or wax
if your vehicle is parked in the sun or if the
hood is still hot.
Use the appropriate MB-Touch-Up
Stick for quick and provisional repairs
of minor paint damage (i.e. chips from
stones, vehicle doors, etc.).Engine cleaning
Prior to cleaning the engine compartment,
make sure to protect electrical compo-
nents and connectors from contact with
water and cleaning agents.
Corrosion protection, such as
MB Anticorrosion Wax, should be applied
to the engine compartment after every
engine cleaning. Before applying, all
control linkage bushings and joints should
be lubricated. The poly-V-belt and all pul-
leys should be protected from any wax.
Vehicle washing
In the winter, thoroughly remove all traces
of road salt as soon as possible.
When washing the vehicle underbody, do
not forget to clean the inner sides of the
wheels.Hand-wash
Do not use hot water or wash your vehicle
in direct sunlight.
Only use a mild car wash detergent,
such as Mercedes-Benz approved Car
Shampoo.
Thoroughly spray the vehicle with a dif-
fused jet of water.
Direct only a very weak spray towards
the ventilation intake.
Use plenty of water and rinse the
sponge and chamois frequently.
Rinse with clean water and thoroughly
dry with a chamois.
Do not allow cleaning agents to dry on
the finish.
!
Affixing stickers, magnets, adhesive tape or
similar materials to painted body components
may damage the paintwork.
i
Vehicles with KEYLESS-GO*:
If a door handle is hit by a strong jet of water, and
a SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO* is in close prox-
imity, i.e. within approximately 3 ft (approxi-
mately 1 m), the vehicle could be inadvertently
locked or unlocked.
!
Do not use scouring agents on these parts.
Never apply strong force and only use a soft,
non-scratching cloth when cleaning the vehicle.
Do not attempt to wipe the surface with a dry
cloth or sponge.
Otherwise you may scratch or damage the paint.
Page 606 of 769

605 Operation
Vehicle care
Hard plastic trim items
Use Mercedes-Benz approved Interior
Care, a soft, lint-free cloth and apply
with light pressure.Steering wheel
Wipe with a damp cloth and dry thor-
oughly or clean with Mercedes-Benz
approved Leather Care.
Carpets
Use Mercedes-Benz approved Carpet
and Fabric Care for cleaning the
carpets.
Headliner and shelf below rear window
Use a soft bristle brush or a dry-sham-
poo cleaner in case of excessive dirt. Seat belts
Only use clear, lukewarm water and
soap.
!
Do not use oil, wax or scouring agents on
these parts.
Never apply strong force and only use a soft,
non-scratching cloth when cleaning the surface.
Do not attempt to wipe the surface with a dry
cloth or sponge.
Otherwise you may scratch or damage the sur-
face.
!
Never apply strong force and only use a soft,
non-scratching cloth when cleaning the surface.
Do not attempt to wipe the surface with a dry
cloth or sponge.
Otherwise you may scratch or damage the sur-
face.
!
The webbing must not be treated with
chemical cleaning agents. Do not dry the web-
bing at temperatures above 176°F (80°C) or in
direct sunlight.
Warning!
G
Do not bleach or dye seat belts as this may
severely weaken them. In a crash they may
not be able to provide adequate protection.
Page 616 of 769

615 Practical hints
What to do if …?
Problem
Possible cause/consequence
Suggested solution
v
The yellow ESP
® warning lamp
comes on while the engine is
running.
The ESP
® is deactivated.
Risk of accident!
Adapt your speed and driving to the prevail-
ing road, weather, and traffic conditions.
Switch the ESP
® back on (
page 70).
Exceptions: (
page 72).
If the ESP
® cannot be switched back on:
Have the system checked at an autho-
rized Mercedes-Benz Center as soon as
possible.
ESP
® is switched off due to a malfunction.
Risk of accident!
Adapt your speed and driving to the prevail-
ing road, weather, and traffic conditions.
Continue driving with added caution.
Read and observe messages in the mul-
tifunction display (
page 622).
Have the system checked at an autho-
rized Mercedes-Benz Center as soon as
possible.
<
The red seat belt telltale comes
on for a maximum of 6 seconds
after starting the engine.
The seat belt telltale reminds you and your
passengers to fasten your seat belts before
driving off.
Fasten your seat belts.
Regardless of whether the seat belts are
fastened or not, the seat belt telltale al-
ways comes on and remains lit for
6 seconds after starting the engine.
Page 617 of 769

616 Practical hintsWhat to do if …?Problem
Possible cause/consequence
Suggested solution
<
You hear a warning chime for a
maximum of 6 seconds after
starting the engine.
You have forgotten to fasten your seat belt.
Fasten your seat belt.
The warning chime stops sounding.
<
The red seat belt telltale comes
on while the vehicle is standing
still and the engine is running or
during driving.
You and/or your front passenger have for-
gotten to fasten your seat belts.
Fasten your seat belts.
The seat belt telltale goes out.
There are items placed on the front passen-
ger seat and therefore the system senses
the front passenger seat as being occupied.
Remove the items from the front pas-
senger seat and put them in a safe
place.
The seat belt telltale goes out.
<
During driving the red seat belt
telltale flashes and you addition-
ally hear an intermittent warning
chime with increasing intensity.
The vehicle’s speed once exceeded 15 mph
(25 km/h) and you and/or your front pas-
senger have forgotten to fasten your seat
belts.
Fasten your seat belts.
The seat belt telltale goes out and the
warning chime stops sounding.
There are items placed on the front passen-
ger seat and therefore the system senses
the front passenger seat as being occupied.
Remove the items from the front pas-
senger seat and put them in a safe
place.
The seat belt telltale goes out and the
warning chime stops sounding.
i
After 60 seconds with an unfastened seat
belt the warning chime stops sounding and the
seat belt telltale illuminates continuously.The seat belt telltale will only go out if both, the
driver and front passenger’s, seat belt arefastened, or the vehicle is standing still and a
door is opened.
Page 627 of 769

626 Practical hintsWhat to do if …?Display
Possible cause/consequence
Possible solution
DISTRONIC PLUS
Inoperative
DISTRONIC Plus* is malfunctioning.
BAS Plus* and PRE-SAFE
® Brake* are also
not available.
Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center as soon as pos-
sible.
DISTRONIC PLUS
Override
You have depressed the accelerator pedal,
DISTRONIC Plus* is no longer controlling
the speed of the vehicle.
Release the accelerator pedal.
DISTRONIC PLUS
- - - mph
(USA only)
DISTRONIC PLUS
- - - kmh
(Canada only)
You have attempted to activate DISTRONIC
Plus* at a speed below 20 mph (30 km/h)
without the vehicle in front being displayed
in the multifunction display (
page 443).
Drive faster than 20 mph (30 km/h) and activate DISTRONIC
Plus* again.
ESP
® is switched off.
Switch on ESP
® (page 70).
The driver’s door is open and the drivers
seat belt is unbuckled.
Close the driver’s door and fasten your seat belt.
The hood is open.
Close the hood (
page 554).
The automatic transmission is in park posi-
tion P, reverse gearR or neutral positionN.
Shift the automatic transmission to drive positionD
(page 417).
The vehicle is secured in place by the elec-
tronic parking brake.
Release electronic parking brake (
page 412).
The system is overheated.
Wait until the system cools down.
Page 656 of 769
655 Practical hints
What to do if …?
Display
Possible cause/consequence
Possible solution
The battery is no longer charging.
Possible causes:
alternator malfunctioning
broken poly-V-belt
Stop the vehicle immediately in a safe loca-
tion and check the poly-V-belt.
If it is broken:
Do not continue to drive. Otherwise the en-
gine will overheat due to an inoperative water
pump which may result in damage to the en-
gine.
Notify an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
If it is intact:
Drive immediately to the nearest authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
There is a malfunction in the electronic
system.
Have the system checked by an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center as soon as possible.
Page 659 of 769
658 Practical hintsWhat to do if …?Display
Possible cause/consequence
Possible solution
Coolant Low
Stop Vehicle
Turn Engine Off
The poly-V-belt could be broken.
Stop the vehicle in a safe location or as soon
as it is safe to do so and immediately turn off
the engine.
Engage the electronic parking brake
(page 412).
Check the poly-V-belt.
If it is broken:
Do not continue to drive. Otherwise the en-
gine will overheat due to an inoperative water
pump which may result in damage to the en-
gine.
Notify an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
If it is intact:
Do not continue to drive the vehicle with this
message displayed. Doing so could result in
serious engine damage that is not covered by
the Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.
Observe the coolant temperature gauge in
the instrument cluster (
page 30).
(Continued on next page)
Page 681 of 769

680 Practical hintsWhat to do if …?Display
Possible cause/consequence
Possible solution
Shift to P
You have attempted to turn off the engine
with the KEYLESS-GO* start/stop button
and opened the driver’s door with the auto-
matic transmission not shift to park
positionP.
Shift the automatic transmission to park
positionP (
page 417).
or
Close the driver’s door.
You are driving with the trunk open.
Close the trunk (
page 501).
Check
Washer Fluid
The water level has dropped to approx.
1.1 US qts (1.0 l).
Add washer fluid (
page 560).
Lock Seat Backrest
Front Left
The driver seat backrest is not engaged.
The driver’s seat belt can not secure the
driver.
Fold back and push the seat backrest until
the seat cushion and seat backrest audibly
engage into the driving position.
Lock Seat Backrest
Front Right
The passenger seat backrest is not en-
gaged.
The front passenger’s seat belt can not se-
cure the passenger.
Fold back and push the seat backrest until
the seat cushion and seat backrest audibly
engage into the driving position.