591 Operation
Winter driving
Snow chainsSnow chains should only be driven on
snow-covered roads at speeds not to
exceed 30 mph (50 km/h). Remove chains
as soon as possible when driving on roads
without snow.
Please observe the following guidelines
when using snow chains:
Use of snow chains is not permissible
with all wheel/tire combinations
(page 727).
Use snow chains in pairs and rear
wheels only. Follow the manufacturer’s
mounting instructions.
Only use snow chains that are
approved by Mercedes-Benz. Any
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center will
be glad to advise you on this subject.
Use of snow chains may be prohibited
depending on location. Always check
local and state laws before installing
snow chains.
Do not use snow chains on the spare
wheel (
page 730).
Warning!
G
If you use your spare tire when winter tires
are fitted on the other wheels, be aware that
the difference in tire characteristics may
very well impair turning stability and that
overall driving stability may be reduced.
Adapt your driving style accordingly.
Have the spare tire replaced with a winter
tire at the nearest authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.!
When driving with snow chains, always se-
lect the raised level of the level control system
ABC (page 461). Other settings may result in
damage to your vehicle.
!
Some tire sizes do not leave adequate clear-
ance for snow chains. To help avoid serious dam-
age to your vehicle or tires, make sure that the
use of snow chains is permissible as specified in
the “Technical data” section of this Operator’s
Manual, see “Rims and tires” (
page 727).
!
If snow chains are mounted to the front
wheels, they may scrape against the body or axle
components. The tires or the vehicle could be
damaged as a result.
i
All models except CL 63 AMG:
When driving with snow chains, you may wish to
switch off the ESP
® (page 72) before setting
the vehicle in motion. This will improve the
vehicle’s traction.
i
CL 63 AMG:
Do not switch off the ESP
® when driving in snow
or with snow chains mounted.
604 OperationVehicle care
Clean the wiper blade inserts with a
clean cloth and detergent solution.
Use a soft, clean cloth and a mild win-
dow cleaning solution on all outside
and inside glass surfaces.
An automotive glass cleaner is recom-
mended.Light alloy wheels
If possible, clean wheels once a week.
Use Mercedes-Benz approved Wheel
Care, a soft bristle brush and a strong
spray of water for cleaning the light
alloy wheels.Plastic and rubber parts
Use a gentle dishwashing detergent or
mild detergent for delicate fabrics as a
washing solution.
Wipe with a cloth moistened in a luke-
warm solution.
The surface may temporarily change
color. If this is the case, wait for it to
dry.
!
Do not pull on the wiper blade inserts. They
could tear.
!
Fold the windshield wiper arms back onto
the windshield before turning the SmartKey in
the starter switch or pressing the KEYLESS-GO*
start/stop button (vehicles with KEYLESS-GO*).
Hold on to the wiper when folding the wiper arm
back. If released, the force of the impact from
the tensioning spring could crack the windshield.
!
To clean the window interior, do not use a
dry cloth, abrasives, solvents or cleaners con-
taining solvents. Do not touch the inside of the
front, rear or side windows with hard objects
such as an ice scraper or ring. Doing so may
damage the windows.
!
Only use acid-free cleaning materials. Acid
may cause corrosion or damage the clear coat.
!
The vehicle should not be parked for an
extended period of time immediately after it has
been cleaned, especially not after the wheel rims
have been cleaned with wheel rim cleaner.
Wheel rim cleaners can lead to increased
corrosion of the brake disks and brake pads.
Non-approved wheel cleaners may also damage
the wheel paint if the car is not driven after
cleaning. Therefore, the vehicle’s brake system
should always be warmed-up before it is parked
after cleaning. To do so, please drive your vehicle
for several minutes to allow the brakes to dry.
When applying Mercedes-Benz approved Tire
Care and Mercedes-Benz approved Wheel Care
products, take care not to spray them on the
brake disks.
Warning!
G
Do not use cleaners or cockpit care sprays
containing solvents to clean the cockpit or
the steering wheel. Cleaners containing sol-
vents will make the surface porous and vehi-
cle occupants could suffer serious injuries
from plastic parts coming loose in the event
of air bag deployment.
606 OperationVehicle careUpholstery
Using aftermarket seat covers or wearing
clothing that have the tendency to give off
coloring (e.g. when wet, etc.) may cause
the upholstery to become permanently dis-
colored. By lining the seats with a proper
intermediate cover, contact-discoloration
will be prevented.Leather upholstery
Wipe leather upholstery with a damp
cloth and dry thoroughly or clean with
Mercedes-Benz approved Leather
Care.
Exercise particular care when cleaning per-
forated leather as its underside should not
become wet.
Wood trims
Dampen cloth using water and use
damp cloth to clean wood trims in your
vehicle.Chrome-plated exhaust tip*
Regular cleaning and care of chrome-plat-
ed exhaust tips will help to maintain their
shine and the classy appearance.
Use Mercedes-Benz approved Chrome
Polishing Paste each time the vehicle
has been washed, especially during the
winter.
Warning!
G
Only use seat covers which have been
tested and approved by Mercedes-Benz for
your vehicle model. Using other seat covers
may interfere with or prevent the activation
of the front side impact air bags or the rear
side impact air bags. Contact an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center for availability.
!
Do not use solvents like tar remover or
wheel cleaner nor polishes or waxes as these
may be abrasive.
!
Do not use alkaline cleaners such as wheel
cleaners as they could cause corrosion.
700 Practical hintsFlat tire1Wheel bolt for light alloy rims
2Wheel bolt for Minispare wheel
(located in trunk with spare wheel)
Clean contact surfaces of wheel and
wheel hub.
Guide the Minispare wheel onto the
alignment bolt and push it on.
Insert wheel bolts and tighten them
slightly.
Unscrew the alignment bolt, install the
last wheel bolt and tighten slightly.
Warning!
G
Only use genuine Mercedes-Benz wheel
bolts. Other wheel bolts may come loose.
Do not tighten the wheel bolts when the ve-
hicle is raised. Otherwise the vehicle could
fall off the jack.
!
Wheel bolts2 must be used when mount-
ing a Minispare wheel. The use of any wheel
bolts other than wheel bolts2 for a Minispare
wheel will physically damage the vehicle’s
brakes.
Warning!
G
Make sure to use the original length wheel
bolts when remounting the original wheel
after it has been repaired.
!
To avoid paint damage, place wheel flat
against hub and hold it there while installing first
wheel bolt.
719 Technical data
Parts service
Warranty coverage
Identification labels
Layout of poly-V-belt drive
Engine
Rims and tires
Electrical system
Main dimensions and weights
Fuels, coolants, lubricants, etc.
727 Technical data
Rims and tires
Rims and tires
!
Only use tires which have been tested and
approved by Mercedes-Benz. Tires approved by
Mercedes-Benz are developed to provide best
possible performance in conjunction with the
driving safety systems on your vehicle such as
ABS or ESP
®. Tires specially developed for
your vehicle and tested and approved by
Mercedes-Benz can be identified by finding the
following on the tire’s sidewall:
MO = M
ercedes-Benz O
riginal equipment
tires
AMG vehicles only:
Does not apply to all approved tires on AMG
vehicles. For information on tested and
approved tires for AMG vehicles, contact an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Using tires other than those approved by
Mercedes-Benz may result in damage that is not
covered by the Mercedes-Benz Limited
Warranty.
!
Using tires other than those approved by
Mercedes-Benz can have detrimental effects,
such as
poor handling characteristics
increased noise
increased fuel consumption
Moreover, tires and rims not approved by
Mercedes-Benz may, under load, exhibit dimen-
sional variations and different tire deformation
characteristics that could cause them to come
into contact with the vehicle body or axle parts.
Damage to the tires or the vehicle may be the
result.
i
Further information on tires and rims is
available at any authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center. A Tire and Loading Information placard
with the recommended tire inflation pressures is
located on the driver’s door B-pillar
(
page 564). Some vehicles may have supple-
mental tire inflation pressure information for
driving at high speeds (
page 570) or for vehi-
cle loads less than the maximum loaded vehicle
condition (
page 577). If such information is
provided, it can be found on the tire inflation
pressure label located on the inside of the fuel
filler flap. The tire inflation pressure should be checked
regularly and should only be adjusted on cold
tires. Follow tire manufacturer’s maintenance
recommendation included with vehicle.
i
The following pages also list the approved
wheel rim and tire sizes for equipping your vehi-
cles with winter tires. Winter tires are not avail-
able as standard or optional factory equipment,
but can be purchased from an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
Depending on vehicle model and the standard or
optional factory-equipped wheel rim/tire config-
uration on your vehicle (Appearance Package,
Sport Package etc.), equipping your vehicle with
winter tires approved for your vehicle model may
also require the purchase of two or four wheel
rims of the recommended size for use with these
winter tires. Contact an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center for more information.
728 Technical dataRims and tiresSame size tiresModel
CL 550
CL 600
CL 550 (Sport Package*)
CL 600 (Sport Package*)
CL 63 AMG
CL 63 AMG (Performance Package*)
CL 65 AMG
Rims (light alloy)
8.5 J x18 H2
8.5 J x18 H2
8.5 J x19 H2
Wheel offset
1.69 in (43 mm)
1.69 in (43 mm)
1.69 in (43 mm)
All-season tires*
1
1Radial-ply tires.
255/45 R18 99H M+S
–
–
Winter tires
1,2,3
2For use with snow chains contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.3Not available as factory equipment.
255/45 R18 99V M+S.
255/45 R18 99V M+S.
255/40 R19 100V XL (Extra Load) M+S.
729 Technical data
Rims and tires
Mixed size tiresModel
CL 550
CL 600
CL 550*
CL 600*
CL 550 (Sport Package*)
CL 600 (Sport Package*)
CL 63 AMG
CL 63 AMG (Performance Pack-
age*)
CL 65 AMG
Front axle:
Rims (light alloy)
8.5 J x 18 H2
8.5 J x 19 H2
–
–
AMG rims (light alloy)
–
–
8.5 J x 19 H2
8.5 J x 20 H2
Wheel offset
1.69 in (43 mm)
1.69 in (43 mm)
1.69 in (43 mm)
1.69 in (43 mm)
Summer tires
1
1Radial-ply tires.
255/45 R18 99V
255/40 R19 96Y
255/40 R19 96Y
255/35 ZR20 XL (Extra Load)
Rear axle:
Rims (light alloy)
9.5 J x 18 H2
9.5 J x 19 H2
–
–
AMG rims (light alloy)
–
–
9.5 J x 19 H2
9.5 J x 20 H2
Wheel offset
1.69 in (43 mm)
1.69 in (43 mm)
1.69 in (43 mm)
1.69 in (43 mm)
Summer tires
1
275/45 R18 103V
275/40 R19 101Y
275/40 R19 101Y
275/35 ZR20 XL (Extra Load)
2
2Must not be used with snow chains.