294 Operation
Tires and wheels
Tire care and maintenance
Regularly check your tire inflation pressure
at least once a month. For more informa-
tion on checking tire inflation pressure see
“Recommended tire inflation pressure”
(
page 301).
Tire inspection
Every time you check your tire inflation
pressure, you should also inspect your
tires for the following:
excessive treadwear (page 294)
cord or fabric showing through the
tire’s rubber
bumps, bulges, cuts, cracks or splits in
the tread or side of the tire
Replace the tire if you find any of the above
conditions.
Make sure you also inspect the spare tire
periodically for condition and inflation.
Spare tires will age and become worn over
time even if never used, and thus should be
inspected and replaced when necessary.
Life of tire
The service life of a tire is dependent upon
varying factors including but not limited to:
Driving style
Tire inflation pressure
Distance drivenTread depth
Do not allow your tires to wear down too
far. Adhesion properties on wet roads are
sharply reduced at tread depths of less
than
1⁄8in (3 mm).
Tread wear indicators (TWI) are required by
law. These indicators are located in six
places on the tread circumference and
become visible at a tread depth of approx-
imately
1/16in (1.6 mm), at which point the
tire is considered worn and should be re-
placed.
Recommended minimum tire tread depth:
Summer tires 1/8in (3 mm)
Winter tires 1/6in (4 mm)
Warning!G
Regularly check the tires for damage. Dam-
aged tires can cause tire inflation pressure
loss. As a result, you could lose control of
your vehicle.
Worn, old tires can cause accidents. If the
tire tread is badly worn, or if the tires have
sustained damage, replace them.
Warning!G
Tires and spare tire should be replaced after
6 years, regardless of the remaining tread.
Warning!G
Although the applicable federal motor safety
laws consider a tire to be worn when the
treadwear indicators (TWI) become visible at
approximately
1/16in (1.6 mm), we recom-
mend that you do not allow your tires
330 Operation
Maintenance
We strongly recommend that you have
your vehicle serviced by an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center, in accordance with
the Maintenance Booklet at the times
called for by the maintenance service
indicator.Maintenance service indicator
message
The maintenance service indicator will
notify you when the next maintenance ser-
vice is due.
Starting approximately 1 month before the
next maintenance service is due, one of
the following messages will appear in the
multifunction display while you are driving
or when you switch on the ignition (exam-
ple service A):
Service A Due In XXXX Miles (km)
Service A Due In XX Days
Service A Due In X Day
Service A Due Now
The maintenance services will be indicated
by showing a service type A through type H
in the multifunction display. Types A
through H are classified based on estimat-
ed time needed to perform the mainte-
nance service, ranging:
from
Service A
(approx. 1 hour)
to
Service H
(approx. 8 hours)
Refer to Maintenance Booklet for a listing
of maintenance services and intervals they
need to be performed at.
!Failure to have the vehicle maintained in ac-
cordance with the Maintenance Booklet and
maintenance service indicator at the designated
times/mileage will result in vehicle damage not
covered by the Mercedes-Benz Limited
Warranty.
iThe Maintenance System in your vehicle
tracks distance driven and the time elapsed
since the last maintenance service and calcu-
lates other maintenance service work required.
331 Operation
Maintenance
Clearing the maintenance service
indicator
The maintenance service indicator mes-
sage is automatically cleared
after approximately 10 seconds, when
you switch on the ignition or when
reaching the service threshold while
driving
after approximately 30 seconds, once
the suggested maintenance service
term has passed
You can also clear it yourself.
1Reset button
Press the reset button1 on the
instrument cluster.
The maintenance service indicator
message is cleared and the standard
display appears in the multifunction
display (
page 145).
Maintenance service term exceeded
If you have exceeded the suggested
maintenance service term, you will see the
following message in the multifunction
display:
Service A Exceeded By XXXXX Miles (km)
Service A Exceeded By XXX Days
Service A Exceeded By X Day
In addition, a signal sounds when the
message appears.
Any authorized Mercedes-Benz Center will
reset the maintenance service indicator
following a completed maintenance
service.Calling up the maintenance service
indicator
You can call up the maintenance service in-
dicator display, in the multifunction dis-
play, every time, to check when the next
maintenance service is due.
Switch on the ignition (page 38).
Press buttonè orÿ on the mul-
tifunction steering wheel repeatedly
until the standard display appears in
the multifunction display (
page 139).
Press buttonk or j until the
maintenance service indicator display
with the service symbol9 and the
service deadline appears in the multi-
function display.
iThe menu overview can be found on
(
page 143).
332 Operation
Maintenance
Resetting the maintenance service
indicator
In the event that the maintenance service
on your vehicle is not carried out by an au-
thorized Mercedes-Benz Center, you can
have the maintenance service indicator re-
set. The automotive maintenance facility
carrying out the maintenance service will
find the information for resetting the main-
tenance service indicator in the mainte-
nance-relevant information for your
vehicle. Such information is available from
any authorized Mercedes-Benz Center or
directly from Mercedes-Benz.iIf the battery is disconnected, the days of
disconnection will not be included in the count
shown by the maintenance service indicator. To
arrive at the true maintenance service deadline,
you will need to subtract these days from the
days shown in the maintenance service indicator
message or the maintenance service indicator
display.
Do not confuse the maintenance service indica-
tor with the engine oil level indicator:.iIf the maintenance service indicator was in-
advertently reset, have an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center correct it.
Only reset if the proper maintenance service has
been performed. Resetting the system without
performing the proper service as called for by
the maintenance service indicator will result in
engine damage and/or other vehicle damage not
covered by the Mercedes-Benz Limited
Warranty.
348 Practical hints
What to do if …
ProblemPossible cause/consequenceSuggested solution
ú (USA only)
± (Canada only)
The yellow engine malfunction
indicator lamp comes on while
driving.
There is a malfunction in:
The fuel management system
The ignition system
The emission control system
Systems which affect emissions
Such malfunctions may result in excessive
emissions values and may switch the engine
to its limp-home (emergency operation)
mode.
Have the vehicle checked as soon as
possible by an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
An on-board diagnostic connector is
used by the service station to link the
vehicle to the shop diagnostics system.
It allows the accurate identification of
system malfunctions through the read-
out of diagnostic trouble codes. It is
located in the front left area of the foot-
well next to the parking brake.
iSome states may by law require you to con-
tact a workshop as soon as the engine malfunc-
tion indicator lamp comes on. Check local
requirements.
378 Practical hints
What to do if …
Display symbolDisplay messagePossible cause/consequencePossible solution
DThe cooling fan for the coolant is
malfunctioning.Observe the coolant temperature indicator in the
instrument cluster (
page 26).
If the coolant temperature is under 248°F (120°C),
you may continue driving to an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
Avoid placing heavy loads on the engine (e.g. by
driving uphill) as well as stop-and-go traffic.
Have the fan replaced as soon as possible.
± Display Malfunction
Service RequiredCertain electronic systems are
unable to relay information to
the control system. The follow-
ing systems may have failed:
Coolant temperature display
Tachometer
Cruise control display
Have the electronic systems checked by an autho-
rized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Engine
ServiceThere may be a malfunction in:
the fuel injection system
the ignition system
the exhaust system
Have the engine checked as soon as possible by an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
460 Index
Coolant
Checking level 290
Messages in display 375–377
Temperature 282
Temperature indicator 137
Warning lamp 350
Corner-illuminating front fog lamps* 130
Cruise control 213
Canceling 215
Driving downhill 214
Driving uphill 214
Fine adjustment 216
Lever 222
Saving current speed 214
Setting speed 214
Cruise control lever 213, 222
Cup holders 246
Curb weight 324
D
Date display, setting 158, 159
Daytime running lamp mode 128
Setting 159
Deceleration
With Distronic* 221
Deep water see Standing water
Defogging windshield 197Defrosting
Front 197
Rear window 186
Delayed shut-off
Exterior lamps 161
Interior lighting 162
Department of Transportation see DOT
Dialing
A number (telephone) 167
Difficulties
While driving 58
With starting 52
Digital clock see Clock
Digital speedometer 145
Dimensions, vehicle 447
Direction of rotation (tires) 295Displays
Digital speedometer 145
Distronic* 219
Maintenance service indicator
message 330
Messages in display 358
Multifunction display 139
Outside temperature 139, 156
Selecting 156
Symbol messages 372
Text messages 360
Vehicle status message memory 151
Vehicle system settings, Control
system 152
Distance
Decreasing in Distronic* 226
Increasing in Distronic* 226
Warning function 226
Distance to empty (range) 166
Trip computer 164
466 Index
Lamps, indicator and warning
ABS 27, 344
Air bag off 70
Battery (SmartKey) 102
Brakes 347
CHECK ENGINE 27, 348, 349
Coolant 350
Distance warning lamp* 220, 226
Engine diagnostics 348, 349
Engine malfunction 27, 348, 349
ESP
®27, 345, 346
Fog lamps 129
Front passenger front air bag off 29,
356, 357
Fuel reserve 27, 351
High beam headlamps 27
Instrument cluster 344, 346
Seat belt telltale 27, 351, 352
SRS 65
Turn signals 27
Language, Setting 155
LATCH type child seat anchors 86
Layout of poly-V-belt drive 436
License plate lamps 406
Messages in display 385
Replacing bulbs 409Light alloy wheels, cleaning 339
Lighter see Cigarette lighter
Lighting 126
Automatic headlamp mode 127
Combination switch 130
Daytime running lamp mode 128
Door entry lamps 135
Exterior lamp switch 126
Front fog lamps 129
High beams 130
Instrument cluster illumination 136
Interior 133
Locator lighting 129
Low beam 126
Manual headlamp mode 127
Night security illumination 129
Parking lamps 126
Rear fog lamp 129
Settings (control system) 159
Trunk lamp 135
Limp-home mode 182
Loading see Vehicle loading
Loading the vehicle 296
Locator lighting 129, 160
Lock button (KEYLESS-GO*)
Door handle 62Locking the vehicle 59
In an emergency 399
Locking/Unlocking, SmartKey 36, 102
Locking/Unlocking, SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO* 37
Loss of
Key, Mechanical 108
Key, SmartKey 108
Key, SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO* 108
Loss of Service and Warranty Information
Booklet 433
Low beam headlamps 55
Indicator lamp 27
Replacing bulbs 408
Switching on 55
Lubricants 448
Lumbar support 119