2008 MERCEDES-BENZ CLS63AMG maintenance

420 Practical hints
Battery
The battery is located on the right hand
side of the trunk under the luggage box
(
page 397).
1Positive terminal cover
2Negative terminal
Warning!G
Do not place metal objects on the battery as
this could result in a short circuit.
Use leak-proof battery only to avoid the risk
of acid burns in the event of an accident.
Warning!G
Failure to follow these instructions can
result in severe injury or death.
Observe all safety instructions and precau-
tions when handling automotive batteries
(
page 291).
Never lean over batteries while connecting,
you might get injured.
Battery fluid contains sulfuric acid. Do not
allow this fluid to come in contact with eyes,
skin or clothing. In case it does, immediately
flush affected area with water and seek
medical help if necessary.
A battery will also produce hydrogen gas,
which is flammable and explosive. Keep
flames or sparks away from battery, avoid
improper connection of jumper cables,
smoking etc.
!The battery is a Valve-Regulated Lead Acid
(VRLA) battery, also referred to as “fleece” bat-
tery. Such batteries do not require topping-up of
the electrolyte level. VRLA batteries therefore do
not have cell caps and the battery cover is
non-removable. Do not attempt to open the bat-
tery as otherwise the battery will be damaged.
Even though VRLA batteries do not require top-
ping-up of the electrolyte level and cannot be
opened to check the electrolyte level, the bat-
tery condition must be checked periodically by
performing a battery conductance test. Refer to
Maintenance Booklet for battery condition test-
ing intervals.
The factory-equipped VRLA battery is
leak-proofed. Only use a battery as replacement
that has the same security features and is of
identical size, voltage, and capacity as the facto-
ry-equipped battery.

421 Practical hints
Battery
Disconnecting the battery
Depress parking brake firmly or move
gear selector lever to positionP.
Turn off all electrical consumers.
Remove SmartKey from starter switch.
Vehicles with KEYLESS-GO*:
Press the start/stop button until
the engine shuts off.
Open the driver’s door.
Open the trunk.
Read and observe safety instructions
and precautions (
page 420).
Remove the luggage box (page 397).
Disconnect battery negative lead2.
Remove cover1 from the positive ter-
minal.
Disconnect the battery positive lead.
Removing the battery
Remove the screw-nuts securing the
battery.
Remove the battery bracket.
Pull out the battery ventilation tube
from the battery (depending on battery
arrangement in your vehicle model, the
battery ventilation tube is located on
the left or right side of the battery).
Take out the battery.
!As with any other battery, disconnect the
battery if you do not intend to operate your vehi-
cle for an extended period of time to prevent bat-
tery discharge or connect an accessory battery
charge unit expressly approved by
Mercedes-Benz for your vehicle model to main-
tain the battery charge. Contact an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center for further information.
The battery, the battery ventilation hose and the
lateral plug must always be securely installed
when the vehicle is in operation.
!Never loosen or detach battery terminal
clamps while the engine is running or the
SmartKey is in the starter switch. Otherwise the
alternator and other electronic components
could be severely damaged.
Have the battery checked regularly by an autho-
rized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Refer to Maintenance Booklet for maintenance
intervals or contact your authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center for further information.
Warning!G
With a disconnected battery

you will no longer be able to turn the
SmartKey in the starter switch and
pressing the KEYLESS-GO* start/stop
button on the gear selector lever will
have no effect

the gear selector lever will remain
locked in positionP

438 Technical data
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 = Mercedes-Benz Original equipment
tires

MOE = Mercedes-Benz Original Extended
(tires with limited run-flat characteristics)
original equipment tires
Using tires other than those approved by
Mercedes-Benz may result in damage that is
not covered by the Mercedes-Benz Limited
Warranty.
iFor information on driving with MOExtended
tires, see “MOExtended system*” (
page 313).
!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 re-
sult.
iFurther information on tires and rims is
available at any authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center. A placard with the recommended tire in-
flation pressures is located on the driver’s door
B-pillar. Some vehicles may have supplemental
tire inflation pressure information for driving at
high speeds (
page 302) or for vehicle loads
less than the maximum loaded vehicle condition
(
page 302). If such information is provided, it
can be found on the placard located on the in-
side 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.
iThe 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,
AMG 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. See an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center for more information.

450 Technical data
Fuels, coolants, lubricants etc.
Engine oils
Engine oils are specifically tested for their
suitability in our engines and durability for
our service intervals. Therefore, only use
approved engine oils and oil filters re-
quired for vehicles with Maintenance Sys-
tem. For a listing of approved engine oils
and oil filters, refer to the Factory Ap-
proved Service Products pamphlet (USA
only), or contact an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
Engine oil additives
Air conditioning refrigerant
R-134a (HFC) refrigerant and special PAG
lubricating oil are used in the air condition-
ing system.
Brake fluid
Only brake fluid approved by
Mercedes-Benz is recommended. Any
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center will pro-
vide you with additional information.
!Using engine oils and oil filters of specifica-
tion other than those expressly required for the
Maintenance System, or changing of oil and oil
filter at change intervals longer than those called
for by the Maintenance System will result in en-
gine or emission control system damage not cov-
ered by the Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.Please follow Maintenance System recommen-
dations for scheduled oil changes. Failure to do
so could result in engine or emission control sys-
tem damage not covered by the Mercedes-Benz
Limited Warranty.
!Do not blend oil additives with engine oil.
They may damage the engine.
Damage or malfunctions resulting from blending
oil additives are not covered by the
Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.
!Never use R-12 (CFC) or mineral-based lu-
bricating oil. Otherwise damage to the system
will occur.
Warning!G
During vehicle operation, the boiling point of
the brake fluid is continuously reduced
through the absorption of moisture from the
atmosphere. Under extremely strenuous op-
erating conditions, this moisture content
can lead to the formation of bubbles in the
system, thus reducing the system’s efficien-
cy.
Therefore, the brake fluid must be replaced
regularly. Refer to your vehicle’s Mainte-
nance Booklet for replacement interval.

453 Technical data
Fuels, coolants, lubricants etc.
If the antifreeze mixture is effective to
-35°F (-37°C), the boiling point of the cool-
ant in the pressurized cooling system is
reached at approximately 266°F (130°C).
The coolant solution must be used year
round to provide the necessary corrosion
protection and increase boil-over protec-
tion. Refer to Maintenance Booklet for re-
placement interval.
Coolant system design and coolant used
determine the replacement interval. The
replacement interval published in the
Maintenance Booklet is only applicable if
MB 325.0 Anticorrosion/Antifreeze solu-
tion or other Mercedes-Benz approved
products of equal specification (see
Factory Approved Service Products pam-
phlet) are used to renew the coolant con-
centration or bring it back up to the proper
level.For information on other Mercedes-Benz
approved products of equal specification,
refer to the Factory Approved Service
Products pamphlet (USA only) or contact
an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
To provide important corrosion protection,
the solution must be at least 50% anticor-
rosion/antifreeze (equivalent to freeze
protection to approximately -35°F
[-37°C]). If you use a solution that is more
than 55% anticorrosion/antifreeze (freeze
protection to approximately -49°F
[-45°C]), the engine temperature will in-
crease due to the lower heat transfer capa-
bility of the solution. Therefore, do not use
more than this amount of anticorro-
sion/antifreeze.If the coolant level is low, water and
MB 325.0 Anticorrosion/Antifreeze
should be used to bring it up to the proper
level (have cooling system checked for
signs of leakage). Please make sure the
mixture is in accordance with label instruc-
tions.
The water in the cooling system must meet
minimum requirements, which are usually
satisfied by normal drinking water. If you
are not sure about the water quality, con-
sult 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

467 Index
M
Main Dimensions 447
Maintenance 12
Calling up service indicator 331
Clearing service indicator
message 331
Resetting service indicator 332
Service indicator message 330
Service term exceeded 331
Maintenance, Maintenance system 330
Manual headlamp mode 127
Manual shift program CLS 63 AMG 179
Deactivating 181
Maximum load rating, Tires 324
Maximum loaded vehicle weight 324
Maximum tire inflation pressure 325
Mechanical key 398
Memory functions 123
Menus see Control system menus
Microphone, Hands-free 31
Minispare wheel see Spare wheel 393Mirrors
Adjusting 47
Auto-dimming 183
Exterior rear view mirror 47
Exterior rear view mirror parking
positions 184
Interior rear view mirror 47
Storing exterior mirror parking
position 125
Mobile phone see Telephone*
MOE tires* see MOExtended system*
MOExtended system* 313, 419
MOExtended tires* 313, 444
MON 284
MP3
Selecting track 150
Multicontour seat* 120
Multifunction display 139
Changing settings see Control system
menus and Control system
submenus 139
Selecting language 155
Multifunction display messages
ABS 360, 374
Airmatic DC 391, 392
Brake fluid 374Brake pads 373
Check engine 348, 349
Coolant 375, 376, 377
Cruise control 361
Distronic* 361
Door 372
Engine oil 379
ESP
®360, 363, 374
Fog lamps 382–384, 386
Hood 372
Light sensor 385
Parking brake 374
Parking lamps 384
PRE-SAFE
®360, 368
Reserve fuel 380
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO* 380,
381
SRS 388
Tail lamps 386, 387
Tele Aid 388
Telephone* 391
Tires 390
Trunk 372
Turn signals 387
Windshield washer fluid 391

468 Index
Multifunction steering wheel 28, 140
Button operation 140
N
NAV* menu (Control system) 150
Navigation system see separate COMAND
operating instructions
Net, parcel 245
Neutral gear position, Automatic
transmission 169, 171
Night security illumination 129
Normal occupant weight 325
Number, Vehicle Identification (VIN) 434
O
Occupant Classification System see OCS
Occupant distribution 325Occupant safety 64
Air bags 66
Children and air bags 67
Children in the vehicle 82
Fastening the seat belt 48
Front passenger front air bag off indica-
tor lamp 75
Infant and child restraint systems 82
LATCH type child seat anchors 86
OCS 71
Seat belts 48, 68
OCS 71
Self-test 76
Odometer 27
Oil
Consumption 287
Oil see Engine oil
One-touch gearshifting
Gear selector lever 176
Steering wheel gearshift
control* 177
Operating safety 16
Ornamental moldings, cleaning 336
Outside temperature see Displays
Overdue maintenance service 330
Overhead control panel 31P
Paintwork, Cleaning 335
Panic alarm 88
Parcel net
Front passenger footwell 245
Parking 59
On hills 59
Over things that burn, Potential
consequences 59
Parking brake 53, 59
Message in display 374
Parking lamps 405
Replacing bulbs 409
Parking position
Exterior rear view mirrors 125
Gear position 51
Parktronic system (Parking assist)* see
Parktronic*