364 Practical hints
What to do if …
Display messagePossible cause/conse-
quencePossible solution
Front Passenger
Airbag Enabled
See Operator’s ManualFront passenger front air bag is
activated while driving even
though a child, small individual,
or object below the system’s
weight threshold is on the front
passenger seat, or the front
passenger seat is empty. Ob-
jects on the seat or forces act-
ing on the seat may make the
system sense supplemental
weight.Stop the vehicle in a safe location as soon as possible and check the
front passenger seat for the following:
Apply the parking brake.
Switch off the ignition (page 38).
Open the front passenger door.
Remove child and child restraint from front passenger seat and
properly secure the child in rear seat employing the child restraint
if necessary.
Remove any other items from on and around the front passenger
seat and make sure the storage pocket on the back of the front pas-
senger seat is empty.
Make sure that no objects which apply forces to the seat are
present (e.g. objects such as books, briefcases etc. lodged behind
or around the seat, head restraints pushing against roof etc.). The
system may recognize such forces as supplemental weight and
sense that an occupant on the front passenger seat is of a greater
weight than actually present.
Keep the seat unoccupied, close the front passenger door and turn
on the ignition (
page 38).
(Continued on next page)
393 Practical hints
Where will I find...?
Where will I find...?
First aid kit
The first aid kit is in the storage compart-
ment at the front edge of the front passen-
ger seat.
1Tab
Pull tab1 upward.
Fold the covering forward.
Remove the first aid kit.
Spare wheel
The spare wheel is located under the trunk
floor.
Lift the trunk floor and engage the han-
dle in the upper edge of trunk.
Remove the luggage box (page 397).
Minispare wheel (CLS 550 only)
1Vehicle tool kit
2Minispare wheel
3Luggage bowlRemoving the Minispare wheel
Turn luggage bowl3 counterclock-
wise.
Remove Minispare wheel2.
Storing the Minispare wheel after use
Place Minispare wheel2 in wheel
well.
Turn luggage bowl clockwise to its stop
to secure the Minispare wheel.
iCheck expiration dates and contents for
completeness at least once a year and replace
missing/expired items.
!Always lower trunk floor before closing the
trunk.
397 Practical hints
Where will I find...?
Setting up the collapsible wheel chock
The collapsible wheel chock serves to
additionally secure the vehicle, e.g. while
changing the wheel.
1Tilt the plate upward
2Fold the lower plate outward
3Insert the plateTilt both plates upward1.
Fold the lower plate outward2.
Guide the tabs of the lower plate all the
way into the openings of base plate3.
For information on where to place wheel
chocks when changing a wheel, see “Lift-
ing the vehicle” (
page 413).
Luggage box
Remove luggage box
1Fastening clip
2Luggage box
Turn fastening clips1 to the left up-
wards from fastening bolts.
Lift luggage box in the area of the fas-
tening bolts and remove it from trunk.
Install luggage box
Insert luggage box into trunk so that
fastening clips are in line with fastening
bolts.
Push front edge of luggage box in direc-
tion of arrow under cover of trunk sill.
Press fastening clips onto fastening
bolts until they lock into place.
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
422 Practical hints
Battery
Charging and reinstalling the batteryCharge battery in accordance with the
instructions of the battery charger
manufacturer.
Reinstall the charged battery. Follow
the previously described steps in re-
verse order.
Reconnecting the battery
Turn off all electrical consumers.
Remove the SmartKey from the starter
switch.
Connect the positive lead and fasten its
cover.
Connect the negative lead.
Install the luggage box (page 397).Batteries contain materials that can harm
the environment if disposed of improperly.
Large 12 volt storage batteries contain
lead. Recycling of batteries is the preferred
method of disposal. Many states require
sellers of batteries to accept old batteries
for recycling.
Warning!G
Never charge a battery while still installed in
the vehicle unless the accessory battery
charge unit* approved by Mercedes-Benz is
being used. Gases may escape during charg-
ing and cause explosions that may result in
paint damage, corrosion or personal injury.
An accessory battery charge unit* specially
adapted for Mercedes-Benz vehicles and
tested and approved by Mercedes-Benz is
available, permitting the charging of the
battery in its installed position. Contact an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center for infor-
mation and availability. Charge battery in
accordance with the separate instructions
for the accessory battery charger*.
!The battery, its filler caps and the battery
ventilation tube must always be securely in-
stalled when the vehicle is in operation.
!Never invert the terminal connections!
iThe following procedures must be carried
out following any interruption of battery power
(e.g. due to reconnection):
Set the clock (page 157) (see COMAND
operator’s manual).
Synchronize the side windows
(
page 207).
Synchronize the tilt/sliding sunroof
(
page 212).
428 Practical hints
Fuses
The electrical fuses in your vehicle serve to
switch off malfunctioning power circuits.
If a fuse is blown, the components and sys-
tems secured by that fuse will stop operat-
ing.If a newly inserted fuse blows again, have
the cause determined and rectified by an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
A fuse chart is located in the fuse box in
the passenger compartment. The fuse
chart explains the fuse allocation and fuse
amperages.
The electrical fuses are located in different
fuse boxes:
Fuse box in passenger compartment
(
page 429)
Fuse box in trunk (page 429)Before replacing fuses:
Apply the parking brake (page 59).
Make sure the gear selector lever is set
to positionP (
page 169).
Turn off all electrical consumers.
Turn off the engine (page 60).
Remove the SmartKey from the starter
switch.
Vehicles with KEYLESS-GO*:
Open the driver’s door.
Warning!G
Only use fuses approved by Mercedes-Benz
with the specified amperage for the system
in question and do not attempt to repair or
bridge a blown fuse. Using other than ap-
proved fuses or using repaired or bridged
fuses may cause an overload leading to a
fire, and/or cause damage to electrical
components and/or systems. Have the
cause determined and remedied by an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
iA blown fuse must be replaced by an appro-
priate spare fuse (recognizable by its color or the
fuse rating given on the fuse) of the amperage
recommended in the fuse chart.
Any Mercedes-Benz Center will be glad to advise
you on this subject.
iIn case of a blown fuse contact Roadside As-
sistance or an authorized Mercedes-Benz Cen-
ter.
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