2008 MERCEDES-BENZ E-CLASS ESTATE engine

Driving ab
road 238 Driving on wet roads
If water has accumulated to a certain depth
on the road surface, there is a danger of aqua-
planing occurring, even if:
R you drive at low speeds
R the tyres have adequate tread depth
For this reason, do not drive in tyre ruts, and
brake carefully. Driving on flooded roads
If you have to drive on stretches of road on
which water has collected, please bear in
mind that:
R the maximum permitted still water depth is
25 cm.
R you should drive no faster than at walking
pace.
! Note that vehicles in front or oncoming
vehicles create waves. This could mean
that the maximum permitted water depth
is exceeded.
You must observe these notes, otherwise
damage may occur to the engine, electrics
or transmission. Driving abroad
Points to remember
An extensive Mercedes-Benz Service network
is also available in other countries. You can
obtain the relevant workshop directories
from any Mercedes-Benz Service Centre.
Only low-octane fuel is available in certain
countries.
You can find further information about fuel
grades on (Y page 218). Symmetrical dipped beam
If your journey takes you to countries where
vehicles are driven on the opposite side of the
road to the country in which the vehicle is
registered, your headlamps must be switched
to symmetrical dipped beam. Oncoming traf-
fic will be dazzled less. G
Risk of injury
Vehicles with xenon headlamps*:
Xenon bulbs are under high voltage. You
could get an electric shock and be seriously
or even fatally injured if you touch the elec-
tric contacts on xenon bulbs. Do not, there-
fore, remove the cover on xenon bulbs. Do not change xenon headlamps yourself,
but have them replaced at a qualified spe-
cialist workshop which has the necessary
specialist knowledge and tools to carry out
the work required.
Mercedes-Benz recommends that you use
a Mercedes-Benz Service Centre for this
purpose. In particular, work relevant to
safety or on safety-related systems must be
carried out at a qualified specialist work-
shop.
1
Protective cap
X Turn cap 1anti-clockwise and remove it. Operation
211_AKB; 2; 5, en-GB
mkalafa,
Version: 2.9.4 2008-02-29T16:57:07+01:00 - Seite 238Dateiname: 6515_3416_02_buchblock.pdf; preflight

Trailer towing
241
Driving tips In Germany, the maximum permitted speed
for vehicle/trailer combinations is 80 km/h.
!
A maximum speed of 80 km/h should not
be exceeded, even in countries where
higher speeds are permitted for vehicle/
trailer combinations.
When towing a trailer, your vehicle's handling
characteristics will be different in comparison
to when driving without a trailer.
The vehicle/trailer combination:
R is heavier
R is restricted in its acceleration and gradi-
ent-climbing capability
R has an increased braking distance
R is affected more by strong crosswinds
R demands more sensitive steering
R consumes more fuel
On long and steep downhill gradients you
must select a lower gear in good time, or in
vehicles with automatic transmission*, select
shift range 1,2or 3.
i This also applies if you have activated
cruise control, Distronic* or Speedtronic. This uses the braking effect of the engine and
you will not have to brake to such an extent
to maintain the same speed. This relieves the
load on the brake system and prevents the
brakes from overheating and wearing too
quickly. If you need additional braking,
depress the brake pedal repeatedly rather
than continuously. G
Risk of accident
Never depress the brake pedal continu-
ously while the vehicle is in motion, e.g.
never cause the brakes to rub by applying
constant slight pedal pressure. This causes
the brake system to overheat, increases
the braking distance and can lead to the
brakes failing completely.
Driving tips
R Maintain a greater distance from the vehi-
cle in front than when driving without a
trailer.
R Avoid braking abruptly. If possible, brake
gently at first to allow the trailer to run on.
Then increase the braking force rapidly.
R The values given for gradient-climbing
capabilities from a standstill refer to sea
level. When driving in mountainous areas,
note that the power output of the engine, and consequently the vehicle's gradient-
climbing capability, decrease with increas-
ing altitude.
If the trailer swings from side to side:
X Do not accelerate.
X Do not counter-steer.
X Brake if necessary. G
Risk of accident
On no account should you attempt to draw
the vehicle/trailer combination out by
increasing speed. Folding in the ball coupling
i Fold in the ball coupling when you are not
using the trailer tow hitch. Operation
* optional
211_AKB; 2; 5, en-GB
mkalafa
,V ersion: 2.9.4
2008-02-29T16:57:07+01:00 - Seite 241 ZDateiname: 6515_3416_02_buchblock.pdf; preflight

Where will I find...?
254 Vehicle tool kit, jack and spare
wheel*
The vehicle tool kit is located in a stowage
compartment underneath the floor of the
boot/luggage compartment. G
Risk of injury
The jack is designed only to raise and hold
the vehicle for a short time while a wheel
is being changed.
If you are carrying out work on the vehicle,
you must use stands.
Make sure that the jack is placed on a firm,
non-slip and level surface. Do not use
wooden blocks or similar objects as a jack
underlay. Otherwise, the jack will not be
able to achieve its load-bearing capacity
due to the restricted height.
Do not start the engine at any time while a
wheel is being changed.
Do not lie under the vehicle when it is being
supported by the jack. If you do not raise
the vehicle as described, it could slip off the
jack (e.g. if the engine is started or a door
or the boot lid/tailgate is opened or closed)
and you could be seriously injured. i
When using the jack, you should also
observe the safety notes in the "Flat tyre"
section (Y page 324).
Saloon X
Fold up the boot floor (Y page 192).
Estate X
Open the luggage compartment floor
(Y page 193).
Vehicles with folding bench seat*
X Open the luggage compartment floor
(Y page 193).
i To reach the vehicle tool kit, the side
cover must first be released. 1
Rotary catch
2 Cover
X Turn rotary catch 1clockwise to the stop
and remove cover 2. Practical advice
* optional
211_AKB; 2; 5, en-GB
mkalafa,
Version: 2.9.4 2008-02-29T16:57:07+01:00 - Seite 254Dateiname: 6515_3416_02_buchblock.pdf; preflight

Display
messages 260 Display messages Possible cause/consequence Possible solution
DISTRONIC currently unavail-
able See Owner's
Manual
Distronic
* is deactivated and is tempora-
rily inoperative, if:
R the Distronic* cover in the radiator
grille is dirty
R its function is impaired due to heavy
rain, snow or fog.
R the radar sensor system is temporarily
unavailable, e.g. because of electro-
magnetic radiation.
R the radar sensor system has not detec-
ted any vehicles or stationary objects,
e.g. traffic signs, for a long time.
R the system has overheated. Distronic* is available again and the display mes-
sage disappears when the dirt (e.g. slush) falls off
while you are driving or if the system detects that
the sensors are fully available again.
If the display message does not disappear:
X
Clean the Distronic* cover in the radiator grille
(Y page 248).
X If necessary, wait until the system has cooled
down.
X Restart the engine. ESP inoperative See
Owner's Manual
G
Risk of accident
ESP ®
and therefore also Brake Assist and
PRE-SAFE ®
are unavailable due to a mal-
function. The vwarning lamp also
lights up in the instrument cluster.
The brake system is still available with
complete brake boosting effect. X
Drive on carefully.
X Visit a qualified specialist workshop. Practical advice
* optional
211_AKB; 2; 5, en-GB
mkalafa
,V ersion: 2.9.4
2008-02-29T16:57:07+01:00 - Seite 260 Dateiname: 6515_3416_02_buchblock.pdf; preflight

Display
messages 261Display messages Possible cause/consequence Possible solution
P Selector lever in
park position You have switched off the engine with the
KEYLESS GO button* and opened the driv-
er's door.
or
With HOLD activated, you have either:
R
opened the driver’s door and released
the seat belt or
R switched off the engine or
R opened the bonnet
The horn may also sound at regular inter-
vals. The horn becomes louder if you
attempt to lock the vehicle.
The engine cannot be started. X
Move the selector lever to P.
The engine can be started again. P Selector lever in
park position You have tried to switch off the engine
with the KEYLESS GO button* while the
selector lever is in position
Ror D. X
Move the selector lever to P.Please shift to P or N You have attempted to start the engine
while the selector lever is not in position
P
or N. X
Move the selector lever to Por N. Practical advi
ce
* optional
211_AKB; 2; 5, en-GB
mkalafa,
Version: 2.9.4 2008-02-29T16:57:07+01:00 - Seite 261 ZDateiname: 6515_3416_02_buchblock.pdf; preflight

Display
messages 265Display messages Possible cause/consequence Possible solution
HOLD cannot be activa-
ted See Owner's
Manual A condition for activating HOLD has not
been met. Check the conditions for activating HOLD
(Y
page 155).
X Close the bonnet.
X Close the driver's door.
X Start the engine.
X Release the parking brake.
X Switch off all consumers that are not required.
HOLD can be reactivated as soon as the on-
board voltage is sufficient. HOLD inoperative See
Owner's Manual A malfunction has occurred. X
Visit a qualified specialist workshop. Cruise control
and SPEEDTRONIC inoperative Speedtronic and cruise control or Dis-
tronic* are not operational. X
Visit a qualified specialist workshop. SRS Restraint system
malfunction Con-
sult workshop G
Risk of injury
The restraint systems are faulty. X
Visit a qualified specialist workshop immedi-
ately. Cruise control - - - A condition for activating cruise control
has not been met. X
Activate ESP ®
(Y page 60)
X If conditions permit, drive faster than
30 km/h and store the speed (Y page 143). Practical advi
ce
* optional
211_AKB; 2; 5, en-GB
mkalafa,
Version: 2.9.4 2008-02-29T16:57:07+01:00 - Seite 265 ZDateiname: 6515_3416_02_buchblock.pdf; preflight

Display
messages 267Display messages Possible cause/consequence Possible solution
Y G
Risk of accident
Vehicles with an anti-theft alarm sys-
tem*: you are driving with the bonnet
open. X
Stop the vehicle. Pay attention to the traffic
conditions as you do so.
X Close the bonnet. V At least one door is open. The display
symbol shows you which doors are open. X
Close the doors. D The cooling fan for the coolant is faulty. X
If the coolant temperature is less than 120 †,
you can continue driving to the nearest quali-
fied specialist workshop.
X In doing so, avoid heavy loads on the engine
(e.g. driving in mountainous terrain) and stop-
and-go driving. @ Vehicle rising
Vehicles with AIRMATIC Dual Control*:
your vehicle is adjusting to the level you
have selected.
@ Vehicle rising
Please wait Vehicles with AIRMATIC Dual Control*:
the vehicle level is too low when the vehi-
cle is stationary. X
Do not pull away.
X Wait until the display message disappears.
The vehicle has reached the level required for
driving. Practical advi
ce
* optional
211_AKB; 2; 5, en-GB
mkalafa,
Version: 2.9.4 2008-02-29T16:57:07+01:00 - Seite 267 ZDateiname: 6515_3416_02_buchblock.pdf; preflight

Display
messages 269Display messages Possible cause/consequence Possible solution
3 Brake immediately A malfunction occurred with HOLD acti-
vated.
or
Vehicles with manual transmission: with
HOLD activated, you have either:
R
opened the driver’s door and released
the seat belt or
R switched off the engine or
R opened the bonnet
The horn may also sound at regular inter-
vals. The horn becomes louder if you
attempt to lock the vehicle.
The engine cannot be started. X
Immediately depress the brake pedal firmly
until the warning message in the multi-function
display disappears.
X Prevent the vehicle from rolling away before
you leave it (Y page 113).
The engine can be started again. 3 EBV, ABS, ESP inop-
erative See Own-
er's Manual G
Risk of accident
EBV, ABS and ESP ®
are unavailable due to
a malfunction. BAS has also been deacti-
vated. PRE-SAFE ®
is therefore also not
operational.
The brake system is still available with
complete brake boosting effect. X
Drive on carefully.
X Visit a qualified specialist workshop immedi-
ately. Practical advi
ce
211_AKB; 2; 5, en-GB
mkalafa,
Version: 2.9.4 2008-02-29T16:57:07+01:00 - Seite 269 ZDateiname: 6515_3416_02_buchblock.pdf; preflight