
Contents
At the gas station ..............................  291
Refueling ......................................  291
Check regularly and before a
long trip........................................  292
Engine compartment .........................  294
Hood ............................................  294
Engine oil .....................................  296
Transmission fluid level* ..............  300
Coolant level ................................  300
Windshield washer system and 
headlamp cleaning system* .........  301
Battery .........................................  302
Tires and wheels ................................  304
Important guidelines ....................  304
Tire care and maintenance...........  305
Direction of rotation .....................  307
Loading the vehicle ......................  307
Recommended tire inflation
pressure .......................................  311
Checking tire inflation pressure ...  313
MOExtended system* ..................  321
Tire labeling..................................  321
Load identification .......................  325
DOT, Tire Identification
Number (TIN) ...............................  326
Maximum tire load .......................  327Maximum tire inflation pressure ... 328
Uniform Tire Quality Grading
Standards (U.S. vehicles) .............. 328
Tire ply material ............................ 330
Tire and loading terminology......... 331
Rotating tires ................................ 334
Winter driving ..................................... 335
Winter tires ................................... 335
Snow chains.................................. 336
Maintenance....................................... 337
Maintenance service indicator 
message ....................................... 337
Clearing the maintenance
service indicator message ............ 338
Maintenance service term
exceeded ...................................... 338
Calling up the maintenance
service indicator display ............... 338
Resetting the maintenance
service indicator ........................... 339
Vehicle care........................................ 340
Cleaning and care of vehicle ......... 340
Practical hints..................................  347
What to do if … ...................................  348
Lamps in instrument cluster .........  348
Lamp in center console ................ 358
Vehicle status messages in the 
multifunction display ....................  360
Where will I find...? .............................  389
First aid kit....................................  389
Vehicle tool kit, vehicle jack ......... 389
Spare wheel with collapsible tire ..  392
Spare wheel bolts .........................  393
Unlocking/locking in an emergency ..  394
Unlocking the vehicle ...................  394
Locking the vehicle .......................  395
Manually unlocking the gear
selector lever 
(automatic transmission*) ............  396
Opening/closing in an emergency .....  397
Raising retractable hardtop
manually .......................................  397
Replacing SmartKey batteries ............  398
Replacing bulbs ..................................  400
Bulbs.............................................  400
Replacing bulbs for front lamps ....  403
Replacing bulbs for rear lamps .....  404 

306 Operation
Tires and wheels
Tread 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).
Treadwear 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)
1TWI (T
read Wear Indicator)
The treadwear indicator appears as a solid 
band across the tread.Storing tires
Cleaning tiresWarning!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
to wear down to that level. As tread depth 
approaches 1/8in (3 mm), the adhesion 
properties on a wet road are sharply 
reduced.
Depending upon the weather and/or road 
surface (conditions), the tire traction varies 
widely.!Keep unmounted tires in a cool, dry place 
with as little exposure to light as possible. 
Protect tires from contact with oil, grease and 
gasoline.
!Never use a round nozzle to power wash 
tires. The intense jet of water can result in 
damage to the tire.
Always replace a damaged tire. 

340 Operation
Vehicle care
Cleaning and care of vehicle
Regular and proper care will help to main-
tain the value of your vehicle. The best way 
to protect your vehicle from harmful envi-
ronmental influences is to wash it and use 
protective treatments regularly.
While in operation, even while parked, your 
vehicle is subjected to varying external in-
fluences which, if gone unchecked, can at-
tack the paintwork as well as the 
undercarriage and cause lasting damage.Such damage is caused not only by 
extreme and varying climatic conditions, 
but also by:
Air pollution
Road salt
Tar
Gravel and stone chipping
To avoid paint damage, you should imme-
diately remove:
Grease and oil
Fuel
Coolant
Brake fluid
Bird droppings
Insects
Tree resins, etc.
Frequent washing reduces and/or elimi-
nates the aggressiveness and potency of 
the above adverse influences.More frequent washings are necessary to 
deal with unfavorable conditions:
near the ocean
in industrial areas (smoke, exhaust 
emissions)
during winter operation
You should check your vehicle from time to 
time for stone chipping or other damage. 
Any damage should be repaired as soon as 
possible to prevent corrosion.
In doing so, do not neglect the underbody 
of the vehicle. A prerequisite for a 
thorough check is a washing of the under-
body followed by a thorough inspection. 
Damaged areas need to be 
re-undercoated.
Your vehicle has been treated at the 
factory with a wax-base rustproofing in the 
body cavities which will last for the lifetime 
of the vehicle. Post-production treatment 
is neither necessary nor recommended by 
Mercedes-Benz because of the possibility 
Warning!G
Many cleaning products can be hazardous. 
Some are poisonous, others are flammable. 
Always follow the instructions on the partic-
ular container. Always open your vehicle’s 
doors or windows when cleaning the inside.
Never use fluids or solvents that are not de-
signed for cleaning your vehicle.
Always lock away cleaning products and 
keep them out of reach of children. 

454 Technical data
Fuels, coolants, lubricants, etc.
Brake fluid
Only brake fluid approved by 
Mercedes-Benz is recommended. Any 
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center will 
provide you with additional information.Premium unleaded gasoline
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 
operating conditions, this moisture content 
can lead to the formation of bubbles in the 
system, thus reducing the system’s 
efficiency.
Therefore, the brake fluid must be replaced 
regularly. Refer to your vehicle’s 
Maintenance Booklet for replacement 
interval.
Warning!G
Gasoline is highly flammable and poisonous. 
It burns violently and can cause serious 
personal injury.
Never allow sparks, flame or smoking mate-
rials near gasoline!
Turn off the engine before refueling.
Whenever you are around gasoline, avoid 
inhaling fumes and skin contact, extinguish 
all smoking materials.
Direct skin contact with fuels and the 
inhalation of fuel vapors are damaging to 
your health.
!To maintain the engine’s durability and per-
formance, premium unleaded gasoline must be 
used. If premium unleaded gasoline is not avail-
able and low octane fuel is used, follow these 
precautions:
Have the fuel tank only partially filled with 
unleaded regular gasoline and fill up with 
premium unleaded gasoline as soon as 
possible.
Avoid full throttle driving and abrupt 
acceleration.
Do not exceed an engine speed of 3 000 rpm 
if the vehicle is loaded with a light load such 
as two persons and no luggage.
Do not exceed 2/3of maximum accelerator 
pedal position if the vehicle is fully loaded or 
operating in mountainous terrain.