X
Turn the key to position 2(Y page 182) in
the ignition lock.
X Check the coolant temperature gauge in
the instrument cluster. G
Risk of injury
The cooling system is pressurised. Therefore,
only unscrew the cap once the engine has
cooled down. The coolant temperature gauge
must display less than 70 †. Otherwise, you
could be scalded if hot coolant escapes.
The coolant expansion tank is located in the
engine compartment on the right when
viewed in the direction of travel. X
Slowly turn cap :half a turn anti-clock-
wise and allow excess pressure to escape.
X Turn cap :further anti-clockwise and
remove it.
There is sufficient coolant in expansion
tank ;if the coolant is level with marker
bar =in the filler neck when cold or
approximately 1.5 cm higher when hot.
X Top up the coolant if necessary.
X Replace cap :and tighten all the way to
the stop.
For further information on coolant, see . Windscreen washer system/head-
lamp cleaning system
The washer fluid reservoir for the windscreen
washer system and headlamp cleaning sys-
tem* is located in the engine compartment on the left-hand side when viewed in the
direction of travel.
i
Add windscreen washer concentrate to
the washer fluid all year round. G
Risk of fire
Windscreen washer fluid is highly flammable.
Fire, naked flames and smoking are prohibi-
ted when handling washer fluid concentrate.
! Only use windscreen washer fluid which
is suitable for plastic lamp lenses. Unsuit-
able windscreen washer fluid could dam-
age the plastic lamp lenses of the head-
lamps.
X Mix the windscreen washer fluid in a con-
tainer beforehand.
X At temperatures above freezing:
fill the washer fluid reservoir with a mix of
water and windscreen washer concentrate
(e.g. MB SummerFit).
X At temperatures below freezing:
fill the washer fluid reservoir with a mix of
water, antifreeze additive and windscreen
washer concentrate (e.g. MB WinterFit).
Adapt the mixing ratio to the outside tem-
peratures.
X To open: pull cap:upwards by the tab.
X Top up with the premixed washer fluid.
X To close: press cap :onto the filler neck
until it engages. Engine compartment
295Operation
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of the vehicle, affix an appropriate warning
sign in the driver's field of vision. This can be
obtained at a qualified specialist workshop,
e.g. from a Mercedes-Benz Service Centre.
Under these circumstances, you should also
restrict the maximum speed of the vehicle
using permanent Speedtronic 35
to the maxi-
mum permissible speed for the winter tyres
(Y page 245).
Once you have fitted the winter tyres:
X Check the tyre pressures (Y page 298).
X Restart the tyre pressure moni-
tor* (Y page 300). G
Risk of accident
If you fit the spare wheel* when driving with
winter tyres, bear in mind that driving stability
will be impaired owing to unstable cornering
characteristics caused by the different tyres.
You should therefore adapt your driving style
and drive carefully.
Have the spare wheel* replaced at the near-
est qualified specialist 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 par-
ticular, work relevant to safety or on safety-
related systems must be carried out at a quali-
fied specialist workshop. Snow chains
For safety reasons, Mercedes-Benz recom-
mends that you only use snow chains which
have been specially approved for your vehicle
by Mercedes-Benz, or are of a corresponding
standard of quality.
If you intend to fit snow chains, please bear
the following points in mind: R
snow chains cannot be fitted to all wheel/
tyre combinations.
R snow chains must not be fitted to emer-
gency spare wheels, e.g. a "Minispare"
emergency spare wheel.
R Only fit snow chains in pairs and to the rear
wheels, even on vehicles with 4MATIC*.
Comply with the manufacturer's installa-
tion instructions.
If snow chains have been fitted, you may only
drive at raised vehicle level (Y page 248).
Do not exceed the maximum permissible
speed of 50 km/h.
i You may wish to deactivate ESP ®
when
pulling away with snow chains fitted
(Y page 50). This way, you can allow the
wheels to spin in a controlled manner, ach-
ieving an increased driving force (cutting
action). Winter driving
G
Risk of accident
Do not shift down for additional engine brak-
ing on a slippery road surface. This could
cause the drive wheels to lose their grip and
the vehicle could skid.
You should drive particularly carefully on slip-
pery road surfaces. Avoid sudden accelera-
tion, steering and braking manoeuvres.
If the vehicle threatens to skid or cannot be
stopped when moving at low speed:
X Shift the selector lever to N.
X Try to bring the vehicle under control by
using corrective steering.
35 Only available for certain countries. Winter driving
303Operation
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Driving tips
Rolling with the engine switched off
G
Risk of accident
Never switch the engine off while the vehicle
is in motion.
There is no power assistance for the steering
and the service brake when the engine is not
running.
You will require considerably more effort to
steer and brake and you could therefore lose
control of the vehicle and cause an accident. Brakes
G
Risk of accident
Do not change down for additional engine
braking on a slippery road surface. This could
cause the drive wheels to lose their grip and
the vehicle could skid. G
Risk of accident
Make sure that other road users are not
endangered by your braking.
Downhill gradients On long and steep downhill gradients, espe-
cially if the vehicle is laden, you must select
shift range 1,2or 3in good time.
i This also applies if you have activated
cruise control, Speedtronic, Distronic* or
Distronic Plus*.
This will use the braking effect of the engine,
so less braking will be required to maintain
the speed. This relieves the load on the brake
system and prevents the brakes from over-
heating and wearing too quickly. If you need
additional braking, depress the brake pedal
repeatedly rather than continuously.
Heavy and light loads If the brakes have been subjected to a heavy
load, do not stop the vehicle immediately, but drive on for a short while. This allows the air-
flow to cool the brakes more quickly. G
Risk of accident
Never depress the brake pedal continuously
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.
If the brakes have been used only moderately,
you should occasionally test their effective-
ness. To do this, brake more firmly from a
higher speed. This improves the grip of the
brakes.
Wet roads If driving in heavy rain for a prolonged period
of time without braking, there may be a
delayed reaction from the brakes when brak-
ing for the first time. You must brake harder.
You must therefore maintain a greater dis-
tance from the vehicle in front.
After driving on a wet surface, brake firmly
while paying attention to the traffic condi-
tions. This way the brake discs will become
warm, drying more quickly, which will protect
them against corrosion.
Limited braking performance on salted
roads G
Risk of accident
The layer of salt on the brake discs and the
brake pads/linings may cause a delay in the
braking effect, resulting in a significantly lon-
ger braking distance, which could lead to an
accident.
To avoid this danger, you should:
R occasionally brake carefully, without put-
ting other road users at risk, when you are
driving on salted roads. This helps to
remove any salt that may have started to 304
Driving
tipsOperati on
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waves. This may cause the maximum per-
missible water depth to be exceeded.
Failure to observe these notes may result
in damage to the engine, electrical systems
and transmission. Driving abroad
Points to remember
An extensive Mercedes-Benz Service network
is also available in other countries. The
Service Hotline's current telephone numbers
for use when you are abroad are to be found
in the "Service24h" chapter of the Service
Booklet.
Only low-octane fuel is available in certain
countries.
You can find further information about fuel
grades on (Y page 290). Symmetrical dipped beam
If your journey takes you to countries where
vehicles are driven on sides of the road oppo-
site to the country in which the vehicle is reg-
istered, your headlamps must be switched to
symmetrical dipped beam. Oncoming traffic
will be dazzled less.
X Have the headlamps switched over at a
qualified specialist workshop, e. g. a
Mercedes-Benz Service Centre. G
Risk of accident
Remember to set the headlamps back to
asymmetrical dipped beam when you return
to driving on the same side of the road as that
of the country in which your vehicle was reg-
istered. You may otherwise dazzle the oncom-
ing traffic and could cause an accident. Service
ASSYST PLUS service interval display
The ASSYST PLUS service interval display
informs you of the next service due date. The
service due date is shown in the multi-func-
tion display, for example:
Service A due in .. days
Service A due in .. km
Service A due
The letter indicates how much time the work-
shop will require to carry out the service work.
The letters displayed range from Afor a short
service duration to Hfor a long service dura-
tion.
The ASSYST PLUS service interval display
does not take into account any periods of
time during which the battery is disconnec-
ted.
To maintain the time-dependent service
schedule:
X Note down the service due date displayed
before disconnecting the battery.
or
X Subtract the battery disconnection periods
from the service date shown on the display
after reconnecting the battery. Hiding the service message
If the service due date has not yet been
exceeded, the service message disappears
automatically after a few seconds. You can
also hide the service message yourself.
X Press the %button on the multi-func-
tion steering wheel. Service due date exceeded
A display message is shown in the multi-func-
tion display, for example:
Service A due
Service A .. days overdue 306
ServiceOperation
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R
Vehicles with a key:
Do not remove the key from the ignition
lock. Do not open the driver's or front-
passenger door when the engine is
switched off, as this automatically shifts
the automatic transmission to park posi-
tion Pand locks the wheels, unless you
have previously shifted the automatic
transmission to N.
R Vehicles with KEYLESS GO*:
Do not open the driver's or front-
passenger door when the engine is
switched off, as this shifts the automatic
transmission to park position Pand locks
the wheels.
! Make sure that the side windows are com-
pletely closed, that the ventilation/heater
blower is turned off and that the wind-
screen wiper switch is set to 0. Otherwise,
the rain/light sensor may be activated, trig-
gering unintended wiper movements. This
could cause damage to the vehicle.
After using an automatic car wash, wipe off
wax and drying agents from the windscreen
and the wiper blades. This will prevent smears
and reduce wiping noises caused by residue
on the windscreen.
High-pressure cleaners G
Risk of accident
Do not use high-pressure cleaners with circu-
lar-jet nozzles (dirt grinders) to clean your
vehicle, in particular the tyres. You could oth-
erwise damage the tyres and cause an acci-
dent.
! Observe the instructions issued by the
equipment manufacturer concerning the
distance to be maintained between the
nozzle of the high-pressure cleaner and the
vehicle (at least 30 cm).
Move the high-pressure cleaner nozzle
around when cleaning your vehicle. Do not aim directly at any of the following:
R
tyres
R door joint
R electrical components
R battery
R connectors
R lights
R seals
R trim elements
Damaged seals or electrical components
can lead to failures or leaks.
Matt finish care* Your vehicle has a clear matt finish. For this
reason, you should make sure that you
adhere to the following instructions to avoid
damage to paintwork due to improper treat-
ment.
! Under no circumstances should you pol-
ish the vehicle. Polishing will make the
paintwork shine.
! When caring for your paintwork, do not
use paint cleaner, grinding or polishing
products, or gloss preservers such as wax.
These products are only suitable for high-
gloss finishes. Using them on a vehicle with
a matt finish results in serious damage to
the surface (gleaming, spotted areas).
Always have paintwork repairs carried out
at a qualified specialist workshop, e.g. a
Mercedes-Benz Service Centre.
i From the range of available Mercedes-
Benz care products, use only the insect
remover and the car shampoo.
Cleaning the paintwork Scratches, corrosive deposits, areas affected
by corrosion and damage caused by inade-
quate care cannot always be completely
repaired. In such cases, visit a qualified spe-308
CareOperation
* optional
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X
Pull handle :upwards.
X Pull cover ;forwards in the direction of
the arrow.
X Remove the fire extinguisher from the
stowage compartment. Vehicle tool kit and jack
The vehicle tool kit and the jack are located
under the boot floor. 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.
You must use axle stands if you are carrying
out work on the vehicle.
Make sure that the jack is placed on a firm,
non-slip, 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 if a door or the
boot lid 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 373).
X Fold up the front part of the boot floor
(Y page 280). Vehicles with a TIREFIT kit :
Electric air pump
; Folding wheel chock
= Jack
? TIREFIT kit
A Vehicle tool kit
Vehicles with a "Minispare" emer-
gency spare wheel* :
"Minispare" emergency spare wheel
; Fastening element
= Vehicle tool kit, jack, folding chock
X Turn fastening element ;anti-clockwise.
X Remove "Minispare" emergency spare
wheel :. Where will I find...?
315Practical advice
* optional
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Display messages
Possible causes/consequences and
X
X Solutions DISTRONIC currently
unavaila‐
ble See
Owner's
Manual
Distronic* is deactivated and is temporarily inoperative if:
R
the Distronic* cover in the radiator grille is dirty.
R its function is impaired due to heavy rain or snow.
R the radar sensor system is temporarily inoperative, e.g. due
to electromagnetic radiation emitted by nearby TV or radio
stations or other sources of electromagnetic radiation.
R the radar sensor system has not detected any vehicles or
stationary objects, e.g. road signs, for a long time.
R the system is outside the operating temperature range.
Distronic* becomes available again and the display message
disappears when:
R the dirt (e.g. slush) drops away while you are driving.
R the system detects that the sensors are fully available
again.
R the system is within the operating temperature range.
If the display message continues to be shown:
X Clean the Distronic* cover in the radiator grille
(Y page 310).
X Restart the engine. DISTRONIC inopera‐
tive
Distronic* is faulty.
X
Visit a qualified specialist workshop. DISTRONIC
and SPEED‐
TRONIC inopera‐
tive
Distronic* and Speedtronic are faulty.
X
Visit a qualified specialist workshop. DISTRONIC
PLUS deactiva‐
ted
autom.
See Own‐
er's Man‐
ual
Vehicles with a navigation system*: the vehicle is close to a
radio-telescope facility and, therefore, must not transmit any
radar signals. The radar sensor system has switched off auto-
matically. A warning tone also sounds.
X
Drive on.
Distronic Plus* is available again as soon as the vehicle is
far enough away from the radio telescope facility
(Y page 411). 320
Display
messagesPractical advice
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Display messages
Possible causes/consequences and
X
X Solutions DISTRONIC
PLUS currently
unavaila‐
ble See
Owner's
Manual
A warning tone sounds and Distronic Plus* is deactivated and
temporarily inoperative if:
R
the Distronic Plus* cover in the radiator grille is dirty.
R the sensors in the bumpers are dirty.
R the radar sensor system is temporarily inoperative, e.g. due
to electromagnetic radiation emitted by nearby TV or radio
stations or other sources of electromagnetic radiation.
R its function is impaired due to heavy rain or snow.
R the system is outside the operating temperature range.
R the on-board voltage is insufficient.
Distronic Plus* is operational again and the display message
disappears when:
R the dirt (e.g. slush) drops away while you are driving.
R the system detects that the sensors are fully available
again.
R the system is within the operating temperature range.
If the display message continues to be shown:
X Clean the Distronic Plus* cover in the radiator grille
(Y page 310).
X Clean the bumpers (Y page 310).
X Restart the engine. DISTRONIC
PLUS inopera‐
tive
Distronic Plus* is faulty. BAS PLUS* (Brake Assist PLUS) and
PRE-SAFE
®
Brake* may be inoperative as well. A warning tone
also sounds.
X Visit a qualified specialist workshop. DISTRONIC
PLUS override
Distronic Plus* is no longer controlling the speed of the vehi-
cle.
X
Remove your foot from the accelerator pedal. Display
messages
321Practical advice
* optional
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