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short time. This is rectified after a few
minutes of driving, and the tyre pressures
are displayed for the correct positions.
Interchanging the wheels
G
Risk of accident
Interchange the front and rear wheels only if
they have the same dimensions: for example
size, offset, etc.
After every wheel interchange/change, have
the tightening torque checked at a qualified
specialist workshop that has the necessary
specialist knowledge and tools to carry out
the work required. Mercedes-Benz recom-
mends that you use a Mercedes-Benz Service
Centre for this purpose. In particular, work
relevant to safety or on safety-related sys-
tems must be carried out at a qualified spe-
cialist workshop.
The wheels could work loose if they are not
tightened to a torque of 150 Nm.
For safety reasons, Mercedes-Benz recom-
mends that you only use wheel bolts of the
correct size which have been approved for
Mercedes-Benz vehicles.
The wear patterns on the front and rear tyres
differ, depending on the operating conditions.
Interchange the wheels before a clear wear
pattern has formed on the tyres. Front tyres
typically wear more on the shoulders and the
rear tyres in the centre.
Interchange the wheels every 5,000 km to
10,000 km depending on the degree of tyre
wear, provided that the vehicle has the same
size front and rear tyres. Do not reverse the
direction of tyre rotation.
Clean the contact surfaces of the wheel and
the brake disc thoroughly every time a wheel
is interchanged. Check the tyre pressure and,
if necessary, restart the tyre pressure loss
warning system or the tyre pressure moni-
tor*. !
On vehicles fitted with a tyre pressure
monitor*, electronic components are loca-
ted in the wheel.
Tyre-fitting tools should not be applied in
the area of the valve, as this could damage
the electronic components.
Always have the wheels interchanged/
changed at a qualified specialist workshop,
e.g. a Mercedes-Benz Service Centre. Winter driving
Points to remember
Have your vehicle winterproofed at a qualified
specialist workshop, e.g. at a Mercedes-Benz
Service Centre, at the onset of winter.
Observe the notes in the "Changing a wheel"
section (Y page 302). Winter tyres
Use winter tyres at temperatures below
+7 ˚C and in wintry road conditions. Only
winter tyres displaying the isnowflake
symbol in addition to the M+S marking pro-
vide optimum grip in wintry road conditions.
Only these tyres will allow the ABS, ESP ®
and
4MATIC* driving systems to function opti-
mally in winter, as these tyres have been
designed specifically for driving in snow.
Use winter tyres of the same make and tread
on all wheels to maintain safe handling char-
acteristics. G
Risk of accident
Winter tyres with a tread depth of less than
4 mm must be replaced immediately. They are
no longer suitable for winter use and can no
longer provide sufficient grip. This could
cause you to lose control of your vehicle and
cause an accident.
Always observe the maximum permissible
speed specified for the winter tyres you have
fitted. If you fit winter tyres which have a
lower maximum permissible speed than that 302
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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
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Page 307 of 421

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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build up on the brake discs and the brake
pads/linings.
R maintain a greater distance to the vehicle
ahead and drive with particular care.
R carefully apply the brakes at the end of a
trip and immediately after commencing a
new trip, so that salt residues are removed
from the brake disc.
New brake pads/linings For safety reasons, Mercedes-Benz recom-
mends that you only have brake pads/linings
fitted to your vehicle which have been
approved for Mercedes-Benz vehicles or
which correspond to an equivalent quality
standard. Brake pads/linings which have not
been approved for Mercedes-Benz vehicles or
which are not of an equivalent quality could
affect your vehicle's operating safety. G
Risk of accident
New brake pads/linings only reach their opti-
mum braking effect after several hundred kil-
ometres of driving. Before this optimum brak-
ing effect is reached, you should compensate
for the reduced braking effect by applying
greater pressure when braking. This also
applies after the brake discs or the brake
pads/linings have been replaced.
High-performance brake system for
AMG vehicles The high-performance brake system is
designed for heavy loads. Braking can there-
fore cause noises. This will depend on:
R speed
R braking force
R environmental conditions, such as temper-
ature and humidity
The wear of individual components of the
brake system, such as the brake pads/linings
or brake discs, depends on the individual driv-
ing style and operating conditions. Because of this, it is impossible to state a
mileage that will be valid under all circum-
stances. An aggressive driving style will lead
to high wear. Tyre grip
G
Risk of accident
While the vehicle can be fully controlled at a
certain speed on dry roads, you must reduce
your speed on wet or icy roads to achieve the
same road safety. Otherwise, you could cause
an accident.
Pay particular attention to the road conditions
at temperatures around freezing point.
If ice has formed on the road surface (e.g.
from fog), a thin film of water rapidly forms on
the ice when you brake, considerably reduc-
ing tyre grip. Drive with particular care in such
weather conditions. 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 permissible still water depth
when the vehicle level is raised is 25 cm.
R you should drive no faster than at walking
pace.
! Bear in mind that vehicles travelling in
front or in the opposite direction create Driving tips
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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
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Service A .. km overdue
i
If you fail to have the service performed
by the specified date, you may be violating
applicable laws. Your warranty may be inva-
lidated and goodwill settlements may be
refused. Calling up the service due date
Use the buttons on the multi-function steer-
ing wheel.
X Switch on the ignition.
X Press the =or; button to select the
Service menu.
X Press the 9or: button to select
ASSYST PLUS.
X Press a.
The multi-function display shows the
service due date. Care
Care and cleaning products
Regular care of your vehicle is a condition for
retaining the quality in the long term.
To care for your vehicle, use the care and
cleaning products recommended and
approved by Mercedes-Benz.
! For cleaning your vehicle, do not use any
of the following:
R dry, coarse or rough cloths
R abrasive cleaning agents
R solvents
R cleaning agents containing solvents
and do not scour.
Do not touch the surfaces or protective
films with hard objects, e.g. rings or ice
scrapers. You can otherwise scratch or
damage the surfaces or protective films. H
Environmental note
Dispose of empty packaging, cleaning cloths
and polishing wads in an environmentally
responsible manner.
! Do not park the vehicle for a long period
of time directly after cleaning, especially if
the wheels have just been cleaned with a
wheel cleaner. Wheel cleaners could cause
rapid corrosion of the brake discs and
brake pads/linings. After cleaning, park
the vehicle when it is at normal operating
temperature. Exterior care
Automatic car wash G
Risk of accident
The vehicle is braked when Hold or Distronic
Plus* is activated. Therefore, deactivate Hold
and Distronic Plus before the vehicle is
washed in an automatic car wash.
You can wash the vehicle in an automatic car
wash from the beginning.
! We recommend automatic car washes
with an adjustable 36
high-pressure pre-
cleaning program. In car washes that use
high water pressures, there is a danger that
a small quantity of water may leak into the
vehicle.
If the vehicle is very dirty, pre-wash it before
cleaning it in an automatic car wash.
! Make sure that the automatic car wash is
suitable for the size of the vehicle. Fold in
the exterior mirrors before the vehicle is
washed. There is otherwise a risk of dam-
age to the exterior mirrors.
! When washing your vehicle in a tow-
through car wash, make sure that the auto-
matic transmission is in position N, other-
wise the vehicle could be damaged.
36 In accordance with the specifications for cabriolet programs. Care
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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
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cialist workshop immediately, e.g. a
Mercedes-Benz Service Centre.
X
Remove the following types of dirt immedi-
ately, whilst avoiding rubbing too hard.
Soak:
R
insect remains with insect remover
R bird droppings with water
and rinse off the treated surface after-
wards.
Remove:
R tree resin, oils, fuels and greases by rub-
bing gently with a cloth soaked in petro-
leum ether or lighter fluid.
R tar stains with tar remover
R wax with silicone remover
! Do not affix:
R stickers
R films
R magnetic plates or similar items
to painted surfaces. Otherwise, you could
damage the paintwork.
Cleaning the windows X
Clean the inside and outside of the win-
dows with a damp cloth and a cleaning
product approved and recommended by
Mercedes-Benz.
! Clean the water drainage channels of the
windscreen and the rear window at regular
intervals. Under certain circumstances,
deposits such as leaves, petals and pollen
may prevent water from draining away
leading to corrosion damage.
Cleaning the wiper blades G
Risk of injury
Before cleaning the windscreen or wiper
blades, turn the key to position 0in the igni-
tion lock or press the Start/Stop button* until all indicator lamps have gone out in the instru-
ment cluster. The windscreen wipers could
otherwise move and cause injury.
! Only fold the windscreen wipers away
from the windscreen when vertical. Other-
wise, you will damage the bonnet.
! Do not clean the wiper blades too often,
as this will result in damage to the graphite
coating. This could cause wiper noise.
X Fold the wiper arms away from the wind-
screen.
X Clean the wiper blades carefully with a
damp cloth.
X Fold the wiper arms back again before
switching on the ignition.
Cleaning the headlamps X
Clean the plastic lenses of the headlamps
with a wet sponge and windscreen washer
fluid or cleaning cloths.
! Only use washer fluid or cleaning cloths
suitable for plastic lenses. Unsuitable
washer fluid or cleaning cloths could
scratch or damage the plastic lenses of the
headlamps. Care
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