XUsing a rag, turn cap : slowly
approximately 1/2 turn counterclockwise
to release any excess pressure.
XContinue turning cap : counterclockwise
and remove it.
The coolant level is correct if the level
Rfor cold coolant: reaches the top of the
mark (plastic bridge) in coolant
expansion tank ;
Rfor warm coolant: is approximately 0.6 in
(1.5 cm) higher
XAdd coolant as required.XAttach and tighten cap :.
For more information on coolant, see the
“Technical data” section (Y page 253) and
(Y page 255).
Washer system and headlamp
cleaning system
GWarning!
Washer solvent/antifreeze is highly
flammable. Do not spill washer solvent/
antifreeze on hot engine parts, because it may
ignite and burn. You could be seriously
burned.
! Always use washer solvent/antifreeze
where temperatures may fall below
freezing point. Failure to do so could result
in damage to the washer system/fluid
reservoir.
! Only use washer fluid which is suitable for
plastic lenses. Improper washer fluid can
damage the plastic lenses of the
headlamps.
! Do not use distilled or deionized water in
the washer fluid reservoir. Otherwise, the
washer fluid level sensor could be
damaged.
Fluid for the washer system, rear window
washer system, and the headlamp cleaning
system is supplied from the washer fluid
reservoir.
During all seasons, add MB Windshield
Washer Concentrate “MB SummerFit” to
water. Premix the washer fluid in a suitable
container.
XOpening washer fluid reservoir: Pull tab
of cap : upwards.
XRefill the washer fluid reservoir with MB
Windshield Washer Concentrate “MB
SummerFit” and water (or commercially
available premixed washer solvent/
antifreeze, depending on ambient
temperatures) (Y page 257).
XClosing washer fluid reservoir: Press
cap : onto filler hole until it engages.
For more information, see “Washer system
and headlamp cleaning system”
(Y page 253).
Transmission fluid level
The transmission fluid level does not need to
be checked. If you notice transmission fluid
loss or gearshifting malfunctions, have an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center check the
transmission.
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Only with a proper oil level can the vehicle
obtain a trouble-free oil supply, even on
steep gradients.
! If an engine oil level warning message
appears in the multifunction display while
driving, stop the vehicle in a safe location
or as soon at is safe to do so. Check the
engine oil level.
The engine oil level warning messages
should not be ignored. Extended driving
with the message displayed could result in
serious engine damage that is not covered
by the Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.
Tires
RCheck the tread depth and maintain
specified tire inflation pressure. A placard
with the recommended tire inflation
pressures is located on the driver’s door B-
pillar (Y page 161).
RCheck tires for possible damage and
remove foreign objects.
RReplace missing valve caps.
Rims
RDented or bent rims can cause tire inflation
pressure loss and damage the tire beads.
For this reason, check and, if necessary,
change rims before driving off-road.
Vehicle tool kit
RCheck if the jack (Y page 195) is
functional.
RAlways take the vehicle tool kit, a strong
tow rope, a shovel and a small plank (to put
under the jack on sandy soil) with you.
Driving in steep terrain
Slope angle
:Overhang angle, front;Overhang angle, rear:;G 55037°31°G 55 AMG23°26°
RComply with the warnings (Y page 179) and
rules for off-road driving (Y page 180).
RDriving on embankments, slopes and other
steep inclines should only be done straight
up or downhill, i. e. in the line of gravity.
Maximum vehicle climbing ability is a
80% grade which is equivalent to a slope
angle of approximately 38°. Keep in mind
that the climbing ability of the vehicle
depends on terrain conditions.
RShift automatic transmission into gear
range 2 or 1 (Y page 89).
RDrive slowly.
RUtilize the engine’s braking power when
descending a slope, observe the engine
speed (do not overrev the engine). Apply
the service brake as needed.
iFor maximum engine speed, see
“Tachometer” (Y page 96) and see vehicle
specification for your vehicle
(Y page 248).
RCheck the brakes after a lengthy
downgrade drive.
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GWarning!
Never turn the vehicle around on steep
inclines. The vehicle might roll over. If the
vehicle cannot complete the attempted climb,
back it down in reverse gear.
Traction in steep terrain
Be easy on the accelerator and watch for
continuous wheel traction when driving in
steep terrain.
iThe 4-ETS helps greatly when starting out
on a steep incline when the front wheels
have then the tendency to slip due to the
weight shifting away from the front axle.
The 4-ETS recognizes the situation and
limits the torque for the front wheels by
braking them.
Simultaneously the torque for the rear
wheels is increased.
Driving across a hilltop
Decelerate just ahead of a hilltop (do not shift
automatic transmission into neutral position
N), to prevent the vehicle from speeding up
too much after climbing a hill.
Use the momentum of the vehicle to drive
across the hilltop.
After climbing a hill, driving in this manner
prevents the vehicle from:
Rlosing ground contact when cresting hills
Rlosing its forward momentum
Rspeeding up too much after climbing the hill
Driving downhill
RShift automatic transmission into gear
range 1 (Y page 89).
RDrive downhill observing the same rules as
driving uphill (Y page 181).
iThe special LOW RANGE – ABS
(Y page 51) setting allows for precise and
brief (cyclical) blocking of the front wheels,
permitting them to dig into loose ground.
Remember that, when stopped, the front
wheels slide across a surface and thus lose
their ability to steer the vehicle.
Driving through water
:Fording depth, 20 in (50 cm)
RBefore driving through water, determine its
depth.
! The water depth must not exceed 20 in
(50 cm). The ground under the water might
not be firm which could result the water
being deeper than expected when driving
the vehicle through it. Please note that the
water level is correspondingly lower for
flowing water.
RComply with the warnings (Y page 179) and
rules for off-road driving (Y page 180).
RSwitch off the exterior lamps as well as the
climate control.
RShift automatic transmission into gear
range 1 or 2 (Y page 89).
RAvoid high engine speeds.
REnter and leave the water only at a shallow
spot, driving at walking speed.
! Never accelerate before driving into the
water. The bow wave could force water into
the engine and auxiliary equipment, thus
damaging them.
RDrive through the water slowly and at a
constant speed.
RDo not stop vehicle while immersed in
water, and do not shut off the engine.
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! Do not open any of the vehicle’s doors
while driving through water. Water could
otherwise enter the vehicle interior and
damage the vehicle’s electronics, as well as
the interior equipment.
RThere is a very high level of driving
resistance in water. The surface is slippery
and may not be firm, making pulling away
in water difficult and dangerous.
RMake sure that only small bow waves are
formed when driving the vehicle through
water.
RClean mud off the tire tread after driving
through water.
RTo dry the brakes, apply pressure to the
brake pedal several times while driving
after leaving the water.
Crossing obstacles
! Obstacles can damage the vehicle
underbody or suspension components. If
possible use the assistance of a second
person outside the vehicle to scout the
path you intend to take and check for
adequate ground clearance when you cross
obstacles with your vehicle. The person
assisting you outside the vehicle should
always be a safe distance away from the
vehicle and positioned so that he or she
cannot get hurt in case of any unexpected
vehicle movement.
After off-road driving or crossing obstacles,
inspect vehicle for any damage, especially
vehicle underbody and suspension
components. Failure to do so can adversely
affect the vehicle’s future performance,
including increased chance of an accident.
When driving over tree stumps, big rocks and
other obstacles, observe the following rules:
RComply with the warnings (Y page 179) and
rules for off-road driving (Y page 180).
RAvoid high engine speeds.
RShift automatic transmission into gear
range 1 (Y page 89).
RCheck the vehicle clearance before
crossing obstacles.
RCross obstacles (e. g. tree stumps or big
rocks) very slowly by aiming one of the front
wheels at the center of the obstacle, and
repeat same with the rear wheel.
! Special attention is needed when you
cross obstacles on a steep incline.
The vehicle could slide sideways as a result
of its possible slanted position which in turn
may result in the vehicle tipping or rolling
over.
Driving on sand
GWarning!
Do not reduce the tire inflation pressure
before driving through sand. However, if you
do so, remember to correct the tire inflation
pressure before continuing your trip. Driving
with reduced tire inflation pressure increases
the risk of losing control of the vehicle and
rolling over.
When driving on sand, observe the following
rules:RAvoid high engine speeds.
RShift automatic transmission into a gear
range that is appropriate for the terrain.
RIn sandy soil, drive at a steady speed as
conditions permit. This helps overcome the
vehicle rolling resistance and reduce the
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Unlocking/locking manually
Unlocking the vehicle
If you cannot unlock the vehicle with the
SmartKey, unlock the driver’s door and the
tailgate using the mechanical key.
iUnlocking and opening the driver’s door
or the tailgate with the mechanical key will
trigger the anti-theft alarm system.
To cancel the alarm, insert the SmartKey in
the starter switch.
Removing the mechanical key
XMove locking tab : in direction of arrow.XSlide mechanical key ; out of the housing.
Unlocking the driver’s door
XInsert mechanical key ; into the lock
cylinder.
XTurn mechanical key ; counterclockwise
to position 1 until the locking knob moves
up.
The driver’s door is unlocked.
XRemove mechanical key ;.XPress lock cylinder and pull on door handle
to open the driver’s door.
Unlocking the tailgate
GWarning!
The tailgate swings open to one side. Always
make sure there is sufficient clearance for the
tailgate.
Make sure the tailgate is closed when the
engine is running and while driving. Among
other dangers, deadly carbon monoxide (CO)
gases may enter vehicle interior resulting in
unconsciousness and death.
XInsert mechanical key = into the lock
cylinder.
XTurn mechanical key = counterclockwise
to position 2.
XRemove mechanical key =.XPress lock cylinder and pull on door
handle : to open the tailgate.
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jack is solid, level and not slippery. If
necessary, use a large underlay. On slippery
surfaces, such as tiled floors, you should use
a non-slip underlay, for example a rubber mat.
Do not use wooden blocks or similar objects
to support the jack. Otherwise the jack may
not be able to achieve its load-bearing
capacity if it is not at its full height.
Never start the engine when the vehicle is
raised.
Also observe the notes on the jack.
XPrevent the vehicle from rolling away by
blocking wheels with wheel chocks (not
included) or other sizeable objects.
When changing wheel on a level surface:
XPlace one wheel chock or other sizeable
object in front of and another wheel chock
or other sizeable object behind the wheel
that is diagonally opposite to the wheel
being changed.
Always try lifting the vehicle using the jack on
a level surface. However, should
circumstances require you to do so on a hill,
place a wheel chock or other sizeable object
and the other wheel chock or sizeable object
as follows:
XPlace wheel chocks or other sizeable
objects on the downhill side blocking both
wheels of the axle not being worked on.
GWarning!
Only jack up the vehicle on level ground or on
slight inclines/declines. Otherwise, the
vehicle could fall off the jack and injure you or
others.
XOn the wheel to be changed, loosen but do
not yet remove the wheel bolts
(approximately one full turn with wheel
wrench :).
! Do not position the jack on the body of
the vehicle, as this may cause damage to
the vehicle.
XPlace the jack on firm ground.XPosition the jack under the axle housing so
that it is always vertical as seen from the
side, even if the vehicle is parked on an
incline.
Make sure the the jack is positioned
correctly under the axle housing. The axle
must fall into the jack contour.
XJack up the vehicle until the wheel is a
maximum of 1.2 in (3 cm) from the ground.
Removing the wheel
XUnscrew and remove the wheel bolts.234Flat tirePractical hints
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Position B represents the charged battery of
another vehicle or an equivalent starter pack.
XFlip up cover : of positive terminal = in
direction of arrow.
! Never invert the terminal connections!
XConnect positive terminal ; of charged
battery B with positive terminal = with a
jumper cable. Clamp the cable to positive
terminal ; of charged battery B first.
XStart engine of the vehicle with charged
battery B and run at idle speed.
XConnect negative terminal ? of charged
battery B with negative terminal A with
a jumper cable. Clamp the cable to
negative terminal ? of charged battery
B first.
XStart engine of the vehicle with the
discharged battery and run at idle speed.
You can now turn on the electrical
consumers. Do not switch on the
headlamps under any circumstances.
XRemove the jumper cables from negative
terminals ? and A first.
XRemove the jumper cables from positive
terminals ; and =.
You can now switch on the headlamps.
XSlide cover : from positive terminal =
back.
XHave the battery checked at the nearest
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Towing the vehicle
Safety notes
Mercedes-Benz recommends that the vehicle
be transported with all wheels off the ground
using flatbed or appropriate wheel lift/dolly
equipment. This method is preferable to other
types of towing.
! To prevent damage during transport, do
not tie down vehicle by its chassis or
suspension parts.
If circumstances do not permit the
recommended towing methods, the vehicle
may be towed with all wheels on the ground
only so far as necessary to have the vehicle
moved to a safe location where the
recommended towing methods can be
employed.
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and activate combination switch for left or
right turn signal in usual manner – only the
selected turn signal will operate. Upon
canceling the turn signal, the hazard
warning flasher will operate again.
Towing eyes
Front towing eyes
:Towing eyes
Rear towing eye
The rear towing eye is located on the driver’s
side under the rear bumper.
:Towing eye
Transporting the vehicle
When transporting the vehicle, you can use
the towing eyes for pulling the vehicle onto a
trailer or transporter.
XMove the gear selector lever to neutral
position N.
XShift the transfer case to neutral
position N.
XTo avoid damaging the vehicle, it should
only be tied down on the wheels/wheel
rims, not on chassis components such as
the transverse link or trailing arm.
Towing the vehicle - various problem
scenarios
! When removing drive shaft, place M10
nuts on bolts as distance sleeves and
tighten using M8 nuts.
Always install new self-locking nuts when
reinstalling the drive shaft.
XComply with all towing information
(Y page 239).
In case of engine damage, transmission
damage or malfunctions in electrical
equipment
XMove the gear selector lever to neutral
position N.
XShift the transfer case to neutral
position N.
In case of transfer case damage or for
towing vehicle distances exceeding 30
miles (50 km)
The propeller shafts to the drive axles must
be removed.
In case of front axle damage
Raise the front axle when towing. The
propeller shaft between the rear axle and the
transfer case must be removed.
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