246 OperationDriving instructions
Coolant temperature
During severe operating conditions and
stop-and-go city traffic, the coolant
temperature may rise close to
approximately 248°F (120°C).
The engine should not be operated with
the coolant temperature over 248°F
(120°C). Doing so may cause serious
engine damage which is not covered by the
Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.
Warning!
G
Inhalation of exhaust gas is hazardous to
your health. All exhaust gas contains carbon
monoxide (CO), and inhaling it can cause
unconsciousness and possible death.
Do not run the engine in confined areas
(such as a garage) which are not properly
ventilated. If you think that exhaust gas
fumes are entering the vehicle while driving,
have the cause determined and corrected
immediately. If you must drive under these
conditions, drive only with at least one
window fully open at all times.
Warning!
G
Driving when your engine is overheated
can cause some fluids, which may have
leaked into the engine compartment, to
catch fire. You could be seriously
burned.
Steam from an overheated engine can
cause serious burns which can occur
just by opening the hood. Stay away
from the engine if you see or hear steam
coming from it.
Turn off the engine, get out of the vehicle
and do not stand near the vehicle until the
engine has cooled down.
286 OperationTires and wheelsTire ply material
1Plies in sidewall
2Plies under tread
This marking tells you about the type of
cord and number of plies in the sidewall
and under the tread.
Tire and loading terminology
Accessory weight
The combined weight (in excess of those
standard items which may be replaced) of
automatic transmission, power steering,
power brakes, power windows, power
seats, radio, and heater, to the extent that
these items are available as
factory-installed equipment (whether
installed or not).
Air pressure
The amount of air inside the tire pressing
outward on each square inch of the tire.
Air pressure is expressed in pounds per
square inch (psi), or kilopascal (kPa) or
bars.
Aspect ratio
Dimensional relationship between tire
section height and section width
expressed in percentage.Bar
Another metric unit for air pressure. There
are 14.5038 pounds per square inch (psi)
to 1 bar; there are 100 kilopascals (kPa)
to 1 bar.
Bead
The tire bead contains steel wires wrapped
by steel cords that hold the tire onto the
rim.
Cold tire inflation pressure
Tire inflation pressure when your vehicle
has been sitting for at least three hours or
driven no more than 1 mile (1.6 km).
Curb weight
The weight of a motor vehicle with stan-
dard equipment including the maximum
capacity of fuel, oil, and coolant, and, if so
equipped, air conditioning and additional
optional equipment, but without passen-
gers and cargo.
i
For illustration purposes only. Actual data
on tires are specific to each vehicle and may vary
from data shown in above illustration.
297 Operation
Vehicle care
Vehicle care
Cleaning and care of the vehicle
If you have any questions about proper
care of your vehicle, please contact an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.Depending on body color the characteris-
tic carbon structure of the body surface
may become visible due to high ambient
temperatures and humidity. This phenom-
enon is related to the technology and
concept of the vehicle’s body.
While in operation, even while parked, your
vehicle is subjected to varying external
influences which, if gone unchecked, can
attack the paintwork as well as the
underbody 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 chippingTo avoid paint damage, you should
immediately 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
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 door windows when cleaning the in-
side.
Never use fluids or solvents that are not
designed for cleaning your vehicle.i
Mercedes-Benz recommends that you use
Mercedes-Benz care products. These have been
specially developed to suit Mercedes-Benz vehi-
cles and are state of the art. Mercedes-Benz
care products are available from any
Mercedes-Benz Center.
!
Affixing stickers, magnets, adhesive tape or
similar materials to painted body components
may damage the paintwork.
299 Operation
Vehicle care
Power washer
Cleaning the windows and wiper blades
Remove the SmartKey from the starter
switch.
Fold the wiper arm away from the
windshield (
page 363).
You must feel the wiper arm engage in
position.
Clean the wiper blade inserts with a
clean cloth and detergent solution.
Use a soft, clean cloth and a mild win-
dow cleaning solution on all outside
and inside glass surfaces.
An automotive glass cleaner is
recommended.
!
Make sure that the windshield wiper switch
is set to0 (
page 52). Otherwise, the rain
sensor could activate and cause the wipers to
move unintentionally. This may lead to vehicle
damage.
Due to the width of the vehicle, fold in exterior
rear view mirrors prior to running the vehicle
through an automatic car wash to prevent
damage to the mirrors.
i
After running the vehicle through an auto-
matic car wash, wipe any wax off of the wind-
shield (
page 299). This will prevent smears
and reduce wiping noise which can be caused by
residual wax on the windshield.
!
Do not use power washer to clean your
vehicle or the engine.
!
The hood must be opened (
page 250) be-
fore folding the wiper arm away from the wind-
shield. You could otherwise damage the hood
and/or the wiper arms.
!
Never open or close the hood when the wip-
er arms are folded away from the windshield.
You could otherwise damage the hood and/or
the wiper arm.
Warning!
G
For safety reasons, switch off wipers and
remove SmartKey from starter switch
before cleaning the wiper blades. Otherwise
the wiper motor could suddenly turn on and
cause injury.
!
Do not pull on the wiper blade inserts. They
could tear.
!
To clean the window interior, do not use a
dry cloth, abrasives, solvents or cleaners con-
taining solvents. Do not touch the inside of the
front, rear or door windows with hard objects
such as an ice scraper or ring. Doing so may
damage the windows.
363 Practical hints
Replacing wiper blades
Replacing wiper blades
Removing wiper blades
Remove the SmartKey from starter
switch.
Fold the wiper arm forward.
You must feel the wiper arm engage in
position.
Set the wiper blade at 90° to the wiper
arm.
Slide the wiper blade out in direction of
arrow.
Warning!
G
For safety reasons, remove SmartKey from
starter switch before replacing a wiper
blade. Otherwise the motor could suddenly
turn on and cause injury. Warning!
G
Wiper blades are components that are sub-
ject to wear and tear. Change the wiper
blades twice a year, preferably in the spring
and fall. Otherwise the windows will not be
properly wiped. As a result, you may not be
able to observe surrounding traffic condi-
tions and could cause an accident.!
The hood must be opened (
page 250)
before folding the wiper arms away from the
windshield. You could otherwise damage the
hood and/or the wiper arm.
!
Do not pull on the wiper blade inserts. They
could tear.
413 Index
Vehicle status messages 128, 319
Distance to empty 140
Distance to empty (range), Trip
computer 140
Door
Control panel 34
Entry lamps 112
Handle, Inside 34
Handle, Outside 39
Locking/unlocking, SmartKey 39, 98
Message in the multifunction
display 353
Opening from inside/outside 39,
101
Remote door unlock, Tele Aid 220
Unlocking in an emergency 358
Door windows see Power windows
DOT 287
Drinking and driving 235
Driving 45, 50
Abroad 244
Hints, Electro-hydraulic brake
system 89
Hydroplaning 241In winter 242
Instructions 45, 235
Problems 54
Safety systems 82
Systems 205
Through standing water 243
Tips, Automatic transmission 173
Driving safety systems 82
ABS 82
BAS 84
Electro-hydraulic brake system 87
Electronic traction system 86
ESP
®
84
Driving systems
Cruise control 205
Dust cover 229
E
Electric air pump 356
Electrical fuses 376
Electrical outlet see Power outletElectrical system, Technical data 390
Electro-hydraulic brake system 82, 87,
406
Activation 88
Deactivation 89
Driving hints 89
Emergency operating mode 88
Messages in the multifunction
display 334
Self-check 89, 339
Warning lamp 87
Electronic Stability Program see ESP
®
Emergency calls
911 166
Tele Aid 216
Emergency operations
Automatic transmission (Limp-Home
Mode) 180
Remote door unlock, Tele Aid 220
Trunk lid, Releasing from inside 104
Unlocking the vehicle 357
Emergency Tensioning Device see ETD
Emergency, In case of
420 Index
Messages in the multifunction
display 324–327
Passenger front air bag off indicator
lamp 70, 317
Passenger safety see Occupant safety
Pedals 235
Performance enhancement system,
Airbrake 90
Phone see Telephone
Poly-V-belt drive 405
Layout 383
Power assistance 236
Power outlet 212
Power train 406
Power washer 299
Power windows 196
Cleaning 299
Operating 196
Synchronizing 198
Practical hints 302
Premium unleaded gasoline 396
Problems
While driving 54With the vehicle 21
Product information 13
Production options weight 287
Program mode selector switch, Automatic
transmission 175, 406
PSI 288
Push starting 370
R
RACETIMER see Control system menus,
722 S
Radio
Operation 151
Selecting stations 127
Radio transmitters 244
Reading lamp 113
Rear fog lamp see Fog lamps
Rear lamps see Tail lamps
Rear view mirrors see Mirrors
Rear window defroster 183
Recommended tire inflation
pressure 288
Recovery services, Stolen vehicle
(Tele Aid) 221
Redial memory 144Refrigerant, Air conditioning 396
Refueling 247
Regular checks 248
Remote control, SmartKey 98
Remote door unlock, Tele Aid 220
Replacing bulbs 361
Reporting safety defects 22
Research Octane Number see RON
Reset button, in Instrument cluster 114,
294
Residual heat utilization 195
Restraint systems 60
Air bags 60, 62
Child restraints 60
Children in the vehicle 76
Emergency Tensioning Device
(ETD) 60, 75
Seat belts 60, 72
Reverse gear position, Automatic
transmission 169
Rims 288, 385
Roadside Assistance 16, 218
RON 247, 406
421 Index
Roof rack 230
Roof see Soft top
S
Safety
Driving safety systems 82
Occupant 60
Reporting defects 22
Safety belts see Seat belts
Seat belt force limiter 75
Seat belts 60
Children in the vehicle 76
Fastening seat belts 45
Message in the multifunction
display 353
Proper use of 46
Safety guidelines 64
Telltale 312
Warning lamp 312–313
Seating capacity 264
Seats 41
Selector lever see Gear selector leverSelf-test
Lamps in the instrument cluster 304
OCS 71
Tele Aid 216
Service and warranty information 14
Service intervals see Service indicator
Service life
Tires 261
Vehicle batteries 256
Service see Maintenance
Service, Parts 380
Settings
Control system menus 120
Control system submenus 121
Factory, SmartKey 99
Individual, Vehicle 129
Menus and submenus 119
Resetting to factory settings, Control
system 129
Selective, SmartKey 100
Time 133Shift program mode selector switch, Auto-
matic transmission 175
Shifting, Automatic transmission 169
Side air vents 185
Side marker lamps
Messages in the multifunction
display 348
Replacing bulbs 362
Side windows see Power windows
Sidewall 288
SmartKey see Key, SmartKey
Snow chains 293
Snow tires* 292
Soft top
Care 300
Messages in the multifunction
display 354
Opening and closing 198
Soft top linkage
Cover 202
Spare fuses 376
Spare parts service 380
Speed setting