vehicle’s doors or windows when cleaning the
inside.
Never use fluids or solvents that are not
designed for cleaning your vehicle.
Always
lock away cleaning products and keep
them out of reach of children.
! When cleaning the vehicle, do not use
scouring agents. Never apply strong force
and only use a soft, wet cloth or sponge.
Otherwise you may scratch or damage the
surface to be cleaned.
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 vehicle
underbody and cause lasting damage.
Such damage is caused not only by extreme
and varying climatic conditions, but also by:
R Air pollution
R Road salt
R Tar
R Gravel and stone chipping
To avoid paint damage, you should
immediately remove:
R Grease and oil
R Fuel
R Coolant
R Brake fluid
R Bird droppings
R Insects
R Tree resins etc.
Frequent washing reduces and/or eliminates
the aggressiveness and potency of the above
adverse influences. More frequent washings are necessary to
deal with unfavorable conditions:
R
near the ocean
R in industrial areas (smoke, exhaust
emissions)
R 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 underbody 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 of
incompatibility between materials used in the
production process and others applied later.
We have selected vehicle-care products and
compiled recommendations which are
specially matched to our vehicles and which
always reflect the latest technology. You can
obtain Mercedes-Benz approved vehicle-care
products at an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.
Scratches, corrosive deposits, corrosion or
damage due to negligent or incorrect care
cannot always be removed or repaired with
the vehicle-care products recommended
here. In such cases it is best to seek aid at an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
The following topics deal with the cleaning
and care of your vehicle and give important
“how-to” information as well as references to
Mercedes-Benz approved vehicle-care
products. 216
Vehicle care
Operation
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Engine
Display messages
Possible causes/consequences and
X Solutions=
(USA only)
;
(Canada
only) Engine
Service There may be a malfunction in
R
the fuel management system
R the ignition system
R the exhaust system
R the fuel system
X Have the engine checkedas soon as possible at an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center. ; Display
Malfunctio
n
Service
Required Certain electronic systems are unable to relay information to
the control system. The coolant temperature display or the
tachometer may have failed.
X
Have the electronic systems checked at an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center. + Top Up
Coolant
See
Operator’s
Man. The coolant level is too low.
X
Add coolant (Y page 180).
X If you have to add coolant frequently, have the cooling
system checked at an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center. G
Warning!
Do not spill antifreeze on hot engine parts. Antifreeze contains ethylene glycol which may burn
if it comes into contact with hot engine parts. You could be seriously burned.
! Do not ignore the low engine coolant level warning. Extended driving with the message
and
symbol displayed may cause serious engine damage not covered by the Mercedes-Benz
Limited Warranty.
Do not drive without sufficient amount of coolant in the cooling system. The engine will
overheat causing major engine damage. Vehicle status messages in the multifunction display
243
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Display messages
Possible causes/consequences and
X Solutions? Coolant
Stop
Vehicle,
turn
engine
off. The coolant is too hot.
X
Stop the vehicle immediately as soon as it is safe to do so.
X Turn off the engine immediately.
X Engage the parking brake.
X Only start the engine again after the message disappears.
You could otherwise damage the engine.
X Observe the coolant temperature indicator in the
instrument cluster.
X If the temperature rises again: Contact an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center immediately.
During severe operation conditions and stop-and-go city
traffic, the coolant temperature may rise close to 248‡
(120†). G
Warning!
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
engine hood. Stay away from the engine if you see or hear steam coming from it.
Stop the vehicle in a safe location away from other traffic. Turn off the engine, get out of the
vehicle and do not stand near the vehicle until the engine has cooled down.
! The engine should not be operated with the coolant temperature above 248‡ (120†).
Doing so may cause serious damage which is not covered by the Mercedes-Benz Limited
Warranty. 244
Vehicle status messages in the multifunction displayPractical hints
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Display messages
Possible causes/consequences and
X Solutions? Coolant
Stop
Vehicle,
turn
engine
off. The poly-V-belt could be broken.
X
Stop the vehicle immediately as soon as it is safe to do so.
X Turn off the engine immediately.
X Check the poly-V-belt.
X If it is broken: Do not continue to drive. Otherwise the
engine will overheat due to an inoperative water pump
which may result in damage to the engine. Contact an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
X If it is intact: Do not continue to drive the vehicle with this
message displayed. Doing so could result in serious engine
damage that is not covered by the Mercedes-Benz Limited
Warranty.
X Observe the coolant temperature indicator in the
instrument cluster.
X Drive to the nearest authorized Mercedes-Benz Center
immediately. ? The radiator cooling fan is malfunctioning.
X
Observe the coolant temperature indicator in the
instrument cluster.
If
the coolant temperature is below 248‡ (120†), you may
continue driving to an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
X Avoid placing heavy loads on the engine (e.g. by driving
uphill) as well as stop-and-go traffic.
X Have the fan replaced as soon as possible. # The battery is no longer charging.
Possible causes:
R
alternator malfunctioning
R broken poly-V-belt
R a malfunction in the electronic system
X Stop immediately in a safe location or as soon as it is safe
to do so and check the poly-V-belt.
X If it is broken: Do not continue to drive. Otherwise the
engine will overheat due to an inoperative water pump
which may result in damage to the engine. Contact an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
X If it is intact: Drive to the nearest authorized Mercedes-
Benz Center immediately. Adjust driving to be consistent
with reduced braking responsiveness. Vehicle status messages in the multifunction display
245
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Engine
Problem
Possible causes/consequences and
X Solutions= (USA only)
; (Canada only)
The yellow engine
malfunction indicator
lamp comes on when
the engine is running. There may be a malfunction in
R
the fuel management system
R the ignition system
R the emission control system
R systems which affect emissions
Such malfunctions may result in excessive emissions values and
may
switch the engine to limp-home (emergency operation) mode.
X Have the vehicle checked as soon as possible at an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
i Some states may by law require you to visit a workshop as
soon
as the engine malfunction indicator lamp comes on. Check
local requirements. = (USA only)
; (Canada only)
The yellow engine
malfunction indicator
lamp comes on when
the engine is running. A loss of pressure has been detected in the fuel system. The fuel
cap may not be closed properly or the fuel system may be leaky.
X
Check the fuel cap ( Y page 176).
X If it is not closed properly: Close the fuel cap.
X If it is closed properly: Have the fuel system checked by an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center. ?
The red coolant
temperature
warning lamp
comes on when
the engine is
running. There is insufficient coolant in the reservoir.
If this warning lamp comes on frequently, there is a leak in the
cooling system.
If the coolant level is correct, the electric radiator fan may be
broken.
X
Immediately add coolant to prevent engine from overheating
(Y page 180).
X Have the cooling system checked.
X If the coolant temperature is below 248‡ (120†), you can
continue driving to the nearest authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.
X Avoid high engine loads (e.g. driving uphill) and stop-and-go
driving. What to do if …
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Problem
Possible causes/consequences and
X Solutions?
The red coolant
temperature
warning lamp
comes on when
the engine is
running and an
acoustic
warning sounds. The coolant temperature has exceeded 248‡ (120†).
X
Stop in a safe location as soon as possible and allow the engine
and coolant to cool down. G
Warning!
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 engine hood. Stay away from the engine
if you see or hear steam coming from it.
Stop the vehicle in a safe location away from
other
traffic. Turn off the engine, get out of the
vehicle and do not stand near the vehicle until
the engine has cooled down. 258
What to do if …
Practical hints
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Vehicle equipment ............................
288
Parts service ..................................... 288
Warranty coverage ...........................288
Identification labels ..........................288
Vehicle specification CLS 550
(219.372) ........................................... 290
Vehicle specification CLS 63 AMG
(219.377) ........................................... 290
Rims and tires ................................... 291
Fuels, coolants, lubricants, etc. ......296 287Technical data
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Spare wheel
! Compare the recommended tire inflation pressure for your vehicle with the tire inflation
pressure on the yellow label located on the spare wheel rim.
If
the tire inflation pressure on the yellow label on the spare wheel rim differs from the values
given in this Operator’s Manual, inflate the tire to the recommended tire inflation pressure
given on the yellow label on the spare wheel rim.
i Please note that the tire inflation pressure of the spare wheel differs from the tire inflation
pressure of the road tires. CLS 550 (all models) CLS 63 AMG CLS 63 AMG
(Performance Package)
Rim (steel)
Wheel offset
4.0 B x 17 H2
1.34 in (34 mm) — —
Rim (light alloy)
Wheel offset
— 6.0 B x 18 H2
0.98 in (25 mm) 6.5 B x 19 H2
0.55 in (14 mm)
Minispare tire
32 T 155/70 R17 110M — —
Collapsible tire
32 — 175/55-18 95P 175/50-19 97P
Recommended
tire inflation
pressure
61 psi (4.2 bar) 51 psi (3.5 bar) 51 psi (3.5 bar)
Fuels, coolants, lubricants, etc.
Capacities
Vehicle components and their respective
lubricants must match. Therefore only use
products tested and approved by Mercedes-
Benz.
For information on tested and approved
products, contact an authorized Mercedes-
Benz Center or visit www.mbusa.com (USA
only). G
Warning!
Comply with all valid regulations with respect
to handling, storing, and disposing of service fluids. Otherwise you could endanger persons
or the environment.
Keep service fluids out of the reach of
children.
For health reasons, you should prevent
service
fluids from coming into direct contact
with your skin or clothing.
If a service fluid is swallowed, contact a
physician immediately.
32 Must not be used with snow chains. 296
Fuels, coolants, lubricants, etc.
Technical data
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