dynamometer or when the vehicle is being
towed with the front axle raised.
Active braking action through the ESP
®
may
otherwise seriously damage the brake
system which is not covered by the
Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.
If your brake system is only subjected to
moderate loads, you should occasionally test
the effectiveness of the brakes by applying
above-normal braking pressure at higher
speeds. This will also enhance the grip of the
brake pads. G
Warning!
Make sure not to endanger any other road
users when carrying out these braking
maneuvers.
Refer to the description of the Brake Assist
System (BAS) ( Y page 59).
High-performance brake system The high-performance brake system is only
available on CLS 63 AMG.
G
Warning!
New vehicle brake pads and discs, and
replacement brake pads and discs may take
several hundred miles of driving until they
provide
optimum braking efficiency. Until that
time, you may need to use increased brake
pedal pressure while braking. Please be aware
of this and adjust your driving and braking
accordingly during this break-in period.
Excessive high-demand braking will cause
correspondingly high brake wear. Please be
attentive to the brake warning lamp in the
instrument cluster and brake condition
messages in the multifunction display.
Especially for high performance driving, it is
important to maintain and have the brake
system checked regularly.
The high-performance brake system is
designed to operate under the extremely high
operating demands required to accommodate the performance capabilities
of the vehicle.
The brakes may produce a squeaking-type
noise depending on the
R
vehicle speed
R brake force applied
R ambient conditions, e.g. temperature and
humidity
As with any brake system, the wear of
individual
brake system components such as
brake pads or disks strongly depends on your
driving style and the conditions under which
you operate the vehicle. Thus, a driving style
calling for high-demand braking will cause
your vehicle’s brakes to wear more quickly. Driving off
Warm up the engine smoothly. Do not place
full load on the engine until the operating
temperature has been reached.
! When
driving off on a slippery surface, do
not allow a drive wheel to spin for an
extended period with the ESP ®
switched
off. Doing so may cause serious damage to
the drivetrain which is not covered by the
Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.
! Simultaneously depressing the
accelerator pedal and applying the brakes
reduces engine performance and causes
premature brake and drivetrain wear which
is not covered by the Mercedes-Benz
Limited Warranty. Hydroplaning
Depending
on the depth of the water layer on
the road, hydroplaning may occur, even at low
speeds and with new tires. In heavy rain or
when conditions indicate possible
hydroplaning: 212
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conditions, drive only with at least one
window fully open at all times.
Maintenance
Notes
The Maintenance System in your vehicle
tracks the distance driven and the time
elapsed since the last maintenance service.
It calculates other maintenance service work
required, and calls for the next maintenance
service accordingly.
We strongly recommend that you have your
vehicle serviced at an authorized Mercedes-
Benz Center. Have it serviced in accordance
with the Maintenance Booklet at the times
called for by the maintenance service
indicator.
i Failure to have the vehicle maintained in
accordance with the Maintenance Booklet
and maintenance service indicator at the
designated times/mileage will result in
vehicle damage not covered by the
Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty. Maintenance service indicator
message
Information on maintenance work and
maintenance intervals are specified in the
Maintenance Booklet. Contact an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center, or visit
www.mbusa.com (USA only) for additional
information.
The maintenance service indicator message
will notify you when the next maintenance
service is required.
Starting approximately 1 month before the
next maintenance service is required, one of
the following messages will appear in the
multifunction display. The messages will
appear while you are driving or when you
switch on the ignition (example service A):
Service A Due In XXXX Miles (Km) Service A Due In XX Days
Service A Due In X Day
Service A Due Now
Refer to Maintenance Booklet for a listing of
maintenance services and intervals they need
to be performed at.
Clearing the maintenance service
indicator message
The maintenance service indicator message
is cleared automatically
R
after approximately 10 seconds when you
switch on the ignition
R after approximately 10 seconds when
reaching the service threshold while driving
R after approximately 30 seconds, once the
suggested maintenance service term has
passed X
Clearing the maintenance service
indicator message manually: Press reset
button : on the instrument cluster.
The standard display appears in the
multifunction display. 214
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Maintenance service term exceeded
If you have exceeded the suggested
maintenance service term, you will see the
following message in the multifunction
display:
Service A Exceeded By XXXXX Miles
(Km)
Service A Exceeded By XXX Days
Service A Exceeded By X Day
In addition, a signal sounds when the
message appears.
Any authorized Mercedes-Benz Center will
reset the maintenance service indicator
following a completed maintenance service.
Calling up the maintenance service
indicator display
i The menu overview can be found on
(Y page 112).
You can call up the maintenance service
indicator display at any time to check when
the next maintenance service is required.
X Switch on the ignition.
X Press button V or U on the
multifunction steering wheel repeatedly
until the standard display
(Y page 112)
appears in the multifunction display.
X Press button * or & on the
multifunction steering wheel until the
maintenance
service indicator display with
the service symbol ¯ and the
maintenance service deadline appears in
the multifunction display.
i If
the battery was disconnected, the days
of disconnection will not be included in the
count shown by the maintenance service
indicator. To arrive at the true maintenance
service deadline, you will need to subtract
these days from the days shown in the
maintenance service indicator message or
maintenance service indicator display. Do not confuse the maintenance service
indicator
with the engine oil level indicator
4. Resetting the maintenance service
indicator
In
the event that the maintenance service on
your vehicle is not carried out at an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center, you can have the
maintenance service indicator reset.
The automotive maintenance facility carrying
out the maintenance service will find the
information for resetting the maintenance
service indicator in the maintenance-relevant
literature for your vehicle.
Such literature is available at any authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center or directly from
Mercedes-Benz.
! If the maintenance service indicator was
reset inadvertently, have an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center correct it.
Only reset the maintenance service
indicator if the proper maintenance service
has been performed. Not following the
proper maintenance service as described
in the Maintenance Booklet will result in
engine damage and/or other vehicle
damage not covered by the Mercedes-Benz
Limited Warranty. Vehicle care
Cleaning and care of the vehicle
Notes Regular and proper care will help to maintain
the value of your vehicle.
G
Warning!
Many cleaning products can be hazardous.
Some are poisonous, others are flammable.
Always follow the instructions on the
particular container. Always open your Vehicle care
215
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An automotive glass cleaner is
recommended.
! Fold the windshield wiper arms back onto
the windshield before turning the SmartKey
in the starter switch or pressing the
KEYLESS-GO start/stop button.
Hold on to the wiper when folding the wiper
arm back. If released, the force of the
impact from the tensioning spring could
crack the windshield.
! To clean the window interior, do not use
a dry cloth, abrasives, solvents or cleaners
containing solvents. Do not touch the
inside of the windows with hard objects
such as an ice scraper or ring. Doing so may
damage the windows.
Light alloy wheels If possible, clean wheels once a week.
X
Use Mercedes-Benz approved Wheel Care,
a soft bristle brush and a strong spray of
water for cleaning the light alloy wheels.
! Only use acid-free cleaning materials.
Acid may cause corrosion or damage the
clear coat.
! The vehicle should not be parked for an
extended period of time immediately after
it
has been cleaned. This applies especially
after the wheel rims have been cleaned
with wheel rim cleaner. Wheel rim cleaners
can lead to increased corrosion of the
brake disks and brake pads. Non-approved
wheel cleaners may also damage the wheel
paint if the vehicle is not driven after
cleaning.
Therefore, the vehicle’s brake system
should always be warmed-up before it is
parked after cleaning. Drive your vehicle for
several minutes to allow the brakes to dry.
When applying Mercedes-Benz approved
Tire Care and Mercedes-Benz approved
Wheel Care products, take care not to
spray them on the brake disks. Plastic and rubber parts X
Use a gentle dishwashing detergent or mild
detergent
for delicate fabrics as a washing
solution.
X Wipe with a cloth moistened in a lukewarm
solution.
The
surface may temporarily change color.
If this is the case, wait for it to dry. G
Warning!
Do not use cleaners or cockpit care sprays
containing
solvents to clean the cockpit or the
steering wheel. Cleaners containing solvents
will make the surface porous and vehicle
occupants could suffer serious injuries from
plastic parts coming loose in the event of air
bag deployment.
! Do not use oil, wax or scouring agents.
Otherwise you may scratch or damage the
surface.
Hard plastic trim items
X Use Mercedes-Benz approved Interior Care
on
a soft, lint-free cloth and apply with light
pressure.
COMAND display !
You
must switch off the COMAND display
and allow it to cool prior to cleaning.
! Do not use any liquids or cleaning agents.
These can damage or even destroy the
COMAND display screen.
X Use a standard microfiber cloth and apply
with light pressure.
Steering wheel and gear selector lever X
Wipe with a damp cloth and dry thoroughly
or clean with Mercedes-Benz approved
Leather Care. 220
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Vehicle equipment ............................
224
Where will I find ...? .......................... 224
Vehicle status messages in the
multifunction display ....................... 228
What to do if … .................................. 251
Unlocking/locking manually ...........261
Resetting activated NECK-PRO
active front head restraints .............264
Replacing SmartKey batteries ......... 264
Replacing bulbs ................................. 266
Replacing wiper blades ....................270
Flat tire .............................................. 271
Battery ............................................... 278
Jump starting .................................... 280
Towing the vehicle ............................281
Fuses .................................................. 284 223Practical hints
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X
Push the front edge of the luggage box in
direction of arrows under the cover of the
trunk sill.
X Press the fastening clips onto the fastening
bolts until they lock into place. Vehicle status messages in the
multifunction display
Notes
Warning and malfunction messages appear in
the multifunction display located in the
instrument cluster.
Certain warning and malfunction messages
are accompanied by an audible signal.
Address these messages accordingly and
follow the additional instructions given in this
Operator’s Manual.
Selecting the Vehicle status message
memory menu in the control system
(Y page 117) displays both cleared and
uncleared messages.
High-priority messages appear in the
multifunction display in red color.
Certain messages of high priority cannot be
cleared from the multifunction display using
the reset button (Y page 109) or button
&, *, U or V on the
multifunction steering wheel.
Other messages of high priority and
messages of less immediate priority can be
cleared from the multifunction display using the reset button or button
&, *,
U or V on the multifunction steering
wheel. They are then stored in the Vehicle
status message memory menu
(Y page 117). Remember that clearing a
message will only make the message
disappear. Clearing a message will not
correct the condition that caused the
message to appear. G
Warning!
All categories of messages contain important
information which should be taken note of
and, where a malfunction is indicated,
addressed as soon as possible at an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Failure to repair the condition noted may
cause damage not covered by the Mercedes-
Benz Limited Warranty, or result in property
damage or personal injury. G
Warning!
No messages will be displayed if either the
instrument cluster or the multifunction
display is inoperative.
As a result, you will not be able to see
information about your driving conditions,
such as
R speed
R outside temperature
R warning/indicator lamps
R malfunction/warning messages
R failure of any systems
Driving characteristics may be impaired.
If you must continue to drive, do so with added
caution. Contact an authorized Mercedes-
Benz Center as soon as possible.
On the pages that follow, you will find a
compilation of the most important warning
and malfunction messages that may appear.
For your convenience the messages are
divided into text messages ( Y page 229) and
symbol messages ( Y page 238).228
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Text messages
Safety systems Display messages
Possible causes/consequences and
X SolutionsABS ABS, ESP
Inoperativ
e
See
Operator’s
Man. The brake system is still functioning normally but due to a
malfunction, the ABS, the BAS, the ESP
®
, and the PRE-
SAFE ®
system are unavailable.
X Continue driving with added caution. Wheels may lock
during hard braking, reducing steering capability.
X Have the system checked at an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center as soon as possible.
Failure to follow these instructions increases the risk of an
accident. ABS ABS, ESP
Unavailabl
e See
Operator’s
Man. The brake system still functions normally but due to
insufficient power supply, the ABS, the BAS, the ESP
®
, and
the PRE-SAFE ®
system are unavailable.
When
the voltage is above the required value again, the ABS,
the BAS, the ESP ®
, and the PRE-SAFE ®
system are
operational again and the message should disappear.
X If the message does not disappear: Have the system
checked at an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center as soon
as possible. ESP Inoperativ
e See
Operator’s
Manual The brake system is still functioning normally but due to a
malfunction the BAS, the ESP
®
, and the PRE-SAFE ®
system
are unavailable.
The ABS may not be operational.
X Continue driving with added caution. Wheels may lock
during hard braking, reducing steering capability.
X Have the system checked at an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center as soon as possible.
Failure to follow these instructions increases the risk of an
accident. PRE-SAFE Inoperativ
e See
Operator’s
Manual
The PRE-SAFE
®
system has failed. All other occupant safety
systems, such as the air bags, are still available.
X Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center as soon as
possible. Vehicle status messages in the multifunction display
229
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Display messages
Possible causes/consequences and
X SolutionsFront
Passenger
Airbag
Enabled
See
Operator’s
Manual USA only:
The front passenger front air bag is activated while driving
even though a child, small individual, or object below the
system’s weight threshold is on the front passenger seat, or
the front passenger seat is empty. Objects on the seat or
forces acting on the seat may make the system sense
supplemental weight.
X
Stop the vehicle in a safe location as soon as possible.
X Engage the parking brake.
X Switch off the ignition.
X Open the front passenger door.
X Remove child and child restraint from front passenger seat
and properly secure the child in rear seat employing the
child restraint if necessary.
X Remove any other items from on and around the front
passenger
seat and make sure the storage bag on the back
of the front passenger seat is empty.
X Make sure no objects which apply forces to the seat are
present
(e.g. objects such as books, briefcases etc. lodged
behind or around the seat, head restraints pushing against
roof etc.). The system may recognize such forces as
supplemental weight and sense that an occupant on the
front passenger seat is of a greater weight than actually
present.
X Keep the seat unoccupied, close the front passenger door
and switch on the ignition.
Monitor the 04 indicator lamp in the center
console (Y page 44) and the multifunction display in the
instrument cluster
(Y page 28) for the following:
With the seat unoccupied and the ignition switched on,
R the 04 indicator lamp in the center console
should illuminate and remain illuminated, indicating that
the OCS (Y page 41) has deactivated the front passenger
front air bag.
R the message Front Passenger Airbag Enabled See
Operator’s Manual or the message Front Passenger
Airbag Disabled See Operator’s Manual should not
appear in the multifunction display at any time the seat is
unoccupied. Wait at least 60 seconds for the system to
complete the necessary check cycles and to make sure
neither message appears in the multifunction display. 230
Vehicle status messages in the multifunction display
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