
Parking up the vehicle
If you leave the vehicle parked up for longer
than four weeks, the battery may be damaged
by exhaustive discharge.XDisconnect the battery or connect it to a
trickle charger.
i You can obtain information about trickle
chargers from a qualified specialist
workshop, e.g. an authorized Mercedes-
Benz Center.
If you leave the vehicle parked up for longer
than six weeks, the vehicle may suffer
damage as a result of lack of use.
XVisit a qualified specialist workshop and
seek advice.
Driving tips
General driving tips
Important safety notes
GWarning
Please do not forget that your primary
responsibility is to drive the vehicle. A driver's
attention to the road must always be his/her
primary focus when driving. For your safety
and the safety of others, we recommend that
you pull over to a safe location and stop
before placing or taking a telephone call.
If you use the telephone 18
while driving,
please use the hands-free device and only use
the telephone when road, weather and traffic
conditions permit. Some jurisdictions prohibit
the driver from using a mobile telephone while
driving a vehicle.
Only operate the audio system or
COMAND 18
(Cockpit Management and Data
System) if road, weather and traffic
conditions permit. Otherwise, you may not be
able to observe traffic conditions and could
endanger yourself and others.
Bear in mind that at a speed of just 30 mph
(approximately 50 km/h), your vehicle is
covering a distance of 44 feet (approximately
14 m) every second.
Drive sensibly – save fuel
To save fuel, observe the following notes:
XKeep tires at the recommended inflation
pressures.XRemove unnecessary cargo.XRemove the roof rack when not in use.XMaintain a low engine speed until the
engine is warm.XAvoid frequent acceleration and
deceleration.XHave all maintenance work performed at
the service intervals specified in the
Service Booklet or indicated by the service
interval indicator.
Fuel consumption is also increased by driving
in cold weather, in stop-and-go traffic, on
short trips and in mountainous areas.
Drinking and driving
GWarning
Drinking and driving and/or taking drugs and
driving are very dangerous combinations.
Even a small amount of alcohol or drugs can
affect your reflexes, perceptions and
judgment.
The possibility of a serious or even fatal
accident are greatly increased when you drink
or take drugs and drive.
Do not drink or take drugs and drive or allow
anyone to drive who has been drinking or
taking drugs.
Pedals
GWarning
Make sure absolutely no objects are
obstructing the pedals' range of movement.
18 Observe all legal requirements.144Driving tipsDriving and parking
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Observe the notes in the "Winter operation"
section ( Y page 149).
Winter tires
At temperatures below 45 ‡(+7 †), use
winter tires or all-season tires. Both types of
tire are identified by the M+S marking.
Only winter tires also bearing the i
snowflake symbol next to the M+S marking
provide the best possible grip in wintry road
conditions. Only these tires will allow driving
safety systems such as ABS and ESP ®
to
function optimally in winter, as these tires
have been designed specifically for driving on
snow.
Use M+S tires of the same make and tread on
all wheels to maintain safe handling
characteristics.
GWarning
M+S tires with a tread depth of less than 1
/ 6
inch (4 mm) must be replaced. They are no
longer suitable for winter operation.
Always observe the maximum permissible
speed specified for the M+S tires you have
mounted.
Once you have installed the winter tires:
XCheck the tire pressures ( Y page 269).XRestart the tire pressure monitor
( Y page 271).GWarning
If you use your spare wheel when M+S tires
are fitted on the other wheels, be aware that
the difference in tire characteristics may very
well impair turning stability and that overall
driving stability may be reduced. Adapt your
driving style accordingly.
Have the spare wheel replaced by a regular
road wheel with an M+S tire at the nearest
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Snow chains
For safety reasons, Mercedes-Benz
recommends 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.
! There is not enough space for snow
chains on some wheel sizes. Observe the
information under "Tires and wheels" in the
"Technical Data" section to avoid damage
to the vehicle or the wheels.
R Only use snow chains when driving on an
area completely covered by snow. Do not
exceed the maximum permissible speed of
30 mph (50 km/h). Remove the snow
chains as soon as possible when you are no
longer driving on snow-covered roads.
R Local regulations may restrict the use of
snow chains. Applicable regulations must
be observed if you wish to mount snow
chains.
R Snow chains must not be mounted on
emergency spare wheels.
If you intend to mount snow chains, please
bear the following points in mind:
R you may not attach snow chains to all
wheel-tire combinations; see the "Tires and
wheels" section in the "Technical data"
chapter.
R mount snow chains only in pairs and only
on the rear wheels. Observe the
manufacturer's installation instructions.
! If snow chains are mounted on the front
wheels, the snow chains could grind
against the bodywork or components of the
chassis. This could result in damage to the
vehicle or the tires.
! Vehicles with steel wheels
If you wish to mount snow chains to steel
wheels, make sure that you remove the
respective wheels' hubcaps first. The
hubcaps may otherwise be damaged.
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traffic because conditions do not allow safe
driving at a constant speed.
R The use of the cruise control can be
dangerous on slippery roads. Rapid
changes in tire traction can result in wheel
spin and loss of control.
R Deactivate the cruise control when driving
in fog.
The "Resume" function should only be
operated if the driver is fully aware of the
previously set speed and wishes to resume
this particular preset speed.GWarning!
The cruise control brakes automatically so
that the set speed is not exceeded.
i Cruise control should not be activated
during off-road driving.
Cruise control lever
:To store the current speed or a higher
speed;To store the current speed or a lower
speed=To deactivate cruise control?To store the current speed or to call up
the last stored speed
When you activate cruise control, the stored
speed is shown in the multifunction display
for five seconds. In the multifunction display,
the segments between the stored speed and
the maximum speed light up.
Storing and maintaining the current
speed
You can store the current speed if you are
driving faster than 20 mph (30 km/h).
XAccelerate the vehicle to the desired
speed.XBriefly press the cruise control lever
up : or down ; to the pressure point.XRemove your foot from the accelerator
pedal.
Cruise control is activated. The vehicle
automatically maintains the stored speed.
i Cruise control may be unable to maintain
the stored speed on uphill gradients. The
stored speed is resumed when the gradient
evens out. Cruise control maintains the
stored speed on downhill gradients by
automatically applying the brakes.
Storing the current speed or calling up
the last stored speed
GWarning
The set speed stored in memory should only
be set again if prevailing road conditions and
legal speed limits permit. Possible
acceleration or deceleration differences
arising from returning to the preset speed
could cause an accident and/or serious injury
to you and others.
XBriefly pull the cruise control lever towards
you ?.XRemove your foot from the accelerator
pedal.
The first time cruise control is activated, it
stores the current speed or regulates the
speed of the vehicle to the previously
stored speed.150Driving systemsDriving and parking
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Menus and submenus
Menu overview
The number of menus shown depends on the optional equipment in the vehicle.
Function:Trip menu ( Y page 166);Navi menu (navigation details) ( Y page 167)=Audio menu ( Y page 168)?Tel menu (telephone) ( Y page 169)AServ. menu ( Y page 170)
R call up display messages ( Y page 175)
R tire pressure loss warning system (Canada only) ( Y page 269)
R tire pressure monitor (USA only) ( Y page 271)
R ASSYST PLUS service interval display ( Y page 237)BSettings (Y page 171) menu
The Audio and Tel menus differ slightly in vehicles with an audio system and vehicles with
COMAND. The examples given in this Operator's Manual apply to vehicles equipped with
COMAND.
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Accepting a call
If someone calls you when you are in the
Tel menu, a display message appears in the
multifunction display, for example:
XPress 6 on the steering wheel to accept
an incoming call.
You can accept a call even if you are not in
the Tel menu.
Rejecting or ending a call
XPress the ~ button on the steering
wheel.
You can end or reject a call even if you are not
in the Tel menu.
Dialing a number from the phone book
If your mobile phone is able to receive calls,
you can search for and dial a number from the
phone book in the audio system or COMAND
at any time.
XCopy the telephone book of the mobile
phone into the audio system or to COMAND
(see the separate operating instructions).XPress the = or ; button on the
steering wheel to select the Tel menu.XPress the 9, : or a button to call
up the phone book.XPress 9 or : to select the name you
are searching for.
To start scrolling rapidly, press and hold the
9 or : button for longer than one
second. After a short time, the rapid scroll
speeds up.
Rapid scrolling stops when you release the
button or reach the end of the list.XIf only one telephone number is stored
for a name: press the 6 or a button
to start dialing.
or
XIf there is more than one number for a
particular name: press the 6 or a
button to display the numbers.XPress the 9 or : button to select the
number you want to dial.XPress the 6 or a button to start
dialing.
or
XIf you do not want to make a call: press
the ~ button.
Redialing
The on-board computer saves the last names
or numbers dialed in the redial memory.
XPress the = or ; button on the
steering wheel to select the Tel menu.XPress the 6 button to switch to the
redial memory.XPress the 9 or : button to select the
desired name or number.XPress the 6 or a button to start
dialing.
Maintenance menu
In the Service menu you can:
R call up display messages ( Y page 175)
R restart the tire pressure loss warning
system (Canada only) ( Y page 269)
R check the tire pressure electronically (USA
only) ( Y page 271)
R call up the service due date ( Y page 237)
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Display messagesPossible causes/consequences and M SolutionsCThere is only a small amount of fuel in the fuel tank.XRefuel at the nearest gas station.8
Fuel Level LowThe fuel level has dropped into the reserve range.XRefuel at the nearest gas station.8
Gas Cap LooseThe fuel system pressure is too low. The fuel filler cap is not closed
correctly or the fuel system is leaking.XCheck that the fuel filler cap is correctly closed.XIf the fuel filler cap is not correctly closed: close the fuel filler
cap.XIf the fuel filler cap is closed: visit a qualified specialist
workshop.
Driving systems
Display messagesPossible causes/consequences and M SolutionsCruise Control
InoperativeCruise control is faulty.
A warning tone also sounds.XVisit a qualified specialist workshop.Cruise Control
--- mphA condition for activating cruise control has not been met.
You attempted to save a speed of less than 20 mph (30 km/h).XIf the situation allows, drive faster than 20 mph ( 30 km/h) and
save the speed.XCheck the activation conditions for cruise control
( Y page 149).
Tires
GWarning
Do not drive with a flat tire. A flat tire affects the ability to steer or brake the vehicle. You may
lose control of the vehicle. Continued driving with a flat tire will cause excessive heat build-up
and possibly a fire.
GWarning
Follow recommended tire inflation pressures.
Do not underinflate tires. Underinflated tires wear excessively and/or unevenly, adversely affect
handling and fuel economy, and are more likely to fail from being overheated.
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Do not overinflate tires. Overinflated tires can adversely affect handling and ride comfort, wear
unevenly, increase stopping distance, and result in sudden deflation (blowout) because they are
more likely to become punctured or damaged by road debris, potholes etc.Display messagesPossible causes/consequences and M SolutionsCheck
Tire Pressure SoonGRisk of accident
The tire pressure loss warning system has detected a significant
loss in pressure.
A warning tone also sounds.
XStop the vehicle without making any sudden steering or braking
maneuvers. Pay attention to the traffic conditions as you do so.XCheck the tires and, if necessary, change the wheel
( Y page 280).XCheck the tire pressures and, if necessary, set to the correct
tire pressure.XRestart the tire pressure loss warning system when the tire
pressure is correct ( Y page 269).Check Tire Pressure
Then Restart Run
Flat IndicatorA display message from the tire pressure loss warning system was
shown and the system has not been restarted since.XSet the correct tire pressure in all four tires.XRestart the tire pressure loss warning system ( Y page 269).Run Flat Indicator
InoperativeThe tire pressure loss warning system is faulty.XVisit a qualified specialist workshop.Tire pressures
will be displayed
after driving a
few minutesThe tire pressure monitor is measuring the tire pressure.XDrive on.
The tire pressures appear in the multifunction display after you
have been driving for a few minutes.Tire Press. Monitor
InoperativeThe TPMS is faulty.XVisit a qualified specialist workshop.Tire Pressure
Monitor
Inoperative No
Wheel SensorsThe wheels mounted do not have a suitable tire pressure sensor.
The tire pressure monitor is deactivated.XMount wheels with suitable tire pressure sensors.
The TPMS is activated automatically after driving for a few
minutes.190Display messagesOn-board computer and displays
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Display messagesPossible causes/consequences and M SolutionsCheck
TiresGRisk of accident
The tire pressure in one or more tires has dropped significantly.
The wheel position is displayed in the multifunction display.
XStop the vehicle without making any sudden steering or braking
maneuvers. Pay attention to the traffic conditions as you do so.XCorrect the tire pressure ( Y page 271).XIf necessary, change a wheel ( Y page 280).Caution
Tire MalfunctionGRisk of accident
The tire pressure in one or more tires has dropped suddenly. The
wheel position is displayed in the multifunction display.
XStop the vehicle without making any sudden steering or braking
maneuvers. Pay attention to the traffic conditions as you do so.XIf necessary, change a wheel ( Y page 280).Correct
Tire PressureThe tire pressure is insufficient in at least one of the tires or the
tire pressure difference between the wheels is too great.XCheck the tire pressures at the next opportunity. If necessary,
correct the tire pressure ( Y page 271).XRestart the tire pressure monitor ( Y page 273).Tire Press.
Sensor(s)MissingThere is no signal from the tire pressure sensor of one or several
wheels. The pressure of the affected tire is not displayed in the
multifunction display.XHave the faulty tire pressure sensor replaced at a qualified
specialist workshop.Tire Press. Monitor
Currently
UnavailableNo signals are being received from the tire pressure sensors due
to radio interference. The tire pressure monitor is temporarily
malfunctioning.XDrive on.
The TPMS restarts automatically as soon as the problem has
been solved.h
Tire Press.
Warning Caution
Tire MalfunctionGRisk of accident
The tire pressure in one or more tires has dropped suddenly.
XStop the vehicle without making any sudden steering or braking
maneuvers. Pay attention to the traffic conditions as you do so.XIf necessary, change a wheel ( Y page 280).Display messages191On-board computer and displaysBA 204.9 USA, CA Edition A 2011; 1; 6, en-USd2mwentsVersion: 3.0.3.62010-06-15T08:58:39+02:00 - Seite 191Z