2011 MERCEDES-BENZ R-Class Owner's Manual

CapacitiesVehicle modelCapacityFuel, coolant,
lubricants etc.Engine oil and
filterR 350 BlueTEC9.0 US qt (8.5 l)Approved engine
oilsR 3508.5 US qt (8.0 l)Power steeringAll modelsApprox. 1.3 US qt (1.2 l)MB Power Steering
Fluid or approved
Dexron III ATFCooling systemAll modelsApprox. 10.0 US qt (9.5 l)MB 325.0
Anticorrosion/
AntifreezeTank capacityAll models21.1 US gal (80.0 l)Gasoline engines:
premium-grade
unleaded gasoline
(at least 91 octane,
average value
between 96 RON/
86 MON)
Diesel engines:
ULTRA-LOW
SULFUR DIESEL
FUEL (ULSD,
maximum sulfur
content 15 ppm)ReserveAll modelsApprox. 3.4 US gal (13.0 l)AdBlue ®
tankR 350 BlueTEC7.5 US gal (28.2 l)AdBlue ®
as per
ISO 22241Air-
conditioning
systemAll models—Refrigerant R134a
and special PAG
lubricant (never
R 12)Windshield/
headlamp
cleaning
systemAll models7.4 US qt (7.0 l)MB washer fluid
concentrate 51
( Y page 357)
Mixing ratio for
screen wash
( Y page 357)51
Mixed with water or premixed washer fluid with antifreeze protection.Service products and capacities351Technical dataBA 251 USA, CA Edition A 2011; 1; 3, en-USd2sboikeVersion: 3.0.3.52010-04-16T14:31:55+02:00 - Seite 351Z

Fuel
Important safety notesGWarning!
Fuel is highly flammable. Fire, naked flames
and smoking are therefore prohibited when
handling fuels.
Switch off the engine and the auxiliary heating
before refueling.
GWarning!
Gasoline and diesel fuels are highly flammable
and poisonous. They burn violently and can
cause serious injury.
Never allow sparks, flames or smoking
materials near gasoline or diesel fuel!
Turn off the engine before refueling.
Whenever you are around gasoline or diesel
fuel, avoid inhaling fumes and any skin or
clothing contact. Extinguish all smoking
materials.
Direct skin contact with fuels and the
inhalation of fuel vapors are damaging your
health.
Premium-grade unleaded gasoline
! To ensure the longevity and full
performance of the engine, only premium-
grade unleaded gasoline must be used.
If premium-grade unleaded gasoline is
unavailable and regular gasoline is used,
observe the following precautions:
R only fill the fuel tank to half full with
regular unleaded gasoline and add the
rest as soon as possible with premium-
grade unleaded gasoline.
R do not drive at the maximum speed.
R avoid sudden acceleration.
R when the vehicle is carrying a light cargo,
e.g. two passengers without luggage, do
not allow the engine to rev above
3000 rpm.
R when the vehicle is fully loaded or being
operated in mountainous terrain, do not
depress the accelerator pedal further
than 2
/ 3 of the pedal travel.
Fuel requirements
Gasoline engines
Use only premium-grade unleaded gasoline.
The octane number should be at least 91.
Details can be found on the gas pump. The
octane number is the average value of the
Research Octane Number (RON) and Motor
Octane Number (MON): (RON + MON) / 2,
also known as knock resistance.
Reformulated Gasoline (RFG) and/or
unleaded gasoline with additives can be used
if the concentration of the additives in the fuel
does not exceed 10%, e.g.:
R Ethanol
R TAME
R ETBE
R IPA
R TBA
For MTBE, the concentration should not
exceed 15%.
The concentration of methanol in gasoline
including other additives must not exceed 3%.
Using mixtures of methanol and ethanol is not
permitted. Gasohol, a mixture of 10% ethanol
and 90% unleaded gasoline can be used.
All of these mix fuels must fulfill the fuel
requirements, e.g.:
R knock resistance
R boiling point
R vapor pressure
Diesel engines – important safety
information
! Only use commercially available ULTRA-
LOW SULFUR DIESEL FUEL (ULSD, 15 ppm
MAXIMUM SULFUR) that meets the
ASTM D975 standard. Failure to use
ULTRA-LOW SULFUR DIESEL FUEL (ULSD)
can severely damage the vehicle's exhaust
gas aftertreatment system.
352Service products and capacitiesTechnical data
BA 251 USA, CA Edition A 2011; 1; 3, en-USd2sboikeVersion: 3.0.3.52010-04-16T14:31:55+02:00 - Seite 352

! Do not fill the tank with gasoline. Do not
blend diesel fuel with gasoline or kerosene.
Otherwise, the fuel system and the engine
will be damaged. Damage resulting from
the use of gasoline or kerosene is not
covered by the Mercedes-Benz Limited
Warranty.
To prevent malfunctions, diesel fuel with
improved flow characteristics is available in
the winter months. Check with your fuel
retailer.
Information on the fuel grade can usually be
found on the gas pump. If the information
cannot be found on the gas pump, ask service
station personnel. For further information,
contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center
or visit http://www.mbusa.com (USA
only).
Diesel engines – fuels with biodiesel
(FAME [fatty acid methyl ester])
Mercedes-Benz USA approves the use of B5
(ULSD with a maximum of up to 5 percent by
volume biodiesel) for all diesel engines with
common rail direct injection (CDI) and
BlueTEC.
Pure biodiesel and diesel fuels containing a
higher percentage of biodiesel, e.g. B20, may
cause damage to the fuel system or engine
and are therefore not approved.
Please ask the service station personnel for
further information. The label on the gas
pump must indicate clearly that the B5
biodiesel blend meets the ULSD standard. If
the label is not clear, do not refuel the vehicle.
The Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty does
not cover damages caused by the use of fuels
which do meet Mercedes-Benz approved fuel
standards.
Additives in gasoline
One of the major problems in engine design
is the creation of carbon deposits during the
process of burning fuel. Mercedes-Benz
recommends that you use fuel brands that
have the additives which prevent the build up
of carbon deposits.
If you use fuels without these additives for a
longer period of time, there may be a build up
of carbon deposits, especially on the inlet
valves and in the combustion chamber.
This could lead to engine running problems,
e.g.:
R warm-up hesitation
R unstable idle
R knocking/pinging
R misfire
R power loss
In areas where carbon deposits may be
encountered due to lack of availability of
gasoline which contains these additives,
Mercedes-Benz recommends the use of
additives approved for use in Mercedes-Benz
vehicles.
Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center
or visit http://www.mbusa.com (USA only)
for a list of approved products. Observe the
instructions for use on the product label.
Do not mix other fuel additives with fuel. This
causes unnecessary costs and could damage
the engine.
! Do not refuel with low-grade fuel and do
not use fuel additives that are not tested
and approved for Mercedes-Benz vehicles.
Serious damage or malfunctions can result
that are not covered:
R by the Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty
R by an existing Limited Warranty
R by an extended Limited Warranty
AdBlue ®
Important safety notes
i For BlueTEC vehicles only.
AdBlue ®
is a non-flammable, non-toxic,
colorless, odorless and water-soluble fluid.
Service products and capacities353Technical dataBA 251 USA, CA Edition A 2011; 1; 3, en-USd2sboikeVersion: 3.0.3.52010-04-16T14:31:55+02:00 - Seite 353Z

! Only use AdBlue ®
that complies with
ISO 22241. Do not add any special
additives to AdBlue ®
and do not thin
AdBlue ®
with water. This could destroy the
BlueTEC exhaust gas aftertreatment.
! Rinse surfaces that have come into
contact with AdBlue ®
immediately with
water or remove AdBlue ®
using a damp
cloth and cold water. If the AdBlue ®
has
already crystallized, use a sponge and cold
water to clean it. AdBlue ®
residues
crystallize after time and contaminate the
affected surfaces.
High outside temperatures
If AdBlue ®
is heated to above 122 ‡ (50 †)
for an extended period of time, e.g. due to
direct sunlight on the AdBlue ®
tank,
AdBlue ®
may start to decompose. Ammonia
vapors develop as a result.
GWarning!
When opening the filler cap of the AdBlue ®
tank ammonia gas vapors may escape. Refill
AdBlue ®
in a well ventilated area only.
Ammonia gas vapors have a pungent odor and
are particularly irritating for your skin,
mucous membranes, and eyes. Inhaling
ammonia gas vapors will cause burning eyes,
nose, and throat, as well as coughing and
watering eyes.
Low outside temperatures
AdBlue ®
freezes at a temperature of
approximately 12 ‡ (-11 †). The vehicle is
equipped with an AdBlue ®
preheating system
at the factory. Winter operation can thus be
guaranteed even at temperatures below
12 ‡ (-11 †).
Additives
! Use only AdBlue ®
complying with ISO
22241. Do not use any additives with
AdBlue ®
and do not thin AdBlue ®
with
water. This may destroy the BlueTEC
exhaust gas aftertreatment system.
Damage resulting from the use of additives
or water is not covered by the Mercedes-
Benz Limited Warranty.
Purity
Assuring the purity of AdBlue ®
is particularly
important with respect to avoiding
malfunctions in the exhaust gas
aftertreatment system.
If AdBlue ®
is pumped out of the AdBlue ®
tank,
e.g. during repair work, it must not be
returned to the tank. The purity of the fluid
can no longer be guaranteed.
! Impurities in AdBlue ®
, e.g. due to other
service products, cleaning agents or dust,
lead to increased emission values, system
malfunctions, catalytic converter damage
or damage to the BlueTEC system.
Engine oil
Points to remember
The engine oils are matched to the
performance of our engines and service
intervals. For this reason, only use engine oils
and oil filters that are approved for vehicles
with a service system.
Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center
or visit http://www.mbusa.com (USA only)
for a list of approved engine oils and oil filters.
! Never use engine oil or an oil filter of a
specification other than is necessary to
fulfill the prescribed service intervals. Do
not change the engine oil or oil filter in
order to achieve longer replacement
intervals than those prescribed. Otherwise,
you may cause damage to the engine or
exhaust gas aftertreatment; this is not
covered by the Mercedes-Benz Limited
Warranty.
Follow the instructions in the service
interval display regarding the oil change.
354Service products and capacitiesTechnical data
BA 251 USA, CA Edition A 2011; 1; 3, en-USd2sboikeVersion: 3.0.3.52010-04-16T14:31:55+02:00 - Seite 354

Otherwise, you may damage the engine and
the exhaust gas aftertreatment.
Mercedes-Benz recommends MOBIL OIL.
The table shows which engines oil have been
approved for your vehicle.
ModelEngine
model
MB
Approval
R 350 BlueTEC642229.51R 350272229.5
iMB Approval is stated on the containers.
Lubricant additives
! Do not mix any lubricant additives with
the engine oil. This could damage the
engine. Damage resulting from the use of
such lubricant additives in the engine oil is
not covered by the Mercedes-Benz Limited
Warranty.
Engine oil viscosity
Viscosity describes the flow characteristics
of a fluid. If an engine oil has a high viscosity,
this means that it is thick; a low viscosity
means that it is thin.
Select the SAE classification (viscosity) of the
engine oil according to the outside
temperature. The following table shows you
the viscosity classes to be used depending on
the average air temperature.
Refrigerant of the air-conditioning
system
The air-conditioning system is filled with
R134a refrigerant and a special PAG
lubricant.
! Never use refrigerant R 12 (CFC) or
mineral lubricants. Otherwise, you could
damage the air-conditioning system.
Brake fluid
GWarning!
The brake fluid constantly absorbs moisture
from the air; this lowers its boiling point.
If the boiling point of the brake fluid is too low,
vapor pockets may form in the brake system
when the brakes are applied hard (e.g. when
driving downhill). This would impair braking
efficiency.
You should have the brake fluid renewed at
regular intervals. The brake fluid change
intervals can be found in the Service Booklet.
Only use brake fluid approved by Mercedes-
Benz. Information about approved brake
fluids can be obtained from any authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
Coolant
Important safety notes
The coolant is a mixture of water and
anticorrosion/antifreeze. It performs the
following tasks:
Ranti-corrosion protection
Rantifreeze protection
Rraising the boiling point
The cooling system is filled with coolant at the
factory which contains antifreeze/corrosion
inhibitor that ensures protection down to
approximately -35 ‡ (-37 †).
! Only use premixed coolant solutions.
Adding water and MB 325.0 Anticorrosion/
Service products and capacities355Technical dataBA 251 USA, CA Edition A 2011; 1; 3, en-USd2sboikeVersion: 3.0.3.52010-04-16T14:31:55+02:00 - Seite 355Z

Antifreeze separately from each other,
could cause engine damage not covered by
the Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.
! Always use a suitable coolant mixture,
even in countries where high temperatures
prevail.
Otherwise, the cooling system will not be
sufficiently protected from corrosion, and
the boiling point will be too low.
If the coolant has antifreeze protection down
to -35 ‡ (-37 †), the boiling point of the
coolant in the pressurized system is
approximately 266 ‡ (130 †).
The coolant must be used throughout the year
in order to maintain the necessary corrosion
protection and provide protection from
overheating. In the Service Booklet, you can
find information on the intervals for renewal.
The renewal interval is determined by the
coolant type and the cooling system design.
The renewal interval in the Service Booklet is
only valid if the coolant is added or renewed
with Mercedes-Benz approved products.
Therefore, only use MB 325.0 Anticorrosion/
Antifreeze or another Mercedes-Benz
approved product of the same specification.
Information on other Mercedes-Benz
approved products of the same specification
can be obtained at any authorized Mercedes-
Benz Center or on the Internet at
http://www.mbusa.com (USA only).
The anticorrosion/antifreeze concentration
in the cooling system should:
R be at least 50%. This will protect the cooling
system against freezing down to around
-35 ‡ (-37 †).
R not exceed 55% (antifreeze protection
down to -49 ‡ [-45 †]); otherwise, heat will
not be dissipated as effectively.
If the coolant level is too low, a mixture of
water and MB 325.0 Anticorrosion/
Antifreeze should be added. Have the cooling
system checked for leaks. Please make sure
the mixture is in accordance with label
instructions.The water in the cooling system must meet
minimum requirements, which are usually
satisfied by normal drinking water.
If you are unsure about the water quality,
contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.356Service products and capacitiesTechnical data
BA 251 USA, CA Edition A 2011; 1; 3, en-USd2sboikeVersion: 3.0.3.52010-04-16T14:31:55+02:00 - Seite 356

Anticorrosion/antifreeze
Your vehicle has a number of aluminum components. The use of aluminum components in
motor vehicle engines necessitates that anticorrosion/antifreeze coolant used in such
engines be specifically formulated to protect the aluminum parts. Failure to use such
anticorrosion/antifreeze coolant will result in a significantly shortened service life.
For this reason, the following product is expressly recommended for use in your vehicle:
MB 325.0 Anticorrosion/Antifreeze.
The coolant concentration should be checked before the onset of winter or once a year in
warmer regions.
The coolant is checked at every service at an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
ModelAntifreeze protection to approximately-35 ‡ (-37 †)-49 ‡ (-45 †)Cooling systemAll models5.0 US qt (4.75 l)5.5 US qt (5.2 l)Windshield 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.
XUse MB Windshield Washer Concentrate
MB SummerFit.XAt temperatures above freezing: add 1
part MB SummerFit to 100 parts water, e.g.
1.34 fl oz (40 ml) MB SummerFit to 1 gal
(4.0 l) of water.XAt temperatures below freezing: add 1
part MB SummerFit to 100 parts washer
fluid, e.g. 1.34 fl oz (40 ml) MB SummerFit
to 1 gal (4.0 l) of water.Vehicle data
Vehicle data, R 350 BlueTEC
(251.125)
The data quoted here refers specifically to a
vehicle with standard equipment. Contact an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center for the
data for all vehicle variants and trim levels.
Vehicle dimensions, R 350 BlueTECVehicle length203.3 in (5163 mm)Vehicle width
including exterior
mirrors85.9 in (2182 mm)Vehicle height65.6 in (1666 mm) 52Wheelbase126.6 in (3215 mm)Front track64.5 in (1638 mm)Rear track64.4 in (1636 mm)Ground clearance5.9 in (150 mm)52Turning circle41.3 ft (12.6 m)52
The values apply to an unladen vehicle with standard equipment. On vehicles with the AIRMATIC package,
the values vary depending on the level set for the vehicle suspension.Vehicle data357Technical dataBA 251 USA, CA Edition A 2011; 1; 3, en-USd2sboikeVersion: 3.0.3.52010-04-16T14:31:55+02:00 - Seite 357Z

Vehicle weight, R 350 BlueTECMaximum roof
loadMaximum 220 lb
(100 kg)
Vehicle data, R 350 (251.165)
The data quoted here refers specifically to a
vehicle with standard equipment. Contact an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center for the
data for all vehicle variants and trim levels.
Vehicle dimensions, R 350Vehicle length203.3 in (5163 mm)Vehicle width
including exterior
mirrors85.9 in (2182 mm)Vehicle height65.5 in (1663 mm) 53Wheelbase126.6 in (3215 mm)Front track64.5 in (1638 mm)Rear track64.4 in (1636 mm)Ground clearance6.0 in (152 mm)53Turning circle41.3 ft (12.6 m)Vehicle weight, R 350Maximum roof
loadMaximum 220 lb
(100 kg)53 The values apply to an unladen vehicle with standard equipment. On vehicles with the AIRMATIC package,
the values vary depending on the level set for the vehicle suspension.358Vehicle dataTechnical data
BA 251 USA, CA Edition A 2011; 1; 3, en-USd2sboikeVersion: 3.0.3.52010-04-16T14:31:55+02:00 - Seite 358