XOpening side air vent: Turn the cross in
side air vent ? in the direction of the arrow
to position 1.XClosing side air vent: Turn the cross in
side air vent ? in the direction of the arrow
to position 2.
i
Side air vent ? is never closed
completely, even when side defroster air
vent = is closed.
Adjusting air distribution
The symbols shown in display H
( Y page 298) on the climate control panel
represent the following functions:
SymbolFunction¯Directs air through the
defroster air vents to the
windshield and door windowsPDirects air through the center
and side air ventsODirects air to the footwellsNDirects air through the center
and side air vents and to the
footwells (USA only)_Directs air into the entire
vehicle interior (Canada only)bDirects air through the center,
side and defroster air vents to
the windshield and door
windows (Canada only)aDirects air through the
defroster air vents to the
windshield and door windows
and to the footwellsXPress button _ repeatedly until you
have select the desired setting and the
corresponding symbol is shown in display
H .Adjusting air volumeXDecreasing/increasing: Press button
I or K .
Front defroster
You can use this setting to defrost the
windshield, for example if it is iced up.
You can also defog the windshield and the
door windows.
i Keep this setting selected only until the
windshield or the door windows are clear
again.
XActivating: Press button ¬.
The indicator lamp in the button comes on.
The climate control switches to the following
functions automatically:
R cooling on to dehumidify
R most efficient blower speed and heating
power, depending on outside temperature
R air flows onto the windshield and the door
windows
R the air recirculation mode is switched off
i You can adjust the air volume when the
front defroster is switched on.
XDeactivating: Press button ¬ again.
The indicator lamp in the button goes out.
The previous settings are once again in
effect. The cooling remains switched on.
The air recirculation remains switched off.
or
XPress button Ã.
The indicator lamp in button ¬ goes out.
Air volume and air distribution are adjusted
automatically.
i To deactivate defrosting, you can also
press button ^ or turn temperature
controls.
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Windshield fogged on the outside XSwitch the windshield wipers on
( Y page 253).
If the automatic mode of the climate control
is switched off:
XPress button _ repeatedly until one of
the following symbols P or O
appears in display H (Y page 298).
Maximum cooling MAX COOL
MAX COOL is only available in U.S. vehicles.
MAX COOL is only operational when the
engine is running.
You can use this setting to provide the fastest
possible cooling of the vehicle interior (when
windows are closed).
XActivating: Press button Ù.
The indicator lamp in the button comes on.
The climate control switches automatically to
the following functions:
R maximum cooling
R maximum blowing power
R the air recirculation mode is switched on
XDeactivating: Press button Ù again.
The indicator lamp in the button goes out.
The previous settings are once again in
effect.
i To switch the maximum cooling function
off, you can also press button ^, Ã
or ¬ .
Air recirculation mode
Switch to air recirculation mode to prevent
unpleasant odors from entering the vehicle
from the outside (e. g. before driving through
a tunnel). This setting cuts off the intake of
outside air and recirculates the air in the
passenger compartment.
GWarning!
Fogged windows impair visibility,
endangering you and others. If the windows
begin to fog on the inside, switching off the
air recirculation mode immediately should
clear interior window fogging. If interior
window fogging persists, make sure the air
conditioning is activated, or press button
¬ .
XActivating: Press button g.
The indicator lamp in the button comes on.
i The air recirculation mode is activated
automatically at high outside
temperatures.
The indicator lamp in button g is not lit
when the air recirculation mode is switched
on automatically.
A quantity of outside air is added after
approximately 30 minutes.
XDeactivating: Press button g again.
The indicator lamp in the button goes out.
i The manually selected air recirculation
mode is deactivated automatically:
R after 5 minutes if the outside
temperature is below approximately
41‡ (5†)
R after 5 minutes if the air conditioning is
turned off
R after 30 minutes if the outside
temperature is above approximately
41‡ (5†)
Using driver-side settings for
passenger side
This feature is only available in Canada
vehicles.
You can use the settings of the driver’s side,
such as temperature, air volume and air
distribution, for the passenger side.
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Storing tires
! Keep unmounted tires in a cool, dry place
with as little exposure to light as possible.
Protect tires from contact with oil, grease
and fuels.
Cleaning tires
! Never use a round nozzle to power wash
tires. The intense jet of water can result in
damage to the tire.
Always replace a damaged tire.
Uniform Tire Quality Grading Standards
The Uniform Tire Quality Grading is a U.S.
Government requirement designed to give
drivers consistent and reliable information
regarding tire performance. Tire
manufacturers are required to grade tires
based on three performance factors:
treadwear :, traction ;, and temperature
resistance =. Although not a Government of
Canada requirement, all tires made for sale in
North America have these grades branded on
the sidewall.
i For illustration purposes only. Actual data
on tires are specific to each vehicle and
may vary from data shown in above
illustration.
Quality grades can be found, where
applicable, on the tire sidewall between tread
shoulder and maximum section width. For
example:
TreadwearTractionTemperature200AAAAll passenger car tires must conform to
federal safety requirements in addition to
these grades.
Treadwear
The treadwear grade is a comparative rating
based on the wear rate of the tire when tested
under controlled conditions on a specified
U.S. Government test course. For example, a
tire graded 150 would wear one and one-half
(1 1
/ 2 ) times as well on the government
course as a tire graded 100.
The relative performance of tires depends
upon the actual conditions of their use,
however, and may depart significantly from
the norm due to variations in driving habits,
service practices and differences in road
characteristics and climate.
Traction GWarning!
The traction grade assigned to this tire is
based on straight-ahead braking traction
tests, and does not include acceleration,
cornering, hydroplaning, or peak traction
characteristics.
The traction grades, from highest to lowest,
are AA, A, B, and C. Those grades represent
the tire’s ability to stop on wet pavement as
measured under controlled conditions on
specified government test surfaces of asphalt
and concrete. A tire marked C may have poor
traction performance.
GWarning!
If ice has formed on the road, tire traction will
be substantially reduced. Under such weather
conditions, drive, steer and brake with
extreme caution.
The safe speed on a wet, snow covered or icy
road is always lower than on a dry road.
You should pay particular attention to the
condition of the road whenever the outside
temperature is close to the freezing point.
Mercedes-Benz recommends winter tires
( Y page 347) with a minimum tread depth of
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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.
Power washerGWarning!
Never use a round nozzle to power-wash tires.
The intense jet of water can result in damage
to the vehicle, especially the tires.
Damaged tires increase the risk of an
accident. Always replace a damaged tire.
Sudden loss of tire inflation pressure could
cause you to lose control over the vehicle and
cause an accident resulting into injury to you
and/or others.
! Follow the instructions provided by the
power washer manufacturer on
maintaining a distance between the vehicle
and the nozzle of the power washer.
Always keep the jet of water moving across
the surface. Do not aim directly at electrical
parts, electrical connectors, seals, or other
rubber parts.
Tar stains
Quickly remove tar stains before they dry and
become more difficult to remove. A tar
remover is recommended.
Paintwork, painted body components
! Affixing stickers, magnets, adhesive tape
or similar materials to painted body
components may damage the paintwork.
Mercedes-Benz approved Paint Care should
be applied when water drops on the paint
surface do not “bead up”. This should
normally be done every 3 to 5 months,
depending on the climate and washing
detergent used.
Mercedes-Benz approved Paint Cleaner
should be applied if the paint surface shows
signs of embedded dirt (i.e. loss of gloss).
Do not apply any of these products or wax if
your vehicle is parked in the sun or if the hood
is still hot.
XUse the appropriate MB-Touch-Up Stick for
quick and provisional repairs of minor paint
damage (i.e. chips from stones, vehicle
doors, etc.).
Vehicles with mat paint
Your vehicle is painted with mat clear-coat
paint. Observe the following notes to avoid
paint damage caused by improper treatment.
i Only use insect remover and car shampoo
approved by Mercedes-Benz.
! Do not polish the vehicle. Polishing will
brighten the paintwork.
Do not use paintwork cleaning agents,
abrasives, polishing compounds, or wax for
paintwork care. Such products are
intended for use on high-polish surfaces.
Using such products on mat paint causes
severe damage, such as bright, spotted
areas on the respective surface.
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Have paintwork repairs performed at an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Have stone chipping repairs as soon as
possible.
Remove the following immediately if possible.
Do not apply strong force.
R Soak insect remains with insect remover
and rinse them of with water afterwards.
Use a soft bristle toothbrush for remains
that have not come off.
R Soak bird droppings with water and rinse
them of with water afterwards. Use a soft
bristle toothbrush for remains that have not
come off.
R Remove tree resins, grease, oil, wax, and
gasoline with commercially available
benzine.
R Dab off tar splashes or tar stains with tar
remover.
Engine cleaning
Prior to cleaning the engine compartment,
make sure to protect electrical components
and connectors from contact with water and
cleaning agents.
Corrosion protection, such as MB
Anticorrosion Wax should be applied to the
engine compartment after every engine
cleaning. Before applying, all control linkage
bushings and joints should be lubricated. The
poly-V-belt and all pulleys should be
protected from any wax.
Vehicle washing
In the winter, thoroughly remove all traces of
road salt as soon as possible.
When washing the vehicle underbody, do not
forget to clean the inner sides of the wheels.
GWarning!
After washing the vehicle, braking efficiency
may be reduced. Reduced braking efficiency
could cause an accident.
Brake the vehicle significantly after washing
the vehicle. Observe the traffic situation when
doing so. The brake discs will warm up and
dry faster. Drive carefully after washing the
vehicle until the brakes have dried and you
can notice that brake efficiency has been
restored.
Hand-washXDo not use hot water or wash your vehicle
in direct sunlight.XOnly use a soft, wet cloth or sponge to
clean the vehicle.XOnly use a mild vehicle wash detergent,
such as Mercedes-Benz approved Car
Shampoo.XThoroughly spray the vehicle with a
diffused jet of water.XDo not spray directly towards the
ventilation intake.XUse plenty of water and rinse the sponge
and chamois frequently.XRinse with clean water and dry with a
chamois thoroughly.
Do not allow cleaning agents to dry on the
finish.
Automatic car wash
You can have your vehicle washed in an
automatic car wash from the start. Brushless
car washes are preferable.
XTo protect the filter system, activate the air
recirculation mode using button g on
the climate control panel.
! Do not clean your vehicle in an automatic
touchless car wash which uses caustic
spray. Caustic spray will damage the paint
or ornamental moldings.
If the vehicle is very dirty, prewash it before
running it through the automatic car wash.
! Make sure the combination switch is set
to wiper setting $. Otherwise, the rain
sensor could activate and cause the wipers
to move unintentionally. This may lead to
vehicle damage.
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