2012 MERCEDES-BENZ CLS-Class Vehicle

to painted surfaces. You could otherwise
damage the paintwork.
If water no longer forms "beads" on the paint
surface, use the paint care products
recommended and approved by Mercedes-
Benz. This is the case approximately every
three to five months, depending on the
climate conditions and the care product used.
If dirt has penetrated the paint surface or the
paint has become dull, the paint cleaner
recommended and approved by Mercedes-
Benz should be used.
Do not use these care products in the sun or
on the hood while the hood is hot.XUse a suitable touch-up stick, e.g. MB
Touch-Up Stick, to correct smaller areas of
paint damage quickly and provisionally.
Matte finish care
If your vehicle has a clear matte finish,
observe the following instructions in order to
avoid damage to the paintwork due to
incorrect care.
These notes also apply to light alloy wheels
with a clear matte finish.
! Never polish the vehicle or the light alloy
wheels. Polishing causes the finish to
shine.
! The following may cause the paint to
become shiny and thus reduce the matte
effect:
R Vigorous rubbing with unsuitable
materials.
R Frequent use of car washes.
R Washing the vehicle in direct sunlight.
! Never use paint cleaner, buffing or
polishing products, or gloss preserver, e.g.
wax. These products are only suitable for
high-gloss surfaces. Their use on vehicles
with matte finish leads to considerable
surface damage (shiny, spotted areas).
Always have paintwork repairs performed
at a qualified specialist workshop, e.g. an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
! Do not use wash programs with a hot wax
treatment under any circumstances.
i The vehicle should preferably be washed
by hand using a soft sponge, car shampoo
and plenty of water.
i Use only insect remover and car shampoo
from the range of recommended and
approved Mercedes-Benz care products.
Cleaning the windowsGWARNING
Before cleaning the windshield or wiper
blades, switch off the windshield wipers and
remove the SmartKey from the ignition lock.
On vehicles with KEYLESS-GO, press the
Start/Stop button repeatedly until all
indicator lamps in the instrument cluster have
gone out. The windshield wipers could
otherwise move and injure you.
XClean the inside and outside of the
windows with a damp cloth and a cleaning
agent that is recommended and approved
by Mercedes-Benz.
! Do not use dry cloths, abrasive products,
solvents or cleaning agents containing
solvents to clean the inside of the windows.
Do not touch the insides of the windows
with hard objects, e.g. an ice scraper or
ring. There is otherwise a risk of damaging
the windows.
! Clean the water drainage channels of the
windshield and the rear window at regular
intervals. Deposits such as leaves, petals
and pollen may under certain
circumstances prevent water from draining
away. This can lead to corrosion damage
and damage to electronic components.
288CareMaintenance and care

Cleaning the wiper bladesGWARNING
Before cleaning the windshield or wiper
blades, switch off the windshield wipers and
remove the SmartKey from the ignition lock.
On vehicles with KEYLESS-GO, press the
Start/Stop button repeatedly until all
indicator lamps in the instrument cluster have
gone out. The windshield wipers could
otherwise move and injure you.
! Do not pull the wiper blade. Otherwise,
the wiper blade could be damaged.
! Do not clean wiper blades too often and
do not rub them too hard. Otherwise, the
graphite coating could be damaged. This
could cause wiper noise.
XFold the wiper arms away from the
windshield.XCarefully clean the wiper blades with a
damp cloth.XFold the windshield wipers back again
before switching on the ignition.
! Hold the wiper arm securely when folding
back. The windshield could be damaged if
the wiper arm smacks against it suddenly.
Cleaning the exterior lighting
XClean the plastic lenses of the exterior
lights with a wet sponge and a mild cleaning
agent, e.g. Mercedes-Benz car shampoo or
cleaning cloths.
! Only use cleaning agents or cleaning
cloths which are suitable for plastic light
lenses. Unsuitable cleaning agents or
cleaning cloths could scratch or damage
the plastic light lenses.
Cleaning the sensorsXClean sensors : of the driving systems
with water, car shampoo and a soft cloth.
! When cleaning the sensors with a power
washer, maintain a distance between the
vehicle and the nozzle of the power washer
of at least 11.8 in (30 cm). Information
about the correct distance is available from
the equipment manufacturer.
Cleaning the rear view camera
XUse clear water and a soft cloth to clean
camera lens :.
!
Do not clean the camera lens and the area
around the rear view camera with a power
washer.
Care289Maintenance and careZ

Cleaning the exhaust tail pipes
Impurities combined with the effects of road
grit and corrosive environmental factors may
cause flash rust to form on the surface. You
can restore the original shine of the exhaust
tail pipe by cleaning it regularly, especially in
winter and after washing.
! Do not clean the exhaust tail pipes with
alkaline-based cleaning agents, such as
wheel cleaner.
XClean the exhaust tail pipes with a chrome
care product tested and approved by
Mercedes-Benz.
Interior care
Cleaning the display
XBefore cleaning the display, make sure that
it is switched off and has cooled down.XClean the display surface using a
commercially-available microfiber cloth
and TFT/LCD display cleaner.XDry the display surface using a dry
microfiber cloth.
! For cleaning, do not use any of the
following:
R alcohol-based thinner or gasoline
R abrasive cleaning agents
R commercially-available household
cleaning agents
These may damage the display surface. Do
not put pressure on the display surface
when cleaning. This could lead to
irreparable damage to the display.
Cleaning Night View Assist Plus
! Never clean the camera lens. When
cleaning the field of vision of the driving
systems, make sure that you do not spray
glass cleaner on the camera lens. If the
camera lens is dirty, visit a qualified
specialist workshop.
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, stop before trying to
remove window fogging or cleaning the
window in front of the Night View Assist Plus
camera.
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.
XFold down the camera cover by recess :.XUse a soft cloth to clean the windshield in
front of camera ;.
Cleaning the plastic trim
GWARNING
When cleaning the steering wheel boss and
dashboard, do not use cockpit sprays or
cleaning agents containing solvents. Cleaning
290CareMaintenance and care

Useful information
i This Operator's Manual describes all
models and all standard and optional
equipment of your vehicle available at the
time of publication of the Operator's
Manual. Country-specific differences are
possible. Please note that your vehicle may
not be equipped with all features
described. This also applies to safety-
related systems and functions.
i Please read the information on qualified
specialist workshops ( Y page 22).
Where will I find...?
First-aid kit
XOpen the trunk lid.XSlide down the parcel net.XOpen the stowage compartment.XRelease strap :.XRemove first-aid kit ;.
i
Check the expiration date on the first-aid
kit at least once a year. Replace the
contents if necessary, and replace missing
contents.
Vehicle tool kit
The vehicle tool kit can be found in the
stowage well under the trunk floor.
XLift the trunk floor up ( Y page 260).:Vehicle tool kit tray;Stowage well="Minispare" emergency spare wheel
The vehicle tool kit contains:
R Folding wheel chock
R Fuse allocation chart
R Jack
R Alignment bolt
R One pair of gloves
R Lug wrench
R Towing eye
XVehicles with a collapsible spare
wheel 22
: lift up the trunk floor
( Y page 260).:Towing eye;One pair of gloves=Jack?Folding wheel chockAAlignment bolt22
AMG vehicles only.294Where will I find...?Breakdown assistance

BSheet for faulty wheelCTire inflation compressorDLug wrenchEFuse allocation chart
"Minispare" emergency spare wheel/
collapsible spare wheel
Removing the "Minispare" emergency
spare wheel/collapsible spare wheel
The emergency spare wheel can be found in
the stowage well under the trunk floor.
Removing the "Minispare" emergency
spare wheel
XLift the trunk floor upwards ( Y page 260).XTurn stowage tray ; counter-clockwise
and remove together with vehicle tool kit
tray :.XRemove "Minispare" emergency spare
wheel =.Removing the collapsible spare wheel:
AMG vehiclesXReach into cutout : in the tool holder and
lift it up.XRemove collapsible spare wheel ;.
For further information on changing a wheel
and mounting the spare wheel, see
( Y page 296).
Stowing a used collapsible spare wheel
Take the following steps to stow a used
collapsible spare wheel. It will otherwise not
fit in the spare wheel well. Mercedes-Benz
recommends that you have this work carried
out at a qualified specialist workshop, e.g. an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
! Only place the collapsible spare wheel in
the vehicle when it is dry. Otherwise,
moisture may get into the vehicle.
XUnscrew the valve cap from the valve.
i Fully deflating the tire can take a few
minutes.
XScrew the valve insert back into the valve.XScrew the valve cap back on.Where will I find...?295Breakdown assistance

Flat tire
Preparing the vehicle
Your vehicle may be equipped with:
R a "Minispare" emergency spare wheel
R a collapsible spare wheel
R MOExtended tires (tires with run-flat
properties) ( Y page 302)
i Vehicle preparation is not necessary on
vehicles with MOExtended tires.
XVehicles with AIRMATIC: make sure that
"normal" level is selected ( Y page 168).XStop the vehicle as far away as possible
from traffic on solid, non-slippery and level
ground.XSwitch on the hazard warning lamps.XBring the front wheels into the straight-
ahead position.XMove the DIRECT SELECT lever to P.XSwitch off the engine.XVehicles without KEYLESS-GO: remove
the SmartKey from the ignition lock.XVehicles with KEYLESS-GO: open the
driver's door.
The on-board electronics have status 0,
which is the same as the SmartKey having
been removed.XVehicles with KEYLESS-GO: remove the
Start/Stop button from the ignition lock
( Y page 133).XAll occupants must get out of the vehicle.
Make sure that they are not endangered as
they do so.XMake sure that no one is near the danger
area while a wheel is being changed.
Anyone who is not directly assisting in the
wheel change should, for example, stand
behind the barrier.XGet out of the vehicle. Pay attention to
traffic conditions when doing so.XClose the driver's door.Changing a wheel and mounting the
spare wheel
Preparing the vehicleGWARNING
The wheel and tire size of the emergency
spare wheel/spare wheel may differ to that of
the damaged wheel. When using an
emergency spare wheel/spare wheel the
handling characteristics of the vehicle may
change.
Adapt your style of driving accordingly.
Never operate the vehicle with more than one
emergency spare wheel/spare wheel that
differs in size.
Only use an emergency spare wheel/spare
wheel of a differing size briefly and do not
switch off ESP ®
.
When using an emergency spare wheel, you
must not exceed the maximum speed of
50 mph (80 km/h).
GWARNING
Have the emergency spare wheel/spare
wheel replaced with a new wheel as soon as
possible at a qualified specialist workshop
which has the necessary specialist knowledge
and tools to carry out the work required.
Mercedes-Benz recommends that you use an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center for this
purpose. In particular, work relevant to safety
or on safety-related systems must be carried
out at a qualified specialist workshop.
i Vehicles without a spare wheel/
emergency spare wheel are not equipped
with a tire-change tool kit at the factory. For
more information on which tools are
required to perform a wheel change on your
vehicle, e.g. wheel chock, lug wrench or
alignment bolt, consult an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
296Flat tireBreakdown assistance

XPrepare the vehicle as described
( Y page 296).XRemove the following items (depending on
the vehicle's equipment) from the stowage
well under the trunk floor:
R the emergency spare wheel
R the tire inflation compressor
R the vehicle tool kit
R the folding wheel chock
R the jackXSecure the vehicle to prevent it from rolling
away.
Securing the vehicle to prevent it from
rolling away
GWARNING
Only jack up the vehicle on level ground or on
slight inclines/declines. The vehicle could
otherwise fall off the jack and injure you or
others.
If your vehicle is equipped with a wheel chock,
it can be found in the vehicle tool kit
( Y page 294).
The folding wheel chock is an additional
securing measure to prevent the vehicle from
rolling away, for example when changing a
wheel.
XFold both plates upwards :.XFold out lower plate ;.XGuide the lugs on the lower plate fully into
the openings in base plate =.
Securing the vehicle on level ground
XOn level ground: place chocks or other
suitable items under the front and rear of
the wheel that is diagonally opposite the
wheel you wish to change.
Securing the vehicle on slight downhill gradients
XOn downhill gradients: place chocks or
other suitable items in front of the wheels
of the front and rear axle.
Raising the vehicle
GWARNING
When jacking up the vehicle, only use the jack
which has been specifically approved by
Mercedes-Benz for your vehicle.
The jack is designed exclusively for jacking up
the vehicle at the jacking points built into both
sides of the vehicle. The jack saddle must be
placed centrally under the jacking point. The
jack must always be vertical when in use,
especially on inclines or declines.
The jack is intended only for lifting the vehicle
briefly for wheel changes. It is not suited for
Flat tire297Breakdown assistanceZ

performing maintenance work under the
vehicle. To help avoid personal injury, use the
jack only to lift the vehicle during a wheel
change.
Never get beneath the vehicle while it is
supported by the jack. Keep hands and feet
away from the area under the lifted vehicle.
Always lower the vehicle onto sufficient
capacity jackstands before working under the
vehicle.
Always firmly engage the parking brake and
block the wheels with wheel chocks or other
sizable objects before raising the vehicle with
the jack. Do not disengage the parking brake
while the vehicle is raised.
Make sure that the ground on which the
vehicle is standing and where you place the
jack is solid, level and not slippery. If
necessary, use a large underlay. On slippery
surfaces, such as tiled floors, you should use
a non-slip underlay, for example a rubber mat.
Do not use wooden blocks or similar objects
as a jack underlay. Otherwise, the jack may
not be able to achieve its load-bearing
capacity if it is not at its full height.
Never start the engine when the vehicle is
raised.
Also observe the notes on the jack.XUsing lug wrench :, loosen the bolts on
the wheel you wish to change by about one
full turn. Do not unscrew the bolts
completely.
The jacking points for the jack are located
behind the wheel housings of the front wheels
and in front of the wheel housings of the rear
wheels (arrows).GWARNING
The jack is designed exclusively for jacking up
the vehicle at the jacking points. The jack
saddle must be placed centrally under the
jacking point.
If you do not position the jack correctly in the
jacking point, the vehicle can fall off the jack
and seriously or fatally injure you or others.
! The jack is designed exclusively for
jacking up the vehicle at the jacking points.
Otherwise, your vehicle could be damaged.
XPosition jack = at jacking point ;.298Flat tireBreakdown assistance