2012 MERCEDES-BENZ M-Class brake fluid

Assis
tance men u(on-boa rd
comp uter) .......................................... 232
ASS YST PLUS
see ASSYST PLUSserviceinterva l
dis pla y
ATA (Anti-Theft Alarm syste m)
Activating/d eactivating ................... 68
Function ...........................................68
Swi tching offthe alarm .................... 68
ATTENTIO NASSIST
Act ivating/deact ivating................. 232
Displ aymessa ge............................ 258
Function/notes ............................. 194
Audio menu(on-bo ardcomputer) ....229
Audio system
see sepa rateoperating instructio ns
Authori zedMerce des-Be nzCenter
see Qualified speci alist worksh op
AUTO lights
Displ aymessa ge............................ 253
see Ligh ts
Automatic headlampmode.............. 110
Automatic transmission
Cha nging gear............................... 146
DIRECT SELECT lever..................... 144
Displ aymessa ge............................ 265
Driving tips.................................... 147
Emergency runningmode.............. 149
Kickdow n....................................... 147
Prob lem(malfunction) ................... 149
Pul ling away ................................... 141
Shift range s................................... 147
Starting theengine ........................ 140
Steering wheelpad dleshifte rs...... 147
Trai lertowi ng................................. 147
Transmi ssionposition display ........145
Transm issionposi tions .................. 146
Automatic transmission
emerge ncymode ............................ ...149 B
Back
support
see Lumb arsup port
Backup lamp
Displ aymessa ge............................ 252
Bag hook............................................ 288Ball
couplin g
Install ing........................................ 214
Rem oving ....................................... 218
Storing ........................................... 218
BAS (Brake AssistSyste m)................. 61
Basic settings
see Settings
BAS PLUS(Brake AssistSyste m
PLU S).................................................... 62
Battery (SmartKe y)
Che cking .............. ............................ 76
Importa ntsafe tynotes .................... 75
Rep lacing ......................................... 76
Battery (vehicle)
Cha rging ........................................ 340
Displ aymessa ge............................ 256
Importa ntsafe tynotes .................. 338
Ju mp starting ................................. 341
Belt
see Seat belts
Blin dSpot Assist
Activa ting/d eactiva ting................. 232
Notes/fu nction.............................. 198
Trai lertowi ng................................. 200
see Active BlindSpotAssist
BlueTE C(D EF ).................................... 387
Brake AssistSyste m
see BAS (Brake AssistSystem)
Brake fluid
Displ aymessa ge............................ 244
Notes ............................................. 389
Brake fluidlevel................................ 316
Brake lamps
Cha nging bulbs.............................. 117
Displ aymessa ge............................ 251
Brakes
ABS .................................................. 61
BAS .................................................. 61
BAS PLUS ........................................ 62
Brake fluid(notes) ......................... 389
Displ aymessa ge............................ 239
Driving tips.................................... 159
Importa ntsafe tynotes .................. 159
Mai ntenance .................................. 160
Warni nglamp ....... ..................... ..... 271 In
dex
5

H
Handbrake
see Parking brake
Hazard warninglamps ...................... 111
Headlamp cleani ngsyste m
Notes ............................................. 390
Headlamps
Addi ngfluidto clea ning system ..... 315
Cl eani ngsys tem (function) ............ 110
Foggi ngup ..................................... 113
see Automa tichea dlamp mode
Head restraints
Adjusting ......................................... 97
Adjusting (electrical ly). .................... 97
Adjusting (manual ly). ....................... 97
Adjusting (rear)................................ 97
Install ing/remo ving(rear)................ 98
Heatin g
see Clima tecontrol
High-b eamheadlamps
Cha nging bulbs.............................. 116
Displ aymessa ge............................ 251
Switchi ngAdap tiveHighb eam
Assist on/off ................................. 112
Switchi ngon/off ........................... 111
Hill start assist.................................. 142
HOLD function
Displ aymessa ge............................ 259
Function/notes ............................. 179
Hoo d
Cl osing .............. ............................ .313
Displ aymessa ge............................ 266
Openi ng......................................... 312
Hydroplan ing..................................... 161I
Immobi
lizer.......................................... 68
Indi cator lamps
see Warni ngand indicator lamps
Indi cators
see Turn signa ls
Ins ectp rote ction onthe radi ator.... 313
Ins trument cluster
Overvi ew.......................................... 29
Settings ......................................... 233
Warni ngand indicator lamps ........... 30Ins
trument cluster lighting ................ 29
Ins trument lighting
see Instrument clusterlighting
Inte rior lighting
Automa ticcontrol .......................... 113
Dela yedswi tch-off (on-boa rd
compu ter)...................................... 235
Emergency lighting ........................ 114
Manu alcontrol ............................ ...114
Overvi ew........................................ 113
Rea ding lamp ................................. 113
Setting thebrightness ofthe
amb ient lighting (on-boa rd
compu ter)...................................... 234
Setting thecolor ofthe amb ient
lig hting (on-boa rdcompu ter)......... 235
see Interior lighting J
Jack
Storage location ............................ 328
Using ............................................. 334
Jump starting (engi ne) ...................... 341 K
Ke
y
see SmartKey
KE YLESS -GO
Conve nience closingfeatu re............ 87
Displ aymessa ge............................ 267
Locking ............................................ 73
Start/Stop button.......................... 139
Starting theengine ........................ 141
Unlocking ................................... ...... 73
Ke yp osit ions
KE YLE SS-GO .................................. 139
SmartKey ....................................... 139
Ki ckdo wn
Driving tips.................................... 147
Kne ebag .............................................. 42 L
Lamps
see Warni ngand indicator lamps
Lane -chang eassi stant
see Blind SpotAssist In
dex
11

Swi
tching seatheating on/off......... 99
Switchi ngsea tventila tionon/off ..100
Sec uring hooks....... ..................... ...... 288
Sen sors (clean inginstruction s)....... 322
Servi ce
see ASSYST PLUSserviceinterva l
dis pla y
Servi ceinte rval display
Displ aying servi cemessa ges......... 317
Hidi ngservi cemessa ges............... 317
Notes ............................................. 318
Service messages.......................... 317
Servi cemenu (on-bo ardcomputer) .233
Servi ceproducts
Brake fluid..................................... 389
Ca paci ties ...................................... 384
Coo lant (engi ne)............................ 389
DEF speci aladd itive s..................... 387
Engine oil....................................... 388
Fuel ................................................ 385
Importa ntsafe tynotes .................. 382
Ref rige rant (air-condi tioning
sys tem) .......................................... 389
Was herfluid.......................... .........3 90
Settin gs
Factory (on-boardcompu ter)......... 237
On-boa rdcompu ter....................... 233
Settin gthe airdistribu tion............... 130
Settin gthe airflo w............................ 131
Side impact airbag ............................. 43
Side marker lamp(display
messag e)............................................ 252
Side marker lamps(changi ng
bulb s)................................................. 117
Side window s
Conve nience closingfeatu re............ 86
Conve nience openingfeatu re.......... 86
Importa ntsafe tyinforma tion........... 85
Openi ng/closi ng.............................. 85
Prob lem(malfunction) ..................... 87
Res etting ......................................... 87
Sli ding sunroo f
Importa ntsafe tynotes .................... 88
Openi ng/closi ng.............................. 89
Prob lem(malfunction) ..................... 91
Res etting ......................................... 89
see Panor amaroofwith pow er
tilt/sl iding pane l SmartKey
Cha nging thebattery ....................... 76
Cha nging theprogr ammi ng............. 74
Che cking thebattery ....................... 76
Conve nience closingfeatu re............ 86
Conve nience opening featu re.......... 86
Displ aymessa ge............................ 267
Door central locking/u nlocking.......72
Importa ntsafe tynotes .................... 72
Loss ................................................. 77
Mecha nicalkey................................ 75
Posi tions (ignition lock)................. 139
Prob lem(malfunction) ..................... 77
Starting theengine ........................ 140
Sno wchai ns
Informati on.................................... 353
Soc kets
Lugg agecompa rtment ................... 298
Poi nts toobse rvebefo reuse ......... 297
Rea rcompartmen t......................... 297
Spare wheel
Notes/da ta.................................... 377
Storage location ............................ 329
see Emergency sparewhe el
Spec ialistwo rkshop ............................ 25
Spee d,controll ing
see Cruisecontrol
Spee dometer
Digita l............................................ 227
In the Instrument cluster................. 29
Segments ...................................... 223
Selecti ngthe unit of
meas urement................................ 233
see Instrument cluster
SRS (Supple mentalRestrain t
Syste m)
Displ aymessa ge............................ 246
Introducti on..................................... 38
Warni nglamp ....... ..................... ..... 275
Warni nglamp (function) ................... 38
Standing lamps
Cha nging bulbs.............................. 116
Displ aymessa ge............................ 252
Switchi ngon/off ........................... 108
Starting (engi ne) ....... .........................140
Station
see Radio
STEE RCONT ROL .................................. 6716
In
dex

Vehi
cle dime nsions........................... 390
Vehic leemerge ncylocking ................ 80
Vehic leiden tification number
see VIN
Vehic leiden tification plate.............. 381
Vehic lelev el(dis play messag e)....... 258
Vehic letool kit.................................. 328
Video (DVD) ..................... ................... 230
VIN ...................................................... 381W
Warning
andindicator lamps
ABS ............................ .................. .. 272
Brakes ........................................... 271
Che ckEngine ................................. 276
Coo lant .......................................... 277
Distance warning ........................... 279
DISTRONI CPLUS ........................... 279
ESP ®
.............................................. 273
ESP ®
OFF .......................................274
Fuel tank ............................... 276,277
Overvi ew.......................................... 30
PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF
indi cator lamp .................................. 44
Res erve fuel....... ....... ............. 276,277
Seat belt........................................ 269
SRS ............................ .................... 275
Tire press uremonitor .................... 280
Warranty ............................................ 381
Washer fluid
Displ aymessa ge............................ 267
see Winds hieldwa sher system
Whee lbol ttight ening torque ........... 337
Whee lcho ck...................................... 334
Whee ls
Cha nging awheel .......................... 333
Che cking ........................................ 351
Cl eani ng....... ....... ..................... ...... 320
Importa ntsafe tynotes .................. 350
Interchangi ng/changing................ 374
Mou nting awheel .......................... 336
Rem oving awheel .......................... 336
Storing ........................................... 375
Tig htening torque....... .................... 337
Whee lsize/ tires ize ....................... 375Windo
wcurtain airbag
Displ aymessa ge............................ 246
Opera tion............ ...... .......................4 4
Windo ws
Cl eani ng...... ...... ............................. 321
see Side windows
Windshi eld
Defrosting ...................................... 131
Infrared reflective .......................... 309
Winds hieldwasher system.............. 315
Notes ............................................. 390
Winds hieldwiper s
Problem (malfunction) ................... 120
Rea rwindow wiper........................ 118
Rep lacing thewiper blades ............ 119
Switchi ngon/off ........................... 118
Winte rdriving
Imp orta ntsafety note s.................. 352
Slip pery road surfaces................... 162
Snow chains.................................. 353
Winte roperatio n
Ra dia tor cover ............................... 313
Winte rtires
M+S tires....................................... 352
Wiper blades
Cl eani ng....... ..................... ............. 321
Importa ntsafe tynotes .................. 119
Rep lacing (rearwindow) ................ 119
Rep lacing (windshi eld)................... 119
Woo dentrim (clean ing
ins truction s)...................................... 32420
In
dex

Limi
tedbraking performa nce onsalt -
tr eat edroa ds G
WAR
NING The
layer ofsalt ontheb rake discs andthe
brake pads/linings maycauseadelay inthe
brakin geffec t,resultin gin asignific antly
longer brakingdistanc e,which couldleadto
an acciden t.
To avoid thisdanger, youshould:
R occ asionally brakecarefully, without
puttin gother roadusers atrisk, when you
are driving onsalted roads. Thishelps to
remov eany salt that may have startedto
build upon the brake discsandthebrake
pads/linin gs.
R maint ainagreater distancetothe vehicle
ahead anddrive withparticular care.
R carefully applythebrakes atthe end ofa
trip and immediately aftercommen cinga
new trip,sothat saltresidues areremoved
from thebrake discs.
Servicing thebrakes !
Ifthe red brake warning lamplights upin
the instr ument cluster andyouhear a
warning tonewhile theengine isrunnin g,
the brake fluidlevel maybetoo low.
Observe additional warningmessages in
the multifunct iondisplay .
The brake fluidlevel maybetoo low due to
brake padwear orleaking brakelines.
Have thebrake system checked
immediately. Thiswork should becarried
out atan authorized Mercedes-B enz
Center.
All check sand mainten ancework onthe
brake system mustbecarried outata
quali fiedspecialist workshop only.Have this
work carried outatan authorized Mercedes-
Benz Center.
Have thebrake padsreplaced andthebrake
fluid renewed ataquali fiedspecialist
workshop, e.g.anauthorized Mercedes-B enz
Center. G
WARNING If
brake padsorbrake fluidother thanthose
recommen dedareused, thebraking
properties ofthe vehicle canbedegraded to
an exten tthat safe braking issubstantially
impaired. Thiscould result inan accident.
! Afunct ionorperformance testshould
only becarried outona2 -axl e
dy nam ome ter.Ifyo uar eplanni ngtohave
the vehicleteste don such ady nam ome ter,
conta ctan author izedMer cedes-B enz
Ce nter toobtainfu rthe rinfo rma tionfir st.
Othe rwise, youcou ldda ma gethe drive
trai nor the brakesystem .
! Asthe ESP ®
sy stem opera tes
au toma tically, the engineand theigniti on
mu stbe switch edoff (Sma rtKeyin po sitio n
0 or 1in the igniti onlock orStar t/Stop
bu tton inpo sitio n0 or 1) wh ile the electri c
pa rking brakeisbe ing teste don abra ke
dy nam ome ter(ma ximu m10secon ds).
Brak ingtrigger edautomatic allybyESP®
may seriously damagethebrake system.
If your brake system issubject onlyto
moderate loads,youshould testthe
func tionality ofyour brakes atregular
int ervals bypressing firmlyonthe brake pedal
at high speeds. Thisimproves thegrip ofthe
brake pads. G
WARN
ING Make
surethatyoudonot endanger other
road users whenyouapply thebrakes.
You canfind adescript ionofBrak eAssist
(BAS )on (Ypage 61)orofBA SPLUS on
(Y page 62). 160
Driving
tipsDriving and parking

Check
listbefor edr iving off-road X
Engine oillevel: check theen gin eoil and
add oilifne ces sary.
When drivingonsteep grad ients,th eoil
leve lmust besuff iciently high toensure a
co rrect oilsupply inthev ehicle.
X DEF tank (BlueTEC vehicles): checkthe
fluid level and,ifnec essary, refilltothe
maximum (13l)(Y page 152).
X Wheel-changing toolkit:chec kthat the
jack isworkin gand make sureyouhave the
lug wrenc h,arobust towcable andafolding
spade inthe vehicle.
X Wheels andtires: chec kthe tire tread
depth andtirepressure.
X Check fordamage andremove anyforeign
objec ts,e.g. small stones,from the
wheels/tir es.
X Replace anymissing valvecaps.
X Replace dentedordamaged wheels.
X Rims: dentedorbent rimscanresult ina
loss oftire pressure anddamage thetire
bead. Therefor e,chec kyour rims before
driving off-road andreplace themas
required.
! Ifthe engine oilwarning lamplights up
while thevehicle isin motion ,stop the
vehicle inasafe place assoon aspossible.
Check theengine oillevel. Theengine oil
warning lampwarning mustnotbeignored.
Continuing thejourney whilethesymbol is
display edcould leadtoengine damage.
Checklist afterdriving off-road G
WARNIN
G If
you notic esudden significant vibrationsor
unusual handling performanc eor ifyou
suspect thatdamage hasoccurred tothe
vehicle, youshould activate thehazard
warning lamps,gentlyreduce speedand
carefully headforanarea thatislocated ata
safe distance fromtheroad.
Check thetires andtheunderside ofthe
vehicle fordamage. Ifthe vehicle seems unsafe,
havethevehicle towedawaytothe
nearest Mercedes-B enzCenter ortire dealer
to be repaired.
! Ifyou detect damage tothe vehicle after
driving off-road, havethevehicle checked
immediately ataquali fiedspecialist
workshop.
Drivin gover rough terrain placesgreater
demands onyour vehicle thandriving on
normal roads.Afterdriving off-road, check
the vehicle. Thisallows youtodetect damage
promptly andreduce therisk ofan accident
to yourself andother roadusers.
X Deact ivateDSR(Ypage 208).
X Vehicles withtheAIRMATIC package:
lower thevehicle toaride height suitable
for the road condit ions,e.g.tothe
highway /high-speed level.
X Clean theheadlamps andrear lights and
check fordamage.
X Clean thefront andrear license plates.
X Clean thewheels/tires withawater jetand
remove anyforeign objects.
X Clean thewheels, wheelarches andthe
vehicle underside withawater jet;check
for any foreign objectsand damage.
X Check whether twigsorother partsof
plants havebecome trapped. These
increase therisk offire and candamage
fuel pipes, brakehoses orthe rubber
bellows ofthe axle jointsand propeller
shafts.
X Aft erthe trip, examine withoutfailthe
entire undercarriage, wheels,tires,brakes,
bodywork structure,steerin g,chassis and
exhaust systemfordamage.
X Aft erdriving forexten dedperiods across
sand, mud,gravel, waterorinsimilarly dirty
condit ions,havethebrake discs, wheels,
brake pads/linings andaxle jointscheck ed
and cleaned.
X Ifyou detect strongvibrations afteroff-road
travel, checkforforeign objectsin the
wheels anddrive trainandremove themif 164
Driving
tipsDriving and parking

Disp
laymessa ges Poss
iblecauses/c onseq uences and M Solu
tions The
displaymes sage ison lysho wnwhile theveh icleis in mot ion.
The yello w! warning lamp lightsup and thered F (USA
on ly)/ ! (Canadaonly) indic ato rlamp flashes.
It is no tp ossible toapply theelectric parking brakemanually .
X Shift thetrans mission toP.
X Visit aquali fiedspecialist workshop. F(USA
only)!(Canada
only)
Turn
Onthe Ignition
to Release
the Parking
Brake The
redF (USAonly)/ !(Canada only)indicator lamplights
up.
You attempt edtorelease theelectric parking brakewhilethe
ignition wasswitched off.
X Smar tKey: turntheSmart Keytoposition 1in the ignition lock.
X KEYL ESS-GO: switchonthe ignition. $(USA
only)J(Canada
only)
Check
BrakeFluid Level G
Risk
ofaccident There
isnot enough brakefluidinthe brake fluidreservoir.
Additionally, thered $ (USAonly)/ J(Canada only)
warning lamplights upinthe instr ument cluster andawarning
ton esounds.
X Pull over andstop thevehicle safelyassoon aspossible, paying
atten tiontoroad andtraffic conditions.Donot cont inue driving
under anycircumst ances.
X En gage theelectric parking brake.
X Consult aquali fiedspecialist workshop.
X Do not add brake fluid.Thiswillnotrect ifythe malfunct ion. G
WARNIN
G Drivin
gwith themessage Check Brake Fluid Level display
edcan result inan accident .Have
your brakesyst emcheck edimm ediat ely.
Do notadd brake fluidbefore checkingthe brake system. Overfillingthebrake fluidreserv oircan
result inspilling brakefluidonhot engin eparts andthebrake fluidcatching fire.Youcanbe
seriously burned. 244
Display
messagesOn-board computer and displays

Safety
systems Problem Possible
causes/co nsequences andM Solutions
$
(USAonly)
J (Canada only)
The redbrake system
warning lampcomes on
while theengine is
running. Awarning tone
also sounds. G
Risk
ofaccident The
brake boosting effectismalfunction ingand thebraking
characterist icsmay beaffected.
X Pull over andstop thevehicle safelyassoon aspossible, paying
atten tiontoroad andtraffic condition s.Do not cont inue driving
under anycircumst ances.
X Engage theelectric parking brake.
X Consult aqual ified specialist workshop.
X Observe theadditional displaymessages inthe multifunct ion
display . $
(USAonly)
J (Canada only)
The redbrake system
warning lampcomes on
while theengine is
running. Awarning tone
also sounds. G
Risk
ofaccident There
isnot enough brakefluidinthe brake fluidreservoir.
X Pull over andstop thevehicle safelyassoon aspossible, paying
atten tiontoroad andtraffic condition s.Do not cont inue driving
under anycircumst ances.
X Engage theelectric parking brake.
X Consult aqual ified specialist workshop immediately.
X Observe theadditional displaymessages inthe multifunct ion
display .
Do not add brake fluid.Thiswillnotrectify themalfunction . G
WARNING Driving
withthebrake warning lampilluminated canresult inan accident. Haveyourbrake system
check edimmediately ifthe brake warning lampstays on.Donot add brake fluidbefore checking
the brake system.
Overfilling thebrake fluidreservoir canresult inspilling brakefluidonhot engine partsandthe
brake fluidcatchin gfire. Youcanbeseriously burned. War
ning andindicator lampsin the instrum entcluster
271On-board computer and displays Z