2013 MERCEDES-BENZ M-Class service interval

Anti-lock braking system
see ABS (Anti-lock Braking System)
Anti-theft alarm system
see ATA (Anti-Theft Alarm system)
Approach/departure angle ..............190
Ashtray ............................................... 346
Assistance menu (on-board
computer) .......................................... 272
ASSYST PLUS Displaying a service message ........369
Hiding a service message ..............369
Notes ............................................. 368
Resetting the service interval
displa y........................................... 369
Service message ............................ 368
Special service requirements ......... 369
ATA (Anti-Theft Alarm system)
Activating/deactivating ...................75
Function .......................................... .75
Switching off the alarm ....................75
ATTENTIO NASSIST
Activating/deactivating .................273
Display message ............................ 302
Function/notes ............................. 230
Audio menu (on-board computer) ....269
Audio system see separate operating instructions
Authorized Centers
see Qualified specialist workshop
Authorized Mercedes-Benz Center
see Qualified specialist workshop
Authorized workshops
see Qualified specialist workshop
AUTO lights
Display message ............................ 298
see Lights
Automatic engine start (ECO start/
stop function) .................................... 162
Automatic engine switch-off (ECO
start/stop function) ..........................162
Automatic headlamp mode ..............120
Automatic transmission Automatic drive program ...............169
Changing gea r............................... 168
DIRECT SELECT leve r..................... 165
Display message ............................ 312
Drive program displa y.................... 165Driving tips
.................................... 168
Emergency running mode ..............173
Engaging drive position .................. 167
Engaging neutra l............................ 166
Engaging par kposition
automatically ................................. 166
Engaging revers egear ................... 166
Engaging the par kposition ............ 165
Kickdow n....................................... 168
Manual drive program ....................171
Overview ........................................ 165
Problem (malfunction) ...................173
Progra mselector button ................169
Pulling away ................................... 160
Shift range s................................... 170
Starting the engine ........................159
Steering wheel paddle shifters ......169
Trailer towing ................................. 168
Transmission position displa y........ 165
Transmissio npositions .................. 167
Automatic transmission
emergency mode ............................... 173
Axle load, permissible (trailer
towing) ............................................... 455 B
Bag hook ............................................ 337
Ball coupling Installing ........................................ 255
Removing ....................................... 259
Storing ........................................... 260
BAS (Brake Assist System) .................67
BAS PLUS (Brake Assist System
PLUS) .................................................... 67
Battery (SmartKey) Checking .......................................... 81
Important safety notes ....................81
Replacing ......................................... 81
Battery (vehicle)
Charging ........................................ 387
Display message ............................ 300
Important safety notes ..................385
Jump starting ................................. 389
Overview ........................................ 385
Blin dSpot Assist
Activating/deactivating .................273
Display message ............................ 306 Index
5

Protection of the environment
General notes
H
Environmental note
Daimler's declared policy is one of integrated
environmental protection.
The objectives are for the natural resources
that form the basis of our existence on this
planet to be used sparingly and in a manner
that takes the requirements of both nature
and humanity into account.
You too can help to protect the environment
by operating your vehicle in an
environmentally responsible manner.
Fuel consumption and the rate of engine,
transmission, brake and tire wear depend on
the following factors:
R operating conditions of your vehicle
R your personal driving style
You can influence both factors. You should
bear the following in mind:
Operating conditions:
R avoid short trips as these increase fuel
consumption.
R always make sure that the tire pressures
are correct.
R do not carry any unnecessary weight.
R keep an eye on the vehicle's fuel
consumption.
R remove roof racks once you no longer need
them.
R a regularly serviced vehicle will contribute
to environmental protection. You should
therefore adhere to the service intervals.
R always have service work carried out at a
qualified specialist workshop.
Personal driving style:
R do not depress the accelerator pedal when
starting the engine.
R do not warm up the engine when the vehicle
is stationary.
R drive carefully and maintain a safe distance
from the vehicle in front. R
avoid frequent, sudden acceleration.
R change gear in good time and use each gear
only up to 0001of its maximum engine speed.
R switch off the engine in stationary traffic. Environmental concerns and
recommendations
Wherever the operating instructions require
you to dispose of materials, first try to
regenerate or re-use them. Observe the
relevant environmental rules and regulations
when disposing of materials. In this way you
will help to protect the environment. Product information
Mercedes-Benz recommends that you use
genuine Mercedes-Benz parts, conversion
parts and accessories that have been
approved for your vehicle.
Mercedes-Benz tests genuine parts as well as
conversion parts and accessories that have
been specifically approved for your vehicle for
their reliability, safety and suitability. Despite
ongoing market research, Mercedes-Benz is
unable to assess other parts. Therefore,
Mercedes-Benz accepts no responsibility for
the use of such parts in Mercedes-Benz
vehicles. This is also the case, even if they
have been independently or officially
approved. The use of non-approved parts
could affect your vehicle's operating safety.
Genuine Mercedes-Benz parts, approved
conversion parts and accessories are
available from any authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center. Here, you will receive advice about
permissible technical modifications, and the
parts will be professionally installed. Introduction
23 Z

notified Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC in
writing of the need for its repair,
(2) the same substantia ldefect or
malfunction of a less serious nature than
category (1) has been subject to repair
four or more times and you have directly
notified us in writing of the need for its
repair, or
(3) the vehicle is out of service by reason of repair of the same or differen tsubstantial
defects or malfunctions for a cumulative
total of more than 30 calendar days.
Please send your writte nnotice to:
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC
Customer Assistance Center
One Mercedes Drive
Montvale, NJ 07645-0350 Maintenance
The Service and Warranty Booklet describes
all the necessary maintenance work which
should be done at regular intervals.
Always have the Service and Warranty
Booklet with you when you bring the vehicle
to an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center. The
service advisor will record every service for
you in the Service and Warranty Booklet. Roadside Assistance
The Mercedes-Benz Roadside Assistance
Program offers technical help in the event of
a breakdown. Calls to the toll-free Roadside
Assistance Hotline are answered by our
agents 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
1-800-FOR-MERCedes(1-800-367-6372)
(USA)
1-800-387-0100 (Canada)
For additional information, refer to the
Mercedes-Benz Roadside Assistance
Program brochure (USA) or the "Roadside
Assistance" section in the Service and
Warranty booklet (Canada) .You will find both
in your vehicle literature portfolio. Change of address or change of
ownership
In the event of a change of address, please
send us the "Notification of Address Change"
in the Service and Guarantee booklet or
simply call the Mercedes-Benz Customer
Assistance Center (USA) at the hotline
number
1-800-FOR-MERCedes(1-800-367-6372) or
Customer Service Center (Canada) at
1-800-387-0100. This will assist us in
contacting you in a timely manner should the
need arise.
If you sell your Mercedes, please leave the
entire literature in the vehicle so that it is
available to the next owner.
If you have purchased a used car, please send
us the "Notification of Used Car Purchase" in
the Service and Guarantee booklet or simply
call the Mercedes-Benz Customer Assistance
Center (USA) at the hotline number
1-800-FOR-MERCedes(1-800-367-6372) or
Customer Service (Canada) at
1-800-387-0100. Vehicle operation outside the USA
and Canada
If you plan to operate your vehicle in foreign
countries, please be aware that:
R service facilities or replacement parts may
not be readily available.
R unleaded fuel for vehicles with a catalytic
converter may not be available. Leaded fuel
may cause damage to the catalytic
converter.
R the fuel may have a considerably lower
octane rating. Unsuitable fuel can cause
engine damage.
Some Mercedes-Benz models are available
for delivery in Europe through our European
Delivery Program. For details, consult an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center or write to
one of the following addresses.
In the USA Introduction
25 Z

Parking the vehicle for
along period
If you leave the vehicle parked for longer than
four weeks, the battery may be damaged by
exhaustive discharging.
X Connecting a trickle charger.
i You can obtain information about trickle
chargers from a qualified specialist
workshop.
If you leave the vehicle parked for longer than
six weeks, the vehicle may suffer damage as
a result of lack of use.
X Visit a qualified specialist workshop and
seek advice. Driving tips
General notes
Important safety notes G
WARNING
If you switch off the ignitio nwhile driving,
safety-relevant functions are only available
with limitations, or not at all. This could affect,
for example, the power steering and the brake
boosting effect.Y ou will require considerably
more effort to steer and brake. There is a risk
of an accident.
Do not switch off the ignition while driving. G
WARNING
If you operate mobile communication
equipment while driving, you will be
distracted from traffic conditions. You could
also lose control of the vehicle. There is a risk
of an accident.
Only operate this equipment when the vehicle
is stationary.
Observe the legal requirements for the
country in which you are driving. Some
jurisdictions prohibit the driver from using a
mobile phone while driving a vehicle.
If you make a call while driving, always use
hands-free mode. Only operate the telephone when the traffic situation permits. If you are
unsure, pull over to a safe location and stop
before operating the telephone.
Bear in mind that at a speed of only 30 mph
(approximately 50 km/h), the vehicle covers
a distance of 44 feet (approximately 14 m)
per second.
Drive sensibly
–save fuel Observe the following tips to save fuel:
X
The tires should always be inflated to the
recommended tire pressure.
X Remove unnecessary loads.
X Remove roof carriers whe nthey are not
needed.
X Warm up the engine at low engine speeds.
X Avoid frequent acceleration or braking.
X Have all maintenance work carried out as
indicated by the service intervals in the
Maintenance Booklet or by the service
interval display.
Fuel consumption also increases when
driving in cold weather, in stop-start traffic
and in hilly terrain.
Drinking and driving G
WARNING
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.
Emission control G
WARNING
Combustion engines emit poisonous exhaust
gases such as carbon monoxide. Inhaling 182
Driving tipsDriving and parking

these exhaust gases leads to poisoning. There
is a risk of fatal injury. Therefore never leave
the engine running in enclosed spaces
withou tsufficient ventilation.
Certain engine systems are designed to keep
the level of poisonous components in exhaust
fumes within legal limits.
These systems only work at peak efficiency if
they are serviced exactly in accordance with
the manufacturer's specifications. For this
reason, all work on th eengine must be carried
ou tb y qualified and authorized Mercedes-
Benz technicians.
The engine settings mus tnot be changed
under any circumstances. Furthermore, all
specific service work must be carried out at
regular intervals and in accordance with the
Mercedes-Benz service requirements. Details
can be found in the Maintenance Booklet. Braking
Important safety notes G
WARNING
If you shift down on a slippery road surface in
an attempt to increase the engine's braking
effect, the drive wheels could lose their grip.
There is an increased danger of skidding and
accidents.
Do not shift down for additional engine
braking on a slippery road surface.
Downhill gradients !
On long and steep gradients, you must
reduce the load on the brakes by shifting
early to a lower gear. This allows you to take
advantage of the engine braking effect and
helps avoid overheating and excessive
wear of the brakes.
When you take advantage of the engine
braking effect, a drive wheel may not turn
for some time, e.g. on a slippery road
surface. This could cause damage to the drive train. This type of damage is not
covered by the Mercedes-Benz warranty.
Do not depress the brake pedal continuously
while the vehicle is in motion, e.g. causing the
brakes to rub by constantly applying light
pressure to the pedal. This results in
excessive and premature wear to the brake
pads.
Heavy and light loads G
WARNING
If you rest your foot on the brake pedal while
driving, the braking system can overheat. This
increases the stopping distance and can even
cause the braking system to fail. There is a
risk of an accident.
Never use the brake pedal as a footrest. Never
depress the brake pedal and the accelerator
pedal at the same time.
! Depressing the brake pedal constantly
results in excessive and premature wear to
the brake pads.
If the brakes have been subjected to a heavy
load, do not stop the vehicle immediately.
Drive on for a short while. This allows the
airflow to cool the brakes more quickly.
Wet roads If you have driven for a long time in heavy rain
without braking, there may be a delayed
reaction from the brakes when braking for the
first time. This may also occur after the
vehicle has been washed or driven through
deep water.
You then have to depress the brake pedal
more firmly. Maintain a greater distance from
the vehicle in front.
After driving on a wet road or having the
vehicle washed, brake firmly while paying
attention to the traffic conditions. This will
warm up the brake discs, thereby drying them
more quickly and protecting them against
corrosion. Driving tips
183Driving and parking Z

R
check the tire pressure electronically
(Y page 406)
R call up service due date (Y page 369)Settings menu
Introduction In the
Sett. menu, you have the following
options:
R changing the instrument cluster settings
(Y page 274)
R changing the light settings (Y page 274)
R changing the vehicle settings
(Y page 276)
R changing the convenience settings
(Y page 277)
R restoring the factory settings
(Y page 278)
Instrumen tcluster submenu Selecting the unit of measurement for
distance
The
Display Unit Speed-/Odometer: function allows you to choose whether
certain displays appear in kilometers or miles
in the multifunction display.
You can determine whether the multifunction
display shows some messages in miles or
kilometers.
X
Press the 0002or0005 button on the
steering wheel to selec tthe Sett. menu.
X Press the 0004or0003 button to select the
Inst. Cluster submenu.
X Press 000Bto confirm. X
Press the 0004or0003 button to select the
Display Unit Speed-/Odometer: function.
You will see the selected setting:
km or
miles .
X Press the 000Bbutton to save the setting.
The selected unit of measurement for
distance applies to:
R the digital speedometer in the Trip menu
R the odometer and the trip odometer
R the trip computer
R current consumption and the range
R the navigation instructions in the Navi menu
R cruise control
R DISTRONIC PLUS
R ASSYST PLUS service interval display
Selecting the permanent display function
You can determine whether the multifunction
display permanently shows your speed or the
outside temperature.
X Press the 0002or0005 button on the
steering wheel to select the Sett. menu.
X Press the 0004or0003 button to select the
Inst. Cluster submenu.
X Press 000Bto confirm.
X Press the 0004or0003 button to select the
Permanent Display: function.
You will see the selected setting: Outside Temperature or
Speedometer km/h (USA)/Speedometer mph (Canada).
X Press the 000Bbutton to save the setting.
i The speed is shown in km/h (USA)/mph
(Canada).
Light submenu Setting the daytime running lamps
i
This function is not available in Canada. 274
Menus and submenusOn-board computer and displays

Checking the oil level using the oil
dipstick
Example
:vehicles with a gasoline engine Example: vehicles with a diesel engine
X Pull oil dipstick 0002out of the dipstick guide
tube.
X Wipe off oil dipstick 0002.
X Slowly slide oil dipstick 0002into the guide
tube to the stop, and take it out again.
If the level is between MIN mark 001Fand
MAX mark 0003, the oil level is correct.
X If the oil level has dropped to MIN mark
001F or below, add 1.1 US qt (1.0 liter) of
engine oil.
Adding engine oil G
WARNING
If engine oil comes into contact with hot
components in the engine compartment, it
may ignite. There is a risk of fire and injury.
Make sure that engine oil is not spilled next
to the filler neck. Let the engine cool down and thoroughly clean the engine oil off the
components before starting the engine. H
Environmental note
When adding oil, take care not to spill any. If
oil enters the soil or waterways, it is harmful
to the environment.
! Only use engine oils and oil filters that
have been approved for vehicles with a
service system. You can obtain a list of the
engine oils and oil filters tested and
approved in accordance with the
Mercedes-Benz Specifications for Service
Products at any Mercedes-Benz Service
center.
Damage to the engine or exhaust system is
caused by the following:
R using engine oils and oil filters that have
not been specifically approved for the
service system
R replacing engine oil and oil filters after
the interval for replacemen tspecified by
the service system has been exceeded
R using engine oil additives.
! Do not add too much oil. adding too much
engine oil can result in damage to the
engine or to the catalytic converter. Have
excess engine oil siphoned off. 366
Engine compartmentMaintenance and care

Adding washer fluid to the windshield
washer system/headlamp cleaning
system
G
WARNING
Windshield washer concentrate is highly
flammable. If it comes into contact with hot
engine components or the exhaust system it
could ignite. There is a ris koffire and injury.
Make sure that no windshield washer
concentrate is spilled next to the filler neck. Example: washer fluid reservoir
Example: washer fluid reservoir in AMG vehicles
X
To open: pull cap0002upwards by the tab.
X Add the premixed washer fluid.
X To close: press cap 0002onto the filler neck
until it engages.
The washer fluid reservoir is used for both the
windshield washer system and the headlamp
cleaning system.
Further information on windshield washer
fluid/antifreeze (Y page 452). Maintenance
ASSYST PLUS
Service message The ASSYST PLUS service interval display
informs you of the nex
tservice due date.
Information on the type of service and service
intervals (see the separate Maintenance
Booklet).
You can obtain further information from an
authorized Mercedes-BenzC enter or at
http://www.mbusa.com (USA only).
i The ASSYST PLUS servic einterval display
does not show any informatio nonthe
engine oil level. Observe the notes on the
engine oil level (Y page 365).
The multifunction display shows a service
message for several seconds, e.g.:
R Next Service A in .. Days R
Service A Due R
Service A Exceeded by ... Days Depending on the operating conditions of the
vehicle, the remaining time or distance until
the next service due date is displayed.
The letter
A or
B , possibly in connection with
a number or another letter, shows the type of
service. A stands for a minor service and
B for
a major service.
You can obtain further information from an
authorized Mercedes-Ben zCenter.
The ASSYST PLUS service interval display
does not take into accoun tany periods of
time during which the battery is
disconnected.
Maintaining the time-dependent service
schedule:
X Note down the service due date displayed
in the multifunctio ndisplay before
disconnecting the battery.
or
X After reconnecting the battery, subtract
the battery disconnection periods fro mthe
service date shown on the display. 368
MaintenanceMaintenance and care