2013 MERCEDES-BENZ R-CLASS FAMILY TOURER maintenance

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 Read the information on qualified
specialist workshops: (Y page 24).Overview of climate control systems
Important safety notes
G
WARNING
Observe the settings recommended on the
following pages. The windows could
otherwise fog up. This could preven tyou from
observing the traffic conditions, thereby
causing an accident. G
WARNING
Severe conditions (e.g. strong air pollution)
may require replacement of the filter before
its scheduled replacement interval. Aclogged
filter will reduce the air volume to the interior
and the windows could fog up, impairing
visibility and endangering you and others.
Have a clogged filter replaced as soon as
possible at a qualified specialist workshop.
Climate control regulates the temperature
and the humidity in the vehicle interior and
filters undesirable substances out of the air.
Climate control is only operational when the
engine is running. The system only works
optimally when the side windows and the roof
are closed.
The residual heat function can only be
activated or deactivated with the ignition
switched off (Y page 143). i
Ventilate the vehicle for a brief period
during warm weather, e.g. using the
convenience opening feature (Y page 90).
This will speed up the cooling process and
the desired vehicle interior temperature
will be reached more quickly.
i The integrated filter can filter out most
particles of dust, and completely filters out
pollen .Aclogged filter reduces the amount
of air supplied to the vehicle interior .For
this reason, you should always observe the
interval for replacing the filter, which is
specified in the Maintenance Booklet.
Since the replacement interval depends on
environmental conditions, e.g. heavy air
pollution, the interval may be shorter than
stated in the Maintenance Booklet. 134
Overview of climate control systemsClimate control

DEF (BlueTEC vehicles only)
Important notes on use To function properly, BlueTEC exhaus
tgas
aftertreatment must be operated with the
reducing agen tDEF. Adding DEF is one of the
tasks performed during maintenance. Under
normal operating conditions, a tank of DEF
lasts until the next service due date.
When the supply of DEF is almos tused up,
the Check Additive See Operator's Manual message is shown in the
multifunction display.
When the DEF supply sinks to a minimum
level, the Remaining Starts: 16 message
is shown in the multifunction display.
If the Remaining Starts: 16 message
appears in the multifunction display, you can
start the engine another 16 times. If DEF is
not added, it will then not be possible to
restart the engine. Refill the DEF tank with
approximately 1gal(3.8 l)of DEForh ave the
DE Ftank refilled at a qualified specialist
workshop.
Use the special DE Frefill bottle when filling
between maintenance intervals. Contact a
qualified specialist workshop with any
questions or, if necessary, contact Roadside
Assistance (Y page 22).
If the outside temperature is lower than
12 ‡ (Ò11) †, damage may occur when
adding DEF. If DEF is frozen and there is an
active warning indicator, it may not be
possible to add DEF. Park the vehicle in a
warmer place, e.g. in a garage, until DEFh as
become fluid again .Itwill the nbe possible to
add DEF again. Alternatively, have the DEF
tank refilled at a qualified specialist
workshop.
Further information about BlueTEC exhaust
gas aftertreatmen tand DEF is available at any
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center. Important notes on topping up G
WARNING
Make sure
R DEF does not come into contact with skin,
eyes, or clothing
R to keep DEF out of the reach of children
If you and/or others have come into contact
with DEF:
R If DEF has gotten into contact with eyes,
flush with plenty of water immediately and
see km edical help.
R Clean affected skin immediately with plenty
of water.
R If DEFw as swallowed, rinse mouth
immediately with plenty of wate rand drink
plenty of water. Consult a physician. G
WARNING
If you open the DEF tank cap, small amounts
of ammonia vapor may be released .This
depends in particular upon the age of the DEF.
Ammonia vapors have a pungent odor and are
particularly irritating to:
R skin
R mucous membranes
R eyes
You may experience a burning sensation in
your eyes, nose and throat, as well as
coughing and watering of the eyes.
Do not inhale any ammonia vapors that may
be released. Fill the DEF tank only in well-
ventilated areas.
! Only use DEF in accordance with
ISO 22241. Do not mix any additives with
DEF, and do not dilute DEF with water. This
may destroy the BlueTEC exhaust gas
aftertreatment system.
! Rinse surfaces that have come into
contact with DEF immediately with water or
remove DEF using a damp cloth and cold
water. If the DEF has already crystallized,
use a sponge and cold water to clean it. DEF 164
RefuelingDriving and parking

X
To apply: depress parking brake ;firmly.
Whe nthe engine is running, the $(USA
only) or J(Canada only) indicator lamp
lights up in the instrumentc luster.
X To release: depress the brake pedal and
keep it depressed.
X Pull release handle :.
When the ignition is switched on or the
engine is running, the $(USA only) or
J (Canada only) indicator lamp goes out
in the instrument cluster. 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
Always remembe rthat you must concentrate
primarily on driving the vehicle. The driver's
concentration must always be directed
primarily at road traffic. For your own safety
and that of others, we recommend that you
stop the vehicle at a safe place and in
accordance with the traffic conditions before
making or accepting a phone call.
Comply with all legal requirements if you use
the telephone while driving. Use the hands-
free system and only use the telephone when road, weather and traffic conditions permit. In
some jurisdictions, it is forbidden for drivers
to use mobile phones while driving.
Only operate COMAND (Cockpit Management
and Data System) in compliance with all legal
requirements and when the road, weather and
traffic conditions permit. You may otherwise
not be able to observe the traffic conditions,
endangering yourself and others.
Remember that your vehicle covers a distance
of 44 ft (approximately 14
m)a second when
it is traveling at only 30 mph (approximately
50 km/h). G
WARNING
If you switch off the ignition while driving,
safety-relevan tfunctions are only available
with limitations, or no tatall. This could affect,
for example, the power steering and the brake
boosting effect .You will require considerably
more effort to steer and brake. There is a risk
of an accident.
Do not switch off the ignition while driving.
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-and-go traffic
and in mountainous terrain. 168
Driving tipsDriving and parking

Drinking an
ddriving G
WARNING
Drinking and driving and/or taking drugs and
driving are very dangerous combinations.
Even a small amount of alcohol or drugs can
affec tyour 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.
Exhaust check G
WARNING
Combustion engines emit poisonous exhaust
gases such as carbon monoxide. Inhaling
these exhaust gases leads to poisoning. There
is a risk of fatal injury. Therefore never leave
the engine running in enclosed spaces
without sufficient 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 the engine must be carried
out by qualified and authorized Mercedes-
Benz technicians.
The engine settings must not 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. Engine oil
! Vehicles with adiesel particle filter: if
the vehicle is predominantly used to travel
short distances, this can lead to
malfunctions in the automatic cleaning of the diesel particle filter. This can result in
fuel collecting in the engine oil and causing
engine failure. Therefore, if you frequently
drive short distances, make sure to drive
on highways or country roads for 20
minutes at least every 310 miles (500km).
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-Benzw arranty.
Do no tdepress the brake pedal continuously
while the vehicle is in motion, e.g. never
cause the brakes to rub by applying constant
slight pedal pressure. 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 Driving tips
169Driving and parking
Z

All checks and maintenance work on the
brake system must be carried ou
tata
qualified specialist workshop. Consult a
qualified specialist workshop to arrange this.
Have brake pads installed and brake fluid
replaced at a qualified specialist workshop.
If the brake system has only been subjectto
moderate loads, you should test the
functionality of yourb rakes at regular
intervals. To do so, press firmly on the brake
pedal when driving at a high speed. This
improves the grip of the brake pads.
You can find a description of Brake Assist
(BAS) on ( Ypage 68).
Mercedes-Benz recommends that you only
have brake pads/linings installed on your
vehicle which have been approved for
Mercedes-Benz vehicles or which correspond
to an equivalent quality standard .Brake
pads/linings which have not been approved
for Mercedes-Benz vehicles or which are not
of an equivalent quality could affect your
vehicle's operating safety.
Mercedes-Benz recommends that you only
use brake fluid that has been specially
approved for yourv ehicle by Mercedes-Benz,
or which corresponds to an equivalent quality
standard. Brake fluid which has not been
approved for Mercedes-Benz vehicles or
which is not of an equivalent quality could
affect your vehicle's operating safety.
Parking brake G
WARNING
If you must brake the vehicle with the parking
brake, the braking distanc eis considerably
longer and the wheels could lock. There is an
increased danger of skidding and accidents.
Only use the parking brake to brake the
vehicle when the service brake is faulty. Do
not apply the parking brake too firmly. If the
wheels lock, release the parking brake until
the wheels begin turning again.
If you brake the vehicle with the parking
brake, the brake lamps will not light up. If you drive on wet roads or dirt-covered
surfaces, road salt and/or dirt could get into
the parking brake.
In order to prevent corrosion and a reduction
in the braking power of the parking brake,
observe the following:
R
Gently depress the parking brake from time
to time before beginning the journey.
R Drive a distance of approximately 110 yds
(100 m) at a maximum speed of 12 mph
(20 km/h). Driving on wet roads
Hydroplaning If water has accumulated to a certain depth
on the road surface, there is a danger of
hydroplaning occurring, even if:
R
you drive at low speeds.
R the tires have adequate tread depth.
For this reason, in the event of heavy rain or
in conditions in which hydroplaning may
occur, you must drive in the following
manner:
R lower your speed.
R avoid ruts.
R brake carefully.
Driving on flooded roads !
Do not drive through flooded areas.
Check the depth of any water before driving
through it. Drive slowly through standing
water. Otherwise, water may enter the
vehicle interior or the engine compartment.
This can damage the electronic
components in the engine or the automatic
transmission. Water can also be drawn in
by the engine's air suction nozzles and this
can cause engine damage. Driving tips
171Driving and parking Z

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 Read the information on qualified
specialist workshops: (Y page 24).Important safety notes
G
WARNING
The driver's concentration must always be
directed primarily at road traffic.
For your safety and the safety of others,
selecting features through the multifunction
steering wheel should only be done by the
driver when traffic and road conditions permit
it to be done safely.
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. G
WARNING
No messages will be displayed if either the
instrument cluster or the multifunction
display is inoperative.
As a result, you will not be able to see
information about your driving conditions,
such as
R speed
R outside temperature
R warning/indicato rlamps
R malfunction/warning messages
R failure of any systems
Driving characteristics may be impaired. If you must continue to drive, do so with added
caution
.Contactana uthorized Mercedes-
Ben zCenter as soon as possible. G
WARNING
Malfunction and warning messages are only
displayed for certain systems and are
intentionally not very detailed. The
malfunction and warning messages are
simply a reminder with respect to the
operation of certain systems. They do not
replace the owner's and/or driver's
responsibility to maintain the vehicle's
operating safety. Have all required
maintenance services and safety checks
performed on the vehicle. Bring the vehicle to
an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center to
address the malfunction and warning
messages. G
WARNING
All categories of messages contain important
information which should be taken note of
and, where a malfunction is indicated,
addressed as soon as possible at an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Failure to repair the condition noted may
cause damage not covered by the Mercedes-
Benz Limited Warranty, or result in property
damage or personal injury.
For an illustration of the instrument cluster,
see (Y page 31). Displays and operation
Instrument lighting
The buttons for controlling the brightness are
at the top of the instrument cluster
(Y page 31).
Instrument cluster: if the light switch is set
to Ã, TorL, brightness control
takes ambient light into account. 200
Displays and operationOn-board computer and displays

Useful information
............................284
Engine compartment ........................284
Maintenance ...................................... 288
Care .................................................... 289 283Maintenance 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 Read the information on qualified
specialist workshops: (Y page 24).Engine compartment
Hood
Opening the hood G
WARNING
Do not pull the release lever while the vehicle
is in motion. Otherwise, the hood could be
forced open by passing air flow.
This could cause the hood to come loose and
injure you and/oro thers.G
WARNING
Do not open the hood when the engine is
overheated. You could be seriously injured.
Observe the coolant temperature display to
determine whether the engine may be
overheated. If you see flames or smoke
coming from the engine compartment, move
away fro mthe vehicle. Wait until the engine
has cooled. If necessary, call the fire
department. G
WARNING
There is a risk of injury if the hood is open,
even if the engine is not running.
Some engine components can become very
hot.
To avoid the risk of burns, only touch those
components described in the Operator's
Manual and observe the relevant safety notes. G
WARNING
To avoid injury, stay clear of moving parts
when the hood is open and the engine is
running.
The radiator fan may continue to run for
approximately 30seconds or may even restart
after the engine has been switched off. For
this reason, you must not reach into the fan
rotation area. G
WARNING
Vehicles with gasoline engine:
The engine is equipped with a transistorized
ignition system. Because of the high voltage
it is dangerous to touch any components
(ignition coils, spark plug sockets, diagnostic
socket) of the ignition system
R with the engine running
R while starting the engine
R when the ignition is switched on and the
engine is turned manually G
WARNING
Vehicles with diesel engine:
The engine is equipped with a high-voltage
electronic control unit for the injection
system. Because of the high voltage it is
dangerous to touch any components of the
injection system (injectors, electrical wires)
R with the engine running
R while starting the engine
R when the ignition is switched on G
WARNING
The windshield wipers and wiper linkage
could be set in motion.
When the hood is open, you or others could
be injured by the wiper linkage.
Make sure that the windshield wipers are
switched off. Remove the SmartKey or make
sure that no ignition position has been
selected with KEYLESS-GO. All indicator
lamps must be off in the instrument panel. 284
Engine compartmentMaintenance and care