Braking
Important safety notes G
WARNING
If yo ushift down on aslipper yroads urface in
an attempt to increas ethe engine's braking
effect,t he drive wheels could lose their grip.
There is an increased danger of skidding and
accidents.
Do not shift down for additional engine
braking on aslippery road surface.
Downhill gradients !
On long and steep gradients, you must
reduce the load on the brakes by shifting
early to alower gear. This allowsy ou 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,ad rive wheel may not turn
for some time, e.g. on aslippery road
surface. This could cause damage to the
drive train. This type of damage is not
covered by the Mercedes-Ben zwarranty.
Do no tdepress 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.
On long and steep downhill gradients, you
must select shift range 1,2or 3in good time.
This is especially important if the vehicle is
laden.
Heavy and light loads G
WARNING
If you rest your foot on the brake pedal while
driving, the brakin gsystem 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
afootrest .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 aheavy
load, do not stop the vehicle immediately, but
drive on for ashort while. This allows the
airflow to cool the brakes more quickly.
Wet roads If you have driven for
along time in heavy rain
without braking ,there may be adelayed
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 have to depress the brake pedal more
firmly. Maintain agreater distanc efrom the
vehicle in front.
After driving on awet 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.
Limited braking performance on salt-
treated roads If you drive on salted roads,
alayer of salt
residue may form on the brake discs and
brake pads. This can result in asignificantly
longer braking distance.
R Brak eoccasionally to remove any possible
salt residue. Make sure that you do not
endanger other road users when doing so.
R Carefully depress the brake pedal and the
beginnin gand end of ajourney.
R Maintain agreater distanc etothe vehicle
ahead. 172
Driving tipsDriving and parking
If the vehicle threatens to skid or cannot be
stopped when moving at low speed:
X Shift the transmission to position N.
Drive particularly carefully on slippery road
surfaces .Avoid sudden acceleration, steering
and braking maneuvers. Do not use the cruise
control or DISTRONIC PLUS.
i For more information on driving with
snow chains, see (Y page337).
The outside temperature indicator is not
designed to serve as an ice-warning device
and is therefore unsuitabl efor that purpose.
Changes in the outside temperature are
displayed after ashort delay.
Indicated temperatures just above the
freezing point do not guarantee that the road
surface is free of ice. The road may still be icy,
especially in wooded area soronbridges. The
vehicl ecoulds kid if you fail to adapt your
driving style .Always adapt your drivin gstyle
and drive at aspeed to suit the prevailing
weathe rconditions.
You should pay special attention to road
conditions when temperatures are around
freezin gpoint. Driving systems
Cruise control
Important safety notes Cruise control maintains
aconstant road
speed for you. It brakes automatically in order
to avoid exceeding the set speed. On long and
steep downhill gradients, especially if the
vehicle is laden, you must select shift range
1, 2or 3in good time. By doing so, you will
make use of the braking effect of the engine.
This relieves the load on the brake system and
prevent sthe brakes from overheating and
wearing too quickly.
Use cruise control only if road and traffic
conditions make it appropriate to maintain a
steady speed for aprolonged period. You can store any road speed above 20 mph
(30 km/h).
If you fail to adapt your driving style, cruise
control can neither reduce the risk of an
accident nor override the laws of physics.
Cruise control cannot take into account the
road, traffic and weather conditions. Cruise
control is only an aid. You are responsible for
the distance to the vehicle in front,f
or vehicle
speed, for braking in good time and for
staying in your lane.
Do not use cruise control:
R in road and traffic conditions which do not
allow you to maintain aconstant speed e.g.
in heavy traffic or on winding roads
R on slippery road surfaces. Brakin gor
accelerating could cause the drive wheels
to lose traction and the vehicle could then
skid
R when there is poor visibility, e.g. due to fog,
heavy rain or snow
If there is achange of drivers, advise the new
driver of the speed stored.
General notes Cruise control maintains
aconstant road
speed for you. It brakes automatically in order
to avoid exceeding the set speed. On long and
steep downhill gradients, especially if the
vehicle is laden, you must select shift range
1, 2or 3in good time. By doing so, you will
make use of the braking effect of the engine,
which relieves the load on the brake system
and prevent sthe brakes from overheating
and wearing too quickly.
Use cruise control only if road and traffic
conditions make it appropriate to maintain a
steady speed for aprolonged period. You can
store any road speed above 20 mph
(30 km/h). Driving systems
175Driving and parking Z
sensor system. DISTRONIC PLUS brakes
automaticallysot hat the set speed is not
exceeded.
Change into alower gear in good time on long
and steep downhill gradients. This is
especially important if the vehicle is laden. By
doing so, you will make use of the braking
effect of the engine. This relieves the load on
the brake system and prevents the brakes
from overheating and wearing too quickly.
If DISTRONIC PLUS detects that there is arisk
of ac ollision, you will be warned visually and
acoustically.D ISTRONIC PLUS cannot
prevent acollision without your intervention.
An intermittent warning tone will then sound
and the distance warning lamp will light up in
the instrument cluster. Brake immediately in
order to increase the distance to the vehicle
in front or take evasive action provided it is
safe to do so.
For DISTRONIC PLUS to assist you, the radar
sensor system must be operational.
If there is no vehicle in front,D ISTRONIC
PLUS operates in the same way as cruise
control in the speed range between 20 mph
(Canada: 30 km/h) and 120 mph (Canada:
200 km/h). If avehicle is driving in front of
you, it operates in the speed range between
0m ph (0 km/h) and 120 mph (Canada:
200 km/h).
Do not use DISTRONIC PLUS while driving on
roads with steep gradients.
As DISTRONIC PLUS transmits radar waves,
it can resemble the radar detectors of the
responsible authorities. You can refer to the
relevant chapter in the Operator's Manual if
questions are asked aboutt his.
i USA only: This device has been approved
by the FCC as a"VehicularR adar System".
The radar sensor is intended for use in an
automotive radar system only. Removal,
tampering ,oralterin gofthedevice will void
any warranties, and is no tpermitted by the
FCC. Do not tamper with, alter, or use in
any non-approved way. Anyu
nauthorized modification to this
device could void the user's authorit yto
operate the equipment.
i Canada only: This device complies with
RSS-210 of Industry Canada. Operation is
subject to the following two conditions:
1. This device may not cause harmful
interference, and
2. this device must accept any interference
received, including interference that may
cause undesired operation of the device.
Removal, tampering, or altering of the
device will void any warranties, and is not
permitted. Do not tamper with, alter, or use
in any non-approved way.
Anyu nauthorized modification to this
device could void the user's authorit yto
operate the equipment.
Cruise control lever 001A
To stor ethe curren tspeed or ahigher
speed
0010 To stor ethe curren tspeed or alower
speed
0024 To deactivate DISTRONIC PLUS
0021 To stor ethe curren tspeed or call up the
last stored speed
001E To set the specified minimum distance Driving systems
179Driving and parking Z
Only use brake fluid approved by Mercedes-
Benz according to MB Approval 331.0.
Information abouta
pproved brake fluid can
be obtaine datany qualified specialist
workshop or on the Internet at
http://bevo.mercedes-benz.com.
i Have the brake fluid regularly replaced at
aq ualified specialist workshop and the
replacemen tconfirmed in the Maintenance
Booklet. Coolant
Important safety notes G
WARNING
If antifreez ecomes into contact with hot
components in the engine compartment, it
may ignite. There is arisk of fire and injury.
Let the engine cool down before you add
antifreeze. Make sure that antifreez eisnot
spilled next to the filler neck.T horoughly
clean the antifreeze from components before
startingt he engine.
! Only add coolant that has been premixed
with the desired antifreezep rotection. You
coul dotherwise damage the engine.
Further information on coolants can be
found in the Mercedes-Benz Specifications
for Service Products, MB Specifications for
Service Products 310.1, e.g. on the
Internet at
http://bevo.mercedes-benz.com .Or
contact aqualified specialist workshop.
! Always use asuitable coolant mixture,
even in countries where high temperatures
prevail.
Otherwise, the engine cooling system is not
sufficiently protected from corrosio nand
overheating.
Comply with the important safety precautions
for service products when handling coolant
(Y page3 73). The coolant is
amixture of water and
antifreeze/corrosion inhibitor. It performs
the following tasks:
R corrosio nprotection
R antifreeze protection
R raising the boiling point
If the coolant has antifreeze protection down
to -35 ‡(-37 †), the boiling point of the
coolant during operatio nisapproximately
266 ‡(130 †).
The antifreeze/corrosion inhibitor
concentration in the engine cooling system
should:
R be at least 50%. This will protect the engine
cooling system against freezing down to
approximately -35 ‡(-37 †).
R not exceed 55% (antifreeze protection
down to -49 ‡[-45 †]). Otherwise, heat
will not be dissipated as effectively.
If the vehicle has lost coolant, add equal
amounts of water and antifreeze/corrosion
inhibitor.
Mercedes-Benz recommends an antifreeze/
corrosion inhibitor concentrate in
accordance with MB Specifications for
Service Products 310.1.
The coolant is checked with every
maintenance interval at aqualified specialist
workshop.
i When the vehicle is first delivered, it is
filled with acoolant mixture that ensures
adequate antifreeze and corrosion
protection.
Filling capacities Model Capacity
All models (except
for AMG vehicles)
Approx. 13.0 US qt
(12.3 l) All models (AMG
vehicles) Approx. 11.5 US qt
(10.9 l) i
Use MB 325.0 or MB 326.0 corrosion
inhibitor/antifreeze. Service products and filling capacities
377Technical data Z