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 28).Important safety notes
G
WARNING
If wheels and tires of the wrong size are used,
the wheel brakes or suspension components
may be damaged. There is arisk of an
accident.
Always replace wheels and tires with those
that fulfill the specifications of the original
part.
When replacing wheels, make sure to use the
correct:
R designation
R model
When replacing tires, make sure to use the
correct:
R designation
R manufacturer
R model G
WARNING
Af lat tire severely impairs the driving,
steering and braking characteristics of the
vehicle. There is a risk of accident.
Tires without run-flat characteristics:
R do not drive with aflat tire.
R immediately replace the flat tire with your
emergency spare wheel or spare wheel, or
consult a qualified specialist workshop. Tires with run-flat characteristics:
R
pay attention to the information and
warning notices on MOExtended tires (tires
with run-flat characteristics).
Accessories that are not approved for your
vehicle by Mercedes-Ben zorthat are not
being used correctly can impair operating
safety.
Before purchasing and using non-approved
accessories, visit a qualified specialist
workshop and inquire about:
R suitability
R legal stipulations
R factory recommendations
Information on the dimensions and types of
wheels and tires for your vehicle can be found
in the "Wheel/tire combinations" section
(Y page 426).
Information on air pressure for the tires on
your vehicle can be found:
R on the vehicle's Tire and Loading
Information placard on the B-pillar
(Y page 409)
R on the tire pressure label on the fuel filler
flap (Y page 174)
R in the "Tire pressure" section Operation
Information on driving
If the vehicle is heavily loaded, check the tire
pressures and correct them if necessary.
While driving, pay attention to vibrations,
noises and unusual handling characteristics,
e.g. pulling to one side. This may indicate that
the wheels or tires are damaged. If you
suspect that a tire is defective, reduce your
speed immediately. Stop the vehicle as soon
as possible to check the wheels and tires for
damage. Hidden tire damage could also be
causing the unusual handling characteristics.
If you find no signs of damage, have the tires 398
OperationWheels and tires
Bar indicator
0002for tread wear is integrated
into the tire tread.
Treadwear indicators (TWI) are required by
law. Six indicators are positioned on the tire
tread. They are visible once the tread depth
is approximately 0008in (1.6 mm). If this is the
case, the tire is so worn that it mus tbe
replaced. Selecting, mounting and replacing
tires
R Only mount tires and wheels of the same
type and make.
Exception: it is permissible to install a
different type or make in the event of a flat
tire. Observe the "MOExtended tires (tires
with run-flat characteristics" section
(Y page 382).
R Only mount tires of the correct size onto
the wheels.
R Break in new tires at moderate speeds for
the first 60 miles (100 km) .They only reach
their full performance after this distance.
R Do not drive with tires which have too little
tread depth, as this significantly reduces
the traction on wet roads (hydroplaning).
R Replace the tires after six years at the
latest, regardless of wear.
Observe the notes on the emergency spare
wheel (Y page 436). MOExtended tires (tires with run-flat
properties)
With MOExtended tires (tires with run flat
characteristics), you can continue to drive
your vehicle even if there is a total loss of
pressure in one or more tires.
MOExtended tires may only be used in
conjunction with an active tire pressure loss
warning system or with an active tire pressure
monitor and on wheels specifically tested by
Mercedes-Benz. Notes on driving with MOExtended tires with
a flat tire (Y
page 382).
i Vehicles equipped with MOExtended tires
are not equipped with a TIREFIT kit at the
factory. It is therefore recommended that
you additionally equip your vehicle with a
TIREFIT kit if you mount tires that do not
feature run-flat properties, e.g. winter tires.
A TIREFIT kit can be obtained from a
qualified specialist workshop. Winter operation
General notes
Have your vehicle winterproofed at a qualified
specialist workshop at the onset of winter.
Observe the notes in the "Changing a wheel"
section (Y page 421). Driving with summer tires
At temperatures below 45 ‡(+7 †), summer
tires lose elasticity and therefore traction and
braking power. Change the tires on your
vehicle to M+S tires. Using summer tires at
very cold temperatures could cause cracks to
form, thereby damaging the tires
permanently. Mercedes-Benz cannot accept
responsibility for this type of damage. M+S tires
G
WARNING
M+S tires with a tire tread depth of less than
000A in (4 mm) are not suitable for use in winter
and do not provide sufficient traction. There
is a risk of an accident.
M+S tires with a tread depth of less than 000A
in (4 mm) must be replaced immediately.
At temperatures below 45 ‡ (+7 †), use
winter tires or all-season tires. Both types of
tire are identified by the M+S marking. 400
Winter operationWheels and tires
Only winter tires bearing the
0002snowflake
symbol in addition to the M+S marking
provide the best possible grip in wintry road
conditions.
Only these tires will allow driving safety
systems such as ABS and ESP ®
to function
optimally in winter. These tires have been
developed specifically for driving in snow.
Use M+S tires of the same make and tread on
all wheels to maintain safe handling
characteristics.
Always observe the maximum permissible
speed specified for the M+S tires you have
mounted.
Once the winter tires are mounted:
X Check the tire pressures (Y page 405).
X Restart the tire pressure monitor
(Y page 406).
X Vehicles for Canada: restart the tire
pressure loss warning system
(Y page 406).
For more information on driving with the
emergency spare wheel, see (Y page 436).Snow chains
G
WARNING
If snow chains are installed to the front
wheels, they may drag against the vehicle
body or chassis components. This could
cause damage to the vehicle or the tires.
There is a risk of an accident.
To avoid hazardous situations:
R never install snow chains to the front
wheels
R always install snow chains in pairs to the
rear wheels.
! You must drive at raised vehicle level
(height 1) if snow chains have been
installed. The vehicle may otherwise be
damaged.
! Vehicles with Adaptive Damping
System (ADS): do not use the sports mode if you have installed snow chains. The
vehicle may otherwise be damaged.
! On some tire sizes there is not enough
space for snow chains. To avoid damage to
the vehicle or tires, observe the "Wheel and
tire combinations" section under "Tires and
wheels".
For safety reasons, Mercedes-Benz
recommends that you only use snow chains
that have been specially approved for your
vehicle by Mercedes-Benz, or are of a
corresponding standard of quality.
If you intend to mount snow chains, please
bear the following points in mind:
R Only use snow chains when driving on
roads completely covered by snow.
Remove the snow chains as soon as
possible when you come to aroad that is
not snow-covered.
R Do not exceed the maximum permissible
speed of 30 mph (50 km/h).
R Local regulations may restrict the use of
snow chains. Observe the appropriate
regulations if you wish to mount snow
chains.
R Snow chains may not be mounted on all
wheel/tire combinations. Permissible
wheel-tire combinations (Y page 426).
i You may wish to deactivate ESP ®
when
pulling away with snow chains installed
(Y page 72). This way you can allow the
wheels to spin in a controlled manner,
achieving an increased driving force
(cutting action).
For more information on driving with an
emergency spare wheel, see (Y page 436). Winter operation
401Wheels and tires Z
These tires have been specially adapted for
use with the control systems, such as ABS
or ESP ®
, and are marked as follows:
R MO =Mercedes-Benz Original
R MOE =Mercedes-Benz Original Extended
(tires featuring run-flat characteristics)
R MO1 =Mercedes-BenzO riginal (only
certain AMG tires)
Mercedes-Benz Original Extended tires
may only be used on wheels that have been
specifically approved by Mercedes-Benz.
Only use tires, wheels or accessories
tested and approved by Mercedes-Benz.
Certain characteristics, e.g. handling,
vehicle noise emissions or fuel
consumption, may otherwise be adversely
affected. In addition, when driving with a
load, tire dimension variations could cause
the tires to come into contact with the
bodywork and axle components. This could
result in damage to the tires or the vehicle.
Mercedes-Benz accepts no liability for
damage resulting from the use of tires,
wheels or accessories other than those
tested and approved.
Information on tires, wheels and approved
combinations can be obtained from any
qualified specialist workshop.
! Retreaded tires are neither tested nor
recommended by Mercedes-Benz, since
previous damage cannot always be
detected on retreaded tires. As a result,
Mercedes-Benz cannot guarantee vehicle
safety if retreaded tires are mounted. Do
not mount used tires if you have no
information about their previous usage.
Overview of abbreviations usedint he
following tire tables:
R BA: both axles
R FA: front axle
R RA: rear axle The recommended pressures for various
operating conditions can be found:
R
on the Tire and Loading Information placard
with the recommended tire pressures on
the B-pillar on the driver's side
R in the tire pressure table on the inside of
the fuel filler flap
Observe the notes on recommended tire
pressures under various operating conditions
(Y page 402).
Check tire pressures regularly, and only when
the tires are cold. Comply with the
maintenance recommendations of the tire
manufacturer in the vehicle document wallet.
Notes on the vehicle equipment –always
equip the vehicle with:
R tires of the same size on a given axle (left/
right)
R the same type of tires at a given time
(summer tires, winter tires, MOExtended
tires)
Vehicles with MOExtended tires are not
equipped with a TIREFIT kit at the factory. It
is therefore recommended that you
additionally equip your vehicle with a TIREFIT
kit if you moun ttires that do not feature run-
flat properties, e.g. winter tires. ATIREFIT kit
may be obtained from a qualified specialist
workshop.
i Not all wheel and tire combinations are
available at the factory for all countries.
i On the following pages, you can find
information on approved wheelr ims and
tire sizes for equipping your vehicle with
winter tires. Winter tires are not available
at the factory as standard equipmen tor
optional extras.
If you would like to equip your vehicle with
approved winter tires, you may also, in
certain circumstances, require rims of the
appropriate size. The sizes of the approved
winter tires may deviate from that of the
standard tires. This is dependent on the
model and the equipment installed at the
factory. Wheel and tire combinations
427Wheels and tires Z
Tank capacity
Model Total
capacity All models
24.6 US gal
(93.0 l) Model Of which
reserve ML 63 AMG 4MATIC
Approx.
3.7 US gal (14.0 l) All other models
Approx.
3.2 US gal (12.0 l) Gasoline
Fuel grade
!
Do not use diesel to refuel vehicles with a
gasoline engine .Do not switch on the
ignition if you accidentally refuel with the
wrong fuel. Otherwise, the fuel will enter
the fuel system. Even small amounts of the
wrong fuel could result in damage to the
fuel system and the engine. Notify a
qualified specialist workshop and have the
fuel tank and fuel lines drained completely.
! Only refuel using unleaded gasoline with
a minimum octane rating of 91.
! Only use the fuel recommended.
Operating the vehicle with other fuels can
lead to engine failure.
! Do not use the following:
R E85 (gasoline with 85% ethanol)
R E100 (100% ethanol)
R M15 (gasoline with 15% methanol)
R M30 (gasoline with 30% methanol)
R M85 (gasoline with 85% methanol)
R M100 (100% methanol)
R Gasoline with metalliferous additives
R Diesel Do not mix such fuels with the fuel
recommended for your vehicle. Do not use
additives. This can otherwise lead to engine
damage. This does not include cleaning
additives for the removal and prevention of
residue build-up. gasoline may only be
mixed with cleaning additives
recommended by Mercedes-Benz; see
"Additives". You can obtain further
information from any authorized Mercedes-
Benz Center.
! To ensure the longevity and full
performance of the engine, only premium-
grade unleaded gasoline must be used.
If standard premium-grade unleaded
gasoline is unavailable and unleaded
gasoline of a lower grade is used for
refueling, observe the following
precautions:
R only fill the fuel tank to half full with
regular unleaded gasoline and fill the rest
with premium-grade unleaded gasoline
as soon as possible.
R do not drive at the maximum speed.
R avoid sudden acceleration and engine
speeds above 3000 rpm.
R never refuel using fuel with an octane
number lower than 87. Otherwise,
engine failure could occur.
Using mixtures of methanol and ethanol is not
permitted. E10 fuel or E15 fuel (unleaded
gasoline with 10% or 15% ethanol) can be
used.
You will usually find information about the fuel
grade on the pump. If you cannot find the
label on the pump, ask the staff for
assistance.
i For further information, consult a
qualified specialist workshop or on the
Internet at http://www.mbusa.com (USA
only).
Information on refueling (Y page 174). Service products and filling capacities
445Technical data Z
The table shows which engine oils have been
approved for your vehicle. Model Engine
model MB
Approval ML 250 BlueTEC
4MATIC
651 228.51,
229.31,
229.51 ML 350
ML 350 4MATIC
276 229.5
ML 350 BlueTEC
4MATIC
642 228.51,
229.31,
229.51 ML 550 4MATIC
278 229.5
ML 63 AMG
4MATIC
157 229.5
i
MB approval is indicated on the oil
containers.
Filling capacities The following values refer to an oil change
including the oil filter.
Missing values were not available at time of
going to print. Model Capacity
ML 250 BlueTEC
4MATIC
6.9 US qt (6.5 l)
ML 350
ML 350 4MATIC
7.4 US qt (7.0 l)
ML 350 BlueTEC 4
MATIC
8.5 US qt (8.0 l)
ML 550 4MATIC
9.0 US qt (8.5 l)
ML 63 AMG
4MATIC
Without external oil
cooler: 9.0 US qt (8.5 l) Additives
!
Do not use any additives in the engine oil.
This could damage the engine.
Engine oil viscosity Viscosity describes the flow characteristics
of a fluid. If an engine oil has a high viscosity,
this means that it is thick; a low viscosity
means that it is thin.
Select an engine oil with an SAE classification
(viscosity) suitable for the prevailing outside
temperatures. The table shows you which
SAE classifications are to be used. The low-
temperature characteristics of engine oils
can deteriorate significantly, e.g. as a result
of aging, soot and fuel deposits. It is therefore
strongly recommended that you carry out
regular oil changes using an approved engine
oil with the appropriate SAE classification.
Brake fluid
G
WARNING
The brake fluid constantly absorbs moisture
from the air. This lowers the boiling point of
the brake fluid. If the boiling point of the brake
fluid is too low, vapor pockets may form in the
brake system when the brakes are applied
hard. This would impair braking efficiency.
There is a risk of an accident.
You should have the brake fluid renewed at
the specified intervals. Service products and filling capacities
449Technical data Z
Filling capacities
Model Capacity
ML 250 BlueTEC
4MATIC
Approx. 10.7 US qt
(10.1 l) ML 350
ML 350 4MATIC
Approx. 11.1 US qt
(10.5 l) ML 350 BlueTEC 4
MATIC
Approx. 12.2 US qt
(11.5 l) ML 550 4MATIC
Approx. 11.6 US qt
(11.0 l) ML 63 AMG
4MATIC
Approx. 12.5 US qt
(11.8 l) i
Use MB 325.0 or MB 326.0 corrosion
inhibitor/antifreeze. Windshield washer system
Important safety notes G
WARNING
Windshield washe rconcentrate is highly
flammable. If it comes into contact with hot
engine components or the exhaust system it
could ignite. There is a risk of fire and injury.
Make sure that no windshield washer
concentrate is spilled next to the filler neck.
! Do not add distilled or de-ionized water to
the washer fluid container. Otherwise, the
level sensor may be damaged.
! Only MB SummerFit and MB WinterFit
washer fluid should be mixed together. The
spray nozzles may otherwise become
blocked.
When handling washer fluid, observe the
important safety notes on service products
(Y page 444). At temperatures above freezing:
X
Fill the washer fluid reservoir with a mixture
of water and windshield washer fluid, e.g.
MB SummerFit.
Add 1 part MB SummerFit to 100 parts water.
At temperatures below freezing:
X Fill the washer fluid reservoir with a mixture
of water and washer fluid, e.g. MB
WinterFit.
Adapt the mixing ratio to the outside
temperature.
R Down to 14 ‡ (001910 †): mix 1 part MB
WinterFit to 2 parts water.
R Down to 00194 ‡ (001920 †): mix 1 part MB
WinterFit to 1 part water.
R Down to 001920.2 ‡ (001929 †): mix 2 parts MB
WinterFit to 1 part water.
i Add windshield washer fluid, e.g. MB
SummerFit or MB WinterFit, to the washer
fluid all year round. Climate control system refrigerant
Important safety notes The climate control system of your vehicle is
filled with refrigerant R-134a.
The instruction label regarding the refrigerant
type used can be found on the radiator cross
member.
!
Only the refrigerant R-134a and the PAG
oil approved by Mercedes-Benz may be
used. The approved PAG oil may not be
mixed with any other PAG oil that is not
approved for R-134a refrigerant.
Otherwise, the climate control system may
be damaged.
Service work, such as topping-up refrigerant
or replacing components, may only be carried
out by a qualified specialist workshop. All
applicable regulations must be adhered to,
SAE standard J639 included. Service products and filling capacities
451Technical data Z