Example: washer fluid reservoir
X
To open: pull cap:upwards by the tab.
X Add the premixed washer fluid.
X To close: press cap :onto the filler neck
until it engages.
On vehicles with the headlamp cleaning sys-
tem, the recommended minimum washer
fluid level is 0.92 US ga l(3.5 liters). On vehi-
cles without the headlamp cleaning system,
the recommended minimum washer fluid
level is 0.26 US gal (1liter). If the washer fluid
level drops below the recommended mini-
mum fluid level of 0.26 US gal (1 liter), a mes-
sage appears in the multifunction display
prompting you to add washer fluid
(Y page 234).
Further information on windshield washer
fluid/antifreeze (Y page 343).
Brake fluid level !
If you notice that the brake fluid level in
the brake fluid reservoir has fallen to the
MIN mark or less, check the brake system
immediately for leaks. Also check the thick-
ness of the brake linings. Visit a qualified
specialist workshop immediately.
Do not add brake fluid. This does not cor-
rect the error. Only check the brake fluid level when the
vehicle is on a level surface.
If the brake fluid level is between MIN
mark
:and MAX mark ;on the brake fluid
reservoir, it is correct. Maintenance
Service interval display
Service messages Information on the type of service and service
intervals (see the separate Maintenance
Booklet).
You can obtain further information from an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center or at
http://www.mbusa.com (USA only).
The ASSYST service interval display informs
you of the next service due date.
If a service due date has been exceeded, you also hear a warning tone.
The multifunction display shows a service
message for several seconds, e.g.:
Service A in 99999 Miles Service A in 99999 Miles
Service A Due Now Service A Due Now
Service A Exceeded By 99999 Miles Service A Exceeded By 99999 Miles Maintenance
279Maintenance and care Z
Maintaining the time-dependent service
schedule:
X Before disconnecting the battery, note
down the service due date displayed.
or: X After reconnecting the battery, subtract
the battery disconnection periods from the
service date shown on the display.
i The service interval display should not be
confused with the 4engine oil level dis-
play.
The symbol and the letter indicate which type
of service is due:
¯ Minor service A A
± Major service B
B
The ASSYST service interval display does not
take into account any periods of time during
which the battery is disconnected.
Hiding a service message X
To hide the service message, press the
% back button on the multifunction
steering wheel (Y page 33)(Ypage 199).
Displaying service messages Use the buttons on the multifunction steering
wheel.
X Switch on the ignition.
X Press =or; to select the standard
display menu on the steering wheel
(Y page 200).
X Press 9or: to select the service
interval display.
The ¯ or± service symbol and the
service due date are displayed. Points to remember The specified maintenance interval takes only
the normal operation of the vehicle into
account. Under arduous operating conditions
or increased load on the vehicle, mainte-
nance work must be carried out more fre-
quently, for example:
R regular city driving with frequent intermedi-
ate stops
R if the vehicle is primarily used to travel
short distances
R use in mountainous terrain or on poor road
surfaces
R if the engine is often left idling for long peri-
ods
Under these or similar conditions, have, for
example, the air filter, engine oil and oil filter
replaced or changed more frequently. Under
arduous operating conditions, the tires must
be checked more often. Further information
can be obtained at a qualified specialist work- shop, e.g. an authorized Mercedes-Benz Cen-
ter. Fuel/water separator
H
Environmental note
Dispose of service products in an environ-
mentally responsible manner.
! If you continue driving without having the
fuel/water separator serviced, this could
cause damage to the engine. Any resulting
damage is not covered by the warranty.
If the fuel/water separator needs servicing,
the following message appears in the multi-
function display: You will also hear a brief warning tone.280
MaintenanceMaintenance and care
G
WARNING
Work carried out incorrectly on the battery
can lead, for example, to a short circuit and
thus damage the vehicle electronics. This can lead to function restrictions applying to
safety-relevant systems, e.g. the lighting sys-
tem, ABS (anti-lock braking system) or ESP ®
(Electronic Stability Program). The operating
safety of your vehicle may be restricted. You
could lose control of the vehicle, for example:
R braking
R in the event of abrupt steering maneuver
and/or when the vehicle's speed is not
adapted to the road conditions
There is a risk of an accident.
In the event of a short circuit or a similar inci- dent, contact a qualified specialist workshop
immediately. Do not drive any further. You
should have all work involving the battery car-
ried out at a qualified specialist workshop.
If ABS malfunctions, the wheels can lock dur-
ing braking. This limits the steerability of the
vehicle when braking and may increase the
braking distance.
If ESP ®
malfunctions, the vehicle will not be
stabilized if it starts to skid or a wheel starts to spin.
i For further information about ABS and
ESP ®
, see (Y page 62) and (Y page 63). G
WARNING
During the charging process, a battery produ- ces hydrogen gas. If a short circuit occurs or
sparks are created, the hydrogen gas can
ignite. There is a risk of an explosion.
R Make sure that the positive terminal of a
connected battery does not come into con- tact with vehicle parts.
R Never place metal objects or tools on a bat-
tery.
R It is important that you observe the descri-
bed order of the battery terminals when
connecting and disconnecting a battery. R
When jump-starting, make sure that the
battery poles with identical polarity are
connected.
R It is particularly important to observe the
described order when connecting and dis-
connecting the jumper cables.
R Never connect or disconnect the battery
terminals while the engine is running. G
WARNING
Electrostatic build-up can lead to the creation of sparks, which could ignite the highly explo-
sive gases of a battery. There is a risk of an
explosion.
Before handling the battery, touch the vehicle body to remove any existing electrostatic
build-up.
The highly flammable gas mixture forms when
charging the battery as well as when jump-
starting.
Always make sure that neither you nor the
battery is electrostatically charged. A build-
up of electrostatic charge can be caused, for
example:
R by wearing clothing made from synthetic
fibers
R due to friction between clothing and seats
R if you push or pull the battery across the
carpet or other synthetic materials
R if you wipe the battery with a cloth G
WARNING
Battery acid is caustic. There is a risk of injury. Avoid contact with skin, eyes or clothing. Do
not inhale any battery gases. Do not lean over
the battery. Keep children away from batter-
ies. Wash away battery acid immediately with
plenty of clean water and seek medical atten- tion.
! Have the battery checked regularly at a
qualified specialist workshop.
Observe the service intervals in the Main-
tenance Booklet or contact a qualified spe- cialist workshop for more information. Battery (vehicle)
293Roadside Assistance Z
!
You should have all work involving the
battery carried out at a qualified specialist
workshop. In the exceptional case that it is
necessary for you to disconnect the battery yourself, make sure that:
R you switch off the engine and remove the
SmartKey. Check that all the indicator
lamps in the instrument cluster are off.
Otherwise, electronic components, such
as the alternator, may be damaged.
R you first remove the negative terminal
clamp and then the positive terminal
clamp. Never swap the terminal clamps.
Otherwise, the vehicle's electronic sys-
tem may be damaged.
R on vehicles with automatic transmission,
the transmission is locked in position P
after disconnecting the battery. The vehi-
cle is secured against rolling away. You
can then no longer move the vehicle.
The battery and the cover of the positive
terminal clamp must be installed securely
during operation. H
Environmental note Batteries contain dangerous
substances. It is against the
law to dispose of them with
the household rubbish. They
must be collected separately
and recycled to protect the
environment. Dispose of batteries in an
environmentally friendly
manner. Take discharged
batteries to a qualified spe-
cialist workshop or a special
collection point for used bat-
teries.
In order for the battery to achieve the maxi-
mum possible service life, it must always be
sufficiently charged.
Comply with safety precautions and take pro-
tective measures when handling batteries. Risk of explosion.
Fire, open flames and smoking are
prohibited when handling the bat-
tery. Avoid creating sparks. Battery acid is caustic.
Avoid contact with skin, eyes or
clothing.
Wear eye protection.
Keep children away.
Observe this Operator's Manual.
The vehicle battery, like other batteries, can
discharge over time if you do not use the
vehicle. In this case, have the battery discon-
nected at a qualified specialist workshop. You can also charge the battery with a charger
recommended by Mercedes-Benz. Contact a
qualified specialist workshop for further infor-
mation.
For safety reasons, Mercedes-Benz recom-
mends that you only use batteries which have been tested and approved for your vehicle by
Mercedes-Benz. These batteries provide
increased impact protection to prevent vehi-
cle occupants from suffering acid burns
should the battery be damaged in the event of an accident.
Have the battery condition of charge checked
more frequently if you use the vehicle mainly
for short trips or if you leave it standing idle
for a lengthy period. Consult a qualified spe-
cialist workshop if you wish to leave your
vehicle parked for a long period of time.
i Remove the SmartKey if you park the
vehicle and do not require any electrical
consumers. The vehicle will then use very 294
Battery (vehicle)Roadside Assistance
little energy, thus conserving battery
power.
i If the power supply has been interrupted,
e.g. due to a discharged battery, you will
have to:
R set the clock. Information on setting the
clock can be found in the separate oper-
ating instructions.
On vehicles with COMAND and a naviga-
tion system, the clock is set automati-
cally.
R reset the head restraints on the front
seats (Y page 87)
R reset the function for folding the exterior
mirrors in/out automatically, by folding
the mirrors out once (Y page 93).Charging the battery
G
WARNING
During charging and jump-starting, explosive
gases can escape from the battery. There is a risk of an explosion.
Particularly avoid fire, open flames, creating
sparks and smoking. Ensure there is sufficient
ventilation while charging and jump-starting.
Do not lean over a battery. G
WARNING
Battery acid is caustic. There is a risk of injury. Avoid contact with skin, eyes or clothing. Do
not inhale any battery gases. Do not lean over
the battery. Keep children away from batter-
ies. Wash away battery acid immediately with
plenty of clean water and seek medical atten- tion. G
WARNING
A discharged battery can freeze at tempera-
tures below freezing point. When jump-start-
ing the vehicle or charging the battery, gases can escape from the battery. There is a risk of
an explosion. Allow the frozen battery to thaw out before
charging it or jump-starting.
! Only charge the battery using the jump-
starting connection point.
! Only use battery chargers with a maxi-
mum charging voltage of 14.8 V.
! Only charge the installed battery with a
battery charger which has been tested and
approved by Mercedes-Benz. These battery
chargers allow the battery to be charged
while still installed in the vehicle.
If, at low temperatures, the indicator lamps/
warning lamps in the instrument cluster do
not light up, it is highly likely that the dis-
charged battery has frozen. In this case you
may neither jump-start the vehicle nor charge the battery. The service life of a thawed-out
battery may be shorter. The starting charac-
teristics can be impaired, particularly at low
temperatures. Have the thawed-out battery
checked at a qualified specialist workshop.
A battery charger unit specially adapted for
Mercedes-Benz vehicles and tested and
approved by Mercedes-Benz is available as an
accessory. Contact an authorized Mercedes-
Benz Center for information and availability.
Charge the battery in accordance with the
operating instructions for the battery
charger.
The jump-starting connection point is in the
engine compartment (Y page 296).
X Read the operating instructions for the bat-
tery charger.
X Open the hood (Y page 275).
X Connect the battery charger to the positive
terminal and ground point in the same
order as when connecting the donor bat-
tery in the jump-starting procedure
(Y page 296). Battery (vehicle)
295Roadside Assistance Z
Jump-starting
For the jump-starting procedure, use only the jump-starting connection point, consisting of a positive terminal and a ground point, in the engine compartment. G
WARNING
Battery acid is caustic. There is a risk of injury.
Avoid contact with skin, eyes or clothing. Do not inhale any battery gases. Do not lean over the
battery. Keep children away from batteries. Wash away battery acid immediately with plenty of
clean water and seek medical attention. G
WARNING
During charging and jump-starting, explosive gases can escape from the battery. There is a risk of an explosion.
Particularly avoid fire, open flames, creating sparks and smoking. Ensure there is sufficient ven-
tilation while charging and jump-starting. Do not lean over a battery. G
WARNING
During the charging process, a battery produces hydrogen gas. If a short circuit occurs or sparks
are created, the hydrogen gas can ignite. There is a risk of an explosion.
R Make sure that the positive terminal of a connected battery does not come into contact with
vehicle parts.
R Never place metal objects or tools on a battery.
R It is important that you observe the described order of the battery terminals when connecting
and disconnecting a battery.
R When jump-starting, make sure that the battery poles with identical polarity are connected.
R It is particularly important to observe the described order when connecting and disconnecting
the jumper cables.
R Never connect or disconnect the battery terminals while the engine is running. G
WARNING
A discharged battery can freeze at temperatures below freezing point. When jump-starting the
vehicle or charging the battery, gases can escape from the battery. There is a risk of an explosion.
Allow the frozen battery to thaw out before charging it or jump-starting.
! Vehicles with a gasoline engine:
avoid repeated and lengthy starting attempts. Other-
wise, the catalytic converter could be damaged by non-combusted fuel.
If, at low temperatures, the indicator lamps/warning lamps in the instrument cluster do not
light up, it is highly likely that the discharged battery has frozen. In this case you may neither jump-start the vehicle nor charge the battery.
Once the battery has thawed out, its service life may be dramatically reduced.
The starting characteristics can be impaired, particularly at low temperatures.
Have the thawed-out battery checked at a qualified specialist workshop. 296
Jump-startingRoadside Assistance
Engine damage, gear damage or electri-
cal malfunctions X
Move the selector lever to posi-
tion N(Y page 139).
X Shift the transfer case to neu-
tral(Y page 188).
In the event of damage to the transfer
case Have the propeller shafts between the axles
and the transfer case removed.
In the event of damage to the front axle Have the propeller shaft between the rear
axle and the transfer case removed.
Have the vehicle towed with the front axle
raised.
In the event of damage to the rear axle Have the propeller shaft between the front
axle and the transfer case removed.
Have the vehicle towed with the rear axle
raised and with wheel rollers under the front
axle. Tow-starting (emergency engine
starting)
! Vehicles with automatic transmission
must not be tow-started. You could other-
wise damage the automatic transmission.
You can find information on "Jump-starting"
under (Y page 296). Fuses
Important safety notes
G
WARNING
If you manipulate or bridge a faulty fuse or if
you replace it with a fuse with a higher amper- age, the electric cables could be overloaded. This could result in a fire. There is a risk of an
accident and injury.
Always replace faulty fuses with the specified
new fuses having the correct amperage.
! Only use fuses that have been approved
for Mercedes-Benz vehicles and which
have the correct fuse rating for the system
concerned. Otherwise, components or sys-
tems could be damaged.
The fuses in your vehicle serve to close down faulty circuits. If a fuse blows, all the compo- nents on the circuit and their functions stop
operating.
Blown fuses must be replaced with fuses of
the same rating, which you can recognize by
the color and value. The fuse ratings are listed
in the fuse allocation chart.
i If a fuse has blown, contact a breakdown
service or an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.
If a newly inserted fuse also blows, have the
cause traced and rectified at a qualified spe-
cialist workshop, e.g. an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center. Before changing a fuse
X Park the vehicle and apply the parking
brake.
X Switch off all electrical consumers.
X Remove the SmartKey from the ignition
lock.
All indicator lamps in the instrument cluster must be off.
The fuses are located in various fuse boxes:
R Main fuse box on the driver's side of the
dashboard
R Fuse box in the front-passenger footwell
R Fuse box in the transmission tunnel
R Fuse box in the battery case
R Fuse box in the cargo compartment Fuses
301Roadside Assistance Z
Regular checking of wheels and tires
G
WARNING
Damaged tires can cause tire inflation pres-
sure loss. As a result, you could lose control of your vehicle. There is a risk of accident.
Check the tires regularly for signs of damage
and replace any damaged tires immediately.
R Regularly check the wheels and tires of
your vehicle for damage at least once a
month, as well as after driving off-road or
on rough roads. Damage includes bulges
and deformation on tires, cuts, punctures,
cracks or severe corrosion on wheels, for
example. Damaged wheels can cause a
loss of tire pressure.
R Regularly check the tire tread depth and
the condition of the tread across the whole
width of the tire (Y page 307). In order to
inspect the inner side of the tire surface,
turn the steering wheel to full lock.
R All wheels must have a valve cap to protect
the valve against dirt and moisture. Do notinstall anything onto the valve other than
the standard valve cap or a valve cap
approved by Mercedes-Benz for your vehi-
cle.
Do not install anything onto the valve, such as tire pressure monitoring systems.
R You should regularly check the pressure of
all your tires including the spare wheel, par- ticularly prior to long trips. Adjust the tire
pressure as necessary (Y page 314).
The service life of tires depends, among other things, on the following factors:
R Driving style
R Tire pressure
R Distance covered Tire tread
G
WARNING
Insufficient tire tread will reduce tire traction.
The tire is no longer able to dissipate water. This means that on wet road surfaces, the risk
of hydroplaning increases, in particular where speed is not adapted to suit the driving con-
ditions. There is a risk of accident.
If the tire pressure is too high or too low, tires
may exhibit different levels of wear at differ-
ent locations on the tire tread. Thus, you
should regularly check the tread depth and
the condition of the tread across the entire
width of all tires.
Minimum tire tread depth for:
R Summer tires: âin (3 mm)
R M+S tires: ãin (4 mm)
For safety reasons, replace the tires before
the legally prescribed limit for the minimum
tire tread depth is reached. Marking
:shows the tread wear indicator
(TWI). The arrow indicates the placement of
the tire tread.
Do not drive with tires which have too little
tread depth. tire traction on wet road surfaces decreases significantly when the tread depth
is less than 1
/ 8 in (3 mm).
Treadwear indicators (TWI) are required by
law. Six indicators are positioned over the tire
tread. They are visible once the tread depth is
approximately 1
/ 16 in (1.6 mm). If this is the
case, the tire is so worn that it must be
replaced.
The recommended tread depth for summer
tires is at least 1
/ 8 in (3 mm). The recommen-
ded tread depth for winter tires is at least 1
/ 6
in (4 mm). Operation
307Wheels and tires Z