
Average weight of the vehicle
occupants (definition) .................... 325
Bar (definition) ............................... 325
Changing a whee
l.......................... 327
Characteristics .............................. 324
Checking ........................................ 307
Curb weight (definition) ................. 326
Definition of terms ......................... 324
Direction of rotation ...................... 328
Display message ............................ 229
Distribution of the vehicle occu-
pants (definition) ............................ 327
DOT (Department of Transporta-
tion) (definition) ............................. 325
DOT, Tire Identification Number
(TIN) ............................................... 324
GAWR (Gross Axle Weight Rating)
(definition) ..................................... 325
GTW (Gross Trailer Weight) (defi-
nition) ............................................ 325
GVW (Gross Vehicle Weight) (def-
inition) ........................................... 325
GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rat-
ing) (definition) .............................. 325
Important safety notes .................. 306
Increased vehicle weight due to
optional equipment (definition) ...... 325
Kilopascal (kPa) (definition) ........... 326
Labeling (overview) ........................ 321
Load bearing index (definition) ...... 327
Load index ..................................... 323
Load index (definition) ................... 326
Maximum load on a tire (defini-
tion) ............................................... 326
Maximum loaded vehicle weight
(definition) ..................................... 326
Maximum permissible tire pres-
sure (definition) ............................. 326
Maximum tire load ......................... 323
Maximum tire load (definition) ....... 326
Optional equipment weight (defi-
nition) ............................................ 326
PSI (pounds per square inch) (def-
inition) ........................................... 326
Replacing ....................................... 327
Service life ..................................... 308
Sidewall (definition) ....................... 326
Speed rating (definition) ................ 325 Storing ........................................... 328
Structure and characteristics
(definition) ..................................... 324
Technical data ............................... 331
Temperature .................................. 320
TIN (Tire Identification Number)
(definition) ..................................... 327
Tire bead (definition) ...................... 326
Tire pressure (definition) ................ 326
Tire pressures (recommended) ...... 325
Tire size (data) ............................... 331
Tire size designation, load-bearing capacity, speed rating .................... 321
Tire tread ....................................... 307
Tire tread (definition) ..................... 326
Total load limit (definition) ............. 327
Traction ......................................... 320
Traction (definition) ....................... 327
Tread wear ..................................... 320
TWR (permissible trailer drawbar
noseweight) (definition) ................. 327
Uniform Tire Quality Grading
Standards ...................................... 319
Uniform Tire Quality Grading
Standards (definition) .................... 325
Wear indicator (definition) ............. 327
Wheel rim (definition) .................... 325
see Flat tire
Top Tether ............................................ 55
Tow-starting
Emergency engine starting ............ 301
Important safety notes .................. 298
Towing a trailer
Axle load, permissibl e.................... 347
Driving tip s.................................... 191
Lights display message .................. 218
Mounting dimensions .................... 346
Shift rang e..................................... 143
Trailer load s................................... 347
Trailer tow hitch ............................. 346
Towing away
Important safety guidelines ........... 298
In the event of malfunctions .......... 300
With both axles on the ground ....... 299
Towing eye
Front .............................................. 299
Rear ............................................... 299 Index
17 

W
Warning and indicator lamps ABS ................................................ 237
Brakes .......................................... .236
Check Engine ................................. 243
Coolant .......................................... 243
Cruise control ................................ 163
Distance warning ........................... 245
DISTRONIC PLUS ........................... 245
ESP® ............................................. 239
ESP® OFF ...................................... 240
Fuel tank ........................................ 243
LIM (DISTRONIC PLUS) .................. 171
LIM (variable SPEEDTRONIC) ......... 167
Overview .................................. 32, 234
Parking brake ................................ 242
PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF .............. .42
Reserve fuel .................................. .243
Restraint system ............................ 242
Seat belt ........................................ 235
Tire pressure monitor .................... 246
Warning triangle ................................ 290
Warranty .............................................. 21
Washer fluid
Display message ............................ 234
Wheel bolt tightening torque ........... 330
Wheels
Changing a wheel .......................... 327
Checking ........................................ 307
Cleaning ......................................... 282
Important safety notes .................. 306
Interchanging/changing ................ 327
Mounting a new wheel ................... 330
Mounting a wheel .......................... 328
Overview ........................................ 306
Removing a wheel .......................... 330
Storing .......................................... .328
Technical data ............................... 331
Tightening torque ........................... 330
Wheel size/tire size ....................... 331
Window curtain air bag
Display message ............................ 217
Operation ......................................... 49
Windows
see Side windows
Windows (cleaning instructions) ..... 283Windshield
Defrosting ...................................... 125
Windshield heating ........................... 126
Windshield washer fluid
see Windshield washer system
Windshield washer system
Adding washer fluid ....................... 278
Notes ............................................. 343
Windshield wipers
Problem (malfunction) ................... 116
Rear window wiper ........................ 115
Replacing the wiper blades ............ 115
Switching on/off ........................... 114
Winter
Driving in winter ............................ .157
Winter operation ............................ 308
Winter driving
Snow chains .................................. 309
Winter operation
Overview ........................................ 308
Winter tires
M+S tires ....................................... 308
Wiper blades
Cleaning ......................................... 284
Important safety notes .................. 115
Replacing ....................................... 115 Index
19 

Adaptive brake lights
If you brake sharply from a speed of more
than 30 mph (50 km/h) or if braking is assis- ted by BAS, the brake lamps flash rapidly. In
this way, traffic traveling behind you is
warned in an even more noticeable manner.
If you brake sharply from a speed of more
than 45 mph (70 km/h)to a standstill, the
hazard warning lamps are activated automat-
ically. If the brakes are applied again, the
brake lamps light up continuously. The hazard
warning lamps are deactivated automatically if you drive faster than 6 mph (10 km/h). You
can also switch off the hazard warning lamps using the hazard warning button
(Y page 104). ESP
®
(Electronic Stability Program)
Important safety notes i
Observe the "Important safety notes" sec-
tion (Y page 61). G
WARNING
If ESP ®
is malfunctioning, ESP ®
is unable to
stabilize the vehicle. Additionally, further driv- ing safety systems are deactivated. This
increases the risk of skidding and an accident.
Drive on carefully. Have ESP ®
checked at a
qualified specialist workshop.
! Only operate the vehicle for a maximum of
ten seconds on a brake test dynamometer.
Switch off the ignition.
Application of the brakes by ESP ®
may oth-
erwise destroy the brake system.
! A function or performance test should
only be carried out on a two-axle dyna-
mometer. Before you operate the vehicle
on such a dynamometer, please consult a
qualified workshop. You could otherwise
damage the drive train or the brake system. ESP
®
monitors driving stability and traction.
Traction is the power transmission between
the tires and the road surface.
ESP ®
is deactivated if the åwarning lamp
in the instrument cluster lights up continu-
ously when the engine is running.
If the ÷ warning lamp and the åwarn-
ing lamp are lit continuously, ESP ®
is not
available due to a malfunction.
Observe the information on warning lamps
(Y page 239) and any display messages that
appear in the instrument cluster
(Y page 213).
If ESP ®
detects that the vehicle is deviating
from the direction desired by the driver, one
or more wheels are braked to stabilize the
vehicle. If necessary, the engine output is also modified to keep the vehicle on the desired
course within physical limits. ESP ®
assists
the driver when pulling away on wet or slip-
pery roads. ESP ®
can also stabilize the vehi-
cle during braking.
If ESP ®
intervenes, the ÷warning lamp
flashes in the instrument cluster.
If ESP ®
intervenes:
X Do not deactivate ESP ®
under any circum-
stances.
X Only depress the accelerator pedal as far as
necessary when pulling away.
X Adapt your driving style to suit the prevail-
ing road and weather conditions.
i Only use wheels with the recommended
tire sizes. Only then will ESP ®
function
properly.
i If differential locks are switched on, ABS,
BAS and ESP ®
switch themselves off auto-
matically.
4ETS (Electronic Traction System) Traction control remains active, even if you
deactivate ESP
®
. Driving safety systems
63Safety Z 

Jack
;is located under the rear bench seat
on the right-hand side when viewed in the
direction of travel.
X Fold rear bench seat (Y page 252) for-
wards.
X Open cover :.
X Pull bar =upwards and detach from
tab ?.
X Remove jack ;. Exterior spare wheel bracket
General notes G
WARNING
If the spare tire is more than 6 years old or is not the same model as the regular tires, have the spare tire replaced with a new tire at the
nearest Mercedes-Benz Center.
Never operate the vehicle with more than one
spare wheel mounted. G
WARNING
The wheel or tire size as well as the tire type of the spare wheel or emergency spare wheel
and the wheel to be replaced may differ.
Mounting an emergency spare wheel may
severely impair the driving characteristics.
There is a risk of an accident.
To avoid hazardous situations:
R adapt your driving style accordingly and
drive carefully.
R never mount more than one spare wheel or
emergency spare wheel that differs in size. R
only use a spare wheel or emergency spare
wheel of a different size briefly.
R do not switch ESP ®
off.
R have a spare wheel or emergency spare
wheel of a different size replaced at the
nearest qualified specialist workshop.
Observe that the wheel and tire dimensions
as well as the tire type must be correct.
i When changing a wheel, you should also
observe the safety notes in the "Flat tire"
section (Y page 327).
The spare wheel is on the outer side of the
rear door.
Stainless-steel spare hub cap X
Take the screwdriver out of the vehicle tool
kit (Y page 290).
X Open the lock on cover ring :with screw-
driver =or a similar tool.
X Fold tab ;down. X
Pull cover ring :apart and remove it.
X Pull off trim panel ?. Where will I find...?
291Roadside Assistance Z 

Useful information
i This Operator's Manual describes all
models and all standard and optional equip- ment 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 special-
ist workshops: (Y page 24). 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 a risk of an acci-
dent.
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
A flat tire severely impairs the driving, steer-
ing and braking characteristics of the vehicle.
There is a risk of an accident.
do not drive with a flat tire. Immediately
replace the flat tire with your spare wheel, or
consult a qualified specialist workshop.
Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center if you require information on tested and rec- ommended wheels and tires for summer and
winter driving. Advice on purchasing and car-
ing for tires is also available there.
Accessories that are not approved for your
vehicle by Mercedes-Benz or are not being
used correctly can impair the operating
safety.
Before purchasing and using non-approved
accessories, visit a qualified specialist work-
shop and ask 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 331).
Information on air pressure for the tires on
your vehicle can be found:
R on the tire pressure label on the fuel filler
flap
R in the "Tire pressure" section
i Further information on wheels and tires
can be obtained at any qualified specialist
workshop. Operation
Notes on driving
If the vehicle is heavily loaded, check the tire pressures and correct them if necessary.
When parking your vehicle, make sure that
the tires do not get deformed by the curb or
other obstacles. If it is necessary to drive over
curbs, speed humps or similar elevations, try to do so slowly and at an obtuse angle. Oth-
erwise, the tires, particularly the sidewalls,
may be damaged. 306
OperationWheels and tires 

Selecting, mounting and replacing
tires
R Only mount tires and wheels of the same
type and make.
R Only mount approved tires of the correct
size onto the wheels.
R Tires are supplied with a protective layer
from the factory. Break in new tires at mod-
erate speeds for the first 60 miles
(100 km). They only reach their full per-
formance 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 lat-
est, regardless of wear. This also applies to the spare wheel. 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 327). Driving with summer tires
At temperatures below 45 ‡(+7 †), summer
tires lose elasticity and therefore traction and braking power. Change the tires on your vehi-cle to M+S tires. Using summer tires at very
cold temperatures could cause cracks to
form, thereby damaging the tires perma-
nently. 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
ã 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
ãin
(4 mm) must be replaced immediately. G
WARNING
Wheel and tire dimensions as well as the type of tire can vary between the spare wheel and
the wheel to be replaced. When the spare
wheel is mounted, driving characteristics may be severely affected. There is a risk of an acci-
dent.
In order to reduce risks:
R you should therefore adapt your driving
style and drive carefully.
R never mount more than one spare wheel
that differs from the wheel to be replaced.
R only use a spare wheel that differs from the
wheel to be replaced for a short time.
R do not deactivate ESP ®
.
R have a spare wheel that differs from the
wheel that has been changed replaced at
the nearest qualified specialist workshop.
You must observe the correct wheel and
tire dimensions as well as the wheel type.
Do not exceed a maximum speed of 50 mph
(80 km/h) if a spare wheel of a different size is installed.
At temperatures below 45 ‡ (+7 †), use all-
season tires or winter tires. Both types of tire
are identified by the M+S marking.
Not all tires with the M+S marking provide the
driving characteristics of winter tires. In addi-
tion to the M+S marking, winter tires also
have the isnowflake symbol on the tire
wall. Tires with this marking fulfill the require-
ments of the Rubber Manufacturers Associa-
tion (RMA) and the Rubber Association of
Canada (RAC) regarding snow traction, and
were specially developed for driving on snow.
Only these tires will allow driving safety sys-
tems such as ABS and ESP ®
to function opti-
mally in winter, since these tires have been
designed specifically for driving on snow.
Use M+S tires of the same make and tread on all wheels to maintain safe handling charac-
teristics. 308
Winter operationWheels and tires 

Always observe the maximum permissible
speed specified for the M+S tire s you have
mounted.
When you have mounted the M+S tires:
X Check the tire pressures (Y page 309).
X Restart the tire pressure monitor
(Y page 315).
i You can obtain information about winter
tires that have been approved by
Mercedes-Benz especially for your vehicle
at any Mercedes-Benz Service center.
i For further information about tires, see
(Y page 333). Snow chains
! Information about the use of snow chain
compatible AMG winter tires is applicable
for AMG tires. Use of snow chains is only
permissible with these tires.
! 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".
! If snow chains are mounted on the front
wheels, the snow chains could grind
against the bodywork or components of the chassis. This could result in damage to the
vehicle or the tires.
For safety reasons, Mercedes-Benz recom-
mends 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.
R Only use snow chains when driving on
roads completely covered by snow.
Remove the snow chains as soon as possi- ble when you come to a road that is not
snow-covered.
R Local regulations may restrict the use of
snow chains. Observe the appropriate reg-
ulations if you wish to mount snow chains.
R Do not exceed the maximum permissible
speed of 30 mph (50 km/h).
If you intend to mount snow chains, please
bear the following points in mind:
R Snow chains cannot be mounted on all
wheel/tire combinations (Y page 331).
R Mount snow chains only in pairs and only
on the rear wheels. Observe the manufac-
turer's mounting instructions.
i You can deactivate ESP ®
(Y page 63)
when pulling away with snow chains instal-
led. You can thereby allow the wheels to
spin in a controlled manner, achieving an
increased driving force (cutting action). Tire pressure
Tire pressure specifications
Important safety notes G
WARNING
Underinflated or overinflated tires pose the
following risks:
R the tires may burst, especially as the load
and vehicle speed increase.
R the tires may wear excessively and/or
unevenly, which may greatly impair tire
traction.
R the driving characteristics, as well as steer-
ing and braking, may be greatly impaired.
There is a risk of an accident.
Follow recommended tire inflation pressures
and check the pressure of all the tires includ-
ing the spare wheel:
R monthly, at least
R if the load changes Tire pressure
309Wheels and tires
Z 

R
before beginning a long journey
R under different operating conditions, e.g.
off-road driving
If necessary, correct the tire pressure.
i The specifications on the sample Tire and
Loading Information placard and tire pres-
sure tables are examples. Tire pressure
specifications are vehicle-specific and may
deviate from the data shown here. The tire pressure specifications that are valid for
your vehicle can be found on the Tire and
Loading Information placard and tire pres-
sure table on the vehicle.
General notes The recommended tire pressures for the tires
mounted at the factory can be found on the
labels described here.
Operation with a trailer: the applicable
value for the rear tires is the maximum tire
pressure value stated in the table inside the
fuel filler flap.
Further information on tire pressures can be
obtained at a qualified specialist workshop.
Tire and Loading Information placard :
Recommended tire pressures
The Tire and Loading Information placard is
on the B-pillar on the driver's side
(Y page 316).
The Tire and Loading Information placard con-
tains the recommended tire pressures for
cold tires. The recommended tire pressures are valid for the maximum permissible load
and up to the maximum permissible vehicle
speed.
Tire pressure table Example: tire pressure table for all tires permitted
for this vehicle by the factory
The tire pressure table is on the inside of the fuel filler flap.
The tire pressure table contains the recom-
mended pressures for cold tires for various
operating conditions, i.e. differing load and
speed conditions.
If a tire size precedes a tire pressure, the tire
pressure information following is only valid
for that tire size. The load conditions "partially laden" and "fully laden" are defined in the
table for different numbers of occupants and
amounts of luggage. The actual number of
seats may differ.
Some tire pressure tables only show the rim
diameter instead of the complete tire size,
e.g. R16. Rim diameter is part of the tire size
and can be found on the tire sidewall
(Y page 321).
If the tire pressures have been set to the
lower values for lighter loads and/or lower
road speeds, the pressures should be reset to
the higher values:
R if you want to drive with an increased load
and/or
R if you want to drive at higher road speeds
i The tire pressures for increased loads
and/or higher road speeds, shown in the 310
Tire pressureWheels and tires