
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 26). Notes on breaking-in a new vehicle
Important safety notes
The sensor system of some driving and driv-
ing safety systems adjusts automatically
while a certain distance is being driven after
the vehicle has been delivered or after
repairs. Full system effectiveness is not
reached until the end of this teach-in proce-
dure.
New and replaced brake pads and discs only
reach their optimum braking effect after sev-
eral hundred kilometers of driving. Compen-
sate for this by applying greater force to the
brake pedal. The first 1000 miles (1500 km)
The more you look after the engine when it is
new, the more satisfied you will be with its
performance in the future.
R You should therefore drive at varying vehi-
cle and engine speeds for the first
1,000 miles (1,500 km).
R Avoid heavy loads, e.g. driving at full throt-
tle, during this period. R
Change gear in good time, before the tach-
ometer needle is 00C3of the way to the red
area of the tachometer.
R Do not manually shift to a lower gear to
brake the vehicle.
Vehicles with automatic transmission:
R Try to avoid depressing the accelerator
pedal beyond the point of resistance (kick-
down).
R Ideally, for the first 1,000 miles (1,500 km),
drive in program C.
After 1,000 miles (1,500 km), you can
increase the engine speed gradually and bring the vehicle to full speed.
Additional breaking-in notes for AMG vehi-
cles:
R Do not drive faster than 85 mph
(140 km/h) for the first 1,000 miles
(1,500 km).
R Only allow the engine to reach a maximum
engine speed of 4,500 rpm briefly.
R Change gear in good time.
i You should also observe these notes on
breaking in if the engine or parts of the drive train on your vehicle have been replaced.
i Always observe the respective speed lim-
its. AMG vehicles with self-locking rear
axle differential
Your vehicle is equipped with a self-locking
differential on the rear axle. To protect the
differential on the rear axle, carry out an oil
change after a breaking-in phase of
2,000 miles (3,000 km). This oil change pro-
longs the service life of the differential. Have the oil change carried out at a qualified spe-
cialist workshop. Mercedes-Benz recom-
mends that you use an authorized Mercedes-
Benz Center for this purpose. 138
Notes on breaking-in a new vehicleDriving and parking

Problems with the transmission
Problem
Possible causes/consequences and
0050
0050Solutions The transmission has
problems shifting gear. The transmission is losing oil.
X Have the transmission checked at a qualified specialist work-
shop immediately. The acceleration ability
is deteriorating.
The transmission no
longer changes gear. The transmission is in emergency mode.
It is only possible to shift into
secondgear and reverse gear.
X Stop the vehicle.
X Shift the transmission to position P.
X Switch off the engine.
X Wait at least ten seconds before restarting the engine.
X Shift the transmission to position Dor R.
If D is selected, the transmission shifts into secondgear; ifRis
selected, the transmission shifts into reverse gear.
X Have the transmission checked at a qualified specialist work-
shop, e.g. an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center, immediately. Releasing the parking lock manually
! Do not use any sharp-edged objects to
remove the selector lever gaiter from the
center console. This could damage the
selector lever gaiter. X
Apply the electric parking brake.
X Press the frame of selector level gaiter 0043
together somewhat on the side edge at the back and hold with one hand 0044.
X With the other hand, pry off the frame of
selector level gaiter 0043with a flat, blunt
object (e.g. a screwdriver wrapped in cloth) at rear edge
0087, pulling it up and out at the
same time.
X Press release button 0085down and simul-
taneously move the selector lever out of
position P.
The selector lever can now be moved freely
until it is returned to position P.
In the event of an electrical malfunction, it is
possible to release the selector lever lock
manually to move it out of position P. This is
the case, for example, if you wish to tow the
vehicle away. Refueling
Important safety notes
G
WARNING
Fuel is highly flammable. If you handle fuel
incorrectly, there is a risk of fire and explo-
sion.
You must avoid fire, open flames, creating
sparks and smoking. Switch off the engine 158
RefuelingDriving and parking

Displaying service messages
X Switch on the ignition.
X Press the 0059or0065 button on the steer-
ing wheel to select the Serv. Serv.menu.
X Press the 0063or0064 button to select the
ASSYST PLUS
ASSYST PLUS submenu and confirm by
pressing the 0076button.
The service due date appears in the multi-
function display. Information about Service
Resetting the ASSYST PLUS service
interval display !
If the ASSYST PLUS service interval dis-
play has been inadvertently reset, this set-
ting can be corrected at a qualified special-
ist workshop.
Have service work carried out as described in the Maintenance Booklet. This may oth-
erwise lead to increased wear and damage
to the major assemblies or the vehicle.
A qualified specialist workshop, e.g. an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center, will reset
the ASSYST PLUS service interval display
after the service work has been carried out.
You can also obtain further information on
maintenance work, for example.
Special service requirements 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.
Driving abroad An extensive Mercedes-Benz Service network
is also available in other countries. You can
obtain further information from any author-
ized Mercedes-Benz Center. Care
Notes on care
H
Environmental note
Dispose of empty packaging and cleaning
cloths in an environmentally responsible man- ner.
! For cleaning your vehicle, do not use any
of the following:
R dry, rough or hard cloths
R abrasive cleaning agents
R solvents
R cleaning agents containing solvents
Do not scrub.
Do not touch the surfaces or protective
films with hard objects, e.g. a ring or ice
scraper. You could otherwise scratch or
damage the surfaces and protective film.
! Do not park the vehicle for an extended
period straight after cleaning it, particularly after having cleaned the wheels with wheel
cleaner. Wheel cleaners could cause
increased corrosion of the brake discs and brake pads/linings. For this reason, you Care
283Maintenance and care Z

X
Clean the exhaust pipe with a chrome care
product tested and approved by Mercedes-
Benz.
Impurities combined with the effects of road
grit and corrosive environmental factors may
cause flash rust to form on the surface. You
can restore the original shine of the exhaust
pipe by cleaning it regularly, especially in win- ter and after washing. Interior care
Cleaning the display !
For cleaning, do not use any of the fol-
lowing:
R alcohol-based thinner or gasoline
R abrasive cleaning agents
R commercially-available household clean-
ing agents
These may damage the display surface. Do not put pressure on the display surface
when cleaning. This could lead to irrepara-
ble damage to the display.
X Before cleaning the display, make sure that
it is switched off and has cooled down.
X Clean the display surface using a commer-
cially available microfiber cloth and
TFT/LCD display cleaner.
X Dry the display surface using a dry micro-
fiber cloth.
Cleaning the plastic trim G
WARNING
Care products and cleaning agents containing solvents cause surfaces in the cockpit to
become porous. As a result, plastic parts may
come loose in the event of air bag deploy-
ment. There is a risk of injury.
Do not use any care products and cleaning
agents to clean the cockpit. !
Do not affix the following to plastic surfa-
ces:
R stickers
R films
R scented oil bottles or similar items
You can otherwise damage the plastic.
! Do not allow cosmetics, insect repellent
or sunscreen to come into contact with the
plastic trim. This maintains the high-quality look of the surfaces.
X Wipe the plastic trim with a damp, lint-free
cloth, e.g. a microfiber cloth.
X Heavy soiling: use car care and cleaning
products recommended and approved by
Mercedes-Benz.
The surface may change color temporarily.
Wait until the surface is dry again.
Cleaning the steering wheel and gear or selector lever X
Thoroughly wipe with a damp cloth or use
leather care agents that have been recom- mended and approved by Mercedes-Benz.
Cleaning genuine wood and trim ele-
ments !
Do not use solvent-based cleaning agents
such as tar remover, wheel cleaners, pol-
ishes or waxes. There is otherwise a risk of
damaging the surface.
! Do not use chrome polish on trim pieces.
The trim pieces have a chrome look but are mostly made of anodized aluminum and
can lose their shine if chrome polish is
used. Use a damp, lint-free cloth instead
when cleaning the trim pieces.
If the chrome-plated trim pieces are very
dirty, you can use a chrome polish. If you
are unsure as to whether the trim pieces
are chrome-plated or not, consult an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center. 288
CareMaintenance and care

Traction
Traction is the result of friction between the
tires and the road surface.
Treadwear indicators
Narrow bars (tread wear bars) that are dis-
tributed over the tire tread. If the tire tread is level with the bars, the wear limit of 00CDin
(1.6 mm) has been reached.
Occupant distribution
The distribution of occupants in a vehicle at
their designated seating positions.
Total load limit
Rated cargo and luggage load plus
68 kilograms (150 lb) multiplied by the num-
ber of seats in the vehicle. Changing a wheel
Flat tire
The "Breakdown assistance" section
(Y page 292) contains information and notes
on how to deal with a flat tire. Information on driving with MOExtended tires in the event of
a flat tire can be found under "MOExtended
tires (tires with run-flat characteristics"
(Y page 293). Rotating the wheels
G
WARNING
Interchanging the front and rear wheels may
severely impair the driving characteristics if
the wheels or tires have different dimensions. The wheel brakes or suspension components
may also be damaged. There is a risk of acci-
dent.
Rotate front and rear wheels only if the wheels and tires are of the same dimensions.
! On vehicles equipped with a tire pressure
monitor, electronic components are loca-
ted in the wheel. Tire-mounting tools should not be used
near the valve. This could damage the elec-
tronic components.
Only have tires changed at a qualified spe-cialist workshop.
Always pay attention to the instructions and
safety notes when changing a wheel
(Y page 333).
The wear patterns on the front and rear tires
differ, depending on the operating conditions.
Rotate the wheels before a clear wear pattern has formed on the tires. Front tires typically
wear more on the shoulders and the rear tires in the center.
If your vehicle's tire configuration allows, you can rotate the wheels according to the inter-
vals in the tire manufacturer's warranty book
in your vehicle documents. If no warranty
book is available, the tires should be rotated
every 3,000 to 6,000 miles (5,000 to
10,000 km), or earlier if tire wear requires. Do not change the direction of wheel rotation.
Clean the contact surfaces of the wheel and
the brake disc thoroughly every time a wheel
is rotated. Check the tire pressure and, if nec- essary, restart the tire pressure loss warning
system or the tire pressure monitor. Direction of rotation
Tires with a specified direction of rotation
have additional benefits, e.g. if there is a risk of hydroplaning. You will only gain these ben-
efits if the correct direction of rotation is
maintained.
An arrow on the sidewall of the tire indicates
its correct direction of rotation. Storing wheels
Store wheels that are not being used in a cool, dry and preferably dark place. Protect the
tires from oil, grease, gasoline and diesel. 332
Changing a wheelWheels and tires

X
Unscrew the uppermost wheel bolt com-
pletely.
X Screw alignment bolt 0043into the thread
instead of the wheel bolt.
X Unscrew the remaining wheel bolts fully.
X Remove the wheel.
Mounting a new wheel G
WARNING
Oiled or greased wheel bolts or damaged
wheel bolts/hub threads can cause the wheel bolts to come loose. As a result, you could
lose a wheel while driving. There is a risk of
accident.
Never oil or grease wheel bolts. In the event ofdamage to the threads, contact a qualified
specialist workshop immediately. Have the
damaged wheel bolts or hub threads
replaced/renewed. Do not continue driving. G
WARNING
If you tighten the wheel bolts or wheel nuts
when the vehicle is raised, the jack could tip
over. There is a risk of injury.
Only tighten the wheel bolts or wheel nuts
when the vehicle is on the ground.
Always pay attention to the instructions and
safety notes in the "Changing a wheel" sec-
tion (Y page 332).
Only use wheel bolts that have been designed for the wheel and the vehicle. For safety rea-
sons, Mercedes-Benz recommends that you
only use wheel bolts which have been approved for Mercedes-Benz vehicles and the
respective wheel.
! To prevent damage to the paintwork, hold
the wheel securely against the wheel hub
while screwing in the first wheel bolt. X
Clean the wheel and wheel hub contact
surfaces.
X Slide the wheel to be mounted onto the
alignment bolt and push it on.
X Tighten the wheel bolts until they are fin-
ger-tight.
X Unscrew the alignment bolt.
X Tighten the last wheel bolt until it is finger-
tight.
X Vehicles with a collapsible spare wheel:
inflate the collapsible spare wheel
(Y page 342). Only then lower the vehicle.
Lowering the vehicle G
WARNING
The wheels could work loose if the wheel nuts and bolts are not tightened to the specified
tightening torque. There is a risk of accident.
Have the tightening torque immediately
checked at a qualified specialist workshop
after a wheel is changed. 336
Changing a wheelWheels and tires

!
To ensure the longevity and full perform-
ance of the engine, only premium-grade
unleaded gasoline must be used.
If standard unleaded gasoline is unavaila-
ble and you have to refuel with unleaded
gasoline of a lower grade, observe the fol-
lowing precautions:
R Only fill the fuel tank to half full with reg-
ular 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 over 3,000 rpm.
Using mixtures of methanol and ethanol is not permitted. E10 fuel or E15 fuel (unleaded gas-
oline 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 assis-
tance.
i For further information, consult a quali-
fied specialist workshop or visit
http://www.mbusa.com (USA only).
As a temporary measure, if the recommended fuel is not available, you may also use unlea-
ded gasoline with an octane rating of 87 AKI/
91 RON. This may reduce engine perform-
ance and increase fuel consumption. Avoid
driving at full throttle and sudden accelera-
tion. Never refuel using fuel with a lower AKI.
Information on refueling (Y page 158).
Additives in gasoline ! Operating the engine with fuel additives
added later can lead to engine failure. Do
not mix fuel additives with fuel. This does
not include additives for the removal and
prevention of residue buildup. gasoline
must only be mixed with additives recom-
mended by Mercedes-Benz. Comply with
the instructions for use on the product
label. More information about recommen-
ded additives can be obtained from any
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center. Mercedes-Benz recommends that you use
branded fuels that have additives.
The quality of the fuel available in some coun-
tries may not be sufficient. Residue could
build up in the injection system as a result. In
such cases, and in consultation with an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center, the gaso-
line may be mixed with the cleaning additive
recommended by Mercedes-Benz. You must
observe the notes and mixing ratios specified on the container. Engine oil
General notes !
Never use engine oil or an oil filter of a
specification other than is necessary to ful-
fill the prescribed service intervals. Do not
change the engine oil or oil filter in order to achieve longer replacement intervals than
those prescribed. You could otherwise
cause engine damage or damage to the
exhaust gas aftertreatment.
Follow the instructions in the service inter-
val display regarding the oil change. Other-
wise, you may damage the engine and the
exhaust gas aftertreatment.
When handling engine oil, observe the impor- tant safety notes on service products
(Y page 347).
The engine oils are matched to the perform-
ance of Mercedes-Benz engines and service
intervals. You should therefore only use
engine oils and oil filters that are approved for vehicles with maintenance systems.
For a list of approved engine oils and oil filters,
consult an authorized Mercedes-Benz Cen-
ter. Or visit the website
http://bevo.mercedes-benz.com.
The table shows which engine oils have been
approved for your vehicle. Service products and filling capacities
349Technical data Z

Model Engine
model MB
Approval SLK 250
271 229.5
SLK 350
276 229.5
SLK 55 AMG
152 229.5
Use only SAE 0W-40 or SAE 5W-40 engine oils
for AMG vehicles.
i MB approval is indicated on the oil con-
tainers.
Filling capacities The following values refer to an oil change
including the oil filter. Model Capacity
SLK 250
5.8 US qt (5.5
l) SLK 350
6.9 US qt (6.5
l) SLK 55 AMG
With external oil
cooler: 10.0 US qt (9.5l) Ad
ditives !
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 reg- ular 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.
When handling brake fluid, observe the
important safety notes on service products
(Y page 347).
The brake fluid change intervals can be found
in the Maintenance Booklet.
Only use brake fluid approved by Mercedes-
Benz according to MB Approval 331.0.
Information about approved brake fluid can
be obtained at any qualified specialist work-
shop or on the Internet at
http://bevo.mercedes-benz.com.
i Have the brake fluid regularly replaced at
a qualified specialist workshop and the
replacement confirmed in the Maintenance Booklet. 350
Service products and filling capacitiesTechnical data