2016 MERCEDES-BENZ CLS ignition

You can obtain further information from an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center or at
http://www.mbusa.com (USA only).
i The ASSYST PLUS service interval display
does not show any information on the engine
oil level. Observe the notes on the engine oil
level ( Y
page 275).
The multifunction display shows a service mes-
sage for several seconds, e.g.: R
Service A in .. days R
Service A Due R
Service A Exceeded by .. Days
Depending on the operating conditions of the
vehicle, the remaining time or distance until the
next service due date is displayed.
The letter A or B , possibly in connection with a
number or another letter, indicates the type of
service. A stands for a minor service and B for a
major service.
You can obtain further information from an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
The ASSYST PLUS service interval display does
not take into account any periods of time during
which the battery is disconnected.
Maintaining the time-dependent service sched-
ule: X
Note down the service due date displayed in
the multifunction display before disconnect-
ing the battery.
or X
After reconnecting the battery, subtract the
battery disconnection periods from the ser-
vice date shown on the display.
Hiding a service message X
Press the v or 8 button on the steering
wheel.
Displaying service messages X
Switch on the ignition. X
Press the Y or e button on the steering
wheel to select the Serv. menu.X
Press the c or d button to select the
ASSYST PLUS submenu and confirm by press-
ing the v button.
The service due date appears in the multi-
function display. Information about Service Resetting the ASSYST PLUS service inter-
val display
! If the ASSYST PLUS service interval display
has been inadvertently reset, this setting can
be corrected at a qualified specialist work-
shop.
Have service work carried out as described in
the Maintenance Booklet. This may otherwise
lead to increased wear and damage to the
major assemblies or the vehicle.
A qualified specialist workshop, e.g. an author-
ized 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, maintenance
work must be carried out more frequently, for
example: R
regular city driving with frequent intermediate
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 periods
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 workshop, e.g.
an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Driving abroad
An extensive Mercedes-Benz Service network is
also available in other countries. You can obtain
further information from any authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.278
Maintenance
Maintenance and care

Care
General notes
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
should drive for a few minutes after cleaning.
Braking heats the brake discs and the brake
pads/linings, thus drying them. The vehicle
can then be parked.
Regular care of your vehicle is a condition for
retaining the quality in the long term.
Use care products and cleaning agents recom-
mended and approved by Mercedes-Benz.
Washing the vehicle and cleaning the
paintwork
Automatic car wash
G WARNING
Braking efficiency is reduced after washing
the vehicle. There is a risk of an accident.
After the vehicle has been washed, brake
carefully while paying attention to the traffic
conditions until full braking power is restored. ! If DISTRONIC PLUS or the HOLD function is
activated, the vehicle brakes automatically in
certain situations.
To prevent damage to the vehicle, deactivate
DISTRONIC PLUS and the HOLD function in
the following or other similar situations: R
when towing the vehicle R
in the car wash
! Never clean your vehicle in a Touchless
Automatic Car Wash as these use special
cleaning agents. These cleaning agents can
damage the paintwork or plastic parts.
! Make sure that: R
the side windows and the sliding sunroof
are fully closed. R
the ventilation/heating is switched off (the
OFF button has been pressed). R
the windshield wiper switch is in position 0 .
Otherwise, the vehicle might be damaged.
! In car washes with a towing mechanism,
make sure that the automatic transmission is
in transmission position N , otherwise the
vehicle could be damaged. R
Vehicles with a SmartKey:
Do not remove the SmartKey from the igni-
tion lock. Do not open the driver's door or
front-passenger door when the en gine is
switc hed off. Otherwise, the automatic
transmission selects park position P auto-
matically and locks the wheels. You can
prevent this by shifting the automatic trans-
mission to N beforehand. R
Vehicles with KEYLESS-GO:
Do not open the driver's door or front-
passenger door when the engine is
switched off. Otherwise, the automatic
transmission selects park position P auto-
matically and locks the wheels.
Observe the following to make sure that the
automatic transmission stays in position N :X
Make sure the vehicle is stationary and the
ignition is switched off. X
Turn the SmartKey to position 2 in the ignition
lock ( Y
page 127).
Use the SmartKey instead of the Start/Stop
button on vehicles with KEYLESS-GO. X
Depress and hold the brake pedal. X
Shift the automatic transmission to position
N . Care 279
Maintenance and care Z

X
Releas e th e brak e pedal .X
Releas e th e parking brake.X
Switc h off th e ignition and leav e th e SmartKey
in th e ignition lock.
You can wash th e vehicl e in an automatic car
wash from th e ver y start .
If th e vehicl e is ver y dirty, pre-was h it before
cleaning it in an automatic car wash.
Afte r usin g an automatic car wash, wipe off wax
from th e windshield and th e wiper blades. This
will preven t smears and reduce wipin g noises
caused by residue on th e windshield.
Washing by hand In som e countries, washing by han d is only
allowe d at specially equipped washing bays.
Observ e th e legal requirements in eac h country.X
Do no t use hot water and do no t wash th e
vehicl e in direct sunlight.X
Use a sof t spong e to clean.X
Use a mild cleaning agent, suc h as a car
shampoo approve d by Mercedes-Benz.X
Thoroughly hos e down th e vehicl e wit h a gen -
tl e je t of water.X
Do no t poin t th e water je t directly towards th e
air inlet .X
Use plenty of water and rinse out th e spong e
frequently. X
Rins e th e vehicl e wit h clean water and dry
thoroughly wit h a chamois.X
Do no t let th e cleaning agen t dry on th e paint-
work.
Carefully remove all deposit s of road salt as
soo n as possibl e when driving in winter.
Power washers
G WARNIN G
The water je t from a circular je t nozzle (dir t
blasters ) can caus e invisible exterio r damag e
to th e tires or chassi s components. Compo-
nent s damaged in this way may fail unexpect-
edly. There is a ris k of an accident.
Do no t use power washers wit h circular je t
nozzles to clean th e vehicle. Hav e damaged
tires or chassi s component s replace d imme-
diately. ! Always maintai n a distanc e of at least
11.8 in (30 cm) between th e vehicl e and th e
powe r washe r nozzle. Information about th e
correc t distanc e is available from th e equip -
men t manufacturer.
Mov e th e powe r washe r nozzle around when
cleaning your vehicle.
Do no t aim directly at any of th e following:R
tires R
door gaps , roo f gaps , joints, etc.R
electrical component sR
battery R
connectors R
lights R
seals R
trim R
ventilation slot s
Damaged seals or electrical component s can
lead to leak s or failures .
Cleaning the paintwork
! Do no t affix: R
stickers R
film s R
magnetic plates or similar items
to painte d surfaces. You could otherwise
damag e th e paintwork .
Scratches, corrosiv e deposits, areas affecte d by
corrosio n and damag e caused by inadequat e
car e canno t always be completely repaired. In
suc h cases, visit a qualified specialist workshop. X
Remove dirt immediately, wher e possible,
while avoidin g rubbing to o hard.X
Soak insec t remain s wit h insec t remove r and
rinse off th e treated areas afterwards .X
Soak bird droppings wit h water and rinse off
th e treated areas afterwards .X
Remove coolant, brak e fluid , tree resin, oils ,
fuel s and greases by rubbing gentl y wit h a
cloth soaked in petroleum ether or lighte r
fluid . X
Use tar remove r to remove tar stains. X
Use silicon e remove r to remove wax.
If water no longer forms "beads " on th e pain t
surface, use th e pain t car e products recommen -
ded and approve d by Mercedes-Benz . This is th e
cas e approximately every three to fiv e months,280
Care
Maintenance and care

depending on the climate conditions and the
care product used.
If dirt has penetrated the paint surface or if the
paint has become dull, the paint cleaner recom-
mended and approved by Mercedes-Benz
should be used.
Do not use these care products in the sun or on
the hood while the hood is hot. X
Use a suitable touch-up stick, e.g. MB Touch-
Up Stick, to repair slight damage to the paint-
work quickly and provisionally.
Matte finish care
! Never polish the vehicle or the light alloy
wheels. Polishing causes the finish to shine.
! The following may cause the paint to
become shiny and thus reduce the matte
effect: R
strong rubbing of the paintwork with
unsuitable materials R
frequent use of automatic car washes R
washing the vehicle in direct sunlight
! Never use paint cleaner, buffing or polishing
products, or gloss preserver, e.g. wax. These
products are only suitable for high-gloss sur-
faces. Their use on vehicles with matte finish
leads to considerable surface damage (shiny,
mottled areas).
Always have paintwork repairs carried out at a
qualified specialist workshop.
! Do not use wash programs with a hot wax
treatment under any circumstances.
Observe these notes if your vehicle has a clear
matte finish. This will help you to avoid damage
to the paintwork due to incorrect treatment.
These notes also apply to light alloy wheels with
a clear matte finish.
i The vehicle should preferably be washed by
hand using a soft sponge, car shampoo and
plenty of water.
i Use only insect remover and car shampoo
from the range of recommended and
approved Mercedes-Benz care products. Cleaning the vehicle parts
Cleaning the wheels
G WARNING
The water jet from a circular jet nozzle (dirt
blasters) can cause invisible exterior damage
to the tires or chassis components. Compo-
nents damaged in this way may fail unexpect-
edly. There is a risk of an accident.
Do not use power washers with circular jet
nozzles to clean the vehicle. Have damaged
tires or chassis components replaced imme-
diately.
! Do not use acidic wheel cleaning products
to remove brake dust. This could damage
wheel bolts and brake components.
! 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
should drive for a few minutes after cleaning.
Braking heats the brake discs and the brake
pads/linings, thus drying them. The vehicle
can then be parked.
Cleaning the windows
G WARNING
You could become trapped by the windshield
wipers if they start moving while cleaning the
windshield or wiper blades. There is a risk of
injury.
Always switch off the windshield wipers and
the ignition before cleaning the windshield or
wiper blades.
! Do not use dry cloths, abrasive products,
solvents or cleaning agents containing sol-
vents to clean the inside of the windows. Do
not touch the insides of the windows with
hard objects, e.g. an ice scraper or ring. There
is otherwise a risk of damaging the windows.
! Clean the water drainage channels of the
windshield and the rear window at regular
intervals. Deposits such as leaves, petals and
pollen may under certain circumstances pre- Care 281
Maintenance and care Z

vent water from draining away. This can lead
to corrosion damage and damage to elec-
tronic components. X
Clean the inside and outside of the windows
with a damp cloth and a cleaning product that
is recommended and approved by Mercedes-
Benz.
Cleaning wiper blades
G WARNING
You could become trapped by the windshield
wipers if they start moving while cleaning the
windshield or wiper blades. There is a risk of
injury.
Always switch off the windshield wipers and
the ignition before cleaning the windshield or
wiper blades.
! Do not pull the wiper blade. Otherwise, the
wiper blade could be damaged.
! Do not clean wiper blades too often and do
not rub them too hard. Otherwise, the graph-
ite coating could be damaged. This could
cause wiper noise.
! Hold the wiper arm securely when folding
back. The windshield could be damaged if the
wiper arm smacks against it suddenly. X
Fold the windshield wiper arms away from the
windshield. X
Carefully clean the wiper blades with a damp
cloth. X
Fold the windshield wiper arms back again
before switching on the ignition.
Cleaning the exterior lighting
! Only use cleaning agents or cleaning cloths
which are suitable for plastic light lenses.
Unsuitable cleaning agents or cleaning cloths
could scratch or damage the plastic light len-
ses. X
Clean the plastic lenses of the exterior light-
ing using a wet sponge and a mild cleaning
agent, e.g. Mercedes-Benz car shampoo or
cleaning cloths. Mirror turn signals
! Only use cleaning agents or cleaning cloths
that are suitable for plastic lenses. Unsuitable
cleaning agents or cleaning cloths could
scratch or damage the plastic lenses of the
mirror turn signals. X
Clean the plastic lenses of the mirror turn sig-
nals in the exterior mirror housing using a wet
sponge and mild cleaning agent, e.g.
Mercedes-Benz car shampoo or cleaning
cloths.
Cleaning the sensors
! If you clean the sensors with a power
washer, make sure that you keep a distance
of at least 11.8 in (30 cm) between the vehicle
and the power washer nozzle. Information
about the correct distance is available from
the equipment manufacturer.
X
Clean sensors C of the driving systems with
water, car shampoo and a soft cloth.
Cleaning the rear view camera
! Do not clean the camera lens and the area
around the rear view camera with a power
washer.282
Care
Maintenance and care

i Example: equipment and country-specific
variations possible.
Vehicles with alloy wheels and hub caps On vehicles with alloy wheels and hub caps, a
socket is also provided.
Flat tire
Preparing the vehicle Your vehicle may be equipped with: R
MOExtended tires (tires with run-flat proper-
ties) ( Y
page 287)
Vehicle preparation is not necessary on vehi-
cles with MOExtended tires R
a TIREFIT kit ( Y
page 286)R
an emergency spare wheel ( Y
page 326)
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 may be obtained from
a qualified specialist workshop.
Information on changing and mounting wheels
( Y
page 320). X
Stop the vehicle on solid, non-slippery and
level ground, as far away as possible from
traffic. X
Switch on the hazard warning lamps. X
Secure the vehicle against rolling away
( Y
page 146). X
If possible, bring the front wheels into the
straight-ahead position. X
Vehicles with AIRMATIC: make sure that "nor-
mal" level is selected ( Y
page 166).X
Switch off the engine. X
Remove the SmartKey from the ignition lock.
or, on vehicles with KEYLESS ‑ GO:X
Open the driver's door.
T he on-board electronics now have status 0 .
This is the same as the SmartKey having been
removed. X
Remove the Start/Stop button from the igni-
tion lock ( Y
page 127).X
Make sure that the passengers are not endan-
gered as they do so. Make sure that no one is
near the danger area while a wheel is being changed. Anyone who is not directly assisting
in the wheel change should, for example,
stand behind the barrier. X
Get out of the vehicle. Pay attention to traffic
conditions when doing so. X
Close the driver's door.
MOExtended tires (tires with run-flat
properties)
General notes With MOExtended tires (tires with run flat char-
acteristics), you can continue to drive your vehi-
cle even if there is a total loss of pressure in one
or more tires. The affected tire must not show
any clearly visible damage.
You can recognize MOExtended tires by the
MOExtended marking which appears on the
sidewall of the tire. You will find this marking
next to the tire size designation, the load-bear-
ing capacity and the speed index ( Y
page 315).
MOExtended tires may only be used in conjunc-
tion with an active tire pressure loss warning
system or with an active tire pressure monitor.
If a pressure loss warning message appears
in the multifunction display: R
observe the instructions in the display mes-
sages ( Y
page 230). R
check the tire for damage. R
if driving on, observe the following notes.
The driving distance possible in run-flat mode is
approximately 50 miles (80 km) when the vehi-
cle is partially laden. When the vehicle is fully
laden it is approximately 19 miles (30 km).
In addition to the vehicle load, the driving dis-
tance possible depends upon: R
vehicle speed R
road condition R
outside temperature
The driving distance p ossible in run-flat mode
may be reduced by extreme driving conditions
or maneuvers, or it can be increased through a
moderate style of driving.
The driving distance possible in run-flat mode is
counted from the moment the tire pressure loss
warning appears in the multifunction display.
You must not exceed a maximum speed of
50 mph (80 km/h). Flat tire 287
Breakdown assistance

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
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.
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.
! Have the battery checked regularly at a
qualified specialist workshop. Observe the service intervals in the Mainte-
nance Booklet or contact a qualified specialist
workshop for more information.
! Always have work on batteries carried out at
a qualified specialist workshop. Should it, in
exceptional circumstances, be absolutely
necessary to disconnect the 12-volt battery
yourself, observe the following: R
secure the vehicle to prevent it from rolling
away. R
switch off the ignition. R
always disconnect the negative terminal
clamp first, followed by the positive termi-
nal clamp.
After the battery has been disconnected, the
transmission is locked in position P .
After the work has been done, install the bat-
tery and replace the cover of the positive ter-
minal clamp firmly.
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 suitable protective clothing,
especially gloves, apron and face-
guard.
Rinse any acid spills immediately
with clear water. Contact a physician
if necessary.
Wear eye protection.
Keep children away.
Observe this Operator's Manual.
For safety reasons, Mercedes-Benz recom-
mends that you only use batteries which have
been tested and approved for your vehicle by292
Battery (vehicle)
Breakdown assistance

Do not start the vehicle using a rapid charging device. If your vehicle's battery is discharged, the
engine can be jump-started from another vehicle or from a second battery using jumper cables.
Observe the following points: R
The battery is not accessible in all vehicles. If the other vehicle's battery is not accessible, jump-
start the vehicle using a second battery or a jump-starting device. R
You may only jump-start the vehicle when the engine and exhaust system are cold. R
Only jump-start from batteries with a 12 V voltage rating. R
Only use jumper cables which have a sufficient cross-section and insulated terminal clamps. R
If the battery is fully discharged, leave the battery that is being used to jump-start connected for
a few minutes before attempting to start. This charges the battery slightly. R
Make sure that the two vehicles do not touch.
Make sure that: R
the jumper cables are not damaged. R
when the jumper cables are connected to the battery, uninsulated sections of the terminal clamp
do not come into contact with other metal sections. R
the jumper cables cannot come into contact with parts which can move when the engine is
running, such a s the V-belt pulley or the fan.X
Apply the parking brake firmly. X
Shift the transmission to position P .X
Make sure that the ignition is switched off. All indicator lamps in the instrument cluster must be
off. When using the SmartKey, turn the SmartKey to position 0 in the ignition lock and remove it
( Y
page 127). X
Switch off all electrical consumers, e.g. rear window defroster, lighting, etc. X
Open the hood.
Position number