2017 MERCEDES-BENZ CLS maintenance

Overview of climate control systems
General notes Observe the settings recommended on the fol-
lowing pages. The windows could otherwise fog
up.
To prevent the windows from fogging up: R
switch off climate control only briefly R
switch on air-recirculation mode only briefly R
switch on the cooling with air dehumidifica-
tion function R
switch on the defrost windshield function
briefly, if required
Climate control regulates the temperature and
the humidity in the vehicle interior and filters
undesirable substances out of the air.
Climate control can only be operated when the
engine is running. Optimum operation is only
achieved with the side windows and roof closed.
The residual heat function can only be activated
or deactivated with the ignition switched off
( Y
page 120). i Ventilate the vehicle for a brief period during
warm weather, e.g. using the convenience
opening feature ( Y
page 88). This will speed
up the cooling process and the desired inte-
rior temperature will be reached more
quickly.
i The integrated filter filters out most parti-
cles of dust and soot and completely filters
out pollen. It also reduces gaseous pollutants
and odors. A clogged filter reduces the
amount of air supplied to the vehicle interior.
For this reason, you should always observe
the interval for replacing the filter, which is
specified in the Maintenance Booklet. As it
depends on environmental conditions, e.g.
heavy air pollution, the interval may be
shorter than stated in the Maintenance Book-
let.
i It is possible that the residual heat function
may be activated automatically an hour after
the SmartKey is removed. The vehicle is then
ventilated for 30 minutes to dry the automatic
climate control.
Control panel for dual-zone automatic climate control
Canada only
C
Sets the temperature, left ( Y
page 117)
D
Defrosts the windshield ( Y
page 118)

X
To apply: depress parking brake D firmly.
When the engine is running, the ' (USA
only) or M (Canada only) indicator lamp
lights up in the instrument cluster. X
To release: depress the brake pedal and keep
it depressed. X
Pull release handle C .
When the ignition is switched on or the engine
is running, the ' (USA only) or M (Can-
ada only) indicator lamp goes out in the instru-
ment cluster.
Parking the vehicle for a long period If you leave the vehicle parked for longer than
four weeks, the battery may be damaged by
exhaustive discharging.
If you leave the vehicle parked for longer than six
weeks, the vehicle may suffer damage as a
result of lack of use. X
Visit a qualified specialist workshop and seek
advice.
i You can obtain information about trickle
chargers from a qualified specialist work-
shop.
Driving tips
General notes
Important safety notes
G WARNING
If you switch off the ignition while driving,
safety-relevant functions are only available
with limitations, or not at all. This could affect,
for example, the power steering and the brake
boosting effect. You will require considerably
more effort to steer and brake. There is a risk
of an accident.
Do not switch off the ignition while driving.
G WARNING
If you operate mobile communication equip-
ment while driving, you will be distracted from
traffic conditions. You could also lose control
of the vehicle. There is a risk of an accident. Only operate this equipment when the vehicle
is stationary.
Observe the legal requirements for the country
in which you are driving. Some jurisdictions pro-
hibit the driver from using a mobile phone while
driving a vehicle.
If you make a call while driving, always use
hands-free mode. Only operate the telephone
when the traffic situation permits. If you are
unsure, pull over to a safe location and stop
before operating the telephone.
Bear in mind that at a speed of only 30 mph
(approximately 50 km/h), the vehicle covers a
distance of 44 ft (approximately 14 m) per sec-
ond.
Drive sensibly – save fuel Observe the following tips to save fuel: X
The tires should always be inflated to the rec-
ommended tire pressure. X
Remove unnecessary loads. X
Remove roof racks when they are not needed. X
Warm up the engine at low engine speeds. X
Avoid frequent acceleration or braking. X
Have all maintenance work carried out as
indicated by the service intervals in the Main-
tenance Booklet or by the service interval dis-
play.
Fuel consumption also increases when driving in
cold weather, in stop-start traffic and in hilly ter-
rain.
Drinking and driving
G WARNING
Drinking and driving and/or taking drugs and
driving are very dangerous combinations.
Even a small amount of alcohol or drugs can
affect your reflexes, perceptions and judg-
ment.
The possibility of a serious or even fatal acci-
dent is greatly increased when you drink or
take drugs and drive.
Do not drink or take drugs and drive or allow
anyone to drive who has been drinking or tak-
ing drugs. Driving tips 143
Driving and parking Z

Emission control
G WARNING
Combustion engines emit poisonous exhaust
gases such as carbon monoxide. Inhaling
these exhaust gases leads to poisoning. There
is a risk of fatal injury. Therefore never leave
the engine running in enclosed spaces with-
out sufficient ventilation.
Certain engine systems are designed to keep
the level of poisonous components in exhaust
fumes within legal limits.
These systems only work at peak efficiency if
they are serviced exactly in accordance with the
manufacturer's specifications. Always have
work on the engine carried out at a qualified
specialist workshop. Mercedes-Benz recom-
mends that you use an authorized Mercedes-
Benz Center for this purpose. In particular, work
relevant to safety or on safety-related systems
must be carried out at a qualified specialist
workshop.
The engine settings must not be changed under
any circumstances. Furthermore, all specific
service work must be carried out at regular
intervals and in accordance with the Mercedes-
Benz service requirements. Details can be found
in the Maintenance Booklet.
ECO display
The ECO display provides feedback on how eco-
nomical your driving characteristics are. The
ECO display assists you in achieving the most
economical driving style for the selected set-
tings and prevailing conditions. Your driving
style can significantly influence the vehicle's
consumption.
The ECO display consists of three bars: R
Acceleration R
Constant R
Coasting The percent value is the average value of the
three bars. The three bars and the mean value
begin at the value of 50%. A higher percentage
indicates a more economical driving style.
The ECO display does not indicate the actual fuel
consumption. A fixed percentage count in the
ECO display does not indicate a fixed consump-
tion.
Apart from driving style, consumption is
dependent on many factors such as, e.g.: R
load R
tire pressure R
cold start R
choice of route R
electrical consumers switched on
These factors are not included in the ECO dis-
play.
The evaluation of your driving style is carried out
using the following three categories: R
Acceleration (evaluation of all acceleration
processes): -
The bar fills up: moderate acceleration,
especially at higher speeds -
The bar empties: sporty acceleration R
Constant (assessment of driving behavior at
all times): -
The bar fills up: constant speed and avoid-
ance of unnecessary acceleration and
deceleration -
The bar empties: fluctuations in speed R
Coasting (assessment of all deceleration
processes): -
The bar fills up: anticipatory driving, keep-
ing your distance and early release of the
accelerator. The vehicle can coast without
use of the brakes. -
The bar empties: frequent braking
i An economical driving style specially
requires driving at moderate engine speeds.
To achieve a higher value in the categories
Acceleration and Constant :R
observe the gearshift recommendations. R
drive in drive program E .
i On long journeys at a constant speed, e.g.
on the highway, only the bar for Constant will
change.
i The ECO display summarizes the driving
characteristics from the start of the journey to
its completion. For this reason, the bars144
Driving tips
Driving and parking

Have the brake system checked immediately.
Consult a qualified specialist workshop to
arrange this.
! Vehicles with 4MATIC: function or per-
formance tests may only be carried out on a 2-
axle dynamometer. If you wish to operate the
vehicle on such a dynamometer, please con-
sult a qualified specialist workshop in
advance. You could otherwise damage the
drive train or the brake system.
! Vehicles with 4MATIC: as the ESP ®
sys-
tem operates automatically, the engine and
the ignition must be switched off (SmartKey in
position 0 or 1 in the ignition lock or Start/
Stop button in position 0 or 1 ) while the park-
ing brake is being tested on a brake dyna-
mometer.
Braking maneuvers triggered automatically
by ESP ®
may seriously damage the brake sys-
tem.
! Vehicles with 4MATIC: as the ESP ®
sys-
tem operates automatically, the engine and
the ignition system must be switched off
(SmartKey in position 0 or 1 in the ignition
lock or Start/Stop button in position 0 or 1 )
when: R
testing the parking brake on a brake dyna-
mometer. R
you intend to have the vehicle towed with
one of the axles raised.
Braking maneuvers triggered automatically
by ESP ®
may seriously damage the brake sys-
tem.
All checks and maintenance work on the brake
system must be carried out at a qualified spe-
cialist workshop.
Have brake pads installed and brake fluid
replaced at a qualified specialist workshop.
If the brake system has only been subject to
moderate loads, you should test the functional-
ity of your brakes at regular intervals. To do so,
press firmly on the brake pedal when driving at a
high speed. This improves the grip of the brake
pads.
You can find a description of Brake Assist (BAS)
on ( Y
page 65) or of BAS PLUS on ( Y
page 65). The braking characteristics of the vehicle can be
seriously impaired if: R
brake pads other than those recommended
are installed R
the recommended brake fluid is not used
Safe braking can no longer be guaranteed.
AMG high-performance and ceramic
brakes The high-performance brake system is only
installed on the Mercedes-AMG
CLS 63 S 4MATIC model.
The AMG brake systems are designed for heavy
loads. This may lead to noise when braking. This
will depend on: R
Speed R
Braking force R
Environmental conditions, such as tempera-
ture and humidity
The wear of individual components of the brake
system, such as the brake pads/linings or brake
discs, depends on the individual driving style
and operating conditions.
For this reason, it is impossible to state a mile-
age that will be valid under all circumstances. An
aggressive driving style will lead to high wear.
You can obtain further information about this
from your authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
New and replaced brake pads and discs only
reach their optimum braking effect after several
hundred kilometers of driving. Compensate for
this by applying greater force to the brake pedal.
Keep this in mind, and adapt your driving and
braking accordingly during this break-in period.
Excessive heavy braking results in correspond-
ingly high brake wear. Observe the brake wear
warning lamp in the instrument cluster and note
any brake status messages in the multifunction
display. Especially for high performance driving,
it is important to maintain and have the brake
system checked regularly.146
Driving tips
Driving and parking

Engine compartment
Hood
Important safety notes
G WARNING
If the hood is unlatched, it may open up when
the vehicle is in motion and block your view.
There is a risk of an accident.
Never unlatch the hood while driving. Before
every trip, ensure that the hood is locked.
G WARNING
When opening and closing the hood, it may
suddenly fall into the closed position. There is
a risk of injury to persons within range of
movement of the hood.
Open and close the hood only when no one is
within its range of movement.
G WARNING
Opening the hood when the engine is over-
heated or when there is a fire in the engine
compartment could expose you to hot gases
or other service products. There is a risk of
injury.
Let an overheated engine cool down before
opening the hood. If there is a fire in the
engine compartment, keep the hood closed
and contact the fire department.
G WARNING
The engine compartment contains moving
components. Certain components, such as
the radiator fan, may continue to run or start
again suddenly when the ignition is off. There
is a risk of injury.
If you need to do any work inside the engine
compartment: R
switch off the ignition R
never reach into the area where there is a
risk of danger from moving components,
such as the fan rotation area R
remove jewelry and watches R
keep items of clothing and hair, for exam-
ple, away from moving parts
G WARNING
The ignition system and the fuel injection sys-
tem work under high voltage. If you touch
components which are under voltage, you
could get an electric shock. There is a risk of
injury.
Never touch components of the ignition sys-
tem or fuel injection system when the ignition
is switched on.
Opening the hood
G WARNING
Certain components in the engine compart-
ment, such as the engine, radiator and parts
of the exhaust system, can become very hot.
Working in the engine compartment poses a
risk of injury.
Where possible, let the engine cool down and
touch only the components described in the
following.
G WARNING
When the hood is open and the windshield
wipers are set in motion, you can be injured by
the wiper linkage. There is a risk of injury.
Always switch off the windshield wipers and
the ignition before opening the hood.
! Make sure that the windshield wipers are
not folded away from the windshield. You
could otherwise damage the windshield wip-
ers or the hood.Engine compartment 265
Maintenance and care Z

X
Make sure that the windshield wipers are
turned off. X
Pull release lever C on the hood.
The hood is released.
X
Reach into the gap, pull hood catch handle D
up and lift the hood.
If you lift the hood by approximately 15 in
(40 cm), the hood is opened and held open
automatically by the gas-filled strut.
Closing the hood X
Lower the hood and let it fall from a height of
approximately 8 in (20 cm). X
Check that the hood has engaged properly.
If the hood can be raised slightly, it is not
properly engaged. Open it again and close it
with a little more force.
Radiator
Do not cover up the radiator, such as with a
thermal mat or insect protection cover. The
readings of the on-board-diagnostic system may
otherwise be inaccurate. Some of these read-
ings are required by law and must be accurate at
all times. Engine oil
Important safety notes
G WARNING
Certain components in the engine compart-
ment, such as the engine, radiator and parts
of the exhaust system, can become very hot.
Working in the engine compartment poses a
risk of injury.
Where possible, let the engine cool down and
touch only the components described in the
following.
G WARNING
The engine compartment contains moving
components. Certain components, such as
the radiator fan, may continue to run or start
again suddenly when the ignition is off. There
is a risk of injury.
If you need to do any work inside the engine
compartment: R
switch off the ignition R
never reach into the area where there is a
risk of danger from moving components,
such as the fan rotation area R
remove jewelry and watches R
keep items of clothing and hair, for exam-
ple, away from moving parts
G WARNING
If engine oil comes into contact with hot com-
ponents in the engine compartment, it may
ignite. There is a risk of fire and injury.
Make sure that engine oil is not spilled next to
the filler neck. Let the engine cool down and
thoroughly clean the engine oil off the com-
ponents before starting the engine.
G WARNING
Opening the hood when the engine is over-
heated or when there is a fire in the engine
compartment could expose you to hot gases
or other service products. There is a risk of
injury.266
Engine compartment
Maintenance and care

X
If necessary, add coolant that has been tested
and approved by Mercedes-Benz. X
Replace cap C and turn it clockwise as far as
it will go.
For further information on coolant, see
( Y
page 326).
Adding washer fluid to the windshield
washer system/headlamp cleaning
system
G WARNING
Windshield washer concentrate could ignite if
it comes into contact with hot engine compo-
nents or the exhaust system. There is a risk of
fire and injury.
Make sure that no windshield washer con-
centrate is spilled next to the filler neck.
Example X
To open: pull cap C upwards by the tab.X
Add the premixed washer fluid. X
To close: press cap C onto the filler neck
until it engages.
If the washer fluid level drops below the recom-
mended minimum fluid level of 1.1 US qt
(1.0 liter), a message appears in the multifunc-
tion display prompting you to add washer fluid
( Y
page 225).
Further information on washer fluid
( Y
page 327). Maintenance
ASSYST PLUS
Service messages The ASSYST PLUS service interval display
informs you of the next service due date.
Information on the type of service and service
intervals (see the separate Maintenance Book-
let).
You can obtain further information from an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center or at
http://www.mbusa.com (USA only).
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 267).
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 Overdue 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, shows the type of ser-
vice. 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.Maintenance 269
Maintenance and care Z

Displaying service messages X
Switc h on th e ignition .X
Press th e Y or e butto n on th e steerin g
whee l to selec t th e Serv. menu.X
Press th e c or d butto n to selec t th e
ASSYST PLU S submen u and confirm by press-
in g th e v button.
The servic e due dat e appears in th e multi-
function display.
Information about Service Resetting th e ASSYS T PLUS service inter -
va l display
! If th e ASSYST PLU S servic e interval display
has bee n inadvertentl y reset , this setting can
be correcte d at a qualified specialis t work-
shop.
Hav e servic e wor k carrie d out as described in
th e Maintenance Booklet . Thi s may otherwise
lead to increase d wear and damage to th e
major assemblies or th e vehicle.
A qualified specialis t workshop , e.g. an author -
ized Mercedes-Ben z Center, will reset th e
ASSYST PLU S servic e interval display after th e
servic e wor k has bee n carrie d out . You can also
obtain further information on maintenance
work, fo r example.
Specia l service requirement sThe specifie d maintenance interval take s only
th e normal operation of th e vehicle into
account. Under arduous operatin g condition s or
increase d load on th e vehicle, maintenance
wor k mus t be carrie d out more frequently, fo r
example: R
regular city drivin g wit h frequent intermediate
stops R
if th e vehicle is primarily used to trave l short
distances R
use in mountainous terrain or on poo r road
surfaces R
if th e engin e is ofte n lef t idling fo r lon g periods
Under these o r similar conditions, have, fo r
e xample, th e air filter, engin e oil and oil filte r
replaced or changed more frequently. Under
arduous operatin g conditions, th e tires mus t be
checke d more often. Further information can be
obtained at a qualified specialis t workshop , e.g.
an authorized Mercedes-Ben z Center. Drivin g abroadAn extensive Mercedes-Ben z Servic e networ k is
also available in other countries. You can obtain
further information from any authorized
Mercedes-Ben z Center.
Car e
General notes
H Environmental not e
Dispose of empty packagin g and cleanin g
cloths in an environmentally responsible man -
ner.
! Fo r cleanin g your vehicle, do no t use any of
th e following: R
dry, rough or har d clothsR
abrasiv e cleanin g agentsR
solvents R
cleanin g agents containin g solvents
Do no t scrub .
Do no t touch th e surfaces or protective films
wit h har d objects , e.g. a rin g or ic e scraper.
You could otherwise scratch or damage th e
surfaces and protective film.
! Do no t par k your vehicle fo r a lon g period of
time directl y after cleaning, particularly after
cleanin g th e whee l rim wit h whee l cleaner.
Wheel cleaner can lead to th e increase d cor-
rosio n of th e brake discs and pads . Therefore,
drive fo r a fe w minutes after cleaning. By
heatin g up th e brakes, th e brake discs and
pads dry. The vehicle can then be parke d fo r a
lon g period of time.
Regular car e of your vehicle is a condition fo r
retainin g th e qualit y in th e lon g term .
Use car e products and cleanin g agents recom -
mended and approved by Mercedes-Benz.
Washing th e vehicle an d cleaning th e
paintwor k
Automatic car was h
G WARNING
Brakin g efficiency is reduce d after washin g
th e vehicle. There is a ris k of an accident.270
Care
Maintenance and care