RDo not drive with tires which have too little
tread depth, as this significantly reduces the
traction on wet roads (hydroplaning).
RReplace the tires after six years at the latest,
regardless of wear. This also applies to the
spare wheel.
Operation in winter
General notes
Have your vehicle winterproofed at a qualified
specialist workshop at the onset of winter.
Only use wheels with tire sizes approved by
Mercedes-Benz.
Prior to the onset of winter, ensure that snow
chains are stowed in the vehicle (
Ypage 280).
Snow chains cannot be mounted on all wheel/
tire combinations. Observe the restrictions on
the use of snow chains under "Wheel/tire com-
binations" (
Ypage 300).
Also observe the notes in the "Changing a
wheel" section (
Ypage 296).
Driving with summer tires
At temperatures below 45 ‡ (+7 †), summer
tires lose elasticity and therefore traction and
braking power. Change the tires on your vehicle
to M+S tire s. Usingsu mmer tires at very cold
temperatures could cause tears to form,
thereby damaging the tires permanently.
Mercedes-Benz cannot accept responsibility for
this type of damage.
M+S tires
GWARNING
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:
Ryou should therefore adapt your driving
style and drive carefully.
Rnever mount more than one spare wheel
that differs from the wheel to be replaced.
Ronly use a spare wheel that differs from the
wheel to be replaced for a short time.
Rhave 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.
GWARNING
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.
Use winter tires or all-season tires at tempera-
tures below 45 ‡ (+7 †). Both types of tire are
identified by the M+S marking.
Only winter tires bearing the isnowflake
symbol in addition to the M+S marking provide
the best possible grip in wintry road conditions.
Only these tires will allow driving safety systems
such as ABS and ESP
®to function optimally in
winter. These tires have been developed specif-
ically for driving in snow.
For safe driving, use M+S tires of the same make
and tread pattern on all wheels.
Always observe the maximum permissible
speed specified for the M+S tires you have
mounted.
If you mount M+S tires that have a lower maxi-
mum permissible speed than the maximum
design speed of the vehicle, affix a correspond- ing warning label in the driver's field of vision.
You can obtain this at a qualified specialist work-
shop.
Once you have mounted the winter tires:
XCheck the tire pressure (Ypage 280).
XRestart the tire pressure monitor
(Ypage 287).
Operation in winter279
Wheels and tires
Z
Snow chains
GWARNING
If snow chains are installed to the front
wheels, they may drag against the vehicle
body or chassis components. This could
cause damage to the vehicle or the tires.
There is a risk of an accident.
To avoid hazardous situations:
Rnever install snow chains to the front
wheels
Ralways install snow chains in pairs to the
rear wheels.
GWARNING
If you drive too fast with snow chains moun-
ted, they may snap. As a result, you could
injure others and damage the vehicle. There is
a risk of an accident.
Observe the maximum permissible speed for
operation with snow chains.
Observe the country-specific laws and regula-
tions for operation with snow chains.
!Check the snow chains for damage before
mounting them. Damaged or worn snow
chains may snap and damage the following
components:
Rwheel
Rwheel housing
Rwheel suspension
For this reason, you must use only snow
chains that are free of defects. Observe the
manufacturer's mounting instructions.
!Vehicles with steel wheels: if you mount
snow chains on steel wheels, you may dam-
age the hub caps. Remove the hub caps from
the relevant wheels before mounting the
snow chains.
Snow chains increase traction on roads in wintry conditions.
For safety reasons, Mercedes-Benz recom-
mends that you only use snow chains or traction
aids which have been approved for Mercedes-
Benz vehicles. The snow chains or traction aids
must be of class U or meet the SAE type U
specification. Information about snow chains can be obtained
from any Mercedes-Benz Commercial Van Cen-
ter.
When mounting snow chains, please bear the
following points in mind:
RSnow chains cannot be mounted on all
wheel/tire combinations. When mounting the
snow chains, note the permissible tire and
snow chain dimensions. Observe the restric-
tions on the use of snow chains under
"Wheel/tire combinations" (
Ypage 300).
RMount snow chains only in pairs and only to
the rear wheels. Observe the manufacturer's
mounting instructions.
ROnly use snow chains when the road is cov-
ered by a layer of snow. Remove the snow
chains as soon as possible when you come to
a road that is not snow-covered.
RThe use of snow chains may be restricted by
local regulations. Observe the appropriate
regulations before mounting snow chains.
RWhen driving with snow chains installed, do
not exceed the maximum permissible speed
of 30 mph (50 km/h).
RCheck the tension of the chains after a dis-
tance of approximately 0.5 miles (1.0 km).
You may wish to deactivate ESP
®when pulling
away with snow chains installed (Ypage 66).
This allows the wheels to spin in a controlled
manner, achieving an increased driving force
(cut
ting action).
Tire pressure
Tire pressure specifications
Important safety notes
GWARNING
Underinflated or overinflated tires pose the
following risks:
Rthe tires may burst, especially as the load
and vehicle speed increase.
Rthe tires may wear excessively and/or
unevenly, which may greatly impair tire
traction.
Rthe driving characteristics, as well as steer-
ing and braking, may be greatly impaired.
There is a risk of an accident.
280Tire pressure
Wheels and tires
TIN (Tire Identification Number)
A unique identification number which can be
used by a tire manufacturer to identify tires, for
example for a product recall, and thus identify
the purchasers. The TIN is composed of the
manufacturer identification code, tire size, tire
model code and manufacturing date.
Load bearing index
The load bearing index (also load index) is a code
that contains the maximum load bearing capa-
city of a tire.
Traction
Traction is the result of friction between the tires
and the road surface.
TWR (permissible trailer drawbar load)
The TWR is the maximum permissible weight
that may act on the ball coupling of the trailer
tow hitch.
Wear indicator
Narrow bars (tread wear bars) that are distrib-
uted over the tire tread. If the tire tread is level
with the bars, the wear limit of áin (1.6 mm)
has been reached.
Distribution of the vehicle occupants
The distribution of vehicle occupants over des-
ignated seat positions in a vehicle.
Maximum permissible payload weight
Nominal load and goods/luggage load plus
68 kg (150 lb s)multiplied by the number of
seats in the vehicle.
Changing wheels
Rotating the wheels
GWARNING
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 located
in the wheel.
Tire-mounting tools should not be used near
the valve. This could damage the electronic
components.
Only have tires changed at a qualified spe-
cialist workshop.
Always observe the instructions and safety
notes under "Mounting a wheel" (
Ypage 297).
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 tires according to the intervals in
the tire manufacturer's warranty book in your
vehicle documents. If no warranty book is avail-
able, 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 rotation.
Clean the contact surfaces of the wheel and the
brake disc thoroughly every time a wheel is rota-
ted. Avoid oily or greasy cleaning agents.
Check the tire pressure and reactivate the tire
pressure monitor if necessary.
Direction of rotation
Tires with a specified direction of rotation have
additional benefits, e.g. if there is a risk of hydro-
planing. You will only gain these benefits if the
correct direction of rotation is observed.
An arrow on the sidewall of the tire indicates its
correct direction of rotation.
You may mount a spare wheel against the direc-tion of rotation. Observe the time restriction on
use as well as the speed limitation specified on
the spare wheel.
Storing wheels
Store wheels that are not being used in a cool,
dry and preferably dark place. Protect the tires
from contact with oil, grease and fuel.
296Changing wheels
Wheels and tires
Spare wheel
Important safety notes
GWARNING
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:
Ryou should therefore adapt your driving
style and drive carefully.
Rnever mount more than one spare wheel
that differs from the wheel to be replaced.
Ronly use a spare wheel that differs from the
wheel to be replaced for a short time.
Rdo not deactivate ESP®.
Rhave 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.
When using a spare wheel of a different size, do
not exceed the maximum permissible speed of
50 mph (80 km/h).
General notes
The procedure for mounting the spare wheel is
described in "Mounting a wheel" (Ypage 297).
The following should be checked regularly, par-
ticularly prior to long journeys:
Rthe tire pressure of the spare wheel, which
should then be corrected if necessary
(
Ypage 280)
Rthe fastenings of the spare wheel bracket
The spare wheel is located either in the left rear
compartment or in a spare wheel bracket under
the vehicle.
Replace the tires after six years at the latest,
regardless of wear. This also applies to the spare
wheel.
Vehicles with tire pressure monitor: the
spare wheel is not equipped with a sensor for
monitoring tire pressure. If you have installed a spare wheel, the tire pressure monitor will not
function for this wheel. The system may con-
tinue to show the tire pressure of the wheel that
has been removed for a few minutes. The value
displayed for the position where the spare wheel
is installed is not the same as the current tire
pressure of the spare wheel.
When you are driving with the spare wheel
mounted, the tire pressure monitor cannot func-
tion reliably. Only restart the tire pressure mon- itor when the defective wheel has been replaced
with a new wheel and sensor.
More Information can be found under "Tire pres-
sure monitor" (
Ypage 284).
Removing and installing the spare
wheel
Spare wheel under the rear of the vehi-
cle
Removing
XTake the lug wrench and auxiliary tool for the
spare wheel lifter out of the vehicle tool kit
(
Ypage 270).
XOpen the tailgate/rear door.
XCarefully pry off protective cap :with a suit-
able tool, e.g. a screwdriver. Be careful not to
damage the paintwork or the covering cap
when doing so.
Spare wheel301
Wheels and tires
Z
Rear-compartment
air-conditioning
systemCapacity
Refrigerant31.7 oz(950 g)
PAG oil4.9 oz
(139 g)
Washer fluid
Important safety notes
GWARNING
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.
!Only use washer fluid that is suitable for
plastic lamp lenses, e.g. MB SummerFit or MB WinterFit. Unsuitable washer fluid could dam-
age the plastic lenses of the headlamps.
When handling washer fluid, observe the impor-
tant safety notes on service products
(
Ypage 304).
Mixing ratio
Add windshield washer concentrate to the
washer fluid all year round. Adapt the mixing
ratio to the ambient temperature.
At temperatures above freezing:
XFill up the washer fluid reservoir with a mix-
ture of water and windshield washer concen-
trate, e.g. Summerwash to prevent smearing.
At temperatures below freezing:
XFill up the washer fluid reservoir with a mix-
ture of water and windshield washer concen-
trate, e.g. Winterwash if there is a danger of
frost.
This prevents washer fluid from freezing on
the windshield.
Capacities
Windshield washer system with/without
heating
Washer fluid reser-
voirWasher fluid
UnheatedApprox. 3.7 US qt (3.5 l)
HeatedApprox. 6.3 US qt(6.0 l)
Vehicle data
General notes
The following section contains important tech-
nical data for your vehicle. Additional vehicle-
specific and equipment-dependent technical
data, such as vehicle weights, can be found in
your vehicle registration papers.
Dimensions
Vehicle with tailgate
Vehicle with rear doors
Vehicle data311
Technical data
Z
The dimensions specified vary according to:
RTires
RLoad
RCondition of the suspension
ROptional equipment
ModelCargo Van
Opening height of the
tailgate:86.0 in (2185 mm)
Opening range of the
tailgate;41.2 in (1047 mm)
Opening range of the
rear doors =33.4 in (849 mm)
Load width50.0 in (1270 mm)
Max. load width66.3 in (1685 mm)
Load height53.8 in (1367 mm)
Vehicle length202.4 in
(5140 mm)
Vehicle width
Including exterior mir-
rors
Excluding exterior mir-
rors
88.3 in (2244 mm)
75.9 in (1928 mm)
Wheelbase126.0 in
(3200 mm)
ModelPassenger Vans
Opening height of the
tailgate :84.6 in (2150 mm)
Opening range of the
tailgate;41.2 in (1047 mm)
Opening range of the
rear doors =33.4 in (849 mm)
Load width47.4 in (1205 mm)
Max. load width61.1 in (1552 mm)
Load height52.2 in (1326 mm)
Vehicle length202.4 in
(5140 mm)
ModelPassenger Vans
Vehicle width
Including exterior mir-
rors
Excluding exterior mir-
rors
88.3 in (2244 mm)
75.9 in (1928 mm)
Wheelbase126.0 in
(3200 mm)
Cargo tie-down points and carrier sys-
tems
Cargo tie-down points
General notes
!Observe the information on the maximum
loading capacity of the individual cargo tie-
down points.
If you use several cargo tie-down points to
secure a load, you must always take the max-
imum loading capacity of the weakest cargo
tie-down point into account.
If you brake hard, for example, the forces act-
ing could be up to several times the weight
force of the load. Always use multiple cargo
tie-down points in order to distribute the force absorption. Load the anchorages evenly.
You will find additional information about cargo
tie-down points and cargo tie-down rings in the
"Securing loads" section (
Ypage 244).
Cargo tie-down rings
The maximum tensile load of the cargo tie-down
rings is:
Cargo tie-down
ringsPermissible nomi- nal tensile load
Passenger Vans786.5 lbf
(350 daN)
Cargo Van1124.0 lbf (500 daN)
312Vehicle data
Technical data
Guide/load rails
The maximum tensile load for the cargo tie-
down points on a guide/load rail is:
Cargo tie-down
pointPermissible nomi-nal tensile load
Guide rail786.5 lbf
(350 daN)
Load rails on cargo
compartment floor1124.0 lbf (500 daN)
Load rail on sidewall225.0 lbf
(100 daN)
The values specified apply only to loads placed
on the cargo compartment floor if:
Rthe load is secured to two cargo tie-down
points on the rail and
Rthe distance to the nearest load-securing
point on the same rail is approximately 3 ft
(1 m)
Maximum roof load
GWARNING
If you use openings in the bodywork or
detachable parts as steps, you could:
Rslip and/or fall
Rdamage the vehicle and cause yourself to
fall.
There is a risk of injury.
Always use secure climbing aids, e.g. a suita-
ble ladder.
!Do not use the lower sliding door guide (car-
riage) as a step. Otherwise, you could damage
the paneling and/or the sliding door mecha-
nism.
GWARNING
When you load the roof, the center of gravity
of the vehicle rises and the driving character-
istics change. If you exceed the maximum roof
load, the driving characteristics, as well as
steering and braking, will be greatly impaired.
There is a risk of an accident.
Never exceed the maximum roof load and
adjust your driving style.
!The weight of any load carried on the roof,
including the roof carrier, must not exceed
the maximum permissible roof load.
The roof carrier supports must be mounted at
equal distances.
Install rail carriers in front of and behind the
middle prop.
!For safety reasons, Mercedes-Benz recom-
mends that you only use roof carrier systems
which have been tested and approved for
Mercedes-Benz vehicles. This will help to
avoid damage.
Maximum roof load330 lbs (150 kg)
with at least three
pairs of support
points
The data is valid for a load distributed evenly
over the entire roof area.
Reduce the load on shorter roof carriers pro-
portionately. The maximum load per pair of roof
carrier supports is 110 lbs (50 kg). The maxi-
mum load of a rail carrier bar is 220 lbs (100 kg).
Loading guidelines and other information con-
cerning load distribution and load securing can
be found in the "Transporting" section
(
Ypage 242).
Trailer tow hitch
General notes
Mercedes-Benz recommends having a trailer
tow hitch retrofitted at an authorized Mercedes-
Benz Van Dealer.
Use only a trailer tow hitch that has been tested
and approved specially for your vehicle by the
distributor named on the inside of the front
cover. Only use a ball coupling for your Metris
trailer tow hitch if it has been approved for your
vehicle. You can also find information on the
permitted dimensions of the ball coupling on the
identification plate of the trailer tow hitch.
You can obtain advice from a qualified specialist
workshop. Also observe the information on tow-
ing a trailer in the "Driving and parking" section
(
Ypage 163).
Vehicle data313
Technical data
Z