Example: Steps 1 to 3
The following table shows examples of how to calculate total load and cargo capacities with varyingseating configurations and number and size of occupants. The following examples use a maximum
load of 1500 lbs (680 kg). This is for illustration purposes only. Make sure you are using the
actual load limit for your vehicle stated on your vehicle's Tire and Loading Information placard .
Example 1Example 2Example 3
Step 1Combined maximum
weight of occupants
and cargo (data from
the Tire and Loading
Information placard)1500 lbs
(680 kg)1500 lbs
(680 kg)1500 lbs
(680 kg)
Example 1Example 2Example 3
Step 2Number of people in
the vehicle (driver and
occupants)531
Distribution of the
occupantsFront: 2
Rear: 3Front: 1
Rear: 2Front: 1
Weight of the occu-
pantsOccupant 1:
150 lbs (68 kg)
Occupant 2:
180 lbs (82 kg)
Occupant 3:
160 lbs (73 kg)
Occupant 4:
140 lbs (63 kg)
Occupant 5:
120 lbs (54 kg)Occupant 1:
200 lbs (91 kg)
Occupant 2:
190 lbs (86 kg)
Occupant 3:
150 lbs (68 kg)Occupant 1:
150 lbs (68 kg)
Gross weight of all
occupants750 lbs (340 kg)540 lbs (245 kg)150 lbs (68 kg)
Example 1Example 2Example 3
Step 3Permissible load and
trailer load/nose-
weight (maximum per-
missible gross weight
from the Tire and
Loading Information
placard minus the
gross weight of all
occupants)1500 lbs
(680 kg) Ò750 lbs
(340 kg) =
750 lbs (340 kg)1500 lbs
(680 kg) Ò540 lbs
(245 kg) =
960 lbs (435 kg)1500 lbs
(680 kg) Ò150 lbs
(68 kg) =
1350 lbs
(612 kg)
The greater the combined weight of the occupants, the lower the maximum luggage load.
You can find further information under: "Trailer tow hitch" (
Ypage 314).
290Loading the vehicle
Wheels and tires
Vehicle identification plate
Even if you have calculated the total load care-
fully, you should still make sure that the permis-
sible gross weight and the gross axle weight rat-
ing of your vehicle are not exceeded. This data
can be found on the vehicle identification plate
on the B-pillar of your vehicle (
Ypage 303).
Permissible gross vehicle weight: the gross
weight of the vehicle, all occupants, load and
trailer load/noseweight (if applicable) must not
exceed the permissible gross vehicle weight.
Gross axle weight rating: the maximum per-
missible load that can be carried by one axle
(front or rear axle).
To ensure that your vehicle does not exceed the
maximum permissible values (gross vehicle
weight and maximum gross axle weight rating),
have your loaded vehicle (including driver, occu-
pants, load, and full trailer load if applicable)
weighed on a suitable vehicle weighbridge.
Trailer load/noseweight
The trailer load/noseweight affects the gross
weight of the vehicle. If a trailer is attached, the trailer load/noseweight is included in the load
along with occupants and luggage. The trailer
load/noseweight is usually approximately 10%
of the gross weight of the trailer and its load.
What you should know about wheels
and tires
Tire labeling
Tire labeling
:DOT, Tire Identification Number
(Ypage 293)
;Maximum tire load (Ypage 293)
=Maximum tire pressure (Ypage 284)
?Manufacturer
ATire material (Ypage 294)
BTire size designation, load-bearing capacity
and speed index (Ypage 291)
CTire name
The markings described above are on the tire in
addition to the tire name (sales designation) and
the manufacturer's name.
iTire data is vehicle-specific and may deviate
from the data in the example.
Tire size designation, load bearing index
and speed index
GWARNING
Exceeding the stated tire load-bearing capa-
city and the approved maximum speed could
lead to tire damage or the tire bursting. There is a risk of accident.
Therefore, only use tire types and sizes
approved for your vehicle model. Observe the
What you should know about wheels and tires291
Wheels and tires
Z
the year of manufacture. For example, a tire that
is marked with "3208" was manufactured in
week 32 in 2008.
iTire data is vehicle-specific and may deviate
from the data in the example.
Tire characteristics
This information describes the type of tire cord
and the number of layers in sidewall :and
under tire tread ;.
iTire data is vehicle-specific and may deviate
from the data in the example.
Definitions for tires and loading
Tire structure and characteristics
Describes the number of layers or the number of
rubber-coated belts in the tire tread and the tire
wall. These consist of steel, nylon, polyester,
and other materials.
Bar
Metric unit for tire pressure. 14.5038 pounds
per square inch (psi) and 100 kilopascals (kPa)
are the equivalent of 1 bar.
DOT (Department of Transportation)
DOT marked tires fulfill the requirements of the
United States Department of Transportation.
Average weight of vehicle occupants
The number of occupants for which the vehicle
is designed multiplied by 68 kilograms (150 lbs).
Uniform Tire Quality Grading Standards
A uniform standard to grade the quality of tires
with regard to tread quality, traction and tem-
perature characteristics. The quality grading
assessment is made by the manufacturer fol-
lowing specifications from the U.S government.
The quality grade of a tire is imprinted on the
sidewall of the tire.
Recommended tire pressure
The recommended tire pressures are the pres-
sures specified for the tires mounted on the
vehicle at the factory.
The tire and load information table
1contains the
recommended tire pressures for cold tires, the
maximum permissible load and the maximu
m
permissible vehicle speed.
The tire pressure table contains the recommen-
ded tire pressure for cold tires under various
operating conditions, i.e. loading and/or speed
of the vehicle.
Increased vehicle weight due to optional
equipment
The combined weight of all standard and
optional equipment available for the vehicle,
regardless of whether it is actually installed on
the vehicle or not.
Wheel rim
The part of the wheel on which the tire is moun-
ted.
GAWR (Gross Axle Weight Rating)
GAWR is the maximum gross axle weight rating.
The actual load on an axle must never exceed
the gross axle weight rating. You can find the
maximum gross axle weight rating on the B-pillar
on the driver's side (
Ypage 303).
Speed index
The speed index is part of the tire identification. It specifies the speed range for which the tire is
approved.
GTW (Gross Trailer Weight)
GTW is the total of weight of a trailer and the
weight of the load, accessories etc. on the
trailer.
1Only for vehicles with a gross weight of less than 10,000 lbs (4536 kg).
294What you should know about wheels and tires
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
iE10 fuel contains an admixture of up to 10%
bioethanol. Your vehicle is E10 compatible.
You can refuel your vehicle with E10 fuel.
iYou will generally find information about the
fuel grade on the filling pump. If there is no
identification on the filling pump, consult a
gas station attendant.
As a temporary measure, if the recommended
fuel is not available, you may also use regular
unleaded gasoline with an octane rating of
87 AKI/91 RON. This may reduce the engine's
performance and increase fuel consumption.
Avoid driving at full throttle and sudden accel-
eration. Never refuel using gasoline with a lower
AKI/RON rating.
iIn some countries, the available gasoline
may not be sufficiently low in sulfur. This fuel can temporarily produce unpleasant odors,
especially on short journeys. The odors are
reduced as soon as sulfur-free fuel (sulfur
content < 10 pp m) is used again fo rrefueling.
For more information about refueling
(
Ypage 132).
Fuel additives
!Operating the engine with subsequently
added fuel additives can cause engine dam-
age. Do not mix fuel additives with fuel. This
does not include additives for the remo val a
nd
prevention of deposits. Gasoline can only be
mixed with additives recommended by
Mercedes-Benz. Follow the instructions in the
product description. You can find further
information on recommended additives in any
Mercedes-Benz Commercial Van Center.
Mercedes-Benz recommends using brand-name
fuels with additives.
If you use fuels without these additives for a long
period of time, deposits can form. This primarily
forms on the inlet valve and in the combustion
chamber.
In some countries, the available fuel grade may
be inadequate. Residue could build up in the fuel
injection system as a result. In this case, in con-
sultation with a Mercedes-Benz Commercial
Van Center, the fuel should be mixed with the
cleaning additive recommended by Mercedes-
Benz. You must observe the notes and mixing
ratios indicated on the container.
Do not add other fuel additives to the fuel. This
results in unnecessary costs and can damage
the engine.
Information on fuel consumption
HEnvironmental note
CO
2(carbon dioxide) is the gas which scien-
tists believe to be principally responsible for
global warming (the greenhouse effect). Your
vehicle's CO
2emissions are directly related to
fuel consumption and therefore depend on:
Refficient use of the fuel by the engine
Rdriving style
Rother non-technical factors, such as envi-
ronmental influences, road conditions or
traffic flow
You can minimize your vehicle's CO
2emis-
sions by driving carefully and having it serv-
iced regularly.
Only for certain countries: the respective cur-
rent consumption and emission values of your
vehicle can be found in the COC papers (EC
CERTIFICATE OF CONFORMITY). These docu-
ments are supplied when the vehicle is deliv-
ered.
Consumption figures were found in the currently
valid respective version:
Rfor vehicles up to and including the Euro 4
standard according to EU Directive
80/1268/EEC
Rfor vehicles from the Euro 5standard accord-
ing to regulation (EC) no. 715/2007
Rfor vehicles from the Euro 6 standard accord- ing to regulation (EC) no. 595/2009
Fuel consumption depends on:
Rthe vehicle version
Rthe style of driving
Rthe operating conditions
Rthe type or quality of the fuel used
The vehicle will use more fuel than usual in the
following situations:
Rat very low outside temperatures
Rin city traffic
Rduring short journeys
Ron mountainous terrain
Rwhen towing a trailer
Observe the advice in the "Protection of the
environment" section to keep fuel consumption
low (
Ypage 29).
306Service products and capacities
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
Trailer loads
Make sure that you adhere to the local legal
requirements for trailer loads.
The permissible weights and loads which cannot
be exceeded can also be found:
Rin your vehicle documents and
Ron the identification plates of the trailer tow
hitch, the trailer and the vehicle
(
Ypage 303)
You will find the basic values approved by the
manufacturer in the following table. If the values
differ, the lowest value applies.
Make sure that you adhere to the weight restric-
tions by having the weight checked on a cali-
brated weighbridge.
Permissible gross
weight GVWR6724 lbs (3050 kg)
Gross front axle
load GAWR (FA)3417 lbs (1550 kg)
Gross rear axle load
GAWR (RA)3417 lbs (1550 kg)
Maximum permissi-
ble gross weight of
vehicle/trailer
combination
2
GCWR
11684 lbs (5300 kg)
Trailer load,
braked3GTW
5000 lbs (2268 kg)
Maximum permissi-
ble nose weight
TWR500 lbs (227 kg)
2Maximum permissible gross weight of the vehicle and trailer.3Maximum permissible gross trailer weight, for trailers with a separate functional braking system.
314Vehicle data
Technical data