Notes on breaking-in a new vehicle
Important safety notes
The sensor system of some driving and driving
safety systems adjusts automatically while a
certain distance is being driven after the vehiclehas been delivered or after repairs. Full system
effectiveness is not reached until the end of this
teach-in procedure.
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.
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 per-
formance in the future.
RYou should therefore drive at varying vehicle
and engine speeds for the first 1,000 miles
(1,500 km).
RAvoid heavy loads, e.g. driving at full throttle,
during this period.
RWhen shifting gears manually, shift up in good
time, before the tachometer needle reaches
Ô of the way to the red area of the tachom-
eter display.
RDo not manually shift to a lower gear to brake
the vehicle.
RTry to avoid depressing the accelerator pedal
beyond the pressure point (kickdown).
Additional breaking-in notes for Mercedes-AMG
vehicles:
RDo not drive faster than 85 mph (140 km/h)
for the first 1,000 miles (1,500 km).
ROnly briefly allow the engine to reach a max-
imum engine speed of 4,500 rpm.
RAvoid driving off-road before the first differ-
ential oil change at 2,000 miles (3,000 km).
RIdeally, for the first 1,000 miles (1,500 km),
drive in program C.
After 1,000 mile s(1,500 km), you can increase
the engine speed gradually and bring the vehicle
to full speed.
You shoul
d also observe these notes on break-
ing in if the engine or parts of the drive train on
your vehicle have been replaced.
Always observe the maximum permissible
speed.
Axle differential transmission
(Mercedes-AMG vehicles)
Change the oil after a breaking-in period of
2,000 miles (3,000 km) to improve protection of
the axle differential transmission.
This oil change prolongs the service life of the
axle differential transmission. Have the oil
change carried out at a qualified specialist work- shop.
Axle differential transmission and
portal transmission (G 500 4x42)
Change the oil after a breaking-in period of
2,000 miles (3,000 km) to improve protection of
the axle differential transmission and portal
transmission.
This oil change prolongs the service life of the
axle differential and portal transmission. Have
the oil change carried out at a qualified special-ist workshop.
Driving
Important safety notes
GWARNING
Objects in the driver's footwell may restrict
the clearance around the pedals or block a
depressed pedal. This jeopardizes the oper-
ating and road safety of the vehicle. There is a risk of an accident.
Stow all objects securely in the vehicle so that
they do not get into the driver's footwell.
When using floormats or carpets, make sure
that they are properly secured so that they do not slip or obstruct the pedals. Do not place
several floormats or carpets on top of one
another.
GWARNING
Unsuitable footwear can hinder correct usage of the pedals, e.g.:
Rshoes with thick soles
Rshoes with high heels
Rslippers
104Driving
Driving and parking
XWhen gearshift recommendation:appears
on the multifunction display, pull the right-
hand steering wheel paddle shifter
(
Ypage 116).
The automatic transmission shifts to recom-
mended gear ;.
Downshifting
XPull the left-hand steering wheel paddle
shifter (Ypage 116).
The automatic transmission shifts down to
the next gear.
If you slow down or stop without shifting down, the automatic transmission automatically shifts
down.
Selecting the optimal gear for maxi-
mum acceleration
XPull the left-hand steering wheel paddle
shifter until the transmission selects the opti-
mum gear according to the speed.
Switching off the manual drive program
XAll vehicles (except Mercedes ‑AMG vehi-
cles): press the program selector button
repeatedly until Eor Sis shown in the multi-
function display.
XMercedes‑AMG vehicles: press the program
selector button repeatedly until Cor Sis
shown in the multifunction display.
Problems with the automatic transmission
ProblemPossible causes/consequences and MSolutions
The transmission has
problems shifting gear.The transmission is losing oil.
XHave the transmission checked at a qualified specialist workshop
immediately.
The acceleration ability
is deteriorating.
The transmission no lon-
ger changes gear.The transmission is in emergency mode.
It is only possible to shift intosecondgear and reverse gear.
XStop the vehicle.
XShift the transmission to position j.
XTurn the SmartKey to positiongin the ignition lock.
XWait at least ten seconds before restarting the engine.
XShift the transmission to position hork.
If h is selected, the transmission shifts to secondgear; ifkis
selected, the transmission shifts to reverse gear.
XHave the transmission checked at a qualified specialist workshop
immediately.
You hear a warning tone.You have:
Rswitched off the engine
Ropened the driver's door
Rnot shifted the selector lever to position j
XShift the selector lever to positionj.
Automatic transmission119
Driving and parking
Z
Indicated temperatures just above the freezing
point do not guarantee that the road surface is
free of ice. The road may still be icy, especially in
wooded areas or on bridges. The vehicle could
skid if you fail to adapt your driving style. Always
adapt your driving style and drive at a speed to
suit the prevailing weather conditions.
You should pay special attention to road condi-
tions when temperatures are around freezing
point.
For more information on driving with snow
chains, see (
Ypage 259).
For more information on driving with summer
tires, see (
Ypage 259).
Observe the notes in the "Winter operation" sec-
tion (
Ypage 258).
Off-road driving
Important safety notes
GWARNING
If you drive on a steep incline at an angle or
turn when driving on an incline, the vehicle
could slip sideways, tip and rollover. There is a risk of an accident.
Always drive on a steep incline in the line of
fall (straight up or down) and do not turn the
vehicle.
GWARNING
Flammable material such as leaves, grass or
twigs may ignite if they come into contact with
hot parts of the exhaust system. There is a risk of fire.
When driving off road or on unpaved roads,
check the vehicle's underside regularly. In
particular, remove parts of plants or other
flammable materials which have become
trapped. In the case of damage, contact a
qualified specialist workshop.
!There is a risk of damage to the vehicle if:
Rthe vehicle becomes stuck, e.g. on a high
curb or an unpaved road
Ryou drive too fast over an obstacle, e.g. a
curb, a speed bump or a pothole in the road
Ra heavy object strikes the underbody or
parts of the chassis
In situations like this, the body, the under-
body, chassis parts, wheels or tires could be
damaged without the damage being visible.
Components damaged in this way can unex-
pectedly fail or, in the case of an accident, no
longer withstand the loads they are designed
to.
If the underbody paneling is damaged, com-
bustible materials such as leaves, grass or
twigs can gather between the underbody and
the underbody paneling. If these materials
come in contact with hot parts of the exhaust system, they can catch fire.
In such situations, have the vehicle checked
and repaired immediately at a qualified spe-
cialist workshop. If on continuing your jour-
ney you notice that driving safety is impaired,
pull over and stop the vehicle immediately,
paying attention to road and traffic condi-
tions. In such cases, consult a qualified spe-
cialist workshop.
When driving off-road, substances such as sand, mud and water or water mixed with oil may get
into the brakes. This may lead to a reduction in
braking performance or total brake failure as a
result of increased wear. The braking charac-
teristics change depending on the material
entering the brakes. Clean the brakes after driv-
ing off-road. If you detect a reduced braking
effect or grinding noises, ha
ve the brake system
checked in a qualified specialist workshop as
soon as possible. Adapt your driving style to the
different braking characteristics.
Driving off-road increases the likelihood of dam-
age to the vehicle, which, in turn, can lead to
failure of the mechanical assembly or systems.
Adapt your driving style to suit the terrain con-
ditions. Drive carefully. Have damage to the
vehicle rectified immediately at a qualified spe-
cialist workshop.
Do not shift into transmission position iwhen
driving off-road. You could lose control of the
vehicle if you attempt to brake the vehicle using
the service brake. If the gradient is too steep for your vehicle, drive back down in reverse gear.
Driving tips129
Driving and parking
Z
Hiding a service message
XTo hide the service message, press the%
back button on the multifunction steering
wheel (
Ypage 161).
Displaying service messages
Use the buttons on the multifunction steering
wheel.
XSwitch on the ignition.
XPress =or; to select the standard
display menu on the steering wheel
(
Ypage 163).
XPress 9or: to select the service
interval display.
The ¯ or± service symbol and the ser-
vice due date are displayed.
Points to remember
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:
Rregular city driving with frequent intermediate
stops
Rif the vehicle is primarily used to travel short
distances
Ruse in mountainous terrain or on poor road
surfaces
Rif 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.
Care
General notes
!
For cleaning your vehicle, do not use any of
the following:
Rdry, rough or hard cloths
Rabrasive cleaning agents
Rsolvents
Rcleaning 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 your vehicle for a long period of
time directly after cleaning, particularly after
cleaning the wheel rim with wheel cleaner.
Wheel cleaner can lead to the increased cor-
rosion of the brake discs and pads. Therefore,
drive for a few minutes after cleaning. By
heating up the brakes, the brake discs and
pads dry. The vehicle can then be parked for a
long period of time.
HEnvironmental note
Dispose of empty packaging and cleaning
cloths in an environmentally responsible man-
ner.
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
GWARNING
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.
!When DISTRONIC PLUS or the HOLD func-
tion is activated, the vehicle brakes automat-
ically in certain situations.
To avoid damage to the vehicle, deactivate
DISTRONIC PLUS and the HOLD function in
the following or similar situations:
Rwhen towing the vehicle
Rin the car wash
!Never clean your vehicle in a Touchless
Automatic Car Wash as these use special
236Care
Maintenance and care
!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 "Installing a wheel" (
Ypage 276).
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.
On vehicles that have the same size front and
rear wheels, you can rotate the wheels accord-
ing to the intervals 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). Depending on tire wear, this may
be required earlier. 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 rota-
ted. Check the tire pressure and reactivate the
tire pressure monitor if necessary (
Ypage 265).
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 the spare wheel against the
direction of rotation. Adhere to the time restric-
tion on use as well as the speed limitation speci-
fied on the spare wheel.
Storing wheels
Store tires that are not being used in a cool, dry
and preferably dark place. Protect the tires from
oil, grease, gasoline and diesel.
Mounting a wheel
Preparing the vehicle
GWARNING
When you remove the spare wheel from the
spare wheel bracket, the vehicle’s weight dis-
tribution changes. If the vehicle is already
raised, the jack could tip over. There is a risk
of injury.
Remove the spare wheel from the spare wheel
bracket before lifting the vehicle.
XStop the vehicle on solid, non-slippery and
level ground.
XApply the parking brake.
XBring the front wheels into the straight-ahead
position.
XShift the automatic transmission to position
j.
XSwitch off the engine.
XRemove the vehicle tools and jack from the
vehicle (Ypage 244).
XRemove the spare wheel from the spare wheel bracket (Ypage 245).
XSafeguard the vehicle against rolling away.
Securing the vehicle to prevent it from
rolling away
XPlace chocks or other suitable items under
the front and rear of the wheel that is diago-
nally opposite the wheel you wish to change.
Raising the vehicle
GWARNING
If you do not position the jack correctly at the
appropriate jacking point of the vehicle, the
jack could tip over with the vehicle raised.
There is a risk of injury.
Only position the jack at the appropriate jack-
ing point of the vehicle. The base of the jack
must be positioned vertically, directly under
the jacking point of the vehicle.
!Only position the jack at the appropriate
jacking point of the vehicle. Otherwise, you
could damage the vehicle.
276Changing a wheel
Wheels and tires
Make sure that jackAis at the correct posi-
tion under axle carrier tube ?. The front or
rear axle must sit securely in the recess of
jack A.
XKeep pumping until axle carrier tube ?sits
securely in the recess of jack Aand the base
of the jack lies evenly on the ground.
Ensure that the jack is located vertically under
the jacking point.
XRaise the vehicle by pumping until the tire is
no more than 1.2 in (3 cm) off the ground.
Removing a wheel
!Do not place wheel bolts in sand or on a dirty
surface. The bolt and wheel hub threads could
otherwise be damaged when you screw them
in.
When mounting/removing wheels, and for as
long as the wheels are removed, avoid applying
any external force on the brake disks. This could impair the level of comfort when braking.
XUnscrew the wheel bolts.
XRemove the wheel.
Mounting a new wheel
GWARNING
Oiled or greased wheel bolts/wheel nuts and
damaged wheel bolt/wheel nut/wheel hub
threads can cause wheel bolts/wheel nuts to
come loose. As a result, you could lose a
wheel while driving. There is a risk of an acci-
dent.
Never oil or grease wheel bolts/wheel nuts. In
the event of damage to the threads, contact a
qualified specialist workshop immediately.
Have the damaged wheel bolts/wheel nuts or
hub threads replaced/renewed. Do not con-
tinue driving.
GWARNING
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.
!To prevent damage to the paintwork, hold
the wheel securely against the wheel hub
while screwing in the first wheel bolt.
Always pay attention to the instructions and
safety notes in the "Changing a wheel" section
(
Ypage 275).
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.
XClean the wheel and wheel hub contact sur-
faces.
XPlace the new wheel on the wheel hub and
push it on.
XTighten the wheel bolts until they are finger-
tight.
Lowering the vehicle
GWARNING
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.
XSlowly open the pressure release screw on
the jack using the pump lever by approx-
imately one full turn and carefully lower the
vehicle (
Ypage 276).
XYou can put the jack aside.
XTighten the wheel bolts evenly in a crosswisepattern in the sequence indicated (: toA).
278Changing a wheel
Wheels 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 unavailable
and you have to refuel with unleaded gasoline
of a lower grade, observe the following pre-
cautions:
ROnly fill the fuel tank to half full with regular unleaded gasoline and fill the rest with pre-
mium-grade unleaded gasoline as soon as
possible.
RDo not drive at the maximum speed.
RAvoid sudden acceleration and engine
speeds over 3,000 rpm.
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 assistance.
iFor further information, consult a qualified
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 regular
unleaded gasoline with an octane rating of
87 AKI/91 RON. This may reduce engine per-
formance and increase fuel consumption. Avoid
driving at full throttle and sudden acceleration.
Never refuel using gasoline with a lower AKI.
Information on refueling (
Ypage 120).
Additives
!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 preven-
tion of residue buildup. gasoline must only be mixed with additives recommended by
Mercedes-Benz. Comply with the instructions
for use on the product label. More information
about recommended additives can be
obtained from any authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Mercedes-Benz recommends that you use bran-
ded fuels that have additives.
The fuel quality available in some countries may
not be sufficient. Residue could build up in the
fuel injection system as a result. In such cases,
and in consultation with an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center, the fuel 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
!Do not use engine oil or an oil filter with
specifications deviating from those expressly
required for the prescribed service intervals.
Do not change the engine oil or oil filter in
order to set replacement intervals longer than those prescribed. This could otherwise cause
damage to the engine or exhaust gas after-
treatment.
Follow the instructions on the service interval
display for changing the engine oil. This could
otherwise cause damage to the engine or
exhaust gas aftertreatment.
When handling engine oil, observe the important
safety notes on service products (
Ypage 283).
The engine oils are matched to the performance
of Mercedes-Benz engines and service intervals.
For this reason, only use engine oils and oil fil-
ters that are approved for vehicles with a service
system.
Consult an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center or
visit the http://bevo.mercedes-benz.com page
(USA only) to view a list of approved engine oils
and oil filters.
The table shows which engine oils have been
approved for your vehicle.
ModelMB-Freigabe or MB-Approval
All models229.5
iThe MB-Freigabe or MB Approval is stated
on the oil containers.
Service products and filling capacities285
Technical data
Z