vehicle. This also includes labeling and docu-
mentation affected by their modifications.
It is their responsibility to certify that:
R the altered vehicle conforms to all applica-
ble standards and regulations affected by
the vehicle alteration
R the altered vehicle continues to comply with
the motor vehicle safety standards and
emissions regulations
R the changes or installation of accessories do
not impair the safety of the vehicle
We are not responsible for any final certifica-
tion or claims regarding product liability or
warranty claims that arise as a result of such
changes. This applies to:
R components, assemblies or systems which
have been altered
R non-compliance with emissions laws and
regulations or with vehicle safety standards
arising as a result of the alterations
R all consequences resulting form the
changed, less safe or even defective vehicle
We do not assume responsibility as the final
stage manufacturer or the consequential prod-
uct liability.
Notes on the engine radiator Even seemingly small changes to the vehicle,
such as attaching a radiator trim for winter
driving or as protection against insects, are
not permitted. Do not cover the radiator. Do
not use thermal mats, insect protection covers
or anything similar.
Doing so can cause the diagnostics system to
display inaccurate values. Some of these val-
ues are legally required and must always be
correct.
Notes for commercial vehicles without
partitions Vehicles, which are approved as commercial
vehicles (N1), do not comply with the
ISO 27956
standard in the respective current
valid version unless equipped with a partition.
The ISO 27956 Standard details the equip-
ment for correct load securing in delivery vehi-
cles. Retrofitting the partition is strongly rec-
ommended when using the vehicle for the
transport of goods, as correct load securing in
vehicles without the partition is difficult to
achieve. Genuine Mercedes-Benz parts
! Air bags and Emergency Tensioning Devi-
ces, as well as control units and sensors for
these restraint systems, may be installed in
the following areas of your vehicle:
R doors
R door pillars
R door sills
R seats
R cockpit
R instrument cluster
R center console
Do not install accessories such as audio sys-
tems in these areas. Do not carry out
repairs or welding. You could impair the
operating efficiency of the restraint sys-
tems.
Have aftermarket accessories installed at a
qualified specialist workshop. H
Environmental note
We supply reconditioned assemblies and
parts which are of the same quality as new
parts. The same New Vehicle Limited War-
ranty applies as for new parts.
The operating safety of the vehicle could be
jeopardized if you use parts, tires and wheels
as well as accessories relevant to safety which
have not been approved by Mercedes-Benz.
This could lead to malfunctions in safety-rele-
vant systems, e.g. the brake system. Only use
genuine Mercedes-Benz parts or parts of equal
quality. Only use tires, wheels and accessories
that have been specifically approved for your
vehicle.
Mercedes-Benz tests genuine Mercedes-Benz
parts, conversion parts and accessories that
have been specifically approved for the type of
vehicle for:
R Reliability
R Safety
R Suitability
Despite ongoing market research, Mercedes-
Benz is unable to assess other parts. Even if
an independent or official approval has been
provided in exceptional cases, Mercedes-Benz
accepts no responsibility for the use of such
parts in Mercedes-Benz vehicles. 34
Introduction
In some countries, certain parts are only offi-
cially approved for installation or modification
if they comply with legal requirements. All gen-
uine Mercedes-Benz parts satisfy these
requirements. Make sure that all parts are
suitable for your vehicle.
Always specify the vehicle identification num-
ber (VIN) ( Y page
304) and engine number
when ordering genuine Mercedes-Benz parts
(Y page 305). QR code for rescue card
The QR Code stickers are affixed to the B-pillar
on the driver's and front-passenger side.
In the event of an accident the rescue services
use the QR Code to quickly find the rescue
card for your vehicle. The current rescue card
contains the most important information on
your vehicle, e.g. the electric cable routes, in a
compact form.
Further information can be found at http://
www.mercedes-benz.de/qr-code. Data stored in the vehicle
Electronic control units
Electronic control units are installed in your
vehicle. Some of them are necessary to ensure
that your vehicle functions safely, some are
there to support the driver (driver assistance
systems). In addition to that, your vehicle
offers convenience and entertainment func-
tions which are also made possible by the use
of electronic control units.
Electronic control units contain data memories
which can store technical information on the
vehicle's operating state, component stress,
maintenance requirements as well as technical
events and malfunctions either temporarily or
permanently.
In general, this information documents the sta-
tus of a component, a module, a system or the
surroundings, for example:
R operating states of system components (e.g.
fill levels, battery status, tire pressure)
R status messages concerning the vehicle or
its individual components (e.g. number of
wheel revolutions/speed, deceleration in movement, lateral acceleration, display of
fastened seat belts)
R malfunctions and defects in important sys-
tem components (e.g. lights, brakes)
R information on events damaging the vehicle
R system responses in special driving situa-
tions (e.g. air bag deployment, intervention
of stability control systems)
R ambient conditions (e.g. temperature, rain
sensor)
In addition to the underlying control unit func-
tion, this data can be used for the detection
and the rectification of malfunctions as well as
the optimization of vehicle functions by the
manufacturer. Most of this data is volatile and
is only processed in the vehicle itself. Only a
small proportion of the data is stored in event
or malfunction memories.
When you use services, the technical data
from the vehicle can be read out by service
network employees (e.g. workshops, manufac-
turers) or third parties (e.g. breakdown serv-
ices). Services can include repair services,
maintenance processes, warranty cases and
quality assurance measures. Data is read out
using the legally prescribed diagnostics con-
nection in the vehicle. The respective repre-
sentatives of the service network or third par-
ties collect, process and use the data. It docu-
ments technical states of the vehicle, helps
staff to find malfunctions and improve quality
and, in certain cases, is passed on to the man-
ufacturer. Furthermore, the manufacturer is
subject to product liability provisions. For this
reason, the manufacturer requires technical
data from vehicles.
Malfunction memories in the vehicle can be
reset within the scope of the repair or service
work carried out by a service outlet.
Depending on the equipment selected, you
can add data to the convenience and infotain-
ment functions of the vehicle yourself.
These include:
R multimedia data, such as music, films or
photos for playback in an integrated multi-
media system
R address book data for use in connection
with an integrated hands-free system or an
integrated navigation system
R navigation destinations entered
R data on the utilization of Internet services Introduction
35 Z
tem (OCS)" (Y page
54) and on "Children
in the vehicle" ( Y page 60) in addition to
the child restraint system manufacturer's
installation and operating instructions.
Objects in the vehicle interior may restrict
the air bag from functioning correctly. To
avoid risks resulting from the speed of the air
bag as it deploys, vehicle occupants must
ensure the following points.
Before commencing your journey, ensure that:
R there are no people, animals or objects
between the vehicle occupants and an air
bag
R there are no objects between the seat, door
and B-pillar
R there are no hard objects, e.g. coat hangers,
hanging on the grab handles or coat hooks
R no accessories, such as cup holders, are
attached to the vehicle within the deploy-
ment area of an air bag, e.g. to doors or side
windows
R no heavy, sharp-edged or fragile objects are
in the pockets of your clothing. Store such
objects in a suitable place G
WARNING
If you modify the cover of an air bag or affix
objects such as stickers to it, the air bag
can no longer perform its intended function.
There is an increased risk of injury.
Never modify the cover of an air bag or affix
objects to it.
Vehicles with window curtain air bags for
all seat rows: G
WARNING
Sensors to control the air bags are located
in the doors. Modifications or work not per-
formed correctly to the doors or door panel-
ing, as well as damaged doors, can lead to
the function of the sensors being impaired.
The air bags might therefore not function
properly anymore. Consequently, the air
bags cannot protect vehicle occupants as
they are designed to do. There is an
increased risk of injury.
Never modify the doors or parts of the
doors. Always have work on the doors or door paneling carried out at a qualified spe-
cialist workshop.
Front air bags !
Do not place heavy objects on the front-
passenger seat. This could cause the sys-
tem to identify the seat as being occupied.
In the event of an accident, the restraint
systems on the front-passenger side may be
triggered and have to be replaced. The driver's air bag
: deploys in front of the
steering wheel. The co-driver's air bag ;
deploys in front of and above the glove box
and center console.
When deployed, the front air bags offer addi-
tional head and thorax protection on the front
seats.
The PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF indicator lamp
informs you about the status of the co-driver's
air bag
(Y page 47).
The co-driver's air bag will deploy only if:
R the Occupant Classification System (OCS)
has detected that the co-driver's seat is
occupied ( Y page 54). The PASSENGER
AIR BAG OFF indicator lamp is not lit
( Y page 54)
R the restraint system control unit predicts a
high accident severity
Side impact air bags G
WARNING
Unsuitable seat covers can obstruct or pre-
vent deployment of the air bags integrated
into the seats. Consequently, the air bags
cannot protect vehicle occupants as they
are designed to do. In addition, the opera- 52
Occupant safety
Safety
ESP
®
is deactivated if the å warning lamp
in the instrument cluster is lit when the engine
is running.
Only use wheels with the recommended tire
sizes. Only then will ESP ®
function properly.
Deactivating or activating ESP ®G
WARNING
If you deactivate ESP ®
, ESP ®
no longer sta-
bilizes the vehicle. There is an increased risk
of skidding and an accident.
Only deactivate ESP ®
in the situations
described in the following.
It may be best to deactivate ESP ®
in the fol-
lowing situations:
R when using snow chains
R in deep snow
R on sand or gravel
Activate ESP ®
as soon as the situations descri-
bed above no longer apply. Otherwise, ESP ®
assistance for stabilizing the vehicle will
remain significantly reduced, even if the vehi-
cle starts to skid.
If you deactivate ESP ®
:
R the å warning lamp in the instrument
cluster lights up
R the ÷ warning lamp in the instrument
cluster flashes if the wheels are spinning
R ESP ®
assistance for stabilizing the vehicle in
the lower speed range up to approximately
37 mph (60 km/h
) is significantly reduced
R engine torque is no longer limited and the
drive wheels are able to spin. The spinning
of the wheels results in a cutting action for
better traction on loose surfaces
R traction control is still activated
R ESP ®
still provides support when you brake
Depending on the equipment in the vehicle,
you can activate or deactivate ESP ®
when the
engine is running by using the å button or
by using the on-board computer:
R on vehicles without steering wheel buttons
(Y page 179)
R on vehicles with steering wheel buttons
(Y page 190) å button (equipment-dependent)
X To activate/deactivate: when the engine
is running, press the å button.
The å warning lamp in the instrument
cluster lights up when ESP ®
is deactivated.
Trailer stabilization Observe the important safety guidelines for
the driving safety system (
Y page
66). G
WARNING
If road and weather conditions are poor,
trailer stabilization will not be able to pre-
vent the vehicle/trailer combination from
swerving. Trailers with a high center of grav-
ity can tip over before ESP ®
can detect this.
There is a risk of an accident.
Always adapt your driving style to the pre-
vailing road and weather conditions.
ESP ®
trailer stabilization counteracts critical
driving situations in good time and thereby
provides considerable assistance when driving
with a trailer. Trailer stabilization is part of
ESP ®
.
If the sensor system and evaluation logic
detect trailer swinging movements, ESP ®
trailer stabilization firstly brakes individual
vehicle wheels in a targeted manner. It thus
counteracts swinging movements. If the
swinging movements do not stop, the vehicle
is braked until the vehicle/trailer combination
is stabilized. If necessary, the vehicle's engine
output is limited.
If your vehicle with trailer (vehicle/trailer com-
bination) starts to swerve, you will be able to
stabilize the vehicle/trailer combination only
by braking. ESP ®
trailer stabilization helps you Driving safety systems
69
Safety Z
Useful information
This Operator's Manual describes all models
as well as standard and optional equipment of
your vehicle that were available at the time of
going to print. Country-specific variations are
possible. Note that your vehicle may not be
equipped with all of the described functions.
This also applies to systems and functions rel-
evant to safety.
Read the information on qualified specialist
workshops (Y page
32).Exterior lighting
Important safety notes
For reasons of safety, Mercedes-Benz recom-
mends that you drive with the lights switched
on even during the daytime. There may be dif-
ferences in operation due to legal require-
ments and voluntary recommendations in
some countries. Light switch
Operation 1W
Left-hand standing lamp
2X Right-hand standing lamp
3T Parking lamps, license plate and
instrument cluster lighting
4$ Lights off and daytime running lamps
à With light sensor: automatic driving
lights, controlled by the light sensor
5L Low-beam or high-beam headlamps
BN Fog lamps
CR Rear fog lamp
If you hear a warning tone when you leave the
vehicle, the lights may still be switched on.
X Turn the light switch to the $ or Ã
position.
The exterior lighting (except the parking/
standing lamps) switches off automatically in
the following situations:
R if you remove the key from the ignition lock.
R if you open the driver's door with the key in
position g in the ignition lock. Exterior lighting
99
Lights and windshield wipers
Low-beam headlamps
When the ignition is switched on and the light
switch is in the
L position, the parking
lamps and low-beam headlamps are switched
on even if the light sensor does not sense dark
ambient light. This is particularly useful when
there is fog or rain.
X To switch on: turn the key to position 2 in
the ignition lock or start the engine.
X Turn the light switch to the L position.
The L indicator lamp in the instrument
cluster lights up.
Daytime running lamps X
To switch on: turn the light switch to the
$ or à position.
Automatic headlamp mode G
WARNING
When the light switch is set to Ã, the
low-beam headlamps may not be switched
on automatically if there is fog, snow or
other causes of poor visibility due to the
weather conditions such as spray. There is a
risk of an accident.
In such situations, turn the light switch to
L.
Automatic headlamp mode is only a driving
aid. You are responsible for the vehicle lighting
at all times.
When the parking lamps and low-beam head-
lamps are switched on, the green T (park-
ing lamps) and L (low-beam headlamps)
indicator lamps in the instrument cluster light
up.
à is the preferred light switch setting. The
light setting is automatically selected accord-
ing to the brightness of the ambient light
(exception: poor visibility due to weather con-
ditions, such as fog, snow or spray):
R Key in position 1 in the ignition lock: the
parking lamps are switched on or off auto-
matically depending on the brightness of the
ambient light.
R When the engine is on: depending on the
ambient light, the daytime running lamps or the parking lamps and low-beam headlamps
are switched on/off automatically.
X To switch on automatic headlamp mode:
turn the light switch to
Ã.
Fog lamps/rear fog lamp You can only switch the fog lamps on or off
manually in vehicles which have fog lamps
installed.
Front fog lamps help you to see and be seen in
conditions of poor visibility due to fog or pre-
cipitation. They can only be operated together
with the parking lamps or with the low-beam
headlamps.
The rear fog lamp improves visibility of your
vehicle for the traffic behind in the event of
heavy fog. Observe the legal requirements of
the country you are currently in when using
the rear fog lamp.
X Turn the light switch to L or Ã.
X Turn the key to position 2 in the ignition
lock or start the engine.
X To switch the front fog lamps on/off:
press the N button.
When the green
N indicator lamp in the
instrument cluster goes on, the fog lamps
are switched on.
X To switch the rear fog lamp on/off: press
the R button.
When the yellow R indicator lamp in the
instrument cluster goes on, the rear fog
lamp is switched on.
Standing lamps !
If the battery charge is very low, the stand-
ing lamps will switch off automatically to
enable the next engine start. Always park
your vehicle in accordance with legal regula-
tions, in a secure and adequately lit loca-
tion. Avoid leaving the T parking lamps
on for several hours. If possible, switch on
the right X or left W standing lamp.
Switching on the standing lamps ensures that
the corresponding side of the vehicle is illumi-
nated. 100
Exterior lightingLights and windshield wipers
Bulb holder
=
Turn signals/brake lamps/tail lamps/
standing lamps
? Backup lamp
A Rear fog lamp (driver's side only)
X Apply light pressure to the corresponding
bulb, turn it counter-clockwise and remove
it from the bulb holder.
X Press the new bulb into the socket and
screw it in clockwise.
X Insert bulb holder ; into the tail lamp and
tighten all three screws :.
X Install the tail lamp (Y page 108).Windshield wipers
Switching the windshield wiper
on/off
! Do not operate the windshield wipers
when the windshield is dry, as this could
damage the wiper blades. Moreover, dust
that has collected on the windshield can
scratch the glass if wiping takes place when
the windshield is dry.
If it is necessary to switch on the windshield
wipers in dry weather conditions, always use
washer fluid when operating the windshield
wipers.
! If the windshield wipers leave smears on
the windshield after the vehicle has been
washed in an automatic car wash, wax or
other residues may be the reason for this.
Clean the windshield using washer fluid
after washing the vehicle in an automatic
car wash.
! Intermittent wiping with rain sensor: due
to optical influences and the windshield becoming dirty in dry weather conditions,
the windshield wipers may be activated
inadvertently. This could then damage the
windshield wiper blades or scratch the wind-
shield.
For this reason, you should always switch
off the windshield wipers in dry weather. 1
$ Windshield wipers off
2 Ä Intermittent wipe, low (rain sensor
set to low sensitivity)
3 Å Intermittent wipe, high (rain sensor
set to high sensitivity)
4 ° Continuous wipe, slow
5 ¯ Continuous wipe, fast
B î 1st pressure point – single wipe; 2nd
pressure point – wipe with washer fluid
X Turn the key to position 1 or 2 in the igni-
tion lock.
X Turn the í wiper switch to the corre-
sponding position.
In the Ä or Å
positions, the appropriate
wiping frequency is set automatically accord-
ing to the intensity of the rain. In the Å
position, the rain sensor is more sensitive to
precipitation than in the Ä position, caus-
ing the windshield wipers to wipe more fre-
quently.
The windshield will no longer be wiped prop-
erly if the wiper blades are worn. This may pre-
vent you from observing the traffic conditions.
Information on replacing the wiper blades can
be found under "Replacing wiper blades"
( Y page 110). Windshield wipers
109
Lights and windshield wipers Z
Useful information
This Operator's Manual describes all models
as well as standard and optional equipment of
your vehicle that were available at the time of
going to print. Country-specific variations are
possible. Note that your vehicle may not be
equipped with all of the described functions.
This also applies to systems and functions rel-
evant to safety.
Read the information on qualified specialist
workshops (Y page
32).Breaking-in notes
Important safety notes
In certain driving and driving safety systems,
the sensors adjust automatically while a cer-
tain distance is being driven after the vehicle
has been delivered or after repairs. Full system
effectiveness is not reached until the end of
this teach-in procedure.
New or replaced brake pads and brake discs
only reach their optimal braking effect after a
few hundred kilometers of driving. Until then,
compensate for this by applying greater force
to the brake pedal. The first 1000 miles (1500 km)
For the service life and economy of your vehi-
cle it is crucial that you break in the engine
with due care.
R Therefore, protect the engine for the first
1000 miles (1500 km
) by driving at varying
vehicle and engine speeds.
R Avoid overstraining the vehicle and high
engine speeds during this period, e.g. driv-
ing at full throttle. Do not exceed Ø of the
permissible maximum speed for each gear.
R Do not change down a gear manually in
order to brake.
R Try to avoid depressing the accelerator
pedal beyond the pressure point (kickdown).
After 1000 miles (1500 km), you can increase
the engine speed gradually and accelerate the
vehicle to full speed.
i You should also observe these notes on
breaking-in if the engine or parts of the drive
train on your vehicle have been replaced. Driving
Important safety notes
G
WARNING
Flammable materials introduced through
environmental influence or by animals can
ignite if in contact with the exhaust system
or parts of the engine that heat up. There is
a risk of fire.
Carry out regular checks to make sure that
there are no flammable foreign materials in
the engine compartment or in the exhaust
system. 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 the parking brake has not been fully
released when driving, the parking brake
can:
R overheat and cause a fire
R lose its hold function.
There is a risk of fire and an accident.
Release the parking brake fully before driv-
ing off.
! Warm up the engine quickly. Do not use
the engine's full performance until it has
reached operating temperature.
Only shift the automatic transmission to the
desired drive position when the vehicle is
stationary.
Where possible, avoid spinning the drive
wheels when pulling away on slippery roads.
You could otherwise damage the drive train. 126
Driving
Driving and parking