X
Open the hood (Y page 251).
X Pull out oil dipstick :.
X Wipe oil dipstick : using a lint-free cloth.
X Insert oil dipstick : back into the guide
tube as far as it will go and remove it again.
If the level is between MIN mark = and
MAX mark ;, the oil level is adequate.
X If the oil level has dropped to or below mini-
mum mark =, open cap ? and add engine
oil
(Y page 253).
The difference in quantity between
marks ; and = is approximately
2 US quarts (2 liters).
X Close the hood.
Adding engine oil 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
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
If engine oil comes into contact with hot
components 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
components before starting the engine. H
Environmental note
When adding oil, take care not to spill any. If
oil enters the soil or waterways, it is harmful
to the environment.
! Do not add too much oil. adding too much
engine oil can result in damage to the
engine or to the catalytic converter. Have
excess engine oil siphoned off.
! Do not use any additives in the engine oil.
This could damage the engine. Engine oil filler neck (example)
Observe the information regarding approved
motor oil under "Service products and capaci-
ties" (Y page
308).
i When releasing the hood, the key must be
inserted in the ignition lock and in position 0
– ignition off.
X Open the hood (Y page
251).
X Unscrew and remove cap :.
X Add engine oil.
X Replace cap : on the filler neck and
tighten.
When doing so, make sure that the cap
engages correctly.
X Check the oil level with the oil dipstick
(Y page
252).
X Close the hood. Coolant
G
WARNING
Service products may be poisonous and haz-
ardous to health. There is a risk of injury. Engine compartment
253
Maintenance and care
Z
Comply with instructions on the use, storage
and disposal of service products on the
labels of the respective original containers.
Always store service products sealed in their
original containers. Always keep service
products out of the reach of children. 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
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.
Coolant contains glycol and is therefore poi-
sonous. Also observe the safety notes under
"Service products and capacities"
(Y page
305). G
WARNING
The cooling system is pressurized, particu-
larly when the motor is warm. If you open
the cap, you could be scalded if hot coolant
sprays out. There is a risk of injury.
Let the engine cool down before you open
the cap. Wear protective gloves and protec-
tive eyewear when opening. Open the cap
slowly to release pressure.
Only check the coolant level and/or fill the
coolant if the vehicle is on a level surface and
the engine has cooled down. The coolant tem-
perature must be below
122 ‡ (50 †). The
coolant temperature gauge must no longer reach the first line after the letter
C on the
scale and/or the bar display.
! Check the engine cooling and heating sys-
tem regularly for leaks.
If a large quantity of coolant is lost, have the
cause traced and rectified at a qualified spe-
cialist workshop. G
WARNING
If antifreeze comes into contact with hot
components in the engine compartment, it
may ignite. There is a risk of fire and injury.
Let the engine cool down before you add
antifreeze. Make sure that antifreeze is not
spilled next to the filler neck. Thoroughly
clean the antifreeze from components
before starting the engine.
! Take care not to spill any coolant on pain-
ted surfaces. You could otherwise damage
the paintwork. Example: cap and coolant expansion tank
Checking the coolant level
X Stop your vehicle as far away from traffic as
possible on level ground.
X Switch off the engine.
X Secure the vehicle to prevent it from rolling
away.
X Open the hood (Y page
251).
X Allow the engine to cool down.
X Unscrew cap : slowly about half a turn
counter-clockwise and allow excess pres-
sure to escape. 254
Engine compartment
Maintenance and care
X
Turn cap : further and remove it from cool-
ant expansion tank ;.
X Check the coolant level.
If the coolant is up to marker bar =
in the
filler neck when cold, there is a sufficient
amount of coolant in coolant expansion
tank ;.
If the coolant is approximately 0.59 in
(1.5 cm) above marker bar = in the filler
neck when warm, there is a sufficient
amount of coolant in coolant expansion
tank ;.
Adding coolant X If the coolant drops under marker bar = in
the filler neck, add coolant.
Observe the information on the correct cool-
ant mixture ratio and the required water
quality under "Service products and capaci-
ties" ( Y page
310). To prevent damage to
the engine cooling system, use only
approved corrosion inhibitor/antifreeze that
complies with the Mercedes-Benz Specifica-
tions for Service Products.
X Replace cap : and tighten in a clockwise
direction.
X Start the engine.
X Set the temperature in the vehicle interior to
the maximum output on the air-conditioning
system control panel.
X After approximately five minutes, switch off
the engine again and allow it to cool down.
X Check the coolant level again and add cool-
ant if necessary.
X Close the hood. Brake fluid
G
WARNING
Service products may be poisonous and haz-
ardous to health. There is a risk of injury.
Comply with instructions on the use, storage
and disposal of service products on the
labels of the respective original containers.
Always store service products sealed in their
original containers. Always keep service
products out of the reach of children. 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
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.
Brake fluid is hazardous to health. Also
observe the safety notes under "Service prod-
ucts and capacities"
(Y page 305). G
WARNING
The brake fluid constantly absorbs moisture
from the air. This lowers the boiling point of
the brake fluid. If the boiling point of the
brake fluid is too low, vapor pockets may
form in the brake system when the brakes
are applied hard. This would impair braking
efficiency. There is a risk of an accident.
You should have the brake fluid renewed at
the specified intervals.
! If the brake fluid level in the brake fluid
reservoir has fallen to the MIN mark or
below, check the brake system immediately
for leaks. Also check the thickness of the
brake linings. Visit a qualified specialist
workshop immediately.
Do not add brake fluid. This does not cor-
rect the malfunction.
! Brake fluid corrodes paint, plastic and rub-
ber. If paint, plastic or rubber has come into
contact with brake fluid, rinse with water
immediately. Engine compartment
255
Maintenance and care Z
Have the brake fluid renewed every two years
at a qualified specialist workshop. Observe the
information regarding brake fluid in the "Ser-
vice products and capacities" section
(Y page
310).Check the brake fluid level regularly, e.g.
weekly or when refueling.
Checking the brake fluid level
X Stop your vehicle as far away from traffic as
possible on level ground.
X Switch off the engine.
X Secure the vehicle to prevent it from rolling
away.
X Open the hood (Y page
251).
X Check the brake fluid level.
The brake fluid level is adequate if the level
is between the MIN mark and MAX mark on
brake fluid reservoir :.
X Close the hood. Washer fluid
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
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
Windshield washer concentrate is highly
flammable. If windshield washer concentrate
gets onto hot components of the engine or
the exhaust system, it can ignite. There is a
risk of fire and injury.
Make sure that windshield washer concen-
trate is not spilled in the vicinity of the filler
neck.
! Only use washer fluid which is suitable for
lamp lenses, e.g. MB SummerFit or MB Win-
terFit. Unsuitable washer fluid may damage
the lamp lenses of the headlamps. Example: washer fluid reservoir
Add windshield washer concentrate to the
washer fluid all year round. Observe the infor-
mation regarding washer fluid under "Service
Products and Capacities"
(Y page 312).
Adding washer fluid
X Mix the washer fluid to the appropriate mix-
ing ratio in a container beforehand.
X Open the hood ( Y page
251).
X Pull cap : on the washer fluid reservoir
upwards at the tab.
X Add the premixed washer fluid.
X Press cap : onto the filler neck until it
engages audibly.
X Close the hood.256
Engine compartment
Maintenance and care
G
WARNING
Battery acid is caustic. There is a risk of
injury.
Avoid contact with skin, eyes or clothing. Do
not inhale any battery gases. Do not lean
over the battery. Keep children away from
batteries. Wash away battery acid immedi-
ately with plenty of clean water and seek
medical attention. G
WARNING
A discharged battery can freeze at tempera-
tures below freezing point. When jump-start-
ing the vehicle or charging the battery,
gases can escape from the battery. There is
a risk of an explosion.
Allow the frozen battery to thaw out before
charging it or jump-starting.
! Vehicles with a gasoline engine:
avoid
repeated and lengthy starting attempts. Oth-
erwise, the catalytic converter could be
damaged by non-combusted fuel.
If the indicator and warning lamps in the
instrument cluster do not light up at low tem-
peratures, the discharged battery may have
frozen. In this case you may neither charge the
battery nor jump-start the vehicle. The service
life of a thawed battery may be shorter. Start-
up behavior may deteriorate, in particular at
low temperatures. Have the thawed battery
checked at a qualified specialist workshop.
Do not use a rapid charging device to start the
vehicle. If your vehicle's battery is discharged,
the engine can be jump-started from another
vehicle or from a donor battery using jumper
cables. For this purpose, the vehicle has a
jump-starting connection point in the engine
compartment.
When jump-starting, observe the following
points:
R The battery is not accessible in all vehicles.
If the other vehicle's battery is not accessi-
ble, jump-start the vehicle using a donor
battery or a jump-starting device.
R You may only jump-start the vehicle when
the engine and exhaust system are cold.
R Do not start the engine if the battery is fro-
zen. Let the battery thaw first. R
Jump-starting may only be performed from
batteries with a nominal voltage of 12 V.
R Only use jumper cables that have a suffi-
cient cross-section and insulated terminal
clamps.
R If the battery is fully discharged, attach the
battery of another vehicle for a few minutes
before attempting to start. This charges the
empty battery a little.
R Make sure that the two vehicles do not
touch.
Make sure that:
R The jumper cables are not damaged.
R Bare parts of the terminal clamps do not
come into contact with other metal parts
while the jumper cables are connected to
the battery.
R The jumper cables cannot come into contact
with parts such as the V-belt pulley or the
fan. These parts move when the engine is
started and while it is running.
Jumper cables and further information regard-
ing jump starting can be obtained at any quali-
fied specialist workshop. Before connecting the jumper cables
X Apply the parking brake.
X Shift the transmission to position j.
X Switch off all electrical consumers, e.g.
audio equipment, blower.
X Turn the key to position u in the ignition
lock and remove it .
X Open the hood (Y page 251). Connecting the jumper cable Jump-starting
273
Breakdown assistance Z