Summer tires in winter .................. 280
TIN (Tire Identification Number)
(definition) .....................................
297
Tire bead (definition) ...................... 297
Tire pressure (definition) ................ 296
Tire pressures (recommended) ...... 295
Tire size designation, load-bear-
ing capacity, speed rating .............. 293
Tire tread ....................................... 279
Tire tread (definition) ..................... 297
Total load limit (definition) ............. 297
Traction (definition) ....................... 297
TWR (permissible trailer drawbar
noseweight) (definition) ................. 297
Uniform Tire Quality Grading
Standards (definition) .................... 295
Wear indicator (definition) ............. 297
Wheel and tire combination ........... 302
Wheel rim (definition) .................... 296
Wheel/tire combinations ............... 301
Tool
see Vehicle tool kit
Top Tether ............................................ 63
Tow-starting
Emergency engine starting ............ 277
Important safety notes .................. 274
Towing
If the vehicle is stuck ..................... 276
Installing/removing the towing
eye ................................................. 275
Towing a trailer
Active Parking Assist ..................... 159
Axle load, permissible .................... 315
Cleaning the trailer tow hitch ......... 268
Coupling up a trailer ...................... 170
Decoupling a trailer ....................... 171
Driving tips .................................... 168
Notes on retrofitting ...................... 315
Power supply ................................. 173
Trailer loads ................................... 315
Towing away
Important safety guidelines ........... 274
With both axles on the ground ....... 276
With the rear axle raised ................ 276
Towing eye
Storage location ............................ 270
Trailer coupling
see Towing a trailer Trailer loads and drawbar nose-
weights
...............................................
172
Trailer operation
Lights display messages (vehicle
with steering wheel buttons) ......... 216
Lights display messages (vehicle
without steering wheel buttons) .... 202
Trailer towing
Blind Spot Assist ............................ 153
ESP ®
................................................ 69
PARKTRONIC ................................. 159
Permissible trailer loads and
drawbar noseweights ..................... 172
Transmission
see Automatic transmission
Transmission oil ................................ 310
Transmission positions
Automatic transmission ................. 132
Display (DIRECT SELECT lever) ...... 132
Transport
Lashing straps ............................... 246
Loading guidelines ......................... 242
Stickers ......................................... 246
Vehicle ........................................... 276
Transport by rail ................................ 142
Transportation
Rail ................................................ 142
Transportation aids
Load protection net ....................... 248
Transporting
Cargo compartment variations ...... 244
Load distribution ............................ 243
Securing a load .............................. 244
Trim pieces (cleaning instruc-
tions) .................................................. 269
Trip computer
Displaying (vehicle with steering
wheel buttons) ............................... 184
Displaying (vehicle without steer-
ing wheel buttons) ......................... 177
Resetting (vehicle with steering
wheel buttons) ............................... 185
Resetting (vehicle without steer-
ing wheel buttons) ......................... 177
Selecting the display units (vehi-
cle with steering wheel buttons) .... 192 Index
23
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
Do not drink or take drugs and drive or allow
anyone to drive who has been drinking or
taking drugs.
Emission control G
DANGER
Combustion engines emit poisonous
exhaust gases such as carbon monoxide.
Inhaling these exhaust gases is hazardous to
health and can result in poisoning. There is a
risk of fatal injury. Therefore, never leave the
engine running an enclosed space without
adequate ventilation.
Certain engine systems are designed to keep
the level of poisonous substances in exhaust
fumes within legal limits.
These systems only work optimally if they are
maintained exactly in accordance with the
manufacturer's specifications. Any work on
the engine should therefore be carried out by
qualified and authorized Mercedes-Benz tech-
nicians.
The engine settings must not be changed
under any circumstances. In addition, all spe-
cific maintenance work must be carried out at
regular intervals and in accordance with the
service requirements of the dealer listed here
on the inside title page. Details can be found
in the Maintenance Booklet. Speed limiter
G
WARNING
Exceeding the stated tire load-bearing capa-
city and the approved maximum speed
could lead to tire damage or the tire burst-
ing. There is a risk of accident.
Therefore, only use tire types and sizes
approved for your vehicle model. Observe
the tire load rating and speed rating
required for your vehicle.
As the driver, you must be aware of the maxi-
mum design speed of the vehicle and the max-
imum permissible speed based on the tires
(tire and tire pressure). In particular, also observe the tire approval regulations for each
country.
You must not exceed the speed limit for the
tires indicated by the speed rating. The speed
rating is stated in the tire tables (Y page
302).
You can permanently limit the permissible
maximum speed of your vehicle, e.g. for driv-
ing on winter tires.
Mercedes-Benz recommends that you have
the maximum permissible speed programed at
a Mercedes-Benz Commercial Van Center.
Before overtaking, take into consideration that
the engine speed limiter prevents the speed
increasing beyond the programmed permissi-
ble maximum speed. Driving abroad
Service An extensive network of authorized Mercedes-
Benz Centers is also at your disposal when you
are traveling abroad. Nevertheless, please
bear in mind that service facilities or replace-
ment parts may not always be immediately
available. The relevant workshop directories
are available from any Mercedes-Benz Com-
mercial Van Center.
Fuel In some countries, only fuels with a higher sul-
fur content are available.
Unsuitable fuel can cause engine damage. You
will find information about fuel under "Service
products and capacities"
(Y page 306).
Low-beam headlamps General notes
When driving in countries in which traffic
drives on the opposite side of the road to the
country where the vehicle is registered, you
must switch the headlamps to symmetrical
low beam. This prevents oncoming traffic from
being blinded. Symmetrical low beam does not
illuminate as large an area of the edge of the
road. Driving tips
141
Driving and parking Z
When you deactivate PARKTRONIC, Active
Parking Assist will also be deactivated.
For vehicles with a trailer coupling installed,
the minimum length for parking spaces will be
slightly increased.
If you have attached a trailer to your vehicle,
you should not use Active Parking Assist. Once
the electrical connection is established
between your vehicle and the trailer, Active
Parking Assist is no longer available.
PARKTRONIC is then deactivated for the rear
area.
G
WARNING
While parking or pulling out of a parking
space, the vehicle swings out and can drive
onto areas of the oncoming lane. This could
result in a collision with another road user.
There is a risk of an accident.
Pay attention to other road users. Stop the
vehicle if necessary or cancel the Active
Parking Assist parking procedure.
! If they cannot be avoided, drive over
obstacles such as curbs slowly and at an
obtuse angle. Otherwise, you may damage
the wheels or tires.
Active Parking Assist may also display spaces
not suitable for parking, e.g.:
R in a zone where parking or stopping is pro-
hibited
R in front of driveways or entrances and exits
R on unsuitable surfaces
Parking tips:
R on narrow roads, drive as closely as possible
past the parking space.
R parking spaces that are littered or over-
grown might be identified or measured
incorrectly.
R parking spaces that are partially occupied
by trailer drawbars might not be identified
as such or be measured incorrectly.
R snowfall or heavy rain may lead to a parking
space being measured inaccurately.
R when transporting a load which protrudes
from your vehicle, you should not use Active
Parking Assist.
R never use Active Parking Assist when snow
chains are installed. R
always ensure that the tire pressure is cor-
rect This has a direct influence on the park-
ing characteristics of the vehicle.
R if you mount wheels with a different wheel
size, this will have a direct influence on the
parking result.
R if you mount tires from another manufac-
turer, this may have an influence on the
parking result.
R if you drive slowly past the parking space, a
better parking result is achieved.
R pay attention to the PARKTRONIC warning
messages ( Y page
158) during the parking
procedure.
R you can intervene in the steering procedure
to correct it at any time. Parking assistance
will then be canceled and Active Parking
Assist stopped.
Use Active Parking Assist for parking spaces
that are:
R parallel or at right angles to the direction of
travel.
R on straight roads, not bends.
R on the same level as the road, e.g. not on
the pavement.
Detecting parking spaces G
WARNING
If there are objects above the detection
range:
R Active Parking Assist may steer too early
R the vehicle may not stop in front of these
objects
This could cause a collision. There is a risk
of an accident.
If objects are located above the detection
range, stop and deactivate Active Parking
Assist.
Objects located above the detection range of
Active Parking Assist will not be detected
when the parking space is measured. These
are not taken into account when the parking
procedure is calculated, e.g. overhanging
loads, overhangs or truck loading ramps.
Further information about the detection range
(Y page
157).160
Driving systems
Driving and parking
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).Loading guidelines
Important safety notes
G
WARNING
When objects are unsecured or inadequately
secured, they can slip, turn over or be
thrown about, striking vehicle occupants.
This also applies to:
R luggage or loads
R seats which have been removed and are
being transported in the vehicle in an
exceptional case.
There is a risk of injury, particularly in the
event of a braking maneuver or abrupt
change in direction.
Always stow objects in such a way that they
cannot be tossed about. Before traveling,
secure objects, luggage or loads to prevent
them slipping or tipping over. If you remove
a seat, store it preferably outside the vehi-
cle. G
WARNING
As a result of improperly placed or unevenly
distributed loads, the center of gravity of the
load being transported may be too high or
too far back. This can significantly impair
handling as well as steering and braking
characteristics. There is a risk of an acci-
dent. Always make sure that the center of gravity
of the load is:
R between the axles
and
R as low as possible, near the rear axle. G
WARNING
When the permissible wheel loads, axle
loads and/or the maximum permissible
gross vehicle weight are exceeded, driving
safety is compromised. The handling as well
as steering and braking characteristics may
be significantly impaired. Overloaded tires
may overheat, causing them to burst. There
is a risk of an accident.
When transporting a load, always observe
the permissible wheel loads, axle loads and
the maximum permissible gross vehicle
weight for the vehicle (including occupants).
! If you are using a roof carrier, observe the
maximum roof load and maximum roof car-
rier load.
R Do not stack luggage or loads higher than
the backrests.
R Objects to be transported should preferably
be stowed in the cargo compartment.
R When transporting luggage, always use the
cargo tie-down rings for securing loads and
a cargo net, if installed.
R Use cargo tie-down rings and fasteners
which are suitable for the weight and size of
the load.
When using suitable load securing aids and tie
downs, always follow the manufacturer's oper-
ating instructions, in particular the notes on
discard criteria contained therein.
Load securing aids or tie downs must not be
used if:
R identification marks are missing or illegible
R there are yarn breakages, damage to bear-
ing seams or other signs of tearing
R there are signs of shearing, deformation,
pinching or other damage
R there is damage to clamping or connecting
elements
Load securing aids and tie downs in this condi-
tion are ready for discard and must be 242
Loading guidelines
Transporting loads
Regular wheel and tire checks
G
WARNING
Damaged tires can cause tire inflation pres-
sure loss. As a result, you could lose control
of your vehicle. There is a risk of accident.
Check the tires regularly for signs of dam-
age and replace any damaged tires immedi-
ately.
Check the wheels and tires of your vehicle for
damage regularly, i.e. at least every two
weeks, as well as after driving off-road or on
rough roads. Damaged wheels can cause a
loss of tire pressure. Pay particular attention
to damage such as:
R cuts in the tires
R punctures
R tears in the tires
R bulges on tires
R deformation or severe corrosion on wheels
Regularly check the tire tread depth and the
condition of the tire tread across the whole
width of all the tires
(Y page 279). If neces-
sary, turn the front wheels to full lock in order
to inspect the inner side of the tire surface.
All wheels must have a valve cap to protect
the valve against dirt and moisture. Do not
install anything onto the valve other than the
standard valve cap or other valve caps
approved for your vehicle by dealers listed on
the inside of the front cover. Do not install any
other valve caps or systems, e.g. tire pressure
monitor systems.
Regularly check the pressure of all the tires,
particularly prior to long trips. Adjust the tire
pressure if necessary (Y page 282).
The service life of tires depends on various
factors, including the following:
R Driving style
R Tire pressure
R Mileage Tire tread
G
WARNING
If there is insufficient tire tread, the tire trac-
tion decreases. The tire tread is no longer
able to dissipate water. This increases the risk of hydroplaning when the road surface
is wet, particularly when the vehicle's speed
is not adapted to the road conditions. There
is a risk of an accident.
When the tire pressure is too high or too
low, tires may wear differently at different
points on the tire tread. Therefore, regularly
check the tire tread depth and the condition
of the tread across the whole width of all
tires.
Minimum tire tread depth on:
R Summer tires: â in (3 mm
)
R M+S tires: ã in (4 mm)
For safety reasons, have the tires replaced
before they reach the legally prescribed min-
imum tire tread depth. Marker : shows the location where the bar
indicator (arrow) for tread wear is integrated
into the tire tread.
Tread wear indicators (TWIs) are required by
law. Six indicators are positioned over the tire
tread. They are visible once the tire tread
depth is approximately á in (1.6 mm
). If this
is the case, the tire is so worn that it must be
replaced. Selecting, mounting and replacing
tires
R Only mount tires and wheels of the same
type and make.
R Only use wheels with tire sizes approved by
Mercedes-Benz.
R Only mount tires of the correct size onto the
wheels. Operation
279Wheels and tires Z
R
Break in new tires at moderate speeds for
the first
65 miles (100 km).
R Do not drive with tires which have too little
tread depth, as this significantly reduces the
traction on wet roads (hydroplaning).
R Replace the tires after six years at the lat-
est, regardless of wear. This also applies to
the spare wheel. Operation in winter
General notes
Have your vehicle winterized at a qualified spe-
cialist workshop at the onset of winter.
Only use wheels with tire sizes approved for
Mercedes-Benz.
Prior to the onset of winter, ensure that snow
chains are stowed in the vehicle
(Y page
281). Snow chains cannot be moun-
ted on all wheel/tire combinations. Observe
the restrictions on the use of snow chains
under "Wheel/tire combinations"
(Y page 302).
Also observe the notes in the "Changing a
wheel" section ( Y page 297).Driving with summer tires
At temperatures below 45 ‡
(+7 †), summer
tires lose elasticity and therefore traction and
braking power. Change the tires on your vehi-
cle to M+S tires. Using summer 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
G
WARNING
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 charac-
teristics may be severely affected. There is a
risk of an accident. In order to reduce risks:
R you should therefore adapt your driving
style and drive carefully.
R never mount more than one spare wheel
that differs from the wheel to be replaced.
R only use a spare wheel that differs from
the wheel to be replaced for a short time.
R have 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. G
WARNING
M+S tires with a tire tread depth of less than
ã in
(4 mm) are not suitable for use in win-
ter and do not provide sufficient traction.
There is a risk of an accident.
M+S tires with a tread depth of less than ã
in (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 i snowflake
symbol in addition to the M+S marking provide
the best possible grip in wintry road condi-
tions.
Only these tires will allow driving safety sys-
tems such as ABS and ESP ®
to function opti-
mally in winter. These tires have been devel-
oped specifically 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 corre-
sponding warning label in the driver's field of
vision. You can obtain this at a qualified spe-
cialist workshop.
Once you have mounted the winter tires:
X Check the tire pressure (Y page
282).
X Restart the tire pressure monitor
(Y page
288).280
Operation in winter
Wheels and tires
to the maximum permissible speed of the vehi-
cle.
Tire pressure table Tire pressure table inside the fuel filler flap
(example: Passenger Van)
Tire pressure table inside the fuel filler flap
(example: Cargo Van)
You will find the recommended tire pressure
for various operating conditions on the inside
of your vehicle's fuel filler flap
(Y page 137)
and under "Tire pressure table" (Y page 289).
If a tire size precedes a tire pressure, the fol-
lowing tire pressure information is only valid
for that tire size. Example: Cargo Van vehicle loads
Example: Passenger Van vehicle loads
:
Partially laden vehicle
; Fully laden vehicle
For the Passenger Van, the vehicle loads are
defined in the table as different numbers of
passengers and amounts of luggage. The
actual number of seats may vary – for more
information, please refer to the vehicle's regis-
tration documents.
The tire pressure value given for partly laden
vehicles are minimum values which offer you
good ride comfort. They are not for towing
trailers.
You can also use the tire pressure values for a
fully laden vehicle. These are always permitted
and admissible. However, in a partially laden
vehicle, the ride is not as comfortable and fuel
consumption is only minimally reduced. In
addition, wear is greater in the center of the
tire tread.
For towing trailers, the applicable value for the
rear tires is the maximum tire pressure value
stated in the table inside the fuel filler flap. Tire pressure
283
Wheels and tires Z