MERCEDES-BENZ CL-Class 2008 C216 Comand Manual
Page 601 of 769
600 OperationVehicle care
Clean a wide area of the bumpers 
surrounding the sensors2.
Restart the engine after cleaning sen-
sors.Cleaning the Parktronic* system 
sensors
1Parktronic system* sensors in front 
bumper
Use a mild car wash detergent, such as 
Mercedes-Benz approved Car Sham-
poo, with plenty of water and a soft, 
non-scratching cloth to clean 
sensors1 on the bumpers.
!
To prevent scratches or damage, never 
apply strong force and only use a soft, 
non-scratching cloth when cleaning the sensor 
cover and/or bumper area near sensors. Do not 
attempt to wipe dirty sensors and/or bumper 
with a dry cloth or sponge.
!
Do not apply strong pressure to the sensor 
covers. Applying strong pressure may damage 
the sensor covers.
Follow the instructions provided by the power 
washer manufacturer on maintaining a distance 
between the vehicle and the nozzle of the power 
washer.
!
To prevent scratches, never apply strong 
force and only use a soft, non-scratching cloth 
when cleaning the sensors. Do not attempt to 
wipe dirty sensors with a dry cloth or sponge.
 
Page 602 of 769
601 Operation
Vehicle care
Cleaning the driving systems sensors
The sensors are integrated in the front and 
rear bumpers and cannot be seen from the 
outside. They work with the following sys-
tems:
BAS Plus*
PRE-SAFE
® Brake*
Blind Spot Assist*
Park Assist*
Advanced Parking Guidance*
1Bumper area near sensors
Switch off the ignition (
page 365).
Use a mild car wash detergent, such as 
Mercedes-Benz approved Car Sham-
poo, with plenty of water and a soft, 
non-scratching cloth to clean the 
bumper area near sensors.
!
To prevent scratches or damage to the sur-
face, never apply strong force and only use a 
soft, non-scratching cloth when cleaning the 
bumper area near sensors. Do not attempt to 
wipe a dirty bumper with a dry cloth or sponge. 
Page 603 of 769
602 OperationVehicle careCleaning the Rear View Camera* lens
1Camera lens
Only use clean water and a soft, 
non-scratching cloth to clean the cam-
era lens1.
Be careful not to apply wax to the camera 
lens1 when waxing the vehicle. If neces-
sary, remove the wax using the 
Mercedes-Benz approved Car Shampoo 
with plenty of water.Cleaning the windshield in front of the 
Night View Assist camera*
1Recessed handles of camera cover
Use recessed handles1 to swing 
camera cover downward.
!
Do not clean the camera and the area 
around the camera:
 with a high-pressure cleaner
 with a dry cloth and high pressure
 with aggressive cleaning agents
You could otherwise damage the camera.Warning!
G
Please do not forget that your primary re-
sponsibility is to drive the vehicle. A driver’s 
attention to the road must always be 
his/her primary focus when driving. For 
your safety and the safety of others, stop be-
fore trying to remove window fogging or 
cleaning the window in front of the Night 
View Assist camera.
Bear in mind that at a speed of just 30 mph 
(approximately 50 km/h), your vehicle is 
covering a distance of 44 feet (approximate-
ly 14 m) every second.
!
Do not clean the lens of the Night View 
Assist camera. If the camera lens is dirty, please 
contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center. 
Page 604 of 769
603 Operation
Vehicle care
2Camera
Clean inside of windshield in front of 
camera2 with a soft, non-scratching 
cloth.
Use recessed handles1 to swing 
camera cover up.Cleaning the windows and the wiper 
blades
Make sure the hood is fully closed.
Placing wiper arms in vertical position
Vehicles with SmartKey:
Turn SmartKey in starter switch 
position1.
Turn combination switch to wiper 
settingu (
page 400).
With wiper arm in vertical position, turn 
the SmartKey in starter switch to 
position0.
Vehicles with KEYLESS-GO*:
Make sure the vehicle’s on-board elec-
tronics have status 1 (
page 366).
Turn combination switch to wiper 
settingu (
page 400).
Press KEYLESS-GO start/stop button 
repeatedly until windshield wipers 
start.
Press KEYLESS-GO start/stop button 
when the wiper arms are in a vertical 
position.
Cleaning
Fold the wiper arms forward until they 
snap into place.
!
If you use a windshield cleaning product, 
make sure that none of the cleaning product 
comes into contact with the lens of the Night 
View Assist camera.
!
The windshield wipers must be in a vertical 
position before folding them away from the wind-
shield. They could otherwise damage the hood.
Never open the hood when the wiper arms are 
folded forward.
Warning!
G
For safety reasons, switch off wipers and re-
move SmartKey from starter switch (vehi-
cles with KEYLESS-GO*: Make sure the 
vehicle’s on-board electronics have 
status0) before cleaning the windshield 
and/or the wiper blades. Otherwise, the 
wiper motor could suddenly turn on and 
cause injury.
 
Page 605 of 769
604 OperationVehicle care
Clean the wiper blade inserts with a 
clean cloth and detergent solution.
Use a soft, clean cloth and a mild win-
dow cleaning solution on all outside 
and inside glass surfaces.
An automotive glass cleaner is recom-
mended.Light alloy wheels
If possible, clean wheels once a week.
Use Mercedes-Benz approved Wheel 
Care, a soft bristle brush and a strong 
spray of water for cleaning the light 
alloy wheels.Plastic and rubber parts
Use a gentle dishwashing detergent or 
mild detergent for delicate fabrics as a 
washing solution.
Wipe with a cloth moistened in a luke-
warm solution.
The surface may temporarily change 
color. If this is the case, wait for it to 
dry.
!
Do not pull on the wiper blade inserts. They 
could tear.
!
Fold the windshield wiper arms back onto 
the windshield before turning the SmartKey in 
the starter switch or pressing the KEYLESS-GO* 
start/stop button (vehicles with KEYLESS-GO*).
Hold on to the wiper when folding the wiper arm 
back. If released, the force of the impact from 
the tensioning spring could crack the windshield.
!
To clean the window interior, do not use a 
dry cloth, abrasives, solvents or cleaners con-
taining solvents. Do not touch the inside of the 
front, rear or side windows with hard objects 
such as an ice scraper or ring. Doing so may 
damage the windows.
!
Only use acid-free cleaning materials. Acid 
may cause corrosion or damage the clear coat.
!
The vehicle should not be parked for an 
extended period of time immediately after it has 
been cleaned, especially not after the wheel rims 
have been cleaned with wheel rim cleaner. 
Wheel rim cleaners can lead to increased 
corrosion of the brake disks and brake pads. 
Non-approved wheel cleaners may also damage 
the wheel paint if the car is not driven after 
cleaning. Therefore, the vehicle’s brake system 
should always be warmed-up before it is parked 
after cleaning. To do so, please drive your vehicle 
for several minutes to allow the brakes to dry. 
When applying Mercedes-Benz approved Tire 
Care and Mercedes-Benz approved Wheel Care 
products, take care not to spray them on the 
brake disks.
Warning!
G
Do not use cleaners or cockpit care sprays 
containing solvents to clean the cockpit or 
the steering wheel. Cleaners containing sol-
vents will make the surface porous and vehi-
cle occupants could suffer serious injuries 
from plastic parts coming loose in the event 
of air bag deployment.
 
Page 606 of 769
605 Operation
Vehicle care
Hard plastic trim items
Use Mercedes-Benz approved Interior 
Care, a soft, lint-free cloth and apply 
with light pressure.Steering wheel
Wipe with a damp cloth and dry thor-
oughly or clean with Mercedes-Benz 
approved Leather Care.
Carpets
Use Mercedes-Benz approved Carpet 
and Fabric Care for cleaning the 
carpets.
Headliner and shelf below rear window 
Use a soft bristle brush or a dry-sham-
poo cleaner in case of excessive dirt. Seat belts
Only use clear, lukewarm water and 
soap.
!
Do not use oil, wax or scouring agents on 
these parts. 
Never apply strong force and only use a soft, 
non-scratching cloth when cleaning the surface. 
Do not attempt to wipe the surface with a dry 
cloth or sponge.
Otherwise you may scratch or damage the sur-
face.
!
Never apply strong force and only use a soft, 
non-scratching cloth when cleaning the surface. 
Do not attempt to wipe the surface with a dry 
cloth or sponge.
Otherwise you may scratch or damage the sur-
face.
!
The webbing must not be treated with 
chemical cleaning agents. Do not dry the web-
bing at temperatures above 176°F (80°C) or in 
direct sunlight.
Warning!
G
Do not bleach or dye seat belts as this may 
severely weaken them. In a crash they may 
not be able to provide adequate protection. 
Page 607 of 769
606 OperationVehicle careUpholstery
Using aftermarket seat covers or wearing 
clothing that have the tendency to give off 
coloring (e.g. when wet, etc.) may cause 
the upholstery to become permanently dis-
colored. By lining the seats with a proper 
intermediate cover, contact-discoloration 
will be prevented.Leather upholstery
Wipe leather upholstery with a damp 
cloth and dry thoroughly or clean with 
Mercedes-Benz approved Leather 
Care.
Exercise particular care when cleaning per-
forated leather as its underside should not 
become wet.
Wood trims
Dampen cloth using water and use 
damp cloth to clean wood trims in your 
vehicle.Chrome-plated exhaust tip*
Regular cleaning and care of chrome-plat-
ed exhaust tips will help to maintain their 
shine and the classy appearance.
Use Mercedes-Benz approved Chrome 
Polishing Paste each time the vehicle 
has been washed, especially during the 
winter.
Warning!
G
Only use seat covers which have been 
tested and approved by Mercedes-Benz for 
your vehicle model. Using other seat covers 
may interfere with or prevent the activation 
of the front side impact air bags or the rear 
side impact air bags. Contact an authorized 
Mercedes-Benz Center for availability.
!
Do not use solvents like tar remover or 
wheel cleaner nor polishes or waxes as these 
may be abrasive.
!
Do not use alkaline cleaners such as wheel 
cleaners as they could cause corrosion. 
Page 608 of 769
607 Practical hints
What to do if …?
Where will I find ...?
Unlocking/locking in an emergency
Replacing SmartKey batteries
Replacing bulbs
Replacing wiper blades
Flat tire
Batteries
Jump starting
Towing the vehicle
Fuses 
Page 609 of 769
608 Practical hintsWhat to do if …?Lamps in instrument cluster
General information:
If any of the following lamps in the instru-
ment cluster fails to come on during the 
bulb self-check when switching on the igni-
tion, have the respective bulb checked and 
replaced if necessary.Problem
Possible cause/consequence
Suggested solution
-
The yellow Antilock 
Brake System (ABS) 
indicator lamp comes on 
while the engine is run-
ning.
The ABS has detected a malfunction and 
has switched off. The BAS, ESP
®, EBP and 
PRE-SAFE
® are also switched off (see mes-
sages in multifunction display).
The brake system is still functioning nor-
mally but without the ABS available.
If the ABS control unit is malfunctioning, 
other systems such as Parktronic*, 
DISTRONIC Plus*, navigation system, Park 
Assist* and the automatic transmission 
may also be malfunctioning.
Continue driving with added caution. 
Wheels may lock during hard braking, 
reducing steering capability. 
Read and observe messages in the mul-
tifunction display (
page 622).
Have the system checked at an autho-
rized Mercedes-Benz Center as soon as 
possible.
Failure to follow these instructions increas-
es the risk of an accident. 
Page 610 of 769
609 Practical hints
What to do if …?
Problem
Possible cause/consequence
Suggested solution
-
The yellow Antilock 
Brake System (ABS) 
indicator lamp comes on 
while the engine is run-
ning.
The charging voltage has fallen below 
10 volts. The ABS has switched off.
The battery may not be charged sufficiently.
When the voltage is above this value again, 
the ABS is operational again and the ABS in-
dicator lamp should go out.
If the ABS indicator lamp does not go out:
Have the generator (alternator) and the 
battery checked.
When the voltage is above this value again, 
the ABS is operational again.
;(USA only)3(Canada only)-
v
The red brake warning 
lamp comes on while the 
engine is running. In addi-
tion, the yellow ABS mal-
function indicator lamp, 
and the yellow ESP
® 
warning lamp come on 
and an acoustic warning 
sounds.
A malfunction in the Electronic Brake Pro-
portioning (EBP) was detected. The ABS, 
BAS, ESP
® and PRE-SAFE
® are also 
switched off (see messages in multifunction 
display).
The brake system continues to function 
normally, but without electronic support.
Continue driving with added caution. 
Wheels may lock during hard braking, 
reducing steering capability. 
Read and observe messages in the mul-
tifunction display (
page 622).
Have the system checked at an autho-
rized Mercedes-Benz Center as soon as 
possible.
Failure to follow these instructions increas-
es the risk of an accident.