brake pads MERCEDES-BENZ CL500 2005 C215 Owner's Manual

260 OperationDriving instructionsBrakesTo help prevent brake disk corrosion after
driving on wet road surfaces (particularly
salted roads), it is advisable to brake the
vehicle with considerable force prior to
parking. The heat generated serves to dry
the brakes.
If your brake system is normally only sub-
jected to moderate loads, you should occa-
sionally test the effectiveness of the
brakes by applying above-normal braking
pressure at higher speeds. This will also
enhance the grip of the brake pads.If the parking brake is released and the
brake warning lamp in the instrument clus-
ter stays on, the brake fluid level in the res-
ervoir is too low.
Brake pad wear or a leak in the system may
be the reason for low brake fluid in the res-
ervoir.
Have the brake system inspected immedi-
ately. Contact an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
All checks and service work on the brake
system should be carried out by qualified
technicians only. Contact an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
Only install brake pads and brake fluid
recommended by Mercedes-Benz.Warning!
G
After driving in heavy rain for some time
without applying the brakes or through wa-
ter deep enough to wet brake components,
the first braking action may be somewhat
reduced and increased pedal pressure may
be necessary to obtain expected braking ef-
fect. Maintain a safe distance from vehicles
in front.
Resting your foot on the brake pedal will
cause excessive and premature wear of the
brake pads.
It can also result in the brakes overheating,
thereby significantly reducing their effec-
tiveness. It may not be possible to stop the
vehicle in sufficient time to avoid an acci-
dent.
!Be very careful not to endanger other
road users when you apply the brakes.
Refer to the description of the Brake
Assist System (BAS) (
page 81).

261 Operation
Driving instructions
After hard braking, it is advisable to drive
on for some time, rather than immediately
parking, so that the air stream can cool
down the brakes faster.High-performance brake system
(CL 65 AMG only)
The high-performance brake system is de-
signed to operate under the extremely high
operating demands required to accommo-
date the performance capabilities of the
vehicle. The brakes may produce a squeak-
ing-type noise depending on the


vehicle speed


brake force applied


ambient conditions, e.g. temperature
and humidity
As with any brake system, the wear of indi-
vidual brake system components such as
brake pads or disks strongly depends on
your driving style and the conditions under
which you operate the vehicle. Thus, a driv-
ing style calling for high demand braking
will cause your vehicle’s brakes to wear
more quickly.
Warning!
G
If other than recommended brake pads are
installed, or other than recommended brake
fluid is used, the braking properties of the
vehicle can be degraded to an extent that
safe braking is substantially impaired. This
could result in an accident.!When driving down long and steep
grades, relieve the load on the brakes
by shifting into a lower gear to use the
engine’s braking power. This helps pre-
vent overheating of the brakes and re-
duces brake pad wear.
Warning!
G
New vehicle brake pads and discs, and
replacement brake pads and discs may take
several hundred miles of driving until they
provide optimum braking efficiency. Until
that time, you may need to use increased
brake pedal pressure while braking. Please
be aware of this and adjust your driving and
braking accordingly during this break-in
period.
Excessive high demand braking will cause
correspondingly high brake wear. Please be
attentive to the brake warning lamp in the
instrument cluster and brake condition mes-
sages in the multifunction display. Especial-
ly for high performance driving, it is
important to maintain and have the brake
system checked regularly.

343 Practical hints
What to do if …?
Display
Possible cause
Possible solution
2
BRAKE PAD WEAR
VISIT WORKSHOP
The brake pads have reached their wear
limit.

Have the brake pads replaced as soon as
possible.
;(USA only)3(Canada only)
BRAKE FLUID
VISIT WORKSHOP
There is insufficient brake fluid in the res-
ervoir.

Risk of accident! Stop the vehicle and no-
tify an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Do not add brake fluid! This will not solve
the problem.
Failure to follow these instructions increases
the risk of accident.
Warning!
G
Driving with this message displayed can re-
sult in an accident. Have your brake system
checked immediately. Don’t add brake fluid
before checking the brake system. Overfill-
ing the brake fluid reservoir can result in
spilling brake fluid on hot engine parts and
the brake fluid catching fire. You can be se-
riously burned.
!If you find that the brake fluid in the
brake fluid reservoir has fallen to the
minimum mark or below, have the
brake system checked for brake pad
thickness and leaks.
!Brake pad thickness must be visually
checked by a qualified technician at the
intervals specified in the Maintenance
Booklet.

428 IndexBattery, SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO*
Check lamp 99
Checking the battery 99
Replacing 372
Battery, vehicle 281, 386
Charging 387
Disconnecting 387
Reconnecting 388
Reinstalling 387
Removing 387
Bead 309
Bi-Xenon headlamps 419
Block heater (Canada only) 314
Blocking
Rear window operation 78
Brake assist system (BAS) 419
Brake fluid 271, 414
Brake lamp bulbs 374
Brake lamp, high mounted 374Brake pads
Message in display 343
Brakes 260
High-performance brake system (CL 65
AMG only) 261
Warning lamp 327
Break-in period 258
Bulbs, replacing 373
Additional turn signals 374
Backup lamps 374
Brake lamps 374
Fog lamps 374
Front lamps 374
High beam 374
High mounted brake lamp 374
License plate lamps 374, 378
Low beam 374
Parking lamps 374, 377
Rear fog lamp 374, 377, 378
Side marker lamps 374, 377
Standing lamps 374, 377
Tail lamp assemblies 374, 378
Turn signal lamps 374C
CAC (Customer Assistance Center) 419
Calling up
Distronic* settings 149
Maintenance service indicator 316
Range (distance to empty) 151
CAN system 420
Canceling
Cruise control 206
Cargo tie-down hooks 230
Catalytic converter 268
CD changer* 144
CD mode 144
CD operation
Selecting tracks 143
Center console 27
Air bag off indicator lamp 334
Front passenger front air bag off indica-
tor lamp 334
Lower part 28
Upper part 27
Centigrade (°C)
Setting temperature units 156

440 IndexManual shift program CL 55 AMG and CL
65 AMG
Activating 175
Automatic transmission 175
Deactivating 177
Massage function 118
MAXCOOL maximum cooling 190
Maximum inflation pressure 310
Maximum load rating 310
Maximum loaded vehicle weight 310
Mechanical key 367
Memory function 122, 422
Recalling positions from
memory 123
Storing exterior rear view mirror park-
ing positions 123
Storing key dependent settings 123
Menus 138
AUDIO 141
Distronic* 149, 211
In control system 139, 140NAVI 148
Settings menu 153
Standard display 141
Submenus 138
TEL* 146
Trip computer 150
Vehicle status message memory 152
Microphone
Hands-free microphone 29
Miles/kilometers in speedometer
Setting 156
Mirrors
Activating exterior rear view mirror
parking position 179
Adjusting 43
Auto-dimming for rear view
mirror 178
Exterior rear view mirror 43
Exterior rear view mirror parking
position 164
Exterior rear view mirror parking
positions 164
Interior rear view mirror 43
Storing exterior rear view mirror park-
ing position 123MON (Motor Octane Number) 271, 422
MP3-CD operation
Selecting tracks 143
Mph or km/h in speedometer 156
Multicontour backrest* 117
Multifunction display 136, 422
Selecting language 157
Standard display 140
Multifunction display messages
ABC 337
ABS 338
BAS 339
Brake fluid 343
Brake pads 343
Check engine 328, 329
Coolant 345
Coolant level 344
Distronic* 339
Doors 347
Engine 328, 329