maintenance MERCEDES-BENZ CLS 2014 Owner's Manual

Do not remove the SmartKeyfromthe
ignition lock. Do not open the driver's
door or front-passengerdoor when the
engine is switched off. Otherwise, the
automatic transmission selects park
positionPautomatically and locks the
wheels. You can prevent this by shifting
the automatic transmission toN
beforehand.
RVehicles with KEYLESS-GO:
Do not open the driver's door or front-
passenger door when the engine is
switched off. Otherwise, the automatic
transmission selects park positionP
automatically and locks the wheels.
Observe the following to make sure that the
automatic transmission stays in positionN:
XMake sure the vehicle is stationary and the
ignition is switched off.
XTurn the SmartKey to position2in the
ignition lock (Ypage 147).
Use the SmartKey instead of the Start/
Stop button on vehicles with KEYLESS-GO.
XDepress and hold the brake pedal.
XShift the automatic transmission to
positionN.
XRelease the brake pedal.
XRelease the electric parking brake.
XSwitch off the ignition and leave the
SmartKey in the ignition lock.
You can wash the vehicle in an automatic car
wash from the very start.
If the vehicle is very dirty, pre-wash it before
cleaning it in an automatic car wash.
After using an automatic car wash, wipe off
wax from the windshield and the wiper
blades. This will prevent smears and reduce
wiping noises caused by residue on the
windshield.
Washing by hand
In some countries, washing by hand is only
allowedatspecially equipped washing bays.
Observe the legal requirements in all
countries concerned.
XDo not use hot water and do not wash the
vehicle in direct sunlight.
XUseasoft sponge to clean.
XUseamild cleaning agent, such asacar
shampoo approved by Mercedes-Benz.
XThoroughly hose down the vehicle with a
gentle jet of water.
XDo not point the water jet directly towards
the air inlet.
XUse plenty of water and rinse out the
sponge frequently.
XRinse the vehicle with clean water and dry
thoroughly withachamois.
XDo not let the cleaning agent dry on the
paintwork.
When using the vehicle in winter, remove all
traces of road salt deposits carefully and as
soon as possible.
Power washers
GWARNING
The water jet fromacircular jet nozzle (dirt
blasters) can cause invisible exterior damage
to the tires or chassis components.
Componentsdamaged in this way may fail
unexpectedly. There isarisk of an accident.
Do not use power washers with circular jet
nozzles to clean the vehicle. Have damaged
tires or chassis components replaced
immediately.
!Always maintainadistance of at least
11.8in(30 cm) between the vehicleand the
powerwasher nozzle. Information about
thecorrectdistanceisavailablefromthe
equipmentmanufacturer.
Movethepower washernozzle around
when cleaning your vehicle.
Do not aim directly at any of the following:
Rtires
Rdoor gaps, roof gaps, joints, etc.
Relectrical components
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Maintenance and care

Rbattery
Rconnectors
Rlights
Rseals
Rtrim
Rventilation slots
Damaged seals or electrical components
can lead to leaks or failures.
Cleaning the paintwork
!Do not affix:
Rstickers
Rfilms
Rmagnetic plates or similar items
to painted surfaces.You could otherwise
damage the paintwork.
Scratches, corrosive deposits, areas affected
by corrosion and damage caused by
inadequate care cannot always be completely
repaired. In such cases, visitaqualified
specialist workshop.
XRemove dirt immediately, where possible,
while avoiding rubbing too hard.
XSoak insect remains with insect remover
and rinse off the treated areas afterwards.
XSoak bird droppings with water and rinse
off the treated areas afterwards.
XRemove coolant, brake fluid, tree resin,
oils, fuels and greases by rubbing gently
withacloth soaked in petroleum ether or
lighter fluid.
XUse tar remover to remove tar stains.
XUse silicone remover to remove wax.
If water no longer forms "beads" on the paint
surface, use the paint care products
recommended and approved by Mercedes-
Benz.This is the case approximately every
three to five months, depending on the
climate conditionsand the care product used.
If dirt has penetrated the paint surface or if
the paint has become dull, the paint cleaner
recommended and approved by Mercedes-
Benz should be used.
Do not use these care products in the sun or
on the hood while the hood is hot.
XUseasuitable touch-up stick,e.g. MB
Touch-Up Stick, to repair slight damage to
the paintwork quickly and provisionally.
Mattefinish care
!Never polish the vehicle or the light alloy
wheels. Polishing causes the finish to
shine.
!The following may cause the paint to
become shiny and thus reduce the matte
effect:
RVigorous rubbing with unsuitable
materials.
RFrequent use of car washes.
RWashing the vehicle in direct sunlight.
!Never use paint cleaner, buffing or
polishing products, or gloss preserver, e.g.
wax. These products are only suitable for
high-gloss surfaces. Their use on vehicles
with matte finish leads to considerable
surface damage (shiny, spotted areas).
Always have paintwork repairs performed
ataqualified specialist workshop, e.g. an
authorized Mercedes-BenzCenter.
!Do not use wash programs withahot wax
treatment under any circumstances.
Observe these notes if your vehicle has a
clear mattefinish. This will help you to avoid
damage to the paintwork due to incorrect
treatment.
These notes also apply to light alloy wheels
withaclear mattefinish.
iThe vehicle should preferably be washed
by hand usingasoft sponge, car shampoo
and plenty of water.
iUse only insectremover and car shampoo
from the range of recommended and
approved Mercedes-Benz care products.
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Maintenance and care
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Cleaning thevehicle parts
Cleaning thewheels
!Do notuse acidic wheel cleaning products
to remove brake dust. This could damage
wheel bolts and brake components.
!Do not park the vehicle for an extended
period straight after cleaning it, particularly
after having cleaned the wheels with wheel
cleaner. Wheel cleaners could cause
increased corrosion of the brake discs and
brake pads/linings. For this reason, you
should drive forafew minutes after
cleaning. Braking heats the brake discs and
the brake pads/linings, thus drying them.
The vehicle can then be parked.
Cleaning the windows
GWARNING
You could become trapped by the windshield
wipers if they start moving while cleaning the
windshieldorwiper blades. There isarisk of
injury.
Always switch off the windshieldwipers and
the ignition before cleaning the windshieldor
wiper blades.
!Do not use dry cloths, abrasive products,
solvents or cleaning agents containing
solvents to clean the inside of the windows.
Do not touch the insides of the windows
with hard objects, e.g. an ice scraper or
ring. There is otherwisearisk of damaging
the windows.
!Cleanthe water drainage channels of the
windshield and the rear window at regular
intervals. Deposits such as leaves, petals
and pollen may under certain
circumstances prevent water from draining
away.This can lead to corrosion damage
and damage to electronic components.
XCleanthe inside and outside of the
windows withadamp cloth andacleaning
product that is recommended and
approved by Mercedes-Benz.
Cleaningwiper blades
GWARNING
You could become trapped by the windshield
wipers if they start moving while cleaning the
windshield or wiper blades. There isarisk of
injury.
Always switch off the windshield wipers and
the ignition before cleaning the windshield or
wiper blades.
!Do not pull the wiper blade. Otherwise,
the wiper blade could be damaged.
!Do not clean wiper blades too often and
do not rub them too hard. Otherwise, the
graphite coating could be damaged. This
could cause wiper noise.
!Hold the wiper arm securely when folding
back. The windshield could be damaged if
the wiper arm smacks against it suddenly.
XFold the windshield wiper arms away from
the windshield.
XCarefully clean the wiper blades with a
damp cloth.
XFold the windshield wiper arms back again
before switching on the ignition.
Cleaningthe exterior lighting
!Only use cleaning agents or cleaning
cloths which are suitable for plastic light
lenses. Unsuitable cleaning agents or
cleaning cloths could scratchordamage
the plastic light lenses.
XCleanthe plastic lenses of the exterior
lighting usingawet sponge andamild
cleaning agent, e.g. Mercedes-Benzcar
shampoo or cleaningcloths.
Mirror turn signals
!Only use cleaningagents or cleaning
clothsthatare suitable for plastic lenses.
Unsuitable cleaningagents or cleaning
clothscould scratch or damagetheplastic
lenses of themirror turnsignals.
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Maintenance and care

XClean theplastic lenses of themirror turn
signals in theexterior mirror housingusing
awet sponge and mild cleaning agent, e.g.
Mercedes-Benz car shampoo or cleaning
cloths.
Cleaning the sensors
!If you clean the sensors withapower
washer, make sure that you keep a
distance of at least 11.8in(30 cm) between
the vehicle and the power washer nozzle.
Information about the correct distance is
available from the equipment
manufacturer.
XClean sensorsof the driving systems
with water, car shampoo andasoft cloth.
Cleaning the rear viewcamera
!Do not cleanthe camera lens and the area
around the rear view camera withapower
washer.
XUse clear water andasoft cloth to clean
camera lens.
Cleaningthe exhaust pipes
!Do not clean the exhaust pipe with acid-
based cleaning agents such as sanitary
cleansers or wheel cleaners.
Impurities combined with the effectsofroad
grit and corrosive environmental factors may
cause flash rust to form on the surface. You
can restore the original shine of the exhaust
pipe by cleaning it regularly,especiallyin
winter and after washing.
XCleanthe exhaust pipe withacare product
tested and approved by Mercedes-Benz.
Interior care
Cleaningthe display
!For cleaning, do not use any of the
following:
Ralcohol-based thinner or gasoline
Rabrasive cleaning agents
Rcommercially-available household
cleaning agents
These may damage the displaysurface. Do
not put pressure on the displaysurface
when cleaning. This could lead to
irreparable damage to the display.
Care315
Maintenance and care
Z

XBeforecleaning the display,make sure that
it is switched off and hascooled down.
XClean the display surface using a
commercially available microfiber cloth
and TFT/LCD display cleaner.
XDry the display surface usingadry
microfiber cloth.
Cleaning Night View Assist Plus
!Never clean the camera lens. When
cleaning the field of vision of the driving
systems, make sure that you do not spray
glass cleaner on the camera lens. If the
camera lens is dirty, visitaqualified
specialist workshop.
XFold down the camera cover by recess.
XUseasoft cloth to clean the windshield in
front of camera.
Cleaning the plastic trim
GWARNING
Care products and cleaning agents containing
solventscause surfaces in the cockpit to
become porous. Asaresult, plastic parts may
come loose in the event of air bag
deployment. There isarisk of injury.
Do not use any care products and cleaning
agents to clean the cockpit.
!Do not affix the following to plastic
surfaces:
Rstickers
Rfilms
Rscented oil bottles or similar items
You can otherwise damage the plastic.
!Do not allow cosmetics, insect repellent
or sunscreen to come into contact with the
plastic trim. This maintains the high-quality
look of the surfaces.
XWipe the plastic trim withadamp, lint-free
cloth, e.g.amicrofiber cloth.
XHeavy soiling:use care and cleaning
products recommended and approved by
Mercedes-Benz.
The surface may change color temporarily.
Wait until the surface is dry again.
Cleaning the steering wheel and gear or
selector lever
XThoroughly wipe withadamp cloth or use
leather care agents that have been
recommended and approved by Mercedes-
Benz.
Cleaning genuine wood and trim
elements
!Do not use solvent-based cleaning agents
such as tar remover, wheel cleaners,
polishes or waxes. There is otherwisearisk
of damaging the surface.
!Do not use chrome polish on trim pieces.
The trim pieces haveachrome look but are
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Maintenance and care

mostly made of anodized aluminum and
can lose their shine if chrome polish is
used.Useadamp, lint-free cloth instead
when cleaning the trim pieces.
If the chrome-plated trim pieces are very
dirty, you can useachrome polish. If you
are unsure as to whether the trim pieces
are chrome-plated or not, consult an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
XWipe the wooden trim and trim pieces with
adamp, lint-free cloth, e.g.amicrofiber
cloth.
XHeavy soiling:use car care and cleaning
products recommended and approved by
Mercedes-Benz.
Cleaning the seat covers
General notes
!Do not use microfiber cloths to clean
genuine leather, artificial leather or
Alcantara® covers. If used often, these can
damage the cover.
iNote that regularcare is essential to
ensure that theappearanceand comfort of
thecoversisretainedovertime.
Genuineleather seat covers
Leather isanatural product.
It exhibits natural surface characteristics, for
example:
RDifferences in the texture
RSignsofstretchingand marking
RSlightnuances of color
Theseare characteristics of leather and not
material defects.
!To retain thenatural appearanceofthe
leather,observethefollowingcleaning
instructions:
RClean genuine leathercovers carefully
withadamp cloth and then wipe the
covers down withadry cloth.
RMake sure that the leather does not
become soaked. It may otherwise
become rough and cracked.
ROnly use leather care agents that have
been tested and approved by Mercedes-
Benz.You can obtain these from a
qualified specialist workshop.
Seat covers of other materials
!Observe the following when cleaning:
RClean artificial leather covers withacloth
moistened withasolution containing
1% detergent (e.g. dish washing liquid).
RClean cloth covers withamicrofiber
cloth moistened withasolution
containing 1% detergent (e.g. dish
washing liquid). Rub carefully and always
wipe entireseat sectionstoavoid leaving
visible lines. Leave the seat to dry
afterwards. Cleaning results depend on
the type of dirt and how long it has been
there.
RClean Alcantara® covers withadamp
cloth. Make sure that you wipe entire
seat sectionstoavoid leaving visible
lines.
Cleaning the seat belts
GWARNING
Seat belts can become severely weakened if
bleached or dyed. This could cause the seat
belts to tear or fail, for instance, in the event
of an accident.This poses an increased risk
of injury or fatal injury.
Never bleach or dye the seat belts.
!Do not clean the seat belts using chemical
cleaning agents. Do not dry the seat belts
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Maintenance and care
Z

by heatingattemperatures above 176 ‡
(80 †) or in direct sunlight.
XUse clean, lukewarm water and soap
solution.
Cleaning the headliner and carpets
XHeadliner:if it is very dirty, useasoft brush
or dry shampoo.
XCarpets:use the carpet and textile
cleaningagentsrecommended and
approved by Mercedes-Benz.
318Care
Maintenance and care

Beforehandling the battery,touch the vehicle
bodytoremove any existing electrostatic
build-up.
The highly flammable gasmixture forms when
charging the battery as well as whenjump-
starting.
Always makesure that neither you northe
battery is electrostatically charged.Abuild-
up of electrostaticcharge can be caused, for
example:
Rby wearing clothing made from synthetic
fibers
Rdue to friction between clothing and seats
Rif you push or pull the battery across the
carpet or other synthetic materials
Rif you wipe the battery withacloth
GWARNING
During the charging process,abattery
produces hydrogen gas. Ifashort circuit
occurs or sparks are created, the hydrogen
gas can ignite. There isarisk of an explosion.
RMake sure that the positive terminal of a
connected battery does not come into
contact with vehicle parts.
RNever place metal objectsortools on a
battery.
RIt is important that you observe the
described order of the battery terminals
when connecting and disconnecting a
battery.
RWhen jump-starting, make sure that the
battery poles with identical polarity are
connected.
RIt is particularly important to observe the
described order when connecting and
disconnecting the jumper cables.
RNever connect or disconnectthe battery
terminals while the engine is running.
GWARNING
Batteryacid is caustic. There isarisk of injury.
Avoid contact with the skin, eyes or clothing.
Do not inhale any battery gases. Do not lean
over the battery. Keep children away from
batteries. Wash battery acid immediately with
water and seek medical attention.
HEnvironmental note
Batteries contain dangerous
substances. It is against the
law to dispose of them with
the household rubbish. They
must be collected separately
and recycled to protect the
environment.
Dispose of batteries in an
environmentally friendly
manner. Take discharged
batteries toaqualified
specialist workshop or a
special collection point for
used batteries.
!Have the battery checked regularly at a
qualified specialist workshop.
Observe the service intervals in the
MaintenanceBooklet or contactaqualified
specialist workshop for more information.
!You should have all work involving the
battery carried out ataqualified specialist
workshop. In theexceptional casethatitis
necessaryfor you to disconnect thebattery
yourself, makesure that:
Ryou switch off theengineand remove the
SmartKey. On vehicles withKEYLESS-
GO, ensure that theignition is switched
off.Check that all the indicator lamps in
the instrumentcluster are off.Otherwise,
electroniccomponents, such as the
alternator,may be damaged.
Ryou first remove the negative terminal
clamp and then the positive terminal
clamp. Never swap the terminal clamps.
Otherwise, the vehicle's electronic
system may be damaged.
Rthe transmission is locked in positionP
after disconnectingthe battery. The
vehicle is secured against rolling away.
You can then no longer move the vehicle.
Battery (vehicle)323
Breakdown assistance
Z

Example: current tire pressure display
Important safety notes
GWARNING
Each tire,including the spare (ifprovided),
should be checked at least once every two
weeks when cold and inflated to the pressure
recommended by the vehiclemanufacturer
on the Tire and Loading Information placard
on the driver'sdoor B-pillar or the tire
pressure label on the inside of the fuel filler
flap.Ifyour vehicle has tires ofadifferent size
than the size indicated on the Tire and Loading
Information placard or, if available, the tire
pressure label, you should determinethe
proper tire pressure for those tires.
As an added safety feature, your vehicle has
been equipped withatire pressure monitoring
system (TPMS) that illuminatesalow tire
pressure telltale when one or more of your
tires are significantly underinflated.
Accordingly, when the low tire pressure
telltale lights up, you should stop and check
your tires as soon as possible, and inflate
them to the proper pressure. Drivingona
significantly underinflated tire causes the tire
to overheat and can lead to tire failure.
Underinflation also reduces fuel efficiency
and tire tread life, and may affect the vehicle's
handling and stopping ability. Please note that
the TPMS is notasubstitute for proper tire
maintenance, and it is the driver's
responsibility to maintain correcttire
pressure, even if underinflation has not
reached the level to trigger illumination of the
TPMS low tire pressure telltale.
Your vehicle has also been equipped with a
TPMS malfunction indicator to indicate when
the system is not operating properly. The
TPMS malfunction indicator is combined with
the low tire pressure telltale. When the
system detectsamalfunction, the warning
lamp will flash for approximatelyaminute and
then remain continuously illuminated. This
sequence will be repeated every time the
vehicle is started as long as the malfunction
exists. When the malfunction indicator is
illuminated, the system may not be able to
detect or signal low tire pressure as intended.
TPMS malfunctions may occur foravariety of
reasons, including the installation of
incompatible replacement or alternate tires
or wheels on the vehicle that prevent the
TPMS from functioning properly. Always
check the TPMS malfunction telltale after
replacing one or more tires or wheels on your
vehicle to ensure that the replacement or
alternate Tires and wheels allow the TPMS to
continue to function properly.
It is the driver's responsibility to set the tire
pressure to that recommended for cold tires
which is suitable for the operating situation
(Ypage 338). Note that the correcttire
pressure for the current operating situation
must first be taught-in to the tire pressure
monitor. If there isasubstantial loss of
pressure, the warning threshold for the
warning message is aligned to the reference
values taught-in.Restart the tire pressure
monitor after adjustingthe pressure of the
cold tires (Ypage 345). The current
pressures are saved as new reference values.
Asaresult,awarning message will appear if
the tire pressure drops significantly.
The tire pressure monitor does not warn you
of an incorrectly set tire pressure. Observe
the notes on the recommended tire pressure
(Ypage 338).
The tire pressure monitor is not able to warn
you ofasudden loss of pressure, e.g. if the
tire is penetrated byaforeign object. In the
event ofasudden loss of pressure, bring the
vehicle toahalt by brakingcarefully. Avoid
sudden steering movements
Check343
Wheels and tires
Z

Securing the vehicle on slight downhillgradients
XOn light downhill gradients:place
chocks or othersuitableitemsinfront of
the wheelsofthe front and rearaxle.
Raisingthe vehicle
GWARNING
If youdonot positionthe jack correctly at the
appropriate jackingpoint of the vehicle, the
jack could tip over with the vehicle raised.
There isarisk of injury.
Only position the jack at the appropriate
jackingpoint of the vehicle. The base of the
jack must be positioned vertically, directly
under the jackingpoint of the vehicle.
!The jack is designed exclusively for
jackingupthe vehicle at the jackingpoints.
Otherwise, your vehicle could be damaged.
The following must be observed when raising
the vehicle:
Rto raise the vehicle, only use the vehicle-
specific jack that has been tested and
approved by Mercedes-Benz. If used
incorrectly, the jack could tip over with the
vehicle raised.
Rthe jack is designed only to raise and hold
the vehicle forashort time whileawheel
is being changed. It is not suited for
performing maintenancework under the
vehicle.
Ravoid changing the wheel on uphill and
downhill slopes.
Rbefore raising the vehicle, secure it from
rolling away by applying the parking brake
and insertingwheel chocks. Never
disengage the parking brake while the
vehicle is raised.
Rthe jack must be placed onafirm, flat and
non-slip surface. Onaloose surface, a
large, load-bearing underlay must be used.
Onaslippery surface,anon-slip underlay
must be used, e.g. rubber mats.
Rdo not use wooden blocks or similar
objectsasajack underlay.Otherwise, the
jackwill not be able to achieveits load-
bearingcapacity due to the restricted
height.
Rmakesure that the distancebetween the
underside of the tires and the grounddoes
not exceed 1.2in(3cm).
Rnever place your hands and feet under the
raised vehicle.
Rnever lie under the raised vehicle.
Rnever start the engine when the vehicle is
raised.
Rnever open or closeadoor or the trunk lid
when the vehicle is raised.
Rmakesure that no persons are present in
the vehicle when the vehicle is raised.
XUsinglug wrench,loosen the boltson
the wheel you wish to change by about one
full turn. Do not unscrew the bolts
completely.
Changingawheel359
Wheels and tires
Z