maintenance MERCEDES-BENZ CLS 2016 User Guide
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Page 153 of 342

Wet roads If you have driven for a long time in heavy rain
without braking, there may be a delayed reac-
tion from the brakes when braking for the first
time. This may also occur after the vehicle has
been washed or driven through deep water.
You have to depress the brake pedal more
firmly. Maintain a greater distance from the
vehicle in front.
After driving on a wet road or having the vehicle
washed, brake firmly while paying attention to
the traffic conditions. This will warm up the
brake discs, thereby drying them more quickly
and protecting them against corrosion.
Limited braking performance on salt-
treated roads If you drive on salted roads, a layer of salt resi-
due may form on the brake discs and brake
pads. This can result in a significantly longer
braking distance. R
In order to prevent any salt build-up, apply the
brakes occasionally while paying attention to
the traffic conditions. R
Carefully depress the brake pedal and the
beginning and end of a journey. R
Maintain a greater distance to the vehicle
ahead.
Servicing the brakes
! The brake fluid level may be too low, if: R
if the red brake warning lamp lights up in
the instrument cluster and R
you hear a warning tone while the engine is
running
Observe additional warning messages in the
multifunction display.
The brake fluid level may be too low due to
brake pad wear or leaking brake lines.
Have the brake system checked immediately.
Consult a qualified specialist workshop to
arrange this.
! Vehicles with 4MATIC: function or per-
formance tests may only be carried out on a 2-
axle dynamometer. If you wish to operate the
vehicle on such a dynamometer, please con-
sult a qualified specialist workshop in
advance. You could otherwise damage the
drive train or the brake system. ! Vehicles with 4MATIC: as the ESP ®
sys-
tem operates automatically, the engine and
the ignition must be switched off (SmartKey in
position 0 or 1 in the ignition lock or Start/
Stop button in position 0 or 1 ) while the park-
ing brake is being tested on a brake dyna-
mometer.
Braking maneuvers triggered automatically
by ESP ®
may seriously damage the brake sys-
tem.
! Vehicles with 4MATIC: as the ESP ®
sys-
tem operates automatically, the engine and
the ignition system must be switched off
(SmartKey in position 0 or 1 in the ignition
lock or Start/Stop button in position 0 or 1 )
when: R
testing the parking brake on a brake dyna-
mometer. R
you intend to have the vehicle towed with
one of the axles raised.
Braking maneuvers triggered automatically
by ESP ®
may seriously damage the brake sys-
tem.
All checks and maintenance work on the brake
system must be carried out at a qualified spe-
cialist worksho p.
Ha ve brake pads installed and brake fluid
replaced at a qualified specialist workshop.
If the brake system has only been subject to
moderate loads, you should test the functional-
ity of your brakes at regular intervals. To do so,
press firmly on the brake pedal when driving at a
high speed. This improves the grip of the brake
pads.
You can find a description of Brake Assist (BAS)
on ( Y
page 65) or of BAS PLUS on ( Y
page 65).
The braking characteristics of the vehicle can be
seriously impaired if: R
brake pads other than those recommended
are installed R
the recommended brake fluid is not used
Safe braking can no longer be guaranteed.
AMG high-performance and ceramic
brakes
The high-performance brake system is only
installed on the Mercedes-AMG
CLS 63 S 4MATIC model. Driving tips 151
Driving and parking Z
Page 276 of 342

Engine compartment
Hood
Important safety notes
G WARNING
If the hood is unlatched, it may open up when
the vehicle is in motion and block your view.
There is a risk of an accident.
Never unlatch the hood while driving. Before
every trip, ensure that the hood is locked.
G WARNING
When opening and closing the hood, it may
suddenly fall into the closed position. There is
a risk of injury to persons within range of
movement of the hood.
Open and close the hood only when no one is
within its range of movement.
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
The engine compartment contains moving
components. Certain components, such as
the radiator fan, may continue to run or start
again suddenly when the ignition is off. There
is a risk of injury.
If you need to do any work inside the engine
compartment: R
switch off the ignition R
never reach into the area where there is a
risk of danger from moving components,
such as the fan rotation area R
remove jewelry and watches R
keep items of clothing and hair, for exam-
ple, away from moving parts
G WARNING
The ignition system and the fuel injection sys-
tem work under high voltage. If you touch
components which are under voltage, you
could get an electric shock. There is a risk of
injury.
Never touch components of the ignition sys-
tem or fuel injection system when the ignition
is switched on.
Opening the hood
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
When the hood is open and the windshield
wipers are set in motion, you can be injured by
the wiper linkage. There is a risk of injury.
Always switch off the windshield wipers and
the ignition before opening the hood.
! Make sure that the windshield wipers are
not folded away from the windshield. You
could otherwise damage the windshield wip-
ers or the hood.274
Engine compartment
Maintenance and care
Page 278 of 342

Adding engine oil
G WARNIN G
Certain component s in th e engin e compart-
ment, suc h as th e engine, radiato r and part s
of th e exhaust system, can become ver y hot .
Working in th e engin e compartmen t poses a
ris k of injury.
Wher e possible, let th e engin e cool down and
touch only th e component s described in th e
following.
G WARNIN G
If engin e oil comes int o contact wit h hot com-
ponents in th e engin e compartment, it may
ignite. There is a ris k of fir e and injury.
Mak e sur e that engin e oil is no t spilled next to
th e filler neck . Let th e engin e cool down and
thoroughly clean th e engin e oil off th e com-
ponents before starting th e engine.
H Environmenta l not e
When addin g oil, tak e car e no t to spil l any. If
oil enters th e soil or waterways, it is harmful to
th e environment.
! Only use engin e oils and oil filters that hav e
been approve d for vehicles wit h a servic e sys-
tem. You can obtain a list of th e engin e oils
and oil filters tested and approve d in accord -
anc e wit h th e Mercedes-Benz Specification s
for Service Products at any Mercedes-Benz
Service center.
Damage to th e engin e or exhaust system is
caused by th e following:R
usin g engin e oils and oil filters that hav e no t
been specifically approve d for th e servic e
system R
replacing engin e oil and oil filters after th e
interval for replacemen t specifie d by th e
servic e system has been exceededR
usin g engin e oil additives.
! Do no t add to o muc h oil. addin g to o muc h
engin e oil can result in damag e to th e engin e
or to th e catalytic converter. Hav e excess
engin e oil siphoned off . Exampl e X
Turn cap C counter-clockwise and remove it .X
Ad d engin e oil.
If th e oil level is at or belo w th e MIN mar k on
th e oil dipstick , add 1. 1 US qt (1.0 l) of engine
oil. X
Replace cap C on the filler neck and turn
clockwise.
Ensure that the cap locks into place securely. X
Check the oil level again with the oil dipstick
( Y
page 275).
Further information on engine oil ( Y
page 333).
Additional service products
Checking coolant level
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
The cooling system is pressurized, particularly
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 gloves and eye protection. Slowly
open the cap to relieve pressure.276
Engine compartment
Maintenance and care
Page 280 of 342

You can obtain further information from an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center or at
http://www.mbusa.com (USA only).
i The ASSYST PLUS service interval display
does not show any information on the engine
oil level. Observe the notes on the engine oil
level ( Y
page 275).
The multifunction display shows a service mes-
sage for several seconds, e.g.: R
Service A in .. days R
Service A Due R
Service A Exceeded by .. Days
Depending on the operating conditions of the
vehicle, the remaining time or distance until the
next service due date is displayed.
The letter A or B , possibly in connection with a
number or another letter, indicates the type of
service. A stands for a minor service and B for a
major service.
You can obtain further information from an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
The ASSYST PLUS service interval display does
not take into account any periods of time during
which the battery is disconnected.
Maintaining the time-dependent service sched-
ule: X
Note down the service due date displayed in
the multifunction display before disconnect-
ing the battery.
or X
After reconnecting the battery, subtract the
battery disconnection periods from the ser-
vice date shown on the display.
Hiding a service message X
Press the v or 8 button on the steering
wheel.
Displaying service messages X
Switch on the ignition. X
Press the Y or e button on the steering
wheel to select the Serv. menu.X
Press the c or d button to select the
ASSYST PLUS submenu and confirm by press-
ing the v button.
The service due date appears in the multi-
function display. Information about Service Resetting the ASSYST PLUS service inter-
val display
! If the ASSYST PLUS service interval display
has been inadvertently reset, this setting can
be corrected at a qualified specialist work-
shop.
Have service work carried out as described in
the Maintenance Booklet. This may otherwise
lead to increased wear and damage to the
major assemblies or the vehicle.
A qualified specialist workshop, e.g. an author-
ized Mercedes-Benz Center, will reset the
ASSYST PLUS service interval display after the
service work has been carried out. You can also
obtain further information on maintenance
work, for example.
Special service requirements The specified maintenance interval takes only
the normal operation of the vehicle into
account. Under arduous operating conditions or
increased load on the vehicle, maintenance
work must be carried out more frequently, for
example: R
regular city driving with frequent intermediate
stops R
if the vehicle is primarily used to travel short
distances R
use in mountainous terrain or on poor road
surfaces R
if the engine is often left idling for long periods
Under these or similar conditions, have, for
example, the air filter, engine oil and oil filter
replaced or changed more frequently. Under
arduous operating conditions, the tires must be
checked more often. Further information can be
obtained at a qualified specialist workshop, e.g.
an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Driving abroad
An extensive Mercedes-Benz Service network is
also available in other countries. You can obtain
further information from any authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.278
Maintenance
Maintenance and care
Page 281 of 342

Care
General notes
H Environmental note
Dispose of empty packaging and cleaning
cloths in an environmentally responsible man-
ner.
! For cleaning your vehicle, do not use any of
the following: R
dry, rough or hard cloths R
abrasive cleaning agents R
solvents R
cleaning agents containing solvents
Do not scrub.
Do not touch the surfaces or protective films
with hard objects, e.g. a ring or ice scraper.
You could otherwise scratch or damage the
surfaces and protective film.
! 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 for a few minutes after cleaning.
Braking heats the brake discs and the brake
pads/linings, thus drying them. The vehicle
can then be parked.
Regular care of your vehicle is a condition for
retaining the quality in the long term.
Use care products and cleaning agents recom-
mended and approved by Mercedes-Benz.
Washing the vehicle and cleaning the
paintwork
Automatic car wash
G WARNING
Braking efficiency is reduced after washing
the vehicle. There is a risk of an accident.
After the vehicle has been washed, brake
carefully while paying attention to the traffic
conditions until full braking power is restored. ! If DISTRONIC PLUS or the HOLD function is
activated, the vehicle brakes automatically in
certain situations.
To prevent damage to the vehicle, deactivate
DISTRONIC PLUS and the HOLD function in
the following or other similar situations: R
when towing the vehicle R
in the car wash
! Never clean your vehicle in a Touchless
Automatic Car Wash as these use special
cleaning agents. These cleaning agents can
damage the paintwork or plastic parts.
! Make sure that: R
the side windows and the sliding sunroof
are fully closed. R
the ventilation/heating is switched off (the
OFF button has been pressed). R
the windshield wiper switch is in position 0 .
Otherwise, the vehicle might be damaged.
! In car washes with a towing mechanism,
make sure that the automatic transmission is
in transmission position N , otherwise the
vehicle could be damaged. R
Vehicles with a SmartKey:
Do not remove the SmartKey from the igni-
tion lock. Do not open the driver's door or
front-passenger door when the en gine is
switc hed off. Otherwise, the automatic
transmission selects park position P auto-
matically and locks the wheels. You can
prevent this by shifting the automatic trans-
mission to N beforehand. R
Vehicles 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 position P auto-
matically and locks the wheels.
Observe the following to make sure that the
automatic transmission stays in position N :X
Make sure the vehicle is stationary and the
ignition is switched off. X
Turn the SmartKey to position 2 in the ignition
lock ( Y
page 127).
Use the SmartKey instead of the Start/Stop
button on vehicles with KEYLESS-GO. X
Depress and hold the brake pedal. X
Shift the automatic transmission to position
N . Care 279
Maintenance and care Z
Page 282 of 342

X
Releas e th e brak e pedal .X
Releas e th e parking brake.X
Switc h off th e ignition and leav e th e SmartKey
in th e ignition lock.
You can wash th e vehicl e in an automatic car
wash from th e ver y start .
If th e vehicl e is ver y dirty, pre-was h it before
cleaning it in an automatic car wash.
Afte r usin g an automatic car wash, wipe off wax
from th e windshield and th e wiper blades. This
will preven t smears and reduce wipin g noises
caused by residue on th e windshield.
Washing by hand In som e countries, washing by han d is only
allowe d at specially equipped washing bays.
Observ e th e legal requirements in eac h country.X
Do no t use hot water and do no t wash th e
vehicl e in direct sunlight.X
Use a sof t spong e to clean.X
Use a mild cleaning agent, suc h as a car
shampoo approve d by Mercedes-Benz.X
Thoroughly hos e down th e vehicl e wit h a gen -
tl e je t of water.X
Do no t poin t th e water je t directly towards th e
air inlet .X
Use plenty of water and rinse out th e spong e
frequently. X
Rins e th e vehicl e wit h clean water and dry
thoroughly wit h a chamois.X
Do no t let th e cleaning agen t dry on th e paint-
work.
Carefully remove all deposit s of road salt as
soo n as possibl e when driving in winter.
Power washers
G WARNIN G
The water je t from a circular je t nozzle (dir t
blasters ) can caus e invisible exterio r damag e
to th e tires or chassi s components. Compo-
nent s damaged in this way may fail unexpect-
edly. There is a ris k of an accident.
Do no t use power washers wit h circular je t
nozzles to clean th e vehicle. Hav e damaged
tires or chassi s component s replace d imme-
diately. ! Always maintai n a distanc e of at least
11.8 in (30 cm) between th e vehicl e and th e
powe r washe r nozzle. Information about th e
correc t distanc e is available from th e equip -
men t manufacturer.
Mov e th e powe r washe r nozzle around when
cleaning your vehicle.
Do no t aim directly at any of th e following:R
tires R
door gaps , roo f gaps , joints, etc.R
electrical component sR
battery R
connectors R
lights R
seals R
trim R
ventilation slot s
Damaged seals or electrical component s can
lead to leak s or failures .
Cleaning the paintwork
! Do no t affix: R
stickers R
film s R
magnetic plates or similar items
to painte d surfaces. You could otherwise
damag e th e paintwork .
Scratches, corrosiv e deposits, areas affecte d by
corrosio n and damag e caused by inadequat e
car e canno t always be completely repaired. In
suc h cases, visit a qualified specialist workshop. X
Remove dirt immediately, wher e possible,
while avoidin g rubbing to o hard.X
Soak insec t remain s wit h insec t remove r and
rinse off th e treated areas afterwards .X
Soak bird droppings wit h water and rinse off
th e treated areas afterwards .X
Remove coolant, brak e fluid , tree resin, oils ,
fuel s and greases by rubbing gentl y wit h a
cloth soaked in petroleum ether or lighte r
fluid . X
Use tar remove r to remove tar stains. X
Use silicon e remove r to remove wax.
If water no longer forms "beads " on th e pain t
surface, use th e pain t car e products recommen -
ded and approve d by Mercedes-Benz . This is th e
cas e approximately every three to fiv e months,280
Care
Maintenance and care
Page 283 of 342

depending on the climate conditions and the
care product used.
If dirt has penetrated the paint surface or if the
paint has become dull, the paint cleaner recom-
mended 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. X
Use a suitable touch-up stick, e.g. MB Touch-
Up Stick, to repair slight damage to the paint-
work quickly and provisionally.
Matte finish 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: R
strong rubbing of the paintwork with
unsuitable materials R
frequent use of automatic car washes R
washing 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 sur-
faces. Their use on vehicles with matte finish
leads to considerable surface damage (shiny,
mottled areas).
Always have paintwork repairs carried out at a
qualified specialist workshop.
! Do not use wash programs with a hot wax
treatment under any circumstances.
Observe these notes if your vehicle has a clear
matte finish. This will help you to avoid damage
to the paintwork due to incorrect treatment.
These notes also apply to light alloy wheels with
a clear matte finish.
i The vehicle should preferably be washed by
hand using a soft sponge, car shampoo and
plenty of water.
i Use only insect remover and car shampoo
from the range of recommended and
approved Mercedes-Benz care products. Cleaning the vehicle parts
Cleaning the wheels
G WARNING
The water jet from a circular jet nozzle (dirt
blasters) can cause invisible exterior damage
to the tires or chassis components. Compo-
nents damaged in this way may fail unexpect-
edly. There is a risk of an accident.
Do not use power washers with circular jet
nozzles to clean the vehicle. Have damaged
tires or chassis components replaced imme-
diately.
! Do not use 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 for a few 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
G WARNING
You could become trapped by the windshield
wipers if they start moving while cleaning the
windshield or wiper blades. There is a risk of
injury.
Always switch off the windshield wipers and
the ignition before cleaning the windshield or
wiper blades.
! Do not use dry cloths, abrasive products,
solvents or cleaning agents containing sol-
vents 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 otherwise a risk of damaging the windows.
! Clean the water drainage channels of the
windshield and the rear window at regular
intervals. Deposits such as leaves, petals and
pollen may under certain circumstances pre- Care 281
Maintenance and care Z
Page 284 of 342

vent water from draining away. This can lead
to corrosion damage and damage to elec-
tronic components. X
Clean the inside and outside of the windows
with a damp cloth and a cleaning product that
is recommended and approved by Mercedes-
Benz.
Cleaning wiper blades
G WARNING
You could become trapped by the windshield
wipers if they start moving while cleaning the
windshield or wiper blades. There is a risk 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 graph-
ite 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. X
Fold the windshield wiper arms away from the
windshield. X
Carefully clean the wiper blades with a damp
cloth. X
Fold the windshield wiper arms back again
before switching on the ignition.
Cleaning the exterior lighting
! Only use cleaning agents or cleaning cloths
which are suitable for plastic light lenses.
Unsuitable cleaning agents or cleaning cloths
could scratch or damage the plastic light len-
ses. X
Clean the plastic lenses of the exterior light-
ing using a wet sponge and a mild cleaning
agent, e.g. Mercedes-Benz car shampoo or
cleaning cloths. Mirror turn signals
! Only use cleaning agents or cleaning cloths
that are suitable for plastic lenses. Unsuitable
cleaning agents or cleaning cloths could
scratch or damage the plastic lenses of the
mirror turn signals. X
Clean the plastic lenses of the mirror turn sig-
nals in the exterior mirror housing using a wet
sponge and mild cleaning agent, e.g.
Mercedes-Benz car shampoo or cleaning
cloths.
Cleaning the sensors
! If you clean the sensors with a power
washer, make sure that you keep a distance
of at least 11.8 in (30 cm) between the vehicle
and the power washer nozzle. Information
about the correct distance is available from
the equipment manufacturer.
X
Clean sensors C of the driving systems with
water, car shampoo and a soft cloth.
Cleaning the rear view camera
! Do not clean the camera lens and the area
around the rear view camera with a power
washer.282
Care
Maintenance and care