brake pads MERCEDES-BENZ CLS500 2008 W219 Owner's Manual

91 Safety and Security
Driving safety systems
When you release the brake pedal, the
brakes function again as normal. The BAS
is then deactivated.
Adaptive Brake
Adaptive Brake provides a high level of
braking safety as well as increased braking
comfort.
Important notes on using the brake
system

Following extended periods of only mi-
nor loads to your brake system, you
should occasionally apply the brakes
when traveling at high speeds. This im-
proves the grip of the brake pads.

After driving on wet or snow-covered
roads, you should apply your brakes
firmly before parking your vehicle. This
produces heat which serves to dry the
brake disks and help prevent corro-
sion.

On long and steep grades, shift to a
lower gear (gear range1, 2, or 3) to
prevent the brakes from overheating
and to reduce brake wear.

After hard braking, it is advisable to
drive on for some time so that the air
stream will cool down the brakes fast-
er.

Only Mercedes-Benz approved compo-
nents (e.g. brake pads) should be in-
stalled on your vehicle. Brake pads not
approved by Mercedes-Benz may im-
pair the safety of your vehicle.
Warning!G
If the BAS is malfunctioning, the brake sys-
tem is still functioning normally, but without
the additional brake boost available that
BAS would normally provide in an emergen-
cy braking maneuver. Therefore, the braking
distance may increase.
Warning!G
The BAS cannot prevent the natural laws of
physics from acting on the vehicle, nor can
it increase braking efficiency beyond that
afforded by the condition of the vehicle
brakes and tires or the traction. The BAS
cannot prevent accidents, including those
resulting from excessive speed in turns,
following another vehicle too closely, or
hydroplaning. Only a safe, attentive, and
skillful driver can prevent accidents. The ca-
pabilities of a BAS equipped vehicle must
never be exploited in a reckless or danger-
ous manner which could jeopardize the us-
er’s safety or the safety of others.
Warning!G
Make sure not to endanger any other road
users when carrying out these braking
maneuvers.

272 Operation
Driving instructions
Power assistanceBrakes
To 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.
Warning!G
With the engine not running, there is no
power assistance for the brake and steering
systems. In this case, it is important to keep
in mind that a considerably higher degree of
effort is necessary to brake and steer the
vehicle.
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.
!Because the ESP® operates automatically,
the engine and ignition must be shut off
(SmartKey in starter switch position0 or1 or
KEYLESS-GO* start/stop button in position0
or1) when testing the brakes on a brake test dy-
namometer and such testing should be no longer
than 10 seconds.
Active braking action through ESP
® may other-
wise seriously damage the brake system which is
not covered by the Mercedes-Benz Limited War-
ranty.

273 Operation
Driving instructions
Refer to the description of the Brake Assist
System (BAS) (
page 90).Brake pad wear or a leak in the system may
be the reason for low brake fluid in the res-
ervoir.
The brake fluid level in the reservoir may
be too low if the brake warning lamp in the
instrument cluster comes on and an
acoustic warning sounds although the
parking brake is released (page 347).
Observe additional messages in the multi-
function display that may appear
(
page 374).
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.After hard braking, it is advisable to drive
on for some time, rather than immediately
park, so that the air stream will cool down
the brakes faster.
Warning!G
Make sure not to endanger any other road
users when carrying out these braking ma-
neuvers.
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.
Be certain to read and observe the warning
notices on brake pad replacement
(
page 373).
!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 prevent overheating of the brakes and
reduces brake pad wear.

274 Operation
Driving instructions
High-performance brake system
(CLS 63 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.
Driving off
Apply the brakes to test them briefly after
driving off. Perform this procedure only
when the road is clear of other traffic.
Warm up the engine smoothly. Do not
place full load on the engine until the oper-
ating temperature has been reached.
When starting off on a slippery surface, do
not allow a drive wheel to spin for an ex-
tended period with the ESP
® switched off.
Doing so may cause serious damage to the
drive train which is not covered by the
Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.
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.
!When driving off on a slippery surface, do
not allow a drive wheel to spin for an extended
period with the ESP
® switched off. Doing so may
cause serious damage to the drivetrain which is
not covered by the Mercedes-Benz Limited War-
ranty.
!Simultaneously depressing the accelerator
pedal and applying the brake reduces engine
performance and causes premature brake and
drivetrain wear.

339 Operation
Vehicle care
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 al-
loy 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.
!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 ex-
tended 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 corro-
sion 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.

373 Practical hints
What to do if …
Display symbolDisplay messagePossible cause/consequencePossible solution
#There is a malfunction in the electronic
system.Have the system checked at an autho-
rized Mercedes-Benz Center as soon
as possible.
#Battery/Alternator
Stop VehicleThe battery is malfunctioning.
Considerably greater brake pedal force is
required and the stopping distance is in-
creased.Stop the vehicle as soon as it is safe
to do so. Adjust driving to be consis-
tent with reduced braking responsive-
ness.
Call Roadside Assistance.
Notify an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.
#Low Voltage
Start EngineThe battery has insufficient voltage.Start the engine (page 51).
2Brake WearThe brake pads have reached their wear
limit.Have the brake pads replaced as soon
as possible.
!Brake pad thickness must be visually in-
spected by a qualified technician at the intervals
specified in the Maintenance Booklet.

458 Index
Automatic transmission
Accelerator position 173
Automatic shift program 175
Emergency operation (limp-home
mode) 182
Gear ranges 174
Gear selector lever 169
Gear selector lever control one-touch
gearshifting 176
Gear selector lever positions 171
Gear shifting malfunctions 182
Kickdown 173
Kickdown, manual shift program
CLS 63 AMG 181
Manual shift program
CLS 63 AMG 179
Program mode selector switch 175
Shifting procedure 170
Starting the engine 51
Steering wheel gearshift control
one-touch gearshifting* 177
Auxiliary bulbs 404
Messages in display 383B
Backrest
Seat 42
Seat, multicontour* 120
Backup lamps see Reverse lamps
Bar 324
BAS 90
Batteries, SmartKey
Checking battery condition 108
Replacing 402
Batteries, SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO*
Checking battery condition 108
Replacing 402
Batteries, vehicle 420
Charging 422
Disconnecting 421
Jump starting 423
Messages in display 372–373
Reconnecting 422
Reinstalling 422
Removing 421
Bead 324
Beverage holder see Cup holders
Bi-Xenon headlamps see
Headlamps 126
Block heater* (Canada only) 329Brake fluid
Checking 285
Brake lamps
Cleaning lenses 337
Replacing bulbs 406
Brake pads
Message in display 373
Brakes
High-performance brake system
(CLS 63 AMG only) 274
Warning lamp 347
Break-in period 270
Bulbs, replacing see Replacing bulbs
C
California retail buyers and lessees, impor-
tant notice for 11
Can holder see Cup holders
Capacities and recommended
fuels/lubricants 448
Cargo tie-down hooks 242
Carpets, cleaning 340
Catalytic converter 281
CD player 149

467 Index
M
Main Dimensions 447
Maintenance 12
Calling up service indicator 331
Clearing service indicator
message 331
Resetting service indicator 332
Service indicator message 330
Service term exceeded 331
Maintenance, Maintenance system 330
Manual headlamp mode 127
Manual shift program CLS 63 AMG 179
Deactivating 181
Maximum load rating, Tires 324
Maximum loaded vehicle weight 324
Maximum tire inflation pressure 325
Mechanical key 398
Memory functions 123
Menus see Control system menus
Microphone, Hands-free 31
Minispare wheel see Spare wheel 393Mirrors
Adjusting 47
Auto-dimming 183
Exterior rear view mirror 47
Exterior rear view mirror parking
positions 184
Interior rear view mirror 47
Storing exterior mirror parking
position 125
Mobile phone see Telephone*
MOE tires* see MOExtended system*
MOExtended system* 313, 419
MOExtended tires* 313, 444
MON 284
MP3
Selecting track 150
Multicontour seat* 120
Multifunction display 139
Changing settings see Control system
menus and Control system
submenus 139
Selecting language 155
Multifunction display messages
ABS 360, 374
Airmatic DC 391, 392
Brake fluid 374Brake pads 373
Check engine 348, 349
Coolant 375, 376, 377
Cruise control 361
Distronic* 361
Door 372
Engine oil 379
ESP
®360, 363, 374
Fog lamps 382–384, 386
Hood 372
Light sensor 385
Parking brake 374
Parking lamps 384
PRE-SAFE
®360, 368
Reserve fuel 380
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO* 380,
381
SRS 388
Tail lamps 386, 387
Tele Aid 388
Telephone* 391
Tires 390
Trunk 372
Turn signals 387
Windshield washer fluid 391