ESP MERCEDES-BENZ E-CLASS CABRIOLET 2011 Owners Manual

Use care products and cleaning agents rec-
ommended and approved by Mercedes-Benz.
! 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. aring or ice
scraper. You could otherwise scratch or
damage the surfaces and protective film. H
Environmental note
Dispose of empty packaging and cleaning
cloths in an environmentally responsible man-
ner.
! Do not park up 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 afew minutes after clean-
ing. Braking heats the brake discs and the
brake pads/linings, thus drying them. The
vehicle can then be parked up. Care of the exterior
Automatic car wash G
WARNING
Braking efficiency is reduced after washing
the vehicle. This could cause an accident. For
this reason, following acar wash, drive with
particular care until the brakes are dry. G
WARNING
The vehicle is braked when the HOLD function
or DISTRONIC PLUS is activated. Therefore,
deactivate the HOLD function and DISTRONIC PLUS before the vehicle is washed in an auto-
matic car wash.
You can wash the vehicle in an automatic car
wash from the very start.
! We recommend automatic car washes
with an adjustable 21
high-pressure pre-
cleaning program. In car washes that use
high water pressures, there is adanger that
as mall quantity of water may leak into the
vehicle.
! Cabriolet: do not treat the vehicle with
hot wax under any circumstances.
! Cabriolet: pull the key out of the ignition
lock when washing the vehicle. This
ensures that the wind deflector on the
windscreen is retracted. The wind deflector
may otherwise be damaged.
If the vehicle is very dirty, pre-wash it before
cleaning it in an automatic car wash.
! Make sure that the automatic transmis-
sion is in position Nwhen washing your
vehicle in atow-through car wash. The vehi-
cle could be damagedift he transmission is
in another position.
! Make sure that:
R the side windows and sliding sunroof or
soft top are closed completely.
R the blowerf or the ventilation/heatin gis
switched off (OFF button is depressed).
R the windscreen wiper switch is at posi-
tion 0.
The vehicle could otherwise be damaged.
After using an automatic car wash, wipe off
wax from the windscreen and the wiper
blades. This will prevent smears and reduce
wiping noises caused by residue on the wind-
screen.
21 In accordanc ewith the specification sfor Cabriolet programs. 286
CareMaintenance and care

Cleaning th
eexhaust tail pipes Impurities combined wit
hthe effect sofroad
grit and corrosive environmental factors may
cause flash rust to form on the surface. You
can restore the original shine of the exhaust
tail pip ebycleaning it regularly ,especially in
winter and after washing.
! Do not clea nthe exhaust tail pipes with
alkaline-based cleaning agents, such as
wheel cleaner.
X Cleant he exhaust tail pipes with achrome
care product tested and approved by
Mercedes-Benz.
Cleaningt he trailer tow hitch The ball coupling must be cleaned if it
becomes dirty or corroded.
X Remove any rust using awire brush.
X Remove dirt with aclean, lint-free cloth or
ab rush.
! Do not clean the ball coupling with ahigh-
pressure cleaner. Do not use solvents. X
After cleaning, lightly oil or grease ball cou-
pling :.
X Check that the vehicle's trailer tow hitch is
working properly.
! Observe the note on care provided by the
trailer manufacturer.
i Maintenanceoft he ball coupling and
trailer tow hitch can also be performed at
aq ualified specialist workshop, e.g. a
Mercedes-Ben zService Centre. H
Environmental note
Dispose of oily and greasy cloths in an envi-
ronmentally-responsible manner. Interior care
Cleaningt he display X
Before cleaning the display, make sure that
it is switched off and has cooled down.
X Cleant he displays urface using acommer-
cially-available microfibre cloth and TFT/
LCD displayc leaner.
X Dry the displays urface usingadry micro-
fibre cloth.
! For cleaning, do not use any of the fol-
lowing:
R alcohol-based thinner or petrol
R abrasive cleaning agents
R commercially-available household clean-
ing agents
These may damage the displays urface. Do
not put pressure on the displays urface
when cleaning. This could lead to irrepara-
ble damage to the display.
Cleaningt he plastic trim G
WARNING
When cleaning the steering wheel boss and
dashboard, do not use cockpit sprays or
cleaning agents containing solvents. Cleaning
agents containing solvents cause the surface
to become porous, and as aresult plastic
parts may break away and be thrown around
the interior when an airbag is deployed, which
may result in severe injuries.
! Do not affix the following to plastic surfa-
ces:
R stickers
R films
R scented oil bottles or similar items
You could otherwise damage the plastic. Care
291Maintenance and care Z

workshop
,e.g.ataM ercedes-Benz Service
Centre. H
Environmental note
Have the used tyre sealant bottle disposed of
professionally, e.g. at aMercedes-Benz
Service Centre.
X Have the tyre sealant bottle replaced every
four years at aqualified specialist work-
shop, e.g. aMercedes-Benz Service
Centre. Changing
awhee land fitting the spare
wheel
Preparing the vehicle G
WARNING
The wheel and tyre size of the emergency
spare wheel/spare wheel may diffe rtothat of
the damaged wheel. When using an emer-
gency spare wheel/spare wheel the handling
characteristics of the vehicle may change.
Adapt your style of driving accordingly.
Never operate the vehicle with more than one
emergenc yspare wheel/spare wheel that dif-
fers in size.
Only use an emergenc yspare wheel/spare
wheel of adiffering size briefly and do not
switch off ESP ®
.
When using an emergenc yspare wheel you
must not exceed the maximum speed of
80 km/h. G
WARNING
Have the emergenc yspare wheel/spare
wheel replaced with anew wheel as soon as
possible at aqualified specialist workshop
which has the necessary specialist knowledge
and tools to carry out the work required.
Mercedes-Benz recommends that you use a
Mercedes-Benz Service Centre for this pur-
pose. In particular, work relevant to safety or
on safety-related systems must be carried out
at aq ualified specialist workshop. i
Vehicles without an emergenc yspare
wheel/spare wheel are not equipped with
wheel-changing tools at the factory. For
more information on which tools are
required to perform awheel change on your
vehicle, e.g. wheel chock,w heel wrench or
centring pin, consult aMercedes-Benz
Servic eCentre.
X Prepare the vehicle as described
(Y page 296).
X Ifat railer is coupled to the vehicle, uncou-
ple it.
X Remove the following items (depending on
the vehicle's equipment) from the stowage
well under the boot floor:
R
the emergenc yspare wheel
R the vehicle tool kit
R the folding wheel chock
R the jack
X Secure the vehicle to prevent it from rolling
away.
Securing the vehicle to prevent it from
rolling away If your vehicle is equipped with
awheel chock,
it can be found in the vehicle tool kit
(Y page 295).
The folding wheel chock is an additional
securing measure to prevent the vehicle from
rolling away,f or example when changing a
wheel. Flat tyre
301Breakdown assistance Z

X
Fold both plates upwards :.
X Fold ou tlower plate ;.
X Guide the lugs on the lower plate fully into
the openings in base plate =.Securing the vehicle on level ground (example:
Coupé)
X
On level ground: place chocksorother
suitable items under the front and rear of
the wheel that is diagonally opposite the
wheel you wish to change. Securing the vehicle on slight downhill gradients
(example: Coupé)
X On downhill gradients: place chocksor
other suitable items in front of the wheels
of the front and rear axle.
Raising the vehicle G
WARNING
The jack is intended only for lifting the vehicle
briefly for wheel changes.
The vehicle must be placed on stands if you
intendtow ork under it. Make sure that the jack is placed on
afirm,
non-slip, level surface. Do not use wooden
blocks or similar object sasajack underlay.
The vehicle could otherwise slip off the jack
and seriously injure you.
Do not start the engine at any time while the
wheel is being changed.
Do not lie under the vehicle when it is being
supported by the jack.Ify ou do not raise the
vehicle as described, it could slip off the jack
(e.g. if the engine is started or adoor or the
boot lid is opened or closed) and seriously
injure you. G
WARNING
If you fail to position the jack correctly, the
vehicle may:
R slip off the jack
R injure you or others
R be damaged.
Therefore, make sure that the jack is posi-
tioned correctly in the respectiv ejacking
points. Before positioning the jack,r emove
any dirt that may have collected in the jacking
points. Please note that you must position the
jack in the opening of the jacking point. X
Using wheel wrench :,loosen the bolts on
the wheel you wish to change by about one
full turn. Do not unscrew the bolts com-
pletely.
The jacking points for the jack are located
behind the wheel housings of the front wheels
and in front of the wheel housings of the rear
wheels (arrows). 302
Flat tyreBreakdown assistance

Fitting
anew wheel G
WARNING
Replac edamage dorcorrode dwheel bolts.
Never oil or greas ewheel bolts. This could
cause th eboltstol oosenint he wheel hub. G
WARNING
If aw heel hub thread is damaged, you must
not drive the vehicle any further. Consult a
qualified specialist workshop which has the
necessary specialist knowledge and tools to
carry out the work required. Mercedes-Benz
recommends that you use aMercedes-Benz
Service Centr eorService 24h for this pur-
pose. In particular, work relevant to safety or
on safety-related systems must be carried out
at aq ualified specialist workshop. G
WARNING
Only use wheel bolts that have been designed
for the wheel and the vehicle. For safety rea-
sons, Mercedes-Benz recommends that you
only use wheel bolts which have been
approved for Mercedes-Benz vehicles and the
respective wheel. Other wheel bolts could
work loose or damage the brake system.
Do not tighten the wheel bolts completely
while the vehicle is still jacked up. The vehicle
could topple off the jack.
X Clean the wheel and wheel hub contact
surfaces. X
Slide the emergency spare wheel ontot he
centring pin and push it on. X
Tighten the wheel bolts until they are fin-
ger-tight.
X Unscrew the centring pin.
X Tighten the last wheel bolt until it is finger-
tight.
Lowering the vehicle X
Turn the cran kofthe jack anti-clockwise
until the vehicle is oncea gain standing
firmly on the ground.
X Place the jack to one side. X
Tighten the wheel bolts evenly in across-
wise patter ninthe sequence indicated
(: toA ). The tightening torque must be
130 Nm. G
WARNING
Have the tightening torque checked immedi-
ately after awheel is changed. The wheels
could work loose if they are not tightened to
at orque of 130 Nm.
X Turn the jack back to its initial position and
store it together with the rest of the vehicle
tool kit in the stowage well under the boot
floor.
X Vehicles with AMG equipment: ifaf ront
wheel has been changed, insert the cover
into the outer sill.
Vehicles with an emergency spare wheel:
X Transport the faulty wheel in the boot.
i When you are driving with the emergency
spare wheel fitted, the tyre pressure loss 304
Flat tyreBreakdown assistance

warning system cannot function reliably.
Only restart th
etyrep ressure loss warning
system when the defective whee lhas been
replaced with anew wheel. MOExtended tyres (tyres with run-flat
characteristics)
MOExtended tyres (tyres with run-flat char-
acteristics) allow you to continue driving the
vehicl eeven when one or more tyres lose all
air pressure.
MOExtended tyres may only be usedinc on-
junction with the activated tyre pressure loss
warning system or with the tyre pressure
monitor.
The maximu mpermissible distanc ewhich
can be driven in run-flat mode depends on the
load in the vehicle. It is 80 km if the vehicle
is partially laden and 30 km if fully laden.
The maximum permissible distanc ewhich
can be driven in run-flat mode is counted from
the momen tthe tyre pressure loss warning
appears in the multifunction display.
You must not exceed amaximum speed of
80 km/h. G
WARNING
The handling characteristics of your vehicle
deteriorate in run-flat mode, for example:
R when cornering
R when braking
R when accelerating rapidly
Adapt your driving style accordingly and avoid
sudden changes in direction and sudden
acceleration, as well as driving over obstacles
(i.e. kerbs, potholes), and driving off-road.
This is particularly the case when the vehicle
is heavily laden.
The maximum permissible distance that can
be driven in run-flat mode depends to alarge
extentont he loads placed on the vehicle. It
can be shorter due to high speeds, aheavy
load, sudden changes in direction, the road
surface condition, outside temperature, etc., or further if you drive carefully and conserva-
tively.
Do not continue to drive in run-flat mode if:
R you hear banging noises.
R the vehicle starts to shake.
R you see smoke and smell rubber.
R ESP ®
is intervening constantly.
R there are tears in the sidewalls of the tyre.
After driving in run-flat mode, you must have
the wheel(s) checked for damage at aquali-
fied specialist workshop which has the nec-
essary specialist knowledge and tools to carry
out the work required. The faulty tyre must be
replaced in every case.
Mercedes-Ben zrecommends that you use a
Mercedes-Benz Service Centr efor this pur-
pose. In particular, work relevant to safety or
on safety-related systems must be carried out
at aq ualified specialist workshop.
i When replacing one or all tyres, make
sure that you only use tyres marked
MOExtended and of the specified size for
the vehicle.
i Vehicles with MOExtended tyres are not
equipped with aTIREFI Tkit at the factory.
It is therefore recommended that you addi-
tionally equip your vehicle with aTIREFI Tkit
if you fit tyres that do not feature run-flat
properties, e.g. winter tyres. ATIREFI Tkit
can be obtained from aMercedes-Benz
Service Centre. Battery
Important safety notes
In order for the batter ytoachieve the maxi-
mum possible service life, it must alway sbe
sufficiently charged.
Have the batter ycharge checked more fre-
quently if you use the vehicle mainly for short
trips or if you leave it standing idle for a
lengthy period. Battery
305Breakdown assistance Z

Only replace
abattery with abattery that has
been recommended by Mercedes-Benz.
Consult aMercedes-Benz Service Centre if
you wish to leave your vehicle parked up for
al ong period of time. G
WARNING
Comply with safety precautions and take pro-
tective measures when handling batteries. Risk of explosion
Fire, naked flames and
smoking are prohibited
when handling the battery.
Avoid creating sparks.
Battery acid is caustic.
Avoid contact with the skin,
eyes or clothing.
Wear suitablep
rotective
clothing, in particular
gloves, an apron and aface
mask.
Immediately rinse acid
splashes off with clean
water. Consult adoctor if
necessary. Wear eye protection.
Keep children away.
Observe this Owner's Man-
ual.
H
Environmental note Batteries contain pollutants.
It is against the law to dis-
pose of them with the house-
hold rubbish. They must be
collected separately and recycled in an environmen-
tally responsible manner.
Dispose of batteries in an
environmentally responsible
manner. Take discharged
batteries to
aqualified spe-
cialist workshop, e.g. a
Mercedes-Benz Service
Centre, or to aspecial col-
lection point for old batter-
ies. G
WARNING
For safety reasons, Mercedes-Benz recom-
mends that you only use batteries which have
been tested and approved for your vehicle by
Mercedes-Benz.T hese batteries provide
increased impact protection to prevent vehi-
cle occupants from suffering acid burns
should the battery be damaged in the event
of an accident.
To prevent acid burns, observe the following
safety notes when handling batteries:
R do not lean over the battery.
R do not place any metal objectsonab attery.
Otherwise, you could cause ashort circuit
and the battery's gas mixture could ignite.
R make sure that you do not create an elec-
trostatic charge, e.g. by wearing synthetic
clothing or as aresult of friction on fabrics.
Therefore, you should not pull or slide the
battery over carpets or other synthetic
materials.
R never touch the battery first. To discharge
ap ossible electrostatic charge, step out of
the vehicle first and touch the bodywork.
R do not wipe the battery using acloth. The
battery may explode as aresult of electro-
static charge or due to flying sparks.
! Switch off the engine and remove the key
before disconnecting the terminal clamps
from the battery. On vehicles with KEY-
LESS-GO, make sure that the ignition is
switched off. Check that all the indicator
lamps in the instrumentc luster are off.You 306
BatteryBreakdown assistance

Example: Cabriolet
X
Press the mark on cover :inwards in the
direction of the arrow.
X Take cover :off the opening.
X Screw the towing ey einclockwise to the
stop and tighten it.
Removing the towin geye X
Loosen the towing ey eand unscrew it.
X Attach cover :to the bumpe rand press
unti lite ngages.
X Place the towing ey einthe vehicl etool kit. Towin
gthe vehicle with the rear axle
raised
Whe ntowing your vehicle with the rear axle
raised, it is important that you observe the
safety instructions (Y page 310).
! The ignition must be switched off if you
are towing the vehicle with the rear axle
raised. Intervention by ESP ®
could other-
wise damage the brake system. X
Switch on the hazard warning lamps
(Y page 117).
X Turn the key in the ignition lock to position
0and remove the key from the ignition
lock.
X When leaving the vehicle, take the key or
the KEYLESS-GO key with you. Towing the vehicle with both axles on
the ground
It is important that you observe the safety
instructions when towing away your vehicle
(Y page 310). G
WARNING
The power assistance for the steering and the
brake force booster do not work when the
engine is not running. You will then need
much more effort to brake and steer the vehi-
cle. Adapt your style of driving accordingly.
X Switch on the hazard warning lamps
(Y page 117).
i When towing with the hazard warning
lamps switched on, use the combination
switch as usual to signal achange of direc-
tion. In this case, only the turn signals for
the desired direction flash. When the com-
bination switch is reset, the hazard warning
lamps start flashing again.
X Turn the key to position 2in the ignition
lock.
X When the vehicle is stationary, depress the
brake pedal and keep it depressed.
X Vehicles with manualt ransmission:
depress the clutch pedal.
X Shift to neutral.
or
X Vehicles with automatic transmission:
shift the automatic transmission to posi-
tion N.
X Release the brake pedal.
X Release the parking brake. 312
Towing and tow-startingBreakdown assistance

Transporting the vehicle
The towing eyes or trailer tow hitch can be
used to pull the vehicl eonto atrailer or trans-
porter if yo uwishtot ransport it.
X Vehicle swithm anual transmission:
shift to neutral.
X Vehicle switha utomatic transmission:
tur nthe key to position 2in the ignition
lock.
X Move the selector lever to N.
As soon as the vehicle is loaded:
X Prevent the vehicle from rolling away by
applying the parking brake.
X Vehicles with manualt ransmission:
shift to first gear or reverse gear.
X Vehicles with automatic transmission:
move the selector lever to P.
X Turn the key in the ignition lock to position
0 and remove the key from the ignition
lock.
X Secure the vehicle.
! Only lash the vehicle down by the wheels
or wheel rims, not by parts of the vehicle
such as axle or steering components. Oth-
erwise, the vehicle could be damaged. Tow-starting (emergency engine
starting)
When tow-starting, it is important that you
observe the safety instructions (Y page 310)
and the legal requirements in each respective
country.
! Vehicles with automatic transmission
must not be tow-started. The transmission
may otherwise be damaged.
Before tow-starting the following conditions
must be fulfilled:
R the battery is connected.
R the engine has cooled down.
R the catalytic converters have cooled down. X
Switch on the hazard warning lamps
(Y page 117).
X Fit the towing eye (Y page 311).
X Secure the rigid towing bar or the towing
rope.
X Depress and hold the brake pedal.
X Turn the key to position 2in the ignition
lock.
X Depress the clutch pedal and keep it
depressed.
X Shift to neutral.
X Release the brake pedal.
X Tow-start the vehicle.
X Engage second gear.
X Release the clutch pedal slowly;don ot
operate the accelerator pedal while doing
so.
The engine is started.
X Depress the clutch pedal and shift to neu-
tral.
X Stop at asuitable place.
X Apply the parking brake.
X Remove the rigid towing bar or towing rope.
X Remove the towing eye (Y page 312).
X Switch off the hazard warning lamps. Electrical fuses
Important safety notes
The fuses in your vehicle serve to close down
faulty circuits. If afuse blows ,all th ecom po-
nent sont hecircuit and their function sstop
operating. G
WARNING
Only use fuses that have been approve dfor
Mercedes-Ben zvehicles and which have the
correct fuse ratin gfor the systems con-
cerned. Do not attempt to repair or bridge
faulty fuses. Otherwise, acircuit overload
could cause afire. Have the cause traced and
rectified at aqualified specialist workshop,
e.g. aMercedes-Benz Service Centre. Electrical fuses
313Breakdown assistance Z

Tyre tread
G
WARNING
Bea rinm indt hat:
R tyr eg ripd ecreases rapidl yonwetroads
when the tread depth is less than 3mm.
Thus ,you should replace tyres that have
insufficient tread.
R winter tyres should be replaced when the
tread depth is 4mmorless as they no lon-
ger provide adequate grip.
R the tread on atyre may not wear evenly.
Thus, you should regularly check the tread
depth and the condition of the tread across
the entire width of all tyres. If necessary,
turn the fron twheels to full lock in order to
inspect the tyre tread more easily.
Otherwise, you could lose control of the vehi-
cle and cause an accident due to the reduced
grip of the tyres on the road. Notes on selecting, fitting and replac-
ing tyres
R Only fit tyres and wheels of the same type
and make.
R Only fit tyres of the correct size onto the
wheels.
R After fittingn ew tyres, run them in at mod-
erate speeds for the first 100 km, as they
only reach their full performance after this
distance.
R Do not drive with tyres which have too little
tread depth, as this significantly reduces
the traction on wet roads (aquaplaning).
R Replace the tyres after six years at the lat-
est, regardless of wear. This also applies to
the emergency spare wheel/spare wheel. MOExtended tyres (tyres with run-flat
characteristics)
MOExtended tyres (tyres with run-flat char-
acteristics )allow you to continue driving the vehicle even when one or more tyres lose all
air pressure.
MOExtended tyres may only be used in con-
junction with the tyre pressure loss warning
system or with the tyre pressure monitor and
on wheels specifically tested by Mercedes-
Benz.
i
Vehicles with MOExtended tyres are not
equipped with aTIREFIT kit at the factory.
It is therefore recommended that you addi-
tionally equip your vehicle with the TIREFIT
kit if you fit tyres that do not feature run-
flat properties, e.g. winter tyres. ATIREFIT
kit can be obtained from aMercedes-Benz
Service Centre.
You will find notes on driving with aflat tyre
in the "Breakdown assistance" section
(Y page 305). Winter operation
Please bear the following in mind
At the onset of winter ,have your vehicle win-
terproofed at aqualified specialist workshop,
e.g. at aMercedes-BenzS ervice Centre.
Observe the notes in the "Changing awheel"
section (Y page 323). Driving with summer tyres
At temperatures below +7 †, summer tyres
lose elasticit yand therefore traction and
brakin gpower; change the tyres on your vehi-
cle to M+S tyres .Using summer tyres at very
cold temperatures could cause tears to form,
thereby damaging the tyres permanently.
Mercedes-Benzc annot accept responsibility
for this type of damage. M+S tyres
At temperatures below +7 †, use winter tyres
or all-season tyres. Bot htype soft yrea re
identified by th eM+S marking. Winter operation
319Wheels and tyres Z