brake MERCEDES-BENZ E-CLASS CABRIOLET 2015 Owners Manual

!
When DISTRONIC PLUS or the HOLD func-
tion is activated, the vehicle brakes automat- ically in certain situations.
To avoid damage to the vehicle, deactivate
DISTRONIC PLUS and the HOLD function in
the following or similar situations:
R when towing away
R in a car wash
! Preferably use car washes with adjustable
high-pressure jets for pre-washing. This cor-
responds with the specifications for cabriolet
programmes. In car washes that use high
water pressures, there is a risk that a small
amount of water may leak into the vehicle.
! Make sure that the vehicle is not subse-
quently treated with hot wax.
! Make sure that:
R the side windows and sliding sunroof or
soft top are closed completely.
R the blower for the ventilation/heating is
switched off (OFF button is depressed).
R the windscreen wiper switch is at position
0.
The vehicle could otherwise 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 DIRECT SELECT lever and
key:
do not remove the key from the ignition
lock. Do not open the driver's door or front- passenger door when the engine is
switched off. Otherwise, the automatic
transmission selects park position Pauto-
matically and locks the wheels. You can
prevent this by shifting the automatic trans-
mission to Nbeforehand.
R Vehicles with DIRECT SELECT lever and
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 Pauto-
matically and locks the wheels.
Observe the following to make sure that the
automatic transmission on vehicles with DIRECT
SELECT stays in position N:X
Make sure the vehicle is stationary and the
ignition is switched off.
X Turn the key to position 2in the ignition lock
(Y page 139).
Use the key instead of the Start/Stop button on vehicles with KEYLESS-GO.
X Depress the brake pedal and keep it
depressed.
X Shift the automatic transmission to position
N.
X Release the brake pedal.
X Release the parking brake.
X Switch off the ignition and leave the key in the
ignition lock.
You can wash the vehicle in an automatic car
wash from the very start.
Wash off excess dirt before cleaning the vehicle
in an automatic car wash.
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 windscreen.
Washing by hand In some countries, washing by hand is only
allowed at specially equipped washing bays.
Observe the legal requirements for each indi-
vidual country.
X Do not use hot water and do not wash the
vehicle in direct sunlight.
X Use a soft sponge to clean.
X Use a mild cleaning agent, such as a car
shampoo approved by Mercedes-Benz.
X Thoroughly hose down the vehicle with a gen-
tle jet of water.
X Do not point the water jet directly towards the
air inlet.
X Use plenty of water and rinse out the sponge
frequently.
X Rinse the vehicle with clean water and dry
thoroughly with a chamois.
X Do not let the cleaning agent dry on the paint-
work.
When using the vehicle in winter, remove all
traces of road salt deposits carefully and as
soon as possible. 296
CareMaintenance and care

High-pressure cleaning equipment
G
WARNING
The water jet of circular-jet nozzles (dirt grind- ers) can cause damage not visible from the
outside to tyres or chassis components. Com-
ponents damaged in this way can unexpect-
edly fail. There is a risk of an accident.
Do not use high-pressure cleaners with circu-
lar-jet nozzles to clean the vehicle. Have dam- aged tyres or chassis components replaced
immediately.
! Always maintain a distance of at least 30 cm
between the vehicle and the high-pressure
cleaner nozzle. Information about the correct
distance is available from the equipment
manufacturer.
Move the high-pressure cleaner nozzle
around when cleaning your vehicle.
Do not aim directly at any of the following:
R tyres
R door gaps, joints etc.
R soft top
R wind deflector net
R electrical components
R battery
R plug connectors
R lights
R seals
R trim elements
R ventilation slots
Damage to seals or electrical components
can lead to leaks or failures.
Cleaning the paintwork !
Do not affix:
R stickers
R films
R magnetic 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, visit a qualified specialist workshop. X
Remove impurities immediately, where pos-
sible, whilst avoiding rubbing too hard.
X Soak insect remains with insect remover and
rinse off the treated areas afterwards.
X Soak bird droppings with water and rinse off
the treated areas afterwards.
X Remove coolant, brake fluid, tree resin, oils,
fuels and greases by rubbing gently with a
cloth soaked in petroleum ether or lighter
fluid.
X Use tar remover to remove tar stains.
X Use silicone remover to remove wax.
Care and treatment of matt paintwork !
Never polish the vehicle or the light alloy
wheels. Polishing makes the paintwork shiny.
! The following may cause the paint to
become shiny and thus reduce the matt
effect:
R vigorous rubbing with unsuitable materials
R frequent use of 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 matt paint-
work leads to considerable surface damage
(shiny, spotted 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
matt finish. This will help you to avoid damage to the paintwork due to incorrect treatment.
These notes also apply to light-alloy wheels witha clear matt 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. Care
297Maintenance and care Z

Cleaning vehicle parts
Cleaning the soft top !
Never use any of the following to clean the
soft top:
R petrol
R thinner
R tar or stain remover
R other organic solvents
! Remove bird droppings immediately as they
are corrosive and, therefore, can make the
soft-top fabric leak. Do not use high-pressure cleaning equipment to clean the vehicle. Do
not use sharp-edged equipment to remove ice
and snow.
X Light soiling: you can clean the soft top while
it is dry or rinse it with clear water.
X Normal to heavy soiling: clean the roof with
a brush and clear water. Clean stains and
other dirt with a brush and a Mercedes-Benz
recommended and approved cleaning agent.
Always brush from front to back in the direc-
tion of the fabric.
Frequent cleaning reduces the soft top's resist- ance to dirt.
To restore this resistance to dirt, clean the soft
top using soft-top cleaning agents that have
been recommended and approved by
Mercedes-Benz.
Incorrect cleaning and care, as well as ageing,
can cause the soft-top seams to leak. Have the
soft-top seams sealed at a qualified specialist
workshop, e.g. at a Mercedes-Benz Service
Centre.
i Cover the soft top appropriately if you plan
to leave the vehicle outside for a long period
of time.
Cleaning AIRCAP Cleaning the wind deflector
! Do not use high-pressure cleaning equip-
ment to clean the net.
Clean the wind deflector on the windscreen with
the soft top closed.
X Apply the parking brake firmly.
X Vehicles with key: turn the key to position
2 (Y page 139) in the ignition lock. X
Vehicles with KEYLESS-GO: press the
Start/Stop button twice (Y page 139).
X Open the cover on the lower centre console.
The AIRCAP button is under the cover. X
Press AIRCAP button :.
The wind deflector between the windscreen
and the soft top is extended. X
Clean net ;of the wind deflector with a soft
brush or a moist cloth. For heavier soiling,
clean it with the care and cleaning agents
recommended and approved by Mercedes-
Benz and rinse it with clean water.
Cleaning the AIRCAP draught stop
Clean the AIRCAP draught stop with the soft top
open.
X Vehicles with key: turn the key to position
2 (Y page 139) in the ignition lock.
X Vehicles with KEYLESS-GO: press the
Start/Stop button twice (Y page 139).
X Open the soft top (Y page 89).298
CareMaintenance and care

X
Press rear seat head restraints button :.
The rear seat head restraints and AIRCAP
draught stop rise upwards. X
Clean net ;of the AIRCAP draught stop with
a moist cloth together with the care and
cleaning agents recommended and approved by Mercedes-Benz.
Cleaning the wheels G
WARNING
The water jet of circular-jet nozzles (dirt grind- ers) can cause damage not visible from the
outside to tyres or chassis components. Com-
ponents damaged in this way can unexpect-
edly fail. There is a risk of an accident.
Do not use high-pressure cleaners with circu-
lar-jet nozzles to clean the vehicle. Have dam- aged tyres or chassis components replaced
immediately.
! Do not use acidic wheel cleaning products
to remove brake dust. This could damage
wheel bolts and brake components.
! 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 a few minutes after cleaning. Braking heats the brake discs and the brake
pads/linings, thus drying them. The vehicle
can then be parked up.
Cleaning the windows G
WARNING
If the windscreen wipers are set in motion
when cleaning the windscreen or wiper
blades, you could become trapped. There is a danger of injury.
Always switch off the windscreen wipers and
the ignition before cleaning the windscreen orwiper 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
windscreen and the rear window at regular
intervals. Deposits such as leaves, petals and pollen may under certain circumstances pre-
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 agent that is
recommended and approved by Mercedes-
Benz.
Cleaning the wiper blades G
WARNING
If the windscreen wipers are set in motion
when cleaning the windscreen or wiper
blades, you could become trapped. There is a danger of injury.
Always switch off the windscreen wipers and
the ignition before cleaning the windscreen orwiper blades. Care
299Maintenance and care Z

Do not use a rapid charging device to start the vehicle. If your vehicle's battery is discharged, the
engine can be jump-started from another vehicle or from a second battery using jump leads.
Observe the following points:
R The battery is not accessible in all vehicles. If the other vehicle's battery is not accessible, jump-
start the vehicle using a second battery or a jump-starting device.
R Vehicles with a petrol engine: only jump-start the vehicle when the engine and exhaust system
are cold.
R Jump-starting may only be performed using batteries with a nominal voltage of 12 V.
R Only use jump leads that have a sufficient cross-section and insulated terminal clamps.
R If the battery is fully discharged, leave the battery that is being used to jump-start connected for
a few minutes before attempting to start. This charges the empty battery a little.
R Make sure that the two vehicles do not touch.
Make sure that:
R The jump leads are not damaged.
R Non-insulated parts of the terminal clamps do not come into contact with other metal parts while
the jump leads are connected to the battery.
R The jump leads cannot come into contact with parts which can move when the engine is running,
such as the V-belt pulley or the fan.
X Firmly depress the parking brake.
X Manual transmission: depress the clutch pedal fully and shift to neutral.
X Automatic transmission: shift the transmission to position P.
X Make sure the ignition is switched off. All indicator lamps in the instrument cluster must be off.
When using the key, turn the key to position 0in the ignition lock and remove it (Y page 139).
X Switch off all electrical consumers, e.g. rear window heating, lighting etc.
X Open the bonnet. Position number
Bidentifies the charged battery of the other vehicle or an equivalent jump-starting
device. 314
Jump-startingBreakdown assistance

X
Slide cover :of positive terminal ;in the direction of the arrow.
X Connect positive terminal ;on your vehicle to positive terminal =of donor battery Busing the
jump lead, always beginning with positive terminal ;on your own vehicle first.
X Start the engine of the donor vehicle and run it at idling speed.
X Connect negative terminal ?of donor battery Bto earth point Aof your vehicle using the jump
lead, connecting the jump lead to donor battery Bfirst.
X Start the engine.
X Before disconnecting the jump leads, let the engines run for several minutes.
X First, remove the jump leads from earth point Aand negative terminal ?, then from positive
clamp ;and positive terminal =. Begin each time at the contacts on your own vehicle first.
X Close cover :of positive clamp ;after removing the jump leads.
X Have the battery checked at a qualified specialist workshop.
Jump-starting is not considered to be a normal operating condition.
i Jump-starting cables and further information regarding jump-starting can be obtained at any
qualified specialist workshop. Towing away and tow-starting
Important safety notes
G
WARNING
Safety relevant functions are restricted or no
longer available if:
R the engine is not running
R the brake system or power steering is mal-
functioning
R there is a malfunction in the voltage supply
or the vehicle's electrical system
When your vehicle is towed away or towed
started, you may require considerably more
effort to steer and brake. There is a risk of an
accident.
In such cases use a rigid towing bar. Before
being towed away or tow started, make sure
the steering moves freely. G
WARNING
When towing or tow-starting another vehicle
and its weight is greater than the permissible gross weight of your vehicle, the:
R towing eye may be torn off
R car/trailer combination may swerve or
even overturn
There is a risk of an accident. When towing or tow-starting another vehicle,
its weight should not be greater than the per-
missible gross weight of your vehicle.
Details on the permissible gross vehicle weight
of your vehicle can be found on the vehicle iden-
tification plate (Y page 336).
! When COLLISION PREVENTION ASSIST
PLUS, DISTRONIC PLUS or the HOLD function is activated, the vehicle brakes automatically
in certain situations.
To avoid damage to the vehicle, deactivate
these systems in the following or similar sit-
uations:
R when towing away
R in a car wash
! Only secure the tow cable or tow bar to the
towing eyes or, if available, to the trailer tow
hitch. You could otherwise damage the vehi-
cle.
! Observe the following points when towing
with a tow rope:
R Secure the tow rope on the same side on
both vehicles.
R Make sure that the tow rope is not longer
than legally permitted. Mark the tow rope in
the middle, e.g. with a white cloth
(30 x 30 cm). This will make other road
users aware that a vehicle is being towed.
R Only secure the tow cable to the towing
eyes or, if available, to the trailer tow hitch. Towing away and tow-starting
315Breakdown assistance Z

R
Observe the brake lamps of the towing
vehicle while driving. Always maintain a dis-
tance a distance so that the tow rope does not sag.
R Do not use steel cables or chains to tow
your vehicle. You could otherwise damage
the vehicle.
! Do not use the towing eye for recovery, this
could damage the vehicle. If in doubt, recover
the vehicle with a crane.
! Pull away smoothly when towing away or
tow-starting a vehicle. If the tractive power is
too high, the vehicles could be damaged.
! On vehicles with KEYLESS-GO, use the key
instead of the Start/Stop button. Turn the key
to position 2in the ignition lock and shift the
automatic transmission to N. Then, turn the
key back to 0and leave it in the ignition lock.
! You may tow the vehicle for a maximum of
50km. A towing speed of 50 km/h must not
be exceeded.
For towing distances over 50 km, the entire
vehicle must be lifted up and transported.
! If you tow or tow-start another vehicle, its
weight must not exceed the maximum per-
missible gross vehicle weight of your vehicle.
Observe the legal requirements for the relevant
countries when towing and tow-starting.
It is better to have the vehicle transported than
to have it towed.
If the vehicle has suffered transmission damage, have it transported on a transporter or trailer.
When towing away a vehicle with an automatic
transmission, the transmission must be in posi-
tion N.
The battery must be connected and charged.
Otherwise, you:
R cannot turn the key to position 2in the igni-
tion lock
R cannot shift the transmission to position Non
vehicles with automatic transmission
In the event of damage to the electrical sys-
tem
If the battery is defective, the automatic trans-
mission will be locked in position P. To shift the
automatic transmission to position N, you must
provide power to the vehicle's on-board electri- cal system in the same way as when jump-start-
ing (Y page 313). Have the vehicle transported on a transporter or
trailer.
Deactivate the automatic locking feature beforetowing the vehicle (Y page 82). You could oth-
erwise be locked out when pushing or towing
the vehicle.
Deactivate tow-away protection before the vehi- cle is towed away (Y page 72). Fitting/removing the towing eye
Fitting the towing eye G
WARNING
The exhaust tail pipe may be extremely hot.
There is a risk of burning when removing the
rear cover.
Do not touch the exhaust tail pipe. Use
extreme caution when removing the rear
cover. The mountings for the removable towing eyes
are located in the bumpers. They are at the rear
and at the front, under covers :.
X Remove the towing eye from the vehicle tool
kit (Y page 305).
X Press the mark on cover :inwards in the
direction of the arrow. 316
Towing away and tow-startingBreakdown assistance

X
Remove cover :from the opening.
X Screw in the towing eye clockwise as far as it
will go and tighten it.
Vehicles with a trailer tow hitch do not have a
bracket at the back for the screw-in towing eye.
Connect the towbar to the trailer tow hitch
(Y page 209).
Removing the towing eye X
Loosen the towing eye and unscrew it.
X Position cover :on top of the bumper and
press it in at the bottom until it engages.
X Place the towing eye in the vehicle tool kit. 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 315).
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 manual transmission:
depress the clutch pedal fully and engage
neutral.
or X Vehicles with automatic transmission:
shift the transmission to position N.
X Release the brake pedal.
X Release the parking brake.
In order to signal a change of direction when
towing the vehicle with the hazard warning
lamps switched on, use the combination switch as usual. In this case, only the turn signals for
the desired direction flash. When you reset the
combination switch, the hazard warning lamps
start flashing again. Towing the vehicle away with the rear
axle raised
! Vehicles with automatic transmission must
not be towed with the rear axle raised. The
car/trailer combination may otherwise
swerve or even overturn.
! The ignition must be switched off if you are
towing the vehicle with the rear axle raised. Intervention by ESP
®
could otherwise dam-
age the brake system.
X Switch on the hazard warning lamps
(Y page 116).
X Move the front wheels to the straight-ahead
position.
X Turn the key in the ignition lock to position 0
and remove the key from the ignition lock.
X When leaving the vehicle, take the key with
you.
When towing your vehicle away with the rear
axle raised, it is important that you observe the
safety instructions (Y page 315). Transporting the vehicle
Vehicles with automatic transmission !
When the vehicle is loaded for transport, the
front and rear axles must be stationary and on
the same transportation vehicle. Positioning
over the connection point of the transport
vehicle is not permitted. The drive train may
otherwise be damaged.
All vehicles !
You may only secure the vehicle by the
wheels, not by parts of the vehicle such as
axle or steering components. Otherwise, the
vehicle could be damaged.
The towing eyes or trailer tow hitch can be used to pull the vehicle onto a trailer or transporter if
you wish to transport it. Towing away and tow-starting
317Breakdown assistance Z

X
Vehicles with manual transmission:
depress the clutch pedal fully and engage
neutral.
X Vehicles with automatic transmission:
turn the key to position
2in the ignition lock.
X Shift the automatic transmission to position
N.
As soon as the vehicle is loaded: X Prevent the vehicle from rolling away by
applying the parking brake.
X Vehicles with manual transmission:
depress the clutch pedal fully and engage first
or reverse gear.
X Vehicles with automatic transmission:
shift the automatic transmission to position
P.
X Turn the key to position 0in the ignition lock
and remove it.
X Secure the vehicle. Tow-starting (emergency engine
starting)
! Vehicles with automatic transmission must
not be tow-started. The transmission may
otherwise be damaged.
i You can find information on "Jump-starting"
under (Y page 313).
Before tow-starting, the following conditions
must be fulfilled:
R the battery is connected
R the engine has cooled down
R the exhaust system has cooled down
When tow-starting, it is important that you
observe the safety notes (Y page 315) and the
legal requirements in each respective country.
X Switch on the hazard warning lamps
(Y page 116).
X Fit the towing eye (Y page 316).
X Secure the rigid towing bar or the towing
rope.
X Depress the brake pedal and keep it
depressed.
X Turn the key to position 2in the ignition lock.
X Depress the clutch pedal fully, engage second
gear and continue to keep the clutch pedal
fully depressed.
X Release the brake pedal. X
Tow-start the vehicle.
X Release the clutch pedal slowly, do not
depress the accelerator pedal while doing so.
X When the engine has been started, immedi-
ately depress the clutch pedal fully and shift
to neutral.
X Pull over at a suitable place and stop the vehi-
cle safely, paying attention to road and traffic
conditions.
X Depress the parking brake.
X Remove the rigid towing bar or towing rope.
X Remove the towing eye (Y page 317).
X Switch off the hazard warning lamps. Electrical fuses
Important safety notes
G
WARNING
If you manipulate, bridge or replace a faulty
fuse with a fuse of a higher amperage, the
electric cables could be overloaded. This may result in a fire. There is a risk of an accident
and injury.
Always replace faulty fuses with specified new fuses of the correct amperage.
Blown fuses must be replaced with fuses of the same rating, which you can recognise by the
colour and fuse rating. The fuse ratings are listed
in the fuse allocation chart.
The fuse allocation chart is located in the vehicle tool kit in the stowage compartment under the
boot floor (Y page 305).
If the newly inserted fuse also blows, have the
cause traced and rectified at a qualified special- ist workshop, e.g. a Mercedes-Benz Service
Centre.
! Only use fuses that have been approved for
Mercedes-Benz vehicles and which have the
correct fuse rating for the system concerned.
Otherwise, components or systems could be
damaged.
! Make sure that no moisture can enter the
fuse box when the cover is open.
! When closing the cover, make sure that it is
lying correctly on the fuse box. Moisture seep-
ing in or dirt could otherwise impair the oper- ation of the fuses. 318
Electrical fusesBreakdown assistance

Important safety notes
G
WARNING
If wheels and tyres of the wrong size are used, the wheel brakes or suspension components
may be damaged. There is a risk of an acci-
dent.
Always replace wheels and tyres with those
that fulfil the specifications of the original
part.
When replacing wheels, make sure to fit the
correct:
R designation
R type
When replacing tyres, make sure to fit the
correct:
R designation
R manufacturer
R type G
WARNING
A flat tyre severely impairs the driving, steer-
ing and braking characteristics of the vehicle.
There is a risk of accident.
Tyres without run-flat characteristics:
R do not drive with a flat tyre.
R immediately replace the flat tyre with your
emergency spare wheel or spare wheel, or
consult a qualified specialist workshop.
Tyres with run-flat characteristics:
R pay attention to the information and warn-
ing notices on MOExtended tyres (tyres
with run-flat characteristics).
Accessories that are not approved for your vehi-
cle by Mercedes-Benz or are not being used cor- rectly can impair the operating safety.
Before purchasing and using non-approved
accessories, visit a qualified specialist work-
shop and enquire about:
R suitability
R legal stipulations
R factory recommendations Further information regarding wheels and tyres
can be found under "Wheel/tyre combinations"
(Y page 333).
You can ask for information regarding permitted
wheel-tyre combinations at a Mercedes-Benz
Service Centre.
Information on tyre pressures can be found:
R in the tyre pressure table in the fuel filler flap
(Y page 155)
R under "Tyre pressure" (Y page 324)
Modification work on the brake system and
wheels is not permitted. The use of spacers or
brake dust shields is not permitted. This inva-
lidates the general operating permit for the vehi- cle.
i Further information on wheels and tyres can
be obtained at any qualified specialist work-
shop. Operation
Information on driving
Check the tyre pressures when the vehicle is
heavily laden and adjust prior to a trip.
While driving, pay attention to vibrations, noises
and unusual handling characteristics, e.g. pull-
ing to one side. This may indicate that the
wheels or tyres are damaged. If you suspect that a tyre is defective, reduce your speed immedi-
ately. Stop the vehicle as soon as possible to
check the wheels and tyres for damage. Hidden
tyre damage could also be causing the unusual
handling characteristics. If you find no signs of
damage, have the tyres and wheels checked at a qualified specialist workshop.
When parking your vehicle, make sure not to
squash the tyre sidewalls. If this cannot be avoi-ded, drive slowly over obstacles, e.g. kerbs, and
only at an obtuse angle. You could otherwise
damage the wheel rims and tyres. Regular checking of wheels and tyres
G
WARNING
Damaged tyres can cause tyre inflation pres-
sure loss. As a result, you could lose control of your vehicle. There is a risk of accident. Operation
321Wheels and ty res
Z