steering MERCEDES-BENZ E-CLASS SALOON 2008 Owner's Guide

Driving
tips 236 Driving tips
Rolling with the engine switched off
G
Risk of accident
Do not switch off the engine while the vehi-
cle is in motion.
There is no power assistance for the steer-
ing or the service brake when the engine is
not running.
Steering and braking require significantly
more effort and you could lose control of
the vehicle and cause an accident as a
result. Braking
G
Risk of accident
Do not change down for additional engine
braking on a slippery road surface. This
could cause the drive wheels to lose their
grip and the vehicle could skid. G
Risk of accident
Make sure that other road users are not
endangered by your braking. Downhill gradients On long and steep downhill stretches, espe-
cially if the vehicle is laden or towing a trailer,
you must shift to a lower gear in good time or,
on vehicles with automatic transmission*,
select shift range
1,2or 3.
i This also applies if you have activated
cruise control, Speedtronic or Distronic*.
This uses the braking effect of the engine and
you will not have to brake to such an extent
to maintain the same speed. This relieves the
load on the brake system and prevents the
brakes from overheating and wearing too
quickly. If you need additional braking,
depress the brake pedal repeatedly rather
than continuously.
Heavy and light loads If the brakes have been subjected to a heavy
load, do not stop the vehicle immediately, but
drive on for a short while. This allows the air-
flow to cool the brakes more quickly.
G
Risk of accident
Never depress the brake pedal continu-
ously while the vehicle is in motion, e.g.
never cause the brakes to rub by applying constant slight pedal pressure. This causes
the brake system to overheat, increases
the braking distance and can lead to the
brakes failing completely.
If the brakes have been used only moderately,
you should occasionally test their effective-
ness. To do this, brake more firmly from a
higher speed. This improves the grip of the
brakes.
Wet roads If driving in heavy rain for a prolonged period
of time without braking, there may be a
delayed reaction from the brakes, when brak-
ing for the first time. You must brake harder.
You must therefore maintain a greater dis-
tance from the vehicle in front.
Brake firmly after driving on a wet road. This
way the brake discs will become warm, drying
more quickly, which will protect them against
corrosion. Operation
* optional
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Trailer towing
241
Driving tips In Germany, the maximum permitted speed
for vehicle/trailer combinations is 80 km/h.
!
A maximum speed of 80 km/h should not
be exceeded, even in countries where
higher speeds are permitted for vehicle/
trailer combinations.
When towing a trailer, your vehicle's handling
characteristics will be different in comparison
to when driving without a trailer.
The vehicle/trailer combination:
R is heavier
R is restricted in its acceleration and gradi-
ent-climbing capability
R has an increased braking distance
R is affected more by strong crosswinds
R demands more sensitive steering
R consumes more fuel
On long and steep downhill gradients you
must select a lower gear in good time, or in
vehicles with automatic transmission*, select
shift range 1,2or 3.
i This also applies if you have activated
cruise control, Distronic* or Speedtronic. This uses the braking effect of the engine and
you will not have to brake to such an extent
to maintain the same speed. This relieves the
load on the brake system and prevents the
brakes from overheating and wearing too
quickly. If you need additional braking,
depress the brake pedal repeatedly rather
than continuously. G
Risk of accident
Never depress the brake pedal continu-
ously while the vehicle is in motion, e.g.
never cause the brakes to rub by applying
constant slight pedal pressure. This causes
the brake system to overheat, increases
the braking distance and can lead to the
brakes failing completely.
Driving tips
R Maintain a greater distance from the vehi-
cle in front than when driving without a
trailer.
R Avoid braking abruptly. If possible, brake
gently at first to allow the trailer to run on.
Then increase the braking force rapidly.
R The values given for gradient-climbing
capabilities from a standstill refer to sea
level. When driving in mountainous areas,
note that the power output of the engine, and consequently the vehicle's gradient-
climbing capability, decrease with increas-
ing altitude.
If the trailer swings from side to side:
X Do not accelerate.
X Do not counter-steer.
X Brake if necessary. G
Risk of accident
On no account should you attempt to draw
the vehicle/trailer combination out by
increasing speed. Folding in the ball coupling
i Fold in the ball coupling when you are not
using the trailer tow hitch. Operation
* optional
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Care
247
Plastic trim !
Do not use dry, coarse or hard cloths and
do not scrub. Doing so will scratch or dam-
age the surfaces.
X Wipe plastic parts with a damp, lint-free
cloth (e.g. a microfibre cloth).
X Light soiling: use a low-foaming soap (e.g.
a light liquid hand soap) diluted in water.
X Heavy soiling: use a cleaning agent that is
solvent-free and non-corrosive. Mercedes-
Benz recommends that you use a
Mercedes-Benz cleaning product for this
purpose.
Cleaning the steering wheel boss and
dashboard X
Moisten a clean lint-free cloth with water.
X Clean the plastic parts and the dashboard.
X If particularly dirty, use a mild detergent. G
Risk of injury
Do not use cleaners and cockpit care
sprays containing solvents to clean the
cockpit and steering wheel boss. Cleaners
containing solvents cause the surface to
become porous and in the event of an air- bag being triggered, plastic parts that have
become loose could cause considerable
injuries.
Leather upholstery* !
Cleaning
R Clean genuine leather covers using a
damp cloth, then wipe the covers down
using a dry cloth. When doing this, make
sure that the leather does not become
soaked. For leather care, you should use
leather care foam A 001 986 59 71 10.
You can purchase this from any
Mercedes-Benz Service Centre.
R Clean artificial leather covers with a cloth
moistened with a solution containing 1%
detergent (e. g. washing up liquid).
R Clean fabric covers with a microfibre
cloth moistened with a solution contain-
ing 1% detergent (e. g. washing up liquid).
When cleaning, take care not to rub too
vigorously and always wipe entire seat
sections to avoid leaving visible lines.
Leave the seat to dry afterwards. Clean- ing results depend on the type of dirt and
how long it has been there.
R Clean Alcantara covers with a damp
cloth. Make sure you wipe entire seat
sections to avoid leaving visible lines.
i Note that leather covers are a natural
product and as such are subject to a natural
ageing process and may react differently
(e.g. increased formation of wrinkles) to
certain environmental influences (such as
high humidity, intense heat).
Note that regular care is essential to ensure
that the quality (both appearance and com-
fort) of the covers is retained over time.
Care of exhaust tail pipes (AMG vehi-
cles) Impurities combined with the effects of road
grit and corrosive environmental factors may
cause flash rust to form on the surface.
Regular care of the exhaust tail pipes will
ensure that their original shine is restored.
!
Do not clean exhaust tail pipes with alka-
line-based cleaning agents such as wheel
cleaner. Operation
* optional
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Display
messages 264 Display messages Possible cause/consequence Possible solution
Tyre pressure Check tyres
G
Risk of accident
The tyre pressure loss warning system has
detected a significant pressure loss. X
Stop the vehicle without making any sudden
steering or braking manoeuvres. Pay attention
to the traffic conditions as you do so.
X Check the tyres.
X Check the tyre pressure and correct it if nec-
essary (Y page 229).
X Repair or change the faulty wheel as necessary
(Y page 317).
X Then restart the tyre pressure loss warning
system once the tyre pressure is correct
(Y page 230). Run Flat Indi-
cator inoperative The tyre pressure loss warning system is
deactivated due to a malfunction. X
Visit a qualified specialist workshop. Check tyres, then restart Run
Flat Indicator There was a tyre pressure warning mes-
sage. X
Make sure that the pressure set is correct for
all tyres (Y page 229).
X Then restart the tyre pressure loss warning
system (Y page 230). HOLD off HOLD has been deactivated. The vehicle
is skidding or a condition for activating
SBC HOLD is no longer met when the
brake pedal is firmly depressed. X
Reactivate HOLD later. Practical advi
ce
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Display
messages 268 Display messages Possible cause/consequence Possible solution
@ STOP Car too low
G
Risk of accident
AIRMATIC Dual Control* is faulty. !
Avoid large steering angles, otherwise the
wing or the tyres could be damaged when you
drive on. Listen for scraping sounds.
X Do not exceed a maximum speed of 80 km/h.
X Pull over and select a higher vehicle level.
The vehicle may be raised, depending on the
type of fault.
X Visit a qualified specialist workshop immedi-
ately. @ Malfunction
The AIRMATIC Dual Control* function is
restricted. The vehicle's handling charac-
teristics may be affected. X
Do not exceed a maximum speed of 80 km/h.
X Visit a qualified specialist workshop. \ Trailer tow hitch
Check lock mecha-
nism
The trailer tow hitch* is not correctly
engaged. X
Stop the vehicle. Pay attention to the traffic
conditions as you do so.
X Allow the ball coupling to engage in the end
position (Y page 239). 2 Brake wear The brake pads/linings have reached
their wear limit. X
Have the brake pads/linings replaced as soon
as possible at a qualified specialist workshop. Practical advi
ce
* optional
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Display
messages 278 Display messages Possible cause/consequence Possible solution
± Display malfunc-
tion Consult work-
shop One or more electronic systems are
unable to deliver information to the on-
board computer. The following systems
may have failed:
R Coolant temperature gauge
R Rev counter
R Cruise control or Speedtronic display X
Visit a qualified specialist workshop. H Tyre pressure Cau-
tion Tyre defect
G
Risk of accident
One or more tyres is losing air rapidly. The
affected wheel is highlighted in the tyre
pressure display of the tyre pressure mon-
itor*. X
Stop the vehicle without making any sudden
steering or braking manoeuvres. Pay attention
to the traffic conditions as you do so.
X Repair or change the tyre (Y page 317).Practical advi
ce
* optional
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Display
messages 279Display messages Possible cause/consequence Possible solution
H Tyre pressure
Check tyres The pressure in one or more tyres has
dropped significantly. The affected wheel
is highlighted in the tyre pressure display
of the tyre pressure monitor*. X
Stop the vehicle without making any sudden
steering or braking manoeuvres. Pay attention
to the traffic conditions as you do so.
X Check the tyres.
X Repair or change the faulty tyre if necessary
(Y page 317).
X Check the tyre pressure and correct it if nec-
essary (Y page 229).
The warning will disappear automatically after
you have been driving for a few minutes with
the corrected tyre pressure. I Change key batter-
ies The batteries of the KEYLESS GO key* are
discharged. X
Change the batteries (Y page 310).I Key not detected
The KEYLESS GO key* is not in the vehicle.
It will no longer be possible to centrally
lock the vehicle and start the engine if the
engine is switched off. X
Stop the vehicle. Pay attention to the traffic
conditions as you do so.
X Look for the KEYLESS GO key *.I Key not detected
The
KEYLESS GO* key is not detected
while the engine is running, because there
is interference from a strong source of
radio waves. X
Stop the vehicle. Pay attention to the traffic
conditions as you do so.
X Operate the vehicle using the key in the ignition
lock if necessary. Practical advice
* optional
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Troubleshooting
283Problem Possible cause/consequence Suggested solutions
The steering wheel heating* indi-
cator lamp on the lower left lever
of the steering column is flashing. There is insufficient voltage
because too many consumers are
switched on. The steering wheel
heating* has switched itself off
automatically. X
Switch off consumers that are not required, e.g. reading lamps,
interior lighting, etc.
The steering wheel heating* will automatically switch back on as
soon as there is sufficient voltage again. The indicator lamp in the
2
button on the Thermatic/4-zone
Thermotronic* control panel
flashes three times when you
press the button. The cooling sys-
tem cannot be switched on. Cooling has been deactivated
due to a malfunction. X
Visit a qualified specialist workshop. The indicator lamp in the
¯
rear-window heating button is
flashing. The rear-window heat-
ing has switched itself off prema-
turely or cannot be switched on. There is insufficient voltage
because too many consumers are
switched on. X
Switch off consumers that are not required, e.g. reading lamps,
interior lighting, etc.
The rear-window heating will automatically switch back on as soon
as there is sufficient voltage again. Vehicles with automatic child
seat recognition on the front-
passenger seat*:
The
5 PASSENGER AIRBAG
OFF warning lamp on the centre
console is lit. A special Mercedes-Benz child
seat with automatic child seat
recognition has been fitted to the
front-passenger seat. The front-
passenger airbag has therefore
been disabled. Practical advice
* optional
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Troubleshooting
289Problem Possible cause/consequence Suggested solutions
±
The yellow engine diagnos-
tics warning lamp comes
on while the engine is run-
ning. There may be a malfunction:
R
in the fuel injection system
R in the exhaust system
R in the ignition system (on vehi-
cles with a petrol engine)
The emission limit values may be
exceeded and the engine may be
running in emergency mode. X
Have the vehicle checked as soon as possible at a qualified spe-
cialist workshop. H
The yellow tyre pressure
monitor* warning lamp is
on. G
Risk of accident
The tyre pressure monitor* has
detected a sudden or significant
pressure loss in at least one of
the tyres. X
Stop the vehicle without making any sudden steering or braking
manoeuvres. Pay attention to the traffic conditions as you do so.
X Observe the additional messages in the multi-function display
(Y page 257).
The warning light will go out after the flat tyre has been changed
and you have been driving for a few minutes. 1
The red SRS warning lamp
is lit while the engine is
running. G
Risk of injury
The restraint systems are faulty.
The airbags or belt tensioners
may either be triggered uninten-
tionally or, in the event of an acci-
dent, not be triggered at all. X
Visit a qualified specialist workshop immediately. Practical advice
* optional
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Towing and tow-starting
337Towing and tow-starting
Points to remember
G
Risk of accident
If you tow the vehicle, you must use a rigid
towing bar if:
R the engine is not running
R there is a brake system malfunction
R the voltage supply or the vehicle's elec-
trical system is damaged
The electric power steering and the brake
force boosting effect do not work when the
engine is not running. Greater braking force
will then be required and the brake pedal
travel will be longer. If necessary, depress
the brake pedal with maximum force.
Do not tow the vehicle if the key cannot be
turned in the ignition lock. If this is the case,
the steering is locked and the vehicle can-
not be steered.
If you tow or tow-start another vehicle, its
weight must not exceed the maximum per-
missible gross vehicle weight of your vehi-
cle. G
Risk of accident
The vehicle is braked when HOLD is activa-
ted. Therefore, deactivate HOLD if the vehi-
cle is to be towed.
If you tow or tow-start another vehicle, its
weight must not exceed the maximum per-
missible gross vehicle weight of your vehi-
cle.
It is better to have the vehicle transported
than to have it towed.
When towing, observe the legal requirements
in all countries concerned.
! When towing, pull away slowly and with-
out jerking. If the tractive power is too high,
the vehicles could be damaged. Do not use
the towing eye for recovery.
! You may tow the vehicle for a maximum
of 50 km. A towing speed of 50 km/h must
not be exceeded.
With towing distances over 50 km, the
entire vehicle needs to be lifted up and
transported.
! Only secure the tow cable or towing bar
to the towing eyes. You may otherwise
damage the vehicle. R
Vehicles with an automatic transmission*
must not be tow-started.
R If the engine does not start, try jump start-
ing (Y page 333).
R If it is not possible to jump-start the vehicle,
have it towed to the nearest qualified spe-
cialist workshop, e.g. a Mercedes-Benz
Service Centre.
R If the vehicle has suffered transmission
damage, only tow it with the propeller shaft
disconnected.
R The automatic transmission* selector lever
must be in the Nposition when towing the
vehicle away.
R If you are towing the vehicle over a consid-
erable distance, this must only be done
with the rear axle raised.
R The ignition must be switched off if you are
towing the vehicle with the front/rear axle
raised. Intervention by ESP ®
could other-
wise damage the brake system.
R Vehicles with 4MATIC* may not be towed
with the front or rear axle raised.
R Before towing the vehicle, make sure that
the battery is connected and charged. Oth-
erwise: Practical advice
* optional
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