snow chains MERCEDES-BENZ E550 4MATIC 2007 W211 Owner's Manual

Contents
At the gas station .............................. 321
Refueling ...................................... 321
Check regularly and before a
long trip........................................ 323
Engine compartment ......................... 325
Hood ............................................ 325
Engine oil ..................................... 327
Transmission fluid level ................ 329
Coolant level ................................ 330
Battery ......................................... 331
Windshield washer system and
headlamp cleaning system* ......... 332
Tires and wheels ................................ 333
Important guidelines .................... 333
Tire care and maintenance........... 334
Direction of rotation ..................... 336
Loading the vehicle ...................... 336
Recommended tire inflation
pressure ....................................... 341
Checking tire inflation pressure ... 342
Tire labeling.................................. 350
Load identification ....................... 354
DOT, Tire Identification Number
(TIN) ............................................. 355
Maximum tire load ....................... 356
Maximum tire inflation pressure .. 357Uniform Tire Quality Grading
Standards (U.S. vehicles) .............. 357
Tire ply material ............................ 359
Tire and loading terminology......... 359
Rotating tires ................................ 362
Winter driving ..................................... 364
Winter tires ................................... 364
Block heater* (Canada only) ......... 365
Snow chains.................................. 365
Maintenance....................................... 366
Maintenance service indicator
message ....................................... 366
Calling up the maintenance
service indicator display ............... 368
Resetting the maintenance
service indicator ........................... 368
Vehicle care........................................ 369
Cleaning and care of vehicle ......... 369
Practical hints.................................. 379
What to do if … ................................... 380
Lamps in instrument cluster ......... 380
Lamp in center console ................ 393
Vehicle status messages in the
multifunction display .................... 396
Where will I find ...? ............................ 432
First aid kit.................................... 432
Spare wheel .................................. 432
Luggage box ................................. 433
Vehicle tool kit.............................. 434
Vehicle jack .................................. 434
Unlocking/locking in an emergency .. 436
Unlocking the vehicle ................... 436
Locking the vehicle ....................... 437
Manually unlocking the gear
selector lever ................................ 438
Opening/closing in an emergency ..... 439
Power tilt/sliding sunroof or
panorama roof with power
tilt/sliding panel* ......................... 439
Resetting activated head restraints.... 440
Replacing SmartKey batteries ............ 441
SmartKey/SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO* ............................... 441

97 Safety and Security
Driving safety systems
Driving safety systems
In this section you will find information on
the following driving safety systems:

ABS (A
ntilock B
rake S
ystem)


Adaptive Brake


BAS (B
rake A
ssist S
ystem)


EBP (E
lectronic B
rake P
roportioning)


ESP
® (E
lectronic S
tability P
rogram)


4MATIC (Four Wheel Electronic
Traction System)
ABS
The Antilock Brake System (ABS) regulates
the brake pressure so that the wheels do
not lock during braking. This allows you to
maintain the ability to steer your vehicle.
The ABS is functional above a speed of ap-
proximately 5 mph (8 km/h) independent
of road surface conditions.
On slippery road surfaces, the ABS will re-
spond even to light brake pressure.
The - indicator lamp in the instrument
cluster comes on when you switch on the
ignition. It goes out when the engine is run-
ning.
Warning!
G
The following factors increase the risk of
accidents:

Excessive speed, especially in turns


Wet and slippery road surfaces


Following another vehicle too closely
The ABS, BAS, ESP
®, Adaptive Brake, and
4MATIC cannot reduce this risk.
Always adjust your driving style to the pre-
vailing road and weather conditions.
i
In winter operation, the maximum
effectiveness of the ABS, the BAS, the EBP, the
ESP®, and 4MATIC is only achieved with winter
tires (page 364), or snow chains as required.
Warning!
G
Do not pump the brake pedal. Use firm,
steady brake pedal pressure instead. Pump-
ing the brake pedal defeats the purpose of
the ABS and significantly reduces braking
effectiveness.

102 Safety and SecurityDriving safety systemsSwitching off the ESP
®
Switching off the ESP
®
(except E 63 AMG)
To improve the vehicle’s traction, switch
off the ESP
® in driving situations where it
would be advantageous to have drive
wheels spin and thus cut into surfaces for
better grip such as:


when driving with snow chains


in deep snow


in sand or gravelWhen you switch off the ESP
®


the ESP
® does not stabilize the vehicle


the engine output is not limited, which
allows the drive wheels to spin and
thus cut into surfaces for better grip


the traction control will still apply the
brakes to a spinning wheel


the ESP
® continues to operate when
you are braking


you cannot activate the cruise control
or the Distronic*


the cruise control or Distronic* switch
off if currently activatedThe switch is located on the center con-
sole.
1ESP
® switch

With the engine running, press ESP
®
switch1 until the ESP
® warning
lampv in the instrument cluster
comes on.
The ESP
® is switched off.
Warning!
G
The ESP
® should not be switched off during
normal driving other than in the circum-
stances described below. Disabling of the
system will reduce vehicle stability in driving
maneuvers.
Do not switch off the ESP
® when a spare
wheel is mounted.
Warning!
G
Switch on the ESP
® immediately if the afore-
mentioned circumstances do not apply any-
more. Otherwise the ESP
® will not stabilize
the vehicle when it is starting to skid or a
wheel is spinning.
i
When the ESP
® is switched off and one or
more drive wheels are spinning, the ESP
® warn-
ing lamp v in the instrument cluster flashes.
However, the ESP
® will then not stabilize the ve-
hicle.

267 Controls in detail
Driving systems
The following vehicle level settings can be
selected when the vehicle is stationary and
the engine is running:Vehicle level
when stationary
Indicator lamp
Suspension
tuning
Use for
Ride height increase
over normal
Automatic lowering
Normal
Lamp off
Comfort
For driving on normal
roads
None
Max. approx. 0.4 in (10 mm)
Normal
Lamp off
Sport 1 or 2
For driving on normal
roads
None
Max. approx. 0.6 in (15 mm)
Raised
Lamp on
Comfort
For driving on rough
roads or with snow
chains
Approx. 0.8 in (20 mm)
Max. approx. 1.2 in (30 mm)
Raised
Lamp on
Sport 1 or 2
For driving on rough
roads or with snow
chains
Approx. 0.8 in (20 mm)
Max. approx. 1.4 in (35 mm)

316 OperationDriving instructionsIf you are uncertain about the correct read-
ing of the information given on a tire’s side-
wall, any authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center will be glad to assist you.
Winter driving instructions
The most important rule for slippery or icy
roads is to drive sensibly and to avoid
abrupt acceleration, braking and steering
maneuvers. Do not use the cruise control
system under such conditions.
When the vehicle is in danger of skidding,
move gear selector lever to positionN. Try
to keep the vehicle under control by cor-
rective steering action.Road salts and chemicals can adversely af-
fect braking efficiency. Increased pedal
force may become necessary to produce
the normal braking effect.
Depressing the brake pedal periodically
when traveling at length on salt-strewn
roads can bring road-salt-impaired braking
efficiency back to normal.
If the vehicle is parked after being driven
on salt-treated roads, the braking efficien-
cy should be tested as soon as possible af-
ter driving is resumed.
i
For information on speed ratings for winter
tires, see “Winter driving” (
page 364).
For additional general information on tire speed
markings on tire sidewall, see “Tire speed rating”
(
page 352).
i
For more information on driving with snow
chains, see “Snow chains” (
page 365).
Warning!
G
On slippery road surfaces, never downshift
in order to obtain braking action. This could
result in drive wheel slip and reduced vehi-
cle control. Your vehicle’s ABS will not pre-
vent this type of control loss.
Warning!
G
Make sure not to endanger any other road
users when carrying out these braking ma-
neuvers.

343 Operation
Tires and wheels
Checking tire inflation pressure
manually
Follow the steps below to achieve correct
tire inflation pressure:
Remove the cap from the valve on one
tire.

Firmly press a tire gauge onto the
valve.

Read tire inflation pressure on tire
gauge and check against the recom-
mended tire inflation pressure on the
placard on the driver’s door B-pillar
(page 336). If necessary, add air to
achieve the recommended tire inflation
pressure.

Install the valve cap.

Repeat this procedure for each tire.Run Flat Indicator (Canada only)
While the vehicle is being driven, the Run
Flat Indicator monitors the set tire inflation
pressures by evaluating each wheel’s rota-
tional speed. This allows the system to de-
tect a significant loss of pressure in a tire.
If a wheel’s rotational speed changes due
to falling tire inflation pressure, you will
see a corresponding warning message in
the multifunction display.
The Run Flat Indicator may function in a
restricted manner or with a delay


if snow chains are mounted to the
vehicle


in winter road conditions prevail in
presence of ice and snow


if you are driving on a loose surface
(e.g. sand or gravel)


if you are driving in a very sporty man-
ner (involving rapid acceleration or high
speeds in curves)
Warning!
G
Follow recommend tire inflation pressures.
Do not underinflate tires. Underinflated tires
wear excessively and/or unevenly,
adversely affect handling and fuel economy,
and are more likely to fail from being
overheated.
Do not overinflate tires. Overinflated tires
can adversely affect handling and ride
comfort, wear unevenly, increase stopping
distance, and result in sudden deflation
(blowout) because they are more likely to
become punctured or damaged by road
debris, potholes etc.
Do not overload the tires by exceeding the
specified load limit or vehicle capacity
weight as indicated on the placard on the
driver’s door B-pillar. Overloading the tires
can overheat them, possibly causing a
blowout.
i
If you have overfilled the tire, release tire in-
flation pressure by pushing the metal stem of the
valve with e.g. a tip of a pen. Then recheck the
tire inflation pressure with the tire gauge.

365 Operation
Winter driving
Block heater* (Canada only)
The engine is equipped with a block heat-
er.
The electrical cable may be installed at an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.Snow chainsSnow chains should only be driven on
snow-covered roads at speeds not to ex-
ceed 30 mph (50 km/h). Remove chains
as soon as possible when driving on roads
without snow.
Please observe the following guidelines
when using snow chains:


Use of snow chains is not permissible
with all wheel/tire combinations
(page 481).


Use snow chains in pairs and on rear
wheels only. Follow the manufacturer’s
mounting instructions.


Only use snow chains that are ap-
proved by Mercedes-Benz. Any autho-
rized Mercedes-Benz Center will be
glad to advise you on this subject.


Use of snow chains may be prohibited
depending on location. Always check
local and state laws before installing
snow chains.


Do not use snow chains on the spare
wheel (
page 487).
Have the spare tire replaced with a winter
tire at the nearest authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.!
When driving with snow chains, always se-
lect the raised level of the level control system
Airmatic (
page 266). Other settings may result
in damage to your vehicle.
!
Even on vehicles with all-wheel-drive, use
snow chains on rear tires only.
Some tire sizes do not leave adequate clearance
for snow chains. To help avoid serious damage to
your vehicle or tires, make sure that the use of
snow chains is permissible as specified in the
“Technical data” section of this Operator’s Man-
ual, see “Rims and tires” (
page 481).
!
If snow chains are mounted to the front
wheels, they may scrape against the body or axle
components. The tires or the vehicle could be
damaged as a result.
i
When driving with snow chains, you may
wish to switch off the ESP
® (page 102) before
setting the vehicle in motion. This will improve
the vehicle’s traction.
i
E63AMG:
Do not switch off the ESP
® when driving in snow
or with snow chains mounted.

485 Technical data
Rims and tires
Mixed size tiresModel
E 350 (Sport Package*)
E 550 (Sport Package*)
E 350 (AMG Sport Package*)
E 550 (AMG Sport Package*)
E 63 AMG
Front axle:
Rims (light alloy)
8.5 J x 18
-
AMG rims (light alloy)
-
8.5 J x 18 H2
Wheel offset
1.18 in (30 mm)
1.5 in (38 mm)
Summer tires
1
1Radial-ply tires
-
245/40 ZR18
All-season tires
1
245/40 R18 93V M+S
-
Rear axle:
Rims (light alloy)
9 J x 18
-
AMG rims (light alloy)
-
9J x 18
Wheel offset
1.54 in (39 mm)
1.54 in (39 mm)
Summer tires
1,2
2Must not be used with snow chains.

265/35 ZR18 XL (Extra Load)
All-season tires
1
265/35 R18 97V XL (Extra Load) M+S
-

486 Technical dataRims and tiresModel
E 63 AMG (Performance Package*)
Front axle:
Rims (light alloy)
-
AMG rims (light alloy)
8.5 J x 18 H2
Wheel offset
1.5 in (38 mm)
Summer tires
1
1Radial-ply tires
245/40 ZR18
All-season tires
1
-
Rear axle:
Rims (light alloy)
-
AMG rims (light alloy)
9.5 J x 18 H2
Wheel offset
1.73 in (44 mm)
Summer tires
1,2
2Must not be used with snow chains.
265/35 ZR18 XL (Extra Load)
All-season tires
1
-

487 Technical data
Rims and tires
Spare wheel Minispare wheel (except E 63 AMG) Collapsible tire (E 63 AMG only)!
Please compare the recommended tire in-
flation pressure for your vehicle with the tire in-
flation pressure on the yellow label located on
the spare wheel rim.
If the tire inflation pressure on the yellow label
on the spare wheel rim differs from the values
given in this Operator’s Manual, inflate the spare
wheel tire to the recommended tire inflation
pressure given on the yellow label on the spare
wheel rim.
i
Please note that the tire inflation pressure of
the Minispare and the collapsible tire differs
from the tire inflation pressure of the road tires.
Make sure the Minispare tire is inflated to ap-
proximately 61 psi (4.2 bar).
Inflate the collapsible tire to approximately
51 psi (3.5 bar).
Rim
4 B x 17
Wheel offset
1.34 in (34 mm)
Tire
1
1Must not be used with snow chains.
T 155/70 R17 110 M
Rim
6 B x 18
Wheel offset
0.98 in (25 mm)
Tire
1
1Must not be used with snow chains.
175/55-18 95P