brake pads/linings. Generally, park the
vehicle at operating temperature after
cleaning.
Exterior care
Braking efficiency is reduced after washing
the vehicle. This could cause an accident. For
this reason, you must drive particularly
carefully after washing the vehicle until the
brakes have dried.
You can wash the vehicle in an automatic car
wash from the very start.
!
Never clean your vehicle in a Touchless
Automatic Car Wash as these use special
cleaning agents. These cleaning agents can
damage the paintwork or plastic parts.
If the vehicle is very dirty, pre-wash it before
cleaning it in an automatic car wash.
!
In car washes with a towing mechanism,
make sure that the automatic transmission
is in transmission position
N, otherwise the
vehicle could be damaged.
!
Make sure that the side windows are
completely closed, that the ventilation/
heating is switched off and that the
windshield wiper switch is set to
0.
Otherwise, the rain/light sensor could be
activated, triggering unintended wiper
movements. This can cause damage to the
vehicle.
After using an automatic car wash, wipe off
wax from the windshield and the wiper
blades. This will prevent smears and reduce
wiping noises caused by residue on the
windshield.
Carefully remove all deposits of road salt as
soon as possible when driving in winter.
Also, clean the insides of the wheels when
washing the underbody of the vehicle.
X
Do not use hot water and do not wash the
vehicle in direct sunlight.
X
Use a soft car sponge for cleaning.
X
Use a gentle cleaning agent, e.g. a
Mercedes-Benz approved car shampoo.
X
Wash down the vehicle with a gentle water
jet.
X
Do not point the water jet directly at the air
inlets.
X
Use plenty of water and rinse the sponge
frequently.
X
Rinse the vehicle with clean water and dry
it thoroughly with a chamois.
X
Do not allow the cleaning agent to dry on
the paintwork.
Do not use power washers with circular-jet
nozzles (dirt grinders) to clean your vehicle, in
particular the tires. You could otherwise
damage the tires and cause an accident.
!
Keep the distance between the vehicle
and the nozzle of the power washer at
11.8 in (30 cm). Information about the
correct distance is available from the
equipment manufacturer.
Move the power washer nozzle around
when cleaning your vehicle.
Do not aim directly at any of the following:
R
tires
R
door joint
R
electrical components
R
battery
R
connectors
R
lights
R
seals
R
trim elements
R
ventilation slots
244
Care
Maintenance and care
BA 204 USA, CA Edition A 2011; 1; 5, en-US
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Version: 3.0.3.6
2010-05-20T09:17:30+02:00 - Seite 244
