Washing the vehicle and cleaning the
paintwork
Automatic car wash
G
WARNING
Braking efficiency is reduced after the vehicle
has been washed. There is a risk of an acci-
dent.
After washing the vehicle, brake carefully
while paying attention to the traffic conditions
in order to restore full braking efficiency.
!
Before driving into an automatic car wash,
make sure that it is suitable for the dimen-
sions of the vehicle. In particular, make sure
that:
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there is enough ground clearance between
the vehicle underbody and the guide rails of
the automatic car wash.
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the clearance width of the automatic car
wash is sufficient, particularly the width of
the guide rails
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you enter the automatic car wash straight
and in the centre of the guide rails in order
to avoid damaging the tyres or wheel rims.
Fold in the exterior mirrors before the vehicle
is washed. The exterior mirrors could other-
wise be damaged.
!
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:
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when towing away
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in a car wash
!
Make sure that:
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the side windows and sliding sunroof are
closed completely.
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the blower for the ventilation/heating is
switched off (OFF button is depressed).
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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.
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Vehicles with a 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 P auto-
matically and locks the wheels. You can
prevent this by shifting the automatic trans-
mission to N beforehand.
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Vehicles with 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 P auto-
matically and locks the wheels.
Observe the following to make sure that the
automatic transmission stays in position N:
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Make sure the vehicle is stationary and the
ignition is switched off.
X
Turn the key to position 2 in the ignition lock
(
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page 148).
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 electric 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.
If the vehicle is very dirty, wash off excess dirt
before cleaning the vehicle in an automatic car
wash.
After using an automatic car wash, wipe off the
wax from the windscreen and the windscreen
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.
338
Care
Mainten
ance
and
care
