2009 Mercedes CLS-Class Owner's Manual - Page 234

Operation Winter driving or axle components. The tires or the vehicle could be damaged as a result. ROnly use snow chains that are approved by Winter driving instructions G Warning! If the vehicle becomes stuck in snow, make sure snow is kept clear of the exhaust pipe and from around the vehicle with the engine running. Otherwise, deadly carbon monoxide (CO) gases may enter vehicle interior resulting in unconsciousness and death. To assure sufficient fresh air ventilation, open a window slightly on the side of the vehicle not facing the wind. G Warning! The outside temperature indicator is not designed to serve as an ice-warning device and is therefore unsuitable for that purpose. Indicated temperatures just above the freezing point do not guarantee that the road surface is free of ice. The road may still be icy, especially in wooded areas or on bridges. G Warning! 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 prevent this type of loss of control. 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, shift the automatic transmission to neutral position N. Try to keep the vehicle under control by corrective steering action. Mercedes-Benz. Any authorized MercedesBenz Center will be glad to advise you on this subject. RUse of snow chains may be prohibited depending on location. Always check local and state laws before installing snow chains. RDo not use snow chains on the spare wheel. i All models except CLS 63 AMG: When driving with snow chains, you may wish to switch off the ESP® (Y page 66) before setting the vehicle in motion. This will improve the vehicle's traction. i CLS 63 AMG only: Do not switch off the ESP® when driving in snow or with snow chains mounted. i For information on driving with snow chains, see "Snow chains" (Y page 231). Road salts and chemicals can adversely affect braking efficiency. Increased pedal force may become necessary to produce the normal brake 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 efficiency should be tested as soon as possible after driving is resumed. 232