2000 Mercedes E-Class Owner's Manual - Page 208

Caution! When driving down long and steep grades, relieve the load on the brakes by shifting into a lower gear to use the engine's braking power. This helps prevent overheating of the brakes and reduces brake pad wear. After hard braking, it is advisable to drive on for some time, rather than immediately parking, so the air stream will cool down the brakes faster. Driving off Apply the service brakes to test them briefly after driving off. Perform this procedure only when the road is clear of other traffic. Warm up the engine smoothly. Do not place full load on the engine until the operating temperature has been reached. When starting off on a slippery surface, do not allow one drive wheel to spin for an extended period with the ESP switched off. Doing so may cause serious damage to the drive train which is not covered by the Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty. Parking Warning! To reduce the risk of personal injury as a result of vehicle movement, before turning off the engine and leaving the vehicle, always: 1. Keep right foot on the service brake pedal. 2. Firmly depress parking brake pedal. 3. Move the selector lever to position "P". 4. Slowly release the service brake pedal. 5. Turn front wheels towards the road curb. 6. Turn the electronic key to steering lock position 0 and remove. 7. Take the electronic key and lock vehicle when leaving. Important! It is advisable to set the parking brake whenever parking or leaving the vehicle. In addition, move selector lever to position "P". When parking on hills, always set the parking brake. Driving instructions Instruments and controls Operation Driving 205 Instrument cluster display Practical hints Car care Technical data Index