2011 Mercedes C-Class Owner's Manual - Page 247

Care Damaged seals or electrical components can lead to leaks or failures. If water no longer forms "beads" on the painted surface, paint care products should be used that have been approved and recommended by Mercedes-Benz. This is the case approximately every three to five months, depending on climatic conditions and the care product used. If dirt has entered the paint surface or the paintwork has become dull, a paint cleaner should be used that has been approved and recommended by Mercedes-Benz. Never use such care products in direct sunlight or on a hot hood. X Use a suitable touch-up stick, e.g. MB Touch Up stick, for quick, temporary repair of damaged paintwork. 245 Cleaning the wheels ! Do not use acidic wheel cleaning products to remove brake dust. This could damage wheel bolts and brake components. ! Do not park the vehicle for an extended period right after cleaning it, particularly after having cleaned the wheels with wheel cleaner. Wheel cleaners could cause increased corrosion of the brake discs and brake pads/linings. For this reason, you should drive for a few minutes after cleaning. Braking heats the brake discs and brake pads, thus drying them. The vehicle can then be parked up. Cleaning the paintwork Scratches, corrosive deposits, areas affected by corrosion and damage caused by inadequate care cannot always be completely repaired. In such cases, visit a qualified specialist workshop immediately, e.g. an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center. X Remove impurities immediately, where possible, whilst avoiding rubbing too hard. X Soak insect remains with insect remover and rinse off the treated areas afterwards. X Soak bird droppings with water and rinse off the treated areas afterwards. X Remove coolant, brake fluid, tree resin, oils, fuels and greases by rubbing gently with a cloth soaked in petroleum ether or lighter fluid. X Use tar remover to remove tar stains. X Use silicone remover to remove wax. Matte finish care If your vehicle has a clear matte finish, observe the following instructions in order to avoid damage to the paintwork due to incorrect care. ! Never polish the vehicle. Polishing causes the finish to shine. ! Do not use paintwork cleaner, grinding or polishing products or gloss preservers such as wax. These products are only suitable for high-gloss surfaces. Using them on vehicles with matte paintwork can cause severe damage to the surface (shiny, mottled patches). Always have paintwork repairs performed at a qualified specialist workshop, e.g. an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center. ! Do not use wash programs with a hot wax treatment under any circumstances. i Use only insect remover and car shampoo from the range of recommended and approved Mercedes-Benz care products. ! Do not affix: Rstickers Rfilms Rmagnetic plates or similar items to painted surfaces. You could otherwise damage the paintwork. Z Maintenance and care