2001 MERCEDES-BENZ CL500 distronic

2 Contents
Safety guidelines for the
seat belt, emergency
tensioning retractor
and airbag .................................. 100
Infant and child
restraint systems ....................... 102
Steering wheel adjustment .......... 105
Rear view mirrors .......................... 106
Rear view mirror,
automatic antiglare ................... 106
Memory function ............................111
Instrument cluster ..........................114
Multifunction steering wheel,
multifunction display ............... 120
Trip and main odometer,
FSS, tire inflation pressure
monitor and
engine oil level indicator ......... 124
Audio systems ................................ 125
Radio ............................................ 125
CD player ..................................... 126
Cassette player ........................... 127
Telephone ........................................ 128
Telephone book .......................... 128
Redialing ..................................... 130Incoming call ...............................131
Navigation system ..........................132
Distronic (DTR) ...............................133
Trip computer .................................134
Malfunction/warning
message memory ......................136
Individual settings .........................138
Setting the audio volume ............. 146
Flexible service system
(FSS) ........................................... 147
Tire inflation
pressure monitor .......................150
Engine oil level indicator ..............154
Engine oil consumption ................155
Exterior lamp switch ......................156
Headlamp mode ..............................157
Night security illumination ..........158
Headlamp cleaning system ...........159
Combination switch .......................160
Hazard warning flasher
switch ..........................................163
Automatic climate control .............164
Display and controls ..................166
Dust filter .....................................167Basic setting ............................... 168
Special settings .......................... 169
Air recirculation ......................... 171
Activated charcoal filter ............ 172
Economy mode ........................... 173
Residual engine heat
utilization .................................... 174
Switching the automatic
climate control on and off ......... 175
Front center console storage
compartment ventilation .......... 175
Rear window defroster .................. 176
Rear passenger compartment
adjustable air outlets ................ 177
Power windows ............................... 178
Sliding/pop-up roof ....................... 181
Interior lighting ............................. 184
Rear window sunshade ................. 186
Sun visors ....................................... 187
Vanity mirrors ................................ 187
Interior ............................................ 188
Storage compartments
and armrests .............................. 188
Glove box ..................................... 189

3 ContentsCoat hooks ...................................... 192
Cup holder ...................................... 193
Ashtrays .......................................... 196
Lighter ............................................. 198
Parcel net in trunk ........................ 199
Cargo tie-down hooks ....................200
Parcel net in front
passenger footwell ....................200
Telephone, general ........................ 201
Garage door opener .......................202
Infrared reflecting windshield ....206
DrivingControl and operation of radio
transmitters ...............................208
The first 1 000 miles
(1 500 km) .................................209
Maintenance ...................................209
Tele Aid ........................................... 210
Catalytic converter ........................220
Emission control ............................221
Starter switch .................................222
Starter switch – KEYLESS-GO ......224Starting and turning off
the engine .................................. 227
Automatic transmission ............... 229
Parking brake ................................ 238
Driving instructions ...................... 239
Drive sensibly – save fuel ........ 239
Drinking and driving ................ 239
Pedals .......................................... 240
Power assistance ........................ 240
Brakes .......................................... 240
Driving off ................................... 241
Parking ........................................ 242
Tires ............................................. 243
Snow chains ............................... 245
Winter driving instructions ..... 246
Deep water .................................. 248
Passenger compartment ........... 248
Traveling abroad ........................ 249
Cruise control ................................ 250
Distronic (DTR) .............................. 253
Brake assist system
(BAS) .......................................... 268
Antilock brake system
(ABS) .......................................... 269Electronic stability program
(ESP) ........................................... 271
Active body control (ABC) ............275
Level control system ...................... 276
Parking assist (Parktronic) ..........279
What you should know
at the gas station .......................284
Check regularly
and before a long trip ...............287
Instrument cluster displayMalfunction and indicator
lamps in the
instrument cluster ....................290
On-board diagnostic system .....290
Check engine malfunction
indicator lamp .............................290
Brake warning lamp ..................292
Supplemental restraint
system (SRS)
indicator lamp .............................293
Fuel reserve warning .................293
ABS malfunction
indicator lamp .............................294

4 Contents
Electronic stability program
(ESP) — warning lamp ...............295
Distronic (DTR) —
warning lamp ..............................295
Seat belt nonusage
warning lamp ..............................296
Malfunction and indicator
lamp in the center console ......296
AIRBAG OFF indicator lamp .....296
Malfunction and
warning messages in the
multifunction display ...............297
DISPLAY DEFECTIVE
(engine control unit) ..................298
DISPLAY DEFECTIVE
(several systems) ........................298
BATTERY /ALTERNATOR ..........299
ENTRANCE POSITION ..............300
BRAKE ASSIST ...........................300
BRAKE LINING WEAR .............. 301
BRAKE FLUID ............................. 301
PARKING BRAKE .......................302
TRUNK OPEN .............................302ELEC. STABIL. PROG.
(Electronic stability
program) ..................................... 303
COOLANT (coolant level) ......... 304
COOLANT
(coolant temperature) ............... 305
LIGHTING SYSTEM ................... 306
LIGHT SENSOR .......................... 308
SEAT BELT SYSTEM .................. 308
TELEPHONE – FUNCTION ....... 309
CRUISE CONTROL ..................... 309
ACTIVE BO DY CO NTROL
(ABC) ............................................ 310
TIRE PRESSURE .........................312
ENGINE OIL LEVEL .................... 314
SEAT BACKREST ......................... 315
KEY ...............................................316
DOOR ............................................ 316
HOOD ............................................ 317
TELE AID ......................................317
ENGINE OIL LEVEL .................... 318
WASHER FLUID ..........................319
LIGHT SENSOR .......................... 320
DISTRONIC (DTR) ...................... 321
Practical hintsFirst aid kit .....................................324
Fuses ................................................325
Shelf below rear window ..............327
Hood .................................................328
Checking engine oil level ............. 331
Automatic transmission
fluid level ...................................332
Active b od y control
(ABC) fluid level ........................332
Coolant level ...................................333
Adding coolant ...........................333
Windshield and headlamp
washer system ...........................334
Windshield and headlamp
washer fluid mixing ratio .........334
Spare wheel, vehicle tools,
storage compartment ................335
Jack ...................................................336
Wheels .............................................337
Tire Replacement .......................337
Rotating wheels ..........................338
Spare wheel ....................................338

5 ContentsChanging wheels ...........................340
Tire inflation pressure ..................345
Battery .............................................346
Jump starting ..................................349
Towing the vehicle ......................... 351
Exterior lamps ................................354
Headlamp assembly ...................355
Taillamp assemblies ..................358
Standby bulb function ................... 361
Changing batteries
in the electronic main key .......363
Synchronizing
remote control ............................365
Changing batteries
in the KEYLESS-GO-card .........366
Emergency engine
shut-down ...................................368
Fuel filler flap,
manual release ..........................368Emergency operation of
sliding/pop-up roof .................. 369
Replacing wiper blades ................ 370
Trunk lamp ......................................371
Roof rack ......................................... 372
Vehicle careCleaning and care
of the vehicle ..............................374
Power washer ............................. 375
Tar stains .....................................376
Paintwork, painted body
components .................................376
Engine cleaning ..........................376
Vehicle washing ..........................376
Ornamental moldings ............... 377
Headlamps, taillamps,
turn signal lenses ...................... 377Cleaning the Distronic
system sensor .............................378
Cleaning the parktronic
system sensors ...........................378
Wiper blades ...............................379
Light alloy wheels ......................380
Instrument cluster ..................... 381
Steering wheel and
gear selector lever ...................... 381
Cup holder ................................... 381
Seat belts .....................................382
Headliner and shelf
below rear window .....................382
Leather upholstery .....................382
Hard plastic trim items .............382
Plastic and rubber parts ............382

23 Instruments and controls
Te ch n ica l
data Instruments
and controlsOperation DrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index 1Left front parktronic warning indicator,
see page 281
2Side air outlet, adjustable
3Air volume control for side air outlet
4Exterior lamp switch, see page 156
5Headlamp washer button, see page 159
6Parking brake release, see page 238
7Hood lock release, see page 328
8Parking brake pedal, see page 238
9Easy-entry/exit feature, see page 66
Steering wheel adjustment, see page 105
10Combination switch, see page 160
11Cruise control switch, see page 250, or
Distronic (DTR) switch, see page 253
12Multifunction steering wheel, see page 120
Driver airbag, see page 92,
Horn (with electronic key in starter switch
position 1 or 2)13Instrument cluster, see page 114
14Voice recognition system switch, see separate
operating instructions
15Starter switch, see page 222
16Right front parktronic warning indicator,
seepage281
17Fixed air outlets
18Center air outlets, adjustable
19Air volume control for left center air outlet
20Air temperature control for center air outlets
21Air volume control for right center air outlet
22Glove box lock, see page 189
23Glove box lid release, see page 189

25 Instruments and controls
Te ch n ica l
data Instruments
and controlsOperation DrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index 12Ashtray, see page 196
Lighter, see page 198
13Start-/Stop button
Starter switch for KEYLESS-GO only, see page 224
14Automatic transmission, see page 22915AIRBAG OFF indicator lamp, see page 296
16Distronic (DTR) – switch for distance notification
function, see page 265
17Distronic (DTR) – thumbwheel for setting distance,
seepage265

27 Contents - Operation
Te ch n ica l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index CD player ..................................... 126
Cassette player ........................... 127
Telephone ........................................ 128
Telephone book .......................... 128
Redialing ..................................... 130
Incoming call .............................. 131
Navigation system .......................... 132
Distronic (DTR) ............................... 133
Trip computer ................................. 134
Malfunction/warning
message memory ...................... 136
Individual settings ......................... 138
Setting the audio volume .............. 146
Flexible service system
(FSS) ............................................ 147
Tire inflation
pressure monitor ...................... 150
Engine oil level indicator .............. 154
Engine oil consumption ................ 155
Exterior lamp switch ..................... 156
Headlamp mode ............................. 157Night security illumination ..........158
Headlamp cleaning system ...........159
Combination switch .......................160
Hazard warning flasher
switch ..........................................163
Automatic climate control .............164
Display and controls ..................166
Dust filter .....................................167
Basic setting ................................168
Special settings ...........................169
Air recirculation ......................... 171
Activated charcoal filter ........... 172
Economy mode ........................... 173
Residual engine heat
utilization .....................................174
Switching the automatic
climate control on and off ........ 175
Front center console storage
compartment ventilation .......... 175
Rear window defroster .................. 176
Rear passenger compartment
adjustable air outlets ............... 177Power windows ............................... 178
Sliding/pop-up roof ....................... 181
Interior lighting ............................. 184
Rear window sunshade ................. 186
Sun visors ....................................... 187
Vanity mirrors ................................ 187
Interior ............................................ 188
Storage compartments
and armrests .............................. 188
Glove box ..................................... 189
Coat hooks ...................................... 192
Cup holder ...................................... 193
Ashtrays .......................................... 196
Lighter ............................................. 198
Parcel net in trunk ........................ 199
Cargo tie-down hooks ....................200
Parcel net in front
passenger footwell ....................200
Telephone, general ........................ 201
Garage door opener .......................202
Infrared reflecting windshield ....206

115 Instrument cluster
Te ch n ica l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index 1Knob for instrument cluster illumination,
s e e p a g e 116
2Engine malfunction indicator lamp, see page 290
3Brake fluid low or parking brake engaged,
see page 301
4Supplemental restraint system (SRS) malfunction
indicator lamp, see page 293
5Coolant temperature gauge, see page 117
6Outside temperature indicator, see page 117
7Fuel gauge with reserve warning lamp, see page 293
8Left turn signal indicator lamp, see combination
switch on page 160
9Speedometer, see page 118
10Electronic stability program (ESP) warning lamp,
system is adjusting to road conditions, see page 295
11Distance warning lamp – vehicles with Distronic
(DTR), distance to the vehicle ahead is insufficient,
see page 264 and page 295.12Multifunction display, see page 120
Instrument cluster display, see page 297
13Trip odometer, see page 119 and 124
14Main odometer, see page 124
15Right turn signal indicator lamp, see combination
switch on page 160
16Tachometer, see page 119
17Gear range indicator display, see selector lever
positions on page 232
18Digital clock
To set the time, see COMAND operator’s manual
19Antilock brake system (ABS) malfunction indicator
lamp, see page 294
20High beam headlamp indicator,
see exterior lamp switch, page 156, and
combination switch, page 160
21Fasten seat belts, see page 296
22Reset buttonJ, s e e p a g e s 116 , 119
Activating the instrument cluster display
The instrument cluster is activated by:•Opening the door
1.
•Pressing button Jon the instrument cluster
1.