2001 MERCEDES-BENZ CL600 ESP

219 Tele Aid
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data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Stolen vehicle tracking services
In the event your vehicle was stolen, report the incident
to the police who will issue a numbered incident report.
Pass this number on to the Mercedes-Benz Response
Center.
The Response Center will then attempt to covertly
contact the vehicle’s Tele Aid system. Once the vehicle
is located, the Response Center will contact the local
Law Enforcement and you. The vehicle’s location will
only be provided to Law Enforcement.
Info Services (optional, except Canada)
Info Services categories include news, sports, stocks,
weather and calendar reminders. Choices can be
selected via www.mbusa.com or by calling 1-800-FOR-
MERcedes.
To request Info Services, press the SVC button on the
COMAND system, then select “SEND NEW REQUEST
FOR INFO SERVICE”. “NEW INFO SERVICE REQUEST
TRANSMITTED” will appear in the COMAND display
and call status messages will appear in the
multifunction display.Once information is available, the message “NEW INFO
RECEIVED – READ LATER WHEN STOPPED?” will
appear. Select “Yes”. With the vehicle stopped in a safe
location press SVC, then select “View Info Service of
mm.dd.yyyy hh.mm”. Messages will be retained for
30 minutes once the ignition is switched off.
Important!
Tele Aid utilizes the cellular network for
communication and the GPS (Global Positioning
System) satellites for vehicle location. If either of these
signals are unavailable, the Tele Aid system may not
function and if this occurs, assistance must be
summoned by other means.
Wa r n i n g !
If the indicator lamp in the “SOS” button does not
illuminate during or remains illuminated after the
system self-check or if the message “TELE AID –
VISIT WORKSHOP” appears in the multifunction
display, have the system checked at the nearest
Mercedes-Benz Center as soon as possible.

222 Starter switch
Te ch n ica l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Starter switch
0The electronic key can be withdrawn in this position
only. The electronic key can be removed only with
the selector lever in position “P”. After removing the
electronic key or with the electronic key in starter
switch position 0 or 1 the selector lever is locked in
position “P”.1Most electrical consumers can be operated. For
detailed information see respective subjects.
2Driving position.
Gear selector lever is unlocked.
3Starting position.
See page 227 for instructions on starting and turning off
the engine.
See page 44 for instructions on the simultaneous use of
the electronic key and the KEYLESS-GO-function.
Wa r n i n g !
When leaving the vehicle always remove the
electronic key from the starter switch, take the
KEYLESS-GO-card (if so equipped) with you and
lock the vehicle. Do not leave children unattended
in the vehicle, or with access to an unlocked
vehicle. Unsupervised use of vehicle equipment
may cause serious personal injury.

225 Starter switch — KEYLESS-GO
Te ch n ica l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index “On” position (starter switch position 1, see page 222).
Most electrical consumers can be operated. For detailed
information see respective subjects.
Operation / driving position (starter switch position 2,
see page 222).
All electrical consumers can be operated. Gear selector
is unlocked.
“Off” position (electronic key removable from starter
switch).
Most electrical consumers cannot be operated.
The selector lever is locked in position “P”.
Notes:
For improved recognition of the KEYLESS-GO-card the
doors should be closed when pressing the start-/stop
button.
The gear selector lever can only be moved with the
vehicle battery charged and connected, and the starter
switch in the Operation position. With the gear selector
lever in position “P”, the brake pedal must also be
depressed.Important!
For the KEYLESS-GO-system to function properly, the
operator should observe the following:
•If the KEYLESS-GO-card is positioned farther away
from the vehicle (e.g. inside clothing or a briefcase),
the vehicle cannot be locked (see page 40) or started
with the start-/stop button (see page 227).
•If th e K EYLESS-GO-ca rd is rem oved f rom th e vehicl e
while the engine is running, or by placing the card
in front of the center armrest (see page 190), the
message “CHIP-CARD – NOT RECOGNIZED!” will
appear repeatedly while driving in the
multifunction display, see page 38.

230 Automatic transmission
Te ch n ica l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Driving
The selector lever is automatically locked while in
position “P”. To move the selector lever out of
position “P”, the service brake pedal must be firmly
depressed before the shift lock will release.
Shift selector lever to the desired position only when the
engine is idling normally and the service brake is
applied. Do not release the brake until ready to drive.
The vehicle may otherwise start creeping when the
selector lever is in drive or reverse position.Important!
After selecting any driving position from “N” or “P”,
wait a moment to allow the gear to fully engage before
accelerating, especially when the engine is cold.
Accelerator position
Partial throttle = early upshifting = normal acceleration
Full throttle = later upshifting = rapid acceleration
Kickdown (depressing the accelerator beyond full
throttle) = downshifting to a lower gear = maximum
acceleration. Once the desired speed is attained, ease up
on the accelerator — the transmission shifts up again.
Wa r n i n g !
It is dangerous to shift the selector lever out of “P”
or “N” if the engine speed is higher than idle speed.
If your foot is not firmly on the brake pedal, the
vehicle could accelerate quickly forward on in
reverse. You could lose control of the vehicle and
hit someone or something. Only shift into gear
when the engine is idling normally and when your
right foot is firmly on the brake pedal.

241 Driving instructions
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data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Have the brake system inspected at an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center immediately.
All checks and service work on the brake system should
be carried out by an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Install only brake pads and brake fluid recommended by
Mercedes-Benz.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.
Wh en sta rting of f on a slippery surfa ce, do not a llow 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.
Wa r n i n g !
If other than recommended brake pads are
installed, or other than recommended brake fluid
is u sed, th e braking properties of the veh icle can be
degraded to an extent that safe braking is
substantially impaired. This could result in an
accident.

245 Driving instructions
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data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Tire speed rating
CL 500 and CL 600:
Your vehicle is factory equipped with “H”-rated tires,
which have a speed rating of 130 mph (210 km/h).
Vehicles with Sport Package:
Your vehicle is factory equipped with “Y”-rated tires,
which have a speed rating of 188 mph (300 km / h).
An electronic speed limiter prevents your vehicle from
exceeding a speed of 130 mph (210 km/h).
CL 55 AMG:
Your vehicle is factory equipped with “Y”-rated tires,
which have a speed rating of 188 mph (300 km / h).
An electronic speed limiter prevents your vehicle from
exceeding a speed of 155 mph (250 km/h).
Despite the tire rating, local speed limits should be
obeyed. Use prudent driving speeds appropriate to
prevailing conditions.Snow chains
Use only snow chains that are tested and recommended
by Mercedes-Benz. Your authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center will be glad to advise you on this subject.
Chains should only be used on the rear wheels. Follow
the manufacturer’s mounting instructions.
Always select option I or II of the level control system
when driving with snow chains, see page 276.
Snow chains should only be driven on snow covered
roads at speeds not to exceed 30 mph (50 km/h).
Remove chains as soon as possible when driving on
roads without snow.
When driving with snow chains, press the ESP control
switch to OFF, refer to page 273.
Important!
Use of snow chains is not permissible with tire sizes
245 / 45 R18 or 275 / 40 R18.
Wa r n i n g !
Even when permitted by law, never operate a
vehicle at speeds greater than the maximum speed
rating of the tires.
Exceeding the maximum speed for which tires are
rated can lead to sudden tire failure causing loss of
vehicle control and resulting in personal injury
and possible death.

247 Driving instructions
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data Instruments
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cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Winter driving
Have your vehicle winterized at your authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center before the onset of winter.
•Change the engine oil if the engine contains an oil
which is not approved for winter operation. For
viscosity (SAE/CCMC class) and filling quantity,
see page 395.
•Check engine coolant anticorrosion/antifreeze
concentration.
•Additive for the windshield washer and headlamp
cleaning system: Add MB Concentrate “S” to a
premixed windshield washer solvent/antifreeze
which is formulated for below freezing
temperatures, see page 334.•Test battery: Battery capacity drops with decreasing
ambient temperature. A well charged battery helps
to ensure t ha t t he engine c an be sta rted, even at l ow
ambient temperatures.
•Tires: We recommend M+S rated radial-ply tires on
all four wheels for the winter season. Observe
permissible maximum speed for M+S rated
radial-ply tires and the legal speed limit.
In winter operation, the maximum effectiveness of the
ABS and ESP can only be achieved with M+S rated
radial-ply tires and/or snow chains recommended by
Mercedes-Benz. Snow chains maximize performance.

250 Driving systems
Te ch n ica l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Cruise control
The cruise control allows you to drive in a more relaxed
manner, for example over long distances, as it
automatically maintains the set speed by actively
regulating the throttle setting.
Any given speed above approximately 25 mph
(40 km/h) can be maintained with the cruise control by
operating the lever.
1Accelerate and set:
Lift lever briefly to set speed. Hold lever up to
accelerate.2Decelerate and set:
Depress lever briefly to set speed.
Hold lever down to decelerate.
Normally the vehicle is accelerated to the desired
speed with the accelerator.
Speed is set by briefly pushing the lever to
position 1 or 2. The accelerator can then be
released.
The selected speed is shown for approx. 5 seconds
in the multifunction display, and the corresponding
speedometer segments from the selected speed to
the vehicle maximum speed are illuminated.
The speed can be increased (e.g. for passing) by
using the accelerator. After the accelerator is
released, the previously set speed will be resumed
automatically.
If a set speed is to be increased or decreased
slightly, e.g. to adapt to the traffic f low, hold lever in
position 1 or 2 until the desired speed is reached, or
briefly tip the lever in the appropriate direction for
increases or decreases in 0.6 mph (1 km/h)
increments. When the lever is released, the newly
set speed remains.
1
3
4
2