
4 Contents
ENGINE FAN  ...............................239
COOLANT (coolant level)  ..........240
COOLANT TEMP. 
(coolant temperature)  ................ 241
LIGHTING SYSTEM  ....................242
LIGHT SENSOR ...........................243
STEER. WHEEL ADJUST.  ...........243
ENGINE OIL LEVEL  ...................244
ELEC. STABIL. PROG. 
(Electronic stability 
program)  ......................................245
REMOVE KEY  .............................245
WASHER FLUID ..........................246
TELE AID  .....................................247
Practical hintsFirst aid kit  .....................................250
Shelf below rear window  ..............250
Stowing things in 
the vehicle  ..................................250
Luggage cover .................................250
Fuses  ................................................252
Hood  .................................................254
Checking engine oil level  .............256Automatic transmission 
fluid level  ................................... 257
Coolant level ................................... 257
Adding coolant  ........................... 258
Windshield washer / headlamp 
cleaning system  ........................ 259
Windshield and headlamp 
washer fluid mixing ratio  ........ 259
Spare wheel, vehicle tools, 
storage compartment  ............... 260
Vehicle jack  .................................... 261
Wheels  ............................................ 262
Tire replacement  ....................... 262
Rotating wheels  ......................... 263
Spare wheel .................................... 264
Changing wheels  ........................... 266
Tire inflation pressure  ..................271
Battery ............................................. 272
Jump starting  ..................................274
Towing the vehicle  .........................276
Exterior lamps  ............................... 280
Headlamp assembly  .................. 281
Taillamp assemblies  .................. 283
Adjusting headlamp aim  .............. 285Changing batteries in 
the electronic key  .....................288
Synchronizing remote 
control  .........................................290
Raising soft top manually ............. 291
Antenna  ...........................................298
Manual release for 
fuel filler flap .............................299
Replacing wiper blade insert  .......299
Vehicle careCleaning and care 
of the vehicle  .............................302
Power washer ..............................303
Paintwork, painted body 
components  .................................303
Engine cleaning ..........................304
Tar stains  .....................................304
Vehicle washing  .........................304
Ornamental moldings ................304
Headlamps, taillamps, 
turn signal lenses  ......................305
Window cleaning  .......................305
Plastic and rubber parts ............305
J_A208.book Seite 4 Donnerstag, 31. Mai 2001 9:35 09 

5 ContentsWiper blade  .................................305
Light alloy wheels  ......................305
Instrument cluster  .....................306
Steering wheel and 
gear selector lever  ......................306
Cup holder ...................................306
Seat belts  .....................................306
Headliner  .....................................306
Upholstery  ...................................307
Hard plastic trim items  .............307
Plastic and rubber parts ............307
Wind screen   ...............................307
Rubber weatherstrip  .................307
Soft top  .........................................308
Technical dataSpare parts service  ........................ 310
Warranty coverage  ......................... 310
Identification labels  ....................... 311
Layout of poly-V-belt drive  ............312
Technical data  ................................. 313
Fuels, coolants, lubricants etc. – 
capacities  .................................... 318
Engine oils ...................................... 320
Engine oil additives  ...................... 320
Air conditioner 
refrigerant  ................................. 320
Brake fluid ...................................... 320Premium unleaded 
gasoline  ...................................... 321
Fuel requirements  ......................... 321
Gasoline additives  .........................322
Coolants ...........................................322
Consumer information ..................324
IndexIndex  ................................................326
J_A208.book Seite 5 Donnerstag, 31. Mai 2001 9:35 09 

221 Driving systems
Technical
data Instruments 
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Notes:
The malfunction indicator lamp¿ for the ESP is 
combined with that of the BAS.
The yellow BAS/ESP malfunction indicator lamp in the 
instrument cluster and the yellow ESP warning 
lampv in the speedometer dial come on with the 
electronic key in steering lock position 2. They should 
go out with the engine running.
If the BAS/ESP malfunction indicator lamp comes on 
continuously with the engine running, a malfunction 
has been detected in either system. Only partial engine 
output will be available.
If the BAS malfunctions, the brake system functions in 
the usual manner, but without BAS.
If the ESP warning message is displayed, have the BAS 
or ESP checked at your authorized Mercedes-Benz 
Center as soon as possible.
For ESP warning message, see page 245.
With the ABS malfunctioning, the ESP is also switched 
off.Driving the vehicle with varied size tires will cause the 
wheels to rotate at different speeds, therefore the ESP 
may activate (yellow ESP warning lamp in speedometer 
dial c omes  on ). For  t his  r eason , all wheels , i nclud in g t he 
spare wheel, must have the same tire outside diameter.
When testing the parking brake on a brake test 
dynamometer, the engine must be shut off. Otherwise, 
the ESP will immediately be engaged and will apply the 
rear wheel brakes.
In winter operation, the maximum effectiveness of the 
ESP is only achieved with Mercedes-Benz recommended 
M+S rated radial-ply tires and/or snow chains.
Synchronizing ESP
If the power supply was interrupted (battery 
disconnected or empty), the BAS/ESP malfunction 
indicator lamp may be illuminated with the engine 
running.
Turn steering wheel completely to the left and then to 
the right. The BAS/ESP malfunction indicator lamp 
should go out.
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249 Contents – Practical hints
Technical
data Instruments 
and controlsOperation DrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hintsCar care Index
Practical hintsFirst aid kit  .....................................250
Shelf below rear window  ..............250
Stowing things in 
the vehicle  ..................................250
Luggage cover .................................250
Fuses  ................................................252
Hood  .................................................254
Checking engine oil level  .............256
Automatic transmission 
fluid level  ...................................257
Coolant level  ...................................257
Adding coolant  ...........................258Windshield washer / headlamp 
cleaning system  ........................ 259
Windshield and headlamp 
washer fluid mixing ratio  ........ 259
Spare wheel, vehicle tools, 
storage compartment  ............... 260
Vehicle jack  .................................... 261
Wheels  ............................................ 262
Tire replacement  ....................... 262
Rotating wheels  ......................... 263
Spare wheel .................................... 264
Changing wheels  ........................... 266
Tire inflation pressure  ..................271
Battery ............................................. 272Jump starting  .................................. 274
Towing the vehicle ......................... 276
Exterior lamps  ................................280
Headlamp assembly ................... 281
Taillamp assemblies  ..................283
Adjusting headlamp aim ...............285
Changing batteries in 
the electronic key  .....................288
Synchronizing remote 
control  .........................................290
Raising soft top manually ............. 291
Antenna  ...........................................298
Manual release for 
fuel filler flap .............................299
Replacing wiper blade insert  .......299
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260 Spare wheel, vehicle jack
Technical
data Instruments 
and controlsOperation DrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hintsCar care Index
Spare wheel, vehicle tools, storage compartment
1Trunk floor
2Handle
3Luggage bowl
4Vehicle toolsLift trunk floor and engage handle in grip molding of 
luggage cover.
To remove spare tire:
Turn luggage bowl counterclockwise and remove.
To store spare tire:
Place spare tire in wheel well and secure it with luggage 
bowl. Turn luggage bowl clockwise to its stop.
Note:
Always lower trunk floor before closing trunk lid.
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261 Spare wheel, vehicle jack
Technical
data Instruments 
and controlsOperation DrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hintsCar care Index Ve h i c l e   j a c k
1Jack arm
2Jack base
See illustration for proper storage of jack.
Before storing the jack on the felt in the spare wheel 
well, the jack arm must be lowered almost to the base of 
the jack.
1
2
P40.10-2027-26
Wa r n i n g !
The jack is designed exclusively for jacking up the 
vehicle at the jack tubes built into either side of the 
vehicle. To help avoid personal injury, use the jack 
only to lift the vehicle during a wheel change. 
Never get beneath the vehicle while it is supported 
by  the ja ck. Keep ha nd s an d feet away  from  the area  
under the lifted vehicle. Always firmly set parking 
brake and block wheels before raising vehicle with 
jack.Do not d i sen ga ge park in g b ra ke whi l e the vehic l e is  
raised. Be certain that the jack is always vertical 
when in use, especially on hills. Always try to use 
the jack on level surface. Be sure that the jack arm 
is fully inserted in the jack tube. Always lower the 
vehicle onto sufficient capacity jackstands before 
working under the vehicle.
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264 Tires, Wheels
Technical
data Instruments 
and controlsOperation DrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hintsCar care Index
Spare wheel
Spare wheel CLK 320 (except Sport Package)
Important!
The spare wheel rim is mounted with a full size tire of 
the same type as on the vehicle, and is fully functional. 
However, that spare wheel rim is weight optimized and 
has a limited service life of 12 000 miles (20 000 km) 
use before a standard wheel rim must replace it.
In the case of a flat tire, you may temporarily use the 
spare wheel.
Do not operate vehicle with more than one spare wheel 
mounted.
Unidirectional tires must always be mounted with arrow 
on tire sidewall pointing in direction of vehicle forward 
movement.
If the arrow on tire side wall does not point in direction 
of vehicle forward movement when using the spare 
wheel, observe the following restriction:
•Drive to the nearest tire repair facility as soon as 
possible.For rim and tire specifications, refer to “Technical Data” 
(page 314).
Spare wheel CLK 320 (with Sport Package), 
CLK 430, CLK 55 AMG
Important!
The spare wheel rim size is 7
1/2J x 17 H 2.
The spare wheel rim is mounted with a full size tire of 
the same type as on the vehicle’s front axle (CLK 320 
with Sport Package: the tire size is 205/55 R 16 91 H), 
and is fully functional. However, the spare wheel rim is 
weight optimized and has a limited service life of 
12 000 miles (20 000 km) use before a standard wheel 
rim must replace it.
Wa r n i n g !
The spare wheel rim is for temporary use only. Use 
for over a total of 12 000 miles (20 000 km) 
(aggregate of all uses) may cause wheel rim failure 
leading to an accident and possible injuries.
J_A208.book Seite 264 Donnerstag, 31. Mai 2001 9:35 09 

265 Tires, Wheels
Technical
data Instruments 
and controlsOperation DrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hintsCar care Index If the arrow on tire side wall does not point in direction 
of vehicle forward movement when using the spare 
wheel, observe the following restriction:
•Drive to the nearest tire repair facility as soon as 
possible.
In the case of a rear axle flat tire (CLK 320 with Sport 
Package: In case of a flat tire), you may temporarily use 
the spare wheel, when observing the following 
restrictions:
•Do not exceed vehicle speed of 50 mph (80 km/h)
•Drive to the nearest tire repair facility to have the 
flat tire repaired or replaced as appropriate.
Do not operate vehicle with more than one spare wheel 
mounted.
Unidirectional tires must always be mounted with arrow 
on tire sidewall pointing in direction of vehicle forward 
movement.For rim and tire specifications, refer to “Technical Data” 
(page 314).
Wa r n i n g !
The spare wheel rim is for temporary use only. Use 
for over a total of 12 000 miles (20 000 km) 
(aggregate of all uses) may cause wheel rim failure 
leading to an accident and possible injuries.The dimensions of the spare wheel are different 
from those of the road wheels for the rear axle 
(CLK 320 with Sport Package: The dimensions of 
the spare wheel are different from those of the road 
wheels). As a result, the vehicle handling 
characteristics change when driving with a spare 
wheel mounted on the rear axle.The spare wheel should only be used temporarily, 
and replaced with a regular road wheel as quick as 
possible.
J_A208.book Seite 265 Donnerstag, 31. Mai 2001 9:35 09