2003 MERCEDES-BENZ CL500 Owner's Manual

CL 500
CL 600
CL 55 AMG

Our company and staff congratulate you
on the purchase of your new
Mercedes-Benz.
Your selection of our product is a demon-
stration of your trust in our company
name. Furthermore, it exemplifies your de-
sire to own an automobile that will be as
easy as possible to operate and provide
years of service.
Your Mercedes-Benz represents the ef-
forts of many skilled engineers and crafts-
men. To help assure your driving pleasure,
as well as your and your passengers’ safe-
ty, we ask you to make a small investment
of time:


Please read this manual carefully be-
fore putting it aside. Then return it to
your vehicle where it will be handy for
your reference.


Please follow the recommendations
contained in this manual. They are de-
signed to acquaint you with the opera-
tion of your Mercedes-Benz.


Please pay attention to the warnings
and cautions contained in this manual.
They are designed to help improve the
safety of the vehicle operator and oc-
cupants.
We extend our best wishes for many miles
of safe, pleasurable driving.
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC
A DaimlerChrysler Company

Contents
Introduction.......................................... 9
Product information ................................ 9
Operator’s Manual ............................... 10
Service and Warranty Information.. 10
Important notice for California
retail buyers and lessees of
Mercedes-Benz automobiles .......... 11
Maintenance .................................. 12
Roadside Assistance ...................... 12
Change of address or ownership.... 12
Operating your vehicle
outside the USA or Canada ............ 13
Where to find it .................................... 14
Symbols ............................................... 15
Operating safety .................................. 16
Proper use of the vehicle ............... 16
Problems with your vehicle .................. 17
Reporting safety defects...................... 18
Reporting safety defects ................ 18
At a glance.......................................... 19
Cockpit ................................................. 20
Instrument cluster ................................ 22
Multifunction steering wheel ................ 24
Center console ..................................... 25
Upper part ...................................... 25
Lower part ...................................... 26
Overhead control panel ........................ 27
Door control panel................................ 28
Getting started................................... 29
Unlocking ............................................. 30
Unlocking with the SmartKey ......... 30
Unlocking with KEYLESS-GO*......... 32
Adjusting .............................................. 34
Seats .............................................. 34
Steering wheel ................................ 37
Mirrors ............................................ 38
Driving .................................................. 40
Fastening the seat belts ................. 40
Starting the engine ......................... 42
Switching on headlamps ................. 46
Turn signals and high beam ............ 46
Windshield wipers ........................... 47
Problems while driving .................... 48
Parking and locking .............................. 49
Parking brake ................................. 50
Switching off headlamps................. 50
Turning off engine ........................... 51

ContentsSafety and Security........................... 53
Occupant safety................................... 54
Airbags ........................................... 55
Seat belts ....................................... 60
Children in the vehicle .................... 63
Blocking of rear window operation . 69
Panic alarm .......................................... 70
Activating ....................................... 70
Deactivating ................................... 70
Driving safety systems ......................... 71
ABS ................................................ 71
BAS ................................................ 73
ESP ................................................. 73
Anti-theft systems................................ 76
Immobilizer..................................... 76
Anti-theft alarm system .................. 77
Tow-away alarm ............................. 78
Controls in detail............................... 79
Locking and unlocking ......................... 80
SmartKey ....................................... 80
KEYLESS-GO card* ........................ 83
Opening the doors
from the inside ............................... 87
Opening the trunk lid
from the inside ............................... 88
Opening the trunk lid
from the outside............................. 89
Trunk lid emergency release .......... 89
Closing the trunk lid ....................... 90
Separately locking the trunk .......... 90
Separately unlocking the trunk ...... 91
Trunk lid
opening / closing system* .............. 91
Power closing assist
for doors and trunk lid.................... 94
Automatic central locking .............. 94
Locking and unlocking
from the inside ............................... 95Seats .................................................... 96
Lumbar support .............................. 96
Easy-entry / exit feature .................. 96
Head restraints ............................... 97
Multicontour seat*.......................... 99
Folding forward
front seat backrests ..................... 100
Seat ventilation* .......................... 102
Seat heating................................. 103
Memory function ............................... 105
Storing positions into memory ..... 106
Recalling positions
from memory ............................... 106
Storing exterior rear
view mirror parking position ........ 107
Lighting ............................................. 108
Exterior lamp switch .................... 108
Combination switch ..................... 111
Hazard warning flasher ................ 111
Interior lighting ............................ 112
Courtesy lighting .......................... 113

Contents
Instrument cluster ............................. 114
Instrument cluster illumination .... 114
Coolant temperature gauge ......... 115
Trip odometer .............................. 115
Tachometer .................................. 115
Outside temperature indicator ..... 116
Control system .................................. 117
Multifunction display .................... 117
Multifunction steering wheel ........ 118
Menus .......................................... 120
Standard display menu ................ 122
AUDIO menu ................................ 122
CD changer operating mode ........ 123
TEL menu* ................................... 125
NAVI menu ................................... 127
Distronic* menu........................... 128
Trip computer menu..................... 129
Malfunction memory menu .......... 130
Settings menu .............................. 131Automatic transmission...................... 143
One-touch gearshifting ................. 144
Gear ranges .................................. 145
Gear selector lever position .......... 146
Program mode selector switch ..... 147
Accelerator position...................... 148
Emergency operation
(Limp home mode) ........................ 148
Steering wheel gearshift control
(Speedshift) and manual
shift program CL 55 AMG ............. 149
Good visibility ..................................... 151
Rear view mirror ........................... 151
Windshield wipers ......................... 154
Headlamp cleaning system ........... 154
Sun visors ..................................... 155
Rear window sunshade ................. 156Automatic climate control .................. 157
Setting the temperature ............... 160
Adjusting air distribution .............. 161
Adjusting air volume ..................... 162
Maximum cooling MAXCOOL ........ 162
Defrosting ..................................... 162
Air recirculation mode .................. 163
Charcoal filter ............................... 164
Rear window defroster.................. 165
Deactivating the climate
control system .............................. 166
Air conditioning ............................ 166
Residual heat and ventilation ........ 167
Ventilated storage compartment
under armrest ............................... 167
Rear passenger compartment
adjustable air vents ...................... 168

ContentsPower windows .................................. 169
Opening and closing
the windows ................................. 169
Synchronizing power windows ..... 172
Sliding / pop-up roof........................... 173
Opening and closing the
sliding / pop-up roof ..................... 173
Synchronizing the
sliding / pop-up roof ..................... 175
Driving systems ................................. 176
Cruise control............................... 176
Distronic* ..................................... 179
Active Body Control (ABC) ............ 190
Parktronic system*
(Parking assist) ............................. 193
Loading .............................................. 197
Roof rack* .................................... 197
Loading instructions ..................... 197
Cargo tie-down hooks .................. 198Useful features .................................. 199
Interior storage spaces ................ 199
Ashtrays ....................................... 206
Cigarette lighter ........................... 207
Heated steering wheel* ............... 208
Telephone* .................................. 208
Tele Aid ........................................ 209
Garage door opener ..................... 217
Infrared reflecting windshield ....... 221
Operation........................................ 223
The first 1000 miles (1500 km) ......... 224
Driving instructions............................ 225
Drive sensibly – save fuel ............. 225
Drinking and driving ..................... 225
Pedals .......................................... 225
Power assistance ......................... 225
Brakes .......................................... 226Driving off .................................... 227
Parking......................................... 227
Tires ............................................. 228
Hydroplaning................................ 229
Tire traction ................................. 229
Tire speed rating .......................... 229
Winter driving instructions ........... 230
Standing water............................. 231
Passenger compartment .............. 231
Driving abroad ............................. 231
Control and operation
of radio transmitters .................... 232
Catalytic converter....................... 232
Emission control .......................... 233
Coolant temperature.................... 234
At the gas station .............................. 235
Check regularly
and before a long trip................... 236

Contents
Engine compartment ......................... 237
Hood ............................................ 237
Engine oil ..................................... 238
Transmission fluid level ................ 242
Active Body Control (ABC)
fluid level...................................... 242
Coolant ........................................ 242
Battery ......................................... 243
Windshield washer system and
headlamp cleaning system ........... 244
Tires and wheels ................................ 246
Important guidelines .................... 246
Life of tires ................................... 247
Direction of rotation ..................... 247
Checking tire inflation pressure ... 247
Rotating wheels ........................... 251
Winter driving .................................... 252
Winter tires .................................. 252
Block heater* ............................... 253
Snow chains................................. 253Maintenance....................................... 254
Clearing the service indicator ....... 254
Service term exceeded ................. 254
Calling up the service indicator..... 255
Resetting the service indicator ..... 255
Vehicle care........................................ 256
Cleaning and care of vehicle ......... 256
Practical hints.................................. 263
What to do if …? ................................. 264
Lamps in instrument cluster ......... 264
Lamp in center console................. 269
Messages in the display ................ 270
Where will I find...? ............................. 295
First aid kit .................................... 295
Vehicle jack, vehicle tool kit,
luggage bowl, spare wheel ............ 295
Unlocking/locking in an emergency... 297
Unlocking the vehicle.................... 297
Locking the vehicle ....................... 298
Changing batteries........................ 299
Fuel filler flap ................................ 300Opening/closing in an emergency ..... 301
Sliding/pop-up roof ...................... 301
Replacing bulbs .................................. 302
Bulbs............................................. 302
Replacing bulbs for front lamps .... 304
Replacing bulbs for rear lamps ..... 305
Replacing wiper blades ...................... 307
Removing ...................................... 307
Installing ....................................... 307
Flat tire............................................... 308
Preparing the vehicle .................... 308
Mounting the spare wheel ............ 308
Battery ............................................... 313
Disconnecting the battery ............ 314
Removing the battery ................... 314
Charging and reinstalling
the battery .................................... 314
Reconnecting the battery ............. 315
Jump starting...................................... 316
Towing the vehicle.............................. 318
Installing towing eye bolt .............. 321

ContentsFuses ................................................. 322
Fuse boxes in passenger
compartment................................ 322
Fuse boxes in engine
compartment................................ 324
Emergency engine shut-down ...... 324Technical data.................................. 325
Spare parts service ............................ 326
Warranty coverage ............................. 327
Loss of Service and Warranty
Information Booklet...................... 327
Identification labels............................ 328
Layout of poly-V-belt drive ................. 329
CL 500 ......................................... 329
CL 55 AMG ................................... 329
CL 600 ......................................... 329Engine................................................ 330
Rims and Tires ................................... 331
Same size tires ............................. 332
Mixed size tires ............................ 333
Spare wheel ................................. 333
Electrical system ............................... 334
Main Dimensions ............................... 335
Weights.............................................. 336
Fuels, coolants, lubricants etc. .......... 337
Capacities .................................... 337
Engine oils.................................... 339
Engine oil additives ...................... 339
Air conditioning refrigerant .......... 339
Brake fluid .................................... 340
Premium unleaded gasoline ......... 340
Fuel requirements ........................ 340
Gasoline additives ........................ 341
Coolants....................................... 342
Windshield and headlamp
washer system ............................. 344Consumer information ....................... 345
Uniform tire quality grading ......... 345
Technical terms............................... 347Index................................................. 353