2003 MERCEDES-BENZ CL500 mirror

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

27 At a glance
Overhead control panel
Overhead control panel
Item
Page
1
Left reading lamp on / off
112
2
Rear interior lighting
on / off
112
3
Right reading lamp on / off
112
4
Interior lighting control
112
5
Sliding / pop-up roof
173
6
Hands-free microphone for
Tele Aid (emergency call
system), telephone* and
voice control system* (see
separate operating instruc-
tions)
7
Rear view mirror
38,
151
8
Garage door opener
217
9
Tele Aid (emergency call
system) button
209

28 At a glanceDoor control panel
Door control panel
Item
Page
1
Door handle
87
2
Memory function (for stor-
ing seat, mirror and steer-
ing wheel settings)
105
3
Seat heating
103
Seat ventilation*
102
4
Seat adjustment
34, 96
5
Exterior mirror adjustment
38,
151
Item
Page
6
Switches for opening /
closing front door windows
169
7
Rear window
override switch
69
8
Switches for opening /
closing rear windows
169
9
Remote trunk lid release
switch
88
Trunk lid opening / closing
system* switch
91

34 Getting startedAdjusting
AdjustingSeatsWarning!
G
All seat, head restraint, steering wheel, and
rear view mirror adjustments, as well as fas-
tening of seat belts, must be done before
the vehicle is put into motion.Warning!
G
Do not adjust the driver’s seat while driving.
Adjusting the seat while driving could cause
the driver to lose control of the vehicle.
Never ride in a moving vehicle with the seat
back reclined. Sitting in an extremely re-
clined position can be dangerous. You could
slide under the seat belt in a collision. If you
slide under it, the belt would apply force at
the abdomen or neck. That could cause se-
rious or fatal injuries. The seat back and seat
belts provide the best restraint when the
wearer is in an upright position and belts are
properly positioned on the body.
Your seat must be adjusted so that you can
correctly fasten your seat belt.
Never place hands under the seat or near
any moving parts while a seat is being ad-
justed.Warning!
G
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the
key from the starter switch, take the KEY-
LESS-GO* card with you, and lock your vehi-
cle.
The power seats can also be operated with
the driver’s or passenger door open. Do not
leave children unattended in the vehicle, or
with access to an unlocked vehicle. Unsu-
pervised use of vehicle equipment may
cause an accident and/or serious personal
injury.
Warning!
G
Children 12 years old and under must never
ride in the front seat, except in a
Mercedes-Benz authorized BabySmart
TM
compatible child seat, which operates with
the BabySmart
TM system installed in the ve-
hicle to deactivate the front passenger air-
bag when it is properly installed. Otherwise
they will be struck by the airbag when it in-
flates in a crash. If this happens, serious or
fatal injury will result.
According to accident statistics, children
are safer when properly restrained in the
rear seating positions than in the front seat-
ing positions. Infants and small children
must ride in back seats and be seated in an
appropriate infant or child restraint system,
which is properly secured with the vehicle's
seat belt and top tether strap, or secured via
lower anchors and top tether strap, fully in
accordance with the child seat manufactur-
er’s instructions.

38 Getting startedAdjustingSteering column, lengthen or shorten
Move stalk forward or backward in the
direction of arrow 1 until a comfortable
steering wheel position is reached with
your arms slightly bent at the elbow.
Steering column, height

Move the stalk up or down in the direc-
tion of arrow 2. Make sure that your
legs can move freely and that all the
displays (including malfunction and in-
dicator lamps) on the instrument clus-
ter are clearly visible.
Please refer to “Controls in detail” for in-
formation on the heated steering wheel*
(
page 208).
Mirrors
Adjust the inside and exterior rear view
mirrors before driving so that you have a
good view of the road and traffic condi-
tions.Inside rear view mirror

Manually adjust the inside rear view
mirror.
Exterior rear view mirror
Warning!
G
In the case of an accident liquid electrolyte
may escape the mirror housing if the mirror
glass breaks.
Electrolyte has an irritating effect. Do not al-
low the liquid to come into contact with
eyes, skin, clothing, or respiratory system.
In case it does, immediately flush affected
area with water, and seek medical help if
necessary.
Warning!
G
Exercise care when using the passenger
side exterior rear view mirror. The mirror
surface is convex (outwardly curved surface
for a wider field of view). Objects in mirror
are closer than they appear. Check your in-
side rear view mirror or glance over your
shoulder before changing lanes.

39 Getting started
Adjusting
The buttons are located on the driver’s
door.
1Driver’s side mirror
2Passenger side mirror
3Adjustment button

Make sure that the ignition is switched
on.
All the lights in the instrument cluster
light up.

Press button1 for the left mirror or
button2 for the right mirror.

Push adjustment button3 up, down,
left or right according to the desired
setting.
Information on the electrically folding exte-
rior rear view mirrors can be found in the
“Controls in detail” section (
page 152).
!Electrolyte drops coming into contact
with the vehicle paint finish can only be
completely removed while in their liq-
uid state and by applying plenty of wa-
ter.
!Information on how to reposition the
exterior mirror housing when it was
forcibly pushed forward (hit from the
rear) or forcibly pushed rearward (hit
from the front) can be found in the
“Controls in detail” section
(page 153)
iAt low ambient temperatures, the mir-
rors will be heated automatically.