2003 MERCEDES-BENZ CLK500 COUPE headlamp

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 ......................... 43
Switching on headlamps ................. 46
Turn signals and high beam ............ 47
Windshield wipers ........................... 47
Problems while driving .................... 49
Parking and locking .............................. 50
Parking brake ................................. 50
Switching off headlamps................. 51
Turning off engine ........................... 51

Contents
Automatic transmission ..................... 141
One-touch gearshifting................. 142
Gear ranges ................................. 143
Gear selector lever position ......... 144
Program mode selector switch..... 145
Accelerator position ..................... 146
Emergency operation
(Limp Home Mode) ...................... 146
Steering wheel gearshift control
(Speedshift) and manual
shift program CLK 55 AMG .......... 146
Good visibility .................................... 149
Rear view mirror........................... 149
Parking position ........................... 150
Windshield wipers ........................ 151
Headlamp cleaning system* ........ 151
Sun visors .................................... 152
Rear window sunshade* .............. 153
Automatic climate control ................. 154
Setting the temperature ............... 157
Adjusting air distribution .............. 158
Adjusting air volume .................... 159
Maximum cooling MAXCOOL ....... 159
Defrosting .................................... 159
Air recirculation mode.................. 160
Charcoal filter .............................. 161Rear window defroster .................. 162
Air conditioning............................. 163
Residual heat and ventilation* ...... 163
Rear passenger compartment
adjustable air vents....................... 164
Audio system ...................................... 165
Audio and telephone, operation .... 165
Operating safety ........................... 165
Operating and display elements.... 166
Button and soft key operation....... 168
Operation ...................................... 168
Radio mode................................... 171
Cassette mode.............................. 174
CD changer* operating mode ....... 178
Telephone* operation ................... 182
Power windows .................................. 187
Opening and closing the windows. 187
Synchronizing power windows ...... 189
Sliding/pop-up roof* .......................... 190
Opening and closing the
sliding/pop-up roof....................... 190
Synchronizing the
sliding / pop-up roof ...................... 192
Driving systems .................................. 193
Cruise control ............................... 193
Distronic* ..................................... 196PARKTRONIC system* .................. 208
Loading .............................................. 212
Roof rack ...................................... 212
Ski sack* ...................................... 212
Split rear bench seat .................... 215
Loading instructions ..................... 217
Cargo tie-down rings..................... 218
Useful features ................................... 219
Interior storage spaces ................. 219
Ashtrays........................................ 223
Cigarette lighter ............................ 224
Floormats* ................................... 225
Telephone* ................................... 226
Tele Aid ......................................... 227
Garage door opener ...................... 235

ContentsOperation......................................... 239
The first 1000 miles (1500 km) ......... 240
Driving instructions ............................ 241
Drive sensibly – save fuel ............. 241
Drinking and driving ..................... 241
Pedals .......................................... 241
Power assistance ......................... 241
Brakes .......................................... 242
Driving off..................................... 243
Parking ......................................... 243
Tires ............................................. 244
Hydroplaning ................................ 245
Tire traction .................................. 245
Tire speed rating .......................... 245
Winter driving instructions ........... 246
Standing water ............................. 247
Passenger compartment .............. 247
Driving abroad .............................. 247
Control and operation of
radio transmitters......................... 248
Catalytic converter ....................... 248
Emission control........................... 249
Coolant temperature .................... 250At the gas station .............................. 251
Check regularly and
before a long trip.......................... 252
Engine compartment ......................... 253
Hood ............................................ 253
Engine oil ..................................... 254
Transmission fluid level ................ 256
Coolant ........................................ 256
Battery ......................................... 258
Windshield washer system and
headlamp cleaning system* ......... 259
Tires and wheels ................................ 260
Important guidelines .................... 261
Life of tires ................................... 261
Direction of rotation ..................... 261
Checking tire inflation pressure ... 262
Rotating wheels ........................... 263
Winter driving .................................... 264
Winter tires .................................. 264
Block heater* ............................... 265
Snow chains ................................. 265Maintenance...................................... 266
Clearing the service indicator ...... 266
Service term exceeded ................ 266
Calling up the service indicator .... 267
Resetting the service indicator .... 267
Vehicle care....................................... 268
Cleaning and care of vehicle ........ 268

ContentsFuels, coolants, lubricants, etc. ......... 351
Capacities .................................... 351
Engine oils .................................... 353
Engine oil additives ...................... 353
Air conditioning refrigerant .......... 353
Brake fluid .................................... 353
Premium unleaded gasoline ......... 354
Fuel requirements ........................ 354
Gasoline additives ........................ 354
Coolants ....................................... 355
Windshield and
headlamp washer system ............. 357
Consumer information ....................... 358
Uniform tire quality grading.......... 358
Technical terms............................... 361Index................................................. 367

21 At a glance
Cockpit
Item
Page
1
Headlamp washer switch*
151
2
Combination switch

Turn signals


High beam


Windshield wipers
47
47
47
3
Cruise control lever

Cruise control


Distronic*
193
196
4
Multifunction steering
wheel
24,
115
5
Instrument cluster
22,
111
6
Lever for voice control
system*, see separate op-
erating instructions
7
Starter switch
31
8
Front Parktronic* warning
indicator
210
9
Overhead control panel
27
Item
Page
10
Glove box
219
11
Center console
25, 26
12
Hood lock release
253
13
Horn
14
Steering wheel adjustment
stalk
37
15
Parking brake pedal
45
16
Door control panel
28
17
Parking brake release
45
18
Exterior lamp switch
46,
105
19
Exterior rear view mirror
adjustment
38

46 Getting startedDrivingAfter a cold start, the automatic transmis-
sion engages at a higher revolution. This al-
lows the catalytic converter to reach its
operating temperature earlier.
Switching on headlampsExterior lamp switch1Off
2Low beam headlamps on
Turn the switch to
B
.
More information can be found in the
“Controls in detail” section (page 105).
iWait for the gear selection process to
complete before setting the vehicle in
motion.Warning!
G
It is dangerous to shift the selector lever out
ofPorN 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 or in reverse. You could lose
control of the vehicle and hit someone or
something. Only shift into gear when the en-
gine is idling normally and when your right
foot is firmly on the brake pedal.
!Simultaneously depressing the acceler-
ator pedal and applying the brake re-
duces engine performance and causes
premature brake and drivetrain wear.Warning!
G
On slippery road surfaces, never downshift
in order to obtain braking action. This could
result in drive wheel slip and reduced vehi-
cle control. Your vehicle’s ABS will not pre-
vent this type of loss of control.

51 Getting started
Parking and locking
Switching off headlamps
Turn the exterior lamp switch to
M

(
page 46).
More information can be found in the
“Controls in detail” section (
page 105).
Turning off engine 
Place the gear selector lever in
positionP.Turning off engine with the SmartKey

Turn the key in the starter switch
(page 31) to position0 and remove
it.
The immobilizer is activated.

Press the seat belt release button
(page 42).
Warning!
G
When leaving the vehicle always remove the
key from the starter switch, take the Smart-
Key with KEYLESS-GO* (if so equipped) with
you and lock the vehicle. Do not leave chil-
dren unattended in the vehicle, or with ac-
cess to an unlocked vehicle. Children could
release the parking brake and/or move the
gear selector lever from positionP, either of
which could result in an accident and/or se-
rious personal injury.Warning!
G
Getting out of your vehicle with the selector
lever not fully engaged in positionP is dan-
gerous. Also, when parked on an incline,
positionP alone may not prevent your vehi-
cle from moving, possibly hitting people or
objects.
Always set the parking brake in addition to
shifting to positionP (
page 143).
When parked on an incline, turn front wheels
towards the road curb.
iAlways set the parking brake in addi-
tion to shifting to position P.
On steep slopes, turn the front wheels
towards the curb.
iThe SmartKey or the SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO* (if so equipped) can only
be removed from the starter switch
with the gear selector lever in
positionP.

105 Controls in detail
Lighting
Lighting
For notes on how to switch on the head-
lamps and use the turn signals, see the
“Getting started” section (
page 46).
Exterior lamp switch
The exterior lamp switch is located on the
dashboard to the left of the steering wheel.
M
Off
U
Automatic headlamp mode
C
Parking lamps (also side marker
lamps, tail lamps, license plate
lamps, instrument panel lamps)
Canada only: When engine is run-
ning, the low beam is also switched
on.
B
Low beam plus parking lamps or
high beam headlamps (combination
switch pushed forward).
ˆ
Standing lamps, right (turn left one
stop)
‚
Standing lamps, left (turn left two
stops)
iIf you remove the key and open the
driver’s door while the parking lamps or
low beam headlamps are switched on,
then

a warning sounds


$
appears in the multifunction
display


the message
Turn off lamps!
ap-
pears in the multifunction display
iWith the daytime running lamp mode
activated and the engine running, the
low beam headlamps cannot be
switched off manually.