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
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
156 Controls in detailAutomatic climate controlThe automatic climate control is operation-
al whenever the engine is running. You can
operate the climate control system in ei-
ther the automatic or manual mode. The
system cools or heats the interior depend-
ing on the selected interior temperature
and the current outside temperature.
Nearly all dust particles, pollutants and
odors are filtered out before outside air en-
ters the passenger compartment through
the air distribution system.
The air conditioning will not engage (no
cooling) if the economy mode AC
OFF
is se-
lected (
page 163).
Warning!
G
Follow the recommended settings for heat-
ing and cooling given on the following pag-
es. Otherwise the windows could fog up,
impairing visibility and endangering you and
others.
iIf the vehicle interior is hot, ventilate
the interior before driving off.
Keep the air intake grille in front of the
windshield free of snow and debris.
Do not obstruct air flow by placing ob-
jects on the air flow-through exhaust
slots below the rear window.
161 Controls in detail
Automatic climate control
The air recirculation mode is deactivated
automatically:
after five minutes if the outside temper-
ature is below approximately 41°F
(5 °C)
after five minutes if the air conditioning
is turned off
after 30 minutes if the outside temper-
ature is above approximately 41°F
(5 °C)
At outside temperatures above 79°F
(26 °C) the system will not automatically
switch back to outside air. A quantity of
outside air is added after approximately
30 minutes.
Charcoal filter
An activated charcoal filter markedly re-
duces bad odors and removes pollutants
from air entering the passenger compart-
ment.
Activating
Press button
e
(page 155).
The indicator lamp on the button lights
up.
Deactivating
Press button
e
(page 155).
The indicator lamp on the button goes
out.The system switches automatically to the
air recirculation mode if the carbon
monoxide (CO) or nitrogen oxide (NO
X)
concentration of the outside air increases
beyond a predetermined level.
The automatic air recirculation mode does
not function if economy mode AC
OFF
is se-
lected or if the outside temperature has
fallen below 41°F (5°C).
The activated charcoal filter should be
switched off when windows fog up on the
inside, or if the passenger compartment
needs to be quickly heated or cooled
down.
iIf you keep button
e
pressed, the
side windows and the sliding/pop-up
roof will be closed.
iIf you keep button
e
pressed, the
side windows and the sliding/pop-up
roof will be returned to their previous
position.
163 Controls in detail
Automatic climate control
Air conditioning
The air conditioning is operational while
the engine is running and cools the interior
air to the temperature set by the operator.
Deactivating
It is possible to deactivate the air condi-
tioning (cooling) function of the automatic
climate control system. The air in the vehi-
cle will then no longer be cooled or dehu-
midified.
Press buttonAC
OFF
(page 155).
The indicator lamp on the
buttonAC
OFF
lights up.Activating
Moist air can fog up the windows. You can
dehumidify the air with the air condition-
ing.
PressAC
OFF
again (
page 155).
The indicator lamp on the
buttonAC
OFF
goes out.
The air conditioning system uses the refrig-
erant R134a. This refrigerant is free of
CFCs which are harmful to the ozone layer.
Residual heat and ventilation*
With the engine switched off, it is possible
to continue to heat or ventilate the interior
for up to 30 minutes. This feature makes
use of the residual heat produced by the
engine.
Activating
Turn the key in the starter switch to
position1 o r r e m o v e i t f r o m t h e s t a r t e r
switch.
Press button
T
(page 155).
The indicator lamp on button
T
comes on.
iCondensation may drip out from under-
neath the vehicle. This is normal and
not an indication of a malfunction.
!If theAC
OFF
button on the automatic
climate control panel starts to blink,
this indicates that the air conditioning
system is losing refrigerant. The com-
pressor has turned itself off. The air
conditioning cannot be turned on
again.
Have the air conditioning system
checked at the nearest authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
343 Technical data
Layout of poly-V-belt drive
Layout of poly-V-belt drive
CLK 320 / CLK 500 / CLK 55 AMG
1Automatic belt tensioner
2Power steering pump
3Air conditioning compressor
4Crankshaft
5Coolant pump
6Generator (alternator)
7Idler pulley
352 Technical dataFuels, coolants, lubricants, etc.
Model
Capacity
Fuels, coolants, lubricants, etc.
Cooling system
CLK 320
CLK 500
CLK 55 AMG
approx. 10.7 US qt (10 l)
approx. 12.8 US qt (12 l)
approx. 12.8 US qt (12 l)
MB 325.0 Anticorrosion/Antifreeze
Agent
Fuel tank
including a reserve of
16.35 US gal (62.0 l)
2.11 US gal (8.0 l)
Premium unleaded gasoline:
Posted Octane 91 (Avg. of 96
RON / 86 MON)
Air conditioning system
R-134a refrigerant and special PAG lu-
bricant oil (never R-12)
Windshield washer and
headlamp cleaning system*:
6.4 US qt (6 l)
MB Windshield Washer Concentrate
1
1Use MB Windshield Washer Concentrate “S” and water for temperatures above freezing or MB Windshield Washer Concentrate “S” and commercially available pre-
mixed windshield washer solvent / antifreeze for temperatures below freezing. Follow suggested mixing ratios (
page 357).
353 Technical data
Fuels, coolants, lubricants, etc.
Engine oils
Engine oils are specifically tested for their
suitability in our engines. Therefore, only
use engine oils recommended by
Mercedes-Benz. Information on recom-
mended brands is available in the Factory
Approved Service Products pamphlet, or at
your authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Please follow FSS recommendations for
scheduled oil changes. Failure to do so
could result in engine damage not covered
by the Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.
Engine oil additives
Do not blend oil additives with engine oil.
They may be harmful to the engine opera-
tion.
Damage or malfunctions resulting from
blending oil additives are not covered by
the Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.Air conditioning refrigerant
R-134a (HFC) refrigerant and special PAG
lubricating oil are used in the air condition-
ing system.
Never use R-12 (CFC) or mineral-based lu-
bricating oil, otherwise damage to the
system will occur.
Brake fluid
During vehicle operation, the boiling point
of the brake fluid is continuously reduced
through the absorption of moisture from
the atmosphere. Under extremely strenu-
ous operating conditions, this moisture
content can lead to the formation of bub-
bles in the system, thus reducing the sys-
tem’s efficiency.
Therefore, the brake fluid must be re-
placed every two years, preferably in the
spring.
Only brake fluid approved by
Mercedes-Benz is recommended. Your au-
thorized Mercedes-Benz Center will pro-
vide you with additional information.