2004 MERCEDES-BENZ CL500 Owner's Manual

CL
-Class Operator’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,
and also the safety of you and your passen-
gers , we ask you to make a small invest-
ment of time:


Please read this manual carefully, 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 ................................ 39
Mirrors ............................................ 40
Driving .................................................. 42
Fastening the seat belts ................. 42
Starting the engine ......................... 45
Switching on headlamps ................. 49
Turn signals and high beam ............ 49
Windshield wipers........................... 50
Problems while driving .................... 52
Parking and locking .............................. 53
Parking brake ................................. 54
Switching off headlamps................. 55
Turning off the engine..................... 55

ContentsSafety and Security........................... 59
Occupant safety................................... 60
Airbags ........................................... 61
Seat belts ....................................... 66
Children in the vehicle.................... 69
Blocking of rear window operation . 75
Panic alarm .......................................... 76
Activating ....................................... 76
Deactivating ................................... 76
Driving safety systems ......................... 77
ABS ................................................ 77
BAS ................................................ 78
ESP................................................. 79
Anti-theft systems................................ 82
Immobilizer..................................... 82
Anti-theft alarm system .................. 82
Tow-away alarm ............................. 84
Controls in detail............................... 87
Locking and unlocking ......................... 88
SmartKey ....................................... 88
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO* ........ 91
Opening the doors from the inside . 96
Opening the trunk lid from the
outside ........................................... 96
Opening the trunk lid from the
inside ............................................. 97
Closing the trunk lid ....................... 98
Trunk lid opening / closing system* 98
Trunk lid emergency release ........ 103
Separately locking the trunk lid ... 104
Separately unlocking the trunk lid 104
Power closing assist for doors and
trunk lid........................................ 105
Automatic central locking ............ 105
Locking and unlocking from the
inside ........................................... 106
Seats ................................................. 107
Easy-entry / exit feature ............... 107
Removing and installing front seat
head restraints ............................. 108Rear seat head restraints ............. 109
Lumbar support ........................... 111
Multicontour backrest*................ 111
Seat heating................................. 113
Seat ventilation* .......................... 115
Memory function ............................... 116
Storing positions into memory ..... 117
Recalling positions from memory. 117
Storing exterior rear view mirror
parking position ........................... 117
Lighting ............................................. 119
Exterior lamp switch .................... 119
Combination switch ..................... 123
Hazard warning flasher ................ 123
Interior lighting ............................ 124
Courtesy lighting .......................... 125
Instrument cluster ............................. 126
Instrument cluster illumination .... 126
Coolant temperature gauge ......... 127
Trip odometer .............................. 127
Tachometer.................................. 128
Outside temperature indicator ..... 128

Contents
Control system .................................. 129
Multifunction display .................... 129
Multifunction steering wheel ........ 130
Menus .......................................... 132
Standard display menu ................ 134
AUDIO menu ................................ 134
CD changer operating mode ........ 137
TEL menu* ................................... 139
NAVI menu ................................... 141
Distronic* menu........................... 142
Trip computer menu..................... 143
Malfunction memory menu .......... 144
Settings menu .............................. 145
Automatic transmission ..................... 157
One-touch gearshifting................. 158
Gear ranges ................................. 159
Gear selector lever position ......... 160
Steering wheel gearshift control
(Speedshift) CL 55 AMG............... 161
Program mode selector switch..... 163
Accelerator position ..................... 163
Manual shift program CL 55 AMG 164
Emergency operation
(Limp home mode) ....................... 166Good visibility ..................................... 167
Rear view mirror ........................... 167
Electrically folding exterior rear
view mirrors .................................. 169
Windshield wipers ......................... 170
Headlamp cleaning system ........... 170
Sun visors ..................................... 171
Rear window sunshade* ............... 172
Automatic climate control .................. 173
Setting the temperature................ 176
Adjusting air distribution............... 177
Adjusting air volume ..................... 178
Maximum cooling MAXCOOL ........ 179
Defrosting ..................................... 179
Air recirculation mode .................. 179
Charcoal filter ............................... 181
Rear window defroster .................. 182
Deactivating the climate
control system .............................. 182
Air conditioning............................. 183
Residual heat and ventilation ........ 183
Ventilated storage compartment
(except CL 55 AMG)...................... 184
Rear passenger compartment
adjustable air vents....................... 185Power windows .................................. 186
Opening and closing the windows 186
Synchronizing the power windows 190
Sliding / pop-up roof ........................... 191
Opening and closing the
sliding /pop-up roof ...................... 191
Synchronizing the sliding /
pop-up roof................................... 194
Driving systems .................................. 195
Cruise control ............................... 195
Distronic* ..................................... 198
Active Body Control (ABC) ............ 210
Parktronic system*
(Parking assist) ............................. 214
Loading .............................................. 219
Roof rack* .................................... 219
Loading instructions ..................... 219
Cargo tie-down hooks ................... 220

ContentsUseful features .................................. 221
Storage compartments................. 221
Ashtrays ....................................... 227
Cigarette lighter ........................... 228
Heated steering wheel* ............... 228
Telephone*................................... 229
Tele Aid ........................................ 230
Garage door opener ..................... 238
Infrared reflecting windshield ....... 244
Operation........................................ 245
The first 1000 miles (1500 km) ......... 246
Driving instructions............................ 247
Drive sensibly – save fuel ............. 247
Drinking and driving ..................... 247
Pedals .......................................... 247
Power assistance ......................... 247
Brakes .......................................... 248
Driving off .................................... 249
Parking ......................................... 249
Tires ............................................. 250
Hydroplaning ................................ 251
Tire traction.................................. 251
Tire speed rating .......................... 251
Winter driving instructions ........... 252
Standing water ............................. 253
Passenger compartment .............. 254
Driving abroad.............................. 254
Control and operation of radio
transmitters ................................. 254
Catalytic converter ....................... 255
Emission control .......................... 255
Coolant temperature .................... 256At the gas station .............................. 257
Refueling ...................................... 257
Check regularly and before a
long trip ....................................... 258
Engine compartment ......................... 260
Hood ............................................ 260
Engine oil ..................................... 261
Transmission fluid level................ 266
Active Body Control (ABC)
fluid level ..................................... 266
Coolant ........................................ 266
Battery ......................................... 268
Windshield washer system and
headlamp cleaning system........... 269
Tires and wheels................................ 270
Important guidelines .................... 270
Life of tires................................... 271
Direction of rotation..................... 271
Checking tire inflation pressure ... 271
Rotating wheels ........................... 279
Winter driving .................................... 280
Winter tires .................................. 280
Block heater (Canada only) .......... 281
Snow chains................................. 281

Contents
Maintenance ...................................... 282
Clearing the service indicator ...... 282
Service term exceeded ................ 282
Calling up the service indicator .... 283
Resetting the service indicator..... 283
Vehicle care ....................................... 284
Cleaning and care of vehicle ........ 284
Practical hints.................................. 291
What to do if …? ................................. 292
Lamps in instrument cluster ......... 292
Lamp in center console................. 298
Messages in the display ................ 299
Where will I find...? ............................. 329
First aid kit .................................... 329
Vehicle jack, vehicle tool kit,
luggage bowl, spare wheel ............ 329
Unlocking/locking in an emergency... 331
Unlocking the vehicle.................... 331
Locking the vehicle ....................... 332
Replacing batteries in
the SmartKey/ SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO* ............................... 332
Fuel filler flap ................................ 334
Opening/closing in an emergency ..... 335
Sliding/pop-up roof ...................... 335
Replacing bulbs .................................. 336
Bulbs ............................................. 336
Replacing bulbs for front lamps .... 338
Replacing bulbs for rear lamps ..... 340Replacing wiper blades ...................... 341
Removing wiper blades ................. 341
Installing wiper blades .................. 342
Flat tire............................................... 343
Preparing the vehicle .................... 343
Mounting the spare wheel ............ 343
Battery ............................................... 348
Disconnecting the battery ............ 349
Removing the battery ................... 349
Charging and reinstalling the
battery .......................................... 349
Reconnecting the battery ............. 350
Jump starting...................................... 351
Towing the vehicle.............................. 353
Installing towing eye bolt .............. 355
Fuses.................................................. 356
Fuse boxes in passenger
compartment ................................ 356
Fuse boxes in engine
compartment ................................ 357
Emergency engine shut-down ....... 358