2004 MERCEDES-BENZ CL500 Owner's Manual

16 IntroductionOperating safety
Operating safety
Proper use of the vehicle
Proper use of the vehicle requires that you
are familiar with the following information
and rules:

the safety precautions in this manual


the “Technical data” section in this
manual


traffic rules and regulations


motor vehicle laws and safety stan-
dards
Warning!
G
Work improperly carried out on electronic
components and associated software could
cause them to cease functioning. Because
the vehicle’s electronic components are in-
terconnected, any modifications made may
produce an undesired effect on other sys-
tems. Electronic malfunctions could seri-
ously impair the operating safety of your
vehicle.
See an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center
for repairs or modifications to electronic
components.
Other improper work or modifications on the
vehicle could also have a negative impact on
the operating safety of the vehicle.
Some safety systems only function while the
engine is running. You should therefore nev-
er turn off the engine while driving.
Warning!
G
Heavy blows against the vehicle underbody
or tires / wheels, for example when running
over an obstacle, road debris or a pothole,
may cause serious damage and impair the
operating safety of your vehicle. If you feel a
sudden significant vibration or ride distur-
bance, or you suspect that damage to your
vehicle has occurred, you should turn on
your hazard warning flashers, carefully slow
down, and drive with caution to an area
which is a safe distance from the road.
Inspect the vehicle underbody and
tires / wheels for possible damage. If the ve-
hicle appears unsafe, have it towed to the
nearest authorized Mercedes-Benz Center
or other qualified maintenance or repair fa-
cility for further inspection or repairs.
Warning!
G
Various warning labels are attached to your
vehicle. These warning labels are intended
to make you and others aware of various
risks. You should not remove any of these
warning labels unless explicitly instructed to
do so by information on the label itself. Re-
moval of any of these labels may cause you
and others to be unaware of certain risks
which may result in an accident and/or per-
sonal injury.

17 Introduction
Problems with your vehicle
Problems with your vehicle
If you should experience a problem with your vehicle, particularly one that you believe may affect its safe operation, we urge you to
immediately contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center to have the problem diagnosed and corrected if required. If the matter is
not handled to your satisfaction, please discuss the problem with the Mercedes-Benz Center management, or if necessary contact us
at one of the following addresses:
In the USA:
Customer Assistance Center
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC
One Mercedes Drive
Montvale, NJ 07645-0350
In Canada:
Customer Relations Department
Mercedes-Benz Canada, Inc.
98 Vanderhoof Avenue
Toronto, Ontario, M4G 4C9

18 IntroductionReporting safety defects
Reporting safety defectsFor the USA only:
The following text is published as required of manufacturers under Title 49, Code of U.S. Federal Regulations, Part 575 pursuant to the
“National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1966.”Reporting safety defects
If you believe that your vehicle has a defect which could cause a crash or could cause injury or death, you should immediately inform
the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in addition to notifying Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC.
If NHTSA receives similar complaints, it may open an investigation, and if it finds that a safety defect exists in a group of vehicles, it
may order a recall and remedy campaign. However, NHTSA cannot become involved in individual problems between you, your dealer,
or Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC.
To contact NHTSA, you may either call the Auto Safety Hotline toll-free at 1-888-327-4236 (or 366-0123 in Washington, D.C. area) or
write to: NHTSA, U.S. Department of Transportation, Washington, D.C. 20590. You can also obtain other information about motor ve-
hicle safety from the Hotline.

19 At a glance
Cockpit
Instrument cluster
Multifunction steering wheel
Center console
Overhead control panel
Door control panel

20 At a glanceCockpit
Cockpit

21 At a glance
Cockpit
Item
Page
1
Combination switch

Turn signals
49


Windshield wipers
50


High beam
123
2
Cruise control lever
202


Cruise control
195


Distronic*
198
3
Instrument cluster
22
4
Multifunction steering
wheel
24
5
Gear range indicator, clock
22
6
Lever for voice control sys-
tem*, see separate operat-
ing instructions
Item
Page
7
Front Parktronic* warning
indicator for right front area
216
8
Overhead control panel
27
9
Glove box lock
221
a
Glove box lid release
221
b
Glove box
221
c
Center console
25,
26
d
Starter switch
31
e
Horn
f
Steering wheel adjustment
stalk
39
Heated steering wheel*
228
Item
Page
g
Parking brake pedal
47
h
Hood lock release
260
j
Parking brake release
47
k
Door control panel
28
l
Exterior lamp switch
119
m
Headlamp washer button
170
n
Front Parktronic* warning
indicator for left front area
216

22 At a glanceInstrument cluster
Instrument cluster

23 At a glance
Instrument cluster
Item
Page
1
Coolant temperature gauge
127
2
Fuel gauge with:Fuel reserve warning lamp
296
3
LLeft turn signal
indicator lamp
49
KRight turn signal
indicator lamp
4
Speedometer with:vESP warning lamp
295
lDistance warning
lamp
Vehicles without Distronic*:
Warning lamp without func-
tion. It illuminates when the
ignition is on. It should go
out when the engine is run-
ning.
294
5
Tachometer
128
6
Right display with: 296
Item
Page
-Antilock Brake Sys-
tem (ABS) ndicator
lamp
292
AHigh beam headlamp
indicator
123
7
Reset button
126
8
Display with:

Program mode
163


Gear range indicator
159


Digital clock (see
COMAND operating in-
structions)
9
Multifunction display
with:

Trip odometer
129


Main odometer
129
Stored speed for:

Cruise control
195


Distronic*
198
Item
Page
a
Outside temperature indica-
tor
127
b
Left display with:1Supplemental
restraint system
indicator lamp
297
;Brake warning lamp,
USA only
293
3Brake warning lamp,
Canada only
293
?Engine malfunction
indicator lamp, USA
only
294
±Engine malfunction
indicator lamp,
Canada only
294
HTire pressure warning
lamp
275,
296
c
Knob for instrument cluster
illumination
126