2004 MERCEDES-BENZ CL500 manual transmission

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

157 Controls in detail
Automatic transmission
Automatic transmission
For more information on driving with an au-
tomatic transmission, see the “Getting
started” section (
page 45).
Your vehicle’s transmission adapts its gear
shifting process to your individual driving
style by continually adjusting the shift
points up or down. These shift point adjust-
ments are performed based on current op-
erating and driving conditions.
If the operating conditions change, the
automatic transmission reacts by adjust-
ing its gear shift program.The automatic transmission selects indi-
vidual gears automatically, depending on:


the gear selector lever positionD with
gear ranges (
page 159)


the selected shift program (C/S)
(page 163)
or
(C/S/M) (CL 55 AMG only)
(page 164)


the position of the accelerator pedal


the vehicle speed
The current gear selector lever position
and shift program (
C/S) or (
C/S/M) appear
in the tachometer display (
page 22).When the gear selector lever is in
positionD, you can influence transmission
shifting by:


limiting the gear range


changing gears manually
iDuring the brief warm-up, transmission
upshifting is delayed. This allows the
catalytic converter to heat up more
quickly to operating temperature.
Warning!
G
It is dangerous to shift the gear selector le-
ver out of P or N if the engine speed is high-
er than idle speed. If your foot is not firmly
on the brake pedal, the vehicle could accel-
erate quickly forward or reverse. You could
lose control of the vehicle and hit someone
or something. Only shift into gear when the
engine is idling normally and when your right
foot is firmly on the brake pedal.

158 Controls in detailAutomatic transmissionOne-touch gearshifting
Even with an automatic transmission you
can change the gears manually when the
gear selector lever is in positionD.
Downshifting
Briefly press the gear selector lever to
the left in the D-direction.
The transmission will shift from the current
gear to the next lower gear. This action si-
multaneously limits the gear range of the
transmission (
page 159).Upshifting

Briefly press the gear selector lever to
the right in the D+direction.
The transmission will shift from the current
gear to the next higher gear as permitted
by the shift program. This action simulta-
neously extends the gear range of the
transmission.Canceling gear range limit

Press and hold the gear selector lever
in the D+direction until
D reappears in
the tachometer display.
The transmission will shift from the current
gear range directly to gear rangeD.
Shifting into optimal gear range

Press and hold the gear selector lever
in the D-direction.
The transmission will automatically select
the gear range suited for optimal accelera-
tion and deceleration. This will involve
shifting down one or more gears.
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.
iTo avoid overrevving the engine when
the gear selector lever is moved to the
D–direction, the transmission will not
shift to a lower gear if the engine's
max. speed would be exceeded.

161 Controls in detail
Automatic transmission
Steering wheel gearshift control (Speedshift) CL 55 AMG
You can change the gears manually on the
steering wheel or by using the gear
selector lever (
page 158).
Allow engine to warm up under low load
use. Do not place full load on the engine
until the operating temperature has been
reached. Shift into reverse gear only when
the vehicle is stopped.
!Coasting the vehicle, or driving for any
other reason with gear selector lever
inN can result in transmission damage
that is not covered by the
Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.Warning!
G
Getting out of your vehicle with the gear
selector lever not fully engaged in positionP
is dangerous. Also, positionP alone is not
intended to or capable of preventing your
vehicle from moving, possibly hitting people
or objects.
Always set the parking brake in addition to
shifting to positionP (
page 47).
When parked on an incline, turn the front
wheels towards the road curb.
Do not park this vehicle in areas where com-
bustible materials such as grass, hay or
leaves can come into contact with the hot
exhaust system, as these materials could be
ignited and cause a vehicle fire.Warning!
G
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the
SmartKey from the starter switch, take the
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO* with you and
lock your vehicle. Do not leave children un-
attended in the vehicle, or with access to an
unlocked vehicle. Children could move the
gear selector lever from positionP, which
could result in an accident and / or serious
personal injury.
!Avoid spinning of a drive wheel for an
extended period when driving off on
slippery road surfaces. This may cause
serious damage to the drivetrain which
is not covered by the Mercedes-Benz
Limited Warranty.

162 Controls in detailAutomatic transmissionThe steering wheel gearshift buttons are
located to the left and right of the steering
wheel.
1Left button: downshift
2Right button: upshiftDownshifting

Press button1 on the left side of the
steering wheel.
The gear range is limited when you are not
driving in the manual program mode
(
page 159).
When driving in the manual program mode
(page 164), the transmission will shift
from the current gear to the next lower
gear (
page 165).Upshifting

Press button2 on the right side of the
steering wheel.
The gear range is extended when you are
not driving in the manual program mode
(
page 159).
When driving in the manual program mode
(page 164), the transmission will shift
from the current gear to the next higher
gear (
page 165).
Warning!
G
On slippery road surfaces, never downshift
in order to obtain braking action. This could
result in drive wheel slip and reduced
vehicle control. Your vehicle’s ABS will not
prevent this type of loss of control.iYou cannot shift with the steering
wheel gearshift buttons when the gear
selector lever is in positionP,N orR.
iYou cannot shift with the steering
wheel gearshift buttons when the gear
selector lever is in positionP,N orR.

164 Controls in detailAutomatic transmissionManual shift program CL 55 AMG
In the manual shift program mode you can
change the gears manually on the steering
wheel (
page 161) or by using the gear
selector lever (
page 158).
Allow engine to warm up under low load
use. Do not place full load on the engine
until the operating temperature has been
reached. Shift into reverse gear only when
the vehicle is stopped.Program mode selector switch
The program mode selector switch is
located on the lower part of the center
console.
1Program mode selector switch
S Sport For standard driving
C Comfort For comfort driving
M Manual For manual gear shifting
The selected shift program (
C/S/M) is
indicated in the tachometer display
(
page 22).Activating manual shift program

Press program mode selector
switch1 repeatedly until the
M for
manual shift program appears in the
tachometer display.
The program mode switches to manual
program modeM. Automatic shifting is
switched off. The gear range is not
limited.
You can change the gears manually when
the gear selector lever is in positionD. You
can upshift or downshift through the gears
in succession.
The current gear selector lever position
and the selected shift program (
C/S/M) is
indicated in the tachometer display
(
page 22).
!Avoid spinning of a drive wheel for an
extended period when driving off on
slippery road surfaces. This may cause
serious damage to the drive train which
is not covered by the Mercedes-Benz
Limited Warranty.

165 Controls in detail
Automatic transmission
Downshifting
Briefly press the gear selector lever to
the left in the D-direction
(page 158).
or

Press button1 on the left side of the
steering wheel (
page 161).
The transmission shifts to the next
lower gear.Upshifting

Briefly press the gear selector lever to
the right in the D+direction
(page 158).
or

Press button2 on the right side of the
steering wheel (
page 161).
The transmission shifts to the next
higher gear.Kickdown
The kickdown can also be used for
maximum acceleration when driving in the
manual program mode.

Press the accelerator past the point of
resistance.
The transmission shifts to a lower gear.

Shift up once the desired speed has
been reached.
Warning!
G
On slippery road surfaces, never downshift
in order to obtain braking action. This could
result in drive wheel slip and reduced
vehicle control. Your vehicle’s ABS will not
prevent this type of loss of control.
iWhen driving at full throttle, the trans-
mission shifts to the next higher gear
when maximum engine speed has been
reached.
When you brake or stop, the transmis-
sion shifts down to a gear from which
you can easily accelerate or take off.

166 Controls in detailAutomatic transmissionDeactivating manual shift program
Press the program mode selector
switch repeatedly until
S or
C appears
in the tachometer display.
or

Restart the engine.
The transmission will go into the auto-
matic shift program mode last selected
(SorC).
Program modeM is not stored.Emergency operation (Limp home
mode)
If vehicle acceleration worsens or the
transmission no longer shifts, the trans-
mission is most likely operating in limp
home (emergency operation) mode. In this
mode, only second gear and reverse gear
can be activated.
Stop the vehicle.

Move gear selector lever toP.

Turn off the engine.

Wait at least ten seconds before
restarting.

Restart the engine.

Move gear selector lever to positionD
(for second gear) orR.

Have the transmission checked at an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center as
soon as possible.
iThe last selected automatic program
mode (S orC) is switched on when the
engine is restarted in the automatic
program mode.