ContentsLoading .............................................. 245
Ski sack* ...................................... 245
Loading instructions ..................... 249
Useful features .................................. 250
Interior storage spaces ................ 250
Ashtrays ....................................... 253
Cigarette lighter ........................... 254
Floormats* ................................... 255
Telephone*................................... 256
Tele Aid* ...................................... 257
Garage door opener ..................... 265
Operation......................................... 271
The first 1 000 miles (1 500 km)......... 272
Driving instructions............................ 273
Drive sensibly – save fuel ............. 273
Drinking and driving ..................... 273
Pedals .......................................... 273
Power assistance ......................... 273
Brakes .......................................... 274
Driving off .................................... 275
Parking ......................................... 275
Tires ............................................. 276
Hydroplaning ................................ 277
Tire traction.................................. 277
Tire speed rating .......................... 278
Winter driving instructions ........... 279
Standing water ............................. 280
Passenger compartment .............. 280
Driving abroad.............................. 280
Control and operation
of radio transmitters .................... 281
Catalytic converter ....................... 281
Emission control .......................... 282
Coolant temperature .................... 283At the gas station .............................. 284
Refueling ...................................... 284
Check regularly and
before a long trip ......................... 286
Engine compartment ......................... 287
Hood ............................................ 287
Engine oil ..................................... 288
Transmission fluid level ................ 291
Coolant ........................................ 292
Battery ......................................... 294
Windshield washer system and
headlamp cleaning system*......... 295
Tires and wheels................................ 296
Important guidelines .................... 297
Life of tires................................... 297
Direction of rotation..................... 297
Checking tire inflation pressure ... 298
Rotating wheels ........................... 299
Winter driving .................................... 300
Winter tires .................................. 300
Block heater*............................... 301
Snow chains................................. 301
ProCarManuals.com
ContentsTechnical data.................................. 397
Spare parts service ............................ 398
Warranty coverage ............................. 399
Loss of Service and Warranty
Information Booklet...................... 399
Identification labels............................ 400
Layout of poly-V-belt drive ................. 401
CLK 320/CLK 500/CLK 55 AMG . 401
Engine ................................................ 402
Rims and tires .................................... 403
Same size tires ............................. 404
Mixed size tires ............................ 405
Minispare wheel ........................... 406
Electrical system................................ 407
Main dimensions................................ 408
Weights .............................................. 409Fuels, coolants, lubricants, etc. ......... 410
Capacities .................................... 410
Engine oils.................................... 412
Engine oil additives ...................... 412
Air conditioning refrigerant .......... 412
Brake fluid .................................... 412
Premium unleaded gasoline ......... 413
Fuel requirements ........................ 413
Gasoline additives ........................ 413
Coolants....................................... 414
Windshield washer system and
headlamp cleaning system* ......... 416
Consumer information ....................... 417
Uniform tire quality grading ......... 417
Technical terms............................... 419Index................................................. 427
ProCarManuals.com
23 At a glance
Instrument cluster
Item
Page
1
L
Left turn signal indi-
cator lamp
48
2
v
ESP warning lamp
316
3
Speedometer
4
Multifunction display
with:
129
Basic display with outside
temperature display
134,
144
Status indicator with mal-
function warning message
134,
138
Trip odometer
127
5
l
Distance warning
lamp
Vehicles without Distronic*:
Warning lamp without func-
tion. It illuminates with the
ignition on. It should go out
when the engine is running.
316
Item
Page
6
K
Right turn signal indi-
cator lamp
48
7
Coolant temperature indi-
cator with:
127
Ï
Coolant temperature
warning lamp
315,
329
8
Tachometer with:
127
1
Supplemental
restraint system
indicator lamp
318,
339
-
Antilock Brake Sys-
tem (ABS) warning
lamp
312
<
Seat belt non-usage
warning lamp
318,
339
A
High beam headlamp
indicator
123
9
Main odometer with:
Gear selector lever posi-
tion
129
Program mode
129
Item
Page
a
Clock with:
144
;
Brake warning lamp,
except Canada
313
3
Brake warning lamp,
Canada only
?
Engine malfunction
indicator lamp
314
C
Roll bar warning lamp
b
Fuel display with:W
Fuel reserve warning
lamp
317
c
Reset button for:
Resetting trip odometer
126
Adjusting instrument
cluster illumination
126
Confirming new time set-
tings
144
ProCarManuals.com
51 Getting started
Driving
Problems while driving
The engine runs erratically and misfires
An ignition cable may be damaged.
The engine electronics may not be op-
erating properly.
Unburned gasoline may have entered
the catalytic converter and damaged it.
Give very little gas.
Have the problem repaired by an au-
thorized Mercedes-Benz Center as
soon as possible.The coolant temperature is over 248°F
(120°C)
The coolant is too hot and is no longer
cooling the engine.
Stop the vehicle as soon as possible
and turn off the engine. Allow engine
and coolant to cool.
Check the coolant level and add cool-
ant if necessary (
page 292).In case of accident
If the vehicle is leaking gasoline:
Do not start the engine under any cir-
cumstances.
Notify local fire and/or police authori-
ties.
If the extent of the damage cannot be de-
termined:
Notify an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.
If no damage can be determined on the
major assemblies
fuel system
engine mount
Start the engine in the usual manner.
ProCarManuals.com
127 Controls in detail
Instrument cluster
Coolant temperature indicatorDuring severe operating conditions, e.g.
stop-and-go traffic, the coolant tempera-
ture may rise close to 120°C.
The engine should not be operated with
the coolant temperature above 120°C. Do-
ing so may cause serious engine damage
which is not covered by the
Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.
Trip odometer
Make sure you are viewing the trip odome-
ter display (
page 129).
I f i t i s n o t d i s p l a y e d , p r e s s b u t t o nè
orÿ on the multifunction steering
wheel repeatedly until the trip odome-
ter appears.
Press and hold reset button1 on the
instrument cluster (
page 126) until
the trip odometer is reset.
Tachometer
The red marking on the tachometer de-
notes excessive engine speed.
To help protect the engine, the fuel supply
is interrupted if the engine is operated
within the red marking.
CLK 55 AMG
The tachometer of the CLK 55 AMG does
not have a red marking denoting excessive
engine speed
To help protect the engine, the fuel supply
is interrupted if the engine is operated at
an excessive engine speed.
Warning!
G
Driving when your engine is overheated
can cause some fluids which may have
leaked into the engine compartment to
catch fire. You could be seriously
burned.
Steam from an overheated engine can
cause serious burns and can occur just
by opening the hood. Stay away from
the engine if you see or hear steam com-
ing from it.
Turn off the engine, get out of the vehicle
and do not stand near the vehicle until the
engine has cooled down.iExcessive coolant temperature triggers
a warning in the multifunction display
(page 329) and the red coolant warn-
ing lamp in the instrument cluster
comes on (
page 315).
!Avoid driving at excessive engine
speeds, as it may result in serious en-
gine damage that is not covered by the
Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.
ProCarManuals.com
283 Operation
Driving instructions
Coolant temperature
During severe operating conditions and
stop-and-go city traffic, the coolant tem-
perature may rise close to approx. 248°F
(120°C).
The engine should not be operated with
the coolant temperature over 248°F
(120°C). Doing so may cause serious en-
gine damage which is not covered by the
Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.
Warning!
G
Driving when your engine is badly over-
heated can cause some fluids, which
may have leaked into the engine com-
partment, to catch fire. You could be se-
riously burned.
Steam from an overheated engine can
cause serious burns and can occur just
by opening the hood. Stay away from
the engine if you see or hear steam com-
ing from it.
Turn off the engine, get out of the vehicle
and do not stand near the vehicle until the
engine has cooled down.
ProCarManuals.com
286 OperationAt the gas stationCheck regularly and before a long trip
1Coolant level
More information on coolant can be
found in the “Operation” section on
(
page 292).
2Brake fluid (fuse box cover removed)
Removing fuse box cover (
page 395)
3Windshield washer and headlamp
cleaning system
More information on refilling the reser-
voir can be found in the “Operation”
section on (
page 295).Engine oil level
More information on engine oil
(
page 288).
Opening hood (
page 287).
Vehicle lighting
Check function and cleanliness.For more
information on replacing light bulbs, see
“Replacing bulbs” (page 372).
Exterior lamp switch (page 47)
Tire inflation pressure
More information on tire inflate pressure
(
page 298).
!If you find that the brake fluid in the
brake fluid reservoir has fallen to the
minimum mark or below, have the
brake system checked for brake pad
thickness and leaks immediately. Noti-
fy an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center
immediately. Do not add brake fluid as
this will not solve the problem. For
more information, see also “Practical
hints” (
page 313).
ProCarManuals.com
288 OperationEngine compartment
Closing
Let the hood drop from a height of ap-
proximately 1 ft (30 cm).
The hood will lock audibly.
Make sure the hood is fully closed.
If you can raise the hood at a point
above the headlamps, then it is not
properly closed. Open it again and let it
drop with somewhat greater force.
Engine oil
The amount of oil your engine needs will
depend on a number of factors, including
driving style. Higher oil consumption can
occur when
the vehicle is new
the vehicle is driven frequently at high-
er engine speeds
Engine oil consumption checks should only
be made after the vehicle break-in period.
Warning!
G
If you see flames or smoke coming from the
engine compartment, or if the coolant tem-
perature gauge indicates that the engine is
overheated, do not open the hood. Move
away from the vehicle and do not open the
hood until the engine has cooled. If neces-
sary, call the fire department.Warning!
G
The engine is equipped with a transistorized
ignition system. Because of the high voltage
it is dangerous to touch any components (ig-
nition coils, spark plug sockets, diagnostic
socket) of the ignition system
with the engine running
while starting the engine
if ignition is “on” and the engine is
turned manually
Warning!
G
Be careful that you do not close the hood on
anyone.
iDo not use any special lubricant addi-
tives, as these may damage the drive
assemblies. Using special additives not
approved by Mercedes-Benz will
restrict your warranty entitlement.
More information on this subject is
available at any Mercedes-Benz
Center.
ProCarManuals.com