Page 7 of 464

Contents
Maintenance......................................  302
Clearing the service indicator ......  302
Service term exceeded ................  302
Calling up the service indicator ....  303
Resetting the service indicator.....  303
Vehicle care .......................................  304
Cleaning and care of vehicle ........  304
Practical hints.................................. 311
What to do if …? ................................. 312
Lamps in instrument cluster ......... 312
Lamp in center console................. 319
Messages in the display ................ 320
Where will I find...? ............................. 343
First aid kit.................................... 343
Vehicle tool kit .............................. 343
Minispare wheel............................ 346
Unlocking/locking in an emergency... 348
Unlocking the vehicle.................... 348
Locking the vehicle ....................... 349
Changing batteries in 
the SmartKey/ SmartKey 
with KEYLESS-GO* ....................... 350
Fuel filler flap ................................ 352
Manually unlocking 
the gear selector lever .................. 352
Opening/closing in an emergency ..... 353
Operating roll bars manually ......... 353
Soft top emergency operation ...... 355Replacing bulbs ..................................  372
Bulbs............................................. 372
Replacing bulbs for front lamps .... 374
Side marker lamp bulb..................  377
Replacing bulbs for rear lamps .....  378
Replacing wiper blades ......................  379
Removing wiper blades .................  379
Installing wiper blades ..................  379
Flat tire...............................................  380
Preparing the vehicle .................... 380
Mounting the Minispare wheel......  380
Battery ...............................................  385
Disconnecting the battery ............ 386
Removing the battery ...................  386
Charging and reinstalling battery ..  386
Reconnecting the battery .............  387
Jump starting......................................  388
Towing the vehicle..............................  390
Towing the vehicle ........................ 390
Installing towing eye bolt ..............  392
Fuses.................................................. 394
Fuse box in 
passenger compartment ...............  394
Fuse box in engine compartment .  395
Auxiliary fuse box in trunk ............ 396 
     
        
        Page 31 of 464

31 Getting started
Unlocking
Starter switch positionsStarter switch0For removing SmartKey
1Power supplies to some electrical con-
sumers, such as seat adjustment
2Ignition (power supply for all electrical 
consumers) and driving position
3Starting position
Warning!
G
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the 
SmartKey from the starter switch, take the 
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO* with you and 
lock the vehicle. Do not leave children unat-
tended in the vehicle, or with access to an 
unlocked vehicle. Unsupervised use of vehi-
cle equipment may cause an accident 
and/or serious personal injury.iThe SmartKey can only be removed 
from the starter switch with the gear 
selector lever in position P.
!If the SmartKey cannot be turned in the 
starter switch, the battery may not be 
sufficiently charged.
Check the battery and charge it 
if necessary (
page 385).
Get a jump start (
page 388).
To prevent accelerated battery dis-
charge and a possible dead battery, al-
ways remove the SmartKey from the 
starter switch when the engine is not in 
operation. 
     
        
        Page 82 of 464
82 Safety and SecurityAnti-theft systems
Anti-theft systemsImmobilizer
The immobilizer prevents unauthorized 
persons from starting your vehicle.
Activating
With the SmartKey: Removing the 
SmartKey from the starter switch acti-
vates the immobilizer.
With KEYLESS-GO*: Turning off the en-
gine by means of the start/stop button 
on the gear selector lever activates the 
immobilizer.Deactivating
With the SmartKey: Inserting the 
SmartKey in the starter switch deacti-
vates the immobilizer.
With KEYLESS-GO*: Starting the en-
gine by means of the start/stop button 
on the gear selector lever deactivates 
the immobilizer.
iIn case the engine cannot be started 
(yet the vehicle’s battery is charged), 
the system is not operational. Contact 
an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center 
or call 1-800-FOR-MERCedes (in the 
USA), or 1-800-387-0100 (in Canada). 
     
        
        Page 386 of 464

386 Practical hintsBatteryDisconnecting the battery
1Negative terminal
2Positive terminal cover
Depress parking brake firmly or move 
gear selector lever to positionP.
Turn off all electrical consumers.
Remove SmartKey from starter switch.
Vehicles with KEYLESS-GO*:
Press the start / stop button until 
the engine shuts off.
Open the driver’s door.
Open the hood (
page 287).
Remove the filter box.
Disconnect the battery negative lead.
Remove cover2 from the positive ter-
minal.
Disconnect the battery positive lead.
Removing the battery
Remove the screw securing the bat-
tery.
Remove the battery support and brack-
et.
Take out the battery.
Charging and reinstalling battery
Charge battery in accordance with the 
instructions of the battery charger 
manufacturer.
Reinstall the charged battery. Follow 
the previously described steps in re-
verse order.
Warning!
G
With a disconnected battery
you will no longer be able to turn the 
SmartKey in the starter switch and 
pressing the KEYLESS-GO* start/stop 
button on the gear selector lever will 
have no effect
the gear selector lever will remain 
locked in position
P
Warning!
G
Never charge a battery while still installed in 
the vehicle. Gases may escape during charg-
ing and cause explosions that may result in 
paint damage, corrosion or personal injury. 
     
        
        Page 429 of 464

429 Index
Automatic climate control 172
Adjusting air distribution 176
Air recirculation mode 178
Defrosting 177
Rear window defroster 171
Setting the temperature 175
Automatic headlamp mode 120
Automatic lighting control
Activating 124
Deactivating 125
Automatic locking when driving 107Automatic transmission 157
Accelerator position 163
Comfort (C) program mode 163, 164
Emergency operation 
(Limp Home Mode) 166
Fluid level 291
Gear ranges 159
Gear selector lever position 157, 160
Gear shifting malfunctions 166
Kickdown 163
Manual (M) program mode 164
Manual shift program 
mode (CLK 55 AMG) 164
One-touch gearshifting 158
Program mode selector switch 163
Program mode selector 
switch CLK 55 AMG 164
Speedshift (CLK 55 AMG) 161
Sport (S) program mode 163, 164
Starting the engine 44
Steering wheel gearshift 
control (CLK 55 AMG) 161
Transmission fluid 291
Auxiliary fuse box 396B
BabySmart
TM
Airbag deactivation system 71, 419
Compatible child seats 71, 419
Self-test 72
Backup lamps 373, 378
Bulbs 373
BAS 78, 419
Messages in display 322, 323
Batteries, SmartKey
Changing 350
Check lamp 89, 94
Checking 90, 95
Batteries, SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO*
Changing 351
Check lamp 89, 94
Checking 90, 95
Battery discharged
Jump starting 388
Battery, vehicle 294, 385
Charging 386
Disconnecting 386
Messages in display 326
Reconnecting 387
Reinstalling 386
Removing 386