Page 5 of 464

Contents
Control system ..................................  129
Multifunction display ....................  129
Multifunction steering wheel ........  130
Menus ..........................................  132
Standard display menu ................  134
AUDIO menu ................................  134
NAV menu ....................................  137
Distronic* menu...........................  137
Malfunction memory menu ..........  138
Settings menu ..............................  139
Trip computer menu.....................  152
TEL menu* ...................................  154
Automatic transmission .....................  157
One-touch gearshifting.................  158
Gear ranges .................................  159
Gear selector lever position .........  160
Steering wheel gearshift control 
(Speedshift) CLK 55 AMG ............  161
Program mode selector switch.....  163
Accelerator position .....................  163
Manual shift program 
CLK 55 AMG ................................  164
Emergency operation 
(Limp Home Mode) ......................  166Good visibility ..................................... 167
Windshield wipers ......................... 167
Headlamp cleaning system* ......... 167
Rear view mirror ........................... 168
Sun visors ..................................... 170
Rear window defroster .................. 171
Automatic climate control .................. 172
Setting the temperature................ 175
Adjusting air distribution............... 176
Adjusting air volume ..................... 177
Maximum cooling MAXCOOL ........ 177
Defrosting ..................................... 177
Air recirculation mode .................. 178
Charcoal filter ............................... 179
Deactivating the 
climate control system ................. 180
Air conditioning............................. 181
Residual heat and ventilation* ...... 181
Rear passenger compartment 
adjustable air vents....................... 182Audio system......................................  183
Audio and telephone, operation .... 183
Operating safety ...........................  183
Sound system ...............................  183
Operating and display elements ... 184
Button and soft key operation ......  186
Operation......................................  186
Radio operation ............................ 189
Satellite radio (SAT)* (USA only)... 192
Cassette operation .......................  196
CD changer* operation .................  199
Telephone* operation ...................  203
Power windows ..................................  210
Opening and 
closing the windows .....................  210
Synchronizing power windows ......  214
Soft top .............................................. 215
Opening and closing the soft top ..  215
Driving systems ..................................  226
Cruise control ...............................  226
Distronic* ..................................... 229
Parktronic (Parking assist)* ..........  241 
     
        
        Page 174 of 464

174 Controls in detailAutomatic climate controlThe automatic climate control is operation-
al whenever the engine is running. You can 
operate the climate control system in ei-
ther the automatic or manual mode. The 
system cools or heats the interior depend-
ing on the selected interior temperature 
and the current outside temperature.Nearly all dust particles, pollutants and 
odors are filtered out before outside air en-
ters the passenger compartment through 
the air distribution system.
The air conditioning will not engage (no 
cooling) if the ° mode is selected 
(
page 181).
Warning
G
When operating the automatic climate con-
trol, the air that enters the passenger com-
partment through the air vents in the 
footwell can be very hot or very cold (de-
pending on the set temperature). This may 
cause burns or frostbite on unprotected skin 
in the immediate area of the air vents. Al-
ways keep sufficient distance between un-
protected parts of the body and the footwell 
air vents. If necessary change the air flow 
using the air distribution controls to direct 
the air away from the footwell air vents 
(page 176).
Warning!
G
Follow the recommended settings for heat-
ing and cooling given on the following pag-
es. Otherwise the windows could fog up, 
impairing visibility and endangering you and 
others.
iSevere conditions (e.g. strong air pollu-
tion) may require replacement of the fil-
ter before its scheduled interval. A 
clogged filter will reduce the air volume 
to the interior.
If the vehicle interior is hot, ventilate 
the interior before driving off.
Keep the air intake grille in front of the 
windshield free of snow and debris.
Do not obstruct air flow by placing ob-
jects on the air flow-through exhaust 
slots below the rear window. 
     
        
        Page 177 of 464

177 Controls in detail
Automatic climate control
Adjusting air volume
Adjusting manually
Seven blower speeds are available.
Press leftM or rightQ s i d e  o f  a i r  
volume control switch until the re-
quested blower speed is attained.
The display “AUTO” disappears and the 
automatic mode is switched off. The 
selected blower speed is shown in the 
display.
Adjusting automatically
Press left or right U button until it 
clicks in.
The a, Z, X and Y sym-
bols are no longer visible.
The air volume is adjusted automatical-
ly.
Maximum cooling MAXCOOL
If the left and right air distribution controls 
as well as the airflow volume control are 
set toU and there is a high need for 
cooling, the display “MAXCOOL” appears.
This provides the fastest possible cooling 
of the vehicle interior (when windows and 
soft top are closed).
Defrosting
Activating
Press buttonP (
page 173). 
The indicator lamp on the button 
comes on.
Switch off air recirculation, if selected.
Press button, (
page 173). 
The indicator lamp on the button goes 
out.
Close center air vents.
Adjust side air vents upwards.
Deactivating
Press buttonP (
page 173).
The indicator lamp on the button goes 
out. Defrosting is turned off.
iThese settings should only be selected 
for a short time.