2004 MERCEDES-BENZ CLK55AMG CABRIOLET center console

236 Controls in detailDriving systemsDeactivating Distronic
There are several ways to deactivate the
Distronic system:
Briefly tip cruise control lever in the di-
rection of arrow3 (
page 233).
or

Step on the brake pedal.
Distronic will be deactivated. The last
speed set will be stored into memory.Distronic deactivates automatically when


you set the parking brake


you drive slower than 25 mph
(40 km/h)


the ESP is active (
page 79) or you de-
activate the ESP


you move the gear selector lever into
positionN.
A si gnal wi ll s ound. T he
Distronic off

message appears in the multifunction
display for approximately five seconds.Setting the following distance in
Distronic
You can set the specified following dis-
tance for Distronic by varying the time set-
ting between 1.0 and 2.0 seconds. Using
this time setting and the current speed of
your vehicle, Distronic calculates and sets
the required following distance to the vehi-
cle ahead. The set distance will be shown
in the multifunction display field.
The thumbwheel for making the time set-
ting is located on the lower section of the
center console.
iThe following message will appear in
the multifunction display for approxi-
mately five seconds:
Distronic off
.
The last stored speed is deleted when
you turn off the engine.
Warning!
G
Distronic switches off and releases the
brakes when the vehicle decelerates below
the minimum speed of approximately
25 mph ( 40 km / h) by operation of the sys-
tem. At that time the driver must apply the
brakes in order to reduce vehicle speed fur-
ther or bring it to a stop.
Warning!
G
It is up to the driver to exercise discretion to
select the appropriate setting given road
conditions, traffic, driver’s preferred driving
style and applicable laws and driving recom-
mendations for safe following distance.

253 Controls in detail
Useful features
Parcel net in front passenger footwell
A small convenience parcel net is located
in the front passenger footwell. It is for
small and light items, such as road maps,
mail, etc.
Ashtrays
Center console ashtray
Opening ashtray
Briefly touch cover plate1.
The ashtray opens automatically.Removing ashtray insert

Secure vehicle from movement by set-
ting the parking brake. Move the selec-
tor lever to positionN.
Now you have more room to take out
the insert.

Push sliding button2 to the right.
The ashtray is disengaged and slides a
short way in direction of arrow3.

Remove insert from ashtray frame.
Warning!
G
Do not place heavy or fragile objects, or ob-
jects having sharp edges, in the parcel net.
In an accident, during hard braking or sud-
den maneuvers, they could be thrown
around inside the vehicle, and cause injury
to vehicle occupants.
Warning!
G
Remove front ashtray only with vehicle
standing still. Set the parking brake to se-
cure vehicle from movement. Move gear se-
lector lever to positionN. With gear selector
lever in positionN, turn off the engine.

319 Practical hints
What to do if …?
Lamp in center consoleProblem
Possible cause
Suggested solution
PASS. AIRBAG OFF
The indicator lamp comes on.
A BabySmart
TM1
child seat is installed on the
front passenger seat. Therefore the passen-
ger front airbag is switched off.
1BabySmart
TM is a trademark of Siemens Automotive Corp.

Have the system checked as soon as
possible by an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
The system is malfunctioning when there is
no BabySmart
TM child seat installed on the
front passenger seat.
PASS. AIRBAG OFF
The indicator lamp does not
come on with a BabySmart
TM
child seat properly installed on
the front passenger seat.
The system is malfunctioning.

Make sure there is nothing between
seat cushion and child seat and check
installation of the child seat.

If the light remains out, have the sys-
tem checked as soon as possible by
an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Do not use the BabySmart
TM restraint
to transport children on the front pas-
senger seat until the system has been
repaired.

419 Technical terms
ABS
(A
ntilock B
rake S
ystem)
Prevents the wheels from locking up
during braking so that the vehicle can
continue to be steered.
Alignment bolt
Metal pin with thread. The centering
pin is an aid used when changing a tire
to align the wheel with the wheel hub.BabySmart
TM1
airbag deactivation
system
This system detects if a special system
compatible child restraint seat is in-
stalled on the front passenger seat. The
system will automatically deactivate
the passenger front airbag when such a
seat is properly installed (indicator
lamp PASS. AIRBAG OFF in the center
console comes on). See your autho-
rized Mercedes-Benz Center for avail-
ability.
BabySmart
TM compatible child seats
Special restraint system for children.
The sensor system for the passenger
seat prevents deployment of the pas-
senger front airbag if a BabySmart
TM
compatible child seat is installed.BAS
(B
rake A
ssist S
ystem)
System for potentially reducing braking
distances in emergency braking situa-
tions. The system is activated when it
senses an emergency based on how
fast the brake is applied.
Bi-Xenon headlamps*
Headlamps which use an electric arc as
the light source and produce a more in-
tense light than filament headlamps.
Bi-Xenon headlamps produce low
beam and high beam.
1BabySmart
TM
is a trademark of Siemens
Automotive Corp.

428 IndexAir pressure see Tire inflation pressure
Air recirculation mode 178
Activating 178
Deactivating 179
Air vents, rear passenger compartment
Adjustable 182
Air volume
Adjusting 177
Airbags 59
BabySmart
TM airbag
deactivation system 71, 419
Children 60
Front 63
Head-thorax 63
Passenger 63
Rear side-impact 64
Safety guidelines 62
Alarm
Audible 75, 84, 86
Canceling 84, 86
Visual 83
Alarm system
Anti-theft 83
Alignment bolt 382
Alignment bolt (vehicle tool kit) 419Anticorrosion/antifreeze 415
Antiglare
Automatic 168
Antilock brake system (ABS) 419
Anti-theft alarm system
Arming 83
Canceling alarm 84, 86
Disarming 84
Anti-theft systems 82
Anti-theft alarm system 83
Immobilizer 82
Tow-away alarm 84
Aquaplaning see Hydroplaning
Armrest
Storage spaces 251
Ashtray (Center console) 253
Opening 253
Reinstalling 254
Removing 253
Ashtray (Rear seat) 254
Opening 254
Reinstalling 254
Removing 254At the gas station 284
ATF (automatic transmission fluid) 291
AUDIO menu 134
Selecting radio station 135
Selecting satellite radio* station 135
Audio system 183
Audio and telephone, operation 183
Button and soft key operation 186
Cassette operation 196
CD operation 199
Operating and display elements 184
Operating safety 183
Operation 186
Radio operation 189
Sound system 183
Switching off 186
Switching on 186
Telephone operation 203
Automatic antiglare for
rear view mirror 168
Automatic central locking
Activating/deactivating
(control system) 149
Locking/unlocking
(central locking switch) 108

430 IndexBi-Xenon headlamps* 419
Block heater* 301
Blocking
Rear window operation 74
Bolts
For Minispare wheel 347
Brake assist system (BAS) 419
Brake fluid 412
Message in display 327
Brake lamp bulbs 373
Brake lamp, high mounted 373
Brake pads
Message in display 327
Brakes 274
Warning lamp 313
Break-in period 272Bulbs, replacing 372
Additional turn signals 373
Backup lamps 373
Brake lamps 373
Fog lamps 373
Front lamps 373
High beam (Bi-Xenon*) 373
High beam (Halogen) 373
High beam flasher (Bi-Xenon*) 373
High beam flasher (Halogen) 373
High mounted brake lamp 373
License plate lamps 373, 378
Low beam (Bi-Xenon*) 373
Low beam (Halogen) 373
Parking lamps 373, 375, 377
Rear fog lamp 373, 378
Side marker lamps 373, 377
Standing lamps 373, 375, 377
Tail lamp assemblies 373, 378
Turn signal lamps 373
Button
Audio system 186C
CAC (Customer Assistance Center) 420
Calling up
Distronic* settings 137
Range (distance to empty) 153
Service indicator 303
CAN system 420
Canceling
Cruise control 227
Capacities
Fuels, coolants, lubricants, etc. 410
Cassette operation
Playing cassettes 196
Cassette player
Operating 136
Catalytic converter 281
CD changer* 199
CD operation 199
CD player
Operating 136
Center console 25
Lower part 26
PASS. AIRBAG OFF
indicator lamp 319
Upper part 25

439 Index
Instrument cluster 22, 126, 421
Cleaning 309
Coolant temperature indicator 127
Illumination 126
Lamps in 312–318
Multifunction display 129
Outside temperature indicator 128
Selecting language 143
Instruments and controls see Cockpit
Interior lighting 124
Activating automatic control 124
Deactivating automatic control 125
Delayed switch-off 148
Manual operation 125
Interior rear view mirror
Adjusting 38
Interior storage spaces 250
Armrest 251
Glove box 250
Parcel net 253
Storage bags 252
J
Jack 343, 345
Jump starting 388K
Key, mechanical 348
Key, SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO*
Changing the batteries 351
Key-dependency memory
Settings 151
KEYLESS-GO* 421
Activating ignition with 33
Closing side windows 96
Closing soft top 96
Closing windows with 214
Factory setting 94
Global locking 94
Global unlocking 94
Important notes 92
Locking the vehicle 95
Messages in display 334
Remote controls 91
Starting the engine 44
Turning off the engine 55
Unlocking with 32
Unlocking, trunk lid 96
Kickdown 163, 421
Kilometers/miles in speedometer 142
Km/h or mph in speedometer 142L
Labels, identification 400
Lamp bulbs, exterior 372
Lamp sensor
Messages in display 336
Lamps, exterior
Front 373
Light sensor 336
Messages in display 335–338
Rear 373
Lamps, indicator and warning
ABS 312
Battery (SmartKey) 89, 94
Brakes 313
Center console 319
CHECK ENGINE 314
Coolant 315, 328
Distance warning 316
Distronic* 231, 237
Engine diagnostics 314
ESP 316, 317
Fuel reserve 317
Instrument cluster 312–318
PASS. AIRBAG OFF 63, 319
Roll bar 317
Seat belts 318

443 Index
Roll bar 338
Selector lever 325
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO* 334
Soft top 340
Steering gear oil level 341
Symbol messages 326–342
Tele Aid 341
Telephone* 342
Text messages 321–325
Trunk 342
Washer fluid 342
Multifunction
steering wheel 24, 130, 422
Buttons 130
N
Navigation system
Operating 137
See separate COMAND*
operating instructions
Night security illumination 121
Nubuck leather upholstery (CLK 55 AMG)
Cleaning 310O
Occupant safety 58
Airbags 59
Children and airbags 60
Children in the vehicle 69
Fastening the seat belts 40
Infant and child restraint systems 69
LATCH child seat anchors 73
Seat belts 40, 62
Odometer, main 23
Oil
Adding 291
Checking level 289
Consumption 288
Filler cap 291
Filler neck 291
Viscosity 421
Oil level
Checking 286
One-touch gearshifting 158
Canceling gear range limit 158
Downshifting 158
Upshifting 158Opening
Ashtray (Center console) 253
Ashtray (Rear seat) 254
Cup holder 251
Doors from the inside 97
Fuel filler flap 284
Fuel filler flap manually 352
Glove box 250
Hood 287
Side windows 211
Ski sack roller blind* 217, 245
Soft top 215
Soft top (SmartKey) 222
Soft top (switch) 218
Trunk 98
Trunk from the inside 99
Windows 210
Windows with SmartKey 213
Windows with soft top switch 212