2004 MERCEDES-BENZ CLK55AMG COUPE center console

164 Controls in detailAutomatic transmissionManual shift program CLK 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 multifunction display
(
page 129).Activating manual shift program

Press program mode selector
switch1 repeatedly until the
M for
manual shift program appears in the
multifunction 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 multifunction display
(
page 129).
!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.

170 Controls in detailGood visibilityRear window sunshade*
The switch is located in the center console.
Turn the SmartKey to starter switch po-
sition 1 or 2. Vehicles with
KEYLESS-GO*: press the start/stop
button once or twice.

Press the switch briefly at 1 to raise
the sunshade.

Press the switch briefly at 2 to lower
the sunshade.
Always raise the sunshade fully for its sup-
port against the window frame.
Warning!
G
When operating the rear window sunshade,
make sure there is no danger of anyone be-
ing harmed by the raising or lowering proce-
dure.
The raising or lowering procedure can be im-
mediately halted by briefly pressing the up-
per or lower half of the switch.
Briefly press upper or lower half of the
switch again to raise or lower the rear win-
dow sunshade completely.
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. Unsupervised use of vehi-
cle equipment may cause an accident and⁄or
serious personal injury.

228 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 225).
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 78) 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.

247 Controls in detail
Useful features
Storage bags
Storage bags are located on the rear side
of the front seats.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.
Warning!
G
Do not place heavy or fragile objects, or ob-
jects having sharp edges, in the storage
bags.
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
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.

313 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.

397 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.

404 IndexAir conditioning (cooling)
Turning off 181
Turning on 181
Air conditioning refrigerant 390
Air distribution
Adjusting 176
Air 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 397
Children 60
Front 63
Passenger 63
Safety guidelines 62
Side impact 64
Window curtain 64Alarm
Audible 75, 83, 84
Canceling 83, 84
Visual 82
Alarm system
Anti-theft 82
Alignment bolt 360
Alignment bolt (vehicle tool kit) 397
Anticorrosion/antifreeze 393
Antiglare
Automatic 167
Antilock brake system (ABS) 397
Anti-theft alarm system
Arming 82
Canceling alarm 83, 84
Disarming 82
Anti-theft systems 81
Anti-theft alarm system 82
Immobilizer 81
Tow-away alarm 83
Aquaplaning see Hydroplaning
Armrest
Storage spaces 246Ashtray (Center console) 247
Opening 247
Reinstalling 248
Removing 248
Ashtray (Rear seat) 248
Opening 248
Reinstalling 248
Removing 248
At the gas station 278
ATF (automatic transmission fluid) 286
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
Switching off 186
Switching on 186
Telephone operation 203

407 Index
Center console 25
Lower part 26
PASS. AIRBAG OFF
indicator lamp 313
Upper part 25
Centigrade
Setting temperature units 142
Central locking
Automatic 105
From inside 106
Switch 106
Switching on/off
(control system) 149
Unlocking from inside 106
Central locking switch 106
Changing
Batteries (SmartKey
with KEYLESS-GO*) 346
Batteries (SmartKey) 345
Key setting 149
Changing CDs 199
Charcoal filter 179
Activating 179
Deactivating 180Charging
Vehicle battery 364
CHECK ENGINE malfunction
indicator lamp 308
Checking
Coolant level 286
Oil level 280, 283
Tire inflate pressure 280
Vehicle lighting 280
Child safety 68
Airbags 60
Infant and
child restraint systems 64, 68
LATCH child seat anchors 73
Child safety switch see
Blocking of rear window operation
Child seat anchors see
LATCH child seat anchors
Cigarette lighter 248Cleaning
Cup holder 303
Distronic* system sensor cover 301
Gear selector lever 303
Hard plastic trim items 303
Headlamps 166
Headliner 303
Instrument cluster 303
Leather upholstery 304
Light alloy wheels 303
Nubuck leather upholstery
(CLK 55 AMG) 304
Parktronic* system sensor 301
Plastic and rubber parts 304
Seat belts 303
Steering wheel 303
Upholstery 304
Windows 302
Windshield 49
Wiper blades 302
Wood trims 304
CLK 55 AMG
Manual shift program mode 164
Clock 23, 144