Page 7 of 442

Contents
Manual transmission .........................  154
Shifting into reverse .....................  155
Automatic transmission* ...................  156
One-touch gearshifting.................  158
Gear ranges .................................  159
Gear selector lever position .........  160
Automatic shift program ..............  162
Driving tips ...................................  163
Steering wheel gearshift control 
(Speedshift) (C 55 AMG only).......  164
Manual shift program 
(C 55 AMG only)...........................  165
Emergency operation 
(Limp Home Mode) ......................  167
Good visibility ....................................  168
Headlamp cleaning system* ........  168
Rear view mirrors .........................  168
Sun visors ....................................  171
Rear window sunshade* ..............  172
Rear window defroster .................  173Climate control ................................... 174
Deactivating the climate control 
system .......................................... 177
Setting the temperature................ 177
Adjusting air distribution and 
volume .......................................... 178
Defrosting ..................................... 178
Air recirculation mode .................. 179
Air conditioning............................. 181
Rear passenger compartment 
adjustable air vents....................... 182
Audio system ...................................... 183
Audio and telephone, operation .... 183
Operating safety ........................... 183
Operating and display elements.... 184
Button and soft key operation....... 186
Operation ...................................... 186
Radio operation ............................ 191
Introduction to satellite radio* 
(USA only) ..................................... 196
CD mode ....................................... 201
GSM network phones ................... 208
TDMA or CDMA network phones .. 214
Emergency calls “911”.................. 221Power windows ..................................  223
Opening and closing the 
windows........................................  223
Synchronizing power windows ......  226
Power tilt/sliding sunroof* ................ 227
Opening and closing the power 
tilt/sliding sunroof........................ 227
Synchronizing the power 
tilt/sliding sunroof........................ 230
Driving systems ..................................  231
Cruise control ...............................  231
Loading .............................................. 234
Roof rack* ....................................  234
Ski sack* (Canada only) ...............  234
Split rear bench seat* ..................  237
Loading instructions .....................  239
Cargo tie-down rings*...................  240
Useful features ...................................  241
Storage compartments .................  241
Ashtrays........................................  245
Cigarette lighter ............................ 246
Electrical outlet in the rear 
passenger compartment ...............  247
Telephone* ...................................  247
Tele Aid* .......................................  248
Garage door opener* .................... 256 
     
        
        Page 29 of 442
27 At a glance
Center console
Center console
Upper part
Item
Page
1
Seat heating*, driver’s side
105
2
Rear window sunshade 
switch*
172
3
ESP control switch
79
4
Hazard warning flasher 
switch – switching on/off
114
5
Central locking switch
96
Central unlocking switch
96
6
Switch for folding back 
rear seat head restraints
102
7
Tow-away alarm switch*
85
Anti-theft alarm system 
indicator lamp*
84
Item
Page
8
Seat heating*, passenger 
side
105
9
Front passenger front 
air bag off indicator lamp
70,
308
a
Audio system,
183
orCOMAND* (see separate 
operating instructions)
b
Climate control
174
Rear window defroster
173 
     
        
        Page 89 of 442
87 Controls in detail
Locking and unlocking
Seats
Memory function*
Lighting
Instrument cluster
Control system
Manual transmission
Automatic transmission*
Good visibility
Climate control
Audio system
Power windows
Power tilt/sliding sunroof*
Driving systems
Loading
Useful features 
     
        
        Page 175 of 442

173 Controls in detail
Good visibility
Rear window defroster
The rear window defroster uses a large 
amount of power. To keep the battery 
drain to a minimum, switch off the 
defroster as soon as the rear window is 
clear. The defroster is automatically 
deactivated after approximately 
6 to 17 minutes of operation depending on 
the outside temperature.Activating
Press buttonF in the climate 
control panel (
page 175).
The indicator lamp on the button 
comes on.
Deactivating
Press buttonF again.
The indicator lamp on the button goes 
out.
Warning!
G
Any accumulation of snow and ice should be 
removed from the rear window before 
driving. Visibility could otherwise be 
impaired, endangering you and others.!If the rear window defroster switches 
off too soon and the indicator lamp 
starts flashing, this means that too 
many electrical consumers are 
operating simultaneously and there is 
insufficient voltage in the battery. The 
system responds automatically by 
deactivating the rear window defroster. 
As soon as the battery has sufficient 
voltage, the rear window defroster 
automatically turns itself back on. 
     
        
        Page 176 of 442
174 Controls in detailClimate control 
     
        
        Page 177 of 442
175 Controls in detail
Climate control
Climate control panel
Item
1
Left side defroster vent, fixed
2
Left side air vent, adjustable
3
Thumbwheel for air volume control 
for left side air vent
4
Thumbwheel for air volume control 
for left center air vent
5
Left center air vent, adjustable
6
Right center air vent, adjustable
7
Thumbwheel for air volume control 
for right center air vent 
8
Thumbwheel for air volume control 
for right side air vent
9
Right side air vent, adjustable
a
Right side defroster vent, fixed
b
Climate control panel
iFor draft-free ventilation, move the 
sliders for the side air vents2 and9 
and center air vents5 and  6 to the 
middle position.
Item
1
Air volume control
2
Left side temperature control
3
Right side temperature control
4
Air distribution control
5
Rear window defroster
6
AC cooling on/off (AC
OFF
)
7
Air distribution and air volume 
(automatic mode)
8
Air recirculation
9
Defrosting 
     
        
        Page 178 of 442

176 Controls in detailClimate controlThe climate control is operational when-
ever the engine is running. You can oper-
ate the climate control system in either the 
automatic or manual mode. The system 
cools or heats the interior depending 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 modeAC
OFF
 is selected 
(
page 181).
Warning!
G
When operating the climate control, the air 
that enters the passenger compartment 
through the air vents in the footwell can be 
very hot or very cold (depending on the set 
temperature). This may cause burns or frost-
bite on unprotected skin in the immediate 
area of the air vents. Always keep sufficient 
distance between unprotected 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 foot-
well air vents (
page 178).
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 
pollution) may require replacement of 
the filter 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, see 
“Opening (Summer opening feature)” 
(page 229).
Keep the air intake grille in front of the 
windshield free of snow and debris.
Do not obstruct air flow by placing 
objects on the air flow-through exhaust 
slots below the rear window. 
     
        
        Page 179 of 442

177 Controls in detail
Climate control
Deactivating the climate control system
Deactivating
Set air volume control1 (
page 175) 
to position0. 
Reactivating
Set air volume control1 (
page 175) 
to any speed.
Setting the temperature
Use temperature controls2 and3 
(page 175) to separately adjust the air 
temperature on each side of the passenger 
compartment. You should raise or lower 
the temperature setting in small incre-
ments, preferably starting at 72°F (22°C).Increasing
Turn temperature control2 or3 
slightly to the right.
The climate control system will corre-
spondingly adjust the interior air tem-
perature.
Decreasing
Turn temperature control2 or3 
slightly to the left.
The climate control system will corre-
spondingly adjust the interior air tem-
perature.
iWhen the air conditioning is switched 
off, the outside air supply and circula-
tion are also switched off. Only choose 
this setting for a short time. Otherwise 
the windows could fog up.
iWhen operating the climate control 
system in automatic mode, you will 
only rarely need to adjust the tempera-
ture, air volume and air distribution.