2005 MERCEDES-BENZ C55AMG cruise control

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

23 At a glance
Cockpit
Item
Page
1
Steering wheel gearshift
control (C 55 AMG only)
164
2
Cruise control lever
231
3
Multifunction steering
wheel
26,
122
4
Horn
5
Instrument cluster
24,
117
6
Lever for voice control
system*
1, see separate
operating instructions
1Feature description is based on preliminary infor-
mation at time of printing. At time of printing, no
date for availability of voice control had been set.
Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center for
details and availability for your vehicle model.7
Overhead control panel
29
Item
Page
8
Glove box lid release
241
9
Glove box lock
241
a
Center console
27
b
Starter switch
33
c
Hood lock release
278
d
Steering wheel adjustment
handle (manual)
40
e
Steering wheel adjustment
stalk (electrical)*
40
f
Parking brake pedal
48, 54
g
Remote trunk lid switch
93
Item
Page
h
Door control panel
30
j
Parking brake release
48
k
Combination switch

Turn signals
50


Windshield wipers
51


High beam
50
l
Exterior lamp switch
49,
109
m
Exterior rear view mirror
adjustment
41,
108
n
Headlamp washer switch*
168

231 Controls in detail
Driving systems
Driving systems
The driving system of your vehicle is
described on the following pages:

Cruise control, with which the vehicle
can maintain a preset speed
For information on the BAS, ABS and ESP
driving systems, see “Driving safety sys-
tems” (
page 77).
Cruise control
Cruise control automatically maintains the
speed you set for your vehicle.
Use of cruise control is recommended for
driving at a constant speed for extended
periods of time. You can set or resume
cruise control at any speed over 20 mph
(30 km/h).
The cruise control function is operated by
means of the cruise control lever.
The cruise control lever is the uppermost
lever on the left-hand side of the steering
column (
page 22).
Warning!
G
Cruise control is a convenience system de-
signed to assist the driver during vehicle op-
eration. The driver is and must remain at all
times responsible for the vehicle speed and
for safe brake operation.
Only use cruise control if the road, traffic
and weather conditions make it advisable to
travel at a steady speed.

The use of cruise control can be danger-
ous on winding roads or in heavy traffic
because conditions do not allow safe
driving at a steady speed.


The use of cruise control can be danger-
ous on slippery roads. Rapid changes in
tire traction can result in wheel spin and
loss of control.


Deactivate cruise control when driving
in fog.
The “Resume” function should only be oper-
ated if the driver is fully aware of the previ-
ously set speed and wishes to resume this
particular preset speed.

232 Controls in detailDriving systems1Sets current or higher speed
2Sets current or lower speed
3Cancels cruise control
4Resumes at last set speed
Setting current speed
Accelerate or decelerate to the desired
speed.

Briefly lift1 or depress2 the cruise
control lever.
The current speed is set.

Remove your foot from the accelerator
pedal.
Cruise control is activated.Canceling cruise control
There are several ways to cancel cruise
control:

Step on the brake pedal.
Cruise control is canceled. The last
speed set is stored for later use.
or

Briefly push the cruise control lever to
position3.
Cruise control is canceled. The last
speed set is stored for later use.iOn uphill or downhill grades, cruise
control may not be able to maintain the
set speed. Once the grade eases, the
set speed will be resumed.
!Vehicles with automatic transmission:
Moving the gear selector lever to
positionN while driving also cancels
cruise control. However, the gear
selector lever should not be moved to
positionN while driving, except to
coast when the vehicle is in danger of
skidding (e.g. on icy roads).iVehicles with manual transmission:
The set cruise controlled speed is
switched off when declutching exceeds
four seconds during downshifting a
gear.iThe last stored speed is canceled when
you turn off the engine.

233 Controls in detail
Driving systems
Setting a higher speed
Lift cruise control lever to position1
and hold it up until the desired speed is
reached.

Release cruise control lever.
The new speed is set.
Setting a lower speed

Depress cruise control lever to
position2 and hold it down until the
desired speed is reached.

Release cruise control lever.
The new speed is set.Fine adjustment in 1 mph
(Canada: 1 km/h) increments
Faster

Briefly tip cruise control lever in
direction of arrow1.
Slower

Briefly tip cruise control lever in
direction of arrow2.Setting to last stored speed
(“Resume” function)

Briefly push cruise control lever to
position4.
The cruise control resumes the last set
speed.

Remove your foot from the accelerator
pedal.
iDepressing the accelerator pedal does
not deactivate cruise control. After
brief acceleration (e.g. for passing),
cruise control will resume the last
speed set.
iVehicles with automatic transmission:
When you use the cruise control lever
to decelerate, the transmission will
automatically downshift if the engine’s
braking power does not brake the
vehicle sufficiently.
Warning!
G
The speed stored in memory should only be
set again if prevailing road conditions per-
mit. Possible acceleration or deceleration
differences arising from returning to preset
speed could cause an accident and/or seri-
ous injury to you and others.

270 OperationDriving instructionsC 230 Kompressor (Canada only),
C240, C2404MATIC,
C 320 (USA only), C 320 4MATIC
Your vehicle is factory equipped with
“H”-rated tires, which have a speed rating
of 130 mph (210 km/h).
An electronic speed limiter prevents your
vehicle from exceeding a speed of
130 mph (210 km/h).
C230KompressorSport, C320Sport
Your vehicle is factory equipped with
“W”-rated tires, which have a speed rating
of 168 mph (270 km/h).
An electronic speed limiter prevents your
vehicle from exceeding a speed of
130 mph (210 km/h).C55AMG
Your vehicle is factory equipped with
“Y”-rated tires, which have a speed rating
of 186 mph (300 km/h).
An electronic speed limiter prevents your
vehicle from exceeding a speed of
155 mph (250 km/h).
Winter driving instructions
The most important rule for slippery or icy
roads is to drive sensibly and to avoid
abrupt acceleration, braking and steering
maneuvers. Do not use the cruise control
system under such conditions.
When the vehicle is in danger of skidding,
move gear selector lever to positionN or in
case of manual transmission declutch.
Try to keep the vehicle under control by
corrective steering action.
iFor information on tire speed rating for
winter tires, see “Winter tires”
(page 290).
iFor information on driving with snow
chains, see “Snow chains”
(page 291).
Warning!
G
On slippery road surfaces, never downshift
in order to obtain braking action. This could
result in drive wheel slip and reduced
vehicle control. Your vehicle’s ABS will not
prevent this type of control loss.

319 Practical hints
What to do if …
Display symbol
Display message
Possible cause
Possible solution
Ñ
Cruise contr.
Drive to workshop
Cruise control is malfunctioning.

Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.
G
Display malfunction.
Visit workshop.
The instrument cluster display is
malfunctioning.

Continue driving with added caution.

Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center as soon as possible.
The displays for several systems have
malfunctioned. Some systems them-
selves may also have malfunctioned.

Have the electronic systems checked
by an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.
±
Display malfunction.
Visit workshop.
Certain electronic systems are unable to
relay information to the control system.
The following systems may have failed:

Coolant temperature display


Tachometer


Cruise control display

Have the electronic systems checked
by an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.
J
Doors open
You are attempting to drive with one or
more doors open.

Close the doors.

400 Technical termsCOMAND*
(C
ockpit M
anagement and D
ata
System)
Information and operating center for
vehicle sound and communications
systems, including the radio and the
navigation system, as well as other
optional equipment (CD changer*,
telephone*, etc.).
Control system
The control system is used to call up
vehicle information and to change
component settings. Information and
messages appear in the multifunction
display. The driver uses the buttons on
the multifunction steering wheel to
navigate through the system and to
adjust settings.
Cruise control
Driving convenience system that
automatically maintains the vehicle
speed set by the driver.Engine number
The number set by the manufacturer
and placed on the cylinder block to
uniquely identify each engine
produced.
Engine oil viscosity
Measurement for the inner friction
(viscosity) of the oil at different temper-
atures. The higher the temperature an
oil can tolerate without becoming thin,
or the lower the temperature it can
tolerate without becoming viscous, the
better the viscosity.
ESP
(E
lectronic S
tability P
rogram)
Improves vehicle handling and
directional stability.
ETD
(E
mergency T
ensioning D
evice)
Device which deploys in certain frontal
and rear collisions exceeding the
system's threshold to tighten the
seat belts.
->SRSFSS (Canada vehicles)
(F
lexible S
ervice S
ystem)
Maintenance service indicator in the
multifunction display that informs the
driver when the next vehicle mainte-
nance service is due. FSS evaluates
engine temperature, oil level, vehicle
speed, engine speed, distance driven
and the time elapsed since your last
maintenance service, and calls for the
next maintenance service accordingly.
Gear range
Number of gears which are available to
the automatic transmission for shifting.
The automatic gear shifting process
can be adapted to specific operating
conditions using the gear selector
lever.
GPS
(G
lobal P
ositioning S
ystem)
Satellite-based system for relaying
geographic location information to and
from vehicles equipped with special
receivers. Employs CD digital maps for
navigation.