2005 MERCEDES-BENZ CL600 manual transmission

Contents
Automatic transmission ..................... 166
One-touch gearshifting................. 168
Gear ranges ................................. 169
Gear selector lever position ......... 170
Automatic shift program .............. 172
Driving tips ................................... 173
Steering wheel gearshift control
(Speedshift) CL 55 AMG and
CL 65 AMG................................... 174
Manual shift program CL 55 AMG
and CL 65 AMG ............................ 176
Emergency operation
(Limp Home Mode) ...................... 178
Good visibility .................................... 179
Headlamp cleaning system .......... 179
Rear view mirrors ......................... 179
Electrically folding exterior
rear view mirrors .......................... 181
Windshield wipers ........................ 182
Sun visors .................................... 183
Rear window sunshade* .............. 184Automatic climate control .................. 185
Setting the temperature................ 189
Adjusting air distribution............... 189
Adjusting air volume ..................... 191
Maximum cooling MAXCOOL ........ 191
Defrosting ..................................... 191
Air recirculation mode .................. 192
Charcoal filter ............................... 193
Rear window defroster .................. 194
Deactivating the climate
control system .............................. 195
Air conditioning............................. 195
Residual heat and ventilation ........ 196
Ventilated storage compartment .. 196
Rear passenger compartment
adjustable air vents....................... 197
Power windows .................................. 198
Opening and closing the power
windows........................................ 198
Synchronizing the power
windows........................................ 200
Summer opening feature .............. 201
Convenience closing feature......... 201Power tilt/sliding sunroof .................. 203
Opening and closing the power
tilt/sliding sunroof........................ 203
Synchronizing the power
tilt/sliding sunroof........................ 205
Driving systems .................................. 206
Cruise control ............................... 206
Distronic* ..................................... 209
Active Body Control (ABC) ............ 221
Parktronic system*
(Parking assist) ............................. 225
Loading .............................................. 230
Roof rack* .................................... 230
Loading instructions ..................... 231
Cargo tie-down hooks ................... 231
Useful features ................................... 232
Sun visor....................................... 232
Storage compartments ................. 233
Ashtrays........................................ 239
Cigarette lighter ............................ 240
Heated steering wheel* ................ 241
Telephone* ................................... 242
Tele Aid ......................................... 243
Garage door opener ...................... 251
Infrared reflecting windshield ....... 256

167 Controls in detail
Automatic transmission
1Current gear range/gear selector lever
position
2Current program mode
The current gear range/gear selector lever
position and program mode (
C/S)
or (
M/C/S) appear in the tachometer
display.When the gear selector lever is in
positionD, you can influence transmission
shifting by:


limiting the gear range


changing gears manually
Warning!
G
It is dangerous to shift the gear selector
lever out ofP orN if the engine speed is
higher than idle speed. If your foot is not
firmly on the brake pedal, the vehicle could
accelerate quickly forward or reverse. You
could lose control of the vehicle and hit
someone or something. Only shift into gear
when the engine is idling normally and when
your right foot is firmly on the brake pedal.
!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 gearR or parking
positionP only when the vehicle is
stopped.
Avoid spinning of a drive wheel for an
extended period when driving off on
slippery road surfaces. This may cause
serious damage to the drivetrain which
is not covered by the Mercedes-Benz
Limited Warranty.

168 Controls in detailAutomatic transmissionOne-touch gearshifting
Even with an automatic transmission you
can change the gears manually when the
gear selector lever is in positionD.
Downshifting
Briefly press the gear selector lever to
the left in theD-direction.
The transmission will shift from the current
gear to the next lower gear as permitted by
the shift program. This action simulta-
neously limits the gear range of the
transmission (
page 169).Upshifting

Briefly press the gear selector lever to
the right in theD+direction.
The transmission will shift from the current
gear to the next higher gear as permitted
by the shift program. This action simul-
taneously extends the gear range of the
transmission.Canceling gear range limit

Press and hold the gear selector lever
in theD+direction until
D reappears in
the tachometer display.
The transmission will shift from the current
gear range directly to gear rangeD.
Shifting into optimal gear range

Press and hold the gear selector lever
in theD-direction.
The transmission will automatically select
the gear range suited for optimal
acceleration and deceleration. This will
involve shifting down one or more gears.
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 loss of control.
iTo avoid overrevving the engine when
the gear selector lever is moved to
theD-direction, the transmission will
not shift to a lower gear if the engine’s
max. speed would be exceeded.

174 Controls in detailAutomatic transmissionSteering wheel gearshift control
(Speedshift) CL 55 AMG and CL 65 AMG
When driving in the automatic program
modesC orS, or in the manual program
modeM, you can change the gears
manually on the steering wheel or by using
the gear selector lever (
page 168).The steering wheel gearshift buttons are
located to the left and right of the steering
wheel.
1Left button: downshift
2Right button: upshift
iTo avoid overrevving the engine when
downshifting with steering wheel
gearshift buttons, the transmission will
not shift to a lower gear if the engine’s
max. speed would be exceeded.
!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 gearR or parking
positionP only when the vehicle is
stopped.
Avoid spinning of a drive wheel for an
extended period when driving off on
slippery road surfaces. This may cause
serious damage to the drivetrain which
is not covered by the Mercedes-Benz
Limited Warranty.

175 Controls in detail
Automatic transmission
Downshifting
Press button1 on the left side of the
steering wheel.
The transmission will shift to the next
lower gear as permitted by the shift
program. This action simultaneously limits
the gear range of the transmission
(
page 169) when you are driving in the
automatic program mode (CorS). Upshifting

Press button2 on the right side of the
steering wheel.
The transmission will shift to the next
higher gear as permitted by the shift
program. This action simultaneously
extends the gear range of the transmission
when you are driving in the automatic
program mode (CorS).
iYou cannot shift with the steering
wheel gearshift buttons when the gear
selector lever is in positionP,N orR.
The manual program modeM will not
be stored. When the engine is turned
off with the manual program modeM
selected, the transmission will go to
the automatic program mode (CorS)
when the engine is restarted.
The last selected program
mode (CorS) is switched on when the
engine is restarted in the automatic
program mode.
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 loss of control.

176 Controls in detailAutomatic transmissionManual shift program CL 55 AMG and CL 65 AMG
In the manual program modeM you can
change the gears manually on the steering
wheel (
page 174) or by using the gear
selector lever (
page 168).The program mode selector switch is
located on the lower part of the center
console.
1Program mode selector switch
M Manual For manual gear shifting
C Comfort For comfort driving
S Sport For standard driving
The current gear selector lever position
and the selected program mode (
M/C/S)
are indicated in the tachometer display
(
page 167).Activating manual shift program

Press program mode selector
switch1 repeatedly until the
M for the
manual program modeM appears in
the tachometer display.
The transmission switches to the
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.
!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 gearR or parking
positionP only when the vehicle is
stopped.
Avoid spinning of a drive wheel for an
extended period when driving off on
slippery road surfaces. This may cause
serious damage to the drivetrain which
is not covered by the Mercedes-Benz
Limited Warranty.

177 Controls in detail
Automatic transmission
Downshifting
Briefly press the gear selector lever to
the left in theD-direction
(page 168).
or

Press button1 on the left side of the
steering wheel (
page 174).
The transmission shifts to the next
lower gear.Upshifting

Briefly press the gear selector lever to
the right in theD+direction
(page 168).
or

Press button2 on the right side of the
steering wheel (
page 174).
The transmission shifts to the next
higher gear. Kickdown
The kickdown can also be used for
maximum acceleration when driving in the
manual program modeM.

Press the accelerator past the point of
resistance.
The transmission shifts to a lower gear.

Shift up once the desired speed has
been reached.
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 loss of control.iWhen you brake or stop, the transmis-
sion shifts down to a gear from which
you can easily accelerate or take off.
iWhen driving at full throttle, the trans-
mission shifts to the next higher gear
when maximum engine speed has been
reached.

178 Controls in detailAutomatic transmissionDeactivating manual shift program
Press the program mode selector
switch (
page 176) repeatedly
until
Cor
S appears in the tachometer
display.
or

Restart the engine.
The transmission will go to the
automatic program mode (C orS).
The manual program modeM is not
stored.Emergency operation (Limp Home
Mode)
If vehicle acceleration worsens or the
transmission no longer shifts, the trans-
mission is most likely operating in limp
home (emergency operation) mode. In this
mode only second gear and reverse gear
can be activated.
Stop the vehicle.

Move gear selector lever toP.

Turn off the engine.

Wait at least ten seconds before
restarting.

Restart the engine.

Move gear selector lever to positionD
(for second gear) orR.

Have the transmission checked at an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center as
soon as possible.