ContentsDriving safety systems ......................... 80
ABS ................................................ 80
BAS ................................................ 81
ESP ................................................. 82
Anti-theft systems................................ 85
Immobilizer..................................... 85
Anti-theft alarm system .................. 85
Tow-away alarm ............................. 87Controls in detail............................... 89
Locking and unlocking ......................... 90
SmartKey ....................................... 90
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO*......... 94
Opening the doors
from the inside ............................. 100
Opening the trunk ........................ 101
Closing the trunk .......................... 103
Trunk lid emergency release ........ 109
Power closing assist
for doors and trunk lid .................. 110
Automatic central locking ............ 110
Locking and unlocking
from the inside ............................. 111Seats ................................................. 112
Easy-entry/exit feature ................ 112
Removing and installing
front seat head restraints............. 114
Rear seat head restraints ............. 115
Lumbar support............................ 117
Multicontour backrest* ................ 117
Seat heating ................................. 119
Seat ventilation* .......................... 121
Memory function ............................... 122
Storing positions into memory ..... 123
Recalling positions from memory . 123
Storing exterior rear view
mirror parking position................. 124
Lighting.............................................. 125
Exterior lamp switch..................... 125
Combination switch ..................... 129
Hazard warning flasher ................ 130
Interior lighting............................. 131
Courtesy lighting .......................... 133
Door entry lamps ......................... 133
Trunk lighting ............................... 133Instrument cluster ............................. 134
Instrument cluster illumination .... 134
Coolant temperature gauge ......... 135
Trip odometer .............................. 135
Tachometer .................................. 136
Outside temperature indicator ..... 136
Clock............................................ 136
Control system .................................. 137
Multifunction display.................... 137
Multifunction steering wheel........ 138
Menus .......................................... 140
Standard display menu ................ 142
AUDIO menu ................................ 142
CD changer operating mode ........ 145
TEL menu* ................................... 147
NAVI menu ................................... 149
Distronic* menu .......................... 150
Trip computer menu..................... 151
Vehicle status message
memory menu .............................. 153
Settings menu .............................. 154
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
37 Getting started
Adjusting
Adjusting
SeatsWarning!
G
All seat, head restraint, steering wheel, and
rear view mirror adjustments, as well as fas-
tening of seat belts, must be done before
the vehicle is put into motion.Warning!
G
Do not adjust the driver’s seat while driving.
Adjusting the seat while driving could cause
the driver to lose control of the vehicle.
Never ride in a moving vehicle with the seat
back in an excessively reclined position as
this can be dangerous. You could slide un-
der the seat belt in a collision. If you slide
under it, the belt would apply force at the ab-
domen or neck. That could cause serious or
fatal injuries. The seat backrest and seat
belts provide the best restraint when the
wearer is in a nearly upright position and
belts are properly positioned on the body.
Your seat must be adjusted so that you can
correctly fasten your seat belt (
page 45).
Never place hands under the seat or near
any moving parts while a seat is being ad-
justed.
Warning!
G
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the
SmartKey or SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO*
from the starter switch, take it with you, and
lock the vehicle.
Even with the SmartKey or SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO* removed from the starter
switch or the SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO*
removed from the vehicle, the power seats
can be operated when the respective door is
open. Therefore, do not leave children unat-
tended 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.
Warning!
G
Children 12 years old and under must never
ride in the front seat, except in a
Mercedes-Benz authorized BabySmart
TM
compatible child seat, which operates with
the BabySmart
TM system installed in the ve-
hicle to deactivate the passenger front
air bag when it is properly installed. Other-
wise they will be struck by the air bag when
it inflates in a crash. If this happens, serious
or fatal injury will result.
According to accident statistics, children
are safer when properly restrained in the
rear seating positions than in the front seat-
ing positions. Infants and small children
must ride in the back seats and be seated in
an appropriate infant or child restraint sys-
tem, which is properly secured with the ve-
hicle's seat belt and top tether strap, or
secured via lower anchors and top tether
strap, fully in accordance with the child seat
manufacturer’s instructions.
41 Getting started
Adjusting
Warning!
G
The seat belts provide protection only with
the backrest locked in place and, therefore,
must be locked in place with the vehicle in
motion. Do not drive the vehicle when the
backrest is not locked in place. If the warn-
ing message SEAT BACKREST, RIGHT
LOCK!or SEAT BACKREST, LEFT
LOCK!is displayed in the multifunction display,
then the respective backrest is not engaged
in its lock. Carefully slow down, and drive
with caution to an area which is in a safe dis-
tance from the roadway. Always provide suf-
ficient room behind the backrest and fold
the backrest all the way back until it locks in
place.
Keep the area around head restraints clear
of articles (e.g. clothing) to not obstruct the
folding operation of the head restraints.
The warning message is no longer displayed
as soon as the backrest is locked in place. If
both backrests are locked in place and the
warning message is still displayed, have the
system checked at an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center immediately.
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the
SmartKey or SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO*
from the starter switch, take it with you, and
lock the vehicle.
The power seats can also be operated with
the driver’s or passenger door open. Do not
leave children unattended in the vehicle or
with access to an unlocked vehicle. Unsu-
pervised use of vehicle equipment may
cause an accident and/or serious personal
injury.
Never place hands under seat or near any
moving parts during a seat adjustment pro-
cedure.
!The automatic seat slide is provided
with a safety feature.
The automatic process is interrupted, if
the backrest of the sliding seat is
pushed against an occupant or object.
The seat will slide forward and stop.
Investigate and correct the cause of in-
terruption.
Now use memory button (
page 123)
or seat adjustment switch (page 38)
to bring seat into desired position.
When folding the backrest forward
from a reclined position, and then fold-
ing it back, the backrest stops in a
more upright position for the safety of
any rear-seat passenger. Adjust the
backrest until your arms are slightly an-
gled when holding the steering
wheel (
page 38).
57 Getting started
Parking and locking
Parking and locking
You have now completed your first drive.
You have properly stopped and parked
your vehicle. End your drive as follows:Warning!
G
With the engine not running, there is no
power assistance for the brake and the
steering systems. In this case, it is impor-
tant to keep in mind that a considerably
h i g h e r d e g r e e o f e f f o r t i s n e c e s s a r y t o b r a k e
and steer the vehicle.
Warning!
G
Do not park this vehicle in areas where com-
bustible materials such as grass, hay or
leaves can come into contact with the hot
exhaust system, as these materials could be
ignited and cause a vehicle fire.
To reduce the risk of personal injury as a re-
sult of vehicle movement, before turning off
the engine and leaving the vehicle always:
Keep right foot on brake pedal.
Firmly depress parking brake pedal.
Move the gear selector lever to
positionP.
Slowly release brake pedal.
When parked on an incline, turn front
wheels towards the road curb.
Turn the SmartKey to starter switch
position0 and remove, or press
KEYLESS-GO* start/stop button
(page 35).
Take the SmartKey or the SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO* with you and lock vehicle
when leaving.
81 Safety and Security
Driving safety systems
The - indicator lamp in the instrument
cluster (
page 24) comes on when you
switch on the ignition (
page 34). It goes
out when the engine is running.
Braking
At the instant one of the wheels is about to
lock up, a slight pulsation can be felt in the
brake pedal, indicating that the ABS is in
the regulating mode.
Keep firm and steady pressure on the
brake pedal while experiencing the pul-
sation.
Continuous steady brake pedal pressure
yields the advantages provided by the ABS,
namely braking power and the ability to
steer the vehicle.
The pulsating brake pedal can be an indica-
tion of hazardous road conditions and
functions as a reminder to take extra care
while driving.Emergency brake maneuver
Keep continuous full pressure on the
brake pedal.
For more information, see “Practical hints”
(
page 326).
BAS
The Brake Assist System (BAS) operates in
emergency situations. If you apply the
brakes very quickly, the BAS automatically
provides full brake boost, thereby poten-
tially reducing the braking distance.
Apply continuous full braking pressure
until the emergency braking situation is
over.
The ABS will prevent the wheels from
locking.
When you release the brake pedal, the
brakes function again as normal. The BAS
is then deactivated.
Warning!
G
The ABS cannot prevent the natural laws of
physics from acting on the vehicle, nor can
it increase braking or steering efficiency be-
yond that afforded by the condition of the
vehicle brakes and tires or the traction af-
forded. The ABS cannot prevent accidents,
including those resulting from excessive
speed in turns, following another vehicle too
closely, or hydroplaning. Only a safe, atten-
tive, and skillful driver can prevent acci-
dents. The capabilities of an ABS equipped
vehicle must never be exploited in a reck-
less or dangerous manner which could jeop-
ardize the user’s safety or the safety of
others.
Warning!
G
If the BAS is malfunctioning, the brake sys-
tem is still functioning normally, but without
the additional brake boost available that
BAS would normally provide in an emergen-
cy braking maneuver. Therefore, the braking
distance may increase.
123 Controls in detail
Memory function
The memory button and stored position
switch are located on the door.
1Stored position button
2Memory button
Switch on ignition (
page 34).
or
Open the respective door and insert
the SmartKey in the starter switch.
Storing positions into memory
Adjust the seats, steering wheel and
exterior mirrors to the desired position
(page 37).
Press memory button2.
Release memory button2 and push
one of the position buttons1 within
three seconds.
All the settings are stored with the se-
lected position.
Recalling positions from memory
Press and hold one of the position
buttons1 until the seat, steering
wheel and exterior mirrors have fully
moved to the stored positions.iReleasing the button immediately
stops movement to the stored posi-
tions.Warning!
G
Do not operate the power seats using the
memory button if the seat backrest is in an
extremely reclined position. Doing so could
cause damage to front or rear seats.
First move seat backrest to an upright posi-
tion.
209 Controls in detail
Driving systems
Distronic*
When activated, the Distronic adaptive
cruise control system increases driving
convenience afforded by the cruise control
during travel on expressways and other
major roads.
If the Distronic distance sensor detects
a slower moving vehicle directly ahead,
your vehicle speed will be reduced so
that you follow that vehicle at a preset
distance.
If there is no vehicle directly ahead of
you, Distronic will function in the same
way as cruise control (
page 206).
Warning!
G
Distronic adaptive cruise control is no sub-
stitute for active driving involvement. It does
not react to stationary objects, nor does it
recognize or predict the curvature and lane
layout or the movement of vehicles ahead.
Distronic can only apply a maximum of 20%
of the vehicle’s braking power.
It is the driver’s responsibility at all times to
be attentive to traffic and road conditions
and to provide the steering, braking and oth-
er driving inputs necessary to retain control
of the vehicle.Warning!
G
Distronic is a convenience system. Its speed
adjustment reduction capability is intended
to make cruise control more effective and
usable when traffic speeds vary. However, it
is not intended to, nor does it, replace the
need for extreme care. The responsibility for
the vehicle speed and the distance to the ve-
hicle ahead, including most importantly
brake operation to assure safe stopping dis-
tance, always rests with the driver.
Distronic cannot take street and traffic con-
ditions into account.
Warning!
G
Distronic requires familiarity with its opera-
tional characteristics. We strongly recom-
mend that you review the following
information carefully before operating the
system.iUSA only:
This device complies with Part 15 of
the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to
the following two conditions:
This device may not cause harmful
interference, and
this device must accept any inter-
ference received, including interfer-
ence that may cause undesired
operation.
Any unauthorized modification to this
device could void the user’s authority
to operate the equipment.