Contents
Control system .................................. 137
Multifunction display .................... 137
Multifunction steering wheel ........ 138
Menus .......................................... 140
Standard display menu ................ 142
AUDIO menu ................................ 143
NAV* menu .................................. 144
Vehicle status
message memory menu ............... 145
Settings menu .............................. 146
Trip computer menu..................... 160
TEL menu* ................................... 162
Automatic transmission ..................... 165
One-touch gearshifting................. 167
Gear ranges ................................. 168
Gear selector lever position ......... 169
Automatic shift program .............. 170
Driving tips ................................... 171
Steering wheel gearshift control
(Speedshift)
- CLK 500 and CLK 55 AMG ......... 172
Manual shift program
CLK 55 AMG ................................ 175
Emergency operation
(Limp Home Mode) ...................... 177Good visibility ..................................... 178
Headlamp cleaning system* ......... 178
Rear view mirrors.......................... 178
Sun visors ..................................... 181
Rear window sunshade* ............... 182
Rear window defroster .................. 183
Climate control (CLK 320) .................. 184
Deactivating the
climate control system ................. 187
Setting the temperature................ 187
Adjusting air distribution
and volume ................................... 188
Defrosting ..................................... 189
Air recirculation mode .................. 190
Air conditioning............................. 191
Rear passenger compartment
adjustable air vents....................... 193
Automatic climate control
(CLK 500/CLK 55 AMG)..................... 194
Deactivating the
automatic climate control system. 197
Setting the temperature................ 197
Adjusting air distribution............... 198
Adjusting air volume ..................... 199
Defrosting ..................................... 200
Maximum cooling MAXCOOL ........ 200Air recirculation mode .................. 201
Charcoal filter ............................... 202
Air conditioning ............................ 204
Residual heat and ventilation*
(available on Automatic climate
control panel design A only) ......... 205
Rear passenger compartment
adjustable air vents ...................... 206
Audio system...................................... 207
Audio and telephone, operation .... 207
Operating safety ........................... 207
Operating and display elements ... 208
Button and soft key operation ...... 210
Operation...................................... 210
Radio operation ............................ 215
Introduction to satellite radio*
(USA only) ..................................... 220
CD mode....................................... 225
GSM network phones ................... 232
TDMA or CDMA network phones .. 238
Emergency calls “911” ................. 245
Power windows .................................. 247
Opening and
closing the windows ..................... 247
Synchronizing power windows ...... 250
28 At a glanceCenter consoleLower part
Item
Page
1
Ashtray
Cigarette lighter
276
277
2
KEYLESS-GO* start/stop
button
35
3
Storage compartment
273
4
Program mode selector
switch for automatic trans-
mission
Automatic shift
program
Manual shift program
(CLK 55 AMG)
170
176
5
Gear selector lever for
automatic transmission
166
166 Controls in detailAutomatic transmission1Current 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 multifunction
display.An additional indication of the current gear
selector lever position can be found on the
cover of the shifting-gate.
The indicators come on when you activate
a switch (e.g. unlocking the vehicle or
opening a door) and go out after approxi-
mately 15 minutes.
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 po-
sition P 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.
167 Controls in detail
Automatic transmission
One-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
simultaneously limits the gear range of the
transmission (
page 168).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 multifunction 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.
172 Controls in detailAutomatic transmissionStopping
When you stop briefly, e.g. at traffic lights:
Leave the transmission in gear.
Hold the vehicle with the brake.
When you stop longer with the engine
idling or on an uphill gradient:
Move the gear selector lever to
positionP.
Set the parking brake.
Maneuvering
When you maneuver in tight areas,
e.g. when pulling into a parking space:
Control the vehicle speed by gradually
releasing the brakes.
Accelerate gently.
Never abruptly step on the accelerator.Working on the vehicle Steering wheel gearshift control
(Speedshift) - CLK 500 and CLK 55 AMG
When driving in the automatic program
modes CorS, or in the manual program
modeM (CLK 55 AMG only), you can
change the gears manually on the steering
wheel or by using the gear selector lever
(page 167).
Warning!
G
When working on the vehicle, set the
parking brake and move gear selector lever
to positionP. Otherwise the vehicle could
roll away.
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.
174 Controls in detailAutomatic transmissionUpshifting
Press outside2 of one of the buttons
on 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 transmis-
sion.Steering wheel gearshift control
CLK 55 AMG
The steering wheel gearshift buttons are
located to the left and right of the steering
wheel.
1Left button: downshift
2Right button: upshift
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.
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 168) 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).
Manual shift program CLK 55 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 167).
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.
!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 po-
sition P 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.
176 Controls in detailAutomatic transmissionThe 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 multifunction display
(
page 166).Activating manual shift program
Press program mode selector
switch1 repeatedly until the
M for
manual program modeM appears in
the multifunction 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.Downshifting
Briefly press the gear selector lever to
the left in theD-direction
(page 167).
or
Press button1 on the left side of the
steering wheel (
page 174).
The transmission shifts to the next
lower gear.
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.