Page 185 of 498

183 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 or1 in the
climate control panel (
page 195) or
in automatic climate control panel
(
page 195).
The indicator lamp on the button
comes on.
Deactivating
Press buttonF or1 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 switches on again.
Page 186 of 498
184 Controls in detailClimate control (CLK 320)
Page 187 of 498
185 Controls in detail
Climate control (CLK 320)
Depending on production date, your vehi-
cle is equipped with either climate control
panel design A or B.Climate control panel design A
Climate control panel design B
Item
1
Left side air vent, adjustable
2
Thumbwheel for air volume control
for center air vents
3
Right side air vent, adjustable
4
Climate control panel
5
Right center air vent, adjustable
6
Thumbwheel for air volume control
for right side center air vent
7
Thumbwheel for air volume control
for left side center air vent
8
Left center air vent, adjustableiFor draft-free ventilation, move the
sliders for the side air vents1 and3
and center air vents5 and 8 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
or A/C)
7
Air distribution and air volume
(automatic mode)
8
Air recirculation
9
Defrosting
Page 188 of 498

186 Controls in detailClimate control (CLK 320)The 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 activated or
A/C is deactivated (
page 191).
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 188).
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.
Page 189 of 498

187 Controls in detail
Climate control (CLK 320)
Deactivating the climate control system
Deactivating
Set air volume control1 (
page 185)
to position0.
Reactivating
Set air volume control1 (
page 185)
to any speed.
Setting the temperature
Use temperature controls2 and3
(page 185) 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).
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 253).
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.
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.
Page 190 of 498

188 Controls in detailClimate control (CLK 320)Increasing
Turn temperature control2 or3
(page 185) slightly to the right.
The climate control system will corre-
spondingly adjust the interior air tem-
perature.
Decreasing
Turn temperature control2 or3
(page 185) slightly to the left.
The climate control system will corre-
spondingly adjust the interior air tem-
perature.
Adjusting air distribution and volume
Use air distribution control4
(page 185) to adjust the air distribution.
The following symbols are found on the
controls:
Use the air volume control1
(page 185) to adjust the air volume. You
can select between six air volume speeds.Adjusting manually
Press buttonU (
page 185).
The indicator lamp on the button goes
out.
Select any of the six air volume speeds
and the air distribution.
Adjusting automatically
Press buttonU (
page 185).
The indicator lamp on the button
comes on. The temperature, air distri-
bution and volume are adjusted auto-
matically.
Symbol
Function
Z
Directs air to the windshield
and the side defroster vents
b
Directs air into the entire
vehicle interior
Y
Directs air to the footwells
a
Directs air through the center,
side and rear passenger
compartment air vents
Page 191 of 498
189 Controls in detail
Climate control (CLK 320)
Windshield fogged on the outside
Switch the windshield wipers on
(page 51).
Switch to manual mode.
Turn the air distribution control4
toa orY (
page 185).
Defrosting
Activating
Press buttonP or0
(page 185).
The indicator lamp on the button
comes on.
The air conditioning switches
automatically to the following functions:
maximum blowing and heating
power
air flows onto the windshield and
the front side windows
the air recirculation mode is
switched offDeactivating
Press buttonP or0
(page 185).
The indicator lamp on the button goes
out. Defrosting is turned off.
iThese settings should only be selected
for a short time.
Page 192 of 498

190 Controls in detailClimate control (CLK 320)Air recirculation mode
Switch to air recirculation mode to prevent
unpleasant odors from entering the vehicle
from the outside. This setting cuts off the
intake of outside air and recirculates the
air in the passenger compartment.
Activating
Press button, (
page 185).
The indicator lamp on the button
comes on.
Warning!
G
When the outside temperature is
below 41°F (5°C), only switch to air
recirculation mode for short periods to
prevent window fogging.
Window fogging may impair visibility and
endanger you and others.
iIf you keep button, pressed the
side windows and tilt/sliding sunroof*
will close.Warning
G
Never operate the side windows and the
tilt/sliding sunroof* if there is the possibility
of anyone being harmed by the closing
procedure.
In the event that the procedure causes po-
tential danger, the closing of the side win-
dows can be immediately halted by
releasing the, button or by pressing or
pulling the respective window switch. The
closing of the tilt/sliding sunroof* can be
immediately halted by releasing the,
button or by moving the tilt/sliding sunroof*
switch in the overhead control panel in any
direction.
iThe air recirculation mode is activated
automatically at high outside tempera-
tures.
The indicator lamp on the, button
is not lit when the air recirculation
mode is automatically switched on.
After approx. 30 minutes, outside air is
added to the air inside the vehicle.
If you have turned off the air condi-
tioning (
page 191) or the outside
temperature is below 41°F (5°C), the
air recirculation mode will not switch
on automatically.