Page 7 of 498

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 
     
        
        Page 29 of 498
27 At a glance
Center console
Center console
Upper part
Item
Page
1
Seat heater*, driver’s side
Seat ventilation*, driver’s 
side
119
2
Parktronic (Parking as-
sist)* deactivation switch
263
3
Rear window sunshade* 
switch
182
4
ESP control switch
86
5
Hazard warning flasher 
switch - switching on/off
131
6
Central locking switch
Central unlocking switch
110
7
Switch for folding down 
rear seat head restraints
116
8
Tow-away alarm switch
Anti-theft alarm system in-
dicator lamp
91
92
Item
Page
9
Seat heater*, passenger 
side
Seat ventilation*, 
passenger side
119
a
Front passenger front air 
bag off indicator lamp 
77,
360
b
Audio system,
or
COMAND* (see separate 
operating instructions)
143
c
Climate control (CLK 320)
Automatic climate control 
(CLK 500, CLK 55 AMG)
Rear window defroster 
184
194
183 
     
        
        Page 95 of 498
93 Controls in detail
Locking and unlocking
Seats
Memory function
Lighting
Instrument cluster
Control system
Automatic transmission
Good visibility
Climate control (CLK 320)
Automatic climate control (CLK 500/CLK 55 AMG)
Audio system
Power windows
Power tilt/sliding sunroof*
Driving systems
Loading
Useful features 
     
        
        Page 139 of 498

137 Controls in detail
Control system
Control system
The control system is activated as soon as 
the SmartKey in the starter switch is 
turned to position1 or as soon as the 
KEYLESS-GO* start/stop button is in 
position1. The control system enables you 
to
call up information about your vehicle
change vehicle settings
For example, you can use the control sys-
tem to find out when your vehicle is next 
due for service, to set the language for 
messages in the instrument cluster dis-
play, and much more.
The control system relays information to 
the multifunction display.
Multifunction display
1Outside temperature
2Trip odometer
3Automatic transmission program mode
4Main odometer
5Current gear selector lever position
For more information on menus displayed 
in the multifunction display, see “Menus” 
(page 140).
iThe displays for the audio systems (ra-
dio, CD player) will appear in English, 
regardless of the language selected.
Warning!
G
A driver’s attention to the road and traffic 
conditions must always be his /her primary 
focus when driving.
For your safety and the safety of others, 
selecting features through the multifunction 
steering wheel should only be done by the 
driver when traffic and road conditions 
permit it to be done safely.
Bear in mind that at a speed of just 30 mph 
(approximately 50 km/h), your vehicle is 
covering a distance of 44 feet (approxi-
mately 14 m) every second. 
     
        
        Page 140 of 498

138 Controls in detailControl systemMultifunction steering wheel
The displays in the multifunction display 
and the settings in the control system are 
controlled by the buttons on the multifunc-
tion steering wheel (
page 26).Pressing any of the buttons on the multi-
function steering wheel will alter what is 
shown in the multifunction display.
The information available in the multifunc-
tion display is arranged in menus, each 
containing a number of functions or sub-
menus.
The individual functions are then found 
within the relevant menu (radio or CD op-
erations under 
Audio
, for example). These 
functions serve to call up relevant informa-
tion or to customize the settings for your 
vehicle.
1
Multifunction displayOperating the control system
2
Selecting the submenu or setting 
the volume:
Press buttonæup / to increaseçdown / to decrease
3
Telephone*:
Press buttonsto take a calltto end a call
4
Menu systems:
Press buttonèfor next menuÿfor previous menu
5
Moving within a menu:
Press buttonjfor next displaykfor previous display 
     
        
        Page 143 of 498
141 Controls in detail
Control system
Menus, submenus and functions
Menu1
Menu2
Menu3
Menu4
Menu5
Menu6
Menu7
Commands/submenusStandard dis-
play
AUDIO
NAV*
Vehicle status 
message memory
Settings
Trip computer
Telephone
(page 142)
(page 143)
(page 144)
(page 145)
(page 146)
(page 160)
(page 162)
Digital speed-
ometer
Select radio 
station
Activate route 
guidance
Call up vehicle 
malfunction, warning 
and system status 
messages stored in 
memory
Reset to factory 
settings
Fuel consumption 
statistics after 
start
Load phone 
book
Call up mainte-
nance service 
display
Select satellite 
radio station* 
(USA only)
Instrument clus-
ter submenu
Fuel consumption 
statistics since the 
last reset
Search for name 
in phone book
Check engine 
oil level
Operate CD 
player
Time/Date sub-
menu
Call up range
Lighting 
submenuVehicle submenuConvenience 
submenu 
     
        
        Page 145 of 498

143 Controls in detail
Control system
AUDIO menu
The functions in the 
Audio
 menu operate 
the audio equipment which you currently 
have turned on.
If no audio equipment is currently turned 
on, the message 
Audio off
 is shown in the 
multifunction display.
The following functions are available:
Select radio station
Turn on the radio (
page 210). 
Vehicles with COMAND*: Refer to 
separate operating instructions.
Press buttonè orÿ repeatedly 
until the currently tuned station 
appears in the multifunction display.1Waveband setting
2Station frequency
Press buttonk orj repeatedly 
until the desired station is found.Select satellite radio station* 
(USA only)
The satellite radio is treated as a radio 
application.
Select satellite radio with the 
corresponding soft key (SAT) in the 
radio menu.
1SAT mode and preset number
2Setting for station selection using 
memory
3Channel name or number
Press buttonk orj repeatedly 
until the desired channel is found.
Function
Page
Select radio station
143
Select satellite radio station* 
(USA only)
143
Operate CD player
144
iYou can only store new stations using 
the corresponding feature on the radio 
(page 218).
Vehicles with COMAND*: Refer to 
separate operating instructions.
You can also operate the radio in the 
usual manner. 
     
        
        Page 146 of 498

144 Controls in detailControl systemOperate the CD player
Turn on the radio and select the 
CD player (
page 227). Vehicles with 
COMAND*: Refer to separate 
operating instructions.
Press buttonè orÿ repeatedly 
until the settings for the CD currently 
being played appear in the multifunc-
tion display.
1Current CD (for CD changer*)
2Current track
Press buttonk orj repeatedly 
until the desired track is selected.
NAV* menu
The 
Nav
 menu contains the functions 
needed to operate your navigation system.
Press buttonè orÿ repeatedly 
until the message 
Nav
 appears in the 
multifunction display.
If the navigation system is switched off, 
the message 
Nav off
 appears in the 
multifunction display. 
If the navigation system is on, different 
messages, depending on the current 
state of the navigation system, appear 
in the multifunction display.
Please refer to the COMAND* manual for 
instructions on how to activate the route 
guidance system*.
iFor more information on satellite radio 
operation, see “Introduction to satellite 
radio* (USA only)” (
page 220). 
Vehicles with COMAND*: Refer to 
separate operating instructions.
iTo select a CD from the magazine, 
press a number on the audio system or 
the COMAND* system key pad located 
in the center dashboard.