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 30 of 498
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 
     
        
        Page 49 of 498
47 Getting started
Driving
Automatic transmissionGearshift pattern for automatic 
transmissionPPark position with gear selector lever 
lock
RReverse gear
NNeutral
DDrive position
For more information, see “Automatic 
transmission” (
page 165).Starting with the SmartKey
Make sure the gear selector lever is set 
toP.
Do not depress accelerator
Turn the SmartKey in the starter switch 
to position3 (
page 34) and release it 
again immediately (“touch-start”).
The engine then starts automatically.
Depress the brake pedal.
The gear selector lever lock is released.
For information on turning off the engine 
with the SmartKey, see (
page 56).Starting with KEYLESS-GO*
You can start your vehicle without the 
SmartKey in the starter switch using the 
KEYLESS-GO start/stop button on the 
gear selector lever.
The SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO must be 
located in the vehicle.
KEYLESS-GO start/stop button1KEYLESS-GO start/stop button 
(U.S. vehicles)
2KEYLESS-GO start/stop button 
(Canada vehicles)
 
     
        
        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 167 of 498

165 Controls in detail
Automatic transmission
Automatic transmission
For more information on driving with an 
automatic transmission see “Automatic 
transmission” (page 47).
Your vehicle’s transmission adapts its gear 
shifting process to your individual driving 
style by continually adjusting the shift 
points up or down. These shift point adjust-
ments are performed based on current 
operating and driving conditions.
If the operating conditions change, the 
automatic transmission reacts by 
adjusting its shift program.
Gearshift pattern for automatic 
transmission
The automatic transmission selects indi-
vidual gears automatically, depending on:
the gear selector lever 
positionD(
page 169) with 
gear ranges (page 168)
the selected program mode:
(C/S) (
page 170)
or
(M/C/S) (CLK 55 AMG only) 
(
page 175)
the position of the accelerator pedal 
(page 171)
the vehicle speed
iDuring the brief warm-up, transmission 
upshifting is delayed. This allows the 
catalytic converter to heat up more 
quickly to operating temperature. 
     
        
        Page 168 of 498

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. 
     
        
        Page 169 of 498

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.