Page 25 of 498
23 At a glance
Cockpit
Item
Page
1
Steering wheel gearshift 
buttons 
(CLK 500, CLK 55 AMG)
172
2
Combination switch
Turn signals
Windshield wipers
High beam
51
52
51
3
Cruise control lever
255
4
Multifunction steering 
wheel
26,
138
5
Instrument cluster
24,
134
6
Lever for voice control 
system*, see separate op-
erating instructions
7
Starter switch
34
8
Front Parktronic* warning 
indicator
262
Item
Page
9
Overhead control panel
29
a
Glove box
272
b
Cup holder
275
c
Center console
27, 28
d
Hood lock release
308
e
Horn
f
Steering wheel adjustment 
stalk
40
g
Parking brake pedal
49
h
Door control panel
30
j
Parking brake release
49
k
Exterior lamp switch
50,
124
l
Exterior rear view mirror 
adjustment
41
m
Headlamp washer switch*
178 
     
        
        Page 27 of 498

25 At a glance
Instrument cluster
Item
Page
1
LLeft turn signal indi-
cator lamp
51
2
vESP warning lamp
358
3
Speedometer
4
Multifunction display
137
5
lDistance warning 
lamp
Warning lamp without func-
tion. It illuminates with the 
ignition on. It should go out 
when the engine is running.
6
KRight turn signal indi-
cator lamp
51
7
Coolant temperature indi-
cator with:
135
•
Coolant temperature 
warning lamp
357,
376
Item
Page
8
Tachometer with:
136
1Supplemental 
restraint system 
indicator lamp
359,
386
-Antilock Brake Sys-
tem (ABS) warning 
lamp
354
359,
386
AHigh beam headlamp 
indicator lamp
129
BLow beam headlamp 
indicator lamp
129
9
Main odometer with:
Gear selector lever posi-
tion 
166
Program mode 
170
Item
Page
a
Clock with:
151
;Brake warning lamp, 
USA only
355
3Brake warning lamp, 
Canada only?Engine malfunction 
indicator lamp, 
USA only
356
±Engine malfunction 
indicator lamp, 
Canada only
356
b
Fuel display with:AFuel reserve warning 
lamp
359
c
Reset button for:
Resetting trip odometer
135
Adjusting instrument 
cluster illumination
134
Confirming new time set-
tings
151 
     
        
        Page 36 of 498

34 Getting startedUnlockingStarter switch positions
SmartKeyStarter switch
0For removing SmartKey
1Power supply to some electrical con-
sumers, such as seat adjustment
2Ignition (power supply for all electrical 
consumers) and driving position. All 
lamps (except low beam headlamp in-
dicator lamp, high beam headlamp indi-
cator lamp, and turn signal indicator 
lamps unless activated) in the instru-
ment cluster come on. If a lamp in the 
instrument cluster fails to come on 
when the ignition is switched on, have 
it checked and replaced if necessary. If 
a lamp in the instrument cluster re-
mains on after starting the engine or 
comes on while driving, refer to “Lamps 
in instrument cluster” (
page 354).
3Starting position
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. 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.
iWhen you switch on the ignition, the in-
dicator and warning lamps (except low 
beam headlamp indicator lamp, high 
beam headlamp indicator lamp, and 
turn signal indicator lamps unless acti-
vated) in the instrument cluster come 
on. This indicates that the respective 
systems are operational. The indicator 
and warning lamps (except low beam 
headlamp indicator lamp, high beam 
headlamp indicator lamp, and turn sig-
nal indicator lamps if activated) should 
go out when the engine is running.iThe SmartKey can only be removed 
from the starter switch with the gear 
selector lever in position P. 
     
        
        Page 38 of 498

36 Getting startedUnlockingPosition 0
Before you press the KEYLESS-GO 
start/stop button, the vehicle’s on-board 
electronics have status0 (as with 
SmartKey removed).
Position 1
Press the KEYLESS-GO start/stop but-
ton once.
This supplies power to some electrical 
consumers, such as seat adjustment.Ignition (or position 2)
Press the KEYLESS-GO start/stop but-
ton twice.
This supplies power to all electrical 
consumers. All the lamps (except low 
beam headlamp indicator lamp, high 
beam headlamp indicator lamp, and 
turn signal indicator lamps unless acti-
vated) in the instrument cluster come 
on. If a lamp in the instrument cluster 
fails to come on when the ignition is 
switched on, have it checked and re-
placed if necessary. If a lamp in the in-
strument cluster remains on after 
starting the engine or comes on while 
driving, refer to “Lamps in instrument 
cluster” (
page 354).For more information, see “SmartKey with 
KEYLESS-GO*” (
page 99).
For information on starting the engine 
using the KEYLESS-GO start/stop button, 
see “Starting with KEYLESS-GO*” 
(
page 47).
iIf you now press the KEYLESS-GO 
start/stop button 
once again, the ignition (position2) 
is switched on.
twice, the power supply is again 
switched off.
iIf you now press the KEYLESS-GO 
start/stop button once, the power sup-
ply is again switched off.
iWhen you switch on the ignition, the in-
dicator and warning lamps (except low 
beam headlamp indicator lamp, high 
beam headlamp indicator lamp, and 
turn signal indicator lamps unless acti-
vated) in the instrument cluster come 
on. This indicates that the respective 
systems are operational. The indicator 
and warning lamps (except low beam 
headlamp indicator lamp, high beam 
headlamp indicator lamp, and turn sig-
nal indicator lamps if activated) should 
go out when the engine is running. 
     
        
        Page 52 of 498

50 Getting startedDriving
For more information on driving, see “Driv-
ing instructions” (
page 295).
Switching on headlamps
For more information on headlamps, see 
“Lighting” (
page 124).
Low beam headlamps
The exterior lamp switch is located on the 
dashboard to the left of the steering wheel.
Exterior lamp switch1Off
2Low beam headlamps on
iWait for the gear selection process to 
complete before setting the vehicle in 
motion.Warning!
G
It is dangerous to shift the gear selector 
lever out ofPorN 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 in 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.!Simultaneously depressing the 
accelerator pedal and applying the 
brake reduces engine performance and 
causes premature brake and drivetrain 
wear.
Warning!
G
On slippery road surfaces, never downshift 
in order to obtain braking action. This could 
result in drive wheel slip and reduced vehi-
cle control. Your vehicle’s ABS will not pre-
vent this type of loss of control.!Place the gear selector lever in 
positionRorP only when the vehicle is 
stopped in order to avoid damaging the 
transmission.!Do not run cold engine at high engine 
speeds. Running a cold engine at high 
engine speeds may shorten the service 
life of the engine. 
     
        
        Page 53 of 498
51 Getting started
Driving
Turn exterior lamp switch to 
positionB.
The low beam headlamp indicator 
lampB in the instrument cluster 
comes on (
page 24).
High beam
The combination switch is located on the 
left of the steering column.
Combination switch1High beam
2High beam flasher
Push combination switch in direction of 
arrow1.
The high beam headlamp indicator 
lampA in the instrument cluster 
comes on (
page 24).
Turn signals
The combination switch is located on the 
left of the steering column.Combination switch1Turn signals, right
2Turn signals, left
Press combination switch in direction 
of arrow1or2.
The corresponding turn signal indicator 
lampLorK in the instrument 
cluster flashes (
page 24).
The combination switch resets automati-
cally after major steering wheel move-
ments.
iTo signal minor directional changes 
such as changing lanes, press combi-
nation switch only to the point of resis-
tance and release. The corresponding 
turn signals will flash three times. 
     
        
        Page 126 of 498

124 Controls in detailLightingFor information on how to switch on the 
headlamps and use the turn signals, see 
“Switching on headlamps” (
page 50) 
and “Turn signals” (
page 51).
Exterior lamp switch
The exterior lamp switch is located on the 
dashboard to the left of the steering wheel.Exterior lamp switch
MOff
Daytime running lamp mode 
(
page 155)
UAutomatic headlamp mode
Daytime running lamp mode 
(page 155)
CParking lamps (also tail lamps, 
license plate lamps, side marker 
lamps, instrument panel lamps)
BLow beam headlamps (or high 
beam headlamps when the combi-
nation switch is pushed forward) 
and parking lamps
ˆStanding lamps, right (turn left one 
stop)
‚Standing lamps, left (turn left two 
stops)
‡Indicator lamp for front fog lamps
†Indicator lamp for rear fog lamp
iIf you drive in countries where vehicles 
drive on the other side of the road than 
the country in which the vehicle is reg-
istered, you must have the headlamps 
modified for symmetrical low beams. 
Relevant information can be obtained 
at your authorized Mercedes-Benz 
Center 
     
        
        Page 128 of 498

126 Controls in detailLighting
Turn the exterior lamp switch to 
positionU.
With the SmartKey in starter switch 
position1 or the KEYLESS-GO* 
start/stop button pressed once, only 
the parking lamps will switch on and off 
automatically.
When the engine is running, the low 
beam headlamps, the tail and parking 
lamps, the license plate lamps, and the 
side marker lamps will switch on and 
off automatically.Daytime running lamp mode
Turn the exterior lamp switch to 
positionM orU.
When the engine is running, the low beam 
headlamps are switched on.
In low ambient light conditions, the 
following lamps will switch on additionally:
Tail and parking lamps
License plate lamps
Side marker lamps
For nighttime driving you should turn the 
exterior lamp switch to positionB to 
permit activation of the high beam head-
lamps.Canada only
The daytime running lamp mode is manda-
tory and therefore in a constant mode.
When the engine is running, and you shift 
from a driving position to positionN orP, 
the low beam headlamps will switch off 
with a three-minute delay.
When the engine is running, and you
turn the exterior lamp switch to 
positionC, the parking lamps 
switch on additionally.
turn the exterior lamp switch to 
positionB, the manual headlamp 
mode has priority over the daytime 
running lamp mode.
The corresponding exterior lamps 
switch on (
page 124).
The automatic headlamp feature is only an 
aid to the driver. The driver is responsible for 
the operation of the vehicle’s lights at all 
times.
iWith the daytime running lamp mode 
activated and the exterior lamp switch 
in positionM, the high beam head-
lamps cannot be switched on.
The high beam flasher is available at all 
times.