Page 17 of 498

15 Introduction
Symbols
Symbols
The following symbols are found in this 
Operator’s Manual:
* Optional equipment is identified 
with an asterisk. Since standard 
equipment varies between models, 
the descriptions and illustrations in 
this manual may differ slightly from 
the actual equipment of your 
vehicle.
This symbol points to instructions for 
you to follow. 
A number of these symbols appearing 
in succession indicates a multiple-step 
procedure.
 Page This symbol tells you where to 
look for further information on a 
topic.
This continuation symbol marks 
an interrupted procedure which 
will be continued on the next 
page.
-> In the glossary of technical 
terms, this symbol is used to 
indicate cross-references to 
term definitions. 
Display
Words appearing in the multi-
function display are printed in 
the type shown here.
Warning!
G
Warning notices draw your attention to haz-
ards that may endanger your health or life, 
or the health or life of others.!Highlights hazards that may result in 
damage to your vehicle.iHelpful hints or further information you 
may find useful. 
     
        
        Page 60 of 498

58 Getting startedParking and locking
1Lock button on the door handle
After exiting the vehicle, press lock 
button1 on the door handle or on the 
trunk lid.
All turn signal lamps flash three times. 
The locking knobs in the doors move 
down. 
For more information, see “Locking and 
unlocking” (
page 94).
!If you hear a warning signal you have 
either
forgotten to switch off the vehi-
cles’s exterior lamps before open-
ing the driver’s door, or
tried to turn off the engine while the 
gear selector lever is not inP.
Turn off the lights or place the gear se-
lector lever inP.
iOpening a door causes the windows on 
that side of the car to open slightly. 
They will return to the up position when 
the door is closed.
Warning!
G
To prevent possible personal injury, always 
keep hands and fingers away from the door 
openings when closing the doors. Be espe-
cially careful when small children are 
around.
Before closing doors, make sure there is no 
possibility of someone getting caught in a 
door during closing.
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.
 
     
        
        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.
 
     
        
        Page 134 of 498

132 Controls in detailLightingInterior lighting
The controls are located in the overhead 
control panel.
1Rear interior lights
2Right front reading lamp
3Rocker switch for automatic control 
system
4Left front reading lampActivating automatic control
Press rocker switch3 to center 
position.
Interior lamps are switched on in dark-
ness, even when you:
unlock the vehicle
open a door
remove the SmartKey from the 
starter switch
The interior lamps are switched off after a 
preset time, see “Setting interior lighting 
delayed shut-off” (
page 157).Deactivating automatic control
Press the = symbol on rocker 
switch3.
The interior lighting remains switched 
off in darkness, even when you:
unlock the vehicle
open a door
remove the SmartKey from the 
starter switch
iIf the door remains open, the interior 
lamps switch off automatically after 
approximately five minutes, when the 
SmartKey is removed or in starter 
switch position0.
An interior lamp switched on manually 
does not go out automatically. 
     
        
        Page 135 of 498

133 Controls in detail
Lighting
Manual control
Switching all front interior lights on and 
off
Press the W symbol on rocker 
switch3.
The front interior lights come on.
Press rocker switch3 to center 
position to activate the automatic 
control.
Switching rear interior lights on and off
Press button V.
The light in the rear passenger 
compartment come on.
Press button V again.
The light in the rear passenger 
compartment go out.Switching right front reading lamp on 
and off
Press right button X.
The right reading lamp comes on.
Press right button X again.
The right reading lamp goes out.
Switching left front reading lamp on and 
off
Press left button X.
The left reading lamp comes on.
Press left button X again.
The left reading lamp goes out.
Door entry lamps
The appropriate door entry lamp switches 
on if a door is opened in darkness and if 
the interior lighting is switched to automat-
ic function.
The entry lamp switches off automatically 
when the door is closed.Trunk lamp
The trunk lamp switches on if the trunk lid 
is opened.
If you leave the trunk open for an extended 
period of time, the trunk lamp will switch 
off automatically after approximately ten 
minutes.
iIf you turn the SmartKey in the starter 
switch to position0 and switch off the 
exterior headlamps, the door entry 
lamps will remain lit for approximately 
five minutes. 
     
        
        Page 174 of 498

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. 
     
        
        Page 406 of 498

404 Practical hintsReplacing bulbsSafe vehicle operation depends on proper 
exterior lighting and signaling. It is there-
fore essential that all bulbs and lamp 
assemblies are in good working order at all 
times.
Correct headlamp adjustment is extremely 
important. Have headlamps checked and 
readjusted at regular intervals and when a 
bulb has been replaced. See an authorized 
Mercedes-Benz Center for headlamp ad-
justment.
Bulbs Front lamps
iIf the headlamps or front fog lamps are 
fogged up on the inside as a result of 
high humidity, driving the vehicle a 
distance with the lights on should clear 
up the fogging.iBack-up bulbs will be brought into use 
when lamps malfunction. Observe the 
messages in the multifunction display 
(page 382).
Lamp
Type
1
Additional turn signal 
lamps
LED
2
Turn signal lamp
1156 NA
3
Halogen headlamp:
Low beam
Bi-Xenon* headlamp:
Low and high beam
1
1Vehicles with Bi-Xenon headlamps* do not replace
the Bi-Xenon bulbs yourself.
H7 (55 W) 
D2S-35 W
4
Halogen headlamp:
High beam/high beam 
flasher
Bi-Xenon* headlamp:
High beam flasher
H7 (55 W)
H7 (55 W)
Parking and standing 
lamps
W 5 W
5
Fog lamp
HB4 (51 W)
Cornering fog lamp*
H7 (55 W)
6
Side marker lamp
W 5 W 
     
        
        Page 407 of 498

405 Practical hints
Replacing bulbs
Rear lamps
Notes on bulb replacement
Only use 12 volt bulbs of the same type 
and with the specified watt rating. 
Switch lights off before changing a bulb 
to prevent short circuits. 
Always use a clean lint-free cloth when 
handling bulbs. 
Your hands should be dry and free of oil 
and grease.
If the newly installed bulb does not 
come on, visit an authorized 
Mercedes-Benz Center.
Have the LEDs and bulbs for the follow-
ing lamps replaced by an authorized 
Mercedes-Benz Center.
Additional turn signal lamps in the 
exterior rear view mirrors
High mounted brake lamp
Bi-Xenon* lamps
Front fog lamps
Lamp
Type
7
High mounted brake 
lamp
LED
8
Brake lamp
P 21 W
9
Turn signal lamp
P 21 W
a
Tail, parking and stand-
ing lamp, side marker
P 21/4 W
W 5 W
b
Backup lamp
P 21 W
c
License plate lamps
C 5 W
d
Rear fog lamp, driver’s 
side
P 21/4 W 
Warning!
G
Keep bulbs out of reach of children.
Bulbs and bulb sockets can be very hot. Al-
low the lamp to cool down before changing 
a bulb.
Halogen lamps contain pressurized gas. A 
bulb can explode if you:
touch or move it when hot
drop the bulb
scratch the bulb
Wear eye and hand protection.
Because of high voltage in Xenon lamps, it is 
dangerous to replace the bulb or repair the 
lamp and its components. We recommend 
that you have such work done by a qualified 
technician.
iHave the headlamp adjustment 
checked regularly.