Page 119 of 506

118 Controls in detailSeatsSeat ventilation*
Both switches for the front seats are 
located in the center console.
1Seat ventilation switchThe blue indicator lamps in the switch1 
show which ventilation level you have 
selected: 
Switch on the ignition (
page 34).
All lamps in the instrument cluster 
come on.
Switching on seat ventilation
Press seat ventilation switch1.
Three blue indicator lamps come on. 
Press seat ventilation switch1 
repeatedly until the desired seat venti-
lation level is reached.Switching off seat ventilation
Press seat ventilation switch1 
repeatedly until all blue indicator lamps 
go out.
Level3
Three indicator lamps on
2
Two indicator lamps on
1
One indicator lamp on
off
No indicator lamp on
iIf one or all of the indicator lamps flash 
on the seat ventilation switch1, there 
is insufficient voltage due to too many 
electrical consumers being switched 
on. The seat ventilation switches off 
automatically.
The seat ventilation will switch back on 
again automatically as soon as 
sufficient voltage is available. 
     
        
        Page 127 of 506

126 Controls in detailLightingCombination switch
The combination switch is located on the 
left of the steering column.Combination switch1High beam
2High beam flasherHigh beam
Turn the exterior lamp switch to 
positionB orU (
page 122).
Push the combination switch in 
direction of arrow1 to switch on the 
high beam.
The high beam headlamp indicator 
lampA in the instrument cluster 
comes on (
page 24).
Pull the combination switch in direction 
of arrow2 to its original position to 
switch off the high beam.
The high beam headlamp indicator 
lampA in the instrument cluster 
goes out.
High beam flasher
Pull the combination switch briefly in 
direction of arrow2.Cornering fog lamps* (CLK 320 with 
Bi-Xenon* headlamps)
The cornering fog lamps improve illumina-
tion of the road into which you are turning.
Cornering fog lamps will operate with the 
engine running and with
the exterior lamp switch in 
positionB (
page 122)
or
the exterior lamp switch in 
positionU (
page 122)
or
the daytime running lamp mode 
activated (
page 124)
iCornering fog lamps will only come on 
in low ambient lighting conditions.
The cornering fog lamps function is not 
available at a vehicle speed above 
25 mph (40 km/h). 
     
        
        Page 131 of 506
130 Controls in detailInstrument clusterFor a full view illustration of the instrument 
cluster, see “Instrument cluster” 
(page 24).
1Reset button
The instrument cluster is activated when 
you
open a door
switch on the ignition (
page 36)
press reset button1
switch on the exterior lamps
You can change the instrument cluster 
settings in the Instrument cluster submenu 
of the control system (
page 145).
Instrument cluster illumination
Use the reset button1 to adjust the 
illumination brightness for the instrument 
cluster.To brighten illumination
Turn reset button1 clockwise.
The instrument cluster illumination will 
brighten.
To dim illumination
Turn reset button1 counterclock-
wise.
The instrument cluster illumination will 
dim.
iThe instrument cluster illumination is 
dimmed or brightened automatically to 
suit ambient light conditions.
The instrument cluster illumination will 
also be adjusted automatically when 
you switch on the vehicle’s exterior 
lamps. 
     
        
        Page 132 of 506

131 Controls in detail
Instrument cluster
Coolant temperature indicator
The coolant temperature indicator is on 
the right side in the instrument cluster 
(page 24).
During severe operating conditions, e.g. 
stop-and-go traffic, the coolant tempera-
ture may rise close to 120°C.
The engine should not be operated with 
the coolant temperature above 120°C. 
Doing so may cause serious engine 
damage which is not covered by the 
Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.
Trip odometer
Make sure you are viewing the stan-
dard display in the multifunction dis-
play (
page 138).
If it is not displayed, press buttonè 
orÿ on the multifunction steering 
wheel repeatedly until the standard dis-
play appears (
page 134).
Press and hold the reset button on the 
instrument cluster (
page 130) until 
the trip odometer is reset.
Warning!
G
Driving when your engine is badly over-
heated can cause some fluids which 
may have leaked into the engine com-
partment to catch fire. You could be se-
riously burned.
Steam from an overheated engine can 
cause serious burns and can occur just 
by opening the hood. Stay away from 
the engine if you see or hear steam com-
ing from it.
Turn off the engine, get out of the vehicle 
and do not stand near the vehicle until the 
engine has cooled down.
iExcessive coolant temperature triggers 
a warning in the multifunction display 
(page 377) and the red coolant warn-
ing lamp in the instrument cluster 
comes on (
page 357). 
     
        
        Page 133 of 506

132 Controls in detailInstrument clusterTachometer
The red marking on the tachometer 
(page 24) denotes excessive engine 
speed.
To help protect the engine, the fuel supply 
is interrupted if the engine is operated 
within the red marking.
Outside temperature indicator
The outside temperature is indicated in the 
multifunction display (
page 133). For 
information on how to select the unit of the 
indicated temperature, i.e. degrees 
Celsius (°C) or degrees Fahrenheit (°F), 
see “Selecting temperature display mode” 
(
page 145).The temperature sensor is located in the 
front bumper area. Due to its location, the 
sensor can be affected by road or engine 
heat during idling or slow driving. This 
means that the accuracy of the displayed 
temperature can only be verified by com-
parison to a thermometer placed next to 
the sensor, not by comparison to external 
displays (e.g. bank signs etc.).
When moving the vehicle into colder ambi-
ent temperatures (e.g. when leaving your 
garage), you will notice a delay before the 
lower temperature is displayed.
A delay also occurs when ambient temper-
atures rise. This prevents inaccurate tem-
perature indications caused by heat 
radiated from the engine during idling or 
slow driving.
!Avoid driving at excessive engine 
speeds, as it may result in serious 
engine damage that is not covered by 
the Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.
Warning!
G
The outside temperature indicator is not de-
signed to serve as an ice-warning device and 
is therefore unsuitable for that purpose.
Indicated temperatures just above the freez-
ing point do not guarantee that the road sur-
face is free of ice. The road may still be icy, 
especially in wooded areas or on bridges. 
     
        
        Page 134 of 506

133 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 136).
iThe displays for the audio systems 
(radio, 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 143 of 506

142 Controls in detailControl system
Press buttonk orj.
The stored messages will now be 
displayed in the order in which they 
have occurred. For malfunction and 
warning messages, see “Vehicle status 
messages in the multifunction display” 
(page 363).
Should the vehicle’s system record any 
conditions while driving, the number of 
messages will reappear in the multifunc-
tion display when the SmartKey in the 
starter switch is turned to position0 or 
removed from the starter switch. With 
KEYLESS-GO*, turn off the engine by 
pressing the KEYLESS-GO* start/stop 
button and open the driver’s door.
Settings menu
In the 
Settings
 menu there are two 
functions:
The function 
Reset to factory 
settings?
, with which you can reset all 
the settings to the original factory 
settings.
A collection of submenus with which 
you can make individual settings for 
your vehicle.
Press buttonè orÿ repeatedly 
until the 
Settings
 menu appears in the 
multifunction display.Resetting all settings
You can reset all the functions of all 
submenus to the factory settings.
Press the reset button in the 
instrument cluster (
page 130) for 
approximately three seconds.
The request to press the reset button 
once more to confirm appears in the 
multifunction display.
Press the reset button once more.
The functions of all the submenus will 
reset to factory settings.
iThe vehicle status message memory 
will be cleared when you switch on the 
ignition. You will then only see high-pri-
ority messages in the multifunction dis-
play (
page 363). 
     
        
        Page 144 of 506

143 Controls in detail
Control system
Submenus in the Settings menu
Press buttonk orj.
The collection of the submenus 
appears in the multifunction display.
Press buttonç.
The selection marker moves to the next 
submenu.
The submenus are arranged by hierarchy. 
Scroll down with buttonç, scroll up 
with buttonæ.
Move within the submenus with 
buttonk orj to the individual 
functions.
The settings themselves are made with 
buttonæ orç.Resetting the functions of a submenu
For each submenu you can reset all the 
functions to the factory settings.
Move to a function in the submenu.
Press the reset button (
page 130) in 
the instrument cluster for approxi-
mately three seconds.
The request to press the reset button 
once more to confirm appears in the 
multifunction display.
Press the reset button once more.
All functions of the submenu will reset 
to factory settings.
iThe settings you have changed will not 
be reset unless you confirm the action 
by pressing the reset button a second 
time. After approximately five seconds, 
the 
Settings...
 menu reappears in 
the multifunction display.
For safety reasons, the following 
functions are not reset while driving:
the 
Lamp circuit headlamp
 func-
tion in the 
Lighting
 submenu
the 
Key-dependent 
function in the 
Convenience
 submenu
iThe settings you have changed will not 
be reset unless you confirm the action 
by pressing the reset button a second 
time. After approximately five seconds, 
the 
Settings
 menu reappears in the 
multifunction display.