Page 6 of 506

Contents
Control system ..................................  133
Multifunction display ....................  133
Multifunction steering wheel ........  134
Menus ..........................................  136
Standard display menu ................  138
AUDIO menu ................................  139
NAV* menu ..................................  141
Vehicle status 
message memory menu ...............  141
Settings menu ..............................  142
Trip computer menu.....................  158
TEL menu* ...................................  160
Automatic transmission .....................  163
One-touch gearshifting.................  165
Gear ranges .................................  166
Gear selector lever position .........  167
Automatic shift program ..............  169
Driving tips ...................................  170
Steering wheel gearshift control 
- CLK 500 and CLK 55 AMG .........  171
Manual shift program 
CLK 55 AMG ................................  173
Emergency operation 
(Limp Home Mode) ......................  175Good visibility ..................................... 176
Headlamp cleaning system* ......... 176
Rear view mirrors.......................... 176
Sun visors ..................................... 178
Rear window defroster .................. 179
Climate control (CLK 320) .................. 180
Deactivating the 
climate control system ................. 183
Setting the temperature................ 183
Adjusting air 
distribution and volume ................ 184
Defrosting ..................................... 185
Air recirculation mode .................. 186
Air conditioning............................. 187
Rear passenger compartment 
adjustable air vents....................... 189
Automatic climate control 
(CLK 500/CLK 55 AMG)..................... 190
Deactivating the automatic 
climate control system ................. 193
Setting the temperature................ 193
Adjusting air distribution............... 194
Adjusting air volume ..................... 194
Defrosting ..................................... 195
Maximum cooling MAXCOOL ........ 195
Air recirculation mode .................. 195Charcoal filter ...............................  197
Air conditioning ............................ 198
Residual heat and ventilation* 
(available on Automatic climate 
control panel design A only) .........  199
Rear passenger compartment 
adjustable air vents ......................  200
Audio system......................................  201
Audio and telephone, operation .... 201
Operating safety ...........................  201
Sound system* ............................. 201
Operating and display elements ... 202
Button and soft key operation ......  204
Operation......................................  204
Radio operation ............................ 209
Introduction to satellite radio* 
(USA only) ..................................... 213
CD mode.......................................  218
GSM network phones ...................  224
TDMA or CDMA network phones ..  231
Emergency calls “911” .................  237
Power windows ..................................  239
Opening and 
closing the windows .....................  239
Synchronizing power windows ......  243 
     
        
        Page 28 of 506
27 At a glance
Center console
Center console
Upper part
Item
Page
1
Seat heater*, driver’s side
Seat ventilation*, driver’s 
side
117
118
2
Parktronic (Parking as-
sist)* deactivation switch
263
3
ESP control switch
86
4
Hazard warning flasher 
switch - switching on/off
127
5
Central locking switch
Central unlocking switch
110
110
6
Switch for lowering rear 
seat head restraints
115
7
Tow-away alarm switch
Anti-theft alarm system in-
dicator lamp
91
92
Item
Page
8
Seat heater*, passenger 
side
Seat ventilation*, 
passenger side
117
118
9
Front passenger front air 
bag off indicator lamp
79,
361
a
Audio system,
or
COMAND* (see separate 
operating instructions)
139
b
Climate control (CLK 320)
Automatic climate control 
(CLK 500/CLK 55 AMG)
Rear window defroster 
180
190,
179 
     
        
        Page 94 of 506
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
Soft top
Driving systems
Loading
Useful features 
     
        
        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 135 of 506

134 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 138 of 506
137 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 138)
(page 139)
(page 141)
(page 141)
(page 142)
(page 158)
(page 160)
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 140 of 506

139 Controls in detail
Control system
Display digital speedometer
Press buttonj ork repeatedly 
until the digital speedometer appears 
in the multifunction display.
The current vehicle speed is shown in 
the multifunction display and the sta-
tus line appears.
1Digital Speedometer
2Status line with outside temperature
3Trip odometer
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 204). 
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.
iYou can have the digital speedometer 
displayed instead of the outside tem-
perature in the status line. You can se-
lect the setting in the submenu 
Instr. 
cluster
 via the function 
Status line 
display
 (page 146).
Function
Page
Select radio station
139
Select satellite radio station* 
(USA only)
139
Operate CD player
140
iYou can only store new stations using 
the corresponding feature on the radio 
(page 211).
Vehicles with COMAND*: Refer to 
separate operating instructions.
You can also operate the radio in the 
usual manner. 
     
        
        Page 141 of 506

140 Controls in detailControl systemSelect 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.Operate the CD player
Turn on the radio and select the 
CD player (
page 218). 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.
iFor more information on satellite radio 
operation, see “Introduction to satellite 
radio* (USA only)” (
page 213). 
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.