2005 MERCEDES-BENZ CLK500 CABRIOLET cruise control

ContentsSoft top .............................................. 244
Opening and closing the soft top . 244
Driving systems ................................. 255
Cruise control............................... 255
Parktronic system
(Parking assist)* ........................... 260
Loading .............................................. 264
Ski sack* ...................................... 264
Loading instructions ..................... 268
Useful features .................................. 269
Storage compartments................. 269
Ashtrays ....................................... 273
Cigarette lighter ........................... 274
Electrical outlet in the
rear passenger compartment ....... 275
Floormats* ................................... 275
Telephone*................................... 276
Tele Aid ........................................ 277
Garage door opener ..................... 284
Operation......................................... 289
The first 1 000 miles (1 500 km)......... 290
Driving instructions............................ 291
Drive sensibly – save fuel ............. 291
Drinking and driving ..................... 291
Pedals .......................................... 291
Power assistance ......................... 291
Brakes .......................................... 292
Driving off .................................... 294
Parking ......................................... 294
Tires ............................................. 295
Hydroplaning ................................ 295
Tire traction.................................. 296
Tire speed rating .......................... 296
Winter driving instructions ........... 297
Standing water ............................. 298
Passenger compartment .............. 299
Driving abroad.............................. 299
Control and operation
of radio transmitters .................... 299
Catalytic converter ....................... 300
Emission control .......................... 300
Coolant temperature .................... 301At the gas station .............................. 302
Refueling ...................................... 302
Check regularly and
before a long trip ......................... 304
Engine compartment ......................... 305
Hood ............................................ 305
Engine oil ..................................... 306
Transmission fluid level ................ 309
Coolant ........................................ 310
Battery ......................................... 311
Windshield washer system and
headlamp cleaning system*......... 312
Tires and wheels................................ 313
Important guidelines .................... 313
Tire care and maintenance........... 314
Direction of rotation..................... 316
Loading the vehicle ...................... 316
Recommended
tire inflation pressure ................... 322
Checking tire inflation pressure ... 324
Tire labeling ................................. 326
Load identification ....................... 330
DOT, Tire Identification Number
(TIN) ............................................. 330
Maximum tire load ....................... 332
Maximum tire inflation pressure .. 332

23 At a glance
Cockpit
Item
Page
1
Steering wheel gearshift
buttons
(CLK 500, CLK 55 AMG)
171
2
Combination switch

Turn signals


Windshield wipers


High beam
51
52
51
3
Cruise control lever
255
4
Multifunction steering
wheel
26,
134
5
Instrument cluster
24,
130
6
Starter switch
34
7
Front Parktronic* warning
indicators
262
8
Overhead control panel
29
Item
Page
9
Glove box
269
a
Cup holder
271
b
Center console
27, 28
c
Hood lock release
305
d
Horn
e
Steering wheel adjustment
stalk
40
f
Parking brake pedal
49
g
Door control panel
30
h
Parking brake release
49
j
Exterior lamp switch
50,
122
k
Exterior rear view mirror
adjustment
41
l
Headlamp washer switch*
176

255 Controls in detail
Driving systems
Driving systems
The driving systems of your vehicle are de-
scribed on the following pages:

Cruise control, with which the vehicle
can maintain a preset speed


Parktronic*, which serves as a parking
assistant
For information on the BAS, ABS, and ESP
driving systems, see “Driving safety sys-
tems” (
page 84).
Cruise control
Cruise control automatically maintains the
speed you set for your vehicle.
Use of cruise control is recommended for
driving at a constant speed for extended
periods of time.
CLK 320/CLK 55 AMG:
You can set or resume cruise control at any
speed over 20 mph (30 km/h).
CLK 500:
You can set or resume cruise control at any
speed over 25 mph (40 km/h).
The cruise control function is operated by
means of the cruise control lever.
The cruise control lever is the uppermost
lever on the left-hand side of the steering
column (
page 22).
Warning!
G
Cruise control is a convenience system de-
signed to assist the driver during vehicle op-
eration. The driver is and must remain at all
times responsible for the vehicle speed and
for safe brake operation.
Only use cruise control if the road, traffic
and weather conditions make it advisable to
travel at a steady speed.

The use of cruise control can be danger-
ous on winding roads or in heavy traffic
because conditions do not allow safe
driving at a steady speed.


The use of cruise control can be danger-
ous on slippery roads. Rapid changes in
tire traction can result in wheel spin and
loss of control.


Deactivate cruise control when driving
in fog.
The “Resume” function should only be oper-
ated if the driver is fully aware of the previ-
ously set speed and wishes to resume this
particular preset speed.

256 Controls in detailDriving systems1Set current or higher speed
2Set current or lower speed
3Cancel cruise control
4Resume to last set speedSetting current speed

Accelerate or decelerate to the desired
speed.

Briefly lift1 or depress2 the cruise
control lever (
page 256).
The current speed is set.

Remove your foot from the accelerator
pedal.
Cruise control is activated.
The selected speed appears in the multi-
function display for approximately five sec-
onds, and the corresponding speedometer
segments from the selected speed to the
vehicle maximum speed are illuminated.
Warning!
G
CLK 500:
Cruise control brakes automatically so that
the set speed is not exceeded. The brake
pedal is depressed automatically to do this.
Keep in mind that cruise control is a conve-
nience system designed to assist the driver
during vehicle operation. The driver is and
must always remain responsible for the ve-
hicle’s speed and for safe brake operation.
Keep driver’s foot area clear at all times, in-
cluding the area under the brake pedal. Ob-
jects stored in this area may impair pedal
movement which could interfere with the
braking ability of the cruise control system.
Do not place your foot under the brake pedal
- your foot could become caught.

257 Controls in detail
Driving systems
Canceling cruise control
There are several ways to cancel cruise
control:
Step on the brake pedal.
Cruise control is canceled. The last
speed set is stored for later use.
or

Briefly push the cruise control lever to
position3.
Cruise control is canceled. The last
speed set is stored for later use.
iOn uphill or downhill grades, cruise
control may not be able to maintain the
set speed. Once the grade eases, the
set speed will be resumed.
CLK 320/CLK 55 AMG:
If the engine’s braking power does not
brake the vehicle sufficiently on down-
hill grades, the automatic transmission
will automatically downshift.
CLK 500:
On downhill grades, the cruise control
will hold the set speed with active brak-
ing action.
In addition, on longer downhill grades
the automatic transmission will auto-
matically downshift.
iThe last stored speed is canceled when
you turn off the engine.
iThe cruise control switches off auto-
matically, if
CLK 320/CLK 55 AMG:

you step on the brake pedal.


you move the gear selector lever to
positionN while driving.


the vehicle speed is below 20 mph
(30 km/h).


ESP is in operation.
The segments in the multifunction dis-
play are flashing.
CLK 500:


you step on the brake pedal.


you press the parking brake pedal.
In this case the segments in the
multifunction display (
page 256)
go out and no warning sounds.

258 Controls in detailDriving systems
Setting a higher speed
Lift the cruise control lever in direction
of arrow1 (
page 256) and hold it
up until the desired speed is reached.

Release the cruise control lever.
The new speed is set.Setting a lower speed

Depress the cruise control lever in
direction of arrow2 (
page 256) and
hold it down until the desired speed is
reached.

Release the cruise control lever.
The new speed is set.


the vehicle speed is below 25 mph
(40 km/h).


ESP is in operation or switched off
with the ESP switch (
page 87).


you move the gear selector lever to
positionN while driving.
The segments in the multifunction dis-
play (page 256) go out, and an
acoustic warning sounds.
!Moving gear selector lever to
positionN while driving also cancels
cruise control. However, the gear se-
lector lever should not be moved to
positionN while driving except to coast
when the vehicle is in danger of skid-
ding (e.g. on icy roads).
iDepressing the accelerator pedal does
not deactivate cruise control. After
brief acceleration (e.g. for passing),
cruise control will resume the last
speed set.
iCLK 320/CLK 55 AMG
When you use the cruise control lever
to decelerate, the transmission will
automatically downshift if the engine’s
braking power does not brake the
vehicle sufficiently.
CLK 500:
When you use the cruise control lever
to decelerate, the brake system will
automatically brake the vehicle if the
engine’s braking power does not brake
the vehicle sufficiently.

259 Controls in detail
Driving systems
Fine adjustment in 1 mph
(Canada: 1 km/h) increments
Faster
Briefly tip the cruise control lever in di-
rection of arrow1 (
page 256).
Slower

Briefly tip the cruise control lever in di-
rection of arrow2 (
page 256).Setting to last stored speed
(“Resume” function)

Briefly push cruise control lever to
position4 (
page 256).
The cruise control resumes the last set
speed.

Remove your foot from the accelerator
pedal.The selected speed appears in the multi-
function display for approximately five sec-
onds, and the corresponding speedometer
segments from the selected speed to the
vehicle maximum speed are illuminated.Warning!
G
The speed stored in memory should only be
set again if prevailing road conditions per-
mit. Possible acceleration or deceleration
differences arising from returning to the pre-
set speed could cause an accident and/or
serious injury to you and others.

297 Operation
Driving instructions
CLK 320 with Appearance Package
Your vehicle is factory equipped with
“W”-rated tires, which have a speed rating
of 168 mph (270 km/h).
An electronic speed limiter prevents your
vehicle from exceeding a speed of
130 mph (210 km/h).
CLK 500
Your vehicle is factory equipped with
“Y”-rated tires, which have a speed rating
of 186 mph (300 km/h).
An electronic speed limiter prevents your
vehicle from exceeding a speed of
130 mph (210 km/h).CLK 55 AMG
Your vehicle is factory equipped with
“Y”-rated tires, which have a speed rating
of 186 mph (300 km/h).
An electronic speed limiter prevents your
vehicle from exceeding a speed of
155 mph (250 km/h).
Winter driving instructions
The most important rule for slippery or icy
roads is to drive sensibly and to avoid
abrupt acceleration, braking and steering
maneuvers. Do not use the cruise control
system under such conditions.
When the vehicle is in danger of skidding,
move gear selector lever to position N. Try
to keep the vehicle under control by cor-
rective steering action.
iFor information on tire speed rating for
winter tires, see “Winter tires”
(page 340).
For additional general information on
tire speed markings on the sidewall,
see “Tire speed rating” (
page 326).
iFor information on driving with snow
chains, see “Snow chains”
(page 341).
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 control loss.