2005 MERCEDES-BENZ CLK500 CABRIOLET roof

245 Controls in detail
Soft top
Luggage cover
The luggage cover is located in the trunk.
1Luggage cover
Open the trunk
Latch luggage cover

Pull luggage cover1 out in direction
of arrow until it engages in place.Folding back luggage cover

Press luggage cover1 in direction of
rear seat.!To prevent damage to the soft top or
luggage/cargo when lowering the roof:

load trunk only to the height of the
luggage cover


do not permit luggage/cargo to
push up the closed luggage cover


do not place anything on the shelf
behind the roll bars


do not place anything on the soft
top compartment cover
!Never place anything behind the side
nets when the luggage cover has been
folded back or the ski sack roller blind
is open. You could forget about objects
placed there, which could result in
damage when operating the soft top.

249 Controls in detail
Soft top

Press the soft top switch as indicated
by the arrow1 until the soft top is
completely closed and locked.
During the closing procedure the multi-
function display shows the message Top in operation
.
If the soft top is closed and locked, the
multifunction display will briefly show
the message
Top closed
.
If you continuously press on the soft
top switch the windows will close.
However, the windows can also be
closed/opened later on, for more informa-
tion see “Opening and closing the windows
with the soft top switch” (
page 241) or
see “Opening and closing the windows”
(
page 239).iFor safety reasons, the soft top cannot
be opened while driving.
iThe soft top cannot be closed using the
soft top switch when the roll bars have
been released. The roll bars need to be
lowered before the soft top can be op-
erated again using the soft top switch.
If the roll bars have released and the
soft top is open, you can lower the roll
bars manually (
page 402) or contact
an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center
to have the roll bars lowered.
Warning!
G
To prevent possible accidents, drive the ve-
hicle only with the soft top either completely
closed and locked, or fully lowered into its
storage compartment.
If the soft top does not completely open or
close, a warning sounds. In the multifunc-
tion display you will see K, and the mes-
sage
Top being lowered!
appears. After
about 15 seconds the roof hydraulics lose
pressure.
Properly lock the soft top (page 250) be-
fore continuing to drive.

251 Controls in detail
Soft top
Opening and closing the soft top with
the SmartKey
The windows will also be opened or closed
when you operate the soft top with the
SmartKey.

Aim the transmitter eye at the driver’s
door handle.
Warning!
G
If the soft top does not completely open or
close, the roof hydraulics will lose pressure
and the soft top is lowered

after approximately seven minutes
when the ignition is switched on.


after approximately 15 seconds when
the ignition is switched off.
Shortly before the soft top is lowered, a
warning will sound. In the multifunction dis-
play you will see K, and the message
Top
being lowered!
appears.


Properly lock the soft top (
page 250)
before continuing to drive.
Warning!
G
Before operating the soft top, make sure no
persons can be injured by the moving parts
(roll bar, soft top frame, and soft top com-
partment cover) due to negligence.
Hands must never be placed near the roll
bar, soft top frame, upper windshield area,
shelf behind roll bar, or soft top storage
compartment while the soft top is being
raised or lowered. Serious personal injury
may occur.
If potential danger exists, release the re-
spective button on the SmartKey. This im-
mediately interrupts the raising or lowering
procedure. You then can operate Πto
lower or ‹ to raise the soft top away
from the danger zone.

252 Controls in detailSoft topOpening (Summer opening feature)
Press and hold button Πuntil the
soft top is completely open.
The windows and soft top begin to
open after approximately one second.
During the opening procedure the mul-
tifunction display shows the message Top in operation
.
If the opening procedure is finished,
the multifunction display will briefly
show the message Top open
.

Release transmit button Πto inter-
rupt procedure.Closing (Convenience feature)

Press and hold button ‹ until the
soft top is completely closed.
The windows and soft top begin to
close after approximately one second.
During the closing procedure the multi-
function display shows the message Top in operation
.
If the soft top is closed and locked, the
multifunction display will briefly show
the message
Top closed
.

Release transmit button ‹ to inter-
rupt procedure.
Make sure all side windows and the
soft top are properly closed before leaving
the vehicle.
Warning!
G
If the soft top does not completely open or
close, a warning sounds and the soft top
switch flashes. In the multifunction display
you will see K, and the message
Top
being lowered!
appears. After about
15 seconds the roof hydraulics lose pres-
sure.
Properly lock the soft top (
page 250) be-
fore continuing to drive.

268 Controls in detailLoadingLoading instructions
The total load weight including vehicle oc-
cupants and luggage/cargo should not ex-
ceed the load limit or vehicle capacity
weight indicated on the corresponding
placard located on the driver’s door B-pil-
lar.
The handling characteristics of a fully load-
ed vehicle depend greatly on the load dis-
tribution. It is therefore recommended to
load the heaviest items being placed to-
wards the front of the vehicle.
Always place items being carried against
rear seat backrests, and fasten them as se-
curely as possible.
The heaviest portion of the cargo should al-
ways be kept as low as possible since it in-
fluences the handling characteristics of
the vehicle.
!To prevent damage to the soft top or
luggage/cargo when lowering the roof:

load trunk only to the height of the
luggage cover


do not permit luggage/cargo to
push up the closed luggage cover


do not place anything on the shelf
behind the roll bar


do not place anything on the soft
top compartment cover
Warning!
G
Always fasten items being carried as secure-
ly as possible.
In an accident, during hard braking or sud-
den maneuvers, loose items will be thrown
around inside the vehicle and can cause in-
jury to vehicle occupants unless the items
are securely fastened in the vehicle.
To help avoid personal injury during a colli-
sion or sudden maneuver, exercise care
when transporting cargo. Put luggage or car-
go in the trunk if possible.
Never drive vehicle with trunk open. Deadly
carbon monoxide (CO) gases may enter ve-
hicle interior resulting in unconsciousness
and death.

337 Operation
Tires and wheels
Maximum load rating
The maximum load in kilograms and
pounds that can be carried by the tire.
Maximum loaded vehicle weight
The sum of curb weight, accessory weight,
vehicle capacity weight and production
options weight.
Maximum tire inflation pressure
This number is the greatest amount of air
pressure that should ever be put in the tire
under normal driving conditions.
Normal occupant weight
The number of occupants the vehicle is
designed to seat, multiplied by
68 kilograms (150 lbs).
Occupant distribution
The distribution of occupants in a vehicle
at their designated seating positions.Production options weight
The combined weight of those installed
regular production options weighing over
5 lbs (2.3 kilograms) in excess of those
standard items which they replace, not
previously considered in curb weight or
accessory weight, including heavy duty
brakes, ride levelers, roof rack, heavy duty
battery, and special trim.
PSI (P
ounds per s
quare i
nch)
A standard unit of measure for air pressure
-> bar, kilopascal (kPa).Recommended tire inflation pressure
Recommended tire inflation pressure
listed on placard located on driver’s door
B-pillar for normal driving conditions.
Provides best handling, tread life and
riding comfort.
Rim
A metal support for a tire or a tire and tube
assembly upon which the tire beads are
seated.
Sidewall
The portion of a tire between the tread and
the bead.

345 Operation
Vehicle care
Vehicle care
Cleaning and care of vehicle
While in operation, even while parked, your
vehicle is subject to varying external
influences which, if gone unchecked, can
attack the paintwork as well as the
underbody and cause lasting damage.Such damage is caused not only by
extreme and varying climatic conditions,
but also by:


Air pollution


Road salt


Tar


Gravel and stone chipping
To avoid paint damage, you should
immediately remove:


Grease and oil


Fuel


Coolant


Brake fluid


Bird droppings


Insects


Tree resins, etc.
Frequent washing reduces and / or elimi-
nates the aggressiveness and potency of
the above adverse influences.More frequent washings are necessary to
deal with unfavorable conditions:


near the ocean


in industrial areas (smoke, exhaust
emissions)


during winter operation
You should check your vehicle from time to
time for stone chipping or other damage.
Any damage should be repaired as soon as
possible to prevent corrosion.
In doing so, do not neglect the underbody
of the vehicle. A prerequisite for a thor-
ough check is a washing of the underbody
followed by a thorough inspection. Dam-
aged areas need to be re-undercoated.
Your vehicle has been treated at the facto-
ry with a wax-base rustproofing in the body
cavities which will last for the lifetime of
the vehicle. Post-production treatment is
neither necessary nor recommended by
Mercedes-Benz because of the possibility
of incompatibility between materials used
in the production process and others
applied later.
Warning!
G
Many cleaning products can be hazardous.
Some are poisonous, others are flammable.
Always follow the instructions on the partic-
ular container. Always open your vehicle’s
doors or windows when cleaning the inside.
Never use fluids or solvents that are not
designed for cleaning your vehicle.

408 Practical hintsOpening/closing in an emergency9Soft top compartment cover
One person should stand on the left
side of the vehicle and the other on the
right side.

Pulling the cover back in one smooth
motion, lift soft top compartment
cover9 into a vertical position until it
stops.aEdge of soft top

From left and right sides, reach into
soft top compartment underneath
edge of soft topa.
Warning!
G
In the next step, you and your assistant
should each take hold of the soft top com-
partment cover as shown in the illustration.
Both of you should use your free hand to
support yourselves on the edge of the trunk
lid as shown in the illustration.
If either you or your helper assume a differ-
ent position, one or both of you could be
trapped or injured. !Make sure the soft top storage com-
partment hinges do not fold down dur-
ing this procedure. Otherwise your
vehicle could be damaged.
Warning!
G
Do not place your hands near the upper
windshield area, trunk lid, or between soft
top roof panels and hinges while the soft top
is being raised and locked. Serious personal
injury may occur.