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.