Page 5 of 498

Contents
Introduction.......................................... 9
Product information ................................ 9
Operator’s Manual ...............................  10
Service and warranty information ..  10
Important notice for California 
retail buyers and lessees of 
Mercedes-Benz automobiles ..........  11
Maintenance ..................................  12
Roadside Assistance ......................  12
Change of address or ownership....  12
Operating your vehicle 
outside the USA or Canada ............  13
Where to find it ....................................  14
Symbols ...............................................  15
Operating safety ..................................  16
Proper use of the vehicle ...............  16
Problems with your vehicle ..................  17
Reporting safety defects......................  18
Reporting safety defects ................  18
Vehicle data recording.........................  19
Information regarding electronic 
recording devices...........................  19
At a glance.......................................... 21
Cockpit ................................................. 22
Instrument cluster ................................ 24
Multifunction steering wheel ................ 26
Center console ..................................... 27
Upper part ...................................... 27
Lower part ...................................... 28
Overhead control panel ........................ 29
Door control panel................................ 30
Getting started...................................  31
Unlocking .............................................  32
Unlocking with the SmartKey .........  32
Unlocking with KEYLESS-GO*.........  33
Starter switch positions ..................  34
Adjusting ..............................................  37
Seats ..............................................  37
Steering wheel ................................  40
Mirrors ............................................  41
Driving ..................................................  43
Fastening the seat belts .................  43
Starting the engine .........................  46
Switching on headlamps .................  50
Turn signals ....................................  51
Windshield wipers ...........................  52
Problems while driving....................  54
Parking and locking ..............................  55
Parking brake .................................  55
Switching off headlamps.................  56
Turning off the engine .....................  56 
     
        
        Page 25 of 498
23 At a glance
Cockpit
Item
Page
1
Steering wheel gearshift 
buttons 
(CLK 500, CLK 55 AMG)
172
2
Combination switch
Turn signals
Windshield wipers
High beam
51
52
51
3
Cruise control lever
255
4
Multifunction steering 
wheel
26,
138
5
Instrument cluster
24,
134
6
Lever for voice control 
system*, see separate op-
erating instructions
7
Starter switch
34
8
Front Parktronic* warning 
indicator
262
Item
Page
9
Overhead control panel
29
a
Glove box
272
b
Cup holder
275
c
Center console
27, 28
d
Hood lock release
308
e
Horn
f
Steering wheel adjustment 
stalk
40
g
Parking brake pedal
49
h
Door control panel
30
j
Parking brake release
49
k
Exterior lamp switch
50,
124
l
Exterior rear view mirror 
adjustment
41
m
Headlamp washer switch*
178 
     
        
        Page 54 of 498

52 Getting startedDrivingWindshield wipers
The combination switch is located on the 
left of the steering column.Combination switch1Single wipe
2Switching on windshield wipers
Switch on ignition (
page 34).Switching on windshield wipers
Turn the combination switch to the de-
sired position depending on the 
intensity of the rain.
0Windshield wipers off
IIntermittent wiping 
IINormal wiper speed
IIIFast wiper speediThe intermittent wiping interval is 
dependent on wetness of windshield. 
After the initial wipe, pauses between 
wipes are automatically controlled by 
the rain sensor.
!Do not leave windshield wipers in 
intermittent setting when the vehicle is 
taken to an automatic car wash or 
during windshield cleaning. Wipers will 
operate in the presence of water 
sprayed on the windshield, and wipers 
may be damaged as a result.
The switch should not be left in 
intermittent setting as the wipers will 
wipe the windshield once every time 
the engine is started. Dust that 
accumulates on the windshield might 
scratch the glass and/or damage the 
wiper blades when wiping occurs on a 
dry windshield. 
     
        
        Page 55 of 498

53 Getting started
Driving
Intermittent wiping
Turn the combination switch to 
positionI.
Single wipe
Press combination switch briefly in the 
direction of arrow1.
The windshield wipers wipe one time 
without washer fluid.Wiping with windshield washer fluid
Push combination switch in the direc-
tion of arrow1 past the resistance 
point.
The windshield wipers operate with 
washer fluid.
For information on filling up the washer 
reservoir, see “Windshield washer system 
and headlamp cleaning system*” 
(
page 315).
iThe intermittent wiping is interrupted 
when the vehicle is at a standstill and a 
door is opened.
!If anything blocks the windshield wip-
ers (leaves, snow, etc.), switch them off 
immediately.
For safety reasons,
turn off the engine by turning 
the SmartKey to position 0 and 
withdraw SmartKey from starter 
switch
or
turn off the engine by pressing 
the KEYLESS-GO* start/stop 
button and open the driver’s 
door (with the driver’s door 
open, starter switch is in posi-
tion 0, same as with SmartKey 
removed from starter switch)
before attempting to remove any 
blockage.
Remove blockage.
Turn the windshield wipers on 
again.
If windshield wipers fail to function at 
all in switch positionI,
set the combination switch to the 
next highest wiper speed
have the windshield wipers 
checked at the nearest authorized 
Mercedes-Benz Center 
     
        
        Page 180 of 498
178 Controls in detailGood visibilityFor information on the windshield wipers, 
see “Windshield wipers” (
page 52).
Headlamp cleaning system*
The switch is located on the left side of the 
dashboard.
1Headlamp washer switch
Switch on ignition (
page 36). 
Press switch1.
The headlamps are cleaned with a 
high-pressure water jet.
For information on filling up the washer 
reservoir, see “Windshield washer system 
and headlamp cleaning system*” 
(
page 454).
Rear view mirrors
For more information on setting the rear 
view mirrors, see “Mirrors” (
page 41).
Auto-dimming rear view mirrors
The reflection brightness of the exterior 
rear view mirror on the driver’s side and 
the interior rear view mirror will respond 
automatically to glare when
the ignition is switched on,
and
incoming light from headlamps falls on 
the sensor in the interior rear view 
mirror.
The rear view mirror will not react if
reverse gearR is engaged
the interior lighting is turned on 
     
        
        Page 191 of 498
189 Controls in detail
Climate control (CLK 320)
Windshield fogged on the outside
Switch the windshield wipers on 
(page 51).
Switch to manual mode.
Turn the air distribution control4 
toa orY (
page 185).
Defrosting
Activating
Press buttonP or0 
(page 185). 
The indicator lamp on the button 
comes on.
The air conditioning switches 
automatically to the following functions:
maximum blowing and heating 
power
air flows onto the windshield and 
the front side windows
the air recirculation mode is 
switched offDeactivating
Press buttonP or0 
(page 185). 
The indicator lamp on the button goes 
out. Defrosting is turned off.
iThese settings should only be selected 
for a short time. 
     
        
        Page 201 of 498
199 Controls in detail
Automatic climate control (CLK 500/CLK 55 AMG)
Windshield fogged on the outside
Switch the windshield wipers on 
(page 52).
Switch to manual mode.
Turn air distribution control1 or8 
toa orY (
page 195).
Adjusting air volume
Use buttonU for automatic mode or air 
volume controls orQ 
(page 195) to adjust air volume 
manually.
Adjusting manually
Seven blower speeds are available.
Press air volume control orQ 
(page 195) until the requested 
blower speed is attained.
The indicator lamp on the buttonU 
goes out.
The automatic air distribution remains 
switched on.Adjusting automatically
Press buttonU (
page 195).
The indicator lamp on the button 
comes on.
The air volume is controlled automati-
cally for the entire vehicle, and the air 
distribution is controlled automatically 
for each separate half of the vehicle. 
     
        
        Page 352 of 498

350 OperationVehicle careCleaning the Parktronic system* 
sensors
1Parktronic system* sensors
Clean the sensors1 on the bumpers 
using a mild car wash detergent, such 
as Mercedes-Benz approved Car Sham-
poo, with plenty of water and a soft, 
non-scratchy cloth.
When using a steam cleaner or power 
washer, aim nozzle only briefly from a min-
imum distance of 12 in (30 cm) at 
sensors1.Do not apply strong pressure to the sensor 
cover, applying strong pressure may dam-
age the sensor cover.
To prevent scratches, never apply strong 
force and only use a soft, non-scratchy 
cloth when cleaning the sensor. Do not at-
tempt to wipe dirty sensors with a dry cloth 
or sponge.Wiper blades
Fold wiper arm forward until it snaps 
into place.
Clean the wiper blade inserts with a 
clean cloth and detergent solution.Warning!
G
For safety reasons, switch off wipers and 
remove SmartKey from starter switch 
(vehicles with KEYLESS-GO*: make sure the 
vehicle’s on-board electronics have 
status
0) before cleaning the wiper blades. 
Otherwise, the wiper motor could suddenly 
turn on and cause injury. 
!Fold the windshield wiper arms back 
onto the windshield before turning the 
SmartKey in the starter switch.
Hold on to the wiper when folding the 
wiper arm back. If released, the force 
of the impact from the tensioning 
spring could crack the windshield.