2005 MERCEDES-BENZ CLK55AMG CABRIOLET Owner's Manual

248 Controls in detailSoft top
Closing the soft top
1Soft top closing
Before pressing the soft top switch, you
must make sure:

the parking brake is engaged
(page 49)


the trunk lid is closed


the ignition is switched on (
page 36)
iFor safety reasons, the soft top cannot
be opened while driving.
Make sure the soft top is dry before you
open it. Otherwise water may enter the
trunk interior.!To prevent mildew, the soft top must be
dry before lowering it into the storage
compartment.
Do not lower a frozen soft top until
thawed and dry. Lowering a frozen soft
top may result in damage not covered
by the Mercedes-Benz Limited
Warranty.
Warning!
G
Do not place anything on the soft top com-
partment cover.
The soft top compartment cover must never
be used by any persons as a seat bench.
Raising of the roll bars could result in seri-
ous personal injury.

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.

250 Controls in detailSoft topLocking the soft top after raising/low-
ering
If the soft top is not properly locked, lock it
as described below.Unlocked status noticed when stopped

Switch on the ignition (
page 36).

To lock the soft top in its fully closed
position, press soft top switch.
The message
Top closed
will be shown
in the multifunction display.
or:

To lock the soft top in its fully opened
position, pull up on the soft top switch.
The message
Top open
will be shown in
the multifunction display.Unlocked status noticed while driving

Stop the vehicle.

Leave the ignition switched on.

To lock the soft top in its fully closed
position, press soft top switch.
The message
Top closed
will be shown
in the multifunction display.
or:

To lock the soft top in its fully opened
position, pull up on the soft top switch.
The message
Top open
will be shown in
the multifunction display.
Warning!
G
The soft top is not fully closed and locked or
not fully opened if:

the message
Top in operation!
is
shown in the multifunction display


a warning sounds for 10 seconds and
the message
Lock top
is shown in the
multifunction display when starting to
drive
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.
Warning!
G
Stop the vehicle and lock the soft top before
continuing to drive. You could otherwise en-
danger yourself and others.

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.

253 Controls in detail
Soft top
Wind screen
The wind screen deflects drafts away from
the driver and passenger when the soft top
is lowered. It is stored in a separate stor-
age bag in the trunk.Installing

Remove the wind screen from its stor-
age bag.
1Upper section
2Lower section

Fold sections1 and2 together.3Catch
4Retainer claw
5Snap fastener

Press retainer claw4 on upper sec-
tion into snap fastener5 of lower sec-
tion.
Warning!
G
The wind screen can restrict the driver’s vi-
sion to the rear of the vehicle. To prevent a
possible accident when visibility is limited
(e.g. in darkness), the upper part of the wind
screen should be folded back.


254 Controls in detailSoft top6Retaining lugs
7Mounting fixture on right side
8Catch
Fold retaining lugs6 out.

Slide pre-assembled wind screen into
mounting fixture on right side7 using
retaining pin on right side. Simulta-
neously, retaining lugs6 should slide
into seat belt passage in rear bench
seat.

Pull catch8 back and guide left re-
taining pin into mounting fixture on left
side.

Fold upper section of wind screen up
toward head restraints until it stops.Removing

Fold upper section of wind screen back
down.

Pull catch8 back and pull wind
screen out toward front of vehicle. Be
careful not to damage interior trim with
guide tabs.

Fold retaining lugs6 back.
9Catch

Press catch 9 and fold upper and low-
er sections back.

Place the wind screen back into the
bag.
Warning!
G
Check for secure locking by pulling up on
the wind screen.
To prevent personal injury, remove wind
screen if rear seats are to be occupied by
passengers.


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.