Page 29 of 506
28 At a glanceCenter consoleLower part
Item
Page
1
Ashtray
Cigarette lighter
273
274
2
KEYLESS-GO* start/stop
button
35
3
Storage compartment
270
4
Soft top switch
247
5
Program mode selector
switch for automatic trans-
mission
Automatic shift
program
Manual shift program
(CLK 55 AMG)
169
174
6
Gear selector lever for
automatic transmission
163
Page 34 of 506

33 Getting started
Unlocking
Unlocking with KEYLESS-GO*
If your vehicle is equipped with the
KEYLESS-GO function, your vehicle checks
whether the SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO is
valid when you pull the door handle. If your
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO is valid, the
doors will unlock, and you can open them.
The function of the SmartKey overrules the
KEYLESS-GO function.
Pull the door handle.
All turn signal lamps flash once. The
locking knobs in the doors move up.
The anti-theft alarm system is
disarmed.I f t he S m a r t K e y w i t h K E Y L E S S - GO i s i n s i d e
the vehicle, pressing the KEYLESS-GO
start/stop button on the gear selector le-
ver corresponds to turning the SmartKey
to the various starter switch positions.
For more information, see “SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO*” (
page 98).
iTo unlock the vehicle, the SmartKey
with KEYLESS-GO must be outside the
vehicle, no further than approx. 3 feet
(1 meter) away from the door.
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
When leaving the vehicle, always take the
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO 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 36 of 506

35 Getting started
Unlocking
For more information, see “SmartKey”
(page 94).
For information on starting the engine us-
ing the SmartKey, see “Starting with the
SmartKey” (
page 47).SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO*
Pressing the KEYLESS-GO start/stop but-
ton on the gear selector lever corresponds
to turning the SmartKey to the various
starter positions.
If you firmly depress the brake pedal dur-
ing pressing the KEYLESS-GO start/stop
button, the engine starts automatically.
You can also use the SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO like a normal SmartKey.
KEYLESS-GO start/stop button1KEYLESS-GO start/stop button
(U.S. vehicles)
2KEYLESS-GO start/stop button
(Canada vehicles)
The SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO must be
located in the vehicle.
Make sure the gear selector lever is set
toP.
Do not depress the brake pedal.
!If the SmartKey cannot be turned in the
starter switch, the battery may not be
sufficiently charged.
Check the battery and charge it if
necessary (
page 427).
Get a jump start (
page 430).
To prevent accelerated battery dis-
charge or a completely discharged bat-
tery, always remove the SmartKey from
the starter switch when the engine is
not in operation.
iThe function of the SmartKey overrules
the KEYLESS-GO function.
Page 37 of 506

36 Getting startedUnlockingPosition 0
Before you press the KEYLESS-GO
start/stop button, the vehicle’s on-board
electronics have status0 (as with
SmartKey removed).
Position 1
Press the KEYLESS-GO start/stop but-
ton once.
This supplies power to some electrical
consumers, such as seat adjustment.Ignition (or position 2)
Press the KEYLESS-GO start/stop but-
ton twice.
This supplies power to all electrical
consumers. All the lamps (except low
beam headlamp indicator lamp, high
beam headlamp indicator lamp, and
turn signal indicator lamps unless acti-
vated) in the instrument cluster come
on. If a lamp in the instrument cluster
fails to come on when the ignition is
switched on, have it checked and re-
placed if necessary. If a lamp in the in-
strument cluster remains on after
starting the engine or comes on while
driving, refer to “Lamps in instrument
cluster”(
page 354).For more information, see “SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO*” (
page 98).
For information on starting the engine
using the KEYLESS-GO start/stop button,
see “Starting with KEYLESS-GO*”
(
page 47).
iIf you now press the KEYLESS-GO
start/stop button
once again, the ignition (position2)
is switched on.
twice, the power supply is again
switched off.
iIf you now press the KEYLESS-GO
start/stop button once, the power sup-
ply is again switched off.
iWhen you switch on the ignition, the in-
dicator and warning lamps (except low
beam headlamp indicator lamp, high
beam headlamp indicator lamp, and
turn signal indicator lamps unless acti-
vated) in the instrument cluster come
on. This indicates that the respective
systems are operational. The indicator
and warning lamps (except low beam
headlamp indicator lamp, high beam
headlamp indicator lamp, and turn sig-
nal indicator lamps if activated) should
go out when the engine is running.
Page 48 of 506
47 Getting started
Driving
Automatic transmissionGearshift pattern for automatic
transmissionPPark position with gear selector lever
lock
RReverse gear
NNeutral
DDrive position
For more information, see “Automatic
transmission” (
page 163).Starting with the SmartKey
Make sure the gear selector lever is set
toP.
Do not depress accelerator.
Turn the SmartKey in the starter switch
to position3 (
page 34) and release it
again immediately (“touch-start”).
The engine then starts automatically.
Depress the brake pedal.
The gear selector lever lock is released.
For information on turning off the engine
with the SmartKey, see (
page 56).Starting with KEYLESS-GO*
You can start your vehicle without the
SmartKey in the starter switch using the
KEYLESS-GO start/stop button on the
gear selector lever.
The SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO must be
located in the vehicle.
KEYLESS-GO start/stop button1KEYLESS-GO start/stop button
(U.S. vehicles)
2KEYLESS-GO start/stop button
(Canada vehicles)
Page 49 of 506

48 Getting startedDriving
Make sure the gear selector lever is set
toP.
Do not depress accelerator.
Depress the brake pedal during the
starting procedure.
The gear selector lever lock is released.
Press KEYLESS-GO start/stop button
once.
The engine starts automatically if the
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO is in the
vehicle.
For information on turning off the engine
with KEYLESS-GO, see “Turning off the en-
gine with KEYLESS-GO*” (
page 57).Starting difficulties
If the engine does not start as described,
carry out the following steps:
If you are starting the engine with the
SmartKey, turn SmartKey in starter
switch to position0 and repeat starting
procedure.
If you are starting the engine with
KEYLESS-GO*: Close any doors that
may be open to allow for better detec-
tion of the SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO*.
Or:
Start the engine with the SmartKey as
radio signals from another source may
be interfering with the SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO*.
Repeat the starting procedure
(page 46).
Remember that extended starting at-
tempts can drain the battery.
Get a jump start (
page 430).
If the engine does not start after several
starting attempts, there could be a mal-
function in the engine electronics or in the
fuel supply system.
Notify an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.
Page 51 of 506

50 Getting startedDriving
For more information on driving, see “Driv-
ing instructions” (
page 291).
Switching on headlamps
For more information on headlamps, see
“Lighting” (
page 122).
Low beam headlamps
The exterior lamp switch is located on the
dashboard to the left of the steering wheel.
Exterior lamp switch1Off
2Low beam headlamps on
iWait for the gear selection process to
complete before setting the vehicle in
motion.Warning!
G
It is dangerous to shift the gear selector
lever out ofPorN if the engine speed is
higher than idle speed. If your foot is not
firmly on the brake pedal, the vehicle could
accelerate quickly forward or in reverse. You
could lose control of the vehicle and hit
someone or something. Only shift into gear
when the engine is idling normally and when
your right foot is firmly on the brake pedal.!Simultaneously depressing the
accelerator pedal and applying the
brake reduces engine performance and
causes premature brake and drivetrain
wear.
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 loss of control.!Place the gear selector lever in
positionR orP only when the vehicle is
stopped in order to avoid damaging the
transmission.!Do not run cold engine at high engine
speeds. Running a cold engine at high
engine speeds may shorten the service
life of the engine.
Page 54 of 506

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 312).
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.