ContentsSafety and Security........................... 59
Occupant safety................................... 60
Air bags .......................................... 61
Seat belts ....................................... 67
Children in the vehicle .................... 70
Blocking of
rear side window operation ............ 82
Panic alarm .......................................... 83
Activating ....................................... 83
Deactivating ................................... 83
Driving safety systems ......................... 84
ABS ................................................ 84
BAS ................................................ 85
ESP ................................................. 86
Anti-theft systems................................ 89
Immobilizer..................................... 89
Anti-theft alarm system .................. 90
Tow-away alarm ............................. 91
Controls in detail............................... 93
Locking and unlocking ......................... 94
SmartKey ....................................... 94
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO* ........ 99
Opening the doors
from the inside ............................. 105
Opening the trunk ........................ 106
Closing the trunk.......................... 107
Trunk lid emergency release ........ 109
Automatic central locking ............ 110
Locking and unlocking
from the inside ............................. 110
Seats ................................................. 112
Easy-entry/exit feature ................ 112
Removing and installing
front seat head restraints............. 113
Rear seat head restraints ............. 115
Multicontour seat* ....................... 118
Seat heating* ............................... 119
Seat ventilation* .......................... 120
Memory function ............................... 121
Storing positions into memory ..... 122
Recalling positions from memory . 122
Storing exterior rear view
mirror parking position................. 123Lighting ............................................. 124
Exterior lamp switch .................... 124
Combination switch ..................... 129
Cornering fog lamps*
(CLK 320 with
Bi-Xenon* headlamps) ................. 130
Hazard warning flasher ................ 131
Interior lighting ............................ 132
Door entry lamps ......................... 133
Trunk lamp ................................... 133
Instrument cluster ............................. 134
Instrument cluster illumination .... 134
Coolant temperature indicator ..... 135
Trip odometer .............................. 135
Tachometer .................................. 136
Outside temperature indicator ..... 136
32 Getting startedThe “Getting started” section provides an
overview of the vehicle’s most basic func-
tions. First-time Mercedes-Benz owners
should pay special attention to the infor-
mation given here.
If you are already familiar with the basic
functions described here, the “Controls in
detail” section will provide you with further
information. The corresponding page
references are located at the end of each
segment.Unlocking
Unlocking with the SmartKeySmartKey with remote control 1‹Lock button
2ŠOpening button for trunk lid
3ŒUnlock button
4ÂPanic button (
page 83)
Press unlock button Œ on the
SmartKey.
All turn signal lamps flash once. The
locking knobs in the doors move up.
Enter the vehicle and insert the
SmartKey in the starter switch.For more information, see “SmartKey”
(
page 94).Warning!
G
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the
SmartKey from the starter switch, take it
with you, and lock the vehicle. Do not leave
children unattended in the vehicle, or with
access to an unlocked vehicle.
Unsupervised use of vehicle equipment may
cause an accident and/or serious personal
injury.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.
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.
The turn signal lamps flash once. The
locking knobs on the doors move up.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 99).
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.
34 Getting startedUnlockingStarter switch positions
SmartKeyStarter switch
0For removing SmartKey
1Power supply to some electrical con-
sumers, such as seat adjustment
2Ignition (power supply for all electrical
consumers) and driving position. All
lamps (except low beam headlamp in-
dicator lamp, high beam headlamp indi-
cator lamp, and turn signal indicator
lamps unless activated) in the instru-
ment cluster come on. If a lamp in the
instrument cluster fails to come on
when the ignition is switched on, have
it checked and replaced if necessary. If
a lamp in the instrument cluster re-
mains on after starting the engine or
comes on while driving, refer to “Lamps
in instrument cluster” (
page 354).
3Starting position
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.
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.iThe SmartKey can only be removed
from the starter switch with the gear
selector lever in position P.
37 Getting started
Adjusting
Adjusting
SeatsWarning!
G
All seat, head restraint, steering wheel, and
rear view mirror adjustments, as well as fas-
tening of seat belts, must be done before
the vehicle is put into motion.Warning!
G
Do not adjust the driver’s seat while driving.
Adjusting the seat while driving could cause
the driver to lose control of the vehicle.
Never ride in a moving vehicle with the seat
back in an excessively reclined position as
this can be dangerous. You could slide un-
der the seat belt in a collision. If you slide
under it, the belt would apply force at the ab-
domen or neck. That could cause serious or
fatal injuries. The seat back and seat belts
provide the best restraint when the wearer
is in a nearly upright position and belts are
properly positioned on the body.
Your seat must be adjusted so that you can
correctly fasten your seat belt (
page 43).
Never place hands under the seat or near
any moving parts while a seat is being
adjusted.
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.
Even with the SmartKey or SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO* removed from the starter
switch, or the SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO*
removed from the vehicle, the power seats
can be operated when the respective door is
open. Therefore, 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.
Warning!
G
According to accident statistics, children
are safer when properly restrained in the
rear seating positions than in the front seat-
ing position. Thus, we strongly recommend
that children be placed in the rear seats
whenever possible. Regardless of seating
position, children 12 years old and under
must be seated and properly secured in an
appropriate infant, or toddler restraint, or
booster seat recommended for the size and
weight of the child. For additional informa-
tion, see “Children in the vehicle”
(page 70).
A child’s risk of serious or fatal injuries is
significantly increased if the child restraints
are not properly secured in the vehicle
and/or the child is not properly secured in
the child restraint.
40 Getting startedAdjustingFolding backrests forward
Pull release lever1 forward and fold
the backrest forward.
The head restraint will automatically
move down.
Folding backrests back
Fold and press the backrest rearward
until it engages in driving position.
The head restraint returns to its previ-
ous position.
For more information, see “Easy-entry/ex-
it feature” (
page 112).
Steering wheel Steering wheel adjustment
The stalk for steering wheel adjustment is
located on the steering column (lower left).
1Adjusting steering column, in or out
2Adjusting steering column, up or down
Switch on ignition (
page 34).
or
Open the driver’s door.
Warning!
G
Do not adjust the steering wheel while driv-
ing. Adjusting the steering wheel while driv-
ing could cause the driver to lose control of
the vehicle.
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.
Even with the SmartKey or SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO* removed from the starter
switch, or the SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO*
removed from the vehicle, the steering
wheel adjustment feature can be operated
when the driver’s door is open. Therefore,
do not leave children unattended in the ve-
hicle, or with access to an unlocked vehicle.
Unsupervised use of vehicle equipment may
cause an accident and/or serious personal
injury.
49 Getting started
Driving
Parking brake
1Parking brake release handle
2Parking brake pedal
Release the parking brake by pulling on
handle1.
The indicator lamp ; (USA only)
or3 (Canada only) in the clock
goes out.Driving
Depress the brake pedal.
Move gear selector lever in
positionDorR.
Release the brake pedal.
Carefully depress the accelerator
pedal.
Once the vehicle is in motion, the auto-
matic central locking system engages and
the locking knobs drop down.After a cold start, the automatic transmis-
sion shifts at a higher engine revolution.
This allows the catalytic converter to reach
its operating temperature earlier.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. Children could release the
parking brake, which could result in an acci-
dent and/or serious personal injury.
iYou can open a locked door from the
inside. Open door only when conditions
are safe to do so.
You can deactivate the automatic
locking using the control system
(page 158).
!If you hear a warning signal and the
message
Parking brake Release
brake!
appears in the multifunction
display when driving off, you have for-
gotten to release the parking brake.
Release the parking brake.
56 Getting startedParking and locking
Switching off headlamps
Turn the exterior lamp switch toM
(page 50).
For more information, see “Lighting”
(
page 124).
Turning off the engine
Place the gear selector lever in
positionP.
Turning off the engine with the
SmartKey
Turn the SmartKey in the starter switch
(page 34) to position0 and remove
it.
The immobilizer is activated.
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. Children could release the
parking brake and/or move the gear selec-
tor lever from positionP, either of which
could result in an accident and/or serious
personal injury.
Warning!
G
Getting out of your vehicle with the gear se-
lector lever not fully engaged in positionP is
dangerous. Also, when parked on an incline,
positionP alone may not prevent your vehi-
cle from moving, possibly hitting people or
objects.
Always set the parking brake in addition to
shifting to positionP (
page 169).
When parked on an incline, turn front wheels
towards the road curb.
iAlways set the parking brake in addi-
tion to shifting to positionP.
On slopes, turn the front wheels to-
wards the curb.iThe SmartKey can only be removed
from the starter switch with the gear
selector lever in positionP.