2005 MERCEDES-BENZ CLK55AMG COUPE cruise control

ContentsPower tilt/sliding sunroof* ................ 251
Opening and closing
the power tilt/sliding sunroof ...... 251
Synchronizing
the power tilt/sliding sunroof ...... 254
Driving systems ................................. 255
Cruise control............................... 255
Parktronic system
(Parking assist)* ........................... 260
Loading .............................................. 264
Roof rack ...................................... 264
Ski sack* ...................................... 264
Split rear bench seat .................... 267
Loading instructions ..................... 269
Cargo tie-down rings .................... 271
Useful features .................................. 272
Storage compartments................. 272
Cup holders .................................. 275
Ashtrays ....................................... 276
Cigarette lighter ........................... 277
Electrical outlet in the
rear passenger compartment ....... 278
Floormats* ................................... 278
Telephone*................................... 279
Tele Aid ........................................ 280
Garage door opener ..................... 287
Operation......................................... 293
The first 1 000 miles (1 500 km)......... 294
Driving instructions............................ 295
Drive sensibly – save fuel ............. 295
Drinking and driving ..................... 295
Pedals .......................................... 295
Power assistance ......................... 295
Brakes .......................................... 296
Driving off .................................... 297
Parking ......................................... 297
Tires ............................................. 298
Hydroplaning ................................ 299
Tire traction.................................. 299
Tire speed rating .......................... 300
Winter driving instructions ........... 301
Standing water ............................. 302
Passenger compartment .............. 302
Driving abroad.............................. 302
Control and operation
of radio transmitters .................... 302
Catalytic converter ....................... 303
Emission control .......................... 304
Coolant temperature .................... 304At the gas station .............................. 305
Refueling ...................................... 305
Check regularly and
before a long trip ......................... 307
Engine compartment ......................... 308
Hood ............................................ 308
Engine oil ..................................... 309
Transmission fluid level ................ 312
Coolant ........................................ 313
Battery ......................................... 314
Windshield washer system and
headlamp cleaning system*......... 315
Tires and wheels................................ 316
Important guidelines .................... 316
Tire care and maintenance........... 317
Direction of rotation..................... 319
Loading the vehicle ...................... 319
Recommended
tire inflation pressure ................... 325
Checking tire inflation pressure ... 327
Tire labeling ................................. 328
Load identification ....................... 332
DOT, Tire Identification Number
(TIN) ............................................. 333
Maximum tire load ....................... 334
Maximum tire inflation pressure .. 335

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

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.

256 Controls in detailDriving systems1Set current or higher speed
2Set current or lower speed
3Cancel cruise control
4Resume at last set speedSetting current speed

Accelerate or decelerate to the desired
speed.

Briefly lift1 or depress2 the cruise
control lever.
The current speed is set.

Remove your foot from the accelerator
pedal.
Cruise control is activated.
The selected speed appears in the multi-
function display for approximately five sec-
onds, and the corresponding speedometer
segments from the selected speed to the
vehicle maximum speed are illuminated.
Warning!
G
CLK 500:
Cruise control brakes automatically so that
the set speed is not exceeded. The brake
pedal is depressed automatically to do this.
Keep in mind that cruise control is a conve-
nience system designed to assist the driver
during vehicle operation. The driver is and
must always remain responsible for the ve-
hicle’s speed and for safe brake operation.
Keep driver’s foot area clear at all times, in-
cluding the area under the brake pedal. Ob-
jects stored in this area may impair pedal
movement which could interfere with the
braking ability of the cruise control system.
Do not place your foot under the brake pedal
- your foot could become caught.

257 Controls in detail
Driving systems
Canceling cruise control
There are several ways to cancel cruise
control:
Step on the brake pedal.
Cruise control is canceled. The last
speed set is stored for later use.
or

Briefly push the cruise control lever to
position3.
Cruise control is canceled. The last
speed set is stored for later use.
iOn uphill or downhill grades, cruise
control may not be able to maintain the
set speed. Once the grade eases, the
set speed will be resumed.
CLK 320/CLK 55 AMG:
If the engine’s braking power does not
brake the vehicle sufficiently on down-
hill grades, the automatic transmission
will automatically downshift.
CLK 500:
On downhill grades, the cruise control
will hold the set speed with active brak-
ing action.
In addition, on longer downhill grades
the automatic transmission will auto-
matically downshift.
iThe last stored speed is canceled when
you turn off the engine.
iCruise control automatically switched
off, if
CLK 320/CLK 55 AMG:

you step on the brake pedal.


you move the gear selector lever in
positionN while driving.


the vehicle speed is under 20 mph
(30 km/h).


ESP is in operation.
The segments in the multifunction dis-
play are flashing.
CLK 500:


you step on the brake pedal.


you press the parking brake pedal.
In this case the segments in the
multifunction display (
page 256)
go out and no warning sounds.

258 Controls in detailDriving systems
Setting a higher speed
Lift cruise control lever to position1
and hold it up until the desired speed is
reached.

Release cruise control lever.
The new speed is set.Setting a lower speed

Depress cruise control lever to
position2 and hold it down until the
desired speed is reached.

Release cruise control lever.
The new speed is set.


the vehicle speed is under 25 mph
(40 km/h).


ESP is in operation or switched off
with the ESP switch (
page 87)


you move the gear selector lever in
positionN while driving
The segments in the multifunction dis-
play (page 256) go out, and an
acoustic warning sounds.
!Moving gear selector lever to
positionN while driving also cancels
cruise control. However, the gear se-
lector lever should not be moved to
positionN while driving except to coast
when the vehicle is in danger of skid-
ding (e.g. on icy roads).
iDepressing the accelerator pedal does
not deactivate cruise control. After
brief acceleration (e.g. for passing),
cruise control will resume the last
speed set.
iCLK 320/CLK 55 AMG
When you use the cruise control lever
to decelerate, the transmission will au-
tomatically downshift if the engine’s
braking power does not brake the vehi-
cle sufficiently.
CLK 500:
When you use the cruise control lever
to decelerate, the brake system will au-
tomatically brake the vehicle if the en-
gine’s braking power does not brake
the vehicle sufficiently.

259 Controls in detail
Driving systems
Fine adjustment in 1 mph
(Canada: 1 km/h) increments
Faster
Briefly tip cruise control lever in direc-
tion of arrow1.
Slower

Briefly tip cruise control lever in direc-
tion of arrow2.Setting to last stored speed
(“Resume” function)

Briefly push cruise control lever to
position4.
The cruise control resume the last set
speed.

Remove your foot from the accelerator
pedal.
The selected speed appears in the multi-
function display for approximately five sec-
onds, and the corresponding speedometer
segments from the selected speed to the
vehicle maximum speed are illuminated
(
page 256).
Warning!
G
The speed stored in memory should only be
set again if prevailing road conditions per-
mit. Possible acceleration or deceleration
differences arising from returning to the pre-
set speed could cause an accident and/or
serious injury to you and others.

301 Operation
Driving instructions
Winter driving instructions
The most important rule for slippery or icy
roads is to drive sensibly and to avoid
abrupt acceleration, braking and steering
maneuvers. Do not use the cruise control
system under such conditions.
When the vehicle is in danger of skidding,
move gear selector lever to position N. Try
to keep the vehicle under control by cor-
rective steering action.Road salts and chemicals can adversely af-
fect braking efficiency. Increased pedal
force may become necessary to produce
the normal braking effect.
Depressing the brake pedal periodically
when traveling at length on salt-strewn
roads can bring road-salt-impaired braking
efficiency back to normal.
If the vehicle is parked after being driven
on salt-treated roads, the braking efficien-
cy should be tested as soon as possible af-
ter driving is resumed.
For more information, see “Winter driving”
(
page 342).
iFor information on driving with snow
chains, see “Snow chains”
(page 343).
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 control loss.
Warning
G
Make sure not to endanger any other road
users when carrying out these braking ma-
neuvers.
Warning!
G
If the vehicle becomes stuck in snow, make
sure snow is kept clear of the exhaust pipe
and from around the vehicle with the engine
running. Otherwise, deadly carbon monox-
ide (CO) gases may enter vehicle interior re-
sulting in unconsciousness and death.
To assure sufficient fresh air ventilation,
open a window slightly on the side of the ve-
hicle not facing the wind.Warning!
G
The outside temperature indicator is not de-
signed to serve as an ice-warning device and
is therefore unsuitable for that purpose. In-
dicated temperatures just above the freez-
ing point do not guarantee that the road
surface is free of ice.