2005 MERCEDES-BENZ E500 Page 37

203 Controls in detail
Dual-zone automatic climate control
Heater booster system (Diesel engine)
Your vehicle is equipped with a heater
booster system. A PTC heating element
(page 475) ensures that the vehicle inte-
rior is warmed up as quickly as possible
when the engine has not reached its nor-
mal operating temperature yet.
The heater booster system switches on au-
tomatically if required.iIf the cooling function for the air condi-
tioning is switched off with the
±button, the heater booster sys-
tem is deactivated too (Climate control
panel design A only).

208 Controls in detail4-zone automatic climate control*
The climate control is a 4-zone intelligent
climate control system. Your vehicle interi-
or is divided into 4 zones.With the help of a sun sensor, the climate
control determines the relation of the sun
to the vehicle and automatically adjusts
the inside temperature for every individual
zone.
You can set the temperature for each of
the 4 zones separately. These settings can
be assigned to a SmartKey and stored in
memory (
page 168).
The climate control is operational whenev-
er the engine is running. It cools the vehi-
cle’s interior according to the angle and
intensity of the sun’s rays, the outside tem-
perature and the selected temperature.
You can operate the climate control sys-
tem in either the automatic or manual
mode.
Warning!
G
When operating the climate control, the air
that enters the passenger compartment
through the air vents in the footwell can be
very hot or very cold (depending on the set
temperature). This may cause burn or frost-
bite to unprotected skin in the immediate
area of the air vents. Always keep sufficient
distance between unprotected parts of the
body and the footwell air vents. If necessary
change the air flow using the air distribution
controls (
page 206) to direct the air away
from the footwell air vents.

209 Controls in detail
4-zone automatic climate control*
Nearly all dust particles, pollutants and
odors are filtered out before outside air en-
ters the passenger compartment through
the air distribution system.
The air conditioning will not engage (no
cooling) if the AC
OFF
mode is activated or
AC mode is deactivated (
page 206).Deactivating the 4-zone automatic cli-
mate control system
Deactivating
It is possible to deactivate the climate con-
trol system.
Press buttonM (
page 206) or
button´ (
page 207) until the dis-
play is cleared.
The climate control system is deacti-
vated.
Reactivating

Press buttonM (
page 206) or
button´ (
page 207) again.
Warning!
G
Follow the recommended settings for heat-
ing and cooling given on the following pag-
es. Otherwise the windows could fog up,
impairing visibility and endangering you and
others.
iSevere conditions (e.g. strong air pollu-
tion) may require replacement of the fil-
ter before its scheduled interval. A
clogged filter will reduce the air volume
to the interior.
If the vehicle interior is hot, ventilate
the interior before driving off.
Keep the air intake grille in front of the
windshield free of snow and debris.
Do not obstruct air flow by placing ob-
jects on the air flow-through exhaust
slots below the rear window.
iWhen the air conditioning is switched
off, the outside air supply and circula-
tion are also switched off. Only choose
this setting for a short time. Otherwise
the windows could fog up.

210 Controls in detail4-zone automatic climate control*Setting the temperature
Use temperature control rocker
switches3 and5 (
page 206) or
(
page 207) to separately adjust the air
temperature on each side of the passenger
compartment. You should raise or lower
the temperature setting in small incre-
ments, preferably starting at 72°F (22°C).Increasing

Push top of temperature control rocker
switch3 and/or5 (
page 206) or
(
page 207).
The climate control system will corre-
spondingly adjust the interior air tem-
perature.
Decreasing

Push bottom of temperature control
rocker switch3and/or 5
(page 206) or (
page 207).
The climate control system will corre-
spondingly adjust the interior air tem-
perature.
Adjusting air distribution
Use the air distribution controls1 and7
(page 206) or (
page 207) or to sepa-
rately adjust the air distribution on each
side of the passenger compartment. The
following symbols are found on the con-
trols:
iWhen operating the climate control
system in automatic mode, you will
only rarely need to adjust the tempera-
ture, air volume and air distribution.
Symbol
Function
a
Directs air through the center,
side and rear passenger com-
partment air vents
Z
Directs air to the windows
X
Directs air into the entire vehi-
cle interior
Y
Directs air to the footwells

211 Controls in detail
4-zone automatic climate control*
Adjusting manually
Turn air distribution controls on each
side of the passenger compartment to
the desired symbol.
The indicator lamp in theU button
goes out.
Adjusting automatically

Press left or rightU button
(page 206) or (
page 207).
The indicator lamp in theU button
illuminates. The air distribution is ad-
justed automatically.
Windshield fogged on the outside

Switch the windshield wipers on.

Press the left or rightU button
(page 206) or (
page 207).
Adjusting air volume
Adjusting manually
Nine blower speeds are available.
Press
to decrease or Q
(page 206) or (
page 207) to in-
crease air volume to the desired level.
The
AUTO
display disappears and the
automatic mode is switched off. The
selected blower speed is shown in the
display.
Adjusting automatically

Press left or right U button
(page 206) or (
page 207).
The
AUTO
display appears and the air
volume is adjusted automatically.
Defrosting
Activating
Press buttonP(
page 206) or
button0 (
page 207).
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 off
iThese settings should only be selected
for a short time.

212 Controls in detail4-zone automatic climate control*Deactivating
Press buttonP(
page 206) or
button0 (
page 207).
The indicator lamp on the button goes
out. Defrosting is turned off.
Maximum cooling MAX COOL
If the left and right air distribution controls
as well as the airflow volume control are
set toU and there is a high need for
cooling, the display “MAX COOL” appears
in the front and rear display.
This provides the fastest possible cooling
of the vehicle interior (when windows and
tilt/sliding sunroof* or tilt/sliding panel*
are closed).
Air recirculation mode
Switch to air recirculation mode to prevent
unpleasant odors from entering the vehicle
from the outside. This setting cuts off the
intake of outside air and recirculates the
air in the passenger compartment.Activating

Press buttonO(
page 206) or
(
page 207).
The indicator lamp on the button
comes on.
Warning!
G
When the outside temperature is below
41°F (5°C), only switch to air recirculation
mode for short periods to prevent window
fogging.
Window fogging may impair visibility and
endanger you and others.
iIf you keep buttonO pressed, the
side windows and the tilt / sliding sun-
roof* or tilt/sliding panel* will close.

213 Controls in detail
4-zone automatic climate control*
Deactivating
Press buttonO (
page 206) or
(
page 207).
The indicator lamp on the button goes
out.The air recirculation mode is deactivated
automatically:


after five minutes if the outside temper-
ature is below approximately 41°F
(5°C)


after five minutes if the air conditioning
is turned off


after 30 minutes if the outside temper-
ature is above approximately 41°F
(5°C)
At outside temperatures above 79°F
(26°C) the system will not automatically
switch back to outside air. A quantity of
outside air is added after approximately
30 minutes.
Warning!
G
Never operate the side windows and
tilt/sliding sunroof* or tilt/sliding panel* if
there is the possibility of anyone being
harmed by the opening or closing proce-
dure.
In case the procedure causes potential dan-
ger:
Vehicles with tilt/sliding sunroof: The clos-
ing of the side windows can be immediately
halted by pressing or pulling the respective
window switch. The closing of the tilt/slid-
ing sunroof can be immediately halted by
moving the switch for the tilt/sliding sun-
roof in any direction.
The closing of the side windows and the
tilt/sliding sunroof can be reversed by again
pressing and holding theO button.
Vehicles with panorama roof: The closing of
the side windows and tilt/sliding panel can
be immediately halted by releasing theO
button.
iThe air recirculation mode is activated
automatically:

at high outside temperatures


if the concentration of carbon mon-
oxide and nitrogen oxide in the out-
side air increases, for example in a
tunnel
If you have turned off the air condition-
ing (page 206) or (
page 207) or
the outside temperature is below 41°F
(5°C), the air recirculation mode will
not switch on automatically.
iIf you keep buttonO pressed, the
side windows and the tilt/sliding sun-
roof* or tilt/sliding panel* will return to
their previous position.

214 Controls in detail4-zone automatic climate control*Air conditioning
The air conditioning is operational while
the engine is running and cools the interior
air to the temperature set by the operator.Deactivating
It is possible to deactivate the air condi-
tioning (cooling) function of the climate
control system. The air in the vehicle will
then no longer be cooled or dehumidified.
Climate control design A

Press button± (
page 206).
The indicator lamp on the button
comes on.
AC
OFF
in the display comes on.
The cooling function and heater boost-
er system (Diesel engine) (
page 217)
are switched off.
Climate control design B

Press button2 (
page 207).
The indicator lamp on the button goes
out.
The cooling function (page 217) is
switched off.Activating
Moist air can fog up the windows. You can
dehumidify the air with the air condition-
ing.
Climate control design A

Press button± (
page 206) again.
The indicator lamp on the button goes
out.
AC
OFF
in the display goes out.
Climate control design B

Press button2 (
page 207) again.
The indicator lamp on the button
comes on.
The air conditioning uses the refrigerant
R134a. This refrigerant is free of CFCs
which are harmful to the ozone layer.
iCondensation may drip out from under-
neath the vehicle. This is normal and
not an indication of a malfunction.Warning!
G
If you turn off the cooling function, the
vehicle will not be cooled when weather
conditions are warm. The windows can fog
up more quickly. Window fogging may
impair visibility and endanger you and
others.