2006 MERCEDES-BENZ C55AMG cruise control

Contents
Automatic transmission ..................... 155
Gear selector lever position ......... 157
Driving tips ................................... 158
Gear ranges ................................. 160
Automatic shift program .............. 161
Gear selector lever one-touch
gearshifting .................................. 162
Steering wheel gearshift control
one-touch gearshifting ................. 163
Manual shift program ................... 165
Emergency operation
(Limp-Home Mode) ...................... 168
Good visibility .................................... 169
Headlamp cleaning system* ........ 169
Rear view mirrors ......................... 169
Sun visors .................................... 171
Rear window sunshade* .............. 172
Rear window defroster ................. 173
Climate control .................................. 174
Deactivating the climate control
system ......................................... 177
Operating the climate control
system in automatic mode ........... 177
Setting the temperature ............... 178
Adjusting air distribution and
volume ......................................... 178Adjusting air volume ..................... 179
Front defroster.............................. 179
Air recirculation mode .................. 180
Air conditioning............................. 182
Rear passenger compartment
adjustable air vents....................... 183
Automatic climate control*
(Canada only) ..................................... 184
Deactivating the automatic
climate control system ................. 187
Operating the automatic climate
control system in automatic mode 187
Setting the temperature................ 188
Adjusting air distribution............... 189
Adjusting air volume ..................... 190
Front defroster.............................. 190
Maximum cooling MAXCOOL ........ 191
Air recirculation mode .................. 191
Charcoal filter ............................... 193
Air conditioning............................. 194
Residual heat and ventilation ........ 195
Rear passenger compartment
adjustable air vents....................... 196Audio system...................................... 197
Audio and telephone, operation .... 197
Operating safety ........................... 197
Operating and display elements ... 198
Button and soft key operation ...... 200
Operation...................................... 200
Radio operation ............................ 205
Introduction to satellite radio*
(USA only) ..................................... 209
CD mode....................................... 214
GSM network phones ................... 223
TDMA or CDMA network phones .. 229
Emergency calls “911” ................. 235
Power windows .................................. 238
Opening and closing the windows 238
Synchronizing power windows ...... 240
Summer opening feature .............. 241
Convenience closing feature......... 241
Power tilt/sliding sunroof .................. 242
Opening and closing the power
tilt/sliding sunroof........................ 242
Synchronizing the power
tilt/sliding sunroof........................ 244
Driving systems .................................. 245
Cruise control ............................... 245

23 At a glance
Cockpit
ItemPage
1Steering wheel gearshift
control163
2Cruise control lever245
3Multifunction steering
wheel26,
126
4Horn
5Instrument cluster24,
122
6Overhead control panel29
ItemPage
7Glove box lid release256
8Glove box lock256
9Center console27
aStarter switch33
bHood lock release297
cSteering wheel adjustment
lever38
dRemote trunk opening
switch100
eParking brake pedal46, 54
fDoor control panel30
ItemPage
gParking brake release46
hCombination switch

Turn signals49

Windshield wipers50

High beam49
jExterior lamp switch48,
114
kExterior rear view mirror
adjustment40,
113
lHeadlamp washer button*169

245 Controls in detail
Driving systems
Driving systems
The driving system of your vehicle is
described on the following pages:

Cruise control, with which the vehicle
can maintain a preset speed.
For information on the BAS, ABS and ESP
®,
see “Driving safety systems” (
page 82).
Cruise control
The cruise control automatically maintains
the speed you set for your vehicle.
The use of cruise control is recommended
for driving at a constant speed for extend-
ed periods of time. You can set or resume
cruise control at any speed over 20 mph
(30 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
The cruise control is a convenience system
designed to assist the driver during vehicle
operation. The driver is and must always re-
main responsible for the vehicle’s 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.

246 Controls in detail
Driving systems
1Sets current or higher speed
2Sets current or lower speed
3Cancels cruise control
4Resumes at last set speed
Setting 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.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.
i
On 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.
!
Moving the gear selector lever to
positionN while driving also cancels
cruise control. However, the gear
selector lever should not be moved to
positionN while driving, except to
coast when the vehicle is in danger of
skidding (e.g. on icy roads).
i
The last stored speed is canceled when
you turn off the engine.

247 Controls in detail
Driving 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.Fine adjustment in 1 mph
(Canada: 1 km/h) increments
Faster
Briefly tip cruise control lever in
direction of arrow1.
Slower
Briefly tip cruise control lever in
direction of arrow2.Setting to last stored speed
(“Resume” function)
Briefly push cruise control lever to
position4.
The cruise control resumes the last set
speed.
Remove your foot from the accelerator
pedal.
i
Depressing the accelerator pedal does
not deactivate cruise control. After
brief acceleration (e.g. for passing),
cruise control will resume the last
speed set.
i
When you use the cruise control lever
to decelerate, the transmission will
automatically downshift if the engine’s
braking power does not brake the
vehicle sufficiently.
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 preset
speed could cause an accident and/or seri-
ous injury to you and others.

288 Operation
Driving instructions
Tire speed rating
Regardless of the tire speed rating, local
speed limits should be obeyed. Use
prudent driving speeds appropriate to
prevailing conditions.Your vehicle is factory equipped with
“Y”-rated tires, which have a speed rating
of 186 mph (300 km/h).
An electronic speed limiter prevents your
vehicle from exceeding a speed of
155 mph (250 km/h).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 positionN or in
case of manual transmission declutch.
Try to keep the vehicle under control by
corrective steering action.
Warning!G
Even when permitted by law, never operate
a vehicle at speeds greater than the maxi-
mum speed rating of the tires.
Exceeding the maximum speed for which
tires are rated can lead to sudden tire
failure, causing loss of vehicle control and
possibly resulting in an accident and/or
personal injury and possible death, for you
and for others.
i
For information on tire speed rating for
winter tires, see “Winter tires”
(
page 336).
For additional general information on
tire speed markings on tire sidewall,
(
page 324).i
For information on driving with snow
chains, see “Snow chains”
(
page 337).
Warning!G
On slippery road surfaces, never downshift
in order to obtain braking action. This could
result in drive wheel slip and reduced
vehicle control. Your vehicle’s ABS will not
prevent this type of control loss.

370 Practical hints
What to do if …
Display symbolDisplay messagePossible cause/consequencePossible solution
ÑCruise contr.
Drive to workshopCruise control is malfunctioning.Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.
GDisplay malfunction
Visit workshopThe instrument cluster display is
malfunctioning.Continue driving with added caution.
Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center as soon as possible.
The displays for several systems have
malfunctioned. Some systems them-
selves may also have malfunctioned.Have the electronic systems checked
by an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.
±Display malfunction
Visit workshopCertain electronic systems are unable to
relay information to the control system.
The following systems may have failed:

Coolant temperature display

Tachometer

Cruise control display
Have the electronic systems checked
by an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.
JDoors openYou are attempting to drive with one or
more doors open.Close the doors.

444 Technical terms
CAN system
(C
ontroller Area Network)
Data bus network serving to control
vehicle functions such as door locking
or windshield wiping depending on
vehicle settings and/or ambient
conditions.
Cockpit
All instruments, switches, buttons and
indicator/warning lamps in the
passenger compartment needed for
vehicle operation and monitoring.
Cold tire inflation pressure
(
page 331)
Collapsible tire
An especially compact spare tire that
must be inflated with a provided air
pump before using. It should only be
used to bring the vehicle to the nearest
service station.COMAND*
(C
ockpit Management and Data
System)
Information and operating center for
vehicle sound and communications
systems, including the radio and the
navigation system, as well as other
optional equipment (CD changer*,
telephone*, etc.).
Control system
The control system is used to call up
vehicle information and to change
component settings. Information and
messages appear in the multifunction
display. The driver uses the buttons on
the multifunction steering wheel to
navigate through the system and to
adjust settings.
Cruise control
Driving convenience system that
automatically maintains the vehicle
speed set by the driver.
Curb weight
(
page 332)DOT
(D
epartment of Transportation)
(
page 332)
Engine number
The number set by the manufacturer
and placed on the cylinder block to
uniquely identify each engine
produced.
Engine oil viscosity
Measurement for the inner friction
(viscosity) of the oil at different temper-
atures. The higher the temperature an
oil can tolerate without becoming thin,
or the lower the temperature it can
tolerate without becoming viscous, the
better the viscosity.
ESP
®
(Electronic Stability Program)
Improves vehicle handling and
directional stability.