Page 343 of 456

342 Practical hintsWhat to do if …?Display
Possible cause/consequence
Possible solution
DISTRONIC
EXTERNAL MALFUNCTION
REACTIVATE
Distronic* is switched off and is temporarily
unavailable.
Try activating Distronic* again later.
DISTRONIC
CURRENTLY
UNAVAILABLE
SEE OPERATORS MANUAL
Distronic* is switched off because the Dis-
tronic* cover in the radiator grille is dirty.
Clean the Distronic* cover in the radiator
grille (
page 322).
Restart the vehicle.
DISTRONIC
DRIVE TO WORKSHOP
Distronic* is malfunctioning or the display
is malfunctioning.
Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center as
soon as possible.
ESP
MALFUNCTION
VISIT WORKSHOP
The ESP
® has detected a malfunction and
switched off.
The ABS may still be operational.
Continue driving with added caution.
Have the system checked at an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center as soon as possible.
Failure to follow these instructions increases the
risk of an accident.
DISPLAY DEFECTIVE
VISIT WORKSHOP
The ESP
® or the ESP
® display is malfunc-
tioning.
Continue driving with added caution.
Have the system checked at an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center as soon as possible.
Failure to follow these instructions increases the
risk of an accident.
Page 344 of 456
343 Practical hints
What to do if …?
Display
Possible cause/consequence
Possible solution
ESP
UNAVAILABLE
SEE OPERATORS
MANUAL
The ESP
® was deactivated because the
power supply has been interrupted.
The ABS is still operational.
Synchronize the ESP
®. With the vehicle sta-
tionary and the engine running, turn the
steering wheel completely to the left and
then to the right to synchronize the ESP
®.
If the ESP
® message does not go out:
Continue driving with added caution.
Have the system checked at an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center as soon as possible.
Failure to follow these instructions increases the
risk of an accident.
!When synchronizing the ESP
®, make
sure you can turn the steering wheel in
both directions as far as it will go with-
out the wheel hitting any objects, e.g.
aroad curb.
Page 346 of 456

345 Practical hints
What to do if …?
Symbol messagesDisplay
Possible cause/consequence
Possible solution
#
BATTERY CHARGE
VISIT WORKSHOP
The battery is no longer charging.
Possible causes:
alternator malfunctioning
broken poly-V-belt
Do not forget that the brake system re-
quires electrical energy and may be oper-
ating with restricted capability.
Considerably greater brake pedal force is
required and the stopping distance is
longer.
Stop immediately in a safe location or as
soon as it is safe to do so and check the
poly-V-belt.
If it is broken:
Do not continue to drive. Otherwise the
engine will overheat due to an inoperative
water pump which may result in damage
to the engine. Notify an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
If it is intact:
Drive immediately to the nearest autho-
rized Mercedes-Benz Center. Adjust driv-
ing to be consistent with reduced braking
responsiveness.
;(USA only)3(Canada only)
RELEASE
PARKING BRAKE
You are driving with the parking brake en-
gaged.
Release the parking brake (
page 50).
Page 350 of 456
349 Practical hints
What to do if …?
Display
Possible cause/consequence
Possible solution
Ï
COOLANT
STOP, ENGINE OFF
The poly-V-belt could be broken.
Stop the vehicle in a safe location and im-
mediately turn off the engine.
Check the poly-V-belt.
If it is broken:
Do not continue to drive. Otherwise the
engine will overheat due to an inoperative
water pump which may result in damage
to the engine. Notify an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
If it is intact:
Restart the engine only after the message
disappears from the multifunction dis-
play. Doing so could result in serious en-
gine damage that is not covered by the
Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.
Observe the coolant temperature gauge
in the instrument cluster (
page 24).
Drive immediately to the nearest autho-
rized Mercedes-Benz Center. Adjust driv-
ing to be consistent with reduced braking
responsiveness.
Page 384 of 456
383 Practical hints
Replacing bulbs
Tail lamp assembliesPassenger side1Black socket:
Backup lamp
2Red socket:
Driver’s side: Tail, parking and rear fog
lamp
Passenger’s side: Tail and parking lamp
3Red socket:
Tail, standing and parking lamp
4White socket:
Turn signal lamp
Turn the locking knob and move the
trim to the side.
Turn bulb socket counterclockwise and
pull out.
Gently twist bulb counterclockwise and
pull out of bulb holder.
Insert new bulb into the holder and turn
it clockwise.
Reinstall bulb socket.
The bulb socket should audibly click.
Replace trim and secure with lock. License plate lamp
1Screws
Loosen both screws1.
Remove the license plate lamp.
Replace the bulb.
Reinstall the license plate lamp.
Retighten screws1.
Page 394 of 456
393 Practical hints
Battery
Reconnecting the battery
Turn off all electrical consumers.
Connect the positive lead and fasten its
cover 4.
Connect negative lead3.Batteries contain materials that can harm
the environment if disposed of improperly.
Large 12-volt storage batteries contain
lead. Recycling of batteries is the preferred
method of disposal. Many states require
sellers of batteries to accept old batteries
for recycling.!Never invert the terminal connections.
iThe following procedures must be car-
ried out following any interruption of
battery power (e.g. due to reconnect-
ing):
Set the clock (see COMAND opera-
tor’s manual).
Synchronize the ESP
®
(
page 343).
Synchronize the power windows
(page 199).
Synchronize the power tilt/sliding
sunroof (
page 204).
Page 397 of 456

396 Practical hintsTowing the vehicleMercedes-Benz recommends that the vehi-
cle be transported with all wheels off the
ground using flatbed or appropriate wheel
lift/dolly equipment. This method is pref-
erable to other types of towing.When circumstances do not permit the
recommended towing methods, the vehi-
cle may be towed with all wheels on the
ground or front wheels raised only so far as
necessary to have the vehicle moved to a
safe location where the recommended
towing methods can be employed.
!Use flatbed or wheel lift/dolly equip-
ment with SmartKey in starter switch
turned to position0.
Do not tow with sling-type equipment.
Towing with sling-type equipment over
bumpy roads will damage radiator and
supports.
To prevent damage during transport,
do not tie down vehicle by its chassis or
suspension parts.
Switch off the tow-away alarm
(page 87) and the automatic central
locking (
page 162).
Do not tow-start the vehicle.
!If the vehicle is towed with the front
axle raised, the engine must be shut off
(SmartKey in starter switch position0
or1). Otherwise, the ESP
® will immedi-
ately be engaged and will apply the rear
wheel brakes.
When towing the vehicle with all wheels
on the ground, the selector lever must
be in positionN and the SmartKey
must be in starter switch position2.
When towing the vehicle with all wheels
on the ground or the front axle raised,
the vehicle may be towed only for dis-
tances up to 30 miles (50 km) and at a
speed not to exceed 30 mph
(50 km/h).
Page 409 of 456

408 Technical dataEngineModel
CL 500 (215.375)
1
1The quoted data apply only to the standard vehicle. See an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center for the corresponding data of all special bodies and special equipment.
CL 55 AMG (215.374)
1
Engine
113
113
Mode of operation
4-stroke engine, gasoline injection
4-stroke engine, gasoline injection
No. of cylinders
8
8
Bore
3.82 in (97.00 mm)
3.82 in (97.00 mm)
Stroke
3.31 in (84.00 mm)
3.60 in (92.00 mm)
Total piston displacement
303.0 cu in (4966 cm
3)
331.8 cu in (5439 cm
3)
Compression ratio
10:1
9:1
Output acc. to SAE J 1349
302 hp/5600 rpm
2
(225 kW/5600 rpm)
2Premium fuel required. Performance may vary with fuel octane rating.
493 hp/6100 rpm
2
(368 kW/6100 rpm)
Maximum torque
acc. to SAE J 1349
339 lb-ft/2700 - 4250 rpm
(460 Nm/2700 - 4250 rpm)
516 lb-ft/2750–4000 rpm
(700 Nm/2750–4000 rpm)
Maximum engine speed
6000 rpm
6500 rpm
Firing order
1-5-4-2-6-3-7-8
1-5-4-2-6-3-7-8
Poly-V-belt
2380 mm
Belt one: 1289 mm
Belt two: 2462 mm