2006 MERCEDES-BENZ CL600 steering

212 Controls in detailDriving systemsDistronic deactivated
If Distronic is deactivated, you can see the
standard display of Distronic in the multi-
function display.
1Vehicle ahead, if detected
2Actual distance to vehicle ahead
3Preset distance threshold to vehicle
ahead
4Symbol for activated distance warning
function
5Your vehicleDistronic activated
If you turn Distronic on, you will see the set
speed in the multifunction display for
about 5 seconds. You then see the follow-
ing display in the multifunction display.
1Distronic activatedCruise control lever
The Distronic system 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.
1Sets current or higher speed
2Sets current or lower speed
3Deactivates Distronic
4Resumes at last set speed

218 Controls in detailDriving systems
The most likely cause for a malfunctioning
system is a dirty sensor (located behind
the hood grille), especially at times of snow
and ice or heavy rain. In such a case,
Distronic will switch off, and the message DISTRONIC CURRENTLY UNAVAILABLE SEE
OPERATORS MANUAL
appears in the multi-
function display.
For cleaning and care of the Distronic sen-
sor, see “Cleaning the Distronic* system
sensor cover” (
page 322).Turns and bends
In turns or bends, Distronic may not detect
a moving vehicle in front, or it may detect
one too soon. This may cause your vehicle
to brake late or unexpectedly.
Distronic regulates only the distance be-
tween your vehicle and those directly ahead
of it, but does not register stationary objects
in the road, e.g.:

a stopped vehicle in a traffic jam


a disabled vehicle


an oncoming vehicle
The driver must always be on the alert, ob-
serve all traffic and intercede as required by
steering or braking the vehicle.
Warning!
G
Distronic should not be used in snowy or icy
road conditions.
iIf the message
DISTRONIC CURRENTLY
UNAVAILABLE SEE OPERATORS MANUAL
disappears during driving and the last
speed stored flashes for approximately
5 seconds, the dirt (e.g. slush) has dis-
solved; Distronic is again operational.


239 Controls in detail
Useful features
Heated steering wheel* (CL 500 and CL 600)
The steering wheel heating warms up the
leather area of the steering wheel.
The stalk is on the lower left-hand side of
the steering wheel.
1Switching on
2Indicator lamp
3Switching offSwitching on

Switch on the ignition (
page 34).

Turn switch at the tip of stalk in the di-
rection of arrow1.
The steering wheel is heated. Indicator
lamp2 comes on.
!The lighter socket can accommodate
12V DC electrical accessories (up to a
maximum of 85 W) designed for use
with the standard “cigarette lighter
plug”. Keep in mind, however, that con-
necting accessories to the lighter sock-
et (for example extensive connecting
and disconnecting, or using plugs that
do not fit properly) can damage the
lighter socket. With the socket dam-
aged, the lighter may no longer be able
to be placed in the heating (pushed-in)
position, or the lighter may pop out too
early with the lighter not hot enough.
iThe steering wheel heating is tempo-
rarily suspended while indicator
lamp2 remains on when

the temperature of the vehicle inte-
rior is above 86°F (30°C)


the temperature of the steering
wheel is above 95°F (35°C)
When these conditions do not apply
anymore, steering wheel heating con-
tinues.

240 Controls in detailUseful featuresSwitching off
Turn switch at the tip of stalk in the di-
rection of arrow3.
The steering wheel heating is turned
off. Indicator lamp2 goes out.
For information on the steering wheel, see
“Steering wheel” (
page 42).
Telephone*
Radio transmitters, such as a portable tele-
phone or a citizens band unit, should only
be used inside the vehicle if they are con-
nected to an antenna that is installed on
the outside of the vehicle.
The external antenna must be approved by
Mercedes-Benz. Please contact an autho-
rized Mercedes-Benz Center for informa-
tion on the installation of an approved
external antenna. Refer to the radio trans-
mitter operation instructions regarding use
of an external antenna.
iIndicator lamp2 flashes or goes out

in case of power surge or undervolt-
age


in case of a steering wheel heating
malfunction
iThe steering wheel heating switches off
automatically when you remove the
SmartKey from the starter switch or, on
vehicles with KEYLESS-GO*, when you
switch off the ignition (
page 34) and
open the driver’s door.
Warning!
G
Never operate radio transmitters equipped
with a built-in or attached antenna (i.e. with-
out being connected to an external antenna)
from inside the vehicle while the engine is
running. Doing so could lead to a malfunc-
tion of the vehicle’s electronic system, pos-
sibly resulting in an accident and/or serious
personal injury.
Warning!
G
Please do not forget that your primary re-
sponsibility is to drive the vehicle. A driver’s
attention to the road must always be
his/her primary focus when driving. For
your safety and the safety of others, we rec-
ommend that you pull over to a safe location
and stop before placing or taking a tele-
phone call.
If you choose to use the telephone
1 while
driving, please use the hands-free device
and only use the telephone when road,
weather and traffic conditions permit. Some
jurisdictions prohibit the driver from using a
cellular telephone while driving a vehicle.
Only operate the COMAND (Cockpit
Management and Data System)
1 if road,
weather and traffic conditions permit.
1Observe all legal requirements.

241 Controls in detail
Useful features
You can take and make telephone calls us-
ing thes andt buttons on the
steering wheel. To carry out other tele-
phone functions, use the control system
(page 147).
See separate operating manual for instruc-
tions on how to use the telephone.
Tele Aid
The Tele Aid system
(Telematic A
larm I
dentification on
D
emand)
The Tele Aid system consists of three types
of response:

automatic and manual emergency


roadside assistance and


informationThe Tele Aid system is operational provid-
ing that the vehicle’s battery is charged,
properly connected, not damaged and cel-
lular and GPS coverage is available.
The speaker volume of a Tele Aid call can
be adjusted when using the volume control
on the multifunction steering wheel. To
raise, press buttonæ and to lower,
press buttonç or use the volume knob
on your COMAND head unit.

To activate, press the SOS button, the
Roadside Assistance button• or
the Information button¡, depend-
ing on the type of response required.
Bear in mind that at a speed of just 30 mph
(approximately 50 km/h), your vehicle is
covering a distance of 44 feet (approximate-
ly 14 m) every second.
!The initial activation of the Tele Aid sys-
tem may only be performed by com-
pleting the subscriber agreement and
placing an acquaintance call using the
Information button¡. Failure to
complete either of these steps will re-
sult in a system that is not activated.
If you have any questions regarding ac-
tivation, please call the Response
Center at 1-800-756-9018 (in the USA)
or 1-888-923-8367 (in Canada).
iThe SOS button is located above the in-
terior rear view mirror.
The Roadside Assistance button•
and the Information button¡ are
located below the center armrest cov-
er.

245 Controls in detail
Useful features
Roadside Assistance button• 
Press and hold the button • (for
longer than 2 seconds).
A call to a Mercedes-Benz Roadside
Assistance dispatcher will be initiated.
The button will flash while the call is in
progress. The message
CONNECTING
CALL
will appear in the multifunction
display and the audio system is muted.
When the connection is established, the
message CALL CONNECTED
appears in the
multifunction display. The Tele Aid system
will transmit data generating the vehicle
identification number, model, color and lo-
cation (subject to availability of cellular
and GPS signals).
A voice connection between the Roadside
Assistance dispatcher and the occupants
of the vehicle will be established.

Describe the nature of the need for as-
sistance.The Mercedes-Benz Roadside Assistance
dispatcher will either dispatch a qualified
Mercedes-Benz technician or arrange to
tow your vehicle to the nearest authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center. For services such
as labor and/or towing, charges may ap-
ply. Refer to the Roadside Assistance
Manual for more information.
Sign and Drive services (only available in
the USA): Services such as jump start, a
few gallons of fuel or the replacement of a
flat tire with the vehicle spare tire are ob-
tainable.
iThe indicator lamp in the Roadside
Assistance button• remains illumi-
nated in red for approximately
10 seconds during the system
self-check after switching on the igni-
tion (together with the SOS button and
the Information button¡).
See system self-check (
page 242)
when the indicator lamp does not come
on in red or stays on longer than ap-
proximately 10 seconds.
If the indicator lamp in the Roadside
Assistance button• is flashing con-
tinuously and no voice connection to
the Response Center was established,
the Tele Aid system could not initiate a
Roadside Assistance call (e.g. the rele-
vant cellular phone network is not
available). The message CALL FAILED
appears in the multifunction display.
Roadside Assistance calls can be ter-
minated using the tbutton on the
multifunction steering wheel or the re-
spective button for ending a telephone
call on the COMAND head unit.

247 Controls in detail
Useful features
Call priority
If other service calls such as a Roadside
Assistance call or Information call are ac-
tive, an emergency call is still possible. In
this case, the emergency call will take pri-
ority and override all other active calls. Information calls can be terminated us-
ing the tbutton on the multifunc-
tion steering wheel or the respective
button for ending a telephone call on
the COMAND head unit.
!If the indicator lamps do not start flash-
ing after pressing one of the buttons or
remain illuminated (in red) at any time,
the Tele Aid system has detected a
fault or the service is not currently ac-
tive, and may not initiate a call. Visit an
Mercedes-Benz Center and have the
system checked or contact the
Response Center at 1-800-756-9018
(in the USA) or 1-888-923-8367
(in Canada) as soon as possible.
iThe indicator lamp in the respective
button flashes until the call is con-
cluded. Calls can only be terminated by
a Response Center or Customer
Assistance Center representative
except Roadside Assistance and
Information calls, which can also be
terminated by pressing buttont on
the multifunction steering wheel or the
respective button for ending a
telephone call on the COMAND head
unit.
!If the indicator lamp continues to flash
or the system does not reset, contact
the Response Center at
1-800-756-9018 (in the USA) or
1-888-923-8367 (in Canada), or
Mercedes-Benz Customer Assistance
at 1-800-FOR-MERCedes
(1-800-367-6372) in the USA or
Customer Service at 1-800-387-0100
in Canada.

259 Operation
Driving instructions
Driving instructions
Drive sensibly – save fuel
Fuel consumption, to a great extent, de-
pends on driving habits and operating con-
ditions.
To save fuel you should:

Keep tires at the recommended tire
inflation pressures.


Remove unnecessary loads.


Remove roof rack when not in use.


Allow engine to warm up under low
load use.


Avoid frequent acceleration and decel-
eration.


Have all maintenance work performed
at the intervals specified in the
Maintenance Booklet and as required
by the Maintenance System
(U.S. vehicles) or FSS (Canada vehi-
cles). Contact an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.Fuel consumption is also increased by driv-
ing in cold weather, in stop-and-go traffic,
on short trips, and in hilly area.
Drinking and driving
PedalsPower assistance
Warning!
G
Drinking and driving and/or taking drugs
and driving are very dangerous combina-
tions. Even a small amount of alcohol or
drugs can affect your reflexes, perceptions
and judgment.
The possibility of a serious or even fatal ac-
cident are greatly increased when you drink
or take drugs and drive.
Do not drink or take drugs and drive or allow
anyone to drive who has been drinking or
taking drugs.
Warning!
G
Keep driver’s foot area clear at all times. Ob-
jects stored in this area may impair pedal
movement.Warning!
G
With the engine not running, there is no
power assistance for the brake and steering
systems. In this case, it is important to keep
in mind that a considerably higher degree of
effort is necessary to brake and steer the ve-
hicle.