Page 6 of 489

Contents
Settings menu .............................. 152
Trip computer menu..................... 165
TEL menu* ................................... 167
Automatic transmission ..................... 170
Gear selector lever position ......... 172
Driving tips ................................... 174
Gear ranges ................................. 175
Automatic shift program .............. 176
Gear selector lever
one-touch gearshifting................. 177
Steering wheel gearshift
control one-touch
gearshifting (CLK 500) ................. 178
Emergency operation
(Limp-Home Mode) ...................... 179
Good visibility .................................... 180
Headlamp cleaning system* ........ 180
Rear view mirrors ......................... 180
Sun visors .................................... 183
Rear window sunshade*
(Canada only) ............................... 184
Rear window defroster ................. 185
Climate control (CLK 350) ................. 186
Deactivating the
climate control system................. 189Operating the climate control
system in automatic mode............ 189
Setting the temperature................ 190
Adjusting air distribution............... 190
Adjusting air volume ..................... 191
Front defroster.............................. 191
Air recirculation mode .................. 192
Air conditioning............................. 194
Rear passenger compartment
adjustable air vents....................... 195
Automatic climate control (CLK 500) . 196
Deactivating the
automatic climate control system. 199
Operating the automatic
climate control system in
automatic mode ............................ 199
Setting the temperature................ 200
Adjusting air distribution............... 201
Adjusting air volume ..................... 201
Front defroster.............................. 202
Maximum cooling MAXCOOL ........ 202
Air recirculation mode .................. 203
Charcoal filter ............................... 204
Air conditioning............................. 206
Residual heat and ventilation*
(Canada only) ................................ 207Rear passenger compartment
adjustable air vents ...................... 208
Audio system...................................... 209
Audio and telephone*, operation .. 209
Operating safety ........................... 209
Operating and display elements ... 210
Button and soft key operation ...... 212
Operation...................................... 212
Radio operation ............................ 216
Introduction to satellite radio*
(USA only) ..................................... 220
CD mode....................................... 225
GSM network phones ................... 231
TDMA or CDMA network phones .. 238
Emergency calls “911” ................. 244
Power windows .................................. 246
Opening and
closing the windows ..................... 246
Synchronizing power windows ...... 248
Summer opening feature .............. 249
Convenience closing feature......... 250
Power tilt/sliding sunroof* ................ 251
Opening and closing
the power tilt/sliding sunroof ....... 251
Synchronizing
the power tilt/sliding sunroof ....... 253
Page 29 of 489
28 At a glanceCenter consoleLower part
Item
Page
1
Ashtray
Cigarette lighter
274
276
2
KEYLESS-GO* start/stop
button
35
3
Compartment in center
armrest (depending on vehi-
cle production date):
Design A (illustrated in the
picture)
Design B
271
272
4
Program mode selector
switch for automatic trans-
mission
176
5
Gear selector lever for
automatic transmission
171
Page 49 of 489

48 Getting startedDrivingThe seat belt presenter slides back:
right after you push the latch plate1
into buckle3 and hear it click.
after approximately 60 seconds if you
do not push latch plate 1 into
buckle3.
if your door is opened.
if you turn the SmartKey in the starter
switch to position 0.
if you release a front seat backrest and
fold it forward.
Starting the engine Automatic transmission
Gearshift pattern for automatic
transmissionPPark position with gear selector lever
lock
RReverse gear
NNeutral
DDrive position
For more information, see “Automatic
transmission” (
page 170).
Warning!
G
The seat belt presenter must be retracted
while the vehicle is in motion. Only when the
seat belt presenter is retracted can the seat
belt be properly positioned on the body and
protect the occupant as intended.
Warning!
G
Inhalation of exhaust gas is hazardous to
your health. All exhaust gas contains carbon
monoxide (CO), and inhaling it can cause un-
consciousness and possible death.
Do not run the engine in confined areas
(such as a garage) which are not properly
ventilated. If you think that exhaust gas
fumes are entering the vehicle while driving,
have the cause determined and corrected
immediately. If you must drive under these
conditions, drive with at least one window
fully open.
Page 52 of 489

51 Getting started
Driving
Driving
Depress the brake pedal.
Move gear selector lever to
positionDorR.
Release the brake pedal.
Carefully depress the accelerator
pedal.
Once the vehicle is in motion, the auto-
matic central locking system engages
and the locking knobs drop down.After a cold start, the automatic transmis-
sion shifts at a higher engine revolution.
This allows the catalytic converter to reach
its operating temperature earlier.iWait for the gear selection process to
complete before setting the vehicle in
motion.
iYou can open a locked door from the
inside. Open door only when conditions
are safe to do so.
You can deactivate the automatic
locking using the control system
(page 163).
!Simultaneously depressing the
accelerator pedal and applying the
brake reduces engine performance and
causes premature brake and drivetrain
wear.!If you hear a warning signal and the
message
Release parking brake
ap-
pears in the multifunction display when
driving off, you have forgotten to re-
lease the parking brake.
Release the parking brake.
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 loss of control.!Place the gear selector lever in
positionRorP only when the vehicle is
stopped in order to avoid damaging the
transmission.
Page 98 of 489
97 Controls in detail
Locking and unlocking
Seats
Memory function
Lighting
Instrument cluster
Control system
Automatic transmission
Good visibility
Climate control (CLK 350)
Automatic climate control (CLK 500)
Audio system
Power windows
Power tilt/sliding sunroof*
Driving systems
Loading
Useful features
Page 171 of 489
170 Controls in detailAutomatic transmissionFor more information on driving with an
automatic transmission see “Automatic
transmission” (
page 48).
Your vehicle’s transmission adapts its gear
shifting process to your individual driving
style by continually adjusting the shift
points up or down. These shift point adjust-
ments are performed based on current
operating and driving conditions.
If the operating conditions change, the
automatic transmission reacts by
adjusting its shift program.
Gearshift pattern for automatic
transmission
The automatic transmission selects indi-
vidual gears automatically, depending on:
the gear selector lever
positionD(
page 172) with
gear ranges (page 175)
the selected program mode:
(C/S) (
page 176)
the position of the accelerator pedal
(page 174)
the vehicle speed
iDuring the brief warm-up, transmission
upshifting is delayed. This allows the
catalytic converter to heat up more
quickly to operating temperature.
Page 172 of 489

171 Controls in detail
Automatic transmission
1Current gear range/gear selector lever
position
2Current program mode
The current gear range/gear selector lever
position and program mode (
C/S) appear
in the multifunction display.An additional indication of the current gear
selector lever position can be found on the
cover of the shifting-gate.
The indicators come on when you activate
a switch (e.g. unlocking the vehicle or
opening a door) and go out after approxi-
mately 15 minutes.
When the gear selector lever is in
positionD, you can influence transmission
shifting by:
limiting the gear range
changing gears manually
Warning!
G
It is dangerous to shift the gear selector
lever out ofP orN if the engine speed is
higher than idle speed. If your foot is not
firmly on the brake pedal, the vehicle could
accelerate quickly forward or reverse. You
could lose control of the vehicle and hit
someone or something. Only shift into gear
when the engine is idling normally and when
your right foot is firmly on the brake pedal.
!Allow engine to warm up under low
load use. Do not place full load on the
engine until the operating temperature
has been reached.
Shift into reverse gearR or parking po-
sition P only when the vehicle is
stopped.
Avoid spinning of a drive wheel for an
extended period when driving off on
slippery road surfaces. This may cause
serious damage to the drivetrain which
is not covered by the Mercedes-Benz
Limited Warranty.
Page 173 of 489

172 Controls in detailAutomatic transmissionGear selector lever position
Effect
ì
Park position
Gear selector lever position
when the vehicle is parked. Place
gear selector lever in positionP
only when vehicle is stopped.
The park position is not intended
to serve as a brake when the
vehicle is parked. Rather, the
driver should always set the
parking brake in addition to
placing the gear selector lever in
positionP to secure the vehicle.
EffectThe SmartKey can only be
removed from the starter switch
with the gear selector lever in
positionP. With the SmartKey
removed, the gear selector lever
is locked in positionP.
If the vehicle’s electrical system
is malfunctioning, the gear
selector lever could remain
locked in positionP
(page 406).
í
Reverse gear
Place gear selector lever in
positionR only when vehicle is
stopped.
Effect
ë
Neutral
No power is transmitted from the
engine to the drive axle. When
the brakes are released, the
vehicle can be moved freely
(pushed or towed).
To avoid damage to the trans-
mission, never engageN while
driving.
If the ESP
® is deactivated or
malfunctioning:
Move gear selector lever toN
only if the vehicle is in danger of
skidding, e.g. on icy roads.
ê
Drive
The transmission shifts
automatically. All forward gears
are available.