457 Practical hints
Jump starting
The battery is located on the right side of
the engine compartment. For jump start-
ing, use the terminals in front of the bat-
tery.
Make sure the two vehicles do not
touch.
Turn off all electrical consumers.
Apply parking brake.
Shift gear selector lever to positionP.
Open the hood (
page 321).
Flip up cover from positive under hood
terminal2 in front of the filter box
(page 454).1Positive terminal of charged battery
2Positive under hood terminal in front of
discharged battery
3Negative under hood terminal in front
of discharged battery
4Negative terminal of charged battery
Connect the positive terminal1 of the
charged battery with the positive under
hood terminal 2 in front of the filter
box with the jumper cable. Clamp cable
to charged battery1 first.
Start engine of the vehicle with the
charged battery and run at idle speed.
Connect the negative terminal4 of
the charged battery with the negative
under hood terminal 3 in front of the
filter box with the jumper cable. Clamp
cable to charged battery4 first.
Start the engine of the disabled vehi-
cle.
You can now turn on the electrical con-
sumers. Do not turn on the lights under
any circumstances.
Remove the jumper cables first from
the negative terminals3 and4 and
then from the positive terminals2
and1.
You can now turn on the lights.
Have the battery checked at the near-
est authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Warning!
G
Keep flames or sparks away from battery.
Do not smoke.
Observe all safety instructions and precau-
tions when handling automotive batteries
(page 328).
!Never invert the terminal connections.
!Do not tow-start the vehicle.
458 Practical hintsTowing the vehicleTowing the vehicle
Mercedes-Benz recommends that the vehi-
cle be transported with all wheels off the
ground using flatbed or appropriate wheel
lift/dolly equipment.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 94) and the automatic central
locking (
page 159).
!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).
!To be certain to avoid a possibility of
damage to the transmission, however,
we recommend the drive shaft be dis-
connected at the rear axle drive flange
for any towing beyond a short tow to a
nearby garage.
459 Practical hints
Towing the vehicle
Warning!
G
Prior to towing the vehicle with all wheels on
the ground, make certain that the SmartKey
is in starter switch position
2.
If the SmartKey is left in starter switch posi-
tion
0 for an extended period of time, it can
no longer be turned in the switch. In this
case, the steering is locked. To unlock, re-
move SmartKey from starter switch and re-
insert.
If circumstances require towing the vehicle
with all wheels on the ground, always tow
with a tow bar if:
the engine will not run
there is a malfunction in the power sup-
ply or in the vehicle’s electrical system
as that will be necessary to adequately con-
trol the towed vehicle.
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. Adapt your driving accordingly.iTo signal turns while being towed with
the hazard warning flasher in use,
switch on the ignition and activate the
combination switch for the left or right
turn signal in the usual manner – only
the selected turn signal will operate.
Upon canceling the turn signal, the haz-
ard warning flasher will operate again.
!When towing the vehicle with all wheels
on the ground, please note the follow-
ing:
With the automatic central locking acti-
vated and the SmartKey in starter
switch position2, or KEYLESS-GO*
start/stop button in position2, the ve-
hicle doors lock if the left front wheel
as well as the right rear wheel are turn-
ing at vehicle speeds of approx. 9 mph
(15 km / h) or more.
Switch off the tow-away alarm
(page 94).
To prevent the vehicle door locks from
locking, deactivate the automatic cen-
tral locking (
page 159).
Towing of the vehicle should only be
done using the properly installed tow-
ing eye bolt. Never attach tow cable,
tow rope or tow rod to the vehicle chas-
sis, frame or suspension parts.
479 Technical data
Fuels, coolants, lubricants, etc.
Fuels, coolants, lubricants, etc.
CapacitiesVehicle components and their respective
lubricants must match. Therefore only use
products tested and approved by
Mercedes-Benz.Please refer to the Factory Approved Ser-
vice Products pamphlet, or inquire at your
Mercedes-Benz Center.
Model
Capacity
Fuels, coolants, lubricants, etc.
Engine with oil filter
CLK 350
CLK 500
CLK 55 AMG
8.5 US qt (8.0 l)
7.9 US qt (7.5 l)
9.0 US qt (8.5 l)
Approved engine oils
Automatic transmission
CLK 350
CLK 500
CLK 55 AMG
9.0 US qt (8.5 l)
9.0 US qt (8.5 l)
9.3 US qt (8.7 l)
MB Automatic Transmission Fluid
Rear axle
CLK 350
CLK 500
CLK 55 AMG
1.16 US qt (1.1 l)
1.69 US qt (1.6 l)
1.50 US qt (1.4 l)
Hypoid gear oil SAE 85 W 90
Power steering
approx. 1.1 US qt (1.0 l)
MB Power Steering Fluid (Pentosin
CHF 11S)
Front wheel hubs
approx. 3.0 oz (85 g) each
High temperature roller bearing grease
Brake system
0.64 US qt (0.6 l)
MB Brake Fluid (DOT 4+)
481 Technical data
Fuels, coolants, lubricants, etc.
Engine oils
Engine oils are specifically tested for their
suitability in our engines and durability for
our service intervals. Therefore, only use
approved engine oils and oil filters re-
quired for vehicles with Maintenance
System (U.S. vehicles) or FSS (Canada
vehicles). For a listing of approved engine
oils and oil filters, refer to the Factory Ap-
proved Service Products pamphlet, or
contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.
Engine oil additives
Do not blend oil additives with engine oil.
They may damage the engine.
Damage or malfunctions resulting from
blending oil additives are not covered by
the Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.Air conditioning refrigerant
R-134a (HFC) refrigerant and special PAG
lubricating oil are used in the air
conditioning system.
Never use R-12 (CFC) or mineral-based
lubricating oil. Otherwise damage to the
system will occur.
Brake fluid
During vehicle operation, the boiling point
of the brake fluid is continuously reduced
through the absorption of moisture from
the atmosphere.
Only brake fluid approved by
Mercedes-Benz is recommended. An
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center will
provide you with additional information.
!Using engine oils and oil filters of spec-
ification other than those expressly re-
quired for the Maintenance System
(U.S. vehicles) or FSS (Canada vehi-
cles), or changing of oil and oil filter at
change intervals longer than those
called for by the Maintenance System
(U.S. vehicles) or FSS (Canada vehi-
cles) will result in engine damage not
covered by the Mercedes-Benz Limited
Warranty.
Please follow Maintenance System
(U.S. vehicles) or FSS (Canada vehi-
cles) recommendations for scheduled
oil changes. Failure to do so will result
in engine damage not covered by the
Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.
Warning!
G
Under extremely strenuous operating condi-
tions, this moisture content can lead to the
formation of bubbles in the system, thus re-
ducing the system’s efficiency.
Therefore, the brake fluid must be replaced
regularly. Refer to your vehicle's Mainte-
nance Booklet for replacement interval.
487 Technical terms
ABS
(A
ntilock B
rake S
ystem)
Prevents the wheels from locking up
during braking so that the vehicle can
continue to be steered.
Accessory weight
(
page 355)
Air pressure
(page 355)
Alignment bolt
Metal pin with thread. The centering
pin is an aid used when changing a tire
to align the wheel with the wheel hub.
Aspect ratio
(page 355)
Bar
(page 355)
BAS
(Brake A
ssist S
ystem)
System for potentially reducing braking
distances in emergency braking situa-
tions. The system is activated when it
senses an emergency based on how
fast the brake is applied.Bead
(
page 355)
Bi-Xenon headlamps*
Headlamps which use an electric arc as
the light source and produce a more in-
tense light than filament headlamps.
Bi-Xenon headlamps produce low
beam and high beam.
CAC
(Customer A
ssistance C
enter)
Mercedes-Benz customer service cen-
ter, which can help you with any ques-
tions about your vehicle and provide
assistance in the event of a break-
down.
CAN system
(C
ontroller A
rea N
etwork)
Data bus network serving to control ve-
hicle functions such as door locking or
windshield wiping.Cockpit
All instruments, switches, buttons and
indicator/warning lamps in the passen-
ger compartment needed for vehicle
operation and monitoring.
Cold tire inflation pressure
(
page 355)
COMAND
(Cockpit M
anagement and D
ata Sys-
tem)
Information and operating center for
vehicle sound and communications
systems, including the radio and the
navigation system, as well as other op-
tional equipment (CD changer*, tele-
phone, 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 ad-
just settings.
491 Technical terms
Restraint systems
Seat belts, child restraints, lower an-
chors and tethers for children (LATCH).
As independent systems, their protec-
tive functions complement one anoth-
er.
Rim
(
page 356)
Roll bars
Occupant protection system which
consists of tubular steel, integrated in
the rear head restraints. The roll bars
are lowered into the car body during
normal driving conditions and raised
automatically in an accident or in a crit-
ical driving situation.RON
(R
esearch O
ctane N
umber)
The Research Octane Number for gaso-
line as determined by a standardized
method. It is an indication of a gaso-
line's ability to resist undesired detona-
tion (knocking). The average of both
the ->MON (Motor Octane Number)
and RON (Research Octane Number) is
posted at the pump, also known as
ANTI-KNOCK INDEX.
RFI*
(R
un F
lat I
ndicator)
The Run Flat Indicator monitors the set
tire inflation pressures by evaluating
each wheel’s rotational speed. If a
wheel’s rotational speed changes due
to falling tire inflation pressure, a corre-
sponding warning message appears in
the multifunction display.Shift lock
When the vehicle is parked, this lock
prevents the gear selector lever from
being inadvertently moved out of
positionP without SmartKey turned
and brake pedal depressed.
Sidewall
(
page 356)
Soft top
Soft top roof that can be opened by
pulling and closed by pressing a switch
and stored in the soft top compartment
in the trunk area.
SRS
(Supplemental R
estraint S
ystem)
Air bags, air bag control unit (with
crash sensor), emergency tensioning
device. Though independent systems,
they are closely interfaced to provide
effective occupant protection.
Steering wheel gearshift control
(CLK 500*, CLK 55 AMG)
You can change the gears yourself with
the steering wheel gearshift buttons.
493 Index
A
ABS 25, 87, 487
Malfunction indicator lamp 374
Messages in display 385
Accelerator position,
automatic transmission 170
Accessory weight 355
Accident 56
Active head restraints 73
Resetting 434
Air bags 63
Children 64
Front passenger
front air bag off indicator lamp 81
Front, Driver 67
Front, Passenger 67
Head-thorax 68
Occupant Classification System
(OCS) 78
Rear side-impact 68
Safety guidlines 66
Air conditioning refrigerant 481
Air conditioning system see
Climate control systemAir conditioning, Cooling 194, 206
Air distribution 190, 200
Air pressure see Tires, Inflation pressure
Air recirculation mode 192, 203
Air vents 195, 208
Air volume 190, 201
Alarm system see Anti-theft systems
Alignment bolt
(vehicle tool kit) 413, 449, 487
Anticorrosion/antifreeze 484, 485
Antiglare, Rear view mirror 181, 182
Antilock Brake System see ABS
Anti-theft systems 92
Anti-theft alarm system 92
Immobilizer 92
Tow-away alarm 94
Aquaplaning see Hydroplaning
Armrest 281, 282, 283
Storage box 279
Ashtrays 284
Aspect ratio 355
ATF 326
AUDIO menu 145Audio system 209
Button and soft key operation 212
CD changer* 229
CD operation 227
Emergency calls "911" 247
Operating and display elements 210
Operating audio system 209
Operating safety 209
Radio operation 217
Sound system* 209, 214
Switching on/off 212
Telephone* operation 209, 233
Auto-dimming, Rear view mirror 182
Automatic central locking,
Control system 117, 159
Automatic climate control see
Climate control system
Automatic headlamp mode see Headlamps
Automatic lighting control,
Interior lighting 134
Automatic locking when driving 117
Automatic shift program 172