367 Operation
Vehicle care
Automatic car wash
You can have your car washed in an auto-
matic car wash from the start. Automatic
car washes without brushes are prefera-
ble.
If the vehicle is very dirty, prewash it be-
fore running it through the automatic car
wash.
Soft top
Clean soft top with soft top raised and
locked. Lower the soft top into the storage
compartment only if the soft top is com-
pletely dry. If the soft top is kept in the
storage compartment for a lengthy period,
raise it and air out with the windows open
about every 4 months.
Light colored soft tops should be cleaned
frequently to prevent spots and dirt from
setting in, which could stain and discolor
the soft top material permanently.
!Due to the width of the vehicle, fold in
exterior rear view mirrors prior to run-
ning the vehicle through an automatic
car wash to prevent damage to the
mirrors.
Make sure that the combination switch
is set to0 (
page 53). Otherwise, the
rain sensor could activate and cause
the wipers to move unintentionally.
This may lead to vehicle damage.
iAfter running the vehicle through an au-
tomatic car wash, wipe any wax off of
the windshield (
page 370). This will
prevent smears and reduce wiping
noise which can be caused by residual
wax on the windshield.
When leaving the car wash, make sure
that the mirrors are folded out. Other-
wise they may vibrate.
!Remove bird droppings immediately.
The organic acid damages the material
and causes the soft top to leak.
Never use a power washer to clean the
soft top, as you may damage the soft
top material.
Do not use sharp-edged instruments
for the removal of ice and snow.
Never use hot-wax when you run the
vehicle through an automatic car wash,
as you may damage the soft top
material.iDepending on the operation mode of
the car wash, there is the possibility of
water drops entering the vehicle’s inte-
rior. This is not an indication of a defect
or malfunction in the soft top.
407 Practical hints
What to do if …?
Display symbol
Display message
Possible cause/consequence
Possible solution
.
Side marker lamp
front left
The front left side marker lamp is malfunc-
tioning.
Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center as soon as possible.
Side marker lamp
front right
The front right side marker lamp is mal-
functioning.
Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center as soon as possible.
Tail lamp left
back-up lamp on
The left tail lamp is malfunctioning. A
back-up bulb is being used.
Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center as soon as possible.
Tail lamp right
back-up lamp on
The right tail lamp is malfunctioning. A
back-up bulb is being used.
Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center as soon as possible.
Turn off lamps
Lamps have been turned on although the
SmartKey in the starter switch is in posi-
tion 0.
Turn off the headlamps.
Turn signal,
front left
The left front turn signal lamp is malfunc-
tioning.
Replace the bulb as soon as possible.
Turn signal,
front right
The right front turn signal lamp is malfunc-
tioning.
Replace the bulb as soon as possible.
Turn signal,
left mirror
The left turn signal in the side mirror is
malfunctioning. This message will only ap-
pear if all light emitting diodes have
stopped working.
Have the LEDs replaced as soon as
possible.
408 Practical hintsWhat to do if …?Display symbol
Display message
Possible cause/consequence
Possible solution
.
Turn signal,
right mirror
The right turn signal in the side mirror is
malfunctioning. This message will only ap-
pear if all light emitting diodes have
stopped working.
Have the LEDs replaced as soon as
possible.
Turn signal rear left
back-up lamp on
The left rear turn signal lamp is malfunc-
tioning. A back-up bulb is being used.
Replace the bulb as soon as possible.
Turn signal rear right
back-up lamp on
The right rear turn signal lamp is malfunc-
tioning. A back-up bulb is being used.
Replace the bulb as soon as possible.
Please engage
roll-over bar
The roll bar is malfunctioning.
Have the system checked at an autho-
rized Mercedes-Benz Center as soon
as possible.
Please release
roll-over bar
The roll bar is malfunctioning.
Operate the roll bars manually
(page 423).
Have the system checked at an autho-
rized Mercedes-Benz Center as soon
as possible.
439 Practical hints
Replacing bulbs
Rear lamps Notes on bulb replacement
Only use 12 volt bulbs of the same type
and with the specified watt rating.
Switch lights off before changing a bulb
to prevent short circuits.
Always use a clean lint-free cloth when
handling bulbs.
Your hands should be dry and free of oil
and grease.
If the newly installed bulb does not
come on, visit an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
Have the LEDs and bulbs for the following
lamps replaced by an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
Additional turn signal lamps in the exte-
rior rear view mirrors
High mounted brake lamp
Bi-Xenon* lamps
Front fog lamps
Front side marker lamps
Lamp
Type
7
High mounted brake
lamp
LED
8
Brake lamp
P 21 W
9
Turn signal lamp
P 21 W
a
Tail, parking and stand-
ing lamp, side marker
P 21/4 W
W 5 W
b
Backup lamp
P 21 W
c
License plate lamps
C 5 W
d
Rear fog lamp, driver’s
side
P 21/4 W
Warning!
G
Keep bulbs out of reach of children.
Bulbs and bulb sockets can be very hot. Al-
low the lamp to cool down before changing
a bulb.
Halogen lamps contain pressurized gas. A
bulb can explode if you:
touch or move it when hot
drop the bulb
scratch the bulb
Wear eye and hand protection.
Because of high voltage in Xenon lamps, it is
dangerous to replace the bulb or repair the
lamp and its components. We recommend
that you have such work done by a qualified
technician.iHave the headlamp adjustment
checked regularly.
442 Practical hintsReplacing bulbsHigh beam bulb for high beam flasher
Turn housing cover2 counterclock-
wise and remove it.
Turn bulb holder4 with the bulb coun-
terclockwise and remove it.
Pull the bulb at its socket out of bulb
holder4.
Insert the new bulb so that its socket
locates in the recess of bulb holder4
and is level to it.
Reinsert bulb holder4 with the bulb in
the lamp and turn clockwise.
Align housing cover2 and turn it
clockwise.Front turn signal lamp bulb
Turn bulb socket1 counterclockwise
and remove it.
Press gently onto the bulb and turn
counterclockwise out of bulb
socket1.
Press the new bulb gently into bulb
socket1 and turn clockwise until it
engages.
Place bulb socket1 back into the
lamp and turn it clockwise.
Parking and standing lamp bulb
Turn housing cover2 counterclock-
wise and remove it.
Pull out bulb socket5 with the bulb.
Pull the bulb out of the bulb socket5.
Press the new bulb into bulb socket5.
Press bulb socket5 back into the
lamp.
Align housing cover2 and turn it
clockwise.Additional turn signal lamps
The additional turn signal lamps in the ex-
terior rear view mirrors have LEDs.
If a malfunction occurs or LEDs fail to func-
tion, the entire turn signal unit must be re-
placed. Have the additional turn signal unit
replaced by an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.
Front side marker lamp
Since replacing the side marker lamp bulbs
is a technically highly demanding process,
we recommend you have the side marker
lamp bulbs replaced by an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
478 Technical dataMain dimensions and weightsMain dimensionsWeightsModel
CLK 350
CLK 500
CLK 55 AMG
Overall vehicle length
183.3 in (4 657 mm)
183.3 in (4 657 mm)
183.3 in (4 657 mm)
Overall vehicle width
(exterior rear view mirrors
folded out)
78.4 in (1 991 mm)
78.4 in (1 991 mm)
78.4 in (1 991 mm)
Overall vehicle height
55.6 in (1 413 mm)
55.4 in (1 408 mm)
55.4 in (1 408 mm)
Overall vehicle height when
opening/closing soft top
80.2 in (2 038 mm)
81.0 in (2 057 mm)
80.6 in (2 047 mm)
Wheelbase
106.9 in (2 715 mm)
106.9 in (2 715 mm)
106.9 in (2 715 mm)
Track, front
58.8 in (1 493 mm)
58.9 in (1 497 mm)
58.9 in (1 497 mm)
Track, rear
58.0 in (1 474 mm)
58.2 in (1 478 mm)
58.2 in (1 478 mm)
Trunk load max.
220 lbs (100 kg)
489 Technical terms
Head-thorax air bag
Installed in the driver and the front pas-
senger seat, these air bags protect oc-
cupants during side impact collisions
exceeding a preset threshold. Unlike
normal side impact air bags,
head-thorax air bags are also designed
to provide protection for the head area.
Instrument cluster
The displays and indicator/warning
lamps in the driver’s field of vision, in-
cluding the tachometer, speedometer,
coolant temperature indicator and fuel
display.
KEYLESS-GO*
System for entering and operating the
vehicle without the use of a SmartKey.
Kickdown
Depressing the accelerator past the
point of resistance shifts the transmis-
sion down to the lowest possible gear.
This very quickly accelerates the vehi-
cle and should not be used for normal
acceleration needs.Kilopascal (kPa)
(
page 356)
Locking knob
Knob on the door which indicates
whether the door is locked or un-
locked. Pushing the locking knob down
on the driver’s or passenger door from
inside will lock that door.
Maintenance System (U.S. vehicles)
Maintenance service indicator in the
multifunction display that informs the
driver when the next vehicle mainte-
nance service is due. The Maintenance
System in your vehicle tracks distance
driven and the time elapsed since your
last maintenance service, and calls for
the next maintenance service
accordingly.
Maximum load rating
(page 356)
Maximum loaded vehicle weight
(page 356)Maximum tire inflation pressure
(
page 356)
Memory function*
Used to store three individual seat,
steering wheel and exterior mirror
positions.
Menu
The control system displays are ar-
ranged in menus. Each menu contains
a number of commands for particular
systems.
MON
(Motor O
ctane N
umber)
The Motor Octane Number for gasoline
as determined by a standardized meth-
od. It is an indication of a gasoline's
ability to resist undesired detonation
(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.
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