ContentsSafety and Security........................... 61
Occupant safety................................... 62
Air bags .......................................... 63
Seat belts ....................................... 69
Active head restraints .................... 73
Roll bars ......................................... 74
Children in the vehicle .................... 75
Blocking of rear side
window operation ........................... 85
Panic alarm .......................................... 86
Activating ....................................... 86
Deactivating ................................... 86
Driving safety systems ......................... 87
ABS ................................................ 87
BAS ................................................ 88
ESP
®.............................................. 89
Anti-theft systems................................ 92
Immobilizer..................................... 92
Anti-theft alarm system .................. 92
Tow-away alarm ............................. 94
Controls in detail............................... 95
Locking and unlocking ......................... 96
SmartKey ....................................... 96
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO* ...... 100
Opening the doors
from the inside ............................. 107
Opening the trunk ........................ 108
Closing the trunk.......................... 110
Trunk emergency release ............. 115
Valet locking ................................ 116
Automatic central locking ............ 117
Locking and unlocking
from the inside ............................. 118
Seats ................................................. 119
Front seat active head restraints . 119
Rear seat head restraints ............. 119
Multicontour seat* ....................... 121
Seat heating* ............................... 122
Seat ventilation* .......................... 123
Memory function ............................... 124
Storing positions into memory ..... 125
Recalling positions from memory . 125
Storing exterior rear view
mirror parking position................. 126Lighting ............................................. 127
Exterior lamp switch .................... 127
Combination switch ..................... 131
Corner-illuminating front
fog lamps* (CLK with
Bi-Xenon* headlamps)................. 132
Hazard warning flasher ................ 133
Interior lighting ............................ 134
Door entry lamps ......................... 135
Trunk lamp ................................... 135
Instrument cluster ............................. 136
Instrument cluster illumination .... 136
Coolant temperature indicator ..... 137
Trip odometer .............................. 137
Tachometer.................................. 138
Outside temperature indicator ..... 138
Control system .................................. 139
Multifunction display.................... 140
Multifunction steering wheel........ 140
Menus .......................................... 142
Standard display menu ................ 144
AUDIO menu ................................ 145
NAV* menu .................................. 146
Vehicle status
message memory menu ............... 146
Settings menu.............................. 148
14 IntroductionWhere to find itThis Operator’s Manual is designed to pro-
vide comprehensive support information
for you, the vehicle operator. Each section
has its own reference color.At a glance
Here you will find an overview of all the
controls that can be operated from the
driver’s seat.Getting started
Here you will find all the information you
need for your first drive. You should read
this section first if this is your first
Mercedes-Benz vehicle or if you are rent-
ing or borrowing this vehicle.Safety and Security
Here you will find descriptions of the safety
and security features of your vehicle.
Controls in detail
Here you will find detailed information
about the equipment installed in your vehi-
cle. This section expands on the “Getting
started” section and also describes techni-
cal innovations. If you are already familiar
with the basic functions of your vehicle,
this section will be of particular interest to
you.Operation
Here you will find all the information you
need for the proper operation of your
vehicle.Practical hints
This section provides fast assistance for
dealing with problems you may encounter.
Technical data
All important technical data for your vehi-
cle can be found in this section.Indexes
The glossary provides explanations of the
most important technical terms.
The table of contents and the index are de-
signed to help you find information quickly
and easily.
The following publications are part of your
vehicle documentation:
this Operator’s Manual
the Maintenance Booklet
Separate operating instructions will be
provided as required depending on the
equipment options installed in your
vehicle.
38 Getting startedAdjustingSeat adjustment
The seat adjustment switches are located
on the respective door.
1Head restraint height
2Seat height
3Seat cushion tilt
4Seat fore and aft adjustment
5Backrest tilt
Switch on the ignition (
page 34).
or
Open the respective door.Seat fore and aft adjustment
Press switch forward or backward in
direction of arrow4.
Adjust seat to a comfortable seating
position that still allows you to reach
the accelerator / brake pedal safely.
The position should be as far to the rear
as possible, consistent with ability to
properly operate controls.Seat height
Press switch up or down in direction of
arrow2.
Seat cushion tilt
Press switch up or down in direction of
arrow3 until your upper legs are
lightly supported.
Seat backrest tilt
Press switch forward or backward in
direction of arrow5 until your arms
are slightly angled when holding the
steering wheel.
Head restraint height
Press switch up or down in direction of
arrow1.
iThe memory function (
page 124) lets
you store the settings for the seat posi-
tion together with the settings for the
steering wheel and the exterior rear
view mirrors.
!When moving the seat, make sure
there are no items in the footwell or be-
hind the seats. Otherwise you could
damage the seats.
iAdjust the head restraint in such a way
that it is as close to the head as
possible.
64 Safety and SecurityOccupant safetyWarning!
G
To reduce the risk of injury when the front
air bags inflate, it is very important for the
driver and front passenger to always be in a
properly seated position and to wear their
respective seat belts.
For maximum protection in the event of a
collision always be in normal seated position
with your back against the backrest. Fasten
your seat belt and make sure that it is prop-
erly positioned on your body.
Since the air bag inflates with considerable
speed and force, a proper seating and hands
on steering wheel position will help to keep
you at a safe distance from the air bag.
Occupants who are unbelted, out of position
or too close to the air bag can be seriously
injured or killed by an air bag as it inflates
with great force in the blink of an eye:
Sit properly belted in a nearly upright
position with your back against the seat
backrest.
Adjust the driver’s seat as far as possi-
ble rearward, still permitting proper op-
eration of vehicle controls. The distance
from the center of the driver’s breast-
bone to the center of the air bag cover
on the steering wheel must be at least
ten inches (25 cm) or more. You should
be able to accomplish this by a combina-
tion of adjustments to the seat and
steering wheel. If you have any prob-
lems, please see an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
Do not lean your head or chest close to
the steering wheel or dashboard.
Keep hands on the outside of steering
wheel rim. Placing hands and arms in-
side the rim can increase the risk and
potential severity of hand/arm injury
when driver’s front air bag inflates.
Adjust the front passenger seat as far as
possible rearward from the dashboard
when the seat is occupied.
Occupants, especially children, should
never place their bodies or lean their
heads in the area of the door or the rear
side trim panel where the head-thorax
air bag and/or the rear side impact air
bag* inflates. This could result in seri-
ous injuries or death should the air bag
be triggered. Always sit nearly upright,
properly use the seat belts and use an
appropriately sized infant or toddler re-
straint or booster seat recommended
for the size and weight of the child.
Failure to follow these instructions can re-
sult in severe injuries to you or other occu-
pants.
If you sell your vehicle, it is important that
you make the buyer aware of this safety in-
formation. Be sure to give the buyer this Op-
erator's Manual.
95 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/CLK 55 AMG)
Audio system
Power windows
Soft top
Driving systems
Loading
Useful features
103 Controls in detail
Locking and unlocking
If the SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO is re-
moved from the vehicle while the igni-
tion is switched on (e.g. if passenger
exits the vehicle with the SmartKey
with KEYLESS-GO), the message Key not recognizedwill appear in the multifunction display
while driving off.
Find the SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO or
change its present location immediate-
ly (e.g. place it on the front passenger
seat or insert it in shirt pocket).
Remember that the engine can be
started by anyone with a SmartKey
with KEYLESS-GO that is left inside the
vehicle. If you leave the SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO behind when exiting and
locking the vehicle, the messageKey recognized in vehiclewill appear in the multifunction display.Factory setting
Global unlocking
Pull an outside door handle.
All turn signal lamps flash once. The
locking knobs in the doors move up.
The anti-theft alarm system is
disarmed.The vehicle will lock again automatically
and reactivate the anti-theft alarm system
within approximately 40 seconds of un-
locking if:
neither a door nor the trunk is opened.
the central locking switch is not
activated.
Warning!
G
When leaving the vehicle, always take the
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO* with you, and
lock the vehicle. Do not leave children unat-
tended in the vehicle, or with access to an
unlocked vehicle. It is possible for children
to open a locked door from the inside, which
could result in an accident and/or serious
personal injury.iIf the vehicle has been parked for a
longer period of time, you must pull an
outside door handle in order to activate
the KEYLESS-GO function.
iThe vehicle could inadvertently be
unlocked if the SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO is within 3 ft (1 m) of the
vehicle and:
an outside door handle is splashed
with water, or
you attempt to clean an outside
door handle.
119 Controls in detailSeats
Seats
For information on seat adjustment, see
“Adjusting” (
page 37).
Front seat active head restraintsYou cannot remove the active head re-
straints on the driver’s and passenger’s
seats.
For removal of the active head restraints
we recommend that you contact an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
For information on head restraint adjust-
ment, see “Seats” (
page 37)
For information on active head restraints,
see “Active head restraints” (
page 73).
Rear seat head restraints
Warning!
G
For your protection, drive only with properly
positioned head restraints.
Adjust head restraint so that the center of
the head restraint supports the back of the
head at eye level. This will reduce the poten-
tial for injury to the head and neck in the
event of an accident or similar situation.
Do not drive the vehicle without the seat
head restraints. Head restraints are intend-
ed to help reduce injuries during an
accident.
iAdjust the head restraint in such a way
that it is as close to the head as
possible.
Warning!
G
For safety reasons, always drive with the
rear head restraints in the raised position
when the rear seats are occupied.
Keep the area around head restraints clear
of articles (e.g. clothing) to not obstruct the
lowering/raising operation of the head
restraints.
120 Controls in detailSeatsRaising rear head restraints
1Rear seat head restraint
Pull head restraint1 to its highest
position.Lowering rear head restraints with
switch in the center console
1Rear head restraint lowering switch
Switch on the ignition (
page 34).
Push the rear head restraints lowering
switch1.
The rear head restraints are lowered.
iThe rear head restraints cannot be low-
ered using the switch1 when the roll
bars have been released. The roll bars
need to be lowered before the rear
head restraints can be operated again
using switch1.
If the roll bars have released and
the soft top is closed, contact an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center
to have the roll bars lowered. Do
not attempt to lower the roll bars
manually with the soft top closed.
Lowering the roll bars manually
with the soft top closed may impair
the function of the roll bars.
If the roll bars have released and
the soft top is open, you can lower
the roll bars manually (
page 424)
or contact an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center to have the
roll bars lowered.