Page 179 of 514

178 Controls in detailAutomatic transmissionManual shift program CLK 55 AMG
In addition to the automatic shift
programC orS, your vehicle is equipped
with the manual shift programM.
In the manual program modeM,
system-controlled automatic gearshifting
is switched off and you need to change the
gears by manually upshifting or downshift-
ing using the steering wheel gearshift but-
tons to the left and right of the steering
wheel (
page 176) or the gear selector
lever.The program mode selector switch is
located on the lower part of the center
console.
1Program mode selector switch
M Manual For manual gear shifting
C Comfort For comfort driving
S Sport For standard driving
The current gear selector lever position
and the selected program mode (
M/C/S)
are indicated in the multifunction display
(
page 167).
!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
positionP 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 196 of 514
195 Controls in detail
Climate control (CLK 350)
Rear passenger compartment adjustable air vents
The air conditioning for the rear passenger
compartment is controlled via the climate
control panel (
page 187).The air vents for the rear passenger
compartment are located in the rear
center console.
1Thumbwheel for air volume control for
center air vents
2Left center air vent
3Right center air ventAdjusting air distribution
Push the slide for the left center
vent2 or right center vent3 to the
left, right, up or down.
The air flow is directed in the corre-
sponding direction.
Adjusting air volume
Turn thumbwheel1 to the left or right.
The air volume is increased or
decreased.
iThe temperature at the center air vents
for the rear passenger
compartment2 and3 (
page 195)
is the same as at the dashboard center
air vents.
iFor draft-free ventilation, push
slides2 and3 upward.
Page 209 of 514
208 Controls in detailAutomatic climate control (CLK 500/CLK 55 AMG)Rear passenger compartment adjustable air vents
The air conditioning for the rear passenger
compartment is controlled via the auto-
matic climate control panel (
page 197).The air vents for the rear passenger
compartment are located in the rear
center console.
1Thumbwheel for air volume control for
center air vents
2Left center air vent
3Right center air ventAdjusting air distribution
Push the slide for the left center
vent2 or right center vent3 to the
left, right, up or down.
The air flow is directed in the corre-
sponding direction.
Adjusting air volume
Turn thumbwheel1 to the left or right.
The air volume is increased or de-
creased.
iThe temperature at the center air vents
for the rear passenger
compartment2 and3 (
page 208)
is the same as at the dashboard center
air vents.
iFor draft-free ventilation, push
slides2 and3 upward.
Page 255 of 514

254 Controls in detailPower windowsOpening and closing all side windows with the soft top switch
The soft top switch is located in the center
console.
1Soft top switch
As an alternate method to using the power
window switches, all side windows can be
opened or closed using the soft top
switch1.
Switch on the ignition.Opening
Press soft top switch1 twice. Press
the switch briefly the first time. Then
press the switch a second time and
hold it until the side windows have
reached the desired position.
Closing
Pull soft top switch1 twice. Pull the
switch briefly the first time. Then pull
the switch a second time and hold it
until the side windows have reached
the desired position.
Warning!
G
Never operate the windows if there is the
possibility of anyone being harmed by the
opening or closing procedure.
In case the procedure causes potential dan-
ger, the procedure can be immediately halt-
ed by releasing the soft top switch. To open
the windows again, press the soft top switch
twice. Press the switch briefly the first time.
Then press the switch a second time and
hold it until the side windows have reached
the desired position.
Page 273 of 514

272 Controls in detailDriving systemsSwitching the Parktronic system
on/off
The Parktronic system can be switched off
manually.
The Parktronic switch is located in the up-
per part of the center console (
page 27).
1Parktronic switch
2Indicator lamp
Switching off the Parktronic system
Press Parktronic switch1.
Indicator lamp2 comes on.Switching on the Parktronic system
Press Parktronic switch1 again.
Indicator lamp2 goes out.
Parktronic system malfunction
If only the red distance segments illumi-
nate and a acoustic warning sounds,
there is a malfunction in the Parktronic
system. The Parktronic system will auto-
matically switch off after 20 seconds and
the indicator lamp in the Parktronic switch
comes on.
Have the Parktronic system checked
by an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center as soon as possible.If only the red distance segments illumi-
nate and no acoustic warning sounds, the
Parktronic system sensors are dirty or
there is an interference from other radio or
ultrasonic signals. The Parktronic system
will automatically switch off after 20 sec-
onds and the indicator lamp in the Park-
tronic switch comes on.
Switch off the ignition (
page 34).
Clean the Parktronic system sensors
(page 369).
Switch on the ignition.
or
Check the Parktronic system operation
at another location to rule out interfer-
ence from outside radio or ultrasonic
signals.
iThe Parktronic system is automatically
switched on when the ignition is
switched on (
page 34).
Page 285 of 514
284 Controls in detailUseful featuresCup holder in the center armrest
Only vehicles with center armrest design B
(page 282).
1Cup holder in compartment
(page 282)
2Cup holderCup holder in the dashboard
1Cover
Opening cup holder
Push cover1.
The cup holder opens automatically.
Closing cup holder
Push the cup holder back until it
engages.
Ashtrays
Center console ashtray
1Cover plate
2Sliding button
3Ashtray insert
Opening ashtray
Briefly press the bottom of cover
plate1.
The cover plate opens automatically.
Keep in mind that objects placed in cup
holder may come loose during braking,
vehicle maneuvers, or in an accident and be
thrown around in the vehicle interior.
Objects thrown around in the vehicle
interior may cause an accident and/or
serious personal injury.
Page 382 of 514
381 Practical hints
What to do if …?
Lamp in center consoleProblem
Possible cause/consequence
Suggested solution
56
The front passenger front air bag
off indicator lamp illuminates
and remains illuminated with the
weight of a typical adult or some-
one larger than a small individual
on the front passenger seat.
The system is malfunctioning.
Have the system checked as soon as
possible by an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
Read and observe messages in the
multifunction display and follow cor-
rective steps (
page 389).
Warning!
G
If the 56 indicator lamp illuminates
and remains illuminated with the weight of a
typical adult or someone larger than a small
individual on the front passenger seat, do
not have any passenger use the front
passenger seat until the system has been
repaired.
Page 391 of 514

390 Practical hintsWhat to do if …?Display message
Possible cause/
consequence
Possible solution
Front passenger
air bag
activated
see Oper.’s Man.
Monitor the 56indicator lamp on the center console (
page 27) and the mul-
tifunction display in the instrument cluster (
page 24) for the following:
With the seat unoccupied and the ignition turned on,
the 56indicator lamp on the center console should illuminate and remain
illuminated, indicating that the OCS (
page 78) has deactivated the air bag.
the message
Front passenger air bag activated see Oper.’s Man.
or the mes-
sage
Front passenger air bag deactivated see Oper.’s Man.
should not ap-
pear in the multifunction display at any time the seat is unoccupied. Wait at last
60 seconds for the system to complete the necessary check cycles and to make
sure neither message appears in the multifunction display.
If above conditions are met, you can occupy the front passenger seat again. Depend-
ing on the front passenger classification sensed by the OCS (
page 78), the
56indicator lamp will remain illuminated or go out.
If above conditions are not met, the system is not working properly. Have the system
checked as soon as possible by an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Warning!
G
If the 56indicator lamp remains
out even after performing the above correc-
tive steps, do not have any children 12 years
old and under and other small individuals
use the front passenger seat until the sys-
tem has been repaired.