
Contents
Introduction.......................................... 9
Product information ................................ 9
Operator’s Manual ...............................  10
Service and warranty information ..  10
Important notice for California 
retail buyers and lessees of 
Mercedes-Benz automobiles ..........  11
Maintenance ..................................  12
Roadside Assistance ......................  12
Change of address or ownership....  12
Operating your vehicle 
outside the USA or Canada ............  13
Where to find it ....................................  14
Symbols ...............................................  15
Operating safety ..................................  16
Proper use of the vehicle ...............  16
Problems with your vehicle ..................  17
Reporting safety defects......................  18
Reporting safety defects ................  18
Vehicle data recording .........................  19
Information regarding electronic 
recording devices ...........................  19
At a glance.......................................... 21
Cockpit ................................................. 22
Instrument cluster ................................ 24
Multifunction steering wheel ................ 26
Center console ..................................... 27
Upper part ...................................... 27
Lower part ...................................... 28
Overhead control panel ........................ 29
Door control panel................................ 30
Getting started...................................  31
Unlocking .............................................  32
Unlocking with the SmartKey .........  32
Unlocking with KEYLESS-GO*.........  33
Starter switch positions ..................  34
Adjusting ..............................................  37
Seats ..............................................  37
Steering wheel ................................  41
Easy-entry/exit feature...................  42
Mirrors ............................................  43
Driving ..................................................  45
Fastening the seat belts .................  45
Starting the engine .........................  48
Parking brake .................................  50
Driving ............................................  51
Switching on headlamps .................  52
Turn signals ....................................  53
Windshield wipers ...........................  53
Problems while driving....................  56
Parking and locking ..............................  57
Parking brake .................................  57
Switching off headlamps.................  58
Turning off the engine.....................  58
Releasing seat belts........................  59
Locking ...........................................  59 

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 

Contents
Trip computer menu.....................  161
TEL menu* ...................................  163
Automatic transmission .....................  166
Gear selector lever position .........  168
Driving tips ...................................  170
Gear ranges .................................  171
Automatic shift program ..............  172
Gear selector lever 
one-touch gearshifting .................  173
Steering wheel gearshift 
control one-touch gearshifting .....  174
Manual shift program 
CLK 55 AMG ................................  178
Emergency operation 
(Limp Home Mode) ......................  180
Good visibility ....................................  181
Headlamp cleaning system* ........  181
Rear view mirrors .........................  181
Sun visors ....................................  184
Rear window defroster .................  185
Climate control (CLK 350) .................  186
Deactivating the 
climate control system.................  189
Operating the climate control 
system in automatic mode ...........  189
Setting the temperature ...............  190Adjusting 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/CLK 55 AMG)..................... 196
Deactivating the 
automatic climate control system. 199
Operating the climate control system in 
automatic mode ............................ 199
Setting the temperature................ 200
Adjusting air distribution............... 200
Adjusting air volume ..................... 201
Front defroster.............................. 201
Maximum cooling MAXCOOL ........ 202
Air recirculation mode .................. 203
Charcoal filter ............................... 204
Air conditioning............................. 206
Residual heat and ventilation* 
(Canada only) ................................ 207
Rear passenger compartment 
adjustable air vents....................... 208Audio system......................................  209
Audio and telephone*, operation ..  209
Operating safety ...........................  209
Sound system* .............................  209
Operating and display elements ...  210
Button and soft key operation ......  212
Operation......................................  212
Radio operation ............................  217
Introduction to satellite radio* 
(USA only) .....................................  222
CD mode.......................................  227
GSM network phones ...................  233
TDMA or CDMA network phones ..  240
Emergency calls “911” ................. 247
Power windows ..................................  249
Opening and 
closing the windows .....................  249
Synchronizing power windows ......  251
Summer opening feature .............. 252
Convenience closing feature.........  253
Opening and closing all side 
windows with the soft top switch .  254
Soft top ..............................................  255
Opening and closing the soft top ..  255
Opening and closing the 
soft top with the SmartKey ........... 260 

Contents
Maximum tire inflation pressure ..  352
Uniform Tire Quality Grading 
Standards (U.S. vehicles) .............  353
Tire ply material ...........................  354
Tire and loading terminology ........  355
Rotating tires ...............................  358
Winter driving ....................................  359
Winter tires ..................................  359
Block heater (Canada only) ..........  360
Snow chains.................................  360
Maintenance ......................................  361
Maintenance 
service indicator message............  361
Clearing the maintenance 
service indicator message............  362
Maintenance 
service term exceeded .................  362
Calling up the maintenance 
service indicator display...............  362
Resetting the maintenance 
service indicator...........................  363
Vehicle care .......................................  364
Cleaning and care of vehicle ........  364
Practical hints.................................. 373
What to do if …? ................................. 374
Lamps in instrument cluster ......... 374
Lamp in center console................. 381
Vehicle status messages in the 
multifunction display..................... 383
Where will I find...? ............................. 413
First aid kit .................................... 413
Vehicle tool kit .............................. 413
Minispare wheel............................ 416
Spare wheel bolts ......................... 418
Unlocking/locking in an emergency... 419
Unlocking the vehicle.................... 419
Locking the vehicle ....................... 420
Fuel filler flap ................................ 421
Manually unlocking 
the gear selector lever .................. 422
Opening/closing in an emergency ..... 423
Operating roll bars manually ......... 423
Soft top emergency operation ...... 425
Resetting activated head restraints .... 434
Resetting 
activated head restraints .............. 434Replacing SmartKey batteries ............  435
SmartKey ...................................... 436
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO* .......  437
Replacing bulbs ..................................  438
Bulbs.............................................  438
Replacing bulbs for front lamps ....  440
Replacing bulbs for rear lamps .....  443
Replacing wiper blades ......................  444
Removing and installing 
wiper blades .................................  444
Flat tire...............................................  446
Preparing the vehicle ....................  446
Mounting the Minispare wheel......  447
MOExtended system* ...................  452
Battery ...............................................  453
Disconnecting the battery ............  454
Removing the battery ...................  454
Charging and 
reinstalling the battery..................  455
Reconnecting the battery .............  455
Jump starting...................................... 456 

28 At a glanceCenter consoleLower part
Item
Page
1
Ashtray
Cigarette lighter
284
286
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
281
282
4
Soft top switch
256
5
Program mode selector 
switch for automatic trans-
mission
Automatic shift program
Manual shift program 
(CLK 55 AMG)
172
179
6
Gear selector lever for
automatic transmission
166 

32 Getting startedThe “Getting started” section provides an 
overview of the vehicle’s most basic func-
tions. First-time Mercedes-Benz owners 
should pay special attention to the infor-
mation given here.
If you are already familiar with the basic 
functions described here, the “Controls in 
detail” section will provide you with further 
information. The corresponding page 
references are located at the end of each 
segment.Unlocking
Unlocking with the SmartKeySmartKey with remote control 1‹Lock button
2ŠOpening button for trunk
3ŒUnlock button
4ÂPanic button (
page 86)
Press unlock button Œ on the 
SmartKey.
All turn signal lamps flash once. The 
locking knobs in the doors move up. 
The anti-theft alarm system is 
disarmed.
Enter the vehicle and insert the 
SmartKey in the starter switch.For more information, see “SmartKey” 
(
page 96).Warning!
G
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the 
SmartKey from the starter switch, take it 
with you, and lock the vehicle. Do not leave 
children unattended in the vehicle, or with 
access to an unlocked vehicle. 
Unsupervised use of vehicle equipment may 
cause an accident and/or serious personal 
injury.iOpening a door causes the windows on 
that side of the car to open slightly. 
They will return to the up position when 
the door is closed. 

33 Getting started
Unlocking
Unlocking with KEYLESS-GO*
With the KEYLESS-GO function, you can 
lock and unlock the vehicle without using 
the remote control buttons on the 
SmartKey and start the engine without in-
serting the SmartKey in the starter switch.
Pull an outside door handle.
All turn signal lamps flash once. The 
vehicle unlocks. The locking knobs in 
the doors move up. The anti-theft alarm 
system is disarmed.
Enter the vehicle.For more information, see “SmartKey with 
KEYLESS-GO*” (
page 100).
iTo unlock the vehicle, the SmartKey 
with KEYLESS-GO must be outside the 
vehicle, no further than approx. 3 feet 
(1 meter) away from the door.
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. Unsupervised use of vehi-
cle equipment may cause an accident 
and/or serious personal injury.
iOpening a door causes the windows on 
that side of the car to open slightly. 
They will return to the up position when 
the door is closed. 

34 Getting startedUnlockingStarter switch positions
SmartKeyStarter switch
0For removing SmartKey
The steering is locked when the 
SmartKey is removed from the starter 
switch.
1Power supply for some electrical 
consumers, such as seat adjustment.
2Ignition (power supply for all electrical 
consumers) and driving position. All 
lamps (except low beam headlamp in-
dicator lamp, high beam headlamp indi-
cator lamp, and turn signal indicator 
lamps unless activated) in the instru-
ment cluster come on. If a lamp in the 
instrument cluster fails to come on 
when the ignition is switched on, have 
it checked and replaced if necessary. If 
a lamp in the instrument cluster re-
mains on after starting the engine or 
comes on while driving, refer to “Lamps 
in instrument cluster” (
page 374).
3Starting position.
Warning!
G
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the 
SmartKey or SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO* 
from the starter switch, take it with you, and 
lock the vehicle. Do not leave children unat-
tended in the vehicle, or with access to an 
unlocked vehicle. Unsupervised use of vehi-
cle equipment may cause an accident 
and/or serious personal injury.
iWhen you switch on the ignition, the 
indicator and warning lamps (except 
low beam headlamp indicator lamp, 
high beam headlamp indicator lamp, 
and turn signal indicator lamps unless 
activated) in the instrument cluster 
come on. The indicator and warning 
lamps (except low beam headlamp 
indicator lamp, high beam headlamp 
indicator lamp, and turn signal indica-
tor lamps if activated) will go out when 
the engine is running. This indicates 
that the respective systems are 
operational.iThe SmartKey can only be removed 
from the starter switch with the gear 
selector lever in position P.