Page 188 of 514
187 Controls in detail
Climate control (CLK 350)
Canada only
USA only
Item
1
Left side air vent, adjustable
2
Thumbwheel for air volume control
for center air vents
3
Right side air vent, adjustable
4
Climate control panel
5
Right center air vent, adjustable
6
Thumbwheel for air volume control
for right side center air vent
7
Thumbwheel for air volume control
for left side center air vent
8
Left center air vent, adjustableiFor draft-free ventilation, move the
sliders for the side air vents1 and3
and center air vents5 and 8 to the
middle position.
Item
1
Air volume control
2
Left side temperature control
3
Right side temperature control
4
Air distribution control
5
Rear window defroster
6
AC cooling on/off
7
Air distribution and air volume
(automatic mode)
8
Air recirculation
9
Front defroster
Page 189 of 514

188 Controls in detailClimate control (CLK 350)The climate control is operational when-
ever the engine is running. You can oper-
ate the climate control system in either the
automatic or manual mode. The system
cools or heats the interior depending on
the selected interior temperature and the
current outside temperature.Nearly all dust particles, pollutants and
odors are filtered out before outside air en-
ters the passenger compartment through
the air distribution system.
The air conditioning will not engage (no
cooling) if the A/C mode is deactivated
(
page 194).
Warning!
G
When operating the climate control, the air
that enters the passenger compartment
through the air vents can be very hot or very
cold (depending on the set temperature).
This may cause burns or frostbite on unpro-
tected skin in the immediate area of the air
vents. Always keep sufficient distance be-
tween unprotected parts of the body and the
air vents. If necessary, use the air distribu-
tion control (
page 187) to direct the air to
air vents in the vehicle interior that are not
in the immediate area of unprotected skin.
Warning!
G
Follow the recommended settings for heat-
ing and cooling given on the following pag-
es. Otherwise the windows could fog up,
impairing visibility and endangering you and
others.
iSevere conditions (e.g. strong air
pollution) may require replacement of
the filter before its scheduled interval.
A clogged filter will reduce the air
volume to the interior.
If the vehicle interior is hot, ventilate
the interior before driving off, see
“Summer opening feature”
(page 252). The climate control will
then adjust the interior temperature to
the set value much faster.
Keep the air intake grille in front of the
windshield free of snow and debris.
Do not obstruct air flow by placing
objects on the air flow-through exhaust
slots below the rear window.
Page 190 of 514

189 Controls in detail
Climate control (CLK 350)
Deactivating the climate control system
Deactivating
Set air volume control1 (
page 187)
to position0.
Reactivating
Set air volume control1 (
page 187)
to any speed.Operating the climate control system
in automatic mode
Activating
Press buttonU (
page 187) while
the engine is running.
The indicator lamp on the button
comes on. The air volume and air distri-
bution are adjusted automatically.
Use temperature controls2 and3
(page 187) to separately adjust the
air temperature on each side of the
passenger compartment.
The temperature of the vehicle interior
is adjusted automatically.
Deactivating
Press buttonU (
page 187) again.
The indicator lamp on the button goes
out. The automatic operation of air vol-
ume and air distribution switches off.
iWhen the climate control system is de-
activated, the outside air supply and
circulation are also deactivated. Only
choose this setting for a short time.
Otherwise the windows could fog up.
iWhen operating the climate control
system in automatic mode, you will
only rarely need to adjust the tempera-
ture, air volume and air distribution.
In automatic mode, cooling with dehu-
midify is switched on. This function can
be switched off if necessary.
Page 192 of 514

191 Controls in detail
Climate control (CLK 350)
Adjusting air volume
Six blower speeds are available.
Press buttonU (
page 187).
The indicator lamp on the button goes
out. The automatic air volume control
is switched off. The air volume is con-
trolled according to the currently se-
lected control setting.
Use the air volume control1
(page 187) to adjust the air volume.
Front defroster
You can use this setting to defrost the
windshield, for example if it is iced up.
You can also defog the windshield and the
side windows.
Activating
Press buttonPor0
(page 187).
The indicator lamp on the button
comes on.The air conditioning switches
automatically to the following functions:
cooling on to dehumidify
maximum blowing and heating
power
air flows onto the windshield and
the front side windows
the air recirculation mode is
switched off
Deactivating
Press buttonP or0
(page 187) again.
The indicator lamp on the button goes
out. Defrosting is turned off.
iKeep this setting selected only until the
windshield or the side windows are
clear again.
iThe cooling remains switched on.
Page 193 of 514

192 Controls in detailClimate control (CLK 350)Windshield fogged on the outside
Switch the windshield wipers on
(page 54).
Press button U (
page 187).
The indicator lamp on the button
comes on. Air distribution and air vol-
ume are adjusted automatically.
If the automatic mode of the climate con-
trol is switched off:
Turn air distribution control4 to
aor Y (
page 187).
Air recirculation mode
Switch to air recirculation mode to prevent
unpleasant odors from entering the vehicle
from the outside (e.g. before driving
through a tunnel). This setting cuts off the
intake of outside air and recirculates the
air in the passenger compartment.Activating
Press button, (
page 187).
The indicator lamp on the button
comes on.
iKeep this setting selected only until the
windshield is clear again.
Warning!
G
Fogged windows impair visibility, endanger-
ing you and others. If the windows begin to
fog on the inside, switching off the air
recirculation mode immediately should clear
interior window fogging. If interior window
fogging persists, make sure the air
conditioning (
page 194) is activated, or
press buttonP or0.
iThe air recirculation mode is activated
automatically at high outside tempera-
tures.
The indicator lamp on button, is
not lit when the air recirculation mode
is automatically switched on.
A quantity of outside air is added after
approximately 30 minutes.
Page 194 of 514

193 Controls in detail
Climate control (CLK 350)
Deactivating
Press button, (
page 187).
The indicator lamp on the button goes
out.
Warning!
G
Never operate the side windows if there is
the possibility of anyone being harmed by
the closing procedure.
In the event that the procedure causes po-
tential danger, the closing of the side win-
dows can be immediately halted by
releasing the, button or by pressing or
pulling the respective window switch.iIf you press and hold button,, the
side windows will close.
iThe air recirculation mode is deactivat-
ed automatically:
after 5 minutes if the outside
temperature is below
approximately 41°F (5°C)
after 5 minutes if the air condition-
ing is turned off
after 30 minutes if the outside
temperature is above
approximately 41°F (5°C)
iIf you press and hold button,, the
side windows will return to their previ-
ous position.
A side window will only return to its pre-
vious position if it has not been moved
to another position using the respec-
tive side window switch after it was
closed with button,. A side win-
dow that was moved will remain in its
current position if button, is used
to re-open the remaining side windows.
Page 195 of 514

194 Controls in detailClimate control (CLK 350)Air conditioning
The cooling function, is only operational
when the engine is running, cools the vehi-
cle interior down to the selected tempera-
ture. The cooling function also
dehumidifies the air in the vehicle interior,
thus preventing the windows from fogging
up.Deactivating
It is possible to deactivate the air condi-
tioning (cooling) function of the climate
control system. The air in the vehicle will
then no longer be cooled or dehumidified.
Press button2(
page 187).
The indicator lamp on the button goes
out.
The cooling function switches off after
a short delay.Activating
Moist air can fog up the windows. You can
dehumidify the air with the air condition-
ing.
Press button2(
page 187) again.
The indicator lamp on the button
comes on.
The air conditioning uses the
refrigerant R134a. This refrigerant is free
of CFCs which are harmful to the ozone
layer.
iCondensation may drip out from under-
neath the vehicle. This is normal and
not an indication of a malfunction.Warning!
G
If you turn off the cooling function, the
vehicle will not be cooled when weather
conditions are warm. The windows can fog
up more quickly. Window fogging may
impair visibility and endanger you and
others.
!If the air conditioning cannot be turned
on again, this indicates that the air
conditioning is losing refrigerant. The
compressor has turned itself off.
Have the air conditioning checked at
the nearest authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.
Page 198 of 514

197 Controls in detail
Automatic climate control (CLK 500/CLK 55 AMG)
Canada only
USA only
Item
1
Left side air vent, adjustable
2
Thumbwheel for air volume control
for center air vents
3
Right side air vent, adjustable
4
Automatic climate control panel
5
Right center air vent, adjustable
6
Thumbwheel for air volume control
for right side center air vent
7
Thumbwheel for air volume control
for left side center air vent
8
Left center air vent, adjustableiFor draft-free ventilation, move the slid-
ers for the center air vents1, 3, 5,
8 to the middle position.
Item
1
Left side air distribution control
2
Front defroster
3
Temperature control, left, raising
4
Display
5
Air volume control, raising
6
Temperature control, right, raising
7
Rear window defroster
8
Right side air distribution control
9
Charcoal filter
a
AC cooling on/offResidual heat/ventilation
(Canada only)
b
Temperature control, right, lowering
c
Air volume control, lowering
d
Temperature control, left, lowering
e
Air recirculation
f
Automatic climate control on/off
(complete system)
g
Air distribution and air volume
(automatic mode)Item