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
23 At a glance
Cockpit
Item
Page
1
Steering wheel gearshift
buttons
CLK 500
CLK 55 AMG
175
176
2
Combination switch
Turn signals
Windshield wipers
High beam
53
53
52
3
Cruise control lever
265
4
Multifunction steering
wheel
26,
140
5
Instrument cluster
24,
136
6
Lever for voice control
system*, see separate
operating instructions
7
Starter switch
34
8
Front Parktronic* warning
indicator (Canada only)
269
Item
Page
9
Overhead control panel
29
a
Glove box
278
b
Cup holder
283
c
Center console
27, 28
d
Hood lock release
321
e
Horn
f
Steering wheel adjustment
stalk
41
g
Parking brake pedal
50
h
Door control panel
30
j
Parking brake release
50
k
Exterior lamp switch
52,
127
l
Exterior rear view mirror ad-
justment
43
m
Headlamp washer switch*
181
29 At a glance
Overhead control panel
Overhead control panel
Item
Page
1
Tele Aid (emergency call
system) button
289
2
Temperature sensor for au-
tomatic climate control
3
Right reading lamp on/off
135
4
Interior lighting control
134
5
Hands-free microphone for
Tele Aid (emergency call
system) and telephone*
288
6
Interior rear view mirror
43,
181
7
Garage door opener*
296
8
Left reading lamp on/off
135
37 Getting started
Adjusting
Adjusting
SeatsWarning!
G
All seat, head restraint, steering wheel, and
rear view mirror adjustments, as well as fas-
tening of seat belts, must be done before
the vehicle is put into motion.Warning!
G
Do not adjust the driver’s seat while driving.
Adjusting the seat while driving could cause
the driver to lose control of the vehicle.
Never ride in a moving vehicle with the seat
back in an excessively reclined position as
this can be dangerous. You could slide un-
der the seat belt in a collision. If you slide
under it, the belt would apply force at the ab-
domen or neck. That could cause serious or
fatal injuries. The seat back and seat belts
provide the best restraint when the wearer
is in a nearly upright position and belts are
properly positioned on the body.
Your seat must be adjusted so that you can
correctly fasten your seat belt (
page 45).
Never place hands under the seat or near
any moving parts while a seat is being
adjusted.
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.
Even with the SmartKey or SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO* removed from the starter
switch, or the SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO*
removed from the vehicle, the power seats
can be operated when the respective door is
open. Therefore, 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.
Warning!
G
According to accident statistics, children
are safer when properly restrained in the
rear seating positions than in the front seat-
ing position. Thus, we strongly recommend
that children be placed in the rear seats
whenever possible. Regardless of seating
position, children 12 years old and under
must be seated and properly secured in an
appropriate infant, or toddler restraint, or
booster seat recommended for the size and
weight of the child. For additional
information, see “Children in the vehicle”
(page 75).
A child’s risk of serious or fatal injuries is
significantly increased if the child restraints
are not properly secured in the vehicle
and/or the child is not properly secured in
the child restraint.
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.
41 Getting started
Adjusting
Steering wheel Steering wheel adjustment
The stalk for steering wheel adjustment is
located on the lower left of steering
column.
1Adjusting steering column, in or out
2Adjusting steering column, up or down
Switch on the ignition (
page 34).
or
Open the driver’s door.Adjusting steering column in or out
Move stalk forward or back in direction
of arrow 1 until a comfortable steer-
ing wheel position is reached with your
arms slightly bent at the elbow.
Adjusting steering column up or down
Move stalk up or down in direction of
arrow 2.
Make sure your legs can move freely
and all the displays (including malfunc-
tion and indicator lamps) on the
instrument cluster are clearly visible.
Warning!
G
Do not adjust the steering wheel while driv-
ing. Adjusting the steering wheel while driv-
ing could cause the driver to lose control of
the vehicle.
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.
Even with the SmartKey or SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO* removed from the starter
switch, or the SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO*
removed from the vehicle, the steering
wheel adjustment feature can be operated
when the driver’s door is open. Therefore,
do not leave children unattended in the ve-
hicle, or with access to an unlocked vehicle.
Unsupervised use of vehicle equipment may
cause an accident and/or serious personal
injury.
iThe memory function (
page 124) lets
you store settings for the steering
wheel together with the settings for the
exterior rear view mirrors and the seat
position.
43 Getting started
Adjusting
Mirrors
Adjust the interior and exterior rear view
mirrors before driving so that you have a
good view of the road and traffic condi-
tions.Interior rear view mirror
Manually adjust the interior rear view
mirror.
For more information, see “Rear view mir-
rors” (
page 181).
Exterior rear view mirrors
iIf the current position for the steering
wheel is in the uppermost tilt position,
the steering wheel will no longer be
able to move upward when the
easy-entry/exit feature is activated.
Repositioning of the steering wheel:
will be halted briefly when you start
the vehicle.
will stop if you start the vehicle and
set off immediately.
Warning!
G
Let the system complete the adjustment
procedure before setting the vehicle in
motion. All steering wheel adjustment must
be completed before setting the vehicle in
motion. Driving off with the steering wheel
still adjusting could cause the driver to lose
control of the vehicle.
Warning!
G
In case of an accident, liquid electrolyte may
escape the mirror housing if the mirror glass
breaks.
Electrolyte has an irritating effect. Do not al-
low the liquid to come into contact with
eyes, skin, clothing, or respiratory system.
In case it does, immediately flush affected
area with water, and seek medical help if
necessary.!Electrolyte drops coming into contact
with the vehicle paint finish can only be
completely removed while in their
liquid state and by applying plenty of
water.
Warning!
G
Exercise care when using the passen-
ger-side exterior rear view mirror. The mirror
surface is convex (outwardly curved surface
for a wider field of view). Objects in mirror
are closer than they appear. Check your in-
terior rear view mirror or glance over your
shoulder before changing lanes.