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Sommer\ Corporate\ Media\ AG
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Operator’s Manual
CLS-Class
Order No. 6515 1417 13 Part No. 219 584 40 82 USA Edition C 2006
Ê5ÀtHr%Ë2195844082
Operator’s Manual CLS-Class
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Page 3 of 498

Our company and staff congratulate you
on the purchase of your new
Mercedes-Benz.
Your selection of our product is a demon-
stration of your trust in our company
name. Furthermore, it exemplifies your
desire to own an automobile that will be as
easy as possible to operate and provide
years of service.
Your Mercedes-Benz represents the ef-
forts of many skilled engineers and crafts-
men. To help assure your driving pleasure,
as well as your and your passengers' safe-
ty, we ask you to make a small investment
of time:
Please read this manual carefully, then
return it to your vehicle where it will be
handy for your reference.
Please follow the recommendations
contained in this manual. They are de-
signed to assist you with the operation
of your Mercedes-Benz.
Please pay attention to the warnings
and cautions contained in this manual.
They are designed to help improve the
safety of the vehicle operator and oc-
cupants.
We extend our best wishes for many miles
of safe, pleasurable driving.
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC
A DaimlerChrysler Company
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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
Storage compartments ......................... 30
Door control panel................................ 32Getting started................................... 33
Unlocking ............................................. 34
Unlocking with the SmartKey.......... 34
Unlocking with KEYLESS-GO* ......... 35
Starter switch positions .................. 36
Adjusting .............................................. 39
Seats............................................... 39
Steering wheel ................................ 41
Mirrors ............................................ 44Driving .................................................. 46
Fastening the seat belts ................. 46
Starting the engine ......................... 49
Parking brake ................................. 51
Driving ............................................ 52
Switching on headlamps ................. 53
Turn signals .................................... 53
Windshield wipers ........................... 54
Problems while driving.................... 56
Parking and locking .............................. 58
Parking brake ................................. 59
Switching off headlamps................. 59
Turning off engine ........................... 60
Releasing seat belts........................ 60
Locking ........................................... 61
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ContentsSafety and Security........................... 63
Occupant safety................................... 64
Air bags .......................................... 65
Seat belts ....................................... 70
Active head restraints .................... 74
Children in the vehicle .................... 75
Blocking of rear door window
operation ........................................ 82
Panic alarm .......................................... 83
Activating ....................................... 83
Deactivating ................................... 83
Driving safety systems ......................... 84
ABS ................................................ 84
BAS ................................................ 86
ESP
®.............................................. 86
Electro-hydraulic brake system ...... 89
Anti-theft systems................................ 93
Immobilizer..................................... 93
Anti-theft alarm system .................. 93
Tow-away alarm ............................. 95
Controls in detail............................... 97
Locking and unlocking ......................... 98
SmartKey ....................................... 98
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO* ...... 103
Opening the doors from the inside 111
Opening the trunk ........................ 112
Closing the trunk.......................... 114
Trunk emergency release ............. 120
Valet locking ................................ 121
Automatic central locking ............ 122
Locking and unlocking from
the inside ..................................... 122
Seats ................................................. 124
Front seat active head restraint ... 124
Rear seat head restraints ............. 124
Lumbar support............................ 125
Multicontour seat* ....................... 126
Drive - Dynamic seat* with
multicontour features................... 127
Seat heating* ............................... 128
Seat ventilation* .......................... 130Memory function ............................... 131
Storing positions into memory ..... 132
Recalling positions from memory. 132
Storing exterior rear view mirror
parking position ........................... 133
Lighting ............................................. 134
Exterior lamp switch .................... 134
Combination switch ..................... 138
Corner-illuminating front fog lamps*
(CLS with Bi-Xenon* headlamps) . 139
Hazard warning flasher ................ 140
Interior lighting in the front .......... 141
Interior lighting in the rear ........... 142
Door entry lamps ......................... 143
Trunk lamp ................................... 143
Instrument cluster ............................. 144
Instrument cluster illumination .... 144
Coolant temperature indicator ..... 145
Trip odometer .............................. 146
Tachometer.................................. 146
Outside temperature indicator ..... 146
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Contents
Control system .................................. 147
Multifunction display .................... 147
Multifunction steering wheel ........ 148
Menus .......................................... 150
Standard display menu ................ 153
AUDIO menu ................................ 153
NAV* menu .................................. 155
Distronic* menu........................... 155
Vehicle status message memory
menu ............................................ 156
Settings menu .............................. 157
Trip computer menu..................... 171
TEL menu* ................................... 172
Automatic transmission ..................... 176
Gear selector lever position ......... 178
Driving tips ................................... 180
Gear ranges ................................. 181
Automatic shift program .............. 182
Gear selector lever one-touch
gearshifting .................................. 183
Steering wheel gearshift control
one-touch gearshifting................. 184
Manual shift program
CLS 55 AMG ................................ 187
Emergency operation
(Limp-Home Mode) ...................... 190Good visibility ..................................... 191
Headlamp cleaning system* ......... 191
Rear view mirrors .......................... 191
Sun visors ..................................... 193
Rear window sunshade* ............... 194
Rear window defroster .................. 195
4-zone automatic climate control ....... 196
Deactivating the climate control
system .......................................... 201
Operating the climate control
system in automatic mode............ 202
Setting the temperature................ 203
Adjusting air distribution............... 204
Adjusting air volume ..................... 205
Front defroster.............................. 205
Maximum cooling MAX COOL ....... 206
Air recirculation mode .................. 206
Air conditioning............................. 209
Residual heat and ventilation
(Canada only) ................................ 209
Rear air conditioning ..................... 210
Front center console storage
compartment ventilation............... 213Power windows .................................. 214
Opening and closing the windows 214
Synchronizing power windows ...... 216
Summer opening feature .............. 217
Convenience closing feature......... 217
Power tilt /sliding sunroof ................. 219
Opening and closing the power
tilt/sliding sunroof........................ 219
Synchronizing the power tilt/
sliding sunroof .............................. 221
Driving systems .................................. 222
Cruise control ............................... 222
Distronic* ..................................... 226
Airmatic DC (Dual Control) ........... 238
Parktronic system
(Parking assist)* ........................... 242
Loading .............................................. 246
Roof rack* .................................... 246
Loading instructions ..................... 247
Ski sack* (Canada only) ............... 247
Cargo tie-down hooks ................... 250
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ContentsUseful features .................................. 251
Storage compartments................. 251
Cup holders .................................. 255
Ashtrays ....................................... 257
Cigarette lighter ........................... 258
Power outlet ................................. 259
Floormats ..................................... 260
Telephone*................................... 260
Tele Aid ........................................ 261
Garage door opener* ................... 270
Operation......................................... 277
The first 1000 miles (1500 km) ......... 278
Driving instructions............................ 279
Drive sensibly – save fuel ............. 279
Drinking and driving ..................... 279
Pedals .......................................... 279
Power assistance ......................... 280
Brakes .......................................... 280
Driving off .................................... 282
Parking ......................................... 282
Tires ............................................. 282
Hydroplaning ................................ 283
Tire traction.................................. 284
Tire speed rating .......................... 284
Winter driving instructions ........... 285
Standing water ............................. 287
Passenger compartment .............. 287
Driving abroad.............................. 287
Control and operation of radio
transmitter ................................... 287
Catalytic converter ....................... 288
Emission control .......................... 289
Coolant temperature .................... 289At the gas station .............................. 290
Refueling ...................................... 290
Check regularly and before a
long trip ....................................... 291
Engine compartment ......................... 293
Hood ............................................ 293
Engine oil ..................................... 294
Transmission fluid level................ 297
Coolant level ................................ 297
Battery ......................................... 299
Windshield washer system and
headlamp cleaning system*......... 300
Tires and wheels................................ 301
Important guidelines .................... 301
Tire care and maintenance........... 302
Direction of rotation..................... 304
Loading the vehicle ...................... 304
Recommended tire inflation
pressure ....................................... 311
Checking tire inflation pressure ... 313
MOExtended system*................... 321
Tire labeling ................................. 322
Load identification ....................... 326
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Contents
DOT, Tire Identification Number
(TIN) ............................................. 327
Maximum tire load ....................... 328
Maximum tire inflation pressure .. 329
Uniform Tire Quality Grading
Standards (U.S. vehicles) ............. 329
Tire ply material ........................... 331
Tire and loading terminology ........ 332
Rotating tires ............................... 335
Winter driving .................................... 336
Winter tires .................................. 336
Block heater* (Canada only) ........ 337
Snow chains................................. 337
Maintenance ...................................... 339
Maintenance service indicator
message....................................... 339
Calling up the maintenance
service indicator........................... 340
Resetting the maintenance
service indicator........................... 341
Vehicle care ....................................... 342
Cleaning and care of vehicle ........ 342
Practical hints.................................. 351
What to do if … ................................... 352
Lamps in instrument cluster ......... 352
Lamp in center console................. 362
Vehicle status messages in the
multifunction display..................... 363
Where will I find ...? ............................ 398
First aid kit .................................... 398
TIREFIT* ........................................ 398
Spare wheel .................................. 398
Vehicle tool kit .............................. 399
Luggage box ................................. 401
Unlocking/locking in an emergency... 402
Unlocking the vehicle.................... 402
Locking the vehicle ....................... 403
Fuel filler flap emergency release . 404
Manually unlocking the gear
selector lever ................................ 404
Opening/closing in an emergency ..... 406
Power tilt/sliding sunroof ............. 406
Resetting activated head restraints .... 407
Replacing SmartKey batteries ............ 408
SmartKey ...................................... 408
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO* ....... 409Replacing bulbs .................................. 411
Bulbs............................................. 411
Replacing bulbs for front lamps .... 414
Replacing bulbs for rear lamps ..... 416
Replacing wiper blades ...................... 417
Removing wiper blades ................. 417
Installing wiper blades .................. 418
Flat tire............................................... 419
Preparing the vehicle .................... 419
Sealing tires with TIREFIT ............. 419
Mounting the spare wheel ............ 423
MOExtended system* ................... 429
Battery ............................................... 431
Disconnecting the battery ............ 432
Removing the battery ................... 433
Charging and reinstalling the
battery .......................................... 433
Reconnecting the battery ............. 434
Jump starting...................................... 435
Towing the vehicle.............................. 437
Installing towing eye bolt .............. 439
Fuses.................................................. 441
Aids for replacing fuses ................ 441
Main fuse box in passenger
compartment ................................ 442
Fuse box in trunk .......................... 442