2006 MERCEDES-BENZ CLS500 wheel

90 Safety and SecurityDriving safety systems
The electro-hydraulic brake system is auto-
matically activated when you

unlock the vehicle with the SmartKey
or the KEYLESS-GO*


open the driver’s or passenger door


turn the SmartKey in the starter switch
to position1


in vehicles with KEYLESS-GO*, press
the start/stop button on the gear
selector lever once


depress the brake pedal


release the parking brake
Warning!
G
The electro-hydraulic brake system requires
electrical power to operate.
A malfunction in the vehicle’s power supply
or electrical system may impair brake sys-
tem operation and switch it into its emer-
gency operation mode. In such a case, the
red brake warning lamp (
page 354) and
warning messages in the instrument cluster
(
page 363) come on while driving. To
brake, the driver must then apply signifi-
cantly greater brake pedal pressure and
depress the pedal much further to obtain
the expected braking effect. If necessary,
apply full pressure to the brake pedal.
Brakes may only be applied to the front
wheels. Stopping distance is increased!
If there is a malfunction in the
electro-hydraulic brake system, we recom-
mend that the vehicle be transported with
all wheels off the ground using flatbed or ap-
propriate wheel lift/dolly equipment.
A tow bar must be used if circumstances do
not permit the use of the recommended
towing methods and the vehicle requires
towing with all four wheels on the ground.
Towing the vehicle with all four wheels on
the ground is only permissible for distances
up to 30 miles (50 km) and at a speed not to
exceed 30 mph (50 km/h). For more infor-
mation, refer to “Towing the vehicle”
(page 437).

122 Controls in detailLocking and unlockingAutomatic central locking
The doors and the trunk automatically lock
when the ignition is switched on and the
wheels are turning at vehicle speeds of
approximately 9 mph (15 km/h) or more.
You can open a locked door from the in-
side. Open door only when conditions are
safe to do so.For more information on towing the vehi-
cle, see the “Practical hints” section
(
page 437).
You can deactivate the automatic locking
mode using the control system
(page 168).
Locking and unlocking from the inside
You can lock or unlock the doors and the
trunk from inside using the central locking
switch. This can be useful, for example, if
you want to lock the vehicle before starting
to drive.
The fuel filler flap cannot be locked or
unlocked with the central locking switch.
iThe doors unlock automatically after an
accident if the force of the impact ex-
ceeds a preset threshold.
The vehicle automatically locks when
the ignition is switched on and the
wheels are turning at vehicle speeds of
approximately 9 mph (15 km/h) or
more. You could therefore lock yourself
out when the vehicle

is pushed or towed


is on a test stand
Warning!
G
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the
SmartKey or the SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO* 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. Unsu-
pervised use of vehicle equipment may
cause an accident and/or serious personal
injury.

131 Controls in detail
Memory function
Memory function
Prior to operating the vehicle, the driver
should check and adjust the seat height,
seat position fore and aft, and seat back-
rest angle if necessary, to ensure adequate
control, reach and comfort. The head re-
straint should also be adjusted for proper
height. See also the section on air bags
(page 65) for more information on prop-
er seat positioning.
In addition, adjust the steering wheel to
ensure adequate control, reach, operation
and comfort. Both the interior and exterior
rear view mirrors should be adjusted for
adequate rear vision.
Fasten seat belts. Infants and small chil-
dren should be seated in a properly se-
cured restraint system that complies with
U.S. Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Stan-
dards 213 and 225 and Canadian Motor
Vehicle Safety Standards 213 and 210.2.With the memory function you can store up
to three different settings.
The following settings are stored when
using the buttons on the driver’s door:


Driver’s seat, backrest and head
restraint position


Settings for multicontour seat*


Steering wheel position


Exterior rear view mirror positionThe following settings are stored when
using the buttons on the front passenger
door:


Front passenger seat, backrest and
head restraint position


Settings for multicontour seat*Warning!
G
Do not activate the memory function while
driving. Activating the memory function
while driving could cause the driver to lose
control of the vehicle.

132 Controls in detailMemory functionThe memory button and stored position
buttons are located on the door.
MMemory button
1, 2, 3Stored position button
Switch on the ignition (
page 36).
or

Open the respective door.
Storing positions into memory
Adjust the seats to the desired position
(page 40).

Adjust the steering wheel (
page 42)
and exterior rear view mirrors
(
page 44) on the driver’s side to the
desired position.

Press memory buttonM.

Release memory buttonM and press
position button1, 2 or 3 within
3 seconds.
All the settings are stored to the select-
ed position.
Recalling positions from memory
Press and hold memory position
button1, 2 or3 until the seat, steering
wheel and exterior rear view mirrors
have completely moved to the stored
positions.!Do not operate the power seats using
the memory button if the seat backrest
is in an excessively reclined position.
Doing so could cause damage to front
or rear seats.iReleasing the memory position button
stops movement to the stored posi-
tions immediately.

133 Controls in detail
Memory function
Storing exterior rear view mirror park-ing position
For easier parking, you can adjust the pas-
senger-side exterior rear view mirror so
that you can see the right rear wheel as
soon as you engage reverse gearR.
For information on activating the parking
position, see “Activating exterior rear view
mirror parking position” (
page 192).
1Passenger side, exterior rear view mir-
ror
2Adjustment button
3Memory button

Stop the vehicle.

Switch on the ignition (
page 36).

Press button1.
The passenger-side exterior rear view
mirror is selected.

Adjust the exterior rear view mirror
with button2 so that you see the rear
wheel and the road curb.

Press memory buttonM3.

Within 3 seconds, press bottom of ad-
justment button2.
The parking position is stored if the
mirror does not move.iIf the mirror does move, repeat the
above steps. After the setting is stored,
you can move the mirror again.

134 Controls in detailLightingFor information on how to switch on the
headlamps and use the turn signals, see
“Switching on headlamps” (
page 53)
and see “Turn signals” (
page 53).
Exterior lamp switch
The exterior lamp switch is located on the
dashboard to the left of the steering wheel.Exterior lamp switchMOff
Daytime running lamp mode
(
page 136)
UAutomatic headlamp mode
Daytime running lamp mode
(page 136)CParking lamps (also tail lamps,
license plate lamps, side marker
lamps, instrument panel lamps)
Canada only:
When engine is running, the low
beam is also switched on.
BLow beam headlamps (or high
beam headlamps when the combi-
nation switch is pushed forward)
and parking lamps.
ˆStanding lamps, right (turn left one
stop)
‚Standing lamps, left (turn left two
stops)
‡Indicator lamp for front fog lamps
†Indicator lamp for rear fog lamp
iIf you drive in countries where vehicles
drive on the other side of the road than
the country where the vehicle is regis-
tered, you must have the headlamps
modified for symmetrical low beams.
Relevant information can be obtained
at your authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.iVehicles equipped with active Bi-Xe-
non* headlamps: The active Bi-Xenon
headlamps monitor your steering angle
and driving speed, then automatically
shift their beams to either side to bet-
ter follow the curvature of the road
ahead, increasing usable illumination
over conventional headlamps.

139 Controls in detail
Lighting
Corner-illuminating front fog lamps* (CLS with Bi-Xenon* headlamps)
The corner-illuminating front fog lamps im-
prove illumination of the road onto which
you are turning.
Corner-illuminating front fog lamps will op-
erate with the engine running and with

the exterior lamp switch in
positionB (
page 134)
or


the exterior lamp switch in
positionU (
page 134)
or


the daytime running lamp mode
activated (
page 136)Driving forward
Switching on corner-illuminating front
fog lamps

Depending on wether you are turning
left or right, switch on the left or right
turn signal (
page 53).
The respective front fog lamp comes on
and illuminates the road onto which
you are turning.Switching off corner-illuminating front
fog lamps
The combination switch for the turn signal
resets automatically after major steering
wheel movements. This will switch off the
corner-illuminating front fog lamps if they
where activated by switching on the left or
right turn signal.
If the turn signal should stay on after mak-
ing the turn, the turn signal and corner-illu-
minating front fog lamps can be switched
off by returning the combination switch to
its original position.
iCorner-illuminating front fog lamps will
only come on in low ambient lighting
conditions.
The corner-illuminating front fog lamps
function is not available at a vehicle
speed above 25 mph (40 km/h).
iThe corner-illuminating front fog lamps
will come on automatically depending
on the steering angle, even if you did
not switch on either turn signal.
If the corner-illuminating front fog
lamps came on automatically, they will
also go out automatically depending on
the steering angle.

147 Controls in detail
Control system
Control system
The control system is activated as soon as
the SmartKey in the starter switch is
turned to position1 or as soon as the
KEYLESS-GO start/stop button* is in
position1. The control system enables you
to:

call up information about your vehicle


change vehicle settings.
For example, you can use the control sys-
tem to find out when your vehicle is next
due for service, to set the language for
messages in the multifunction display, and
much more.
The control system relays information to
the multifunction display.
Multifunction display
1Outside temperature
2Trip odometer
3Automatic transmission program mode
4Main odometer
5Current gear selector lever position
Above illustration shows the standard
display.
For more information on menus displayed
in the multifunction display, see “Menus”
(page 150).
iThe displays for the audio systems (ra-
dio, CD player) will appear in English,
regardless of the language selected.
Warning!
G
A driver’s attention to the road and traffic
conditions must always be his/her primary
focus when driving.
For your safety and the safety of others,
selecting features through the multifunction
steering wheel should only be done by the
driver when traffic and road conditions per-
mit it to be done safely.
Bear in mind that at a speed of just 30 mph
(approximately 50 km/h), your vehicle is
covering a distance of 44 feet (approximate-
ly 14 m) every second.