2006 MERCEDES-BENZ CLS500 ESP

146 Controls in detailInstrument clusterTrip odometer
Make sure you are viewing the trip odome-
ter display (
page 147).

If it is not displayed, press the è or
ÿ repeatedly until the trip odome-
ter appears.

Press and hold the reset button on the
instrument cluster (
page 24) until
the trip odometer is reset.
Tachometer
The red marking on the tachometer de-
notes excessive engine speed.
To help protect the engine, the fuel supply
is interrupted if the engine is operated
within the red marking.
Outside temperature indicator
The outside temperature is displayed in
the instrument cluster (
page 24).The temperature sensor is located in the
front bumper area. Due to its location, the
sensor can be affected by road or engine
heat during idling or slow driving. This
means that the accuracy of the displayed
temperature can only be verified by com-
parison to a thermometer placed next to
the sensor, not by comparison to external
displays (e.g. bank signs etc.).
When moving the vehicle into colder ambi-
ent temperatures (e.g. when leaving your
garage), you will notice a delay before the
lower temperature is displayed.
A delay also occurs when ambient temper-
atures rise. This prevents inaccurate tem-
perature indications caused by heat
radiated from the engine during idling or
slow driving.
!Avoid driving at excessive engine
speeds, as it may result in serious en-
gine damage that is not covered by the
Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.
Warning!
G
The outside temperature indicator is not
designed to serve as an ice-warning device
and is therefore unsuitable for that purpose.
Indicated temperatures just above the freez-
ing point do not guarantee that the road sur-
face is free of ice. The road may still be icy,
especially in wooded areas or on bridges.

154 Controls in detailControl systemSelect satellite radio station*
(USA only)
The satellite radio is treated as a radio
application.
Select SAT radio with the correspond-
ing softkey in the radio menu.
1SAT mode and preset number
2Setting for station selection using
memory
3Channel name or number

Press buttonk orj repeatedly
until the desired channel is found.
Operate the CD player

Turn on COMAND and select the CD
player. Refer to separate COMAND
operating instructions.

Press buttonè orÿ repeatedly
until the settings for the CD currently
being played are shown in the multi-
function display.1Current CD (CD 1 through CD 6 for
CD changer*)
2Current track

Press buttonk orj repeatedly
until the desired track is selected.
iYou can only store new stations using
the corresponding feature on the radio,
see separate operating instructions.
You can also operate the radio in the
usual manner.
iAdditional optional satellite radio
equipment and a subscription to satel-
lite radio service provider are required
for satellite radio operation. Contact an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center for
details and availability for your vehicle.
For more information, refer to separate
COMAND operating instructions.
iTo select a CD from the magazine,
press a number on the COMAND
system key pad located in the center
console.

156 Controls in detailControl systemDistronic activated
With Distronic activated, the
Distronic

display is shown in the multifunction dis-
play and one or two segments around the
set speed are illuminated in the speedom-
eter.
1Distronic activated
Vehicle status message memory menu
Use the vehicle status message memory
menu to scan malfunction and warning
messages that may be stored in the sys-
tem. Such messages appear in the multi-
function display and are based on
conditions or system status the vehicle’s
system has recorded.The vehicle status message memory menu
only appears if there are any messages
stored.

Press buttonè orÿ repeatedly
until the vehicle status message mem-
ory appears in the multifunction dis-
play.Vehicle status messages have been
recorded
If conditions have occurred causing status
messages to be recorded, the number of
messages appears in the multifunction
display:

Press buttonk orj.
The stored messages will now be dis-
played in the order in which they have
occurred. For malfunction and warning
messages, see “Vehicle status messag-
es in the multifunction display”
(page 363).
Warning!
G
Malfunction and warning messages are only
indicated for certain systems and are inten-
tionally not very detailed. The malfunction
and warning messages are simply a remind-
er with respect to the operation of certain
systems and do not replace the owner’s
and/or driver’s responsibility to maintain
the vehicle’s operating safety by having all
required maintenance and safety checks
performed on the vehicle and by bringing
the vehicle to an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center to address the malfunction and
warning messages (
page 363).

161 Controls in detail
Control system

Press buttonæ orç to select
the language to be used for the multi-
function display messages.
Available languages:

German
(Deutsch)


English
(English)


French
(Français)


Italian
(Italiano)


Spanish
(Español)


Dutch
(Nederlands)


Danish
(Dansk)


Swedish
(Svenska)


Portuguese
(Português)


Turkish
(Türkçe)
Selecting display (speed display or out-
side temperature) for status display
Move the selection marker with the
æ orçbutton to the
Instr.
cluster
submenu.

Press buttonj ork repeatedly
until you see
Status line display
in
the multifunction display.
The selection marker is on the current
setting.

Press buttonæ orç to select
the status line to
Speed
or
Outside
temp.
Selecting display (speed display or out-
side temperature) for basic display
Move the selection marker with the
æ or çbutton to the
Instr.
cluster
submenu.

Press buttonj ork repeatedly
until you see
Basic display
in the
multifunction display.
The selection marker is on the current
setting.

Press buttonæ orç to select
the display permanently shown in the
multifunction display.
iYou will see the status indicator when
you have called up a different display
from the standard display.

178 Controls in detailAutomatic transmissionGear selector lever position
Effect
ì
Park position
Gear selector lever position
when the vehicle is parked. Place
gear selector lever in positionP
only when vehicle is stopped.
The park position is not intended
to serve as a brake when the
vehicle is parked. Rather, the
driver should always set the
parking brake in addition to
placing the gear selector lever in
positionP to secure the vehicle.
EffectThe SmartKey can only be
removed from the starter switch
with the gear selector lever in
positionP. With the SmartKey
removed, the gear selector lever
is locked in positionP.
If the vehicle’s electrical system
is malfunctioning, the gear
selector lever could remain
locked in positionP
(page 404).
í
Reverse gear
Place gear selector lever in
positionR only when vehicle is
stopped.
Effect
ë
Neutral
No power is transmitted from the
engine to the drive axle. When
the brakes are released, the
vehicle can be moved freely
(pushed or towed).
To avoid damage to the trans-
mission, never engageN while
driving.
If the ESP
® is deactivated or
malfunctioning:
Move gear selector lever toN
only if the vehicle is in danger of
skidding, e.g. on icy roads.
ê
Drive
The transmission shifts
automatically. All forward gears
are available.

181 Controls in detail
Automatic transmission
Gear ranges
With the gear selector lever in positionD
and driving in the automatic shift
programC orS (
page 182), you can
select a gear range for the automatic
transmission to operate within:
Gear selector lever (page 183):
You can limit the gear range by pressing
the gear selector lever to the left (D-), and
reverse the gear range limit by pressing
the gear selector lever to the right (D+).
Steering wheel gearshift control
(
page 184):
You can limit the gear range by pressing
the respective downshift button on the
steering wheel gearshift control, and
reverse the gear range limit by pressing
the respective upshift button on the
steering wheel gearshift control.The selected gear range appears in the
multifunction display (
page 177). If you
press on the accelerator when the engine
has reached its rpm limit, the transmission
will upshift beyond any gear range limit
selected.
Effect
ï
The transmission shifts through
sixth gear only (applies to
vehicles with 7-speed automatic
transmission only).
î
The transmission shifts through
fifth gear only (applies to
vehicles with 7-speed automatic
transmission only).
é
The transmission shifts through
fourth gear only.
Effect
è
The transmission shifts through
third gear only.
With this selection you can use
the braking effect of the engine.
ç
The transmission shifts through
second gear only.
Allows the use of engine’s
braking power when driving

on steep downgrades


in mountainous regions


under extreme operating
conditions
æ
The transmission operates in
first gear only.
For maximum use of engine’s
braking effect on very steep or
lengthy downgrades.

191 Controls in detail
Good visibility
Good visibility
For information on windshield wipers, see
“Windshield wipers” (
page 54).
Headlamp cleaning system*
The button is located on the left side of the
dashboard.
1Headlamp washer button
Switch on the ignition (
page 36).

Press button1.
The headlamps are cleaned with a
high-pressure water jet.For more information on filling up the
washer reservoir, see the “Operation” sec-
tion (
page 300).
Rear view mirrors
For more information on setting the rear
view mirrors, see “Mirrors” (
page 44).
Auto-dimming mirrors
The reflection brightness of the exterior
rear view mirror on the driver’s side and
the interior rear view mirror will respond
automatically to glare when


the ignition is switched on
and


incoming light from headlamps falls on
the sensor in the interior rear view mir-
ror.
The rear view mirrors will not react if


reverse gear is engaged


the interior lighting is turned on
iThe headlamps are cleaned automati-
cally if:

the lights are switched on
and


the windscreen is wiped with wind-
screen washer fluid fifteen times
If the ignition is switched off, the auto-
matic headlamp cleaning mode is reset
and counting is resumed from 0.

192 Controls in detailGood visibility
Activating exterior rear view mirror
parking position
Follow these steps to activate the mirror
parking position so that the passen-
ger-side exterior rear view mirror will be
turned downward to the stored position.
The buttons are located on the driver’s
door.
1Driver’s side exterior rear view mirror
button
2Passenger-side exterior rear view
mirror button
Warning!
G
The auto-dimming function does not react if
incoming light is not aimed directly at sen-
sors in the interior rear view mirror.
The interior rear view mirror and the exterior
rear view mirror on the driver’s side do not
react, for example, if the rear window sun-
shade* is in raised position.
Glare can endanger you and others.Warning!
G
In case of an accident, liquid electrolyte may
escape from the mirror housing if the mirror
glass breaks.
Electrolyte has an irritating effect. Do not
allow 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 be
completely removed only while in the
liquid state 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.