2006 MERCEDES-BENZ CLS500 steering

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

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

21 At a glance
Cockpit
Instrument cluster
Multifunction steering wheel
Center console
Overhead control panel
Storage compartments
Door control panel

23 At a glance
Cockpit
Item
Page
1
Combination switch

Turn signals
53


Windshield wipers
54


High beam
53
2
Steering wheel gearshift
control
184
186
3
Cruise control lever

Cruise control
223


Distronic*
226
4
Multifunction steering
wheel
26,
148
5
Instrument cluster
24,
144
6
Horn
Item
Page
7
Lever for voice control sys-
tem*, see separate
operating instructions
8
Front Parktronic* warning
indicator
242
9
Overhead control panel
29
a
Glove box lid release, glove
box lock
251
b
Glove box
251
c
Center console
27
d
Starter switch
36
e
Steering wheel adjustment
stalk
42
Item
Page
f
Headlamp washer button*
191
g
Parking brake pedal
51, 59
h
Hood lock release
293
j
Parking brake release
51
k
Exterior lamp switch
134
l
Door control panel
32

26 At a glanceMultifunction steering wheel
Item
Page
1
Multifunction display in
speedometer
147
Operating control system
148
2
Selecting the submenu or
setting the volume:
Press buttonæup/to increaseçdown/to decrease
3
Telephone*:
Press buttonsto take a call
to dial a calltto end a call
to reject an incoming
call
Item
Page
4
Menu systems:
Press buttonèfor next menuÿfor previous menu
5
Moving within a menu:
Press buttonjfor next displaykfor previous display

32 At a glanceDoor control panel
Item
Page
1
Inside door handle
111
2
Seat adjustment
40
3
Memory function (for stor-
ing seat, exterior mirror and
steering wheel settings)
131
4
Exterior rear view mirror ad-
justment
44
5
Switches for opening/clos-
ing front and rear side win-
dows, rear window override
switch
214
6
Remote trunk release
switch, Trunk opening/clos-
ing system*
113

39 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
backrest in an excessively reclined position
as this can be dangerous. You could slide
under the seat belt in a collision. If you slide
under it, the belt would apply force at the
abdomen 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 46).
Never place hands under the seat or near
any moving parts while a seat is being ad-
justed.
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.
Even with the SmartKey or the 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 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.
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.
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 recom-
mended 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
the child is not properly secured in the child
restraint.

40 Getting startedAdjustingSeat adjustment
The seat adjustment switches are located
on the front doors.
1Seat fore and aft adjustment
2Backrest tilt
3Head restraint height
4Seat height
5Seat cushion tilt
Switch on the ignition (
page 36).
or

Open the respective door.Seat fore and aft adjustment

Press the switch forward or backward
in the direction of arrow1.
Adjust a comfortable seating position
that still allows you to reach the accel-
erator/brake pedal safely. The position
should be as far to the rear as possible,
consistent with ability to properly oper-
ate controls.Seat cushion tilt

Press the switch up or down in the
direction of arrow5 until your upper
legs are lightly supported.
Backrest tilt

Press the switch forward or backward
in the direction of arrow2 until your
arms are slightly angled when holding
the steering wheel.
Seat height

Press the switch up or down in the
direction of arrow4.
iThe memory function (
page 131) lets
you store the settings for the seat posi-
tion together with the setting 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.