2006 MERCEDES-BENZ CLS55AMG buttons

184 Controls in detailAutomatic transmissionSteering wheel gearshift control one-touch gearshifting
The steering wheel gearshift control pro-
vides an alternative method for changing
the gears manually and limiting or extend-
ing the gear range for automatic shifting
with the gear selector lever in positionD
and driving in the automatic program
modeC orS.Steering wheel gearshift control
CLS 500*
The steering wheel gearshift buttons are
located to the left and right of the steering
wheel.
1 Button, outside: upshift
2 Button, inside: downshift
iFor information on using the steering
wheel gearshift control in manual pro-
gram modeM (CLS 55 AMG only), see
“Manual shift program” (
page 187).
iTo avoid overrevving the engine when
downshifting with steering wheel
gearshift buttons, the transmission will
not shift to a lower gear if the engine’s
max. speed would be exceeded.!Allow engine to warm up under low
load use. Do not place full load on the
engine until the operating temperature
has been reached.
Shift into reverse gearR or parking
positionP only when the vehicle is
stopped.
Avoid spinning of a drive wheel for an
extended period when driving off on
slippery road surfaces. This may cause
serious damage to the drivetrain which
is not covered by the Mercedes-Benz
Limited Warranty.

185 Controls in detail
Automatic transmission
Downshifting

Briefly press the inside2 of one of the
buttons on the steering wheel.
The transmission will shift to the next
lower gear as permitted by the shift
program. This action simultaneously limits
the gear range of the transmission
(
page 181).
Upshifting

Briefly press the outside1 of one of
the buttons on the steering wheel.
The transmission will shift to the next high-
er gear as permitted by the shift program.
This action simultaneously extends the
gear range of the transmission.Canceling gear range limit

Press and hold the outside1 of one of
the buttons on the steering wheel
until
D reappears in the multifunction
display.
The transmission will shift from the current
gear range directly to gear rangeD.
Shifting into optimal gear range

Press and hold the inside2 of one of
the buttons on the steering wheel.
The transmission will automatically select
the gear range suited for optimal
acceleration and deceleration. This will
involve shifting down one or more gears.
iYou cannot shift with the steering
wheel gearshift buttons when the gear
selector lever is in positionP,N orR.
The last selected program
mode (CorS) is switched on when the
engine is restarted.Warning!
G
On slippery road surfaces, never downshift
in order to obtain braking action. This could
result in drive wheel slip and reduced
vehicle control. Your vehicle’s ABS will not
prevent this type of loss of control.

186 Controls in detailAutomatic transmissionSteering wheel gearshift control
CLS 55 AMG
The steering wheel gearshift buttons are
located to the left and right of the steering
wheel.
1Right button: upshift
2Left button: downshiftThe following instructions describe opera-
tion of the steering wheel gearshift control
when driving in the automatic program
modeC orS.
For instructions on operating the steering
wheel gearshift control and gear selector
lever in the manual program modeM, see
“Manual shift program CLS 55 AMG”
(
page 187).Downshifting

Briefly press button2 on the left side
of the steering wheel.
The transmission will shift to the next
lower gear as permitted by the shift
program. This action simultaneously limits
the gear range of the transmission
(
page 181) when you are driving in the
automatic program mode (CorS).
iYou cannot shift with the steering
wheel gearshift buttons when the gear
selector lever is in positionP,N orR.
The last selected program
mode (CorS) is switched on when the
engine is restarted in the automatic
program mode.
Warning!
G
On slippery road surfaces, never downshift
in order to obtain braking action. This could
result in drive wheel slip and reduced
vehicle control. Your vehicle’s ABS will not
prevent this type of loss of control.

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.

203 Controls in detail
4-zone automatic climate control
Deactivating
Press button
orQ
(page 198) or (
page 199).
The indicator lamp on the button goes
out.
AUTO
disappears in the display4
(
page 198) or (
page 199). The au-
tomatic operation of air volume switch-
es off.
or

Turn air distribution controls1
and7 (
page 198) or (
page 199)
on each side of the passenger compart-
ment to the desired symbol.
The indicator lamps on the
buttonsU go out.
AUTO
disappears
in the display4 (
page 198) or
(
page 199). The automatic operation
of air distribution switches off.
Setting the temperature
Use temperature control rocker
switches3 and5 (
page 198) or
(
page 199) to separately adjust the air
temperature on each side of the passenger
compartment. You should raise or lower
the temperature setting in small incre-
ments, preferably starting at 72°F (22°C).
The adjusted temperature appears in the
display 4 (
page 198) or (
page 199).
The climate control will adjust to the set
temperature as fast as possible.Increasing

Push top of temperature control rocker
switch3 and/or5 (
page 198) or
(
page 199).
The climate control system will corre-
spondingly adjust the interior air tem-
perature.
Decreasing

Push bottom of temperature control
rocker switch3 and/or 5
(page 198) or (
page 199).
The climate control system will corre-
spondingly adjust the interior air tem-
perature.
iYou can also adjust the temperature in
the rear passenger compartment
(page 210).
iWhen operating the climate control
system in automatic mode, you will
only rarely need to adjust the tempera-
ture, air volume and air distribution.

204 Controls in detail4-zone automatic climate controlAdjusting air distribution
Use the air distribution controls1 and7
(page 198) or (
page 199) to separate-
ly adjust the air distribution on each side of
the passenger compartment.
The following symbols are located on the
controls:

Turn air distribution controls1
and7 (
page 198) or (
page 199)
on each side of the passenger compart-
ment to the desired symbol.
The indicator lamps on the
buttonsU go out. The automatic air
distribution is switched off. The air dis-
tribution is controlled according to the
selected control setting.
Opening the center air vents

Turn thumbwheels 3 and 4
(page 196) upward.
The side air vents 2 and 5 are open.Closing the center air vents

Turn thumbwheels 3 and 4
(page 196) downward.
The side air vents 2 and 5 are
closed.
Opening the side air vents

Turn thumbwheels 8 and a
(page 196) upward.
The side air vents 7 and b are open.
Closing the side air vents

Turn thumbwheels 8 and a
(page 196) downward.
The side air vents 7 and b are
closed.
Symbol
Function
a
Directs air through the cock-
pit, center, side and rear pas-
senger compartment air vents
Z
Directs air to the windshield
and through the side air vents
X
Directs air into the entire vehi-
cle interior
Y
Directs air to the footwells
iYou can also turn the air distribution
control to a position between two sym-
bols.

205 Controls in detail
4-zone automatic climate control
Adjusting air volume
Use buttonsU (
page 198) or
(
page 199) for automatic mode or air
volume buttons
orQ
(page 198) or (
page 199) to adjust air
volume manually.
Nine blower speeds are available.

Press button
to decrease or
buttonQ to increase air volume to
the desired level.
The indicator lamps on the
buttonsU go out.
AUTO
disappears
in the display4 (
page 198) or
(
page 199) and the automatic mode
is switched off. The selected blower
speed is shown in the display4.
Front defroster
You can use this setting to defrost the
windshield, for example if it is iced up.
You can also defog the windshield and the
side windows.
Activating
Press buttonP or 0
(page 198) or (
page 199).
The indicator lamp on the button
comes on. Display4 (
page 198) or
(
page 199) is cleared.The air conditioning switches
automatically to the following functions:


cooling on to dehumidify


maximum blowing and heating
power (depends on cooling
temperature)


air flows onto the windshield and
the front side windows


the air recirculation mode is
switched off
Deactivating

Press buttonP or 0
(page 198) or (
page 199) again.
The indicator lamp on the button goes
out. Defrosting is turned off.
The previous settings are once again in
effect.
iKeep this setting selected only until the
windshield or the side windows are
clear again.
iThe cooling remains switched on.

211 Controls in detail
4-zone automatic climate control
Setting the temperature
Use temperature control rocker
switches4 and6 to separately adjust
the air temperature on each side of the
rear passenger compartment.
You should raise or lower the temperature
setting in small increments, preferably
starting at 72°F (22°C). The adjusted tem-
perature appears in the display 5. The
rear climate control will adjust to the set
temperature as fast as possible.
Display1Temperature, left
2Temperature, right
Adjust the temperature to the desired
setting for each side of the passenger
compartment using the left and right
temperature buttons.
The temperature in the rear passenger
compartment is adjusted automatical-
ly.
1
Left rear center air vent, adjustable
2
Right rear center air vent, adjustable
3
Thumbwheel for air volume control
for right rear center air vent
4
Temperature rocker switch, right
5
Display
6
Temperature rocker switch, left
7
Thumbwheel for air volume control
for left rear center air vent
iYou can also adjust the rear tempera-
ture using the front climate control
panel (
page 198) or (
page 199).
iThe rear climate control will not cool
the air when the air conditioning is
switched off (
page 209).