2006 MERCEDES-BENZ CLS55AMG cruise control

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

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

222 Controls in detailDriving systemsThe following driving systems are
explained on the following pages:

Cruise control and Distronic*, with
which the vehicle can maintain a preset
speed


Airmatic DC adjusts the vehicle sus-
pension characteristics automatically
and controls the vehicle level


Parktronic system*, which assists the
driver during parking maneuvers
For information on the BAS, ABS, ESP
® and
electro-hydraulic brake system, see
“Driving safety systems” (
page 84).
Cruise control
The cruise control automatically maintains
the speed you set for your vehicle.
Use of cruise control is recommended for
driving at a constant speed for extended
periods of time. You can set or resume
cruise control at any speed above 20 mph
(30 km/h).
The cruise control function is operated by
means of the cruise control lever.
The cruise control lever is the uppermost
lever on the left-hand side of the steering
column (
page 22).
Warning!
G
The cruise control is a convenience system
designed to assist the driver during vehicle
operation. The driver is and must always
remain responsible for the vehicle’s speed
and for safe brake operation.
Only use the cruise control if the road,
traffic, and weather conditions make it ad-
visable to travel at a steady speed.

The use of cruise control can be danger-
ous on winding roads or in heavy traffic
because conditions do not allow safe
driving at a steady speed.


The use of cruise control can be danger-
ous on slippery roads. Rapid changes in
tire traction can result in wheel spin and
loss of control.


Deactivate the cruise control when driv-
ing in fog.
The “Resume” function should only be oper-
ated if the driver is fully aware of the previ-
ously set speed and wishes to resume this
particular preset speed.

223 Controls in detail
Driving systems
1Set current or higher speed
2Set current or lower speed
3Cancel cruise control
4Resume at last set speedSetting current speed

Accelerate or decelerate to the desired
speed.

Briefly lift1 or depress2 the cruise
control lever.
The current speed is set.

Remove your foot from the accelerator
pedal.
Cruise control is activated.
The selected speed appears in the multi-
function display for approximately
5 seconds, and the corresponding speed-
ometer segments from the selected speed
to the vehicle maximum speed are illumi-
nated.
Warning!
G
The cruise control brakes automatically so
that the set speed is not exceeded.
Keep in mind that the cruise control is a con-
venience system designed to assist the driv-
er during vehicle operation. The driver is and
must always remain responsible for the ve-
hicle’s speed and for safe brake operation.
iOn uphill or downhill grades, the cruise
control may not be able to maintain the
set speed. Once the grade eases, the
set speed will be resumed.
On downhill grades, the cruise control
maintains the set speed with active
braking action. In addition, on longer
downhill grades the automatic trans-
mission will automatically downshift.

224 Controls in detailDriving systemsCanceling cruise control
There are several ways to cancel the cruise
control:
Step on the brake pedal.
The cruise control is canceled. The last
speed set is stored for later use.
or

Briefly push the cruise control lever in
direction of arrow3 (
page 223).
The cruise control is canceled. The last
speed set is stored for later use.
iThe last stored speed is canceled when
you turn off the engine.
iThe cruise control automatically
switches off, if

you step on the brake pedal.


you depress the parking brake
pedal.
In this case the segments in the
multifunction display (
page 147)
go out and no warning sounds.


the vehicle speed is below 20 mph
(30 km/h).


the ESP
® is in operation or switched
off with the ESP
® switch
(
page 88).


you move the gear selector lever to
position N while driving.
The segments in the multifunction
display (
page 147) go out, and an
acoustic warning sounds.
!Moving the gear selector lever to
positionN while driving also cancels
the cruise control. However, the gear
selector lever should not be moved to
positionN while driving except to coast
when the vehicle is in danger of skid-
ding (e.g. on icy roads).iDepressing the accelerator pedal does
not deactivate the cruise control. After
brief acceleration (e.g. for passing), the
cruise control will resume the last
speed set.

225 Controls in detail
Driving systems
Setting a higher speed
Lift the cruise control lever in direction
of arrow1 (
page 223) and hold it
up until the desired speed is reached.

Release the cruise control lever.
The new speed is set.
Setting a lower speed

Depress the cruise control lever in
direction of arrow2 (
page 223) and
hold it down until the desired speed is
reached.

Release the cruise control lever.
The new speed is set.Fine adjustment in 1 mph
(Canada: 1 km/h) increments
Faster

Briefly tip the cruise control lever in di-
rection of arrow1 (
page 223).
Slower

Briefly tip the cruise control lever in di-
rection of arrow2 (
page 223).Setting to last stored speed
(“Resume” function)

Briefly pull the cruise control lever to
position4 (
page 223).
The cruise control resume the last set
speed.

Remove your foot from the accelerator
pedal.
The selected speed appears in the multi-
function display for approximately
5 seconds, and the corresponding speed-
ometer segments from the selected speed
to the vehicle maximum speed are illumi-
nated.
iWhen you use the cruise control lever
to decelerate, the brake system will
automatically brake the vehicle if the
engine’s braking power does not brake
the vehicle sufficiently.
Warning!
G
The speed stored in memory should only be
set again if prevailing road conditions per-
mit. Possible acceleration or deceleration
differences arising from returning to the pre-
set speed could cause an accident and/or
serious injury to you and others.

226 Controls in detailDriving systemsDistronic*
When activated, the Distronic adaptive
cruise control system increases driving
convenience afforded by the cruise control
during travel on expressways and other
major roads.

If the Distronic distance sensor detects
a slower moving vehicle directly ahead,
your vehicle speed will be reduced so
that you follow that vehicle at a preset
distance.


If there is no vehicle directly ahead of
you, Distronic will function in the same
way as cruise control (
page 223).
Warning!
G
Distronic adaptive cruise control is no sub-
stitute for active driving involvement. It does
not react to stationary objects, nor recog-
nize or predict the curvature and lane layout
or the movement of vehicles ahead.
Distronic can only apply a maximum of 20%
of the vehicle’s braking power.
It is the driver’s responsibility at all times to
be attentive to road, traffic, and weather
conditions and to provide the steering, brak-
ing and other driving inputs necessary to re-
tain control of the vehicle.Warning!
G
Distronic is a convenience system. Its speed
adjustment reduction capability is intended
to make cruise control more effective and
usable when traffic speeds vary. It is not
however, intended to, nor does it, replace
the need for extreme care. The responsibili-
ty for the vehicle speed and the distance to
the vehicle ahead, including most impor-
tantly brake operation to assure safe stop-
ping distance, always rests with the driver.
Distronic cannot take street and traffic con-
ditions into account.
Warning!
G
Distronic requires familiarity with its opera-
tional characteristics. We strongly recom-
mend that you review the following
information carefully before operating the
system.iUSA only:
This device complies with Part 15 of
the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to
the following two conditions:
(1) This device may not cause harmful
interference, and
(2) this device must accept any inter-
ference received, including interfer-
ence that may cause undesired
operation.
Any unauthorized modification to this
device could void the user’s authority
to operate the equipment.

231 Controls in detail
Driving systems
Distronic activated
If you turn Distronic on, you will see the set
speed in the multifunction display for
about 5 seconds. When Distronic is
activated, you will see the following display
in the multifunction display.
1Distronic activatedCruise control lever
The Distronic system is operated by means
of the cruise control lever.
The cruise control lever is the uppermost
lever on the left-hand side of the steering
column.
1Set current or higher speed
2Set current or lower speed
3Deactivate Distronic
4Resume at last set speedActivating Distronic
You can activate Distronic if:


you are driving between 20 mph
(30 km/h) and 110 mph (180 km/h)


the ESP
® is activated (
page 86)
If Distronic has not been activated after
pressing the cruise control lever you will
see the message
---
in the multifunction
display.
In the following cases you cannot activate
Distronic:


up to 2 minutes after starting the
engine


when you brake


if you have set the parking brake


if the gear selector lever is in
positionP, R or N


if the ESP
® is switched off