Page 124 of 481

123 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. 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 instrument cluster dis-
play, and much more.
The control system relays information to
the multifunction display.
Multifunction display
1Main odometer
2Trip odometer
3Current program mode
(automatic transmission* only)
4Status indicator (outside tempera-
ture/digital speedometer)
5Current gear selector lever posi-
tion/gear range
(automatic transmission* only)
iThe displays for the audio systems
(radio, 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, se-
lecting 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.
Page 125 of 481

124 Controls in detailControl systemMultifunction steering wheel
The displays in the multifunction display
and the settings in the control system are
controlled by the buttons on the multifunc-
tion steering wheel.Pressing any of the buttons on the multi-
function steering wheel will alter what is
shown in the multifunction display.
The information available in the multifunc-
tion display are arranged in menus, each
containing a number of functions or sub-
menus.
The individual functions are then found
within the relevant menu (radio or CD op-
erations under
Audio
, for example). These
functions serve to call up relevant informa-
tion or to customize the settings for your
vehicle.
It is helpful to think of the menus, and the
functions within each menu, as being ar-
ranged in a circular pattern.
If you press buttonèorÿ re-
peatedly, you will pass through each
menu one after the other.
If you press buttonjork re-
peatedly, you will pass through each
function display, one after the other, in
the current menu.
1
Multifunction displayOperating the control system
2
Selecting the submenu or setting the
volume:
Press buttonæup/to increaseçdown/to decrease
3
Telephone*:
Press buttonsto take a call, or
to dial a calltto end a call, or
to reject an incoming call
4
Moving within a menu:
Press buttonjfor next displaykfor previous display
5
Menu systems:
Press buttonèfor next menuÿfor previous menu
Page 126 of 481
125 Controls in detail
Control system
In the
Settings...
menu, you will find a
number of submenus instead of functions
for calling up and changing settings. For in-
structions on using these submenus, see
“Settings menu” (page 134).
The number of menus available in the sys-
tem depends on which optional equipment
is installed in your vehicle.
iThe headings used in the menus table
are designed to facilitate navigation
within the system and are not neces-
sarily identical to those shown in the
control system displays.
The first function displayed in each
menu will automatically show you
which part of the system you are in.
iSLK 55 AMG:
The steering wheel in this vehicle will
vary from steering wheel shown. How-
ever, multifunction steering wheel sym-
bols and feature description apply to
AMG vehicles as well.
Page 128 of 481

127 Controls in detail
Control system
Menus, submenus and functions
Menu1
Menu2
Menu3
Menu4
Menu5
Menu6
Menu7
Standard display
AUDIO
NAV*
Vehicle status
message
memory
1
Settings
Trip computer
TEL*
(page 128)
(page 129)
(page 132)
(page 132)
(page 134)
(page 149)
(page 151)
Commands/submenusRun Flat Indicator*
Select radio
station
Show route
guidance in-
structions,
current direc-
tion traveled
Call up vehicle
malfunction,
warning and
system status
messages
stored in
memory
Reset to factory
settings
Fuel consump-
tion statistics
after start
Load phone book
Check coolant
temperature
Select satellite
radio station*
(USA only)
Instrument clus-
ter submenu
Fuel consump-
tion statistics
since last reset
Search for name
in phone book
Digital speedome-
ter/outside tem-
perature
Operate the CD
player
Time/Date
submenu
Call up range
Redialing
Call up mainte-
nance service
indicator
Lighting
submenu
Check engine oil
level (SLK 55 AMG
only)
Vehicle submenuConvenience
submenu
1The vehicle status message memory menu is only displayed if there is a message stored.
Page 132 of 481
131 Controls in detail
Control system
Operating the CD player
Switch on the radio and select the
CD player (
page 222).
Vehicles with COMAND*:
Refer to the separate operating instruc-
tions.
Press buttonèorÿ repeatedly
until the settings for the CD currently
being played are shown in the multi-
function display.
1Current CD
(CD0
for single CD drive in head unit,
CD1
through
CD6
for CD in
CD changer*)
2Current track
Press buttonjork repeatedly
until the desired track is selected.
iFor more information on satellite radio
operation, see “Introduction to satellite
radio* (USA only)” (
page 214).
Vehicles with COMAND*:
Refer to separate operating
instructions.
iTo select a CD from the magazine,
press a number on the audio system or
the COMAND* system key pad located
in the center dashboard.
Page 135 of 481

134 Controls in detailControl systemSettings menu
In the
Settings...
menu are two func-
tions:
The function
To reset: Press reset
button for 3 seconds
for resetting all
settings to factory standard.
A collection of submenus for perform-
ing individual settings for your vehicle.
Press buttonèorÿ repeatedly
until the
Settings...
menu appears in
the multifunction display.The following settings and submenus are
available in the
Settings...
menu:Resetting all settings
You can reset all the functions of all sub-
menus to the factory settings.
Press the reset buttonJon the instru-
ment cluster (
page 24) for approxi-
mately 3 seconds.
The request to press the reset
buttonJonce more to confirm ap-
pears in the multifunction display.
Press the reset buttonJagain.
The functions of all submenus will be
reset to the factory settings.
The message
Reset to factory
settings
appears in the multifunction
display.
Function
Page
Resetting all settings
134
Submenus in the Settings menu
135
Instrument cluster submenu
137
Time/date submenu
137
Lighting submenu
143
Vehicle submenu
147
Convenience submenu
147
Page 136 of 481

135 Controls in detail
Control system
Submenus in the Settings menu
Press buttonj.
In the multifunction display you see the
collection of the submenus.
Press buttonç.
The selection marker moves to the next
submenu.The submenus are arranged by hierarchy.
Scroll up with buttonæ, and scroll
down with buttonç.
With the selection marker on the desired
submenu, use thejbutton to access
the individual functions within that sub-
menu. Once within the submenu, you can
use the jbutton to move to the next
function or the kbutton to move to the
previous function within that submenu.
The settings themselves are made with
buttonæorç.
iFor safety reasons, the following func-
tion cannot be reset while driving:
the function
Lamp circuit head-
lamp mode in the
Lighting
sub-
menu
The following message appears in the
multifunction display:
Lighting Cannot be completely re-
set to factory settings while driv-
ing
.
iYour individual settings will not be re-
set unless you confirm the action by
pressing the reset buttonJagain.
After 5 seconds the
Settings...
menu
reappears in the multifunction display.
Page 137 of 481
136 Controls in detailControl systemThe table below shows what settings can
be changed within the various submenus.Detailed instructions on making individual
settings can be found on the following
pages.Instrument cluster
Time/Date
Lighting
Vehicle
Convenience*
(page 137)
(page 139)
(page 143)
(page 147)
(page 147)
Selecting digital speed-
ometer display mode
Time synchronization
with head unit*
Daytime running lamp
mode (USA only)
Setting automatic locking
Activating
easy-entry/exit feature*
Selecting language
Setting the time (hours)
Locator lighting
Setting parking position
for exterior rear view
mirror*
Selecting display (speed
display or outside
temperature) for status
indicator
Setting the time
(minutes)
Night security
illumination
Setting the date (month)
Interior lighting delayed
shut-off
Setting the date (day)Setting the date (year)