Page 193 of 481

192 Controls in detail
Climate control
Air conditioning
The cooling function, is only operational
when the engine is running, cools the vehi-
cle interior down to the selected tempera-
ture. The cooling function also
dehumidifies the air in the vehicle interior,
thus preventing the windows from fogging
up.Deactivating
It is possible to deactivate the air condi-
tioning (cooling) function of the climate
control system. The air in the vehicle will
then no longer be cooled or dehumidified.
Press button2(page 185).
The indicator lamp on the button goes
out.
The cooling function switches off after
a short delay.
Activating
Moist air can fog up the windows. You can
dehumidify the air with the air condition-
ing.
Press button2(page 185) again.
The indicator lamp on the button
comes on.The air conditioning uses the
refrigerant R134a. This refrigerant is free
of CFCs which are harmful to the ozone
layer.
iCondensation may drip out from underneath
the vehicle. This is normal and not an indication
of a malfunction.
Warning!G
If you turn off the cooling function, the
vehicle will not be cooled when weather
conditions are warm. The windows can fog
up more quickly. Window fogging may
impair visibility and endanger you and
others.
!If the air conditioning cannot be turned on
again, this indicates that the air conditioning is
losing refrigerant. The compressor has turned it-
self off.
Have the air conditioning checked at the nearest
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Page 194 of 481
193 Controls in detail
Climate control
Rear passenger compartment
adjustable air vents
The air conditioning for the rear passenger
compartment is controlled via the climate
control panel (
page 185).The air vents for the rear passenger
compartment are located in the rear
center console.
1Thumbwheel for air volume control for
center air vents
2Left center air vent
3Right center air ventAdjusting air distribution
Push the slide for the left center
vent2 or right center vent3 to the
left, right, up or down.
The air flow is directed in the corre-
sponding direction.
Adjusting air volume
Turn thumbwheel1 to the left or right.
The air volume is increased or
decreased.
iThe temperature at the center air vents2
and3 for the rear passenger compartment
(
page 193) is the same as at the dashboard
center air vents.iFor draft-free ventilation, move the slider for
the center air vents2 and3 upward.
Page 195 of 481
194 Controls in detail
Automatic climate control
CLK 350 USA standard equipped with automatic climate control, depending on vehicle production date.
CLK 550 standard equipped with automatic climate control.
Page 196 of 481

195 Controls in detail
Automatic climate control
USA only
Canada only
Item
1Left side air vent, adjustable
2Thumbwheel for air volume control
for center air vents
3Right side air vent, adjustable
4Automatic climate control panel
5Right center air vent, adjustable
6Thumbwheel for air volume control
for right side center air vent
7Thumbwheel for air volume control
for left side center air vent
8Left center air vent, adjustable
iFor draft-free ventilation, move the sliders
for the center air vents and side air vents to the
middle position.
Item
1Left side air distribution control
2Front defroster
3Temperature control, left, raising
4Display
5Air volume control, raising
6Temperature control, right, raising
7Rear window defroster
8Right side air distribution control
9Charcoal filter
aAC cooling on/off
Residual heat/ventilation
(Canada only)
bTemperature control, right, lowering
cAir volume control, lowering
dTemperature control, left, lowering
eAir recirculation
fAutomatic climate control on/off
(complete system)
gAir distribution and air volume
(automatic mode)
Item
Page 197 of 481

196 Controls in detail
Automatic climate control
The automatic climate control is operation-
al whenever the engine is running. You can
operate the automatic climate control sys-
tem in either the automatic or manual
mode. The system cools or heats the inte-
rior depending on the selected interior
temperature and the current outside tem-
perature.Nearly all dust particles, pollutants and
odors are filtered out before outside air
enters the passenger compartment
through the air distribution system.
The air conditioning will not engage (no
cooling) if theA/C mode is deactivated
(
page 204).
Warning!G
When operating the automatic climate
control, the air that enters the passenger
compartment through the air vents can be
very hot or very cold (depending on the set
temperature). This may cause burns or frost-
bite on unprotected skin in the immediate
area of the air vents. Always keep sufficient
distance between unprotected parts of the
body and the air vents. If necessary, use the
air distribution controls (
page 195) to
direct the air to air vents in the vehicle inte-
rior that are not in the immediate area of un-
protected skin.
Warning!G
Follow the recommended settings for
heating and cooling given on the following
pages. Otherwise the windows could fog up,
impairing visibility and endangering you and
others.
iSevere conditions (e.g. strong air pollution)
may require replacement of the filter before its
scheduled interval. A clogged filter will reduce
the air volume to the interior.
If the vehicle interior is hot, ventilate the interior
before driving off, see “Summer opening fea-
ture” (
page 248). The automatic climate con-
trol will then adjust the interior temperature to
the set value much faster.
Keep the air intake grille in front of the wind-
shield free of snow and debris.
Do not obstruct air flow by placing objects on the
air flow-through exhaust slots below the rear
window.
Page 198 of 481

197 Controls in detail
Automatic climate control
Deactivating the automatic climate
control system
Deactivating
Press button´ (page 195).
The indicator lamp on the button
comes on.
Reactivating
Make sure the ignition is switched on.
Press button´ (page 195).
The indicator lamp on the button goes
out.The previous settings are once
again in effect.Operating the automatic climate con-
trol system in automatic mode
Activating
Press buttonU (page 195) while
the engine is running.
The indicator lamp on the button
comes on. The air volume and air distri-
bution are adjusted automatically.1Temperature, left
2Blower speed
3Temperature, right
Use temperature controls3
anddor6 and b (
page 195) to
separately adjust the air temperature
on each side of the passenger compart-
ment.
The temperature of the vehicle interior
is adjusted automatically.
Deactivating
Press buttonU (page 195) again.
The indicator lamp on the button goes
out. The automatic operation of air vol-
ume and air distribution switches off.
Warning!G
When the automatic climate control is
switched off, the outside air supply and cir-
culation are also switched off. Only choose
this setting for a short time. Otherwise the
windows could fog up, impairing visibility
and endangering you and others.
iWhen operating the climate control system
in automatic mode, you will only rarely need to
adjust the temperature, air volume and air distri-
bution.
In automatic mode, the dehumidify function is
switched on when the system is cooling. If nec-
essary, this function can be switched off by
pushing the button2or9 (
page 195).
iYou can switch the automatic climate con-
trol system on and off for each side of the pas-
senger compartment as desired.
Page 199 of 481

198 Controls in detail
Automatic climate control
Setting the temperature
Use temperature controls3 andd for
the left side or6 andb for the right side
(
page 195) 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 automatic climate control will adjust
to the set temperature as fast as possible.Increasing
Press and hold temperature button3
and/or6 (
page 195) until the de-
sired temperature appears in the
display4 (
page 195).
The automatic climate control system
will correspondingly adjust the interior
air temperature.Decreasing
Press and hold temperature buttonb
and/ord (
page 195) until the de-
sired temperature appears in the
display4 (
page 195).
The automatic climate control system
will correspondingly adjust the interior
air temperature.
iIf you increase the temperature for one side
of the vehicle to the highest adjustable value
then you will see the message
HI in the display.
This also increases the temperature for the other
side of the vehicle.
iIf you decrease the temperature for one side
of the vehicle to the lowest adjustable value then
you will see the message
LO in the display. This
also decreases the temperature for the other
side of the vehicle.
Page 200 of 481

199 Controls in detail
Automatic climate control
Adjusting air distribution
Use the air distribution controls1 and8
(
page 195) to separately adjust the air
distribution on each side of the passenger
compartment. The following symbols are
located on the controls:
Turn air distribution control1 or8
(
page 195) to the desired symbol.
The indicator lamp on the buttonU
goes out.
The automatic air distribution is
switched off. The air distribution is
controlled according to the selected
control setting.Opening center and side air ventsTurn thumbwheels 2, 6 and 7
(
page 194) upward.
The center air vents 5 and 8 and side
air vents 1 and 3 (
page 194) are
open.
Closing center and side air vents
Turn thumbwheels 2, 6 and 7
(
page 194) downward.
The center air vents 5 and 8 and side
air vents 1 and 3 (
page 194) are
closed.
SymbolFunction
ZDirects air to the windshield
and the side defroster vents
bDirects air into the entire
vehicle interior
YDirects air to the footwells
aDirects air through the center,
side and rear passenger
compartment air vents
iYou can also turn the air distribution control
to a position between two symbols.