Contents
Power windows .................................. 249
Opening and closing
the windows ................................. 249
Synchronizing power windows ..... 251
Summer opening feature .............. 252
Convenience closing feature ........ 253
Opening and closing
all side windows with
the soft top switch ....................... 254
Soft top .............................................. 255
Opening and closing
the soft top................................... 255
Opening and closing
the soft top with the SmartKey .... 259
Luggage cover .............................. 260
Wind screen ................................. 261
Driving systems ................................. 263
Cruise control............................... 263
Parktronic system
(Parking assist)*,
CLK 63 AMG (USA),
Canada all vehicles....................... 267
Loading .............................................. 271
Ski sack* (Canada only) ............... 271
Loading instructions ..................... 275Useful features .................................. 276
Storage compartments ................ 276
Center armrest ............................. 278
Armrest in the
rear passenger compartment ....... 279
Cup holders.................................. 279
Ashtrays ....................................... 280
Cigarette lighter ........................... 282
Power outlet in the
rear passenger compartment ....... 283
Floormats* ................................... 283
Telephone* .................................. 284
Tele Aid ........................................ 287
Garage door opener* ................... 293
Operation......................................... 299
The first 1 000 miles (1 500 km) ........ 300
Driving instructions ........................... 301
Drive sensibly – save fuel............. 301
Drinking and driving ..................... 301
Pedals .......................................... 301
Power assistance ......................... 302
Brakes.......................................... 302
Driving off .................................... 304
Parking......................................... 304
Tires ............................................. 305
Hydroplaning................................ 306
Tire traction ................................. 306
Tire speed rating .......................... 307
Winter driving instructions ........... 308
Standing water............................. 309
Passenger compartment .............. 309
Driving abroad ............................. 309
Control and operation
of radio transmitters .................... 309
Catalytic converter....................... 310
Emission control .......................... 310
Coolant temperature.................... 311
25 At a glance
Cockpit
ItemPage
1Steering wheel gearshift
paddles*179
2Combination switch
Turn signals
Windshield wipers
High beam
55
55
54
3Cruise control lever263
4Multifunction steering
wheel28,
140
5Instrument cluster26,
136
6Starter switch36
7Front Parktronic* warning
indicator (CLK 63 AMG
(USA), Canada all vehicles)267
8Overhead control panel31
9Glove box276
ItemPage
aDepending on vehicle pro-
duction date:
Storage box
Cup holder
276
279
bCenter console29, 30
cHood lock release316
dHorn
eSteering wheel adjustment
stalk43
fParking brake pedal52
gDoor control panel32
hParking brake release52
jExterior lamp switch54,
126
kExterior rear view mirror ad-
justment45
lHeadlamp washer switch*184
92 Safety and Security
Driving safety systems
Electronic traction system
The electronic traction system is a
component of ESP
®.
The electronic traction system improves
the vehicle’s ability to utilize available
traction, especially under slippery road
conditions by applying the brakes to a
spinning wheel.
Except CLK 63 AMG:
When you switch off the ESP
®, the
electronic traction system is still enabled.Switching off the ESP
®
Switching off the ESP®
(except CLK 63 AMG)
To improve the vehicle's traction, switch
off the ESP
® in driving situations where it
would be advantageous to have the drive
wheels spin and thus cut into surfaces for
better grip such as:
when driving with snow chains
in deep snow
in sand or gravelWhen you switch off the ESP
®
the ESP® does not stabilize the vehicle
the engine output is not limited, which
allows the drive wheels to spin and
thus cut into surfaces for better grip
the traction control will still apply the
brakes to a spinning wheel
the ESP® continues to operate when
you are braking
you cannot activate the cruise control
the cruise control switches off if
currently activated
Warning!G
If you are driving too fast, the electronic
traction system cannot reduce the risk of an
accident.
The electronic traction system cannot pre-
vent the natural laws of physics from acting
on the vehicle.
Warning!G
The ESP® should not be switched off during
normal driving other than in the circum-
stances described below. Disabling of the
system will reduce vehicle stability in stan-
dard driving maneuvers.
Do not switch off the ESP
® when a spare
wheel is mounted.
!Switch on the ESP® immediately if the
aforementioned circumstances do not apply
anymore.
iWhen the ESP® is switched off and one or
more drive wheels are spinning, the ESP®
warning lampv in the instrument cluster
flashes. However, the ESP
® will then not
stabilize the vehicle.
94 Safety and Security
Driving safety systems
When you switch off the ESP®
the ESP® does not stabilize the vehicle
the engine output is not limited, which
allows the drive wheels to spin and
thus cut into surfaces for better grip
the traction control is not available
the ESP® operates while you are
braking
you cannot activate the cruise control
the cruise control switches off if
currently activatedThe ESP
® switch is located on the center
console.
1ESP
® switch
With the engine running, press ESP®
switch1 until the ESP® warning
lampv in the instrument cluster
comes on.
The ESP
® is switched off.
Switching on the ESP®
Press ESP® switch1 until the ESP®
warning lampv in the instrument
cluster goes out.
You are now again in normal driving
mode with ESP
® switched on.
iWhen the ESP® is switched off and one
or more drive wheels are spinning, the ESP®
warning lampv in the instrument cluster
flashes. However, the ESP
® will then not
stabilize the vehicle.
Warning!G
When the ESP® warning lampv is
illuminated continuously, the ESP® is
switched off or is not operational due to a
malfunction. Vehicle stability in standard
driving maneuvers reduces.
Adapt your speed and driving to the prevail-
ing road conditions and to the non-operating
status of the ESP
®.
!Avoid spinning of a drive wheel for an
extended period with the ESP® switched off. This
may cause serious damage to the drivetrain
which is not covered by the Mercedes-Benz
Limited Warranty.
263 Controls in detail
Driving systems
Driving systems
The driving systems of your vehicle are de-
scribed on the following pages:
Cruise control, with which the vehicle
can maintain a preset speed.
Parktronic* (CLK 63 AMG (USA),
Canada all vehicles), which serves as a
parking assistant.
For information on the BAS, ABS, and
ESP
®, see “Driving safety systems”
(
page 88).
Cruise control
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 over 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 24).
Warning!G
Cruise control is a convenience system de-
signed to assist the driver during vehicle op-
eration. The driver is and must always
remain responsible for the vehicle’s speed
and for safe brake operation.
Only use cruise control if the road, traffic
and weather conditions make it advisable 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 cruise control when driving
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.
264 Controls in detail
Driving systems
1Set current or higher speed
2Set current or lower speed
3Cancel cruise control
4Resume to last set speedSetting current speed
Accelerate or decelerate to the desired
speed.
Briefly lift1 or depress2 the cruise
control lever (
page 264).
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 five sec-
onds, and the corresponding speedometer
segments from the selected speed to the
vehicle maximum speed are illuminated.
Warning!G
Cruise control brakes automatically so that
the set speed is not exceeded. The brake
pedal depresses when the cruise control en-
gages the brakes.
Keep driver’s foot area clear at all times, in-
cluding the area under the brake pedal. Ob-
jects stored in this area may impair pedal
movement which could interfere with the
braking ability of the cruise control system.
Do not place your foot under the brake pedal
- your foot could become caught.
Keep in mind that cruise control is a conve-
nience system designed to assist the driver
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, 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 will hold
the set speed with braking from the vehicle’s
brake system.
In addition, on longer downhill grades the auto-
matic transmission will automatically downshift.
265 Controls in detail
Driving systems
Canceling cruise control
There are several ways to cancel cruise
control:
Step on the brake pedal.
Cruise control is canceled. The last
speed set is stored for later use.
or
Briefly push the cruise control lever to
position3.
Cruise control is canceled. The last
speed set is stored for later use.Setting a higher speed
Lift the cruise control lever in direction
of arrow1 (
page 264) and hold it
up until the desired speed is reached.
Release the cruise control lever.
The new speed is set.
iThe last stored speed is canceled when you
turn off the engine.
iCruise control automatically switched off, if
you step on the brake pedal.
you press the parking brake pedal.
In this case the segments in the multifunc-
tion display (
page 264) go out and no
warning sounds.
the vehicle speed is below 20 mph
(30 km/h).
ESP® is in operation or switched off with the
ESP® switch (page 92).
you move the gear selector lever to
positionN while driving.
The segments in the multifunction display
(
page 264) go out, and an acoustic warning
sounds.
!Moving gear selector lever to positionN
while driving also cancels cruise control. Howev-
er, the gear selector lever should not be moved
to positionN while driving except to coast when
the vehicle is in danger of skidding (e.g. on icy
roads).
iDepressing the accelerator pedal does not
deactivate cruise control. After brief accelera-
tion (e.g. for passing), cruise control will resume
the last speed set.
266 Controls in detail
Driving systems
Setting a lower speed
Depress the cruise control lever in
direction of arrow2 (
page 264) 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 264).
Slower
Briefly tip the cruise control lever in di-
rection of arrow2 (
page 264).Setting to last stored speed
(“Resume” function)
Briefly push cruise control lever to
position4 (
page 264).
The cruise control resumes the last set
speed.
Remove your foot from the accelerator
pedal.
The selected speed appears in the multi-
function display for approximately five sec-
onds, and the corresponding speedometer
segments from the selected speed to the
vehicle maximum speed are illuminated
(
page 264).
iWhen you use the cruise control lever to de-
celerate, 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.