2007 MERCEDES-BENZ CLS550 instrument cluster

97 Safety and Security
Driving safety systems
Switching off the ESP
®
(CLS 63 AMG only)
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 will still apply the
brakes to a spinning wheel


the ESP
® operates while you are brak-
ing


you cannot activate the cruise control
or the Distronic*


the cruise control or Distronic* switch
off if currently activatedThe 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.
Warning!
G
The ESP
® should not be switched off during
normal driving. Disabling of the system will
result in the following:


no restriction to engine torque


loss of system supported traction
control
“ESP® O F F ” i s d e s i g n e d f or driving on closed
tracks when the natural oversteer and un-
dersteer characteristics are desired and re-
quires a highly skilled and experienced
driver able to handle these critical driving
situations.
You could lose control of your vehicle and
cause an accident.
Please be aware of these limits when you
switch off the ESP
®.
Do not switch off the ESP
® when a spare
wheel is mounted.
i
When the ESP
® is switched off and one or
more drive wheels are spinning, the ESP
® warn-
ing lamp v in the instrument cluster flashes.
However, the ESP
® will then not stabilize the ve-
hicle.

98 Safety and SecurityDriving safety systems
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 the ESP
® switched on.
Warning!
G
When the ESP
® warning lamp v 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 ex-
tended period with the ESP
® switched off. This
may cause serious damage to the drivetrain
which is not covered by the Mercedes-Benz
Limited Warranty.

101 Controls in detail
Locking and unlocking
Seats
Memory function
Lighting
Instrument cluster
Control system
Automatic transmission
Good visibility
4-zone automatic climate control
Power windows
Power tilt/sliding sunroof
Driving systems
Loading
Useful features

132 Controls in detailLightingCombination switchCombination switch1High beam
2High beam flasherHigh beam

Turn the exterior lamp switch to
positionB (
page 128).

Push the combination switch in direc-
tion of arrow1 to switch on the high
beam.
The high beam headlamp indicator
lampA in the instrument cluster
comes on (
page 26).

Pull the combination switch in direction
of arrow2 to its original position to
switch off the high beam.
The high beam headlamp indicator
lampA in the instrument cluster
goes out.
High beam flasher

Pull the combination switch briefly in
direction of arrow2.Corner-illuminating front fog lamps*
(CLS 550 with Bi-Xenon* headlamps
only)
The corner-illuminating front fog lamps im-
prove illumination of the area in the direc-
tion into which you are turning.
Corner-illuminating front fog lamps will op-
erate with the engine running and with

the exterior lamp switch in
positionB (
page 128)
or


the exterior lamp switch in
positionU (
page 128)
or


the daytime running lamp mode
activated (
page 130)
i
With the automatic headlamp mode activat-
ed: The corner-illuminating front fog lamps will
only come on in low ambient lighting conditions.

138 Controls in detailInstrument clusterFor a full view illustration of the instrument
cluster, see “At a glance” (
page 26).
1Reset button
The instrument cluster is activated when
you


open a door


switch on the ignition


press the reset button1


switch on the exterior lamps
You can modify the instrument cluster set-
tings in the instrument cluster submenu of
the control system (
page 157).Adjusting instrument cluster
illumination
Use the reset button (
page 138) to ad-
just the illumination brightness for the in-
strument cluster.To brighten illumination

Turn the reset button (
page 138)
clockwise.
The instrument cluster illumination will
brighten.
To dim illumination

Turn the reset button (
page 138)
counterclockwise.
The instrument cluster illumination will
dim.
Warning!
G
No messages will be displayed if either the
instrument cluster or the multifunction dis-
play is inoperative.
As a result, you will not be able to see infor-
mation about your driving conditions, such
as speed or outside temperature, warn-
ing/indicator lamps, malfunction/warning
messages or the failure of any systems.
Driving characteristics may be impaired.
If you must continue to drive, please do so
with added caution. Visit an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center as soon as possible.
i
The instrument cluster illumination is
dimmed or brightened automatically to suit am-
bient light conditions.
The instrument cluster illumination will also be
adjusted automatically when you switch on the
vehicle’s exterior lamps.

139 Controls in detail
Instrument cluster
Coolant temperature indicator
Resetting trip odometer
Make sure you are viewing the trip odome-
ter display (
page 141).

If it is not displayed, press the è or
ÿ repeatedly until the trip odome-
ter appears.

Press and hold the reset button
(page 138) until the trip odometer is
reset.
Tachometer
The red marking on the tachometer de-
notes excessive engine speed.
To help protect the engine, the fuel supply
is interrupted if the engine is operated
within the red marking.
Warning!
G


Driving when your engine is overheated
can cause some fluids which may have
leaked into the engine compartment to
catch fire. You could be seriously
burned.


Steam from an overheated engine can
cause serious burns and can occur just
by opening the hood. Stay away from
the engine if you see or hear steam com-
ing from it.
Stop the vehicle in a safe location away from
other traffic. Turn off the engine, get out of
the vehicle and do not stand near the vehicle
until the engine has cooled down.
!
Excessive coolant temperature triggers the
coolant temperature warning lamp (
page 347)
and a warning in the multifunction display
(
page 374).
The engine should not be operated with the cool-
ant temperature above 248°F (120°C). Doing so
may cause serious engine damage which is not
covered by the Mercedes-Benz Limited Warran-
ty.
i
During severe operating conditions, e.g.
stop-and-go traffic, the coolant temperature may
rise close to 248°F (120°C).
!
Avoid driving at excessive engine speeds, as
it may result in serious engine damage that is not
covered by the Mercedes-Benz Limited Warran-
ty.

140 Controls in detailInstrument clusterOutside temperature indicator
The outside temperature is displayed in
the instrument cluster (
page 26).The temperature sensor is located in the
front bumper area. Due to its location, the
sensor can be affected by road or engine
heat during idling or slow driving. This
means that the accuracy of the displayed
temperature can only be verified by com-
parison to a thermometer placed next to
the sensor, not by comparison to external
displays (e.g. bank signs etc.).
When moving the vehicle into colder ambi-
ent temperatures (e.g. when leaving your
garage), you will notice a delay before the
lower temperature is displayed.
A delay also occurs when ambient temper-
atures rise. This prevents inaccurate tem-
perature indications caused by heat
radiated from the engine during idling or
slow driving.
Warning!
G
The outside temperature indicator is not
designed to serve as an ice-warning device
and is therefore unsuitable for that purpose.
Indicated temperatures just above the freez-
ing point do not guarantee that the road sur-
face is free of ice. The road may still be icy,
especially in wooded areas or on bridges.

146 Controls in detailControl system
Menu6
Menu7
Menu8
Menu9
Vehicle status message
memory
1
1The vehicle status message memory menu is only displayed if there is a message stored.
Settings
Trip computer
TEL*
(page 153)
(page 154)
(page 167)
(page 168)
Commands/submenusCalling up vehicle malfunction,
warning and system status
messages stored in memory
Resetting to factory settings
Fuel consumption statistics
since start
Loading phone book
Instrument cluster submenu
Fuel consumption statistics
since the last reset
Searching for name in phone
book
Time/Date submenu
Resetting fuel consumption
statistics
Lighting submenu
Distance to empty
Vehicle submenuConvenience submenu
i
The headings used in the menus table are
designed to facilitate navigation within the sys-
tem and are not necessarily identical to those
shown in the control system displays.
The first function displayed in each menu will au-
tomatically show you which part of the system
you are in.