9
Product information
Introduction
Product information
Please observe the following in your own
best interest:
We recommend using Genuine
Mercedes-Benz Parts as well as conversion
parts and accessories explicitly approved
by us for your vehicle model.
We have tested these parts to determine
their reliability, safety and special suitabili-
ty for Mercedes-Benz vehicles.We are unable to make an assessment for
other products and therefore cannot be
held responsible for them, even if in indi-
vidual cases an official approval or authori-
zation by governmental or other agencies
should exist. Use of such parts and acces-
sories could adversely affect the safety,
performance or reliability of your vehicle.
Please do not use them.Genuine Mercedes-Benz Parts as well as
conversion parts and accessories
approved by us are available at your
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center where
you will receive comprehensive informa-
tion, also on permissible technical modifi-
cations, and where proper installation will
be performed.
83 Safety and Security
Occupant safety
Active head restraints
The active head restraints offer the driver’s
and front passenger increased protection
from whiplash type injuries. In the event of
a rear-end collision, the active head re-
straints on the driver’s and front passen-
ger’s seats are designed to move forward
in the direction of travel, providing the
head with increased support earlier on in
the collision sequence. The active head re-
straints move forward whether the seat is
occupied or not.For information on resetting the activated
active head restraints, see “Resetting acti-
vated head restraints” (
page 401).
You cannot remove the active head
restraint on the driver’s and front passen-
ger’s seat.
For removal of the active head restraints
we recommend that you contact an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
For information on head restraint adjust-
ment, see “Seats” (
page 41).
Warning!
G
Do not attach any objects (e.g. hangers) to
the head restraint posts. Otherwise, the ac-
tive head restraints may not be able to func-
tion properly or offer the intended degree of
protection in the event of a collision.
Warning!
G
Only use seat or head restraint covers which
have been tested and approved by
Mercedes-Benz for your vehicle model.
Using other seat or head restraint covers
may interfere with or prevent the activation
of active head restraint. Contact your autho-
rized Mercedes-Benz Center for availability.
Warning!
G
For your protection, drive only with properly
positioned head restraints.
Adjust head restraints so that it is as close
to the head as possible and the center of the
head restraint supports the back of the head
at eye level. This will reduce the potential for
injury to the head and neck in the event of
an accident or similar situation.
Do not drive the vehicle without the seat
head restraints. Head restraints are intend-
ed to help reduce injuries during an acci-
dent.
141 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 or as soon as the
KEYLESS-GO start/stop button* is in
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 multifunction display, and
much more.
The control system relays information to
the multifunction display.
Multifunction display
1Outside temperature
2Trip odometer
3Automatic transmission program mode
4Main odometer
5Current gear selector lever position
Above illustration shows the standard
display.
For more information on menus displayed
in the multifunction display, see “Menus”
(page 144).
i
The 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,
selecting 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.
155 Controls in detail
Control system
Press buttonè orÿ repeatedly
until the
Settings
menu is seen in the
multifunction display.
Resetting all settings
You can reset all the functions of all sub-
menus to the factory settings.
Press the reset button (
page 138) for
approximately 3 seconds.
In the multifunction display you will see
the request to press the reset button
again to confirm.
Press the reset button again.
The functions of all the submenus will
reset to factory settings.Submenus in the Settings menu
Press buttonj.
In the multifunction display the collec-
tion of the submenus appears.
Press buttonç.
The selection marker moves to the next
submenu.The submenus are arranged by hierarchy.
Scroll down with the çbutton, scroll up
with the æbutton.
With the selection marker on the desired
submenu, use the j button to access
the individual functions within that sub-
menu. Once within the submenu, you can
use the buttonjto move to the next
function or the buttonk to move to the
previous function within that submenu.
The settings themselves are made with
buttonæ orç.
i
The settings you have changed will not be re-
set unless you confirm the action by pressing the
reset button a second time. After approximately
five seconds, the
Settings
menu reappears in
the multifunction display.
For safety reasons, the
Headlamp mode
func-
tion in the
Lighting
submenu is not reset
while driving.
162 Controls in detailControl systemWith daytime running lamp mode activated
and the exterior lamp switch in
positionM orU, the low beam
headlamps are switched on when the
engine is running.
In low ambient light conditions the follow-
ing lamps will switch on additionally:
Parking lamps
Tail lamps
License plate lamps
Side marker lamps
For more information on the daytime
running lamp mode, see “Lighting”
(
page 128).Setting locator lighting
With the locator lighting feature activated
and the exterior lamp switch in
positionU, the following lamps will
switch on during darkness when the vehi-
cle is unlocked with the SmartKey or
KEYLESS-GO*:
Parking lamps
Tail lamps
License plate lamps
Side marker lamps
Front fog lamps
The locator lighting switches off when the
driver’s door is opened.
If you do not open a door after unlocking
the vehicle with the SmartKey, the lamps
will switch off automatically after approxi-
mately 40 seconds.
Move the selection marker with
buttonæ orç to the
Lighting
submenu.
Press buttonj ork repeatedly
until the message
Function Surround
lighting
appears in the multifunction
display.
The selection marker is on the current
setting.
Press buttonæ orç to switch
the locator lighting function
On
or
Off
.
Turn the exterior lamp switch to
positionU when exiting the vehicle.
The locator lighting feature is activat-
ed.
i
For safety reasons, resetting the
Lighting
submenu to factory settings while driving
(
page 155) will not deactivate the daytime
running lamp mode.
The following message appears in the multifunc-
tion display:
Cannot be completely reset
to factory settings while driving.
170 Controls in detailControl systemDialing a number from the phone book
If your telephone is ready to receive calls,
you may select and dial a number from the
phone book at any time.
Press buttonÿ orè repeatedly
until the
Tel
menu appears in the
multifunction display.
Press buttonj ork.
The control system reads the phone
book which is stored in the telephone.
This may take several minutes. In the
multifunction display you will see the
message
Please wait
.
When the message
Please wait
dis-
appears, the phone book has been
loaded.
Press buttonj ork repeatedly
until the desired name appears in the
multifunction display.
The stored names are displayed in as-
cending or descending alphabetical
order.
Press buttons.
The system dials the selected phone
number.
If the connection is successful, the
name of the party you called and
the duration of the call will appear
in the multifunction display.
If no connection is made, the con-
trol system stores the dialed num-
ber in the redial memory.Redialing
The control system stores the most recent-
ly dialed phone numbers. This eliminates
the need to search through your entire
phone book.
Press buttonÿ orè repeatedly
until the
Tel
menu appears in the mul-
tifunction display.
Press buttons.
In the multifunction display the first
number in the redial memory appears.
Press buttonj ork repeatedly
until the desired name appears in the
multifunction display.
Press buttons.
The control system dials the selected
phone number.
i
If you press and holdj ork for long-
er than 1 second, the system scrolls rapidly
through the list of names until you release the
button again.
Cancel the quick search mode by pressingt.
176 Controls in detailAutomatic transmissionGear ranges
With the gear selector lever in drive
positionD and driving in program modeC
orS (
page 177), you can select a gear
range for the automatic transmission to
operate within.
Gear selector lever (
page 178):
You can limit the gear range by pressing
the gear selector lever to the left (D-), and
reverse the gear range limit by pressing
the gear selector lever to the right (D+).
Steering wheel gearshift control*
(
page 179):
You can limit the gear range by pulling the
left gearshift paddle on the steering wheel
gearshift control, and reverse the gear
range limit by pulling the right gearshift
paddle on the steering wheel gearshift
control.The selected gear range appears in the
multifunction display.
1Current gear range
Effect
ï
The transmission shifts through
sixth gear only.
î
The transmission shifts through
fifth gear only.
é
The transmission shifts through
fourth gear only.
Effect
è
The transmission shifts through
third gear only.
With this selection you can use
the braking effect of the engine.
ç
The transmission shifts through
second gear only.
Allows the use of engine’s
braking power when driving
on steep downgrades
in mountainous regions
under extreme operating
conditions
æ
The transmission operates in
first gear only.
For maximum use of engine’s
braking effect on very steep or
lengthy downgrades.
178 Controls in detailAutomatic transmission
Press program mode selector switch
repeatedly until the letter of the
desired program mode appears in the
multifunction display.
SelectCfor comfort driving
(CLS 63 AMG: for standard driving):
The vehicle starts out in second
gear (both forward and reverse) for
gentler starts. This does not apply if
full throttle is applied or gear
range1 is selected.
Traction and driving stability are
improved on icy roads.
Upshifts occur earlier even when
you give more gas. The engine then
operates at lower rpms and the
wheels are less likely to spin.
SelectSfor standard driving
(CLS 63 AMG: for sporty driving):
The vehicle starts out in first gear.
Upshifts occur later.Gear selector lever one-touch
gearshifting
With the gear selector lever in drive posi-
tion D and driving in program modeC orS,
you can limit or extend the gear range.
If your vehicle is equipped with manual
shift programM, you can use the gear
selector lever to manually shift the gears.
The following instructions describe opera-
tion of the gear selector lever when driving
in the automatic program modeC orS.Limiting gear range
Briefly press the gear selector lever to
the left in theD-direction.
The transmission will shift to the next
lower gear as permitted by the shift
program. This action simultaneously
limits the gear range of the transmis-
sion (
page 176).
i
For information on using the gear selector
lever in program modeM, see “Manual shift pro-
gram CLS 63 AMG” (
page 181).
!
Allow engine to warm up under low load use.
Do not place full load on the engine until the
operating temperature has been reached.
Shift into reverse gearR or park positionP only
when the vehicle is stopped.
Avoid spinning of a drive wheel for an extended
period when driving off on slippery road
surfaces. This may cause serious damage to the
drivetrain which is not covered by the
Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.
Warning!
G
On slippery road surfaces, never downshift
in order to obtain braking action. This could
result in drive wheel slip and reduced
vehicle control. Your vehicle’s ABS will not
prevent this type of loss of control.i
To avoid overrevving the engine when down-
shifting, the transmission will not shift to a lower
gear if the engine’s max. speed would be
exceeded.