2008 MERCEDES-BENZ CL-Class warning

509 Controls in detail
Loading and storing
Loading and storing
Loading instructions
The total load weight including vehicle oc-
cupants and luggage/cargo should not
exceed the load limit as indicated on the
corresponding placard located on the driv-
er’s door B-pillar (
page 564).
Storage compartments
Warning!
G
Always fasten items being carried as secure-
ly as possible using cargo tie-down hooks
and fastening materials appropriate for the
weight and size of the load.
In an accident, during hard braking or sud-
den maneuvers, loose items will be thrown
around inside the vehicle and can cause in-
jury to vehicle occupants unless the items
are securely fastened in the vehicle.
To help avoid personal injury during a colli-
sion or sudden maneuver, exercise care
when transporting cargo. Put luggage or car-
go in the trunk if possible.
Do not pile luggage or cargo higher than the
seat backs. Do not place anything on the
rear-window shelf.
Never drive vehicle with trunk open. Deadly
carbon monoxide (CO) gases may enter ve-
hicle interior resulting in unconsciousness
and death.
Warning!
G
To help avoid personal injury during a colli-
sion or sudden maneuver, exercise care
when storing objects in the vehicle. Put lug-
g a g e o r c a r g o i n t h e t r u n k i f p o s s i b l e . D o n o t
pile luggage or cargo higher than the seat
backs.
Parcel nets cannot secure hard or heavy ob-
jects.
Keep compartment lids closed. This will help
to prevent stored objects from being thrown
about and injuring vehicle occupants during

braking


vehicle maneuvers or


an accident.
i
An overview of the storage compartments
can be found on (
page 34).

511 Controls in detail
Loading and storing
Storage compartments below the front
seats
1Tab
2Compartment cover
Opening: Pull tab1 upward and fold
cover2 forward.Eyeglasses compartment
1Eyeglasses compartment mark

Opening: Press mark1.

Closing: Swing eyeglasses compart-
ment upward until it engages.Parcel net in front passenger footwell
Warning!
G
The parcel net is intended for storing
light-weight items only.
Heavy objects, objects with sharp edges or
fragile objects may not be transported in the
parcel net. In an accident, during hard brak-
ing, or sudden maneuvers, they could be in-
jury to vehicle occupants.
The parcel net cannot protect transported
goods in the event of an accident.

513 Controls in detail
Loading and storing
Rear storage box
1Handle
2Cover
Fold down rear center armrest.

Pull handle1 upward in the direction
of arrow.

Swing down cover2.
Cup holders
Cup holder in front center console
1Mark
2Handle

Opening: Press mark1 on the front.

Closing: Fold cover in until it engages.
!
Do not sit on or lean your body weight
against the armrest when it is folded down, as
you could otherwise damage it.
Warning!
G
In order to help prevent spilling liquids on
vehicle occupants and/or vehicle equip-
ment, only use containers that fit into the
cup holder. Use lids on open containers and
do not fill containers to a height where the
contents, especially hot liquids, could spill
during braking, vehicle maneuvers, or in an
accident. Liquids spilled on vehicle occu-
pants may cause serious personal injury.
Liquids spilled on vehicle equipment may
cause damage not covered by the
Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.
When not in use, keep the cup holders
closed. An open cup holder may cause injury
to you or others when contacted during
braking, vehicle maneuvers, or in an acci-
dent.
Keep in mind that objects placed in the cup
holder may come loose during braking, vehi-
cle maneuvers, or in an accident and be
thrown around in the vehicle interior.
Objects thrown around in the vehicle interi-
or may cause an accident and/or serious
personal injury.


516 Controls in detailUseful featuresSun visors
1Sun visor
2Vanity mirror cover
3Vanity mirror lamp
4Document holderGlare from front

Swing sun visor1 down.
Glare from front and sides

Disengage sun visor1 from the
mounting.

Pivot sun visor1 to the side.
Vanity mirror in sun visor

To use vanity mirror, lift up cover2.
Vanity mirror lamp3 comes on.
Document holder
You can use the plastic tab of document
holder4 to hold admission tickets, park-
ing passes, or similar items in place.
Ashtray
1Button for disengaging ashtray
2Cover plate
Warning!
G
Do not use the vanity mirror while driving.
Keep the vanity mirrors in the sun visors
closed while vehicle is in motion. Reflected
glare can endanger you and others.
!
Close vanity mirror cover2 (if open) before
you disengage sun visor1 from the mounting
and pivot it to the side.
i
If you disengage sun visor1 from the
mounting, vanity mirror lamp2 will switch off.
Warning!
G
Remove ashtray only with vehicle standing
still. Engage the electronic parking brake to
secure vehicle from movement. Set auto-
matic transmission toP. With the automatic
transmission set toP, turn off the engine.

517 Controls in detail
Useful features
Opening ashtray
Press mark on cover plate2 forward.
Removing ashtray insert

Push sliding button1 to the left.
The ashtray is disengaged and slides
out a short way.

Remove the insert from the ashtray
frame.
Reinstalling ashtray insert

Install the insert by pushing it back into
the frame until it engages.
Closing ashtray

Briefly press mark on cover plate2
forward.
Cigarette lighter
1Cigarette lighter

Open the cover plate (
page 516).

Switch on the ignition (
page 365).

Push in cigarette lighter1.
The lighter will pop out automatically
when hot.
Warning!
G
Never touch the heating element or sides of
the lighter; they are extremely hot. Hold the
knob only.
Make sure that any children traveling with
you do not injure themselves or start a fire
with the hot cigarette lighter.
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the
SmartKey or SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO*
from the starter switch, take it with you, and
lock the vehicle. Do not leave children unat-
tended in the vehicle, or with access to an
unlocked vehicle. A child’s unsupervised ac-
cess to a vehicle could result in an accident
and/or serious personal injury.

518 Controls in detailUseful features
Floormats*
1Retainer pin
2Eyelet
Removing

Pull floormat off of retainer pins1.

Remove the floormat.
Installing

Lay down the floormat in the respective
footwell.

Press the floormat eyelets2 onto re-
tainer pins1.
!
The lighter socket can be used to accommo-
date 12V DC electrical accessories (up to a max-
imum of 85 W) designed for use with the
standard “cigarette lighter” plug type. Keep in
mind, however, that connecting accessories to
the lighter socket (for example extensive con-
necting and disconnecting, or using plugs that do
not fit properly) can damage the lighter socket.
With the socket damaged, the lighter may no
longer be able to be placed in the heating
(pushed-in) position, or the lighter may pop out
too early with the lighter not hot enough.
i
If the engine is off and the cigarette lighter is
being used extensively, the vehicle battery may
become discharged.
Warning!
G
Whenever you are using floormats, make
sure there is enough clearance and that the
floormats are securely fastened.
Floormats should always be securely fas-
tened using the eyelets and the retainer
pins.
Before driving off, check that the floormats
are securely in place and adjust them if nec-
essary. A loose floormat could slip and
hinder proper functioning of the pedals.
Do not place several floormats on top of
each other as this may impair pedal
movement.i
To install or remove the floormat more easi-
ly, move the driver’s seat or front passenger seat
as far to the rear as possible (
page 368).

519 Controls in detail
Useful features
Telephone*
Radio transmitters, such as a portable tele-
phone or a citizens band unit, should only
be used inside the vehicle if they are con-
nected to an antenna that is installed on
the outside of the vehicle.
The external antenna must be approved by
Mercedes-Benz. Please contact an autho-
rized Mercedes-Benz Center for informa-
tion on the installation of an approved
external antenna. Refer to the radio trans-
mitter operation instructions regarding use
of an external antenna.Warning!
G
Never operate radio transmitters equipped
with a built-in or attached antenna (i.e. with-
out being connected to an external antenna)
from inside the vehicle while the engine is
running. Doing so could lead to a malfunc-
tion of the vehicle’s electronic system, pos-
sibly resulting in an accident and/or serious
personal injury.
Warning!
G
Please do not forget that your primary re-
sponsibility is to drive the vehicle. A driver’s
attention to the road must always be
his/her primary focus when driving. For
your safety and the safety of others, we rec-
ommend that you pull over to a safe location
and stop before placing or taking a tele-
phone call.
If you choose to use the mobile phone
1
while driving, please use the hands-free de-
vice and only use the mobile phone when
road, weather and traffic conditions permit.
Some jurisdictions prohibit the driver from
using a mobile telephone while driving a ve-
hicle.
Only operate the COMAND (Cockpit Man-
agement and Data System)
1 if road, weather
and traffic conditions permit.
1Observe all legal requirements.
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.i
Various mobile phone cradles can be in-
stalled in the front center armrest, see separate
installation instructions for the mobile phone
cradle. These mobile phone cradles can be ob-
tained from an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.
The functions and services available to you while
using the mobile phone depend on your service
provider and the type of mobile phone you are
using. See also separate operating manual for in-
structions on how to use your mobile phone.

523 Controls in detail
Useful features
Shortly after the completion of your
Tele Aid acquaintance call, you will receive
a user ID and password. By visiting
www.mbusa.com and selecting “Tele Aid”
(USA only), you will have access to account
information, remote door unlock and
more.
System self-check
Initially, after switching on the ignition,
malfunctions are detected and indicated.
If a malfunction is detected, the indicator
lamps in the SOS button, the Roadside As-
sistance button• and the Information
button¡ stay on longer than
10 seconds or do not come on. The mes-
sage “Tele Aid Not Activated” or “Tele Aid
Inoperative” appears in the multifunction
display.Emergency calls
An emergency call is initiated
automatically following an accident in
which the emergency tensioning devices
(ETDs) or air bags deploy.An emergency call can also be initiated
manually by opening the cover next to the
interior rear view mirror labeled SOS, then
briefly pressing the button located under
the cover. For instructions on initiating an
emergency call manually (
page 525).
Once the emergency call is in progress, the
indicator lamp in the SOS button will begin
to flash. The message:


“Connecting Call” appears in the multi-
function display


“Emergency Call Activated” appears in
the COMAND display
and the audio system is muted. When the
connection is established, the message:


“Call Connected” appears in the multi-
function display


“Emergency Call Activated” appears in
the COMAND display
i
The SOS button is located above the interior
rear view mirror (
page 525).
The Roadside Assistance button• and the
Information button¡ are located below the
center armrest cover (page 525).
Warning!
G
If the indicator lamps in the SOS button, in
the Roadside Assistance button•
and/or in the Information button¡ do
not come on during the system self-check,
or if any of these indicators remain illuminat-
ed continuously in red and/or the message
“Tele Aid Not Activated” or “Tele Aid Inoper-
ative” is displayed in the multifunction dis-
play after the system self-check, a
malfunction in the system has been detect-
ed.
If a malfunction is indicated as outlined
above, the system may not operate as ex-
pected. Have the system checked at the
nearest Mercedes-Benz Center as soon as
possible.