Page 73 of 769
72 Safety and SecurityDriving safety systemsElectronic traction system
The electronic traction system is a compo-
nent of ESP
®.
The electronic traction system improves
the vehicle’s ability to utilize available trac-
tion, especially under slippery road condi-
tions by applying the brakes to a spinning
wheel.
When you switch off the ESP
®, the elec-
tronic traction system is still enabled.Switching off the ESP
®
(except CL 63 AMG)
To improve the vehicle’s traction, turn 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 electronic traction system will still
apply the brakes to a spinning wheel
the ESP
® continues to operate when
you are braking
you cannot activate the cruise control
or the DISTRONIC Plus*
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.
Warning!
G
Switch on the ESP
® immediately if the afore-
mentioned circumstances do not apply any-
more. Otherwise the ESP
® will not stabilize
the vehicle when it is starting to skid or a
wheel is spinning.
Page 74 of 769
73 Safety and Security
Driving safety systems
1ESP
® off/on
Press ESP
® switch1 until the ESP
®
warning lampv in the instrument
cluster comes on.
The ESP
® is switched off.Switching off the ESP
®
(CL 63 AMG only)
i
When the ESP
® is switched off and one or
more drive wheels are spinning, the ESP
® warn-
ing lampv in the instrument cluster flashes.
However, the ESP
® will then not stabilize the
vehicle.
Warning!
G
When the ESP
® warning lampv is illumi-
nated continuously, the ESP
® is switched
off.
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.
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® OFF” is designed for 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.
Page 75 of 769
74 Safety and SecurityDriving safety systemsWhen 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
braking
you cannot activate the cruise control
or the Distronic*
the cruise control or Distronic* switch
off if currently activated1ESP
® off/on
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.
The ESP
® warning lampv in the in-
strument cluster goes out.
You are now again in normal driving
mode with the ESP
® switched on.
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
vehicle.
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.
Page 80 of 769
79 Safety and Security
Anti-theft systems
Anti-theft systems
Immobilizer
The immobilizer prevents unauthorized
persons from starting your vehicle.
When leaving the vehicle, always take the
SmartKey or SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO*
with you, and lock the vehicle. The engine
can be started by anyone with a valid
SmartKey or SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO*
that is left inside the vehicle.
Activating
With the SmartKey: Remove the
SmartKey from the starter switch.
With the KEYLESS-GO*: Turn off the
engine (
page 366) and open the driv-
er’s door.
Deactivating
Switch on the ignition (
page 365).
Anti-theft alarm system
Once the alarm system has been armed, a
visual and audible alarm is triggered when
someone opens:
a door
the trunk
the hood
The alarm will stay on even if the activating
element (a door, for example) is immedi-
ately closed.
The alarm system will also be triggered
when
the vehicle is opened with the
mechanical key
a door is opened from the inside
To cancel the alarm after it has been trig-
gered, see “Canceling the alarm”
(
page 80).
i
Starting the engine will also deactivate the
immobilizer.
In case the engine cannot be started (yet the ve-
hicle’s battery is charged), the system is not op-
erational. Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center or call 1-800-FOR-MERCedes (in the
USA), or 1-800-387-0100 (in Canada).
Page 138 of 769
137 Control systems
COMAND telephone*
COMAND telephone*
Safety precautions
General notesCalls disconnected while the vehicle is
in motion
A call may be disconnected if:
there is insufficient network coverage
you move from one transmitter/receiv-
er area (cell) into another and no chan-
nels are free or the cell is full
Warning!
G
Some jurisdictions prohibit the driver from
using a mobile telephone while driving.
Whether or not prohibited by law, for safety
reasons, the driver should not use the mo-
bile telephone while the vehicle is in motion.
Stop the vehicle in a safe location before
placing or answering a call.
If you nonetheless choose to use the mobile
phone
1 while driving, please use the hands-
free feature and be sure to pay attention to
the traffic situation at all times. Use the mo-
bile phone only when road, weather and traf-
fic conditions permit. Otherwise, you may
not be able to observe traffic conditions and
could endanger yourself and others.
Bear in mind that at a speed of just 30 mph
(approximately 50 km/h), your vehicle is
covering a distance of 44 feet (approxima-
tely 14 m) every second.
1Observe all legal requirements.
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
personal injury.i
USA only:
This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC
Rules. Operation is subject to the following two
conditions:
(1) This device may not cause harmful interfer-
ence, and
(2) this device must accept any interference re-
ceived, including interference that may
cause undesired operation.
Any unauthorized modification to this device
could void the user’s authority to operate the
equipment.
i
Canada only:
This device complies with RSS-210 of Industry
Canada. Operation is subject to the following
two conditions:
(1) This device may not cause interference, and
(2) this device must accept any interference re-
ceived, including interference that may
cause undesired operation of the device.
Any unauthorized modification to this device
could void the user’s authority to operate the
equipment.
Page 185 of 769
184 Control systemsCOMAND navigation (introduction)
Loading a DVD into the DVD changer
1Disc slot
2Magazine tray buttons 1 – 6
Switch on COMAND (
page 83).
Press one of the magazine tray
buttons2.
If a disc is loaded, it will be ejected.
Take disc out of slot 1.
Wait until LED for magazine button 2
which you pressed flashes quickly.
Slide DVD into slot 1 with printed side
facing upwards.
COMAND loads the DVD.
i
If you carry out the update with the engine
switched off and the vehicle battery has insuffi-
cient power, COMAND may automatically switch
off during the process in order to protect the bat-
tery. If this occurs, restart the update with the
engine running period. Similarly, if the SmartKey
position is unintentionally switched to 0, restart
the update.Warning!
G
Never leave the engine running in an en-
closed space. The exhaust gases contain
carbon monoxide. Inhaling exhaust gases
constitutes a health hazard and could lead
to loss of consciousness or even death.
i
Each magazine tray button 2 indicates the
status of the corresponding magazine tray by
means of an LED.
LED off = magazine tray is empty
LED constantly lit = magazine tray is loaded
LED flashes = CD/DVD changer requesting
disc to be loaded
Page 273 of 769
272 Control systemsCOMAND automatic climate control
Changing air volume: Slide qmr or
rotate ymz.
or
Switching back to automatic mode:
Rotateymz and select “AUTO”.
Exiting menu: Press n, back
buttonL in the center console
(page 84) or slideomp.
The setting is saved.Central climate control menu via
COMAND
The central climate control menu is in the
center of the climate control settings.
When the automatic climate control is
switched on, you will see “on” in the cen-
tral menu. The following functions can only
be operated in the central climate control
menu via COMAND:
Select climate control settings Cen-
tral menu.Switching cooling on or off
The cooling function, 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.
Function
Page
Switching off cooling (“AC
OFF”)
272
Central climate control (“Mono”)
273
Footwell temperature
274
Air flow from air vents
275
Page 285 of 769
284 Control systemsInstrument cluster control systemMenus
Trip (
page 286)
Navi (
page 287)
Audio (
page 289)
AMG
1 (page 291)
1CL 63 AMG and CL 65 AMG only.Commands/submenusStandard display
Showing route guidance in-
structions, current direction
traveled
Selecting radio station
Gear currently engaged
Engine oil temperature
Vehicle supply voltage
Fuel consumption statistics since start
Selecting satellite radio
channel
RACETIMER
Fuel consumption statistics since last
reset
Operating DVD changer/
audio CD/ audio DVD/MP3
Overall analysis
Resetting fuel consumption statistics
Operating Video DVD
Lap analysis
Distance to emptyDigital speedometer
