2008 MERCEDES-BENZ CL-Class trunk release

Contents
Rear View Camera*...................... 477
Night View Assist* ....................... 481
Blind Spot Assist* ........................ 485
Air vents ............................................ 488
Opening and closing air vents ...... 490
Ventilated storage compartment . 490
Automatic climate control ................. 491
Deactivating climate
control system ............................. 493
Operating climate control system
in automatic mode ....................... 493
Setting temperature ..................... 494
Adjusting air volume .................... 494
Front defroster ............................. 494
Rear window defroster ................. 496
Maximum cooling MAXCOOL
(USA only) .................................... 496
Air recirculation mode.................. 496
Residual engine heat and
ventilation .................................... 498
Trunk ................................................. 500
Opening trunk .............................. 500
Closing trunk................................ 501
Trunk emergency release ............. 504
Valet locking ................................ 505Power tilt/sliding sunroof................... 506
Opening and closing power
tilt/sliding sunroof ........................ 506
Synchronizing ............................... 508
Loading and storing ............................ 509
Loading instructions ..................... 509
Storage compartments ................. 509
Cup holders .................................. 513
Trunk ............................................ 514
Useful features ................................... 516
Sun visors ..................................... 516
Ashtray ......................................... 516
Cigarette lighter ............................ 517
Floormats*.................................... 518
Telephone* ................................... 519
Tele Aid ......................................... 522
Garage door opener ...................... 530
Infrared reflecting windshield ....... 536
Operation.......................................... 537
The first 1000 miles (1500 km) .......... 538
Driving instructions ............................ 539
Drive sensibly – save fuel ............. 539
Drinking and driving...................... 539
Pedals ........................................... 539
Power assistance .......................... 539
Brakes .......................................... 540
Driving off ..................................... 542
Parking ......................................... 542
Tires.............................................. 543
Hydroplaning ................................ 543
Tire traction .................................. 544
Tire speed rating ........................... 544
Winter driving instructions ............ 545
Standing water ............................. 546
Passenger compartment............... 547
Driving abroad .............................. 547
Control and operation of
radio transmitters ......................... 547
Catalytic converter ....................... 548
Emission control ........................... 548
Coolant temperature .................... 549

356 Controls in detailLocking and unlockingSmartKey with KEYLESS-GO*
Vehicles equipped with KEYLESS-GO come
with two SmartKeys with KEYLESS-GO,
each with remote control and a removable
mechanical key.
The KEYLESS-GO function is integrated
into the SmartKey. On these vehicles, the
validity of the SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO
is checked every time you grasp an outside
door handle.
With the KEYLESS-GO function, you can
lock and unlock the vehicle without using
the remote control buttons on the
SmartKey and start the engine without in-
serting the SmartKey in the starter switch.If the SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO is valid,
your vehicle unlocks:


the doors


the trunk


the fuel filler flap
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO1‹ Lock button
2ŠOpening button for trunk
(
page 500)
3Locking tab for mechanical key
4ΠUnlock button
5Battery check lamp
6ÂPanic button (
page 64)
!
To prevent possible malfunction, avoid ex-
posing the SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO to high
levels of electromagnetic radiation.
Warning!
G
When leaving the vehicle, always take the
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO* 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.
Children could start the vehicle with a valid
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO left in the
vehicle or with the KEYLESS-GO button on
the starter switch, or could release the
electronic parking brake, thereby putting
themselves and others in danger. Switch off
the engine and take the SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO with you even if you are only
leaving the vehicle for a short while.

413 Controls in detail
Driving and parking
1Handle for electronic parking brake
Manually releasing electronic parking
brake
Pull handle1.
The red indicator lamp 0 (USA only)
or ! (Canada only) in the instru-
ment cluster goes out.
You cannot release the electronic parking
brake until the ignition is switched on.Automatically releasing electronic
parking brake
Your vehicle’s electronic parking brake is
automatically released when:


The engine is running.


Transmission is in drive position D or
reverse gearR.


The hood is closed.


You have fastened your seat belt.


You step on the accelerator pedal.
If reverse gear R is engaged, the trunk
must be closed.
Warning!
G
Getting out of your vehicle with the automat-
ic transmission not fully engaged in park
positionPis dangerous. Also, when parked
on an incline, park positionP alone may not
prevent your vehicle from moving, possibly
hitting people or objects.
Always engage the electronic parking brake
in addition to shifting to park positionP
(page 406).
When parked on an incline, turn front wheels
towards the road curb.
i
If you have not fastened your seat belt, the
following conditions must be met in order for the
electronic parking brake to be automatically re-
leased:


The driver’s door is closed.


You must move the gear selector out of park
positionP or drive faster than 2 mph
(3 km/h).

414 Controls in detailDriving and parkingManually engaging electronic parking
brake
Press handle1.
The red indicator lamp 0 (USA only)
or ! (Canada only) in the instru-
ment cluster comes on.Automatically engaging electronic park-
ing brake*
Your vehicle’s electronic parking brake is
automatically engaged when DISTRONIC
Plus* (
page 443) brings your vehicle to a
standstill and at least one of the following
conditions is met:


The engine is switched off.


The driver’s door is opened and the
seat belt is not inserted in the belt
buckle.


The hood is released.


The trunk lid is open while reverse
gearR is engaged.


The vehicle is parked for an extended
period of time.
The red indicator lamp 0in the instru-
ment cluster comes on.Emergency braking with electronic
parking brake
In an emergency situation, you can also
brake your vehicle while driving by using
the electronic parking brake.

While driving, press handle for elec-
tronic parking brake (
page 412).
During the braking procedure, the red indi-
cator lamp 0 (USA only) or !
(Canada only) flashes in the instrument
cluster, the message “Please Release Park-
ing Brake” appears on the multifunction
display and you will hear a warning tone.
Once the vehicle comes to a complete stop
the electronic parking brake will engage.
i
You can also engage the electronic parking
brake when the SmartKey is removed from the
starter switch.
i
In addition to the electronic parking brake,
park position P can be automatically engaged.
i
Your vehicle will be braked for as long as you
press and hold the switch for the electronic park-
ing brake. The longer you keep the electronic
parking brake pressed, the more strongly your
vehicle will be braked. This method occurs on all
4 wheels, not just the rear wheels.

422 Controls in detailAutomatic transmission
If you want the gear position to remain in
neutral positionN, e.g. when taking the
vehicle through an automatic conveyor
type car wash or when towing the vehicle,
observe the following instructions.
!
DISTRONIC Plus*:
The transmission will shift to park positionP
automatically, only when DISTRONIC Plus brings
your vehicle to a standstill, and when it meets at
least one of the following conditions at the same
time:


The engine is turned off.


A door opens and the seat belt is not en-
gaged in the buckle.


The hood is released.


The trunk lid is open while reverse gearR is
engaged.


The vehicle is parked for an extended period.
In addition to shifting to park positionP, the
electronic parking brake will be engaged auto-
matically.
i
Make it a practice to always shift into park
positionP before turning off the engine and


remove the SmartKey from the starter
switch
or


open a door
or when using KEYLESS-GO*, before turning off
the engine with the start/stop button and open-
ing a door.
Effect
í
Reverse gear
Shift into reverse gearR only
when the vehicle is stopped.
ë
Neutral
No power is transmitted from the
engine to the drive axle. When
the brakes are released, the
vehicle can be moved freely
(pushed or towed).
To avoid damage to the trans-
mission, never shift into neutral
positionN while driving.
If the ESP
® is deactivated or
malfunctioning:
Shift into neutral positionN only
if the vehicle is in danger of
skidding, e.g. on icy roads.
!
If you turn off the engine using the
SmartKey or the KEYLESS-GO* start/stop
button, the transmission will shift to neutral
positionN automatically.
Warning!
G
When leaving the SmartKey or SmartKey
with KEYLESS-GO* in the starter switch, do
not leave children unattended in the vehicle.
It is possible for children to switch on the
ignition which could result in unsupervised
use of vehicle equipment. Unsupervised use
of vehicle equipment could result in an
accident and/or serious personal injury.

500 Controls in detailTrunkOpening trunk
You can open the trunk if the vehicle is sta-
tionary.
A minimum height clearance of 6.0 ft
(1.8 m) is required to open the trunk lid.Opening trunk from outside
1Trunk lid handle

Press and hold button Š on the
SmartKey or SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO* until trunk unlocks and
begins to open.
or

Pull on handle1.
In vehicles without KEYLESS-GO*: The
vehicle must be unlocked.Opening trunk from inside
1Remote trunk opening/closing switch

Press and hold switch1 until the
trunk is opened.
The indicator lamp in switch1 comes
on and remains lit until the trunk is
closed.
To interrupt the opening procedure:

Release switch1.
Warning!
G
Make sure the trunk is closed when the en-
gine is running and while driving. Among
other dangers, deadly carbon monoxide
(CO) gases may enter the vehicle interior re-
sulting in unconsciousness and death.!
The trunk lid swings open upwards automat-
ically. Always make sure that there is sufficient
overhead clearance.
To stop the opening procedure, press
buttonŠ on the SmartKey or SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO*.

502 Controls in detailTrunkClosing trunk from inside automatically
1Remote trunk opening/closing switch

Press and hold switch1 until the
trunk is closed.
The indicator lamp in the switch goes
out when the trunk is closed.
To interrupt the closing procedure:

Release switch1.Closing trunk from outside
automatically
Warning!
G
Maintain sight of trunk area while operating
door mounted switch. Monitor the closing
procedure carefully to make sure no one is
in danger of being injured.
To interrupt the closing procedure, release
the door mounted remote trunk open-
ing/closing switch.
Even with the SmartKey or SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO* removed from the starter
switch or the SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO*
removed from the vehicle, the remote trunk
opening/closing switch can be operated.
Therefore, do not leave children unattended
in the vehicle, or with access to an unlocked
vehicle. A child’s unsupervised access to a
vehicle could result in an accident and/or
serious personal injury.
i
If the trunk lid comes into contact with an
object while closing (e.g. luggage that has been
piled too high) in the upper motion sequence, the
closing procedure is stopped and the trunk re-
opens slightly.
i
You can also close the trunk by hand.
Warning!
G
Monitor the closing procedure carefully to
make sure no one is in danger of being in-
jured. To prevent possible personal injury,
always keep hands and fingers away from
the trunk lid opening when closing the trunk.
Be especially careful when small children
are around. To stop the closing procedure,
do one of the following:

press button Š on the SmartKey or
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO


press the trunk opening/closing switch
(on the driver’s door)


press the trunk closing switch


press the KEYLESS-GO locking/closing
switch*


pull the trunk lid handle

504 Controls in detailTrunk
With both doors closed:

The locking knobs in the doors
move down.


The trunk starts to close automati-
cally.


All turn signal lamps flash three
times to confirm locking once the
trunk has closed completely.


An acoustic signal sounds three
times.


The anti-theft alarm system is
armed.
Trunk emergency release
With the emergency release button, the
trunk can be opened from inside the trunk.
1Emergency release button
Briefly press emergency release
button1.
The trunk opens.Illumination of the emergency release but-
ton:


The button will flash for 30 minutes af-
ter opening the trunk.


The button will flash for 60 minutes af-
ter closing the trunk.
i
If the trunk lid comes into contact with an
object while closing (e.g. luggage that has been
piled too high) in the upper motion sequence, the
closing procedure is stopped and the trunk re-
opens slightly.
i
You can also close the trunk by hand.
i
The emergency release button unlocks and
opens the trunk while the vehicle is standing still
or in motion.
i
The emergency release button does not
open the trunk if the vehicle battery is dis-
charged or disconnected.