2008 MERCEDES-BENZ CLK350 engine

96 Safety and Security
Driving safety systems
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
braking

you cannot activate the cruise control

the cruise control switch off if currently
activatedThe ESP
® 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.
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 ESP
® switched on.
iWhen the ESP® is switched off and one
or more drive wheels are spinning, the ESP®
warning lampv in the instrument cluster
flashes. However, the ESP
® will then not
stabilize the vehicle.
Warning!G
When the ESP® warning lampv 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
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.

97 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 KEYLESS-GO*
Turn off the engine by means of the
start/stop button (
page 39) on the
gear selector lever.
Open the driver’s door.Deactivating
With the SmartKey
Insert the SmartKey in the starter
switch.
With KEYLESS-GO*
Switch on the ignition (page 40).
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 (e.g. a door) is immediately
closed.
The alarm system will also be triggered
when

the vehicle is opened with the
mechanical key.

someone opens a door from the inside.

someone opens the trunk with the
emergency release button.
iStarting 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).

105 Controls in detail
Locking and unlocking
Important notes on using KEYLESS-GO*

You can also use the SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO like a normal SmartKey
(
page 100).

You can combine KEYLESS-GO func-
tions with normal SmartKey functions
(e.g. unlocking with KEYLESS-GO and
locking with the‹button).

Always carry the SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO with you.

Never store the SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO together with:

Electronic items such as a cellular
phone or another SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO.

Metallic objects such as coins or
metal foil.
Doing so could impair the function of
the KEYLESS-GO system.

To lock or unlock the vehicle, the
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO must be
located outside the vehicle within ap-
proximately 3 ft (1 m) of the door to be
opened or the trunk lid.

In order to start the engine with the
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO:

The SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO
must be located in the vehicle.

All doors must be closed.

The brake pedal must be firmly de-
pressed. Do not depress the accel-
erator.

If the SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO is
positioned farther away from the vehi-
cle, the system may no longer recog-
nize the SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO.
The vehicle then cannot be locked or
the engine started via the KEYLESS-GO
system.

If the SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO is re-
moved from the vehicle (e.g. if passen-
ger exits the vehicle with the SmartKey
with KEYLESS-GO).
iYou can also open and close the windows
(
page 250) and the tilt/sliding sunroof*
(
page 257) or the soft top (page 263) using
the SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO.
!If you can no longer lock or unlock the vehi-
cle with the SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO, then
the batteries in the SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO
are discharged, the SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO
is malfunctioning or the vehicle battery is
drained.

Check the batteries in the SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO (
page 108) and replace
them if necessary (
page 441).

Use the mechanical key to unlock the driv-
er’s door (
page 427) and the trunk
(
page 428).

Use the mechanical key to lock the driver’s
door (
page 428) and the trunk
(
page 118).

Have the vehicle battery and the battery con-
nections checked (
page 464).
If the SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO is malfunc-
tioning, contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.

106 Controls in detail
Locking and unlocking

with the starter switch position1,
the message:
Key Not Detected
appears in the multifunction display

with the engine running, the
message:
Key Not Detected
appears in the multifunction display
while driving off.
Find the SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO or
change its present location immediate-
ly (e.g. place it on the front passenger
seat or insert it in shirt pocket).

If you have started the engine with the
KEYLESS-GO start/stop button
(
page 39), you can turn it off again
with:

the KEYLESS-GO start/stop button

the SmartKey inserted in the starter
switch, when the gear selector le-
ver is in positionP

Remember that the engine can be
started by anyone with a SmartKey
with KEYLESS-GO that is left inside the
vehicle.
Possibility 1:
(One SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO in
the vehicle, one SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO outside the vehicle):
If you leave the SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO behind when exiting and
locking the vehicle, no message ap-
pears in the multifunction display.
Possibility 2:
(One SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO in
the vehicle, no SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO outside the vehicle):
When exiting and trying to lock the ve-
hicle, the message
Key Detected In Vehicle
will appear in the multifunction display.
The vehicle will not be locked.Factory setting
Global unlocking
Pull an outside door handle (SmartKey
with KEYLESS-GO must be near this
door).

All turn signal lamps flash once.

An acoustic signal sounds once.

The locking knobs in the doors
move up.

The anti-theft alarm system is dis-
armed.
iWhen unlocking or locking the vehicle with
the SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO an acoustic sig-
nal sounds. The acoustic signal is activated at
the factory. If you wish to deactivate the feature,
or adjust its signal volume, contact an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.

121 Controls in detail
Seats
Raising
Manually adjust the height of the head
restraint by pulling it upward.
If the head restraint is fully retracted,
push release button1 and pull the
head restraint up.
Lowering
To lower the head restraint, push
release button1 and push down on
the head restraint.Folding head restraints back with re-
lease button
1Release button
Push release button1.
The head restraints will fold backward.Folding head restraints back with
switch in the center console
1Rear head restraints folding switchStart the engine (page 51).
Press switch1 to release the head re-
straints.
The head restraints will fold backward.
Do not drive the vehicle without the seat
head restraints. Head restraints are
intended to help reduce injuries during an
accident.
iAdjust the head restraint in such a way that
it is as close to the head as possible.
iYou can also fold the head restraints back
using the switch in the center console.

130 Controls in detail
Lighting
Low beam headlamps
The low beam headlamps can be switched
on and off with the exterior lamp switch us-
ing the manual headlamp mode.
Turn the exterior lamp switch to
positionB.
The following lamps switch on:

Low beam headlamps

Tail and parking lamps

License plate lamps

Side marker lamps
Automatic headlamp mode
The following lamps switch on and off
automatically depending on the brightness
of the ambient light:

Low beam headlamps

Tail and parking lamps

License plate lamps

Side marker lamps
Turn the exterior lamp switch to
positionU.
With the SmartKey in starter switch
position1 or the KEYLESS-GO*
start/stop button pressed once, the
tail and parking lamps, the license
plate lamps and the side marker lamps
will switch on and off depending on the
brightness of the ambient light.
When the engine is running, the low
beam headlamps, the tail and parking
lamps, the license plate lamps, and the
side marker lamps will switch on and
off depending on the brightness of the
ambient light.
Warning!G
If the exterior lamp switch is set toU,
the headlamps will not be automatically
switched on under foggy conditions.
To minimize risk to you and to others,
activate headlamps by turning exterior lamp
switch to B when driving or when traffic
and / or ambient lighting conditions require
you to do so.
In low ambient lighting conditions, only
switch from position U to B with the
vehicle at a standstill in a safe location.
Switching from U to B will briefly
switch off the headlamps. Doing so while
driving in low ambient lighting conditions
may result in an accident.
The automatic headlamp feature is only an
aid to the driver. The driver is responsible for
the operation of the vehicle’s lights at all
times.
iCanada only:
High beam headlamps are only available with the
exterior lamp switch in position B.

131 Controls in detail
Lighting
Daytime running lamp mode
The daytime running lamp mode is
mandatory and therefore in a constant
mode.
In the USA the daytime running lamp mode
is deactivated by default. Activate the day-
time running lamp mode using the control
system, see “Setting daytime running lamp
mode (USA only)” (
page 162).
Turn the exterior lamp switch to
positionM orU.
When the engine is running, the low
beam headlamps are switched on.
In low ambient light conditions, the
following lamps will switch on
additionally:

Tail and parking lamps

License plate lamps

Side marker lampsCanada only
When the engine is running, and you shift
from a driving position to positionN orP,
with the vehicle at a standstill the low
beam headlamps will switch off with a de-
lay of 3 minutes.
When the engine is running, and you

turn the exterior lamp switch to
positionC, the low beam head-
lamps, the tail and parking lamps, the
license plate lamp and the side marker
lamps switch on.

turn the exterior lamp switch to
positionB, the manual headlamp
mode has priority over the daytime
running lamp mode.The corresponding exterior lamps
switch on (
page 129).
USA only
When the engine is running, and you turn
the exterior lamp switch to positionC
orB, the manual headlamp mode has
priority over the daytime running lamp
mode.
The corresponding exterior lamps switch
on (
page 129).
iWith the daytime running lamp mode
activated and the engine running, you cannot
switch off the low beam headlamps manually.
iWith the exterior lamp switch in
positionM or U, you cannot switch on the
high beam headlamps.
The high beam flasher is available at all times.
For nighttime driving turn the exterior lamp
switch to positionB to permit activation of
the high beam headlamps.
iWith the daytime running lamp mode
activated and the exterior lamp switch in
positionM, you cannot switch on the high
beam headlamps.
The high beam flasher is available at all times.
For nighttime driving turn the exterior lamp
switch to positionB or U to permit
activation of the high beam headlamps.

133 Controls in detail
Lighting
Combination switch
Combination switch
1High beam
2High beam flasherHigh beam
Turn the exterior lamp switch to
positionB (
page 129).
Push the combination switch in
direction of arrow1 to switch on the
high beam.
The high beam headlamp indicator
lampA in the instrument cluster
comes on (
page 28).
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
the direction of arrow2.Corner-illuminating front fog lamps*
(With Bi-Xenon* headlamps only)
The corner-illuminating front fog lamps
improve illumination of the area in the
direction into which you are turning.
The corner-illuminating front fog lamps will
operate with the engine running and with

the exterior lamp switch in
positionB (
page 129)
or

the exterior lamp switch in
positionU (
page 129)
or

the daytime running lamp mode
activated (
page 131)
iThe corner-illuminating front fog lamps will
only come on in low ambient lighting conditions.
iIf you are driving faster than 25 mph
(40 km/h) or have the front fog lamps switched
on, the corner-illuminating front fog lamps
function is not available.