2008 MERCEDES-BENZ CLK550 Bag

Contents
Safety and Security........................... 63
Occupant safety................................... 64
Air bags .......................................... 65
Occupant Classification System ..... 72
Seat belts ....................................... 77
Active head restraints .................... 81
Roll bars (only CLK cabriolet) ......... 82
Children in the vehicle .................... 83
Blocking of rear
side window operation ................... 88
Panic alarm .......................................... 89
Activating ....................................... 89
Deactivating ................................... 89
Driving safety systems ......................... 90
ABS ................................................ 90
BAS ................................................ 92
ESP
®............................................... 92
Anti-theft systems................................ 97
Immobilizer..................................... 97
Anti-theft alarm system .................. 97
Controls in detail............................... 99
Locking and unlocking ....................... 100
SmartKey ..................................... 100
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO* ...... 103
Checking the batteries in the
SmartKey or SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO* .............................. 108
Loss of the SmartKey or
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO* ...... 109
Opening the doors from the inside 109
Opening the trunk ........................ 110
Closing the trunk.......................... 112
Trunk emergency release ............. 117
Valet locking ................................ 118
Automatic central locking ............ 118
Locking and unlocking
from the inside ............................. 119
Seats ................................................. 120
Front seat active head restraints . 120
Rear seat head restraints
(CLK coupe) ................................. 120
Rear seat head restraints
(CLK cabriolet) ............................. 123
Multicontour seat* ....................... 124
Seat heating* ............................... 125Seat ventilation* .......................... 126
Memory function ............................... 127
Storing positions into memory ..... 128
Recalling positions from memory . 128
Lighting ............................................. 129
Exterior lamp switch .................... 129
Combination switch ..................... 133
Corner-illuminating
front fog lamps* (With Bi-Xenon*
headlamps only)........................... 133
Hazard warning flasher ................ 135
Interior lighting ............................ 136
Door entry lamps ......................... 137
Trunk lamp ................................... 137
Instrument cluster ............................. 138
Adjusting instrument cluster
illumination .................................. 138
Coolant temperature indicator ..... 139
Resetting trip odometer ............... 139
Tachometer .................................. 140
Clock............................................ 140
Outside temperature indicator ..... 140
Control system .................................. 141
Multifunction display.................... 141
Multifunction steering wheel........ 142
Menus .......................................... 144

Contents
Power windows .................................. 250
Opening and closing the windows 250
Synchronizing power windows ..... 252
Summer opening feature .............. 253
Convenience closing feature ........ 254
Opening and closing all side
windows with the soft top switch
(CLK cabriolet) ............................. 255
Power tilt/sliding sunroof* (Coupe)... 256
Opening and closing
the power tilt/sliding sunroof ...... 256
Synchronizing
the power tilt/sliding sunroof ...... 258
Soft top (Cabriolet) ............................ 259
Opening and closing the soft top . 259
Opening and closing the soft top
with the SmartKey ........................ 263
Luggage cover .............................. 264
Wind screen ................................. 265
Driving systems ................................. 267
Cruise control............................... 267
Parktronic system
(Parking assist)*,
CLK 63 AMG (USA),
Canada all models ........................ 271Loading .............................................. 275
Roof rack (CLK coupe only) .......... 275
Ski bag* (Canada only) ................ 276
Split rear bench seat
(CLK coupe only) .......................... 281
Loading instructions..................... 283
Cargo tie-down rings
(CLK coupe only) .......................... 284
Useful features .................................. 285
Storage compartments ................ 285
Center armrest ............................. 287
Armrest in the
rear passenger compartment ....... 287
Cup holders.................................. 288
Ashtrays ....................................... 289
Cigarette lighter ........................... 290
Power outlet in the
rear passenger compartment ....... 291
Floormats* ................................... 291
Telephone* .................................. 292
Tele Aid ........................................ 295
Garage door opener* ................... 301
Operation......................................... 307
The first 1 000 miles (1 500 km) ........ 308
Driving instructions ........................... 309
Drive sensibly – save fuel............. 309
Drinking and driving ..................... 309
Pedals .......................................... 309
Power assistance ......................... 310
Brakes.......................................... 310
Driving off .................................... 312
Parking......................................... 312
Tires ............................................. 313
Hydroplaning................................ 314
Tire traction ................................. 314
Tire speed rating .......................... 315
Winter driving instructions ........... 316
Standing water............................. 317
Passenger compartment .............. 317
Driving abroad ............................. 317
Control and operation
of radio transmitters .................... 317
Catalytic converter....................... 318
Emission control .......................... 318
Coolant temperature.................... 319

31 At a glance
Center console
Center console
Upper part
CLK coupe
ItemPage
1Seat heater*, driver’s side
Seat ventilation*, driver’s
side125
126
2Parktronic system* deacti-
vation switch (Canada all
vehicles, USA only CLK 63
AMG cabriolet)274
3Rear window sunshade*
switch (CLK coupe Canada
only)188
4ESP® control switch92
5Hazard warning flasher
on/off switch135
6Central unlocking switch
Central locking switch119
119
7Switch for folding
(CLK coupe) or lowering
(CLK cabriolet) rear seat
head restraints121
ItemPage
8Anti-theft alarm system
indicator lamp97
9Seat heater*,
passenger side
Seat ventilation*,
passenger side125
126
aFront passenger front air
bag off indicator lamp 76,
390
bAudio system,
or
COMAND* (see separate
operating instructions)151
cClimate control
Automatic climate control
Rear window defroster 190
200
189

48 Getting started
Driving
Fastening the seat belts
Warning!G
Make sure absolutely no objects are ob-
structing the pedals’ range of movement.
Keep the driver’s footwell clear of all obsta-
cles. If there are any floormats or carpets in
the footwell, make sure the pedals still have
sufficient clearance.
During sudden driving or braking maneu-
vers, the objects could get caught between
or beneath the pedals. You could then no
longer brake or accelerate. This could lead
to accidents and injury.
Warning!G
Always fasten your seat belt before driving
off. Always make sure your passengers are
properly restrained, even those sitting in the
rear.
Failure to wear and properly fasten and po-
sition your seat belt greatly increases your
risk of injuries and their likely severity in an
accident. You and your passengers should
always wear seat belts.
If you are ever in an accident, your injuries
can be considerably more severe without
your seat belt properly buckled. Without
your seat belt buckled, you are much more
likely to hit the interior of the vehicle or be
ejected from it. You can be seriously injured
or killed.
In the same crash, the possibility of injury or
death is lessened if you are wearing your
seat belt. The air bags can only provide the
protection they where designed to afford if
the occupants are using their seat belts
(
page 64).
Warning!G
According to accident statistics, children
are safer when properly restrained in the
rear seating positions than in the front seat-
ing position. Thus, we strongly recommend
that children be placed in the rear seats.
Regardless of seating position, children
12 years old and under must be seated and
properly secured in an appropriate infant
restraint, toddler restraint, or booster seat
recommended for the size and weight of the
child. For additional information, see “Chil-
dren in the vehicle” (
page 83).
A child’s risk of serious or fatal injuries is
significantly increased if the child restraints
are not properly secured in the vehicle
and/or the child is not properly secured in
the child restraint.

64 Safety and Security
Occupant safety
In this section you will learn the most im-
portant facts about the restraint system
components of the vehicle.

Seat belts (page 77)

Child restraints (page 86)

Lower Anchors and Tethers for
CHildren (LATCH) (
page 87)
Additional protection potential is provided
by:

Supplemental Restraint System (SRS)
with

Air bags (page 65)

Air bag control unit (with crash
sensors)

Emergency tensioning device (ETD)
for seat belts (
page 80)

Active head restraints (page 81)

CLK cabriolet: Roll bars (page 82)Air bag system components with

Front passenger front air bag off
indicator lamp (
page 76)

Front passenger seat with Occupant
Classification System (OCS)
(
page 72)
Although the systems are independent,
their protective functions work in conjunc-
tion with each other.The SRS system conducts a self-test when
the ignition is switched on and in regular
intervals while the engine is running. This
facilitates detection of system malfunc-
tions. The1indicator lamp in the in-
strument cluster comes on when the
ignition is switched on and goes out no lat-
er than a few seconds after the engine has
been started.
The SRS components are in operational
readiness if the 1indicator lamp is not
lit when the engine is running.
A malfunction in the system has been
detected if the 1indicator lamp:

fails to go out after approximately
4 seconds after the engine was started

does not come on at all

comes on after the engine was started
or while driving
iFor information on infants and children
traveling with you in the vehicle and restraint
systems for infants and children, see “Children
in the vehicle” (
page 83).

65 Safety and Security
Occupant safety
Air bags
Warning!G
Modifications to or work improperly con-
ducted on restraint systems (such as seat
belts and anchors, emergency tensioning
devices, seat belt force limiters or air bags)
or their wiring, as well as tampering with in-
terconnected electronic systems, can lead
to the restraint systems no longer function-
ing as intended.
Air bags or emergency tensioning devices,
for example, could deploy inadvertently or
fail to deploy in accidents although the de-
celeration threshold for air bag deployment
is exceeded. Therefore, never modify the re-
straint systems. Do not tamper with elec-
tronic components or their software.
Warning!G
In the event that the 1indicator lamp
comes on during driving or does not come
on at all, the SRS self-check has detected a
malfunction. For your safety, we strongly
recommend that you visit an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center immediately to have
the system checked; otherwise the SRS may
not deploy when needed in an accident,
which could result in serious or fatal injury,
or it might deploy unexpectedly and unnec-
essarily which could also result in injury.
In addition, improper repair work on the SRS
creates a risk of rendering the SRS inopera-
tive or causing unintended air bag deploy-
ment. Work on the SRS must therefore only
be performed by qualified technicians. Con-
tact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
If it is necessary to modify an air bag system
to accommodate a person with disabilities,
contact your local authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center or call our Customer
Assistance Center at 1-800-FOR-MERCedes
(1-800-367-6372) for details.
Warning!G
Air bags are designed to reduce the poten-
tial of injury and fatality in certain frontal im-
pacts (front air bags) or side impacts (CLK
coupe: front side impact air bags, rear side
impact air bags*, and window curtain air
bags. CLK cabriolet: head-thorax air bags
and rear side impact air bags*). However, no
system available today can completely elim-
inate injuries and fatalities.
The deployment of the air bags temporarily
releases a small amount of dust from the air
bags. This dust, however, is neither injurious
to your health, nor does it indicate a fire in
the vehicle. The dust might cause some tem-
porary breathing difficulty for people with
asthma or other breathing trouble. To avoid
this, you may wish to get out of the vehicle
as soon as it is safe to do so. If you have any
breathing difficulty but cannot get out of the
vehicle after the air bag inflates, then get
fresh air by opening a window or door.

66 Safety and Security
Occupant safety
Warning!G
To reduce the risk of injury when the front
air bags inflate, it is very important for the
driver and front passenger to always be in a
properly seated position and to wear their
respective seat belts.
For maximum protection in the event of a
collision always be in normal seated position
with your back against the backrest. Fasten
your seat belt and make sure it is properly
positioned on your body.
Since the air bag inflates with considerable
speed and force, a proper seating and hands
on steering wheel position will help to keep
you at a safe distance from the air bag.
Occupants who are unbelted, out of position
or too close to the air bag can be seriously
injured or killed by an air bag as it inflates
with great force in the blink of an eye:

Sit properly belted in a position that is
as upright as possible with your back
against the seat backrest.

Adjust the driver’s seat as far as possi-
ble rearward, still permitting proper op-
eration of vehicle controls. The distance
from the center of the driver’s breast-
bone to the center of the air bag cover
on the steering wheel must be at least
10 in (25 cm) or more. You should be
able to accomplish this by a combina-
tion of adjustments to the seat and
steering wheel. If you have any prob-
lems, please see an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.

Do not lean your head or chest close to
the steering wheel or dashboard.

Keep hands on the outside of steering
wheel rim. Placing hands and arms in-
side the rim can increase the risk and
potential severity of hand/arm injury
when driver’s front air bag inflates.

Adjust the front passenger seat as far as
possible rearward from the dashboard
when the seat is occupied.

Occupants, especially children, should
always sit as upright as possible,
properly use the seat belts and use an
appropriately sized infant restraint,
toddler restraint, or booster seat recom-
mended for the size and weight of the
child.
Failure to follow these instructions can re-
sult in severe injuries to you or other
occupants.
If you sell your vehicle, it is important that
you make the buyer aware of this safety
information. Be sure to give the buyer this
Operator’s Manual.

67 Safety and Security
Occupant safety
Warning!G
CLK coupe:
Accident research shows that the safest
place for children in an automobile is in the
rear seat.
There is a possibility for a side impact air
bag related injury if occupants, especially
children, are not properly seated or re-
strained when next to a front side impact air
bag and/or rear side impact air bag* which
needs to deploy rapidly in a side impact in
order to do its job.
To help avoid the possibility of injury, please
follow these guidelines:
(1) Occupants, especially children, should
never place their bodies or lean their
heads in the area of the door or the rear
side trim panel where the front side im-
pact air bag and/or the rear side impact
air bag* inflates.
This could result in serious injuries or
death should the front side impact air
bag and/or the rear side impact air bag*
be deployed.
(2) Always sit as upright as possible,
properly use the seat belts and for
children 12 years old and under, use an
appropriately sized infant restraint,
toddler restraint, or booster seat recom-
mended for the size and weight of the
child.
(3) Always wear seat belts properly.
If you believe that, even with the use of
these guidelines, it would be safer for your
rear seat occupants to have the rear mount-
ed side impact air bags* deactivated, then
deactivation can be accomplished upon
your written request to do so at an autho-
rized Mercedes-Benz Center at an additional
cost.
Please contact your local authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center or call our Customer
Assistance Center at 1-800-FOR-MERCedes
(1-800-367-6372) for details.Warning!G
CLK cabriolet:
Accident research shows that the safest
place for children in an automobile is in the
rear seat.
There is a possibility for a head-thorax air
bag or rear side impact air bag* related inju-
ry if occupants, especially children, are not
p r o p e r l y s e a t e d o r r e s t r a i n e d w h e n n e x t t o a
head-thorax air bag and/or rear side impact
air bag* which needs to deploy rapidly in a
side impact in order to do its job.
To help avoid the possibility of injury, please
follow these guidelines:
(1) Always sit as upright as possible,
properly use the seat belts and for
children 12 years old and under, use an
appropriately sized infant restraint,
toddler restraint or booster seat recom-
mended for the size and weight of the
child.
(2) Always wear seat belts properly.