2008 MERCEDES-BENZ CLS500 Owner's Manual

96 Safety and Security
Driving safety systems
The 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 the ESP
® switched on.
iWhen 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 ve-
hicle.
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.

97 Safety and Security
Anti-theft systems
Anti-theft systems
Immobilizer
The immobilizer prevents unauthorized
persons from starting your vehicle.
Activating
With the SmartKey
Remove the SmartKey from the starter
switch.
The immobilizer is activated.
With KEYLESS-GO*
Press the KEYLESS-GO start/stop but-
ton once.
The engine is turned off.
Open the driver’s door.Deactivating
With the SmartKey
Turn the SmartKey in the starter switch
to position2 (
page 38).
With KEYLESS-GO*
Start the engine by means of the
start/stop button on the gear selector
lever.
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 activat-
ing element (a door, for example) is imme-
diately closed.
The alarm system will also be triggered
when

someone attempts to raise the vehicle
(only vehicles with tow-away alarm)

the vehicle is opened with the
mechanical key

someone opens a door from the inside
iIn case the engine cannot be started (yet the
vehicle’s battery is charged), the system is not
operational. Contact an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center or call
1-800-FOR-MERCedes (in the USA), or
1-800-387-0100 (in Canada).

98 Safety and Security
Anti-theft systems
Arming the alarm system
The indicator lamp located in the central
locking switch in the center console.
1Indicator lamp
Lock the vehicle with the SmartKey or
KEYLESS-GO*.
The turn signal lamps flash three times
to indicate that the alarm system is
armed. The indicator lamp1 begins to
flash after approximately 30 seconds
after arming the alarm system.
Disarming the alarm system
Unlock the vehicle with the SmartKey
or KEYLESS-GO*.
The turn signal lamps flash once to
indicate that the alarm system is
disarmed.Canceling the alarm
With the SmartKey
Insert the SmartKey in the starter
switch.
or
Press button Œ or ‹ on the
SmartKey.
With KEYLESS-GO*
Pull an outside door handle.
The SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO* must
be within 3 ft (1 m) of the vehicle.
or
Press the KEYLESS-GO* start/stop
button (
page 39).
The SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO* must
be inside the vehicle.
iIf the alarm stays on for more than
30 seconds, a call to the Response Center is ini-
tiated automatically by the Tele Aid system
(
page 256) provided Tele Aid service was sub-
scribed to and properly activated, and that nec-
essary cellular service and GPS coverage are
available.
iIf the turn signal lamps do not flash three
times, one of the following elements may not be
properly closed:

a door

the trunk
Close the respective element and lock the vehi-
cle again.
iThe alarm system will rearm automatically
after approximately 40 seconds if neither a door
nor the trunk was opened.

99 Controls in detail
Locking and unlocking
Seats
Memory function
Lighting
Instrument cluster
Control system
Automatic transmission
Good visibility
4-zone automatic climate control
Power windows
Power tilt/sliding sunroof
Driving systems
Loading
Useful features

100 Controls in detail
Locking and unlocking
In the “Controls in detail” section you will
find detailed information on how to oper-
ate the equipment installed on your vehi-
cle. If you are already familiar with the
basic functions of your vehicle, this section
will be of particular interest to you.
To quickly familiarize yourself with the ba-
sic functions of the vehicle, refer to the
“Getting started” section of this manual.
The corresponding page numbers are giv-
en at the beginning of each segment.
For more information on locking and
unlocking, see “Getting started”
(
page 36) and (page 59).
SmartKey
Your vehicle comes supplied with two
SmartKeys, each with remote control and
a removable mechanical key.
The SmartKey provides an extended oper-
ating range. To prevent theft, however, it is
advisable to only unlock the vehicle when
you are in close proximity to it.
The SmartKey centrally locks and unlocks:

the doors

the trunk

the fuel filler flap
SmartKey with remote control
1‹Lock button
2ŠOpening button for trunk
(
page 109)
3Mechanical key locking tab
4ŒUnlock button
5Battery check lamp
6ÂPanic button (
page 88)
!To prevent possible malfunction, avoid ex-
posing the SmartKey to high levels of electro-
magnetic radiation.

101 Controls in detail
Locking and unlocking
Factory setting
Warning!G
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the
SmartKey from the starter switch, take it
with you, and lock the vehicle. Do not leave
children unattended in the vehicle, or with
access to an unlocked vehicle. It is possible
for children to open a locked door from the
inside, which could result in an accident
and/or serious personal injury.
iWhen you open a door, the side window on
that side lowers slightly. Once you close the
door, the window moves up again.
!The side windows will not open or close if
the battery is discharged or the windows are cov-
ered with ice. As a result, you may no longer be
able to properly close the door. Do not attempt
to force the door shut. Doing so may damage the
door or the side window. Correct the condition
that prevents the windows from operating before
attempting to close the door.
iUSA 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.
iCanada 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.
iYou can also open and close the windows
and tilt/sliding sunroof using the SmartKey
(
page 208).
!If you can no longer lock or unlock the vehi-
cle with the SmartKey, then the batteries in the
SmartKey are discharged, the SmartKey is mal-
functioning or the vehicle battery is drained.

Check the batteries in the SmartKey
(
page 103) and replace them if necessary
(
page 402).

Use the mechanical key to unlock the driv-
er’s door (
page 398) and the trunk
(
page 399).

Have the vehicle battery checked by an au-
thorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
If the SmartKey is malfunctioning, contact an au-
thorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
iWhen unlocking or locking the vehicle with
the SmartKey an acoustic signal 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.

102 Controls in detail
Locking and unlocking
Global unlocking
Press buttonŒ.

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.
The vehicle will lock again automatically
and rearm the anti-theft alarm system
within approximately 40 seconds of un-
locking if:

neither door nor trunk is opened

the SmartKey is not inserted in the
starter switch

the central locking switch is not
activatedGlobal locking
Press button‹.
With the trunk and all doors closed:

All turn signal lamps flash three
times.

An acoustic signal sounds three
times.

The locking knobs in the doors
move down.

The anti-theft alarm system is
armed.
Selective setting
If you frequently travel alone, you may wish
to reprogram the SmartKey so that press-
ing buttonŒ only unlocks the driver’s
door, the storage compartment under the
armrest, the glove box, and the fuel filler
flap.
Press and hold buttonsŒand‹
simultaneously for about 5 seconds un-
til battery check lamp5 flashes twice.The SmartKey will then function as
follows:
Unlocking driver’s door and fuel filler
flap
Press buttonΠonce.

All turn signal lamps flash once.

An acoustic signal sounds once.

The locking knob on the driver’s
door move up.

The anti-theft alarm system is dis-
armed.
Global unlocking
Press buttonΠtwice.

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.

103 Controls in detail
Locking and unlocking
Global locking
Press button‹.
With the trunk and all doors closed:

All turn signal lamps flash three
times.

An acoustic signal sounds three
times.

The locking knobs in the doors
move down.

The anti-theft alarm system is
armed.
Restoring to factory setting
Press and hold buttonsŒ and‹
simultaneously for about 5 seconds un-
til battery check lamp5 flashes twice.
SmartKey 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 pull an outside
door handle.
If the SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO is valid,
your vehicle unlocks

the doors

the trunk

the fuel filler flap
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO
1‹ Lock button
2Š Opening button for trunk
(
page 109)
3Mechanical key locking tab
4ΠUnlock button
5Battery check lamp
6Â Panic button (
page 88)
!To prevent possible malfunction, avoid ex-
posing the SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO to high
levels of electromagnetic radiation.