2008 MERCEDES-BENZ CLS500 Adaptive

Contents
Safety and Security........................... 63
Occupant safety................................... 64
Air bags .......................................... 66
Occupant Classification System ..... 71
Seat belts ....................................... 76
Preventive occupant safety
(PRE-SAFE
®) ................................... 80
Active head restraints .................... 81
Children in the vehicle .................... 82
Blocking of
rear door window operation ........... 87
Panic alarm .......................................... 88
Activating ....................................... 88
Deactivating ................................... 88
Driving safety systems ......................... 89
ABS ................................................ 89
BAS ................................................ 90
Adaptive Brake ............................... 91
EBP................................................. 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 batteries in the
SmartKey or SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO* .............................. 108
Loss of the SmartKey or
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO* ...... 108
Opening the doors
from the inside ............................. 108
Opening the trunk ........................ 109
Closing the trunk.......................... 111
Trunk emergency release ............. 114
Valet locking ................................ 115
Automatic central locking ............ 116
Locking and unlocking
from the inside ............................. 116
Seats ................................................ 118
Front seat active head restraints . 118
Rear seat head restraints ............. 118
Lumbar support............................ 119
Multicontour seat* ....................... 120
Seat heating* ............................... 121
Seat ventilation* .......................... 122Memory function ............................... 123
Storing positions into memory ..... 124
Recalling positions from memory. 124
Storing exterior rear view mirror
parking position ........................... 125
Lighting ............................................. 126
Exterior lamp switch .................... 126
Combination switch ..................... 130
Corner-illuminating
front fog lamps* (CLS 550 with
Bi-Xenon* headlamps only).......... 130
Hazard warning flasher ................ 132
Interior lighting in the front .......... 133
Interior lighting in the rear ........... 134
Door entry lamps ......................... 135
Trunk lamp ................................... 135
Instrument cluster ............................. 136
Adjusting instrument cluster
illumination .................................. 136
Coolant temperature indicator ..... 137
Resetting trip odometer ............... 137
Tachometer.................................. 138
Outside temperature indicator ..... 138
Control system .................................. 139
Multifunction display.................... 139
Multifunction steering wheel........ 140

30 At a glance
Center console
Lower partItemPage
1Ashtray248
2KEYLESS-GO* start/stop
button39
3Gear selector lever for
automatic transmission51,
171
4Parking assist (Parktronic
system)* deactivation
switch234
5Adaptive Damping System
(ADS) switch230
ItemPage
6Vehicle level control button231
7Thumbwheel for setting dis-
tance in Distronic*226
8Distance warning function*
on/off switch226
9Program mode selector
switch for automatic trans-
mission175

89 Safety and Security
Driving safety systems
Driving safety systems
In this section you will find information on
the following driving safety systems:

ABS (Antilock Brake System)

Adaptive Brake

BAS (Brake Assist System)

EBP (Electronic Brake Proportioning)

ESP® (Electronic Stability Program)
ABS
The Antilock Brake System (ABS) regulates
the brake pressure so that the wheels do
not lock during braking. This allows you to
maintain the ability to steer your vehicle.
The ABS is functional above a speed of
approximately 5 mph (8 km/h) indepen-
dent of road surface conditions.
On slippery road surfaces, the ABS will
respond even with light brake pressure.
The -indicator lamp in the instrument
cluster comes on when you switch on the
ignition. It goes out when the engine is run-
ning.
Warning!G
The following factors increase the risk of
accidents:

Excessive speed, especially in turns

Wet and slippery road surfaces

Following another vehicle too closely
The driving safety systems described in this
section cannot reduce these risks or pre-
vent the natural laws of physics from acting
on the vehicle.
Always adapt your driving style to the pre-
vailing road and weather conditions and
keep a safe distance to other road users and
objects on the street.
iIn winter operation, the maximum
effectiveness of the ABS, BAS, ESP® and Adap-
tive Brake is only achieved with winter tires
(
page 328) or snow chains as required.
Warning!G
Do not pump the brake pedal. Use firm,
steady brake pedal pressure instead. Pump-
ing the brake pedal defeats the purpose of
the ABS and significantly reduces braking
effectiveness.

91 Safety and Security
Driving safety systems
When you release the brake pedal, the
brakes function again as normal. The BAS
is then deactivated.
Adaptive Brake
Adaptive Brake provides a high level of
braking safety as well as increased braking
comfort.
Important notes on using the brake
system

Following extended periods of only mi-
nor loads to your brake system, you
should occasionally apply the brakes
when traveling at high speeds. This im-
proves the grip of the brake pads.

After driving on wet or snow-covered
roads, you should apply your brakes
firmly before parking your vehicle. This
produces heat which serves to dry the
brake disks and help prevent corro-
sion.

On long and steep grades, shift to a
lower gear (gear range1, 2, or 3) to
prevent the brakes from overheating
and to reduce brake wear.

After hard braking, it is advisable to
drive on for some time so that the air
stream will cool down the brakes fast-
er.

Only Mercedes-Benz approved compo-
nents (e.g. brake pads) should be in-
stalled on your vehicle. Brake pads not
approved by Mercedes-Benz may im-
pair the safety of your vehicle.
Warning!G
If the BAS is malfunctioning, the brake sys-
tem is still functioning normally, but without
the additional brake boost available that
BAS would normally provide in an emergen-
cy braking maneuver. Therefore, the braking
distance may increase.
Warning!G
The BAS cannot prevent the natural laws of
physics from acting on the vehicle, nor can
it increase braking efficiency beyond that
afforded by the condition of the vehicle
brakes and tires or the traction. The BAS
cannot prevent accidents, including those
resulting from excessive speed in turns,
following another vehicle too closely, or
hydroplaning. Only a safe, attentive, and
skillful driver can prevent accidents. The ca-
pabilities of a BAS equipped vehicle must
never be exploited in a reckless or danger-
ous manner which could jeopardize the us-
er’s safety or the safety of others.
Warning!G
Make sure not to endanger any other road
users when carrying out these braking
maneuvers.

217 Controls in detail
Driving systems
Distronic*
When activated, the Distronic adaptive
cruise control system increases driving
convenience afforded by the cruise control
during travel on expressways and other
major roads.

If the Distronic distance sensor detects
a slower moving vehicle directly ahead,
your vehicle speed will be reduced so
that you follow that vehicle at a preset
distance.

If there is no vehicle directly ahead of
you, Distronic will function in the same
way as cruise control (
page 214).
Warning!G
Distronic adaptive cruise control is no sub-
stitute for active driving involvement. It does
not react to stationary objects, nor recog-
nize or predict the curvature and lane layout
or the movement of vehicles ahead.
Distronic can only apply a maximum of 20%
of the vehicle’s braking power.
It is the driver’s responsibility at all times to
be attentive to road, traffic, and weather
conditions and to provide the steering, brak-
ing and other driving inputs necessary to re-
tain control of the vehicle.
Warning!G
Distronic is a convenience system. Its speed
adjustment reduction capability is intended
to make cruise control more effective and
usable when traffic speeds vary. It is not
however, intended to, nor does it, replace
the need for extreme care. The responsibili-
ty for the vehicle speed and the distance to
the vehicle ahead, including most impor-
tantly brake operation to assure safe stop-
ping distance, always remains with the
driver.
Distronic cannot take street and traffic con-
ditions into account.
Warning!G
Distronic requires familiarity with its opera-
tional characteristics. We strongly recom-
mend that you review the following
information carefully before operating the
system.
iUSA only: This device has been approved by
the FCC as a “Vehicular Radar System”. The ra-
dar sensor is intended for use in an automotive
radar system only. Removal, tampering, or alter-
ing of the device will void any warranties, and is
not permitted by the FCC. Do not tamper with,
alter, or use in any non-approved way.
Any unauthorized modification to this device
could void the user’s authority to operate the
equipment.

230 Controls in detail
Driving systems
Airmatic DC (Dual Control)
Airmatic automatically selects the opti-
mum suspension tuning and ride height for
your vehicle. The Airmatic consists of two
components:

Adaptive Damping System (ADS)

Vehicle level control
The ADS automatically selects the opti-
mum damping for the respective driving
conditions. At the same time the suspen-
sion is set to either Sport 1, Sport 2 or
Comfort.
Suspension tuning
The suspension tuning is set according to:

Your driving style

Road surface conditions

Your choice of suspension style,
Sport 1, Sport 2 or Comfort, which you
select using the damping buttonThe following suspension styles are avail-
able:

Comfort
Both indicator lamps2 are off.

Sport 1
One indicator lamp2 is on.

Sport 2
Both indicator lamps2 are on.
1Damping button
2Indicator lamps
Start the engine (page 51).
Press damping button1 until the de-
sired suspension style is set.
!If you have selected the Comfort suspen-
sion tuning (
page 230), the vehicle lowers
slightly when you lock it within approximately
60 seconds after switching off the engine. When
parking, make sure that your vehicle cannot
come into contact with other objects, such as a
curb, while lowering. Your vehicle could
otherwise be damaged.
iThe selected suspension style is stored in
memory, even after the SmartKey is removed
from the starter switch.

457 Index
A
ABS 89
Indicator lamp 344
Messages in display 360, 374
Accelerator position, automatic
transmission 173
Accessory weight 323
Accident 58
Active Bi-Xenon headlamps see Head-
lamps
Active head restraints 81
resetting 401
Adaptive Damping System 230
Adjusting 41
ADS 230
Air bags 66
Children 67
Front, Driver 69
Front, Passenger 69
Knee bag 70
Safety guidelines 68
Side impact 70
Window curtain 70
Air conditioning refrigerant 450
Air conditioning system see Climate con-
trol system 201Air conditioning, Cooling 192, 201
Air distribution 195
Air pressure 323
Air pressure see Tire inflation pressure
Air pump, electric 417
Air recirculation mode 198
Air vents 189
Air volume 196
Airmatic DC (Dual Control) 230
Message in display 391–392
Suspension tuning 230
Vehicle level control 230
Alarm
Audible alarm and flashing exterior
lamps (Panic alarm) 88
Canceling 98
Visual 97
Alarm system see Anti-theft systems
Alignment bolt (vehicle tool kit) 395, 415
AMG menu 145
Lap analysis 148
Overall analysis 148
RACETIMER 146
Vehicle supply voltage 146
Anticorrosion/antifreeze 454
Antilock Brake System see ABSAnti-theft systems 97
Anti-theft alarm system 97
Immobilizer 97
Aquaplaning see Hydroplaning
Ashtrays 248
Aspect ratio 323
AUDIO menu 148
Audio search function 163
Audio system
CD mode 149
Selecting radio station 149
Selecting satellite radio station* 149
Auto-dimming, Rear view mirrors 183
Automatic central locking, Control
system 163
Automatic climate control (4-zone) 188
Air recirculation mode 198
Deactivating 193
Rear window defroster 186
Setting the temperature 195
Automatic headlamp mode 127
Automatic lighting control, Interior
lighting 133
Automatic locking when driving 163
Automatic shift program 175