Contents
Introduction.......................................... 9
Product information ................................ 9
Operator’s Manual ............................... 10
Service and warranty information .. 10
Important notice for California
retail buyers and lessees of
Mercedes-Benz automobiles .......... 11
Maintenance .................................. 12
Roadside Assistance ...................... 12
Change of address or ownership.... 12
Operating your vehicle outside
the USA or Canada......................... 13
Where to find it .................................... 14
Symbols ............................................... 15
Operating safety .................................. 16
Proper use of the vehicle ............... 16
Problems with your vehicle .................. 17
Reporting safety defects...................... 18
Reporting safety defects ................ 18
Vehicle data recording ......................... 19
Information regarding electronic
recording devices ........................... 19At a glance.......................................... 21
Exterior view ......................................... 22
Cockpit ................................................. 24
Instrument cluster ................................ 26
Multifunction steering wheel ................ 28
Center console ..................................... 29
Upper part ...................................... 29
Lower part ...................................... 30
Overhead control panel ........................ 31
Storage compartments ......................... 32
Door control panel................................ 34Getting started................................... 35
Unlocking ............................................. 36
Unlocking with the SmartKey ......... 36
Unlocking with KEYLESS-GO*......... 37
Starter switch positions .................. 38
Adjusting .............................................. 41
Seats .............................................. 41
Steering wheel ................................ 44
Mirrors ............................................ 47
Driving .................................................. 48
Fastening the seat belts ................. 48
Starting the engine ......................... 51
Parking brake ................................. 53
Driving off ....................................... 53
Switching on headlamps ................. 55
Turn signals .................................... 55
Windshield wipers ........................... 56
Problems while driving.................... 58
Parking and locking .............................. 59
Parking brake ................................. 59
Switching off headlamps................. 60
Turning off engine ........................... 60
Releasing seat belts........................ 61
Locking ........................................... 61
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
Contents
Menus .......................................... 142
Standard display menu ................ 145
AMG menu ................................... 145
AUDIO menu ................................ 148
NAV* menu .................................. 150
Distronic* menu........................... 151
Vehicle status message
memory menu .............................. 151
Settings menu .............................. 152
Trip computer menu..................... 164
TEL* menu ................................... 166
Automatic transmission ..................... 169
Gear selector lever ....................... 169
Shifting procedure ....................... 170
Gear selector lever positions ....... 171
Driving tips ................................... 173
Gear ranges ................................. 174
Automatic shift program .............. 175
Gear selector lever one-touch
gearshifting .................................. 176
Steering wheel gearshift control
one-touch gearshifting* ............... 177
Manual shift program
CLS 63 AMG ................................ 179
Emergency operation
(Limp-Home Mode) ...................... 182Good visibility ..................................... 183
Headlamp cleaning system* ......... 183
Rear view mirrors .......................... 183
Sun visors ..................................... 184
Rear window sunshade* ............... 185
Rear window defroster .................. 186
4-zone automatic climate control ....... 188
Deactivating the climate control
system .......................................... 193
Operating the climate control
system in automatic mode............ 194
Setting the temperature................ 195
Adjusting air distribution............... 195
Adjusting air volume ..................... 196
Front defroster.............................. 197
Maximum cooling MAX COOL
(USA only) ..................................... 198
Air recirculation mode .................. 198
Air conditioning............................. 201
Residual heat and ventilation
(Canada only) ................................ 201
Rear climate control ..................... 202
Front center console storage
compartment ventilation............... 204Power windows .................................. 205
Opening and closing
the windows ................................. 205
Synchronizing power windows ...... 207
Summer opening feature .............. 208
Convenience closing feature......... 208
Power tilt/sliding sunroof .................. 210
Opening and closing the power
tilt/sliding sunroof........................ 210
Synchronizing the power
tilt/sliding sunroof........................ 212
Driving systems .................................. 213
Cruise control ............................... 213
Distronic* ..................................... 217
Airmatic DC (Dual Control) ........... 230
Parktronic system
(Parking assist)* ........................... 234
Loading .............................................. 238
Roof rack* .................................... 238
Loading instructions ..................... 238
Ski bag* (Canada only) ................. 239
Cargo tie-down hooks ................... 242
Retaining hook.............................. 242
Contents
Useful features .................................. 243
Storage compartments................. 243
Cup holders .................................. 246
Ashtrays ....................................... 248
Cigarette lighter ........................... 249
Power outlets ............................... 250
Heated steering wheel
(Canada only) ............................... 251
Floormats ..................................... 252
Telephone*................................... 253
Tele Aid ........................................ 256
Garage door opener ..................... 262
Operation......................................... 269
The first 1 000 miles (1 500 km)......... 270
Driving instructions............................ 271
Drive sensibly – save fuel ............. 271
Drinking and driving ..................... 271
Pedals .......................................... 271
Power assistance ......................... 272
Brakes .......................................... 272
Driving off .................................... 274
Parking ......................................... 275
Tires ............................................. 275
Hydroplaning ................................ 276
Tire traction.................................. 276
Tire speed rating .......................... 277
Winter driving instructions ........... 278
Standing water ............................. 279
Passenger compartment .............. 280
Driving abroad.............................. 280
Control and operation of
radio transmitter .......................... 280
Catalytic converter ....................... 281
Emission control .......................... 281
Coolant temperature .................... 282At the gas station .............................. 283
Refueling ...................................... 283
Check regularly and before a
long trip ....................................... 285
Engine compartment ......................... 286
Hood ............................................ 286
Engine oil ..................................... 287
Transmission fluid level................ 289
Coolant level ................................ 290
Battery ......................................... 291
Washer system and headlamp
cleaning system* ......................... 292
Tires and wheels................................ 293
Important guidelines .................... 293
Tire care and maintenance........... 294
Direction of rotation..................... 295
Loading the vehicle ...................... 296
Recommended tire inflation
pressure ....................................... 301
Checking tire inflation pressure ... 303
MOExtended system* .................. 313
Tire labeling ................................. 314
Load identification ....................... 318
DOT, Tire Identification Number
(TIN) ............................................. 318
Maximum tire load ....................... 320
Contents
Technical data.................................. 431
Parts service ...................................... 432
Warranty coverage ............................. 433
Loss of Service and Warranty
Information Booklet...................... 433
Identification labels............................ 434
Layout of poly-V-belt drive ................. 436
CLS 550 ....................................... 436
CLS 63 AMG................................. 436
Engine ................................................ 437
Rims and tires .................................... 438
Same size tires ............................. 439
Mixed size tires ............................ 441
MOExtended tires*....................... 444
Spare wheel ................................. 445
Electrical system................................ 446
Main dimensions and weights............ 447
Main dimensions .......................... 447
Weights ........................................ 447Fuels, coolants, lubricants etc. .......... 448
Capacities .................................... 448
Engine oils.................................... 450
Engine oil additives ...................... 450
Air conditioning refrigerant .......... 450
Brake fluid .................................... 450
Premium unleaded gasoline ......... 451
Fuel requirements ........................ 451
Gasoline additives ........................ 452
Coolants....................................... 452
Washer system and headlamp
cleaning system* ......................... 455Index................................................. 457
27 At a glance
Instrument cluster
ItemPage
1LLeft turn signal
indicator lamp
2vESP® warning lamp345
3Speedometer
4Multifunction display139
5lDistance warning lamp
Vehicles without Distronic*:
Warning lamp without func-
tion. It illuminates with the
ignition on. It should go out
when the engine is running.351
6KRight turn signal
indicator lamp
7Coolant temperature indica-
tor with:
•Coolant temperature
warning lamp350
8Tachometer with:
1Supplemental
Restraint System
(SRS) indicator lamp 353
-Antilock Brake Sys-
tem (ABS) indicator
lamp344
BLow beam headlamp
indicator lamp, de-
pending on vehicle
production date55
AHigh beam headlamp
indicator lamp130
9Main odometer with:
Selector lever position51
Program mode175
aClock with:157
;Brake warning lamp,
USA only347
3Brake warning lamp,
Canada only347
ItemPage
úEngine malfunction in-
dicator lamp, USA
only348
±Engine malfunction
indicator lamp, Cana-
da only348
HCombination low tire
pressure/TPMS mal-
function telltale,
USA only354
Low tire pressure
telltale, Canada only354
bFuel display with:
AFuel tank reserve
warning lamp351
cReset button for:
Resetting trip odometer137
Adjusting instrument
cluster illumination136
Confirming new time
settings157
38 Getting started
Unlocking
Starter switch positions SmartKey
Starter switch
0For removing SmartKey
1Power supply for some electrical con-
sumers2Ignition (power supply for all electrical
consumers) and driving position.
All lamps (except high beam headlamp
indicator lamp and turn signal indicator
lamps unless activated) in the instru-
ment cluster come on. If a lamp in the
instrument cluster fails to come on
when the ignition is switched on, have
it checked and replaced if necessary. If
a lamp in the instrument cluster re-
mains on after starting the engine or
comes on while driving, see “Lamps in
instrument cluster” (page 344).
3Starting position
Warning!G
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the
SmartKey or SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO*
from the starter switch, take it 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.
iWhen you switch on the ignition, the
indicator and warning lamps (except high beam
headlamp indicator lamp and turn signal indica-
tor lamps unless activated) in the instrument
cluster come on. The indicator and warning
lamps (except high beam headlamp indicator
lamp and turn signal indicator lamps if activated)
should go out when the engine is running. This in-
dicates that the respective systems are opera-
tional.
40 Getting started
Unlocking
Position 0
Before you press the KEYLESS-GO start/
stop button, the vehicle’s on-board elec-
tronics have status 0 (as wit h Sma rtKey re-
moved).
Position 1
Press KEYLESS-GO start/stop button
once.
This supplies power for some electrical
consumers.Ignition (or position 2)
Press KEYLESS-GO start/stop button
twice.
This supplies power for all electrical
consumers. All lamps (except high
beam headlamp indicator lamp and
turn signal indicator lamps unless acti-
vated) in the instrument cluster come
on. If a lamp in the instrument cluster
fails to come on when the ignition is
switched on, have it checked and
replaced if necessary. If a lamp in the
instrument cluster remains on after
starting the engine or comes on while
driving, see “Lamps in instrument clus-
ter” (
page 344).For information on starting the engine us-
ing the KEYLESS-GO start/stop button
(
page 39).
iIf you now press the KEYLESS-GO
start/stop button
once again, the ignition (position2) is
switched on
twice, the power supply is again switched offiIf you now press the KEYLESS-GO
start/stop button once, the power supply is
again switched off.
iWhen you switch on the ignition, the
indicator and warning lamps (except high beam
headlamp indicator lamp and turn signal indica-
tor lamps unless activated) in the instrument
cluster come on. The indicator and warning
lamps (except high beam headlamp indicator
lamp and turn signal indicator lamps if activated)
should go out when the engine is running. This in-
dicates that the respective systems are opera-
tional.