2008 MERCEDES-BENZ CLS63AMG instrument cluster

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.

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

130 Controls in detail
Lighting
Combination switch
Combination switch
1High beam
2High beam flasherHigh beam
Turn the exterior lamp switch to
positionB (
page 126).
Push the combination switch in direc-
tion of arrow1 to switch on the high
beam.
The high beam headlamp indicator
lampA in the instrument cluster
comes on (
page 26).
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
direction of arrow2.Corner-illuminating front fog lamps*
(CLS 550 with Bi-Xenon* headlamps
only)
The corner-illuminating front fog lamps im-
prove illumination of the area in the direc-
tion into which you are turning.
Corner-illuminating front fog lamps will op-
erate with the engine running and with

the exterior lamp switch in
positionB (
page 126)
or

the exterior lamp switch in
positionU (
page 126)
or

the daytime running lamp mode
activated (
page 128)
iWith the automatic headlamp mode activat-
ed: The corner-illuminating front fog lamps will
only come on in low ambient lighting conditions.

136 Controls in detail
Instrument cluster
For a full view illustration of the instrument
cluster, see “At a glance” (
page 26).
1Reset button
The instrument cluster is activated when
you

open a door

switch on the ignition

press the reset button1

switch on the exterior lamps
You can modify the instrument cluster set-
tings in the instrument cluster submenu of
the control system (
page 155).Adjusting instrument cluster
illumination
Use the reset button (
page 136) to ad-
just the illumination brightness for the in-
strument cluster.To brighten illumination
Turn the reset button (page 136)
clockwise.
The instrument cluster illumination will
brighten.
To dim illumination
Turn the reset button (page 136)
counterclockwise.
The instrument cluster illumination will
dim.
Warning!G
No messages will be displayed if either the
instrument cluster or the multifunction dis-
play is inoperative.
As a result, you will not be able to see infor-
mation about your driving conditions, such
as speed or outside temperature, warn-
ing/indicator lamps, malfunction/warning
messages or the failure of any systems.
Driving characteristics may be impaired.
If you must continue to drive, please do so
with added caution. Contact an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center as soon as possible.
iThe instrument cluster illumination is
dimmed or brightened automatically to suit am-
bient light conditions.
The instrument cluster illumination will also be
adjusted automatically when you switch on the
vehicle’s exterior lamps.

137 Controls in detail
Instrument cluster
Coolant temperature indicatorResetting trip odometer
Make sure you are viewing the trip odome-
ter display (
page 139).
If it is not displayed, press the è or
ÿ repeatedly until the trip odome-
ter appears.
Press and hold the reset button
(
page 136) until the trip odometer is
reset.
Warning!G

Driving when your engine is overheated
can cause some fluids which may have
leaked into the engine compartment to
catch fire. You could be seriously
burned.

Steam from an overheated engine can
cause serious burns and can occur just
by opening the hood. Stay away from
the engine if you see or hear steam com-
ing from it.
Stop the vehicle in a safe location away from
other traffic. Turn off the engine, get out of
the vehicle and do not stand near the vehicle
until the engine has cooled down.
!Excessive coolant temperature triggers the
coolant temperature warning lamp (
page 350)
and a warning in the multifunction display
(
page 376).
The engine should not be operated with the cool-
ant temperature above 248°F (120°C). Doing so
may cause serious engine damage which is not
covered by the Mercedes-Benz Limited Warran-
ty.
iDuring severe operating conditions, e.g.
stop-and-go traffic, the coolant temperature may
rise close to 248°F (120°C).

138 Controls in detail
Instrument cluster
Tachometer
The red marking on the tachometer de-
notes excessive engine speed.
To help protect the engine, the fuel supply
is interrupted if the engine is operated
within the red marking.Outside temperature indicator
The outside temperature is displayed in
the instrument cluster (
page 26).The temperature sensor is located in the
front bumper area. Due to its location, the
sensor can be affected by road or engine
heat during idling or slow driving. This
means that the accuracy of the displayed
temperature can only be verified by com-
parison to a thermometer placed next to
the sensor, not by comparison to external
displays (e.g. bank signs etc.).
When moving the vehicle into colder ambi-
ent temperatures (e.g. when leaving your
garage), you will notice a delay before the
lower temperature is displayed.
A delay also occurs when ambient temper-
atures rise. This prevents inaccurate tem-
perature indications caused by heat
radiated from the engine during idling or
slow driving.
!Avoid driving at excessive engine speeds, as
it may result in serious engine damage that is not
covered by the Mercedes-Benz Limited Warran-
ty.
Warning!G
The outside temperature indicator is not
designed to serve as an ice-warning device
and is therefore unsuitable for that purpose.
Indicated temperatures just above the freez-
ing point do not guarantee that the road sur-
face is free of ice. The road may still be icy,
especially in wooded areas or on bridges.

144 Controls in detail
Control system
Menu6Menu7Menu8Menu9
Vehicle status message
memory1
1The vehicle status message memory menu is only displayed if there is a message stored.
SettingsTrip computerTEL*
(page 151)(page 152)(page 164)(page 166)
Commands/submenus
Calling up vehicle malfunction,
warning and system status
messages stored in memoryResetting to factory settingsFuel consumption statistics
since startLoading phone book
Instrument cluster submenuFuel consumption statistics
since the last resetSearching for name in phone
book
Time/Date submenuResetting fuel consumption
statistics
Lighting submenuDistance to empty
Vehicle submenu
Convenience submenu
iThe headings used in the menus table are
designed to facilitate navigation within the sys-
tem and are not necessarily identical to those
shown in the control system displays.
The first function displayed in each menu will au-
tomatically show you which part of the system
you are in.

154 Controls in detail
Control system
The table below shows what settings can
be changed within the various menus. Detailed instructions on making individual
settings can be found on the following pag-
es.
Instrument clusterTime/DateLightingVehicleConvenience
(page 155)(page 157)(page 159)(page 162)(page 163)
Selecting speedometer
display modeSynchronizing the timeSetting daytime running
lamp mode (USA only)Setting automatic
lockingActivating
easy-entry/exit feature
Selecting languageSetting time (hours)Setting locator lightingAudio search function
Selecting display (speed
display or outside tem-
perature) for status lineSetting time (minutes)Setting ambient lighting
Selecting display (speed
display or outside tem-
perature) for basic dis-
playSetting date (month)Setting night security illu-
mination
Setting date (day)Setting interior lighting
delayed shut-off
Setting date (year)