MERCEDES-BENZ CL-Class 2008 C216 Comand Manual
Page 371 of 769
370 Controls in detailSeats
Seat fore and aft: Press the switch for-
ward or backward in the direction of 
arrow5.
Seat backrest tilt: Press the switch 
forward or backward in the direction of 
arrow6.Adjusting front passenger seat from 
driver’s seat
You can adjust the front passenger seat 
using the seat switches on the driver’s 
side.
1Adjusting front passenger seat
Press button1.
i
 Depending on the seat’s set fore and aft 
position, the head restraint height is 
automatically pre-set.
Warning!
G
When adjusting the front passenger seat, 
make sure the seat, if occupied, is as far 
from the passenger front air bag as possi-
ble.
Otherwise, the passenger could be seriously 
or even fatally injured in the event of an ac-
cident or braking maneuver.
Make sure no one is caught or injured while 
the seat is being adjusted.
Even with the SmartKey or SmartKey with 
KEYLESS-GO* removed from the starter 
switch or the SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO* 
removed from the vehicle, the power seats 
can be operated. Therefore, do not leave 
children unattended in the vehicle, or with 
access to an unlocked vehicle. A child’s un-
supervised access to a vehicle could result 
in an accident and/or serious personal inju-
ry.
!
Do not move the front passenger seat com-
pletely forward if objects are stored in the parcel 
net in the front passenger-side footwell. Items in 
the net may be damaged.
 
Page 372 of 769
371 Controls in detailSeats
When the indicator lamp on button1 is 
on, you can operate the following features 
of the front passenger seat:
seat adjustment
seat heating/ventilation*
memory function
Folding front seat backrest forward
1Release lever
Folding backrest forward
Lift release lever1 and fold the seat 
backrest forward.
The seat will automatically slide for-
ward and the head restraint will move 
down.Folding backrests back
Lift release lever1.
Fold and press the seat backrest rear-
ward until it engages in driving posi-
tion.
The seat and head restraint return to 
their previous positions.
i
To interrupt the procedure, activate the seat 
adjustment switch (
page 369) or move the re-
lease lever again.
!
When moving the seat, make sure there are 
no items in the footwell or behind the seats. Oth-
erwise you could damage the seats.
Warning!
G
Always ensure that no one can become 
trapped or injured when the seat is moving. 
In case potential danger exists, the proce-
dure can be interrupted by moving the seat 
adjustment switch (
page 369) in the door 
control panel or by moving the release lever 
again.
 
Page 373 of 769
372 Controls in detailSeats
For information on additional convenience 
features permitting easy entry and exit, 
see “Easy-entry/exit feature” 
(page 373).
Warning!
G
The seat belts provide protection only with 
the backrest locked in place. Therefore, the 
backrest must be locked in place with the 
vehicle in motion. Do not drive the vehicle 
when the backrest is not locked in place. 
If the warning message:
Lock Seat Backrest
Front Right
or 
Lock Seat Backrest
Front Left
is displayed in the multifunction display, 
then the respective backrest is not engaged 
in its lock. Carefully slow down, and drive 
with caution to an area which is in a safe dis-
tance from the roadway. Always provide suf-
ficient room behind the backrest and fold 
the backrest all the way back until it locks in 
place.
The warning message is no longer displayed 
as soon as the backrest is locked in place. If 
both backrests are locked in place and the 
warning message is still displayed, have the 
system checked at an authorized 
Mercedes-Benz Center immediately.
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.
The power seats can also be operated with 
the driver’s or passenger door open. Do not 
leave children unattended in the vehicle or 
with access to an unlocked vehicle. A child’s 
unsupervised access to a vehicle could re-
sult in an accident and/or serious personal 
injury.
Never place hands under seat or near any 
moving parts during a seat adjustment pro-
cedure.
!
The automatic seat slide is provided with a 
safety feature.
The automatic process is interrupted if the back-
rest of the sliding seat is pushed against an oc-
cupant or object. The seat will slide forward and 
stop.
Investigate and correct the cause of interruption.
Now use memory button (
page 386) or seat 
adjustment switch (
page 369) to bring the 
seat into the desired position.
When folding the backrest forward from a re-
clined position, and then folding it back, the 
backrest stops in a more upright position for the 
safety of any rear-seat passenger. Adjust the 
backrest until your arms are slightly angled when 
holding the steering wheel (
page 369).
 
Page 374 of 769
373 Controls in detailSeats
Easy-entry/exit feature
This feature allows for easier entry into and 
exit from the vehicle. When entering and 
exiting the vehicle, the driver’s seat is in its 
maximum rearward position and the steer-
ing wheel is in its uppermost position.
The easy-entry/exit feature can be activat-
ed or deactivated in the “Vehicle” menu of 
the COMAND system (
page 264).With the easy-entry/exit feature activated, 
the steering wheel and driver’s seat will re-
turn to their last set memory position or a 
factory-set maximum forward position 
when you:
close the driver’s door with the ignition 
switched on
insert the SmartKey into the starter 
switch or press the KEYLESS-GO* 
start/stop button (
page 366) once 
with the driver’s door closed
Warning!
G
You must make sure no one can become 
trapped or injured by the moving steering 
wheel and driver’s seat when the easy-en-
try/exit feature is activated. 
To stop seat/steering wheel movement, do 
one of the following:
Press seat adjustment switch 
(page 369).
Move steering wheel adjustment stalk 
(page 379).
Press one of the memory position but-
tons or the memory button M 
(page 386).
Do not leave children unattended in the ve-
hicle, or with access to an unlocked vehicle. 
Children could open the driver’s door and 
unintentionally activate the easy-entry/exit 
feature, which could result in an accident 
and/or serious personal injury.
!
Do not activate the easy-entry/exit feature 
if the seat backrest is in an excessively reclined 
position. Doing so could cause damage to front 
or rear seats.
First move the seat backrest to an upright posi-
tion. 
Page 375 of 769
374 Controls in detailSeats
With the easy-entry/exit feature activated 
the steering wheel tilts upwards and the 
driver’s seat moves a few inches to the 
rear when you:
remove the SmartKey from the starter 
switch, 
or
open the driver’s door with the 
SmartKey in starter switch position 0 
or 1 or the KEYLESS-GO* start/stop 
button (
page 366) in position 1 
i
For safety reasons, the driver’s seat will not 
return to its last set position with the easy-en-
try/exit feature activated if the system recogniz-
es the last set position as an extreme forward 
position. Instead, the driver’s seat will remain at 
or move to a factory-set maximum forward posi-
tion. To again fully return the driver’s seat to your 
last set position or to memory position, adjust 
the seat to the desired position or press and hold 
the respective memory position button 
(
page 386). 
i
The last set driver’s seat and steering wheel 
positions are stored when 
the ignition is switched off (
page 365)
the position is stored in memory 
(page 385)
i
If the current position for the steering wheel 
is in the uppermost tilt position, the steering 
wheel will no longer be able to move upward 
when the easy-entry/exit feature is activated. 
If the current seat position falls into a factory-set 
position range and the system recognizes the 
current seat position to be rearward enough for 
easy entry and exit, the driver’s seat will not 
move to the rear when the easy-entry/ exit fea-
ture is activated.
The adjustment procedure is briefly interrupted 
when the engine is started.
Warning!
G
Let the system complete the adjustment 
procedure before setting the vehicle in mo-
tion. All driver’s seat and steering wheel ad-
justments must be completed before setting 
the vehicle in motion. Driving off with the 
driver’s seat/steering wheel still adjusting 
could cause the driver to lose control of the 
vehicle. 
Page 376 of 769
375 Controls in detailSeats
Seat heating*
The buttons for seat heating are located on 
the respective door. The red indicator 
lamps on the button come on to show the 
heating level selected.
1Seat heating button
Switch on the ignition (
page 365).
Switching on: Press button1 repeat-
edly until the desired heating level is 
set.
One or more red indicator lamps on the 
button show the selected heating level.
Switching off: Press button1 repeat-
edly until all indicator lamps go out.
Level3
Three indicator lamps on 
(highest level)
The seat heating automatically 
switches to level2 after approxi-
mately 8 minutes.
2
Two indicator lamps on
The seat heating automatically 
switches to level1 after approxi-
mately 10 minutes.
1
One indicator lamp on 
(lowest level)
The seat heating automatically 
switches off after approximately 
20 minutes. With seat heating 
and seat ventilation* activated 
the seat heating will not switch 
off after 20 minutes.
off
No indicator lamp on
i
If one or more of the lamps on the seat heat-
ing button are flashing, there is insufficient volt-
age available since too many electrical 
consumers are turned on. The seat heating 
switches off automatically.
The seat heating will switch back on again auto-
matically as soon as sufficient voltage is avail-
able. 
Page 377 of 769
376 Controls in detailSeatsSeat ventilation*
The buttons for seat ventilation are located 
on the respective door. The blue indicator 
lamps on the button come on show the 
ventilation level selected.
1Seat ventilation button
Switch on the ignition (
page 365).
Switching on: Press button1 repeat-
edly until the desired ventilation level is 
set.
One or more blue indicator lamps on 
the button show the selected ventila-
tion level.
Switching off: Press button1 repeat-
edly until all indicator lamps go out.
Head restraints
Level3
Three indicator lamps on 
(highest level)
2
Two indicator lamps on
1
One indicator lamp on 
(lowest level)
off
No indicator lamp on
i
The seat ventilation for the driver’s seat can 
be activated using summer opening feature 
(
page 404).
i
If one or more of the lamps on the seat ven-
tilation button are flashing, there is insufficient 
voltage available since too many electrical con-
sumers are turned on. The seat ventilation 
switches off automatically.
The seat ventilation will switch back on again au-
tomatically as soon as sufficient voltage is avail-
able.Warning!
G
For your protection, drive only with properly 
positioned head restraints.
Adjust the head restraint so that it is as 
close to the head as possible and the center 
of the head restraint supports the back of 
the head at eye level. This will reduce the po-
tential for injury to the head and neck in the 
event of an accident or similar situation.
Do not drive the vehicle without the seat 
head restraints. Head restraints are intend-
ed to help reduce injuries during an acci-
dent. 
Page 378 of 769
377 Controls in detailSeats
Front power head restraints
Head restraint height
1Head restraint height
Press the switch up or down in the di-
rection of arrow1.Head restraint tilt
Manually adjust the angle of the head re-
straint. 
Push or pull on the upper edge of the 
head restraint cushion.Rear seat head restraints
i
Adjust the head restraint in such a way that 
it is as close to the head as possible.
i
 Depending on the seat’s set fore and aft po-
sition, the head restraint height is automatically 
pre-set.
Warning!
G
For safety reasons, always drive with the 
rear head restraints in the upright position 
when the rear seats are occupied.
Otherwise, the back of the head will not be 
supported in the event of a collision. That 
could cause serious or even fatal injuries. 
Rear seat occupants can be seriously in-
jured or killed.Warning!
G
Keep the area around head restraints clear 
of articles (e.g. clothing) to not obstruct the 
folding operation of the head restraints. 
Page 379 of 769
378 Controls in detailSeatsFolding head restraints back
The rear seat head restraints can be folded 
backward for increased visibility.
1Switch in the front center console
Switch on the ignition (
page 365).
Press switch1 in the front center con-
sole briefly.
The rear seat head restraints will fold 
backward.Placing head restraints upright
Switch on the ignition (
page 365).
Press and hold switch1 in the front 
center console (
page 378).
The rear seat head restraints will place 
upright.Manually placing head restraints 
upright
Pull the rear seat head restraint upright 
until it locks into place.
i
When fasten a rear seat belt (
page 388), 
the respective rear seat head restraint places 
upright automatically.
Warning!
G
Make sure the rear seat head restraints en-
gage when placing them upright manually. 
Otherwise their protective function cannot 
be ensured.
The back of the head will not be supported 
in the event of a collision. That could cause 
serious or even fatal injuries. Rear seat oc-
cupants can be seriously injured or killed. 
Page 380 of 769
379 Controls in detail
Steering wheel
Steering wheel
Make sure that
you can reach the steering wheel with 
your arms slightly bent at the elbows
you can move your legs freely
all displays (including malfunction and 
indicator lamps) on the instrument 
cluster are clearly visible
Steering wheel adjustment
1Adjusting steering wheel, in or out
2Adjusting steering column, up or down
Adjusting steering wheel in or out: 
Move stalk forward or back in the direc-
tion of arrow1 until a comfortable 
steering wheel position is reached with 
your arms slightly bent at the elbow.
Adjusting steering wheel up or 
down: Move stalk up or down in the di-
rection of arrow2. 
Warning!
G
Do not adjust the steering wheel while driv-
ing. Adjusting the steering wheel while driv-
ing could cause the driver to lose control of 
the vehicle.
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.
Even with the SmartKey or SmartKey with 
KEYLESS-GO* removed from the starter 
switch or the SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO* 
removed from the vehicle, the steering 
wheel adjustment feature can be operated. 
Therefore, do not leave children unattended 
in the vehicle, or with access to an unlocked 
vehicle. A child’s unsupervised access to a 
vehicle could result in an accident and/or 
serious personal injury.
i
The memory function (
page 385) lets you 
store settings for the steering wheel together 
with the settings for the seat position and the ex-
terior rear view mirrors.