MERCEDES-BENZ CLK320 CABRIOLET 2005 A209 Owner's Manual

250 Controls in detailSoft topLocking the soft top after raising/low-
ering
If the soft top is not properly locked, lock it
as described below.Unlocked status noticed when stopped

Switch on the ignition (
page 36).

To lock the soft top in its fully closed
position, press soft top switch.
The message
Top closed
will be shown
in the multifunction display.
or:

To lock the soft top in its fully opened
position, pull up on the soft top switch.
The message
Top open
will be shown in
the multifunction display.Unlocked status noticed while driving

Stop the vehicle.

Leave the ignition switched on.

To lock the soft top in its fully closed
position, press soft top switch.
The message
Top closed
will be shown
in the multifunction display.
or:

To lock the soft top in its fully opened
position, pull up on the soft top switch.
The message
Top open
will be shown in
the multifunction display.
Warning!
G
The soft top is not fully closed and locked or
not fully opened if:

the message
Top in operation!
is
shown in the multifunction display


a warning sounds for 10 seconds and
the message
Lock top
is shown in the
multifunction display when starting to
drive
To prevent possible accidents, drive the ve-
hicle only with the soft top either completely
closed and locked, or fully lowered into its
storage compartment.
Warning!
G
Stop the vehicle and lock the soft top before
continuing to drive. You could otherwise en-
danger yourself and others.

251 Controls in detail
Soft top
Opening and closing the soft top with
the SmartKey
The windows will also be opened or closed
when you operate the soft top with the
SmartKey.

Aim the transmitter eye at the driver’s
door handle.
Warning!
G
If the soft top does not completely open or
close, the roof hydraulics will lose pressure
and the soft top is lowered

after approximately seven minutes
when the ignition is switched on.


after approximately 15 seconds when
the ignition is switched off.
Shortly before the soft top is lowered, a
warning will sound. In the multifunction dis-
play you will see K, and the message
Top
being lowered!
appears.


Properly lock the soft top (
page 250)
before continuing to drive.
Warning!
G
Before operating the soft top, make sure no
persons can be injured by the moving parts
(roll bar, soft top frame, and soft top com-
partment cover) due to negligence.
Hands must never be placed near the roll
bar, soft top frame, upper windshield area,
shelf behind roll bar, or soft top storage
compartment while the soft top is being
raised or lowered. Serious personal injury
may occur.
If potential danger exists, release the re-
spective button on the SmartKey. This im-
mediately interrupts the raising or lowering
procedure. You then can operate Πto
lower or ‹ to raise the soft top away
from the danger zone.

252 Controls in detailSoft topOpening (Summer opening feature)
Press and hold button Πuntil the
soft top is completely open.
The windows and soft top begin to
open after approximately one second.
During the opening procedure the mul-
tifunction display shows the message Top in operation
.
If the opening procedure is finished,
the multifunction display will briefly
show the message Top open
.

Release transmit button Πto inter-
rupt procedure.Closing (Convenience feature)

Press and hold button ‹ until the
soft top is completely closed.
The windows and soft top begin to
close after approximately one second.
During the closing procedure the multi-
function display shows the message Top in operation
.
If the soft top is closed and locked, the
multifunction display will briefly show
the message
Top closed
.

Release transmit button ‹ to inter-
rupt procedure.
Make sure all side windows and the
soft top are properly closed before leaving
the vehicle.
Warning!
G
If the soft top does not completely open or
close, a warning sounds and the soft top
switch flashes. In the multifunction display
you will see K, and the message
Top
being lowered!
appears. After about
15 seconds the roof hydraulics lose pres-
sure.
Properly lock the soft top (
page 250) be-
fore continuing to drive.

253 Controls in detail
Soft top
Wind screen
The wind screen deflects drafts away from
the driver and passenger when the soft top
is lowered. It is stored in a separate stor-
age bag in the trunk.Installing

Remove the wind screen from its stor-
age bag.
1Upper section
2Lower section

Fold sections1 and2 together.3Catch
4Retainer claw
5Snap fastener

Press retainer claw4 on upper sec-
tion into snap fastener5 of lower sec-
tion.
Warning!
G
The wind screen can restrict the driver’s vi-
sion to the rear of the vehicle. To prevent a
possible accident when visibility is limited
(e.g. in darkness), the upper part of the wind
screen should be folded back.


254 Controls in detailSoft top6Retaining lugs
7Mounting fixture on right side
8Catch
Fold retaining lugs6 out.

Slide pre-assembled wind screen into
mounting fixture on right side7 using
retaining pin on right side. Simulta-
neously, retaining lugs6 should slide
into seat belt passage in rear bench
seat.

Pull catch8 back and guide left re-
taining pin into mounting fixture on left
side.

Fold upper section of wind screen up
toward head restraints until it stops.Removing

Fold upper section of wind screen back
down.

Pull catch8 back and pull wind
screen out toward front of vehicle. Be
careful not to damage interior trim with
guide tabs.

Fold retaining lugs6 back.
9Catch

Press catch 9 and fold upper and low-
er sections back.

Place the wind screen back into the
bag.
Warning!
G
Check for secure locking by pulling up on
the wind screen.
To prevent personal injury, remove wind
screen if rear seats are to be occupied by
passengers.


255 Controls in detail
Driving systems
Driving systems
The driving systems of your vehicle are de-
scribed on the following pages:

Cruise control, with which the vehicle
can maintain a preset speed


Parktronic*, which serves as a parking
assistant
For information on the BAS, ABS, and ESP
driving systems, see “Driving safety sys-
tems” (
page 84).
Cruise control
Cruise control automatically maintains the
speed you set for your vehicle.
Use of cruise control is recommended for
driving at a constant speed for extended
periods of time.
CLK 320/CLK 55 AMG:
You can set or resume cruise control at any
speed over 20 mph (30 km/h).
CLK 500:
You can set or resume cruise control at any
speed over 25 mph (40 km/h).
The cruise control function is operated by
means of the cruise control lever.
The cruise control lever is the uppermost
lever on the left-hand side of the steering
column (
page 22).
Warning!
G
Cruise control is a convenience system de-
signed to assist the driver during vehicle op-
eration. The driver is and must remain at all
times responsible for the vehicle speed and
for safe brake operation.
Only use cruise control if the road, traffic
and weather conditions make it advisable to
travel at a steady speed.

The use of cruise control can be danger-
ous on winding roads or in heavy traffic
because conditions do not allow safe
driving at a steady speed.


The use of cruise control can be danger-
ous on slippery roads. Rapid changes in
tire traction can result in wheel spin and
loss of control.


Deactivate cruise control when driving
in fog.
The “Resume” function should only be oper-
ated if the driver is fully aware of the previ-
ously set speed and wishes to resume this
particular preset speed.

256 Controls in detailDriving systems1Set current or higher speed
2Set current or lower speed
3Cancel cruise control
4Resume to last set speedSetting current speed

Accelerate or decelerate to the desired
speed.

Briefly lift1 or depress2 the cruise
control lever (
page 256).
The current speed is set.

Remove your foot from the accelerator
pedal.
Cruise control is activated.
The selected speed appears in the multi-
function display for approximately five sec-
onds, and the corresponding speedometer
segments from the selected speed to the
vehicle maximum speed are illuminated.
Warning!
G
CLK 500:
Cruise control brakes automatically so that
the set speed is not exceeded. The brake
pedal is depressed automatically to do this.
Keep in mind that cruise control is a conve-
nience system designed to assist the driver
during vehicle operation. The driver is and
must always remain responsible for the ve-
hicle’s speed and for safe brake operation.
Keep driver’s foot area clear at all times, in-
cluding the area under the brake pedal. Ob-
jects stored in this area may impair pedal
movement which could interfere with the
braking ability of the cruise control system.
Do not place your foot under the brake pedal
- your foot could become caught.

257 Controls in detail
Driving systems
Canceling cruise control
There are several ways to cancel cruise
control:
Step on the brake pedal.
Cruise control is canceled. The last
speed set is stored for later use.
or

Briefly push the cruise control lever to
position3.
Cruise control is canceled. The last
speed set is stored for later use.
iOn uphill or downhill grades, cruise
control may not be able to maintain the
set speed. Once the grade eases, the
set speed will be resumed.
CLK 320/CLK 55 AMG:
If the engine’s braking power does not
brake the vehicle sufficiently on down-
hill grades, the automatic transmission
will automatically downshift.
CLK 500:
On downhill grades, the cruise control
will hold the set speed with active brak-
ing action.
In addition, on longer downhill grades
the automatic transmission will auto-
matically downshift.
iThe last stored speed is canceled when
you turn off the engine.
iThe cruise control switches off auto-
matically, if
CLK 320/CLK 55 AMG:

you step on the brake pedal.


you move the gear selector lever to
positionN while driving.


the vehicle speed is below 20 mph
(30 km/h).


ESP is in operation.
The segments in the multifunction dis-
play are flashing.
CLK 500:


you step on the brake pedal.


you press the parking brake pedal.
In this case the segments in the
multifunction display (
page 256)
go out and no warning sounds.

258 Controls in detailDriving systems
Setting a higher speed
Lift the cruise control lever in direction
of arrow1 (
page 256) and hold it
up until the desired speed is reached.

Release the cruise control lever.
The new speed is set.Setting a lower speed

Depress the cruise control lever in
direction of arrow2 (
page 256) and
hold it down until the desired speed is
reached.

Release the cruise control lever.
The new speed is set.


the vehicle speed is below 25 mph
(40 km/h).


ESP is in operation or switched off
with the ESP switch (
page 87).


you move the gear selector lever to
positionN while driving.
The segments in the multifunction dis-
play (page 256) go out, and an
acoustic warning sounds.
!Moving gear selector lever to
positionN while driving also cancels
cruise control. However, the gear se-
lector lever should not be moved to
positionN while driving except to coast
when the vehicle is in danger of skid-
ding (e.g. on icy roads).
iDepressing the accelerator pedal does
not deactivate cruise control. After
brief acceleration (e.g. for passing),
cruise control will resume the last
speed set.
iCLK 320/CLK 55 AMG
When you use the cruise control lever
to decelerate, the transmission will
automatically downshift if the engine’s
braking power does not brake the
vehicle sufficiently.
CLK 500:
When you use the cruise control lever
to decelerate, the brake system will
automatically brake the vehicle if the
engine’s braking power does not brake
the vehicle sufficiently.

259 Controls in detail
Driving systems
Fine adjustment in 1 mph
(Canada: 1 km/h) increments
Faster
Briefly tip the cruise control lever in di-
rection of arrow1 (
page 256).
Slower

Briefly tip the cruise control lever in di-
rection of arrow2 (
page 256).Setting to last stored speed
(“Resume” function)

Briefly push cruise control lever to
position4 (
page 256).
The cruise control resumes the last set
speed.

Remove your foot from the accelerator
pedal.The selected speed appears in the multi-
function display for approximately five sec-
onds, and the corresponding speedometer
segments from the selected speed to the
vehicle maximum speed are illuminated.Warning!
G
The speed stored in memory should only be
set again if prevailing road conditions per-
mit. Possible acceleration or deceleration
differences arising from returning to the pre-
set speed could cause an accident and/or
serious injury to you and others.