MERCEDES-BENZ CLS500 2008 W219 Owner's Manual

180 Controls in detail
Automatic transmission
The program mode selector switch is
located on the lower part of the center
console.
Program mode selector switch
M Manual For manual gear shifting
C Comfort For standard driving
S Sport For sporty driving
The selected program mode appears in the
multifunction display (
page 175).Activating manual shift program
Press program mode selector switch
repeatedly until the
M for manual pro-
gram modeM appears in the multifunc-
tion display.
The transmission switches to the
manual program modeM. Automatic
shifting is switched off. The gear range
is not limited.
You can change the gears manually when
the gear selector lever is in drive
positionD. You can upshift or downshift
through the gears in succession.Upshifting
Briefly press the gear selector lever to
the right in theD+direction.
or
Briefly pull right shift paddle2
(
page 178).
The transmission shifts to the next
higher gear.
If, instead of the manual program mode
symbol
M, thep symbol appears in the
multifunction display (
page 175), shift to
the next higher gear. The fuel supply will
otherwise be interrupted to prevent the
engine from overrevving.iFor information on automatic program
modesC orS, see “Automatic shift program”
(
page 175), “Gear selector lever one-touch
gearshifting” (
page 176), and “Steering wheel
gearshift control one-touch gearshifting*”
(
page 177).
iThe manual program modeM will not be
stored. When the engine is turned off with the
manual program modeM selected, the transmis-
sion will go to the automatic program mode
(CorS) when the engine is restarted.
!In the manual program modeM, the trans-
mission will not upshift, even if the engine has
reached its overrevving range. Shift up to the
next gear before the engine has reached its over-
revving range. Make absolutely certain that the
engine speed does not reach the red marking on
the tachometer (
page 26). Otherwise the
engine could be damaged which is not covered
by the Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.

181 Controls in detail
Automatic transmission
If you have selected the AMG menu in the
control system and you are driving in the
manual program modeM, upshift
indicator2 in the multifunction display
advises you to upshift before the engine
reaches the overspeed range. Thus you
can drive at the maximum engine speed for
each gear without overrevving the engine.
1Gear indicator
2Upshift indicator
Shift to the next higher gear.
The fuel supply will otherwise be inter-
rupted to prevent the engine from over-
revving.Downshifting
Briefly press the gear selector lever to
the left in theD-direction.
or
Briefly pull left shift paddle1
(
page 178).
The transmission shifts to the next
lower gear.Kickdown
Using the kickdown when driving in the
manual program modeM is not possible.
Deactivating manual shift program
Press the program mode selector
switch (
page 180) repeatedly
until
CorS appears in the multifunction
display.
or
Restart the engine.
The transmission will go to the
automatic program mode (C orS).
The manual program modeM is not
stored.
Warning!G
On slippery road surfaces, never downshift
in order to obtain braking action. This could
result in drive wheel slip and reduced
vehicle control. Your vehicle’s ABS will not
prevent this type of loss of control.
iWhen you brake or stop, the transmission
shifts down to a gear from which you can easily
accelerate or take off.

182 Controls in detail
Automatic transmission
Emergency operation
(Limp-Home Mode)
If vehicle acceleration becomes less re-
sponsive or sluggish or the transmission
no longer shifts, the transmission is most
likely operating in limp-home (emergency
operation) mode. In this mode only second
gear and reverse gear can be selected.
Stop the vehicle in a safe location.
Move the gear selector lever to park
positionP.
Turn off the engine.
Wait at least 10 seconds before
restarting.
Restart the engine.
Move the gear selector lever to drive
positionD (for second gear) or reverse
gearR.
Have the transmission checked at an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center as
soon as possible.

183 Controls in detail
Good visibility
Good visibility
For information on windshield wipers, see
“Windshield wipers” (
page 56).
Headlamp cleaning system*
The headlamps will automatically be
cleaned with a high-pressure water jet
when you have

switched on the headlamps
and

operated the windshield wipers with
washer fluid five times
When you switch off the ignition, the
counter resets.
For information on filling up the washer
reservoir, see “Washer system and
headlamp cleaning system*”
(
page 292).
Rear view mirrors
For more information on setting the rear
view mirrors, see “Mirrors” (
page 47).
Auto-dimming mirrors
The reflection brightness of the exterior
rear view mirror on the driver’s side and
the interior rear view mirror will respond
automatically to glare when

the ignition is switched on
and

incoming light from headlamps falls on
the sensor in the interior rear view mir-
ror
The rear view mirrors will not react if

reverse gear is engaged

the interior lighting is turned on
Warning!G
The auto-dimming function does not react if
incoming light is not aimed directly at the
sensors in the interior rear view mirror.
The interior rear view mirror and the exterior
rear view mirror on the driver’s side do not
react, for example, if the rear window sun-
shade* is in raised position.
Light hitting the mirror(s) at certain angles
incident light) could blind you. As a result,
you may not be able to observe traffic con-
ditions and could cause an accident.
Warning!G
Exercise care when using the passen-
ger-side exterior rear view mirror. The mirror
surface is convex (outwardly curved surface
for a wider field of view). Objects in mirror
are closer than they appear. Check your in-
terior rear view mirror or glance over your
shoulder before changing lanes.

184 Controls in detail
Good visibility
Activating exterior rear view mirror
parking position
Follow these steps to activate the mirror
parking position so that the passen-
ger-side exterior rear view mirror will be
turned downward to the stored position.
The buttons are located on the driver’s
door.
1Driver’s side exterior rear view mirror
button
2Passenger-side exterior rear view
mirror buttonSwitch on the ignition (page 38).
Make sure you have stored a parking
position for the passenger-side exterior
rear view mirror (
page 125).
Press button2 for the passenger-side
exterior rear view mirror.
Place the gear selector lever in reverse
gearR.
The passenger-side exterior rear view
mirror will be turned downward to the
stored position.The exterior rear view mirror returns to its
previously stored driving position:

10 seconds after you put the gear
selector lever out of positionR

immediately once you exceed a vehicle
speed of approximately 6 mph
(10 km/h)

immediately when you press button1
for driver’s side mirror.
Sun visors
The sun visors protect you from sun glare
while driving.
Warning!G
Do not use the vanity mirror while driving.
Keep the mirrors in the sun visors closed
while vehicle is in motion. Reflected glare
can endanger you and others.

185 Controls in detail
Good visibility
1Sun visor
2Mirror cover
3Mirror lamp
4Mounting
5Vanity mirror
Swing sun visors1 down when you
experience glare.
To use the vanity mirror5, lift up the
mirror cover2.
Make sure the sun visor is properly
engaged in the mounting4.
Lamp3 switches on.If sunlight enters through a side window:
Disengage sun visor1 from
mounting4.
Pivot sun visor to the side.
Rear window sunshade*
The switch is located in the center console.
1Rear window sunshade switch
Switch on the ignition (page 38).
Press switch1 briefly to raise the sun-
shade.
Press switch1 briefly to lower the
sunshade.
Always raise the sunshade fully for its sup-
port against the window frame.
iIf sun visor1 is disengaged from
mounting4 with mirror cover2 open, mirror
lamp3 will switch off.


186 Controls in detail
Good visibility
Rear window defroster
The rear window defroster uses a large
amount of power. To keep the battery
drain to a minimum, switch off the defrost-
er as soon as the rear window is clear. The
defroster is automatically deactivated
after approximately 6 to 20 minutes of
operation depending on the outside tem-
perature.
Switch on the ignition (page 38).Activating
Press button F (page 191) or
button1 (
page 190) on the
respective climate control panel.
The indicator lamp on the button
comes on.
Deactivating
Press buttonF (page 191) or
button1 (
page 190) again.
The indicator lamp on the button goes
out.
Warning!G
When operating the rear window sunshade,
be sure that there is no danger of anyone
being harmed by the raising or lowering pro-
cedure.
The raising or lowering procedure can be
immediately halted by briefly pressing
switch1. To reverse direction of move-
ment, press switch1 again.
Warning!G
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the
SmartKey or the SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO* from the starter switch, take
it with you, and lock the vehicle. 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.
Warning!G
Any accumulation of snow and ice should be
removed from the rear window before driv-
ing. Visibility could otherwise be impaired,
endangering you and others.


187 Controls in detail
Good visibility
!If the rear window defroster switches off too
soon and the indicator lamp starts flashing, this
means that too many electrical consumers are
operating simultaneously and there is insuffi-
cient voltage in the battery. The system re-
sponds automatically by deactivating the rear
window defroster.
As soon as the battery has sufficient voltage, the
rear window defroster automatically turns itself
back on.

188 Controls in detail
4-zone automatic climate control

189 Controls in detail
4-zone automatic climate control
1Left side defroster vent, fixed
2Left center air vent, adjustable
3Thumbwheel for air volume control
for left center air vent
4Thumbwheel for air volume control
for right center air vent
5Right center air vent, adjustable
6Right side defroster air vent, fixed
7Right side air vent, adjustable
8Thumbwheel for air volume control
for right side air vent
9Climate control panel
aThumbwheel for air volume control
for left side air vent
bLeft side air vent, adjustable
iFor draft-free ventilation, move the sliders
for the center air vents and side air vents to the
middle position.