MERCEDES-BENZ CL500 2006 C215 Owner's Manual

160 Controls in detailControl systemSetting locator lighting
With the locator lighting feature activated
and the exterior lamp switch in position
U, the following lamps will switch on
during darkness when the vehicle is un-
locked with the SmartKey:

Parking lamps


Tail lamps


License plate lamps


Front fog lamps
To activate locator lighting:

Make sure the function
LOCATOR
LIGHTING
is set.

Turn the exterior lamp switch to
positionU when exiting the vehicle.
If you do not open a door after unlocking
the vehicle with the SmartKey, the lamps
will switch off automatically after approxi-
mately 40 seconds.

Move the selection marker with
theæ orç button to the LIGHTING
submenu.

Press buttonj ork repeatedly
until you see this message in the multi-
function display:
LOCATOR LIGHTING
.
The selection marker is on the current
setting.

Pressæ orç to select the de-
sired setting.
The locator lighting will be switched
ON
or
OFF
.Setting night security illumination
(Exterior lights delayed switch-off)
Use the
HEADLAMPS DELAYED SWITCH-OFF

function to set whether and for how long
you would like the exterior lamps to illumi-
nate during darkness after all doors are
closed. When the delayed switch-off fea-
ture is activated and the exterior lamp
switch is in position U before the en-
gine is turned off, the following lamps will
remain lit when the engine is turned off:


Parking lamps


Tail lamps


License plate lamps


Front fog lampsiYou can reactivate this function within
10 minutes by opening a door.
If after turning off the engine you do not
open a door or do not close an opened
door, the lamps will automatically
switch off after 60 seconds.

161 Controls in detail
Control system
To activate night security illumination:
Select delayed switch-off period (see
below).

Turn the exterior lamp switch to
positionU before turning off the en-
gine.
To select delayed switch-off period:

Move the selection marker with
theæ orç button to the LIGHTING
submenu.

Press buttonj ork repeatedly
until you see this message in the multi-
function display:
HEADLAMPS DELAYED
SWITCH-OFF
.
The selection marker is on the current
setting.

Pressæ orç to select the de-
sired lamp-on period.
You can select:

0 SEC.
, the delayed switch-off fea-
ture is deactivated


15 SEC.
, 30 SEC.
, 45 SEC.
, or
60 SEC.
, the delayed switch-off fea-
ture is activated
You can temporarily deactivate the de-
layed switch-off feature:

Before leaving the vehicle, turn the
SmartKey in the starter switch to
position0.

Turn the SmartKey in the starter switch
to position2 and back to0.
The delayed switch-off feature is deac-
tivated. It will reactivate as soon as you
reinsert the SmartKey in the starter
switch.
Vehicles with KEYLESS-GO*:

Press the KEYLESS-GO start/stop but-
ton (
page 35) on the gear selector le-
ver.
Interior illumination delayed switch-off
Use this function to set whether and for
how long you would like the interior light-
ing to remain lit during darkness after the
SmartKey is removed from the starter
switch.

Move the selection marker with
theæ orç button to the LIGHTING
submenu.


162 Controls in detailControl system
Press buttonj ork repeatedly
until you see this message in the multi-
function display:
INTERIOR LIGHTING
DELAYED SWITCH-OFF
.
The selection marker is on the current
setting.

Pressæ orç to select the de-
sired lamp-on time period. You can se-
lect:

0 SEC.
, the delayed switch-off fea-
ture is deactivated.


5 SEC.,
10 SEC.
, 15 SEC.,
or
20 SEC.
, the delayed switch-off fea-
ture is activated.Vehicle submenu
Access the
VEHICLE
submenu via the
SETINGS
menu. Use the
VEHICLE
submenu
to make general vehicle settings. The
following functions are available:Setting automatic locking
Use this function to activate or deactivate
the automatic central locking. With the au-
tomatic central locking system activated,
the vehicle is centrally locked at vehicle
speeds of approximately 9 mph
(15 km/h).

Press buttonæ orç to move
the selection marker to the
VEHICLE

submenu.

Press buttonj ork repeatedly
until you see this message in the multi-
function display:
AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCK
.
The selection marker is on the current
setting.

Pressæ orç to switch AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCK
ON or
OFF
.
Function
Page
Set automatic locking
162
Limiting opening height of trunk
lid*
163


163 Controls in detail
Control system
Limiting opening height of trunk lid*
This function is available on vehicles with
the trunk opening/closing system*. Use
this function to activate or deactivate the
limiting opening height of trunk lid.
Move the selection marker with
theæ orç button to
VEHICLE

submenu.

Press buttonj ork repeatedly
until you see this message in the multi-
function display:OPENING LIMITER
TRUNK LIDThe selection marker is on the current
setting.

Press buttonæ orç to switch
the opening limiter for trunk lid
ON
or
OFF
.Convenience submenu
Access the
CONVENIENCE
submenu via the
SETTINGS
menu. Use the
CONVENIENCE
sub-
menu to change the settings for a number
of convenience features. The following
functions are available:Activating easy-entry/exit feature
Use this function to activate and deacti-
vate the easy-entry/exit feature
(
page 112).
Function
Page
Activating easy-entry/exit fea-
ture
163
Setting fold-in function for exteri-
or rear view mirrors
164
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 cancel seat/steering wheel movement,
do one of the following:

Press seat adjustment switch
(page 38).


Move steering column stalk
(page 42).


Press one of the memory position but-
tons or the memory button M
(page 123).


164 Controls in detailControl system
Move the selection marker with
theæ orç button to
the
CONVENIENCE
submenu.

Press buttonj ork repeatedly
until you see this message in the multi-
function display:
EASY-ENTRY FEATURE
ACTIVATE
.
The selection marker is on the current
setting.

Pressæ orç to change the
easy-entry/exit setting.
The following settings are available for the
easy-entry/exit feature:Setting fold-in function for exterior rear
view mirrors
Using this function, you can set the exteri-
or rear view mirrors to be automatically
folded in when you lock your vehicle
(
page 180).

Move the selection marker to the CONVENIENCE
submenu with theæ
orç button.

Press buttonj ork repeatedly
until the message
FOLD IN MIRRORS
WHEN LOCKING
appears in the multifunc-
tion display.
The selection marker is on the current
setting.

Press buttonæ or ç to switch
the automatic fold-in setting for the
mirrors
ON or
OFF
.
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.
OFF
The easy-entry/exit fea-
ture is deactivated.
STEER. COL
Only the steering column
is moved.
ST.COL+SEAT
Both the steering column
and the driver’s seat are
moved.


165 Controls in detail
Automatic transmission
Automatic transmission
For more information on driving with an
automatic transmission see “Automatic
transmission” (
page 48).
Your vehicle’s transmission adapts its gear
shifting process to your individual driving
style by continually adjusting the shift
points up or down. These shift point adjust-
ments are performed based on current
operating and driving conditions.
If the operating conditions change, the
automatic transmission reacts by
adjusting its shift program.
Gearshift pattern for automatic
transmission
The automatic transmission selects indi-
vidual gears automatically, depending on:

the gear selector lever
positionD(
page 167) with
gear ranges (page 170)


the selected program mode:
(C/S) (
page 171)
or
(M/C/S) (CL 55 AMG and CL 65 AMG
only) (
page 175)


the position of the accelerator pedal
(page 169)


the vehicle speed
iDuring the brief warm-up, transmission
upshifting is delayed. This allows the
catalytic converter to heat up more
quickly to operating temperature.

166 Controls in detailAutomatic transmission1Current gear range/gear selector lever
position
2Current program mode
The current gear range/gear selector lever
position and program mode (
C/S)
or (
M/C/S) appear in the tachometer
display.When the gear selector lever is in
positionD, you can influence transmission
shifting by:


limiting the gear range


changing gears manually
Warning!
G
It is dangerous to shift the gear selector
lever out ofP orN if the engine speed is
higher than idle speed. If your foot is not
firmly on the brake pedal, the vehicle could
accelerate quickly forward or reverse. You
could lose control of the vehicle and hit
someone or something. Only shift into gear
when the engine is idling normally and when
your right foot is firmly on the brake pedal.
!Allow engine to warm up under low
load use. Do not place full load on the
engine until the operating temperature
has been reached.
Shift into reverse gearR or parking
positionP only when the vehicle is
stopped.
Avoid spinning of a drive wheel for an
extended period when driving off on
slippery road surfaces. This may cause
serious damage to the drivetrain which
is not covered by the Mercedes-Benz
Limited Warranty.

167 Controls in detail
Automatic transmission
Gear selector lever position
Effect
ì
Park position
Gear selector lever position
when the vehicle is parked. Place
gear selector lever in positionP
only when vehicle is stopped.
The park position is not intended
to serve as a brake when the
vehicle is parked. Rather, the
driver should always set the
parking brake in addition to
placing the gear selector lever in
positionP to secure the vehicle.
EffectThe SmartKey can only be
removed from the starter switch
with the gear selector lever in
positionP. With the SmartKey
removed, the gear selector lever
is locked in positionP.
í
Reverse gear
Place gear selector lever in
positionR only when vehicle is
stopped.
Effect
ë
Neutral
No power is transmitted from the
engine to the drive axle. When
the brakes are released, the
vehicle can be moved freely
(pushed or towed).
To avoid damage to the trans-
mission, never engageN while
driving.
If the ESP
® is deactivated or
malfunctioning:
Move the gear selector lever
toN only if the vehicle is in dan-
ger of skidding, e.g. on icy roads.
ê
Drive
The transmission shifts
automatically. All forward gears
are available.

168 Controls in detailAutomatic transmission
!
Coasting the vehicle, or driving for any
other reason with gear selector lever
inN can result in transmission damage
that is not covered by the
Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.
Warning!
G
Getting out of your vehicle with the gear
selector lever not fully engaged in positionP
is dangerous. Also, positionP alone is not
intended to or capable of preventing your
vehicle from moving, possibly hitting people
or objects.
Always set the parking brake in addition to
shifting to positionP (
page 50).
When parked on an incline, turn the front
wheels towards the road curb.
Do not park this vehicle in areas where
combustible materials such as grass, hay or
leaves can come into contact with the hot
exhaust system, as these materials could be
ignited and cause a vehicle fire.
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. Children could move the
gear selector lever from positionP, which
could result in an accident and/or serious
personal injury.

169 Controls in detail
Automatic transmission
Driving tips
Accelerator position
Your driving style influences the
transmission’s shifting behavior:
Less throttle Earlier upshifting
More throttle Later upshifting
Kickdown
Use kickdown when you want maximum
acceleration.
Press the accelerator past the point of
resistance.
The transmission shifts into a lower
gear.

Ease on the accelerator when you have
reached the desired speed.
The transmission shifts up again.Stopping
When you stop briefly, e.g. at traffic lights:

Leave the transmission in gear.

Hold the vehicle with the brake.
When you stop longer with the engine
idling and/or on a hill:

Set the parking brake.

Move the gear selector lever to
positionP.Maneuvering
When you maneuver in tight areas,
e.g. when pulling into a parking space:

Control the vehicle speed by gradually
releasing the brakes.

Accelerate gently.

Never abruptly step on the accelerator.
Working on the vehicleWarning!
G
When working on the vehicle, set the
parking brake and move the gear selector le-
ver to positionP. Otherwise the vehicle
could roll away.