air conditioning MERCEDES-BENZ CLS500 2008 W219 Owner's Manual

Contents
Menus .......................................... 142
Standard display menu ................ 145
AMG menu ................................... 145
AUDIO menu ................................ 148
NAV* menu .................................. 150
Distronic* menu........................... 151
Vehicle status message
memory menu .............................. 151
Settings menu .............................. 152
Trip computer menu..................... 164
TEL* menu ................................... 166
Automatic transmission ..................... 169
Gear selector lever ....................... 169
Shifting procedure ....................... 170
Gear selector lever positions ....... 171
Driving tips ................................... 173
Gear ranges ................................. 174
Automatic shift program .............. 175
Gear selector lever one-touch
gearshifting .................................. 176
Steering wheel gearshift control
one-touch gearshifting* ............... 177
Manual shift program
CLS 63 AMG ................................ 179
Emergency operation
(Limp-Home Mode) ...................... 182Good visibility ..................................... 183
Headlamp cleaning system* ......... 183
Rear view mirrors .......................... 183
Sun visors ..................................... 184
Rear window sunshade* ............... 185
Rear window defroster .................. 186
4-zone automatic climate control ....... 188
Deactivating the climate control
system .......................................... 193
Operating the climate control
system in automatic mode............ 194
Setting the temperature................ 195
Adjusting air distribution............... 195
Adjusting air volume ..................... 196
Front defroster.............................. 197
Maximum cooling MAX COOL
(USA only) ..................................... 198
Air recirculation mode .................. 198
Air conditioning............................. 201
Residual heat and ventilation
(Canada only) ................................ 201
Rear climate control ..................... 202
Front center console storage
compartment ventilation............... 204Power windows .................................. 205
Opening and closing
the windows ................................. 205
Synchronizing power windows ...... 207
Summer opening feature .............. 208
Convenience closing feature......... 208
Power tilt/sliding sunroof .................. 210
Opening and closing the power
tilt/sliding sunroof........................ 210
Synchronizing the power
tilt/sliding sunroof........................ 212
Driving systems .................................. 213
Cruise control ............................... 213
Distronic* ..................................... 217
Airmatic DC (Dual Control) ........... 230
Parktronic system
(Parking assist)* ........................... 234
Loading .............................................. 238
Roof rack* .................................... 238
Loading instructions ..................... 238
Ski bag* (Canada only) ................. 239
Cargo tie-down hooks ................... 242
Retaining hook.............................. 242

Contents
Technical data.................................. 431
Parts service ...................................... 432
Warranty coverage ............................. 433
Loss of Service and Warranty
Information Booklet...................... 433
Identification labels............................ 434
Layout of poly-V-belt drive ................. 436
CLS 550 ....................................... 436
CLS 63 AMG................................. 436
Engine ................................................ 437
Rims and tires .................................... 438
Same size tires ............................. 439
Mixed size tires ............................ 441
MOExtended tires*....................... 444
Spare wheel ................................. 445
Electrical system................................ 446
Main dimensions and weights............ 447
Main dimensions .......................... 447
Weights ........................................ 447Fuels, coolants, lubricants etc. .......... 448
Capacities .................................... 448
Engine oils.................................... 450
Engine oil additives ...................... 450
Air conditioning refrigerant .......... 450
Brake fluid .................................... 450
Premium unleaded gasoline ......... 451
Fuel requirements ........................ 451
Gasoline additives ........................ 452
Coolants....................................... 452
Washer system and headlamp
cleaning system* ......................... 455Index................................................. 457

190 Controls in detail
4-zone automatic climate control
USA only
1Air distribution, driver’s side
2Front window defroster
3Temperature rocker switch, driver’s
side
4Display
5Temperature rocker switch,
passenger side
6Rear window defroster
7Air distribution, passenger side
8Air distribution and air volume, pas-
senger side (automatic, manual)
9AC cooling on/off
aRear air-conditioning remote control
bIncreasing air volume
cClimate control on/off
dDecreasing air volume
eMAX COOL on/off
fAir recirculation
gAir distribution and air volume, driv-
er’s side (automatic, manual)

191 Controls in detail
4-zone automatic climate control
Canada only
1Air distribution, driver’s side
2Front window defroster
3Temperature rocker switch, driver’s
side
4Display
5Temperature rocker switch,
passenger side
6Rear window defroster
7Air distribution, passenger side
8Air distribution and air volume, pas-
senger side (automatic, manual)
9AC cooling on/off
aRear air-conditioning remote control
bIncreasing air volume
cClimate control on/off
dDecreasing air volume
eResidual heat/ventilation
fAir recirculation
gAir distribution and air volume, driv-
er’s side (automatic, manual)

193 Controls in detail
4-zone automatic climate control
The air conditioning will not engage (no
cooling) if the A/C mode (
page 201) is
deactivated.Deactivating the climate control
systemDeactivating
Press button´ (page 190) or
(
page 191) until the display4
(
page 190) or (page 191) is
cleared.
Reactivating
Make sure the ignition is switched on.
Press button´ (page 190) or
(
page 191) again.
The previous settings are once again in
effect.
Warning!G
Severe conditions (e.g. strong air pollution)
may require replacement of the filter before
its scheduled replacement interval. A
clogged filter will reduce the air volume to
the interior and the windows could fog up,
impairing visibility and endangering you and
others. Have a clogged filter replaced as
soon as possible at an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
Warning!G
Follow the recommended settings for heat-
ing and cooling given on the following pag-
es. Otherwise the windows could fog up,
impairing visibility and endangering you and
others.
iKeep the air intake grille in front of the wind-
shield free of snow and debris.
Do not obstruct air flow by placing objects on the
air flow-through exhaust slots below the rear
window.
iIf the vehicle interior is hot, ventilate the in-
terior before driving off, see “Summer opening
feature” (
page 208). The climate control will
then adjust the interior temperature to the set
value much faster.
Warning!G
When the climate control is switched off, the
outside air supply and circulation are also
switched off. Only choose this setting for a
short time. Otherwise the windows could
fog up, impairing visibility and endangering
you and others.
iTo switch the system on, you can also press
another button, with the exception of 1 or
F and T (
page 190) or (page 191).

198 Controls in detail
4-zone automatic climate control
Maximum cooling MAX COOL
(USA only)
You can use this setting to provide the fast-
est possible cooling of the vehicle interior
(when windows and tilt/sliding sunroof are
closed).
Activating
Press buttone (page 190).
MAX COOL appears in display4
(
page 190).
The air conditioning switches
automatically to the following functions:

maximum cooling

maximum blowing power

the air recirculation mode is
switched onDeactivating
Press buttone (page 190) again.
MAX COOL disappears in display4
(
page 190).
The previous settings are once again in
effect.
Air recirculation mode
Switch to air recirculation mode to prevent
unpleasant odors from entering the vehicle
from the outside (e.g. before driving
through a tunnel). This setting cuts off the
intake of outside air and recirculates the
air in the passenger compartment.
iTo switch the maximum cooling function off,
you can also press button ´, U, y or
1 (
page 190).Warning!G
Fogged windows impair visibility, endanger-
ing you and others. If the windows begin to
fog on the inside, switching off the air
recirculation mode immediately should clear
interior window fogging. If interior window
fogging persists, make sure the air
conditioning (
page 201) is activated, or
press buttony.

199 Controls in detail
4-zone automatic climate control
Activating
Press button, (page 190) or
(
page 191).
The indicator lamp on the button
comes on.Deactivating
Press button, (page 190) or
(
page 191) again.
The indicator lamp on the button goes
out.Air recirculation mode with conve-
nience closing or opening feature
iThe air recirculation mode is activated auto-
matically at high outside temperatures and if the
concentration of carbon monoxide (CO) and ni-
trogen oxide in the outside air increases, for ex-
ample in a tunnel.
The indicator lamp on button, is not lit when
the air recirculation mode is automatically
switched on.
A quantity of outside air is added after approxi-
mately 30 minutes.iThe air recirculation mode is deactivated au-
tomatically:

after 5 minutes if the outside temperature is
below approximately 41°F (5°C)

after 5 minutes if the air conditioning is
turned off

after 30 minutes if the outside temperature
is above approximately 41°F (5°C)
Warning!G
Never operate the windows and tilt/sliding
sunroof if there is the possibility of anyone
being harmed by the opening or closing pro-
cedure.
In the event that the procedure causes po-
tential danger, the closing of the windows
can be immediately halted by pressing or
pulling the respective window switch. The
closing of the tilt/sliding sunroof can be im-
mediately halted by moving the switch for
the tilt/sliding sunroof in any direction.
The closing of the windows and the tilt/slid-
ing sunroof can be reversed by again press-
ing and holding the, button.

200 Controls in detail
4-zone automatic climate control
Convenience closing
Press button, (page 190) or
(
page 191) for approximately
2 seconds.
The windows and tilt/sliding sunroof
will close. You can release button,
once the closing procedure has begun.
The windows and tilt/sliding sunroof
continue closing until they are fully
closed. The indicator lamp on the but-
ton comes on. The air recirculation
mode is activated.Convenience opening
Press button, for approximately
2 seconds.
The windows and tilt/sliding sunroof
will return to their previous position.
You can release button, once the open-
ing procedure has begun. The windows
and tilt/sliding sunroof continue open-
ing until they have reached their previ-
ous position. The indicator lamp on the
button goes out. The air recirculation
mode is deactivated.Combination filter with
pollutant-sensitive air-recirculation
mode
The combination filter reduces pollutants
and unpleasant odors in the outside air.
The pollutant-sensitive air-recirculation
mode automatically switches off the
supply of outside air when pollutants are
detected in the air.
iA window or tilt/sliding sunroof will only re-
turn to its previous position if it has not been
moved to another position using the respective
window switch or tilt/sliding sunroof switch af-
ter it was closed with button,.
A window or tilt/sliding sunroof that has been
moved will remain in its current position if
button, is used to re-open the remaining
windows or tilt/sliding sunroof.
iThe pollutant-sensitive air-recirculation
mode is not possible if you have switched off the
air conditioning or if the temperature falls below
41°F (5°C).

201 Controls in detail
4-zone automatic climate control
Air conditioning
The cooling function, only operational
when the engine is running, cools the vehi-
cle interior down to the selected tempera-
ture. The cooling function also
dehumidifies the air in the vehicle interior,
thus preventing the windows from fogging
up.Deactivating
It is possible to deactivate the air condi-
tioning (cooling) function of the climate
control system. The air in the vehicle will
then no longer be cooled or dehumidified.
Press button2 (page 190) or
(
page 191).
The indicator lamp on the button goes
out.
Activating
Moist air can fog up the windows. You can
dehumidify the air with the air condition-
ing.
Press button2 (page 190) or
(
page 191) again.
The indicator lamp on the button
comes on.
The air conditioning uses the refrigerant
R134a. This refrigerant is free of CFCs
which are harmful to the ozone layer.Residual heat and ventilation
(Canada only)
With the engine switched off, it is possible
to continue to heat or ventilate the interior
for up to 30 minutes. This feature makes
use of the residual heat produced by the
engine.
iCondensation may drip out from underneath
the vehicle. This is normal and not an indication
of a malfunction.
Warning!G
If you turn off the cooling function, the
vehicle will not be cooled when weather
conditions are warm. The windows can fog
up more quickly. Window fogging may
impair visibility and endanger you and
others.
!If the air conditioning cannot be turned on
again, this indicates that the air conditioning is
losing refrigerant. The compressor has turned it-
self off.
Have the air conditioning checked at the nearest
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
iIf you switch on the residual heat function
when temperatures are high, only the ventilation
will be switched on.
iRegardless of the selected air volume, the
blower operates at low speed.

203 Controls in detail
4-zone automatic climate control
Setting the temperature
Use temperature control rocker
switches4 and6 to separately adjust
the air temperature on each side of the
rear passenger compartment.
You should raise or lower the temperature
setting in small increments, preferably
starting at 72°F (22°C). The adjusted tem-
perature appears in display5. The rear
climate control will adjust to the set tem-
perature as fast as possible.
1Temperature, left
2Temperature, rightAdjust the temperature to the desired
setting for each side of the passenger
compartment using the left and right
temperature control rocker switches.
The temperature in the rear passenger
compartment is adjusted automatical-
ly.
Adjusting air distribution
Move the slider for the left center
vent1 or right center vent2 to the
left, right, up, or down.
The air flow is directed in the
corresponding direction.Adjusting air volume
Turn thumbwheel3 or7
(
page 202) up or down.
The air volume is increased or
decreased.
Adjusting the rear settings with the
front control panel
You can adjust the temperature for the
rear climate control from the front climate
control panel.
Press button™ or 5
(
page 190) or (page 191).
The display switches over.
1Rear climate control display
iYou can also adjust the rear temperature us-
ing the front climate control panel (
page 190)
or (
page 191).iThe rear climate control will not cool the air
when the air conditioning is switched off
(
page 201).
iFor draft-free ventilation, push slides1
and2 (
page 202) upward.