display MERCEDES-BENZ CLS63AMG 2008 W219 Workshop Manual

176 Controls in detail
Automatic transmission
Press program mode selector switch
repeatedly until the letter of the
desired program mode appears in the
multifunction display.
SelectCfor comfort driving
(CLS 63 AMG: for standard driving):

The vehicle starts out in second
gear (both forward and reverse) for
gentler starts. This does not apply if
full throttle is applied or gear
range1 is selected.

Traction and driving stability are
improved on icy roads.

Upshifts occur earlier even when
you give more gas. The engine then
operates at lower rpms and the
wheels are less likely to spin.
SelectSfor standard driving
(CLS 63 AMG: for sporty driving):

The vehicle starts out in first gear.

Upshifts occur later.Gear selector lever one-touch
gearshifting
With the gear selector lever in drive posi-
tion D and driving in program modeC orS,
you can limit or extend the gear range.
If your vehicle is equipped with manual
shift programM, you can use the gear
selector lever to manually shift the gears.
The following instructions describe opera-
tion of the gear selector lever when driving
in the automatic program modeC orS.Limiting gear range
Briefly press the gear selector lever to
the left in theD-direction.
The transmission will shift to the next
lower gear as permitted by the shift
program. This action simultaneously
limits the gear range of the transmis-
sion (
page 174).
iFor information on using the gear selector
lever in program modeM, see “Manual shift pro-
gram CLS 63 AMG” (
page 179).
!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 park 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.
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.
iTo avoid overrevving the engine when down-
shifting, the transmission will not shift to a lower
gear if the engine’s max. speed would be
exceeded.

177 Controls in detail
Automatic transmission
Extending gear range
Briefly press the gear selector lever to
the right in theD+direction.
The transmission will shift to the next
higher gear as permitted by the shift
program. This action simultaneously
extends the gear range of the transmis-
sion.
Canceling gear range limit
Press and hold the gear selector lever
in theD+direction until
D reappears in
the multifunction display (
page 171).
The transmission will shift from the
current gear range directly to gear
rangeD.Shifting into optimal gear range
Press and hold the gear selector lever
in theD-direction.
The transmission will automatically
select the gear range suited for optimal
acceleration and deceleration. This will
involve shifting down one or more
gears.Steering wheel gearshift control one-touch gearshifting*
Steering wheel gearshift control is avail-
able on vehicles with AMG-Sport Package*
and CLS 63 AMG only.
With the gear selector lever in drive
positionD and driving in program modeC
orS, you can limit or extend the gear
range.
If your vehicle is equipped with manual
shift programM, you can use the steering
wheel gearshift control to manually shift
the gears.
iIf you press on the accelerator when the en-
gine has reached its rpm limit, the transmission
will upshift beyond any gear range limit selected.
iFor information on using the steering wheel
gearshift control in program modeM, see “Man-
ual shift program CLS 63 AMG” (
page 179).

179 Controls in detail
Automatic transmission
Extending gear range
Briefly pull right shift paddle2.
The transmission will shift to the next
higher gear as permitted by the shift
program. This action simultaneously
extends the gear range of the transmis-
sion.
Canceling gear range limit
Pull and hold right shift paddle2
until
D reappears in the multifunction
display (
page 171).
The transmission will shift from the
current gear range directly to gear
rangeD.Shifting into optimal gear range
Pull and hold left shift paddle1.
The transmission will automatically
select the gear range suited for optimal
acceleration and deceleration. This will
involve shifting down one or more
gears.
Manual shift program CLS 63 AMG
In addition to the automatic shift
programC orS, your vehicle is equipped
with the manual shift programM.
In the manual program modeM,
system-controlled automatic gearshifting
is switched off and you need to change the
gears by manually upshifting or downshift-
ing using the steering wheel gearshift
paddles (
page 178) or the gear selector
lever.
iIf you press on the accelerator when the en-
gine has reached its rpm limit, the transmission
will upshift beyond any gear range limit selected.
!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 park 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.

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.

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).

194 Controls in detail
4-zone automatic climate control
Operating the climate control system
in automatic modeActivatingPress one buttonU (page 190) or
(
page 191) while the engine is run-
ning.
The indicator lamp on the button
comes on.
AUTO appears in display4
(
page 190) or (page 191). The air
volume and air distribution are adjust-
ed automatically.
Use temperature rocker switches3
and5 (
page 190) or (page 191)
to separately adjust the air tempera-
ture on each side of the passenger
compartment.
The temperature of the vehicle interior
is adjusted automatically.Deactivating
Press button
orQ
(
page 190) or (page 191).
The
AUTO indicator in display4
(
page 190) or (page 191) goes
out. The automatic function for air vol-
ume is switched off, and air volume is
controlled according to the desired set-
ting.
or
Turn air distribution controls1
and7 (
page 190) or (page 191)
on each side of the passenger compart-
ment to the desired symbol.
The indicator lamp on the correspond-
ing button goes out. Automatic air dis-
tribution is switched off in the
corresponding zone, and air distribu-
tion is controlled according to the de-
sired position.
The automatic air volume remains
switched on.
iWhen operating the climate control system
in automatic mode, you will only rarely need to
adjust the temperature, air volume and air distri-
bution.
In automatic mode, cooling with dehumidify is
switched on. This function can be switched off.
Warning!G
If you switch off the cooling function the
windows can fog up more quickly. Window
fogging may impair visibility and endanger
you and others.
iYou can switch the automatic climate con-
trol system on and off for each side of the pas-
senger compartment as desired.

195 Controls in detail
4-zone automatic climate control
Setting the temperature
Use temperature control rocker
switches3 and5 (
page 190) or
(
page 191) to separately adjust the air
temperature on each side of the passenger
compartment. You should raise or lower
the temperature setting in small incre-
ments, preferably starting at 72°F (22°C).
The adjusted temperature appears in
display4 (
page 190) or (page 191).
The climate control will adjust to the set
temperature as fast as possible.Increasing
Push top of temperature control rocker
switch3 and/or5 (
page 190) or
(
page 191).
The climate control system will corre-
spondingly adjust the interior air tem-
perature.
Decreasing
Push bottom of temperature control
rocker switch3 and/or 5
(
page 190) or (page 191).
The climate control system will corre-
spondingly adjust the interior air tem-
perature.
Adjusting air distribution
Use air distribution controls1 and7
(
page 191) or (page 190) to separate-
ly adjust the air distribution on each side of
the passenger compartment.
The following symbols are located on the
controls:
iYou can also adjust the temperature in the
rear passenger compartment (
page 202).
iWhen operating the climate control system
in automatic mode, you will only rarely need to
adjust the temperature, air volume and air distri-
bution.
SymbolFunction
aDirects air through the center,
side and rear passenger com-
partment air vents
ZDirects air to the windshield
and through the side air vents
XDirects air into the entire vehi-
cle interior
YDirects air to the footwells