1999 MERCEDES-BENZ C-CLASS ESP

Night Security Illumination
(Vehicles with Antitheft AlarmSystem)

When exiting the vehicle after driving with the exterior lamps on, they switch on again for added illumination for
approximately 30 seconds after closing the last door. The lamp-on time period can be changed at your
Mercedes-Benz dealer.


Inside Rear View Mirror
Manually adjust the mirror.
Use your inside mirror to determine the size and distan ce of objects seen in the passenger side convex mirror.


Antiglare Night Position
With the electronic key in steering lock position 2, the mirror reflection brightness responds to changes in light
sensitivity. With gear selector lever in position "R", or wi th the interior lamp switched on, the mirror brightness does
not respond to changes in light sensitivity.

Note:
The automatic antiglare function is restricted, if incoming light is not aimed directly at sensors in the mirror.


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Exterior Rear View Mirrors

The switch is located on the center console.
Turn electronic key in steering lock to position 2.
First select the mirror to be adjusted - press button:

Left mirror
Right mirror

To adjust, toggle the switch forward, backward or to eit her side. Vehicles with automatic brightness response
of inside rear view mirror: With the electronic key in st eering lock position 2, the driver's side mirror reflection
brightness responds to changes in light sensitivity. With gear selector lever in position "R", or with the interior
lamp switched on, the driver's side mirror brightne ss does not respond to changes in light sensitivity.

Notes:
The exterior mirrors have electrically heated glass. The heater switches on automatically, depending on outside
temperature. If an exterior mirror housing is forcibly pivot ed from its normal position, it must be repositioned by
applying firm pressure until it snaps into place.

Warning !

Exercise care when using the passenger-side mirror. The passenger-side exterior mirror is convex
(outwardly curved surface for a wider field of view). Objects in mirror are closer than they appear.
Check your inside rear view mirror or glance over your shoulder before changing lanes.


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Storage Compartments and Cupholder




Glove Box
1. Unlocking: Turn mechanical key to vertical position and remove.
2. Locking: Turn mechanical key to the right and remove.
3. Opening: Pull on handle.

Caution!
Keep compartment lids closed. This will prevent stored objects from being thrown about and
injuring vehicle occupants during an accident.


Storage Compartments in Center Console
To open compartment in armrest: Lift lid with handle (4).
To open compartment under armrest: Lift lid with handle (5).
To close: Lower lid until it engages in lock.

Cupholder in Center Console
To open cover:
Touch top of cover (6) slightly. The cover opens automatically.

To open cup holder:
Briefly press button (7). The cup holder opens automatically.
To store cup holder:
Push button (7) down until cup holder engages. Close cover (6).

Caution !
Keep cup holder closed while travelling. Place only containers that fit into the cup holder to
prevent spills. Do not fill contai ners to a height where the conten ts could spill during vehicle
maneuvers, especially hot liquids.


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Instrument Lamps
Press + or - button to vary intensity of instrument lamps.


Display illumination
The display for temperature, odometer, oil level indicator, FSS indicator and clock is illuminated briefly when
opening the driver door. The display illumination brightness responds automatically according to changes in the
surrounding light sensitivity. To briefly illuminate the display (with electronic key
removed or in steering lock position 0 or 1), press button O, +,- , h or m.


Trip Odometer
• To reset:
• Press button O once and hold (with display illuminated).
• Press button O twice and hold (with display not illuminated).


Clock
Adjusting clock (display illuminated): Press button m or h briefly. The disp lay flashes to indicate that the clock
can be adjusted.
Minute: Press button m briefly.
Minutes: Press and hold button m.
Hour: Press button h briefly.
Hours: Press and hold button h .


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6. Wrap strap with snap hook
around ski sack.

7. Fold back the reinforced ski
sack tip (8), then continue to
roll up the ski sack tightly.


8.
Place rear strap in fold of ski
sack.


9. Place folded ski sack
insiderecess of backrest.







10.
Close ski sack compartment cover (2) respectively (3).


Removal of Ski Sack
For removal of the ski sack we recommend that you contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz dealer

Warning !
Never drive vehicle with trunk lid open while the ski sack is removed. Deadly carbon monoxide (CO)
gases may enter vehicle interior resulting in unconsciousness and death.

Note:
To prevent unauthorized persons from access to the trunk, always close the pass-through.


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Automatic Transmission

The automatic transmission selects individual gears automatically, dependent upon
• Selector lever position
• Program mode selector
• Accelerator position
• Vehicle speed

Important !

When parking the car or before working on the vehicle with the engine running, firmly depress the parking brake
pedal and shift the selector lever into "P".


Driving
The selector lever is automatically locked while in position "P". To move the selector lever out of position "P", the
service brake pedal must be firmly depressed before the shift lock will release. Shift selector lever to the desired
position only when the engine is idling normally and the service brake is applied. Do not release the brake until
ready to drive. The vehicle may otherwise start creeping when the selector lever is in drive or reverse position.

Warning !
It is dangerous to shift the selector lever out of "P" or "N" if the engine speed is higher than idle speed. If
your foot is not firmly on the brake pedal, the car could accelerate quickly forward or in reverse. You
could lose control of the car 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.

Important !
After selecting any driving position from "N" or "P", wait a moment to allow the gear to fully engage before
accelerating, especially when the engine is cold.


Accelerator Position
Partial throttle = early upshifting = normal acceleration
Full throttle = later upshifting = rapid acceleration
Kickdown (depressing the accelerator beyond full throttle) = downshifting to a lower gear = maximum acceleration.
Once the desired speed is attained, ease up on t he accelerator - the transmission shifts up again.




Selector Lever Positions

The automatic gear shifting process can be adapted to specific operating
conditions using the selector lever.

P - Parking position.
The parking position is to be used when parking t he vehicle. Engage only with the car stopped. The parking
position is not intended to serve as a brake when the vehicle is parked. Rather, the driver should always use
the parking brake in addition to placing the selector lever in park to secure the vehicle.

Note:
The electronic key can be removed from the steering lo ck only with the foot off the brake pedal and the selector
lever in position "P". With the electronic key removed, the selector lever is locked in position "P".


R - Reverse gear. Shift to reverse gear only with the car stopped.
N - Neutral.
No power is transmitted from the engine to the rear axle. When the brakes are released, the vehicle can be
moved freely (pushed or towed). Do not engage "N" while driving except to coast when the vehicle is in danger of
skidding (e.g. on icy roads, see Winter driving Instructions in Index).





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Antilock Brake System (ABS)

Important !
The ABS improves steering control of the vehicle during braking maneuvers. Do not pump the brake pedal, rather use
firm, steady brake pedal pressure. Pu mping the brake pedal defeats the pur pose for ABS and significantly reduces
braking effectiveness.
The ABS prevents the wheels from locking up above a vehicl e speed of approximately 5 mph (8 km/h) independent of
road surface conditions.
At the instant one of the wheels is about to lock up, a slight pulsation can be felt in the brake pedal, indicating that the
ABS is in the regulating mode. Keep firm and steady pressure on the brake pedal while experiencing the pulsation.
On slippery road surfaces, the ABS will re spond even with light brake pedal pressure because of the increased
likelihood of locking wheels. The pulsating brake pedal can be an indication of hazardous road conditions and
functions as a reminder to take extra care while driving.


ABS Control
The ABS malfunction indicator lamp in the instrument cl uster comes on with the electronic key in steering lock
position 2 and should go out when the engine is running.
If the charging voltage falls below 10 volts, the malfunction indicator lamp comes on and the ABS is switched off.
When the voltage is above this value again, the malfunction indicator lamp should go out and the ABS is operational.
With the ABS malfunctioning, the ASR or ESP, if vehicl e so equipped, are also switched off. Both malfunction
indicator lamps come on with the engine running. If the ABS malfunction indicator lamp does not go out or comes on
while driving, it indicates that the ABS has detected a malfunction and has switched off. In this case, the brake
system functions in the usual manner, but without antilock assistance.
Have the system checked at your authorized Mercedes-Benz dealer as soon as possible.

Warning !
ABS cannot prevent the natural laws of physics from acting on the vehicle, nor can it increase the traction
made available by the road conditions. The ABS ca nnot prevent accidents, including those resulting from
excessive speed in turns, following another vehicle too cl osely, or aquaplaning. Only a safe, attentive, and
skillful driver can prevent accidents. The capabilities of an ABS equipped car must never be exploited in a
reckless or dangerous manner which could jeopardize the user's safety or the safety of others.

Note:
To alert following vehicles to slippery road conditions you discover, operate your hazard warning flashers as
appropriate.


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Brake Assist System (BAS)

Warning !
BAS cannot prevent the natural laws of physics from acting on the vehicle, nor can it increase braking
efficiency beyond that afforded by the condition of the vehicle brakes and tires or the traction afforded. The
BAS cannot prevent accidents, including those resulting from excessive speed in turns, following another
vehicle too closely, or aquaplaning. Only a safe, at tentive, and skillful driver can prevent accidents. The
capabilities of a BAS equipped car must never be explo ited in a reckless or dangerous manner which could
jeopardize the user's safety or the safety of others.

The Brake Assist System is designed to maximize the vehicle's braking capability during emergency braking
maneuvers by having maximum power boost applied to the br akes more quickly in emergency braking conditions
than might otherwise be afforded solely by the driver's braking style. This can help reduce braking distances over
what ordinary driving and braking style might do. The BAS complements the Antilock Brake System (ABS).
To receive the benefit of the system you must apply continuous full braking power during the stopping sequence. Do
not reduce brake pedal pressure.
Once the brake pedal is released, the BAS is deactivat ed The indicator lamps for the ASR and ESP are combined
with the BAS indicator lamp.
The BAS/ASR or BAS/ESP malfunction indicator lamp in the instrument cluster corne on with the electronic key in
steering lock position 2 and should go out with the engine running.
If the BAS/ASR or BAS/ESP malfunction indicator lamp co mes on permanently while the engine is running, a
malfunction has been detected in either system. As a result, it is possible that now only partial engine output will be
available, and pressing the accelerator pedal will require more effort. If the BAS malfunctions. The brake system
functions in the usual manner, but wi thout BAS. If the charging voltage falls be low 10 volts, the malfunction indicator
lamp comes on and the BAS is switched off. When the volt age is above this value again, the malfunction indicator
lamp should go out and the BAS is operational. With t he ABS malfunctioning, the BAS, ASR or ESP are also
switched off. Both malfunction indicator lamps come on with the engine running. Have the BAS, ASR or ESP checked
at your authorized Mercedes-Benz dealer as soon as possible .


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