
3 ContentsMaintenance ................................... 227
Tele Aid............................................ 228
Catalytic converter......................... 238
Emission control ............................ 239
Starter switch ................................. 240
Starting and turning off 
the engine .................................. 242
Manual transmission .................... 244
Automatic transmission................ 246
Parking brake ................................. 256
Driving instructions ...................... 257
Drive sensibly – Save Fuel........ 257
Drinking and driving................. 257
Pedals ........................................... 257
Power assistance ........................ 258
Brakes .......................................... 258
Driving off ................................... 259
Parking ........................................ 260
Tires .............................................  261
Snow chains ................................ 263
Winter driving instructions ...... 264
Deep water .................................. 266
Passenger compartment............ 267
Traveling abroad......................... 267Cruise control ................................  268
Brake assist system (BAS)............  271
Antilock brake system (ABS).......  272
Electronic stability program 
(ESP) ...........................................  274
What you should know 
at the gas station ......................  278
Check regularly and before 
a long trip ..................................  280
Instrument cluster displayMalfunction and indicator 
lamps in the instrument 
cluster.........................................  282
On-board diagnostic system.........  283
Check engine malfunction 
indicator lamp ............................  283
Brake warning lamp ..................  284
Supplemental restraint 
system (SRS) indicator lamp ....  285
Fuel reserve warning ................  286
ABS malfunction indicator 
lamp .............................................  287Electronic stability program 
(ESP) — warning lamp ............... 288
Seat belt nonusage warning 
lamp ............................................288
Malfunction and indicator 
lamp in the center console ...... 289
AIRBAG OFF indicator lamp..... 289
Malfunction and warning 
messages in the 
multifunction display ............... 290
DISPLAY DEFECTIVE ................  291
BATTERY  / ALTERNATOR........ 292
ANTILOCK BRAKE SYSTEM..... 293
BRAKE ASSIST ........................... 293
BRAKE PAD WEAR .................... 294
BRAKE FLUID ............................. 294
PARKING BRAKE ....................... 295
SEAT BELT SYSTEM................... 295
ELEC. STABIL. PROG.
(Electronic stability program) .. 296
COOLANT (coolant level) .......... 297
COOLANT 
(coolant temperature) ................ 298
ENGINE OIL LEVEL ................... 299 

225 Contents - Driving
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments 
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
DrivingControl and operation of 
radio transmitters ..................... 226
The first 1 000 miles 
(1 500 km) ................................. 227
Maintenance ................................... 227
Tele Aid............................................ 228
Catalytic converter......................... 238
Emission control ............................ 239
Starter switch ................................. 240
Starting and turning off 
the engine .................................. 242
Manual transmission .................... 244
Automatic transmission................ 246Parking brake ................................  256
Driving instructions......................  257
Drive sensibly – Save Fuel .......  257
Drinking and driving ................  257
Pedals ..........................................  257
Power assistance........................  258
Brakes ..........................................  258
Driving off...................................  259
Parking ........................................  260
Tires .............................................  261
Snow chains................................  263
Winter driving instructions .....  264
Deep water ..................................  266
Passenger compartment ...........  267
Traveling abroad ........................  267Cruise control ................................. 268
Brake assist system (BAS) ............  271
Antilock brake system (ABS) ....... 272
Electronic stability program 
(ESP) ...........................................  274
What you should know 
at the gas station ....................... 278
Check regularly and before 
a long trip ................................... 280 

263 Driving instructions
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments 
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Tire speed rating
Vehicles without Evolution Package: 
Your vehicle is factory equipped with “H”-rated tires, 
which have a speed rating of 130 mph (210 km / h) or 
optional “V”-rated tires which have a speed rating of 
150  mph (240 km / h).
Vehicles with Evolution Package:
Your vehicle is factory equipped with “W”-rated tires, 
which have a speed rating of 168 mph (270 km / h).
An electronic speed limiter prevents your vehicle from 
exceeding a speed of 130 mph (210 km / h).Snow chains
Use only snow chains that are tested and recommended 
by Mercedes-Benz. Your authorized Mercedes-Benz 
Center will be glad to advise you on this subject. 
Chains should only be used on the rear wheels. Follow 
the manufacturer’s mounting instructions. 
Snow chains should only be driven on snow covered 
roads at speeds not to exceed 30 mph (50 km / h). 
Remove chains as soon as possible when driving on 
roads without snow.
When driving with snow chains, press the ESP control 
switch to OFF, refer to page 276.
Wa r n i n g !
Even when permitted by law, never operate a 
vehicle at speeds greater than the maximum speed 
rating of the tires.Exceeding the maximum speed for which tires are 
rated can lead to sudden tire failure causing loss of 
vehicle control and resulting in personal injury 
and possible death. 

265 Driving instructions
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments 
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Winter driving
Have your vehicle winterized at your authorized 
Mercedes-Benz Center before the onset of winter.
•Change the engine oil if the engine contains an oil 
which is not approved for winter operation. For 
viscosity (SAE / CCMC class) and filling quantity, 
seepage379.
•Check engine coolant anticorrosion / antifreeze 
concentration.
•Additive for the windshield washer and headlamp 
cleaning system: Add MB Concentrate “S” to a 
premixed windshield washer solvent / antifreeze 
which is formulated for below freezing 
temperatures, see page 320.
•Test battery: Battery capacity drops with decreasing 
ambient temperature. A well charged battery helps 
to ensure that the engine can be started, even at low 
ambient temperatures.
•Tires: We recommend M+S rated radial-ply tires on 
all four wheels for the winter season. Observe 
permissible maximum speed for M+S rated 
radial-ply tires and the legal speed limit.Note:
In winter operation, the maximum effectiveness of the 
antilock brake system (ABS) and electronic stability 
program (ESP) can only be achieved with M+S rated 
radial-ply tires and / or snow chains recommended by 
Mercedes-Benz. Snow chains maximize performance. 

275 Driving systems
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments 
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Notes:
The yellow ESP warning lampv in the speedometer 
dial comes on with the electronic key in starter switch 
position 2. It should go out with the engine running.
If the ESP warning message is displayed, a malfunction 
has been detected in the system. Only partial engine 
output will be available.
Have the ESP checked at your authorized 
Mercedes-Benz Center as soon as possible.
For ESP warning message, see page 288.
With the ABS malfunctioning, the ESP is also switched 
off.
Driving the vehicle with varied size tires will cause the 
wheels to rotate at different speeds, therefore the ESP 
may activate (yellow ESP warning lamp in speedometer 
dial comes on). For this reason, all wheels, including the 
spare wheel, must have the same tire size. When testing the parking brake on a brake test 
dynamometer, the engine must be shut off. Otherwise, 
the ESP will immediately be engaged and will apply the 
rear wheel brakes. 
In winter operation, the maximum effectiveness of the 
ESP is only achieved with Mercedes-Benz recommended 
M+S rated radial-ply tires and / or snow chains.
Synchronizing ESP
If the power supply was interrupted (battery 
disconnected or empty), the ESP warning message may 
be displayed with the engine running.
Turn steering wheel completely to the left and then to 
the right. The ESP warning message should go out. 

276 Driving systems
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments 
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
ESP control switch
ESP control switch located on center console.
1Press to switch ESP off
ESP warning lampv in located in speedometer 
dial comes on.
2Press to switch ESP on
ESP warning lampv in located in speedometer 
dial goes out.To improve the vehicle’s traction when driving with 
snow chains, or starting off in deep snow, sand or gravel, 
switch off ESP by pressing the upper half (1) of the ESP 
switch. The ESP warning lampv located in the 
speedometer dial, is continuously illuminated.
With the ESP system switched off, the engine torque 
reduction feature is cancelled. Therefore, the enhanced 
vehicle stability offered by ESP is unavailable.
Adapt your speed and driving to the prevailing road 
conditions.
A portion of the ESP system remains active, even with 
the switch in the OFF position.
If one drive wheel loses traction and begins to spin, the 
brake is applied until the wheel regains sufficient 
traction. The traction control engages at vehicle speeds 
up to approximately 24 mph (40 km / h), and switches 
off at 50 mph (80 km / h).
P42.45-2270-26
Wa r n i n g !
When the ESP warning lamp is illuminated 
continuously, the ESP is switched off. Adapt your speed and driving to the prevailing road 
conditions. 

374 Technical data
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments 
and controlsOperation DrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Rims – Tires
1 Must not be used with snow chains.Model C 230 KOMPRESSOR C 230 KOMPRESSOR
(optional)C 230 KOMPRESSOR
Evolution Package
Rims front axle
light alloy rims
Wheel offset7 J x 16 H 2
1.46 in (37 mm)7 J x 16 H 2
1.46 in (37 mm)7
1/2 J x 17 
1.46 in (37 mm)
Rims rear axle
light alloy rims
Wheel offset7 J x 16 H 2
1.46 in (37 mm)7 J x 16 H 2
1.46 in (37 mm)7
1/2 J x 17 
1.46 in (37 mm)
Radial-ply tires
front axle
rear axleAll season
205 /55 R 16 91 H
205 / 55 R 16 91 H205 /55 R 16 91 V
225 / 50 R 16 92 V
1
225 / 45 R 17 91 W
1
225 / 45 R 17 91 W
1 

375 Technical data
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments 
and controlsOperation DrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
2 Must not be used with snow chains.Model C 230 KOMPRESSOR
Rims and winter tires
Rims (light alloy)
Wheel offset7 J x 16 H 2
1.46 in (37 mm)
Radial-ply tires 205 / 55 R 16 91 H M+S
Spare wheel
Rim (light alloy)
Wheel offset4
1/2 B x 15 H 2
0.47 in (12 mm)
Collapsible tire 165-15 89 P 
2