2003 MERCEDES-BENZ C CLASS COUPE lock

105
Controls in detail
Control system
Control system
The control system is activated as soon as
the key in the starter switch is turned to
position 1. The control system enables you
to

call up information about your vehicle


change vehicle settings
For example, you can use the control sys-
tem to find out when your vehicle is next
due for service, to set the language for
messages in the instrument cluster dis-
play, and much more.
The control system relays information to
the multifunction display.
Multifunction display
1 Main odometer
2 Trip odometer
3 Automatic transmission program mode
4 Current gear selector lever position
5 Digital clock
6 Outside temperature
iThe displays for the audio systems (ra-
dio, CD player, cassette player) will ap-
pear in English, regardless of the
language selected.
Warning!
G
A driver’s attention to the road and traffic
conditions must always be his /her primary
focus when driving.
For your safety and the safety of others, se-
lecting features through the multifunction
steering wheel should only be done by the
driver when traffic and road conditions per-
mit it to be done safely.
Bear in mind that at a speed of just 30 mph
(approximately 50 km/h), your vehicle is
covering a distance of 44 feet (approximate-
ly 13.5 m) every second.

115
Controls in detail
Control system
Resetting the functions of a submenu
For each submenu you can reset all the
functions to the factory settings.
Move to a function in the submenu.

Press the reset knob in the instrument
cluster for approximately three sec-
onds.
In the display you will see the request
to press the reset knob again to con-
firm.

Press the reset knob again.
All functions of the submenu will reset
to factory settings.
The table below shows what settings can
be changed within the various menus. De-
tailed instructions on making individual
settings can be found on the following pag-
es.
INSTRUMENT CLUSTER
LIGHTING
VEHICLE
CONVENIENCE
Set time (hours)
Set daytime running lamp mode
(USA only)
Set station selection mode
(radio)
Activate easy-entry/exit feature
Set time (minutes)
Set locator lighting
Set automatic locking
Set key dependency
Select time display mode
Exterior lamps delayed shut-off
Set parking position for exterior
rear view mirror
Select temperature display
mode
Interior lighting delayed shut-off
Select speedometer display
modeSelect languageSelect display (speed display or
outside temperature)

120 Controls in detailControl systemSetting locator lighting
During darkness, the following lamps will
come on when the exterior lamp switch is
in position
U
, the locator lighting fea-
ture is activated, and the vehicle is un-
locked by remote control:


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 posi-
tion
U
.
The locator lighting switches off when the
driver’s door is opened. It switches off au-
tomatically after a period of approximately
40 seconds.

Move the selection marker with
the
æ
or
ç
button to the
LIGHT-
ING
submenu.

Press button
j
or
k
repeatedly
until you see this message in the dis-
play:
LOCATOR LIGHTING
.
The selection marker is on the current
setting.

Press
æ
or
ç
to select the de-
sired setting.
The locator lighting will be switched on
or off.
Setting night security illumination
(Exterior lamps delayed shut-off)
Use the
HEADLAMPS DELAYED SHUT-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 shut-off feature is acti-
vated and the exterior lamp switch is in po-
sition
U
, the following lamps will
remain lit after you remove the key from
the starter switch:


Parking lamps


Tail lamps


License plate lamps


Front fog lamps
To activate night security illumination:

Select delayed shut-off period (see be-
low).

Turn the exterior la mp switch to posi-
tion
U
.
iYou can reactivate this function within
ten minutes by opening a door.
If you do not open a door after remov-
ing the key, the lamps will automatical-
ly switch off after 60 seconds.

122 Controls in detailControl systemVehicle submenu
Access the
VEHICLE
submenu via the
SET-
TINGS
menu. Use the
VEHICLE
submenu to
make general vehicle settings. The follow-
ing functions are available:
Setting station selection mode
Use the
PRESS BUTTON IN AUDIO MODE
function to select the manual or memory
station selection mode for the radio
(page 111).

Move the selection marker with
the
æ
or
ç
button to the
VEHI-
CLE
submenu.

Press button
j
or
k
repeatedly
until you see this message in the dis-
play:
PRESS BUTTON IN AUDIO MODE
. The selection marker is on the current
setting.

Press
æ
or
ç
to select the de-
sired station selection mode. You can
select:


STATION SEARCH


MEMORY
selects next stored station
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).

Move the selection marker with
the
æ
or
ç
button to the Vehicle
submenu.

Press button
j
or
k
repeatedly
until you see this message in the dis-
play:
AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCK
.
The selection marker is on the current
setting.

Press
æ
or
ç
to switch
AUTOMAT-
IC DOOR LOCK
ON or
OFF
.
Function
Page
Set station selection mode
(radio)
see be-
low
Set automatic locking
see
below

123
Controls in detail
Control system
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. When the
feature is activated, the steering wheel and
driver’s seat will move back to facilitate ex-
iting when you


remove the key from the starter switch


open the driver’s door
However, the engine must be turned off. After entering the vehicle, the steering
wheel and seat will move into the position
stored in memory when


the driver’s door is closed


you put the key in the starter switch
and


press the appropriate stored position
button on the memory switch
(page 94)

Move the selection marker with
the
æ
or
ç
button to the
CONVE-
NIENCE
submenu.

Press button
j
or
k
repeatedly
until you see this message in the dis-
play:
EASY-ENTRY FEATURE ACTIVATE
.
The selection marker is on the current
setting.
Function
Page
Activate easy-entry/exit feature
see
below
Set key dependency
124
Set parking position for exterior
rear view mirror
124
Warning!
G
You must make sure that no one can be-
come trapped or injured by the moving
steering wheel and the driver’s seat when
the easy-entry/exit feature is activated and
the driver’s door is being opened or the key
is removed from the starter switch. Do not
leave children unattended in the vehicle, or
with access to an unlocked vehicle. Unsu-
pervised use of vehicle equipment may
cause an accident and/ or serious personal
injury.
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.
iTo cancel seat/steering wheel move-
ment, do one of the following:

Press the seat adjustment
switch*(
page 34).


Move the steering column stalk*
(page 38).


Press the memory switch
(page 94).

130 Controls in detailManual transmission
Manual transmissionInformation for driving with a manual
transmission is found in the “Getting start-
ed” section (
page 41).
Gearshift leverDo not exceed the maximum speed in the
individual gears. Refer to tachometer
(page 22) for engine speeds.
Warning!
G
For vehicles equipped with a manual trans-
mission, getting out of your vehicle with the
gearshift lever not engaged in 1st or reverse
gear and parking brake engaged is danger-
ous. Also, when parked on an incline, an en-
gaged 1st or reverse gear alone may not
prevent your vehicle from moving, possibly
hitting people or objects
Always set the parking brake in addition to
engaging 1st or reverse gear (
page 51).
When parked on an incline, turn the front
wheel towards the road curb.
Warning!
G
On slippery road surfaces, never downshift
in order to obtain braking action. This could
result in drive wheel slip and reduced vehi-
cle control. Your vehicle’s ABS will not pre-
vent this type of loss of control.Warning!
G
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the
key from the starter switch and lock the ve-
hicle. Do not leave children unattended in
the vehicle, or with access to an unlocked
vehicle. Children could move the gearshift
lever, which could result in an accident
and/or serious injury.

132 Controls in detailAutomatic transmission*
Automatic transmission*Information for driving with an automatic
transmission is found in the “Getting start-
ed” section (
page 41).
Your transmission adapts its gear shifting
process to your individual driving style by
continually adjusting the shift points up or
down. These shift point adjustments are
performed based on current operating and
driving conditions.
If the operating conditions change the au-
tomatic transmission reacts by adjusting
its gear shift program. The automatic transmission selects indi-
vidual gears automatically, depending on


the selector lever position
D with gear
ranges 4, 3 , 2 , 1 (
page 134)


the selected shift program ( W/S)
(page 136)


the position of the accelerator pedal
(page 137)


the vehicle speed
The current selector lever position and
shift program ( W/S) appear in the multi-
function display (
page 22).
An additional indication of the current se-
lector lever position can be found on the
cover of the shifting gate. The indicators
come on when you activate a switch (e.g.
unlocking the vehicle or opening a door)
and go out after approximately
15 minutes. When the selector lever is in position
D,
you can influence transmission shifting by


limiting the gear range


changing gears yourself
iDuring the brief warm-up the transmis-
sion upshifting is delayed. This allows
the catalytic converter to heat up more
quickly to operating temperatures.
Warning!
G
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 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 en-
gine is idling normally and when your right
foot is firmly on the brake pedal.

135
Controls in detail
Automatic transmission*
Gear selector lever position
Effect
P
Park position

Selector position when the vehicle is
parked. Only place selector lever in
position P when vehicle is stopped.
The park position is not intended to
serve as a brake when the vehicle is
parked. Rather, the driver should al-
ways set the parking brake in addi-
tion to placing the selector lever in
position P to secure the vehicle.
The key can only be removed from
the starter switch with the selector
lever in position P. With the key re-
moved the selector lever is locked in
position P.
R
Reverse gear
Place selector lever in position R only
when vehicle is stopped.
Effect
N
Neutral
No power is transmitted from the en-
gine to the drive axle. When the
brakes are released, the vehicle can
be moved freely (pushed or towed).
To avoid damage to the transmission,
never engage N while driving.
If ESP is deactivated or malfunction-
ing:
Only move selector lever to N if the
vehicle is in danger of skidding (e.g.
on icy roads).
D
Drive
The transmission shifts automatical-
ly. All five forward gears are avail-
able.
!Coasting the vehicle, or driving for any
other reason with selector lever in N
can result in transmission damage that
is not covered by the Mercedes-Benz
Limited Warranty.Warning!
G
Getting out of your vehicle with the selector
lever not fully engaged in position P is dan-
gerous. Also, position P alone is not intend-
ed to or capable of preventing your vehicle
from moving, possibly hitting people or ob-
jects.
Always set the parking brake in addition to
shifting to position P (
page 51).
When parked on an incline, turn the front
wheels towards the road curb.