2003 MERCEDES-BENZ C230 COUPE cruise control

Contents
Air recirculation mode .................. 154
Charcoal filter .............................. 156
Rear window defroster ................. 156
Air conditioning ............................ 157
Residual heat and ventilation* ..... 158
Rear passenger compartment
adjustable air vents ...................... 158
Audio system ..................................... 159
Audio and telephone, operation ... 159
Operating safety ........................... 159
Operating and display elements ... 160
Button and soft key operation ...... 162
Operation ..................................... 162
Radio mode .................................. 165
Cassette mode ............................. 168
CD changer* operating mode ...... 172
Telephone* operation .................. 176
Power windows .................................. 182
Opening and closing the windows 182
Synchronizing power windows ..... 184
Panorama sliding/pop-up roof* ......... 185
Opening and closing the
sunshades for the panorama
sliding/pop-up roof ...................... 185
Opening and closing the panorama
sliding/pop-up roof ...................... 186Synchronizing the panorama
sliding / pop-up roof ..................... 188
Driving systems ................................. 189
Cruise control .............................. 189
Loading .............................................. 192
Roof rack* ................................... 192
Luggage cover ............................. 192
Split folding rear bench seat ......... 192
Loading instructions .................... 194
Useful features .................................. 195
Interior storage spaces ................ 195
Ashtrays ....................................... 198
Cigarette lighter ........................... 199
Telephone* ................................... 200
Tele Aid* ...................................... 201
Garage door opener ...................... 209
Operation ......................................... 213
The first 1000 miles (1500km) .......... 214
Driving instructions ........................... 215
Drive sensibly – save fuel ............. 215
Drinking and driving ..................... 215
Pedals .......................................... 215
Power assistance .......................... 216
Brakes........................................... 216Driving off .....................................217
Parking .........................................217
Tires ..............................................218
Hydroplaning ................................ 219
Tire traction ..................................219
Tire speed rating ...........................219
Winter driving instructions ............220
Standing water .............................221
Passenger compartment ...............221
Driving abroad ..............................221
Control and operation of radio
transmitter ....................................222
Catalytic converter .......................222
Emission control ...........................223
Coolant temperature ....................223
At the gas station ...............................224
Check regularly and before a
long trip ........................................225
Engine compartment .......................... 226
Hood .............................................226
Engine oil ......................................227
Transmission fluid level ................229
Coolant level .................................229
Battery ..........................................231
Windshield washer system and
headlamp cleaning system ...........232

21 At a glance
Cockpit
Item
Page
1
Headlamp washer switch*
140
2
Combination switch
47


Turn signals
47


Windshield wipers
48


High beam
99
3
Cruise control lever
189
4
Instrument cluster
22,
102
5
Multifunction steering
wheel
24,
106
6
Horn
7
Lever for voice control
system*, see separate op-
erating instructions
8
Overhead control panel
26
9
Glove box lid release
195
Item
Page
10
Glove box lid
195
11
Center console
25
12
Starter switch
31
13
Steering wheel adjustment
handle, manual
38
14
Hood lock release
226
15
Parking brake pedal
46
16
Power window switches
182
17
Steering wheel adjustment
stalk, electrical*
38
18
Parking brake release
46
19
Door control panel
27
20
Exterior lamp switch
47, 96
21
Exterior mirror adjustment
39

189 Controls in detail
Driving systems
Driving systems
The driving system of your vehicle is de-
scribed on the following pages:

Cruise control, with which the vehicle
can maintain a preset speed
The BAS, ABS and ESP driving systems are
described in the “Safety and Security” sec-
tion (page 73).
Cruise control
Cruise control automatically maintains the
speed you set for your vehicle.
Use of cruise control is recommended for
driving at a constant speed for extended
periods of time. You can set any speed
over 20 mph (30 km/h).
The cruise control function is operated by
means of the cruise control lever.
The cruise control lever is the uppermost
lever found on the left-hand side of the
steering column.
Warning!
G
Cruise control is a convenience system de-
signed to assist the driver during vehicle op-
eration. The driver is and must remain at all
times responsible for the vehicle speed and
for safe brake operation.
Only use cruise control if the road, the traffic
and weather conditions make it advisable to
travel at a steady speed.

The use of cruise control can be danger-
ous on winding roads or in heavy traffic
because conditions do not allow safe
driving at a steady speed.


The use of cruise control can be danger-
ous on slippery roads. Rapid changes in
tire traction can result in wheel spin and
loss of control.


Deactivate cruise control when driving
in fog.
The “Resume” function should only be oper-
ated if the driver is fully aware of the previ-
ously set speed and wishes to resume this
particular preset speed.

190 Controls in detailDriving systems1Set current or higher speed
2Set current or lower speed
3Cancel cruise control
4Resume at previously set speed
Saving current speed
Accelerate or decelerate to the desired
speed.

Briefly lift1 or depress2 the cruise
control lever.
The current speed is set.

Remove your foot from the accelerator
pedal.
Cruise control is activated.Canceling cruise control
There are several ways to cancel cruise
control:

Step on the brake pedal.
or

Briefly push the cruise control lever to
position3.
Cruise control will be canceled. The
last speed set will be stored for later
use.iOn uphill or downhill grades, cruise
control may not be able to maintain the
set speed. Once the grade eases, the
set speed will be resumed.
!Moving gear selector lever to
positionN while driving also cancels
cruise control. However, the gear se-
lector lever should not be moved to
positionN while driving except to coast
when the vehicle is in danger of skid-
ding (e.g. on icy roads).iVehicles with manual transmission:
The set cruise controlled speed is
switched off when declutching exceeds
four seconds during downshifting a
gear.iThe last stored speed is canceled when
you turn off the engine.

191 Controls in detail
Driving systems
Setting stored speed (“Resume”
function)
Briefly push the cruise control lever to
position4.
The cruise control will resume the last
previously set speed.

Remove your foot from the accelerator
pedal.Setting a higher speed

Lift the cruise control lever to
position1 and hold it up until the de-
sired speed is reached.

Release the cruise control lever.
The new speed is set.
Setting a lower speed

Depress the cruise control lever to
position2 and hold it down until the
desired speed is reached.

Release the cruise control lever.
The new speed is set.Fine adjustment in 1 mph
(Canada: 1 km/h) increments
Faster

Briefly tip the cruise control lever in the
direction of arrow1.
Slower

Briefly tip the cruise control lever in the
direction of arrow2.
Warning!
G
The speed stored in memory should only be
set again if prevailing road conditions per-
mit. Possible acceleration or deceleration
differences arising from returning to preset
speed could cause an accident and/or seri-
ous injury to you and others.
iDepressing the accelerator pedal does
not deactivate cruise control. After
brief acceleration (e.g. for passing),
cruise control will resume the last
speed set.
iVehicles with automatic transmission:
When you use the cruise control lever
to decelerate, the transmission will au-
tomatically downshift if the engine’s
braking power does not brake the vehi-
cle sufficiently.

220 OperationDriving instructionsInformation on tire speed rating for winter
tires (
page 236).
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) or optional
“W”-rated tires, which have a speed rating
of 168 mph (270 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).
Winter driving instructions
The most important rule for slippery or icy
roads is to drive sensibly and to avoid
abrupt acceleration, braking and steering
maneuvers. Do not use the cruise control
system under such conditions.
When the vehicle is in danger of skidding,
move selector lever to position N or in
case of manual transmission declutch. Try
to keep the vehicle under control by cor-
rective steering action.Road salts and chemicals can adversely af-
fect braking efficiency. Increased pedal
force may become necessary to produce
the normal braking effect.
We therefore recommend depressing the
brake pedal periodically when traveling at
length on salt-strewn roads.
This can bring road salt impaired braking
efficiency back to normal. Be very careful
that you carry out these braking maneu-
vers without endangering any other road
users.
If the vehicle is parked after being driven
on salt treated roads, the braking efficien-
cy should be tested as soon as possible af-
ter driving is resumed while observing the
safety rules in the previous paragraph.
iInformation on driving with snow
chains (
page 237).
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.

270 Practical hintsWhat to do if …Display
Possible cause
Suggested solution
#
UNDERVOLTAGE
ENGINE ON!
The battery has insufficient voltage and
can no longer supply the convenience
functions such as seat heater*.
Start the engine (
page 44).
UNDERVOLTAGE
SWITCH CONSUMERS OFF!
The battery is malfunctioning.

Have the battery checked at a ser-
vice station.
G
VISIT WORKSHOP!
DISPLAY DEFECTIVE
The instrument cluster display is malfunc-
tioning.

Continue driving with added caution.

Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center as soon as possible.
±
VISIT WORKSHOP!
DISPLAY DEFECTIVE
Certain electronic systems are unable to
relay information to the control system.
The following systems may have failed:

Coolant temperature gauge


Tachometer


Cruise control display

Have the electronic systems checked
by an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center (
page 250).
W
WASHER FLUID
CHECK LEVEL!
The fluid level has dropped to about
1/3 of
total reservoir capacity.

Add washer fluid (
page 232).

328 Technical termsCollapsible tire
An especially compact spare tire that
must be inflated with a provided air
pump before using. It should only be
used to bring the vehicle to the nearest
service station.
COMAND*
(C
ockpit M
anagement and D
ata Sys-
tem)
Information and operating center for
vehicle sound and communications
systems, including the radio and navi-
gation system, as well as for other op-
tional equipment (CD changer,
telephone, etc.).
Control system
The control system is used to call up
vehicle information and to change
component settings. Information and
messages appear in the multifunction
display. The driver uses the buttons on
the multifunction steering wheel to
navigate through the system and to ad-
just settings.Cruise control
Driving convenience system for auto-
matically maintaining the vehicle speed
set by the driver.
Engine number
The number set by the manufacturer
and placed on the cylinder block to
uniquely identify each engine pro-
duced.
Engine oil viscosity
Measurement for the inner friction (vis-
cosity) of the oil at different tempera-
tures. The higher the temperature an
oil can tolerate without becoming thin,
or the lower the temperature it can tol-
erate without becoming viscous, the
better the viscosity.
ESP
(E
lectronic S
tability Pr
ogram)
Improves vehicle handling and direc-
tional stability.ETD
(E
mergency T
ensioning D
evice)
Device which deploys in certain frontal
and rear collisions exceeding the sys-
tem's threshold to tighten the seat
belts.
->SRS
FSS
(F
lexible S
ervice S
ystem)
Service indicator in the multifunction
display that informs the driver when
the next vehicle maintenance service is
due.
Gear range
Number of gears which are available to
the automatic transmission for shifting.
The automatic gear shifting process
can be adapted to specific operating
conditions using the selector lever.