2003 MERCEDES-BENZ C230 KOMPRESSOR Operating

25 At a glance
Center console
Center console
Upper part
Item
Page
1
Seat heater*, driver’s side
97
2
Rear window sunshade
switch
147
3
ESP control switch
75
4
Hazard warning flasher
switch – switching on/off
104
5
Central locking switch
92
6
Rear seat head restraints
switch
36
7
Anti-theft alarm system in-
dicator lamp
79
Tow-away alarm switch
80
Item
Page
8
Seat heater*, passenger
side
97
9
Indicator lamp
7
67,
260
10
Audio system, or
165
COMAND* (see separate
operating instructions)
11
Climate control
148
Automatic climate control*
156
Rear window defroster
153,
162

27 At a glance
Overhead control panel
Overhead control panel
Item
Page
1
Rear interior lighting
on/off
105
2
Sliding/pop-up roof*
190
3
Right reading lamp on/off
106
4
Interior lighting control
105
5
Hands-free microphone for
Tele Aid* (emergency call
system), telephone* and
voice control system* (see
separate operating instruc-
tions)
134,
182,
209
6
Rear view mirror
39,
144
7
Garage door opener
217
8
Left reading lamp on/off
106
9
Tele Aid* (emergency call
system) button
209

46 Getting startedDriving
Release the parking brake by pulling on
handle2.
The indicator lamp
;
(USA only)
or
3
(Canada only) in the instru-
ment cluster goes out.
Driving

Depress the brake pedal.

Move selector lever to positionD orR
(manual transmission: first or reverse
gear).

Release the brake pedal.

Carefully depress the accelerator.
Once the vehicle is in motion, the auto-
matic central locking system engages
and the locking knobs drop down.After a cold start, the automatic transmis-
sion engages at a higher revolution. This al-
lows the catalytic converter to reach its
operating temperature earlier.
More information on driving can be found
in the “Operation” section (
page 223).
iVehicles with automatic transmission:
Wait for the gear selection process to
complete before setting the vehicle in
motion.
iYou can open a locked door from the
inside. Open door only when conditions
are safe to do so.!Simultaneously depressing the
accelerator pedal and applying the
brake reduces engine performance and
causes premature brake and drivetrain
wear.!If you hear a warning signal when driv-
ing off, you have forgotten to release
the parking brake.
Release the parking brake.
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
Vehicles with automatic transmission:
It is dangerous to shift the selector lever out
ofP orN 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 in 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.

77 Safety and Security
Driving safety systems
The switch is located on the center con-
sole.
1ESP off
2ESP on
Press upper half1 of the ESP switch
until the ESP warning lamp
v
in the
speedometer lights up.
ESP is deactivated.If one or more drive wheels are spinning,
the ESP warning lamp
v
in the speed-
ometer flashes, regardless of the speed.
Traction control brakes a spinning wheel
even when ESP is deactivated.
ESP always operates when you are brak-
ing, even when it has been deactivated.
Switching on the ESP

Press lower half2 of the ESP switch
until the ESP warning lamp
v
in the
speedometer goes out.
You are now again in normal driving
mode.
!Avoid spinning of a drive wheel for an
extended period with the ESP switched
off. This may cause serious damage to
the drive train which is not covered by
the Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.
Warning!
G
When the ESP warning lamp
v
is
illuminated continuously, the ESP is
switched off.
Adapt your speed and driving to the prevail-
ing road conditions and to the non-operating
status of the ESP.

98 Controls in detailMemory function*
Memory function*
You can store up to three different settings
per key.
The following settings are saved for each
stored position:

Driver’s seat and backrest position


Steering wheel position


Driver’s side exterior rear view mirror
position


Passenger side exterior rear view mir-
ror position


Front passenger seat position
These key-dependent memory settings
can be deactivated if desired (
page 99).
!Prior to operating the vehicle, the driv-
er should check and adjust the seat
height, seat position fore and aft, and
seat backrest angle if necessary, to
ensure adequate control, reach and
comfort. The head restraint should also
be adjusted for proper height. Also see
airbag section (
page 57) for proper
seat positioning.
In addition, adjust the steering wheel to
ensure adequate control, reach, opera-
tion and comfort. Both the inside and
outside rear view mirrors should be ad-
justed for adequate rear vision.
Fasten seat belts. Infants and small
children should be seated in a properly
secured restraint system that complies
with U.S. Federal Motor Vehicle Safety
Standards 213 and 225 and Canadian
Motor Vehicle Safety Standards 213
and 210.2.
Warning!
G
Do not activate the memory function while
driving. Activating the memory function
while driving could cause the driver to lose
control of the vehicle.

108 Controls in detailInstrument clusterCoolant temperature display
Turn the SmartKey in the starter switch to
position1 or2.

Call up the trip odometer and main
odometer by pressing button
è

or
ÿ
on the multifunction steering
wheel (page 112).

Press button
j
or
k
until the
coolant temperature display appears.During severe operating conditions and
stop-and-go city traffic, the coolant tem-
perature may rise close to 248°F (120°C).
The engine should not be operated with
the coolant temperature above 248°F
(120°C). Doing so may cause serious en-
gine damage which is not covered by the
Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.
Warning!
G


Driving when your engine is badly over-
heated can cause some fluids which
may have leaked into the engine com-
partment to catch fire. You could be se-
riously burned.


Steam from an overheated engine can
cause serious burns and can occur just
by opening the engine hood. Stay away
from the engine if you see or hear steam
coming from it.
Turn off the engine, get out of the vehicle
and do not stand near the vehicle until it
cools down.
iExcessive coolant temperatures trigger
a warning in the multifunction display.

112 Controls in detailControl systemMultifunction steering wheel
The displays in the multifunction display
and the settings in the control system
(page 111) are controlled by the buttons
on the multifunction steering wheel.Pressing any of the buttons on the multi-
function steering wheel will alter what is
shown in the multifunction display.
The information available in the multifunc-
tion display is arranged in menus, each
containing a number of functions or sub-
menus.
The individual functions are then found
within the relevant menu (radio or CD op-
erations under
AUDIO
, for example). These
functions serve to call up relevant informa-
tion or to customize the settings for your
vehicle.
1
Multifunction display in the speed-
ometerOperating the control system
2
Selecting the submenu or setting
the volumeç
down / to decrease
æ
up / to increase
3
Telephone*í
to take a call
ì
to end a call
4
Menu systemsè
for next menu
ÿ
for previous menu
5
Moving within a menuj
for next display
k
for previous display

117 Controls in detail
Control system
Select radio station
Turn on the radio (
page 168).
Vehicles with COMAND*:
Refer to separate operating instruc-
tions.

Press button
è
or
ÿ
repeatedly
until you see the currently tuned sta-
tion in the display.
1Station frequency
2Waveband setting
3Setting for station selection using
memory

Press button
k
or
j
repeatedly
until the desired station is found.
The type of search depends on the
setting for the station tuning
(
page 128):


The next stored station is selected
(SP)


Station searchOperate the CD player*

Turn on the radio and select the CD
player (
page 178).
Vehicles with COMAND*: Refer to
separate operating instructions.

Press button
è
or
ÿ
repeatedly
until the settings for the CD currently
being played are shown in the display.
1Current track
2Current CD (for CD changer*)

Press button
k
or
j
repeatedly
until the desired track is selected.
iYou can only store new stations using
the corresponding feature on the radio
(page 173).
Vehicles with COMAND*:
Refer to separate operating instruc-
tions.
You can also operate the radio in the
usual manner.
iTo select a CD from the magazine,
press a number on the audio system or
the COMAND* system key pad located
in the center dashboard.