2004 MERCEDES-BENZ C CLASS COUPE center console

68 Safety and SecurityOccupant safetySelf-test BabySmart
TM1
without special
child seat installed
After turning the SmartKey in the starter
switch to position 1 or 2, the
PASS. AIRBAG OFF indicator lamp located
in the center console comes on for approx.
six seconds and then goes out.
If the indicator lamp should not come on or
is continuously lit, the system is not func-
tioning. You must see an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center before seating any
child on the passenger seat.
For more information see “Practical hints”
section (
page 262).
1BabySmartTM is a trademark of Siemens
Automotive Corp.
Warning!
G
The BabySmart
TM airbag deactivation sys-
tem will ONLY work with a special child seat
designed to operate with it. It will not work
with child seats which are not BabySmart
TM
compatible.
Never place anything between seat cushion
and child seat (e.g. pillow), since it reduces
the effectiveness of the deactivation sys-
tem. The bottom of the child seat must
make full contact with the passenger seat
cushion. An incorrectly mounted child seat
could cause injuries to the child in case of an
accident, instead of protecting the child.
Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for
installation of special child seats.
Warning!
G
When using a BabySmart
TM compatible
child seat on the front passenger seat, the
passenger front airbag will not deploy only if
the PASS. AIRBAG OFF indicator lamp re-
mains illuminated.
Please be sure to check the indicator every
time you use the special system child seat.
Should the light go out while the restraint is
installed, please check installation. If the
light remains out, do not use the
BabySmart
TM restraint to transport children
on the front passenger seat until the system
has been repaired.

88 Controls in detailLocking and unlockingLocking and unlocking from the inside
You can lock or unlock the doors and the
trunk lid from inside using the central lock-
ing switch. This can be useful, for example,
if you want to lock the vehicle before start-
ing to drive.
The fuel filler flap will not be locked or un-
locked with the central locking switch.The switch is located in the center console.
Central locking switch1
Locking
2 Unlocking
Locking
Press upper half 1 of the central lock-
ing switch.
If all the doors are closed, the vehicle
locks. Unlocking

Press lower half
2 of the central lock-
ing switch.
The vehicle unlocks.
Warning!
G
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the
SmartKey from the starter switch, take it
with you and lock the vehicle. Do not leave
children unattended in the vehicle, or with
access to an unlocked vehicle. Unsuper-
vised use of vehicle equipment may cause
an accident and/or serious personal injury.
iYou can open a locked door from in-
side. Open door only when conditions
are safe to do so.
If the vehicle was previously centrally
locked with the SmartKey, it will not un-
lock using the central locking switch.
If the vehicle was previously locked
with the central locking switch

while in the individual remote con-
trol mode, only the door opened
from the inside is unlocked.


while in the global remote control
mode, the complete vehicle is un-
locked when a door is opened from
the inside.

93
Controls in detail
Seats
Removing and installing rear seat head
restraints
1Release button
Removing rear seat head restraints

Fold back head restraint (
page 92).

Pull head restraint to its highest posi-
tion.

Press release button 1 and pull out
head restraint.
Installing rear seat head restraints

Insert head restraint and push it down
until it engages.

Press release button 1 and adjust
head restraint to desired position.
Heated seats*
Both switches for the front seats are locat-
ed in the center console.
1 Normal heating
2 Rapid heating
Make sure the ignition is switched on.
All the lights in the instrument cluster
come on.
Warning!
G
For your protection, drive only with properly
positioned head restraints.
Adjust head restraint so that the head re-
straint supports the back of the head at eye
level. This will reduce the potential for injury
to the head and neck in the event of an ac-
cident or similar situation.
Do not drive the vehicle without the seat
head restraints. Head restraints are intend-
ed to help reduce injuries during an acci-
dent.
Do not interchange head restraints from
front and rear seat.

144 Controls in detailAutomatic transmission*Program mode selector switch
The program mode selector switch is
located on the lower part of the center
console.1 Program mode selector switch
S Sport For standard driving
C Comfort For comfort driving

Press program mode selector
switch 1 repeatedly until the letter of
the desired shift program appears in
the multifunction display (
page 109).
Select Cfor comfort driving:


The vehicle starts out in second
gear (both forward and reverse) for
gentler starts. This does not apply if
full throttle is applied or gear
range 1 is selected.


Traction and driving stability are
improved on icy roads.


Upshifts occur earlier even when
you give more gas. The engine then
operates at lower rpms and the
wheels are less likely to spin.


The power transmission ratio for
gear selector lever position R
changes depending on the program
mode selected ( Sor C).
!Never change the program mode when
the gear selector lever is out of
position P. This could result in a
change of driving characteristics for
which you may not be prepared.

157
Controls in detail
Climate control
Ventilated storage compartment
The front center console storage compart-
ment has its own air vent that allows for
cooling ventilation when the climate con-
trol system is activated.
1Lever Opening the air vent

Raise lever
1.
Closing the air vent

Lower lever 1.
iYou should keep this air vent closed
when outside temperatures are low.
iThe compartment can get very warm
due to its confined space. When storing
heat sensitive objects in the compart-
ment, close the air vent while heating
the passenger compartment.!Do not obstruct the air vent in the stor-
age compartment.

203
Controls in detail
Useful features
Parcel net in front passenger footwell
A small convenience parcel net is located
in the front passenger footwell. It is for
small and light items, such as road maps,
mail, etc.
Ashtrays
Center console ashtray
Opening ashtray
Briefly touch cover plate
1.
The ashtray opens automatically.
iVehicles with climate control:
The storage compartment can be heat-
ed or cooled.
The compartment can get very warm
due to its confined space. When storing
heat sensitive objects in the compart-
ment, close the air vent (
page 157)
while heating the passenger compart-
ment.
!Vehicles with climate control:
Do not obstruct the air vent in the
storage compartment.
Warning!
G
Do not place heavy or fragile objects, or ob-
jects having sharp edges, in the parcel net.
In an accident, during hard braking or sud-
den maneuvers, they could be thrown
around inside the vehicle, and cause injury
to vehicle occupants.

263
Practical hints
What to do if …
Lamp in center consoleProblem
Possible cause
Suggested solution
PASS.AIRBAG OFF
The indicator lamp comes
on.
A BabySmart
TM child seat is installed on
the front passenger seat. Therefore the
passenger front airbag is switched off.
The system is malfunctioning when there
is no BabySmart
TM child seat installed on
the front passenger seat.

Have the system checked as soon as
possible by an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
The indicator lamp does
not come on with a
BabySmart
TM1
child seat
properly installed on the
front passenger seat.
1BabySmart
TM is a trademark of Siemens Automotive Corp.
The system is malfunctioning.

make sure there is nothing between
seat cushion and child seat and check
installation of the child seat.

If the light remains out, have the sys-
tem checked as soon as possible by
an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Do not use the BabySmart
TM restraint
to transport children on the front
passenger seat until the system has
been repaired.

341
Technical terms
ABS
(A
ntilock B
rake S
ystem)
Prevents the wheels from locking up
during braking so that the vehicle can
continue to be steered.
Alignment bolt Metal pin with thread. The centering
pin is an aid used when changing a tire
to align the wheel with the wheel hub.
BabySmart
TM airbag deactivation
system This system detects if a special system
compatible child restraint seat is in-
stalled on the front passenger seat. The
system will automatically deactivate
the passenger front airbag when such a
seat is properly installed (indicator
lamp PASS. AIRBAG OFF in the center
console comes on). See your autho-
rized Mercedes-Benz Center for avail-
ability. BabySmart
TM compatible child seats
Special restraint system for children.
The sensor system for the passenger
seat prevents deployment of the pas-
senger front airbag if a BabySmart
TM
compatible child seat is installed.
BAS (B
rake A
ssist S
ystem)
System for potentially reducing braking
distances in emergency braking situa-
tions. The system is activated when it
senses an emergency based on how
fast the brake is applied.
Bi-Xenon headlamps* Headlamps which use an electric arc as
the light source and produce a more in-
tense light than filament headlamps.
Bi-Xenon headlamps produce low
beam and high beam. CAC
(C
ustomer A
ssistance C
enter)
Mercedes-Benz customer service cen-
ter, which can help you with any ques-
tions about your vehicle and provide
assistance in the event of a break-
down.
CAN system (C
ontroller A
rea N
etwork)
Data bus network serving to control ve-
hicle functions such as door locking or
windshield wiping.
Cockpit All instruments, switches, buttons and
indicator/warning lamps in the passen-
ger compartment needed for vehicle
operation and monitoring.