2004 MERCEDES-BENZ C CLASS COUPE Start

128 Controls in detailControl systemInterior lighting delayed shut-off
Use this function to set whether and for
how long you would like the interior light-
ing to remain lit during darkness after the
SmartKey is removed from the starter
switch.
Move the selection marker with
theæ orç button to the
LIGHT-
ING
submenu.

Press button j ork repeatedly
until you see this message in the dis-
play:
INT. LIGHTING DELAYED SHUT-
OFF. The selection marker is on the current
setting.

Press
æ orç to select the de-
sired lamp-on time period. You can se-
lect:

0 s
, the delayed shut-off feature is
deactivated


5 s,
10 s
, 15 s
or
20 s
, the delayed
shut-off feature is activated Vehicle submenu
Access the
VEHICLE
submenu via the
SETTINGS
menu. Use the
VEHICLE
submenu
to make general vehicle settings. The
following 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 115).

Move the selection marker with
the æ orç button to the VEHICLE
submenu.
Function
Page
Set station selection mode
(radio)
128
Set automatic locking
129

130 Controls in detailControl systemActivating 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 SmartKey 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 SmartKey in the starter
switch and


press the appropriate stored position
button on the memory switch
(page 96)
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
SmartKey is removed from the starter
switch.
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 35).


Move the steering column stalk*
(page 38).


Press the memory switch*
(page 96).

132 Controls in detailControl systemSetting parking position for exterior rear
view mirror
Use the
MIRROR SETTING WHEN PARKING

function to select whether the passen-
ger-side exterior rear view mirror should be
turned downward during parking maneu-
vers when reverse gear is engaged. For ad-
ditional information, see “Activating
exterior rear view mirror parking position”
(
page 147).
You can store a parking position for the
passenger exterior rear view mirror using
the memory switch (
page 97).

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

Press button j ork repeatedly
until you see this message in the dis-
play:
MIRROR SETTING WHEN PARKING
.
The selection marker is on the current
setting.

Press æ orç to switch function ON or
OFF
.
Trip computer menu
Use the trip computer menu to call up sta-
tistical data on your vehicle. The following
information is available:Function
Page
Fuel consumption statistics after
start
133
Fuel consumption statistics
since last reset
133
Call up range (distance to empty)
134

133
Controls in detail
Control system
Fuel consumption statistics after start
Press button
ÿ orè repeatedly
until you see the first function of the
Trip computer menu.

Press button j ork repeatedly
until you see this message in the dis-
play:
AFTER START
.
1 Distance driven since start
2 Time elapsed since start
3 Average speed since start
4 Average fuel consumption since start Fuel consumption since last reset

Press button
ÿ orè repeatedly
until you see the first function of the
Trip computer menu.

Press button j ork repeatedly
until you see this message in the dis-
play:
After RESET
.
1 Distance driven since last reset
2 Time elapsed since last reset
3 Average speed since last reset
4 Average fuel consumption since last re-
set Resetting fuel consumption statistics

Press button
ÿ orè repeatedly
until you see the first function of the
Trip computer menu.

Press button j ork repeatedly
until you see the reading that you want
to reset in the display.

Press and hold the reset button in the
instrument cluster (
page 22) until
the value is reset to 0.
iAll statistics stored since the last en-
gine start will be reset approximately
four hours after the SmartKey in the
starter switch is turned to position 0 or
removed from the starter switch.
Resetting will not occur if you turn the
SmartKey back to position 1 or 2 with-
in this time period.

137
Controls in detail
Manual transmission
 Manual transmission
For information on driving with a manual
transmission, see “Manual transmission”
(page 137).
Do not exceed the maximum speed in the
individual gears. Refer to tachometer
(page 22) for engine speeds.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
SmartKey from the starter switch and lock
the vehicle. Do not leave children unattend-
ed in the vehicle, or with access to an un-
locked vehicle. Children could move the
gearshift lever, which could result in an acci-
dent and/or serious injury.
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 52).
When parked on an incline, turn the front
wheel towards the road curb.
Do not park this vehicle in areas where com-
bustible materials such as grass, hay, or
leaves can come into contact with the hot
exhaust system, as these materials could be
ignited and cause a vehicle fire.

142 Controls in detailAutomatic transmission*Gear selector lever position
Effect
ì
Park position
Gear selector lever position
when the vehicle is parked. Place
gear selector lever in position P
only when vehicle is stopped.
The park position is not intended
to serve as a brake when the
vehicle is parked. Rather, the
driver should always set the
parking brake in addition to
placing the gear selector lever in
position P to secure the vehicle.
EffectThe SmartKey can only be
removed from the starter switch
with the gear selector lever in
position P. With the SmartKey
removed, the gear selector lever
is locked in position P.
If the vehicle’s electrical system
is malfunctioning, the gear
selector lever could remain
locked in position P
(page 291).
í
Reverse gear
Place gear selector lever in
position R only when vehicle is
stopped.
Effect
ë
Neutral
No power is transmitted from the
engine to the drive axle. When
the brakes are released, the
vehicle can be moved freely
(pushed or towed).
To avoid damage to the trans-
mission, never engage N while
driving.
If the ESP is deactivated or
malfunctioning:
Move gear selector lever to N
only if the vehicle is in danger of
skidding, e.g. on icy roads.
ê
Drive
The transmission shifts
automatically. All five forward
gears are available.

143
Controls in detail
Automatic transmission*
!
Coasting the vehicle, or driving for any
other reason with gear 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 gear
selector lever not fully engaged in position P
is dangerous. Also, position P alone is not
intended to or capable of preventing your
vehicle from moving, possibly hitting people
or objects.
Always set the parking brake in addition to
shifting to position P (
page 46).
When parked on an incline, turn the front
wheels towards the road curb.
Do not park this vehicle in areas where com-
bustible materials such as grass, hay, or
leaves can come into contact with the hot
exhaust system, as these materials could be
ignited and cause a vehicle fire.
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. Children
could move the gear selector lever from
position P, which could result in an accident
and/or serious personal injury.

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.