ContentsPractical hints.................................. 257
What to do if … .................................. 258 Lamps in instrument cluster ......... 258
Lamp in center console ................ 263
Messages in the display ............... 264
Where will I find ...?............................ 284 First aid kit ................................... 284
Spare wheel ................................. 285
Vehicle tool kit ............................. 285
Unlocking/locking in an emergency .. 288 Unlocking the vehicle ................... 288
Locking the vehicle ...................... 289
Changing batteries in
the SmartKey ............................... 290
Fuel filler flap ............................... 291
Manually unlocking the
gear selector lever........................ 291
Opening/closing in an emergency ..... 292 Panorama sliding/pop-up roof ..... 292
Replacing bulbs ................................. 293 Bulbs ............................................ 293
Replacing bulbs for front lamps.... 295
Side marker lamp bulb ................. 298
Replacing bulbs for rear lamps ..... 298
Replacing wiper blades ...................... 300 Removing ..................................... 300
Installing ...................................... 300
Flat tire .............................................. 301 Preparing the vehicle ................... 301
Mounting the spare wheel ............ 301
Battery ............................................... 307 Disconnecting the battery ............ 308
Removing the batteries ................ 308
Charging and reinstalling
batteries....................................... 308
Reconnecting the batteries .......... 308
Jump starting ..................................... 310
Towing the vehicle ............................. 313 Installing towing eye bolt ............. 316
Fuses ................................................. 317 Fuse box in
passenger compartment .............. 317
Fuse box in engine compartment . 317
Auxiliary fuse box in trunk ............ 318
Technical data ................................. 319
Spare parts service ............................ 320
Warranty coverage............................. 321 Loss of Service and Warranty
Information Booklet ..................... 321 Identification labels ........................... 322
Layout of poly-V-belt drive ................. 323
C 230 Kompressor ....................... 323
C 320 ........................................... 323
Engine ............................................... 324
Rims and Tires ................................... 325 Same size tires............................. 326
Spare wheel ................................. 326
Electrical system ............................... 327
Main Dimensions ............................... 328
Weights ............................................. 329
Fuels, coolants, lubricants, etc. ......... 330 Capacities .................................... 330
Engine oils ................................... 332
Engine oil additives ...................... 332
Air conditioning refrigerant .......... 332
Brake fluid.................................... 332
Premium unleaded gasoline ......... 333
Fuel requirements ........................ 333
Gasoline additives ........................ 334
Flexible Fuel Vehicles................... 334
Coolants ...................................... 336
Windshield washer system and
headlamp cleaning system........... 338
Consumer information ....................... 339
Uniform tire quality grading ......... 339
58 Safety and SecurityOccupant safety
Adjust the driver seat as far as possible
rearward, still permitting proper opera-
tion of vehicle controls. The distance
from the center of the driver’s breast-
bone to the center of the airbag cover on
the steering wheel must be at least ten
inches (25 cm) or more. You should be
able to accomplish this by a combina-
tion of adjustments to the seat and
steering wheel. If you have any prob-
lems, please see your authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
Do not lean with your head or chest
close to the steering wheel or dash-
board.
Keep hands on the outside of steering
wheel rim. Placing hands and arms in-
side the rim can increase the risk and
potential severity of hand/arm injury
when driver front airbag inflates.
Adjust the front passenger seat as far as
possible rearward from the dashboard
when the seat is occupied.
Occupants, especially children, should
never lean their heads in the area of the
door where the side airbag inflates. This
could result in serious injuries or death
should the airbag be triggered. Always
sit upright, properly use the seat belts
and appropriate size infant or child re-
straint system.
Children 12 years old and under must
never ride in the front seat, except in a
Mercedes-Benz authorized
BabySmart
TM compatible child seat,
which operates with the BabySmart
TM
system installed in the vehicle to deacti-
vate the passenger front airbag when it
is properly installed. Otherwise they will
be struck by the airbag when it inflates
in a crash. If this happens, serious or fa-
tal injury will result.
Failure to follow these instructions can re-
sult in severe injuries to you or other occu-
pants.
If you sell your vehicle you are responsible
to make the buyer aware of these points. Be
sure to give the buyer this Operator’s Manu-
al.
Warning!
G
Accident research shows that the safest
place for children in an automobile is in the
rear seat. Should you choose to place a child
12 years old or under in the front passenger
seat of your vehicle, you must properly use
a BabySmart
TM child restraint which will
turn off the passenger front airbag.
BabySmart
TM will not, however, turn off any
side impact airbag.
It should be noted that with respect to both
front and rear side impact airbags there is a
possibility for a side airbag related injury if
occupants, especially children, are not prop-
erly seated or restrained when next to a side
airbag which needs to deploy rapidly in a
side impact in order to do its job.
To help avoid the possibility of injury, please
follow these guidelines:
(1) Occupants, especially children, should never place their bodies or lean their
heads in the area of the door or rear
76 Safety and SecurityDriving safety systemsFor more information, see “Practical hints”
(page 261).Switching off the ESP
To improve the vehicle’s traction, turn off
the ESP in driving situations where it would
be advantageous to have drive wheels spin
and thus cut into surfaces for better grip
such as:
starting out on slippery surfaces and in
deep snow in conjunction with snow
chains
sand or gravelThe switch is located on the center con-
sole.
1 ESP off
2 ESP on
Press upper half 1 of the ESP switch
until the ESP warning lamp v in the
speedometer comes on.
The ESP is deactivated.
!Because of the ESP’s automatic opera-
tion, the engine must be shut off
(SmartKey in starter switch position 0
or 1) when
the parking brake is being tested on
a brake test dynamometer
the vehicle is being towed with the
front axle raised
Active braking action through the ESP
may otherwise seriously damage the
rear axle brake system.
The ESP will only function properly if
you use wheels of the recommended
tire size.
Warning!
G
The ESP should not be switched off during
normal driving other than in the circum-
stances described below. Disabling of the
system will reduce vehicle stability in stan-
dard driving maneuvers.
244 OperationTires and wheels
Tires and wheelsSee your authorized Mercedes-Benz Cen-
ter for information on tested and recom-
mended rims and tires for summer and
winter operation. They can also offer ad-
vice concerning tire service and purchase
Retreaded tires are not tested or recom-
mended by Mercedes-Benz, since previous
damage cannot always be recognized on
retreads. Mercedes-Benz can therefore
not assure the operating safety of the vehi-
cle when such tires are used.
See your authorized Mercedes-Benz Cen-
ter for information on tested and recom-
mended rims and tires for summer and
winter operation.
Important guidelines
Use only sets of tires and rims of the
same type and make.
Tires must be of the correct size for the
rim.
Break in new tires for approximately
60 miles (100 km) at moderate
speeds.
Regularly check the tires and rims for
damage. Dented or bent rims can
cause tire pressure loss and damage to
the tire beads
If vehicle is heavily loaded, check tire
pressure and correct as required.
Do not allow your tires to wear down
too far. Adhesion properties on wet
roads are sharply reduced at tread
depths under
1/8in (3 mm).
When replacing individual tires, you
should mount new tires on the front
wheels first (on vehicles with
same-sized wheels all around).
Warning!
G
Replace rims or tires with the same designa-
tion, manufacturer and type as shown on the
original part. See your authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center for further informa-
tion. If incorrectly sized rims and tires are
mounted:
The wheel brakes or suspension compo-
nents can be damaged.
The correct operating clearance of the
wheels and the tires are no longer guar-
anteed.
Warning!
G
Worn, old tires can cause accidents. If the
tire tread is badly worn, or if the tires have
sustained damage, replace them.
When replacing rims, use only genuine
Mercedes-Benz wheel bolts specified for the
particular rim type. Failure to do so can re-
sult in the bolts loosening and possibly an
accident.
246 OperationTires and wheelsTire pressure changes by approximately
1.5 psi (0.1 bar) per 18°F (10°C) of air
temperature change. Keep this in mind
when checking tire pressure where the
temperature is different from the outside
temperature.
Tire temperature and tire pressure are also
increased while driving, depending on the
driving speed and the tire load.Check the spare tire periodically for condi-
tion and inflation. Spare tires will age and
b e c o m e w o r n o v e r t i m e e v e n i f n e v e r u s e d ,
and thus should be inspected and replaced
when necessary.
Rotating wheels
On vehicles with the same wheel size all
around, wheels can be rotated every 3000
to 6000 miles (5 000 to 10 000 km), or sooner if necessary, according to the de-
gree of tire wear. The same direction of tire
rotation must be retained.
Rotate the wheels before the characteris-
tic tire wear pattern becomes visible
(shoulder wear on front wheels and tread
center wear on rear wheels).
Thoroughly clean the inner side of the
wheels after each rotation. Check and en-
sure proper tire inflation pressure.
Warning!
G
Follow recommended inflation pressures.
Do not overinflate tires. Overinflating tires
can result in sudden deflation (blowout) be-
cause they are more likely to become punc-
tured or damaged by road debris, potholes,
etc.
Do not underinflate tires. Underinflated tires
wear unevenly, adversely affect handling
and fuel economy, and are more likely to fail
from being overheated.
Do not overload the tires by exceeding the
specified vehicle capacity weight (as indicat-
ed by the label on the pillar in the driver’s
door opening). Overloading the tires can
overheat them, possibly causing a blowout.Warning!
G
Rotate front and rear wheels only if they are
of the same size.
Warning!
G
Have the tightening torque checked after
changing a wheel. Wheels could become
loose if not tightened with a torque of
80 lb-ft (110 Nm).
Use only genuine Mercedes-Benz wheel
bolts specified for your vehicle's rims.
248 OperationWinter drivingBlock heater (Canada only)
The engine is equipped with a block heat-
er.
The electrical cable may be installed at
your authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Snow chains
Snow chains should only be driven on
snow-covered roads at speeds not to ex-
ceed 30 mph (50 km/h). Remove chains
as soon as possible when driving on roads
without snow.Please observe the following guidelines
when using snow chains:
Use of snow chains is not permissible
with all wheel/tire combinations.
Snow chains should only be used on
the rear wheels. Follow the manufac-
turer's mounting instructions.
Only use snow chains that are
approved by Mercedes-Benz. Your
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center will
be glad to advise you on this subject.
Use of snow chains may be prohibited
depending on location. Always check
local and state laws before installing
snow chains.
Warning!
G
If you use your spare tire when winter tires
are fitted on the other wheels, be aware that
the difference in tire characteristics may
very well impair turning stability and that
overall driving stability may be reduced.
Adapt your driving style accordingly.
Have the spare tire replaced with a winter
tire at the nearest authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
iWhen driving with snow chains, you
may wish to deactivate the ESP
(page 75) before setting the vehicle
in motion. This will improve the vehi-
cle‘s traction.
!Use of snow chains is not permissible
with tire sizes:
225/45 R17
287
Practical hints
Where will I find ...?
Spare wheel bolts
1 Wheel bolt for light alloy rims
2 Wheel bolt for light alloy spare wheel
rim size 4
1/2B x15 H2 For more information on model and spare
wheel rim size, see “Technical data” sec-
tion (
page 326).
!Wheel bolts
2 must be used when
mounting spare wheel rim
size 4
1/2Bx15 H2 (
page 326).
The use of any wheel bolts other than
wheel bolts 2 for spare wheel rim
size 4
1/2B x15 H2 can cause physical
damage to the vehicle.
Warning!
G
Make sure to use the original length wheel
bolts when remounting the original wheel af-
ter it has been repaired.
303
Practical hints
Flat tire
Removing the wheel
1 Alignment bolt
Unscrew upper-most wheel bolt and re-
move.
Replace this wheel bolt with the align-
ment bolt 1 supplied in the tool kit.
Remove the remaining bolts.
Remove the wheel. Mounting the new wheel
1 Wheel bolt for light alloy rims
2 Wheel bolt for light alloy spare wheel
rim size 4
1/2B x15 H2
Clean contact surfaces of wheel and
wheel hub.
Guide the spare wheel onto the align-
ment bolt and push it on.
Insert wheel bolts and tighten them
slightly.
Inflate the spare tire using the electric
pump (
page 304).
!Do not place wheel bolts in sand or dirt.
This could result in damage to the bolt
and wheel hub threads.
!Wheel bolts 2 must be used when
mounting spare wheel rim
size 4
1/2Bx15 H2 (
page 326).
The use of any wheel bolts other than
wheel bolts 2 for spare wheel rim
size 4
1/2B x15 H2 can cause physical
damage to the vehicle.
Warning!
G
Make sure to use original length wheel bolts
when remounting the original wheel after it
has been repaired.Warning!
G
Inflate spare wheel with collapsible tire only
after the wheel is properly mounted.
Inflate the spare wheel tire using the electric
air pump before lowering the vehicle.