Page 8 of 400

ContentsTechnical data..................................  335
Spare parts service ............................  336
Warranty coverage .............................  337
Loss of Service and Warranty 
Information Booklet......................  337
Identification labels............................  338
Layout of poly-V-belt drive .................  339
C 230 Kompressor Sport..............  339
C 240/C 320 (all models) ............  339
C 32 AMG.....................................  339
Engine ................................................  340
Rims and Tires ...................................  342
Same size tires .............................  343
Mixed size tires ............................  344
Minispare wheel ...........................  345
Electrical system................................  346
Main dimensions................................  347
Weights ..............................................  348Fuels, coolants, lubricants, etc. .........  349
Capacities ....................................  349
Engine oils....................................  352
Engine oil additives ......................  352
Air conditioning refrigerant ..........  352
Brake fluid ....................................  352
Premium unleaded gasoline .........  353
Fuel requirements ........................  353
Gasoline additives ........................  354
Flexible Fuel Vehicles ...................  354
Coolants.......................................  356
Windshield washer and headlamp 
cleaning* system .........................  358
Consumer information .......................  359
Uniform tire quality grading .........  359
Technical terms...............................  361Index.................................................  367 
     
        
        Page 257 of 400

257 Operation
Engine compartment
Coolant level
The engine coolant is a mixture of water 
and anticorrosion/antifreeze. To check 
the coolant level, the vehicle must be 
parked on level ground and the engine 
must be cool.
The coolant expansion tank is located on 
the passenger side of the engine compart-
ment. 
1Coolant expansion tank
Using a rag, turn cap slowly approxi-
mately one half turn to the left to 
release any excess pressure.
Continue turning the cap to the left and 
remove it.
The coolant level is correct if the level 
for cold coolant: reaches the black 
top part of the reservoir
for warm coolant: is approx. 0.6 in 
(1.5 cm) higher
Add coolant as required.
Replace and tighten cap.
For more information on coolant, see 
“Coolants” (
page 356).
Warning!
G
In order to avoid any possibly serious burns:
Use extreme caution when opening the 
hood if there are any signs of steam or 
coolant leaking from the cooling system, 
or if the coolant temperature gauge indi-
cates that the coolant is overheated.
Do not remove pressure cap on coolant 
reservoir if engine temperature is 
above 194°F (90°C). Allow engine to 
cool down before removing cap. The 
coolant reservoir contains hot fluid and 
is under pressure.
Using a rag, slowly open the cap 
approximately
1/2 turn to relieve excess 
pressure. If opened immediately, scald-
ing hot fluid and steam will be blown out 
under pressure.
Do not spill antifreeze on hot engine 
parts. Antifreeze contains ethylene 
glycol which may burn if it comes into 
contact with hot engine parts. 
     
        
        Page 335 of 400
335 Technical data
Spare parts service
Warranty coverage
Identification labels
Layout of poly-V-belt drive
Engine
Rims and Tires
Electrical system
Main dimensions
Weights
Fuels, coolants, lubricants, etc.
Consumer information 
     
        
        Page 349 of 400
349 Technical data
Fuels, coolants, lubricants, etc.
Fuels, coolants, lubricants, etc.
Capacities
Vehicle components and their respectivelubricants must match. Therefore only use 
brands tested and approved by 
Mercedes-Benz. Please refer to the Factory Approved 
Service Products pamphlet, or inquire at 
your Mercedes-Benz Center.
Model
Capacity
Fuels, coolants, lubricants, etc.
Engine with oil filter
C 230 Kompressor Sport
C240
C320
C320Sport
C2404MATIC
C3204MATIC
C32AMG
5.8 US qt (5.5 l)
7.9 US qt (7.5 l)
7.9 US qt (7.5 l)
7.9 US qt (7.5 l)
7.4 US qt (7.0 l)
7.4 US qt (7.0 l)
7.9 US qt (7.5 l)
Approved engine oils
Automatic transmission
8.5 US qt (8.0 l)
MB Automatic Transmission Oil
Manual transmission
1.3 US qt (1.2 l)
MB Manual Transmission Oil
Rear axle
C 230 Kompressor Sport
C 240 (all models)
C 320 (all models)
C32AMG
1.2 US qt (1.1 l)
1.2 US qt (1.1 l)
1.2 US qt (1.1 l)
1.5 US qt (1.4 l)
Hypoid gear oil SAE 85 W 90 
     
        
        Page 350 of 400

350 Technical dataFuels, coolants, lubricants, etc.
Model
Capacity
Fuels, coolants, lubricants, etc.
Front axle
C2404MATIC
C3204MATIC
0.5 US qt (0.46 l)
Hypoid gear oil SAE 85 W 90
Transfer case
C2404MATIC
C3204MATIC
approx. 0.62 US qt (0.59 l)
MB Transfer case fluid
Power steering
approx. 1.1 US qt (1.0 l)
MB Power Steering Fluid (Pentosin CHF 11S)
Front wheel hubs
approx. 2.1oz (60g) each
High temperature roller bearing grease
Brake system
0.5 US qt (0.5 l)
MB Brake Fluid (DOT 4+)
Cooling system
C 230 Kompressor Sport
C 240 (all models)
C 320 (all models)
C32AMG
approx. 5.9 US qt (5.6 l)
approx. 6.8 US qt (6.4 l)
approx. 6.8 US qt (6.4 l)
approx. 6.8 US qt (6.4 l)
MB 325.0 Anticorrosion/antifreeze agent
Fuel tank
including a reserve of
16.4 US gal (62.0 l)
2.1 US gal (8.0 l)
Premium unleaded gasoline:
Posted Octane 91 (Avg. of 96 RON/86 MON)Flexible Fuel Vehicle (identified by a label 
reading Premium gasoline or E85 only! on 
fuel filler flap):
Alternative fuel: Ethanol fuel (E85) 
     
        
        Page 351 of 400
351 Technical data
Fuels, coolants, lubricants, etc.
Model
Capacity
Fuels, coolants, lubricants, etc.
Air conditioning system
R-134a refrigerant and special PAG lubricant oil 
(never R-12)
Windshield washer
3.2 US qt (3.0 l)
MB Windshield Washer Concentrate
1
Windshield washer and 
headlamp cleaning system*
6.4 US qt (6.0 l)
1Use MB Windshield Washer Concentrate “S” and water for temperatures above freezing point or MB Windshield Washer Concentrate “S” and commercially available
premixed windshield washer solvent/antifreeze for temperatures below freezing point. Follow suggested mixing ratios (page 358). 
     
        
        Page 352 of 400

352 Technical dataFuels, coolants, lubricants, etc.Engine oils
Engine oils are specifically tested for their 
suitability in our engines. Therefore, only 
use engine oils approved by 
Mercedes-Benz. Information on approved 
engine oils is available in the Factory 
Approved Service Products pamphlet, or at 
your authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.Please follow FSS recommendations for 
scheduled oil changes. Failure to do so 
could result in engine damage not covered 
by the Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.
Engine oil additives
Do not blend oil additives with engine oil. 
They may damage the engine.
Damage or malfunctions resulting from 
blending oil additives are not covered by 
the Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.Air conditioning refrigerant
R-134a (HFC) refrigerant and special PAG 
lubricating oil is used in the air 
conditioning system.Never use R-12 (CFC) or mineral-based 
lubricating oil. Otherwise damage to the 
system will occur.
Brake fluid
During vehicle operation, the boiling point 
of the brake fluid is continuously reduced 
through the absorption of moisture from 
the atmosphere. Under extremely strenu-
ous operating conditions, this moisture 
content can lead to the formation of 
bubbles in the system, thus reducing the 
system’s efficiency.
Therefore, the brake fluid must be 
replaced every two years, preferably in the 
spring.
Only brake fluid approved by 
Mercedes-Benz is recommended. Your 
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center will 
provide you with additional information.
!Always check the oil filler cap 
(page 255) for important information 
pertaining to the engine oil needing to 
meet a specific Mercedes-Benz specifi-
cation (e.g. MB 229.5). If such informa-
tion is printed on the oil filler cap, only 
use an engine oil from the list of ap-
proved engine oils in the Factory Ap-
proved Service Products pamphlet that 
meets the specification indicated on 
the oil filler cap.
Using engine oils of other specification 
may cause the FSS to incorrectly deter-
mine the next service interval and will 
result in engine damage not covered by 
the Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty. 
     
        
        Page 353 of 400

353 Technical data
Fuels, coolants, lubricants, etc.
Premium unleaded gasoline
Fuel requirements
Only use premium unleaded meeting 
ASTM standard D 439:
The octane number (posted at the 
p um p) m us t be 91 mi n. It i s an a vera ge  
of both the Research (R) octane num-
ber and the Motor (M) octane number: 
(R+M)/2. This is also known as the 
ANTI-KNOCK INDEX.Unleaded gasoline containing oxygenates 
such as Ethanol, IPA, IBA and TBA can be 
used provided the ratio of any one of these 
oxygenates to gasoline does not 
exceed 10%; MTBE must not exceed 15%.
The ratio of Methanol to gasoline must not 
exceed 3% plus additional cosolvents.
Using mixtures of Ethanol and Methanol is 
not allowed. Gasohol, which contains 10% 
Ethanol and 90% unleaded gasoline, can 
be used.
These blends must also meet all other fuel 
requirements, such as resistance to spark 
knock, boiling range, vapor pressure, etc.
!To maintain the engine’s durability and 
performance, premium unleaded gaso-
l i n e  m u s t  b e  u s e d .  I f  p r e m i u m  u n l e a d e d  
is not available and low octane fuel is 
used, follow these precautions:
Have the fuel tank only partially 
filled with unleaded regular and fill 
up with premium unleaded as soon 
as possible.
Avoid full throttle driving and abrupt 
acceleration.
Do not exceed an engine speed of 
3 000 rpm if the vehicle is loaded 
with a light load such as two 
persons and no luggage.
Do not exceed
2/3 of maximum 
accelerator pedal position if the 
vehicle is fully loaded or operating 
in mountainous terrain.
iFlexible Fuel Vehicles (identified by a 
label reading Premium gasoline or 
E85 only! are designed to operate on 
premium unleaded gasoline or Ethanol 
fuel (E85) or any mixture of these two.
See notes on Flexible Fuel Vehicles 
(page 354).