Page 6 of 400

ContentsOperation......................................... 237
The first 1 000 miles (1 500 km) ......... 238
Driving instructions ............................ 239
Drive sensibly – save fuel ............. 239
Drinking and driving ..................... 239
Pedals .......................................... 239
Power assistance ......................... 239
Brakes .......................................... 240
Driving off..................................... 241
Parking ......................................... 241
Tires ............................................. 242
Hydroplaning ................................ 242
Tire traction .................................. 243
Tire speed rating .......................... 243
Winter driving instructions ........... 244
Standing water ............................. 245
Passenger compartment .............. 245
Driving abroad .............................. 245
Control and operation of radio
transmitter ................................... 246
Catalytic converter ....................... 246
Emission control........................... 247
Coolant temperature .................... 248At the gas station .............................. 249
Refueling ...................................... 249
Check regularly and before
a long trip ..................................... 251
Engine compartment ......................... 252
Hood ............................................ 252
Engine oil ..................................... 254
Transmission fluid level ................ 256
Coolant level ................................ 257
Battery ......................................... 258
Windshield washer system and
headlamp cleaning system* ......... 259
Tires and wheels ................................ 260
Important guidelines .................... 260
Life of tire..................................... 261
Direction of rotation ..................... 261
Checking tire inflation pressure ... 261
Rotating wheels ........................... 262Winter driving .................................... 263
Winter tires .................................. 263
Block heater (Canada only) .......... 264
Snow chains................................. 264
Maintenance...................................... 265
Clearing the service indicator ...... 265
Service term exceeded ................ 265
Calling up the service indicator .... 266
Resetting the service indicator .... 266
Vehicle care....................................... 267
Cleaning and care of the vehicle .. 267
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 240/C 320 (all models) ............ 339
Engine ................................................ 340
Rims and Tires ................................... 341
Same size tires ............................. 342
Minispare wheel ........................... 342
Electrical system................................ 343
Main Dimensions ............................... 344
Weights .............................................. 345Fuels, coolants, lubricants, etc. ......... 346
Capacities .................................... 346
Engine oils.................................... 348
Engine oil additives ...................... 348
Air conditioning refrigerant .......... 348
Brake fluid .................................... 348
Premium unleaded gasoline ......... 349
Fuel requirements ........................ 349
Gasoline additives ........................ 350
Flexible Fuel Vehicles ................... 350
Coolants....................................... 352
Windshield washer and headlamp
cleaning* system ......................... 354
Consumer information ....................... 355
Uniform tire quality grading ......... 355
Technical terms............................... 357Index................................................. 363
Page 50 of 400

50 Getting startedDrivingProblems while driving
The engine runs erratically and misfires
An ignition cable may be damaged.
The engine electronics may not be op-
erating properly.
Unburned gasoline may have entered
the catalytic converter and damaged it.
Give very little gas.
Have the problem repaired by an au-
thorized Mercedes-Benz Center as
soon as possible.The coolant temperature is over 248°F
(120°C)
The coolant is too hot and is no longer
cooling the engine.
Stop the vehicle as soon as possible
and turn off the engine. Allow engine
and coolant to cool.
Check the coolant level and add cool-
ant if necessary (
page 257).In case of accident
If the vehicle is leaking gasoline:
Do not start the engine under any cir-
cumstances.
Notify local fire and/or police authori-
ties.
If the extent of the damage cannot be de-
termined:
Notify an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.
If no damage can be determined on the
major assemblies
fuel system
engine mount
Start the engine in the usual manner.
Page 108 of 400

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 buttonè
orÿ on the multifunction steering
wheel (
page 112).
Press buttonj ork until the
coolant temperature display appears.During severe operating conditions, e.g.
stop-and-go traffic, the coolant tempera-
ture 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
overheated can cause some fluids which
may have leaked into the engine
compartment to catch fire. You could be
seriously burned.
Steam from an overheated engine can
cause serious burns and can occur just
by opening the hood. Stay away from
the engine if you see or hear steam com-
ing from it.
Turn off the engine, get out of the vehicle
and do not stand near the vehicle until the
engine has cooled down.
iExcessive coolant temperature triggers
a warning in the multifunction display.
Page 115 of 400
115 Controls in detail
Control system
Menus, submenus and functions
Menu1
Menu2
Menu3
Menu4
Menu5
Menu6
Menu7
Standard display
AUDIO
NAVI*
Malfunction
memory
Settings
Trip computer
Telephone*
Commands/submenusCoolant
temperature display
Select radio station
Activate route
guidance
Call up malfunc-
tion messages
Reset to factory
settings
Fuel consumption
statistics after
start
Load phone
book
Digital speedometer
Operate CD
player*
Instrument clus-
ter submenu
Fuel consumption
statistics since
the last reset
Search for
name in
phone book
Call up FSS
Operate cassette
player
Lighting
submenu
Call up range
Check engine oil
level
Vehicle
submenuConvenience
submenu
Page 116 of 400

116 Controls in detailControl system
Standard display menu
You can select the functions in the
standard display menu with buttonk
orj.
The following functions are available:
Display digital speedometer
Press buttonj twice.
The current vehicle speed is shown in
the multifunction display.
AUDIO menu
The functions in the
AUDIO
menu operate
the audio equipment which you currently
have turned on.
If no audio equipment is currently turned
on, the message
AUDIO OFF
is shown in the
display.
The following functions are available:
iThe headings used in the menus table
are designed to facilitate navigation
within the system and are not neces-
sarily identical to those shown in the
control system displays.
The first function displayed in each
menu will automatically show you
which part of the system you are in.
Function
Page
Call up coolant temperature
display
108
Call up digital speedometer
116
Call up FSS
265
Check engine oil level
254
Function
Page
Select radio station
117
Select satellite radio station*
117
Operate CD player*
118
Operate cassette player
119
Page 167 of 400
167 Controls in detail
Automatic climate control*
Residual heat and ventilation*
With the engine switched off, it is possible
to continue to heat or ventilate the interior
for up to 30 minutes. This feature makes
use of the residual heat produced by the
engine.
Activating
Turn the SmartKey in the starter switch
to position1 or0, or remove it from
the starter switch.
Press button° (
page 159).
The indicator lamp on the button
comes on.Deactivating
Press button° (
page 159).
The indicator lamp on the button goes
out.
The residual heat is automatically turned
off:
when the ignition is switched on
after about 30 minutes
if the battery voltage drops
iHow long the system will provide
heating depends on the coolant
temperature and the temperature set
by the operator. The blower will run at
speed setting1 regardless of the air
distribution control setting.
Page 248 of 400
248 OperationDriving instructionsCoolant temperature
During severe operating conditions and
stop-and-go city traffic, the coolant
temperature may rise close to
approximately 248°F (120°C).
The engine should not be operated with
the coolant temperature above 248°F
(120°C). Doing so may cause serious
engine damage which is not covered by the
Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.
Warning!
G
Driving when your engine is badly
overheated can cause some fluids,
which may have leaked into the engine
compartment, to catch fire. You could
be seriously burned
Steam from an overheated engine can
cause serious burns and can occur just
by opening the hood. Stay away from
the engine if you see or hear steam com-
ing from it.
Turn off the engine, get out of the vehicle
and do not stand near the vehicle until the
engine has cooled down.