2004 MERCEDES-BENZ C320 COUPE instrument cluster

105 Controls in detail
Instrument cluster
Instrument cluster
For a full view illustration of the instrument
cluster, see “At a glance” (
page 22).
The instrument cluster is activated when
you:


open a door


turn on the ignition


press the reset button (
page 22)


switch on the exterior lamps
You can change the instrument cluster
settings in the Instrument cluster submenu
of the control system (
page 122).
Instrument cluster illumination
Use the reset button (
page 22) to adjust
the illumination brightness for the instru-
ment cluster.To brighten illumination

Turn the reset button in the instrument
cluster (
page 22) clockwise.
The instrument cluster illumination will
brighten.
To dim illumination

Turn the reset button in the instrument
cluster (
page 22) counterclockwise.
The instrument cluster illumination will
dim.
iThe instrument cluster illumination is
dimmed or brightened automatically to
suit ambient light conditions.
The instrument cluster illumination will
also be adjusted automatically when
you switch on the vehicle’s exterior
lamps.

106 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 110).

Press buttonj ork until the
coolant temperature display appears.During severe operating conditions e.g.
stop-and-go city traffic, the coolant tem-
perature 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 over-
heated can cause some fluids which
may have leaked into the engine com-
partment to catch fire. You could be se-
riously burned.


Steam from an overheated engine can
cause serious burns and can occur just
by opening the engine hood. Stay away
from the engine if you see or hear steam
coming from it.
Turn off the engine, get out of the vehicle
and do not stand near the vehicle until it has
cooled down.
iExcessive coolant temperature trigger
a warning in the multifunction display.

107 Controls in detail
Instrument cluster
Trip odometer
Make sure you are viewing the trip
odometer and main odometer
(page 109) in the multifunction dis-
play.

If it is not displayed, press buttonè
orÿ on the multifunction steering
wheel (
page 110) repeatedly until
the trip odometer appears.

Press and hold the reset button on the
instrument cluster (
page 22) until
the trip odometer is reset.
Tachometer
The red marking on the tachometer de-
notes excessive engine speed.
To help protect the engine, the fuel supply
is interrupted if the engine is operated
within the red marking.
Outside temperature indicator
The outside temperature is displayed in
the instrument cluster (
page 22). For in-
formation how to select the unit of the dis-
played temperature, i.e. degrees Celsius
(°C) or degrees Fahrenheit (°F) see “Se-
lecting temperature display mode”
(
page 123).
!Avoid driving at excessive engine
speeds, as it may result in serious en-
gine damage that is not covered by the
Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.
Warning!
G
The outside temperature indicator is not de-
signed to serve as an ice-warning device and
is therefore unsuitable for that purpose.
Indicated temperatures just above the freez-
ing point do not guarantee that the road sur-
face is free of ice. The road may still be icy,
especially in wooded areas or on bridges.

108 Controls in detailInstrument clusterThe temperature sensor is located in the
front bumper area. Due to its location, the
sensor can be affected by road or engine
heat during idling or slow driving. This
means that the accuracy of the displayed
temperature can only be verified by com-
parison to a thermometer placed next to
the sensor, not by comparison to external
displays (e.g. bank signs, etc.).When moving the vehicle into colder ambi-
ent temperatures (e.g. when leaving your
garage), you will notice a delay before the
lower temperature is displayed.
A delay also occurs when ambient temper-
atures rise. This prevents inaccurate tem-
perature indications caused by heat
radiated from the engine during idling or
slow driving.

109 Controls in detail
Control system
Control system
The control system is activated as soon as
the SmartKey in the starter switch is
turned to position1. The control system
enables you to

call up information about your vehicle


change vehicle settings
For example, you can use the control sys-
tem to find out when your vehicle is next
due for service, to set the language for
messages in the instrument cluster dis-
play, and much more.
The control system relays information to
the multifunction display.
Multifunction display
1Outside temperature
2Main odometer
3Trip odometer
4Automatic transmission program mode
5Current gear selector lever position
6Digital clock
iThe displays for the audio systems (ra-
dio, CD player, cassette player) will ap-
pear in English, regardless of the
language selected.
Warning!
G
A driver’s attention to the road and traffic
conditions must always be his /her primary
focus when driving.
For your safety and the safety of others, se-
lecting features through the multifunction
steering wheel should only be done by the
driver when traffic and road conditions per-
mit it to be done safely.
Bear in mind that at a speed of just 30 mph
(approximately 50 km/h), your vehicle is
covering a distance of 44 feet (approximate-
ly 13.5 m) every second.

113 Controls in detail
Control system
Menus, submenus and functions
Menu1
Menu2
Menu3
Menu4
Menu5
Menu6
Menu7
Commands/submenusStandard dis-
play
AUDIO
NAVI*
Malfunction
memory
Settings
Trip computer
Telephone
Coolant temper-
ature display
Select radio sta-
tion
Activate route
guidance
Call up malfunc-
tion messages
Reset to factory
settings
Fuel consumption
statistics after
start
Load phone
book
Digital speed-
ometer
Operate CD
player*
Instrument cluster
submenu
Fuel consumption
statistics since the
last reset
Search for name
in phone book
Call up FSS
Operate cas-
sette player
Lighting submenu
Call up range
Check engine oil
level
Vehicle submenuConvenience sub-
menu

121 Controls in detail
Control system
The table below shows what settings can
be changed within the various menus. De-
tailed instructions on making individual
settings can be found on the following
pages.INSTRUMENT CLUSTER
LIGHTING
VEHICLE
CONVENIENCE
Set time (hours)
Set daytime running lamp mode
(USA only)
Set station selection mode
(radio)
Activate easy-entry/exit feature
Set time (minutes)
Set locator lighting
Set automatic locking
Set key-dependency
Select time display mode
Exterior lamps delayed shut-off
Set parking position for exterior
rear view mirror
Select temperature display
mode
Interior lighting delayed shut-off
Select speedometer display
modeSelect languageSelect display (speed display or
outside temperature)

122 Controls in detailControl systemInstrument cluster submenu
Access the
INSTRUMENT CLUSTER
submenu
via the
SETTINGS
menu. Use the
INSTRU-
MENT CLUSTER
submenu to change the in-
strument cluster display settings. The
following functions are available:Set time (hours)
This function can only be seen with audio
system.

Move the selection marker with
theæ orç button to the
IN-
STRUMENT CLUSTER
submenu.

Press buttonj ork repeatedly
until you see this message in the dis-
play:
TIME SETTINGS – HOURS
.The selection marker is on the hour set-
ting.

Pressæ orç to set the hour.
Set time (minutes)
This function can only be seen with audio
system.

Move the selection marker with
theæ orç button to the
IN-
STRUMENT CLUSTER
submenu.
Function
Page
Set time (hours)
122
Set time (minutes)
122
Select time display mode
123
Select temperature display
mode
123
Select speedometer display
mode
124
Select language
124
Select display (speed display or
outside temperature)
125
iVehicles with COMAND*: For informa-
tion on setting the time, refer to the
separate COMAND operating instruc-
tions.
iVehicles with COMAND*: For informa-
tion on setting the time, refer to the
separate COMAND operating instruc-
tions.