2004 MERCEDES-BENZ C320 COUPE display

139 Controls in detail
Automatic transmission*
Automatic transmission*
For more information on driving with an au-
tomatic transmission, see “Automatic
transmission*” (
page 45).
Your vehicle’s transmission adapts its gear
shifting process to your individual driving
style by continually adjusting the shift
points up or down. These shift point adjust-
ments are performed based on current
operating and driving conditions.
If the operating conditions change, the
automatic transmission reacts by
adjusting its gear shift program.The automatic transmission selects indi-
vidual gears automatically, depending on:


the gear selector lever positionD with
gear ranges4, 3, 2, 1 (
page 141)


the selected shift program (C/S)
(page 144)


the position of the accelerator pedal
(page 145)


the vehicle speed
The current gear selector lever position
and shift program (
C/S) appear in the
multifunction display (page 109).
An additional indication of the current gear
selector lever position can be found on the
cover of the shifting-gate. The indicators
come on when you activate a switch (e.g.
unlocking the vehicle or opening a door)
and go out after approximately
15 minutes.When the gear selector lever is in
positionD, you can influence transmission
shifting by:


limiting the gear range


changing gears manually
iDuring the brief warm-up, transmission
upshifting is delayed. This allows the
catalytic converter to heat up more
quickly to operating temperature.
Warning!
G
It is dangerous to shift the gear selector
lever out ofP orN if the engine speed is
higher than idle speed. If your foot is not
firmly on the brake pedal, the vehicle could
accelerate quickly forward or reverse. You
could lose control of the vehicle and hit
someone or something. Only shift into gear
when the engine is idling normally and when
your right foot is firmly on the brake pedal.

140 Controls in detailAutomatic transmission*One-touch gearshifting
Even with an automatic transmission you
can change the gears manually when the
gear selector lever is in positionD.
Downshifting
Briefly press the gear selector lever to
the left in theD-direction.
The transmission will shift from the current
gear to the next lower gear. This action
simultaneously limits the gear range of the
transmission (
page 141).Upshifting

Briefly press the gear selector lever to
the right in theD+direction.
The transmission will shift from the current
gear to the next higher gear as permitted
by the shift program. This action simul-
taneously extends the gear range of the
transmission.Canceling gear range limit

Press and hold the gear selector lever
in theD+direction until
D reappears in
the multifunction display.
The transmission will shift from the current
gear range directly to gear rangeD.
Shifting into optimal gear range

Press and hold the gear selector lever
in theD-direction.
The transmission will automatically select
the gear range suited for optimal
acceleration and deceleration. This will
involve shifting down one or more gears.
Warning!
G
On slippery road surfaces, never downshift
in order to obtain braking action. This could
result in drive wheel slip and reduced
vehicle control. Your vehicle’s ABS will not
prevent this type of loss of control.
iTo avoid overrevving the engine when
the gear selector lever is moved to
theD-direction, the transmission will
not shift to a lower gear if the engine’s
max. speed would be exceeded.

141 Controls in detail
Automatic transmission*
Gear ranges
With the gear selector lever in positionD,
you can limit the transmission’s gear range
by pressing the gear selector lever to the
left (D-), and reverse the gear range limit
by pressing the gear selector lever to the
right (D+).
The selected gear range appears in the
multifunction display. If you press on the
accelerator when the engine has reached
its rpm limit, the transmission will upshift
beyond any gear range limit selected.
Effect
é
The transmission shifts through
fourth gear only.
è
The transmission shifts through
third gear only.
With this selection you can use
the braking effect of the engine.
Effect
ç
The transmission shifts through
second gear only.
Allows the use of engine’s
braking power when driving:

on steep downgrades


in mountainous regions


under extreme operating
conditions
æ
The transmission operates in
first gear only.
For maximum use of engine’s
braking effect on very steep or
lengthy downgrades.

144 Controls in detailAutomatic transmission*Program mode selector switch
The program mode selector switch is
located on the lower part of the center
console.
1Program mode selector switch
S Sport For standard driving
C Comfort For comfort driving

Press program mode selector
switch1 repeatedly until the letter of
the desired shift program appears in
the multifunction display (
page 109).
SelectCfor 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
range1 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 positionR
changes depending on the program
mode selected (SorC).
!Never change the program mode when
the gear selector lever is out of
positionP. This could result in a
change of driving characteristics for
which you may not be prepared.

160 Controls in detailAudio systemOperating and display elements

161 Controls in detail
Audio system
Item
Page
1
CD mode selector
175
2
Manual tuning
(radio)
165
Fast forward/reverse
(cassette, CD)
174,
178
Speed dialing memory
(telephone*)
183
3
Radio mode selector
165
4
Display panelCassette compartment
behind display panel
Item
Page
5
Alpha-numeric keypadBand selection,
station buttons (radio)
165
CD selection (CD)
177
Telephone number entry,
retrieving speed dialing
memory (telephone)
180
6
Scanning (radio, cassette,
CD)
167,
174,
178
7
Function button
166
8
Light-emitting diode
Item
Page
9
Function keys
a
Cassette eject
173
b
Cassette mode selector
172
c
Telephone* mode selector
179
d
Seek tuning (radio)
166
Track search (cassette,
CD)
173,
178
Speed dialing memory
(telephone)
183
e
On/off
162
Volume
162

162 Controls in detailAudio systemButton and soft key operation
In these instructions, the alpha-numeric
keypad (right side of radio panel) and the
function buttons (left side of radio panel)
are referred to as “buttons”. The four keys
below the display panel are referred to as
“soft keys”.
Operation
Switching on/off
Switching on:
Turn SmartKey in starter switch to
position1 or2.
or

Turn control knoba.
Switching off:

Remove SmartKey from starter switch.
or

Turn control knoba.Adjusting the volume

Turn control knoba.
The volume will increase or decrease
depending on the direction turned.
Adjusting audio functions
Press the AUD key to call up the bass, tre-
ble, balance and fader functions in the var-
ious operating modes. Settings for bass
and treble are stored separately for the AM
and FM frequency bands, satellite radio
(SAT) mode, cassette mode and CD mode.
!Do not press directly on the display
face. Otherwise, the display will be
damaged.
iIf the radio is switched on without the
SmartKey in the starter switch, it will
automatically switch off again after ap-
prox. 30 minutes.
iThe volume setting can be selected
separately for the telephone*, audio
system and voice control system*.

163 Controls in detail
Audio system
Bass
Regardless of operating mode, press
the
AUD
key repeatedly until
BASS

appears on the display.

Press
+ or
- key to increase or de-
crease level.
or

Press both
+ and
- keys simultaneously
to reset the Bass to its center (flat) lev-
el.Treble

Regardless of operating mode, press
the
AUD
key repeatedly until
TREBLE

appears on the display.

Press
+ or
- key to increase or
decrease level.
or

Press both
+ and
- keys simultaneously
to reset the Treble to its center (flat)
level.Fader

Regardless of operating mode, press
the
AUD
key repeatedly until
FADER

appears on the display.

Press
F or
R key to shift sound accord-
ingly to the front or rear speakers.
or

Press both
F and
R keys simultaneously
to reset the Fader to its center level.
iYour vehicle may or may not have the
fader function, depending on the
vehicle equipment and model.