2004 MERCEDES-BENZ C320S dashboard

46 Getting startedDrivingAfter a cold start, the automatic transmis-
sion shifts at a higher engine revolution.
This allows the catalytic converter to reach
its operating temperature earlier.
For more information on driving, see “Driv-
ing instructions” (
page 239).
Switching on headlamps
The exterior lamp switch is located on the
dashboard to the left of the steering wheel.Exterior lamp switch1Off
2Low beam headlamps on
Turn switch toB.
For more information on headlamps, see
“Lighting” (
page 102).
Warning!
G
On slippery road surfaces, never downshift
in order to obtain braking action. This could
result in drive wheel slip and reduced vehi-
cle control. Your vehicle’s ABS will not pre-
vent this type of loss of control.!Place the gear selector lever in
positionR only when the vehicle is
stopped in order to avoid damaging the
transmission.!Do not run cold engine at high engine
speeds. Running a cold engine at high
engine speeds may shorten the service
life of the engine.
Warning!
G
Vehicles with automatic transmission:
It is dangerous to shift the gear selector le-
ver out ofP orN if the engine speed is high-
er than idle speed. If your foot is not firmly
on the brake pedal, the vehicle could accel-
erate quickly forward or in 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.

56 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
restraint system.


Children 12 years old and under must
never ride in the front seat, except in a
Mercedes-Benz authorized
BabySmart
TM1
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.
1BabySmart
TM is a trademark of Siemens
Automotive Corp.
Failure to follow these instructions can
result in severe injuries to you or other
occupants.
If you sell your vehicle you are responsible
to make the buyer aware of these points.
Make sure to give the buyer this Operator’s
Manual.


102 Controls in detailLighting
LightingFor notes on how to switch on the head-
lamps and use the turn signals, see the
“Getting started” section (
page 46).
Exterior lamp switch
The exterior lamp switch is located on the
dashboard to the left of the steering wheel.MOff
UAutomatic headlamp mode
CParking lamps (also side marker
lamps, tail lamps, license plate
lamps, instrument panel lamps)
Canada only:
When engine is running, the low
beam is also switched on.
BLow beam plus parking lamps or
high beam headlamps (combination
switch pushed forward).
ˆStanding lamps, right (turn left one
stop)
‚Standing lamps, left (turn left two
stops)
iIf you drive in countries where vehicles
drive on the other side of the road than
the country where the vehicle is regis-
tered, you must have the headlamps
modified for symmetrical low beams.
Relevant information can be obtained
at your authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.

120 Controls in detailControl system
Press buttonk orj repeatedly
until the desired channel is found.Operate the CD player*

Turn on the radio and select the CD
player (
page 189).
Vehicles with COMAND*:
Refer to separate operating
instructions.

Press buttonè orÿ repeatedly
until the settings for the CD currently
being played are shown in the display.
1Current track
2Current CD (for CD changer*)

Press buttonk orj repeatedly
until the desired track is selected.
iFeature description is based on
preliminary information available at
time of printing.
For more information on satellite radio
operation, see “Satellite radio (SAT)*
(USA only)” (
page 182).
Vehicles with COMAND*:
Refer to separate operating
instructions.
iTo select a CD from the magazine,
press a number on the audio system or
the COMAND* system key pad located
in the center dashboard.


121 Controls in detail
Control system
Operate the cassette player
Turn on the radio and select the
casette player (
page 186).
Vehicles with COMAND*:
Refer to separate operating
instructions.

Press buttonè orÿ repeatedly
until the settings for the cassette
currently being played are shown in the
display.
1Current side

Press buttonj to fast forward to
the next track.

Press buttonk to rewind the
cassette to the beginning of the current
track.
NAVI* menu
The
NAVI
menu contains the functions
needed to operate your navigation system.

Press buttonè orÿ repeatedly
until you see the message
NAVI
in the
display.


If the navigation system is switched off,
the message
NAVI OFF
is shown in the
display.


If the navigation system is on, the
message
NAVI ACTIVE
is shown in the
display.
Please refer to the COMAND* manual for
instructions on how to activate the route
guidance system*.
iTo select the reverse side of the tape,
press button below track number on
the audio system display, or enter
request on the COMAND* system
located in the center dashboard.

148 Controls in detailGood visibility
Good visibilityWindshield wipers
More information on the windshield wipers
can be found in the “Getting started”
section (
page 47).
Intermittent wiping
Windshield wipers with rain sensor*
A rain sensor automatically controls the
windshield wipers depending on how wet
the windshield is.

Switch on ignition.

Set the wiper switch to positionI
(page 48).
After the initial wipe, pauses between
wipes are automatically controlled by the
rain sensor.
Headlamp cleaning system*
The switch is located on the left side of the
dashboard.
1Headlamp washer switch
Switch on ignition.

Press switch1.
The headlamps are cleaned with a
high-pressure water jet.
For information on filling up the washer
reservoir, see “Windshield washer system
and headlamp cleaning system*”
(
page 259).
iIntermittent wiping is interrupted when
the vehicle is at a standstill and a front
door is opened.
!Do not leave windshield wipers in
intermittent setting when the vehicle is
taken to an automatic car wash or
during windshield cleaning. Wipers will
operate in the presence of water
sprayed on the windshield, and wipers
may be damaged as a result.
The switch should not be left in
intermittent setting as the wipers will
wipe the windshield once every time
the engine is started. Dust that
accumulates on the windshield might
scratch the glass and/or damage the
wiper blades when wiping occurs on a
dry windshield.

161 Controls in detail
Climate control
Opening the air vent
Raise lever1.
Closing the air vent

Lower lever1.Rear passenger compartment
adjustable air vents
1Left center air vent
2Thumbwheel for air volume control for
center air vents
3Right center air ventTo open center air vents:

Turn thumbwheel2 upward.
iThe compartment can get very warm
due to its confined space. When storing
heat sensitive objects in the compart-
ment, close the air vent while heating
the passenger compartment.!Do not obstruct the air vent in the
storage compartment.
iThe temperature at the center air vents
for the rear passenger
compartment1 and3 i s t h e s a m e a s
at the dashboard center air vents.

165 Controls in detail
Automatic climate control*
Setting the temperature
Use temperature controls1 ande for
the left side or6 and7 for the right side
(page 163) to separately adjust the air
temperature on each side of the passenger
compartment. You should raise or lower
the temperature setting in small incre-
ments, preferably starting at 72°F (22°C).Increasing

Push temperature control1
and/or6.
The automatic climate control system
will correspondingly adjust the interior
air temperature.
Decreasing

Push temperature control7
and/ore.
The automatic climate control system
will correspondingly adjust the interior
air temperature.
Adding outside air

Turn thumbwheel3 in dashboard
(page 163) to increase airflow of
outside air through air vents for center,
left and right sides and rear passenger
compartment.
iSevere conditions (e.g. strong air
pollution) may require replacement of
the filter before its scheduled interval.
A clogged filter will reduce the air
volume to the interior.
If the vehicle interior is hot, ventilate
the interior before driving off.
Keep the air intake grille in front of the
windshield free of snow and debris.
Do not obstruct air flow by placing
objects on the air flow-through exhaust
slots below the rear window.
iWhen operating the climate control
system in automatic mode, you will
only rarely need to adjust the tempera-
ture, air volume and air distribution.