Contents
Introduction.......................................... 9
Product information ................................ 9
Operator’s Manual ............................... 10
Service and warranty information .. 10
Important notice for California
retail buyers and lessees of
Mercedes-Benz automobiles .......... 11
Maintenance .................................. 12
Roadside Assistance ...................... 12
Change of address or ownership.... 12
Operating your vehicle outside
the USA or Canada......................... 13
Where to find it .................................... 14
Symbols ............................................... 15
Operating safety .................................. 16
Proper use of the vehicle ............... 16
Problems with your vehicle .................. 17
Reporting safety defects...................... 18
Reporting Safety Defects ............... 18
At a glance.......................................... 19
Cockpit ................................................. 20
Instrument cluster ................................ 22
Multifunction steering wheel ................ 24
Center console ..................................... 25
Upper part ...................................... 25
Lower part ...................................... 26
Overhead control panel ........................ 27
Door control panel................................ 28
Getting started................................... 29
Unlocking ............................................. 30
Unlocking with the SmartKey ......... 30
Adjusting .............................................. 32
Seats .............................................. 32
Steering wheel ................................ 36
Mirrors ............................................ 38
Driving .................................................. 40
Fastening the seat belt ................... 40
Starting the engine ......................... 43
Switching on headlamps ................. 46
Turn signals and high beam ............ 47
Windshield wipers ........................... 47
Problems while driving.................... 49
Parking and locking .............................. 50
Parking brake ................................. 50
Switching off headlamps................. 51
Turning off engine ........................... 52
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 .............. 246
Driving abroad .............................. 246
Control and operation of radio
transmitters.................................. 246
Catalytic converter ....................... 247
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 ..................................... 253
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
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
21 At a glance
Cockpit
Item
Page
1
Combination switch
Turn signals
47
Windshield wipers
47
High beam
47
2
Cruise control lever
206
3
Instrument cluster
22,
109
4
Multifunction steering
wheel
24,
114
5
Lever for voice control
system*, see separate
operating instructions
Item
Page
6
Overhead control panel
27
7
Glove box lid release, glove
box lock
216
8
Glove box
216
9
Center console
25
a
Starter switch
31
b
Horn
c
Steering wheel adjustment
handle (manual)
37
d
Steering wheel adjustment
stalk (electrical)*
37
Item
Page
e
Hood lock release
252
f
Parking brake pedal
45, 50
g
Trunk lid release switch
86
h
Door control panel
28
j
Parking brake release
45
k
Exterior lamp switch
102
l
Exterior rear view mirror
adjustment
38
m
Headlamp washer switch*
148
23 At a glance
Instrument cluster
Item
Page
1
Left turn signal indicator
lamp
47
2
Speedometer
3
Right turn signal indicator
lamp
47
4
Fuel gauge with:Fuel reserve warning lamp
278
5
60,
278
1Supplemental
restraint system
indicator lamp
54,
278
6
Multifunction display
with:
113
Trip odometer
111
Main odometer
113
Item
Page
Gear selector lever
position
44,
145
Program mode
146
Outside temperature
indicator
111
Digital clock
113
7
?Engine malfunction
indicator lamp
276
vElectronic Stability
Program (ESP)
warning lamp
74,
277
AHigh beam head-
lamp indicator
47,
106
EIndicator lamp
without function
1
DTRIndicator lamp
without function
1
1The indicator lamp illuminates with SmartKey in
starter switch position2. It sh ould go out when the
engine is running.
Item
Page
8
-Antilock Brake
System (ABS)
indicator lamp
72,
274
;Brake warning
lamp, USA only
45,
50,
275
3Brake warning
lamp, Canada only
45,
50,
275
9
Tachometer
111
a
Reset button for:
Resetting trip
odometer
111
Resetting individual
settings
124
Instrument cluster
illumination
109
33 Getting started
Adjusting
Manual seat adjustment
1Seat fore and aft adjustment
2Seat cushion tilt
3Seat backrest tilt
4Seat heightSeat fore and aft adjustment
Lift handle1.
Slide seat to the desired position.
Allow handle1 to reengage.
Check for proper engagement before
driving.
Adjust seat to a comfortable seating
position that still allows you to reach the
accelerator/brake pedal safely. The posi-
tion should be as far rearward as possible,
consistent with ability to properly operate
controls.Seat cushion tilt
Turn handwheel2 forward or back-
ward until your upper legs are lightly
supported
Seat backrest tilt
Press switch3 in direction of arrow
until your arms are slightly angled
when holding the steering wheel.
Seat height
Press switch4 in direction of arrow
until your legs are lightly supported.
A child’s risk of serious or fatal injuries is
significantly increased if the child restraints
are not properly secured in the vehicle and
the child is not properly secured in the child
restraint.
iWhen moving the seat, be sure that
there are no items in the footwell or
behind the seat. Otherwise you could
damage the seat.
35 Getting started
Adjusting
Power seat* adjustment
The seat adjustment switches are located
in each front door.
1Head restraint height
2Seat height
3Seat cushion tilt
4Seat fore and aft adjustment
5Seat backrest tilt
Turn the SmartKey in the starter switch
to position1 or2 (
page 31).
or
Open the driver’s or front passenger
door.Seat fore and aft adjustment
Press switch forward or backward in
direction of arrow4.
Adjust seat to a comfortable seating
position that still allows you to reach the
accelerator/brake pedal safely. The posi-
tion should be as far rearward as possible,
consistent with ability to properly operate
controls.Seat cushion tilt
Press switch up or down in direction of
arrow3 until your upper legs are
lightly supported.
Seat backrest tilt
Press switch forward or backward in
direction of arrow5 until your arms
are slightly angled when holding the
steering wheel.
Seat height
Press switch up or down in direction of
arrow2.
Head restraint height
Press switch up or down in direction of
arrow1.
iWhen moving the seat, be sure that
there are no items in the footwell or
behind the seat. Otherwise you could
damage the seat.
The memory function* (
page 99) lets
you store the setting for the seat posi-
tion together with the settings for the
steering wheel and exterior rear view
mirrors.
40 Getting startedDriving
DrivingFastening the seat beltWarning!
G
Do not lay any objects in the driver’s foot-
well. Be careful that floor mats or carpets in
the driver’s footwell have sufficient clear-
ance for the pedals.
During sudden driving or braking maneuvers
the objects could get caught between the
pedals. You could then no longer brake or
accelerate.Warning!
G
Always fasten your seat belt before driving
off. Always make sure your passengers are
properly restrained, even those sitting in the
rear and pregnant women.
Failure to wear and properly fasten and po-
sition your seat belt greatly increases your
risk of injuries and their likely severity in an
accident. You and your passengers should
always wear seat belts.
If you are ever in an accident, your injuries
can be considerably more severe without
your seat belt properly buckled. Without
your seat belt buckled, you are much more
likely to hit the interior of the vehicle or be
ejected from it. You can be seriously injured
or killed.
In the same crash, the possibility of injury or
death is lessened if you are wearing your
seat belt. The airbags can only protect as ex-
pected if the occupants are using their seat
belts (
page 60).
Warning!
G
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 ve-
hicle to deactivate the passenger front air-
bag when it is properly installed. Otherwise
they will be struck by the airbag when it in-
flates in a crash. If this happens, serious or
fatal injury will result.
According to accident statistics, children
are safer when properly restrained in the
rear seating positions than in the front seat-
ing positions. Infants and small children
must ride in back seats and be seated in an
appropriate infant or child restraint system,
which is properly secured with the vehicle’s
seat belt and top tether strap, or secured via
lower anchors and top tether strap, fully in
accordance with the child seat manufactur-
er’s instructions.
1BabySmart
TM is a trademark of Siemens
Automotive Corp.