2005 MERCEDES-BENZ C COUPE can

88 Safety and SecurityAnti-theft systemsArming tow-away alarm
Lock the vehicle with the SmartKey.
The tow-away alarm is automatically
armed after about 30 seconds.Disarming tow-away alarm
To prevent triggering the tow-away alarm ,
switch off the tow-away alarm feature
before towing the vehicle, or when parking
on a surface subject to movement, such as
a ferry or auto train.
The switch is located on the center con-
sole.
1Tow-away alarm off switch
2Indicator lamp

Switch off the ignition.

Press switch1.
Indicator lamp2 in switch comes on
briefly.

Exit and lock your vehicle with the
SmartKey.
The tow-away alarm remains disarmed
until you lock your vehicle again.
Canceling the alarm
To cancel the alarm:

Press the Œ or ‹ button on the
SmartKey.
or

Insert the SmartKey in the starter
switch.
iWhen you unlock your vehicle, the
tow-away protection disarms
automatically. The tow away alarm
remains disarmed until you lock the
vehicle again.
iYou cannot disarm the tow-away alarm
while the ignition is switched on.

90 Controls in detailIn the “Controls in detail” section you will
find detailed information on how to oper-
ate the equipment installed on your vehi-
cle. If you are already familiar with the
basic functions of your vehicle, this section
will be of particular interest to you.
To quickly familiarize yourself with the ba-
sic functions of the vehicle, refer to the
“Getting started” section of this manual.
The corresponding page numbers are giv-
en at the beginning of each segment.Locking and unlocking
For more information on locking and
unlocking, “Getting started” (
page 32)
and (
page 56).
SmartKey
Your vehicle comes supplied with two
SmartKeys, each with remote control and
a removable mechanical key. The locking
tabs for the mechanical key portion of the
two keys are a different color to help dis-
tinguish each key unit.
The SmartKey provides an extended oper-
ating range. To prevent theft, however, it is
advisable to only unlock the vehicle when
you are in close proximity to it.
The SmartKey centrally locks and unlocks:

the doors


the trunk lid


the fuel filler flap
SmartKey with remote controls1‹ Lock button
2Mechanical key locking tab
3ΠUnlock button
4Battery check lamp
5Â Panic button* (
page 80)
iCanada only:
Only vehicles equipped with an
anti-theft alarm system* have
SmartKeys with integrated panic
button5.

91 Controls in detail
Locking and unlocking
Warning!
G
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the
SmartKey from the starter switch, take it
with you, and lock the vehicle. Do not leave
children unattended in the vehicle, or with
access to an unlocked vehicle. It is possible
for children to open a locked door from the
inside, which could result in an accident
and/or serious injury.!To prevent possible malfunction, avoid
exposing the SmartKey to high levels of
electromagnetic radiation.
iUSA only:
This device complies with Part 15 of
the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to
the following two conditions:
(1) This device may not cause harmful
interference, and
(2) this device must accept any inter-
ference received, including interfer-
ence that may cause undesired
operation.
Any unauthorized modification to this
device could void the user’s authority
to operate the equipment.
iCanada only:
This device complies with RSS-210 of
Industry Canada. Operation is subject
to the following two conditions:
(1) This device may not cause interfer-
ence, and
(2) this device must accept any inter-
ference received, including interfer-
ence that may cause undesired
operation of the device.
Any unauthorized modification to this
device could void the user’s authority
to operate the equipment.iYou can also open and close the power
windows (
page 239) and panorama
roof with power tilt/sliding panel*
(
page 244) using the SmartKey.

93 Controls in detail
Locking and unlocking
Global locking
Press button‹.
With the hood, trunk and all doors
closed, all turn signal lamps flash three
times. The locking knobs in the doors
move down. The anti-theft alarm sys-
tem* is armed.
Restoring to factory setting

Press and hold buttonsŒ and‹
simultaneously for about six seconds
until battery check lamp4 flashes
twice.Checking the batteries

Press button‹ orŒ.
Battery check lamp4 comes on brief-
ly to indicate that the SmartKey batter-
ies are in order.
!If you can no longer lock or unlock the
vehicle with the SmartKey, then either
the batteries in the SmartKey are dis-
charged, the SmartKey is malfunction-
ing or the vehicle battery is drained.

Check the batteries in the
SmartKey and replace them if
necessary (
page 383).


Use the mechanical key to unlock
the driver’s door (
page 377).


Use the mechanical key to lock the
driver’s door (
page 379).


Have the vehicle battery and the
battery connections checked
(page 401).
If the SmartKey is malfunctioning,
contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.
iIf battery check lamp4 does not
come on briefly during check, then the
SmartKey batteries are discharged.
Replace the batteries (
page 383).
You can obtain the required batteries
at any authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.
iIf the batteries are checked within sig-
nal range of the vehicle, pressing
the‹ orŒ button will lock or
unlock the vehicle accordingly.

94 Controls in detailLocking and unlockingLoss of SmartKey or mechanical key
If you lose a SmartKey or mechanical key,
you should do the following:
Have the SmartKey deactivated by an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.

Report the loss of the SmartKey or the
mechanical key immediately to your
car insurance company.

If necessary, have the mechanical lock
replaced.
An authorized Mercedes-Benz Center will
be glad to supply you with a replacement.
Opening the doors from the inside
You can open a locked door from the in-
side. Open door only when conditions are
safe to do so.
1Locking knob
2Inside door handle
Pull on door handle2.
If door was locked, locking knob1 will
move up.
iIf the vehicle has previously been
locked from the outside with the
SmartKey, opening a door from the in-
side will trigger the alarm.
To cancel the alarm, do one of the fol-
lowing:

Press button Œ or‹ on the
SmartKey.


Insert the SmartKey in the starter
switch.

95 Controls in detail
Locking and unlocking
Opening the trunk lid
A minimum height clearance of 7.1 ft.
(2.16 m) is required to open the trunk lid.
The handle is located above the rear li-
cense plate recess.
1HandleThe vehicle must be unlocked.

Pull on handle1.
The trunk lid unlocks.

Lift the trunk lid.
The trunk can also be opened from its in-
side in an emergency, see “Trunk lid emer-
gency release” (
page 96).
Closing the trunk lid
1Handle
Lower trunk lid by pulling firmly on
grip1.

Close trunk lid with hands placed flat
on the trunk lid.
!Always make sure there is sufficient
overhead clearance.

97 Controls in detail
Locking and unlocking
Illumination of the emergency release
button:

The button will flash for 30 minutes
after opening the trunk.


The button will flash for 60 minutes
after closing the trunk.
Automatic central locking
The doors and the trunk lid automatically
lock when the ignition is switched on and
the wheels are turning at vehicle speeds of
approximately 9 mph (15 km/h) or more.
You can open a locked door from the in-
side. Open door only when conditions are
safe to do so.
You can deactivate the automatic locking
mode using the control system
(page 148).
iThe emergency release button unlocks
and opens the trunk while the vehicle is
standing still or in motion.iThe emergency release button does
not open the trunk lid if the vehicle bat-
tery is discharged or disconnected.
iIf the emergency release button is
pressed and the vehicle was centrally
locked from the outside using the
SmartKey, the exterior lamps will flash
and the alarm will sound as the trunk
lid opens. To cancel the alarm, do one
of the following:

Press buttonŒ or‹ on the
SmartKey.


Insert the SmartKey in the starter
switch.
iThe doors unlock automatically after an
accident if the force of the impact
exceeds a preset threshold.
To prevent the vehicle door locks from
locking, deactivate the automatic cen-
tral locking when the vehicle

is pushed or towed


is on a test stand

98 Controls in detailLocking and unlockingLocking and unlocking from the inside
You can lock or unlock the doors and the
trunk lid from inside using the central lock-
ing switch. This can be useful, for example,
if you want to lock the vehicle before start-
ing to drive.
You cannot lock or unlock the fuel filler flap
with the central locking switch.Depending on production date, your
vehicle is equipped with either switch de-
sign A or B.
The switches are located in the center
console.
Switch design A1Central locking switch
2Central unlocking switch
Switch design B1Central locking switch
2Central unlocking switch
Warning!
G
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the
SmartKey from the starter switch, take it
with you, and lock the vehicle. Do not leave
children unattended in the vehicle, or with
access to an unlocked vehicle. Unsuper-
vised use of vehicle equipment may cause
an accident and/or serious personal injury.