13 Introduction
Operator’s Manual
Operating your vehicle outside the USA or Canada
If you plan to operate your vehicle in for-
eign countries, please be aware that:
service facilities or replacement parts
may not be readily available,
unleaded gasoline for vehicles with cat-
alytic converters may not be available;
the use of leaded fuels will damage the
catalysts,
gasoline may have a considerably low-
er octane rating, and improper fuel can
cause engine damage.Certain Mercedes-Benz models are avail-
able for delivery in Europe under our Euro-
pean Delivery Program. For details, consult
an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center or
write to:
In the USA:
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC
European Delivery Department
One Mercedes Drive
Montvale, NJ 07645-0350
In Canada:
Mercedes-Benz Canada Inc.
European Delivery Department
98 Vanderhoof Avenue
Toronto, Ontario M4G 4C9
268 OperationAt the gas station
Open the fuel filler flap by pushing at
the point indicated by arrow1.
The fuel filler flap springs open.
Turn fuel cap counterclockwise and
hold on to it until possible pressure is
released.
Take off cap and set it in direction of
arrow2 in the recess on fuel filler
flap.
To prevent fuel vapors from escaping
into open air, fully insert filler nozzle
unit.
Only fill your tank until the filler nozzle
unit cuts out – do not top up or
overfill.
Replace fuel cap by turning it
clockwise.
You will hear when fuel cap is
tightened.
Close fuel filler flap.Warning!
G
Overfilling of the fuel tank may create
pressure in the system which could cause a
gas discharge. This could cause the gas to
spray back out when removing the fuel
pump nozzle, which could cause personal
injury.
iOnly use premium unleaded gasoline
with a minimum Posted Octane Rating
of 91 (average of 96 RON/86 MON).
Information on gasoline quality can
normally be found on the fuel pump.
More information on gasoline can be
found in the Factory Approved Service
Products pamphlet.
Flexible Fuel Vehicles are identified by
a label reading Premium gasoline or
E85 only! on fuel filler flap.
For more information, see “Flexible
Fuel Vehicles” (
page 377).
iLeaving the engine running and the fuel
cap open can cause theú malfunc-
tion indicator lamp (USA only) or
the± malfunction indicator lamp
(Canada only) to illuminate.
For more information, see “Practical
hints” (
page 296) and (
page 297).
366 Technical dataEngineModel
C 240 (203.261)
1
C 240 4MATIC (203.281)
1
1The quoted data apply only to the standard vehicle. See an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center for the corresponding
data of all special bodies and special equipment.Engine
112
Mode of operation
4-stroke engine, gasoline injection
No. of cylinders
6
Bore
3.54 in (89.90 mm)
Stroke
2.68 in (68.20 mm)
Total piston displacement
158.5 cu in (2 597 cm
3)
Compression ratio
10.5:1
Output acc. to SAE J 1349
168 hp/5 500 rpm
2
(125 kW/5 500 rpm)
2Premium fuel required. Performance may vary with fuel octane rating.Maximum torque acc. to SAE J 1349
177 lb-ft/4 500 rpm
(240 Nm/4 500 rpm)
Maximum engine speed
6200 rpm
Firing order
1-4-3-6-2-5
Poly-V-belt
2380 mm
374 Technical dataFuels, coolants, lubricants, etc.
Model
Capacity
Fuels, coolants, lubricants, etc.
Fuel tank
including a reserve of
16.4 US gal (62.0 l)
2.1 US gal (8.0 l)
Premium unleaded gasoline:
Minimum Posted Octane 91
(Avg. of 96 RON/86 MON)Flexible Fuel Vehicle (identified by a label
reading Premium gasoline or E85 only! on
fuel filler flap):
Alternative fuel: Ethanol fuel (E85)
Air conditioning system
R-134a refrigerant and special PAG lubricant
oil (never R-12)
Windshield washer
3.2 US qt (3.0 l)
MB Windshield Washer Concentrate
1
Windshield washer and
headlamp cleaning system*
6.4 US qt (6.0 l)
1Use MB Windshield Washer Concentrate “S” and water for temperatures above freezing point or MB Windshield Washer Concentrate “S” and commercially available
premixed windshield washer solvent/antifreeze for temperatures below freezing point. Follow suggested mixing ratios (page 381).
376 Technical dataFuels, coolants, lubricants, etc.Premium unleaded gasoline
Fuel requirements
Only use premium unleaded fuel:
The octane number (posted at the
pump) must be 91 min. It is an average
of both the Research (R) octane num-
ber and the Motor (M) octane number:
(R+M)/2). This is also known as the
ANTI-KNOCK INDEX.Unleaded gasoline containing oxygenates
such as Ethanol, IPA, IBA and TBA can be
used provided the ratio of any one of these
oxygenates to gasoline does not
exceed 10%; MTBE must not exceed 15%.
The ratio of Methanol to gasoline must not
exceed 3% plus additional cosolvents.
Using mixtures of Ethanol and Methanol is
not allowed. Gasohol, which contains 10%
Ethanol and 90% unleaded gasoline, can
be used.
These blends must also meet all other fuel
requirements, such as resistance to spark
knock, boiling range, vapor pressure, etc.
!To maintain the engine’s durability and
performance, premium unleaded gaso-
line must be used. If premium unleaded
is not available and low octane fuel is
used, follow these precautions:
Have the fuel tank only partially
filled with unleaded regular and fill
up with premium unleaded as soon
as possible.
Avoid full throttle driving and abrupt
acceleration.
Do not exceed an engine speed of
3 000 rpm if the vehicle is loaded
with a light load such as two
persons and no luggage.
Do not exceed
2/3 of maximum
accelerator pedal position if the
vehicle is fully loaded or operating
in mountainous terrain.
iFlexible Fuel Vehicles (identified by a
label reading Premium gasoline or
E85 only! are designed to operate on
premium unleaded gasoline or Ethanol
fuel (E85) or any mixture of these two.
For more information, see “Flexible
Fuel Vehicles” (
page 377).
387 Technical terms
Instrument cluster
The displays and indicator/warning
lamps in the driver’s field of vision,
including the tachometer, speedo-
meter, engine temperature display and
fuel gauge.
Kickdown
Depressing the accelerator past the
point of resistance shifts the transmis-
sion down to the lowest possible gear.
This very quickly accelerates the
vehicle and should not be used for
normal acceleration needs.
Lock button
Button on the door which indicates
whether the door is locked or
unlocked. Pushing the lock button
down on an individual door from inside
will lock that door.Maintenance System (U.S. vehicles)
Maintenance service indicator in the
multifunction display that informs the
driver when the next vehicle mainte-
nance service is due. The Maintenance
System in your vehicle tracks distance
driven and the time elapsed since your
last maintenance service, and calls for
the next maintenance service accord-
ingly.
Memory function*
Used to store three individual seat,
steering wheel and mirror positions for
each SmartKey.
MON
(M
otor O
ctane N
umber)
The Motor Octane Number for gasoline
as determined by a standardized
method. It is an indication of a
gasoline's ability to resist undesired
detonation (knocking). The average of
both the MON (Motor Octane Number)
and ->RON (Research Octane Number)
is posted at the pump, also known as
ANTI-KNOCK INDEX.Multifunction display
Display field in the instrument cluster
used to present information provided
by the control system.
Multifunction steering wheel
Steering wheel with buttons for
operating the control system.
Overspeed range
Engine speeds within the red marking
of the tachometer dial. Avoid this
engine speed range, as it may result in
serious engine damage that is not
covered by the Mercedes-Benz Limited
Warranty.
Poly-V-belt drive
Drives engine-components (alternator,
AC compressor, etc.) from the engine.
388 Technical termsPower train
Collective term designating all
components used to generate and
transmit motive power to the drive
axles, including
engine
clutch/torque converter
transmission
transfer case
drive shaft
differential
axle shafts/axles
Program mode selector switch
Used to switch the automatic trans-
mission between standard operationS
and comfort operationC.REST
(Residual engine heat utilization)
Feature that uses the engine heat
stored in the coolant to heat the
vehicle interior for a short time after
the engine has been turned off.
Restraint systems
Seat belts, belt tensioners, air bags
and child restraint systems. As inde-
pendent systems, their protective
functions complement one another.
RON
(R
esearch O
ctane N
umber)
The Research Octane Number for gaso-
line as determined by a standardized
method. It is an indication of a gaso-
line's ability to resist undesired deto-
nation (knocking). The average of both
the ->MON (Motor Octane Number)
and RON (Research Octane Number) is
posted at the pump, also known as
ANTI-KNOCK INDEX.Shift lock
When the vehicle is parked, this lock
prevents the transmission gear
selector lever from being moved out of
positionP without SmartKey turned
and brake pedal depressed.
SRS
(S
upplemental R
estraint S
ystem)
Seat belts, emergency tensioning
device and air bags. Though indepen-
dent systems, they are closely inter-
faced to provide effective occupant
protection.
407 Index
MB Tex upholstery
Cleaning 292
Mechanical key 326
Memory
TV station 192
Memory function* 105, 387
Recalling positions
from memory 106
Storing exterior rear view mirror
parking position 107
Storing key dependent settings 106
Menus 120
AUDIO 125
In control system 122, 123
NAV* 128
Settings menu 130
Standard display 124
Submenus 121
TEL* 148
Trip computer 146
Vehicle status message memory 128Microphone
Hands-free microphone 29
Miles/kilometers in speedometer
Setting 133
Minispare wheel 324, 369
Bolts 325
Mounting 342
Mirrors
Activating exterior rear view
mirror parking position* 163
Adjusting 41
Automatic antiglare*
for interior mirror 162
Automatic antiglare* for
rear view mirror 162
Exterior rear view mirror 41
Exterior rear view mirror
parking position* 146
Interior rear view mirror 41
Storing exterior rear view mirror
parking position* 107MON 268, 387
Motor Octane Number see MON
Mph or km/h in speedometer 133
Multicontour seats* 103
Multifunction display 119, 387
Displaying gear range 155
Selecting language 134
Setting date (day) 138
Setting date (month) 137
Setting date (year) 139
Multifunction display messages
ABS 302
BAS 303
Brake fluid 307
Brake pads 307
Coolant 308–310
Cruise control 311
Display 311
Doors 311
Engine oil 312–313