Page 111 of 442

109 Controls in detail
Lighting
Lighting
For information on how to switch on the 
headlamps and use the turn signals, see 
“Switching on headlamps” (
page 49) 
and “Turn signals” (
page 50).
Exterior lamp switch
The exterior lamp switch is located on the 
dashboard to the left of the steering wheel.Exterior lamp switch
MOff
Daytime running lamp mode 
(
page 111)
UAutomatic headlamp mode
Daytime running lamp mode 
(page 111)
CParking lamps (also tail lamps, 
license plate lamps, side marker 
lamps, instrument panel lamps)
BLow beam headlamps (or high 
beam headlamps when the 
combination switch is pushed 
forward) and parking lamps
ˆStanding lamps, right (turn left one 
stop)
‚Standing lamps, left (turn left two 
stops)
‡Indicator lamp for front fog lamps
†Indicator lamp for rear fog lamp
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. 
     
        
        Page 121 of 442

119 Controls in detail
Instrument cluster
Trip odometer
Make sure you are viewing the trip 
odometer and main odometer in the 
multifunction display (
page 121).
If it is not displayed, press buttonè 
orÿ on the multifunction steering 
wheel until the trip odometer appears 
(page 122).
Press and hold the reset button in the 
instrument cluster (
page 117) until 
the trip odometer is reset.
Tachometer
The red marking on the tachometer 
(page 24) denotes excessive engine 
speed.
To help protect the engine, the fuel supply 
is interrupted if the engine is operated 
within the red marking.
Outside temperature indicator
!Avoid driving at excessive engine 
speeds, as it may result in serious 
engine damage that is not covered by 
the Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.
Warning!
G
The outside temperature indicator is not de-
signed to serve as an ice-warning device and 
is therefore unsuitable for that purpose.
Indicated temperatures just above the freez-
ing point do not guarantee that the road sur-
face is free of ice. The road may still be icy, 
especially in wooded areas or on bridges. 
     
        
        Page 123 of 442

121 Controls in detail
Control system
Control system
The control system is activated as soon as 
the SmartKey in the starter switch is 
turned to position1. The control system 
enables you to
call up information about your vehicle
change vehicle settings
For example, you can use the control 
system to find out when your vehicle is 
next due for service, to set the language 
for messages in the instrument cluster 
display, and much more.
The control system relays information to 
the multifunction display.
Multifunction display
1Trip odometer
2Main odometer
3Current program mode
4Current gear selector lever 
position/gear range
5Digital clock
6Status indicator (outside tempera-
ture/digital speedometer)
iThe displays for the audio systems 
(radio, CD player) will appear in English, 
regardless of the language selected.
Warning!
G
A driver’s attention to the road and traffic 
conditions must always be his/her primary 
focus when driving.
For your safety and the safety of others, 
selecting features through the multifunction 
steering wheel should only be done by the 
driver when traffic and road conditions 
permit it to be done safely.
Bear in mind that at a speed of just 30 mph 
(approximately 50 km/h), your vehicle is 
covering a distance of 44 feet 
(approximately 14 m) every second. 
     
        
        Page 124 of 442

122 Controls in detailControl systemMultifunction steering wheel
The displays in the multifunction display 
and the settings in the control system are 
controlled by the buttons on the multifunc-
tion steering wheel.Pressing any of the buttons on the multi-
function steering wheel will alter what is 
shown in the multifunction display.
The information available in the multifunc-
tion display is arranged in menus, each 
containing a number of functions or sub-
menus.
The individual functions are then found 
within the relevant menu (radio or CD op-
erations under 
AUDIO
, for example). These 
functions serve to call up relevant informa-
tion or to customize the settings for your 
vehicle.
1
Multifunction displayOperating the control system
2
Selecting the submenu or setting 
the volume:
Press buttonæup/to increaseçdown/to decrease
3
Telephone*:
Press buttonsto take a calltto end a call
4
Menu systems:
Press buttonèfor next menuÿfor previous menu
5
Moving within a menu:
Press buttonjfor next displaykfor previous display
iC 230 Kompressor Sport, and 
C320Sport:
Steering wheel in these vehicles will 
vary from steering wheel shown. 
However, multifunction steering wheel 
symbols and feature description apply 
to Sport models as well. 
     
        
        Page 148 of 442
146 Controls in detailControl system
The selection marker is on the current 
setting.
Press buttonæ orç to switch 
the automatic central locking 
On or 
Off
.Convenience submenu
Access the 
Convenience
 submenu via the 
Settings
 menu. Use the 
Convenience
 
submenu to change the settings for a 
number of convenience features.
The following functions are available:Activating easy-entry/exit feature*
Use this function to activate and 
deactivate the easy-entry/exit feature 
(
page 98). 
Function
Page
Activating 
easy-entry/exit feature*
146
Setting key-dependency
147
Setting parking position* for 
exterior rear view mirror
148
Warning!
G
You must make sure no one can become 
trapped or injured by the moving steering 
wheel and driver’s seat when the 
easy-entry/exit feature is activated. 
To cancel seat/steering wheel movement, 
do one of the following:
Press seat adjustment switch* 
(page 30).
Move steering column stalk* 
(page 40).
Press memory position switch* 
(page 107).
 
     
        
        Page 149 of 442

147 Controls in detail
Control system
Move the selection marker with 
buttonæ orç to the Convenience
 submenu.
Press buttonj ork repeatedly 
until the message 
Easy-entry feature
 
appears in the multifunction display.
The selection marker is on the current 
setting.
Press buttonæ orç to change 
the easy-entry/exit setting.
The following settings are available for 
the easy-entry/exit feature:Setting key-dependency
Use this function to set whether the 
memory settings for the seats, the steering 
wheel and the mirrors should be stored 
separately for each SmartKey 
(
page 106).
Move the selection marker with 
buttonæ orç to the Convenience
 submenu.
Press buttonj ork repeatedly 
until the message 
Key dependency
 
appears in the multifunction display.
The selection marker is on the current 
setting.
Do not leave children unattended in the ve-
hicle, or with access to an unlocked vehicle. 
Children could open the driver’s door and 
unintentionally activate the easy-entry/exit 
feature, which could result in an accident 
and/or serious personal injury.
Off
The easy-entry/exit 
feature is 
deactivated
Steer. Column
Only the steering 
column is moved
St.col.+seat
Both the steering 
column and the seat 
are moved
 
     
        
        Page 153 of 442

151 Controls in detail
Control system
You can use the functions in the 
TEL
 menu 
to operate your telephone, provided it is 
connected to a hands-free system and 
switched on.
Switch on the telephone and 
COMAND*.
Press buttonÿ orè on the 
steering wheel repeatedly until the 
message
TEL
 appears in the 
multifunction display.
Which messages will appear in the 
multifunction display depends on whether 
your telephone is switched on or off:
If the telephone is off, the message PHONE OFF
 appears in the multifunction 
display.
If the telephone is on:
The telephone will then search for a 
network. During this time the multi-
function display is empty.
As soon as the telephone has found a 
network, the message 
READY
 appears in 
the multifunction display.
This standby message indicates that your 
telephone is ready for use and you can 
operate it using the control system.Answering a call
When your telephone is ready to receive 
calls, you can answer a call at any time. In 
the multifunction display you will then see 
the message:
Press buttons.
You have answered the call. The 
duration of the call appears in the 
multifunction display.
Never operate radio transmitters equipped 
with a built-in or attached antenna (i.e. with-
out being connected to an external antenna) 
from inside the vehicle while the engine is 
running. Doing so could lead to a malfunc-
tion of the vehicle’s electronic system, 
possibly resulting in an accident and 
personal injury. 
     
        
        Page 166 of 442

164 Controls in detailAutomatic transmission*Steering wheel gearshift control (Speedshift) (C 55 AMG only)
You can change the gears manually on the 
steering wheel or by using the gear 
selector lever (
page 158).The steering wheel gearshift buttons are 
located to the left and right of the steering 
wheel.
1Left button: downshift
2Right button: upshift
!Allow engine to warm up under low 
load use. Do not place full load on the 
engine until the operating temperature 
has been reached.
Shift into reverse gearR only when the 
vehicle is stopped.
Avoid spinning of a drive wheel for an 
extended period when driving off on 
slippery road surfaces. This may cause 
serious damage to the drivetrain which 
is not covered by the Mercedes-Benz 
Limited Warranty.
iYou cannot shift with the steering 
wheel gearshift buttons when the gear 
selector lever is in positionP,N orR.
The manual program modeM will not 
be stored. When the engine is turned 
off with the manual program modeM 
selected, the transmission will go to 
the automatic program mode (CorS) 
when the engine is restarted.
The last selected program 
mode (CorS) is switched on when the 
engine is restarted in the automatic 
program mode.