Page 25 of 442

23 At a glance
Cockpit
Item
Page
1
Steering wheel gearshift 
control (C 55 AMG only)
164
2
Cruise control lever
231
3
Multifunction steering 
wheel
26,
122
4
Horn
5
Instrument cluster
24,
117
6
Lever for voice control 
system*
1, see separate 
operating instructions
1Feature description is based on preliminary infor-
mation at time of printing. At time of printing, no 
date for availability of voice control had been set. 
Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center for 
details and availability for your vehicle model.7
Overhead control panel
29
Item
Page
8
Glove box lid release
241
9
Glove box lock
241
a
Center console
27
b
Starter switch
33
c
Hood lock release
278
d
Steering wheel adjustment 
handle (manual)
40
e
Steering wheel adjustment 
stalk (electrical)*
40
f
Parking brake pedal
48, 54
g
Remote trunk lid switch
93
Item
Page
h
Door control panel
30
j
Parking brake release
48
k
Combination switch
Turn signals
50
Windshield wipers
51
High beam
50
l
Exterior lamp switch
49,
109
m
Exterior rear view mirror 
adjustment
41,
108
n
Headlamp washer switch*
168 
     
        
        Page 28 of 442
26 At a glanceMultifunction steering wheel
Item
Page
1
Multifunction display
121
Operating control 
system
122
2
Selecting the submenu or 
setting the volume:
Press buttonæup/to increaseçdown/to decrease
3
Telephone*:
Press buttonsto take a calltto end a call
Item
Page
4
Menu systems:
Press buttonèfor next menuÿfor previous menu
5
Moving within a menu:
Press buttonjfor next displaykfor previous displayiC 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 32 of 442
30 At a glanceDoor control panel
Item
Page
1
Door handle
92
2
Memory function* (for 
storing seat, exterior 
mirror and steering wheel 
settings)
106
3
Switches for seat 
adjustment*
35, 98
4
Switches for 
opening/closing front door 
windows
223
5
Switch for rear door 
window override
75
6
Switches for 
opening/closing rear door 
windows
223
7
Remote trunk lid switch
93 
     
        
        Page 35 of 442

33 Getting started
Unlocking
Starter switch positions SmartKey
Starter switch0For removing SmartKey
The steering is locked when the 
SmartKey is removed from the starter 
switch. If necessary, move steering 
wheel slightly to allow the locking 
mechanism to engage.
1Power supply to some electrical 
consumers, such as seat adjustment2Ignition (power supply for all electrical 
consumers) and driving position.
All lamps in the instrument cluster 
come on. If a lamp in the instrument 
cluster fails to come on when the 
ignition is switched on, have it checked 
and replaced if necessary. If a lamp in 
the instrument cluster remains on after 
starting the engine or comes on while 
driving, refer to “Lamps in instrument 
cluster” (
page 302).
3Starting position
Warning!
G
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the 
SmartKey from the starter switch and lock 
the vehicle. Do not leave children unattend-
ed in the vehicle, or with access to an un-
locked vehicle. Unsupervised use of vehicle 
equipment may cause an accident and/or 
serious personal injury. 
     
        
        Page 37 of 442

35 Getting started
Adjusting
Adjusting
Seats
The seats can be adjusted either manually 
or electrically, depending on the vehicle’s 
equipment.Warning!
G
All seat, head restraint, steering wheel, and 
rear view mirror adjustments, as well as fas-
tening of seat belts, must be done before 
the vehicle is put into motion.Warning!
G
Do not adjust the driver’s seat while driving. 
Adjusting the seat while driving could cause 
the driver to lose control of the vehicle.
Never ride in a moving vehicle with the seat 
back in an excessively reclined position as 
this can be dangerous. You could slide un-
der the seat belt in a collision. If you slide 
under it, the belt would apply force at the ab-
domen or neck. 
That could cause serious or fatal injuries. 
The seat back and seat belts provide the 
best restraint when the wearer is in a nearly 
upright position and belts are properly posi-
tioned on the body. Your seat must be ad-
justed so that you can correctly fasten your 
seat belt (
page 43).
Never place hands under the seat or near 
any moving parts while a seat is being ad-
justed.
Warning!
G
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the 
SmartKey from the starter switch, and lock 
your vehicle.
Even with the SmartKey removed from the 
starter switch, the power seats* can be 
operated when the respective door is open. 
Therefore, do not leave children unattended 
in the vehicle, or with access to an unlocked 
vehicle. Unsupervised use of vehicle equip-
ment may cause an accident and/or serious 
personal injury.
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 
vehicle to deactivate the passenger front 
air bag when it is properly installed. Other-
wise they will be struck by the air bag when 
it inflates 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.
 
     
        
        Page 38 of 442

36 Getting startedAdjustingManual 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
Switch on ignition (
page 33).
Press switch3 in direction of arrow 
until your arms are slightly angled 
when holding the steering wheel.
Seat height
Switch on ignition (
page 33).
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.
!When moving the seat, make sure that 
there are no items in the footwell or 
behind the seat. Otherwise you could 
damage the seat.
 
     
        
        Page 40 of 442

38 Getting startedAdjustingPower 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
Switch on ignition (
page 33).
or
Open the respective 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.
!When moving the seat, make sure that 
there are no items in the footwell or 
behind the seat. Otherwise you could 
damage the seat.iThe memory function* (
page 106) 
lets you store the setting for the seat 
position together with the settings for 
the steering wheel and exterior rear 
view mirrors.
iAdjust the head restraint in such a way 
that it is as close to the head as 
possible. 
     
        
        Page 41 of 442

39 Getting started
Adjusting
Head restraint tilt
Manually adjust the angle of the head 
restraint.
Push or pull on the lower edge of the 
head restraint cushion.
For more information, see “Seats” 
(
page 98).
Steering wheel
Warning!
G
For your protection, drive only with properly 
positioned head restraints.
Adjust head restraint so that the center of 
the head restraint supports the back of the 
head at eye level. This will reduce the poten-
tial for injury to the head and neck in the 
event of an accident or similar situation.
Do not drive the vehicle without the seat 
head restraints. Head restraints are 
intended to help reduce injuries during an 
accident.
Warning!
G
Do not adjust the steering wheel while 
driving. Adjusting the steering wheel while 
driving, or driving without the adjustment 
locked could cause the driver to lose control 
of the vehicle.
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the 
SmartKey from the starter switch and lock 
your vehicle.
Even with the SmartKey removed from the 
starter switch, the electrical steering wheel 
adjustment feature* can be operated when 
the driver’s door is open. Therefore, do not 
leave children unattended in the vehicle, or 
with access to an unlocked vehicle. Unsu-
pervised use of vehicle equipment may 
cause an accident and/or serious personal 
injury.