
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
Vehicle data recording.........................  19
Information regarding electronic 
recording devices...........................  19
At a glance.......................................... 21
Cockpit ................................................. 22
Instrument cluster ................................ 24
Multifunction steering wheel ................ 26
Center console ..................................... 27
Upper part ...................................... 27
Lower part ...................................... 28
Overhead control panel ........................ 29
Door control panel................................ 30
Getting started...................................  31
Unlocking .............................................  32
Unlocking with the SmartKey .........  32
Starter switch positions ..................  33
Adjusting ..............................................  35
Seats ..............................................  35
Steering wheel ................................  39
Mirrors ............................................  41
Driving ..................................................  43
Fastening the seat belt ...................  43
Starting the engine .........................  46
Switching on headlamps .................  49
Turn signals ....................................  50
Windshield wipers ...........................  51
Problems while driving....................  53
Parking and locking ..............................  54
Parking brake .................................  54
Switching off headlamps.................  55
Turning off engine ...........................  56 

ContentsSafety and Security...........................  57
Occupant safety...................................  58
Air bags ..........................................  59
Seat belts .......................................  64
Children in the vehicle ....................  67
Blocking of rear door window 
operation ........................................  75
Panic alarm* ........................................  76
Activating .......................................  76
Deactivating ...................................  76
Driving safety systems .........................  77
ABS ................................................  77
BAS ................................................  78
ESP .................................................  79
Four wheel electronic traction 
system (4MATIC) with the ESP .......  82
Anti-theft systems................................  83
Immobilizer.....................................  83
Anti-theft alarm system* ................  83
Tow-away alarm* ...........................  85
Controls in detail...............................  87
Locking and unlocking .........................  88
SmartKey .......................................  88
Opening the doors from 
the inside .......................................  92
Opening the trunk ..........................  92
Closing the trunk............................  94
Trunk lid emergency release ..........  95
Automatic central locking ..............  96
Locking and unlocking from 
the inside .......................................  96
Seats ...................................................  98
Easy-entry/exit feature* ................  98
Removing and installing front 
seat head restraints .......................  99
Rear seat head restraints .............  101
Multicontour seats* .....................  104
Seat heating* ...............................  105
Memory function* .............................  106
Storing positions into memory .....  107
Recalling positions from memory .  107
Storing exterior rear view mirror 
parking position ...........................  108Lighting .............................................  109
Exterior lamp switch ....................  109
Combination switch .....................  113
Hazard warning flasher ................  114
Interior lighting ............................  115
Door entry lamps .........................  116
Trunk lamp ...................................  116
Instrument cluster .............................  117
Instrument cluster illumination ....  117
Coolant temperature gauge .........  118
Trip odometer ..............................  119
Tachometer ..................................  119
Outside temperature indicator .....  119
Control system ..................................  121
Multifunction display....................  121
Multifunction steering wheel........  122
Menus ..........................................  124
Standard display menu ................  126
AUDIO menu ................................  127
NAV* menu ..................................  130
Vehicle status message memory 
menu............................................  130
Settings menu ..............................  132
Trip computer menu.....................  148
TEL menu* ...................................  150 

Contents
Manual transmission .........................  154
Shifting into reverse .....................  155
Automatic transmission* ...................  156
One-touch gearshifting.................  158
Gear ranges .................................  159
Gear selector lever position .........  160
Automatic shift program ..............  162
Driving tips ...................................  163
Steering wheel gearshift control 
(Speedshift) (C 55 AMG only).......  164
Manual shift program 
(C 55 AMG only)...........................  165
Emergency operation 
(Limp Home Mode) ......................  167
Good visibility ....................................  168
Headlamp cleaning system* ........  168
Rear view mirrors .........................  168
Sun visors ....................................  171
Rear window sunshade* ..............  172
Rear window defroster .................  173Climate control ................................... 174
Deactivating the climate control 
system .......................................... 177
Setting the temperature................ 177
Adjusting air distribution and 
volume .......................................... 178
Defrosting ..................................... 178
Air recirculation mode .................. 179
Air conditioning............................. 181
Rear passenger compartment 
adjustable air vents....................... 182
Audio system ...................................... 183
Audio and telephone, operation .... 183
Operating safety ........................... 183
Operating and display elements.... 184
Button and soft key operation....... 186
Operation ...................................... 186
Radio operation ............................ 191
Introduction to satellite radio* 
(USA only) ..................................... 196
CD mode ....................................... 201
GSM network phones ................... 208
TDMA or CDMA network phones .. 214
Emergency calls “911”.................. 221Power windows ..................................  223
Opening and closing the 
windows........................................  223
Synchronizing power windows ......  226
Power tilt/sliding sunroof* ................ 227
Opening and closing the power 
tilt/sliding sunroof........................ 227
Synchronizing the power 
tilt/sliding sunroof........................ 230
Driving systems ..................................  231
Cruise control ...............................  231
Loading .............................................. 234
Roof rack* ....................................  234
Ski sack* (Canada only) ...............  234
Split rear bench seat* ..................  237
Loading instructions .....................  239
Cargo tie-down rings*...................  240
Useful features ...................................  241
Storage compartments .................  241
Ashtrays........................................  245
Cigarette lighter ............................ 246
Electrical outlet in the rear 
passenger compartment ...............  247
Telephone* ...................................  247
Tele Aid* .......................................  248
Garage door opener* .................... 256 

21 At a glance
Cockpit
Instrument cluster
Multifunction steering wheel
Center console
Overhead control panel
Door control panel 

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 

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. 

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 

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.