2005 MERCEDES-BENZ C240 windshield

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

ContentsOperation......................................... 263
The first 1 000 miles (1 500 km) ......... 264
Driving instructions ............................ 265
Drive sensibly – save fuel ............. 265
Drinking and driving ..................... 265
Pedals .......................................... 265
Power assistance ......................... 265
Brakes .......................................... 266
Driving off..................................... 267
Parking ......................................... 267
Tires ............................................. 268
Hydroplaning ................................ 268
Tire traction .................................. 269
Tire speed rating .......................... 269
Winter driving instructions ........... 270
Standing water ............................. 271
Passenger compartment .............. 272
Driving abroad .............................. 272
Control and operation of radio
transmitters.................................. 272
Catalytic converter ....................... 273
Emission control........................... 273
Coolant temperature .................... 274At the gas station .............................. 275
Refueling ...................................... 275
Check regularly and before
a long trip ..................................... 277
Engine compartment ......................... 278
Hood ............................................ 278
Engine oil ..................................... 279
Transmission fluid level ................ 282
Coolant level ................................ 283
Battery ......................................... 284
Windshield washer system and
headlamp cleaning system* ......... 285
Tires and wheels ................................ 286
Important guidelines .................... 286
Life of tire..................................... 287
Direction of rotation ..................... 287
Checking tire inflation pressure ... 287
Rotating tires ............................... 289Winter driving .................................... 290
Winter tires .................................. 290
Block heater (Canada only) .......... 291
Snow chains................................. 291
Maintenance...................................... 292
Clearing the maintenance
service indicator .......................... 293
Maintenance service term
exceeded ..................................... 293
Calling up the maintenance
service indicator .......................... 293
Resetting the maintenance
service indicator .......................... 294
Vehicle care....................................... 295
Cleaning and care of the
vehicle ......................................... 295

ContentsTechnical data.................................. 373
Parts service ...................................... 374
Warranty coverage ............................. 375
Loss of Service and Warranty
Information Booklet...................... 375
Identification labels............................ 376
Layout of poly-V-belt drive ................. 377
C 230 Kompressor (all models) .... 377
C 240 (all models)/
C 320 (all models)/
C 55 AMG..................................... 377
Engine ................................................ 378
Rims and Tires ................................... 380
Same size tires ............................. 381
Mixed size tires ............................ 382
Minispare wheel ........................... 383
Collapsible tire
(C 55 AMG only) ........................... 383
Electrical system................................ 384
Main dimensions................................ 385
Weights .............................................. 386Fuels, coolants, lubricants, etc. ......... 387
Capacities .................................... 387
Engine oils.................................... 390
Engine oil additives ...................... 390
Air conditioning refrigerant .......... 390
Brake fluid .................................... 390
Premium unleaded gasoline ......... 391
Fuel requirements ........................ 391
Gasoline additives ........................ 392
Flexible Fuel Vehicles ................... 392
Coolants....................................... 394
Windshield washer and
headlamp cleaning system* ......... 396
Consumer information ....................... 397
Uniform tire quality grading ......... 397
Technical terms............................... 399Index................................................. 405

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

51 Getting started
Driving
Windshield wipers
The combination switch is located on the
left of the steering column.Combination switch1Single wipe
2Switching on windshield wipers 
Switch on ignition (
page 33).Switching on windshield wipers

Turn the combination switch to the
desired position depending on the
intensity of the rain.
0Windshield wipers off
IIntermittent wiping
IINormal wiper speed
IIIFast wiper speediVehicles without rain sensor:
When the vehicle is standing still, the
wiper speed returns to next lower
setting.
Vehicles with rain sensor*:
Intermittent wiping interval is
dependent on wetness of windshield.
After the initial wipe, pauses between
wipes are automatically controlled by
the rain sensor.
!Vehicles with rain sensor*:
Do not leave windshield wipers in
intermittent setting when the vehicle is
taken to an automatic car wash or
during windshield cleaning. Wipers will
operate in the presence of water
sprayed on the windshield, and wipers
may be damaged as a result.
The switch should not be left in
intermittent setting as the wipers will
wipe the windshield once every time
the engine is started. Dust that
accumulates on the windshield might
scratch the glass and/or damage the
wiper blades when wiping occurs on a
dry windshield.

52 Getting startedDrivingIntermittent wiping
Set the wiper switch to positionI.
Single wipe

Press combination switch briefly in
direction of arrow1.
The windshield wipers wipe one time
without washer fluid.Wiping with windshield washer fluid

Push combination switch in direction of
arrow1 past the resistance point.
The windshield wipers operate with
washer fluid.
For information on filling up the washer
reservoir, see “Windshield washer system
and headlamp cleaning system*”
(
page 285).
iIntermittent wiping is interrupted when
the vehicle is at a standstill and a front
door is opened.
!If anything blocks the windshield
wipers (leaves, snow, etc.), switch
them off immediately.

For safety reasons, withdraw
SmartKey from starter switch
before attempting to remove any
blockage.


Remove blockage.


Turn the windshield wipers on
again.
If windshield wipers fail to function at
all in switch positionI,


set the combination switch to the
next highest wiper speed


have the windshield wipers
checked at the nearest authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center

168 Controls in detailGood visibilityFor information on the windshield wipers,
see “Windshield wipers” (
page 51).
Headlamp cleaning system*
The switch is located on the left side of the
dashboard.
1Headlamp washer switch
Switch on ignition (
page 33).

Press switch1.
The headlamps are cleaned with a
high-pressure water jet.
For information on filling up the washer
reservoir, see “Windshield washer system
and headlamp cleaning system*”
(
page 285).
Rear view mirrors
For more information on setting the rear
view mirrors, see “Mirrors” (
page 41).
Interior rear view mirror, antiglare
position
1Lever

Tilt the mirror to the antiglare night
position by moving lever1 towards
the windshield.
The interior rear view mirror is dimmed.

176 Controls in detailClimate controlThe climate control is operational when-
ever the engine is running. You can oper-
ate the climate control system in either the
automatic or manual mode. The system
cools or heats the interior depending on
the selected interior temperature and the
current outside temperature.Nearly all dust particles, pollutants and
odors are filtered out before outside air en-
ters the passenger compartment through
the air distribution system.
The air conditioning will not engage (no
cooling) if the modeAC
OFF
is selected
(
page 181).
Warning!
G
When operating the climate control, the air
that enters the passenger compartment
through the air vents in the footwell can be
very hot or very cold (depending on the set
temperature). This may cause burns or frost-
bite on unprotected skin in the immediate
area of the air vents. Always keep sufficient
distance between unprotected parts of the
body and the footwell air vents. If necessary,
change the air flow using the air distribution
controls to direct the air away from the foot-
well air vents (
page 178).
Warning!
G
Follow the recommended settings for heat-
ing and cooling given on the following pag-
es. Otherwise the windows could fog up,
impairing visibility and endangering you and
others.
iSevere conditions (e.g. strong air
pollution) may require replacement of
the filter before its scheduled interval.
A clogged filter will reduce the air
volume to the interior.
If the vehicle interior is hot, ventilate
the interior before driving off, see
“Opening (Summer opening feature)”
(page 229).
Keep the air intake grille in front of the
windshield free of snow and debris.
Do not obstruct air flow by placing
objects on the air flow-through exhaust
slots below the rear window.