2005 MERCEDES-BENZ C320 parking brake

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

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

48 Getting startedDrivingParking brake
1Release handle
2Parking brake

Release parking brake by pulling on
handle1.
The warning lamp; (USA only)
or3 (Canada only) in the
instrument cluster goes out.
Driving

Depress the brake pedal.

Move gear selector lever to positionD
orR (manual transmission: first or
reverse gear).

Release the brake pedal.

Carefully depress the accelerator.
Once the vehicle is in motion, the auto-
matic central locking system engages
and the locking knobs drop down.
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. Children could release the
parking brake, which could result in an acci-
dent and/or serious injury.
iVehicles with automatic transmission:
Wait for the gear selection process to
complete before setting the vehicle in
motion.
iYou can open a locked door from the
inside. Open door only when conditions
are safe to do so.
You can deactivate the automatic
locking using the control system
(page 145).
!Simultaneously depressing the
accelerator pedal and applying the
brake reduces engine performance and
causes premature brake and drivetrain
wear.!If you hear a warning signal when driv-
ing off, you have forgotten to release
the parking brake.
Release the parking brake.

54 Getting startedParking and lockingYou have now completed your first drive.
You have properly stopped and parked
your vehicle. End your drive as follows.
Parking brake
1Release handle
2Parking brake
Step firmly on parking brake pedal2.
When the engine is running, the
warning lamp; (USA only)
or3(Canada only) in the
instrument cluster will be illuminated.
Warning!
G
Wait until the vehicle is stationary before
removing the SmartKey from the starter
switch. The vehicle cannot be steered when
the SmartKey is removed.Warning!
G
With the engine not running, there is no
power assistance for the brake and steering
system. In this case, it is important to keep
in mind that a considerably higher degree of
effort is necessary to brake and steer the
vehicle.
Warning!
G
Do not park this vehicle in areas where com-
bustible materials such as grass, hay or
leaves can come into contact with the hot
exhaust system, as these materials could be
ignited and cause a vehicle fire.
To reduce the risk of personal injury as a re-
sult of vehicle movement, before turning off
the engine and leaving the vehicle always:

Keep right foot on brake pedal.


Firmly depress parking brake pedal.


Move the gear selector lever to
positionP (manual transmission: first or
reverse gear).


Slowly release brake pedal.


When parked on an incline, turn front
wheels towards the road curb.


Turn the SmartKey in the starter switch
to position0 and remove the SmartKey
from the starter switch.


Take the SmartKey and lock vehicle
when leaving.

55 Getting started
Parking and locking
Switching off headlamps
Turn the exterior lamp switch
toM(
page 49).
For more information on headlamps, see
“Lighting” (
page 109).
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. Children could release the
parking brake and/or move the gear selec-
tor lever from positionP, either of which
could result in an accident and/or serious
injury.
Warning!
G
Getting out of your vehicle with the gear se-
lector lever not fully engaged in positionP is
dangerous. Also, when parked on an incline,
positionP alone may not prevent your vehi-
cle from moving, possibly hitting people or
objects.
Always set the parking brake in addition to
shifting to positionP (manual transmission:
first or reverse gear).
When parked on an incline, turn front wheel
towards the road curb.

56 Getting startedParking and lockingTurning off engine 
Place the gear selector lever in
positionP (manual transmission: first
or reverse gear).

Turn the SmartKey in the starter switch
to position0 and remove the SmartKey
from the starter switch.
The immobilizer is activated.

Press the seat belt release button
(page 44).
Allow the retractor to completely
rewind the seat belt by guiding the
latch plate.

After exiting the vehicle, press the lock
button‹ on the SmartKey
(page 32).
All turn signal lamps flash three times.
The locking knobs in the doors move
down.
For more information, see “Locking and
unlocking” (
page 88).
iAlways set the parking brake in addi-
tion to shifting to positionP (manual
transmission: first or reverse gear).
On steep slopes, turn the front wheels
towards the road curb. iVehicles with automatic transmission:
The SmartKey can only be removed
from the starter switch with the gear
selector lever in positionP.
iWith the SmartKey removed and the
driver’s door open, a warning sounds if
the vehicle’s exterior lamps are not
switched off.Warning!
G
To prevent possible personal injury, always
keep hands and fingers away from the door
openings when closing the doors. Be espe-
cially careful when small children are
around.
Before closing doors, make sure there is no
possibility of someone getting caught in a
door during closing.
Warning!
G
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the
SmartKey from the starter switch, and lock
your vehicle. Do not leave children unat-
tended in the vehicle, or with access to an
unlocked vehicle. Unsupervised use of vehi-
cle equipment may cause an accident
and/or serious personal injury.

80 Safety and SecurityDriving safety systems
For more information, see “Practical hints”
(page 306) and (
page 312).Switching off the ESP
To improve the vehicle's traction, turn off
the ESP in driving situations where it would
be advantageous to have the drive wheels
spin and thus cut into surfaces for better
grip such as:


starting out on slippery surfaces and in
deep snow in conjunction with snow
chains


in sand or gravel
Warning!
G
The ESP cannot prevent the natural laws of
physics from acting on the vehicle, nor can
it increase the traction afforded. The ESP
cannot prevent accidents, including those
resulting from excessive speed in turns or
hydroplaning. Only a safe, attentive, and
skillful driver can prevent accidents. The
capabilities of an ESP equipped vehicle must
never be exploited in a reckless or danger-
ous manner which could jeopardize the
user’s safety or the safety of others.iThe ESP will only function properly if
you use wheels of the recommended
tire size (
page 380).
!Vehicles without 4MATIC:
Because of the ESP’s automatic
operation, the engine must be shut off
(SmartKey in starter switch position0
or1) when

the parking brake is being tested on
a brake test dynamometer


the vehicle is being towed with the
front axle raised
Active braking action through the ESP
may otherwise seriously damage the
brake system.
For information on vehicles with
4MATIC, see “Four wheel electronic
traction system (4MATIC) with the
ESP” (
page 82).
Warning!
G
The ESP should not be switched off during
normal driving other than in the circum-
stances described below. Disabling of the
system will reduce vehicle stability in stan-
dard driving maneuvers.!Turn on the ESP immediately if the
aforementioned circumstances do not
apply anymore.