2006 MERCEDES-BENZ C230 seat adjustment

48 Getting startedDriving
Starting the engine Manual transmission
Gearshift pattern for manual transmissionFor more information, see “Manual trans-
mission” (
page 160).
Warning!
G
Do not pass belts over sharp edges. They
could tear.
Do not allow the belt to get caught in the
door or in the seat adjustment mechanism.
This could damage the belt.
Never attempt to make modifications to
seat belts. This could impair the effective-
ness of the belts.
Do not bleach or dye seat belts as this may
severely weaken them. In a crash, they may
not be able to provide adequate protection.
Damaged seat belts or belts that were highly
stressed in an accident must be replaced.
Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.
Warning!
G
Inhalation of exhaust gas is hazardous to
your health. All exhaust gas contains carbon
monoxide, and inhaling it can cause uncon-
sciousness and possible death.
Do not run the engine in confined areas
(such as garage) which are not properly ven-
tilated. If you think that exhaust gas fumes
are entering the vehicle while driving, have
the cause determined and corrected imme-
diately. If you must drive under these condi-
tions, drive only with at least one window
fully open.

64 Safety and SecurityOccupant safetyWarning!
G
To reduce the risk of injury when the front
air bags inflate, it is very important for the
driver and front passenger to always be in a
properly seated position and to wear their
respective seat belts.
For maximum protection in the event of a
collision always be in normal seated position
with your back against the backrest. Fasten
your seat belt and ensure it is properly posi-
tioned on your body.
Since the air bag inflates with considerable
speed and force, a proper seating and hands
on steering wheel position will help to keep
you at a safe distance from the air bag.
Occupants who are unbelted, out of position
or too close to the air bag can be seriously
injured or killed by an air bag as it inflates
with great force in the blink of an eye:

Sit properly belted in a nearly upright
position with your back against the seat
backrest.


Adjust the driver seat as far as possible
rearward, still permitting proper opera-
tion of vehicle controls. The distance
from the center of the driver’s breast-
bone to the center of the air bag cover
on the steering wheel must be at least
10 in (25 cm) or more. You should be
able to accomplish this by a combina-
tion of adjustments to the seat and
steering wheel. If you have any prob-
lems, please see your authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.


Do not lean your head or chest close to
the steering wheel or dashboard.


Keep hands on the outside of steering
wheel rim. Placing hands and arms in-
side the rim can increase the risk and
potential severity of hand/arm injury
when driver front air bag inflates.


Adjust the front passenger seat as far as
possible rearward from the dashboard
when the seat is occupied.


Occupants, especially children, should
never place their bodies or lean their
heads in the area of the door or the rear
side trim panel where the front side im-
pact air bag and/or rear side impact
air bag* inflates. This could result in se-
rious injuries or death should the air bag
be triggered. Always sit nearly upright,
properly use the seat belts and use an
appropriately sized infant or toddler re-
straint or booster seat recommended
for the size and weight of the child.
Failure to follow these instructions can re-
sult in severe injuries to you or other
occupants.
If you sell your vehicle, it is important that
you make the buyer aware of this safety in-
formation. Be sure to give the buyer this
Operator’s Manual.

109 Controls in detailSeats
Seats
For information on seat adjustment, see
“Adjusting” (
page 35).
Front seat active head restraintsYou cannot remove the active head re-
straints on the driver’s and passenger’s
seat.
For removal of the active head restraints
we recommend that you contact an autho-
rized Mercedes-Benz Center.
For information on head restraint
adjustment, see “Seats” (
page 35).
For information on active head restraints,
see “Active head restraint” (page 73).
Rear seat head restraints
Warning!
G
For your protection, drive only with properly
positioned head restraints.
Adjust head restraint so that the head re-
straint supports the back of the head at eye
level. This will reduce the potential for injury
to the head and neck in the event of an ac-
cident or similar situation.
Do not drive the vehicle without the seat
head restraints. Head restraints are
intended to help reduce injuries during an
accident.
iAdjust the head restraint in such a way
that it is as close to the head as
possible.
Warning!
G
For safety reasons, always drive with the
rear head restraints in the upright position
when the rear seats are occupied.
Keep the area around head restraints clear
of articles (e.g. clothing) to not obstruct the
folding operation of the head restraints.

112 Controls in detailSeats
1Release button
Removing rear seat head restraints
Fold back head restraint (
page 110).

Pull head restraint to its highest
position.

Push release button1 and pull out
head restraint.
Installing rear seat head restraints

Insert head restraint and push it down
until it engages.

Push button1 and adjust head
restraint to desired position.
Lumbar support*
The curvature of the driver’s seat can be
adjusted to help enhance lower back sup-
port and seating comfort.
1Adjustment lever
Move adjustment lever1 in the direc-
tion of arrows until you have reached a
comfortable seating position.
Warning!
G
For your protection, drive only with properly
positioned head restraints.
Adjust head restraint so that the head re-
straint supports the back of the head at eye
level. This will reduce the potential for injury
to the head and neck in the event of an ac-
cident or similar situation.
Do not drive the vehicle without the seat
head restraints. Head restraints are intend-
ed to help reduce injuries during an acci-
dent.
Do not interchange head restraints from
front and rear seat.

113 Controls in detailSeats
Multicontour seats* (Canada only)
This driver’s multicontour seat has a mov-
able seat cushion and inflatable air cush-
ions built into the backrest to provide
additional lumbar and side support.
The seat cushion movement, backrest
cushion height and curvature can be
continuously varied with switches on the
side of the seat after switching on ignition.
1Seat cushion depth
2Backrest bottom
3Backrest center
4Backrest side bolster adjustment

Switch on the ignition (
page 33).
Seat cushion depth

Adjust the seat cushion depth to the
length of your upper leg using
switch1.
Backrest contour

Adjust the contour of the backrest to
the desired position using switches2
and3.
Backrest side bolsters

Adjust the backrest side bolsters so
that they provide good lateral support
using switch4.
Seat heating*
The switches for the front seats are
located in the center console.
1Seat heating switch
2Indicator lamps

468 IndexS
Safety
Driving safety systems 87
Occupant 62
Reporting defects 18
Safety belts see Seat belts
Satellite radio* 211
Seat belt force limiter 72
Seat belts 69
Children in the vehicle 74
Cleaning 347
Fastening 45
Height adjustment 47
Message in display 381
Proper use of 47, 70
Safety guidelines 66
Telltale 25, 381
Seat heating* 114
Seating capacity 309
Seats, 35, 109
Heating* 113, 114
Lumbar support* 112
Manual 36, 109
Memory function*
(Power seats*) 115Multicontour seat*
(Canada only) 113
Power* 38, 109
Rear bench seat* 253
Securing cargo 256
Selector lever see gear selector lever
Self-test
OCS 81
Tele Aid* 266
Service and Warranty Booklet
Loss of 427
Service and warranty information 10
Service intervals see Maintenance service
indicator 338
Service life (tires) 305
Service see Maintenance Service system
see FSS (Canada vehicles) or Mainte-
nance System (U.S. vehicles) 338
Service System see FSS
Service, Parts 426
Settings
Control system menus and
submenus 133, 134
Date 147, 148
Factory, SmartKey 100Individual, SmartKey 100
Individual, Vehicle 140
Lighting (control system) 149
Memory function* 115
Menus and submenus 132
Resetting all (control system) 140
Selective, SmartKey 100
Time 145, 146
Shelf below rear window, cleaning 347
Shift lever position indicator 130, 163
Shift lock 453
Shift program mode, Automatic
transmission* 130
Shifting
Automatic transmission* 49, 162
Into optimal gear range
(automatic transmission*) 169
Into reverse (manual
transmission) 161
Manual transmission 48, 161
Side impact air bags (front and rear*) 68
Side marker lamps
Cleaning lenses 344
Messages in display 377
Replacing bulbs 403
Side windows see Power windows

469 Index
Sidewall 333
Ski sack* (Canada only) 250, 252, 253
SmartKey see Key, SmartKey
Snow chains 337
Sound system* 204
Spare fuses 421
Spare wheel 436
Bolts 388
Mounting 406
Speed settings
Cruise control 249
Speedometer 25, 143
Split rear bench seat* 253
SRS 70, 453
Indicator lamp 25, 355
Message in display 363
Standing lamps
Replacing bulbs 398, 399
Standing water, Driving through 290
Starter switch 23, 33
Positions 33
Starting difficulties, Engine 50
Steering column 40, 41
Easy entry/exit feature* 42
Steering gear oil
Message in display 381Steering wheel 40
Buttons 26
Cleaning 347
Electrical adjustment* 41
Manual adjustment 40
Stolen vehicle
Recovery services 273
Storage compartments
Armrest 258
Cup holder 259
Glove box 257
Parcel net in front passenger
footwell 258
Storing (memory function*)
Positions into memory 116
Storing tires 306
Submenus see Control system submenus
Substitute lamps
Bulbs 397
Summer opening feature 243
Sun visors 173
Sunshade* 174
Supplemental Restraint System see SRS
Symbols used in this operator’s
manual 15T
Tachometer 25, 129
Overspeed range 129
Tail lamps
Cleaning 344
Messages in display 379
Replacing bulbs 399, 403
Tar stains 342
Technical data
Air conditioning refrigerant 442
Brake fluid 442
Coolant 440, 441, 444
Electrical system 437
Engine 430
Engine oil additives 442
Engine oils 442
Fuel requirements 444
Fuels 440, 441
Fuels, coolants, lubricants, etc 440
Gasoline additives 443
Lubricants 440
Premium unleaded gasoline 443
Rims and tires 432
Weights 439