2006 MERCEDES-BENZ C230 instrument cluster

122 Controls in detailLightingRear fog lamp (driver’s side only)
Switch on the front fog lamps
(page 121).

Pull out the exterior lamp switch to
second stop.
The rear fog lamp is switched on.
The yellow indicator lamp† in the
exterior lamp switch comes on
(page 118).

Push in the exterior lamp switch to first
stop.
The rear fog lamp switches off.
The yellow indicator lamp† in the
exterior lamp switch goes out.
The front fog lamps remain lit.
Combination switch
The combination switch is located on the
left of the steering column.Combination switch1High beam
2High beam flasherHigh beam

Turn the exterior lamp switch to
positionB orU (
page 118).

Push the combination switch in
direction of arrow1 to switch on the
high beam.
The high beam headlamp indicator
lampA in the instrument cluster
comes on (
page 24).

Pull the combination switch in direction
of arrow2 to its original position to
switch off the high beam.
The high beam headlamp indicator
lampA in the instrument cluster
goes out.
High beam flasher

Pull the combination switch briefly in
direction of arrow2.

127 Controls in detail
Instrument cluster
Instrument cluster
For a full view illustration of the instrument
cluster, see “At a glance” (
page 24).
1Reset button
The instrument cluster is activated when
you


open a door


switch on ignition (
page 33)


press reset button1


switch on the exterior lighting
You can change the instrument cluster
settings in the Instrument cluster submenu
of the control system (
page 143).
Instrument cluster illumination
Use reset button1 to adjust the
illumination brightness for the instrument
cluster.To brighten illumination

Turn reset button1 clockwise.
The instrument cluster illumination will
brighten.
To dim illumination

Turn reset button1 counterclock-
wise.
The instrument cluster illumination will
dim.
iThe instrument cluster illumination is
dimmed or brightened automatically to
suit ambient light conditions.
The instrument cluster illumination will
also be adjusted automatically when
you switch on the vehicle’s exterior
lamps.

128 Controls in detailInstrument clusterCoolant temperature gauge
The coolant temperature gauge is on the
left side in the instrument cluster
(page 24).During severe operating conditions, e.g.
stop-and-go traffic, the coolant tempera-
ture may rise close to 248°F (120°C).
The engine should not be operated with
the coolant temperature above 248°F
(120°C). Doing so may cause serious en-
gine damage which is not covered by the
Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.
Trip odometer
Make sure you are viewing the trip
odometer and main odometer in the
multifunction display (
page 130).

I f i t i s n o t d i s p l a y e d , p r e s s b u t t o nè
orÿ on the multifunction steering
wheel (
page 131) until the trip
odometer appears in the multifunction
display.

Press and hold the reset button in the
instrument cluster (
page 127) until
the trip odometer is reset.
Warning!
G


Driving when your engine is badly
overheated can cause some fluids which
may have leaked into the engine
compartment to catch fire. You could be
seriously burned.


Steam from an overheated engine can
cause serious burns and can occur just
by opening the hood. Stay away from
the engine if you see or hear steam com-
ing from it.
Turn off the engine, get out of the vehicle
and do not stand near the vehicle until the
engine has cooled down.

129 Controls in detail
Instrument cluster
Tachometer
The red marking on the tachometer
(page 24) denotes excessive engine
speed.
To help protect the engine, the fuel supply
is interrupted if the engine is operated
within the red marking.
Outside temperature indicator
The outside temperature is indicated in the
multifunction display (
page 130).The temperature sensor is located in the
front bumper area. Due to its location, the
sensor can be affected by road or engine
heat during idling or slow driving. There-
fore, the accuracy of the displayed temper-
ature can only be verified by comparison to
a thermometer placed next to the sensor,
not by comparison to external displays
(e.g. bank signs, etc.).
When moving the vehicle into colder ambi-
ent temperatures (e.g. when leaving your
garage), you will notice a delay before the
lower temperature is displayed.
A delay also occurs when ambient temper-
atures rise. This prevents inaccurate tem-
perature indications caused by heat
radiated from the engine during idling or
slow driving.
!Avoid driving at excessive engine
speeds, as it may result in serious
engine damage that is not covered by
the Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.
Warning!
G
The outside temperature indicator is not de-
s i g n e d t o s e r v e a s a n i c e - w a r n i n g d e v i c e a n d
is therefore unsuitable for that purpose.
Indicated temperatures just above the freez-
ing point do not guarantee that the road sur-
face is free of ice. The road may still be icy,
especially in wooded areas or on bridges.

130 Controls in detailControl systemThe control system is activated as soon as
the SmartKey in the starter switch is
turned to position1. The control system
enables you to

call up information about your vehicle


change vehicle settings
For example, you can use the control
system to find out when your vehicle is
next due for service, to set the language
for messages in the instrument cluster
display, and much more.
The control system relays information to
the multifunction display.
Multifunction display
1Trip odometer
2Main odometer
3Current program mode (automatic
transmission*)
4Current gear selector lever
position/gear range (automatic trans-
mission*)
5Digital clock
6Status indicator (outside tempera-
ture/digital speedometer)
iThe displays for the audio systems
(radio, CD player) will appear in English,
regardless of the language selected.
Warning!
G
A driver’s attention to the road and traffic
conditions must always be his/her primary
focus when driving.
For your safety and the safety of others,
selecting features through the multifunction
steering wheel should only be done by the
driver when traffic and road conditions
permit it to be done safely.
Bear in mind that at a speed of just 30 mph
(approximately 50 km/h), your vehicle is
covering a distance of 44 feet
(approximately 14 m) every second.

134 Controls in detailControl systemMenus, submenus and functions
Menu1
Menu2
Menu3
Menu4
Menu5
Menu6
Menu7
Standard
display
AUDIO
NAV*
Vehicle status
message memory
Settings
Trip computer
Telephone*
(page 135)
(page 136)
(page 138)
(page 138)
(page 140)
(page 155)
(page 157)
Commands/submenusRun Flat
Indicator*
(Canada only)
Select radio
station
Show route guid-
ance instructions,
current direction
traveled
Call up vehicle malfunc-
tion, warning and sys-
tem status messages
stored in memory
1
1The vehicle status message memory menu is only displayed if there is a message stored.
Reset to
factory
settings
Fuel consumption
statistics after
start
Load phone
book
Digital speed-
ometer or out-
side temperature
Select satellite
radio station*
(USA only)
Instrument
cluster sub-
menu
Fuel consumption
statistics since
the last reset
Search for
name in
phone book
Call up main-
tenance service
display
Operate
CD player*
Time/Date
submenu
Call up range
Lighting
submenuVehicle
submenuConvenience
submenu

140 Controls in detailControl system
Press buttonk orj.
The stored messages will now be
displayed in the order in which they
have occurred. For malfunction and
warning messages, see “Vehicle status
messages in the multifunction display”
(page 358).
Should the vehicle’s system record any
conditions while driving, the number of
messages will reappear in the multifunc-
tion display when the SmartKey in the
starter switch is turned to position0 or
removed from the starter switch.
Settings menu
In the
Settings
menu there are two
functions:


The function
Reset to factory
settings
, with which you can reset all
the settings to the original factory
settings.


A collection of submenus with which
you can make individual settings for
your vehicle.

Press buttonè orÿ repeatedly
until the
Settings
menu appears in the
multifunction display.Resetting all settings
You can reset all the functions of all
submenus to the factory settings.

Press the reset button in the
instrument cluster (
page 127) for
approximately 3 seconds.
The request to press the reset button
once more to confirm appears in the
multifunction display.

Press the reset button once more.
The functions of all the submenus will
reset to factory settings.
iThe vehicle status message memory
will be cleared when you turn the
SmartKey in the starter switch to
position1 or2. You will then only see
high-priority messages in the multi-
function display (
page 358).

142 Controls in detailControl systemThe table below shows what settings can
be changed within the various menus. Detailed instructions on making individual
settings can be found on the following
pages.Instrument cluster
Time/Date
Lighting
Vehicle
Convenience
Select speedometer
display mode
Time synchronization with head
unit*
Set daytime running lamp
mode (USA only)
Set automatic lock-
ing
Activate easy-entry/exit
feature
Select language
Set time (hours)
Set locator lighting
Set parking position for
exterior rear view mirror
Select display (speed
display or outside
temperature) for status
indicator
Set time (minutes)
Set night security
illumination
Select automatic time change
(Daylight Saving Time (DST)
summer/Standard time winter)
Set interior lighting de-
layed shut-off
Set date (month)Set date (day)Set date (year)