2006 MERCEDES-BENZ C280 run flat

Contents
Maximum tire load ....................... 327
Maximum tire inflation pressure .. 328
Uniform Tire Quality Grading
Standards (U.S. vehicles) ............. 328
Tire ply material ........................... 330
Tire and loading terminology ........ 331
Rotating tires ............................... 335
Winter driving .................................... 336
Winter tires .................................. 336
Block heater (Canada only) .......... 337
Snow chains................................. 337
Maintenance...................................... 338
Maintenance service indicator
message....................................... 338
Calling up the maintenance
service indicator display............... 339
Resetting the maintenance
service indicator........................... 340
Vehicle care ....................................... 341
Cleaning and care of the vehicle .. 341
Practical hints.................................. 349
What to do if … ................................... 350
Lamps in instrument cluster ......... 350
Lamp in center console................. 356
Vehicle status messages in the
multifunction display..................... 358
Where will I find ...? ............................ 383
First aid kit.................................... 383
Vehicle tool kit .............................. 383
Minispare wheel............................ 386
Spare wheel bolts ......................... 388
Unlocking/locking in an emergency... 389
Unlocking the vehicle.................... 389
Locking the vehicle ....................... 390
Fuel filler flap ................................ 391
Manually unlocking the
transmission gear selector lever ... 392
Opening/closing in an emergency ..... 393
Power tilt/sliding sunroof* ........... 393
Resetting activated head restraints .... 394
Resetting activated head
restraints ...................................... 394
Replacing SmartKey batteries ............ 395
SmartKey ...................................... 396Replacing bulbs .................................. 397
Bulbs............................................. 398
Replacing bulbs for front lamps .... 400
Replacing bulbs for rear lamps ..... 403
Replacing wiper blades ...................... 405
Removing wiper blades ................. 405
Installing wiper blades .................. 405
Flat tire............................................... 406
Preparing the vehicle .................... 406
Mounting the Minispare wheel...... 406
MOExtended system* ................... 411
Battery ............................................... 412
Disconnecting the battery ............ 413
Removing the battery ................... 413
Charging and reinstalling the
battery .......................................... 414
Reconnecting the battery ............. 414
Jump starting...................................... 415
Towing the vehicle.............................. 417
Installing towing eye bolt .............. 420
Fuses.................................................. 421
Aids for replacing fuses ................ 421
Main fuse box in passenger
compartment ................................ 422
Fuse box in engine compartment . 422
Fuse box in trunk .......................... 423

104 Controls in detailLocking and unlockingOpening the trunk from the inside
You can open the trunk from the inside if
the vehicle is stationary.
A minimum height clearance of 5.71 ft
(1.74 m) is required to open the trunk lid.
The remote trunk opening switch is locat-
ed on the driver’s door.
1Remote trunk opening switch with indi-
cator lamp

Press switch1 until the trunk begins
to open.
The indicator lamp in the switch
remains lit as long as the trunk is open.
The trunk can also be opened using
buttonŠ on the SmartKey or from its
inside in an emergency, see “Trunk emer-
gency release” (
page 105).
Closing the trunk
1Handle
2Handles
Lower trunk lid by pulling firmly on
handle1 or handles2.

Close trunk lid with hands placed flat
on the trunk lid.
!The trunk lid swings open upwards
automatically. Always make sure there
is sufficient overhead clearance.iIf the trunk does not open, it is still
locked separately (
page 106).

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

135 Controls in detail
Control system
Standard display menu
In the standard display, the main odometer
and the trip odometer are shown in the
multifunction display.
1Trip odometer
2Main odometer
If another display is shown instead of the
standard display: 
Press buttonè orÿ repeatedly
until you see the standard display.

Press buttonk orj to select
the functions in the standard display
menu.The following functions are available:Display digital speedometer or outside
temperature

Press buttonj ork repeatedly
until you see the digital speedometer.
The current vehicle speed is shown in
the multifunction display.
1Digital speedometer
Function
Page
Run Flat Indicator* (Canada
only)
317
Call up digital speedometer or
outside temperature
135
Call up maintenance service
display
338
iSelect either the display of the digital
speedometer or the outside tempera-
ture indicator (
page 144).

252 Controls in detailLoading6Strap
Tighten strap6 by pulling at the loose
end (arrow) until the skis in the ski sack
are tightly secured.7Hook
8Eye

Connect hook7 to eye8.
Tighten strap by pulling at the loose
end (arrow).Unloading and folding

Loosen the straps.

Disconnect hook7 from eye8.

Unload skis.

Close flap in trunk.

Fold and flatten ski sack lengthwise.

Place folded ski sack inside recess of
backrest.

Fasten hook and loop fastener.

Close ski sack compartment cover.


283 Operation
Driving instructions
Driving instructions
Drive sensibly – save fuel
Fuel consumption, to a great extent,
depends on driving habits and operating
conditions.
To save fuel you should:

Keep tires at the recommended tire
inflation pressures.


Remove unnecessary loads.


Remove roof rack when not in use.


Allow engine to warm up under low
load use.


Avoid frequent acceleration and decel-
eration.


Have all maintenance work performed
at the intervals specified in the
Maintenance Booklet and as required
by the maintenance service display.
Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.
Fuel consumption is also increased by
driving in cold weather, in stop-and-go
traffic, on short trips and in hilly area.
Drinking and driving
PedalsPower assistance
Warning!
G
Drinking and driving and/or taking drugs
and driving are very dangerous combina-
tions. Even a small amount of alcohol or
drugs can affect your reflexes, perceptions
and judgment.
The possibility of a serious or even fatal
accident are greatly increased when you
drink or take drugs and drive.
Do not drink or take drugs and drive or allow
anyone to drive who has been drinking or
taking drugs.
Warning!
G
Keep driver’s foot area clear at all times.
Objects stored in this area may impair pedal
movement.Warning!
G
With the engine not running, there is no
power assistance for the brake and steering
systems. 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.

317 Operation
Tires and wheels

Install the valve cap.

Repeat this procedure for each tire.Run Flat Indicator* (Canada only)
While the vehicle is being driven, the Run
Flat Indicator monitors the set tire inflation
pressures by evaluating each wheel’s rota-
tional speed. This allows the system to de-
tect a significant loss of pressure in a tire.
If a wheel’s rotational speed changes due
to falling tire inflation pressure, you will
see a corresponding warning message in
the multifunction display.
The Run Flat Indicator* may function in a
restricted manner or with a delay if:


snow chains are mounted to the
vehicle


winter road conditions prevail in
presence of ice and snow


you are driving on a loose surface (e.g.
sand or gravel)


you are driving in a very sporty manner
(involving rapid acceleration or high
speeds in curves)
iIf you have overfilled the tire, release
tire inflation pressure by pushing the
metal stem of the valve with e.g. a tip of
a pen. Then recheck the tire inflation
pressure with the tire gauge.
Warning!
G
When the multifunction display shows the
message
Tire pressure Check tires
,
one or more of your tires is significantly un-
der-inflated. You should stop and check
your tires as soon as possible, and inflate
them to the proper tire inflation pressure as
indicated on the vehicle’s tire information
placard. Driving on a significantly under-in-
flated tire causes the tire to overheat and
can lead to tire failure. Under-inflation also
reduces fuel efficiency and tire tread life,
and may affect the vehicle’s handling and
stopping ability. Each tire, including the
spare, should be checked monthly when
cold and set to the recommended tire infla-
tion pressure as specified in the vehicle
placard and owner’s manual.

318 OperationTires and wheels
Reactivating the Run Flat Indicator*
The tire inflation pressure monitor must be
reactivated in the following situations:

If you have changed the tire inflation
pressure


If you have replaced the wheels or tires


If you have installed new wheels or
tires

Using the tire placard on the driver’s
door B-pillar or, if available, the inside
of the fuel filler flap, make sure the tire
inflation pressure of all four tires is cor-
rect.
iThe recommended tire inflation pres-
sures for your vehicle can be found on
the tire placard located on the driver’s
door B-pillar (
page 314). The tire in-
flation pressures are not listed in the
owner’s manual.
Warning!
G
The Run Flat Indicator* does not provide a
warning for wrongly selected tire inflation
pressures. Always adjust tire inflation pres-
sure according to the placard on the driver’s
door B-pillar or fuel filler flap.
The Run Flat Indicator* does not replace
regular checks of the tire inflation pressures
since a gradual pressure loss in all four tires
cannot be detected by the Run Flat
Indicator*.
T he Ru n Fl a t In di c at or * i s n o t a ble t o i s su e a
warning due to a sudden dramatic loss of
tire inflation pressure (e.g. tire blowout
caused by a foreign object). In this case
bring the vehicle to a halt by carefully apply-
ing the brakes and avoiding abrupt steering
maneuvers.