2006 MERCEDES-BENZ C280 Automatic

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.

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.

132 Controls in detailControl systemIt is helpful to think of the menus, and the
functions within each menu, as being
arranged in a circular pattern.

If you press buttonè orÿ
repeatedly, you will pass through each
menu one after the other.


If you press buttonk orj
repeatedly, you will pass through each
function display, one after the other, in
the current menu.In the
Settings
menu, instead of functions
you will find a number of submenus for
calling up and changing settings. For
instructions on using these submenus, see
“Submenus in the Settings menu”
(
page 141).
The number of menus available in the sys-
tem depends on which optional equipment
is installed in your vehicle.
iThe headings used in the menus table
are designed to facilitate navigation
within the system and are not neces-
sarily identical to those shown in the
control system displays.
The first function displayed in each
menu will automatically show you
which part of the system you are in.

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)

145 Controls in detail
Control system
Time/Date submenu
Access the
Time/Date
submenu via the
Settings
menu. Use the
Time/Date

submenu to change the instrument cluster
display settings.
The following functions are available:Time synchronization with head unit*
This function can only be seen on vehicles
with COMAND* and navigation module*.

Move the selection marker with
buttonæ orç to the
Time/Date

submenu.

Press buttonj ork repeatedly
until the message
Time synchro.
w/Head Unit
appears in the multifunc-
tion display.
The selection marker is on the current
setting.

Press buttonæ orç to select
the desired setting.Set the time (hours)
This function can be seen in vehicles with
audio system, or in vehicles with
COMAND* if the time synchronization with
head unit* feature was set to
Off
.

Move the selection marker with
buttonæ orç to the
Time/Date

submenu.

Press buttonj ork repeatedly
until the message
Time Hours
appears
in the multifunction display.
Function
Page
Time synchronization with
head unit*
145
Set time (hours)
145
Set time (minutes)
146
Select automatic time change
(Daylight Saving Time (DST)
summer/Standard time winter)
147
Set date (month)
147
Set date (day)
148
Set date (year)
148
iVehicles with COMAND*:
For information on setting the time,
refer to the separate COMAND
operating instructions.


147 Controls in detail
Control system
Select automatic time change (Daylight
Saving Time (DST) summer/Standard
time winter)
This function can be seen in vehicles with
audio system, or in vehicles with
COMAND* if the time synchronization with
head unit* feature was set to
Off
.

Move the selection marker with
buttonæ orç to the
Time/Date

submenu.

Press buttonj ork repeatedly
until the message
Change-over
Summer / Winter time
appears in the
multifunction display.
The selection marker is on the current
setting.

Press buttonæ orç to select if
the changeover between summer and
winter time should be automatic or
manual.
Set the date (month)
This function can be seen in vehicles with
audio system, or in vehicles with
COMAND* if the time synchronization with
head unit* feature was set to
Off
.

Move the selection marker with
buttonæ orç to the
Time/Date

submenu.

Press buttonj ork repeatedly
until the message
Date Set MM
appears
in the multifunction display.
The selection marker is on the month
setting.

Press buttonæ orç to set the
month.
iVehicles with COMAND*:
For information on setting the date,
refer to the separate COMAND
operating instructions.

150 Controls in detailControl system
The selection marker is on the current
setting.

Press buttonæ orç to select
manual operation (
Manual
) or daytime
running lamp mode (
Constant
)
activated.
With daytime running lamp mode activated
and the exterior lamp switch in
positionM orU, the low beam
headlamps are switched on when the
engine is running.In low ambient light conditions the
following lamps will switch on additionally:


Parking lamps


Tail lamps


License plate lamps


Side marker lamps
For more information on the daytime
running lamp mode, see “Lighting”
(
page 118).Set locator lighting
With the locator lighting feature activated
and the exterior lamp switch in
positionU, the following lamps will
switch on during darkness when the vehi-
cle is unlocked with the SmartKey:


Parking lamps


Tail lamps


License plate lamps


Side marker lamps


Front fog lamps
The locator lighting switches off when the
driver’s door is opened.
If you do not open a door after unlocking
the vehicle with the SmartKey, the lamps
will switch off automatically after approxi-
mately 40 seconds.

Move the selection marker with
buttonæ orç to the
Lighting

submenu.
iFor safety reasons, resetting the set-
tings to factory settings (
page 140)
while driving will not deactivate the
daytime running lamp mode.
The following message appears in the
multifunction display:
Lighting - Cannot be completely
reset to factory sets. while
driving.


151 Controls in detail
Control system

Press buttonj ork repeatedly
until the message
Surround lighting

appears in the multifunction display.
The selection marker is on the current
setting.

Press buttonæ orç to switch
the locator lighting function
On.

Turn the exterior lamp switch to
positionU when exiting the vehicle
(page 118).
The locator lighting feature is
activated.Set night security illumination
(Headlamps delayed shut-off)
Use this function to set whether or not the
exterior lamps illuminate during darkness
after exiting the vehicle and all doors
closed.
With the delayed shut-off feature activated
and the exterior lamp switch in
positionU before the engine is turned
off, the following lamps will switch on
when the engine is turned off and remain
lit for appriximately 15 seconds:


Parking lamps


Tail lamps


License plate lamps


Side marker lamps


Front fog lamps
If after turning off the engine you do not
open a door or do not close an opened
door, the lamps will automatically switch
off after 60 seconds.

Move the selection marker with
buttonæ orç to the
Lighting
submenu.

Press buttonj ork repeatedly
until the message
Hdlamp delay off

appears in the multifunction display.
The selection marker is on the current
setting.
iYou can reactivate this function within
10 minutes by opening a door.