2006 MERCEDES-BENZ C280 starter

124 Controls in detailLightingSwitching off corner-illuminating front
fog lamps
The combination switch for the turn signal
resets automatically after major steering
wheel movements. This will switch off the
corner-illuminating front fog lamps if they
were activated by switching on the left or
right turn signal.
If the turn signal should stay on after mak-
ing the turn, the turn signal and cornering
fog lamp can be switched off by returning
the combination switch to its original posi-
tion.Driving rearward
Switching on corner-illuminating front
fog lamps

Place the gear selector lever (manual
transmission: gearshift lever) in
positionR.
The inverse front fog lamp comes on
automatically depending on the
steering direction and steering angle.
Switching off corner-illuminating front
fog lamps

Place the gear selector lever (manual
transmission: gearshift lever) out of
positionR.
The respective front fog lamp goes out.
Hazard warning flasher
The hazard warning flasher can be
switched on at all times, even with the
SmartKey removed from the starter
switch.
The hazard warning flasher switches on
automatically when an air bag deploys.
The hazard warning flasher switch is
located on the upper part of the center
console.
1Hazard warning flasher switch

125 Controls in detail
Lighting
Switching on hazard warning flasher
Press hazard warning flasher
switch1.
All turn signals are flashing.
Switching off hazard warning flasher

Press hazard warning flasher switch1
again.
Interior lighting
The controls are located in the overhead
control panel.
1Rear interior lights on/off
2Right front reading lamp on/off
3Rocker switch for automatic control
system
4Left front reading lamp on/offAutomatic control
Activating

Press rocker switch3 to center
position.
Interior lamps are switched on in
darkness, when you

unlock the vehicle


open a door


remove the SmartKey from the
starter switch
The interior lamps are switched off after a
preset time, see “Set interior lighting de-
layed shut-off” (
page 152).
iWith the hazard warning flasher
activated and the combination switch
set for either left or right turn, only the
respective turn signals will operate
when the SmartKey is in the starter
switch position1 or 2.iIf the hazard warning flasher has been
activated automatically, press hazard
warning flasher switch1 once to
switch it off.
iLeaving an interior light switch in the
ON position for extended periods of
time with the engine turned off could
result in a discharged battery.
iIf the door remains open, the interior
lamps switch off automatically after
approximately 5 minutes, when the
SmartKey is removed or in starter
switch position0.

126 Controls in detailLightingDeactivating 
Press the= symbol on rocker
switch3.
The interior lighting remains switched
off, even when you

unlock the vehicle


open a door


remove the SmartKey from the
starter switch
Manual control
Switching all front interior lights on and
off

Press theW symbol on rocker
switch3.
The front interior lights come on.

Press rocker switch3 to center
position to activate the automatic
control.Switching rear interior lights on and off

Press buttonV.
The lights in the rear passenger
compartment come on.

Press buttonV again.
The lights in the rear passenger
compartment go out.
Switching front reading lamp on and off

Press right or left buttonX.
The right reading lamp comes on.

Press right or left buttonX again.
The right reading lamp goes out.
Door entry lamps
The appropriate door entry lamp switches
on if a door is opened in darkness and if
the interior lighting is switched to auto-
matic function.
The entry lamp switches off automatically
when the door is closed.Trunk lamp
The trunk lamp switches on if the trunk is
opened.
If you leave the trunk open for an extended
period of time, the trunk lamp will switch
off automatically after approximately
10 minutes.
iIf you turn the SmartKey in the starter
switch to position0 and switch off the
exterior headlamps, the door entry
lamps will remain lit for approximately
5minutes.

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.

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).

152 Controls in detailControl system
Press buttonæ orç to switch
the delayed shut-off feature
off
or
on.

Turn the exterior lamp switch to
positionU before turning off the
engine (
page 118).
The headlamps delayed shut-off
feature is activated.
You can temporarily deactivate the
delayed shut-off feature:

Before exiting the vehicle, turn the
SmartKey in the starter switch to
position0.

Then turn it to position2 and back to
position0.
The delayed shut-off feature is
deactivated. It will reactivate as soon
as you reinsert the SmartKey in the
starter switch.Set interior lighting delayed shut-off
Use this function to set whether or not the
interior lighting to remains lit during dark-
ness for appriximately 10 seconds after
you have removed the SmartKey from the
starter switch.

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

Press buttonj ork repeatedly
until the message
Int. light delay
off
appears in the multifunction
display.
The selection marker is on the current
setting.

Press buttonæ orç to switch
the delayed shut-off feature
off
or
on.
Vehicle submenu
Access the
Vehicle
submenu via the
Settings
menu. Use the
Vehicle
submenu
to make general vehicle settings.
The following function is available:
Set automatic locking
Use this function to activate or deactivate
the automatic central locking. With the
automatic central locking system
activated, the vehicle is centrally locked at
vehicle speeds of approximately 9 mph
(15 km/h).

Move the selection marker with
buttonæ orç to the
Vehicle

submenu.
Function
Page
Set automatic locking
152


155 Controls in detail
Control system
Trip computer menu
Use the trip computer menu to call up
statistical data on your vehicle.
The following information is available:Fuel consumption statistics after start

Press buttonÿ orè repeatedly
until the first function of the trip
computer menu appears in the
multifunction display.

Press buttonj ork repeatedly
until the message
After start
appears
in the multifunction display.
1Distance driven since start
2Time elapsed since start
3Average speed since start
4Average fuel consumption since start
Function
Page
Fuel consumption statistics after
start
155
Fuel consumption statistics
since last reset
156
Distance to empty
156
iAll statistics stored since the last
engine start will be reset approximately
4 hours after the SmartKey in the
starter switch is turned to position0 or
removed from the starter switch.
Resetting will not occur if you turn the
SmartKey back to position1 or2
within this time period.

160 Controls in detailManual transmissionManual transmission is standard
equipment on select models and not
available on all models.
For information on driving with a manual
transmission, see “Manual transmission”
(page 48).
Warning!
G
For vehicles equipped with a manual trans-
mission, getting out of your vehicle with the
gearshift lever not engaged in first or
reverse gear and parking brake engaged is
dangerous.
Also, when parked on an incline, an engaged
first or reverse gear alone may not prevent
your vehicle from moving, possibly hitting
people or objects.
Always set the parking brake in addition to
engaging first or reverse gear (
page 58).
When parked on an incline, turn front wheels
towards the road curb.
Do not park this vehicle in areas where
combustible 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.
Warning!
G
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the
SmartKey from the starter switch, take it
with you, and lock the vehicle. Do not leave
children unattended in the vehicle, or with
access to an unlocked vehicle. Children
could move the gearshift lever, which could
result in an accident and/or serious injury.Warning!
G
On slippery road surfaces, never downshift
in order to obtain braking action. This could
result in drive wheel slip and reduced
vehicle control. Your vehicle’s ABS will not
prevent this type of loss of control.