2006 MERCEDES-BENZ C280 ECO mode

9
Product information

Introduction
Product information
Please observe the following in your own
best interest:
We recommend using Genuine
Mercedes-Benz parts as well as conversion
parts and accessories explicitly approved
by us for your vehicle model.
We have tested these parts to determine
their reliability, safety and special
suitability for Mercedes-Benz vehicles.We are unable to make an assessment for
other products and therefore cannot be
held responsible for them, even if in indi-
vidual cases an official approval or authori-
zation by governmental or other agencies
should exist. Use of such parts and acces-
sories could adversely affect the safety,
performance or reliability of your vehicle.
Please do not use them.Genuine Mercedes-Benz parts as well as
conversion parts and accessories
approved by us are available at your
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center where
you will receive comprehensive informa-
tion, also on permissible technical modifi-
cations, and where proper installation will
be performed.

73 Safety and Security
Occupant safety
Active head restraint
The active head restraint are intended to
offer the driver and front passenger in-
creased protection from head and neck in-
jury. In the event of a rear-end collision,
the active head restraints on the driver’s
and front passenger’s seats are designed
to move forward in the direction of travel,
providing the head with increased support
earlier on in the collision sequence. The ac-
tive head restraints move forward whether
the seat is occupied.You cannot remove the active head re-
straints on the driver’s and passenger’s
seats.
For removal of the active head restraints
we recommend that you contact an autho-
rized Mercedes-Benz Center.
For information on head restraint adjust-
ment, see “Seats” (
page 35).
For information on resetting the activated
active head restraints, see “Resetting acti-
vated head restraints” (page 394).
Warning!
G
Only use seat- or head restraint covers
which have been tested and approved by
Mercedes-Benz for your vehicle model.
Using other seat- or head restraint covers
may interference with or prevent the activa-
tion of the active head restraints. Contact
your authorized Mercedes-Benz Center for
availability.
Warning!
G
For your protection, drive only with properly
positioned head restraints.
Adjust head restraints so that the center of
the head restraint supports the back of the
head at eye level. This will reduce the poten-
tial for injury to the head and neck in the
event of an accident or similar situation.
Do not drive the vehicle without the seat
head restraints. Head restraints are intend-
ed to help reduce injuries during an
accident.

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.

141 Controls in detail
Control system
Submenus in the Settings menu
Press buttonj.
The collection of the submenus
appears in the multifunction display.

Press buttonç.
The selection marker moves to the next
submenu.The submenus are arranged by hierarchy.
Scroll down with buttonç, scroll up
with buttonæ.
With the selection marker on the desired
submenu, use the buttonj to access
the individual functions within that sub-
menu. Once within the submenu, you can
use the button j to move to the next
function or the button k to move to the
previous function within that submenu.
The settings themselves are made with
buttonæ orç.
iThe settings you have changed will not
be reset unless you confirm the action
by pressing the reset button a second
time. After approximately 5 seconds,
the
Settings
menu reappears in the
multifunction display.
For safety reasons, the following
function are not reset while driving:


the
Hdlamp mode
function in the
Lighting
submenu

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.


159 Controls in detail
Control system

Press buttons.
The system dials the selected phone
number.

If the connection is successful, the
name of the party you called and
the duration of the call will appear
in the multifunction display.


If no connection is made, the
control system stores the dialed
number in the redial memory.Redialing
The control system stores the most
recently dialed phone numbers. This
eliminates the need to search through your
entire phone book.

Press buttonÿ orè repeatedly
until the message
TEL
appears in the
multifunction display.

Press buttons.
The first number in the redial memory
appears in the multifunction display.

Press buttonj ork repeatedly
until the desired name appears in the
multifunction display.

Press buttons.
The control system dials the selected
phone number.
iIf you press and hold buttonj
ork for longer than 1 second, the
system scrolls rapidly through the list
of names until you release the button
again.
Cancel the quick search mode by
pressing buttont.

167 Controls in detail
Automatic transmission*
Automatic shift program
The program mode selector switch is
located on the lower part of the center
console.
1Program mode selector switch
C Comfort For comfort driving
S Sport For standard driving
The current gear selector lever position
and the selected program mode (
C/S) are
indicated in the multifunction display
(
page 163).
Effect
ï
The transmission shifts through
sixth gear only (applies to
vehicles with 7-speed automatic
transmission only).
î
The transmission shifts through
fifth gear only (applies to
vehicles with 7-speed automatic
transmission only).
é
The transmission shifts through
fourth gear only.
è
The transmission shifts through
third gear only.
With this selection you can use
the braking effect of the engine.
Effect
ç
The transmission shifts through
second gear only.
Allows the use of engine’s
braking power when driving:

on steep downgrades


in mountainous regions


under extreme operating
conditions
æ
The transmission operates in
first gear only.
For maximum use of engine’s
braking effect on very steep or
lengthy downgrades.

168 Controls in detailAutomatic transmission*

Press program mode selector
switch1 repeatedly until the letter of
the desired program mode appears in
the multifunction display.
SelectCfor comfort driving:

The vehicle starts out in second
gear (both forward and reverse) for
gentler starts. This does not apply if
full throttle is applied or gear
range1 is selected.


Traction and driving stability are
improved on icy roads.


Upshifts occur earlier even when
you give more gas. The engine then
operates at lower rpms and the
wheels are less likely to spin.
One-touch gearshifting
Even with an automatic transmission, you
can change the gears manually and limit or
extend the gear range for automatic
shifting with the gear selector lever in
positionD.
!Never change the program mode when
the gear selector lever is out of
positionP. This could result in a
change of driving characteristics for
which you may not be prepared.iThe last selected program
mode (CorS) is switched on when the
engine is restarted.
!Allow engine to warm up under low
load use. Do not place full load on the
engine until the operating temperature
has been reached.
Shift into reverse gearR or parking
positionP only when the vehicle is
stopped.
Avoid spinning of a drive wheel for an
extended period when driving off on
slippery road surfaces. This may cause
serious damage to the drivetrain which
is not covered by the Mercedes-Benz
Limited Warranty.