2006 MERCEDES-BENZ C280 ESP

ContentsSafety and Security........................... 61
Occupant safety................................... 62
Air bags .......................................... 63
Seat belts ....................................... 69
Active head restraint ...................... 73
Children in the vehicle .................... 74
Blocking of rear door window
operation ........................................ 85
Panic alarm* ........................................ 86
Activating ....................................... 86
Deactivating ................................... 86
Driving safety systems ......................... 87
ABS ................................................ 87
BAS ................................................ 88
ESP
®.............................................. 89
Four wheel electronic traction
system (4MATIC) with the ESP
®..... 92
Anti-theft systems................................ 93
Immobilizer..................................... 93
Anti-theft alarm system* ................ 93
Tow-away alarm* ........................... 95
Controls in detail............................... 97
Locking and unlocking ......................... 98
SmartKey ....................................... 98
Opening the doors from
the inside ..................................... 102
Opening the trunk ........................ 103
Closing the trunk.......................... 104
Trunk emergency release ............. 105
Valet locking ................................ 106
Automatic central locking ............ 107
Locking and unlocking from
the inside ..................................... 107
Seats ................................................. 109
Front seat active head restraints . 109
Rear seat head restraints ............. 109
Lumbar support*.......................... 112
Multicontour seats*
(Canada only) ............................... 113
Seat heating* ............................... 113
Memory function* ............................. 115
Storing positions into memory ..... 116
Recalling positions from memory . 116
Storing exterior rear view mirror
parking position ........................... 117Lighting ............................................. 118
Exterior lamp switch .................... 118
Combination switch ..................... 122
Corner-illuminating front fog lamps*
(C 280, C 350 4MATIC: with
Bi-Xenon* headlamps) ................. 123
Hazard warning flasher ................ 124
Interior lighting ............................ 125
Door entry lamps ......................... 126
Trunk lamp ................................... 126
Instrument cluster ............................. 127
Instrument cluster illumination .... 127
Coolant temperature gauge ......... 128
Trip odometer .............................. 128
Tachometer .................................. 129
Outside temperature indicator ..... 129
Control system .................................. 130
Multifunction display.................... 130
Multifunction steering wheel........ 131
Menus .......................................... 133
Standard display menu ................ 135
AUDIO menu ................................ 136
NAV* menu .................................. 138
Vehicle status message memory
menu............................................ 138
Settings menu .............................. 140

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.

15 Introduction
Symbols
Symbols
Trademarks:

ESP
® is a registered trademark of
DaimlerChrysler.


HomeLink
® is a registered trademark
of Prince, a Johnson Controls
Company.


SIRIUS and related marks are trade-
marks of Sirius Satellite Radio Inc.
The following symbols are found in this
Operator’s Manual:
* Optional equipment is identified
with an asterisk. Since standard
equipment varies between models,
the descriptions and illustrations in
this manual may differ slightly from
the actual equipment of your vehi-
cle.

This symbol points to instructions for
you to follow.

A number of these symbols appearing
in succession indicates a multiple-step
procedure.
 Page This symbol tells you where to
look for further information on a
topic.
This continuation symbol marks
an interrupted procedure which
will be continued on the next
page.
-> In the glossary of technical
terms, this symbol is used to
indicate cross-references to
term definitions.
Display
Words appearing in the multi-
function display are printed in
the type shown here.
Warning!
G
Warning notices draw your attention to haz-
ards that may endanger your health or life,
or the health or life of others.!Highlights hazards that may result in
damage to your vehicle.iHelpful hints or further information you
may find useful.

19 Introduction
Vehicle data recording
Vehicle data recording
Information regarding electronic recording devices
(Including notice pursuant to California Code § 9951)
Please note that your vehicle is equipped with devices that can record vehicle systems data and, if equipped with the Tele Aid system,
may transmit some data in certain accidents.
This information helps, for example, to diagnose vehicle systems after a collision and to continuously improve vehicle safety.
DaimlerChrysler may access the information and share it with others

for safety research or vehicle diagnosis purposes


with the consent of the vehicle owner or lessee


in response to an official request by law enforcement or other government agency


for use in dispute resolution involving DaimlerChrysler, its affiliates or sales/service organization and/or


as otherwise required or permitted by law.
Please check the Tele Aid subscription service agreement for details regarding the information that may be recorded or transmitted
via that system.

25 At a glance
Instrument cluster
Item
Page
1
Speedometer with:vElectronic Stability
Program (ESP
®)
warning lamp
89,
354
;Brake warning lamp,
USA only
50, 58,
351
3Brake warning lamp,
Canada only
50, 58,
351
BLow beam headlamp
indicator lamp
52,
118
2
LLeft turn signal
indicator lamp
53
3
Multifunction display
with:
130
Trip odometer
128
Main odometer
130
Gear selector lever
position*
49,
130,
164
Item
Page
Program mode*
167
Status indicator (outside
temperature/digital speed-
ometer
129,
144
Digital clock
130
4
KRight turn signal
indicator lamp
53
5
Tachometer with:
129
-Antilock Brake
System (ABS)
indicator lamp
87,
350
úEngine malfunction
indicator lamp,
USA only
352,
353
±Engine malfunction
indicator lamp,
Canada only
352,
353
1Supplemental
Restraint System
(SRS) indicator lamp
62,
355
Item
Page
69,
355
AHigh beam head-
lamp indicator lamp
52,
122
6
Fuel gauge with:Fuel reserve warning lamp
354
4The arrow indicates
that the fuel filler cap
is on the rear
right-hand side.
7
Coolant temperature gauge
128
8
Reset button for:
127


Resetting trip odometer
128


Resetting all settings
140


Instrument cluster
illumination
127

27 At a glance
Center console
Center console
Upper part
Item
Page
1
Seat heating*, driver’s side
113
2
Rear window sunshade
switch*
174
3
ESP
® control switch
89
4
Hazard warning flasher
switch – switching on/off
124
5
Central locking switch
107
Central unlocking switch
107
6
Switch for folding back rear
seat head restraints
111
7
Tow-away alarm switch*
95
Anti-theft alarm system
indicator lamp*
94
Item
Page
8
Seat heating*, passenger
side
113
9
Front passenger front
air bag off indicator lamp
80,
357,
366
a
Audio system,
199
orCOMAND* (see separate
operating instructions)
b
Climate control
176
Automatic climate control*
(Canada only)
186
Rear window defroster
175

32 Getting startedThe “Getting started” section provides an
overview of the vehicle’s most basic func-
tions. First-time Mercedes-Benz owners
should pay special attention to the infor-
mation given here.
If you are already familiar with the basic
functions described here, the “Controls in
detail” section (
page 98) will provide you
with further information. The correspond-
ing page references are located at the end
of each segment.
Unlocking
Unlocking with the SmartKeySmartKey with remote control 1‹Lock button
2ŠOpening button for trunk
3ŒUnlock button
4ÂPanic button* (
page 86)

Press unlock buttonΠon the
SmartKey.
All turn signal lamps flash once. The
locking knobs in the doors move up.
The anti-theft alarm system* is
disarmed.

Get in the vehicle and insert the
SmartKey in the starter switch.
For more information, see “Locking and
unlocking” (
page 98).
iCanada only:
Only vehicles equipped with an
anti-theft alarm system* have
SmartKeys with integrated panic
button*4.

34 Getting startedUnlocking
iWhen you switch on ignition, the
indicator and warning lamps (except
low beam headlamp indicator lamp,
high beam headlamp indicator lamp,
and turn signal indicator lamps unless
activated) in the instrument cluster
come on. The indicator and warning
lamps (except low beam headlamp in-
dicator lamp, high beam headlamp indi-
cator lamp, and turn signal indicator
lamps if activated) will go out when the
engine is running. This indicates that
the respective systems are operational.iVehicles with automatic transmission*:
The SmartKey can only be removed
from the starter switch with the gear
selector lever in positionP.
!If the SmartKey cannot be turned in the
starter switch, the battery may not be
sufficiently charged.

Check the battery and charge it if
necessary (
page 412).


Get a jump start (
page 415).
To prevent accelerated vehicle battery
discharge or a completely discharged
battery, always remove the SmartKey
from the starter switch when the en-
gine is not in operation.