2006 MERCEDES-BENZ C280 Mechanical key

93 Safety and Security
Anti-theft systems
Anti-theft systems
Immobilizer
The immobilizer prevents unauthorized
persons from starting your vehicle.
Activating
Remove the SmartKey from the starter
switch.
Deactivating

Switch on the ignition (
page 33).
Anti-theft alarm system*
Once the alarm system has been armed, a
visual and audible alarm is triggered when
someone opens

a door


the trunk


the hood
The alarm system will also be triggered
when


someone attempts to raise the vehicle


opening the vehicle with the
mechanical key


someone opens a door from the inside


someone opens the trunk with the
emergency release button
iStarting the engine will also deactivate
the immobilizer.
In case the engine cannot be started
(yet the vehicle’s battery is charged),
the system is not operational. Contact
an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center
or call 1-800-FOR-MERCedes (in the
USA), or 1-800-387-0100 (in Canada).
iThe alarm will stay on even if the acti-
vating element (e. g. a door) is immedi-
ately closed.iIf the alarm stays on for more than
30 seconds, a call to the Response
Center is initiated automatically by the
Tele Aid system* (
page 265) provid-
ed Tele Aid service was subscribed to
and properly activated, and that neces-
sary cellular service and GPS coverage
are available.

98 Controls in detailIn the “Controls in detail” section you will
find detailed information on how to oper-
ate the equipment installed on your vehi-
cle. If you are already familiar with the
basic functions of your vehicle, this section
will be of particular interest to you.
To quickly familiarize yourself with the ba-
sic functions of the vehicle, refer to the
“Getting started” section of this manual.
The corresponding page numbers are giv-
en at the beginning of each segment.
For more information on locking and
unlocking, see “Getting started”
(page 32) and (
page 57).
Locking and unlocking
SmartKey
Your vehicle comes supplied with two
SmartKeys, each with remote control and
a removable mechanical key.
The locking tabs for the mechanical key
portion of the two SmartKeys are a
different color to help distinguish each
SmartKey unit.
The SmartKey provides an extended oper-
ating range. To prevent theft, however, it is
advisable to only unlock the vehicle when
you are in close proximity to it.
The SmartKey centrally locks and unlocks:

the doors


the trunk


the fuel filler flap
SmartKey with remote control1‹ Lock button
2Š Opening button for trunk
3Mechanical key locking tab
4ΠUnlock button
5Battery check lamp
6Â Panic button* (
page 86)
iCanada only:
Only vehicles equipped with an
anti-theft alarm system* have
SmartKeys with integrated panic
button6.

101 Controls in detail
Locking and unlocking
Global locking
Press button‹.
With the trunk and all doors closed, all
turn signal lamps flash three times. The
locking knobs in the doors move down.
The anti-theft alarm system* is armed.
Restoring to factory setting

Press and hold buttonsŒ and‹
simultaneously for about 6 seconds un-
til battery check lamp5 flashes twice.
The SmartKey is set to factory setting
again.Checking the batteries

Press button‹ orŒ.
Battery check lamp5 comes on
briefly to indicate that the SmartKey
batteries are in order.
!If you can no longer lock or unlock the
vehicle with the SmartKey, then either
the batteries in the SmartKey are dis-
charged, the SmartKey is malfunction-
ing or the vehicle battery is drained.

Check the batteries in the
SmartKey (
page 101) and
replace them if necessary
(
page 396).


Use the mechanical key to unlock
the driver’s door (
page 389) and
the trunk (
page 390).


Use the mechanical key to lock the
driver’s door (
page 390) and the
trunk (
page 106).


Have the vehicle battery and the
battery connections checked
(page 412).
If the SmartKey is malfunctioning,
contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.
iIf battery check lamp5 does not
come on briefly during check, then the
SmartKey batteries are discharged.
Replace the batteries (
page 396).
You can obtain the required batteries
at any authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.
iIf the batteries are checked within
signal range of the vehicle, pressing
the‹ orŒ button will lock or
unlock the vehicle accordingly.

102 Controls in detailLocking and unlockingUnlocking and opening the trunk
You can unlock and open the trunk
separately.
A minimum height clearance of 5.71 ft
(1.74 m) is required to open the trunk lid.
Press buttonŠ until trunk lid
unlocks and begins to open.Loss of SmartKey or mechanical key
If you lose a SmartKey or mechanical key,
you should do the following:

Have the SmartKey deactivated by an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.

Report the loss of the SmartKey or the
mechanical key immediately to your
car insurance company.

If necessary, have the mechanical lock
replaced.
Your authorized Mercedes-Benz Center
will be glad to supply you with a replace-
ment.
Opening the doors from the inside
You can open a locked door from the
inside. Open door only when conditions
are safe to do so.
1Locking knob
2Inside door handle
!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).
iIf the vehicle has previously been
locked with the SmartKey, opening a
door from the inside will trigger the
anti-theft alarm system*.

106 Controls in detailLocking and unlockingIllumination of the emergency release
button:

The button flashes 30 minutes after
opening the trunk.


The button flashes 60 minutes after
closing the trunk.
Valet locking
The lock is located next to the handle
above the rear license plate recess.
1Neutral position
2Locked
Close the trunk (
page 104).
iThe emergency release button unlocks
and opens the trunk while the vehicle is
standing still or in motion.iThe emergency release button does
not open the trunk lid if the vehicle
battery is discharged or disconnected.
iIf the vehicle has previously been
locked with the SmartKey, opening the
trunk from the inside using the emer-
gency release button will trigger the
anti-theft alarm system*.
To cancel the alarm, do one of the
following:

Press buttonŒ or‹ on the
SmartKey.


Insert the SmartKey in the starter
switch.
iTo deny any unauthorized person ac-
cess to the trunk, lock it separately
with the mechanical key. Leave only
the SmartKey less its mechanical key
with the vehicle.

107 Controls in detail
Locking and unlocking

Pull the mechanical key out of the
SmartKey (
page 389).

Insert the mechanical key in the trunk
lid lock.

Turn the mechanical key clockwise to
position2 and remove the mechani-
cal key in that position to lock the
trunk.
The trunk remains locked even when the
vehicle is centrally unlocked.

Insert the mechanical key in the trunk
lid lock.

Turn the mechanical key counterclock-
wise to neutral position1 and remove
the mechanical key in that position to
unlock the trunk.
You can now open the trunk
(page 103).
Automatic central locking
The doors and the trunk automatically lock
when the ignition is switched on and the
wheels are turning at vehicle speeds of
approximately 9 mph (15 km/h) or more.
You can open a locked door from the
inside. Open door only when conditions
are safe to do so.
You can deactivate the automatic locking
mode using the control system, see “Set
automatic locking” (
page 152).
Locking and unlocking from the inside
You can lock or unlock the doors and the
trunk from inside using the central locking
or unlocking switch. This can be useful, for
example, if you want to lock the vehicle
before starting to drive.
You cannot lock or unlock the fuel filler flap
with the central locking or unlocking
switch.
iYou can only cancel the separate trunk
locking mode by means of the
mechanical key.
iThe doors unlock automatically after an
accident if the force of the impact
exceeds a preset threshold.
To prevent the vehicle door locks from
locking, deactivate the automatic
central locking when the vehicle

is pushed or towed


is on a test stand
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. Unsuper-
vised use of vehicle equipment may cause
an accident and/or serious personal injury.

257 Controls in detail
Useful features
Useful features
Storage compartments Glove box
1Glove box lid release
2Glove box
Opening glove box

Pull glove box lid release1.
The glove box lid opens2 downward.
Closing glove box

Push glove box lid2 up to close.1Unlocking
2Locking
Locking glove box

Insert mechanical key (
page 389)
into the glove box lock and turn it to
position2.
Unlocking glove box

Turn mechanical key in the glove box
lock to position1.
Warning!
G
To help avoid personal injury during a colli-
sion or sudden maneuver, exercise care
when storing objects in the vehicle. Put lug-
gage or cargo in the trunk if possible. Do not
pile luggage or cargo higher than the seat
backs. Do not place anything on the shelf
below the rear window.
Luggage nets cannot secure hard or heavy
objects.
Keep compartment lids closed. This will help
to prevent stored objects from being thrown
about and injuring vehicle occupants during
an accident.
iAudio system/COMAND* with CD
changer*: The CD changer* is located
in the glove box.

389 Practical hints
Unlocking/locking in an emergency
Unlocking/locking in an emergency
Unlocking the vehicle
If you are unable to unlock the vehicle with
the SmartKey, open the driver’s door and
the trunk using the mechanical key. Removing the mechanical key
1Mechanical key locking tab
2Mechanical key

Move locking tab1 in direction of
arrow.

Slide mechanical key2 out of the
housing.Unlocking the driver’s door
1Unlocking

Insert the mechanical key into the
driver’s door lock until it stops.

Turn the mechanical key counterclock-
wise to position1.
The driver’s door is unlocked.
iUnlocking and opening the driver’s
door and/or the trunk with the
mechanical key will trigger the
anti-theft alarm system*.
To cancel the alarm, do one of the
following:

Press buttonŒ or‹ on the
SmartKey.


Insert the SmartKey in the starter
switch.