2006 MERCEDES-BENZ C280 climate control

Contents
Trip computer menu..................... 155
TEL menu* ................................... 157
Manual transmission ......................... 160
Shifting into reverse ..................... 161
Automatic transmission* ................... 162
Gear selector lever position ......... 164
Driving tips ................................... 165
Gear ranges ................................. 166
Automatic shift program .............. 167
One-touch gearshifting................. 168
Emergency operation
(Limp Home Mode) ...................... 169
Good visibility .................................... 170
Headlamp cleaning system* ........ 170
Rear view mirrors ......................... 170
Sun visors .................................... 173
Rear window sunshade* .............. 174
Rear window defroster ................. 175
Climate control .................................. 176
Deactivating the climate control
system ......................................... 179
Operating the climate control
system in automatic mode ........... 179
Setting the temperature ............... 180Adjusting air distribution and
volume .......................................... 180
Adjusting air volume ..................... 181
Front defroster.............................. 181
Air recirculation mode .................. 182
Air conditioning............................. 183
Rear passenger compartment
adjustable air vents....................... 184
Automatic climate control*
(Canada only) ..................................... 186
Deactivating the automatic climate
control system .............................. 189
Operating the climate control
system in automatic mode............ 189
Setting the temperature................ 190
Adjusting air distribution............... 190
Adjusting air volume ..................... 191
Front defroster.............................. 191
Maximum cooling MAXCOOL ........ 192
Air recirculation mode .................. 192
Charcoal filter ............................... 194
Air conditioning............................. 196
Residual heat and ventilation ........ 197
Rear passenger compartment
adjustable air vents....................... 197Audio system...................................... 199
Audio and telephone, operation .... 199
Operating safety ........................... 199
Operating and display elements ... 200
Button and soft key operation ...... 202
Operation...................................... 202
Radio operation ............................ 207
Introduction to satellite radio*
(USA only) ..................................... 211
CD mode....................................... 216
GSM network phones ................... 225
TDMA or CDMA network phones .. 231
Emergency calls “911” ................. 237
Power windows .................................. 240
Opening and closing the windows 240
Synchronizing power windows ...... 242
Summer opening feature .............. 243
Convenience closing feature......... 243
Power tilt/sliding sunroof* ................ 244
Opening and closing the power
tilt/sliding sunroof........................ 244
Synchronizing the power
tilt/sliding sunroof........................ 246
Driving systems .................................. 247
Cruise control ............................... 247

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

97 Controls in detail
Locking and unlocking
Seats
Memory function*
Lighting
Instrument cluster
Control system
Manual transmission
Automatic transmission*
Good visibility
Climate control
Automatic climate control* (Canada only)
Audio system
Power windows
Power tilt/sliding sunroof*
Driving systems
Loading
Useful features

175 Controls in detail
Good visibility
Rear window defroster
The rear window defroster uses a large
amount of power. To keep the battery
drain to a minimum, switch off the
defroster as soon as the rear window is
clear.
The defroster is automatically deactivated
after approximately 6 to 17 minutes of op-
eration depending on the outside tempera-
ture.Activating

Press buttonF or 1 in the
climate control panel (
page 177) or
automatic climate control panel*
(
page 187).
The indicator lamp on the button
comes on.
Deactivating

Press buttonF or 1 again.
The indicator lamp on the button goes
out.
Warning!
G
Any accumulation of snow and ice should be
removed from the rear window before
driving. Visibility could otherwise be
impaired, endangering you and others.
!If the rear window defroster switches
off too soon and the indicator lamp
starts flashing, this means that too
many electrical consumers are
operating simultaneously and there is
insufficient voltage in the battery. The
system responds automatically by
deactivating the rear window defroster.
As soon as the battery has sufficient
voltage, the rear window defroster
automatically turns itself back on.

176 Controls in detailClimate control

177 Controls in detail
Climate control
Climate control panel (USA only)
Climate control panel (Canada only)
Item
1
Left side defroster vent, fixed
2
Left side air vent, adjustable
3
Thumbwheel for air volume control
for left side air vent
4
Thumbwheel for air volume control
for left center air vent
5
Left center air vent, adjustable
6
Right center air vent, adjustable
7
Thumbwheel for air volume control
for right center air vent
8
Thumbwheel for air volume control
for right side air vent
9
Right side air vent, adjustable
a
Right side defroster vent, fixed
b
Climate control paneliFor draft-free ventilation, move the
sliders for the air vents2, 5, 6,
and9 to the middle position.
Item
1
Air volume control
2
Left side temperature control
3
Right side temperature control
4
Air distribution control
5
Rear window defroster
6
AC cooling on/off
7
Air distribution and air volume
(automatic mode)
8
Air recirculation
9
Front defroster

178 Controls in detailClimate controlThe climate control is operational when-
ever the engine is running. You can oper-
ate the climate control system in either the
automatic or manual mode. The system
cools or heats the interior depending on
the selected interior temperature and the
current outside temperature.Nearly all dust particles, pollutants and
odors are filtered out before outside air en-
ters the passenger compartment through
the air distribution system.
The air conditioning will not engage (no
cooling) if the modeA/C is deactivated
(
page 183).
Warning!
G
When operating the climate control, the air
that enters the passenger compartment
through the air vents can be very hot or very
cold (depending on the set temperature).
This may cause burns or frostbite on unpro-
tected skin in the immediate area of the air
vents. Always keep sufficient distance be-
tween unprotected parts of the body and the
air vents. If necessary, use the air distribu-
tion control (
page 180) to direct the air to
air vents in the vehicle interior that are not
in the immediate area of unprotected skin.
Warning!
G
Follow the recommended settings for heat-
ing and cooling given on the following pag-
es. Otherwise the windows could fog up,
impairing visibility and endangering you and
others.
iSevere conditions (e.g. strong air
pollution) may require replacement of
the filter before its scheduled interval.
A clogged filter will reduce the air
volume to the interior.
If the vehicle interior is hot, ventilate
the interior before driving off, see
“Summer opening feature”
(page 243). The climate control will
then adjust the interior temperature to
the set value much faster.
Keep the air intake grille in front of the
windshield free of snow and debris.
Do not obstruct air flow by placing
objects on the air flow-through exhaust
slots below the rear window.

179 Controls in detail
Climate control
Deactivating the climate control system
Deactivating
Set air volume control1 (
page 177)
to position0.
Reactivating

Set air volume control1 (
page 177)
to any speed.Operating the climate control system
in automatic mode
Activating
Press buttonU (
page 177) while
the engine is running.
The indicator lamp on the button
comes on. The air volume and air distri-
bution are adjusted automatically.

Use temperature controls2 and3
(page 177) to separately adjust the
air temperature on each side of the
passenger compartment.
The temperature of the vehicle interior
is adjusted automatically.
Deactivating

Press buttonU (
page 177) again.
The indicator lamp on the button goes
out. The automatic operation of air vol-
ume and air distribution switches off.
iWhen the climate control system is de-
activated, the outside air supply and
circulation are also deactivated. Only
choose this setting for a short time.
Otherwise the windows could fog up.
iWhen operating the climate control
system in automatic mode, you will
only rarely need to adjust the tempera-
ture, air volume and air distribution.
In automatic mode, cooling with dehu-
midify is switched on. This function can
be switched off if necessary.