2006 MERCEDES-BENZ C280 ignition

33 Getting started
Unlocking
Starter switch positions SmartKey
Starter switch0For removing SmartKey
The steering is locked when the
SmartKey is removed from the starter
switch.
1Power supply for some electrical
consumers, such as seat adjustment2Ignition (power supply for all electrical
consumers) and driving position.
All lamps (except low beam headlamp
indicator lamp, high beam headlamp in-
dicator lamp, and turn signal indicator
lamps unless activated) in the instru-
ment cluster come on. If a lamp in the
instrument cluster fails to come on
when the ignition is switched on, have
it checked and replaced if necessary. If
a lamp in the instrument cluster re-
mains on after starting the engine or
comes on while driving, see “Lamps in
instrument cluster” (
page 350).
3Starting position
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.

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.

37 Getting started
Adjusting
Seat cushion tilt
Turn handwheel2 forward or back-
ward until your upper legs are lightly
supported.
Seat backrest tilt

Switch on the ignition (
page 33).

Press switch3 in direction of arrow
until your arms are slightly angled
when holding the steering wheel.
Seat height

Switch on the ignition (
page 33).

Press switch4 in direction of arrow
until your legs are lightly supported.Head restraint height
1Release button
Raising:

Manually adjust the height of the head
restraint by pulling it upward.
Lowering:

To lower head the restraint, push
release button1 and push down on
the head restraint.iAdjust the head restraint in such a way
that it is as close to the head as
possible.
Warning!
G
For your protection, drive only with properly
positioned head restraints.
Adjust head restraint so that the head re-
straint supports the back of the head at eye
level. This will reduce the potential for injury
to the head and neck in the event of an ac-
cident or similar situation.
Do not drive the vehicle without the seat
head restraints. Head restraints are intend-
ed to help reduce injuries during an acci-
dent.

38 Getting startedAdjustingHead restraint tilt
Manually adjust the angle of the head
restraint.
Push or pull on the lower edge of the
head restraint cushion.
For more information, see “Seats”
(
page 109).Power seat* adjustment
The seat adjustment switches are located
on the respective front door.
1Head restraint height
2Seat height
3Seat cushion tilt
4Seat fore and aft adjustment
5Seat backrest tilt

Switch on the ignition (
page 33).
or

Open the respective door.Seat fore and aft adjustment

Press switch forward or backward in
direction of arrow4.
Adjust seat to a comfortable seating
position that still allows you to reach
the accelerator/brake pedal safely.
The position should be as far rearward
as possible, consistent with ability to
properly operate controls.iThe memory function* (
page 115)
lets you store the settings for the pow-
er seat*, the steering wheel adjust-
ment (electrical*) and the exterior rear
view mirrors.

41 Getting started
Adjusting

To lock the steering column, push
handle1 all the way in until it
engages.
The steering wheel is locked into posi-
tion again.

Make sure the steering wheel is
securely locked by trying to move it up
and down, and in and out before driving
off.Steering wheel adjustment, electrical*
The lever for the electrical steering wheel
adjustment is located on the lower left of
the steering column.
1Adjusting steering column, in or out
2Adjusting steering column, up or down

Switch on the ignition (
page 33).
or

Open the driver’s door.Adjusting steering column in or out

Move the lever in direction of
arrows1 until a comfortable steering
wheel position is reached with your
arms slightly bent at the elbow.
Adjusting steering column up or down

Move the lever in direction of
arrows2.
Make sure your legs can move freely
and that all the displays (including mal-
function and indicator lamps) on the in-
strument cluster are clearly visible.
!Do not drive the vehicle until you have
properly locked the steering column.
iThe memory function* (
page 115)
lets you store the settings for the pow-
er seat*, the steering wheel adjust-
ment (electrical*) and the exterior rear
view mirrors.

42 Getting startedAdjustingEasy-entry/exit feature*
This feature allows for easier entry into and
exit from the vehicle. When entering and
exiting the vehicle, the steering wheel is in
its uppermost position.
The easy-entry/exit feature can be activat-
ed or deactivated in the
Convenience
sub-
menu of the control system (
page 153).With the easy-entry/exit feature activated,
the steering wheel will return to its last set
position when you:


close the driver’s door with the ignition
switched on,
or


insert the SmartKey into the starter
switch with the driver’s door closed.With the easy-entry/exit feature activated,
the steering wheel tilts upwards when you:


remove the SmartKey from the starter
switch,
or


open the driver’s door with the
SmartKey in starter switch position0
or1.
Warning!
G
You must make sure no one can become
trapped or injured by the moving steering
wheel when the easy-entry/exit feature is
activated.
To cancel steering wheel movement, do one
of the following:

Move steering column stalk*
(page 41).


Press memory position switch*
(page 116).
Do not leave children unattended in the ve-
hicle, or with access to an unlocked vehicle.
Children could open the driver’s door and
unintentionally activate the easy-entry/exit
feature, which could result in an accident
and/or serious personal injury.iThe last set steering wheel position is
stored when

the ignition is switched off


the position is stored in memory
(page 115)
iIf the current position for the steering
wheel is in the uppermost tilt position,
the steering wheel will no longer be
able to move upward when the
easy-entry/exit feature is activated.
The adjustment procedure is briefly in-
terrupted when the engine is started.

44 Getting startedAdjusting
The buttons are located above the exterior
lamp switch.
1Adjustment button
2Passenger-side exterior rear view
mirror button
3Driver’s side exterior rear view mirror
button
Switch on the ignition (
page 33).

Press button3 for the driver’s side
exterior rear view mirror or button2
for passenger-side exterior rear view
mirror.

Press adjustment button1 up, down,
left, or right according to the desired
setting.
For more information, see “Rear view mir-
rors” (
page 170).
!If an exterior rear view mirror housing
is forcibly pushed forward (hit from the
rear) or rearward (hit from the front),
reposition it by applying firm pressure
until it snaps into place. The exterior
rear view mirror housing is now proper-
ly positioned and you can adjust the
mirror normally.iThe memory function* (
page 115)
lets you store the settings for the pow-
er seat*, the steering wheel adjust-
ment (electrical*) and the exterior rear
view mirrors.
iAt low ambient temperatures, the
exterior rear view mirrors will be
heated automatically.

53 Getting started
Driving
Turn signals
The combination switch is located on the
left of the steering column.Combination switch1Turn signals, right
2Turn signals, left

Press combination switch in direction
of arrow1 or2.
The corresponding turn signal indicator
lampL orK in the instrument
cluster flashes (
page 24).
The combination switch resets auto-
matically after major directional
changes.
Windshield wipers
The combination switch is located on the
left of the steering column.Combination switch1Single wipe
Wiping with windshield washer fluid
2Switching on windshield wipers 
Switch on the ignition (
page 33).
iTo signal minor directional changes,
press combination switch only to point
of resistance and release. The corre-
sponding turn signals will flash three
times.