2006 MERCEDES-BENZ C55AMG ESP

88 Safety and Security
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 will stay on even if the activating
element (e. g. a door) is immediately
closed.
The alarm system will also be triggered
when

someone attempts to raise the vehicle
(only vehicles with tow-away alarm)

opening the vehicle with the
mechanical key

someone opens a door from the inside

someone opens the trunk with the
emergency release button
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Starting 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).
i
If the alarm stays on for more than
30 seconds, a call to the Response
Center is initiated automatically by the
Tele Aid system* (
page 264)
provided Tele Aid service was
subscribed to and properly activated,
and that necessary cellular service and
GPS coverage are available.

89 Safety and Security
Anti-theft systems
Arming the alarm system
The indicator lamp is in the center console.
1Indicator lamp (vehicles with tow-away
alarm)1Indicator lamp (vehicles without
tow-away alarm)
Lock the vehicle with the SmartKey.
The turn signal lamps flash three times
and an acoustic signal sounds three
times (if equipped and feature activat-
ed), to indicate that the alarm system is
activated.
Indicator lamp1 begins to flash after
approximately 30 seconds after arming
the alarm system.
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If the turn signal lamps do not flash
three times, one of the following
elements may not be properly closed:

a door

the trunk
Close the respective element and lock
the vehicle again.

90 Safety and Security
Anti-theft systems
Disarming the alarm system
Unlock the vehicle with the SmartKey.
The turn signal lamps flash once and an
acoustic signal sounds once (if
equipped and feature activated), to
indicate that the alarm system is dis-
armed.
Canceling the alarm
To cancel the alarm:
Press theŒ or‹ button on the
SmartKey.
or
Insert the SmartKey in the starter
switch.
Tow-away alarm*
Depending on vehicle production date,
your vehicle may not be equipped with the
tow-away alarm.
Once the tow-away alarm is armed, a visual
and audible alarm will be triggered when
someone attempts to raise the vehicle.Arming the tow-away alarm
Lock the vehicle with the SmartKey.
The tow-away alarm is automatically
armed after about 30 seconds.
Disarming the tow-away alarm
To prevent triggering the tow-away alarm,
switch off the tow-away alarm feature
before towing the vehicle, or when parking
on a surface subject to movement, such as
a ferry or auto train.
i
The alarm system will rearm automati-
cally after approximately 40 seconds if
neither a door nor the trunk lid was
opened.i
If the alarm stays on for more than
30 seconds, a call to the Response
Center is initiated automatically by the
Tele Aid system* (
page 264) provid-
ed Tele Aid service was subscribed to
and properly activated, and that neces-
sary cellular service and GPS coverage
are available.
i
When you unlock the vehicle, the
tow-away protection disarms
automatically. The tow-away alarm
remains disarmed until you lock the
vehicle again.

94 Controls in detail
In 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 54).
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 control
1‹ Lock button
2Š Opening button for trunk
3Mechanical key locking tab
4ΠUnlock button
5Battery check lamp
6Â Panic button* (
page 81).
i
Canada only:
Only vehicles equipped with an
anti-theft alarm system* have
SmartKeys with integrated panic
button6.

99 Controls in detail
Locking and unlocking
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 handleFront doors
Pull on door handle2 on the
respective front door to open door.
If door was locked, locking knob1 will
move up.
Rear doors
Pull up locking knob1 on the
respective rear door to unlock door.
Pull on door handle2 on the
respective rear door to open door.
Opening the trunk
Opening the trunk from the outside
A minimum height clearance of 5.71 ft
(1.74 m) is required to open the trunk lid.
The handle is located above the rear
license plate recess.
1Handle
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If the vehicle has previously been
locked with the SmartKey, opening a
door from the inside 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.

101 Controls in detail
Locking and unlocking
Closing the trunk
1Handle
2Handles
Lower trunk lid by pulling firmly on
handle1 or handles2.
Close trunk lid with hands placed flat
on trunk lid.
Warning!G
To prevent possible personal injury, always
keep hands and fingers away from the trunk
opening when closing the trunk. Be espe-
cially careful when small children are
around.
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.
Warning!G
Only drive with the trunk closed as, among
other dangers such as blocked visibility, ex-
haust fumes may enter the vehicle interior.
i
Do not place the SmartKey in the open
trunk. You may lock yourself out.
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If the vehicle was previously centrally
locked, the trunk will lock automatical-
ly after closing it. The turn signals will
flash three times to confirm locking.

112 Controls in detail
Memory function
The memory button and memory position
switch are located on the door.
1Memory button
2Memory position switch
Switch on the ignition (page 33).
or
Open the respective door.
Storing positions into memory
Adjust the seat, steering wheel and
exterior rear view mirrors to the
desired position (
page 35).
Turn memory position switch2 to the
desired memory position.
Press memory button1.
Release memory button1 and press
memory position switch2 within
3 seconds.
All settings are stored to the selected
position.
Recalling positions from memory
Turn memory position switch2 to the
desired memory position.
Press and hold memory position
switch2 until the seat, steering wheel
and exterior rear view mirrors have
completely moved to the stored
positions.
!
Do not operate the power seats using
the memory button if the seat backrest
is in an excessively reclined position.
Doing so could cause damage to front
or rear seats.
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Releasing the memory position switch
stops movement to the stored
positions immediately.

115 Controls in detail
Lighting
Manual headlamp mode
The low beam headlamps and the parking
lamps can be switched on and off with the
exterior lamp switch.
Automatic headlamp mode
The following lamps switch on and off
automatically depending on the brightness
of the ambient light:

Low beam headlamps

Tail and parking lamps

License plate lamps

Side marker lamps
Turn the exterior lamp switch to
positionU.
With the SmartKey in starter switch
position1, only the parking lamps will
switch on and off automatically.
When the engine is running, the low
beam headlamps, the tail and parking
lamps, the license plate lamps, and the
side marker lamps will switch on and
off automatically.
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With the SmartKey removed from the
starter switch and the driver’s door
open, a warning sounds if the parking
lamps or low beam headlamps are
switched on.
The message
Switch off lights.
appears in the multifunction display
Warning!G
If the exterior lamp switch is set toU,

the headlamps may switch off unexpect-
edly when the system senses bright
ambient light, for example light from
oncoming traffic.

the headlamps will not be automatically
switched on under foggy conditions.
To minimize risk to you and to others,
activate headlamps by turning exterior lamp
switch toB when driving or when traffic
and / or ambient lighting conditions require
you to do so.
In low ambient lighting conditions, only
switch from positionU toB with the
vehicle at a standstill in a safe location.
Switching fromU toB will briefly
switch off the headlamps. Doing so while
driving in low ambient lighting conditions
may result in an accident.
The automatic headlamp feature is only an
aid to the driver. The driver is responsible for
the operation of the vehicle’s lights at all
times.