2007 MERCEDES-BENZ C230 Center console

87 Safety and Security
Driving safety systems
When you switch off the ESP®

the ESP® does not stabilize the vehicle

the engine output is not limited, which
allows the drive wheels to spin and
thus cut into surfaces for better grip

the traction control will still apply the
brakes to a spinning wheel

the ESP® continues to operate when
you are braking

you cannot activate the cruise control

the cruise control switches off if
currently activatedThe ESP
® switch is located on the center
console.
1ESP
® switch
With the engine running, press ESP®
switch1 until the ESP® warning
lampv in the instrument cluster
comes on.
The ESP
® is switched off.
Switching on the ESP®
Press ESP® switch1 until the ESP®
warning lampv in the instrument
cluster goes out.
You are now again in normal driving
mode with ESP
® switched on.
iWhen the ESP® is switched off and one or
more drive wheels are spinning, the ESP® warn-
ing lampv in the instrument cluster flashes.
However, the ESP
® will then not stabilize the ve-
hicle.
Warning!G
When the ESP® warning lampv is
illuminated continuously, the ESP® is
switched off or is not operational due to a
malfunction. Vehicle stability in standard
driving maneuvers reduces.
Adapt your speed and driving to the prevail-
ing road conditions and to the non-operating
status of the ESP
®.
!Avoid spinning of a drive wheel for an
extended period with the ESP® switched off. This
may cause serious damage to the drivetrain
which is not covered by the Mercedes-Benz
Limited Warranty.

90 Safety and Security
Anti-theft systems
Arming the alarm system
The indicator lamp is in the center console.
1Indicator lampLock the vehicle with the SmartKey.
The turn signal lamps flash three times
and an acoustic signal sounds three
times, to indicate that the alarm sys-
tem is armed.
Indicator lamp1 begins to flash after
approximately 30 seconds after arming
the alarm system.Disarming the alarm system
Unlock the vehicle with the SmartKey.
The turn signal lamps flash once and an
acoustic signal sounds once, 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.
iIf 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 vehi-
cle again.
iThe alarm system will rearm automatically
after approximately 40 seconds if neither a door
nor the trunk lid was opened.

100 Controls in detail
Locking and unlocking
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.The switches are located in the center
console.
1Central locking switch
2Central unlocking switchLocking
Press central locking switch1.
If all doors are closed, the vehicle
locks.
Unlocking
Press central unlocking switch2.
The vehicle unlocks.
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. A child’s
unsupervised access to a vehicle could
result in an accident and/or serious
personal injury.
iYou can open a locked door from the inside.
Open door only when conditions are safe to do
so.
If the vehicle was previously centrally locked us-
ing the SmartKey, it will not unlock using the cen-
tral unlocking switch2.
If the vehicle was previously locked with the cen-
tral locking switch1

while in the selective remote control mode,
only the door opened from the inside is un-
locked.

while in the global remote control mode, the
complete vehicle is unlocked when a door is
opened from the inside.

102 Controls in detail
Seats
Head restraint height (rear outer seats)
1Release buttonRaising
Manually adjust the height of the head
restraint by pulling it upward.
If the head restraint is fully retracted,
push release button1 and pull the
head restraint up.
Lowering
To lower the head restraint, push
release button1 and push down on
the head restraint.Folding head restraints back with
release button
The rear seat head restraints can be folded
backward for increased visibility.
1Release button
Push release button1.
The head restraint will fold backward.
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
intended to help reduce injuries during an
accident.
iAdjust the head restraint in such a way that
it is as close to the head as possible.
iYou can also fold the rear outer seat head
restraints back using the switch in the center
console.

103 Controls in detail
Seats
Folding head restraints back with
switch in the center console
1Switch for rear seat head restraints
Start the engine (page 46).
Press switch1.
The rear seat head restraints will fold
backward.Placing head restraints upright
Pull the head restraint forward until it
locks into position.Head restraint tilt (rear outer seats)
Two different head restraint angle
positions are available:
Press the release button (page 102)
and tilt the head restraint to the
desired position.
Warning!G
Make sure the head restraints engage when
placing them upright. Otherwise their
protective function cannot be assured.
iAdjust the head restraint in such a way that
it is as close to the head as possible.

106 Controls in detail
Seats
Seat heating*
Both switches for the front seats are locat-
ed in the center console. The red indicator
lamps in the switch come on to show heat-
ing level you have selected.
1Seat heating switch
2Indicator lamps
Switch on the ignition (page 32).Switching on seat heating
Press switch1 once.
Three red indicator lamps2 in the
switch come on.
Continue pressing switch1 until
desired seat heating level is reached.
Switching off seat heating
Press switch1 repeatedly until all
indicator lamps2 go out.
Level
3Three indicator lamps on
(highest level).
After approximately 5 minutes,
seat heating is automatically
switched to level2.
2Two indicator lamps on.
After approximately 10 minutes,
seat heating is automatically
switched to level1.
1One indicator lamp on (lowest
level).
After approximately 20 minutes,
seat heating is automatically
switched off.
offNo indicator lamp on.
iIf one or more of the indicator lamps2 on
the seat heating switch are flashing, there is in-
sufficient voltage due to too many electrical con-
sumers are turned on. The seat heating switches
off automatically.
The seat heating will switch back on again auto-
matically as soon as sufficient voltage is avail-
able.

115 Controls in detail
Lighting
Driving in reverse
Switching on corner-illuminating front
fog lamps
Place the gear selector lever (manual
transmission: gearshift lever) in
positionR.
The corner-illuminating front fog lamp
opposite to your steering direction
comes on.
Switching off corner-illuminating front
fog lamps
Place the gear selector lever (manual
transmission: gearshift lever) out of
positionR.
The respective front fog lamp goes out.
Hazard warning flasher
The hazard warning flasher can be
switched on at all times, even with the
SmartKey removed from the starter
switch.
The hazard warning flasher switches on
automatically when an air bag deploys.
The hazard warning flasher switch is
located on the center console.
1Hazard warning flasher switchSwitching on hazard warning flasher
Press hazard warning flasher
switch1.
All turn signal lamps are flashing.
Switching off hazard warning flasher
Press hazard warning flasher switch1
again.
iWith the hazard warning flasher activated
and the combination switch set for either left or
right turn, only the respective left or right turn
signals will operate when the ignition is switched
on (
page 32).
iIf the hazard warning flasher has been
activated automatically, press hazard warning
flasher switch1 once to switch it off.

128 Controls in detail
Control system
1SAT mode and preset number
2Channel name or number
Press buttonk orj repeatedly
until the desired channel is found.Operating the CD player*
Selecting CD track
Turn on the radio and select CD or
CD changer* (
page 205).
Vehicles with COMAND*:
Refer to separate operating
instructions.
Press buttonè orÿ repeatedly
until the settings for the CD currently
being played appear in the
multifunction display.1Current CD (with additional number
from 1 to 6 when running from
CD changer*)
2Current track
Press buttonk orj repeatedly
until the desired track is selected.
For more information on CD operation, see
“CD mode” (
page 201) and for the
CD changer*, see (
page 204).
iFor more information on satellite radio oper-
ation, see “Introduction to satellite radio*
(USA only)” (
page 197).
Vehicles with COMAND*:
Refer to separate operating instructions.
iThe COMAND* system and the
CD changer* can play audio CDs as well as CDs
with MP3 files.
iTo select a CD from the CD changer* maga-
zine, press a number on the audio system or the
COMAND* system key pad located in the center
console.