2007 MERCEDES-BENZ C230 heat

183 Controls in detail
Automatic climate control
Charcoal filter
An activated charcoal filter markedly
reduces bad odors and removes pollutants
from air entering the passenger compart-
ment. The charcoal filter can be activated
or deactivated.
The system switches automatically to the
air recirculation mode, if the

charcoal filter is switched on

carbon monoxide (CO) or nitrogen
oxide (NO
X) concentration of the out-
side air increases beyond a predeter-
mined levelActivating
Press buttone (page 175).
The indicator lamp on the button
comes on.
iThe automatic air recirculation mode does
not function if theA/C mode is deactivated (in-
dicator lamp on button2 or 9 not lit), or
if the outside temperature has fallen below 41°F
(5°C).
iIf you press and hold buttone, the side
windows and tilt/sliding sunroof* will close.
iThe activated charcoal filter should be
switched off when windows fog up on the inside,
or if the passenger compartment needs to be
quickly heated or cooled down.
Warning!G
Never operate the side windows and the
tilt/sliding sunroof* if there is the possibility
of anyone being harmed by the closing pro-
cedure.
When using the charcoal filter with conve-
nience closing feature, should the upward
movement of a window be blocked by some
obstructions including but not limited to
arms, hands, fingers. etc., the automatic re-
versal feature will not operate.
In the event that the closing procedure
causes potential danger, the closing of the
side windows can be immediately halted by
pressing or pulling the respective window
switch. The closing of the tilt/sliding
sunroof* can be immediately halted by
moving the tilt/sliding sunroof* switch in
the overhead control panel in any direction.
The closing of the side windows and
tilt/sliding sunroof* can be reversed by
again pressing and holding the buttone.

185 Controls in detail
Automatic climate control
Activating
Moist air can fog up the windows. You can
dehumidify the air with the air condi-
tioning.
Press button2 or9
(
page 175) again.
The indicator lamp on the button
comes on.
The air conditioning uses the refrigerant
R134a. This refrigerant is free of CFCs
which are harmful to the ozone layer.Residual heat and ventilation
(Canada only)
With the engine switched off, it is possible
to continue to heat or ventilate the interior
for up to 30 minutes. This feature makes
use of the residual heat produced by the
engine.ActivatingSwitch off the ignition (page 32).
Press button9 (page 175).
The indicator lamp on the button
comes on.
Deactivating
Press button9 (page 175).
The indicator lamp on the button goes
out.
The residual heat is automatically turned
off:

when the ignition is switched on

after about 30 minutes

if the battery voltage drops
!If the air conditioning cannot be turned on
again, this indicates that the air conditioning is
losing refrigerant. The compressor has turned it-
self off.
Have the air conditioning checked at the nearest
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
iHow long the system will provide heating de-
pends on

the coolant temperature

the temperature set by the operator
The blower will run at speed setting 1 regardless
of the air distribution control setting.

201 Controls in detail
Audio system
The radio saves the current station at
the memory preset selected. The
memory preset selected appears in the
status line, e.g. S3.
Calling up the ESN information menu
Press INF soft key.
Press ESN soft key.
The twelve-digit electronic serial
number (ESN) of the SAT tuner*
installed in your vehicle is displayed.
Press RET soft key to exit the menu.
CD mode
Safety precautions
General notes
The system may not be able to play audio
CDs with copy protection.
Playing copied CDs may cause
malfunctions during playback.
iThere are ten presets available.
An existing entry is overwritten in the memory
list when a new entry is given.Warning!G
The single CD player and the CD changer*
are Class 1 laser products. There is a danger
of invisible laser radiation if the housing is
opened or damaged.
Do not open the housing. The single CD
player and the CD changer* do not contain
any parts that can be serviced by the user.
For safety reasons, have any service work
which may be necessary performed only by
qualified personnel.
Warning!G
In order to avoid distraction which could
lead to an accident, the driver should insert
CDs with the vehicle at a standstill and
operate the audio system only if permitted
by road, weather and traffic conditions.
Bear in mind that at a speed of just 30 mph
(approximately 50 km/h), your car covers a
distance of 44 feet (approximately 14 m)
every second.
!If you affix stickers to the CDs, they can be-
come warped due to the heat that develops in
the CD drive or CD changer*.
In certain situations, the CDs can then no longer
be ejected and cause damage to the drive. Such
damage is not covered by the Mercedes-Benz
Limited Warranty.

202 Controls in detail
Audio system
Do not use CDs with an 8 cm diameter, not
even with a CD adapter. Attempting to play
CDs with an 8 cm diameter or playing such
CDs with an adapter may cause damage to
the CD drive. Such damage is not covered
by the Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.
Should excessively high or low tempera-
tures occur while in CD changer mode*,
CD ERROR will appear in the display, and the
CD will be muted until the temperature has
reached an acceptable level for the system
to continue operation.
The single CD player play audio CDs, the
CD changer* can play audio CDs as well as
CDs with MP3 files.Tips on handling CDs

Handle CDs carefully to prevent
interference during playback.

Avoid scratches, fingerprints and dust
on the CDs.

Do not write on CDs or apply any labels
or other material to them.

Clean CDs from time to time with a
commercially available cleaning cloth.
Never wipe the CD in a circular motion;
instead, wipe it in a straight line start-
ing in the center and moving outward.
Do not use solvents, anti-static sprays,
etc. for cleaning.

Replace the CD in its case after use.

Protect CDs from heat and direct
sunlight.
MP3 notes
The CD changer* can play audio CDs as
well as CDs with MP3 files.Information on MP3 data carriers
Compatible MP3 data carriers
The CD changer can read the following
data carriers in MP3 mode:

CD-DA

CD-R

CD-RW
!Your CD drive or CD changer* has been de-
signed to play CDs which correspond to the
EN 60908 standard. You can therefore only use
CDs with a maximum thickness of 1.3 mm.
If you insert thicker data carriers, e.g. ones that
have data on both sides (one side with DVD data,
the other side with audio data), they cannot be
ejected and will damage the drive.
iCD media, CD burning software and
CD writers are available in great variety. Due to
this variety, it cannot be guaranteed that the
CD changer will be able to play every
user-written CD.
The burning process can lead to data errors and
aging of the medium may result in data loss.
Therefore, the CD changer may be restricted in
its ability to play MP3 data carriers; it may play
them with reduced sound quality, or it may not
be able to play them at all.
Problems may be encountered during playback
of user-written CDs with a storage capacity of
more than 700 MB. These CDs do not meet valid
standards as of this printing.

242 Controls in detail
Useful features
Reinstalling ashtray insert
Push the ashtray insert3 down into
the retainer until it engages.
Push down cover plate1 to close
ashtray.
The cover plate engages.
Rear seat ashtray
1Button
2Ashtray insert
3Cover
Pull at top of cover3.Removing ashtray insert
Push button1 to disengage ashtray
insert2 and remove it.
Reinstalling ashtray insert
Push the ashtray insert2 down into
the retainer until it engages.
Push at top of cover3 to close
ashtray.
Cigarette lighter
Switch on the ignition (page 32).
Warning!G
Never touch the heating element or sides of
the lighter; they are extremely hot. Hold the
knob only.
Make sure that any children traveling with
you do not injure themselves or start a fire
with the hot cigarette lighter.
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.

243 Controls in detail
Useful features
1Cover plate
2Cigarette lighter
Briefly press the bottom of cover
plate1.
The cover plate opens automatically.
Push in cigarette lighter2.
The cigarette lighter will pop out
automatically when hot.Push down cover plate1 to close
ashtray.
The cover plate engages.
Power outlet
The power outlet is located in the rear pas-
senger compartment.
1Power outlet
2Cover
Switch on the ignition (page 32).
Pull at top of cover2.
Flip cover1 to the left and insert
electrical plug (cigarette lighter type).
!The lighter socket can be used to accommo-
date 12V DC electrical accessories (up to a max-
imum of 85 W) designed for use with the
standard “cigarette lighter” plug type. Keep in
mind, however, that connecting accessories to
the lighter socket (for example extensive con-
necting and disconnecting, or using plugs that do
not fit properly) can damage the lighter socket.
With the socket damaged, the lighter may no
longer be able to be placed in the heating
(pushed-in) position, or the lighter may pop out
too early with the lighter not hot enough.
To help avoid damaging the cigarette lighter
socket, we recommend connecting 12V DC elec-
trical accessories designed for use with the stan-
dard “cigarette lighter” plug type to the 12V
power outlets (
page 243) in your vehicle
whenever possible.
iThe power outlet can be used to
accommodate 12V DC electrical accessories
(e.g. air pump, auxiliary lamps) up to a maximum
of 180 W.

262 Operation
Driving instructions
Power assistanceBrakes
To help prevent brake disk corrosion after
driving on wet road surfaces (particularly
salted roads), it is advisable to brake the
vehicle with considerable force prior to
parking. The heat generated serves to dry
the brakes.
If your brake system is normally only
subject to moderate loads, you should
occasionally test the effectiveness of the
brakes by applying above-normal braking
pressure at higher speeds. This will also
enhance the grip of the brake pads.
Warning!G
With the engine not running, there is no
power assistance for the brake and steering
systems. In this case, it is important to keep
in mind that a considerably higher degree of
effort is necessary to brake and steer the
vehicle.
Warning!G
After driving in heavy rain for some time
without applying the brakes or through wa-
ter deep enough to wet brake components,
the first braking action may be somewhat
reduced and increased pedal pressure may
be necessary to obtain expected braking ef-
fect. Maintain a safe distance from vehicles
in front.
Resting your foot on the brake pedal will
cause excessive and premature wear of the
brake pads.
It can also result in the brakes overheating,
thereby significantly reducing their effec-
tiveness. It may not be possible to stop the
vehicle in sufficient time to avoid an acci-
dent.
!Vehicles without 4MATIC:
Because the ESP® operates automatically, the
engine must be turned off (SmartKey in starter
switch position0 or1) when

the parking brake is being tested on a brake
test dynamometer

the vehicle is being towed with the front axle
raised
Active braking action through the ESP
® may oth-
erwise seriously damage the brake system.
For information on vehicles with 4MATIC, see
“Four wheel electronic traction system (4MATIC)
with the ESP
® ” (page 88).

263 Operation
Driving instructions
Refer to the description of the Brake Assist
System (BAS) (
page 84).
Brake pad wear or a leak in the system may
be the reason for low brake fluid level in
the reservoir.
The brake fluid level in the reservoir may
be too low if the brake warning lamp in the
instrument cluster comes on and an
acoustic warning sounds although the
parking brake is released (
page 324).
Observe additional messages in the multi-
function display that may appear
(
page 344).
Have the brake system inspected
immediately. Contact an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.All checks and service work on the brake
system should be carried out by qualified
technicians only. Contact an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
Only install brake pads and brake fluid
recommended by Mercedes-Benz.
After hard braking, it is advisable to drive
on for some time, rather than immediately
park, so that the air stream will cool down
the brakes faster.
Driving off
Apply the brakes to test them briefly after
driving off. Perform this procedure only
when the road is clear of other traffic.
Warm up the engine smoothly. Do not
place full load on the engine until the
operating temperature has been reached.
Warning!G
Make sure not to endanger any other road
users when carrying out these braking ma-
neuvers.
Warning!G
If other than recommended brake pads are
installed, or other than recommended brake
fluid is used, the braking properties of the
vehicle can be degraded to an extent that
safe braking is substantially impaired. This
could result in an accident.
!When driving down long and steep grades,
relieve the load on the brakes by shifting into a
lower gear to use the engine’s braking power.
This helps prevent overheating of the brakes and
reduces brake pad wear.
!When starting off on a slippery surface, do
not allow a drive wheel to spin for an extended
period with the ESP
® switched off. Doing so may
cause serious damage to the drivetrain which is
not covered by the Mercedes-Benz Limited
Warranty.
!Simultaneously depressing the accelerator
pedal and applying the brake reduces engine
performance and causes premature brake and
drivetrain wear.