2007 MERCEDES-BENZ C230 ESP

88 Safety and Security
Driving safety systems
Four wheel electronic traction system
(4MATIC) with the ESP®
Models with all-wheel-drive only.
The 4MATIC improves vehicle’s ability to
use available traction, e.g. during winter
operation in mountains under snowy
conditions, by applying power to all four
wheels.
Warning!G
If you see the ESP® warning lampv
flashing in the instrument cluster, proceed
as follows:

While driving off, apply as little throttle
as possible

While driving, ease up on the accelera-
tor

Adapt your speed and driving style to
the prevailing road conditions
Failure to observe these guidelines could
cause the vehicle to skid.
The ESP
® cannot prevent accidents result-
ing from excessive speed.
!Do not tow with one axle raised.
Otherwise the transfer case can be damaged,
which is not covered by the Mercedes-Benz
Limited Warranty.
!Performance testing must only be conduct-
ed on a two-axle dynamometer.
Otherwise the transfer case can be damaged,
which is not covered by the Mercedes-Benz
Limited Warranty.
!Because the ESP® operates automatically,
the engine must be shut off (SmartKey in starter
switch position0 or1) when the parking brake is
being tested on a brake test dynamometer.
Active braking action through the ESP
® may
otherwise seriously damage the front or rear axle
brake system.
Operational tests with the engine running can
only be conducted on a two-axle dynamometer.
iAt highly demanding operating conditions,
the electronic traction system may temporarily
switch off to prevent overheating of the drive
wheel brakes. The message
unavailable
See Operator’s Manual
will then appear in
the multifunction display while the ESP® warning
lampv is flashing. The ESP® is still function-
ing normally.

89 Safety and Security
Anti-theft systems
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 32).
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

opening the vehicle with the
mechanical key

someone opens a door from the inside

someone opens the trunk with the
emergency release button
iStarting the engine will also deactivate the
immobilizer.
In case the engine cannot be started (yet the ve-
hicle’s battery is charged), the system is not op-
erational. Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center or call 1-800-FOR-MERCedes (in the
USA), or 1-800-387-0100 (in Canada).
iIf the alarm stays on for more than
30 seconds, a call to the Response Center is ini-
tiated automatically by the Tele Aid system*
(
page 247) provided Tele Aid service was
subscribed to and properly activated, and that
necessary cellular service and GPS coverage are
available.

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.

92 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
basic functions of the vehicle, refer to the
“Getting started” section of this manual.
The corresponding page numbers are
given at the beginning of each segment.
Locking and unlocking
For more information on locking and
unlocking, see “Getting started”
(
page 32) and (page 54).
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
(
page 95)
3Mechanical key locking tab
4ΠUnlock button
5Battery check lamp
6Â Panic button* (
page 81)
iCanada only:
Only vehicles equipped with an anti-theft alarm
system* have SmartKeys with integrated panic
button6.
!To prevent possible malfunction, avoid ex-
posing the SmartKey to high levels of electro-
magnetic radiation.

96 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
You can open the trunk if the vehicle is sta-
tionary.
A minimum height clearance of 5.71 ft
(1.74 m) is required to open the trunk lid.
iIf 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:

Insert the SmartKey in the starter switch.

Press buttonŒ or‹ on the
SmartKey.
iIf you hear a warning signal you have forgot-
ten to switch off the headlamps before opening
the driver’s door.
In addition the message
Switch off lights
appears in the multifunction display.
Switch off the headlamps.
Warning!G
Only drive with the trunk closed as, among
other dangers such as blocked visibility,
exhaust fumes may enter the vehicle
interior.
!The trunk lid swings open upwards automat-
ically. Always make sure there is sufficient over-
head clearance.

98 Controls in detail
Locking and unlocking
Trunk emergency release
With the emergency release button, the
trunk can be opened from inside the trunk.
The emergency release button is located
on the inside of the trunk lid.
1Emergency release button
Briefly press emergency release
button1.
The trunk unlocks and the trunk lid
opens.Illumination of the emergency release
button:

The button flashes 30 minutes after
opening the trunk.

The button flashes 60 minutes after
closing the trunk.
Be especially 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. A child’s
unsupervised access to a vehicle could
result in an accident and/or serious
personal injury.
Warning!G
Only drive with the trunk closed as, among
other dangers such as a blocked visibility,
exhaust fumes may enter the vehicle
interior.
iDo not place the SmartKey in the open
trunk. You may lock yourself out.
iIf the vehicle was previously centrally
locked, the trunk will lock automatically after
closing it. The turn signals will flash three times
to confirm locking.
!The trunk lid swings open upwards
automatically.
iThe emergency release button unlocks and
opens the trunk while the vehicle is standing still
or in motion.
iThe emergency release button does not
open the trunk lid if the vehicle battery is dis-
charged or disconnected.
iIf the vehicle has previously been locked
with the SmartKey, opening the trunk from the
inside using the emergency release button 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.


108 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 32).
or
Open the respective door.
Storing positions into memory
Adjust the seat, steering wheel and
exterior rear view mirrors to the
desired position (
page 34).
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 ex-
cessively reclined position. Doing so could cause
damage to front or rear seats.
iReleasing the memory position switch stops
movement to the stored positions immediately.

110 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.
Turn the exterior lamp switch to
positionB.
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 and
the side marker 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.
Warning!G
If the exterior lamp switch is set toU,

the headlamps may switch off
unexpectedly 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.
iUSA only:
With the automatic headlamp mode activated
you can switch on the high beam headlamps in
low ambient lighting conditions.