2007 MERCEDES-BENZ C280 controls in detail

175 Controls in detail
Automatic climate control
USA only (depending on vehicle production
date)
Canada only
Item
1Left side defroster vent, fixed
2Left side air vent, adjustable
3Thumbwheel for air volume control
for left side air vent
4Thumbwheel for air volume control
for left center air vent
5Left center air vent, adjustable
6Right center air vent, adjustable
7Thumbwheel for air volume control
for right center air vent
8Thumbwheel for air volume control
for right side air vent
9Right side air vent, adjustable
aRight side defroster vent, fixed
bAutomatic climate control panel
iFor draft-free ventilation, move the sliders
for the center air vents and side air vents to the
middle position.
Item
1Left side air distribution control
2Front defroster
3Temperature control, left, raising
4Display
5Air volume control, raising
6Temperature control, right, raising
7Rear window defroster
8Right side air distribution control
9Charcoal filter
aAC cooling on/off
Residual heat/ventilation
bTemperature control, right, lowering
cAir volume control, lowering
dTemperature control, left, lowering
eAir recirculation
fAutomatic climate control on/off
(complete system)
gAir distribution and air volume
(automatic mode)

176 Controls in detail
Automatic climate control
The automatic climate control is operation-
al whenever the engine is running. You can
operate the automatic climate control sys-
tem in either the automatic or manual
mode. The system cools or heats the inte-
rior depending on the selected interior
temperature and the current outside tem-
perature.Nearly all dust particles, pollutants and
odors are filtered out before outside air
enters the passenger compartment
through the air distribution system.
The air conditioning will not engage (no
cooling) if theA/C mode is deactivated
(
page 184).
Warning!G
When operating the automatic climate
control, the air that enters the passenger
compartment through the air vents can be
very hot or very cold (depending on the set
temperature). This may cause burns or frost-
bite on unprotected skin in the immediate
area of the air vents. Always keep sufficient
distance between unprotected parts of the
body and the air vents. If necessary, use the
air distribution control (
page 178) to
direct the air to air vents in the vehicle
interior that are not in the immediate area of
unprotected skin.
Warning!G
Follow the recommended settings for
heating and cooling given on the following
pages. Otherwise the windows could fog up,
impairing visibility and endangering you and
others.
iSevere conditions (e.g. strong air pollution)
may require replacement of the filter before its
scheduled interval. A clogged filter will reduce
the air volume to the interior.
If the vehicle interior is hot, ventilate the interior
before driving off, see “Summer opening fea-
ture” (
page 223). The automatic climate con-
trol will then adjust the interior temperature to
the set value much faster.
Keep the air intake grille in front of the wind-
shield free of snow and debris.
Do not obstruct air flow by placing objects on the
air flow-through exhaust slots below the rear
window.

177 Controls in detail
Automatic climate control
Deactivating the automatic climate
control system
Deactivating
Press button´ (page 175).
The indicator lamp on the button
comes on.
Reactivating
Press button´ (page 175).
The indicator lamp on the button goes
out. The previous settings are once
again in effect.Operating the automatic climate con-
trol system in automatic mode
Activating
Press buttonU (page 175) while
the engine is running.
The indicator lamp on the button
comes on. The air volume and air distri-
bution are adjusted automatically.1Temperature, left
2Blower speed
3Temperature, right
Use temperature controls3 and
dor6 and b (
page 175) to sepa-
rately adjust the air temperature on
each side of the passenger compart-
ment.
The temperature of the vehicle interior
is adjusted automatically.
Deactivating
Press buttonU (page 175) again.
The indicator lamp on the button goes
out. The automatic operation of air vol-
ume and air distribution switches off.
Warning!G
When the automatic climate control is
switched off, the outside air supply and cir-
culation are also switched off. Only choose
this setting for a short time. Otherwise the
windows could fog up, impairing visibility
and endangering you and others.
iWhen operating the automatic climate con-
trol system in automatic mode, you will only rare-
ly need to adjust the temperature, air volume
and air distribution.
In automatic mode, the dehumidify function is
switched on when the system is cooling. If nec-
essary, this function can be switched off by
pushing the button2 or 9 (
page 175).
iYou can switch the automatic climate con-
trol system on and off for each side of the pas-
senger compartment as desired.

178 Controls in detail
Automatic climate control
Setting the temperature
Use temperature controls3 andd for
the left side or6 andb for the right side
(
page 175) to separately adjust the air
temperature on each side of the passenger
compartment. You should raise or lower
the temperature setting in small incre-
ments, preferably starting at 72°F (22°C).
The automatic climate control will adjust
to the set temperature as fast as possible.
Increasing
Press temperature button3
and/or6 (
page 175) until the de-
sired temperature appears in the
display4 (
page 175).
The automatic climate control system
will correspondingly adjust the interior
air temperature.Decreasing
Press temperature buttonb
and/ord (
page 175) until the de-
sired temperature appears in the
display4 (
page 175).
The automatic climate control system
will correspondingly adjust the interior
air temperature.
Adjusting air distribution
Use air distribution controls1 and8
(
page 175) to separately adjust the air
distribution on each side of the passenger
compartment. The following symbols are
found on the controls:
Turn air distribution control1 or8
(
page 175) to the desired symbol.
The indicator lamp on the buttonU
(
page 175) goes out.
iIf you increase the temperature for one side
of the vehicle to the highest adjustable value
then you will see the message
HI in the display.
This also increases the temperature for the other
side of the vehicle.
iIf you decrease the temperature for one side
of the vehicle to the lowest adjustable value then
you will see the message
LO in the display. This
also decreases the temperature for the other
side of the vehicle.
SymbolFunction
aDirects air through the center,
side and rear passenger
compartment air vents
ZDirects air to the windshield
and the side defroster vents
bDirects air into the entire
vehicle interior
YDirects air to the footwells

179 Controls in detail
Automatic climate control
The automatic air distribution is
switched off. The air distribution is
controlled according to the selected
control setting.
Opening center and side air vents
Turn thumbwheels 3, 4, 7 and 8
(
page 174) upward.
The center air vents 5 and 6 and side
air vents 2 and 9 (
page 175) are
open.
Closing center and side air vents
Turn thumbwheels 3, 4, 7 and 8
(
page 174) downward.
The center air vents 5 and 6 and side
air vents 2 and 9 (
page 174) are
closed.
Adjusting air volume
Use buttonU (
page 175) for auto-
matic mode or air volume controls

orQ (
page 175) to adjust air volume
manually.
Seven blower speeds are available.
Press button
to decrease
orQ (
page 175) to increase air
volume to the desired level.
The indicator lamp on the buttonU
goes out.
The automatic air distribution remains
switched on.
Front defroster
You can use this setting to defrost the
windshield, for example if it is iced up.
You can also defog the windshield and the
side windows.
Activating
Press buttonP or 0
(
page 175).
The indicator lamp on the button
comes on.
The air conditioning switches
automatically to the following functions:

cooling on to dehumidify

maximum blowing and heating
power

air flows onto the windshield and
the front side windows

the air recirculation mode is
switched off
iYou can also turn the air distribution control
to a position between two symbols.
iKeep this setting selected only until the
windshield or the side windows are clear again.

180 Controls in detail
Automatic climate control
Deactivating
Press buttonP or 0
(
page 175) again.
The indicator lamp on the button goes
out.
The previous settings are once again in
effect.Windshield fogged on the outside
Switch the windshield wipers on
(
page 51).
If the automatic mode of the automatic cli-
mate control is switched off:
Turn air distribution control1 or8
toa orY (
page 175).
Maximum cooling MAXCOOL
If the left and right air distribution controls
as well as the airflow volume control are
set toU (
page 175) and there is a
high need for cooling, the display
“MAXCOOL” appears.
This provides the fastest possible cooling
of the vehicle interior (when side windows
and tilt/sliding sunroof* are closed).
iIf you have switched on the defrost function
using thePor0 button, you cannot
make any other settings.
iThe cooling remains switched on.
iKeep this setting selected only until the
windshield is clear again.

181 Controls in detail
Automatic climate control
Air recirculation mode
Switch to air recirculation mode to prevent
unpleasant odors from entering the vehicle
from the outside (e.g. before driving
through a tunnel). This setting cuts off the
intake of outside air and recirculates the
air in the passenger compartment.Activating
Press button, (page 175).
The indicator lamp on the button
comes on.DeactivatingPress button, (page 175) again.
The indicator lamp on the button goes
out.
Warning!G
Fogged windows impair visibility, endanger-
ing you and others. If the windows begin to
fog on the inside, switching off the air
recirculation mode immediately should clear
interior window fogging. If interior window
fogging persists, make sure the air
conditioning (
page 175) is activated, or
press buttonP or 0.
iThe air recirculation mode is activated auto-
matically at high outside temperatures.
The indicator lamp on the button, is not lit
when the air recirculation mode is automatically
switched on.
A quantity of outside air is added after approxi-
mately 30 minutes.iThe air recirculation mode is deactivated au-
tomatically:

after 5 minutes if the outside temperature is
below approximately 41°F (5°C)

after 5 minutes if the air conditioning is
turned off

after 30 minutes if the outside temperature
is above approximately 41°F (5°C)

182 Controls in detail
Automatic climate control
Air recirculation mode with conve-
nience closing or opening feature
Convenience closing
Press button, (page 165) for
approximately 2 seconds.
The windows and tilt/sliding sunroof*
will close. You can release button,
once the closing procedure has begun.
The windows and tilt/sliding sunroof*
continue closing until they are fully
closed. The indicator lamp on the but-
ton comes on. The air recirculation
mode is activated.Convenience opening
Press button, for approximately
2 seconds.
The windows and tilt/sliding sunroof*
will return to their previous position.
You can release button , once the
opening procedure has begun. The win-
dows and tilt/sliding sunroof continue
opening until they have reached their
previous position. The indicator lamp
on the button goes out. The air recircu-
lation mode is deactivated.
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 air recirculation mode with
convenience closing feature, should the up-
ward movement of a window be blocked by
some obstructions including but not limited
to arms, hands, fingers. etc., the automatic
reversal 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, button.
iA side window or tilt/sliding sunroof* will
only return to its previous position if it has not
been moved to another position using the re-
spective side window switch or tilt/sliding sun-
roof* switch after it was closed with
button,. A side window or tilt/sliding sun-
roof* that was moved will remain in its current
position if button, is used to re-open the re-
maining side windows or tilt/sliding sunroof*.