2007 MERCEDES-BENZ C280 brakes

317 Operation
Vehicle care
Cleaning the windows and the wiper
blades
Make sure the hood is fully closed.
Switch off the ignition (page 32).
Fold the wiper arms forward until they
snap into place.
Clean the wiper blade inserts with a
clean cloth and detergent solution.
Use a soft, clean cloth and a mild win-
dow cleaning solution on all outside
and inside glass surfaces.
An automotive glass cleaner is recom-
mended.Light alloy wheels
If possible, clean wheels once a week.
Use Mercedes-Benz approved Wheel
Care, a soft bristle brush and a strong
spray of water for cleaning the light
alloy wheels.!Never open the hood when the wiper arms
are folded forward.
Warning!G
For safety reasons, switch off wipers and
remove SmartKey from starter switch
before cleaning the windshield and/or the
wiper blades. Otherwise, the wiper motor
could suddenly turn on and cause injury.
!Do not pull on the wiper blade inserts. They
could tear.
!Fold the windshield wiper arms back onto
the windshield before turning the SmartKey in
the starter switch.
Hold on to the wiper when folding the wiper arm
back. If released, the force of the impact from
the tensioning spring could crack the windshield.
!To clean the window interior, do not use a
dry cloth, abrasives, solvents or cleaners
containing solvents. Do not touch the inside of
the front, rear or side windows with hard objects
such as an ice scraper or ring. Doing so may
damage the windows.
!Only use acid-free cleaning materials. Acid
may cause corrosion or damage the clear coat.
!The vehicle should not be parked for an
extended period of time immediately after it has
been cleaned, especially not after the wheel rims
have been cleaned with wheel rim cleaner.
Wheel rim cleaners can lead to increased
corrosion of the brake disks and brake pads.
Non-approved wheel cleaners may also damage
the wheel paint if the car is not driven after
cleaning. Therefore, the vehicle’s brake system
should always be warmed-up before it is parked
after cleaning. To do so, please drive your vehicle
for several minutes to allow the brakes to dry.
When applying Mercedes-Benz approved Tire
Care and Mercedes-Benz approved Wheel Care
products, take care not to spray them on the
brake disks.

360 Practical hints
Where will I find ...?
Storing the Minispare wheel
Place Minispare wheel3 in wheel
well.
Place vehicle tool kit storage well
casing4 over the Minispare wheel.
Make sure arrow2 on vehicle tool kit
storage well casing4 points in the
direction of travel.
Place storage well casing (page 356)
over vehicle tool kit storage well
casing4 and turn the retaining screw
(
page 356) clockwise as far it will go
to secure the Minispare wheel.In case of a flat tire, you may temporarily
use the Minispare wheel when observing
the following restrictions:

Do not exceed a vehicle speed of
50 mph (80 km/h).

Drive to the nearest tire repair facility
to have the flat tire repaired or
replaced as appropriate.

Do not operate vehicle with more than
one Minispare wheel mounted.
For more information, see “Rims and Tires”
(
page 403).
Spare wheel bolts
1Wheel bolt for light alloy rims
2Wheel bolt for Minispare wheel (locat-
ed in trunk with spare wheel)
iArrow2 on vehicle tool kit storage well
casing4 must point in the direction of travel.
Otherwise you cannot place the storage well cas-
ing (
page 356) on top and secure the Minis-
pare wheel with the retaining screw
(
page 356).
!To prevent damage, always disengage trunk
floor handle from upper edge of trunk and lower
trunk floor before closing the trunk lid.
Warning!G
The dimensions of the Minispare wheel are
different from those of the road wheels. As
a result, the vehicle handling characteristics
change when driving with a Minispare wheel
mounted.
The Minispare wheel should only be used
temporarily, and should be replaced with a
regular road wheel as quickly as possible.
!Wheel bolts2 must be used when mount-
ing the Minispare wheel. The use of any wheel
bolts other than wheel bolts2 for the Minispare
wheel will physically damage the vehicle’s
brakes.
Warning!G
Make sure to use the original length wheel
bolts when remounting the original wheel
after it has been repaired.

380 Practical hints
Flat tire
Mounting the spare wheel
1Wheel bolt for light alloy rims
2Wheel bolt for Minispare wheel (locat-
ed in trunk with spare wheel)
Clean contact surfaces of wheel and
wheel hub.
Guide spare wheel onto the alignment
bolt and push it on.
Insert wheel bolts and tighten them
slightly.
!Wheel bolts2 must be used when mount-
ing the Minispare wheel. The use of any wheel
bolts other than wheel bolts2 for the Minispare
wheel will physically damage the vehicle’s
brakes.
!To avoid paint damage, place wheel flat
against hub and hold it there while installing first
wheel bolt.
Warning!G
Always replace wheel bolts that are
damaged or rusted.
Never apply oil or grease to wheel bolts.
Damaged wheel hub threads should be
repaired immediately. Do not continue to
drive under these circumstances! Contact
an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center or call
Roadside Assistance.
Incorrect wheel bolts or improperly tight-
ened wheel bolts can cause the wheel to
come off. This could cause an accident.
Make sure to use the correct wheel bolts.

388 Practical hints
Towing the vehicle
Mercedes-Benz recommends that the
vehicle be transported with all wheels off
the ground using flatbed or appropriate
wheel lift/dolly equipment. This method is
preferable to other types of towing.When circumstances do not permit the
recommended towing methods, the
vehicle may be towed with all wheels on
the ground or front wheels raised (except
vehicles with 4MATIC) only so far as
necessary to have the vehicle moved to a
safe location where the recommended
towing methods can be employed.
!Vehicles with automatic transmission*
and/or 4MATIC:
Do not tow-start the vehicle.
!Use flatbed or wheel lift/dolly equipment
with the SmartKey in the starter switch turned to
position0.
Do not tow with sling-type equipment. Towing
with sling-type equipment over bumpy roads will
damage radiator and supports.
To prevent damage during transport, do not tie
down vehicle by its chassis or suspension parts.
Switch off the automatic central locking
(
page 143).
!Vehicles with 4MATIC:
Do not tow with one axle raised. Doing so could
damage the transfer case, which is not covered
by the Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.
All wheels must be on or off the ground. Observe
instructions for towing the vehicle with all
wheels on the ground.
!If the vehicle is towed with the front axle
raised (not permissible for vehicles with
4MATIC), the gear selector lever* must be in po-
sition N (manual transmission: gear shift lever in
neutral position) and the engine must be shut off
(SmartKey in starter switch position0 or1). Oth-
erwise the ESP
® will immediately be engaged
and will apply the rear wheel brakes.
When towing the vehicle with all wheels on the
ground, the gear selector lever* must be in
positionN (manual transmission: gears disen-
gaged) and the SmartKey must be in starter
switch position2.
When towing the vehicle with all wheels on the
ground or the front axle raised, the vehicle may
be towed only for distances up to 30 miles
(50 km) and at a speed not to exceed 30 mph
(50 km/h).

421 Index
Brake fluid 412
Checking 273
Message in display 344
Brake lamps
Cleaning lenses 316
Replacing bulbs 373
Brake pads
Message in display 344
Brakes 262
Warning lamp 25, 324
Break-in period 260
Bulbs, replacing see Replacing bulbsC
California retail buyers and lessees,
important notice 11
Cargo area see Trunk
Cargo tie-down rings* 236
Carpets, cleaning 319
Catalytic converter 269
CD changer* 201
CD player* 128, 201
Centigrade see
Temperature display mode 133
Central locking
Automatic 99, 143
From inside 100
Locking/unlocking from inside 100
Switch 100
Certification label 398
Certification label, examples 398
Charcoal filter
Automatic climate control* 183Children in the vehicle 74
Air bags 60
Blocking rear
door window operation 80
Indicator lamp, front
passenger air bag 68, 331
Infant and child restraint systems 74
LATCH-type child seat anchors 79
Occupant Classification System
(OCS) 64
Cigarette lighter 242
Climate control system 164
Control panel,
Automatic climate control 175
Control panel,
Climate control 165
Defrosting, Front 169
Rear window defroster 163
Clock 25, 121
Setting time 136, 137
Cockpit 22
Cold tire inflation pressure 304
Cold weather performance 415
Collapsible wheel chock 358

427 Index
Interior lighting 116
Delayed shut-off 142
Interior rear view mirror 42
Antiglare positions 160
Auto-dimming mirrors* 161
Interior storage spaces see
Storage compartment
J
Jack 356
Jacking up the vehicle 378
Jump starting 386K
Key, mechanical 361
Key, SmartKey
Batteries 95
Battery check lamp 95
Changing batteries 366
Factory setting 93
Locking/unlocking 32, 93
Locking/unlocking, Global setting 94
Locking/unlocking,
Selective setting 94
Loss of 95
Messages in display 349
Opening and closing
the power windows 223
Opening and closing
the tilt/sliding sunroof* 223
Positions in starter switch 32
Remote control 92
Starting the engine 46
Steering wheel lock 33
Turning off the engine 55
Unlocking, Trunk lid 95
Valet locking 99
Kickdown 155
Kilopascal 305L
Labels 398
Certification 398
Emission control information 399
Emission control
vacuum line routing 399
Lamps, exterior 368
Light sensor 349
Messages in display 349 - 353
Lamps, indicator and warning
ABS 25, 322
Battery (SmartKey) 94
Brakes 25, 324
Engine diagnostics 325, 330
Engine malfunction 25, 325–326
ESP
®25, 327
Fog lamps 109
Front passenger front
air bag off 27, 63
Fuel reserve 25, 328
High beam headlamps 25
Instrument cluster 322–330
Low beam headlamps 25
Maintenance service indicator 310
Rear fog lamp 109
Seat belt telltale 25