2007 MERCEDES-BENZ C350 4MATIC N Gear

319 Operation
Vehicle care
Steering wheel and gear selector lever
Wipe with a damp cloth and dry
thoroughly or clean with
Mercedes-Benz approved Leather
Care.
Carpets
Use Mercedes-Benz approved Carpet
and Fabric Care for cleaning the
carpets.Headliner and shelf below rear window
Use a soft bristle brush or a
dry-shampoo cleaner in case of
excessive dirt. Seat beltsOnly use clear, lukewarm water and
soap.
!The seat belts must not be treated with
chemical cleaning agents. Do not dry the seat
belts at temperatures above 176°F (80°C) or in
direct sunlight.
Warning!G
Do not bleach or dye seat belts as this may
severely weaken them. In a crash they may
not be able to provide adequate protection.

354 Practical hints
What to do if …
Display symbolDisplay messagePossible cause/consequencePossible solution
_Steering oil
Visit workshopThe steering gear oil level is too low.
There is a danger of steering gear
damage.Have the system checked by an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Warning!G
If the level of steering gear oil in reservoir is
too low, the steering power assistance could
fail. Much greater effort will then be needed
to turn the steering wheel.
Do not add steering oil without checking the
steering system.
Do not drive the vehicle. Have the system
checked at an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center as soon as possible.

363 Practical hints
Unlocking/locking in an emergency
1Locking
Insert the mechanical key into the
driver’s door lock until it stops.
Turn the mechanical key clockwise to
position1.
The driver’s door is locked.Manually unlocking the transmission
gear selector lever
In case of power failure, the transmission
gear selector lever can be manually un-
locked, e.g. to tow the vehicle.
Slide out the swiveling cup holder
(
page 240).
1Tool
Insert a tool1 (e.g. flat blade screw
driver) into the opening.
Perform the following two steps
simultaneously:
Press tool1 forward in direction
of the arrow.
Move gear selector lever from
positionP.
Remove tool1 from the opening.
iThis procedure does not arm the anti-theft
alarm system, nor does it lock the fuel filler flap.
iThe gear selector lever is locked again when
moving it to positionP.

377 Practical hints
Flat tire
Flat tire
Preparing the vehicle
Park the vehicle in a safe distance from
moving traffic on a hard, flat surface
when possible.
Turn on the hazard warning flasher
(
page 115).
Turn the steering wheel so that the
front wheels are in a straight ahead
position.
Set the parking brake (page 54).
Move the gear selector lever toP
(manual transmission: to first or
reverse gear).
Turn off the engine (page 55).
Remove the SmartKey from the starter
switch.
Have any passenger exit the vehicle at
a safe distance from the roadway.
Mounting the Minispare wheel
Preparing the vehicle
Prepare the vehicle as described
(
page 377).
Take the wheel wrench, alignment bolt,
collapsible wheel chock, and the jack
out of the trunk (
page 356).
Take the Minispare wheel and wheel
bolts out of the trunk (
page 359).
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. Adapt your driving style accord-
ingly.
The Minispare wheel is for temporary use
only. When driving with Minispare wheel
mounted, ensure proper tire inflation
pressure and do not exceed a vehicle speed
of 50 mph (80 km/h).
Drive to the nearest Mercedes-Benz Center
as soon as possible to have the Minispare
wheel replaced with a regular road wheel.
Never operate the vehicle with more than
one Minispare wheel mounted.
Do not switch off the ESP
® when a
Minispare wheel is mounted.
iOpen doors only when conditions are safe to
do so.

384 Practical hints
Battery
2Negative terminal
3Positive terminal cover
Disconnecting the battery
Apply the parking brake (page 54).
Make sure the gear selector lever* is
set to positionP (
page 153) (manual
transmission: to Neutral (
page 149)).
Turn off all electrical consumers.
Remove SmartKey from starter switch.
Open the hood (page 274).
Remove the filter box (page 383).
Read and observe safety instructions
and precautions (
page 279) and
(
page 383).
Disconnect the battery negative lead
from negative terminal2.
Remove cover3 from the positive
terminal.
Disconnect the battery positive lead.
Removing the battery
Remove the screw-nuts securing the
battery.
Remove the battery bracket.
Pull out the battery ventilation hose
from the battery (depending on battery
arrangement in your vehicle model, the
ventilation hose is located either on the
left or right side of the battery).
Take out the battery.
Warning!G
With a disconnected battery

you will no longer be able to turn the
SmartKey in the starter switch

automatic transmission*: the gear se-
lector lever will remain locked in
positionP
!Always disconnect the battery in the order
described below. Otherwise the vehicle’s
electronics can be damaged.

387 Practical hints
Jump starting
The battery is located in the engine
compartment on the right hand side. The
terminals for jump starting are located in
front of the battery.
Make sure the two vehicles do not
touch.
Turn off all electrical consumers.
Apply the parking brake (page 54).
Make sure the gear selector lever* is
set to positionP (
page 153) (manual
transmission: to Neutral (
page 149)).
Open the hood (page 274).
Flip up cover from the positive under
hood terminal2 in front of the filter
box (
page 383).1Positive terminal of charged battery
2Positive under hood terminal in front of
discharged battery
3Negative under hood terminal in front
of discharged battery
4Negative terminal of charged battery
Connect positive terminal1 of the
charged battery with positive under
hood terminal2 in front of the filter
box with the jumper cable. Clamp cable
to charged battery1 first.
Start engine of the vehicle with the
charged battery and run at idle speed.
Connect the negative terminal4 of
the charged battery with the negative
under hood terminal3 in front of the
filter box with the second jumper cable.
Clamp cable to charged battery4
first.
Start the engine of the disabled
vehicle.
You can now turn on the electrical con-
sumers. Do not switch on the headlamps
under any circumstances.
Remove the jumper cables first from
the negative terminals3 and4 and
then from the positive terminals2
and1.
You can now switch on the headlamps.
Have the battery checked at the near-
est authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
!Never invert the terminal connections!

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).

389 Practical hints
Towing the vehicle
Warning!G
If circumstances require towing the vehicle
with all wheels on the ground, always tow
with a tow bar if:

the engine will not run

there is a malfunction in the power
supply or in the vehicle’s electrical
system
as that will be necessary to adequately
control the towed vehicle.
Prior to towing the vehicle with all wheels on
the ground, make sure the SmartKey is in
starter switch position2.
If the SmartKey is left in starter switch
position0 for an extended period of time, it
can no longer be turned in the switch. In this
case, the steering is locked. To unlock,
remove SmartKey from starter switch and
reinsert.
iTo signal turns while being towed with the
hazard warning flasher in use, switch on the igni-
tion and activate the combination switch for the
left or right turn signal in the usual manner – only
the selected turn signal will operate.
Upon canceling the turn signal, the hazard warn-
ing flasher will operate again.
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 ve-
hicle. Adapt your driving accordingly.
!When towing the vehicle with all wheels on
the ground, please note the following:
With the automatic central locking activated and
the SmartKey in starter switch position2, the ve-
hicle doors lock if the left front wheel as well as
the right rear wheel are turning at vehicle speeds
of approx. 9 mph (15 km/h) or more.
To prevent the vehicle doors from locking, deac-
tivate the automatic central locking
(
page 143).
Towing of the vehicle should only be done using
the properly installed towing eye bolt. Never at-
tach tow cable, tow rope or tow rod to vehicle
chassis, frame or suspension parts.
iIf the battery is disconnected or discharged

the SmartKey will not turn in the starter
switch. For more information, see “Battery”
(
page 383) and “Jump starting”
(
page 386).

the gear selector lever will remain locked in
positionP. For information on manually un-
locking the transmission gear selector lever
see (
page 363).