Contents
Introduction.......................................... 9
Product information ................................ 9
Operator’s Manual ............................... 10
Service and warranty information .. 10
Important notice for California
retail buyers and lessees
of Mercedes-Benz automobiles ...... 11
Maintenance .................................. 12
Roadside Assistance ...................... 12
Change of address or ownership.... 12
Operating your vehicle
outside the USA or Canada ............ 13
Where to find it .................................... 14
Symbols ............................................... 15
Operating safety .................................. 16
Proper use of the vehicle ............... 16
Problems with your vehicle .................. 17
Reporting safety defects...................... 18
Reporting Safety Defects ............... 18
Vehicle data recording ......................... 19
Information regarding
electronic recording devices .......... 19At a glance.......................................... 21
Cockpit ................................................. 22
Instrument cluster ................................ 24
Multifunction steering wheel ................ 26
Center console ..................................... 27
Upper part ...................................... 27
Lower part ...................................... 28
Overhead control panel ........................ 29
Door control panel................................ 30Getting started................................... 31
Unlocking ............................................. 32
Unlocking with the SmartKey ......... 32
Starter switch positions .................. 32
Adjusting .............................................. 34
Seats .............................................. 34
Steering wheel ................................ 38
Mirrors ............................................ 41
Driving .................................................. 43
Fastening the seat belt ................... 43
Starting the engine ......................... 46
Parking brake ................................. 48
Driving ............................................ 48
Switching on headlamps ................. 50
Turn signals .................................... 50
Windshield wipers ........................... 51
Problems while driving.................... 53
Parking and locking .............................. 54
Parking brake ................................. 54
Switching off headlamps................. 55
Turning off engine ........................... 55
Releasing seat belts........................ 56
Locking ........................................... 56
Contents
Safety and Security........................... 57
Occupant safety................................... 58
Air bags .......................................... 59
Occupant Classification System ..... 64
Seat belts ....................................... 69
Active head restraint ...................... 73
Children in the vehicle .................... 74
Blocking of
rear door window operation ........... 80
Panic alarm* ........................................ 81
Activating ....................................... 81
Deactivating ................................... 81
Driving safety systems ......................... 82
ABS ................................................ 82
BAS ................................................ 84
ESP
®............................................... 85
Four wheel electronic traction
system (4MATIC) with the ESP
®..... 88
Anti-theft systems................................ 89
Immobilizer..................................... 89
Anti-theft alarm system* ................ 89
Controls in detail............................... 91
Locking and unlocking ......................... 92
SmartKey ....................................... 92
Checking the batteries ................... 95
Loss of SmartKey
or mechanical key .......................... 95
Opening the doors from the inside . 96
Opening the trunk .......................... 96
Closing the trunk............................ 97
Trunk emergency release ............... 98
Valet locking .................................. 99
Automatic central locking .............. 99
Locking and unlocking
from the inside ............................. 100
Seats ................................................. 101
Front seat active head restraints . 101
Rear seat head restraints ............. 101
Lumbar support............................ 105
Multicontour seats*
(Canada only) ............................... 105
Seat heating* ............................... 106
Memory function* ............................. 107
Storing positions into memory ..... 108
Recalling positions from memory . 108Lighting ............................................. 109
Exterior lamp switch .................... 109
Combination switch ..................... 113
Corner-illuminating front
fog lamps* (C 230 (Canada only),
C 280, C 350 and models
with 4MATIC: with
Bi-Xenon* headlamps)................. 113
Hazard warning flasher ................ 115
Interior lighting ............................ 116
Door entry lamps ......................... 117
Trunk lamp ................................... 117
Instrument cluster ............................. 118
Adjusting
instrument cluster illumination .... 118
Coolant temperature gauge ......... 119
Resetting trip odometer ............... 119
Tachometer.................................. 120
Outside temperature indicator ..... 120
Control system .................................. 121
Multifunction display.................... 121
Multifunction steering wheel........ 122
Menus .......................................... 124
Standard display menu ................ 126
AUDIO menu ................................ 127
NAV* menu .................................. 129
Contents
Technical data.................................. 395
Parts service ...................................... 396
Warranty coverage ............................. 397
Loss of Service and Warranty
Information Booklet...................... 397
Identification labels............................ 398
Layout of poly-V-belt drive ................. 400
Engine ................................................ 401
Rims and Tires ................................... 403
Same size tires ............................. 404
Mixed size tires ............................ 405
Minispare wheel ........................... 406
Electrical system................................ 407
Main dimensions and weights............ 408
Main dimensions .......................... 408
Weights ........................................ 408Fuels, coolants, lubricants, etc. ......... 409
Capacities .................................... 409
Engine oils.................................... 412
Engine oil additives ...................... 412
Air conditioning refrigerant .......... 412
Brake fluid .................................... 412
Premium unleaded gasoline ......... 413
Gasoline additives ........................ 413
Fuel requirements ........................ 414
Flexible Fuel Vehicles
(C 230/C 230 Sport only) ............ 414
Coolants....................................... 416
Windshield washer and
headlamp cleaning system* ......... 418Index................................................. 419
25 At a glance
Instrument cluster
ItemPage
1Speedometer with:
vElectronic Stability
Program (ESP®)
warning lamp
85,
327
;Brake warning lamp,
USA only48, 54,
324
3Brake warning lamp,
Canada only48, 54,
324
BLow beam headlamp
indicator lamp50,
109
2LLeft turn signal
indicator lamp50
3Multifunction display
with:121
Trip odometer119
Main odometer121
Gear selector lever
position*47,
121,
153
ItemPage
Program mode* 157
Status indicator (outside
temperature/digital
speedometer)120,
135
Digital clock121
4KRight turn signal
indicator lamp50
5Tachometer with:120
-Antilock Brake
System (ABS)
indicator lamp82,
322
úEngine malfunction
indicator lamp,
USA only325,
326
±Engine malfunction
indicator lamp,
Canada only325,
326
1Supplemental
Restraint System
(SRS) indicator lamp58,
330
ItemPage
AHigh beam head-
lamp indicator lamp50,
113
6Fuel gauge with:
Fuel reserve warning lamp328
4The arrow indicates
that the fuel filler cap
is on the rear
right-hand side.
7Coolant temperature gauge119
8Button for:
Resetting trip odometer119
Resetting all settings131
Instrument cluster
illumination118
34 Getting started
Adjusting
Seats
The seats can be adjusted either manually
or electrically, depending on the vehicle’s
equipment.
For more information, see “Seats”
(
page 101).
Warning!G
All seat, head restraint, steering wheel, and
rear view mirror adjustments, as well as fas-
tening of seat belts, must be done before
the vehicle is put into motion.
Warning!G
Do not adjust the driver’s seat while driving.
Adjusting the seat while driving could cause
the driver to lose control of the vehicle.
Never ride in a moving vehicle with the seat
back in an excessively reclined position as
this can be dangerous. You could slide un-
der the seat belt in a collision. If you slide
under it, the belt would apply force at the ab-
domen or neck. That could cause serious or
fatal injuries. The seat back and seat belts
provide the best restraint when the wearer
is in a nearly upright position and belts are
properly positioned on the body. Your seat
must be adjusted so that you can correctly
fasten your seat belt (
page 43).
Never place hands under the seat or near
any moving parts while a seat is being
adjusted.
Warning!G
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the
SmartKey from the starter switch, take it
with you, and lock the vehicle.
Even with the SmartKey removed from the
starter switch, the power seats* can be
operated when the respective door is open.
Therefore, do not leave children unattended
in the vehicle, or with access to an unlocked
vehicle. Unsupervised use of vehicle equip-
ment may cause an accident and/or serious
personal injury.
43 Getting started
Driving
Driving
Fastening the seat belt
Warning!G
Make sure that absolutely no objects are ob-
structing the pedals’ range of movement.
Keep the driver’s footwell clear of all obsta-
cles. If there are any floormats or carpets in
the footwell, make sure that the pedals still
have sufficient clearance.
During sudden driving or braking maneu-
vers, the objects could get caught between
or beneath the pedals. You could then no
longer brake or accelerate. This could lead
to accidents and injury.
Warning!G
Always fasten your seat belt before driving
off. Always make sure your passengers are
properly restrained, even those sitting in the
rear.
Failure to wear and properly fasten and po-
sition your seat belt greatly increases your
risk of injuries and their likely severity in an
accident. You and your passengers should
always wear seat belts.
If you are ever in an accident, your injuries
can be considerably more severe without
your seat belt properly buckled. Without
your seat belt buckled, you are much more
likely to hit the interior of the vehicle or be
ejected from it. You can be seriously injured
or killed.
In the same crash, the possibility of injury or
death is lessened if you are wearing your
seat belt. The air bags can only provide the
protection they were designed to afford if
the occupants are using their seat belts
(
page 69).
Warning!G
According to accident statistics, children
are safer when properly restrained in the
rear seating positions than in the front seat-
ing position. Thus, we strongly recommend
that children be placed in the rear seats.
Regardless of seating position, children
12 years old and under must be seated and
properly secured in an appropriate infant or
toddler restraint, or booster seat recom-
mended for the size and weight of the child.
For additional information, see “Children in
the vehicle” (
page 74).
A child’s risk of serious or fatal injuries is
significantly increased if the child restraints
are not properly secured in the vehicle
and/or the child is not properly secured in
the child restraint.
44 Getting started
Driving
1Latch plate
2Release button
3Buckle
With a smooth motion, pull the belt
from the belt outlet.
Place the shoulder portion of the belt
across the top of your shoulder and the
lap portion across your hips.
Push latch plate1 into buckle3 until
it engages.
If necessary, tighten the lap portion to
a snug fit by pulling shoulder portion
up.
Warning!G
Never let more people ride in the vehicle
than there are seat belts available. Be sure
everyone riding in the vehicle is correctly
restrained with a separate seat belt. Never
use a seat belt for more than one person at
a time.
Warning!G
Never ride in a moving vehicle with the seat
backrest in an excessively reclined position
as this can be dangerous. You could slide
under the seat belt in a collision. If you slide
under it, the belt would apply force at the ab-
domen or neck. That could cause serious or
even fatal injuries. The seat backrest and
seat belt provide the best restraint when the
wearer is in a nearly upright position and the
belt is properly positioned on the body.
Warning!G
Read and observe the additional warning
notices printed in the “Safety and Security”
section (
page 62) and (page 69).
45 Getting started
Driving
Belt outlet height adjustment
1Release button
Press release button1 and move the
seat belt height adjuster upward or
downward.
Proper use of seat belts
Do not twist the seat belt when fasten-
ing.
Adjust seat belt so that the shoulder
portion is located as close as possible
to the middle of the shoulder (it should
not touch the neck). Never pass the shoulder portion of the belt under your
arm. For this purpose, you can adjust
the height of the belt outlet.
Position the lap belt as low as possible
on your hips (over hip joint) and not
across the abdomen.
Place the seat backrest in a nearly
upright position.
Never use a seat belt for more than one
person at a time.
Do not fasten a seat belt around a
person and another object at the same
time.
When using a seat belt to secure infant
or toddler restraints or children in
booster seats, always follow the child
seat manufacturer’s instructions.
Check your seat belt during travel to
make sure that it is properly posi-
tioned.
Make sure that the seat belt is always
fitted snugly. Take special care of this
when wearing loose clothing.
Warning!G
Do not pass belts over sharp edges. They
could tear.
Do not allow the belt to get caught in the
door or in the seat adjustment mechanism.
This could damage the belt.
Never attempt to make modifications to
seat belts. This could impair the effective-
ness of the belts.
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.
Damaged seat belts or belts that were highly
stressed in an accident must be replaced.
Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.