2008 MERCEDES-BENZ C300 4MATIC Owner's Manual

288 Controls in detail
Loading and storing
Closing: Open the armrest storage
compartment.
Swing cup holder2 backward until it
engaged.
Trunk
Retaining hooks
Two hooks are located on the upper edge
of the trunk and can be used to attach car-
go items such as bags.
Use the hooks to secure light weight items
only. The maximum permissible weight per
hook is 9 lb (4 kg).Parcel net in trunk
There is a parcel net on the left trunk side
walls to secure loads.
The parcel net is intended for storing
light-weight items only. The parcel net can-
not protect transported goods in the event
of an accident.
!Do not use the retaining hooks to tie down
cargo.

289 Controls in detail
Useful features
Useful features
Sun visors
1Vanity mirror lamp
2Mounting
3Document holder
4Vanity mirror
5Vanity mirror coverGlare from front
Swing sun visor down when you
experience glare.
Glare from front and sides
Disengage sun visor from the
mounting2.
Pivot sun visor to the side.
The sun visors are extendable.
Adjust the sun visor by pushing or pull-
ing in direction of arrow.Vanity mirror in sun visor
To use the illuminated vanity mirror, lift
up vanity mirror cover5.
Vanity mirror lamp1 comes on.
Document holder
You can use the plastic tab of document
holder3 to hold admission tickets, park-
ing passes, or similar items in place.
Warning!G
Do not use the vanity mirror while driving.
Keep the vanity mirrors in the sun visors
closed while vehicle is in motion. Reflected
glare can endanger you and others.
!Close vanity mirror cover5 (if open) before
you disengage sun visor from the mounting2
and pivot it to the side.iIf you disengage the sun visor from
mounting2 with vanity mirror cover
5 open,
vanity mirror lamp1 will switch off.

290 Controls in detail
Useful features
Rear window sunshade*
The switch is located in the center console.
1Rear window sunshade switch
Switch on the ignition.
Always raise the sunshade fully for its sup-
port against the window frame.
Raising: Press switch1 briefly.
The sunshade is raised completely.
Stopping the raising procedure:
Press switch1 again.
The sunshade stops.
Lowering: Press switch1 briefly.
The sunshade is lowered completely.
Stopping the lowering procedure:
Press switch1 again.
The sunshade stops.
!Make sure the movement of the rear win-
dow sunshade is not restricted by objects on the
rear window shelf. Otherwise, the sunshade or
the objects could be damaged.
Warning!G
When operating the rear window sunshade,
make sure there is no danger of anyone be-
ing harmed by the raising or lowering
procedure.
The raising or lowering procedure can be
immediately halted by briefly pressing the
switch1.
Briefly press switch1 again to raise or low-
er the rear window sunshade completely.
Warning!G
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the
SmartKey or SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO*
(Canada only) 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. Unsu-
pervised use of vehicle equipment may
cause an accident and/or serious personal
injury.

291 Controls in detail
Useful features
Ashtrays
Center console ashtray
1Cover plate
2Remove insert
3Ashtray
Opening: Press cover plate1 forward
until it engaged.
Removing the insert: Grab the insert
on the grooved side and pull it up and
out in the direction indicated by the
arrow2.
Reinstalling ashtray insert: Install
the insert by pushing it back into the
frame until it engages.
Closing: Tap the front of the cover
plate1.
The cover will retract and the ashtray
will close.
Warning!G
Remove ashtray only with vehicle standing
still. Depress the parking brake to secure
vehicle from movement.
Move gear selector lever to positionP (man-
ual transmission: second gear). With the au-
tomatic transmission* set toP (manual
transmission: second gear), turn off the
engine.

292 Controls in detail
Useful features
Rear seat ashtray
1Ashtray insert
2Cover
3Button
Opening: Pull at top of cover2.
Removing ashtray insert: Push
button3 to disengage ashtray
insert1 and remove it.
Reinstalling ashtray insert: Push the
ashtray insert1 down into the retain-
er until it engages.
Push at top of cover2 to close
ashtray.
Cigarette lighter
Switch on the ignition.1Cover
2Cigarette lighter
Press cover plate1 forward until it en-
gaged.
Push in cigarette lighter2.
The cigarette lighter will pop out
automatically when hot.
Warning!G
Never touch the heating element or sides of
the cigarette lighter; they are extremely hot.
Hold the knob only.
Make sure any children traveling with you do
not injure themselves or start a fire with the
hot cigarette lighter.
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the
SmartKey or SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO*
(Canada only) 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.

293 Controls in detail
Useful features
Tap the front of the cover plate1.
The cover will retract and the ashtray
will close.Power outlet in the glove box
1Power outlet
Switch on the ignition.
Open the glove box (page 284).
Flip cover from power outlet1 to the
right and insert electrical plug (ciga-
rette lighter type).Power outlet in the rear passenger
compartment
1Power outlet
2Cover
Switch on the ignition.
Pull at top of cover2.
Flip cover from power outlet1 to the
left and insert electrical plug (cigarette
lighter type).
!The lighter socket can accommodate 12V
DC electrical accessories (up to a maximum of
85 W) designed for use with the standard “ciga-
rette lighter” plug type. Keep in mind, however,
that connecting accessories to the lighter socket
(for example extensive connecting and discon-
necting, or using plugs that do not fit properly)
can damage the lighter socket. With the socket
damaged, the lighter may no longer be able to be
placed in the heating (pushed-in) position, or the
lighter may pop out too early with the lighter not
hot enough.
To help avoid damaging the cigarette lighter
socket, we recommend connecting 12V DC elec-
trical accessories designed for use with the stan-
dard “cigarette lighter” plug type to the 12V
power outlet (
page 293) in your vehicle when-
ever possible.
iThe power outlet1 can be used to
accommodate electrical consumers (e.g. air
pump, auxiliary lamps) up to a maximum
of 180 W.
iThe power outlet1 can be used to
accommodate electrical consumers (e.g. air
pump, auxiliary lamps) up to a maximum
of 180 W.

294 Controls in detail
Useful features
Floormats*
1Eyelet
2Retainer pinRemoving
Pull floormat off of retainer pins2.
Remove the floormat.
Installing
Lay down the floormat in the respective
footwell.
Press the floormat eyelets1 onto re-
tainer pins2.
Warning!G
Whenever you are using floormats, make
sure there is enough clearance and that the
floormats are securely fastened.
Floormats should always be securely fas-
tened using the eyelets and the retainer
pins.
Before driving off, check that the floormats
are securely in place and adjust them if nec-
essary. A loose floormat could slip and
hinder proper functioning of the pedals.
Do not place several floormats on top of
each other as this may impair pedal move-
ment.
iTo install or remove the floormat more easi-
ly, move the driver’s seat or front passenger seat
as far to the rear as possible (
page 85).

295 Controls in detail
Useful features
lTele Aid*
The Tele Aid system
(Tele
matic Alarm Identification on De-
mand)
The Tele Aid system consists of three
types of response:

automatic and manual emergency

Roadside Assistance, and

informationThe Tele Aid system is operational provid-
ing that the vehicle’s battery is charged,
properly connected, not damaged and
telephone phone and GPS coverage are
available.
The speaker volume of a Tele Aid call can
be adjusted when using the volume control
on the multifunction steering wheel. To
raise, press buttonæ and to lower,
press buttonç or use the audio system
rotary control button (
page 189).
To activate, press the SOS button, the
Roadside Assistance button*b or
the Information button*}, depend-
ing on the type of response required.
Shortly after the completion of your
Tele Aid acquaintance call, you will receive
a user ID and password. By visiting
www.mbusa.com and selecting “Tele Aid”
(USA only), you will have access to account
information, remote door unlock and
more.
!The initial activation of the Tele Aid system
may only be performed by completing the sub-
scriber agreement and placing an acquaintance
call using the Information button*}. Failure
to complete either of these steps will result in a
system that is not activated.
If you have any questions regarding activation,
please call the Response Center at
1-800-756-9018 (in the USA) or
1-888-923-8367 (in Canada).
iThe Tele Aid system utilizes the telephone
network for communication and the GPS (Global
Positioning System) satellites for vehicle loca-
tion. If either of these signals are unavailable, the
Tele Aid system may not function and if this oc-
curs, assistance must be summoned by other
means.
iThe SOS button, the Roadside Assistance
button*b, and the Information
button*} are located in the overhead con-
trol panel (
page 31).