2008 MERCEDES-BENZ C300 4MATIC stop start

314 Operation
Driving instructions
Driving off
Apply the brakes to test them briefly after
driving off. Perform this procedure only
when the road is clear of other traffic.
Warm up the engine smoothly. Do not
place full load on the engine until the oper-
ating temperature has been reached.Parking
!When driving off on a slippery surface, do
not allow a drive wheel to spin for an extended
period with the ESP
® switched off. Doing so may
cause serious damage to the drivetrain which is
not covered by the Mercedes-Benz Limited War-
ranty.
!Simultaneously depressing the accelerator
pedal and applying the brakes reduces engine
performance and causes premature brake and
drivetrain wear.
Warning!G
Do not park this vehicle in areas where
combustible materials such as grass, hay or
leaves can come into contact with the hot
exhaust system, as these materials could be
ignited and cause a vehicle fire.
To reduce the risk of personal injury, or
damage to the vehicle or the vehicle
drivetrain, as a result of vehicle movement,
always do the following before turning off
the engine and leaving the vehicle:

Keep right foot on brake pedal.

Manual transmission: Move the gear
shift lever to neutral position (no gear
selected).

Firmly depress the parking brake.

Manual transmission: Move the gear
shift lever into first or reverse gear.

Automatic transmission*: Move the
gear selector lever to positionP.

Slowly release brake pedal.

When parked on an incline, turn front
wheels towards the road curb.

Turn the SmartKey or the SmartKey
with KEYLESS-GO* (Canada only) to
starter switch position0 and remove, or
press the KEYLESS-GO* start/stop but-
ton.

Take the SmartKey or the SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO
* with you and lock the
vehicle when leaving.

345 Operation
Tires and wheels
Warning!G
Each tire, including the Minispare, should be
checked monthly when cold and inflated to
the inflation pressure recommended by the
vehicle manufacturer on the Tire and
Loading Information placard or, if available,
on the tire inflation pressure label. If your ve-
hicle has tires of a different size than the
size indicated on the Tire and Loading
Information placard or, if available, the tire
inflation pressure label, you should deter-
mine the proper tire inflation pressure for
those tires.
As an added safety feature, your vehicle has
been equipped with a tire pressure monitor-
ing system (TPMS) that illuminates a low tire
pressure telltale when one or more of your
tires is significantly underinflated. Accord-
ingly, when the low tire pressure telltale illu-
minates, you should stop and check your
tires as soon as possible, and inflate them to
the proper pressure. Driving on a significant-
ly underinflated tire causes the tire to over-
heat and can lead to tire failure.
Underinflation also reduces fuel efficiency
and tire tread life, and may affect the vehi-
cle’s handling and stopping ability. Please
note that the TPMS is not a substitute for
proper tire maintenance, and it is the driv-
er’s responsibility to maintain correct tire
pressure, even if underinflation has not
reached the level to trigger illumination of
the TPMS low tire pressure telltale.
Your vehicle has also been equipped with a
TPMS malfunction indicator to indicate
when the system is not operating properly.
The TPMS malfunction indicator is com-
bined with the low tire pressure telltale.
When the system detects a malfunction, the
telltale will flash for approximately 1 minute
and then remain continuously illuminated.
This sequence will continue upon subse-
quent vehicle start-ups as long as the mal-
function exists. When the malfunction
indicator is illuminated, the system may not
be able to detect or signal low tire pressure
as intended.TPMS malfunctions may occur for a variety
of reasons, including the installation of
replacement or alternate tires or wheels on
the vehicle that prevent the TPMS from
functioning properly. Always check the
TPMS malfunction telltale after replacing
one or more tires or wheels on your vehicle
to ensure that the replacement or alternate
tires and wheels allow the TPMS to continue
to function properly.
iIf a condition causing the TPMS to malfunc-
tion develops, it may take up to 10 minutes
for the system to signal a malfunction using
the TPMS telltale flashing and illumination
sequence.
The telltale extinguishes after a few minutes
driving if the malfunction has been corrected.
iOperating radio transmission equipment
(e.g. wireless headsets, two-way radios) in or
near the vehicle could cause the TPMS to
malfunction.

368 Operation
Vehicle care
Cleaning the windows and the wiper
blades
Make sure the hood is fully closed.
Placing wiper arms in vertical position
Vehicles with SmartKey:
Turn SmartKey in starter switch
position1.
Turn combination switch to wiper
settingu (
page 117).
With wiper arm in vertical position, turn
the SmartKey in starter switch to
position0.Vehicles with KEYLESS-GO*
(Canada only):
Make sure the vehicle’s on-board elec-
tronics have status 1 (
page 84).
Turn combination switch to wiper
settingu (
page 117).
Press KEYLESS-GO start/stop button
repeatedly until windshield wipers
start.
Press KEYLESS-GO start/stop button
when the wiper arms are in a vertical
position.Cleaning
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.
!The windshield wipers must be in a vertical
position before folding them away from the wind-
shield. They could otherwise damage the hood.
Never open the hood when the wiper arms are
folded forward.Warning!G
For safety reasons, switch off wipers and re-
move SmartKey from starter switch (vehi-
cles with KEYLESS-GO* (Canada only):
Make sure the vehicle’s on-board electron-
ics have status0) before cleaning the wind-
shield 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.

369 Operation
Vehicle care
Cleaning the panorama roof with
tilt/sliding panel*
The rear part of the tilt/sliding panel has a
protective layer on the inside.
Use a soft, clean cloth and a mild
window cleaning solution.
An automotive glass cleaner is recom-
mended.Chrome-plated exhaust tip*
Regular cleaning and care of chrome-plat-
ed exhaust tips will help to maintain their
shine and the classy appearance.Use Mercedes-Benz approved Chrome
Polishing Paste each time the vehicle
has been washed, especially during the
winter.
!Fold the windshield wiper arms back onto
the windshield before turning the SmartKey in
the starter switch or pressing the KEYLESS-GO*
start/stop button (vehicles with KEYLESS-GO*
(Canada only)).
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 con-
taining 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.
!Do not use a dry cloth, abrasives, solvents
or cleaners containing solvents. Do not touch
the protective layer with hard objects such as an
ice scraper or ring. Never apply strong force and
only use a soft, non-scratching cloth when clean-
ing the rear part of the tilt/sliding panel.
Otherwise you may scratch or damage the pro-
tective layer.!Do not use alkaline cleaners such as wheel
cleaners as they could cause corrosion.

381 Practical hints
What to do if …?
ProblemPossible cause/consequenceSuggested solution
a maximum of 6 seconds af-
ter starting the engine.You have forgotten to fasten your seat belt.Fasten your seat belt.
The warning chime stops sounding.
comes on while the vehicle is
standing still and the engine
is running or during driving.You and/or your front passenger have forgot-
ten to fasten your seat belts.Fasten your seat belts.
The seat belt telltale goes out.
There are items placed on the front passenger
seat and therefore the system senses the front
passenger seat as being occupied.Remove the items from the front pas-
senger seat and put them in a safe
place.
The seat belt telltale goes out.
belt telltale flashes and you
additionally hear an intermit-
tent warning chime with in-
creasing intensity.The vehicle’s speed has exceeded 15 mph
(25 km/h) and you and/or your front passen-
ger have forgotten to fasten your seat belts.Fasten your seat belts.
The seat belt telltale goes out and the
warning chime stops sounding.
There are items placed on the front passenger
seat and therefore the system senses the front
passenger seat as being occupied.Remove the items from the front pas-
senger seat and put them in a safe
place.
The seat belt telltale goes out and the
warning chime stops sounding.
iAfter 60 seconds with an unfastened seat
belt the warning chime stops sounding and the
seat belt telltale illuminates continuously. The seat belt telltale will only go out if both, the
driver’s and front passenger’s seat belt are fas-
tened, or the vehicle is standing still and a front door is
opened.

384 Practical hints
What to do if …?
Warning!G
Each tire, including the spare (if provided),
should be checked monthly when cold and
inflated to the inflation pressure recom-
mended by the vehicle manufacturer on the
Tire and Loading Information placard on the
driver’s door B-pillar (
page 334) or, if
available, the tire inflation pressure label on
the inside of the fuel filler flap (
page 322).
If your vehicle has tires of a different size
than the size indicated on the Tire and
Loading Information placard or the tire
inflation pressure label, you should deter-
mine the proper tire inflation pressure for
those tires.
As an added safety feature, your vehicle has
been equipped with a tire pressure monitor-
ing system (TPMS) that illuminates a low tire
pressure telltale when one or more of your
tires is significantly underinflated. Accord-
ingly, when the low tire pressure telltale illu-
minates, you should stop and check your
tires as soon as possible, and inflate them to
the proper pressure. Driving on a significant-
ly underinflated tire causes the tire to over-
heat and can lead to tire failure.
Underinflation also reduces fuel efficiency
and tire tread life, and may affect the vehi-
cle’s handling and stopping ability. Please
note that the TPMS is not a substitute for
proper tire maintenance, and it is the driv-
er’s responsibility to maintain correct tire
pressure, even if underinflation has not
reached the level to trigger illumination of
the TPMS low tire pressure telltale.Your vehicle has also been equipped with a
TPMS malfunction indicator to indicate
when the system is not operating properly.
The TPMS malfunction indicator is com-
bined with the low tire pressure telltale.
When the system detects a malfunction, the
telltale will flash for approximately 1 minute
and then remain continuously illuminated.
This sequence will continue upon subse-
quent vehicle start-ups as long as the mal-
function exists. When the malfunction
indicator is illuminated, the system may not
be able to detect or signal low tire pressure
as intended.
TPMS malfunctions may occur for a variety
of reasons, including the installation of
replacement or alternate tires or wheels on
the vehicle that prevent the TPMS from
functioning properly. Always check the
TPMS malfunction telltale after replacing
one or more tires or wheels on your vehicle
to ensure that the replacement or alternate
tires and wheels allow the TPMS to continue
to function properly.

392 Practical hints
What to do if …?
Display Possible cause/consequencePossible solution
Shift
to PYou have turned off the engine with the
KEYLESS-GO* start/stop button (Canada only) in
gear selector lever positionN and opened the driv-
er’s door.
or
You have attempted to switch off the engine with the
KEYLESS-GO* start/stop button (Canada only) while
the gear selector lever was in positionR orD.Place the gear selector lever in positionP.
Shift to P or N
To Start EngineYou have attempted to start the engine while the au-
tomatic transmission* was set to position R or D.Move the gear selector lever to position P or N
(
page 140).
Tire Press. Monitor
Inoperative
(USA only)
The TPMS is malfunctioning.Have the TPMS checked at an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
Wheel Sensors Error
Tire Pressure Monitor
Inoperative
(USA only)
There are wheels without appropriate wheel sensors
mounted (e.g. winter tires).Have the TPMS checked at an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
Have the wheel sensors installed at an autho-
rized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Tire Press. Monitor
Currently Unavailable
(USA only)
The TPMS is unable to monitor the tire pressure due
to a nearby radio interference source.As soon as the causes of the malfunction have
been removed, the TPMS automatically be-
comes active again after a few minutes driving.

402 Practical hints
What to do if …?
During severe operating conditions,
e.g. stop-and-go traffic, the coolant tem-
perature may rise close to 248°F (120°C).
Display Possible cause/consequencePossible solution
•Coolant Low
Stop Vehicle!
Turn Engine OffThe coolant is too hot. Stop the vehicle in a safe location or as soon
as it is safe to do so and immediately turn off
the engine.
Only start the engine again after the message
disappears. You could otherwise damage the
engine.
Observe the coolant temperature gauge in
the instrument cluster (
page 26).
Warning!G

Driving when your engine is overheated
can cause some fluids which may have
leaked into the engine compartment to
catch fire. You could be seriously
burned.

Steam from an overheated engine can
cause serious burns which can occur
just by opening the engine hood. Stay
away from the engine if you see or hear
steam coming from it.
Stop the vehicle in a safe location away from
other traffic. Turn off the engine, get out of
the vehicle and do not stand near the vehicle
until the engine has cooled down.!The engine should not be operated with the
coolant temperature above 248°F (120°C). Do-
ing so may cause serious engine damage which
is not covered by the Mercedes-Benz Limited
Warranty.