2008 MERCEDES-BENZ C300 4MATIC brake light

Contents
3-zone automatic climate control*
(Canada only) ..................................... 259
Deactivating
climate control system ................. 261
Operating climate control
system in automatic mode ........... 261
Setting the temperature ............... 262
Adjusting air distribution .............. 263
Adjusting air volume..................... 263
Using driver-side settings for
all temperature zones................... 263
Front defroster ............................. 264
Rear window defroster ................. 265
Air recirculation mode .................. 265
Residual engine heat
and ventilation.............................. 266
Air conditioning ............................ 267
Rear climate control ..................... 268
Trunk ................................................. 269
Opening trunk .............................. 269
Closing trunk ................................ 270
Trunk emergency release ............. 271
Valet locking ................................ 272
Power tilt/sliding sunroof .................. 273
Opening and closing
power tilt/sliding sunroof............. 273Synchronizing............................... 275
Panorama roof with
power tilt/sliding panel* ................... 276
Roller sunblinds............................ 276
Opening and closing panorama
roof with power tilt/sliding panel . 277
Synchronizing............................... 278
Loading and storing ........................... 280
Roof rack*.................................... 280
Split rear bench seat* .................. 281
Loading instructions..................... 282
Storage compartments ................ 283
Cup holders.................................. 287
Trunk ............................................ 288
Useful features .................................. 289
Sun visors .................................... 289
Rear window sunshade* .............. 290
Ashtrays ....................................... 291
Cigarette lighter ........................... 292
Power outlet in the glove box ....... 293
Power outlet in the
rear passenger compartment ....... 293
Floormats* ................................... 294
lTele Aid* ..................................... 295
Garage door opener* ................... 303
Operation......................................... 309
The first 1000 miles (1500 km) ......... 310
Driving instructions ........................... 311
Drive sensibly – save fuel............. 311
Drinking and driving ..................... 311
Pedals .......................................... 311
Power assistance ......................... 311
Brakes.......................................... 312
Driving off .................................... 314
Parking......................................... 314
Tires ............................................. 315
Hydroplaning................................ 315
Tire traction ................................. 316
Tire speed rating .......................... 316
Winter driving instructions ........... 317
Standing water............................. 318
Passenger compartment .............. 318
Driving abroad ............................. 318
Control and operation
of radio transmitters .................... 319
Catalytic converter....................... 319
Emission control .......................... 320
Coolant temperature.................... 321

59 Safety and Security
Driving safety systems
Driving safety systems
This section contains information about
the following driving safety systems:

ABS (Antilock Brake System)

Adaptive Brake

BAS (Brake Assist System)

EBP (Electronic Brake Proportioning)

ESP® (Electronic Stability Program)

4MATIC (Four Wheel Electronic Trac-
tion System)
ABS
The Antilock Brake System (ABS) regulates
the brake pressure so that the wheels do
not lock during braking. This allows you to
maintain the ability to steer your vehicle.The ABS is functional above a speed of
approximately 5 mph (8 km/h) indepen-
dent of road surface conditions.
On slippery road surfaces, the ABS will
respond even to light brake pressure.
The - indicator lamp in the instrument
cluster (
page 26) comes on when you
switch on the ignition. It goes out when the
engine is running.
Braking
At the instant one of the wheels is about to
lock up, a slight pulsation can be felt in the
brake pedal, indicating that the ABS is in
the regulating mode.
Keep firm and steady pressure on the
brake pedal while experiencing the pul-
sation.
Warning!G
The following factors increase the risk of
accidents:

Excessive speed, especially in turns

Wet and slippery road surfaces

Following another vehicle too closely
The driving safety systems described in this
section cannot reduce these risks or pre-
vent the natural laws of physics from acting
on the vehicle.
Always adapt your driving style to the pre-
vailing road and weather conditions and
keep a safe distance to other road users and
objects on the street.
iIn winter operation, the maximum effective-
ness of the ABS, BAS, EBP, ESP® and 4MATIC is
only achieved with winter tires (
page 360), or
snow chains as required.
Warning!G
Do not pump the brake pedal. Use firm,
steady brake pedal pressure instead. Pump-
ing the brake pedal defeats the purpose of
the ABS and significantly reduces braking
effectiveness.


85 Controls in detail
Seats
Seats
Seat adjustment
Warning!G
All seat, head restraint adjustments, as well
as fastening of seat belts, must be done be-
fore 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 seat belt would apply force at
the abdomen or neck. That could cause se-
rious or fatal injuries. The seat backrest and
seat belts provide the best restraint when
the wearer is in a position that is as upright
as possible and seat belts are properly posi-
tioned on the body.
Your seat must be adjusted so that you can
correctly fasten your seat belt.
Observe the following points:

Adjust the seat backrest until your arms
are slightly angled when holding the
steering wheel.

Adjust the seat to a comfortable seating
position that still allows you to reach the
accelerator/brake pedal safely. The po-
sition should be as far back as possible
with the driver still able to properly oper-
ate controls.

Adjust the head restraint so that it is as
close to the head as possible and the
center of the head restraint supports
the back of the head at eye level.

Never place hands under the seat or
near any moving parts while a seat is be-
ing adjusted.
Failure to do so could result in an accident
and/or serious personal injury.
Warning!G
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the
SmartKey or SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO*
from the starter switch, take it with you, and
lock the vehicle.
Even with the SmartKey or SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO* (Canada only) removed from
the starter switch or the SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO* (Canada only) removed from
the vehicle, the power seats can be
operated.
Therefore, 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.

93 Controls in detail
Steering wheel
Steering wheel
Make sure

you can reach the steering wheel with
your arms slightly bent at the elbows

you can move your legs freely

all displays (including malfunction and
indicator lamps) on the instrument
cluster are clearly visible
Steering wheel adjustment, manualThe handle for steering wheel adjustment
is located below the steering column.
1Steering wheel adjustment release
handle
2Steering wheel up/down
3Steering wheel in/out
To unlock the steering wheel, pull
handle1 down to its stop limit.
The steering wheel is unlocked
Move steering wheel to the desired
position.
Warning!G
Do not adjust the steering wheel while driv-
ing. Adjusting the steering wheel while driv-
ing, or driving without the steering wheel
adjustment feature locked could cause the
driver to lose control of the vehicle.
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.
Even with the SmartKey or SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO* (Canada only) removed from
the starter switch or the SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO* (Canada only) removed from
the vehicle, the electrical steering wheel ad-
justment feature can be operated. There-
fore, do not leave children unattended in the
vehicle, or with access to an unlocked vehi-
cle. A child’s unsupervised access to a vehi-
cle could result in an accident and/or
serious personal injury.
Warning!G
Only adjust the steering wheel with the
vehicle at a standstill with the parking brake
engaged and make sure the steering wheel
is securely locked in place before driving off.
Driving without the steering wheel locked
may cause unexpected steering wheel
movement which could result in the driver
losing control of the vehicle. Make sure the
steering wheel is securely locked by trying
to move it up and down, and in and out be-
fore driving off.


114 Controls in detail
Lighting
Hazard warning flasher
The hazard warning flasher can be
switched on at all times, even with the
SmartKey removed from the starter switch
or with the SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO*
removed from the vehicle.
The hazard warning flasher is automatical-
ly switched on if

an air bag has been triggered

you brake the vehicle strongly at a
speed of more than 50 mph (70 km/h)
and bring it to a complete stop
1Hazard warning flasher switch
Switching on: Press hazard warning
flasher switch.
All turn signals will flash.
Switching off: Press hazard warning
flasher switch again.
If the hazard warning flasher was acti-
vated automatically, press hazard
warning flasher switch
1 twice to
switch off the hazard warning flasher.
The hazard warning flasher switched
off automatically at vehicle speeds of
approximately 6 mph (10 km/h) or
more.
Interior lighting
Overhead control panel
1Rear interior lighting on/off
2Interior lighting control
3Right reading lamp on/off
4Front interior lighting on/off
5Left reading lamp on/off
6Left/right reading lamp
7Front interior lamps
iWith the hazard warning flasher activated
and the combination switch set for either left or
right turn, only the respective left or right turn
signals will operate when the SmartKey in the
starter switch is in position
1 or2 or the
KEYLESS-GO* start/stop button (Canada only)
(
page 84) is pressed once or twice.

133 Controls in detail
Driving and parking
Parking
1Release handle
2Parking brake pedal
Warning!G
With the engine not running, there is no
power assistance for the brake and the
steering systems. In this case, it is impor-
tant to keep in mind that a considerably
higher degree of effort is necessary to brake
and steer the vehicle.
Warning!G
Do not park this vehicle in areas where com-
bustible 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 as a re-
sult of vehicle movement, before turning off
the engine and leaving the vehicle always:

Keep right foot on brake pedal.

Manual transmission: Move the gear-
shift lever into neutral position (no gear
is selected).

Firmly depress parking brake pedal.

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 to starter switch
position0 and remove, or press
KEYLESS-GO* start/stop button
(
page 84).

Take the SmartKey or the SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO* with you and lock vehicle
when leaving.
Warning!G
Engaging the parking brake while the vehicle
is in motion can cause the rear wheels to
lock up. You could lose control of the vehicle
and cause an accident. In addition, the
vehicle’s brake lights do not light up when
the parking brake is engaged.


142 Controls in detail
Automatic transmission*
Driving tips
Accelerator position
Your driving style influences the
transmission’s shifting behavior:
Less throttle Earlier upshifting
More throttle Later upshifting
Kickdown
Use kickdown when you want maximum
acceleration.
Press the accelerator past the point of
resistance.
Depending on the engine speed the
transmission shifts into a lower gear.
Ease on the accelerator when you have
reached the desired speed.
The transmission shifts up again.Stopping
When you stop briefly, e.g. at traffic lights:
Leave the transmission in gear.
Hold the vehicle with the brake.
When you stop for a longer period of time
with the engine idling and/or on a hill:
Set the parking brake.
Move the gear selector lever to park
positionP.
Maneuvering
When you maneuver in tight areas,
e.g. when pulling into a parking space:
Control the vehicle speed by gradually
releasing the brakes.
Accelerate gently.
Never abruptly step on the accelerator.Working on the vehicle
Warning!G
When working on the vehicle, set the
parking brake and move gear selector lever
to park positionP. Otherwise the vehicle
could roll away.

324 Operation
At the gas station
Check regularly and before a long trip
1Coolant level
2Brake fluid
3Windshield washer and headlamp
cleaning system*Windshield washer system and head-
lamp cleaning system*
For more information on refilling the wash-
er reservoir, see “Windshield washer sys-
tem and headlamp cleaning system*”
(
page 330).
Coolant
For more information on coolant, see
“Coolant level” (
page 329) and see “Fu-
els, coolants, lubricants, etc.”
(
page 476).
Brake fluid
For information on brake fluid, see “Brake
fluid” (
page 480).Engine oil level
For more information on engine oil, see
“Engine oil” (
page 327).
Vehicle lighting
Check function and cleanliness. For more
information on replacing light bulbs, see
“Replacing bulbs” (
page 430).
For more information, see “Lighting”
(
page 108).
Tire inflation pressure
For information on tire inflation pressure,
see “Checking tire inflation pressure”
(
page 341).iOpening the hood (page 325).!If you find that the brake fluid in the brake
fluid reservoir has fallen to the minimum mark or
below, have the brake system checked for brake
pad thickness and leaks immediately. Notify an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center immediately.
Do not add brake fluid as this will not solve the
problem. For more information, see “Practical
hints” (
page 376) and (page 400).