2008 MERCEDES-BENZ C300 Service A

18 Introduction
Vehicle data recording
Information regarding electronic
recording devices
(Including notice pursuant to California Code § 9951)
Please note that your vehicle is equipped with devices that can record vehicle systems data and, if equipped with the Tele Aid* system,
may transmit some data in certain accidents.
This information helps, for example, to diagnose vehicle systems after a collision and to continuously improve vehicle safety.
DaimlerChrysler may access the information and share it with others

for safety research or vehicle diagnosis purposes

with the consent of the vehicle owner or lessee

in response to an official request by law enforcement or other government agency

for use in dispute resolution involving DaimlerChrysler, its affiliates or sales/service organization and/or

as otherwise required or permitted by law.
Please check the Tele Aid* subscription service agreement for details regarding the information that may be recorded or transmitted
via that system.

42 Safety and Security
Occupant safety
Both driver and the front passenger should
always use the 5/indicator lamp
as an indication of whether or not the front
passenger is properly positioned.
iIf your seat, including your trim cover and
cushion needs to be serviced in any way, take
the vehicle to an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.
Only seat accessories approved by
Mercedes-Benz may be used.Warning!G
If the 5/indicator lamp illuminates
when an adult or someone larger than a
small individual is in the front passenger
seat, have the front passenger re-position
himself or herself in the seat until the
5/indicator lamp goes out, or check
whether objects are caught under or around
the seat.
In the event of a collision, the air bag control
unit will not allow front passenger front air
bag deployment when the OCS classified
the front passenger seat occupant as being
up to or less than the weight of a typical
12-month-old child in a standard child
restraint or if the front passenger seat is
sensed as being empty.
When the OCS senses that the front passen-
ger seat occupant is classified as being up
to or less than the weight of a typical
12-month-old child in a standard child
restraint, the 5/indicator lamp will
illuminate when the engine is started and
remain illuminated, indicating that the front
passenger front air bag is deactivated.
When the OCS senses that the front passen-
ger seat is classified as being empty, the
5/indicator lamp will illuminate
when the engine is started and remain
illuminated, indicating that the front
passenger front air bag is deactivated.
When the OCS senses that the front passen-
ger seat occupant is classified as being
heavier than the weight of a typical
12-month-old child seated in a standard
child restraint or as being a small individual
(such as a young teenager or a small adult),
the 5/indicator lamp will illuminate
for approximately 6 seconds when the
engine is started and then, depending on
occupant weight sensor readings from the
seat, remain illuminated or go out. With the
5/indicator lamp illuminated, the
front passenger front air bag is deactivated.
With the 5/indicator lamp out, the
front passenger front air bag is activated.

66 Safety and Security
Anti-theft systems
Immobilizer
The immobilizer prevents unauthorized
persons from starting your vehicle.
When leaving the vehicle, always take the
SmartKey or SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO*
(Canada only) with you and lock the
vehicle. The engine can be started by
anyone with a valid SmartKey or SmartKey
with KEYLESS-GO* (Canada only) that is
left inside the vehicle.
Activating
With the SmartKey: Remove the
SmartKey from the starter switch.
With the KEYLESS-GO* (Canada
only): Turn off the engine and open the
driver’s door.
Deactivating
Switch on the ignition.
Anti-theft alarm system
Once the alarm system has been armed, a
visual and audible alarm is triggered when
someone opens:

a door

the trunk

the hood
The alarm will stay on even if the activating
element (a door, for example) is immedi-
ately closed.
The alarm system will also be triggered
when

the vehicle is opened with the
mechanical key.

a door is opened from the inside.

the trunk is opened with the
emergency release button.
To cancel the alarm after it has been trig-
gered, see “Canceling the alarm”
(
page 67).
1Indicator lamp
iStarting the engine will also deactivate the
immobilizer.
In case the engine cannot be started (yet the
vehicle’s battery is charged), the system is not
operational. Contact an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center or call
1-800-FOR-MERCedes (in the USA), or
1-800-387-0100 (in Canada).
iIf the alarm stays on for more than
30 seconds, a call to the Response Center is
initiated automatically by the Tele Aid* system
(
page 295) provided Tele Aid* service was
subscribed to and properly activated, and that
necessary mobile phone, power supply and GPS
coverage are available.

130 Controls in detail
Driving and parking
1Release handle
2Parking brake pedal
Release the parking brake by pulling on
release handle1.
The indicator lamp; (USA only)
or3 (Canada only) in the instru-
ment cluster goes out.Manual transmission
Fully depress the clutch pedal.
Move gearshift lever to first gear to
drive forward, or to reverse gear to
drive in reverse.
Release the brake pedal.
Simultaneously slowly release the
clutch pedal and carefully depress the
accelerator pedal.
!If you hear a warning signal, the red indica-
tor lamp 0 (USA only) or ! (Canada only)
in the instrument cluster flashes and the mes-
sage
Release Parking Brake appears in the
multifunction display when driving off, you have
forgotten to release the parking brake.
Release the parking brake.
iAt vehicle speeds of approximately 9 mph
(15 km/h), the automatic central locking system
engages and the locking knobs in the doors drop
down.
The automatic door lock feature can be deacti-
vated (
page 173).
You can open a locked door from the inside.
Open door only when conditions are safe to do
so.
!Simultaneously depressing the accelerator
pedal and applying the brakes reduces engine
performance and causes premature brake and
drivetrain wear.
!Do not run a cold engine at high engine
speeds as this may shorten its service life.
!In order to avoid damage to the transmis-
sion, place the gearshift lever to reverse gear
only when the vehicle is stopped.
!Shift gear in a timely manner and do not ex-
ceed the maximum permissible engine speed for
each gear.
Do not allow the wheels to spin as this could
damage the drive train.

151 Controls in detail
Control system
Control system
The control system is activated as soon as
the SmartKey in the starter switch is
turned to position2 or as soon as the
KEYLESS-GO* start/stop button (Canada
only) is in position 2. The control system
enables you to:

call up information about your vehicle

change vehicle settings
For example, you can use the control
system to find out when your vehicle is
next due for service, to call up statistical
data on your vehicle, and much more.
The control system relays information to
the multifunction display.
Multifunction display
1Text field
2Line for main menus
3Temperature
4Current program mode
(automatic transmission*)
5Current gear selector lever
position/gear range
(automatic transmission*)
Additional speedometer
(manual transmission)
6Digital clock
Settings, functions, submenus as well as
any malfunctions are shown to you in the
text field.
Warning!G
A driver’s attention to the road and traffic
conditions must always be his/her primary
focus when driving.
For your safety and the safety of others,
selecting features through the multifunction
steering wheel should only be done by the
driver when traffic and road conditions
permit it to be done safely.
Bear in mind that at a speed of just 30 mph
(approximately 50 km/h), your vehicle is
covering a distance of 44 feet
(approximately 14 m) every second.

155 Controls in detail
Control system
Menus, submenus and functions
Menu1Menu2Menu3Menu4Menu5Menu6
Trip computerNavi*AudioTel*ServiceSettings
(page 156)(page 158)(page 158)(page 160)(page 164)(page 165)
Commands/submenus
Standard displayShow route guid-
ance instructions,
current direction
traveledSelecting radio
stationTo take a callCall up vehicle mal-
function, warning and
system status mes-
sages stored in mem-
ory
1
1The vehicle status message memory menu is only displayed if there is a message stored.
Reset to factory
settings
Fuel consumption
statistics since startSelecting satellite
radio station*Select a phone
book entryTire Pressure Monitor-
ing System (TPMS)
(USA only)Instrument cluster
submenu
Fuel consumption
statistics since the
last resetOperating
CD player* RedialRun Flat Indicator
(Canada only)
Distance to emptyCall up maintenance
service display
Digital speed-
ometer or outside
temperature

161 Controls in detail
Control system
Switch on the telephone and audio sys-
tem.
Activate and register the telephone
(
page 225).
Press ( or & to select the Tel
menu.
Which messages will appear in the
multifunction display depends on whether
your telephone is switched on or off:

If the Bluetooth® function on the audio
system is disabled, the message
Blue-
tooth not activated in system set-
tings
appears. To enable Bluetooth®
(
page 193).

If the telephone is switched on, the
telephone will then search for a net-
work. During this time, the message
No
Service
appears in the multifunction
display. If no network available, the
multifunction display message
No Ser-
vice
is shown continuously.

If the telephone is on, as soon as the
telephone has found a network,
Phone
Ready
appears in the multifunction dis-
play.This standby message indicates that your
telephone is ready for use and you can
operate it using the control system.
You may carry out the following functions:
Otherwise, you may not be able to observe
traffic conditions and could endanger your-
self and others.
Bear in mind that at a speed of just 30 mph
(approximately 50 km/h), your vehicle is
covering a distance of 44 feet
(approximately 14 m) every second.
Warning!G
Never operate radio transmitters equipped
with a built-in or attached antenna (i.e. with-
out being connected to an external antenna)
from inside the vehicle while the engine is
running. Doing so could lead to a malfunc-
tion of the vehicle’s electronic system,
possibly resulting in an accident and
personal injury.FunctionPage
Dialing a number from the phone
book162
Redialing163
Answering a call163
Ending a call or rejecting an in-
coming call163

164 Controls in detail
Control system
Service menu
The
Service menu is used for

calling up messages

checking tire inflation pressure elec-
tronically with the TPMS (standard on
U.S. vehicles)

activating Run Flat Indicator (standard
on Canada vehicles)

calling up the maintenance service in-
dicator displayCalling up vehicle malfunction, warning
and system status messages stored in
memory
Use the vehicle status message memory
menu to scan malfunction and warning
messages that may be stored in the
system. Such messages appear in the
multifunction display and are based on
conditions or system status the vehicle’s
system has recorded.
The vehicle status message memory menu
only appears if there are any messages
stored.
Warning!G
Malfunction and warning messages are only
indicated for certain systems and are inten-
tionally not very detailed. The malfunction
and warning messages are simply a remind-
er with respect to the operation of certain
systems and do not replace the owner’s
and/or driver’s responsibility to maintain
the vehicle’s operating safety by having all
required maintenance and safety checks
performed on the vehicle and by bringing
the vehicle to an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center to address the malfunction and
warning messages (
page 387).