2008 MERCEDES-BENZ C300 Manual Transmission

169 Controls in detail
Control system
Showing or hiding additional
speedometer (vehicles with manual
transmission)
You can have an additional digital speed-
ometer shown on the multifunction dis-
play. The speed is shown in the unit of
kilometers/hour (USA) or miles/hour
(Canada).
Press % or $ to select the
Instr. Cluster submenu.
Press #.
Press % or $ to select the Addi-
tional Speedometer
function.
Press #.
The current setting is shown.
Press # again if you would like to
change the current status.Depending on the previous status, the
additional speedometer will be
switched
On orOff.
Permanent display (vehicles with auto-
matic transmission*)
You can use the
Permanent Display func-
tion to choose to display either the outside
temperature or the speed in kilometers
(USA) or miles (Canada) permanently.
Press % or $ to select the
Instr. Cluster submenu.
Press #.
Press % or $ to select the Per-
manent Display
function.
Press #.
The current setting
Outside tempera-
ture
orSpeedometer (km/h)
(USA)/
Speedometer (miles) (Canada)
is shown.
Press # again if you would like to
change the current status.
Depending on the previous status, the
Permanent Display will be switched
between
Outside temperature or
Speedometer (km/h) (USA)/Speedome-
ter (miles)
(Canada).
The selected display is then shown
continuously in the lower display.

243 Controls in detail
Driving systems
1SegmentsCanceling cruise control
There are several ways to cancel the cruise
control:
Step on the brake pedal.
The cruise control is canceled. The last
speed set is stored for later use.
or
Briefly push the cruise control lever in
direction of arrow3 (
page 242).
The cruise control is canceled. The last
speed set is stored for later use.
iOn uphill grades, the cruise control may not
be able to maintain the set speed. Once the
grade eases, the set speed will be resumed.
On downhill grades, the cruise control maintains
the set speed by braking with the vehicle’s
braking system. In addition, on longer downhill
grades the automatic transmission* will down-
shift automatically.
iVehicles with manual transmission:
If you depress the clutch pedal when shifting into
another gear, the engine speed may increase.

Always drive at sufficient, but not excessive,
engine speed.

Shift gear in a timely manner.

Avoid shifting down more than one gear if at
all possible.
iThe last stored set speed is canceled when
the engine is turned off.
iThe cruise control switches off
automatically and the segments in the multifunc-
tion display go out when

you step on the brake pedal.

you press the parking brake pedal.
The cruise control switches off automatically,
the segments in the multifunction display go out
and an acoustic warning sounds when

the vehicle speed is below 20 mph
(30 km/h).

the ESP® is in operation or switched off with
the ESP® switch (page 63).

Vehicles with manual transmission:
you engage neutral or depress the clutch
pedal for more than 6 seconds during shift-
ing into another gear.

Vehicles with automatic transmission*:
you move the gear selector lever to
positionN while driving.
Observe additional messages in the
multifunction display that may appear.

246 Controls in detail
Driving systems
Briefly pull the cruise control lever in
the direction of arrow4 (
page 242).
The cruise control resumes to the last
set speed or if no speed is stored, it will
set and store the current speed.
Remove your foot from the accelerator
pedal.
The last set speed appears in the multi-
function display for approximately
5 seconds, and the corresponding
speedometer segments from the se-
lected speed to the vehicle maximum
speed are illuminated.
Hill start assist system
On uphill grades with a gradient angle of
more than 5°, the hill start assist system
maintains the pressure in the brake sys-
tem for approximately 1 second after you
have released the brake pedal. Therefore,
you can start off smoothly without the
vehicle moving immediately after releasing
the brake pedal.
Depress the brake pedal
Manual transmission: Engage for-
ward or reverse gear.
Slowly release the clutch pedal, remov-
ing your foot from the brake pedal at
the same time, and carefully depress
the accelerator pedal.
Automatic transmission*: Move the
gear selector lever to position Dor R.
Remove your foot from the brake pedal
and carefully depress the accelerator
pedal.
The hill start assist system is inactive

when starting off on a level road or
downhill grades

vehicles with automatic transmission*
with the gear selector lever in
positionN

with the parking brake depressed

if the ESP® has switched off due to a
malfunction
iThe last stored set speed is deleted when
the engine is turned off.
Warning!G
The hill start assist system is not designed
to function as an parking brake and does not
prevent the vehicle from moving when
parked on an incline.
Always depress the parking brake in
addition to shifting to park positionP.
iWhen you remove your foot from the accel-
erator, the vehicle will remain stationary for ap-
prox. 1 second.

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.

305 Controls in detail
Useful features
Step 7:
To program the remaining two signal
transmitter buttons, repeat the steps
above starting with step 3.
Rolling code programming
To train a garage door opener (or other
rolling code devices) with the rolling code
feature, follow these instructions after
completing the “Programming” portion
(steps 1 through 6) of this text. (A second
person may make the following training
procedures quicker and easier.)
Step 8:
Locate “training” button on the garage
door opener motor head unit.
Exact location and color of the button
may vary by garage door opener brand.
Depending on manufacturer, the “training” button may also be referred
to as “learn”or “smart” button. If there
is difficulty locating the transmitting
button, refer to the garage door opener
operator’s manual.
Step 9:
Press the “training” button on the ga-
rage door opener motor head unit.
The “training light” is activated.
You have 30 seconds to initiate the follow-
ing two steps.
Step 10:
Return to the vehicle and firmly press,
hold for 2 seconds and release the pro-
grammed signal transmitter button
(2, 3 or4).
Step 11:
Press, hold for 2 seconds and release
same signal transmitter button a sec-
ond time to complete the training pro-
cess.Step 12:
Confirm the garage door operation by
pressing the programmed signal trans-
mitter button (2, 3 or4).
Step 13:
To program the remaining two signal
transmitter buttons, repeat the steps
above starting with step 3.
Gate operator/Canadian programming
Canadian radio-frequency laws require
transmitter signals to “time-out” (or quit)
after several seconds of transmission
which may not be long enough for the
integrated signal transmitter to pick up the
signal during programming. Similar to this
Canadian law, some U.S. gate operators
are designed to “time-out” in the same
manner.
iIf indicator lamp1 flashes rapidly for about
2 seconds and then turns to a constant light,
continue with programming steps 8 through 12
as your garage door opener may be equipped
with the “rolling code” feature.iSome garage door openers (or other rolling
code equipped devices) may require you to
press, hold for 2 seconds and release the same
signal transmitter button a third time to com-
plete the training process.

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.

426 Practical hints
Unlocking/locking in an emergency
Fuel filler flap
Open the fuse box in the trunk
(
page 458).
1Release cable
Pull on the release cable1.
Open the fuel filler flap.Manually unlocking the transmission
gear selector lever
In case of power failure, the transmission
gear selector lever can be manually un-
locked, e.g. to tow the vehicle.
1Selector lever cover
2Unlocking mechanism
Apply the parking brake firmly.
Push the selector lever cover1 to the
left and pull it up and off.
Push the unlocking mechanism2
down and move the selector lever out
of positionP at the same time.The selector lever can now move freely
until reset to positionP.
iThis procedure does not arm the anti-theft
alarm system nor does it lock the fuel filler flap.
iThe gear selector lever is locked again when
moving it to positionP.


448 Practical hints
Battery
Starter battery
1Battery
2Positive terminal
3Negative terminal
4Ventilation hose
Disconnecting the battery
Apply the parking brake (page 134).
Make sure gear selector lever* is set to
positionP (manual transmission to
Neutral).
Turn off all electrical consumers.
Remove SmartKey from starter switch.Vehicles with KEYLESS-GO* (Canada
only):
Press the start / stop button until
the engine shuts off.
Open the driver’s door.
Open the hood (page 325).
Remove the filter box (page 447).
Read and observe safety instructions
and precautions (
page 446).
Disconnect the battery negative lead
from negative terminal3.
Remove cover from the positive
terminal2.
Disconnect the battery positive lead.iIf the battery is discharged, you must use
the mechanical key to unlock (
page 424) or
lock (
page 425) the vehicle.
Warning!G
With a disconnected battery

you will no longer be able to turn the
SmartKey in the starter switch and
pressing the KEYLESS-GO* start/stop
button (Canada only) will have no effect

vehicles with automatic transmission*:
the gear selector lever will remain
locked in positionP
!Always disconnect the starter battery in the
order described below. You could otherwise
damage the vehicle’s electronics.