2008 MERCEDES-BENZ C300 Steering wheel

94 Controls in detail
Steering wheel
To lock the steering wheel, push
handle1 all the way up until it
engages.
The steering wheel is locked into posi-
tion again.
Make sure the steering wheel is
securely locked by trying to move it up
and down, and in and out before driving
off.Steering wheel adjustment, electrical*
(Canada only)
1Adjusting steering wheel, up or down
2Adjusting steering wheel, in or out
Adjusting steering wheel in or out:
Move stalk forward or back in the direc-
tion of arrow2 until a comfortable
steering wheel position is reached with
your arms slightly bent at the elbow.
Adjusting steering wheel up or
down: Move stalk up or down in the di-
rection of arrow1.
!Do not drive the vehicle until you have
properly locked the steering wheel.
iThe memory function* is operational at any
time. Seat and steering wheel adjustment is al-
ways possible.
The memory function* (
page 102) lets you
store settings for the steering wheel together
with the settings for the seat position and the
exterior rear view mirrors.


95 Controls in detail
Steering wheel
Easy-entry/exit feature* (Canada only)
This feature allows for easier entry into and
exit from the vehicle. When entering and
exiting the vehicle, the steering wheel is in
its uppermost position.
The easy-entry/exit feature can be activat-
ed or deactivated in the
Convenience sub-
menu of the control system (
page 174).With the easy-entry/exit feature activated
the steering wheel tilts upwards when you:

remove the SmartKey from the starter
switch,
or

open the driver’s door with the
SmartKey in starter switch position0
or1 or the KEYLESS-GO* start/stop
button in position1
Warning!G
You must make sure no one can become
trapped or injured by the moving steering
wheel when the easy-entry/exit feature is
activated.
To stop steering wheel movement, do one of
the following:

Move steering wheel adjustment stalk.

Press one of the memory position but-
tons or the memory buttonM.
Do not leave children unattended in the ve-
hicle, or with access to an unlocked vehicle.
Children could open the driver’s door and
unintentionally activate the easy-entry/exit
feature, which could result in an accident
and/or serious personal injury.
Warning!G
Let the system complete the adjustment
procedure before setting the vehicle in mo-
tion. All steering wheel adjustments must be
completed before setting the vehicle in mo-
tion. Driving off with the steering wheel still
adjusting could cause the driver to lose con-
trol of the vehicle.
iIf the current position for the steering wheel
is in the uppermost tilt position, the steering
wheel will no longer be able to move upward
when the easy-entry/exit feature is activated.
The adjustment procedure is briefly interrupted
when the engine is started.

96 Controls in detail
Steering wheel
With the easy-entry/exit feature activated,
the steering wheel will return to their last
set memory position when you:

close the driver’s door with the ignition
switched on,
or

insert the SmartKey into the starter
switch or press the KEYLESS-GO*
start/stop button once with the driv-
er’s door closed.
iThe last set steering wheel positions are
stored when

the ignition is switched off

the position is stored in memory
(
page 102)

98 Controls in detail
Mirrors
Power folding exterior rear view
mirrors*
Folding exterior rear view mirrors in
and out manually
The exterior rear view mirrors can vibrate if
they are not folded out completely.
1Folds the exterior mirrors in and out
Switch on the ignition.
Folding in: Press button1.
Folding out: Press button1 again.
!If an exterior rear view mirror housing is
forcibly pushed forward (hit from the rear) or
forcibly pushed rearward (hit from the front), re-
position it by applying firm pressure until it snaps
back into place. The mirror housing is then prop-
erly positioned and you can adjust the mirror in
the usual manner.
iAt low ambient temperatures, the exterior
rear view mirrors will be heated automatically.
iCanada only:
The memory function* (
page 102) lets you
store the setting for the exterior rear view mir-
rors together with the setting for the steering
wheel and the seat positions.
!Before driving the vehicle through an auto-
matic car wash, fold the exterior mirrors in. Oth-
erwise they may get damaged.
!If an exterior rear view mirror housing is
forcibly pushed forward (hit from the rear), repo-
sition it manually by applying firm pressure until
it snaps back into place.
If an exterior rear view mirror housing is forcibly
pushed rearward (hit from the front), press
button1 to fold mirrors in, then press
button1 again to fold mirrors out. Do not force
mirrors by hand as this may damage the
adjustment mechanism.
The mirror housing is then properly positioned
and you can adjust the mirror in the usual
manner.


102 Controls in detail
Memory function* (Canada only)
Prior to operating the vehicle, the driver
should check and adjust the seat height,
seat position fore and aft, and seat back-
rest angle if necessary, to ensure adequate
control, reach, and comfort. The head re-
straint should also be adjusted for proper
height. See also the section on air bags
(
page 36) for proper seat positioning.
In addition, adjust the steering wheel to
ensure adequate control, reach, operation
and comfort. Both the inside and outside
rear view mirrors should be adjusted for
adequate rear vision.Fasten seat belts. Infants and small chil-
dren should be seated in a properly se-
cured restraint system that complies with
U.S. Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Stan-
dards 213 and 225 and Canadian Motor
Vehicle Safety Standards 213 and 210.2.
With the memory function you can store up
to 3 different settings.Each stored position on the driver’s side
includes the following settings:

Seat position

Steering wheel position

Exterior rear view mirrors position
On passenger side, the seat position is
stored on each memory position.
Warning!G
Do not activate the memory function while
driving. Activating the memory function
while driving could cause the driver to lose
control of the vehicle.

103 Controls in detail
Memory function* (Canada only)
MMemory button
1 2 3Memory position buttons
Storing positions into memory*
Adjust the seat (page 85) to the de-
sired position.
On the driver’s side: Adjust the steering
wheel (
page 93) and the exterior rear
view mirrors (
page 97) to the desired
position.
Press memory buttonM.
Release memory buttonM and press
one of the memory position buttons
within 3 seconds.
An acoustic signal sounds to confirm.
The settings are stored with the select-
ed position.
Recalling positions from memory*
Press and hold memory position
button until the seat, steering wheel
and exterior rear view mirrors have
completely moved to the stored
positions.
iThe memory function* is operational at any
time. Seat and steering wheel adjustment is al-
ways possible.
!Do not operate the power seats using the
memory position button if the seat backrest is in
an excessively reclined position. Doing so could
cause damage to front or rear seats.
First move seat backrest to an upright position.
iReleasing the memory position button
immediately stops movement to the stored
positions.

113 Controls in detail
Lighting
Switching on corner-illuminating front
fog lamps
Switch on the left or right turn signal
(
page 108), depending on whether
you are turning left or right.
The respective corner-illuminating
front fog lamp comes on and illumi-
nates the area in the direction into
which you are turning.
or
Turn steering wheel in desired
direction.
The corner-illuminating front fog lamp
on the side of your steering direction
comes on.Switching off the corner-illuminating
lamps
The combination switch for the turn signal
resets automatically after major steering
wheel movements. This will switch off the
corner-illuminating lamps if they were acti-
vated by switching on the left or right turn
signal.
If the turn signal should stay on after mak-
ing the turn, the turn signal and corner-illu-
minating lamp can be switched off by
returning the combination switch to its
original position.
iIf you have switched on the turn signal for
one side but turn the steering wheel in the
opposite direction, the corner-illuminating front
fog lamp comes on for the side indicated by the
turn signal.
The corner-illuminating front fog lamp remains lit
for a maximum of 3 minutes. Afterward, it goes
out even if the turn signal is still switched on.
iThe corner-illuminating lamps temporarily
come on both sides of the vehicle if you turn the
steering wheel in one direction and then in the
other direction shortly thereafter.
iThe corner-illuminating lamps will come on
automatically depending on the steering angle,
even if you did not switch on either turn signal. If
the corner-illuminating lamps came on automat-
ically, they will also go out automatically depend-
ing on the steering angle.
iWhen you shift the transmission in reverse
gear, the corner-illuminating lamp opposite to
your steering direction comes on.
The turn signal has no influence on the
corner-illuminating lamp on the outside of the
curve.
iThe corner-illuminating lamp may remain lit
for a short time. The corner-illuminating lamp
comes on for no more than 20 seconds with the
vehicle standing still. It is then switched off even
if the turn signal is still switched on or you have
turned the steering wheel to full lock.

131 Controls in detail
Driving and parking
Automatic transmission*
Depress the brake pedal.
The gear selector lever can now be
used.
Release the parking brake by pulling on
release handle1.
The indicator lamp; (USA only)
or3 (Canada only) in the instru-
ment cluster goes out.
Shift automatic transmission toD orR.
Release the brake pedal.
Carefully depress the accelerator
pedal.
After a cold start, the automatic transmis-
sion shifts at a higher engine revolution.
This allows the catalytic converter to reach
its operating temperature earlier.
For more information, see “Driving instruc-
tions” (
page 311).
Turn signals
Combination switch
1Turn signals, right
2Turn signals, left
Press the combination switch in the
direction of arrow1 or2.
The corresponding turn signal indicator
lampL orK in the instrument
cluster flashes (
page 26).
The combination switch resets automati-
cally after major steering wheel move-
ments.
Warning!G
It is dangerous to shift the gear selector le-
ver out of P or N if the engine speed is high-
er than idle speed. If your foot is not firmly
on the brake pedal, the vehicle could accel-
erate quickly forward or in reverse. You
could lose control of the vehicle and hit
someone or something. Only shift into gear
when the engine is idling normally and when
your right foot is firmly on the brake pedal.
iShifting from gear positionP to positionR,
N, or D is only possible with the brake pedal de-
pressed. Without the brake pedal depressed, the
gear selector lever can be moved, but the park-
ing pawl remains engaged, not allowing shifting
to occur.
iWait for the gear selection process to com-
plete before setting the vehicle in motion.
!Shift the automatic transmission toP orR
only when the vehicle is stopped in order to avoid
damaging the transmission.