2008 MERCEDES-BENZ C300 ignition

112 Controls in detail
Lighting
Switching on high beams
Combination switch
1High beam
2High beam flasher
High beam: Turn the exterior lamp
switch to positionB (
page 108).
Push the combination switch in the di-
rection of arrow1.
The high beam indicatorA in the in-
strument cluster comes on
(
page 26).
High beam flasher: Pull the combina-
tion switch briefly in the direction of
arrow2.
Headlamp cleaning system*
The headlamps are automatically cleaned
with a high-pressure water jet when, at the
same time,

the engine is running

the headlamps are switched on

the windshield wipers have wiped the
windshield with washer fluid for the
first time.
The headlamps are cleaned every tenth
time the windshield is washed with washer
fluid.
When you switch off the headlamps or the
ignition, the automatic function is reset
and will start counting the next time from
the beginning.
For information on filling up the washer
reservoir, see “Windshield washer system
and headlamp cleaning system*”
(
page 330).Corner-illuminating front fog lamps*
(With Bi-Xenon* headlamps only)
The corner-illuminating front fog lamps
improve illumination of the area in the
direction into which you are turning.
The corner-illuminating front fog lamps will
operate with the engine running and with:

the exterior lamp switch in
positionB or* (
page 108)
or

the daytime running lamp mode acti-
vated (
page 110).
iThe corner-illuminating front fog lamps will
only come on in low ambient lighting conditions.
iIf you are driving faster than 25 mph
(40 km/h) or have the front fog lamps switched
on, the corner-illuminating front fog lamps
function is not available.

117 Controls in detail
Windshield wipers
Windshield wipers
Combination switch
1Switching on windshield wipers
2Single wipe
Wiping with windshield washer fluid
Switch on the ignition.
!If the windshield wipers leave smears on the
windshield after the car has been driven through
an automatic car wash, then wax or other resi-
due is on the windshield. Shortly after washing
the car in an automatic car wash, clean the wind-
shield with windshield washer fluid.
!Do not operate the windshield wipers when
the windshield is dry. Dust that accumulates on
a windshield might scratch the glass and/or
damage the wiper blades when wiping occurs on
a dry windshield. If it is necessary to operate the
windshield wipers in dry weather conditions, al-
ways operate the windshield wipers with wind-
shield washer fluid.
!If anything blocks the windshield wipers
(leaves, snow, etc.), switch them off immediate-
ly.

For safety reasons, stop the vehicle in a safe
location and,

remove the SmartKey from starter
switch
or

turn off the engine by pressing the
KEYLESS-GO* start/stop button and
open the driver’s door (with the driver’s
door open, starter switch is in
position0, same as with SmartKey re-
moved from starter switch)

engage the parking brake
before attempting to remove any blockage.

Remove blockage.

Turn the windshield wipers on again.
If the windshield wipers fail to function at all in
combination switch position U or V,

set the combination switch to the next
higher wiper speed

have the windshield wipers checked at the
nearest authorized Mercedes-Benz Center

121 Controls in detail
Power windows
Switch on the ignition (page 82).
Opening: Press the desired switch1
to 4 (
page 120) to the resistance
point.
The corresponding window will move
down until you release the switch.
Closing: Pull the desired switch1 to
4 (
page 120) to the resistance
point.
The corresponding window will move
up until you release the switch.
If the window encounters an obstruction
that blocks its path in a circumstance where
you are closing the window by pressing and
holding the switch, by pressing and holding
button ‹ on the SmartKey or SmartKey
with KEYLESS-GO*, by pressing and holding
the sensor surface (vehicles with
KEYLESS-GO*) on an outside door handle,
or by pressing and holding button, on
the climate control panel (Canada only), the
automatic reversal function will not operate.
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. Do not leave children unat-
tended in the vehicle, or with access to an
unlocked vehicle. A child’s unsupervised ac-
cess to a vehicle could result in an accident
and/or serious personal injury.iYou can also open or close the windows us-
ing the SmartKey, see “Summer opening fea-
ture” (
page 123) and “Convenience closing
feature” (
page 124).
iOperating the windows from the rear is not
possible if you activate the override switch
(
page 57).
iWith the SmartKey in starter switch
position0 or removed from the starter switch,
the power windows can be operated:

until you open the driver’s or front passenger
door

for approximately 5 minutes if no door was
openedWarning!G
If you press and hold the switch up when
closing the window, and upward movement
of the window is blocked by some obstruc-
tion including but not limited to arms, hands,
fingers, etc., the automatic reversal will not
operate.


132 Controls in detail
Driving and parking
Problems while driving
The engine runs erratically and misfires

An ignition cable may be damaged.

The engine electronics may not be op-
erating properly.

Unburned gasoline may have entered
the catalytic converter and damaged it.
Give very little gas.
Have the problem repaired at an autho-
rized Mercedes-Benz Center as soon as
possible.The coolant temperature is above
248°F (120°C)
The coolant is too hot and is no longer
cooling the engine.
Stop the vehicle in a safe location as
soon as possible and turn off the en-
gine. Allow engine and coolant to cool
off.
Check the coolant level and add cool-
ant if necessary (
page 329).In case of accident
If the vehicle is leaking gasoline:
Do not start the engine under any cir-
cumstances.
Move away from vehicle.
Notify local fire and/or police authori-
ties.
If the extent of the damage cannot be de-
termined:
Notify an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.
If no damage can be determined on the

major assemblies

fuel system

engine mount:
Start the engine in the usual manner.
iTo signal minor directional changes such as
changing lanes, press combination switch only
to point of resistance and release. The corre-
sponding turn signals will flash three times.
iExcessive coolant temperatures trigger a
warning message in the multifunction display
(
page 402).

147 Controls in detail
Instrument cluster
Instrument cluster
A full view illustration of the instrument
cluster can be found in the “At a glance”
section of this manual (
page 26).
You can change the instrument cluster
settings in the instrument cluster submenu
of the control system (
page 168).
Multifunction display
The multifunction display is activated when
you:

open a door

switch on the ignition

switch on the exterior lamps
The language setting for the multifunction
display can be changed via control system
(
page 168).
Warning!G
No messages will be displayed if either the
instrument cluster or the multifunction dis-
play is inoperative.
As a result, you will not be able to see infor-
mation about your driving conditions, such
as speed or outside temperature, warning/
indicator lamps, malfunction/warning mes-
sages or the failure of any systems. Driving
characteristics may be impaired.
If you must continue to drive, please do so
with added caution. Contact an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center as soon as possible.

157 Controls in detail
Control system
Fuel consumption statistics since last
reset
Press ( or & to select the Trip
menu.
Press % or $ to select Since
Reset
.
1Distance driven since last reset
2Time elapsed since last reset
3Average speed since last reset
4Average fuel consumption since last
resetResetting values
You can reset the values for the following
functions:

Trip odometer

Fuel consumption statistics since start

Fuel consumption statistics since last
reset
Press ( or & to select the Trip
menu.
Press % or $ to select the func-
tion you wish to reset.
Press#.
Example illustration: Reset fuel consump-
tion statistics since start
Press% to select Yes.
Press# to confirm.Distance to empty
Press ( or & to select the Trip
menu.
Press % or $ to select Range.
With the ignition switched on, the
calculated remaining driving range
based on the current fuel tank level
appears in the multifunction display.
1Approximate distance
When the reserve tank is half empty, only
the fuel pump symbol W is displayed.
iAfter 9999 hours or 99 999 miles (kilome-
ters), the fuel consumption statistics since last
reset are automatically reset.

175 Controls in detail
Control system
Press % or $ to select the
Convenience submenu.
Press #.
Press % or $ to select the Easy
Entry/Exit
feature.
Press #.
The current setting
Enabled
or
Disabled is shown.
Press # again if you would like to
change the current status.
Depending on the previous status, the
easy-entry/exit feature will be
Enabled
or
Disabled.Setting fold-in function* for exterior
rear view mirrors
Using this function, you can set the exteri-
or rear view mirrors to be automatically
folded in when you lock the vehicle.
Press % or $ to select the
Convenience submenu.
Press #.
Press % or $ to select the Fold
Mirrors in when Locking
function.
Press #.
The current setting
Enabled
or
Disabled is shown.
Press # again if you would like to
change the current status.
Depending on the previous status, the
automatic fold-in function* for exterior
rear view mirrors will be
Enabled
or
Disabled.
iWith this function set to Enabled and the
exterior rear view mirrors folded in using the but-
ton on the door control panel, the exterior rear
view mirrors will not fold out when you switch on
the ignition. You will then have to fold out the ex-
terior rear view mirrors using the button on the
door control panel.
Make sure both exterior rear view mirrors are
folded out completely before driving off.

188 Controls in detail
Audio system
Operation
In the following descriptions, an operation
step is described as in example below.
b
Radio
Enter Frequency
is the short for
Press buttonb on audio control
unit repeatedly until desired waveband
has been selected.
Slidemr.
Slideomor rotate ymz the audio con-
troller to select
Radio.
Press the audio controller n.
The
Radio menu is selected and a list of
submenus appears.
Slideqmor rotate ymz the audio con-
troller to select
Enter Frequency.
Press the audio controller n.
The
Enter Frequency submenu is
selected and appears in the audio
display.Switching audio system on or off
Rotary control/push buttono
1Push buttono
2Rotary control
Switching on: Press push
buttono.
or
Open the audio display cover.
or
If the audio system was on as you
switched off the ignition, turn the
SmartKey in the starter switch to
position2.The audio system will come back on
with the last selected function.
Switching off: Press push
buttono.
or
Turn the SmartKey in the starter switch
to position0.
iIf the audio system is switched on without
the SmartKey in the starter switch, it will
automatically switch off again after
approximately 30 minutes.
If your vehicle is equipped with a telephone*, the
audio display may prompt you to enter your PIN
(GSM network) or passcode (CDMA network).
iShould excessively high temperatures occur
while the audio system is being operated,
HIGH TEMP will appear in the audio display, after
which the audio system will be switched off for a
cooling-down period.
iWhen you switch off the audio system, you
also switch off the currently playing audio source
and the telephone* operating via audio control
unit is not possible.