2008 MERCEDES-BENZ C300 trunk

280 Controls in detail
Loading and storing
Roof rack*
1CoversFlip the covers1 upward in direction
of arrow.
Vehicles with panorama roof with
tilt/sliding panel*: Open the cover 1
carefully in the opposite direction to
that indicated by the arrow.
Only attach the roof-rack system to the
anchorage points under the covers.
Observe manufacturer’s instructions
for installation.
Warning!G
Only use roof racks approved by
Mercedes-Benz for your vehicle model to
avoid damage to the vehicle.
Follow the manufacturer’s installation
instructions. Otherwise, an improperly
attached roof rack system or its load could
become detached from the vehicle.
Do not exceed the maximum roof load of
220 lb (100 kg).
Take into consideration that when the roof
rack is loaded, the handling characteristics
are different from those when operating the
vehicles without the roof rack loaded.
!Load the roof rack in such a way that the ve-
hicle cannot be damaged while driving.
Make sure

you can fully raise tilt/sliding sunroof or the
panorama roof with tilt/sliding panel*

you can fully open the trunk

281 Controls in detail
Loading and storing
Split rear bench seat*
To expand the cargo area, you can fold
down the left and right rear seat backrests.
The two sections can be folded down
separately.Folding the backrest forward
The release handles1 is located in the
trunk.
1Release handle
Open the trunk.
Pull on left and/or right release
handle1.
Fully retract the head restraints
(
page 89).
If necessary, pull the driver's and/or
front-passenger seat forward.2Rear seat backrests
Fold rear seat backrests2 forward.
Warning!G
When expanding the luggage compartment,
always fold the seat cushions fully forward.
Unless you are transporting cargo, the back-
rests must remain properly locked in the up-
right position.
In an accident, during hard braking or sud-
den maneuvers, loose items will be thrown
around inside the vehicle, and cause injury
to vehicle occupants unless the items are
securely fastened in the vehicle.

282 Controls in detail
Loading and storing
Setting up rear seat backrest
1Rear seat backrests
Fold backrest1 rearward until it en-
gages.
Check for secure locking by pushing
and pulling on the backrest.
Loading instructions
The total load weight including vehicle
occupants and luggage/cargo should not
exceed the load limit or vehicle capacity
weight as indicated on the corresponding
placard located on the driver’s door B-pillar
(
page 334).
The handling characteristics of a fully load-
ed vehicle depend greatly on the load dis-
tribution. It is therefore recommended to
load the vehicle according to the illustra-
tions shown, with the heaviest items being
placed towards the front of the vehicle.
!Take care not to clamp the seat belt.
Warning!G
Always lock backrest in its upright position
when rear seat bench is occupied, or the ex-
tended trunk compartment is not in use.
Check for secure locking by pushing and
pulling on the backrest.
In an accident, during hard braking or sud-
den maneuvers, loose items will be thrown
around inside the vehicle, and cause injury
to vehicle occupants unless the items are
securely fastened in the vehicle.
To help avoid personal injury during a colli-
sion or sudden maneuver, exercise care
when transporting cargo.
iTo prevent unauthorized persons from ac-
cess to the trunk, always lock backrest in its up-
right position.

283 Controls in detail
Loading and storing
Always place items being carried against
front or rear seat backrests, and fasten
them as securely as possible.
The heaviest portion of the cargo should al-
ways be kept as low as possible since it in-
fluences the handling characteristics of
the vehicle.Storage compartments
Warning!G
Always fasten items being carried as secure-
ly as possible using cargo tie-down hooks
and fastening materials appropriate for the
weight and size of the load.
In an accident, during hard braking or sud-
den maneuvers, loose items will be thrown
around inside the vehicle and can cause in-
jury to vehicle occupants unless the items
are securely fastened in the vehicle.
To help avoid personal injury during a colli-
sion or sudden maneuver, exercise care
when transporting cargo. Put luggage or car-
go in the trunk if possible.
Do not pile luggage or cargo higher than the
seat backs. Do not place anything on the
rear-window shelf.
Never drive vehicle with trunk open. Deadly
carbon monoxide (CO) gases may enter ve-
hicle interior resulting in unconsciousness
and death.
iThe trunk is the preferred place to carry ob-
jects.
The enlarged cargo area should only be used for
items which do not fit in the trunk alone.
Warning!G
To help avoid personal injury during a colli-
sion or sudden maneuver, exercise care
when storing objects in the vehicle. Put lug-
gage or cargo in the trunk if possible. Do not
pile luggage or cargo higher than the seat
backs.
Parcel nets cannot secure hard or heavy ob-
jects.
Keep compartment lids closed. This will help
to prevent stored objects from being thrown
about and injuring vehicle occupants during

braking

vehicle maneuvers or

an accident.
iAn overview of the storage compartments
can be found on (
page 22).

288 Controls in detail
Loading and storing
Closing: Open the armrest storage
compartment.
Swing cup holder2 backward until it
engaged.
Trunk
Retaining hooks
Two hooks are located on the upper edge
of the trunk and can be used to attach car-
go items such as bags.
Use the hooks to secure light weight items
only. The maximum permissible weight per
hook is 9 lb (4 kg).Parcel net in trunk
There is a parcel net on the left trunk side
walls to secure loads.
The parcel net is intended for storing
light-weight items only. The parcel net can-
not protect transported goods in the event
of an accident.
!Do not use the retaining hooks to tie down
cargo.

301 Controls in detail
Useful features
Call priority
If other service calls such as a Roadside
Assistance call or Information call are ac-
tive, an emergency call is still possible. In
this case, the emergency call will take pri-
ority and override all other active calls.
Remote door unlock
In case you have locked your vehicle unin-
tentionally (e.g. SmartKey inside vehicle),
and the reserve SmartKey is not handy:
Contact the Mercedes-Benz Response
Center at 1-800-756-9018 (in the USA)
or 1-888-923-8367 (in Canada).You will be asked to provide your pass-
word which you provided when you
completed the subscriber agreement.
or
Contact the Tele Aid web page via In-
ternet using the ID and password sent
to you shortly after the completion of
your acquaintance call.
Then return to your vehicle and pull the
trunk lid handle for a minimum of
20 seconds until the SOS button is
flashing.
The message:
Call connecting ap-
pears in the multifunction display.
The Response Center will then unlock
your vehicle with the remote door un-
locking feature.
!If the indicator lamps do not start flashing
after pressing one of the buttons or remain illu-
minated (in red) at any time, the Tele Aid system
has detected a fault or the service is not current-
ly activated, and may not initiate a call. Contact
an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center and have
the system checked or contact the Response
Center at 1-800-756-9018 (in the USA) or
1-888-923-8367 (in Canada) as soon as possi-
ble.
iThe indicator lamp in the respective button
flashes until the call is concluded. Calls can only
be terminated by a Response Center or Custom-
er Assistance Center representative except
Roadside Assistance and Information calls,
which can also be terminated by using the t
button on the multifunction steering wheel or the
respective button for ending a telephone call on
the audio system or the COMAND* head unit.
!If the indicator lamp continues to flash or
the system does not terminate the call at all,
contact the Response Center at
1-800-756-9018 (in the USA) or
1-888-923-8367 (in Canada), or Mercedes-Benz
Customer Assistance at 1-800-FOR-MERCedes
(1-800-367-6372) in the USA or Customer Ser-
vice at 1-800-387-0100 in Canada.
iWhen a Tele Aid call has been initiated, the
audio system is muted. The optional cellular
phone (if installed) switches off. If you must use
this phone, the vehicle must be parked. Unplug
the telephone, switch it on and place the call.
The COMAND* navigation system (if engaged)
will continue to run. The multifunction display in
the instrument cluster is available for use, but
spoken commands are not available.
iThe remote door unlock feature is available
if the relevant telephone network is available and
data connection is possible.
The SOS button will flash and the message:
Call
connecting
appears in the multifunction dis-
play to indicate receipt of the door unlock com-
mand.


302 Controls in detail
Useful features
Remote door lock
If you have forgotten to lock your vehicle
and are no longer near it, you can have it
locked remotely through the Response
Center.
The vehicle can be remotely locked within
4 days after the ignition has been switched
off.
Contact the Mercedes-Benz Response
Center at 1-800-756-9018 (in the USA)
or 1-888-923-8367 (in Canada).
You will be asked to provide your pass-
word which you provided when you
completed the subscriber agreement.When you are inside your vehicle the next
time and switch on the ignition, the mes-
sage
Tele Aid Doors locked by remote
control
will appear on the multifunction
display.
Automatic Maintenance Call
The C-Class is equipped with a feature that
considerably enhances vehicle care. Just
prior to reaching a vehicle maintenance
milestone, Tele Aid transmits important ve-
hicle maintenance information that alerts
your authorized Mercedes-Benz Center of
required service. This is automatic and
does not require driver intervention. This
feature allows your preferred
Mercedes-Benz Center to significantly im-
prove the process of arranging your ser-
vice appointment and ensures that your
vehicle receives the best possible care.Stolen Vehicle Recovery services
In the event your vehicle was stolen:
Report the incident to the police.
The police will issue a numbered
incident report.
Pass this number on to the
Mercedes-Benz Response Center along
with your password issued to you when
you subscribed to the service.
The Response Center will then attempt
to covertly contact the vehicle’s
Tele Aid system. Once the vehicle is
located, the Response Center will
contact the local law enforcement and
you. The vehicle’s location will only be
provided to law enforcement.
Once the vehicle is unlocked, a Response Center
specialist might attempt to establish voice con-
tact with the vehicle occupants.
If the trunk lid handle was pulled for more than
20 seconds before door unlock authorization
was received by the Response Center, you must
wait 15 minutes before pulling the trunk lid han-
dle again.
iThe remote door lock feature is available if
the relevant telephone network is available and
data connection is possible.
iThe Automatic Maintenance Call feature is
available if the relevant telephone network is
available and data connection is possible.
iWhen the anti-theft alarm or the tow-away
alarm stays on for more than 30 seconds, a call
is initiated automatically to the Response Cen-
ter, see “Anti-theft alarm system” (
page 66).


318 Operation
Driving instructions
For more information on winter driving, see
“Winter driving” (
page 360).
Standing waterPassenger compartment
Driving abroad
Abroad, there is an extensive
Mercedes-Benz service network at your
disposal. If you plan to drive into areas
which are not listed in the index of your
Mercedes-Benz Center directory, you
should request pertinent information from
an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Warning!G
If the vehicle becomes stuck in snow, make
sure that snow is kept clear of the exhaust
pipe and from around the vehicle while the
engine is running. Otherwise, deadly carbon
monoxide (CO) gases may enter vehicle in-
terior resulting in unconsciousness and
death.
To assure sufficient fresh air ventilation,
open a window slightly on the side of the ve-
hicle not facing the wind.
Warning!G
The outside temperature indicator is not de-
signed to serve as an ice-warning device and
is therefore unsuitable for that purpose. In-
dicated temperatures just above the freez-
ing point do not guarantee that the road
surface is free of ice.
!Do not drive through flooded areas or water
of unknown depth. Before driving through water,
determine its depth. Never accelerate before
driving into water. The bow wave could force wa-
ter into the engine and auxiliary equipment, thus
damaging them.
If you must drive through standing water, drive
slowly to prevent water from entering the pas-
senger compartment or the engine compart-
ment. Water in these areas could cause damage
to electrical components or wiring of the engine
or transmission, or could result in water being in-
gested by the engine through the air intake caus-
ing severe internal engine damage. Any such
damage is not covered by the Mercedes-Benz
Limited Warranty.
Warning!G
Always fasten items being carried as secure-
ly as possible.
In an accident, during hard braking or sud-
den maneuvers, loose items will be thrown
around inside the vehicle, and cause injury
to vehicle occupants unless the items are
securely fastened in the vehicle.
The trunk is the preferred place to carry
objects.