2008 MERCEDES-BENZ C300 Controls in detail

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.


99 Controls in detail
Mirrors
Folding exterior rear view mirrors in
and out automatically
When the corresponding function in the
control system is activated (
page 175):

The exterior rear view mirrors automat-
ically fold in as soon as the vehicle is
locked from the outside.

The exterior rear view mirrors automat-
ically fold out as soon as the vehicle is
unlocked and the driver’s or front pas-
senger door are subsequently opened.Resetting the automatic exterior rear
view mirror fold in function
You need to reset the automatic exterior
rear view mirror fold in function whenever
the battery was disconnected or dis-
charged.
Switch on the ignition.
Briefly press button1.Interior rear view mirror, antiglare
position
1Lever
Tilt the mirror to the antiglare position
by moving lever 1 towards the wind-
shield.
The interior rear view mirror is dimmed.
iThe mirrors do not fold out automatically if
they were previously folded in manually with
button1.
iIf you are driving at more than approximately
9 mph (15 km/h), you will not be able to fold the
exterior mirrors in.
iYou need to manually fold in the mirrors
once, so that the automatic fold in function will
work, see “Setting fold-in function* for exterior
rear view mirrors” (
page 175).

100 Controls in detail
Mirrors
Auto-dimming rear view mirrors*
The reflection brightness of the exterior
rear view mirror on the driver’s side and
the interior rear view mirror will respond
automatically to glare when

the ignition is switched on
and

incoming light from headlamps falls on
the sensor in the interior rear view
mirror
The interior rear view mirror will not react if

reverse gearR is engaged

the interior lighting is turned on
Warning!G
The auto-dimming function does not react if
incoming light is not aimed directly at the
sensors in the interior rear view mirror.
The interior rear view mirror and the exterior
rear view mirror on the driver’s side do not
react, for example, if the rear window
sunshade* is in raised position.
Light hitting the mirror(s) at certain angles
(incident light) could blind you. As a result,
you may not be able to observe traffic con-
ditions and could cause an accident.
Warning!G
Exercise care when using the passen-
ger-side exterior rear view mirror. The mirror
surface is convex (outwardly curved surface
for a wider field of view). Objects in mirror
are closer than they appear. Check your
interior rear view mirror or glance over your
shoulder before changing lanes.

101 Controls in detail
Mirrors
Activating exterior rear view mirror
parking position* (Canada only)
Follow these steps to activate the mirror
parking position so that the passen-
ger-side exterior rear view mirror will be
turned downward to the stored position.
1 Driver’s side exterior rear view
mirror button
2Passenger-side exterior rear view
mirror button
3Adjustment button
Make sure you have stored a parking
position for the passenger-side exterior
rear view mirror (
page 104).
Switch on the ignition.
Shift the transmission in reverse gear.
The previously selected exterior rear
view mirror is activated, and the indica-
tor lamp in the respective button1
or2 comes on.
Press button2, to select the front
passenger side exterior rear view mir-
ror.
The indicator lamp in button2 comes
on and the passenger-side exterior rear
view mirror will be turned downward to
the stored position.The exterior rear view mirror returns to its
previously stored driving position:

10 seconds after you have put the
transmission out of reverse

immediately once your vehicle exceeds
a speed of approximately 6 mph
(10 km/h)

immediately when you press button1
for driver’s side exterior rear view
mirror.

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.

104 Controls in detail
Memory function* (Canada only)
Storing exterior rear view mirror
parking position*
For easier parking, you can adjust the pas-
senger-side exterior rear view mirror so
that you can see the right rear wheel as
soon as you engage the reverse gear.
For information on activating the parking
position, see “Activating exterior rear view
mirror parking position* (Canada only)”
(
page 101).1 Driver’s side exterior rear view
mirror button
2Passenger-side exterior rear view
mirror button
3Adjustment button
4Memory button
Stop the vehicle.
Switch on the ignition.
Press button2.
The passenger-side exterior rear view
mirror is selected.
Adjust the passenger-side exterior rear
view mirror with button3 so that you
see the rear wheel and the road curb.
Press memory button4.
Within 3 seconds, press one of the ar-
rows of adjustment button3.
The parking position is stored if the
mirror does not move.
iIf the mirror does move, repeat the above
steps. After the setting is stored, you can move
the mirror again.

105 Controls in detail
Fastening the seat belts
Fastening the seat belts
For additional information on children in
the vehicle, see “Children in the vehicle”
(
page 51).
Warning!G
Always fasten your seat belt before driving
off. Always make sure all of your passengers
are properly restrained.
Failure to wear and properly fasten and
position your seat belt greatly increases
your risk of injuries and their likely severity
in an accident. You and your passengers
should always wear seat belts.
If you are ever in an accident, your injuries
can be considerably more severe without
your seat belt properly buckled. Without
your seat belt buckled, you are much more
likely to hit the interior of the vehicle or be
ejected from it. You can be seriously injured
or killed.
In the same crash, the possibility of injury or
death is lessened if you are wearing your
seat belt. The air bags can only provide the
protection they were designed to afford if
the occupants are using their seat belts
(
page 36).
Warning!G
According to accident statistics, children
are safer when properly restrained in the
rear seating positions than in the front seat-
ing position. Thus, we strongly recommend
that children be placed in the rear seats
whenever possible. Regardless of seating
position, children 12 years old and under
must be seated and properly secured in an
appropriately sized infant restraint, toddler
restraint, or booster seat recommended for
the size and weight of the child.
A child’s risk of serious or fatal injuries is
significantly increased if the child restraints
are not properly secured in the vehicle and
the child is not properly secured in the child
restraint.
Warning!G
Never let more people ride in the vehicle
than there are seat belts available. Be sure
everyone riding in the vehicle is correctly re-
strained with a separate seat belt. Never use
a seat belt for more than one person at a
time.
Warning!G
Never ride in a moving vehicle with the seat
backrest in an excessively reclined position
as this can be dangerous. You could slide
under the seat belt in a collision. If you slide
under it, the seat belt would apply force at
the abdomen or neck. That could cause se-
rious or even fatal injuries. The seat back-
rest and seat belt provide the best restraint
when the wearer is in a nearly upright posi-
tion and the seat belt is properly positioned
on the body.