2008 MERCEDES-BENZ C300 keyless

125 Controls in detail
Power windows
Vehicles with panorama roof*
Press and hold button ‹ until the
side windows and the tilt/sliding panel
are completely closed.
Press and hold button ‹ again.
The roller sunblinds close.
Release button ‹ to interrupt pro-
cedure.
Vehicles with KEYLESS-GO*
(Canada only)
1Sensor surface on door handleThe SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO must be
located outside the vehicle within approxi-
mately 3 ft (1 m) of a door.
Close all doors.
Vehicles with tilt/sliding sunroof
Touch and hold sensor surface1 until
the windows and the tilt/sliding sun-
roof are completely closed.
Release sensor surface1 to interrupt
procedure.Vehicles with panorama roof*
Touch and hold sensor surface1 until
the side windows and the tilt/sliding
panel are completely closed.
Touch and hold sensor surface1
again.
The roller sunblinds close.
Release sensor surface1 to interrupt
procedure.iMake sure you are only touching the sensor
surface.
iMake sure you are only touching the sensor
surface.

128 Controls in detail
Driving and parking
KEYLESS-GO* (Canada only)
You can start your vehicle without the
SmartKey in the starter switch using the
KEYLESS-GO start/stop button on the
starter switch.
The SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO must be
located in the vehicle.1KEYLESS-GO* start/stop button
(Canada only)
Starting: Make sure KEYLESS-GO
start/stop button is inserted in the
starter switch (
page 83).
Make sure the gear selector lever is set
toP.
Depress the brake pedal during the
starting procedure.
Do not depress the accelerator.
Press KEYLESS-GO start/stop button
once.
The engine starts if the SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO is in the vehicle.For information on turning off the engine
with KEYLESS-GO, see “Turning off the en-
gine” (
page 134).
Warning!G
As long as the SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO
is in your vehicle, the vehicle can be started.
Therefore, never leave children unattended
in the vehicle, as they could otherwise acci-
dentally start the engine.
When leaving the vehicle, always take the
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO 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 start the engine with the auto-
matic transmission set to N.
iIf you wish to start the vehicle with the
SmartKey instead of the KEYLESS-GO feature,
remove the KEYLESS-GO start/stop button from
the starter switch and proceed as described in
“Starting with the SmartKey” (
page 127).

129 Controls in detail
Driving and parking
Starting difficulties
The engine does not start. You can hear
the starter.
There could be a malfunction

in the engine electronics, or

in the fuel supply system
Carry out the following steps:
If you are starting the engine with the
SmartKey: Turn SmartKey in starter
switch to position0 and repeat starting
procedure (
page 126).
If you are starting the engine with
KEYLESS-GO*: Close any doors that
may be open to allow for better detec-
tion of the SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO*.
or
Remove the KEYLESS-GO* start/stop
button from starter switch.
Start the engine with the SmartKey as
radio signals from another source may
be interfering with the SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO*.
Repeat the starting procedure
(
page 126).
If the engine does not start after several
starting attempts:
Call Roadside Assistance.
Notify an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.
The engine does not start. You cannot
hear the starter.
The battery may not be sufficiently
charged.
Get a jump start (page 451).
If the engine will not start despite a jump
start:
Call Roadside Assistance.
Notify an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.
Driving off
!Remember that extended starting attempts
can drain the battery.
Warning!G
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the
SmartKey or SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO*
(Canada only) from the starter switch, take
it with you, and lock the vehicle. Do not
leave children unattended in the vehicle, or
with access to an unlocked vehicle. Children
could release the parking brake, which
could result in an accident and/or serious
personal injury.
Warning!G
On slippery road surfaces, never downshift
in order to obtain braking action. This could
result in drive wheel slip and reduced vehi-
cle control. Your vehicle’s ABS will not pre-
vent this type of loss of control.

133 Controls in detail
Driving and parking
Parking
1Release handle
2Parking brake pedal
Warning!G
With the engine not running, there is no
power assistance for the brake and the
steering systems. In this case, it is impor-
tant to keep in mind that a considerably
higher degree of effort is necessary to brake
and steer the vehicle.
Warning!G
Do not park this vehicle in areas where com-
bustible 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 as a re-
sult of vehicle movement, before turning off
the engine and leaving the vehicle always:

Keep right foot on brake pedal.

Manual transmission: Move the gear-
shift lever into neutral position (no gear
is selected).

Firmly depress parking brake pedal.

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 to starter switch
position0 and remove, or press
KEYLESS-GO* start/stop button
(
page 84).

Take the SmartKey or the SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO* with you and lock vehicle
when leaving.
Warning!G
Engaging the parking brake while the vehicle
is in motion can cause the rear wheels to
lock up. You could lose control of the vehicle
and cause an accident. In addition, the
vehicle’s brake lights do not light up when
the parking brake is engaged.


134 Controls in detail
Driving and parking
Step firmly on parking brake pedal2.
When the engine is running, the
warning lamp;(USA only)
or3(Canada only) in the instru-
ment cluster will be illuminated.Turning off the engine
Manual transmission: Move the gear-
shift lever into first or reverse gear.
Automatic transmission*: Place the
gear selector lever in positionP.
Warning!G
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the
SmartKey or SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO*
(Canada only) from the starter switch, take
it with you, and lock the vehicle. Do not
leave children unattended in the vehicle, or
with access to an unlocked vehicle. Children
could release the parking brake and/or
move the gear selector lever from
positionP, either of which could result in an
accident and/or serious personal injury.
PositionP alone may not prevent your vehi-
cle from moving, possibly hitting people or
objects. Always set the parking brake in ad-
dition to shifting to positionP (
page 140)
(manual transmission: first or reverse gear
(
page 126).
When parked on an incline, always turn the
front wheels towards the road curb.
Getting out of your vehicle without taking
the above measurements to secure it is
dangerous.
iVehicles with automatic transmission*:
You can switch off the engine with the selector
lever in positionN. However, to secure the vehi-
cle, you need to set the selector lever toP and
apply the parking brake.
The SmartKey can only be removed from the
starter switch with the gear selector lever in
positionP.
iAlways set the parking brake in addition to
shifting to positionP (manual transmission: first
or reverse gear).
On slopes, turn the front wheels towards the
road curb.


135 Controls in detail
Driving and parking
SmartKey
Turning off: Turn the SmartKey in the
starter switch to position0 and remove
it.
The immobilizer is activated. KEYLESS-GO* (Canada only)
Turning off: Press the KEYLESS-GO
start/stop button to turn off the en-
gine.
With the driver’s door closed, the start-
er switch is now in position1. With the
driver’s door opened, the starter switch
is set to position0, same as SmartKey
removed from starter switch.
Releasing seat belts
Press the seat belt release button
(
page 106).
Allow the retractor to completely re-
wind the seat belt by guiding the latch
plate.
Warning!G
Do not turn off the engine before the vehicle
has come to a complete stop. With the en-
gine not running, there is no power assis-
tance for the brake and steering systems. In
this case, it is important to keep in mind that
a considerably higher degree of effort is nec-
essary to brake and steer the vehicle.
iIn an emergency you can turn off the engine
while driving by pressing and holding the
KEYLESS-GO start/ stop button for approxi-
mately 3 seconds.
!Make sure the seat belt retracts fully so that
the seat belt and/or latch plate cannot get
caught or pinched in the door or in the seat
mechanism. This can damage the seat belt and
impair the effectiveness of the seat belt, and/or
cause damage to the door and/or door trim pan-
el. Such damage is not covered by the
Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.
Damaged seat belts must be replaced. Contact
an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.

141 Controls in detail
Automatic transmission*
Effect
ëNeutral
No power is transmitted from the
engine to the drive axle. When
the brakes are released, the
vehicle can be moved freely
(pushed or towed).
To avoid damage to the trans-
mission, never engage neutral
positionN while driving.
If the ESP
® is deactivated or
malfunctioning:
Move gear selector lever to neu-
tral positionN only if the vehicle
is in danger of skidding, e.g. on
icy roads.
êDrive
The transmission shifts
automatically. All forward gears
are available.
!Coasting the vehicle, or driving for any other
reason with gear selector lever in neutral
positionN can result in transmission damage
that is not covered by the Mercedes-Benz
Limited Warranty.
Warning!G
Getting out of your vehicle without shifting
into park positionP is dangerous. Also, park
positionP alone is not intended to or capa-
ble of preventing your vehicle from moving,
possibly hitting people or objects.
Always set the parking brake (
page 140)
in addition to shifting to park positionP.
When parked on an incline, turn the front
wheels towards the road curb.
Do not park this vehicle in areas where com-
bustible 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.
Warning!G
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the
SmartKey or SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO*
(Canada only) from the starter switch, take
it with you, and lock the vehicle. Do not
leave children unattended in the vehicle, or
with access to an unlocked vehicle. Children
could move the gear selector lever from
park positionP, which could result in an ac-
cident and/or serious personal injury.
Getting out of your vehicle without taking
the above measurements to secure it is
dangerous.

151 Controls in detail
Control system
Control system
The control system is activated as soon as
the SmartKey in the starter switch is
turned to position2 or as soon as the
KEYLESS-GO* start/stop button (Canada
only) is in position 2. The control system
enables you to:

call up information about your vehicle

change vehicle settings
For example, you can use the control
system to find out when your vehicle is
next due for service, to call up statistical
data on your vehicle, and much more.
The control system relays information to
the multifunction display.
Multifunction display
1Text field
2Line for main menus
3Temperature
4Current program mode
(automatic transmission*)
5Current gear selector lever
position/gear range
(automatic transmission*)
Additional speedometer
(manual transmission)
6Digital clock
Settings, functions, submenus as well as
any malfunctions are shown to you in the
text field.
Warning!G
A driver’s attention to the road and traffic
conditions must always be his/her primary
focus when driving.
For your safety and the safety of others,
selecting features through the multifunction
steering wheel should only be done by the
driver when traffic and road conditions
permit it to be done safely.
Bear in mind that at a speed of just 30 mph
(approximately 50 km/h), your vehicle is
covering a distance of 44 feet
(approximately 14 m) every second.