2008 MERCEDES-BENZ C300 ESP

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.

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.

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.

149 Controls in detail
Instrument cluster
Tachometer
The red marking on the tachometer de-
notes excessive engine speed.
To help protect the engine, the fuel supply
is interrupted if the engine is operated
within the red marking.Outside temperature indicator
The outside temperature is indicated in the
multifunction display (
page 151).
!Excessive coolant temperature triggers a
warning in the multifunction display
(
page 402).
The engine should not be operated with the cool-
ant temperature above 248°F (120°C), i.e. in
the red zone of the coolant temperature gauge.
Doing so may cause serious engine damage
which is not covered by the Mercedes-Benz Lim-
ited Warranty.
iDuring severe operating conditions,
e.g. stop-and-go traffic, the coolant temperature
may rise close to 248°F (120°C), i.e. close to
the red zone of the temperature gauge.
!Avoid driving at excessive engine speeds, as
it may result in serious engine damage that is not
covered by the Mercedes-Benz Limited
Warranty.
Warning!G
The outside temperature indicator is not de-
signed to serve as an ice-warning device and
is therefore unsuitable for that purpose.
Indicated temperatures just above the freez-
ing point do not guarantee that the road sur-
face is free of ice. The road may still be icy,
especially in wooded areas or on bridges.

159 Controls in detail
Control system
Selecting radio station
Turn on the audio system (page 188)
and press buttonb on audio con-
trol unit.
Vehicles with COMAND*: Refer to
separate operating instructions.
Press ( or & to select the Audio
menu. The currently tuned station
appears in the multifunction display.
1Waveband setting
2Station frequency
Select next or previous stored sta-
tion: Press % or $ briefly to se-
lect a stored station.
Select next or previous station in
waveband: Press and hold % or
$ to select a station.Selecting satellite radio station*
The satellite radio is treated as a radio
application.
Turn on the radio (page 188) and se-
lect the satellite radio with the audio
control unit.
Vehicles with COMAND*: Refer to
separate operating instructions.
Press ( or & to select the Audio
menu. The currently tuned channel
appears in the multifunction display.1SAT mode
2Channel name and/or number
Select next or previous stored chan-
nel: Press % or $ briefly to se-
lect a stored channel.
Select next or previous channel in
waveband: Press and hold % or
$ to select a channel.
iYou can only store new stations using the
corresponding feature on the radio
(
page 198).
Vehicles with COMAND*:
Refer to separate operating instructions.
You can also operate the radio in the usual
manner.
i A subscription to SIRIUS Satellite Radio ser-
vice provider is required for the satellite radio op-
eration. Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center for details and availability for your
vehicle.
For more information on satellite radio opera-
tion, see “Satellite radio*” (
page 200).
Vehicles with COMAND*:
Refer to separate operating instructions.

164 Controls in detail
Control system
Service menu
The
Service menu is used for

calling up messages

checking tire inflation pressure elec-
tronically with the TPMS (standard on
U.S. vehicles)

activating Run Flat Indicator (standard
on Canada vehicles)

calling up the maintenance service in-
dicator displayCalling up vehicle malfunction, warning
and system status messages stored in
memory
Use the vehicle status message memory
menu to scan malfunction and warning
messages that may be stored in the
system. Such messages appear in the
multifunction display and are based on
conditions or system status the vehicle’s
system has recorded.
The vehicle status message memory menu
only appears if there are any messages
stored.
Warning!G
Malfunction and warning messages are only
indicated for certain systems and are inten-
tionally not very detailed. The malfunction
and warning messages are simply a remind-
er with respect to the operation of certain
systems and do not replace the owner’s
and/or driver’s responsibility to maintain
the vehicle’s operating safety by having all
required maintenance and safety checks
performed on the vehicle and by bringing
the vehicle to an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center to address the malfunction and
warning messages (
page 387).

172 Controls in detail
Control system
Depending on the previous status, the
daytime running lamps feature will be
Enabled orDisabled.
With
Daytime Running Lamps mode En-
abled
selected and the exterior lamp
switch at position M or *, the low
beam headlamps are switched on when
the engine is running.
In low ambient light conditions the follow-
ing lamps will switch on additionally:

Parking lamps

Tail lamps

License plate lamps

Side marker lamps
also illuminates the instrument cluster.
For more information on the daytime run-
ning lamp mode (
page 110).Setting locator lighting
Press % or $ to select the
Lights submenu.
Press #.
Press % or $ to select the Sur-
round Lighting
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
locator lighting feature will be
Enabled
or
Disabled.
With the locator lighting feature activated
and the exterior lamp switch in
positionU, the following lamps will
switch on during darkness when the vehi-
cle is unlocked with the SmartKey:

Parking lamps

Tail lamps

License plate lamps

Side marker lamps

Front fog lamps
also illuminates the instrument cluster.
iIf you turn the exterior lamp switch to anoth-
er position, the corresponding lamp(s) will
switch on.
iMake sure the light switch is set toB
or* when you switch off the daytime running
lamps while driving at night.
iFor safety reasons, resetting the Lights
submenu to factory settings (
page 165) while
driving will not deactivate the daytime running
lamp mode.
The following message appears in the
multifunction display:
Lighting - Cannot be completely reset
to factory settings while driving.


186 Controls in detail
Audio system
Calling up an operating mode
Press the respective button
(b,é,h,orê) on the
audio control unit.
The basic menu of the selected mode
appears in the audio display. The main
area is active.
The active area is highlighted.
Illustration: radio function basic menu
Moving to the menu bar: Slidemr.Horizontal menus
Moving through the menu bar:
Slideomp or rotate ymz.
A white bar under the menu indicates
the selected menu.
Confirm the selected menu item:
Press n.
Exiting the menu bar without con-
firming a selection: Slide qmin the
opposite direction of the list orienta-
tion.
or
Press buttoní.Vertical submenus
Moving through the menu:
Slideqmr or rotate ymz.
A white bar under the submenu indi-
cates the selected submenu.
Confirm the selected submenu
item: Press n.
Exiting a menu without confirming a
selection: Slide ompin the opposite
direction of the list orientation.
or
Press buttoní.
iThe following screens show the audio dis-
play's day design. The appearance of the high-
lighted items in the menu will vary depending on
the display design.