2008 MERCEDES-BENZ C300 Parking

441 Practical hints
Flat tire
Mounting the Minispare wheel
Preparing the vehicle
Prepare the vehicle as described
(
page 440).
Take vehicle tool kit tray and vehicle
jack out of trunk (
page 420).
Take the Minispare wheel from the
wheel well under the trunk floor
(
page 422).Lifting the vehicle
Warning!G
When jacking up the vehicle, only use the
jack which has been specifically approved
by Mercedes-Benz for your vehicle.
The jack is designed exclusively for jacking
up the vehicle at the jack take-up brackets
built into both sides of the vehicle. Make
sure the jack arm is fully seated in the jack
take-up bracket.
The jack is intended only for lifting the
vehicle briefly for wheel changes. It is not
suited for performing maintenance work
under the vehicle. To help avoid personal
injury, use the jack only to lift the vehicle
during a wheel change.
Never get beneath the vehicle while it is sup-
ported by the jack. Keep hands and feet
away from the area under the lifted vehicle.
Always lower the vehicle onto sufficient
capacity jackstands before working under
the vehicle.
Always firmly set the parking brake and
block wheels with wheel chocks or other
sizeable objects before raising vehicle with
jack. Do not release the parking brake while
the vehicle is raised.
Make sure that the ground on which the
vehicle is standing and where you place the
jack is solid, level and not slippery. If neces-
sary, use a large underlay. On slippery
surfaces, such as tiled floors, you should
use a non-slip underlay, for example a
rubber mat.
Do not use wooden blocks or similar objects
to support the jack. Otherwise the jack may
not be able to achieve its load-bearing
capacity if it is not at its full height.
Be certain that the jack is always vertical
(plumb line) when in use, especially on hills.
Always try to use the jack on level surface.
Never start the engine when the vehicle is
raised.
Also observe the notes on the jack.

448 Practical hints
Battery
Starter battery
1Battery
2Positive terminal
3Negative terminal
4Ventilation hose
Disconnecting the battery
Apply the parking brake (page 134).
Make sure gear selector lever* is set to
positionP (manual transmission to
Neutral).
Turn off all electrical consumers.
Remove SmartKey from starter switch.Vehicles with KEYLESS-GO* (Canada
only):
Press the start / stop button until
the engine shuts off.
Open the driver’s door.
Open the hood (page 325).
Remove the filter box (page 447).
Read and observe safety instructions
and precautions (
page 446).
Disconnect the battery negative lead
from negative terminal3.
Remove cover from the positive
terminal2.
Disconnect the battery positive lead.iIf the battery is discharged, you must use
the mechanical key to unlock (
page 424) or
lock (
page 425) the vehicle.
Warning!G
With a disconnected battery

you will no longer be able to turn the
SmartKey in the starter switch and
pressing the KEYLESS-GO* start/stop
button (Canada only) will have no effect

vehicles with automatic transmission*:
the gear selector lever will remain
locked in positionP
!Always disconnect the starter battery in the
order described below. You could otherwise
damage the vehicle’s electronics.

452 Practical hints
Jump starting
The battery is located in the engine com-
partment on the right hand side. For jump
starting, use the under hood terminals in
front of the battery.
Make sure the two vehicles do not
touch.
Turn off all electrical consumers,
except hazard warning flashers or work
lights.
Apply the parking brake (page 134).
Make sure gear selector lever* is set to
positionP (manual transmission to
Neutral).
Open the hood (page 326).
Slide red cover2 from positive under
hood terminal3 in direction of arrow. 1Positive terminal of charged battery
2Positive under hood terminal cover
3Positive under hood terminal in front of
discharged battery
4Negative under hood terminal
5Negative terminal of charged battery
Connect positive terminal1 of the
charged battery with positive under
hood terminal3 in front of the dis-
charged battery with the jumper cable.
Clamp cable to charged battery1
first.
Start the engine of the vehicle with the
charged battery and run at idle speed.
Connect negative terminal5 of the
charged battery to jumper cables and
attach other end to negative under
hood terminal4 on the vehicle. Clamp
cable to charged battery5 first
Start the engine of the disabled
vehicle.
You can now turn on the electrical con-
sumers. Do not switch on the headlamps
under any circumstances.
Remove the jumper cables first from
the negative terminals4 and5 and
then from the positive terminals3
and1.
You can now switch on the headlamps.
Slide red cover2 from positive under
hood terminal3 back.
Close the hood (page 326).
Have the battery checked at the near-
est authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
!Never invert the terminal connections.

454 Practical hints
Towing the vehicle
Warning!G
Without the engine running, there is no pow-
er assistance for the brake and steering sys-
tems. In this case, it is important to keep in
mind that a considerably higher degree of
effort is necessary to brake and steer the
vehicle. Adapt your driving accordingly.
iWhen towing the vehicle with all wheels on
the ground, please note the following:
With the automatic central locking activated and
the SmartKey or SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO*
(Canada only) in starter switch position 2, the ve-
hicle doors lock if the left front wheel as well as
the right rear wheel are turning at vehicle speeds
of approximately 9 mph (15 km/h) or more.
To prevent the vehicle doors from locking,
deactivate the automatic central locking
(
page 173).
!If the vehicle is towed with the front axle
raised (not permissible for vehicles with
4MATIC), the gear selector lever must be in
positionN (manual transmission: gear shift lever
in neutral position) and the engine must be shut
off (SmartKey or SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO*
(Canada only) in starter switch position0 or1).
Active braking action through the ESP
® may
otherwise seriously damage the brake system.
While towing, the battery must be connected and
charged. Otherwise:

you will not be able to switch on the ignition

you will not be able to engage the automatic
transmission* in positionN (
page 127)
When towing the vehicle with all wheels on the
ground, the gear selector lever must be in
positionN (manual transmission: gear shift lever
in neutral position) and the SmartKey or
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO* (Canada only)
must be in starter switch position2.
!Towing of the vehicle should only be done
using the properly installed towing eye bolt.
Never attach tow cable, tow rope or tow rod to
vehicle chassis, frame or suspension parts.
iTo signal turns while being towed with the
hazard warning flasher in use, turn SmartKey or
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO* (Canada only) in
starter switch to position2 and activate the
combination switch for the left or right turn sig-
nal in the usual manner – only the selected turn
signal will operate.
Upon canceling the turn signal, the hazard
warning flasher will operate again.
!Make sure the parking brake is released.
iIf the battery is disconnected or discharged

the SmartKey or SmartKey with KEY-
LESS-GO* (Canada only) will not turn in the
starter switch

Vehicles with automatic transmission*: the
gear selector lever will remain locked in
positionP (
page 127).
For more information see “Battery”
(
page 446) and see “Jump starting”
(
page 451).

456 Practical hints
Fuses
The electrical fuses in your vehicle serve to
switch off malfunctioning power circuits.
If a fuse is blown, the component(s) and
systems secured by that fuse will stop op-
erating.If a newly inserted fuse blows again, have
the cause determined and rectified at an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
A fuse chart explains the fuse allocation
and fuse amperages. It is located in the
main fuse box in the passenger compart-
ment (
page 457).
The electrical fuses are located in different
fuse boxes:

Fuse box in passenger compartment
(
page 457)

Fuse box in engine compartment
(
page 457)

Fuse box in trunk (page 458)Before replacing fuses:
Depress the parking brake
(
page 134).
Make sure the manual transmission is
in Neutral (
page 136), automatic
transmission* is set to P (
page 140).
The gear position indicator in the ta-
chometer display should be on P.
Turn off all electrical consumers.
Turn off the engine (page 134).
Remove the SmartKey from the starter
switch.
Vehicles with KEYLESS-GO*
(Canada only):
Open the driver’s door.
Warning!G
Only use fuses approved by Mercedes-Benz
with the specified amperage for the system
in question and do not attempt to repair or
bridge a blown fuse. Using other than ap-
proved fuses or using repaired or bridged
fuses may cause an overload leading to a
fire, and/or cause damage to electrical
components and/or systems. Have the
cause determined and remedied at an au-
thorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
iA blown fuse must be replaced by an appro-
priate spare fuse (recognizable by its color or the
fuse rating given on the fuse) of the amperage
recommended in the fuse chart.
Any Mercedes-Benz Center will be glad to advise
you on this subject.
!Switch off the vehicle’s internal electrical
functions (
page 448) when you are working on
the fuses.
iIn case of a blown fuse contact Roadside
Assistance or an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.

498 Index
M
Maintenance 11, 362
Automatic Call (Tele Aid*) 302
Calling up service indicator
display 363
Clearing service indicator
message 362
Maintenance System 362
Resetting service indicator 363
Service indicator message 362
Service term exceeded 363
Vehicles with E85 fuel 483
Manual headlamp mode 108
Manual transmission 136, 137
Gearshift lever 126, 137
Shift positions 137
Starting the engine 127
Maximum load rating, Tires 357
Maximum loaded
vehicle weight 340, 357
Maximum tire
inflation pressure 354, 357
Maximum tire load rating 353
Memory function* (Canada only) 102
Menus see Control systemMessages in display see
Multifunction display messages
Microphone, Hands-free 31
Minispare wheel 422, 471
Mounting 441
Mirrors
Activating exterior rear view mirror
parking position*
(Canada only) 101
Adjusting 97
Auto-dimming* for rear view
mirrors 100
Exterior rear view mirrors 97
Interior rear view mirror 97
Modifications and alterations,
Operating safety 15
MON 478
MP3
Playback options 220
Selecting a folder 219
Selecting a track 219
Multifunction display 151
Changing settings see Control system
menus and Control system sub-
menusMultifunction display messages
ABS 389, 398
Battery, vehicle 399
Brake fluid 400
Brake pads 399
Coolant 402
Coolant level 405
Doors 406
EBP (Electronic Brake
Proportioning) 401
ESP
®389, 397, 398
Fog lamps 410
Front passenger front air bag 393
Fuel cap 406
Gear selector lever 392
Headlamps 411
Hood 406
Key, SmartKey 408
Key, SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO*
(Canada only) 407
Lamps, exterior 409
License plate lamps 411
Light sensor 409
Low tire pressure 418
Parking brake 401
Parking lamps 411

499 Index
Restraint systems 416
Run Flat Indicator 390
Side marker lamps 412
SRS 416
Tele Aid* 418
TPMS* (Tire Pressure Monitoring Sys-
tem), (USA only) 392, 418
Trunk 419
Turn signals 413
Windshield washer fluid 419
Multifunction steering wheel 28, 152
Button operation 152
N
Navigation system* 158
See separate COMAND* operating
instructions
Neutral gear position,
Automatic transmission* 138, 140
Neutral gear position,
Manual transmission 137
New vehicle break-in 310
Normal occupant weight 357
Number, Vehicle Identification (VIN) 463O
Occupant Classification System see OCS
Occupant distribution 357
Occupant safety 34
Air bags 36
Children and air bags 51
Children in the vehicle 51
Fastening the seat belt 105
Front passenger front air bag off indica-
tor lamp 45
Infant and child restraint systems 51
LATCH-type child seat anchors 55
Seat belts 38, 105
OCS 41
Self-test 45
Oil
Filler neck 328
One-touch gearshifting
Gear selector lever* 145
Operating safety 15
Operating safety (Audio system) 177
Ornamental moldings, Cleaning 367
Outside temperature indicator 27, 149
Outside temperature see Displays
Overhead control panel 31
Override switch 57P
Paintwork, Cleaning 365
Panic alarm
Audible alarm and flashing exterior
lamps 58
Panic button 58
Panorama roof with power tilt/sliding
panel* 276
Cleaning 369
Opening/closing 277
Synchronizing 278
Parcel net in front passenger
footwell 285
Parking 133, 314
Parking brake 129, 134
Message in display 401
Parking lamps
Messages in display 411
Replacing bulbs 431, 434, 436
Parking position* (Canada only)
Exterior rear view mirrors 101
Parts service 460
PASS AIR BAG OFF indicator lamp see
Front passenger front air bag off indica-
tor lamp

501 Index
Replacing bulbs 430
Additional turn signals 431
Backup lamps 431, 436
Brake lamps 431
Corner-illuminating front fog
lamp* 431
Fog lamps 431, 436
Headlamp bulbs 432
Headlamps 431
High beam flasher
(Bi-Xenon*) 431, 435
High beam flasher
(Halogen) 431, 433
High beam headlamps
(Bi-Xenon*) 431
High beam headlamps
(Halogen) 431, 433
High mounted brake lamp 431
License plate lamps 431, 437
Low beam headlamps
(Bi-Xenon*) 431
Low beam headlamps
(Halogen) 431, 433
Parking lamps 431, 434, 436
Side marker lamps 431
Standing lamps 431, 434, 436Tail lamps 431, 436
Turn signal lamps 431
Turn signal lamps (Bi-Xenon*) 436
Turn signal lamps (Halogen) 434
Reporting safety defects 17
Reset to factory settings
(Audio system) 193
Residual engine heat and ventilation 266
Restraint systems
Messages in display 416
See Children in the vehicle
See SRS
Reverse gear position, Automatic
transmission* 138, 140
Reverse gear position,
Manual transmission 126
Rims 358
And Tires 467
Tires and wheels 331
Roadside Assistance 12
Roadside Assistance*
Tele Aid* 299
RON 478
Roof rack* 280
Rubber parts, cleaning 370
Run Flat Indicator* (Canada only) 342S
Safety
Driving safety systems 59
Occupant 34
Reporting defects 17
Safety belts see Seat belts
Satellite radio*
Calling SIRIUS Service Center 207
Channel update 207
Operation 200
Selecting program category 203
Showing program info 206
Storing channels 206
Submenu overview 200
Tuning in channels 204
Seat belts 46
Children in the vehicle 51
Cleaning 371
Fastening 46, 105
Force limiter 49
Messages in display 416
Proper use of 47, 106
Safety guidelines 38
Telltale 27, 48, 380
Seating capacity 335