2008 MERCEDES-BENZ C300 steering

398 Practical hints
What to do if …?
-ABS and ESP
Inoperative
See Operator’s ManualABS and ESP® are switched off due to a
malfunction. BAS and the hill start assist
are also switched off.
The brake system is still functioning nor-
mally but without the ABS available.Continue driving with added caution.
Wheels may lock during hard braking, re-
ducing steering capability.
Have the system checked at an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center as soon as possi-
ble.
Failure to follow these instructions increases
the risk of an accident.
Display Possible cause/consequencePossible solution

401 Practical hints
What to do if …?
Display Possible cause/consequencePossible solution
;ReleaseYou are driving with the parking brake set.Release the parking brake (page 130).
(USA only)Parking Brake
!
(Canada only)
;
(USA only)
3
EBR, ABS, and ESP
Inoperative
See Operator’s Manu-
alEBP, ABS and ESP® are switched off due to
a malfunction. BAS and the hill start assist
are also switched off.
The brake system still functions normally
but without the ABS and ESP
® available.
Continue driving with added caution.
Wheels may lock during hard braking, re-
ducing steering capability.
Have the system checked at an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center as soon as possible.
Failure to follow these instructions increases
the risk of an accident.
(Canada only)

418 Practical hints
What to do if …?
Display Possible cause/consequencePossible solution
LTele Aid
InoperativeOne or more main functions of the Tele Aid*
system are malfunctioning.Have the Tele Aid* system checked at an au-
thorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
HCorrect
Tire Pressure
(USA only)
The tire pressure is too low in one or more
tires.Check and correct tire inflation pressure as
required (
page 339).
Tire Press. Warning
Caution
Tire Malfunction
(USA only)
One or more tires are deflating.Carefully bring the vehicle to a halt, avoiding
abrupt steering and braking maneuvers.
If necessary, change the wheel (page 440).
Check
Tire Pressure
(USA only)
The tire pressure in one or more tires is al-
ready below the minimum value.Carefully bring the vehicle to a halt, avoiding
abrupt steering and braking maneuvers.
Check and adjust tire pressure as required
(
page 339).
If necessary, change the wheel (page 440).
Warning!G
Do not drive with a flat tire. A flat tire affects
the ability to steer or brake the vehicle. You
may lose control of the vehicle. Continued
driving with a flat tire will cause excessive
heat build-up and possibly a fire.

440 Practical hints
Flat tire
Preparing the vehicle
Park the vehicle in a safe distance from
moving traffic on a hard, flat surface
when possible.
Turn on the hazard warning flashers.
Turn the steering wheel so that the
front wheels are in a straight-ahead
position.
Set the parking brake.
Vehicles with automatic transmission*:
Move the gear selector lever to
positionP (
page 138).
Turn off the engine (page 134).
Remove the SmartKey from the starter
switch.
Vehicles with KEYLESS-GO*:
Turn off the engine by pressing the
KEYLESS-GO* button once
(
page 135).
Open the driver’s door (this puts
the starter switch in position0,
same as with the SmartKey re-
moved from the starter switch). The
driver’s door then can be closed
again.
Have any passenger exit the vehicle at
a safe distance from the roadway.
Warning!G
The dimensions of the Minispare wheel are
different from those of the road wheels. As
a result, the vehicle handling characteristics
change when driving with a Minispare wheel
mounted. Adapt your driving style
accordingly.
The Minispare wheel is for temporary use
only. When driving with Minispare wheel
mounted, ensure proper tire inflation
pressure and do not exceed a vehicle speed
of 50 mph (80 km/h).
Contact the nearest Mercedes-Benz Center
as soon as possible to have the Minispare
wheel replaced with a regular road wheel.
Never operate the vehicle with more than
one Minispare wheel mounted.
Do not switch off the ESP
® with a Minispare
wheel mounted.
iOpen the door only when conditions are safe
to do so.

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).

464 Technical data
Layout of poly-V-belt drive
C 300/C 350
1Idler pulley
2Idler pulley
3Automatic belt tensioner
4Power steering pump
5Air conditioning compressor
6Crankshaft
7Coolant pump
8Generator (alternator)

478 Technical data
Fuels, coolants, lubricants, etc.
ModelCapacityFuels, coolants, lubricants, etc.
Power steeringAll models0.85 US qt. (0.8 l)MB Power Steering Fluid
(Chevron Texaco PSF 9109)1
1For detailed information, please refer to the Factory Approved Service Products pamphlet (USA only) or contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Front wheel hubsAll modelsapprox. 3.6 oz. (95 g) eachHigh-temperature roller bearing grease
Brake systemAll modelsapprox. 0.53 US qt. (0.5 l)MB Brake Fluid (DOT 4+)
Cooling systemAll models5.07 US qt. (4.8 l)MB 325.0 Anticorrosion/Antifreeze
Fuel tank
including a reserve ofAll models17.43 US gal (66.0 l)
2.11 US gal (8.0 l)Premium unleaded gasoline:
Minimum Posted Octane 91
(Avg. of 96 RON/86 MON)
C 300 and C 300 Sport (with automatic
transmission*), USA only:
Flexible Fuel Vehicle (identified by a label
reading Premium gasoline or E85 only!
on fuel filler flap).
Alternative fuel: Ethanol fuel (E85)
Air conditioning systemAll modelsR-134a refrigerant and special PAG
lubricant oil (never R-12)

490 Index
Dual-zone automatic climate
control 250
Front defroster 255
Rear climate control 268
Rear window defroster 256, 265
Residual engine heat and
ventilation 266
Setting the temperature 262
Temperature 253
Windshield, defogging 255
Clock 151
Setting time 170
Cockpit 24
Cold weather performance 483
COMAND* see separate COMAND
operating instructions
Combination switch 112
Corner-illuminating front fog
lamps* 112
High beam flasher 112
Turn signals 131
Windshield wipers 117
Control system 151
Multifunction display 151
Multifunction steering wheel 152
Resetting to factory default 165Control system menu 151
AUDIO 158
Menus overview 154
Navi* 158
Service menu 164
Settings menu 165
Standard display 156
TEL* 160
Trip computer 156
Vehicle status message
memory 164
Control system submenus 153, 155
Convenience 174
Instrument cluster 168
Lighting 171
Time/Date 170
Vehicle 173
Coolant 329
Adding 329
Anticorrosion/antifreeze mixing ratio
and quantity 484
Checking level 329
Messages in display 405
Temperature 321
Temperature gauge 27, 148Coolant level
Checking 329
Corner-illuminating front fog lamps* 112
Replacing bulbs 431
Cruise control 241
Activating 242
Canceling 243
Driving downhill 243
Driving uphill 243
Setting current speed 242
Setting to last stored speed
(“Resume” function) 245
Cruising range, fuel 483
Cup holder
In front seat armrest 287
In rear seat armrest 287
Curb weight 356