2008 MERCEDES-BENZ C300 Button functions

75 Controls in detail
Locking and unlocking
Important notes on using KEYLESS-GO

You can also use the SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO like a normal SmartKey
(
page 70).
The starter switch is under the
KEYLESS-GO button. Pull the
KEYLESS-GO button out in order to ac-
cess the starter switch.

You can combine KEYLESS-GO func-
tions with normal SmartKey functions
(e.g. unlocking with KEYLESS-GO and
locking with button ‹).

Always carry the SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO with you.

Never store the SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO together with:

Electronic items such as a tele-
phone or another SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO

Metallic objects such as coins or
metal foil
Doing so could impair the function of
the KEYLESS-GO system.

To lock or unlock the vehicle, the
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO must be
located outside the vehicle within ap-
proximately 3 ft (1 m) of a door or the
trunk lid.

If the vehicle has been parked for more
than 72 hours, you must pull an outside
door handle in order to activate the
KEYLESS-GO function.

In order to start the engine with the
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO:

The SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO
must be located in the vehicle.

The KEYLESS-GO start/stop button
must be inserted in the starter
switch (
page 84).

The brake pedal must be firmly de-
pressed. Do not depress the accel-
erator.

If the SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO is
positioned farther away from the vehi-
cle, the system may no longer recog-
nize the SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO.
The vehicle then cannot be locked or
the engine started via the KEYLESS-GO
system.

If the SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO is re-
moved from the vehicle (e.g. if passen-
ger exits the vehicle with the SmartKey
with KEYLESS-GO)

when pressing the KEYLESS-GO
start/stop button or trying to lock
the vehicle with the outside door
handle the message
Key not rec-
ognized
appears in the multifunc-
tion display

Use the mechanical key to unlock the driv-
er’s door (
page 424) and trunk
(
page 425).

Use the mechanical key to lock and trunk
(
page 272).

Have the vehicle batteries and their connec-
tions checked (
page 446).
If the SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO is malfunc-
tioning, contact Roadside Assistance or an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.

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.

153 Controls in detail
Control system
Depending on the selected menu
(
page 155), pressing the buttons on the
multifunction steering wheel will alter what
is shown in the multifunction display.
The information available in the multifunc-
tion display is arranged in menus, each
containing a number of functions or sub-
menus.
The individual functions are then found
within the relevant menu (radio or CD op-
erations under
Audio, for example). These
functions serve to call up relevant informa-
tion or to customize the settings for your
vehicle.
In the
Settings menu, instead of functions
you will find a number of submenus for
calling up and changing settings. For
instructions on using these submenus, see
“Submenus in the Settings menu”
(
page 166).
It is helpful to think of the menus, and the
functions within each menu, as being
arranged in a circular pattern.The number of menus available in the sys-
tem depends on which optional equipment
is installed in your vehicle.
Using the control system
To select a menu:
Press button(or&.
To select a submenu:
Press button%or$.
To go to the next higher menu level:
Press buttonL.
To select the standard display: Press
buttonL repeatedly until the stan-
dard display featuring the odometer
and speedometer appears.
or
Press and hold buttonL until the
standard display featuring the odome-
ter and speedometer appears.
To confirm selection:
Press button#.
To confirm display message:
Press button# or L.
The control system saves certain dis-
play messages. Calling up display mes-
sages (
page 164).
For information about warning and mal-
function messages appearing in the multi-
function display (
page 387).
iThe headings used in the menus table are
designed to facilitate navigation within the sys-
tem and are not necessarily identical to those
shown in the control system displays.
The first function displayed in each menu will au-
tomatically show you which part of the system
you are in.

170 Controls in detail
Control system
Time/date submenu
Access the
Time/date submenu via the
Settings menu. Use the Time/Date
submenu to change the instrument cluster
display settings.
The following functions are available:Set the time
This function is not available if your vehicle
is equipped with the COMAND* system
and navigation module*.
Press % or $ to select the
Instr. Cluster submenu.
Press #.
Press % or $ to select the
Time/date function.
Press #.
Press % or $ to select the Time
function.
Press #.
The current time appears in the multi-
function display.
To set a new time press # again.
Press button ( or & to select
the setting you wish to change: hours
or minutes.
Press button % or $ to change
the setting which is highlighted.
Press # to store the entry.
Set the date
This function is not available if your vehicle
is equipped with the COMAND* system
and navigation module*.
Press % or $ to select the
Instr. Cluster submenu.
Press #.
Press % or $ to select the
Time/date function.
Press #.
FunctionPage
Set the time (hours)170
Set the time (minutes)170
Set the date (month)170
Set the date (day)170
Set the date (year)170
iVehicles with COMAND*:
For information on setting the time, refer to the
separate COMAND operating instructions.
iVehicles with COMAND*:
For information on setting the date, refer to the
separate COMAND operating instructions.

171 Controls in detail
Control system
Press % or $ to select the date
function.
Press #.
The current date appears in the multi-
function display.
To set a new date press # again.
Press button ( or & to select
the setting you wish to change: month,
day or minutes.
Press button % or $ to change
the setting which is highlighted.
Press # to store the entry.Lighting submenu
Access the
Lights submenu via the
Settings menu. Use the Lights submenu
to change the lamp and lighting settings on
your vehicle.
The following functions are available:Setting daytime running lamp mode
(USA only)
Press % or $ to select the
Lights submenu.
Press #.
Press % or $ to select the Day-
time Running Lamps
feature.
Press #.
The current setting
Enabled
or
Disabled is shown.
Press # again if you would like to
change the current status.
FunctionPage
Setting daytime running lamp
mode (USA only)171
Setting locator lighting172
Setting interior lighting delayed
shut-off173
iThis function is not available in countries
where the daytime running lamp mode is manda-
tory and therefore in a constant mode.


176 Controls in detail
Audio system
Audio and telephone, operation
These instructions are intended to help
you become familiar with your
Mercedes-Benz audio system. They con-
tain useful tips and a detailed description
of the user functions.Audio system overview
Warning!G
In order to avoid distraction which could
lead to an accident, the driver should enter
system settings with the vehicle at a
standstill and operate the system only when
road and traffic conditions permit. Always
pay full attention to traffic conditions first
before operating system controls while
driving.
Bear in mind that at a speed of just 30 mph
(approximately 50 km/h), your car is
covering a distance of 44 feet
(approximately 14 m) every second.
ItemPage
1Audio display180
2Opening button180
3Audio control unit177
ItemPage
4Delete button184
5Audio controller182
6Back button184

177 Controls in detail
Audio system
Operating safetyAudio system components
With the audio system you can operate the
following main functions:

audio function with the radio, Sat*,
disc (CD audio or MP3 mode)

the telephone* with the phone book

various system settings
The audio system consists of the following:

audio control unit

audio display

audio controller with back and delete
button
In addition, the audio system can also be
operated with the multifunction steering
wheel (
page 152).
In these instructions, the keypad (right
side of audio control unit) and the function
buttons are referred to as “buttons”.Audio control unit
With the audio control unit you can:

switch the audio system on/off

adjust the volume

select the operating modes

enter telephone numbers and accept,
reject, initiate and end telephone calls

load and eject CDs
Warning!G
Any alterations made to electronic
components can cause malfunctions.
The radio, amplifier, CD changer*, satellite
radio*, and telephone* are interconnected.
When one of the components is not opera-
tional or has not been removed/replaced
properly, the function of other components
may be impaired.
This condition might seriously impair the
operating safety of your vehicle.
We recommend that you have any service
work on electronic components carried out
at an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.

182 Controls in detail
Audio system
Instrument cluster multifunction
display
This section describes features and con-
trols via the audio control unit, display and
controller only.
Please refer to the “Instrument cluster
control system” section of this manual
(
page 151) for function descriptions and
operation of the instrument cluster multi-
function display and multifunction steering
wheel buttons as they relate to audio func-
tions described in this section.Audio controller
1Audio controller
The menu functions are selected on the
audio display using the audio controller.
For this purpose, a selector bar is moved.
In this way, you can open menus or lists,
move within menus or lists, and quit
menus or lists.
Operating audio controller
The audio controller features the following
options:

press briefly or press and hold n

rotate to the left or right ymz

slide to the left or right omp

slide up or down qmr
iYou cannot operate the audio system via the
audio controller when the protective cover is
closed.