2008 MERCEDES-BENZ C300 Parking

Contents
Controls in detail............................... 69
Locking and unlocking ......................... 70
SmartKey ....................................... 70
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO*
(Canada only) ................................. 73
Checking batteries in the SmartKey
or SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO*
(Canada only) ................................. 78
Loss of the SmartKey or SmartKey
with KEYLESS-GO* (Canada only) .. 79
Opening doors from the inside ....... 79
Automatic central locking .............. 80
Locking and unlocking
from the inside ............................... 81
Starter switch positions ....................... 82
SmartKey ....................................... 82
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO*
(Canada only) ................................. 83
Seats.................................................... 85
Seat adjustment ............................. 85
Lumbar support .............................. 91
Seat heating* ................................. 91Steering wheel ..................................... 93
Steering wheel adjustment,
manual ........................................... 93
Steering wheel adjustment,
electrical* (Canada only)................ 94
Easy-entry/exit feature*
(Canada only) ................................. 95
Mirrors ................................................. 97
Interior rear view mirror ................. 97
Exterior rear view mirrors............... 97
Power folding
exterior rear view mirrors* ............. 98
Interior rear view mirror,
antiglare position ........................... 99
Auto-dimming rear view mirrors* . 100
Activating exterior rear view mirror
parking position* (Canada only)... 101
Memory function* (Canada only) ....... 102
Storing positions into memory* ... 103
Recalling positions from memory* 103
Storing exterior rear
view mirror parking position*....... 104
Fastening the seat belts .................... 105
Proper use of seat belts ............... 106
Seat belt height adjustment ......... 107Lighting ............................................. 108
Exterior lamp switch .................... 108
Switching on high beams ............. 112
Headlamp cleaning system* ........ 112
Corner-illuminating front
fog lamps* (With Bi-Xenon*
headlamps only)........................... 112
Hazard warning flasher ................ 114
Interior lighting ............................ 114
Door entry lamps ......................... 116
Trunk lamp ................................... 116
Windshield wipers ............................. 117
Switching on/off
windshield wipers ........................ 118
Single wipe .................................. 118
Intermittent wiping ...................... 118
Wiping with
windshield washer fluid................ 119
Power windows ................................. 120
Opening and closing
power windows ............................ 120
Summer opening feature ............. 123
Convenience closing feature ........ 124

Contents
Driving and parking............................ 126
Starting the engine....................... 126
Driving off .................................... 129
Turn signals.................................. 131
Problems while driving ................. 132
Parking ......................................... 133
Turning off the engine .................. 134
Releasing seat belts ..................... 135
Manual transmission ......................... 136
Shifting into reverse ..................... 137
Automatic transmission* ................... 138
Gear selector lever ....................... 138
Shifting procedure ....................... 139
Gear selector lever positions ....... 140
Driving tips ................................... 142
Gear ranges ................................. 143
Automatic shift program .............. 144
Gear selector lever
one-touch gearshifting................. 145
Emergency operation
(Limp-Home Mode) ...................... 146
Instrument cluster ............................. 147
Multifunction display .................... 147
Adjusting instrument
cluster display illumination........... 148
Coolant temperature gauge ......... 148Tachometer................................... 149
Outside temperature indicator ...... 149
Fuel gauge .................................... 150
Control system ................................... 151
Multifunction display..................... 151
Multifunction steering wheel......... 152
Menus ........................................... 154
Trip menu...................................... 156
Navi* menu ................................... 158
Audio menu................................... 158
TEL menu* .................................... 160
Service menu ................................ 164
Settings menu............................... 165
Audio system...................................... 176
Audio and telephone, operation .... 176
Audio system overview ................. 176
Operating safety ........................... 177
Audio system components............ 177
Menu............................................. 185
Operation ...................................... 188
SYS menu ..................................... 192
Radio operation ............................ 194
Satellite radio*.............................. 200
CD mode ....................................... 208
Audio Aux mode............................ 220
Telephone* ................................... 222“911” emergency call ................... 231
Phone book................................... 233
Call lists ........................................ 236
Making calls.................................. 237
Functions during a single call ....... 240
Driving systems .................................. 241
Cruise control ............................... 241
Hill start assist system................. 246
Air vents ............................................. 247
Opening and closing air vents....... 248
Dual-zone automatic climate control .. 250
Deactivating the
climate control system ................. 252
Operating the climate control
system in automatic mode ........... 253
Setting the temperature ............... 253
Adjusting air distribution .............. 254
Adjusting air volume ..................... 254
Using driver-side settings for all
temperature zones (Canada only) . 254
Front defroster ............................. 255
Maximum cooling MAX COOL
(USA only) ..................................... 256
Rear window defroster.................. 256
Air recirculation mode .................. 257
Air conditioning ............................ 258

Contents
3-zone automatic climate control*
(Canada only) ..................................... 259
Deactivating
climate control system ................. 261
Operating climate control
system in automatic mode ........... 261
Setting the temperature ............... 262
Adjusting air distribution .............. 263
Adjusting air volume..................... 263
Using driver-side settings for
all temperature zones................... 263
Front defroster ............................. 264
Rear window defroster ................. 265
Air recirculation mode .................. 265
Residual engine heat
and ventilation.............................. 266
Air conditioning ............................ 267
Rear climate control ..................... 268
Trunk ................................................. 269
Opening trunk .............................. 269
Closing trunk ................................ 270
Trunk emergency release ............. 271
Valet locking ................................ 272
Power tilt/sliding sunroof .................. 273
Opening and closing
power tilt/sliding sunroof............. 273Synchronizing............................... 275
Panorama roof with
power tilt/sliding panel* ................... 276
Roller sunblinds............................ 276
Opening and closing panorama
roof with power tilt/sliding panel . 277
Synchronizing............................... 278
Loading and storing ........................... 280
Roof rack*.................................... 280
Split rear bench seat* .................. 281
Loading instructions..................... 282
Storage compartments ................ 283
Cup holders.................................. 287
Trunk ............................................ 288
Useful features .................................. 289
Sun visors .................................... 289
Rear window sunshade* .............. 290
Ashtrays ....................................... 291
Cigarette lighter ........................... 292
Power outlet in the glove box ....... 293
Power outlet in the
rear passenger compartment ....... 293
Floormats* ................................... 294
lTele Aid* ..................................... 295
Garage door opener* ................... 303
Operation......................................... 309
The first 1000 miles (1500 km) ......... 310
Driving instructions ........................... 311
Drive sensibly – save fuel............. 311
Drinking and driving ..................... 311
Pedals .......................................... 311
Power assistance ......................... 311
Brakes.......................................... 312
Driving off .................................... 314
Parking......................................... 314
Tires ............................................. 315
Hydroplaning................................ 315
Tire traction ................................. 316
Tire speed rating .......................... 316
Winter driving instructions ........... 317
Standing water............................. 318
Passenger compartment .............. 318
Driving abroad ............................. 318
Control and operation
of radio transmitters .................... 319
Catalytic converter....................... 319
Emission control .......................... 320
Coolant temperature.................... 321

21 At a glance
Exterior view
ItemPage
1Trunk

Unlocking

Opening and closing

Minispare wheel

Vehicle tool kit
269
269
441
420
2Rear lamps431
3Rear window, defrosting265
4Fuel filler flap
Refueling
Gasoline322
322
481
5Doors

Locking and unlocking

Opening and closing

Unlocking/locking in an
emergency
70
70
424
6Exterior rear view mirror

Adjusting97
ItemPage

Auto-dimming rear view
mirrors*

Power folding exterior rear
view mirrors*

Parking position*
(Canada only)
97
100
98
101
7Tires and wheels

Checking tire inflation
pressure

Tire Pressure Monitoring
System (TPMS), (USA only)

Run Flat Indicator (Canada
only)

General information

Minispare wheel

Flat tire
331
341
344
342
331
422
440
8Towing the vehicle
Installing towing eye bolt453
455
ItemPage
9Headlamp cleaning system*112
aFront lamps431
bHood, opening
Engine oil
Coolant
Battery325
327
329
446
cWindshield wipers
Wiper blades, replacing
Wiper blades, cleaning117
438
368
dWindshield
Front window, defrosting
Cleaning with wiper fluid
Cleaning
264
119
368
eRoofs

Power tilt/sliding sunroof

Panorama roof with power
tilt/sliding panel*
273
276

25 At a glance
Cockpit
ItemPage
1Lever for cruise control242
2Instrument cluster26
3Multifunction steering wheel152
4Horn
5Overhead control panel31
6Glove box284
7Glove box lock284
8Center console29
9Starter switch
KEYLESS-GO*
start/stop button
(Canada only)82
83
ItemPage
aSteering wheel release handle
(manual)94
bSteering wheel adjustment
stalk (electrical)*
(Canada only) 93
cCombination switch

High beam

Corner-illuminating
lamps*

Windshield wipers

Turn signals
112
112
117
131
ItemPage
dHood lock release326
eParking brake pedal130
fParking brake release130
gExterior lamp switch108
hDoor control panel and seat
adjustment/memory*32

63 Safety and Security
Driving safety systems
For more information, see “Practical hints”
section (
page 380) and (page 387).Electronic traction system
The electronic traction system is a compo-
nent of ESP
®.
The electronic traction system improves
the vehicle’s ability to utilize available trac-
tion, especially under slippery road condi-
tions by applying the brakes to a spinning
wheel.
When you switch off the ESP
®, the elec-
tronic traction system is still enabled.Switching off the ESP
®
To improve the vehicle’s traction, switch
off the ESP® in driving situations where it
would be advantageous to have the drive
wheels spin and thus cut into surfaces for
better grip such as:

when driving with snow chains

in deep snow

in sand or gravel
!Vehicles without 4MATIC:
Because the ESP® operates automatically, the
engine and ignition must be shut off (SmartKey
in starter switch position0 or1 or KEYLESS-GO
(Canada only) start/stop button* in position0
or1) when

the parking brake is being tested on a brake
test dynamometer

the vehicle is being towed with the front axle
raised
Active braking action through the ESP
® may oth-
erwise seriously damage the brake system.
For information on vehicles with 4MATIC, see
“Four wheel electronic traction system (4MATIC)
with the ESP
®” (e page 65).
Warning!G
If you are driving too fast, the electronic
traction system cannot reduce the risk of an
accident.
The electronic traction system cannot pre-
vent the natural laws of physics from acting
on the vehicle.
Warning!G
The ESP® should not be switched off during
normal driving other than in the circum-
stances described below. Disabling of the
system will reduce vehicle stability in stan-
dard driving maneuvers.
Do not switch off the ESP
® when a
Minispare wheel is mounted.

65 Safety and Security
Driving safety systems
Four wheel electronic traction system
(4MATIC) with the ESP®
Models with all-wheel-drive only.
The 4MATIC improves vehicle’s ability to
use available traction, e.g. during winter
operation in mountains under snowy
conditions, by applying power to all four
wheels.
Warning!G
If you see the ESP® warning lampv
flashing in the instrument cluster, proceed
as follows:

While driving off, apply as little throttle
as possible

While driving, ease up on the accelera-
tor

Adapt your speed and driving style to
the prevailing road conditions
Failure to observe these guidelines could
cause the vehicle to skid.
The ESP
® cannot prevent accidents result-
ing from excessive speed.
!Do not tow with one axle raised.
Otherwise the transfer case can be damaged,
which is not covered by the Mercedes-Benz
Limited Warranty.
!Performance testing must only be conduct-
ed on a two-axle dynamometer.
Otherwise the transfer case can be damaged,
which is not covered by the Mercedes-Benz
Limited Warranty.
!Because the ESP® operates automatically,
the engine must be shut off (SmartKey in starter
switch position0 or1 or KEYLESS-GO (Canada
only) start/stop button* in position0 or1) when
the parking brake is being tested on a brake test
dynamometer.
Active braking action through the ESP
® may
otherwise seriously damage the front or rear axle
brake system.
Operational tests with the engine running can
only be conducted on a two-axle dynamometer.
iAt highly demanding operating conditions,
the electronic traction system may temporarily
switch off to prevent overheating of the drive
wheel brakes. The message
Currently Un-
available See Operator’s Manual
will
then appear in the multifunction display while
the ESP
® warning lampv is flashing. The
ESP® is still functioning normally.

69 Controls in detail
Locking and unlocking
Starter switch positions
Seats
Steering wheel
Mirrors
Memory function* (Canada only)
Fastening the seat belts
Lighting
Windshield wipers
Power windows
Driving and parking
Manual transmission
Automatic transmission*Instrument cluster
Control system
Audio system
Driving systems
Air vents
Dual-zone automatic climate con-
trol
3-zone automatic climate control*
(Canada only)
Trunk
Power tilt/sliding sunroof
Panorama roof with power
tilt/sliding panel*
Loading and storing
Useful features