2008 MERCEDES-BENZ C300 panel

Contents
Introduction.......................................... 9
Product information ................................ 9
Operator’s Manual ............................... 10
Service and warranty information .. 10
Important notice for California
retail buyers and lessees of
Mercedes-Benz automobiles .......... 11
Maintenance .................................. 11
Roadside Assistance ...................... 12
Change of address or ownership.... 12
Operating your vehicle
outside the USA or Canada ............ 12
Where to find it .................................... 13
Symbols ............................................... 14
Operating safety .................................. 15
Proper use of the vehicle ............... 15
Problems with your vehicle .................. 16
Reporting safety defects...................... 17
Reporting safety defects ................ 17
Vehicle data recording ......................... 18
Information regarding electronic
recording devices ........................... 18At a glance.......................................... 19
Exterior view ......................................... 20
Storage compartments ......................... 22
Cockpit ................................................. 24
Instrument cluster ................................ 26
Multifunction steering wheel ................ 28
Center console ..................................... 29
Upper part ...................................... 29
Lower part ...................................... 30
Overhead control panel ........................ 31
Driver’s door control panel
and seat adjustment/memory*............ 32Safety and Security........................... 33
Occupant safety ................................... 34
Air bags .......................................... 36
Occupant Classification System ..... 41
Seat belts ....................................... 46
Active head restraints ..................... 50
Children in the vehicle .................... 51
Blocking of
rear door window operation............ 57
Panic alarm .......................................... 58
Driving safety systems ......................... 59
ABS ................................................. 59
Adaptive Brake ............................... 60
BAS ................................................. 60
EBP ................................................. 61
ESP
®............................................... 62
Four wheel electronic traction
system (4MATIC) with the ESP
®..... 65
Anti-theft systems ................................ 66
Immobilizer ..................................... 66
Anti-theft alarm system .................. 66
Canceling the alarm ........................ 67

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

19 At a glance
Exterior view
Storage compartments
Cockpit
Instrument cluster
Multifunction steering wheel
Center console
Overhead control panel
Driver’s door control panel and seat
adjustment/memory*

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

31 At a glance
Overhead control panel
Overhead control panel
ItemPage
1Rear interior lighting on/off116
2Interior lighting control115
3Right reading lamp on/off115
4Power tilt/sliding sunroof
or
Panorama roof with power
tilt/sliding panel*273
276
5Information button*300
6Tele Aid* (emergency call
system) button295
ItemPage
7Rear view mirror 97
8Garage door opener*303
9Hands-free microphone for

Tele Aid* (emergency call
system)

Telephone*

Voice Control*1
295
160
aRoadside Assistance button*299
bLeft reading lamp on/off115
cFront interior lighting on/off114
1Voice Control* is only available with COMAND*.
Refer to separate operating instructions.

32 At a glance
Driver’s door control panel and seat adjustment/memory*
ItemPage
1Inside door handle79
2Central unlocking switch81
3Seat adjustment (at side of
the respective front seat)
Seat adjustment*
(Canada only)85
85
4Memory function* for storing
seat, exterior mirror, and
steering wheel settings
(Canada only)102
5Exterior rear view mirrors
adjustment97
6Switches for opening/ closing
side windows120
7Rear door window override
switch57
8Remote trunk opening switch269
9Central locking switch81

38 Safety and Security
Occupant safety
Safety guidelines for the seat belt,
emergency tensioning device and
air bag
Warning!G

Damaged seat belts or seat belt that
were highly stressed in an accident
must be replaced and their anchoring
points must also be checked. Only use
seat belts installed or supplied at an au-
thorized Mercedes-Benz Center.

Air bags and Emergency Tensioning
Devices (ETDs) contain Perchlorate
material, which may require special han-
dling and regard for the environment.
Check with your local government’s dis-
posal guidelines. California residents,
see http://www.dtsc.ca.gov/Hazard-
ousWaste/Perchlorate/index.cfm.

Air bags and pyrotechnic emergency
tensioning devices (ETDs) are designed
to function on a one-time-only basis. An
air bag or ETD that is deployed must be
replaced.

Do not pass seat belt over sharp edges.
They could tear.

Do not make any modification that could
change the effectiveness of the seat
belts.

Do not bleach or dye seat belts as this
may severely weaken them. In a crash
they may not be able to provide ade-
quate protection.

No modifications of any kind may be
made to any components or wiring of
the SRS. This includes changing or
removing any component or part of the
SRS, the installation of additional trim
material, badges, etc. over the steering
wheel hub, front passenger front air bag
cover, outboard sides of the seat
backrests, door trim panels, or door
frame trims, and installation of addition-
al electrical/electronic equipment on or
near SRS components and wiring. Keep
area between air bags and occupants
free from objects (e.g. packages, purs-
es, umbrellas, etc.).

Do not hang items such as coat hangers
from the coat hooks or handles over the
door. These items may turn into projec-
tiles and cause head and other injuries
when the window curtain air bag is
deployed.

Air bag system components will be hot
after an air bag has inflated. Do not
touch.

Never place your feet on the instrument
panel, dashboard, or on the seat. Always
keep both feet on the floor in front of the
seat.

In addition, improper repair work on the
SRS creates a risk of rendering the SRS
inoperative or causing unintended air
bag deployment. Work on the SRS must
therefore only be performed by qualified
technicians. Contact an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.