
Contents
Flat tire ..............................................  440
Preparing the vehicle....................  440
Mounting the Minispare wheel .....  441
Battery ...............................................  446
Disconnecting the battery ............  448
Removing the battery ...................  449
Charging and reinstalling 
the battery....................................  449
Reconnecting the battery .............  450
Jump starting .....................................  451
Towing the vehicle .............................  453
Installing towing eye bolt..............  455
Fuses .................................................  456
Fuse box 
in passenger compartment ..........  457
Fuse box 
in engine compartment ................  457
Fuse box 
in the trunk...................................  458
Technical data.................................  459
Parts service ......................................  460
Warranty coverage.............................  461
Loss of Service and 
Warranty Information Booklet ......  461
Identification labels ...........................  462
Layout of poly-V-belt drive .................  464
C 300/C 350 ...............................  464
Engine................................................  465
Rims and tires....................................  467
Same size tires .............................  468
Mixed size tires ............................  469
Minispare wheel ...........................  471
Electrical system ...............................  473
Main dimensions and weights............  474
Main dimensions ..........................  474
Weights ........................................  475
Fuels, coolants, lubricants, etc. .........  476
Capacities ....................................  476
Engine oils....................................  480
Engine oil additives ......................  480
Air conditioning refrigerant ..........  480
Brake fluid ....................................  480
Premium unleaded gasoline .........  481
Gasoline additives ........................  481Fuel requirements ........................  482
Flexible Fuel Vehicles (USA only) .  482
Coolants ......................................  484
Windshield washer system 
and headlamp cleaning system* ..  486
Index.................................................  487 

480 Technical data
Fuels, coolants, lubricants, etc.
Engine oils
Engine oils are specifically tested for their 
suitability in our engines and durability for 
our service intervals. Therefore, only use 
approved engine oils and oil filters 
required for vehicles with Maintenance 
System.
For a listing of approved engine oils and oil 
filters, refer to the Factory Approved Ser-
vice Products pamphlet (USA only), or con-
tact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.Engine oil additives
Do not blend oil additives with engine oil. 
They may damage the engine.
Damage or malfunctions resulting from 
blending oil additives are not covered by 
the Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.
Air conditioning refrigerant
R-134a (HFC) refrigerant and special PAG 
lubricating oil are used in the air condition-
ing system. 
Never use R-12 (CFC) or mineral-based 
lubricating oil. Otherwise damage to the 
system will occur.
Brake fluid
Only brake fluid approved by 
Mercedes-Benz is recommended. An 
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center will 
provide you with additional information.
!Using engine oils and oil filters of specifica-
tion other than those expressly required for the 
Maintenance System, or changing of oil and oil 
filter at change intervals longer than those called 
for by the Maintenance System will result in 
engine or emission control system damage not 
covered by the Mercedes-Benz Limited 
Warranty. 
Please follow Maintenance System 
recommendations for scheduled oil changes. 
Failure to do so will result in engine or emission 
control system damage not covered by the 
Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.
Warning!G
During vehicle operation, the boiling point of 
the brake fluid is continuously reduced 
through the absorption of moisture from the 
atmosphere. 
Under extremely strenuous operating condi-
tions, this moisture content can lead to the 
formation of bubbles in the system, thus re-
ducing the system’s efficiency.
Therefore, the brake fluid must be replaced 
regularly. Refer to your vehicle’s Mainte-
nance Booklet for replacement interval. 

481 Technical data
Fuels, coolants, lubricants, etc.
Premium unleaded gasolineGasoline additives
A major concern among engine manufac-
turers is carbon build-up caused by gaso-
line. Mercedes-Benz recommends only the 
use of quality gasoline containing additives 
that prevent the build-up of carbon 
deposits.
After an extended period of using fuels 
without such additives, carbon deposits 
can build up especially on the intake valves 
and in the combustion area, leading to 
engine performance problems such as:
Warm-up hesitation
Unstable idle
Knocking/pinging
Misfire
Power loss
Warning!G
Gasoline is highly flammable and poisonous. 
It burns violently and can cause serious 
personal injury. 
Never allow sparks, flame or smoking mate-
rials near gasoline!
Turn off the engine before refueling.
Whenever you are around gasoline, avoid in-
haling fumes and skin or clothing contact, 
extinguish all smoking materials. 
Direct skin contact with fuels and the inha-
lation of fuel vapors can damage your 
health.
!To maintain the engine’s durability and per-
formance, premium unleaded gasoline must be 
used. If premium unleaded gasoline is not avail-
able and low octane fuel is used, follow these 
precautions:
Have the fuel tank only partially filled with 
unleaded regular gasoline and fill up with 
premium unleaded gasoline as soon as 
possible.
Avoid full throttle driving and abrupt 
acceleration.
Do not exceed an engine speed of 3 000 rpm 
if the vehicle is loaded with a light load such 
as two persons and no luggage.
Do not exceed 2/3 of maximum accelerator 
pedal position if the vehicle is fully loaded or 
operating in mountainous terrain. 

482 Technical data
Fuels, coolants, lubricants, etc.
In areas where carbon deposits may be 
encountered due to lack of availability of 
gasolines which contain these additives, 
Mercedes-Benz recommends the use of 
additives approved by us for use on 
Mercedes-Benz vehicles. 
Refer to Factory Approved Service Prod-
ucts pamphlet (USA only), or contact an 
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center for a 
listing of approved product(s). Follow 
directions on product label.
Do not blend other fuel additives with fuel. 
This only results in unnecessary cost and 
may be harmful to the engine operation.Fuel requirements
Only use premium unleaded fuel: 
The octane number (posted at the 
pump) must be 91 min. It is an average 
of both the Research Octane Number 
(RON) and the Motor Octane Number 
(MON): (RON+MON)/2. This is also 
known as the ANTI-KNOCK INDEX.
Unleaded gasoline containing oxygenates 
such as ethanol, IPA, IBA and TBA can be 
used provided the ratio of any one of these 
oxygenates to gasoline does not exceed 
10%; MTBE must not exceed 15%.
The ratio of methanol to gasoline must not 
exceed 3% plus additional co-solvents.
Using mixtures of ethanol and methanol is 
not allowed. Gasohol, which contains 
10% ethanol and 90% unleaded gasoline, 
can be used.
These blends must also meet all other fuel 
requirements, such as resistance to spark 
knock, boiling range, vapor pressure, etc.
Flexible Fuel Vehicles (USA only)
C 300 and C 300 Sport (with automatic 
transmission*) are Flexible Fuel Vehicles.
Flexible Fuel Vehicles are identified by a 
label reading Premium gasoline or E85 
only! on fuel filler flap).
These vehicles are designed to operate on 
premium unleaded gasoline or Ethanol fuel 
(E85), or on any mixture of these two. 
Ethanol fuel (E85) is a mixture of approxi-
mately 85% Ethanol and 15% unleaded 
gasoline.
!Damage or malfunction resulting from poor 
fuel quality or from blending additional fuel addi-
tives other than those tested and approved by us 
for use on Mercedes-Benz vehicles are not cov-
ered by the Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.
For a listing of approved products, refer to the 
Factory Approved Service Products pamphlet 
(USA only) or contact an authorized 
Mercedes-Benz Center.Warning!G
Ethanol fuel (E85) and its fumes are highly 
flammable, poisonous and burn easily. Etha-
nol fuel can cause serious injuries if ignited 
or if you come into contact with it or inhale 
fumes of it. Avoid inhalation of Ethanol 
fumes and skin contact with Ethanol. Extin-
guish all open flames before fueling. Never 
smoke or create sparks close to Ethanol. 

493 Index
ESP®62
Four wheel electronic traction system 
with ESP
®65
Messages in display 389, 397, 398
Warning lamp 27, 376, 379, 380
ETD 49
Safety guidelines 38
Ethanol fuel
At the gas station 322
Switching fuels 483
Exterior rear view mirrors
Adjusting 97
Auto-dimming on the driver’s 
side 99, 100
Fold-in settings 175
Power folding* 98F
Fahrenheit see Temperature display 
mode 167
First aid kit 420
Flat tire 440
Lowering the vehicle 445
Mounting the Minispare wheel 441
Preparing the vehicle 440
Flexible fuel vehicles 482
At the gas station 322
Switching fuels 483
Floormats* 294
Fluids
Automatic transmission fluid 476, 
477
Brake fluid 478, 480
Capacities 476
Engine coolant 329, 478, 484
Engine oil 328, 476, 480
Power steering fluid 478
Windshield washer and headlamp 
cleaning system 479, 486
Fog lamps 431
Messages in display 410
Replacing bulbs 431, 432, 436Four wheel electronic traction system 
(4MATIC) with ESP
®65
4MATIC 65
Front air bags 39
Front lamps see headlamps
Front passenger front air bag 39
Messages in display 393
Front passenger front air bag off indicator 
lamp 29, 45, 385
Front seats
Heating* 91
Fuel 322, 478, 481
Additives 481
Capacity, Fuel tank 478
Cruising range 483
E85 (Ethanol fuel) 478, 483
Filling the tank 322
Fuel filler flap and cap 322
Fuel reserve warning lamp 27, 150, 
380
Gauge 27, 150
Premium unleaded gasoline 478, 
481
Requirements, Octane rating 482
Switching (Flexible fuel vehicle) 483