2011 MERCEDES-BENZ C-CLASS SALOON transmission

R
changing the instrument cluster settings
R changing the light settings
R changing the vehicle settings
R changing the auxiliary heating settings
R changing the convenience settings
R restoring the factory settings
Instrumen tcluster Selecting the unit of measurement for dis-
tance
The
Display unit Speed-/odometer: function allows you to choose whether cer-
tain displays appear in kilometres or miles.
The selected unit of measurement for dis-
tance applies to:
R the digital speedometer in the Trip menu
R the total distance recorder and the trip
meter
R the trip computer
R the current consumption and the range
R the navigation instruction in the Navi menu
R cruise control
R SPEEDTRONIC
R DISTRONIC PLUS
R ASSYST PLUS service interval display
X Press the =or; button on the steer-
ing wheel to selec tthe Settings menu.
X Press the :or9 button to select the
Inst. cluster submenu.
X Press the abutton to confirm.
X Press the :or9 button to select the
Display unit Speed-/odometer func-
tion.
You will see the selected setting: km or
miles .
X Press the abutton to save the setting.
Switching the additional speedometer
on/off
Only vehicles with manual transmission have
this function. i
Vehicles for the United Kingdom: this
function is not available.
The Dig. speedom [mph]: function allows
you to choose whether the status area in the
multifunction display always shows the speed
in mph instead of the outside temperature.
X Press the =or; button on the steer-
ing wheel to select the Settings menu.
X Press the :or9 button to select the
Inst. cluster submenu.
X Press the abutton to confirm.
X Press :or9 to select the Dig. speedo [mph]: function.
You will see the selected setting: on or
off .
X Press the abutton to save the setting.
Selecting the permanent display function
Only vehicles with automatic transmission
have this function.
i Vehicles for the United Kingdom: this
function is not available.
The Permanent display: function allows
you to choose whether the multifunction dis-
play always shows the outside temperature
or the speed in mph.
X Press the =or; button on the steer-
ing wheel to select the Settings menu.
X Press the :or9 button to select the
Inst. cluster submenu.
X Press the abutton to confirm.
X Press :or9 to select the Perma‐ nent display function.
You will see the selected setting: outside temperature or
Dig. speedom [mph] .
X Press the abutton to save the setting.
Lights Switching the daytime driving lights on/
off
If you have activated the
Day lights func-
tion and the light switch is set to Ã, theDisplays and operation (12-button multifunction steering wheel)
239On-board computer and displays Z

Display messages Possible causes/consequences and
M Solutions
J
Brake immediately A malfunction has occurred while the HOLD function is active.
or
Vehicles wit
hmanual transmission: with the HOLD function
activated, you have:
R opened the driver's door and released the sea tbelt or
R switched off the engine or
R opened the bonnet
At one may also sound at regular intervals. The tone becomes
louder if you attempt to lock the vehicle.
You cannot start the engine.
X Paying attention to the traffic situation, immediately depress the
brake pedal firmly and hold until the display message disap-
pears.
X Prevent the vehicle from rolling away before you leave it
(Y page 342).
You can restart the engine. J
Check brake fluid
level G
Risk of accident
There is insufficien tbrake fluid in the brake fluid reservoir. In addi-
tion, the red Jwarning lamp lights up in the instrument cluster
and a warning tone sounds.
X Pull over and stop the vehicle safely as soon as possible, paying
attention to road and traffic conditions. Do not continue driving
under any circumstances.
X Apply the parking brake.
X Consult a qualified specialist workshop.
X Do not top up the brake fluid. This does not correct the error. #
Check brake wear The brake pads/linings have reached their wearl
imit.
X Visit a qualified specialist workshop. PRE-SAFE
inoperative G
Risk of injury
Important function sof PRE-SAFE ®
have failed .All other occupant
safety systems, e.g. airbags, remain available.
X Visit a qualified specialist workshop. ü If the symbol appears in the multifunction display,
aseat belt
tongue has been clipped into a rear seat belt buckle.
For further information on the status indicator for the rear seat
belts: (Y page 56). 252
Display messagesOn-board computer and displays

Display messages Possible causes/consequences and
M Solutions
J
Brake immediately A malfunction has occurred while the HOLD function or DIS-
TRONIC PLUS is active.
or
Vehicles with manual transmission: with the HOLD function acti-
vated, you have either:
R
opened the driver's doo rand released the sea tbelt or
R switched off the engine or
R opened the bonnet
At one may also sound at regular intervals. The tone becomes
louder if you attempt to lock the vehicle.
You cannot start the engine.
X Paying attention to the traffic situation, immediately depress the
brake pedal firmly and hold until the display message disap-
pears.
X Prevent the vehicle from rolling away before you leave it
(Y page 342).
You can restart the engine. J
Check brake fluid
level G
Risk of accident
There is insufficien tbrake fluid in the brake fluid reservoir. In addi-
tion, the red Jwarning lamp in the instrument cluster lights
up and a warning tone sounds.
X Pull over and stop the vehicle safely as soon as possible, paying
attention to road and traffic conditions. Do not continue driving
under any circumstances.
X Apply the parking brake.
X Consult a qualified specialist workshop.
X Do not top up the brake fluid. This does not correct the error. #
Check brake wear The brake pads/linings have reached their wearl
imit.
X Visit a qualified specialist workshop. PRE-SAFE
inoperative See
Owner's Manual G
Risk of injury
Important function sof PRE-SAFE ®
have failed .All other occupant
safety systems, e.g. airbags, remain available.
X Visit a qualified specialist workshop immediately. 258
Display messagesOn-board computer and displays

Display messages Possible causes/consequences and
M Solutions
h
Tyre
pressure, Cau‐
tion tyre malf. G
Risk of accident
The tyre pressure in one or more tyres has dropped suddenly.
Aw arning tone also sounds.
X Stop the vehicle without making any sudde nsteering or braking
manoeuvres .Pay attentio nto the traffic conditions as you do
so.
X If necessary, change a wheel (Y page 365).h
Tyre pressure
Check tyre(s) G
Risk of accident
The tyre pressure in one or more tyres has dropped significantly.
X Stop the vehicle without making any sudden steering or braking
manoeuvres. Pay attention to the traffic conditions as you do
so.
X If necessary, change a wheel (Y page 365).
X Check the tyre pressure. If necessary, correc tthe tyre pressure
(Y page 363). h
Please correct
tyre pressure The tyre pressure is too low in at least one of the tyres, or the tyre
pressure difference between the wheels is too great.
X
Check the tyre pressures at the next opportunity. If necessary,
correct the tyre pressure (Y page 363).Vehicle (4-button multifunction steering wheel)
Display messages Possible causes/consequences and
M Solutions
To start engine,
shift to P or N You have attempted to start the engine with the transmission in
position
Ror D.
X Shift the transmission to position Por N. P
Select Park (P) You have switched off the engine with the Start/Stop button and
opened the driver's door.
You wanted to lock the vehicle.
Aw
arning tone also sounds.
or
You have switched off the engine with the Start/Stop butto nand
opened the driver's door with the transmission in position N.
X Shift the transmission to position P. Display messages
283On-board computer and displays Z

Display messages Possible causes/consequences and
M Solutions
With the Hold function activated, you have either:
R
opened the driver's doo rand released the sea tbelt or
R switched off the engine or
R opened the bonnet
At one may also sound at regular intervals. The tone becomes
louder if you attempt to lock the vehicle.
You cannot start the engine.
X Shift the transmission to position P.
You can restart the engine. N Saloon: the boot lid is open.
X
Close the boot lid. A Estate: the tailgate is open.
X
Close the tailgate. Mor? G
Risk of accident
Vehicles with an anti-theft alarm system: the bonnet is open. A
warning tone also sounds.
X Pull over and stop the vehicle safely as soon as possible, paying
attention to road and traffic conditions.
X Apply the parking brake.
X Close the bonnet. C At least one door is open.
Awarning tone also sounds.
X Close all doors. Rear left seat
backr. not locked
or
Rear right seat backrest not locked G
Risk of injury
Vehicles with the through-loading feature in the rear bench seat:
The backres tinthe rear is not engaged on the left-hand and/or
right-hand side. Awarning tone also sounds.
X Push the backres tback until it engages . 284
Display messagesOn-board computer and displays

Display messages Possible causes/consequences and
M Solutions
Check trailer
hitch lock G
Risk of accident
Vehicles with a retractable trailer coupling:
The trailer tow hitch is no tcorrectly engaged.
Aw arning tone also sounds.
X Stop the vehicle immediately, paying attentio ntoroad and traf-
fic conditions, and switch off the engine.
X Apply the parking brake.
X Allow the trailer tow hitch ball coupling to engage in the end
position (Y page 217). Pwr. steering
malfunc. G
Risk of accident
The power steering assistance is faulty. You will need to use more
force to steer.
Aw arning tone also sounds.
X Chec kwhether you are able to apply the extra force required.
X If you are able to steer safely: carefully drive on to a qualified
specialist workshop.
X If you are unable to steer safely: do not drive on. Contact the
nearest qualified specialist workshop. Top up
washer fluid The washer fluid level in the washer fluid reservoir has dropped
below the minimum.
X
Top up the washer fluid (Y page 325).Vehicle (12-button multifunction steering wheel)
Display messages Possible causes/consequences and
M Solutions
To start engine,
shift to either P
or N You have attempted to start the engine with the transmission in
position
Ror D.
X Shift the transmission to position Por N. P
Select Park (P) You have switched off the engine with the Start/Stop button and
opened the driver's door.
You wanted to lock the vehicle.
Aw
arning tone also sounds.
or
You have switched off the engine with the Start/Stop butto nand
opened the driver's door with the transmission in position N.
X Shift the transmission to position P. Display messages
285On-board computer and displays Z

Display messages Possible causes/consequences and
M Solutions
While the HOLD function or DISTRONIC PLU
Sis active, you have:
R opened the driver's door and released the seat belt or
R switched off the engine or
R opened the bonnet
At one may also sound at regular intervals. The tone becomes
louder if you attempt to lock the vehicle.
You cannot start the engine.
X Shift the transmission to position P.
You can restart the engine. N Saloon: the boot lid is open.
X
Close the boot lid. A Estate: the tailgate is open.
X
Close the tailgate. Mor? G
Risk of accident
Vehicles with an anti-theft alarm system: the bonnet is open. A
warning tone also sounds.
X Pull over and stop the vehicle safely as soon as possible, paying
attention to road and traffic conditions.
X Apply the parking brake.
X Close the bonnet. C At least one door is open.
Awarning tone also sounds.
X Close all doors. _
Rear left seat
backrest not locked
or
Rear right seat backrest not locked G
Risk of injury
Saloon with through-loading feature in the rear bench seat:
The backres tinthe rear is not engaged on the left-hand and/or
right-hand side. Awarning tone also sounds.
X Push the backres tback until it engages. 286
Display messagesOn-board computer and displays

the necessary service work has been carried
out.
You can obtain further information, e.g.
regarding service work, fro maMercedes-
Benz Service Centre or directly from
Mercedes-Benz.
! If the ASSYST PLUS service interval dis-
play has been inadvertently reset, this set-
ting can be corrected at a Mercedes-Benz
Service Centre.
Have service work carried out as described
in the Service Booklet. This may otherwise
lead to increased wear and damage to the
major assemblies or the vehicle.
Driving abroad
An extensive Mercedes-Benz Service network
is also available in other countries. The
Service Hotline's current telephone numbers
for use when you are abroad are to be found
in the "Mercedes-Benz Service24h" section
of the Service Booklet. Care
Notes on care
Regular care of your vehicle is a condition for
retaining the quality in the long term.
Use care products and cleaning agents rec-
ommended and approved by Mercedes-Benz.
! For cleaning your vehicle, do not use any
of the following:
R dry, rough or hard cloths
R abrasive cleaning agents
R solvents
R cleaning agents containing solvents
Do not scrub.
Do not touch the surfaces or protective
films with hard objects, e.g. a ring or ice
scraper. You could otherwise scratch or
damage the surfaces and protective film. H
Environmental note
Dispose of empty packaging and cleaning
cloths in an environmentally responsible man-
ner.
! Do not park up the vehicle for an extended
period straight after cleaning it, particularly
after having cleaned the wheels with wheel
cleaner. Wheel cleaners could cause
increased corrosion of the brake discs and
brake pads/linings. For this reason, you
should drive for a few minutes after clean-
ing. Braking heats the brake discs and the
brake pads/linings, thus drying them. The
vehicle can then be parked up. Care of the exterior
Automatic car wash G
WARNING
Braking efficiency is reduced after washing
the vehicle. This could cause an accident. For
this reason, following a car wash, drive with
particular care until the brakes are dry.
You can wash the vehicle in an automatic car
wash from the very start.
If the vehicle is very dirty, pre-wash it before
cleaning it in an automatic car wash.
! Make sure that the automatic transmis-
sion is in position Nwhen washing your
vehicle in a tow-through car wash. The vehi-
cle could be damaged if the transmission is
in another position.
! Make sure that:
R the side windows and sliding sunroof are
closed completely.
R the blower for the ventilation/heating is
switched off (OFF button is depressed).
R the windscreen wiper switch is at posi-
tion 0.
The vehicle could otherwise be damaged.
After using an automatic car wash, wipe off
wax from the windscreen and the wiper Care
327Maintenance and care Z