2012 MERCEDES-BENZ C-CLASS SALOON ground clearance

R
The drive program selected
R The driving style
The drive program can be adjus ted using the
DY NA MIC SELECT switch. AIRMATIC
Fu
nction of AIRMATIC
AIRMATIC is an air suspension sy stem with varia‐
ble damping for impr oved driving comfort. The
all-round le vel control sy stem ensures the best
possible suspension and const ant ground clear‐
ance, even wi tha laden vehicle. When driving at
speed, theve hicle is lo wered automatically to
impr ovedriving saf ety and toreduce fuel con‐
sum ption. You also ha vethe option of manually
adjusting theve hicle le vel.
AIRMATIC includes thefo llowing components
and functions:
R Air suspension with automatic le vel control
R Speed-dependent lo wering toreduce fuel
consum ption
R Manually selec table high le vel setting for
greater ground clearance R
ADS PLUS (Adaptive Damping Sy stem with
const ant damping forc e adjustment)
R DYNA MIC SELECT switch and le vel button
Av ailable suspension settings
A (Comfort)
R The suspension setting is comfor table.
R The vehicle is set tothe normal le vel.
R When driving at speeds abo ve125 km/h the
ve hicle is lo wered.
R When driving at speeds below 80 km/h, the
ve hicle is raised again.
; (Econo my)
R The suspension setting is comfor table.
R The vehicle is set tothe low le vel.
R The vehicle is not lo wered any fur ther if you
are tr avelling at higher speeds.
C (Sport)
R The suspension setting is firm er.
R The vehicle is set tothe low le vel. R
The vehicle is not lo wered any fur ther if you
are tra velling at higher speeds.
B (Sport Plus)
R The suspension setting is evenfirm er.
R The vehicle is set tothe low le vel.
R The vehicle is not lo wered any fur ther if you
are tra velling at higher speeds.
% Operation with a trailer or bicycle rack:if
transport equipment, such as a trailer or a
bicycle rack , is attached tothe trailer hitch
and the electrical connection has been cor‐
re ctly es tablished, theve hicle remains at
normal le vel ir respective of speed or the
drive prog ram selected.
Setting theve hicle le vel &
WARNING Risk of accident because
ve hicle le vel is too high
Driving characteristics may be impaired.
The vehicle can drift outwards, forex ample,
when steering or cornering. Driving and parking
219
Internal use only

Ke
eping the air-water duct free #
Keep the area between the bonn etand the
windscreen free of deposits, e.g. ice, snow
and lea ves. Cleaning and care
Information on
washing theve hicle in a car
wa sh &
WARNING Risk of an accident due to
re duced braking po wer af terwa shing the
ve hicle
Braking ef ficiency is reduced af terwa shing
th eve hicle. #
Afterth eve hicle has been washed,
brake carefully while paying attention to
th e traf fic conditions until braking
po we r has been fully restored. *
NO
TEDama gefrom auto matic braking If one of
thefo llowing functions is switched
on, theve hicle brakes automatically in cer‐
ta in situations:
R Active Brake Assi st
R Active Dis tance Assi stDISTRONIC
R HOLD function
R Active Parking Assist
To avo id damage totheve hicle, deactivate
th ese sy stems in thefo llowing or similar sit‐
uations: #
during towing #
in a car wash *
NO
TEDama gedue tounsuitable car
wa sh #
Before driving into a car wash make
sure that the car wash is suitable for
th eve hicle dimensions. #
Ensure there is suf ficient ground clear‐
ance between the underbody and the
guide rails of the car wash. #
Ensure that the clearance width of the
car wash, in particular the width of the
guide rails, is suf ficient. To
avo id damage to yourvehicle when using a
car wash, ensure thefo llowing beforehand:
R Active Dis tance Assi stDISTRONIC is deacti‐
va ted.
R the HOLD function is switched off.
R the 360° Camera or there ve rsing camera is
switched off.
R the side windo wsand sliding sun roof are
comple tely closed.
R the blo werfo rth eve ntilation/heating is
switched off.
R the windscreen wiper switch is in position
g.
R theke y is at a minimum dis tance of 3 m
aw ay from theve hicle. Otherwise the boot lid
could open unintentionally. Maintenance and care
381
Internal use only

Display messages
Possible causes/consequences and M
MSolutions #
Do not couple up the trailer. Drive on without the trailer. No tethere duced ground clearance due tothe
unlo cked ball nec k. #
Consult a qualified specialist workshop.
*T he trailer hitch will not be operational when theve hicle is stationar y. #
Uncouple the coupled trailer and secure it against rolling away. #
Ifth e ball neck has been folded in: unlockthe ball neck (/ page 237). #
Swivel the ball neck into the end position manually and let it engage. #
Ifth e ball neck has been folded out: unlockthe ball neck (/ page 237). #
Swivel the ball neck beneath the bumper manually and let it engage.
If th e display message does not disappear, the trailer hitch is malfunctioning and the ball neck is not loc ked. #
Do not couple up the trailer. Drive on without the trailer. No tethere duced ground clearance due tothe
unlo cked ball nec k. #
Consult a qualified specialist workshop.
Ù Steering malfunction
Increased physical effort
See Owner's Manual *T
he po werst eering assis tance is malfunctioning. &
WARNING Risk of an accident due toaltered steering characteristics
If th e po wer assi stance of thesteering fails partially or comple tely, you will need touse more forc eto steer. #
If safe steering is possible, drive on carefully. Display messages and
warning/indicator lamps 457
Internal use only