2014 MERCEDES-BENZ C-CLASS SALOON parking brake

This shows the electric output from the
electric motor, e.g. when driving using the
electric motor or in boost mode.
When the motor is switched on, the display is at :. When driving solely on electricity,
the display fills up from :to; depending
on the power output demanded as a result
of pressing the accelerator pedal.
If the display has reached limit ;, addi-
tional power output can only be provided by
the combustion engine. The combustion
engine starts. If the display is approaching
limit ;and you remove your foot from the
accelerator pedal, the display empties
again. The combustion engine is not
switched on. At low speeds, you can
thereby control the electric drive usage so
that you only drive in electric mode.
R Area =to? (CHARGE):
This shows the recuperated energy which is
stored in the high-voltage battery as elec-
trical energy.
When the display reaches limit ?, the max-
imum recuperative braking power has been exhausted. The conventional brakes are
activated.
Operating the on-board computer You can display the current operating condi-
tion of the hybrid system in the multifunction
display and the COMAND display
(Y page 273).
You can display the current operating condi-
tion of the hybrid system in the multifunction display and the Audio 20/COMAND Online
display (Y page 273).
In the Audio 20/COMAND Online display, you
can also call up a graphic display of the fuel
consumption and generated electricity
(Y page 276). Menus and submenus
Selecting messages in the Audio 20/
COMAND Online display X
Press the Øbutton on the controller.
The vehicle menu appears.
X To select Energy Energyflow
flow: turn and press the
controller.
The energy flow is displayed.
X To select Consumption Consumption: turn and press the
controller.
Fuel consumption and the electric energy
generated are displayed.
X To exit the display: press the %button
on the controller.
Selecting the energy flow display in the multifunction display X
Use Ñ on the steering wheel to call up
the list of menus.
X Press the :or9 button on the steer-
ing wheel to select the Trip Tripmenu.
X Confirm by pressing aon the steering
wheel.
X Use : or9 to select Energy flow
Energy flow .
The energy flow is displayed.
Energy flow display Overview
:
Internal combustion engine
; Electric motor
= Charge status of the high-voltage battery Hybrid operation
273Driving and parking Z

X
Observe the notes on starting the engine
(Y page 183).
X Turn the key to position 3in the ignition
lock (Y page 183) or press the Start/Stop
button once (Y page 184).
The vehicle is operational when READY indi-
cator :lights up.
Noiseless start The vehicle starts in electric mode without the
internal combustion engine. The internal
combustion engine starts only after the
power demanded by the driver exceeds the
available power that the electric motor can
currently provide.
Noiseless start operation is dependent on the
outside temperature and the operating tem-
perature of the internal combustion engine.
The vehicle is operational when READY indi-
cator :lights up. Pulling away
X Depress the brake pedal and keep it
depressed.
X Shift the transmission to position Dor R.
X Release the brake pedal.
Further information on pulling away
(Y page 184). Driving
AGILITY SELECT switch Driving programs
Use the AGILITY SELECT switch to change the
drive program. Depending on the drive pro-
gram selected, the following vehicle charac-
teristics will change:
R the drive (engine and transmission man-
agement)
R the suspension
R the steering R
the availability of the ECO start/stop func-
tion (Y page 279)
R the climate control settings
- THERMATIC (Y page 153)
- THERMOTRONIC (Y page 156)
R the rear window heating operation period
(Y page 164)
R the performance of the seat heating
(Y page 123)
If the ignition is switched off for less than four
hours, the previously selected drive program
is activated when the engine is next started. If the ignition is switched off for more than four
hours, drive program Cis activated when the
engine is next started. X
Push AGILITY SELECT switch :up or down
until the desired drive program is selected. The selected drive program appears in the
multifunction display. After five seconds
the display goes out and the status icon of
the selected drive program appears.
In addition, the current drive program set-
tings are displayed in the Audio 20/
COMAND Online display.
Available drive programs: I
Individual Individual settings
S+
Sport Plus R
Extremely sporty driving
style with boost mode
R Electric-only drive is not
possible
R The ECO start/stop
function is not available Hybrid operation
277Driving and parking Z

Acceleration
Depending on the operating mode, pulling
away and driving under low load conditions
are performed:
R entirely by electric propulsion
R in combination with the internal combus-
tion engine
When accelerating at an increased or full
load, boost mode is utilised. The electric
motor supports the internal combustion
engine by providing additional torque when
the accelerator is depressed rapidly.
Overrun mode or braking
There are three possible operating modes
when the hybrid vehicle is decelerating: R When coasting and decelerating, energy
recuperation is already taking place
(Y page 269). The electric motor functions
as an alternator and stores the recuperated
energy in the high-voltage battery.
R When braking gently, the electric motor
increases the deceleration of the vehicle.
Energy recuperation is increased
(Y page 269). The electric motor functions
as an alternator and stores the recuperated energy in the high-voltage battery.
R During heavy braking, the service brake is
also used to slow down the vehicle. Both
systems work together.
Driving in the city
Energy is recuperated during frequent decel-
eration and stopping in city traffic.
The vehicle can be driven by the electric
motor alone up to a speed of approximately
35 km/h, e.g.:
R while approaching a traffic light
R in stop-and-start traffic
The vehicle is driven by the electric motor
alone only when all conditions for the auto-
matic engine switch-off are fulfilled.
Further information on the automatic engine
switch-off (Y page 280). Driving on inter-urban roads
Three phases are possible when driving on
inter-urban roads:
R rapid acceleration (boost mode)
R constant energy consumption
R energy recuperation
Depending on the characteristics of the
route, there may be a lot of recuperated
energy available. This reduces consumption
and emissions.
Driving on the motorway
When driving on a motorway, the following
have a particularly positive effect on fuel con- sumption and emissions:
R the decrease in wasted power when using
recuperative braking
R the decrease in wasted power in overrun
mode when the combustion engine is
switched off
Manoeuvring and turning
The hybrid drive makes it possible to manoeu- vre and turn solely using the electric motor.
ECO start/stop function General notes
The ECO start/stop function switches the
internal combustion engine off automatically
when the vehicle stops moving and at high
speeds (Y page 280).
All vehicle systems remain active, e.g. the
automatic climate control.
The ECO start/stop function is only available in drive programs C,Eand I. Electric-only
operation is only possible in drive programs C
and E. Hybrid operation
279Driving and parking Z

Parking
X Apply the electric parking brake.
The red !indicator lamp in the instru-
ment cluster lights up.
X Use the DIRECT SELECT lever to shift the
automatic transmission to P.
X Switch the ignition off.
The READY indicator in the instrument clus-
ter goes out.
Further information on parking and switching off the internal combustion engine
(Y page 208). Hybrid operation
281Driving and parking Z

Towing a trailer
Important safety notes
G
WARNING
The braking system can overheat if you leave your foot on the brake pedal while driving.
This increases the braking distance and could
even cause the braking system to fail. There is
a risk of an accident.
Never use the brake pedal as a footrest. Do
not simultaneously depress both the brake
pedal and the accelerator pedal while driving. G
WARNING
You could lose control of the vehicle/trailer
combination if it begins to swerve. The vehi-
cle/trailer combination could even overturn.
There is a risk of an accident.
On no account should you attempt to
straighten out the vehicle/trailer combina-
tion by increasing speed. Decrease your
speed and do not countersteer. Brake if nec-
essary. G
WARNING
If the maximum the permissible load for a car- rier system is exceeded, the carrier could
come loose from the vehicle and endanger
other road users. There is a risk of an accident and injury.
Never exceed the permissible noseweight
when using a carrier.
Exceeding the maximum permissible nose-
weight of the trailer drawbar on the ball cou-
pling may cause damage to the following:
R your vehicle
R the trailer
R the ball coupling
R the trailer tow hitch
The vehicle/trailer combination could
become unstable.
If the noseweight used is lower than the min- imum permissible noseweight, the vehicle/ trailer combination could also become unsta-
ble.
To avoid hazardous situations:
R make sure to check the noseweight before
each journey.
R use a drawbar noseweight as close as pos-
sible to the maximum noseweight.
R do not exceed the maximum permissible
noseweight.
R do not use a noseweight lower than the
minimum permissible trailer drawbar nose-
weight.
Make sure that the following values are not
exceeded:
R the permissible trailer drawbar noseweight
R the permissible trailer load
R the permissible rear axle load of the towing
vehicle
R the maximum permissible gross vehicle
weight of both the towing vehicle and the
trailer
The applicable permissible values, which
must not be exceeded, can be found:
R in your vehicle documents
R on the identification plates of the trailer tow
hitch and the trailer
R on the vehicle identification plate
If the values differ, the lowest value applies.
You will find the values approved by the man-
ufacturer on the vehicle identification plates
and those for the towing vehicle under "Tech- nical data" (Y page 478). G
WARNING
If you release the ball coupling or it does not
engage correctly when folding in, it will swing out. Within pivoting range of the ball coupling,
there is an increased risk of an accident and
injury.
Only release the ball coupling if the pivoting
range is unobstructed. Always make sure that the ball coupling engages when folding in. Towing a trailer
283Driving and parking Z

!
Depressing the brake pedal constantly
results in excessive and premature wear to
the brake pads.
When reversing the vehicle towards the
trailer, make sure there is nobody between
the trailer and the vehicle.
Couple and uncouple the trailer carefully. If
you do not couple the trailer to the towing
vehicle correctly, the trailer could become
detached.
When towing a trailer, your vehicle's handling
characteristics will be different in comparison to when driving without a trailer.
The vehicle/trailer combination:
R is heavier
R is restricted in its acceleration and gradi-
ent-climbing capability
R has an increased braking distance
R is affected more by strong crosswinds
R demands more sensitive steering
R has a larger turning circle
This can impair the vehicle's handling char-
acteristics. Adapt your driving style accord-
ingly. Maintain a safe distance. Drive care-
fully.
When towing a trailer, always adjust your
speed to the current road and weather con-
ditions. Do not exceed the maximum permis- sible speed for your vehicle/trailer combina-
tion. Notes on towing a trailer
General notes Trailer towing is not permissible on the fol-
lowing models:
R C 180 BlueEFFICIENCY Edition
R C 220 BlueTEC BlueEFFICIENCY Edition
When towing a trailer, set the tyre pressure on
the rear axle of the towing vehicle for a max-
imum load; see the tyre pressure table in the fuel filler flap (Y page 432). On vehicles without level control, the height
of the ball coupling will alter according to the
load placed on the vehicle. If necessary, use a
trailer with a height-adjustable drawbar.
You will find fitting dimensions and loads
under "Technical data" (Y page 477).
When towing a trailer, the ECO start/stop
function is deactivated. The èECO sym-
bol appears yellow in the multifunction dis-
play. For further information on the ECO
start/stop function; see (Y page 186).
Driving tips Observe the notes on ESP
®
trailer stabilisa-
tion (Y page 82).
The maximum permissible speed for vehicle/ trailer combinations depends on the type of
trailer. Before beginning the journey, check
the trailer's documents to see what the max- imum permitted speed is. Observe the legally
prescribed maximum speed in the relevant
country.
For certain Mercedes-Benz vehicles, the max-
imum permissible rear axle load is increased
when towing a trailer. See the "Technical
data" section to find out whether this applies
to your vehicle (Y page 478). If you utilise any
of the added maximum rear axle load when
towing a trailer, the vehicle/trailer combina-
tion may not exceed a maximum speed of
100 km/h for reasons concerning the oper-
ating permit. This also applies in countries in
which the permissible maximum speed for
vehicle/trailer combinations is above
100 km/h.
When towing a trailer, your vehicle's handling
characteristics will be different in comparison to when driving without a trailer and it will
consume more fuel.
Change into a lower gear in good time on long
and steep downhill gradients.
This also applies if cruise control, DISTRONIC
PLUS or SPEEDTRONIC are activated.
This will use the braking effect of the engine,
so less braking will be required to maintain
vehicle speed. This relieves the load on the 284
Towing a trailerDriving and parking

brake system and prevents the brakes from
overheating and wearing too quickly. If you
need additional braking, depress the brake
pedal repeatedly rather than continuously.
Driving tips If the trailer swings from side to side:
X Do not accelerate.
X Do not countersteer.
X Brake if necessary.
R Maintain a greater distance to the vehicle in
front than when driving without a trailer.
R Avoid braking abruptly. If possible, brake
gently at first to allow the trailer to run on.
Then, increase the braking force rapidly.
R The values given for gradient-climbing
capabilities from a standstill refer to sea
level. When driving in mountainous areas,
note that the power output of the engine,
and consequently the vehicle's gradient-
climbing capability, decrease with increas-
ing altitude. Folding out the ball coupling
G
WARNING
If the ball coupling is not correctly engaged,
the trailer can detach. There is a risk of an
accident.
Always engage the ball coupling as described. G
WARNING
If you release the ball coupling or it does not
engage correctly when folding in, it will swing out. Within pivoting range of the ball coupling,
there is an increased risk of an accident and
injury.
Only release the ball coupling if the pivoting
range is unobstructed. Always make sure that the ball coupling engages when folding in.
Before you can tow a trailer with your vehicle, you must fold out the ball coupling.
X Make sure that the vehicle is stationary. X
Open the boot lid.
X Pull release knob :until the ball coupling
unlocks.
The ball coupling folds out from under the
rear bumper.
The indicator lamp on the release knob
flashes. The trailer socket folds away auto- matically. X
Press the ball coupling in the direction of
the arrow until it engages in a vertical posi-
tion.
The indicator lamp on the release knob
goes off.
The multifunction display shows the
Trailer Trailer hitch
hitchCheck
Checklock
lockmech.
mech. mes-
sage until the ball coupling is engaged.
X Remove the protective covering from the
ball coupling and store it in a safe place.
Hybrid vehicles: observe the safety instruc-
tions for hybrid vehicles (Y page 269). Towing a trailer
285Driving and parking Z

Coupling up a trailer
X Make sure that the transmission is in posi-
tion P.
X Apply the electric parking brake.
X Position the trailer horizontally behind the
vehicle.
X Couple up the trailer.
X Establish the electric connection between
the vehicle and the trailer.
X Check that the trailer lighting system is
working.
X Push the combination switch upwards/
downwards and check whether the corre-
sponding turn signal on the trailer is flash-
ing.
A connected trailer is only recognised when the electrical connection is established
correctly and when the lighting system is
working properly. The functioning of other
systems, e.g. ESP ®
, PARKTRONIC, Active
Parking Assist, Active Blind Spot Assist or
Lane Keeping Assist also depends on this. Uncoupling a trailer
G
WARNING
If you uncouple a trailer with an engaged over- run brake, you could trap your hand between
the vehicle and the trailer drawbar. This poses a risk of injury.
Do not uncouple a trailer with an engaged
overrun brake. G
WARNING
Vehicles with level control:
If you disconnect the trailer cable, the vehicle is lowered. This can cause you or others to
become trapped between the vehicle body
and tyres, or underneath the vehicle. This
poses a risk of injury.
Make sure that no-one is in the immediate
vicinity of the wheel arch or underneath the
vehicle when disconnecting the trailer cable. !
Do not disconnect a trailer with an
engaged overrun brake. Otherwise, your
vehicle could be damaged by the rebound- ing of the overrun brake.
! Remove the installed adapter cable
before folding in the ball coupling. Other-
wise, damage may occur to the rear
bumper and the adapter cable.
X Make sure that the transmission is in posi-
tion P.
X Apply the electric parking brake.
X Secure the trailer against rolling away.
X Remove the trailer cable and decouple the
trailer. Folding in the ball coupling
G
WARNING
If you release the ball coupling or it does not
engage correctly when folding in, it will swing out. Within pivoting range of the ball coupling,
there is an increased risk of an accident and
injury.
Only release the ball coupling if the pivoting
range is unobstructed. Always make sure that the ball coupling engages when folding in.
Fold the ball coupling back in if you are not
using the trailer tow hitch. X Make sure that the vehicle is stationary and
the trailer cables are disconnected.
X Place the protective covering on the ball
coupling.
X Open the boot lid. 286
Towing a trailerDriving and parking