2014 MERCEDES-BENZ C-Class SEDAN traction control

Central locking/unlocking
(SmartKey) ......................................
.76
Control panel ................................... 37
Display message ............................ 245
Emergency locking ........................... 83
Emergency unlocking .......................83
Important safety notes ....................81
Opening (from inside) ......................82
Drinking and driving .........................167
Drinks holder see Cuph older
Drive program
Automatic ...................................... 157
Display ........................................... 155
Manual .......................................... .159
SETUP (on-board computer) ..........219
Drive program selector .....................157
Driver's door see Doors
Driving abroad
Mercedes-Benz Service .................287
Symmetrical low bea m.................. 114
Driving lamps
see Daytime running lamps
Driving on flooded roads ..................170
Driving safety systems ABS (Anti-lock Braking System) .......65
ADAPTIVE BRAKE ............................. 71
BAS (Brake Assist System) ..............66
BAS PLUS (Brake Assist System
PLUS) .............................................. .66
Electroni cbrake force distribution ...70
ESP ®
(Electronic Stability
Program) .................................... 67, 68
ETS/4ETS (Electronic Traction
System) ........................................... 67
Important safety information ...........65
Overview .......................................... 65
PRE-SAFE ®
Brake ............................ .71
Driving systems
Active Blind Spot Assis t................. 196
Active Driving Assistance package 196
Active Lane Keeping Assist ............199
ATTENTION ASSIST ........................192
Blind Spot Assist ............................ 193
Cruise control ................................ 171
Display message ............................ 236DISTRONI
CPLUS ........................... 173
Dynami chandling package with
sports mod e.................................. 181
HOLD function ............................... 182
Lane Keeping Assist ......................194
Lane Tracking package ..................192
Parking Guidance ........................... 188
PARKTRONI C................................. 185
RAC ESTART (AMG vehicles) ..........183
Rea rview camera .......................... 191
Driving tips
Automatic transmission .................156
Brakes ........................................... 168
Break-in period .............................. 146
DISTRONI CPLUS ........................... 180
Downhill gradient ........................... 168
Drinking and driving .......................167
Driving abroad ............................... 114
Driving in winter ............................ .171
Driving on flooded road s................ 170
Driving on wet road s...................... 170
Exhaust check ............................... 167
Fuel ................................................ 166
General .......................................... 166
Hydroplaning ................................. 170
Icy road surfaces ........................... 171
Limited braking efficiency on
salted road s................................... 169
Snow chains .................................. 317
Symmetrical low bea m.................. 114
Wet road surface ........................... 169
DVD audio (on-board computer) ......211
DVD video (on-board computer) ......211
Dynamic handling package with
sports mode ....................................... 181 E
EASY-ENTRY feature Activating/deactivating .................218
Function/notes ............................. 106
EASY-EXIT feature
Crash-responsive ........................... 107
Function/notes ............................. 106
Switching on/off ........................... 2188
Index

EBD (electronic brake force
distribution)
Display message ............................ 224
Function/notes ................................ 70
ECO display
Function/notes ............................. 167
On-board computer .......................208
ECO start/stop function
Automatic engine start ..................151
Automatic engine switch-off ..........151
Deactivating/activating .................152
General information .......................151
Important safety notes ..................151
Introduction ................................... 150
Electronic Stability Program
see ESP ®
(Electroni cStability Program)
Emergenc yrelease
Driver's door .................................... 83
Fuel filler fla p................................. 163
Trunk ......................................... 86, 87
Vehicle ............................................. 83
Emergency spare wheel
General notes ................................ 346
Important safety notes ..................346
Storage location ............................ 346
Technical data ............................... 347
Emergency Tensioning Devices
Function .......................................... .58
Safety guideline s............................. 41
Emissions control
Service and warranty information ....22
Engine
Check Engine warning lamp ........... 256
Display message ............................ 233
ECO start/stop function ................150
Engine number ............................... 351
Irregularr unning............................ 153
Jump-starting ................................. 306
Starting problems ..........................153
Starting the engine with the
SmartKey ....................................... 149
Starting with KEYLESS-GO .............149
Switching off .................................. 165
Tow-starting (vehicle) ..................... 310
Engine, jump starting
see Jump starting (engine) Engine electronics
Problem (malfunction) ...................153
Engine oil
Adding ........................................... 289
Additives ........................................ 355
Checking the oil level ..................... 288
Checking the oil level using the
dipstick .......................................... 289
Display message ............................ 235
Filling capacity ............................... 355
Notes about oil grades ................... 354
Notes on oil level/consumption ....288
Temperature (on-board computer) .219
Viscosity ........................................ 355
ESP ®
(Electronic Stability
Program) AMG menu (on-board computer) ...219
Deactivating/activating (AMG
vehicles) .......................................... 69
Deactivating/activating (except
AMG vehicles) ................................ 213
Deactivating/activating (notes;
except AMG vehicles) ......................68
Display message ............................ 223
ETS/4ETS ........................................ 67
Function/notes ......................... 67, 68
Important safety information ...........68
Warning lamp ................................. 252
ETS/4ETS (Electronic Traction
System) ................................................ 67
Exhaus tcheck ................................... 167
Exhaus ttail pipe (cleaning
instructions) ...................................... 296
Exterior lighting Setting options .............................. 114
see Lights
Exterior mirrors
Adjusting ....................................... 107
Dipping (automatic) .......................109
Folding in/ou t(automatically) .......108
Folding in/ou t(electrically) ...........108
Folding in whe nlocking (on-board
computer) ...................................... 218
Out of position (troubleshooting) ...109
Setting ........................................... 108
Storing settings (memory function) 110
Storing the parking position ..........109 Index
9

Recognition by the radar sensor system is
also impaired in the event of:
R dir tont he sensors or anything else
covering the sensors
R interference by other radar sources
R there are strong radar reflections, for
example in parking garages
R a narrow vehicle traveling in front, e.g. a
motorbike
R a vehicle traveling in front on a different line
relative to the center of your vehicle
Following damage to the front end of the
vehicle, have the configuration and operation
of the radar sensors checked at a qualified
specialist workshop. This also applies to
collisions at low speeds where there is no
visible damage to the front of the vehicle.
Function To avoid a collision, BAS PLUS calculates the
brake force necessary if:
R you approach an obstacle, and
R BAS PLUS has detected arisk of collision
When driving at a speed under 20 mph
(30 km/h):ify ou depress the brake pedal,
BAS PLUS is activated. The increase in brake
pressure will be carried out at the last
possible moment.
When driving at a speed above 20 mph
(30 km/h) :ifyou depress the brake pedal
sharply, BAS PLUS automatically raises the
brake pressure to a value adapted to the
traffic situation.
BAS PLUS provides braking assistance in
hazardous situations with vehicles in front
within a speed range between 4mph
(7 km/h) and 155 mph (250 km/ h).
At speeds of up to approximately 40 mph
(70 km/h), BAS PLUS can also react to
stationary objects. Examples of stationary
objects are stopped or parked vehicles.
i If BAS PLUS demands particularly high
braking force, preventative passenger protection measures (PRE-SAFE
®
) are
activated simultaneously.
X Keep the brake pedal depressed until the
emergency braking situatio nis over.
ABS prevents the wheels from locking.
BAS PLUS is deactivated and the brakes
function as usual again, if:
R you release the brake pedal
R there is no longer a risk of collision
R no obstacle is detected in front of your
vehicle ESP
®
(Electronic Stability Program)
General notes i
Observe the "Important safety notes"
section (Y page 65).
ESP ®
monitors driving stability and traction,
i.e. power transmission between the tires and
the road surface.
If ESP ®
detects that the vehicle is deviating
from the direction desired by the driver, one
or more wheels are braked to stabilize the
vehicle. The engine output is also modified to
keep the vehicle on the desired course within
physical limits. ESP ®
assists the driver when
pulling away on wet or slippery roads. ESP ®
can also stabilize the vehicle during braking.
ETS/4ETS (Electronic Traction System) i
Observe the "Important safety notes"
section (Y page 65).
ETS/4ETS traction control is part of ESP ®
.
Traction control brakes the drive wheels
individually if they spin. This enables you to
pull away and accelerate on slippery surfaces,
for example if the road surface is slippery on
one side. In addition, more drive torque is
transferred to the wheel or wheels with
traction.
Traction control remains active, even if you
deactivate ESP ®
. Driving safety systems
67Safety Z

It may be best to deactivate ESP
®
in the
following situations:
R when using snow chains
R in deep snow
R on sand or gravel
i Activate ESP ®
as soon as the situations
described above no longer apply. ESP ®
will
otherwise not be able to stabilize the
vehicle if the vehicle starts to skid or a
wheel starts to spin.
Deactivating/activating ESP ®
You can activate and deactivate ESP ®
using
the on-board computer.
X To deactivate: (Ypage 213).
The 0015 ESP®
OFF warning lamp in the
instrument cluster lights up.
X To activate: (Ypage 213).
The 0015 ESP®
OFF warning lamp in the
instrument cluster goes out.
Characteristics when ESP ®
is deactivated
If ESP ®
is deactivated and one or more wheels
start to spin, the 000DESP®
warning lamp in
the instrument cluster flashes. In such
situations, ESP ®
will not stabilize the vehicle.
If you deactivate ESP ®
:
R ESP ®
no longer improves driving stability.
R engine torque is no longer limited and the
drive wheels are able to spin.
The spinning of the wheels results in a
cutting action for better traction on loose
surfaces.
R traction control is still activated.
R ESP ®
still provides support when you
brake. Deactivating/activating ESP
®
(AMG
vehicles) Important safety notes
You can select betwee
nthe following
statuses of ESP:
R ESP ®
is activated.
R SPORT handling mode is activated.
R ESP ®
is deactivated. G
WARNING
When SPORT handling mode is activated,
there is a greater risk of skidding and
accidents.
Only activate SPORT handling mode in the
situations described in the following. G
WARNING
If you deactivate ESP ®
, ESP ®
no longer
stabilizes the vehicle. There is an increased
risk of skidding and an accident.
Only deactivate ESP ®
in the situations
described in the following.
! Avoid spinning the driven wheels for an
extended period with ESP ®
deactivated.
You could otherwise damage the drivetrain.
In the following situations, it may be better to
activate SPORT handling mode or deactivate
ESP ®
:
R when using snow chains
R in deep snow
R on sand or gravel
R on designated roads when the vehicle's
own oversteering and understeering
characteristics are desired
Driving in SPORT handling mode or without
ESP ®
requires an extremely qualified and
experienced driver.
i Activate ESP ®
as soon as the situations
described above no longer apply.E SP®
will
otherwise not be able to stabilize the
vehicle if the vehicle starts to skid or a
wheel starts to spin. Driving safety systems
69Safety Z

Deactivating/activating ESP
®X
To activate SPORT handling mode:
briefly press button 0002.
The 0003 SPORT handling mode warning
lamp in the instrumen tcluster lights up.
The SPORT handling mode message
appears in the multifunction display.
X To deactivate SPORT handling mode:
briefly press button 0002.
The 0003 SPORT handling mode warning
lamp in the instrumen tcluster goes out.
X To deactivate ESP ®
:press button 0002until
the 0015 ESP®
OFF warning lamp lights up
in the instrument cluster.
The 000DOFF message appears in the
multifunction display.
X To activate ESP ®
:briefly press button 0002.
The 0015 ESP®
OFF warning lamp in the
instrumen tcluster goes out. The 000D
ESP ®
ON message appears in the
multifunction display.
Characteristics of activated SPORT
handling mode
If SPORT handling mode is activated and one
or more wheels start to spin, the 000DESP®
warning lamp in the instrument cluster
flashes .ESP ®
only stabilizes the vehicl eto a
limited degree.
When SPORT handling mode is activated:
R ESP ®
only improves driving stability to a
limited degree.
R traction control is still activated. R
engine torque is only restricted to a limited
degree, and the drive wheels are able to
spin.
The spinning of the wheels results in a
cutting action for better traction on loose
surfaces.
R ESP ®
still provides support when you
brake.
Characteristics when ESP ®
is deactivated
If ESP ®
is deactivated and one or more wheels
start to spin, the 000DESP®
warning lamp in
the instrument cluster does not flash. In such
situations, ESP ®
will not stabilize the vehicle.
If you deactivate ESP ®
:
R ESP ®
no longer improves driving stability.
R engine torque is restricted to a limited
degree and the drive wheels are able to
spin.
The spinning of the wheels results in a
cutting action for better traction on loose
surfaces.
R traction control is still activated.
R PRE-SAFE ®
is no longer available, nor is it
activated if you brake firmly and ESP ®
intervenes.
R PRE-SAFE ®
Brake is no longer available, it
is also not activated if you brake firmly and
ESP ®
intervenes.
R ESP ®
still provides support when you
brake. EBD (electronic brake force
distribution)
General information EBD monitors and controls the brake
pressure on the rear wheels to improve
driving stability while braking.
Important safety notes
i
Observe the "Important safety notes"
section (Y page 65). 70
Driving safety systemsSafety

store any road speed above 20 mph
(30 km/h).
If you fail to adapty
our driving style, cruise
control can neither reduce the risk of an
accident nor override the laws of physics.
Cruise control cannot take into account the
road, traffic and weather conditions. Cruise
control is only an aid. You are responsible for
the distance to the vehicle in front, for vehicle
speed, for braking in good time and for
staying in your lane.
Do not use cruise control:
R in road and traffic conditions which do not
allow you to maintain a constant speed e.g.
in heavy traffic or on winding roads
R on slippery road surfaces. Braking or
accelerating could cause the drive wheels
to lose traction and the vehicle could then
skid
R when there is poor visibility, e.g. due to fog,
heavy rain or snow
If there is a change of drivers, advise the new
driver of the speed stored.
Cruise control lever 0002
To activate or increase speed
0003 To activate or reduce speed
0022 To deactivate cruise control
0021 To activate at the current speed/last
stored speed
When you activate cruise control, the stored
speed is shown in the multifunction display
for five seconds. In the multifunction display, the segments between the stored speed and
the maximum speed light up.
Storing and maintaining the current
speed You can store the current speed if you are
driving faster than 20 mph (30 km/h).
X
Accelerate the vehicle to the desired
speed.
X Briefly press the cruise control lever
up 0002 or down 0003.
X Remove your foot from the accelerator
pedal.
Cruise control is activated. The vehicle
automatically maintains the stored speed.
i Cruise control may be unable to maintain
the stored speed on uphill gradients. The
stored speed is resumed when the gradient
evens out. Cruise control maintains the
stored speed on downhill gradients by
automatically applying the brakes.
Storing the current speed or calling up
the last stored speed G
WARNING
If you call up the stored speed and it differs
from the current speed, the vehicle
accelerates or decelerates. If you do not know
the stored speed, the vehicle could accelerate
or brake unexpectedly. There is a risk of an
accident.
Pay attention to the road and traffic
conditions before calling up the stored speed.
If you do not know the stored speed, store the
desired speed again.
X Briefly pull the cruise control lever towards
you 0021.
X Remove your foot from the accelerator
pedal.
The first time cruise control is activated, it
stores the current speed or regulates the
speed of the vehicle to the previously
stored speed. 172
Driving systemsDriving and parking

In such cases, DISTRONIC PLUS may:
R
give an unnecessary warning and then
brake the vehicle
R neither give a warning nor intervene
R accelerate unexpectedly
There is a risk of an accident.
Continue to drive carefully and be ready to
brake, in particular when warned to do so by
DISTRONIC PLUS. G
WARNING
DISTRONIC PLUS brakes yourv ehicle with up
to 40% of the maximum braking force. If this
braking force is insufficient, DISTRONIC PLUS
warns you visually and audibly .There is a risk
of an accident.
In such cases, apply the brakes yourself and
try to take evasive action.
! If DISTRONIC PLUS or the HOLD function
is activated, the vehicle brakes
automatically in certain situations. To
prevent damage to the vehicle, deactivate
DISTRONIC PLUS and the HOLD function in
the following or other similar situations:
R when towing the vehicle
R in the car wash
If you fail to adapt your driving style,
DISTRONIC PLUS can neither reduce the risk
of accident nor override the laws of physics.
DISTRONIC PLUS cannot take into account
the road, traffic and weather conditions.
DISTRONIC PLUS is only an aid. You are
responsible for the distance to the vehicle in
front, for vehicle speed, for braking in good
time and for staying in your lane.
Do not use DISTRONIC PLUS:
R in road and traffic conditions which do not
allow you to maintain a constant speed e.g.
in heavy traffic or on winding roads
R on slippery road surfaces. Braking or
accelerating could cause the drive wheels to lose traction and the vehicle could then
skid
R when there is poor visibility, e.g. due to fog,
heavy rain or snow
DISTRONIC PLUS may not detect narrow
vehicles driving in front, e.g. motorcycles, or
vehicles driving on a different line.
In particular, the detection of obstacles can
be impaired if:
R dirt on the sensors or anything else
covering the sensors
R snow or heavy rain
R interference by other radar sources
R strong radar reflections, for example, in
parking garages
If DISTRONIC PLUS no longer detects a
vehicle in front, DISTRONIC PLUS may
unexpectedly accelerate the vehicle to the
stored speed.
This speed may:
R be too high if you are driving in a filter lane
or an exit lane
R be so high when driving in the right-hand
lane that you overtake vehicles in the left-
hand lane
R be so high when driving in the left-hand lane
that you overtake vehicles in the right-hand
lane
If there is a change of drivers, advise the new
driver of the speed stored.
If there is no vehicle in front, DISTRONIC
PLUS operates in the same way as cruise
control in the speed range between 20 mph
(Canada: 30 km/h) and 120 mph (Canada:
200 km/h). If a vehicle is driving in front of
you, it operates in the speed range between
0 mph (0 km/h) and 120 mph (Canada:
200 km/h).
Do not use DISTRONIC PLUS while driving on
roads with steep gradients.
As DISTRONIC PLUS transmits radar waves,
it can resemble the radar detectors of the
responsible authorities. You can refer to the 174
Driving systemsDriving and parking

Display messages Possible causes/consequences and
0001 Solutions
Check
Tires The tire pressure in one or more tires has dropped significantly.
The wheel position is displayed in the multifunction display.
Aw
arning tone also sounds.
G WARNING
With tire pressures which are too low, there is a ris kofthe
following hazards:
R they may burst, especially as the load and vehicle speed
increase.
R they may wear excessively and/or unevenly, which may greatly
impair tire traction.
R the driving characteristics, as well as steering and braking, may
be greatly impaired.
There is a risk of an accident.
X Stop the vehicle without making any sudden steering or braking
maneuvers. Pay attention to the traffic conditions as you do so.
X Secure the vehicle against rolling away (Y page 164).
X Check the tires and, if necessary, follow the instructions for a
flat tire (Y page 301).
X Check the tire pressure (Y page 322).
X If necessary, correct the tire pressure. Warning
Tire Malfunction The tire pressure in one or more tires has dropped suddenly. The
wheel position is shown in the multifunction display.
G WARNING
If you drive with a flat tire, there is a risk of the following hazards:
R a flat tire affects the ability to steer or brake the vehicle.
R you could lose control of the vehicle.
R continued driving with a flat tire will cause excessive heat build-
up and possibly a fire.
There is a risk of an accident.
X Stop the vehicle without making any sudden steering or braking
maneuvers. Pay attention to the traffic conditions as you do so.
X Secure the vehicle against rolling away (Y page 164).
X Check the tires and, if necessary, follow the instructions for a
flat tire (Y page 301). Display messages
243On-board computer and displays Z