C 350 and C 350 4MATIC
If the vehicle is braked to a standstill in
Dor N,
the ECO start/stop function switches off the engine automatically.
The ECO start/stop function is operational
when:
R the indicator lamp in the ECO button is lit
green.
R the outside temperature is within the range
that is suitable for the system.
R the engine is at normal operating temper-
ature.
R the set temperature for the vehicle interior
has been reached.
R the battery is sufficiently charged.
R the system detects that the windshield is
not fogged up when the air-conditioning
system is switched on.
R the hood is closed.
R the driver's door is closed and the driver's
seat belt is fastened.
i All of the vehicle's systems remain active
when the engine is stopped automatically.
i The HOLD function can also be activated
if the engine has been switched off auto-
matically. It is then not necessary to con-
tinue applying the brakes during the auto-
matic stop phase. When you depress the
accelerator pedal, the engine starts auto-
matically and the braking effect of the
HOLD function is deactivated.
i The engine can be switched off automat-
ically a maximum of four times (first stop
and three subsequent stops) in succession. Automatic engine start C 250 and C 250 Sport
The engine starts automatically if:
R you switch off the ECO start/stop function
by pressing the ECO button.
R in transmission position Dor Nthe brake
pedal is released and the HOLD function is not active.
R you depress the accelerator pedal.
R you engage reverse gear R.
R you move the transmission out of position
P.
R you unfasten your seat belt or open the
driver's door.
R the vehicle starts to roll.
R the brake system requires this.
R the temperature in the vehicle interior devi-
ates from the set range.
R the system detects moisture on the wind-
shield when the air-conditioning system is
switched on.
R the battery's condition of charge is too low.
i Shifting the transmission to position
P
does not start the engine.
i If you shift the transmission from
Rto D,
the ECO start/stop function is available
again once the 00A7symbol reappears in
green in the multifunction display.
C 350 and C 350 4MATIC
The engine starts automatically if:
R you switch off the ECO start/stop function
by pressing the ECO button.
R in transmission position Dor Nthe brake
pedal is released and the HOLD function is not active.
R you depress the accelerator pedal.
R you engage reverse gear R.
R you move the transmission out of position
P.
R you unfasten your seat belt or open the
driver's door. 138
DrivingDriving and parking
R
the vehicle starts to roll.
R the brake system requires this.
R the temperature in the vehicle interior devi-
ates from the set range.
R the system detects moisture on the wind-
shield when the air-conditioning system is
switched on.
R the battery's condition of charge is too low.
i Shifting the transmission to position
P
does not start the engine.
Deactivating/activating the ECO start/
stop function C 250 and C 250 Sport
ECO button
X To deactivate: press button0043.
Indicator lamp 0044and the 00A7symbol in
the multifunction display go out.
X To activate: press button 0043.
Indicator lamp 0044lights up.
If all conditions for automatic engine
switch-off (Y page 137) are fulfilled, the
00A7 ECO symbol is shown in green in the
multifunction display.
If not all conditions for automatic engine
switch-off (Y page 137) are fulfilled, the
00A7 ECO symbol is shown in yellow in the
multifunction display.
If this is the case, the ECO start/stop func- tion is not available.
Conditions for the automatic engine
switch-off (Y page 137). If indicator lamp
0044is off, the ECO start/stop
function has been deactivated manually or as the result of a malfunction. The engine will
then not be switched off automatically when
the vehicle stops.
C 350 and C 350 4MATIC ECO button
X To switch off: press button0043.
Indicator lamp 0044goes out.
X To switch on: press button0043.
Indicator lamp 0044lights up.
If the indicator lamp on the ECO button is off, the ECO start/stop function has been deac-
tivated manually or as the result of a mal-
function. Driving
139Driving an d parking Z
Problem
Possible causes/consequences and
0050
0050Solutions The engine is not run-
ning smoothly and is
misfiring. There is a malfunction in the engine electronics or in a mechanical
component of the engine management system.
X Only depress the accelerator pedal slightly.
X Have the cause rectified immediately at a qualified specialist
workshop.
Otherwise, non-combusted fuel may get into the catalytic con-
verter and damage it. The coolant tempera-
ture gauge shows a
value above 248 ‡
(120 †). The coolant level is too low. The coolant is too hot and the engine
is no longer being cooled sufficiently.
X Stop as soon as possible and allow the engine and the coolant to
cool down.
X Check the coolant level (Y page 275). Observe the warning
notes as you do so and add coolant if necessary. Automatic transmission
Important safety notes
G
WARNING
If the engine speed is above the idling speed
and you engage transmission position Dor R,
the vehicle could pull away suddenly. There is a risk of an accident.
When engaging transmission position Dor R,
always firmly depress the brake pedal and do not simultaneously accelerate. G
WARNING
The automatic transmission switches to neu-
tral position Nwhen you switch off the engine.
The vehicle may roll away. There is a risk of an
accident.
After switching off the engine, always switch
to parking position P. Prevent the parked vehi-
cle from rolling away by applying the parking
brake. Selector lever
Overview of transmission positions Example: selector lever
005D
Park position with selector lever lock
005E Reverse gear
005C Neutral
005B Drive Automatic transmission
141Driving and parking Z
Transmission position and drive pro-
gram display 0043
Transmission position display
0044 Drive program display
The current position of the selector lever is
shown by the indicators next to the selector
lever.
The indicators light up when the SmartKey is inserted into the ignition lock. The indicators go out when the SmartKey is removed from
the ignition lock. Transmission positions
0045 Park position
Do not shift the transmission into
position
P(Y page 151) unless the
vehicle is stationary. The parking
lock should not be used as a brake when parking. Always apply the
parking brake in addition to the
parking lock in order to secure the
vehicle.
The SmartKey can only be removedif the transmission is in position P.
If the SmartKey is removed from
the ignition lock, the selector lever
is locked.
If the vehicle electronics are mal-
functioning, the selector lever may be locked in position P. To release
a locked selector lever, see "Man-
ual override of parking lock"
(Y page 148). 0046 Reverse gear
Only shift the transmission to
R
when the vehicle is stationary. 142
Automatic transmissionDriving an
d parking
0044 Neutral
Do not shift the transmission to
N
while driving. The transmission
could otherwise be damaged.
No power is transmitted from the
engine to the drive wheels.
Releasing the brakes will allow you
to move the vehicle freely, e.g. to
push it or tow it.
If ESP ®
is deactivated or faulty:
only shift the transmission to posi-
tion Nif the vehicle is in danger of
skidding, e.g. on icy roads.
! Rolling in neutral
Ncan damage
the drive train. 003A Drive
The automatic transmission
changes gear automatically. All
forward gears are available.
Driving tips
Changing gear The automatic transmission shifts to the indi-
vidual gears automatically when it is in trans-
mission position D. This automatic gearshift-
ing behavior is determined by:
R a shift range restriction, if selected
R the selected drive program (Y page 143)
R the position of the accelerator pedal
(Y page 143)
R the road speed
Accelerator pedal position Your style of driving influences how the auto-
matic transmission shifts gear:
R little throttle: early upshifts
R more throttle: late upshifts AMG vehicles When shifting down, the double-clutch func-
tion is active regardless of the currently selec-
ted drive program. The double-clutch functionreduces load change reactions and is condu-cive to a sporty driving style. The sound gen-
erated by the double-clutch function depends
on the drive program selected.
Kickdown Use kickdown for maximum acceleration.
X Depress the accelerator pedal beyond the
pressure point.
The automatic transmission shifts to a
lower gear depending on the engine speed.
X Ease off the accelerator pedal once the
desired speed is reached.
The automatic transmission shifts back up. Program selector button
General notes The program selector button allows you to
choose between different driving character-
istics. Example: program selector button
E
Economy Comfortable, economical
driving
S
Sport Sporty driving style
M
Manual Manual gear shiftingAutomatic transmission
143Driving and parking Z
i
For further information on the automatic
drive program, see (Y page 144).
X Press program selector button 0043repeat-
edly until the letter for the desired drive
program appears in the multifunction dis-
play.
AMG vehicles Drive program selector with manual drive program
C
Controlled
Efficiency Comfortable, economical
driving
S
Sport Sporty driving style
S+
SportPlus Extremely sporty driving
style M
Manual Manual gear shifting
RS
RACE
START Optimal vehicle accelera-
tion from a standstill i
For further information on the automatic
drive program, see (Y page 144).
X Turn drive program selector 0043until the
desired drive program appears in the mul-
tifunction display in the speedometer.
The drive program indicator on drive pro-
gram selector 0043lights up in red.
i The automatic transmission shifts to
automatic drive program Ceach time the
engine is started.
i RS
cannot be selected during normal driv-
ing. For further information on RACE
START, see (Y page 170). Steering wheel paddle shifters
0043
Left-hand steering wheel paddle shifter
0044 Right-hand steering wheel paddle shifter
In the automatic drive program, you can
restrict or derestrict the shift range by using
the steering wheel paddle shifters
(Y page 145).
In the manual drive program, you can change
gear using the steering wheel paddle shifters
or the selector lever (Y page 146).
i You can only change gear with the steer-
ing wheel paddle shifters when the trans-
mission is in position D. Automatic drive program
Drive program E(drive program Con MAG
vehicles) is characterized by the following:
R comfort-oriented engine and automatic
transmission settings.
R optimal fuel consumption resulting from
the automatic transmission shifting up
sooner.
R the vehicle pulling away more gently in
forward and reverse gears, unless the
accelerator pedal is depressed fully.
R increased sensitivity. This improves driving
stability on slippery road surfaces, for
example.
R the automatic transmission shifting up
sooner. This results in the vehicle being
driven at lower engine speeds and the
wheels being less likely to spin. 144
Automatic transmissionDriving and parking
Drive program
S(drive programs Sand S+on
MAG vehicles) is characterized by the follow-
ing:
R sporty engine and automatic transmission
settings
R the vehicle pulling away in first gear
R the automatic transmission shifting up
later
R the fuel consumption possibly being higher
as a result of the later automatic transmis-
sion shift points Shift ranges
Introduction When the automatic transmission is in posi-
tion
D, it is possible to restrict or derestrict
the shift range (Y page 145).
The shift range selected is shown in the mul- tifunction display. The automatic transmis-
sion shifts only as far as the selected gear.
Shift range: 0040
You can use the engine's braking
effect
0038
You can use the braking effect of
the engine on downhill gradients
and for driving:
R on steep mountain roads
R in mountainous terrain
R in arduous conditions 0037
To use the braking effect of the
engine on extremely steep downhill
gradients and on long downhill
stretches Restricting the shift range
X
Press the selector lever to the left towards
D– .
or X
Pull the left-hand steering wheel paddle
shifter.
The automatic transmission shifts down
one gear and restricts the shift range to the
relevant gear.
i If the engine exceeds the maximum
engine speed when shifting down, the auto- matic transmission protects against engine
damage by not shifting down.
i If the maximum engine speed for the shift
range is reached and you continue to accel- erate, the automatic transmission shifts up,
even if the shift range is restricted. This
prevents the engine from overrevving.
Extending the shift range X
Briefly press the selector lever to the right
towards D+.
or
X Pull the right-hand steering wheel paddle
shifter.
The shift range is derestricted.
Clearing the shift range restriction X
Press and hold the selector lever towards
D+ until Dis shown once more in the mul-
tifunction display.
or X Pull and hold the right-hand steering wheel
paddle shifter until Dis shown again in the
multifunction display.
The automatic transmission shifts from the
current shift range directly to D.
Selecting the ideal shift range X
Press the selector lever to the left towards
D– and hold it in position.
or
X Pull the left-hand steering wheel paddle
shifter and hold it in position.
The automatic transmission shifts to the
gear which allows optimum acceleration Automatic transmission
145Driving and parking Z
and deceleration. To do this, the automatic
transmission shifts down one or more
gears. Manual drive program
Switching on the manual drive program The manual drive program is only available for
vehicles with the dynamic handling package
and for AMG vehicles.
Manual drive program Mdiffers from drive
program S(or, in the case of AMG vehicles,
drive programs Sand S+) with regard to:
R spontaneity
R responsiveness
R smoothness of the gear changes
X Press the program selector button
(Y page 143) repeatedly until Mappears in
the multifunction display.
X AMG vehicles: turn the drive program
selector (Y page 144) until Mappears in the
multifunction display.
The indicator Mon the drive program selec-
tor lights up in red.
Upshifting i
Vehicles with the dynamic handling
package: if the maximum engine speed for
the shift range is reached and you continue
to accelerate, the automatic transmission
shifts up. If manual drive program Mhas
been selected, the automatic transmission does not switch up.
X Briefly press the selector lever to the right
towards D+.
or X Pull the right-hand steering wheel paddle
shifter (Y page 144).
The automatic transmission shifts up to the
next gear.
AMG vehicles !
In manual drive program
M, the automatic
transmission does not shift up automati-
cally even when the engine limiting speed
for the current gear is reached. When the
engine limiting speed is reached, the fuel
supply is cut to prevent the engine from
overrevving. Always make sure that the
engine speed does not reach the red area of
the tachometer. There is otherwise a risk of
engine damage.
Before the engine speed reaches the red area, an upshift indicator appears in the multifunc-
tion display. 0043
Gear indicator
0044 Upshift indicator
Shift recommendation The gearshift recommendations assist you in
adopting an economical driving style. The rec- ommended gear is shown in the multifunction
display.
X If corresponding gearshift recommenda-
tion 0043appears in the multifunction display
on the instrument cluster, pull on the right- hand steering wheel paddle shifter
(Y page 144).
The automatic transmission shifts to rec-
ommended gear 0044.146
Automatic transmissionDriving and parking