Operation ......................................... 52
System self-test ...............................54
Occupant safety
Automatic measures after an acci-
dent .................................................59
Children in the vehicle .................... .59
Important safety notes .................... 43
Pets in the vehicle ........................... 65
PRE-SAFE ®
(anticipatory occu-
pant protection) ............................... 58
Seat belt .......................................... 44
OCS
Conditions ....................................... 51
Faults ............................................... 55
Operation .........................................52
System self-test ............................... 54
Odometer ........................................... 236
Oil see Engine oil
On-board computer
Assistance graphic menu ............... 243
Assistance menu ........................... 244
Displaying a service message ........ 329
Display messages .......................... 250
DISTRONIC PLUS ........................... 191
Factory settings ............................. 249
Head-up display ............................. 233
Important safety notes .................. 230
Instrument cluster menu ............... 248
Lights menu ................................... 247
Media menu ................................... 240
Menu overview .............................. 235
Message memory .......................... 250
Navigation menu ............................ 238
Operation ....................................... 231
Radio menu ................................... 240
Service menu ................................. 244
Settings menu ............................... 244
Standard display ............................ 236
Telephone menu ............................ 242
Trip menu ...................................... 236
Video DVD operation ..................... 241
Opening and closing the side trim
panels ................................................. 132
Operating safety Declaration of conformity ................ 26
Important safety notes .................... 25 Operating system
see On-board computer
Operator's Manual
Overview .......................................... 23
Vehicle equipment ........................... 23
Outside temperature display ........... 231
Overhead control panel ...................... 38
Override feature Rear side window s........................... 65 P
Paint code number ............................ 396
Paintwork (cleaning instructions) ... 332
Panic alarm .......................................... 42
Panorama roof with power tilt/
sliding panel
Important safety notes .................. 101
Opening/closing ............................ 103
Problem (malfunction) ................... 106
Resetting ....................................... 105
Parking
Important safety notes .................. 174
Parking brake ................................ 176
Position of exterior mirror, front-
passenger side ............................... 119
Rear view camera .......................... 207
see PARKTRONIC
Parking aid
Active Parking Assist ..................... 202
see Exterior mirrors
see PARKTRONIC
Parking assistance
see PARKTRONIC
Parking brake
Display message ............................ 254
Electric parking brake .................... 176
Warning lamp ................................. 290
Parking lamps
Switching on/of f........................... 126
PARKTRONIC
Deactivating/activating ................. 201
Driving system ............................... 199
Function/note s............................. 199
Important safety notes .................. 199
Problem (malfunction) ................... 202 14
Index
boosting effect. You will require considerably
more effort to steer and brake. There is a riskof an accident.
Do not switch off the ignition while driving. G
WARNING
If the parking brake has not been fully
released when driving, the parking brake can:
R overheat and cause a fire
R lose its hold function.
There is a risk of fire and an accident. Release
the parking brake fully before driving off.
! Warm up the engine quickly. Do not use
the engine's full performance until it has
reached operating temperature.
Only shift the automatic transmission to
the desired drive position when the vehicle
is stationary.
Where possible, avoid spinning the drive
wheels when pulling away on slippery
roads. You could otherwise damage the
drive train. SmartKey positions
SmartKey 005A
To remove the SmartKey
0047 Power supply for some consumers, such
as the windshield wipers
0048 Ignition (power supply for all consumers)
and drive position
0049 To start the engine i
The SmartKey can be turned in the igni-
tion lock even if it is not the correct Smart- Key for the vehicle. The ignition is not
switched on. The engine cannot be started.
Vehicles with AIRPANEL: you can open the
shutters in the radiator trim, by turning the
key to position 2in the ignition lock. After
approximately 120 seconds the shutters
open automatically. Further information on
opening and cleaning the shutters
(Y page 334).
Start/Stop button General notes
A check which periodically establishes a radio
connection between the vehicle and the
SmartKey determines whether a valid Smart- Key is in the vehicle. This occurs, for example, when starting the engine.
To start the vehicle without actively using the
SmartKey:
R the Start/Stop button must be inserted in
the ignition lock.
R the SmartKey must be in the vehicle.
R the vehicle must not be locked with the
SmartKey or KEYLESS-GO (Y page 81).
Pressing the Start/Stop button several times
in succession corresponds to the different
SmartKey positions in the ignition lock. This is
only the case if you are not depressing the
brake pedal.
If you depress the brake pedal and press the
Start/Stop button, the engine starts immedi- ately.
Do not keep the SmartKey:
R with electronic devices, e.g. a mobile
phone or another SmartKey
R with metallic objects, e.g. coins or metal
foil
R inside metallic objects, e.g. a metal case
This can affect the functionality of the Smart-
Key. Driving
157Driving and parking Z
!
Make sure that the windshield wipers are
not folded away from the windshield. You
could otherwise damage the windshield
wipers or the hood. Example
X Make sure that the windshield wipers are
turned off.
X Pull release lever 0043on the hood.
The hood is released. X
Reach into the gap, pull hood catch han-
dle 0044up and lift the hood.
If you lift the hood by approximately 15 in
(40 cm), the hood is opened and held open automatically by the gas-filled strut.
Closing the hood X
Lower the hood and let it fall from a height
of approximately 8 in (20 cm).
X Check that the hood has engaged properly.
If the hood can be raised slightly, it is not
properly engaged. Open it again and close
it with a little more force. Radiator
Do not cover up the radiator, such as with a
thermal mat or insect protection cover. The
readings of the on-board-diagnostic system
may otherwise be inaccurate. Some of these
readings are required by law and must be
accurate at all times. Engine oil
General notes Depending on your driving style, the vehicle
consumes up to 0.9 US qt (0.8 liters) of oil per
600 miles (1,000 km). The oil consumption
may be higher than this when the vehicle is
new or if you frequently drive at high engine
speeds.
Depending on the engine, the oil dipstick may be in a different location.
When checking the oil level:
R park the vehicle on a level surface.
R the engine should be switched off for
approximately five minutes if the engine is
at normal operating temperature.
R if the engine is not at normal operating
temperature, e.g. if the engine was only
started briefly, wait about 30 minutes
before carrying out the measurement.
Checking the oil level using the oil dip-
stick G
WARNING
Certain components in the engine compart-
ment, such as the engine, radiator and parts
of the exhaust system, can become very hot.
Working in the engine compartment poses a
risk of injury.
Where possible, let the engine cool down and touch only the components described in the
following. Engine compartment
325Maintenance and care Z
X
Replace cap 0043on the filler neck and turn
clockwise.
Ensure that the cap locks into place
securely.
X Check the oil level again with the oil dip-
stick (Y page 325).
Further information on engine oil
(Y page 400). Additional service products
Checking coolant level G
WARNING
Certain components in the engine compart-
ment, such as the engine, radiator and parts
of the exhaust system, can become very hot.
Working in the engine compartment poses a
risk of injury.
Where possible, let the engine cool down and touch only the components described in the
following. G
WARNING
The engine cooling system is pressurized, par- ticularly when the engine is warm. When
opening the cap, you could be scalded by hotcoolant spraying out. There is a risk of injury.
Let the engine cool down before opening the
cap. Wear eye and hand protection when
opening the cap. Open the cap slowly half a
turn to allow pressure to escape. X
Park the vehicle on a level surface. Only check the coolant level when the vehi-
cle is on a level surface and the engine has
cooled down.
X Turn the SmartKey to position 2in the igni-
tion lock (Y page 157).
or
X On vehicles with KEYLESS-GO, press the
Start/Stop button twice (Y page 157).
X Check the coolant temperature display in
the instrument cluster.
The coolant temperature must be below
158 ‡ (70 †).
X Turn the SmartKey to position
0(Y page 157) in the ignition lock.
or
X On vehicles with KEYLESS-GO, pull the
Start/Stop button from the ignition lock
(Y page 157).
X Slowly turn cap 0043half a turn counter-
clockwise to allow excess pressure to
escape.
X Turn cap 0043further counter-clockwise and
remove it.
If the coolant is at the level of marker bar 0087
in the filler neck when cold, there is enough coolant in coolant expansion tank 0044.
If the coolant level is approximately 0.6 in
(1.5 cm) above marker bar 0087in the filler
neck when warm, there is enough coolant
in expansion tank 0044.
X If necessary, add coolant that has been tes-
ted and approved by Mercedes-Benz.
X Replace cap 0043and turn it clockwise as far
as it will go.
For further information on coolant, see
(Y page 401).
Adding washer fluid to the windshield
washer system G
WARNING
Certain components in the engine compart-
ment, such as the engine, radiator and parts
of the exhaust system, can become very hot. Engine compartment
327Maintenance and care
Z
R
on short journeys
R in mountainous terrain Engine oil
General notes !
Never use engine oil or an oil filter of a
specification other than is necessary to ful-
fill the prescribed service intervals. Do not
change the engine oil or oil filter in order to achieve longer replacement intervals than
those prescribed. You could otherwise
cause engine damage or damage to the
exhaust gas aftertreatment.
Follow the instructions in the service inter-
val display regarding the oil change. Other-
wise, you may damage the engine and the
exhaust gas aftertreatment.
When handling engine oil, observe the impor- tant safety notes on service products
(Y page 397).
The engine oils are matched to the perform-
ance of Mercedes-Benz engines and service
intervals. You should therefore only use
engine oils and oil filters that are approved for vehicles with maintenance systems.
For a list of approved engine oils and oil filters,
consult an authorized Mercedes-Benz Cen-
ter. Or visit the website
http://bevo.mercedes-benz.com.
The table shows which engine oils have been
approved for your vehicle. Model Engin
e
model MB Approval
C 300
C 300 4MATIC
274 229.3, 229.5,
229.51,229.52 C 400 4MATIC
276 229.5
AMG vehicles
177 229.5
i
MB approval is indicated on the oil con-
tainers. Filling capacities The following values refer to an oil change
including the oil filter. Model Capacity
C 300
C 300 4MATIC
7.4 qt (7.0 l)
C 400 4MATIC
6.9 qt (6.5 l)
Additives
!
Do not use any additives in the engine oil.
This could damage the engine.
Engine oil viscosity Viscosity describes the flow characteristics
of a fluid. If an engine oil has a high viscosity,
this means that it is thick; a low viscosity
means that it is thin.
Select an engine oil with an SAE classification (viscosity) suitable for the prevailing outside
temperatures. The table shows you which
SAE classifications are to be used. The low-
temperature characteristics of engine oils
can deteriorate significantly, e.g. as a result
of aging, soot and fuel deposits. It is therefore
strongly recommended that you carry out reg- ular oil changes using an approved engine oil
with the appropriate SAE classification. 400
Service products and filling capacitiesTechnical data
Brake fluid
G
WARNING
The brake fluid constantly absorbs moisture
from the air. This lowers the boiling point of
the brake fluid. If the boiling point of the brake fluid is too low, vapor pockets may form in the brake system when the brakes are applied
hard. This would impair braking efficiency.
There is a risk of an accident.
You should have the brake fluid renewed at
the specified intervals.
When handling brake fluid, observe the
important safety notes on service products
(Y page 397).
The brake fluid change intervals can be found
in the Maintenance Booklet.
Only use brake fluid approved by Mercedes-
Benz according to MB Approval 331.0.
Information about approved brake fluid can
be obtained at any qualified specialist work-
shop or on the Internet at
http://bevo.mercedes-benz.co m.
i Have the brake fluid regularly replaced at
a qualified specialist workshop and the
replacement confirmed in the Maintenance Booklet. Coolant
Important safety notes G
WARNING
If antifreeze comes into contact with hot com- ponents in the engine compartment, it may
ignite. There is a risk of fire and injury.
Let the engine cool down before you add anti-
freeze. Make sure that antifreeze is not spilled
next to the filler neck. Thoroughly clean the
antifreeze from components before starting
the engine.
! Only add coolant that has been premixed
with the desired antifreeze protection. You
could otherwise damage the engine. Further information on coolants can be
found in the Mercedes-Benz Specifications
for Service Products, MB BeVo 310.1, e.g.
on the Internet at
http://bevo.mercedes-benz.com. Or con-
tact a qualified specialist workshop.
! Always use a suitable coolant mixture,
even in countries where high temperatures prevail.
Otherwise, the engine cooling system is not
sufficiently protected from corrosion and
overheating.
i Have the coolant regularly replaced at a
qualified specialist workshop and the
replacement confirmed in the Maintenance Booklet.
The coolant is a mixture of water and anti-
freeze/corrosion inhibitor. It performs the
following tasks:
R corrosion protection
R antifreeze protection
R raising the boiling point
If the coolant has antifreeze protection down to -35 ‡(-37 †), the boiling point of the cool-
ant during operation is approximately 266 ‡
(130 †).
The antifreeze/corrosion inhibitor concentra- tion in the engine cooling system should:
R be at least 50%. This will protect the engine
cooling system against freezing down to
approximately -35 ‡ (-37 †).
R no t exceed 55% (antifreeze protection
down to -49 ‡ [-45 †]). Otherwise, heat
will not be dissipated as effectively.
Mercedes-Benz recommends an antifreeze/
corrosion inhibitor concentrate in accord-
ance with MB Specifications for Service Prod- ucts 310.1.
The coolant is checked with every mainte-
nance interval at a qualified specialist work-
shop.
i When the vehicle is first delivered, it is fil-
led with a coolant mixture that ensures Service products and filling capacities
401Technical data Z
adequate antifreeze and corrosion protec-
tion.
i The coolant is checked with every main-
tenance interval at a qualified specialist
workshop.
Filling capacities Model Capacity
C 300
C 300 4MATIC
8.5 US qt (8.0 l)
C 400 4MATIC
11.5 US qt (10.9 l)
i
Use MB 325.0 or MB 326.0 corrosion
inhibitor/antifreeze. Windshield/headlamp cleaning sys-
tem
Important safety notes G
WARNING
Windshield washer concentrate could ignite if it comes into contact with hot engine compo-
nents or the exhaust system. There is a risk of
fire and injury.
Make sure that no windshield washer con-
centrate is spilled next to the filler neck.
! Only use washer fluid that is suitable for
plastic lamp lenses, e.g. MB SummerFit or
MB WinterFit. Unsuitable washer fluid
could damage the plastic lenses of the
headlamps.
! Do not add distilled or de-ionized water to
the washer fluid container. Otherwise, the
level sensor may be damaged.
! Only MB SummerFit and MB WinterFit
washer fluid should be mixed together. The spray nozzles may otherwise become
blocked. At temperatures above freezing:
X Fill the washer fluid reservoir with a mixture
of water and windshield washer fluid, e.g.
MB SummerFit.
Add 1 part MB SummerFit to 100 parts water.
At temperatures below freezing:
X Fill the washer fluid reservoir with a mixture
of water and washer fluid, e.g. MB Winter-
Fit.
For the correct mixing ratio refer to the
information on the antifreeze reservoir.
i Add windshield washer fluid, e.g. MB
SummerFit or MB WinterFit, to the washer
fluid all year round. Climate control system refrigerant
Important safety notes The climate control system of your vehicle is
filled with refrigerant R‑
134a.
The instruction label regarding the refrigerant type used can be found on the radiator cross
member.
! Only the refrigerant R‑134a and the PAG
oil approved by Mercedes-Benz may be
used. The approved PAG oil may not be
mixed with any other PAG oil that is not
approved for R-134a refrigerant. Other-
wise, the climate control system may be
damaged.
Service work, such as topping up refrigerant
or replacing components, may only be carried out by a qualified specialist workshop. All
applicable regulations must be adhered to,
SAE standard J639 included.
Always have work on the climate control sys-
tem carried out at a qualified specialist work-
shop. 402
Service products and filling capacitiesTechnical data