2016 MERCEDES-BENZ C-CLASS CABRIOLET Owners Manual

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 to when driving
without a trailer.
The vehicle/trailer combination:
R is heavier
R is restricted in its acceleration and gradient-
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 charac-
teristics. Adapt your driving style accordingly.
Maintain a safe distance. Drive carefully.
When towing a trailer, always adjust your speed to the current road and weather conditions. Do
not exceed the maximum permissible speed for
your vehicle/trailer combination. Notes on towing a trailer
General notes Towing a trailer is not possible with
Mercedes
‑AMG vehicles.
When towing a trailer, set the tyre pressure on
the rear axle of the towing vehicle for a maxi-
mum load. Further information on the tyre pres-
sure table in the fuel filler flap (Y page 345).
You will find permissible trailer loads under
"Technical data" (Y page 369).
Driving tips Observe the information on ESP
®
trailer stabili-
sation (Y page 75).
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 maximum
permitted speed is. Observe the maximum per-
missible speed in the relevant country.
For certain Mercedes-Benz vehicles, the maxi-
mum 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 369). In the event of increased
rear axle load, the car/trailer combination may not exceed a maximum speed of 100 km/h for
reasons concerning the operating permit. This
also applies in countries in which the maximum
permissible speed for car/trailer combinations
is greater than 100 km/h.
When towing a trailer, your vehicle's handling
characteristics will be different to when driving
without a trailer and the vehicle will consume
more fuel.
Shift to a lower gear in good time on long and
steep downhill gradients.
This also applies in the case of:
R activated DISTRONIC PLUS
R activated cruise control
This will use the braking effect of the engine, so
less braking will be required to maintain the
vehicle speed. This relieves the load on the
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 R
Maintain a greater distance to the vehicle in
front than when driving without a trailer.
R Avoid braking abruptly. If possible, brake gen-
tly at first to allow the trailer to run on. Then,
increase the braking force rapidly.
R The values given for gradient-climbing capa-
bilities from a standstill refer to sea level.
When driving in mountainous areas, note that
the power output of the engine, and conse-
quently the vehicle's gradient-climbing capa-
bility from a standstill, decrease with increas- ing altitude.
If the trailer swings from side to side:
X Do not accelerate under any circumstances.
X Do not countersteer.
X Brake, if necessary. Folding the ball coupling in/out
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. 214
Towing a trailerDriving and parking

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 the :switch until the ball coupling
unlocks.
The ball coupling folds out from under the rear
bumper.
The indicator lamp in the :switch flashes.
The trailer power socket is integrated in the
ball coupling. X
Press the ball coupling in the direction of the
arrow until it engages in a vertical position.
The indicator lamp in the switch for unlocking
the ball coupling goes out.
The multifunction display shows the Check Check
trailer hitch lock
trailer hitch lock display message until
the ball coupling is engaged.
X Remove the protective cap from the ball cou-
pling and store it in a safe place.
Folding in the ball coupling i
Fold the ball coupling 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 cap on the ball coupling.
X Pull the :switch again until the ball coupling
unlocks.
The ball coupling folds down from under the
rear bumper. The indicator lamp in the :
switch flashes.
X Press the ball coupling until it engages audibly
behind the bumper.
The indicator lamp in the :switch and the
message on the multifunction display go out. Coupling up a trailer
X Apply the electric parking brake manually.
X Vehicles with manual transmission:
depress the clutch pedal fully and engage first
or reverse gear.
X Vehicles with automatic transmission:
shift the transmission to position
P.
X Position the trailer on a level surface behind
the vehicle.
X Couple up the trailer.
X Establish the electrical connection between
the vehicle and the trailer.
X Check that the trailer lighting system is work-
ing.
X Push the combination switch upwards and
downwards and check whether the corre-
sponding turn signal indicator on the trailer is
flashing. Towing a trailer
215Driving and parking Z

A connected trailer is only detected when the
electrical connection is established correctly
and the lighting system is working properly. The
function of other systems also depends on this, for example:
R ESP ®
R PARKTRONIC
R Active Parking Assist
R Active Blind Spot Assist
R Active Lane Keeping Assist 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 rebounding of the overrun
brake.
! Remove the installed adapter cable before
folding in the ball coupling. Otherwise, dam-
age may occur to the rear bumper and the
adapter cable.
X Apply the electric parking brake manually.
X Vehicles with manual transmission:
depress the clutch pedal fully and engage first
or reverse gear.
X Vehicles with automatic transmission:
shift the transmission to position P.
X Switch off the engine. X
Secure the vehicle and trailer against rolling
away.
X Remove the trailer cable and uncouple the
trailer. Trailer power supply
! You can connect accessories to the perma-
nent power supply up to a maximum of 240 W.
You cannot charge a trailer battery using the
power supply.
When it leaves the factory, your vehicle's trailer
socket is equipped with a permanent power
supply and a power supply that is switched on
via the ignition lock.
The permanent power supply is supplied via
trailer socket pin 9.
The power supply that is switched on via the
ignition lock is supplied via trailer socket pin 10.
The trailer's permanent power supply is
switched off in the event of low on-board voltage and after six hours at the latest.
You can find more information about installing
the trailer electrics at a qualified specialist work- shop.
To activate the switched power supply:
X Turn the key to position 2in the ignition lock
(Y page 133).
or X Press the Start/Stop button twice on vehicles
with KEYLESS-GO or the KEYLESS-GO start
function (Y page 133).
To deactivate the switched power supply: X Turn the key to position 0in the ignition lock
(Y page 133).
or X Press the Start/Stop button once on vehicles
with KEYLESS-GO or the KEYLESS-GO start
function (Y page 133). Failure check for LEDs
If LED lamps are fitted in the trailer, a malfunc-
tion message may appear in the multifunction
display even if there is no fault. The reason for
the error message may be that the current has
fallen below the minimum of 50 mA. 216
Towing a trailerDriving an
d parking

To ensure reliable operation of the failure indi-
cator, each LED chain in the trailer lighting must
be guaranteed a minimum current of 50 mA. Trailer with 7-pin connector
General notes Trailer with 7-pin connector:
you can connect
to the 13-pin socket on the ball coupling using
an adapter or, if necessary, an adapter cable.
Both can be obtained at a qualified specialist
workshop.
Fitting the adapter !
Make sure that there is sufficient cable play
so that the cable cannot become detached
when cornering.
! Remove the installed adapter cable before
folding in the ball coupling. Otherwise, dam-
age may occur to the rear bumper and the
adapter cable. X
Open the socket cover.
X Insert the connector with lug :into groove
= on the socket.
X Turn bayonet connection ;clockwise to the
stop.
X Let the cover engage.
X If you are using an adapter cable, secure the
cable to the trailer with cable ties. Problems with trailer towing
Problem
Possible causes/consequences and
M MSolutions The unlocked ball cou-
pling cannot be
engaged. X
Consult a qualified specialist workshop. The ball coupling does
not unlock even though:
R the vehicle is station-
ary
R no trailer cable is con-
nected
R the release switch to
unlock the ball cou-
pling has been pulled
for more than a sec-
ond The on-board voltage is too low.
X Start the engine.
If the ball coupling still does not unlock:
X Consult a qualified specialist workshop. Bicycle rack
General notes
When attached by clamping onto the ball cou-
pling on the trailer tow hitch, the maximum pay- load is 75 kg. You can transport up to three
bicycles.
The payload is calculated from the weight of the
bicycle rack and the load of the bicycle rack. Bicycle rack
217Driving and parking Z

Important safety notes
G
WARNING
The bicycle rack can detach from the vehicle if
you
R exceed the permissible payload of the
trailer tow hitch
R use the bicycle rack incorrectly
R attach the bicycle rack to the ball coupling
beneath the ball head
There is a risk of an accident.
For your safety and that of other road users,
observe the following:
R Always observe the permissible payload of
the trailer tow hitch.
R Use the bicycle rack only to transport bicy-
cles.
R Always attach the bicycle rack correctly by
clamping onto the ball head and, if possible, to the guide pin on the ball coupling as well.
R To transport four bicycles, always use bicy-
cle racks with additional support on the ball
coupling's guide pin. R
Use only bicycle racks approved by
Mercedes-Benz.
R Always comply with the bicycle rack's oper-
ating manual.
! Using unsuitable bicycle racks or using
them incorrectly can cause damage to and
fractures in the trailer tow hitch.
Use only bicycle racks approved by
Mercedes-Benz.
Bicycle racks cause your vehicle's driving char-
acteristics to change. The vehicle
R is heavier
R is restricted in its acceleration and gradient-
climbing capability
R has an increased braking distance
This can impair the vehicle's handling charac-
teristics. Adapt your driving style accordingly.
Maintain a safe distance and drive carefully.
When using bicycle racks, set the tyre pressure on the rear axle of the vehicle for the maximum
load. Further information on tyre pressure can
be found on the tyre pressure table
(Y page 345). Loading instructions
The greater the distance between the load's centre of gravity and the ball head, the higher the load exerted on the trailer tow hitch.
Therefore, observe the following notes:
R Attach heavy bicycles as close as possible to the vehicle.
R Always distribute the load on the bicycle rack as symmetrically as possible to the vehicle longi-
tudinal axis.
Before loading the bicycle rack, Mercedes-Benz advises you to remove all add-on parts from the
bicycles, e.g. bicycle baskets, child seats or batteries. This will allow you to improve the aerody-
namic resistance and the bicycle rack's centre of gravity.
Always secure bicycles against slipping and check that they are firmly seated at regular intervals.
Do not use tarpaulins or other covers. This could impair the driving characteristics and rear visibility. The aerodynamic resistance would also rise, and so would the load exerted on the trailer tow hitchas a result. 218
Bicycle rackDriving and pa
rking

Load distribution on the bicycle rack
: Height between the centre of gravity and the ball coupling
; Distance to the rear between the centre of gravity and the ball coupling
= Centre of gravity is located on the central axis of the vehicle
When loading the bicycle rack, comply with the following notes: Number of bicycles Total weight of bicy-
cle rack and load Max. distance
:
: Max. distance
;
; 3 up to 75 kg 420 mm 300 mmBicycle rack
219Driving and parking Z

Important safety notes
G
WARNING
Operating the integrated information systems and communications equipment in the vehicle
while driving will distract you from traffic con-
ditions. You could then lose control of the
vehicle. There is a risk of an accident.
Only operate these devices if road traffic con-
ditions permit. If you are unsure about the
surrounding conditions, pull over to a safe
location and make entries only while the vehi-
cle is stationary.
You must observe the legal requirements for the country in which you are currently driving whenoperating the on-board computer. G
WARNING
If the instrument cluster has failed or mal-
functioned, you may not recognise function
restrictions relevant to safety. The operating
safety of your vehicle may be impaired. There is a risk of an accident.
Drive on carefully. Have the vehicle checked
at a qualified specialist workshop immedi-
ately.
If the operating safety of your vehicle is
impaired, park the vehicle safely as soon as pos- sible. Contact a qualified specialist workshop.
The on-board computer shows only display mes- sages or warnings from certain systems on the
multifunction display. You should therefore
make sure your vehicle is operating safely at all times.
For an overview, see the instrument cluster illus-
tration (Y page 35). Displays and operation
Instrument cluster lighting
The lighting on the instrument cluster, on the
displays and the controls in the vehicle interior
can be adjusted using brightness control
knob :.
X Turn brightness control knob :up or down.
If you turn the light switch (Y page 114) to the
T, ÃorL position, the brightness
will depend upon the brightness of the ambi-
ent light.
i The light sensor on the instrument cluster
automatically controls the brightness of the
multifunction display.
In daylight, the displays on the instrument
cluster are lit. A dimming function is not pos-
sible in daylight. Speedometer with segments
The speedometer is divided into segments
depending on the vehicle's equipment.
The segments in the speedometer indicate
which speed range is available.
R Cruise control enabled (Y page 167):
The segments light up from the stored speed to the end of the scale or to a permanently set
speed limitation.
R Variable SPEEDTRONIC enabled
(Y page 169):
The segments light up from the start of the
scale to the selected speed limitation.
R DISTRONIC PLUS enabled (Y page 171):
One or two segments in the stored speed
range light up.
R DISTRONIC PLUS detects a vehicle in front
moving more slowly than the stored speed: 220
Displays and operationOn-board computer and displays

The segments between the speed of the vehi-
cle in front and the stored speed light up. Rev counter
! Do not drive in the overrevving range. Doing
so will damage the engine.
The red band in the rev counter indicates the
engine's overrevving range.
The fuel supply is interrupted to protect the
engine when the red band is reached. Outside temperature display
You should pay special attention to road condi-
tions when temperatures are around freezing
point.
Bear in mind that the outside temperature dis-
play indicates the measured air temperature
and not the road surface temperature.
The outside temperature display is in the multi-
function display (Y page 222).
Changes in the outside temperature are dis-
played after a short delay. Coolant temperature gauge
G
WARNING
If you open the bonnet while the engine is
overheating or while there is a fire in the
engine compartment, you could come into
contact with hot gases or other leaking ser-
vice products. There is a danger of injury.
Allow an overheating engine to cool down
before opening the bonnet. If there is a fire in the engine compartment, leave the bonnet
closed and notify the fire brigade.
The coolant temperature display is shown in the lower section of the rev counter (Y page 35).
At high outside temperatures and when driving
in mountainous terrain, the coolant temperature
may rise to the end of the scale.
Under normal operating conditions and with the specified coolant level, the display may rise to
120 †. Operating the on-board computer
:
Multifunction display
; Right control panel
= Left control panel
X To activate the on-board computer: switch
on the power supply.
Vehicles with manual transmission: if you
remove the key, then quickly re-insert it and turn
it to position 1, the instrument cluster and, as a
result, the on-board computer as well are not
activated.
You can control the multifunction display and
the settings in the on-board computer using the buttons on the multifunction steering wheel.
Left control panel ò R
Opens the menu list 9
: Press briefly:
R Scrolls through lists
R Selects a menu or function
R In the Radio Radio orMedia
Media menu:
opens the track or station list and
selects a station, an audio track or a video scene
R In the Telephone Telephone menu: switches
to the phone book and selects a
name or a telephone number Displays and operation
221On-board computer and displays Z