2016 MERCEDES-BENZ C CLASS warning

Drivin g abroadAn extensive Mercedes-Ben z Servic e networ k is
also available in other countries. You can obtain
further information from any authorized
Mercedes-Ben z Center.
Car e
General notes
H Environmental not e
Dispose of empty packagin g and cleanin g
cloths in an environmentally responsible man -
ner.
! Fo r cleanin g your vehicle, do no t use any of
th e following: R
dry, rough or har d clothsR
abrasiv e cleanin g agentsR
solvents R
cleanin g agents containin g solvents
Do no t scrub .
Do no t touch th e surfaces or protective films
wit h har d objects , e.g. a rin g or ic e scraper.
You could otherwise scratch or damage th e
surfaces and protective film.
! Do no t par k th e vehicle fo r an extended
period straight after cleanin g it , particularly
after havin g cleaned th e wheels wit h whee l
cleaner. Wheel cleaners could cause
increase d corrosion of th e brake discs and
brake pads/linings. Fo r this reason , you
should drive fo r a fe w minutes after cleaning.
Brakin g heat s th e brake discs and th e brake
pads/linings, thus drying them. The vehicle
can then be parked.
Regular car e of your vehicle is a condition fo r
retainin g th e qualit y in th e lon g term .
Use car e products and cleanin g agents recom -
mended and approved by Mercedes-Benz. Washing th e vehicle an d cleaning th e
paintwor k
Automatic car was h
G WARNING
Brakin g efficiency is reduce d after washin g
th e vehicle. There is a ris k of an accident.
Afte r th e vehicle has bee n washed, brake
carefully whil e payin g attention to th e traffic
condition s until full braking powe r is restored .
! If DISTRONIC PLU S or th e HOLD function is
activated, th e vehicle brake s automatically in
certain situations.
To preven t damage to th e vehicle, deactivat e
DISTRONIC PLU S and th e HOLD function in
th e followin g or other similar situations: R
when towin g th e vehicle R
in th e car wash
! Never clean your vehicle in a Touchless
Automatic Car Wash as these use special
cleanin g agents . These cleanin g agents can
damage th e paintwor k or plasti c parts .
! Mak e sur e that : R
th e sid e windows and th e slidin g sunroof
are full y closed. R
th e ventilation/heatin g is switched of f (the
OF F butto n has bee n pressed).R
th e windshield wipe r switch is at position 0 .R
th e 360° camera or rea r vie w camera is
switched off.
The vehicle may otherwise be damaged .
! If th e SmartKey is within th e rea r detection
range of KEYLESS-GO , th e followin g situa-
tions, fo r example, co uld l ead to th e u
ninten -
tional opening of th e trunk :R
usin g a car wash R
usin g a powe r washer
Mak e sur e that th e SmartKey is at leas t 10 ft
(3 m) away from th e vehicle.
! Mak e sur e that th e automatic transmissio n
is in neutral position N when washin g your
vehicle in a tow-through car wash . The vehicle
may otherwise be damaged .R
Operatin g wit h th e SmartKey:
Do no t remov e th e SmartKey from th e igni-
tion lock. Do no t ope n th e driver's doo rCare 335
Maintenance and care Z

when the engine is switched off or at very
low speeds. Otherwise, when in transmis-
sion position D or R the automatic trans-
mission will automatically switch to park
position P and block the wheels.R
Operating with the Start/Stop button:
Do not open the driver's door when the
engine is switched off or at very low
speeds. Otherwise, when in transmission
position D or R the automatic transmission
will automatically switch to park position P
and block the wheels.
Observe the following to make sure that the
automatic transmission stays in position N neu-
tral:
Operating with the SmartKey and Start/Stop
button: X
Make sure that the ignition is switched on. X
Make sure that the vehicle is stationary. X
Depress and hold the brake pedal.
Operating with the Start/Stop button only: X
Engage park position P .X
Release the brake pedal. X
Remove Start/Stop button from ignition lock
( Y
page 146).X
Insert the SmartKey into the ignition lock. X
Switch on the ignition. X
Depress and hold the brake pedal.
Operating with the SmartKey and Start/Stop
button: X
Shift to neutral N .X
Release the brake pedal. X
Release the electric parking brake, if neces-
sary. X
Switch off the ignition and leave the SmartKey
in the ignition lock.
You can wash the vehicle in an automatic car
wash from the very start.
If the vehicle is very dirty, pre- wash it bef ore
c leaning it in an automatic car wash.
After using an automatic car wash, wipe off wax
from the windshield and the wiper blades. This
will prevent smears and reduce wiping noises
caused by residue on the windshield. Washing by hand In some countries, washing by hand is only
allowed at specially equipped washing bays.
Observe the legal requirements in each country. X
Do not use hot water and do not wash the
vehicle in direct sunlight. X
Use a soft sponge to clean. X
Use a mild cleaning agent, such as a car
shampoo approved by Mercedes-Benz. X
Thoroughly hose down the vehicle with a gen-
tle jet of water. X
Do not point the water jet directly towards the
air inlet. X
Use plenty of water and rinse out the sponge
frequently. X
Rinse the vehicle with clean water and dry
thoroughly with a chamois. X
Do not let the cleaning agent dry on the paint-
work.
Carefully remove all deposits of road salt as
soon as possible when driving in winter.
Power washers
G WARNING
The water jet from a circular jet nozzle (dirt
blasters) can cause invisible exterior damage
to the tires or chassis components. Compo-
nents damaged in this way may fail unexpect-
edly. There is a risk of an accident.
Do not use power washers with circular jet
nozzles to clean the vehicle. Have damaged
tires or chassis components replaced imme-
diately.
! Always maintain a distance of at least
11.8 in (30 cm) between the vehicle and the
power washer nozzle. Information about the
correct distance is available from the equip-
ment manufacturer.
Move the power washer nozzle around when
cleaning your vehicle.
Do not aim directly at any of the following: R
tires R
door gaps, roof gaps, joints, etc. R
electrical components R
battery R
connectors336
Care
Maintenance and care

Cleaning the vehicle parts
Cleaning the wheels
G WARNING
The water jet from a circular jet nozzle (dirt
blasters) can cause invisible exterior damage
to the tires or chassis components. Compo-
nents damaged in this way may fail unexpect-
edly. There is a risk of an accident.
Do not use power washers with circular jet
nozzles to clean the vehicle. Have damaged
tires or chassis components replaced imme-
diately.
! Do not use acidic wheel cleaning products
to remove brake dust. This could damage
wheel bolts and brake components.
! Do not park the vehicle for an extended
period straight after cleaning it, particularly
after having cleaned the wheels with wheel
cleaner. Wheel cleaners could cause
increased corrosion of the brake discs and
brake pads/linings. For this reason, you
should drive for a few minutes after cleaning.
Braking heats the brake discs and the brake
pads/linings, thus drying them. The vehicle
can then be parked.
Cleaning the windows
G WARNING
You could become trapped by the windshield
wipers if they start moving while cleaning the
windshield or wiper blades. There is a risk of
injury.
Always switch off the windshield wipers and
the ignition before cleaning the windshield or
wiper blades.
! Do not use dry cloths, abrasive products,
solvents or cleaning agents containing sol-
vents to clean the inside of the windows. Do
not touch the insides of the windows with
hard objects, e.g. an ice scraper or ring. There
is otherwise a risk of damaging the windows.
! Clean the water drainage channels of the
windshield and the rear window at regular
intervals. Deposits such as leaves, petals and
pollen may under certain circumstances pre- vent water from draining away. This can lead
to corrosion damage and damage to elec-
tronic components. X
Clean the inside and outside of the windows
with a damp cloth and a cleaning product that
is recommended and approved by Mercedes-
Benz.
Cleaning wiper blades
G WARNING
You could become trapped by the windshield
wipers if they start moving while cleaning the
windshield or wiper blades. There is a risk of
injury.
Always switch off the windshield wipers and
the ignition before cleaning the windshield or
wiper blades.
! Do not pull the wiper blade. Otherwise, the
wiper blade could be damaged.
! Do not clean wiper blades too often and do
not rub them too hard. Otherwise, the graph-
ite coating could be damaged. This could
cause wiper noise.
! Hold the wiper arm securely when folding
back. The windshield could be damaged if the
wiper arm smacks against it suddenly. X
Fold the windshield wiper arms away from the
windshield ( Y
page 126). X
Carefully clean the wiper blades with a damp
cloth. X
Fold the windshield wiper arms back again
before switching on the ignition.
Cleaning the exterior lighting
! Only use cleaning agents or cleaning cloths
which are suitable for plastic light lenses.
Unsuitable cleaning agents or cleaning cloths
could scratch or damage the plastic light len-
ses. X
Clean the plastic lenses of the exterior light-
ing using a wet sponge and a mild cleaning
agent, e.g. Mercedes-Benz car shampoo or
cleaning cloths.338
Care
Maintenance and care

Cleaning the exhaust pipes
G WARNING
The exhaust tail pipe and tail pipe trim can
become very hot. If you come into contact
with these parts of the vehicle, you could burn
yourself. There is a risk of injury.
Always be particularly careful around the
exhaust tail pipe and the tail pipe trim. Allow
these components to cool down before touch-
ing them.
! Do not clean the exhaust pipe with acid-
based cleaning agents, such as bathroom
cleaner or wheel cleaner.
! Mercedes-AMG vehicles with black exhaust
pipes: the black-chrome tailpipe finishers
should not be polished with a chrome polish.
They will otherwise lose their black sheen. For
optimal care, the faceplates should be rubbed
with a lightly oiled cloth after every car wash.
Commercially available engine and care oils
are suitable for this.
For heavier soiling, you can apply a fine paint-
work polish with a microfiber cloth. Remove
the excess polish residue after polishing.
Impurities combined with the effects of road grit
and corrosive environmental factors may cause
flash rust to form on the surface. You can
restore the original shine of the exhaust pipe by
cleaning it regularly, especially in winter and
after washing. X
Clean the exhaust pipe with a care product
tested and approved by Mercedes-Benz.
Interior care
Cleaning the display
! For cleaning, do not use any of the following: R
alcohol-based thinner or gasoline R
abrasive cleaning agents R
commercially-available household cleaning
agents
These may damage the display surface. Do
not put pressure on the display surface when
cleaning. This could lead to irreparable dam-
age to the display. X
Before cleaning the display, make sure that it
is switched off and has cooled down. X
Clean the display surface using a commer-
cially available microfiber cloth and TFT/LCD
display cleaner. X
Dry the display surface using a dry microfiber
cloth.
Cleaning the plastic trim
G WARNING
Care products and cleaning agents containing
solvents cause surfaces in the cockpit to
become porous. As a result, plastic parts may
come loose in the event of air bag deploy-
ment. There is a risk of injury.
Do not use any care products and cleaning
agents to clean the cockpit.
! Do not affix the following to plastic surfaces: R
stickers R
films R
scented oil bottles or similar items
You can otherwise damage the plastic.
! Do not allow cosmetics, insect repellent or
sunscreen to come into contact with the plas-
tic trim. This maintains the high-quality look of
the surfaces. X
Wipe the plastic trim with a damp, lint-free
cloth, e.g. a microfiber cloth. X
Heavy soiling: use care and cleaning prod-
ucts recommended and approved by
Mercedes-Benz.
The surface may change color temporarily.
Wait until the surface is dry again.
Cleaning the steering wheel and gear or
selector lever X
Thoroughly wipe with a damp cloth or use
leather care agents that have been recom-
mended and approved by Mercedes-Benz.
Cleaning genuine wood and trim ele-
ments
! Do not use solvent-based cleaning agents
such as tar remover, wheel cleaners, polishes340
Care
Maintenance and care

or waxes. There is otherwise a risk of damag-
ing the surface.
! Do not use chrome polish on trim pieces.
The trim pieces have a chrome look but are
mostly made of anodized aluminum and can
lose their shine if chrome polish is used. Use
a damp, lint-free cloth instead when cleaning
the trim pieces.
If the chrome-plated trim pieces are very
dirty, you can use a chrome polish. If you are
unsure as to whether the trim pieces are
chrome-plated or not, consult an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center. X
Wipe the wooden trim and trim pieces with a
damp, lint-free cloth, e.g. a microfiber cloth. X
Trim elements with piano black finish:
clean with a soft, damp cloth and a commer-
cially available soap solution. X
Heavy soiling: use care and cleaning prod-
ucts recommended and approved by
Mercedes-Benz.
Cleaning the seat covers
General notes
! Do not use a microfiber cloth to clean covers
made out of real leather, artificial leather or
DINAMICA. If used often, these can damage
the cover.
Note that regular care is essential to ensure that
the appearance and comfort of the covers is
retained over time.
Genuine leather seat covers
! To retain the natural appearance of the
leather, observe the following cleaning
instructions: R
Clean genuine leather covers carefully with
a damp cloth and then wipe the covers
down with a dry cloth. R
Make sure that the leather does not
become soaked. It may otherwise become
rough and cracked. R
Only use leather care agents that have
been tested and approved by Mercedes-
Benz. You can obtain these from a qualified
specialist workshop.
Leather is a natural product.
It exhibits natural surface characteristics, for
example: R
differences in the texture R
marks caused by growth and injury R
slight nuances of color
These are characteristics of leather and not
material defects.
Seat covers of other materials
! Observe the following when cleaning: R
clean artificial leather covers with a cloth
moistened with a solution containing 1%
detergent (e.g. dish washing liquid). R
clean cloth covers with a microfiber cloth
moistened with a solution containing 1%
detergent (e.g. dish washing liquid). Rub
carefully and always wipe entire seat sec-
tions to avoid leaving visible lines. Leave
the seat to dry afterwards. Cleaning results
depend on the type of dirt and how long it
has been there. R
clean DINAMICA covers with a damp cloth.
Make sure that you wipe entire seat sec-
tions to avoid leaving visible lines.
Cleaning the seat belts
G WARNING
Seat belts can become severely weakened if
bleached or dyed. This could cause the seat
belts to tear or fail, for instance, in the event of
an accident. This poses an increased risk of
injury or fatal injury.
Never bleach or dye the seat belts.
! Do not clean the seat belts using chemical
cleaning agents. Do not dry the seat belts by
heating at temperatures above 176 ‡( 80 †)
or in direct sunlight. X
Use clean, lukewarm water and soap solution.
Cleaning the headliner and carpets X
Headliner: if it is very dirty, use a soft brush or
dry shampoo. X
Carpets: use the carpet and textile cleaning
agents recommended and approved by
Mercedes-Benz. Care 341
Maintenance and care Z

or more tires. The affected tire must not show
any clearly visible damage.
You can recognize MOExtended tires by the
MOExtended marking which appears on the
sidewall of the tire. You will find this marking
next to the tire size designation, the load-bear-
ing capacity and the speed index ( Y
page 374).
MOExtended tires may only be used in conjunc-
tion with an active tire pressure loss warning
system or with an active tire pressure monitor.
If a pressure loss warning message appears
in the multifunction display: R
observe the instructions in the display mes-
sages ( Y
page 280).R
check the tire for damage. R
if driving on, observe the following notes.
The driving distance possible in run-flat mode is
approximately 50 miles (80 km) when the vehi-
cle is partially laden. When the vehicle is fully
laden it is approximately 19 miles (30 km).
In addition to the vehicle load, the driving dis-
tance possible depends upon: R
vehicle speed R
road condition R
outside temperature
The driving distance possible in run-flat mode
may be reduced by extreme driving conditions
or maneuvers, or it can be increased through a
moderate style of driving.
The driving distance possible in run-flat mode is
counted from the moment the tire pressure loss
warning appears in the multifunction display.
You must not exceed a maximum speed of
50 mph (80 km/h).
When replacing one or all tires, please observe
the following specifications for your vehicle's
tires: R
size R
the type and R
the "MOExtended" mark
If a tire has gone flat and cannot be replaced
with a MOExtended tire, a standard tire may be
used as a temporary measure. Make sure that
you use the proper size and type (summer or
winter tire).
Vehicles equipped with MOExtended tires are
not equipped with a TIREFIT kit at the factory. It
is therefore recommended that you additionally
equip your vehicle with a TIREFIT kit if you mount
tires that do not feature run-flat properties, e.g. winter tires. A TIREFIT kit may be obtained from
a qualified specialist workshop.
Important safety notes
G WARNING
When driving in emergency mode, the driving
characteristics deteriorate, e.g. when corner-
ing, accelerating quickly and when braking.
There is a risk of an accident.
Do not exceed the stated maximum speed.
Avoid abrupt steering and driving maneuvers,
and driving over obstacles (curbs, potholes,
off-road). This applies in particular to a laden
vehicle.
Stop driving in emergency mode if: R
you hear banging noises. R
the vehicle starts to shake. R
you see smoke and smell rubber. R
ESP ®
is intervening constantly. R
there are tears in the sidewalls of the tire.
After driving in emergency mode, have the
wheel rims checked at a qualified specialist
workshop with regard to their further use. The
defective tire must be replaced in every case.
TIREFIT kit
Important safety notes TIREFIT is a tire sealant.
You can use TIREFIT to seal punctures of up to
0.16 in (4 mm), particularly those in the tire
tread. You can use TIREFIT at outside tempera-
tures down to

Do not drive the vehicle. Contact a qualified
specialist workshop.
G WARNING
The tire sealant is harmful and causes irrita-
tion. It must not come into contact with your
skin, eyes or clothing or be swallowed. Do not
inhale TIREFIT fumes. Keep tire sealant away
from children. There is a risk of injury.
If you come into contact with the tire sealant,
observe the following: R
Rinse off the tire sealant from your skin
immediately with water. R
If the tire sealant comes into contact with
your eyes, immediately rinse them thor-
oughly with clean water. R
If tire sealant is swallowed, immediately
rinse your mouth out thoroughly and drink
plenty of water. Do not induce vomiting,
and seek medical attention immediately. R
Immediately change out of clothing which
has come into contact with tire sealant. R
If an allergic reaction occurs, seek medical
attention immediately.
! Do not operate the tire inflation compressor
for longer than ten minutes at a time without
a break. It may otherwise overheat.
The tire inflation compressor can be operated
again once it has cooled down.
Comply with the manufacturer’s safety instruc-
tions on the sticker on the tire inflation com-
pressor.
Using the TIREFIT kit X
Do not remove any foreign objects which have
penetrated the tire, e.g. screws or nails. X
Remove the tire sealant bottle, the accompa-
nying TIREFIT sticker and the tire inflation
compressor from the stowage well under-
neath the trunk floor ( Y
page 343).X
Affix part C of the TIREFIT sticker to the
instrument cluster within the driver's field of
vision. X
Affix part D of the TIREFIT sticker near the
valve on the wheel with the defective tire.
X
Remove filler hose

X
Stow the tire sealant bottle and the tire infla-
tion compressor. X
Pull away immediately .X
Stop after driving for approximately ten
minutes and check the tire pressure with the
tire inflation compressor.
The tire pressure must now be at least
130 kPa (1.3 bar/19 psi).
G WARNING
If the required tire pressure is not reached
after driving for a short period, the tire is too
badly damaged. The tire sealant cannot repair
the tire in this instance. Damaged tires and a
tire pressure that is too low can significantly
impair the vehicle's braking and driving char-
acteristics. There is a risk of accident.
Do not continue driving. Contact a qualified
specialist workshop.
i In cases such as the one mentioned above,
contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Cen-
ter. Or call 1-800-FOR-MERCedes (in the
USA) or 1-800-387-0100 (in Canada). X
Correct the tire pressure if it is still at least
130 kPa (1.3 bar/19 psi). See the Tire and
Loading Information placard on the driver's
side B-pillar or the tire pressure table in the
fuel filler flap for values. X
To increase the tire pressure: switch on the
tire inflation compressor.
X
To reduce the tire pressure: depress pres-
sure release button C next to pressure
gauge D .X
When the tire pressure is correct, unscrew the
filler hose from the valve of the sealed tire. X
Screw the valve cap onto the tire valve of the
sealed tire. X
To remove the tire sealant bottle from the tire
inflation compressor, press together the lock-
ing tabs on the yellow cap. X
Pull the tire sealant bottle out of the tire infla-
tion compressor.
The filler hose remains attached to the tire
sealant bottle. X
Drive to the nearest qualified specialist work-
shop and have the tire changed there. X
Have the tire sealant bottle and the filler hose
replaced as soon as possible at a qualified
specialist workshop. X
Have the tire sealant bottle replaced every
four years at a qualified specialist workshop.
Battery (vehicle)
12 V battery – important safety notes PLUG-IN HYBRID vehicles are equipped with a
12 V battery and a high-voltage battery. The fol-
lowing notes refer to the 12 V battery. Notes on
the high-voltage battery can be obtained in the
"High-voltage battery – important safety notes"
section ( Y
page 349).
Special tools and expert knowledge are required
when working on the battery, e.g. removal and
installation. You should therefore have all work
involving the battery carried out at a qualified
specialist workshop.
G WARNING
Work carried out incorrectly on the battery
can lead, for example, to a short circuit and
thus damage the vehicle electronics. This can
lead to function restrictions applying to
safety-relevant systems, e.g the lighting sys-
tem, the ABS (anti-lock braking system) or theBattery (vehicle) 347
Breakdown assistance Z