traction control MERCEDES-BENZ C CLASS 2016 Owners Manual

1, 2, 3 ... 4ETS (Electronic Traction System)
see ETS/4ETS (Electronic Trac-
tion System)
4MATIC (permanent four-wheel
drive) .................................................. 198
12 V socket
see Socket (12 V)
360° camera
Cleaning ........................................ .3 39
Display in the multimedia system .. 212
Function/notes ............................ .2 10
A ABS (Anti-lock Braking System)
Display message ............................ 256
Function/notes ................................ 68
Important safety notes .................... 68
Warning lamp ................................. 289
Accident
Automatic measures after an acci-
dent ................................................. 61
Activating media mode
General notes ................................ 306
Activating/deactivating cooling
with air dehumidification ................. 133
Active Blind Spot Assist
Activating/deactivating (on-
board computer) ............................ 248
Display message ............................ 276
Active Lane Keeping Assist
Activating/deactivating (on-
board computer) ............................ 248
Display message ............................ 275
Function/information .................... 222
Active Parking Assist
Canceling ....................................... 206
Detecting parking spaces .............. 203
Display message ............................ 276
Exiting a parking space .................. 205
Function/notes ............................. 202
Important safety notes .................. 202
Parking .......................................... 204
ADAPTIVE BRAKE ................................. 76
Adaptive Brake Assist
Function/notes ................................ 72 Adaptive Damping System
Function/notes ............................. 197
Adaptive Damping System (ADS) ..... 197
Adaptive Highbeam Assist
Display message ............................ 268
Function/notes ............................. 120
Switching on/off ........................... 121
Additional speedometer ................... 251
Additives (engine oil) ........................ 392
Address book
see also Digital Operator's Man-
ual .................................................. 298
Adjusting the volume
Multimedia system ........................ 299
Air bags
Deployment ..................................... 58
Display message ............................ 265
Front air bag (driver, front
passenger) ....................................... 52
Important safety notes .................... 51
Introduction ..................................... 51
Knee bag .......................................... 53
Occupant Classification System
(OCS) ............................................... 54
PASSENGER AIR BAG indi cator
l amps ............................................... 47
Side impact air bag .......................... 53
Window curtain air bag .................... 54
Air vents
Important safety notes .................. 143
Rear ............................................... 144
Setting ........................................... 143
Setting the center air vents ........... 144
Setting the side air vents ............... 144
Air-conditioning system
see Climate control
AIRMATIC
Display message ............................ 274
Function/notes ............................. 196
AIRPANEL
Cleaning instructions ..................... 339
Alarm
ATA (Anti-Theft Alarm system) ......... 79
Switching off (ATA) .......................... 79
Switching the function on/off
(ATA) ................................................ 79
Alarm system
see ATA (Anti-Theft Alarm system) Index 3

Sidewall (definition) ....................... 379
Snow chains .................................. 363
Speed rating (definition) ................ 378
Storing ........................................... 380
Structure and characteristics
(definition) ..................................... 377
Summer tires in winter .................. 362
Temperature .................................. 374
TIN (Tire Identification Number)
(definition) ..................................... 379
Tire bead (definition) ...................... 379
Tire pressure (definition) ................ 379
Tire pressures (recommended) ...... 378
Tire size (data) ............................... 384
Tire size designation, load-bearing
capacity, speed rating .................... 374
Tire tread ....................................... 361
Tire tread (definition) ..................... 379
Total load limit (definition) ............. 379
Traction ......................................... 373
Traction (definition) ....................... 379
Tread wear ..................................... 373
Uniform Tire Quality Grading
Standards ...................................... 373
Uniform Tire Quality Grading
Standards (definition) .................... 378
Wear indicator (definition) ............. 379
Wheel and tire combination ........... 384
Wheel rim (definition) .................... 378
see Flat tire
Top Tether ............................................ 64
Touchpad
Changing the station/music
track .............................................. 301
Character suggestions ................... 300
Deleting characters ....................... 300
Entering a space ............................ 300
Entering characters ....................... 300
Gesture control .............................. 300
Handwriting recognition ................ 300
Operating the touchpad ................. 300
Overview ........................................ 300
Quick access for Audio .................. 301
Switching ....................................... 300
Switching input line ....................... 300
Tow-starting
Emergency engine starting ............ 357
Important safety notes .................. 354 Towing a trailer
ESP ®
(Electronic Stability Pro-
gram) ............................................... 76
Towing away
Important safety guidelines ........... 354
Insta l ling the towing eye ................ 355
Notes for 4MATIC vehicles ............ 356
Removing the towing eye ............... 355
Transporting the vehicle ................ 356
With both axles on the ground ....... 356
With the rear axle raised ................ 355
Towing eye ......................................... 343
Traffic reports
see also Digital Operator's Man-
ual .................................................. 298
Traffic Sign Assist
Display message ............................ 277
Function/notes ............................. 215
Important safety notes .................. 215
Instrument cluster display ............. 216
Transfer case ..................................... 164
Transmission
see Automatic transmission
Transmission position display ......... 157
Transmission position display
(DIRECT SELECT lever) ...................... 157
Transporting the vehicle .................. 356
Trim pieces (cleaning instruc-
tions) .................................................. 340
Trip computer (on-board com-
puter) .................................................. 240
Trip odometer
Calling up ....................................... 239
Resetting (on-board computer) ...... 241
Trunk
Important safety notes .................... 89
Locking separately ........................... 94
Opening/closing (automatically
from inside) ...................................... 93
Opening/closing (automatically
from outside) ................................... 91
Opening/closing (from outside,
HANDS-FREE ACCESS) .................... 92
Opening/closing (manually from
outside) ............................................ 90
Trunk lid
Display message ............................ 28322
Index

G WARNING
Adaptive Brake Assist does not react: R
to people or animals R
to oncoming vehicles R
to crossing traffic R
when cornering
As a result, the Adaptive Brake Assist may not
intervene in all critical conditions. There is a
risk of an accident.
Always pay careful attention to the traffic sit-
uation and be ready to brake.
Due to the nature of the system, particularly
complicated but non-critical driving conditions
may also cause Brake Assist to intervene.
If adaptive Brake Assist is not available due to a
malfunction in the radar sensor system, the
brake system remains available with full brake
boosting effect and BAS.
ESP ®
(Electronic Stability Program)
General notes
i Observe the "Important safety notes" sec-
tion ( Y
page 68).
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 vehi-
cle 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" sec-
tion ( Y
page 68).
ETS traction control is part of ESP ®
. On vehicles
with 4MATIC, 4ETS is part of ESP ®
.
Traction control brakes the drive wheels indi-
vidually 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 transfer-
red to the wheel or wheels with traction.
Traction control remains active, even if you
deactivate ESP ®
.
Important safety notes
i Observe the "Important safety notes" sec-
tion ( Y
page 68).
G WARNING
If ESP ®
is malfunctioning, ESP ®
is unable to
stabilize the vehicle. Additionally, further driv-
ing safety systems are deactivated. This
increases the risk of skidding and an accident.
Drive on carefully. Have ESP ®
checked at a
qualified specialist workshop.
When towing the vehicle with the rear axle
raised, observe the notes on ESP ®
( Y
page 355).
If the

For more information on driving with snow
chains, see ( Y
page 363).
For more information on driving with summer
tires, see ( Y
page 362).
Observe the notes in the "Winter operation" sec-
tion ( Y
page 362).
Driving systems
Mercedes-Benz Intelligent Drive Mercedes-Benz Intelligent Drive stands for inno-
vative driver assistance and safety systems
which enhance comfort and support the driver in
critical situations. With these intelligent co-ordi-
nated systems Mercedes-Benz has set a mile-
stone on the path towards autonomous driving.
Mercedes-Benz Intelligent Drive embraces all
elements of active and passive safety in one well
thought out system – for the safety of the vehi-
cle occupants and that of other road users.
Further information on driving safety systems
( Y
page 67).
Cruise control
General notes Cruise control maintains a constant road speed
for you. It brakes automatically in order to avoid
exceeding the set speed. Change into a lower
gear in good time on long and steep downhill
gradients. This is especially important if the
vehicle is laden. By doing so, you will make use
of the braking effect of the engine. This relieves
the load on the brake system and prevents the
brakes from overheating and wearing too
quickly.
Use cruise control only if road and traffic con-
ditions make it appropriate to maintain a steady
speed for a prolonged period. You can store any
road speed above 20 mph (30 km/h).
Important safety notes
If you fail to adapt your driving style, cruise con-
trol 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 accel-
erating 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.
i The speed indicated in the speedometer
may differ slightly from the speed stored.
Cruise control lever
C
Activates or increases speed D
Activates or reduces speed

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 accel-
erating 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 vehi-
cles driving in front, e.g. motorcycles, or vehi-
cles driving on a different line.
In particular, the detection of obstacles can be
impaired if: R
there is dirt on the sensors or anything else
covering the sensors R
there is snow or heavy rain R
there is interference by other radar sources R
there are strong radar reflections, for exam-
ple, 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 in the right lane that you pass vehi-
cles driving on the left (left-hand drive coun-
tries) R
be so high in the left lane that you pass vehi-
cles driving on the right (right-hand drive
countries)
If there is a change of drivers, advise the new
driver of the speed stored. Cruise control lever
C
To activate or increase speed D
To activate or reduce speed

Display messages
Possible causes/consequences and P Solutions
Check Tires The tire pressur e in on e or mor e tires has dropped significantly. The
whee l position is displayed in th e multifunction display.
A warning tone also sounds.
G WARNIN G
Tir e pressures that are to o low pos e th e followin g hazards :R
they may burst, especially as th e load and vehicl e speed increase.R
they may wear excessivel y and/o r unevenly, whic h may greatl y
impair tire traction .R
th e drivin g characteristics , as well as steering and braking , may be
greatl y impaired.
There is a ris k of an accident.X
Stop th e vehicl e without making any sudden steering or braking
maneuvers . Pay attention to th e traffic condition s as you do so.X
Secur e th e vehicl e against rollin g away ( Y
page 177).X
Chec k th e tires and , if necessary, follow th e instruction s for a flat
tire ( Y
page 343). X
Chec k th e tire pressur e ( Y
page 367).X
If necessary, correc t th e tire pressure.
Warnin g Tir e Mal ‐
function The tire pressur e in on e or mor e tires has dropped suddenly. The whee l
position is shown in th e multifunction display.
G WARNIN G
Drivin g wit h a flat tire poses a ris k of th e followin g hazards :R
a flat tire affects th e abilit y to steer or brak e th e vehicle.R
you could lose control of th e vehicle.R
continued drivin g wit h a flat tire will caus e excessive heat build-up
and possibl y a fire.
There is a ris k of an accident.X
Stop th e vehicl e without making any sudden steering or braking
maneuvers . Pay attention to th e traffic condition s as you do so.X
Secur e th e vehicl e against rollin g away ( Y
page 177).X
Chec k th e tires and , if necessary, follow th e instruction s for a flat
tire ( Y
page 343).
Tir e Press. Monito r
Currently Unavaila‐
ble Becaus e there is interferenc e from a stron g source of radi o waves, no
signals from th e tire pressur e sensor s are detected. The tire pressur e
monitor is temporarily malfunctioning .X
Drive on .
The tire pressur e monitor restarts automatically as soo n as th e
problem has been resolved.
TirePress . Sen ‐
sor(s) Missin g There is no signal from th e tire pressur e sensor of on e or several
wheels. The pressur e of th e affecte d tire is no t displayed in th e mul-
tifunction display. X
Hav e th e fault y tire pressur e sensor replace d at a qualified special -
ist workshop . Display messages 28 1
On-board computer and displays Z

Turn on ESP ®
and adapt your driving style
accordingly. When the outside temperature
falls below 10 †, use M+S tires.
i Different driving styles may lead to high tire
wear and the tires may reach the minimum
tire tread depth after only a short time.
Regular checking of wheels and tires
G WARNING
Damaged tires can cause tire inflation pres-
sure loss. As a result, you could lose control of
your vehicle. There is a risk of accident.
Check the tires regularly for signs of damage
and replace any damaged tires immediately.
Check wheels and tires for damage at least once
a month. Check wheels and tires after driving
off-road or on rough roads. Damaged wheels
can cause a loss of tire pressure. Pay particular
attention to damage such as: R
cuts in the tires R
punctures R
tears in the tires R
bulges on tires R
deformation or severe corrosion on wheels
Regularly check the tire tread depth and the
condition of the tread across the whole width of
the tire ( Y
page 361). If necessary, turn the
front wheels to full lock in order to inspect the
inner side of the tire surface.
All wheels must have a valve cap to protect the
valve against dirt and moisture. Do not mount
anything onto the valve other than the standard
valve cap or other valve caps approved by
Mercedes-Benz for your vehicle. Do not use any
other valve caps or systems, e.g. tire pressure
monitoring systems.
Regularly check the pressure of all the tires par-
ticularly prior to long trips. Adjust the tire pres-
sure as necessary ( Y
page 363).
The service life of tires depends, among other
things, on the following factors: R
driving style R
tire pressure R
distance covered Notes on tire tread
G WARNING
Insufficient tire tread will reduce tire traction.
The tire is no longer able to dissipate water.
This means that on wet road surfaces, the risk
of hydroplaning increases, in particular where
speed is not adapted to suit the driving con-
ditions. There is a risk of accident.
If the tire pressure is too high or too low, tires
may exhibit different levels of wear at differ-
ent locations on the tire tread. Thus, you
should regularly check the tread depth and
the condition of the tread across the entire
width of all tires.
Minimum tire tread depth for: R
Summer tires:

Exception: it is permissible to install a differ-
ent type or make in the event of a flat tire.
Observe the "MOExtended tires (tires with
run-flat characteristics" section ( Y
page 343).R
Only mount tires of the correct size onto the
wheels. R
Break in new tires at moderate speeds for the
first 60 miles (100 km). They only reach their
full performance after this distance. R
Do not drive with tires which have too little
tread depth, as this significantly reduces the
traction on wet roads (hydroplaning). R
Replace the tires after six years at the latest,
regardless of wear.
MOExtended tires (tires with run-flat
properties) With MOExtended tires (tires with run flat char-
acteristics), you can continue to drive your vehi-
cle even if there is a total loss of pressure in one
or more tires.
MOExtended tires may only be used in conjunc-
tion with an active tire pressure loss warning
system or with an active tire pressure monitor
and on wheels specifically tested by Mercedes-
Benz.
Notes on driving with MOExtended tires with a
flat tire ( Y
page 343).
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 can be obtained from
a qualified specialist workshop.
Winter operation
General notes Have your vehicle winter-proofed at a qualified
specialist workshop at the onset of winter.
Observe the notes in the "Changing a wheel"
section ( Y
page 379).
Driving with summer tires
At temperatures below 45 ‡ (+7 †), summer
tires lose elasticity and therefore traction and
braking power. Change the tires on your vehicle to M+S tire s. Usin g su mmer tires at very cold
temperatures could cause cracks to form,
thereby damaging the tires permanently.
Mercedes-Benz cannot accept responsibility for
this type of damage.
G WARNING
Damaged tires can cause tire inflation pres-
sure loss. As a result, you could lose control of
your vehicle. There is a risk of accident.
Check the tires regularly for signs of damage
and replace any damaged tires immediately.
M+S tires
G WARNING
M+S tires with a tire tread depth of less than

Snow chains
G WARNING
If snow chains are installed to the front
wheels, they may drag against the vehicle
body or chassis components. This could
cause damage to the vehicle or the tires.
There is a risk of an accident.
To avoid hazardous situations: R
never install snow chains to the front
wheels R
always install snow chains in pairs to the
rear wheels.
! Vehicles with steel wheels: if you mount
snow chains on steel wheels, you may dam-
age the hub caps. Remove the hub caps from
the relevant wheels before mounting the
snow chains.
For safety reasons, Mercedes-Benz recom-
mends that you only use snow chains that have
been specially approved for your vehicle by
Mercedes-Benz, or are of a corresponding
standard of quality. For more information,
please contact a qualified specialist workshop.
If you intend to mount snow chains, please bear
the following points in mind: R
Snow chains may not be mounted on all
wheel/tire combinations. Permissible wheel-
tire combinations ( Y
page 384).R
Only use snow chains when driving on roads
completely covered by snow. Remove the
snow chains as soon as possible when you
come to a road that is not snow-covered. R
Local regulations may restrict the use of snow
chains. Observe the appropriate regulations if
you wish to mount snow chains. R
Do not exceed the maximum permissible
speed of 30 mph (50 km/h). R
On vehicles with AIRMATIC, you must drive at
raised vehicle level if snow chains have been
installed ( Y
page 196).R
When snow chains are installed, never use
Active Parking Assist ( Y
page 202).
You may wish to deactivate ESP ®
when pulling
away with snow chains installed: R
All vehicles (except Mercedes ‑ AMG vehicles)
( Y
page 74) R
Mercedes ‑ AMG vehicles ( Y
page 74) You can thereby allow the wheels to spin in a
controlled manner, achieving an increased driv-
ing force (cutting action).
Tire pressure
Tire pressure specifications
Important safety notes
G WARNING
Underinflated or overinflated tires pose the
following risks: R
the tires may burst, especially as the load
and vehicle speed increase. R
the tires may wear excessively and/or
unevenly, which may greatly impair tire
traction. R
the driving characteristics, as well as steer-
ing and braking, may be greatly impaired.
There is a risk of an accident.
Follow recommended tire inflation pressures
and check the pressure of all the tires includ-
ing the spare wheel: R
monthly, at least R
if the load changes R
before beginning a long journey R
under different operating conditions, e.g.
off-road driving
If necessary, correct the tire pressure.
The data on the Tire and Loading Information
placard and tire pressure table shown here are
examples. Tire pressure specifications are vehi-
cle-specific and may deviate from the data
shown here. The tire pressure specifications
that are valid for your vehicle can be found on
the Tire and Loading Information placard and
tire pressure table on the vehicle.
General notes
The recommended tire pressures for the tires
mounted at the factory can be found on the
labels described here.
Further information on tire pressures can be
obtained at a qualified specialist workshop. Tire pressure 363
Wheels and tires Z

PSI (pounds per square inch) A standard unit of measure for tire pressure.
Aspect ratio Relationship between tire height and tire width
in percent.
Tire pressure This is pressure inside the tire applying an out-
ward force to each square inch of the tire's sur-
face. The tire pressure is specified in pounds per
square inch (psi), in kilopascal (kPa) or in bar.
The tire pressure should only be corrected when
the tires are cold.
Cold tire pressure The tires are cold: R
if the vehicle has been parked with the tires
out of direct sunlight for at least three hours
and R
if the vehicle has not been driven further than
1 mile (1.6 km)
Tread The part of the tire that comes into contact with
the road.
Bead The tire bead ensures that the tire sits securely
on the wheel. There are several steel wires in the
bead to prevent the tire from coming loose from
the wheel rim.
Sidewall The part of the tire between the tread and the
bead.
Weight of optional extras
The combined weight of those optional extras
that weigh more than the replaced standard
parts and more than 5 lbs (2.3 kg). These
optional extras, such as high-performance
brakes, level control, a roof rack or a high-per-
formance battery, are not included in the curb
weight and the weight of the accessories.
TIN (Tire Identification Number)
This is a unique identifier which can be used by
a tire manufacturer to identify tires, for example
for a product recall, and thus identify the pur-
chasers. The TIN is made up of the manufactur-
er's identity code, tire size, tire type code and
the manufacturing date. Load bearing index The load bearing index (also load index) is a code
that contains the maximum load bearing capa-
city of a tire.
Traction Traction is the result of friction between the tires
and the road surface.
Treadwear indicators Narrow bars (tread wear bars) that are distrib-
uted over the tire tread. If the tire tread is level
with the bars, the wear limit of