MERCEDES-BENZ C CLASS 2023 Owners Manual

Driving
Notes on Mercedes-AMG vehicles
Observe the notes on the following topics in the
Supplement, otherwise you may fail to recognize dangers.
\bThe availability of certain functions depends
on the equipment and model of the vehicle.
= Emotion Start
= AMG Real Performance Sound
= RACE START
= DRIFT MODE
= AMG RIDE CONTROL
= AMG steering-wheel buttons
Switching on the power supply or the vehicle&WARNING Risk of accident and injury due
to children les unattended in the vehicle
If you leave children unattended in the vehicle,
they could, in particular:
= open doors, thereby endangering other
persons or road users.
= get out and be struck by oncoming traPc.
= operate vehicle equipment and become
trapped, for example.
In addition, the children could also set the
vehicle in motion by, for example:
= releasing the parking brake.
= changing the gearbox position.
= starting the vehicle.
Never leave children unattended in the
vehicle.When leaving the vehicle, always take the key with you and lock the vehicle.Keep the key out of reach of children.Requirements
= The key is in the vehicle and is detected.
= The brake pedal is not depressed.To switch on the power supply: press button
1 once.
You can, for example, switch on the windshield
wiper.Driving and parking149

The power supply will be switched oM again if the
following conditions are met:
= You open the driver\bs door.
= You press button 1 twice more.To switch on the vehicle: press button 1
twice.
Indicator and warning lamps will light up on
the driver\bs display.
The vehicle will be switched oM again if one of the
following conditions is met:
= You do not start the vehicle within 15 minutes
and the transmission is in position ] or the
electric parking brake is applied.
= You press button 1 once.
Starting the vehicle

qStarting the vehicle with the start/stop button
&DANGER Risk of death caused by exhaust
gases
Combustion engines emit poisonous exhaust
gases such as carbon monoxide. Inhaling
these exhaust gases is hazardous to health
and leads to poisoning.
Never leave the engine or, if present, the
auxiliary heating running in an enclosed
space without suPcient ventilation.&WARNING Risk of Nre due to Oammable
materials in the engine compartment or
on the exhaust system
Flammable materials may ignite.
Therefore, regularly check that there are
no Oammable foreign materials in the
engine compartment or on the exhaust
system.Requirements
= The key is in the vehicle and is recognized.Shis the transmission to position ] or \\.Depress the brake pedal and press button 1
once.If the vehicle does not start: switch oM non-
essential consumer equipment and press but-
ton 1 once.If the vehicle still does not start and the Place
the Key in the Marked Space See Operator's
Manual display message appears on the driv-
er\bs display: start the vehicle with the key in the marked space (emergency operation
mode) (  page 151).\bYou can switch oM the vehicle while driving. To
do this, press and hold button 1 for about
three seconds or press button 1 three times
within three seconds. Be sure to observe the safety notes concerning this under "Driving
tips" (  page 154).
Observe any information regarding display mes-
sages that may be displayed on the driver\bs dis- play.
150Driving and parking

qStarting the vehicle with the key in the marked
space (emergency operation mode)
If the vehicle does not start and the Place the
Key in the Marked Space See Operator's Manual
display message appears on the driver\bs display, you can start the vehicle in emergency operation
mode.Make sure that marked space 2 is empty.Remove key 1 from the key ring.Place key 1 on the symbol in marked space
2 .
The vehicle will start aser a short time.If you remove key 1 from marked space 2,
the vehicle can still be driven. For further
engine starts, however, key 1 must be loca-
ted on the symbol in marked space 2 during
the entire journey.Have key 1 checked at a qualiNed specialist
workshop.
If the vehicle does not start:
Place key 1 in marked space 2 and leave it
there.Depress the brake pedal and start the vehicle using the start/stop button.\bYou can switch on the power supply or the
vehicle with the start/stop button.
Observe any information regarding display mes-
sages that may be displayed on the driver\bs dis- play.
Starting the vehicle via Remote Online Services

q Cooling or heating the vehicle interior before
starting the journey
Ensure the following before starting the engine:
= The legal stipulations in the area where your
vehicle is parked allow engine starting via
smartphone.
= It is safe to start and run the engine where
your vehicle is parked.
= The fuel tank is suPciently full.
= The starter battery is suPciently charged.

q Charging the starter battery before starting the
journey
You can receive a message on your smartphone
when the state of charge of the starter battery is low. You can then start the vehicle with the smart-
phone to charge the battery. The vehicle is auto- matically switched oM aser ten minutes.
Ensure the following before starting the engine:
= The legal stipulations in the area where your
vehicle is parked allow engine starting via
smartphone.
Driving and parking151

=It is safe to start and run the engine where
your vehicle is parked.
= The fuel tank is suPciently full.

q Starting the vehicle (Remote Online)&WARNING Risk of crushing or entrapment
due to unintentional starting of the engine
Limbs could be crushed or trapped if the
engine is started unintentionally during service
or maintenance work.
Always secure the engine against unin-
tentional starting before carrying out
maintenance or repair work.
Requirements
= Park position ] is selected.
= The anti-thes alarm system is not activated.
= The panic alarm is not activated.
= The hazard warning light system is switched
oM.
= The hood is closed.
= The doors are closed and locked.
=The windows and sliding sunroof are closed.Start the vehicle using the smartphone.
Aser every engine start, the engine runs for
ten minutes.
You can carry out a maximum of two consecutive
starting attempts. You must start the engine with the key before trying to start the vehicle againwith the smartphone.
You can switch oM the vehicle at any time as fol-
lows:
= Via the Smartphone App
= By pressing the Ü or U button on the
key
\bFurther information can be found in the smartphone app.
Securing the vehicle against starting before carry-
ing out maintenance or repair work:
Switch on the hazard warning light system.
or
Unlock the doors.
or
Open a side window or the sliding sunroof.
Breaking-in notes
To preserve the engine during the Nrst 1000 miles
(1500 km):
= Drive at varying road speeds and engine
speeds.
= No faster than 85 mph (140 km/h).
= Drive the vehicle in drive mode A or  .
= Shis to the next gear up when the needle rea-
ches the last third before the red area on the
tachometer at the very latest.
= Do not shis down manually to brake.
= Avoid overstraining the vehicle, e.g. driving at
full throttle.
= Do not depress the accelerator pedal past the
point of resistance (kickdown).
= Increase the engine speed only gradually and
accelerate the vehicle to full speed aser
1000 miles (1500 km).
This also applies when the engine or parts of the
drivetrain have been replaced.
152Driving and parking

Please also observe the following breaking-innotes:
= In certain driving and driving safety systems,
the sensors will adjust automatically while a
certain distance is being driven aser the vehi-
cle has been delivered or aser repairs. Full
system eMectiveness will be reached only
once this teaching-in process has concluded.
= Brake pads, brake disks and tires that are
either new or have been replaced will achieve
optimum braking eMect and grip only aser the
vehicle has been driven for several hundred
kilometers. Compensate for the reduced brak-
ing eMect by applying greater force to the
brake pedal.
Notes on optimized acceleration
If all necessary requirements and activation con-
ditions are fulNlled, the best possible acceleration
can be achieved from a standstill.
Do not use the optimized acceleration on public
roads. Individual wheels could spin and you could
lose control of the vehicle. There is an increased
risk of skidding and/or accident.
Be sure to observe the safety notes and informa-
tion on ESP n
( page 182).
Pulling away with optimized acceleration
&WARNING Risk of skidding and having an
accident from wheels spinning
When you use optimized acceleration, individ-
ual wheels could spin and you could lose con- trol of the vehicle.
If ESP n
is deactivated, there is a risk of skid-
ding and accident.
Make sure that no persons or obstacles are in the close vicinity of your vehicle.
Requirements: = the vehicle has been broken in (  page 152).
= the vehicle and tires are in good condition.
= you are on a high-grip roadway.
= the engine and transmission are at normal
operating temperature.
*NOTE Increased wear due to optimized
acceleration
When pulling away with optimized accelera-
tion, all components of the drivetrain are sub-
jected to a very high load.
This can lead to increased component wear.
Do not always pull away with optimized
acceleration.Engage the [ drive position (  page 166).Move the steering wheel to the straight-ahead
position.Select the sportiest available drive program
B or C ( page 163).Deactivate ESP n
( page 183).Depress and hold the brake pedal Nrmly with
your les foot.With your right foot, fully depress the acceler-
ator pedal.Driving and parking153

Aser no more than Nve seconds, take your les
foot quickly oM the brake, but keep the accel-
erator pedal depressed.
The vehicle will pull away at maximum acceler-
ation.Switch on ESP n
once the acceleration proce-
dure is complete.
Ending optimized acceleration
Remove your foot from the accelerator pedal.Reactivate ESP n
.\bAser you pull away with optimized accelera-
tion, components of the drivetrain can
become very hot, which means that optimized
acceleration values may be reached again only aser a few minutes.
Notes on driving
&WARNING Risk of accident due to objects
in the driver\bs footwell
Objects in the driver\bs footwell may impede
pedal travel or block a depressed pedal.
This jeopardizes the operating and road safety
of the vehicle.Stow all objects in the vehicle securely so that they cannot get into the driver\bs
footwell.Always install the Ooor mats securely
and as prescribed in order to ensure that
there is always suPcient room for the
pedals.Do not use loose Ooor mats and do not
place Ooor mats on top of one another.&WARNING Risk of accident due to incor-
rect footwear
Incorrect footwear includes, for example:
= Shoes with platform soles
= Shoes with high heels
= Slippers
There is a risk of an accident.
Always wear suitable footwear so that
you can operate the pedals safely.&WARNING Risk of accident if the vehicle is
switched oM while driving
If you switch oM the vehicle while driving,
safety functions are restricted or no longer
available.
This may aMect the power steering system and
the brake force boosting, for example.
You will need to use considerably more force
to steer and brake, for example.
Do not switch oM the vehicle while driv-
ing.&DANGER Risk of death caused by exhaust
gases
Combustion engines emit poisonous exhaust
gases such as carbon monoxide. Inhaling
these exhaust gases is hazardous to health
and leads to poisoning.
Never leave the engine or, if present, the
auxiliary heating running in an enclosed
space without suPcient ventilation.154Driving and parking

&WARNING Risk of skidding and of an acci-
dent due to shising down on slippery road
surfaces
If you shis down on slippery road surfaces to
increase the engine braking eMect, the drive
wheels may lose traction.
Do not shis down on slippery road surfa-
ces to increase the engine braking
eMect.&DANGER Risk of fatal injury due to poison-
ous exhaust gases
If the tailpipe is blocked or suPcient ventila-
tion is not possible, poisonous exhaust gases
such as carbon monoxide may enter the vehi- cle. This is the case, for example, if the vehicle
gets stuck in the snow.
Keep the tailpipe and the area around
the vehicle free from snow when the
engine or the stationary heater is run-
ning.Open a window on the side of the vehicle
facing away from the wind to ensure an
adequate supply of fresh air.&WARNING Risk of accident and injury due
to being under the inOuence of alcohol
and drugs while driving
Drinking and driving and/or taking drugs and
driving are very dangerous combinations. Even a small amount of alcohol or drugs can aMect
your reOexes, perceptions and judgment.
The possibility of a serious or even fatal acci-
dent are greatly increased when you drink or
take drugs and drive.
Do not drink or take drugs and drive or
allow anyone to drive who has been
drinking or taking drugs.&WARNING Risk of accident due to the
brake system overheating
If you leave your foot on the brake pedal when
driving, the brake system may overheat.
This increases the braking distance and the
brake system can even fail.Never use the brake pedal as a footrest.Do not depress the brake pedal and the
accelerator pedal at the same time while
driving.*NOTE Engine damage due to excessively
high engine speeds
The engine will be damaged if you drive with
the engine in the overrevving range.
Do not drive with the engine in the over- revving range.*NOTE Wearing out the brake linings by
continuously depressing the brake pedalDo not depress the brake pedal continu-
ously whilst driving.To use the braking eMect of the engine,
shis to a lower gear in good time.Driving and parking155

*NOTE Damage to the drivetrain and
engine when pulling awayDo not warm up the engine while the
vehicle is stationary. Pull away immedi-
ately.Avoid high engine speeds and driving at
full throttle until the engine has reached
its operating temperature.*NOTE Damage to the catalytic converter
due to non-combusted fuel
The engine is not running smoothly and is mis-
Nring.
Non-combusted fuel may get into the catalytic
converter.
Only depress the accelerator pedal
slightly.Have the cause rectiNed immediately at
a qualiNed specialist workshop.*NOTE Reduced battery life due to frequent
short-distance trips
The 12 V battery may not be suPciently
charged when the vehicle is used only for
short-distance trips. This reduces the life of
the battery.
Drive longer distances regularly to
charge the battery.*NOTE Damage to the vehicle due to not
observing the maximum permitted head-
room clearance
If the vehicle height is greater than the maxi- mum permitted headroom clearance, the roof
and other parts of the vehicle may be dam-
aged.
Observe the signposted headroom clear- ance.If the vehicle height is greater than the permitted headroom clearance, do not
enter.Observe the changed vehicle height with add-on roof equipment.\bPlease bear in mind that all the speed values
stated in this Operator\bs Manual are approxi-
mate and are subject to a certain tolerance.
Notes on driving with a roof load, trailer or fully laden vehicle
When driving with a loaded roof luggage rack or trailer as well as with a fully laden or fully occu-
pied vehicle, the vehicle\bs driving and steering
characteristics change.
You should bear the following in mind: = Do not exceed the permissible roof load and
trailer load. Also observe the information in
the Technical Data.
= Distribute the roof load and the load inside the
vehicle evenly, placing heavy objects at the
bottom. Also comply with the notes on loading
the vehicle (  page 106).
= Drive attentively, and avoid abrupt starts, brak-
ing and steering as well as rapid cornering.
156Driving and parking

Advice on driving on salt-strewn roadsThe braking eMect is limited on salt-strewn road
surfaces.
Therefore, observe the following notes:
= Due to salt build-up on the brake disks and
brake pads, the braking distance may increase
considerably or result in one-sided braking.
= Maintain a much greater safety distance to the
vehicle in front.
Remove salt build-up as follows: = Brake occasionally, paying attention to the
traPc conditions
= Carefully depress the brake pedal at the end
of the journey and when starting the next jour- ney
Notes on hydroplaning Hydroplaning can take place if a certain depth of
water has built up on the road surface.
Observe the following notes in the event of heavy precipitation or conditions in which hydroplaningmay occur:
= Reduce speed=Avoid tire ruts
= Avoid sudden steering movements
= Brake carefully\bAlso observe the notes on regularly checking
wheels and tires (  page 339).
Notes on fording on the road
Water ingress in the vehicle can damage the engine, electrics and transmission.
Water can also enter through the engine\bs air
intake and cause engine damage.
Observe the following if you have to drive through
water:
= The water, when calm, may only reach the
lower edge of the vehicle body.
= Drive at a maximum speed of 6 mph
(10 km/h); water can otherwise enter the vehicle interior or engine compartment.
= Vehicles traveling in front, or oncoming vehi-
cles, can create waves which may cause the
maximum permissible depth of water to be exceeded.
The braking eMect of the brakes is reduced aser
fording. Brake carefully, paying attention to the
traPc conditions, until braking power has been
fully restored.
Function of rear axle steering
\bThis function is an on-demand feature
(  page 19).
The rear axle steering is an electromechanical
auxiliary steering on the rear axle which adjusts
the steering of the rear wheels according to the position of the front wheels, depending on the
speed. This results in greater maneuverability andimproved driving stability, e.g. when cornering.
ECO start/stop function

q ECO start/stop function
\bDepending on the engine, the ECO start/stop
function is not available in all drive programs.
Observe the status display on the driver\bs dis- play concerning this.Driving and parking157

The engine will be switched oM automatically in
the following situations if all vehicle conditions for
an automatic engine stop are met:
= You brake the vehicle to a standstill in trans-
mission position [ or \\.
= You depress the brake pedal when traveling at
a low speed.
If the system has detected one of the following situations, the engine will not stop:
= You stop at a stop sign and there is no vehicle
in front of you.
= The vehicle that stopped in front of you starts
up again.
= You maneuver, turn the steering wheel sharply
or engage reverse gear.\bIf the system detects an intelligent stop inhibi-
tor, e.g. a stop sign, the engine will not stop.
If you activate the HOLD function or engage
the park position ], the engine can be
switched oM in spite of an intelligent stop
inhibitor.The engine will restart automatically in the follow-
ing cases:
= You engage transmission position [ or ^.
= You depress the accelerator pedal.
= The vehicle requires an automatic engine
start.
= You release the brake pedal.
= You release the brake pedal on a downhill gra-
dient and the vehicle does not roll.
= The vehicle rolls on a downhill gradient and
does not automatically enter glide mode at 15 mph (20 km/h).
ECO start/stop function symbols on the driver\bs display:
= The