MERCEDES-BENZ C-CLASS SALOON 2011 Owners Manual

Problems with the transmission
Problem Possible causes/consequences and
M Solutions
The transmission has
problems shifting gear. The transmission is losing oil.
X
Have the transmission checked at a qualified specialist work-
shop, e.g. a Mercedes-Benz Service Centre, immediately. The acceleration ability
is deteriorating.
The transmission no
longer changes gear. The transmission is in emergency mode.
It is only possible to shift into
secondgear and reverse gear.
X Stop the vehicle.
X Shift the transmission to position P.
X Switch off the engine.
X Wait at least 10 seconds before restarting the engine.
X Shift the transmission to position Dor R.
If D is selected, the transmission shifts into secondgear; ifRis
selected, the transmission shifts into reverse gear.
X Have the transmission checked at a qualified specialist work-
shop, e.g. a Mercedes-Benz Service Centre, immediately. Releasing the parking lock manually
In the event of an electrical fault, it is possible
to release the selector lever lock manually to
move it out of position P, e.g. if you wish to
tow the vehicle away. !
Do not use any sharp-edged objects to
remove the selector lever gaiter from the
centre console. This could damage the
selector lever gaiter.
X Apply the parking brake.
X Prise out selector lever gaiter :with a flat,
blunt object, (e.g. ascrewdriver wrapped in cloth) from the right-hand edge, pulling it
up and out.
X Press release button ;dow nand simul-
taneously move the selecto rlever out of
position P.
The selector lever can now be moved freely
until it is returned to position P. Refuelling
Important safety notes
G
WARNING
Fuel is highly flammable. Fire, naked flames
and smoking are therefore prohibited when
handling fuels.
Switch off the engine and the auxiliary heating
before refuelling. G
WARNING
Do not come into contact with fuels.
It is hazardous to your health if your skin
comes into direct contact with fuels or you
breathe in fuel vapours. 168
RefuellingDriving and parking

G
WARNING
Do not use petrol to refuel vehicles with a die-
sel engine. Do not mix diesel with petrol. This
would result in damage to the fuel system and
engine, which could lead to a vehicle fire.
! Do not use petrol to refuel vehicles with a
diesel engine. Do not use diesel to refuel
vehicles with a petrol engine. Even small
amounts of the wrong fuel result in damage
to the fuel system and the engine.
! Do not switch on the ignition if you acci-
dentally refuel with the wrong fuel .Other-
wise, the fuel will ente rthe fuel lines. Notify
a qualified specialist workshop and have
the fuel tank and fuel lines drained com-
pletely. Petrol (EN 228, DIN 51626)
Fuel grade !
Only refuel using unleaded premium-
grade petrol with at least
95 RON/85 MON, which conforms to Euro-
pean standard EN 228 or an equivalent
specification.
! Do not use the following:
R E85 (petrol with 85% ethanol)
R E100 (100% ethanol)
R M15 (petrol with 15% methanol)
R M85 (petrol with 85% methanol)
R M100 (100% methanol)
R Petrol with metallic additives
R Diesel
Do not mix fuels such as this with petrol
and do not use any additives. Doing so may
cause engine damage. This does not
include additives for the removal and pre-
vention of residue build-up. Petrol must
only be mixed with additives recommended
by Mercedes-Benz. More information about
recommended additives can be obtained
from any Mercedes-Benz Service Centre. !
Use a filter when adding fuel from a fuel
can. The fuel lines and/or the diesel injec-
tion system could otherwise be blocked by
particles from the fuel can.
i E10 fuel contains up to 10% bioethanol.
Your vehicle is E10 compatible. You can
refuel your vehicle using E10 premium-
grade petrol.
i If the recommended fuel is not available,
but only as a temporary measure, you may
also use regular unleaded petrol,
91 RON/82.5 MON. This may reduce
engine performance and increase fuel con-
sumption. Avoid driving at full throttle.
In some countries, the fuel grade available
may not be adequate and could cause
deposits to build up. In consultation with a
Mercedes-Ben zService Centre, this petrol
may be mixed with the additive recommen-
ded by Mercedes-Benz( part no.
A000989254510). You must observe the
notes and mixing ratios specified on the
container.
For further information on "Fuel", see
(Y page 380).
AMG vehicles !
Only refuel using super-grade unleaded
petrol with at least 98 RON/88 MON,
which conforms to European standard EN
228 or equivalent.
You can otherwise impair engine output or
damage the engine.
i If the recommended fuel is not available
and only as a temporary measure, you may
also use premium-grade unleaded petrol,
95 RON/85 MON. This may reduce engine
performance and increase fuel consump-
tion. Avoid driving at full throttle.
! In emergencies, and only if the recom-
mended fuel is not available, you may also
use standard unleaded petrol, 91 RON/
82.5 MON. Refuelling
169Driving and parking Z

However, using this fuel results in consid-
erably higher petrol consumptio
nand sig-
nificantly reduced engine performance.
Avoid driving at full throttle.
If no fuel othe rthan regular petrol with
91 RON/82.5 MON or a lower grade is per-
manently available, you should have the
vehicle adapted to run on this fuel in a
qualified specialist workshop. Mercedes-
Benz recommends that you use a
Mercedes-Ben zService Centre for this pur-
pose.
C 350 BlueEFFICIENCY and C 350
4MATIC BlueEFFICIENCY !
Only refuel using unleaded, sulphur-free
premium-grade petrol with at least
95 RON/85 MON, which conforms to Euro-
pean standard EN 228 or an equivalent
specification.
You can otherwise impair engine output or
damage the emission control system.
i In some countries, the available petrol
may not be sufficiently low in sulphur. This
fuel can temporarily produce unpleasant
odours, especially on short journeys. As
soon as sulphur-free fuel (sulphur content
<10p pm) is used for refuelling, the odours
are reduced. Diesel (EN 590)
Fuel grade !
When refuelling, only use diesel fuel that
conform stothe European standard EN 590
or is of equivalent quality. You can other-
wise impair engine output or damage the
engine.
! Vehicles with diesel particle filters: in
countries outside the EU, only use low sul-
phur Euro diesel with a sulphurc ontent of
under 50 ppm. Otherwise, the emission
control system could be damaged. !
Vehicles without adiesel particle fil-
ter: in countries where only diesel fuels
with a higher sulphur conten tare available,
the vehicle&#39;s oil change intervals are
shorter. More information about intervals
for changing the oil can be obtained from
any Mercedes-Benz Service Centre.
! Only use fuel that complies with the EN
590 European standard .Fuel that does not
comply with EN 590 can lead to increased
wear, engine damage and damag eto the
exhaust system.
Do not use the following:
R marine diesel
R heating oil
R bio-diesel
R vegetable oil
R petrol
R paraffin
R kerosene
Do not mix these fuels with diesel fuels and
do not use any special additives. Other-
wise, this can lead to damage to the engine.
This excludes flow improver; see &#34;Low out-
side temperatures&#34;.
! Use a filter when adding fuel from a fuel
can. Otherwise, the fuel lines and/or the
diesel injection system could be blocked by
particles from the fuel can.
For further information on &#34;Fuel&#34;, see
(Y page 380).
Low outside temperatures Diesel fuel with improved cold flow qualities
is available during the winter months. In
Europe, various climate-dependent low-tem-
perature classes are defined in EN 590. Refu-
elling with diesel fuel which complies with the
climatic specifications of standard EN 590
can help to prevent operating problems. At
exceptionally low temperatures, it is possible
that the flow properties of the fuel may be
inadequate. This also applies to fuel that has 170
RefuellingDriving and parking

not been adapted to suit the climatic condi-
tions, e.g .diesel fuel fro mwarmer regions.
i Further information about country-spe-
cific fuel properties can be obtained from
oil companies, e.g .atfilling stations.
Flow improver Flow improvers can be added to improve the
cold resistance of diesel fuel. The effective-
ness of a flow improver is not guaranteed with
every diesel fuel.
Correct dosage and thorough mixing are deci-
sive factors in ensuring improvement in low-
temperature resistance. Avoid excessive dos-
age. Excessive dosage may actually decrease
low-temperature resistance under certain cir-
cumstances. Follow the manufacturer&#39;s dos-
ing instructions.
Mix the additive with the diesel in good time,
before the flow properties of the diesel
become inadequate. Malfunctions can other-
wise only be rectified by heating the entire
fuel system, e.g. by parking the vehicle in a
heated garage.
Observe the information provided by the man-
ufacturer when using a flow improver. Only
use flow improvers that have been tested and
approved by Mercedes-Benz. You can obtain
further information from any Mercedes-Benz
Service Centre. Refuelling
Fuel filler flap The fuel filler flap is unlocked or locked auto-
matically when you open or close the vehicle
with the key or using KEYLESS-GO.
The position of the fuel filler cap is displayed
in the instrument cluster 8.The arrow
next to the filling pump indicates the side of
the vehicle. Saloon (example)
:
To open the fuel filler flap
; To insert the fuel filler cap
= Tyre pressure table
? Fuel type
Opening X
Switch off the engine.
X Remove the key from the ignition lock.
KEYLESS-GO: open the driver&#39;s door. This
switches the ignition to position 0, which
corresponds to having removed the key.
The driver&#39;s door can be closed again.
X Press the fuel filler flap in the direction of
arrow :.
The fuel filler flap opens slightly.
X Open the fuel filler flap.
X Turn the fuel filler cap anti-clockwise and
remove it.
X Insert the fuel filler cap into the holder
bracket on the inside of filler flap ;.
X Completely insert the pump nozzle into the
filler neck and refuel.
X Only fill the tank until the pump nozzle
switches off.
! Overfilling the fuel tank could damage the
fuel system.
Closing X
Replace the fuel filler cap and turn it clock-
wise. The fuel filler cap audibly engages.
X Close the fuel filler flap. Refuelling
171Driving and parking Z

i
Close the fuel fille rflap before locking the
vehicle. Alocking pin otherwise prevents
the fuel filler flap from closing after the
vehicle has been locked. Fuel filler flap emergency release
G
WARNING
The edges on the inside of the vehicle body
can be sharp. You could injure yourself when
using the fuel filler flap emergency release.
Avoid contact with the edges on the inside of
the vehicle body.
The emergency release is located in the
boot/luggage compartment behind the side
trim on the right-hand side, when viewed in
the direction of travel.
X Open the boot lid/tailgate.
X Saloon: open the right-hand side trim panel
(Y page 356).
X Estate: open the right-hand side trim panel
(Y page 356). Example: Saloon
X
Pull emergency release :in the direction
of the arrow.
The fuel filler flap is released.
X Open the fuel filler flap. 172
RefuellingDriving and parking

Problems with the fuel and fuel tank
Problem Possible causes/consequences and
M Solutions
Fuel is leaking from the
vehicle.
G
Risk of explosion or fire
The fuel line or the fuel tank is faulty.
X Turn the key to position 0(Ypage 153) in the ignition lock
immediately and remove it.
X Do not restart the engine under any circumstances.
X Consult a qualified specialist workshop. The engine does not
start. The fuel tank of a vehicle with a diesel engine has been run com-
pletely dry.
X
Refuel the vehicle with at least five litres of diesel.
X Turn the ignition on for at least 10 seconds (Y page 153).
X Start the engine continuously for up to 10 seconds until it runs
smoothly.
If the engine does not start:
X Turn the ignition on again for approximately 10 seconds
(Y page 153).
X Start the engine again continuously for up to 10 seconds until
it runs smoothly.
If the engine does not start after three attempts:
X Consult a qualified specialist workshop. The fuel filler flap can-
not be opened. The fuel filler flap is not unlocked.
or
The key battery is discharged.
X
Unlock the vehicle using the emergency key element
(Y page 86).
X Open the boot lid or the tailgate.
X Manually unlock the fuel filler flap using the emergency release
(Y page 172). The fuel filler flap is unlocked, but the opening mechanism is jam-
med.
X
Consult a qualified specialist workshop. Refuelling
173Driving and parking Z

Parking
Important safety notes
G
WARNING
Only remove the key from the ignition lock
when the vehicle is stationary, as you cannot
steer the vehicle when the key is removed.
Never leave children unsupervised in the vehi-
cle. They could release the parking brake. This
could lead to a serious or fatal accident. G
WARNING
Under no circumstances should the exhaust
system come into contact with flammable
materials such as dry grass or petrol, for
example. Do not park the vehicle on dry grass-
land or harvested grain fields. The hot exhaust
system could otherwise ignite the flammable
material and set the vehicle on fire.
To ensure that the vehicle is secured against
rolling away unintentionally:
R the parking brake must be applied.
R on vehicles with manual transmission,
engage first gear or reverse gear.
R on vehicles with automatic transmission,
the transmission must be in position Pand
the key must be removed from the ignition
lock.
R on steep uphill or downhill gradients, turn
the front wheels towards the kerb. Switching off the engine
Important safety notes G
WARNING
If the engine is not running, there is no power
assistance for the steering and brakes. Steer-
ing and braking then requires significantly
greater effort.
As a result, you might lose control of the vehi-
cle, cause an accident and injure yourself and
others. Therefore, do not switch off the engine while
you are driving.
Vehicles with manual transmission X
Shift to either first gear or reverse gear R.
X Turn the key to position 0in the ignition
lock and remove it.
The immobiliser is activated.
X Apply the parking brake firmly.
Vehicles with automatic transmission X
Apply the parking brake firmly.
X Shift the transmission to position P.
Using the key
X Turn the key to position 0in the ignition
lock and remove it.
The immobiliser is activated.
i The key can only be removed if the trans-
mission is in position P.
Using KEYLESS-GO
X Press the Start/Stop button (Y page 153).
The engine stops and all the indicator
lamps in the instrumen tcluster go out.
i When the driver&#39;s door is closed, this cor-
responds to key position 1. When the driv-
er&#39;s door is open, this corresponds to key
position 0, i.e. key removed.
i The engine can be turned off while the
vehicle is in motion by pressing and holding
the Start/Stop button for three seconds.
This function operates independently of the
ECO start/stop automatic engine switch-
off function. 174
ParkingDriving and parking

Parking brake
X
To apply: depress parking brake ;firmly.
The J indicator lamp in the instrument
cluster lights up if the engine is running.
X To release: depress the brake pedal and
keep it depressed.
X Pull release handle :.
The J indicator lamp in the instrument
cluster goes out. Parking up the vehicle
If you leave the vehicle parked up for longer
than four weeks, the battery may be damaged
by exhaustive discharge.
X Disconnect the battery (Y page 348) or
connect it to a trickle charger.
i You can obtain information about trickle
chargers from a qualified specialist work-
shop, e.g. a Mercedes-Benz Service
Centre.
If you leave the vehicle parked up for longer
than six weeks, the vehicle may suffer dam-
age as a result of lack of use.
X Visit a qualified specialist workshop and
seek advice. Driving tips
General driving tips
Rolling with the engine switched off G
WARNING
Never switch the engine off while the vehicle
is in motion.
There is no power assistance for the steering
and the service brake when the engine is not
running.
You will require considerably more effort to
steer and brake, and you could therefore lose
control of the vehicle and cause an accident. Engine oil
! Vehicles with adiesel particle filter:
If the vehicle is mostly driven for short dis-
tances, it is possible that malfunctions may
occur during the automatic cleaning of the
diesel particle filter. This can lead to engine
damage. Therefore, if you frequently drive
short distances, make sure to drive on
motorways or country roads for 20 minutes
at least every 500 km. Brakes
Important safety notes G
WARNING
Do not change down for additional engine
braking on a slippery road surface. This could
cause the drive wheels to lose their grip and
the vehicle could skid. G
WARNING
Make sure that other road users are not
endangered by your braking.
Downhill gradients On long and steep downhill gradients, espe-
cially if the vehicle is laden or towing a trailer,
you must shift to a lower gear in good time or, Driving tips
175Driving and parking Z

on vehicles with automatic transmission,
select shift range
1,2or 3.
i This also applies if you have activated
cruise control, SPEEDTRONIC or DIS-
TRONIC PLUS.
This will use the braking effect of the engine,
so less braking will be required to maintain
the speed. This relieves the load on the brake
system and prevents the brakes from over-
heating and wearing too quickly.
Heavy and light loads G
WARNING
Never depress the brake pedal continuously
while the vehicle is in motion, e.g. never cause
the brakes to rub by applying constant slight
pedal pressure. This causes the brake system
to overheat, increases the braking distance
and can lead to the brakes failing completely.
If the brakes have been subjected to a heavy
load, do not stop the vehicle immediately, but
drive on for a short while. This allows the air-
flow to cool the brakes more quickly.
If the brakes have been used only moderately,
you should occasionally test their effective-
ness. To do this, brake more firmly from a
higher speed. This improves the grip of the
brakes.
Wet road surface If driving in heavy rain for a prolonged period
of time without braking, there may be a
delayed reaction from the brakes when brak-
ing for the first time. This may also occur after
the vehicle has been washed.
You have to depress the brake pedal more
firmly. Maintain a greater distance from the
vehicle in front.
After driving on a wet road or having the vehi-
cle washed, brake firmly while paying atten-
tion to the traffic conditions. This will warm
up the brake discs, thereby drying them more
quickly and protecting them against corro-
sion. Limited braking performance on salt-
treated roads G
WARNING
The layer of salt on the brake discs and the
brake pads/linings may cause a delay in the
braking effect, resulting in a significantly lon-
ger braking distance, which could lead to an
accident.
To avoid this danger, you should:
R occasionally brake carefully, without put-
ting other road users at risk, when you are
driving on salted roads. This helps to
remove any salt that may have started to
build up on the brake discs and the brake
pads/linings.
R maintain a greater distance to the vehicle
ahead and drive with particular care.
R carefully apply the brakes at the end of a
trip and immediately after commencing a
new trip, so that salt residues are removed
from the brake discs.
New brake pads/linings G
WARNING
New brake pads/linings only reach their opti-
mum braking effect after several hundred kil-
ometres of driving. Before this optimum brak-
ing effect is reached, you should compensate
for the reduced braking effect by applying
greater pressure when braking. This also
applies after the brake discs or the brake
pads/linings have been replaced.
For safety reasons, Mercedes-Benz recom-
mends that you only have brake pads/linings
fitted to your vehicle which have been
approved for Mercedes-Benz vehicles or
which correspond to an equivalent quality
standard. Brake pads/linings which have not
been approved for Mercedes-Benz vehicles or
which are not of an equivalent quality could
affect your vehicle&#39;s operating safety. 176
Driving tipsDriving and parking

High-performance brake system for
AMG vehicles The high-performance brake system is
designed for heavy loads. This may lead to
noise when braking. This willd epend on:
R speed
R braking force
R environmental conditions, such as temper-
ature and humidity
The wear of individual components of the
brake system, such as the brake pads/linings
or brake discs, depends on the individual driv-
ing style and operating conditions.
For this reason, it is impossible to state a
mileage that will be valid under all circum-
stances. An aggressive driving style will lead
to high wear. You can obtain further informa-
tion about this from your Mercedes-Benz
Service Centre. Tyre traction
G
WARNING
Whereas the vehicle can be fully controlled at
a certain speed on dry roads, you must reduce
your speed on wet or icy roads to achieve the
same road safety. You could otherwise cause
an accident.
Pay particular attention to the road conditions
at temperatures around freezing point.
If ice has formed on the road surface (e.g.
from fog), a thin film of water rapidly forms on
the ice when you brake, considerably reduc-
ing tyre traction. Drive with particular care in
such weather conditions. Driving on wet roads
Aquaplaning If water has accumulated to a certain depth
on the road surface, there is a danger of aqua-
planing occurring, even if:
R
you drive at low speeds
R the tyres have adequate tread depth
For this reason, do not drive in tyre ruts, and
brake carefully.
Driving on flooded roads If you have to drive on stretches of road on
which water has collected, please bear in
mind that:
R
the maximum permitted still water depth is
25 cm.
R you should drive no faster than at walking
pace.
! Bear in mind that vehicles travelling in
front or in the opposite direction create
waves. This may cause the maximum per-
missible water depth to be exceeded.
These notes must be observed under all
circumstances. You could otherwise dam-
age the engine, the electronics or the trans-
mission. Winter driving
General notes G
WARNING
If the vehicle becomes trapped in snow,
ensure that snow is kept away from the
exhaust pipe and from around the vehicle as
long as the engine is running. Otherwise, poi-
sonous carbon monoxide (CO) may enter the
vehicle, resulting in loss of consciousness and
even death.
To assure sufficien tfresh air ventilation, open
a window slightly on the side of the vehicle
not facing the wind. Driving tips
177Driving and parking Z