MERCEDES-BENZ C230 2006 W203 Owner's Manual

400 Practical hintsReplacing bulbsHave the LEDs and bulbs for the following
lamps replaced by an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center:

Additional turn signals in the exterior
rear view mirrors


High mounted brake lamp


Xenon* lamps


Front fog lamps


Front side marker lamps
Replacing bulbs for front lamps
Before you start to replace a bulb for a
front lamp, do the following first:
Turn the exterior lamp switch to
positionM (
page 118).

Open the hood (
page 297).
Halogen headlamp
1Housing cover for low beam headlamp
2Housing cover for high beam head-
lamp, parking and standing lamp3Bulb socket for turn signal lamp bulb
4Bulb socket for low beam bulb
5Bulb socket for high beam bulb
6Bulb socket for parking and standing
lamp bulb
iHave the headlamp adjustment
checked regularly.

401 Practical hints
Replacing bulbs
Low beam bulb
Press the clamp on housing cover1
and remove it.

Pull the electrical connector off.

Turn bulb socket4 counterclockwise
and take out the bulb.

Insert the new bulb so that its socket
locates in the recess of the lamp
housing.

Turn bulb socket4 clockwise until it
engages.

Plug the electrical connector onto the
bulb.

Align housing cover1 and press until
it engages.High beam bulb

Press the clamp on housing cover2
and remove it.

Pull the electrical connector off.

Turn bulb socket5 counterclockwise
and take out the bulb.

Insert the new bulb so that its socket
locates in the recess of the lamp
housing.

Turn bulb socket5 clockwise until it
engages.

Plug the electrical connector onto the
bulb.

Align housing cover2 and press until
it engages.Front turn signal lamp bulb

Turn bulb socket3 with the bulb
counterclockwise and remove it.

Press gently onto the bulb and turn it
counterclockwise out of bulb
socket3.

Press new bulb gently into bulb
socket3 and turn clockwise until it
engages.

Place bulb socket3 back into the
lamp and turn it clockwise.
Parking and standing lamp bulb

Press the clamp on housing cover2
and remove it.

Pull out bulb socket6 with the bulb.

Pull the bulb out of bulb socket6.

Press the new bulb into bulb socket6.

Press bulb socket6 back into the
lamp.

Align housing cover2 and press until
it engages.

402 Practical hintsReplacing bulbsBi-Xenon* headlamp
1Housing cover for Bi-Xenon headlamp
2Housing cover for high beam flasher,
parking and standing lamp3Bulb socket for turn signal lamp bulb
4Bulb socket for high beam flasher bulb
5Bulb socket for parking and standing
lamp bulbHigh beam flasher bulb

Press the clamp on housing cover2
and remove it.

Pull the electrical connector off.

Turn bulb socket4 counterclockwise
and take out the bulb.

Insert the new bulb so that its socket
locates in the recess of the lamp
housing.

Turn bulb socket4 clockwise until it
engages.

Plug the electrical connector onto the
bulb.

Align housing cover2 and press until
it engages.
Warning!
G
Do not remove the cover1 for the
Bi-Xenon headlamp. Because of high voltage
in Bi-Xenon lamps, it is dangerous to replace
the bulb or repair the lamp and its compo-
nents. We recommend that you have such
work done by a qualified technician.

403 Practical hints
Replacing bulbs
Front turn signal lamp bulb
Turn bulb socket3 with the bulb
counterclockwise and remove it.

Press gently onto the bulb and turn it
counterclockwise out of bulb
socket3.

Press new bulb gently into bulb
socket3 and turn clockwise until it
engages.

Place bulb socket3 back into the
lamp and turn it clockwise.
Parking and standing lamp bulb

Press the clamp on housing cover2
and remove it.

Pull out bulb socket5 with the bulb.

Pull the bulb out of bulb socket5.

Press the new bulb into bulb socket5.

Press bulb socket5 back into the
lamp.

Align housing cover2 and press until
it engages.Additional turn signal lamp bulbs
The additional turn signal lamps in the
exterior rear view mirrors have LEDs.
If a malfunction occurs or L EDs f a il to f unc -
tion, the entire turn signal unit must be re-
placed. Have the turn signal unit replaced
by an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Front side marker lamp bulbs
Since replacing the side marker lamp bulbs
is a technically highly demanding process,
we recommend you have the side marker
lamp bulbs replaced by an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
Replacing bulbs for rear lamps
Before you start to replace a bulb for a rear
lamp, do the following first:
Turn the exterior lamp switch to
positionM (
page 118).

Open the trunk (
page 103).
Tail lamp unit
1Latch

404 Practical hintsReplacing bulbs
Fold the corresponding trim panel to
the side.

Turn latch1 to vertical position and
remove the bulb carrier.
Bulb carrier2Brake lamp bulb
3Backup lamp bulb
4Rear fog lamp (driver’s side only),
tail and standing lamp bulb
5Parking and side marker lamp bulb
6Turn signal lamp bulb

Press gently onto the respective bulb
and turn counterclockwise out of its
bulb socket.

Press the new bulb gently into its bulb
socket and turn clockwise until it
engages.

Reinstall the bulb carrier and lock it
again with latch1.

Reinstall the trim panel.License plate lamp
1Screw

Loosen both screws1.

Remove the license plate lamp.

Replace the bulb.

Reinstall the license plate lamp.

Retighten screws1.

405 Practical hints
Replacing wiper blades
Replacing wiper blades
Removing wiper blades
Remove SmartKey from starter switch.

Fold wiper arm forward.
1Unlock
2Lock

Pull the tab in direction of arrow1 and
remove wiper blade.
Installing wiper blades
Slide the wiper blade into the cutout on
the wiper arm (see arrows).

Slide the tab back in the direction of
arrow2 until it audibly engages.

Fold the wiper arm backward to rest on
the windshield. Make sure you hold on
to the wiper when folding the wiper arm
back.
Warning!
G
For safety reasons, switch off wipers and
remove SmartKey from starter switch
before replacing a wiper blade. Otherwise,
the wiper motor could suddenly turn on and
cause injury.
!Never open the hood when the wiper
arms are folded forward.
Hold on to the wiper when folding the
wiper arm back. If released, the force
of the impact from the tensioning
spring could crack the windshield.
Do not allow the wiper arms to contact
the windshield glass without a wiper
blade inserted.
Make certain that the wiper blades are
properly installed. Improperly installed
wiper blades may cause windshield
damage.
For your convenience, we recommend
that you have this work carried out by
an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.

406 Practical hintsFlat tire
Preparing the vehicle
Park the vehicle in a safe distance from
moving traffic on a hard, flat surface
when possible.

Turn on the hazard warning flasher
(page 124).

Turn the steering wheel so that the
front wheels are in a straight ahead
position.

Set the parking brake (
page 58).

Move the gear selector lever toP
(manual transmission: to first or
reverse gear).

Turn off the engine (
page 59).

Remove the SmartKey from the starter
switch.

Have any passenger exit the vehicle at
a safe distance from the roadway.
Mounting the Minispare wheel
Preparing the vehicle
Prepare the vehicle as described
(page 406).

Take the wheel wrench, the wheel
bolts, and the jack out of the trunk
(page 383).

Take the Minispare wheel out of the
trunk (
page 386).
Warning!
G
The dimensions of the Minispare wheel are
different from those of the road wheels. As
a result, the vehicle handling characteristics
change when driving with a Minispare wheel
mounted. Adapt your driving style accord-
ingly.
The Minispare wheel is for temporary use
only. When driving with Minispare wheel
mounted, ensure proper tire inflation
pressure and do not exceed a vehicle speed
of 50 mph (80 km/h).
Drive to the nearest Mercedes-Benz Center
as soon as possible to have the Minispare
wheel replaced with a regular road wheel.
Never operate the vehicle with more than
one Minispare wheel mounted.
Do not switch off the ESP
® when a
Minispare wheel is mounted.
iOpen doors only when conditions are
safe to do so.

407 Practical hints
Flat tire
Lifting the vehicle
Prevent the vehicle from rolling away
by blocking wheels with wheel chocks
or other sizable objects.
One wheel chock is included with the
vehicle tool kit (
page 383).
When changing wheel on a level surface:

Place the wheel chock in front of and
another sizable object behind the
wheel that is diagonally opposite to the
wheel being changed.
Always try lifting the vehicle using the jack
on a level surface. However, should cir-
cumstances require you to do so on a hill,
place the wheel chock and the other size-
able object as follows:

Place wheel chocks and another siz-
able object on the downhill side block-
ing both wheels of the axle not being
worked on.

On wheel to be changed, loosen but do
not yet remove the wheel bolts
(approximately one full turn with
wrench).
Warning!
G
The jack is designed exclusively for jacking
up the vehicle at the jack take-up brackets
built into both sides of the vehicle. To help
avoid personal injury, use the jack only to lift
the vehicle during a wheel change. Never
get beneath the vehicle while it is supported
by the jack. Keep hands and feet away from
the area under the lifted vehicle. Always
firmly set parking brake and block wheels
before raising vehicle with jack.
Do not disengage parking brake while the
vehicle is raised. Be certain that the jack is
always vertical (plumb line) when in use,
especially on hills. Always try to use the jack
on level surface. Make sure the jack arm is
fully seated in the jack take-up bracket. Al-
ways lower the vehicle onto sufficient ca-
pacity jackstands before working under the
vehicle.

408 Practical hintsFlat tireThe jack take-up brackets are located
directly behind the front wheel housings
and in front of the rear wheel housings.
1Take-up bracket
2Jack
Place jack2 on firm ground.

Position jack2 under take-up
bracket1 so that it is always vertical
(plumb-line) as seen from the side,
even if the vehicle is parked on an
incline.

Jack up the vehicle until the wheel is a
maximum of 1.2 in (3 cm) from the
ground. Never start engine while
vehicle is raised.Removing the wheel
1Alignment bolt

Unscrew upper-most wheel bolt and
remove.

Replace this wheel bolt with alignment
bolt1 supplied in the tool kit.

Remove the remaining bolts.

Remove the wheel.
Warning!
G
The jack is intended only for lifting the
vehicle briefly for wheel changes. It is not
suited for performing maintenance work
under the vehicle.

Never start the engine when the vehicle
is raised.


Never lie down under the raised vehicle.
!Do not place wheel bolts in sand or dirt.
This could result in damage to the bolts
and wheel hub threads.

409 Practical hints
Flat tire
Mounting the spare wheel
1Wheel bolt for light alloy rims
2Wheel bolt for Minispare wheel (locat-
ed in trunk with spare wheel)
Clean contact surfaces of wheel and
wheel hub.

Guide spare wheel onto the alignment
bolt and push it on.

Insert wheel bolts and tighten them
slightly.
!Wheel bolts2 must be used when
mounting the Minispare wheel or other
steel rims. The use of any wheel bolts
other than wheel bolts2 for the
Minispare wheel will physically damage
the vehicle’s brakes.
!To avoid paint damage, place wheel flat
against hub and hold it there while
installing first wheel bolt.Warning!
G
Always replace wheel bolts that are
damaged or rusted.
Never apply oil or grease to wheel bolts.
Damaged wheel hub threads should be
repaired immediately. Do not continue to
drive under these circumstances! Contact
an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center or call
Roadside Assistance.
Incorrect wheel bolts or improperly tight-
ened wheel bolts can cause the wheel to
come off. This could cause an accident.
Make sure to use the correct wheel bolts.