MERCEDES-BENZ C240 4MATIC WAGON 2004 S203 Owner's Manual

101 Controls in detail
Lighting
Manual headlamp mode
The low beam headlamps and parking
lamps can be switched on and off with the
exterior lamp switch. For exterior lamp
switch, see (
page 100).
Automatic headlamp mode
The parking lamps, low beam headlamps
and license plate lamps switch on and off
automatically depending on the brightness
of the ambient light.

Turn the exterior lamp switch toU.
iIf you remove the SmartKey and open
the driver’s door while the parking
lamps or low beam headlamps are
switched on, then

a warning sounds


$appears in the multifunction
display


the message
TURN OFF LIGHTS!

appears in the multifunction display
iWith the daytime running lamp mode
activated and the engine running, the
low beam headlamps cannot be
switched off manually.
Warning!
G
If the exterior lamp switch is set toU,

the headlamps may switch off unexpect-
edly when the system senses bright
ambient light, for example light from
oncoming traffic.


the headlamps will not be automatically
switched on under foggy conditions.
To minimize risk to you and to others,
activate headlamps by turning exterior lamp
switch toB when driving or when traffic
and / or ambient lighting conditions require
you to do so.
In low ambient lighting conditions, only
switch from positionU toB with the
vehicle at a standstill. Switching fromU
toB will briefly switch off the head-
lamps. Doing so while driving in low ambient
lighting conditions may result in an acci-
dent.
The automatic headlamp feature is only an
aid to the driver. The driver is responsible for
the operation of the vehicle's lights at all
times.

102 Controls in detailLightingDaytime running lamp mode
Turn exterior lamp switch to
positionM orU.
When the engine is running, the low beam
headlamps are automatically switched on.
In low ambient light conditions, the parking
lamps will also switch on.Canada only
When you shift from a driving position to
positionN orP, the low beam switches off
(with a three-minute delay).
For nighttime driving you should turn the
exterior lamp switch to positionB to
permit activation of the high beam head-
lamps.
USA only
The high beam headlamps can also be
activated when driving with the daytime
running lamp mode activated and exterior
lamp switch in positionM.
To activate the daytime running lamp
mode, see “Setting daytime running lamp
mode (USA only)” (
page 127).Locator lighting and night security
illumination
Locator lighting and night security illumi-
nation are described in the control system
section under “Setting locator lighting”
(
page 128) and “Setting night security
illumination” (
page 129).
Switching on fog lamps
iWith the daytime running lamp mode
activated, the low beam headlamps will
not be switched off automatically.iThe front fog lamps and rear fog lamp
cannot be switched on manually with
exterior lamp switch in positionU.
To activate the fog lamps, turn exterior
lamp switch to positionB and pull
the exterior lamp switch to first or
second stop (
page 100).
iSee notes on the exterior lamp switch
(page 100).
Warning!
G
In low ambient lighting or foggy conditions,
only switch from positionU toB with
the vehicle at a standstill. Switching
fromU toB will briefly switch off the
headlamps. Doing so while driving in low
ambient lighting conditions may result in an
accident.

103 Controls in detail
Lighting
Switching on front fog lamps
Make sure the low beam headlamps
are switched on.

Pull out exterior lamp switch to first
stop.
The green indicator lamp‡ beside
the lamp switch comes on.
Switching on rear fog lamp

Make sure the low beam headlamps
are switched on.

Pull out exterior lamp switch to second
stop.
The yellow indicator lamp† beside
the lamp switch comes on.
Combination switch
The combination switch is located on the
left side of the steering column.
1High beam
2High beam flasher
iFog lamps will operate with the parking
lamps and/or the low beam headlamps
on. Fog lamps should only be used in
conjunction with low beam headlamps.
Consult your State or Province Motor
Vehicle Regulations regarding allow-
able lamp operation.iThe front fog lamps and rear fog lamp
cannot be switched on manually with
exterior lamp switch in positionU.
To activate the fog lamps, turn exterior
lamp switch to positionB and pull
the exterior lamp switch to first or
second stop (
page 100).

104 Controls in detailLightingSwitching on high beams
Turn exterior lamp switch to
positionB or toU
(page 100).

Push combination switch in direction of
arrow1.
The high beam indicatorA on the
instrument cluster comes on.
High beam flasher

Pull combination switch briefly in
direction of arrow2.
Hazard warning flasher
The hazard warning flasher can be activat-
ed with the ignition switched on or off. It is
activated automatically when an airbag is
deployed.
The switch is located on the center con-
sole.
1Hazard warning flasher switchSwitching on the hazard warning
flasher

Press hazard warning flasher switch.
All turn signals will flash.
Switching off the hazard warning
flasher

Press hazard warning flasher switch
again.iWith the hazard warning flasher acti-
vated and the combination switch set
for either left or right turn, only the re-
spective left or right turn signals will
operate when the SmartKey in the
starter switch is in position1 or2.iIf the hazard warning flasher was
activated automatically, also press
switch1 to switch off the hazard
warning flasher.

105 Controls in detail
Lighting
Interior lighting
The controls are located in the overhead
control panel.
1Rear interior lights
2Right front reading lamp
3Rocker switch for automatic control
system
4Left front reading lampActivating automatic control

Press rocker switch3 to center
position.
Interior lamps are switched on in
darkness, even when you:

unlock the vehicle


open a door


remove the SmartKey from the
starter switch


open the tailgate
The interior lamps are switched off after a
preset time (
page 130).Deactivating automatic control

Press the= symbol on rocker
switch3.
The interior lighting remains switched
off, even when you:

unlock the vehicle


open a door


remove the SmartKey from the
starter switch


open the tailgate
Manual control
Switching all front interior lights on and
off

Press theW symbol on rocker
switch3.
The front interior lights come on.

Press rocker switch3 to center
position to activate the automatic
control.
iIf the door remains open, the interior
lamps switch off automatically after
approximately five minutes, when the
SmartKey is removed or in starter
switch position0.
An interior lamp switched on manually
does not go out automatically.

106 Controls in detailLightingSwitching rear interior lights on and off
Press buttonV.
The lights in the rear passenger
compartment come on.

Press buttonV again.
The lights in the rear passenger
compartment go out.Switching right front reading lamp on
and off

Press right buttonX.
The right reading lamp comes on.

Press right buttonX again.
The right reading lamp goes out.
Switching left front reading lamp on and
off

Press left buttonX.
The left reading lamp comes on.

Press left buttonX again.
The left reading lamp goes out.
Door entry lamps
The appropriate door entry lamp switches
on if a door is opened in darkness and if
the interior lighting is switched to auto-
matic function.
The entry lamp switches off automatically
when the door is closed.
iThe setting selected for the interior
lighting is used for the cargo compart-
ment lighting as well.
If you leave the tailgate open for an
extended period of time, the cargo
compartment lighting will switch off
automatically after approximately ten
minutes
iIf you turn the SmartKey in the starter
switch to position0 and switch off the
exterior headlamps, the door entry
lamps will remain lit for approximately
five minutes.

107 Controls in detail
Instrument cluster
Instrument cluster
For a full view illustration of the instrument
cluster, see “At a glance” (
page 22).
The instrument cluster is activated when
you


open a door


turn on the ignition


press the reset button (
page 22)


switch on the exterior lamps
You can change the instrument cluster
settings in the Instrument cluster submenu
of the control system (
page 124).
Instrument cluster illumination
Use the reset button (
page 22) to adjust
the illumination brightness for the instru-
ment cluster.To brighten illumination

Turn the reset button in the instrument
cluster clockwise (
page 22).
The instrument cluster illumination will
brighten.
To dim illumination

Turn the reset button in the instrument
cluster counterclockwise (
page 22).
The instrument cluster illumination will
dim.
iThe instrument cluster illumination is
dimmed or brightened automatically to
suit ambient light conditions.
The instrument cluster illumination will
also be adjusted automatically when
you switch on the vehicle’s exterior
lamps.

108 Controls in detailInstrument clusterCoolant temperature display
Turn the SmartKey in the starter switch to
position1 or2.

Call up the trip odometer and main
odometer by pressing buttonè
orÿ on the multifunction steering
wheel (
page 112).

Press buttonj ork until the
coolant temperature display appears.During severe operating conditions, e.g.
stop-and-go traffic, the coolant tempera-
ture may rise close to 248°F (120°C).
The engine should not be operated with
the coolant temperature above 248°F
(120°C). Doing so may cause serious en-
gine damage which is not covered by the
Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.
Warning!
G


Driving when your engine is badly
overheated can cause some fluids which
may have leaked into the engine
compartment to catch fire. You could be
seriously burned.


Steam from an overheated engine can
cause serious burns and can occur just
by opening the hood. Stay away from
the engine if you see or hear steam com-
ing from it.
Turn off the engine, get out of the vehicle
and do not stand near the vehicle until the
engine has cooled down.
iExcessive coolant temperature triggers
a warning in the multifunction display.

109 Controls in detail
Instrument cluster
Trip odometer
Make sure you are viewing the trip
odometer and main odometer in the
multifunction display (
page 111).

If it is not displayed, press buttonè
orÿ on the multifunction steering
wheel until the trip odometer appears
(page 112).

Press and hold the reset button on the
instrument cluster (
page 22) until
the trip odometer is reset.
Tachometer
The red marking on the tachometer
denotes excessive engine speed.
To help protect the engine, the fuel supply
is interrupted if the engine is operated
within the red marking.
Outside temperature indicator
The outside temperature is indicated in the
multifunction display (
page 23). For
information on how to select the unit of the
indicated temperature, i.e. degrees
Celsius (°C) or degrees Fahrenheit (°F),
see “Selecting temperature display mode”
(
page 125).
!Avoid driving at excessive engine
speeds, as it may result in serious
engine damage that is not covered by
the Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.
Warning!
G
The outside temperature indicator is not de-
signed to serve as an ice-warning device and
is therefore unsuitable for that purpose.
Indicated temperatures just above the freez-
ing point do not guarantee that the road sur-
face is free of ice. The road may still be icy,
especially in wooded areas or on bridges.

110 Controls in detailInstrument clusterThe temperature sensor is located in the
front bumper area. Due to its location, the
sensor can be affected by road or engine
heat during idling or slow driving. This
means that the accuracy of the displayed
temperature can only be verified by com-
parison to a thermometer placed next to
the sensor, not by comparison to external
displays (e.g. bank signs, etc.).When moving the vehicle into colder ambi-
ent temperatures (e.g. when leaving your
garage), you will notice a delay before the
lower temperature is displayed.A delay also occurs when ambient temper-
atures rise. This prevents inaccurate tem-
perature indications caused by heat
radiated from the engine during idling or
slow driving.