MERCEDES-BENZ C300 4MATIC 2008 W204 Owners Manual

90 Controls in detail
Seats
Removing and installing rear seat head
restraints (vehicles with split foldable
rear seat)
1Release button
Removing: Unlock the rear seat back-
rest and fold it slightly forward
(
page 281).
Pull head restraint to its highest
position.
Push release button1 and pull out
head restraint.
Installing: Position the head restraints
so that the notches on the rod are on
the left when looking in the direction of
travel.
Insert head restraint and push it down
until it engages.
Fold the rear seat backrest back until it
engages (
page 282).
Push release button1 and adjust
head restraint to desired position.
Warning!G
For your protection, drive only with properly
positioned head restraints.
Adjust the head restraint so that it is as
close to the head as possible and the center
of the head restraint supports the back of
the head at eye level. This will reduce the
potential for injury to the head and neck in
the event of an accident or similar situation.
Do not drive the vehicle without the seat
head restraints. Head restraints are
intended to help reduce injuries during an
accident.
iThe rear head restraints cannot be removed
on vehicles which do not have the split foldable
rear seat.
iAdjust the head restraint in such a way that
it is as close to the head as possible.

91 Controls in detail
Seats
Lumbar support
The curvature of the front seats can be ad-
justed to help enhance lower back support
and seating comfort.
1Adjustment lever
Move adjustment lever1 in direction
of arrows until you have reached a
comfortable seating position.
Seat heating*
The buttons for the front seats are located
in the center console. The red indicator
lamps on the button come on to show the
selected heating level.
1Seat heating buttonLevel
3Three indicator lamps on
(highest level)
The seat heating automatically
switches to level2 after approxi-
mately 5 minutes.
2Two indicator lamps on
The seat heating automatically
switches to level1 after approxi-
mately 10 minutes.
1One indicator lamp on
(lowest level)
The seat heating automatically
switches off after approximately
20 minutes.
offNo indicator lamp on

92 Controls in detail
Seats
Switch on the ignition.
Switching on: Press button1 repeat-
edly until the desired heating level is
set.
One or more red indicator lamps on the
button come on to show the selected
heating level.
Switching off: Press button1 repeat-
edly until all indicator lamps go out.
iIf one or more of the lamps on the seat
heating button are flashing once, there is insuffi-
cient voltage available because too many electri-
cal consumers are turned on. The seat heating
switches off automatically.
The seat heating will switch back on again
automatically as soon as sufficient voltage is
available.

93 Controls in detail
Steering wheel
Steering wheel
Make sure

you can reach the steering wheel with
your arms slightly bent at the elbows

you can move your legs freely

all displays (including malfunction and
indicator lamps) on the instrument
cluster are clearly visible
Steering wheel adjustment, manualThe handle for steering wheel adjustment
is located below the steering column.
1Steering wheel adjustment release
handle
2Steering wheel up/down
3Steering wheel in/out
To unlock the steering wheel, pull
handle1 down to its stop limit.
The steering wheel is unlocked
Move steering wheel to the desired
position.
Warning!G
Do not adjust the steering wheel while driv-
ing. Adjusting the steering wheel while driv-
ing, or driving without the steering wheel
adjustment feature locked could cause the
driver to lose control of the vehicle.
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the
SmartKey or SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO*
(Canada only) from the starter switch, take
it with you, and lock the vehicle.
Even with the SmartKey or SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO* (Canada only) removed from
the starter switch or the SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO* (Canada only) removed from
the vehicle, the electrical steering wheel ad-
justment feature can be operated. There-
fore, do not leave children unattended in the
vehicle, or with access to an unlocked vehi-
cle. A child’s unsupervised access to a vehi-
cle could result in an accident and/or
serious personal injury.
Warning!G
Only adjust the steering wheel with the
vehicle at a standstill with the parking brake
engaged and make sure the steering wheel
is securely locked in place before driving off.
Driving without the steering wheel locked
may cause unexpected steering wheel
movement which could result in the driver
losing control of the vehicle. Make sure the
steering wheel is securely locked by trying
to move it up and down, and in and out be-
fore driving off.


94 Controls in detail
Steering wheel
To lock the steering wheel, push
handle1 all the way up until it
engages.
The steering wheel is locked into posi-
tion again.
Make sure the steering wheel is
securely locked by trying to move it up
and down, and in and out before driving
off.Steering wheel adjustment, electrical*
(Canada only)
1Adjusting steering wheel, up or down
2Adjusting steering wheel, in or out
Adjusting steering wheel in or out:
Move stalk forward or back in the direc-
tion of arrow2 until a comfortable
steering wheel position is reached with
your arms slightly bent at the elbow.
Adjusting steering wheel up or
down: Move stalk up or down in the di-
rection of arrow1.
!Do not drive the vehicle until you have
properly locked the steering wheel.
iThe memory function* is operational at any
time. Seat and steering wheel adjustment is al-
ways possible.
The memory function* (
page 102) lets you
store settings for the steering wheel together
with the settings for the seat position and the
exterior rear view mirrors.


95 Controls in detail
Steering wheel
Easy-entry/exit feature* (Canada only)
This feature allows for easier entry into and
exit from the vehicle. When entering and
exiting the vehicle, the steering wheel is in
its uppermost position.
The easy-entry/exit feature can be activat-
ed or deactivated in the
Convenience sub-
menu of the control system (
page 174).With the easy-entry/exit feature activated
the steering wheel tilts upwards when you:

remove the SmartKey from the starter
switch,
or

open the driver’s door with the
SmartKey in starter switch position0
or1 or the KEYLESS-GO* start/stop
button in position1
Warning!G
You must make sure no one can become
trapped or injured by the moving steering
wheel when the easy-entry/exit feature is
activated.
To stop steering wheel movement, do one of
the following:

Move steering wheel adjustment stalk.

Press one of the memory position but-
tons or the memory buttonM.
Do not leave children unattended in the ve-
hicle, or with access to an unlocked vehicle.
Children could open the driver’s door and
unintentionally activate the easy-entry/exit
feature, which could result in an accident
and/or serious personal injury.
Warning!G
Let the system complete the adjustment
procedure before setting the vehicle in mo-
tion. All steering wheel adjustments must be
completed before setting the vehicle in mo-
tion. Driving off with the steering wheel still
adjusting could cause the driver to lose con-
trol of the vehicle.
iIf the current position for the steering wheel
is in the uppermost tilt position, the steering
wheel will no longer be able to move upward
when the easy-entry/exit feature is activated.
The adjustment procedure is briefly interrupted
when the engine is started.

96 Controls in detail
Steering wheel
With the easy-entry/exit feature activated,
the steering wheel will return to their last
set memory position when you:

close the driver’s door with the ignition
switched on,
or

insert the SmartKey into the starter
switch or press the KEYLESS-GO*
start/stop button once with the driv-
er’s door closed.
iThe last set steering wheel positions are
stored when

the ignition is switched off

the position is stored in memory
(
page 102)

97 Controls in detail
Mirrors
Mirrors
Adjust the interior and exterior rear view
mirrors before driving so that you have a
good view of the road and traffic condi-
tions.
Interior rear view mirror
Manually adjust the interior rear view
mirror.
For more information, see “Interior rear
view mirror, antiglare position”
(
page 99) and, see “Auto-dimming rear
view mirrors*” (
page 100).
Exterior rear view mirrors1 Driver’s side exterior rear view
mirror button
2Passenger-side exterior rear view
mirror button
3Adjustment button
Switch on the ignition.
Press button1 for the driver’s side
exterior rear view mirror or button2
for passenger-side exterior rear view
mirror.
The indicator lamp in the respective
button1 or2 comes on.
If you do not make adjustments to the
selected exterior rear view mirror with-
in 15 seconds, the indicator lamp goes
out. You will then have to select the de-
sired exterior rear view mirror again be-
fore any adjustments can be made.
Adjustments can only be made with the
indicator lamp for the respective exte-
rior rear view mirror button illuminated.
Push adjustment button3 up, down,
left, or right according to the desired
setting.Warning!G
Exercise care when using the passenger
side exterior rear view mirror. The mirror
surface is convex (outwardly curved surface
for a wider field of view). Objects in mirror
are closer than they appear. Check your in-
terior rear view mirror or glance over your
shoulder before changing lanes.

98 Controls in detail
Mirrors
Power folding exterior rear view
mirrors*
Folding exterior rear view mirrors in
and out manually
The exterior rear view mirrors can vibrate if
they are not folded out completely.
1Folds the exterior mirrors in and out
Switch on the ignition.
Folding in: Press button1.
Folding out: Press button1 again.
!If an exterior rear view mirror housing is
forcibly pushed forward (hit from the rear) or
forcibly pushed rearward (hit from the front), re-
position it by applying firm pressure until it snaps
back into place. The mirror housing is then prop-
erly positioned and you can adjust the mirror in
the usual manner.
iAt low ambient temperatures, the exterior
rear view mirrors will be heated automatically.
iCanada only:
The memory function* (
page 102) lets you
store the setting for the exterior rear view mir-
rors together with the setting for the steering
wheel and the seat positions.
!Before driving the vehicle through an auto-
matic car wash, fold the exterior mirrors in. Oth-
erwise they may get damaged.
!If an exterior rear view mirror housing is
forcibly pushed forward (hit from the rear), repo-
sition it manually by applying firm pressure until
it snaps back into place.
If an exterior rear view mirror housing is forcibly
pushed rearward (hit from the front), press
button1 to fold mirrors in, then press
button1 again to fold mirrors out. Do not force
mirrors by hand as this may damage the
adjustment mechanism.
The mirror housing is then properly positioned
and you can adjust the mirror in the usual
manner.


99 Controls in detail
Mirrors
Folding exterior rear view mirrors in
and out automatically
When the corresponding function in the
control system is activated (
page 175):

The exterior rear view mirrors automat-
ically fold in as soon as the vehicle is
locked from the outside.

The exterior rear view mirrors automat-
ically fold out as soon as the vehicle is
unlocked and the driver’s or front pas-
senger door are subsequently opened.Resetting the automatic exterior rear
view mirror fold in function
You need to reset the automatic exterior
rear view mirror fold in function whenever
the battery was disconnected or dis-
charged.
Switch on the ignition.
Briefly press button1.Interior rear view mirror, antiglare
position
1Lever
Tilt the mirror to the antiglare position
by moving lever 1 towards the wind-
shield.
The interior rear view mirror is dimmed.
iThe mirrors do not fold out automatically if
they were previously folded in manually with
button1.
iIf you are driving at more than approximately
9 mph (15 km/h), you will not be able to fold the
exterior mirrors in.
iYou need to manually fold in the mirrors
once, so that the automatic fold in function will
work, see “Setting fold-in function* for exterior
rear view mirrors” (
page 175).