MERCEDES-BENZ C300 4MATIC 2008 W204 Owner's Manual

150 Controls in detail
Instrument cluster
The outside temperature sensor is located
in the front bumper area. Due to its loca-
tion, the sensor can be affected by road or
engine heat during idling or slow driving.
Therefore, 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.Fuel gauge
The fuel gauge is on the left-hand side of
the instrument cluster (
page 26). Once
the fuel level has fallen below the reserve
mark, the yellow fuel tank reserve warning
lamp 4 for the fuel reserve comes on
(
page 380).

151 Controls in detail
Control system
Control system
The control system is activated as soon as
the SmartKey in the starter switch is
turned to position2 or as soon as the
KEYLESS-GO* start/stop button (Canada
only) is in position 2. The control system
enables you to:

call up information about your vehicle

change vehicle settings
For example, you can use the control
system to find out when your vehicle is
next due for service, to call up statistical
data on your vehicle, and much more.
The control system relays information to
the multifunction display.
Multifunction display
1Text field
2Line for main menus
3Temperature
4Current program mode
(automatic transmission*)
5Current gear selector lever
position/gear range
(automatic transmission*)
Additional speedometer
(manual transmission)
6Digital clock
Settings, functions, submenus as well as
any malfunctions are shown to you in the
text field.
Warning!G
A driver’s attention to the road and traffic
conditions must always be his/her primary
focus when driving.
For your safety and the safety of others,
selecting features through the multifunction
steering wheel should only be done by the
driver when traffic and road conditions
permit it to be done safely.
Bear in mind that at a speed of just 30 mph
(approximately 50 km/h), your vehicle is
covering a distance of 44 feet
(approximately 14 m) every second.

152 Controls in detail
Control system
Multifunction steering wheel
The displays in the multifunction display
and the settings in the control system are
controlled using the buttons on the multi-
function steering wheel.Item
1Multifunction display
Operating control system
2Volume control:
Press button
æto increase volume
çto decrease volume
Telephone*:
Press button
sto take a call
to dial a call
tto end a call
to reject an incoming call
Fto mute
3!to activate Voice Control*
Item
4Lto cancel Voice Control*,
back, confirm messages
5To call up line for menus and select
menus:
Press button
&to scroll to the right
(to scroll to the left
To select submenu or scroll through
lists:
Press button
$to scroll up
%to scroll down
Press button
#to confirm selection or
messages
iVoice Control* is only available with
COMAND*. Refer to separate operating instruc-
tions.

153 Controls in detail
Control system
Depending on the selected menu
(
page 155), pressing the buttons on the
multifunction steering wheel will alter what
is shown in the multifunction display.
The information available in the multifunc-
tion display is arranged in menus, each
containing a number of functions or sub-
menus.
The individual functions are then found
within the relevant menu (radio or CD op-
erations under
Audio, for example). These
functions serve to call up relevant informa-
tion or to customize the settings for your
vehicle.
In the
Settings menu, instead of functions
you will find a number of submenus for
calling up and changing settings. For
instructions on using these submenus, see
“Submenus in the Settings menu”
(
page 166).
It is helpful to think of the menus, and the
functions within each menu, as being
arranged in a circular pattern.The number of menus available in the sys-
tem depends on which optional equipment
is installed in your vehicle.
Using the control system
To select a menu:
Press button(or&.
To select a submenu:
Press button%or$.
To go to the next higher menu level:
Press buttonL.
To select the standard display: Press
buttonL repeatedly until the stan-
dard display featuring the odometer
and speedometer appears.
or
Press and hold buttonL until the
standard display featuring the odome-
ter and speedometer appears.
To confirm selection:
Press button#.
To confirm display message:
Press button# or L.
The control system saves certain dis-
play messages. Calling up display mes-
sages (
page 164).
For information about warning and mal-
function messages appearing in the multi-
function display (
page 387).
iThe headings used in the menus table are
designed to facilitate navigation within the sys-
tem and are not necessarily identical to those
shown in the control system displays.
The first function displayed in each menu will au-
tomatically show you which part of the system
you are in.

154 Controls in detail
Control system
MenusThis is what you will see when you scroll
through the menus.The table on the next page provides an
overview of the individual menus.

155 Controls in detail
Control system
Menus, submenus and functions
Menu1Menu2Menu3Menu4Menu5Menu6
Trip computerNavi*AudioTel*ServiceSettings
(page 156)(page 158)(page 158)(page 160)(page 164)(page 165)
Commands/submenus
Standard displayShow route guid-
ance instructions,
current direction
traveledSelecting radio
stationTo take a callCall up vehicle mal-
function, warning and
system status mes-
sages stored in mem-
ory
1
1The vehicle status message memory menu is only displayed if there is a message stored.
Reset to factory
settings
Fuel consumption
statistics since startSelecting satellite
radio station*Select a phone
book entryTire Pressure Monitor-
ing System (TPMS)
(USA only)Instrument cluster
submenu
Fuel consumption
statistics since the
last resetOperating
CD player* RedialRun Flat Indicator
(Canada only)
Distance to emptyCall up maintenance
service display
Digital speed-
ometer or outside
temperature

156 Controls in detail
Control system
Trip menu
In the
Trip menu, you can show an addi-
tional display for the speedometer and call
up or reset your vehicle’s statistical data.
The following information is available:Standard display
In the standard display, the trip odometer
and the main odometer are shown in the
multifunction display.
1Trip odometer
2Main odometer
If another display is shown instead of the
standard display:
Press ( or & to select the Trip
menu.
or
Press buttonL repeatedly until the
standard display appears.
or
Press and hold buttonL until the
standard display appears.Fuel consumption statistics since start
Press ( or & to select the Trip
menu.
Press % to select From Start.
1Distance driven since start
2Time elapsed since start
3Average speed since start
4Average fuel consumption since start
FunctionPage
Standard display156
Fuel consumption statistics
since start156
Fuel consumption statistics
since last reset157
Distance to empty157
Digital speedometer158
Resetting157
iAll values that are based on the last start are
reset when you turn off the vehicle’s engine for
more than four hours.
If you turn the SmartKey to position1 or2 again
during this time, the values will not be reset.
After 999 hours or 9999 miles (kilometers), the
fuel consumption statistics after start are auto-
matically reset.

157 Controls in detail
Control system
Fuel consumption statistics since last
reset
Press ( or & to select the Trip
menu.
Press % or $ to select Since
Reset
.
1Distance driven since last reset
2Time elapsed since last reset
3Average speed since last reset
4Average fuel consumption since last
resetResetting values
You can reset the values for the following
functions:

Trip odometer

Fuel consumption statistics since start

Fuel consumption statistics since last
reset
Press ( or & to select the Trip
menu.
Press % or $ to select the func-
tion you wish to reset.
Press#.
Example illustration: Reset fuel consump-
tion statistics since start
Press% to select Yes.
Press# to confirm.Distance to empty
Press ( or & to select the Trip
menu.
Press % or $ to select Range.
With the ignition switched on, the
calculated remaining driving range
based on the current fuel tank level
appears in the multifunction display.
1Approximate distance
When the reserve tank is half empty, only
the fuel pump symbol W is displayed.
iAfter 9999 hours or 99 999 miles (kilome-
ters), the fuel consumption statistics since last
reset are automatically reset.

158 Controls in detail
Control system
Digital speedometer
Press ( or & to select the Trip
menu.
Press % or $ to select the digital
speedometer.
1Digital speedometer
Navi* menu
The
Navi menu contains the functions
needed to operate your navigation system.
Press ( or & to select the Navi
menu.

If COMAND* is switched off, the mes-
sage
Navi Off appears in the multi-
function display.

With COMAND* switched on but route
guidance not activated, the direction of
travel and, if available, the name of the
street currently traveled on appear in
the multifunction display.

With COMAND* switched on and route
guidance activated, the direction of
travel and maneuver instructions ap-
pear in the multifunction display.
Please refer to the COMAND* manual for
instructions on how to activate the route
guidance system*.
Audio menu
The functions in the
Audio menu operate
the audio equipment which you currently
have turned on.
If no audio equipment is currently turned
on, the message
Audio Off appears in the
multifunction display.
The following functions are available:
To adjust the volume: Press æ or
ç on the multifunction steering
wheel.
FunctionPage
Selecting radio station159
Selecting satellite radio station*159
Operating CD player*160

159 Controls in detail
Control system
Selecting radio station
Turn on the audio system (page 188)
and press buttonb on audio con-
trol unit.
Vehicles with COMAND*: Refer to
separate operating instructions.
Press ( or & to select the Audio
menu. The currently tuned station
appears in the multifunction display.
1Waveband setting
2Station frequency
Select next or previous stored sta-
tion: Press % or $ briefly to se-
lect a stored station.
Select next or previous station in
waveband: Press and hold % or
$ to select a station.Selecting satellite radio station*
The satellite radio is treated as a radio
application.
Turn on the radio (page 188) and se-
lect the satellite radio with the audio
control unit.
Vehicles with COMAND*: Refer to
separate operating instructions.
Press ( or & to select the Audio
menu. The currently tuned channel
appears in the multifunction display.1SAT mode
2Channel name and/or number
Select next or previous stored chan-
nel: Press % or $ briefly to se-
lect a stored channel.
Select next or previous channel in
waveband: Press and hold % or
$ to select a channel.
iYou can only store new stations using the
corresponding feature on the radio
(
page 198).
Vehicles with COMAND*:
Refer to separate operating instructions.
You can also operate the radio in the usual
manner.
i A subscription to SIRIUS Satellite Radio ser-
vice provider is required for the satellite radio op-
eration. Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center for details and availability for your
vehicle.
For more information on satellite radio opera-
tion, see “Satellite radio*” (
page 200).
Vehicles with COMAND*:
Refer to separate operating instructions.